Chapter 17: The Image Is Gone

Martial Arena area, it was bustling with people, with a large number of outer disciples arriving here.

Some came to participate in the competition, while others came to watch.

Those watching couldn't enter the Martial Arts Square, so they had to stay in the surrounding area. Many people stood on nearby hills to watch. They were all Qi Cultivators, so their eyesight was pretty good and could see clearly.

Besides the outer disciples, there were also stewards and elders from the Outer Sect. Most of them were flying in the air with their swords, hands behind their backs, exuding Immortal Energy.

Compared to the Qi Cultivators who couldn't sword fly, they seemed much more impressive.

At this moment, two streaks of sword light flashed across the sky, arriving outside the Martial Arena and landing on the ground.

It was Lu Gaoyang and Wang Siqi, with Lu Gaoyang carrying someone, who was Lu Yi.

Lu Yi felt the gazes of the nearby outer disciples, his face slightly red. He was at least a somewhat well-known figure in the Outer Sect, but he didn't expect to be carried while flying.

His image of being wise and heroic was all gone...

Lu Yi steeled his heart, determined to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm quickly and learn sword flying as soon as possible!

Lu Gaoyang put Lu Yi down, patting him on the shoulder, "Kid, just do your best, don't push yourself too hard."

Wang Siqi smiled slightly, "Yi'er, go for it. Mother believes you're the best."

Lu Yi smiled at the two, "I understand."

Lu Gaoyang and Wang Siqi nodded slightly, then turned into streams of light, flying into the air where their colleagues were.

Lu Yi walked towards the Martial Arts Square.

Along the way, the outer disciples who saw Lu Yi all greeted him with smiles.

"Senior Brother Lu Yi."

"Senior Brother Lu Yi, you're here!"

"Senior Brother Lu Yi..."

Lu Yi smiled and nodded in response. Soon, he arrived inside the Martial Arts Square, which was reserved for participants of the competition.

Compared to the entire Outer Sect disciples, there were fewer participants, but still, tens of thousands were present.

The square was still crowded. The outer disciples were either meditating alone or chatting in twos and threes. When they saw Lu Yi, most of them nodded and smiled in greeting.

"Junior Brother Lu Yi! Over here!"

At this moment, Lu Yi heard a familiar voice. He turned to see Lu Ling, Wang Wulian, and Wang Xinqi standing nearby, with Lu Ling waving at him with a big smile.

Lu Yi smiled and walked over, "Senior Brothers."

"Junior Brother Lu Yi, you finally made it. The sea selection is about to start. I was worried you wouldn't make it." Wang Wulian said with a smile.

Lu Ling chuckled, "Junior Brother Lu Yi is the son of Steward Lu Gaoyang. Of course, Steward Lu would bring him over. What are you worried about?"

"I was just worried about having one less competitor." Wang Wulian grinned.

Lu Ling rolled his eyes, speaking softly, "Last time we sparred, neither of us won even once."

"This time is different! My swordsmanship has reached the Transformation stage!" Wang Wulian grinned confidently, "This time, my goal is the top thirty!"

Lu Yi, hearing this, smiled, "Congratulations, Senior Brother Wang."

"I have to thank you, Junior Brother Lu Yi. It's all thanks to you." Wang Wulian looked grateful.

As the four of them chatted, soon, a figure flew across the sky and landed on the Central Platform, an elder with white hair and a stern expression, wearing a white robe.

He was Dugu Fang, the Outer Elder of the White Cloud Sect. It was said that his cultivation base had reached the Golden Core Peak and could break through to Nascent Soul at any time. He was one of the strongest in the Outer Sect and even in the entire White Cloud Sect.

As Dugu Fang appeared, the previously noisy square gradually quieted down. Everyone looked at the Central Platform and Dugu Fang, feeling the awe of the Grand Elder.

Dugu Fang scanned the crowd below, then spoke, "It is once again time for the annual Outer Sect competition. I hope this time someone can impress this old man and make a mark in the White Cloud Sect... Now, the sea selection begins. This sea selection is no different from the past. Just withstand this old man's pressure for thirty minutes."

As he spoke, a common incense stick appeared in his hand, and he lit it without any noticeable movement.

Dugu Fang then tossed the incense, and its wooden stick, like metal, directly plunged into the stone slab of the Central Platform, slowly burning.

"Begin."

With that, a powerful pressure was released from Dugu Fang, spreading in all directions and slowly enveloping the entire Martial Arts Square.

Immediately, all the participating disciples felt a heavy pressure on their chests. Many turned pale, and some even coughed up blood and fainted on the spot.

Most participants were Qi Cultivators at the Fifth Layer or higher, but there were always young and arrogant ones in the Outer Sect who thought they were special. Even at the Third or Fourth Layer, some would come to the competition, hoping to make a name for themselves.

Every competition had many such disciples.

Evidently, they weren't special. Under the Golden Core pressure, they couldn't last even a breath.

Compared to them, most Qi Cultivators at the Fifth Layer felt chest pressure but could withstand it by circulating their Spiritual Energy.

The higher the cultivation base, the better they performed. Lu Yi, facing this pressure, felt it like a gentle breeze, with almost no reaction.

He glanced at the people around him. Wang Wulian and Lu Ling seemed very relaxed, hardly reacting. Wang Xinqi, however, looked a bit pale. Compared to those at the Fifth or Sixth Layer, Wang Xinqi's performance was pretty good.

At this moment, Lu Yi thought of something and muttered to himself, "I must pass the sea selection."

Although he had already accepted the competition task, what if he could get another sea selection task?

However, after waiting for a while, there was no change on his panel. Clearly, no other task could be accepted.

Lu Yi felt a bit disappointed but wasn't surprised. The loophole was too obvious. Based on his research on the task panel, the chances of success were low.

He stopped thinking about it.

As time passed, many Qi Cultivators at the Fifth Layer began to wobble, struggling to stand. Some even fell and couldn't pass the sea selection.

Wang Wulian and Lu Ling started circulating their Spiritual Energy. They glanced at Lu Yi, who didn't even need to circulate Spiritual Energy to withstand the Grand Elder's pressure, though he was only at the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer.

Soon, thirty minutes passed. Dugu Fang released the pressure, and less than half of the disciples in the Martial Arts Square were still standing.

Most Qi Cultivators at the Fifth Layer couldn't pass the sea selection. Those who did were mostly above the Fifth Layer.

Dugu Fang glanced at these disciples, feeling a bit disappointed. The quality of the Outer Sect hadn't changed much this time.

But he wasn't too surprised. He just said, "Those who passed the sea selection, stay. The rest, leave the Martial Arts Square."

The defeated outer disciples left the square with bitter expressions, helping each other. Those who had fainted were carried away by their acquaintances.

Soon, the square was left with only the disciples who passed the sea selection. Even so, nearly ten thousand remained, a ridiculously large number.

Every competition lasted several days for a reason. After all, the White Cloud Sect had too many disciples.