Supreme Emptiness

The next day.

The ten peaks’ bells tolled.

Including the new outer disciples, all the new disciples who had entered the Green Cloud Sect gathered at the Ancestor Master Hall.

Under the lead of Liu Wuchen, the new disciples one by one burned incense and bowed before the statue of the ancestor master.

After the ceremony was completed.

The nerves of the inner sect disciples grew even tenser.

Because the next segment was the most crucial.

That was to spar in front of the Ancestor Master Hall and compete.

"Sect Master Gong, I heard you have a bet with Sect Master Liu’s daughter?"

Kong Yuanba turned his head, eying Gong Caiyi, who had changed into a thin gauze dress, with an enchanting figure, smiling as he said,

"Would you like to bet with me too?"

Gong Caiyi’s face turned slightly cold: "Not interested!"

Sitting in the middle, Liu Wuchen was quite helpless.

Even with him sitting between them, Kong Yuanba did not give up harassing Gong Caiyi.

"Sect Master Kong, our disciples’ sparring is about to begin."

"Please be quiet for a moment."

Kong Yuanba sneered.

His eyes narrowed as he looked around at the new disciples standing beside the various peak masters, scoffing: "They are indeed quite a few new disciples, but I wonder if there are any worth watching."

Liu Wuchen’s face darkened slightly.

Over the years, Kong Yuanba was still so arrogant.

But, who could deny that the Giant Sect was one of the strongest of the Nine-Sect?

While the Green Cloud Sect was one of the weakest among them?

He gave the peak masters a look, and they each understood.

They quickly reminded the new disciples not to hold back and to display their full strength.

So as not to disgrace the name of Green Cloud Sect in front of outsiders.

The new disciples, sensing Kong Yuanba’s contempt, all bristled with anger.

Thus.

Including Jiang Fan, twenty new inner sect disciples began their sparring, determined by drawing lots.

A wooden box appeared before them.

Liu Wuchen said, "There are balls numbered from one to ten in the box, two of each."

"Those who draw the same number will spar against each other."

Many people first noticed Cao Zhen and Tao Zhengjun.

These two could be said to be the strongest among the new disciples.

Although there were also highly talented female disciples like Xu Youran, Xu Yining, and Chen Silin.

But their training was still shallow, and their realms were not very high.

Drawing one of them might still leave a chance for a fight.

But drawing Cao Zhen or Tao Zhengjun would mean certain elimination on the spot.

Everyone wanted to make a good impression in their first appearance before the Sect Master and the nine elders.

As for the final reward of entering the Book Collection Pavilion, they dared not even hope for it.

Soon enough.

Jiang Fan drew number three.

On the spot, Liu Wuchen began pairing them.

"Cao Zhen of Reincarnation Peak, against Tao Suling of Carefree Peak!"

"Tao Zhengjun of Sect Master Peak, against Wu Jiangtao of Chasing Sky Peak!"

Upon hearing the matches.

Except for Tao Suling and Wu Jiangtao, all the new disciples breathed a sigh of relief.

The two strongest were pitted against others.

The rest would be more manageable.

"Jiang Fan of Sect Master Peak, against Zheng Jiu of Mad Blade Peak!"

Jiang Fan looked over, finding a tall and handsome disciple holding a number three ball, being eyed with disdain by the female disciples.

"You’re that disciple of the Sect Master with no Spirit Root?"

"Famous for a long time, let’s see if you can last more than three moves against me."

The surroundings echoed with laughter.

Among the new disciples, the most formidable.

Undoubtedly Cao Zhen and Tao Zhengjun.

But in terms of fame, without question, it was Jiang Fan, the "dark horse." @@novelbin@@

"This guy’s luck isn’t great; he drew Zheng Jiu, the favored disciple of the Mad Blade Peak Master."

"He’s already in the Foundation Establishment realm and has mastered a high Yellow Level blade technique."

"It’s said his blade skills are exceptional and highly regarded by Zheng Jiu."

"For a disciple without a Spirit Root like Jiang Fan, blocking three moves from him is dubious."

Their discussions were nothing but background noise to Jiang Fan.

Gong Caiyi glanced at Liu Qingxian, with a half-smile, saying: "Miss Liu, if Jiang Fan loses before he has a chance to fight Cao Zhen, how will our bet be resolved?"

She did not have high hopes for Jiang Fan’s capabilities.

Jiang Fan’s excellence lay in his comprehension and medicine refining, yet his innate deficiency without a Spirit Root meant his martial strength was inevitably weak.

He might not even make it past Zheng Jiu.

Liu Qingxian, however, smiled mysteriously: "If he can’t even defeat Zheng Jiu, I’ll count it as my loss."

Oh?

Gong Caiyi was surprised; why did Liu Qingxian have such confidence in Jiang Fan’s strength?

Clearly, his strength couldn’t be that high.

As the disciples’ orders were arranged.

The sparring quickly began.

Cao Zhen and Tao Zhengjun deservedly lived up to expectations among the new disciples.

Within five rounds, they defeated their opponents, still retaining strength.

The other sparrings proceeded orderly.

Kong Wushuang, with hands behind his back, calmly watched the sparring, shaking his head: "Besides Cao Zhen and Tao Zhengjun, none of the others are worth mentioning."

"Green Cloud Sect is indeed too barren; no remarkable seedlings."

He didn’t lower his voice intentionally.

So all the disciples present heard it.

Cao Zhen’s eyebrows knitted: "Kong Wushuang, dare to spar with me?"

On Green Cloud Sect’s territory, so blatant, he, as the acknowledged strongest of the new disciples, couldn’t pretend not to hear.

Kong Wushuang sneered: "You? Not my match!"

"I have no interest in you!"

At this moment.

Liu Wuchen announced without expression: "Last group, Jiang Fan against Zheng Jiu."

He frowned.

Feeling a headache.

He most feared Jiang Fan making a spectacle of himself, affecting his reputation.

However, on such a grand occasion, Jiang Fan had to appear.

Appear he might, he still had to compete.

And his luck being so bad, drawing Zheng Jiu!

In the new disciples, Zheng Jiu’s strength was indeed at the forefront.

Cao Zhen’s attention was drawn over, casting a disdainful glance at Jiang Fan: "Fight me? You might not even make it past him."

What made his eyebrows twitch was that Kong Wushuang’s eyes sparkled, revealing interest: "Good!"

"The only one I see as an opponent is finally up."

"Let me see your prowess."

Cao Zhen was unconvinced.

Kong Wushuang dismissed his strength but held Jiang Fan in high regard?

Why?

He was recognized as the strongest new disciple of the Green Cloud Sect!

Why did everyone think so highly of Jiang Fan?

Everyone’s thoughts varied.

But without exception, they were all very interested in this fight.

Far more so than the spar between Cao Zhen and Tao Zhengjun.

Jiang Fan walked up calmly.

Zheng Jiu, carrying a large blade, glanced at the unarmed Jiang Fan: "Where is your weapon?"

"Not needed."

Jiang Fan shook his head.

For dealing with this level, there was no need to draw the Purple Sword.

Zheng Jiu snorted: "Arrogant!"

"Think that being a Sect Master’s disciple for a few days makes you superior?"

"Sparring is about skill, not status!"

"Fine, I’ll show you mercy, use my blade to awaken you!"

He stepped forward, his speed like thunder, stirring the dust.

The long blade flashed coldly, slashing powerfully towards Jiang Fan: "Ten Thousand Horsemen Charge!"

The new disciples’ eyes lit up.

Cao Zhen and Tao Zhengjun were slightly somber; the power of this slash exceeded their expectations.

Liu Wuchen’s face looked ugly.

He was a bit angry.

No spirit root, yet arrogant enough not to use a weapon?

Who gave Jiang Fan such courage?

Wasn’t this asking for trouble?

However.

With a dull thud, Liu Wuchen’s expression changed.

This didn’t sound like a blade, more like a punch or kick.

Looking up, he saw that Zheng Jiu, fierce as he was, was coughing blood, staggering backward, and falling to his knees with a thud.

If not for his long blade supporting his waist, he would already be on the ground, unable to get up.

Jiang Fan expressionlessly cupped his hands: "Thanks for letting me win."

After a brief moment of silence, the whole place erupted.