leonardwarren Chapter 13: Sweeping through the rankings to reach the pinnacle of the inner sect; a hero saves a da
Chapter 13: Sweeping through the rankings to reach the pinnacle of the inner sect; a hero saves a da
The incident involving the inner sect's assassination attempt has been settled. The six members of the Tiger Roar Hall reaped what they sowed, and were severely punished by the elders, having their cultivation abolished and being confined to a forbidden area to reflect on their mistakes.
Once the news spread, the entire inner sect fell completely silent.
The disciples who had previously been eyeing Qin Zhan covetously and preparing to cause trouble instantly fell silent. They bowed and avoided him from afar, not even daring to look him in the eye.
The disciples looked at each other in bewilderment:
Not only is he good at fighting, but he's also cunning and calculating. He even managed to lure the elders to the scene with precision. You can't afford to mess with this kind of person, absolutely not!
Qin Zhan ignored this completely.
He knew perfectly well that while the inner sect appeared calm, undercurrents were still surging beneath the surface. Until a truly secure position was secured, some would inevitably harbor illusions.
The inner sect ranking battle, which begins three days later, will be the perfect stage for him to establish his authority and ascend to the top of the inner sect...
Inner Gate Ranking Battle
The inner sect's martial arts arena was magnificent, with elders gathered on the high platform, and even several of the sect's supreme elders were paying attention to it.
Su Qingyuan, dressed in white, stood in the VIP section, her peerless face serene and aloof, yet her gaze remained fixed on the figure on the field, her heart fluttering slightly.
I'd like to see how far you can go this time.
She didn't say it, but she had already decided in her heart that Qin Zhan would definitely win the championship.
With the elder's command, the ranking battle officially began.
Qin Zhan's opponents changed one after another, but the outcome was surprisingly consistent—
One move to defeat the enemy, a complete crushing victory.
A disciple at the second level of the Qi Gathering Realm was blasted away by his punch;
The veteran expert from the inner sect had his moves seen through and was subdued with a counterattack.
Some disciples, who considered themselves to be exceptionally shrewd, even tried to set a trap to lure Qin Zhan into a trap, but Qin Zhan turned the tables on them and humiliated them on the spot.
Qin Zhan pondered: Inner disciples may seem to have higher cultivation levels, but in reality, their foundations are weak and their minds are restless. Dealing with them doesn't require using my full strength. What I want isn't victory, but undisputed dominance!
After each game ended, the entire stadium was deathly silent for a moment, then erupted in a deafening roar.
Elder Gaotai nodded repeatedly, deeply moved.
This young man possesses extraordinary combat prowess, a calm and composed mind, and a decisive and ruthless nature, making him a once-in-a-millennium genius!
After overcoming numerous obstacles, Qin Zhan easily advanced to the finals, where his opponent was Lin Xiaotian, the perennial number one in the inner sect and a fourth-level Qi Gathering Realm cultivator.
Lin Xiaotian stared coldly at Qin Zhan, his heart burning with jealousy:
You lowly commoner from the outer sect, do you dare to compete with me for first place? Today I will surely cripple you!
He immediately unleashed his most powerful technique, his spiritual energy surging, his aura terrifying.
Qin Zhan's eyes were indifferent. He flashed forward and closed in, punching Qin Zhan in the weak spot.
"Bang!"
Lin Xiaotian was struck hard and flew backward, crashing heavily onto the stage.
One punch decides the outcome.
The entire venue erupted in cheers!
"Qin Zhan is number one! The new overlord of the inner sect!"
The elder on the high platform announced loudly:
"Qin Zhan, ranked first among this year's inner disciples! He is granted a core disciple token and is authorized to undertake sect secret realm missions alongside the Holy Maiden!"
One sentence caused another uproar in the audience.
To travel with the Holy Maiden? This is an opportunity that countless disciples dream of!
In the VIP section, Su Qingyuan's ears felt slightly warm, her heart skipped a beat, and a faint smile unconsciously appeared on her lips: It seems that our paths are about to cross even further.
Three days later, at the foot of the sect mountain.
Qin Zhan wore a blue inner sect robe, his posture was upright, and his temperament was cold and aloof.
Su Qingyuan, dressed in white, with her black hair loosely tied up, possessed an unparalleled beauty. Standing beside him, they looked like a perfect couple.
Su Qingyuan thought to herself: Traveling alone with him, I felt inexplicably nervous. Would he see through my thoughts? No, I am the Holy Maiden of the sect, I must remain calm.
Qin Zhan pondered: Su Qingyuan is highly talented, has a keen eye, and a pure heart. She is not arrogant, does not look down on others, and treats me sincerely. Such a woman is worth getting to know better.
The two walked in silence, but the atmosphere was not awkward; instead, there was an unspoken understanding between them.
Su Qingyuan couldn't help but speak first, her voice soft:
"This mission is to explore Black Wind Canyon. It is said that there are monsters causing trouble, and disciples from other sects are also coveting the resources of the secret realm. You must be careful."
The worry was obvious in his tone.
Qin Zhan turned to look at her; sunlight fell on her exquisite profile, and a warmth filled his heart.
"With the Holy Maiden here, I am naturally at ease."
A simple response made Su Qingyuan's cheeks flush slightly, and she quickly turned her head away, her heart beating faster for no reason.
As soon as the two stepped into Black Wind Canyon, they were surrounded by a group of men in black.
The leader, clad in a black robe, exuded a chilling aura. He was none other than the young master of the Blood Fiend Sect, whose cultivation had reached the first level of the Spirit Sea Realm!
"The Holy Maiden of the Qingyun Sect, plus a newly promoted inner sect genius—truly, heaven is on my side!" The black-robed young master sneered. "Capture Su Qingyuan to blackmail the Qingyun Sect; kill Qin Zhan and seize his opportunities!"
Behind them were dozens of men in black, all at least at the third level of the Qi Gathering Realm, instantly creating a deadly situation.
Su Qingyuan's heart tightened:
Spirit Sea Realm! Far surpassing me and Qin Zhan, today I'm afraid...
She instinctively stepped in front of Qin Zhan, her saintly arrogance fully displayed: "If you dare to lay a hand on me, the Qingyun Sect will not let you get away with it!"
But her heart was ice-cold:
I may die, but I've implicated Qin Zhan...
The young master in black robes smiled contemptuously:
A mere Qi Gathering Realm cultivator and a newly entered inner sect disciple are like ants before me, a Spirit Sea Realm cultivator! Today, you will find yourselves trapped and unable to escape!
He waved his hand, and the men in black swarmed forward.
Su Qingyuan gritted her teeth and fought back. Her white clothes fluttered and her moves were exquisite, but the difference in their cultivation levels was too great. She quickly fell into a disadvantageous position, and her shoulder was cut by the sword energy, from which blood seeped out.
"Qing Yuan!"
Qin Zhan's pupils contracted sharply, and an unnamed anger suddenly erupted in his heart.
Anyone can hurt him, but no one can hurt her.
Anyone who dares to touch my people is asking for death!
So what if you're at the Spirit Sea Realm? I possess the Heaven-Burning Battle Emperor Technique and the Chaos Battle Soul; today, I will slay you beyond my level!
He no longer held back; his Chaos Battle Spirit erupted, and his invincible fighting spirit swept across the entire arena.
"Heaven-Burning, Earth-Splitting Fist!"
With a single punch, flames erupted, instantly killing several men in black.
Qin Zhan flashed forward, directly blocking Su Qingyuan's path, his back broad and reassuring.
"Step back, leave the rest to me."
That simple sentence instantly brought tears to Su Qingyuan's eyes, and she was completely captivated.
The feeling of being protected has never been so strong.
The young master in black robes was furious upon seeing this: "A mere Qi Gathering Realm cultivator dares to be so arrogant!"
He struck out with his palm, and the pressure of the Spirit Sea Realm descended.
Qin Zhan neither dodged nor evaded, a cold smile playing on his lips:
You think I'm just going to fight head-on? I've already seen through the trajectory of your spiritual energy flow!
He twisted his body strangely, avoiding the direct attack, and then struck at the dantian acupoint with his backhand.
"puff!"
The black-robed young master's spiritual energy instantly became chaotic, and he was utterly horrified:
"How could you possibly have seen through my moves?!"
Qin Zhan gave him no chance, unleashing his burning fighting spirit and punching him in the chest.
"Bang!"
The expert at the Spirit Sea Realm was sent flying backward on the spot, spitting out blood and suffering severe injuries on the verge of death.
The men in black were terrified and turned to flee.
Qin Zhan's eyes were icy cold as he pursued and killed them all, leaving no one alive.
The canyon returned to calm.
Su Qingyuan had an injury to her shoulder and her face was slightly pale, but she was still stunningly beautiful.
Qin Zhan stepped forward, took out healing pills, and unconsciously softened his tone:
"Heal your wounds first."
His fingertips accidentally touched her skin, and they both froze at the same time.
Su Qingyuan thought to herself: He protected me without hesitation just now... So, in his heart, I am different.
This young man rose from obscurity, yet he was willing to fight against powerful enemies for me. In this life, I will never regret meeting him.
Qin Zhan felt as if his heart was being torn apart: "I was so flustered when I saw her injured."
Perhaps from our first meeting at the Resource Hall, to the inner sect's reminder, and now to our perilous journey together, I have already fallen for her.
Su Qingyuan looked up, meeting Qin Zhan's deep gaze, and said softly:
Thank you for today.
"Isn't it only natural for me to protect you?" Qin Zhan asked earnestly.
One sentence made Su Qingyuan's cheeks flush red, and she lowered her head, but couldn't help but smile.
Sunlight streamed through the canyon, falling on the two of them. In the stillness of the moment, feelings began to stir and officially began to blossom.
In the distance, the hidden sect guards observed everything and nodded in approval.
The Holy Maiden and Qin Zhan were a match made in heaven.
Looking at the shy woman before him, Qin Zhan's fighting spirit intensified.
Upon reaching the summit through the inner gate, a beauty's heart was won over.
But that's far from enough.
Dynasties, Holy Realms, the Pinnacle of All Realms...
He wants to take Su Qingyuan with him to the position of Supreme War God!