Volume 2: The Appearance of the Nine Provinces Map, Entering the Lingxu Sect Chapter 150: Returning to Lingxu

After making quick work of Cui Feng, Chen Yu left Sanyang City overnight and fled far away.

Several days later, when the Cui clan finally realized what had happened, it caused quite a sensation within the family. However, despite thorough investigations, they found no clues whatsoever and had no way of knowing that Chen Yu was the one who did it.

Traveling by galloping fine steeds and flying on swords, Chen Yu finally returned to the Spirit Ruins Mountain gate after more than half a month on the road.

Along the way, he had encountered a few dangers, but he had resolved them one by one, and his cultivation had grown increasingly profound.

Looking at the gate of the Spirit Ruins, he felt the sentiment of returning home from a long journey. He could not help but self-mockingly think, "Ah, a person still needs a harbor to return to."

Chen Yu went straight to the Mission Hall to submit his completed mission. After receiving his reward, he headed directly back to his dwelling.

Having been away from home for several months, a layer of dust had settled inside the room. With a casual wave of Chen Yu's hand, his spiritual power surged and transformed into a fine mist. The mist clung to the dust, and under the control of a whirlwind, it gathered into a clump. Then, a wave of intense heat enveloped it, drying everything in an instant.

Chen Yu looked at the clean house with satisfaction and collapsed onto his bed, falling fast asleep.

He slept all the way until the next day and was only woken up by a commotion outside.

"Ah... What major event has happened?" Chen Yu sat up in confusion, washed up simply, and walked outside.

At that moment, he saw the disciples walking past in high spirits and overflowing with excitement. In the distance, the Outer Sect Hall and the direction of the Demon Suppressing Hall were brightly lit with lanterns and festive decorations, looking extremely lively.

"Junior Brother, what is happening over there?" Chen Yu reached out and stopped a young disciple of around eleven or twelve to ask.

"Senior Brother, do you not know?" the disciple asked, looking at Chen Yu strangely. "The Outer Sect Grand Competition is going to be held in a few days."

"Oh... the Outer Sect Grand Competition?" Chen Yu said in surprise.

"That's right." The disciple looked at Chen Yu with even more suspicion, almost doubting whether Chen Yu was truly a disciple of the Spirit Ruins Sect at all. "Senior Brother, you really didn't know?"

"Oh, I just returned from a trial journey outside, so I'm not very clear about it," Chen Yu casually explained.

"Oh... Is that so!" The disciple looked at Chen Yu with a mixture of envy and admiration. Just as he was about to ask something else, a cry of pleasant surprise came from afar.

"Senior Brother Chen..." It turned out that Xue Ren and the others had come looking for him.

"Ah, the three Junior Brothers, long time no see," Chen Yu said with a smile.

---

"Earlier, when we saw the lights on in Senior Brother's house, we knew you had returned, but we didn't dare to disturb you," Xue Ren said.

Chen Yu glanced at the three of them and smiled, "The three of Junior Brothers have made great progress indeed. I can see that you are not far from a breakthrough."

Xue Ren and the other two rubbed their hands in embarrassment and said, "How could we compare to you, Senior Brother? We still have no idea when we'll be able to break through."

"Refine your foundation well, and when the opportunity arrives, a breakthrough will naturally follow."

Hearing this, the three of them were pleasantly surprised, realizing that Chen Yu intended to offer them some guidance.

"Hmm... Xiao Bing, why are you standing next to Senior Brother Chen?" At this moment, Zheng Huai looked in confusion at the disciple hiding behind Chen Yu and asked.

"Hehe... Cousin Geng, Cousin Huai, how are you both?" The young disciple said with a timid and awkward smile.

"You know each other?" Chen Yu found it a pleasant coincidence and asked with a smile.

"Yes, this is my aunt's son, Shi Bing," Zheng Huai said, explaining that he had only joined the Spirit Ruins Sect a few months ago.

Chen Yu nodded slightly and then began to ask them about the Outer Sect Grand Competition.

"Oh... Senior Brother, since you just returned, you might not know. This year's Outer Sect Grand Competition is vastly different from previous ones," Xue Ren said excitedly.

"How is it different?" Chen Yu asked curiously.

"Senior Brother, let's walk and talk. The area around the Outer Sect Hall has been extraordinarily lively these past few days," Zheng Geng urged eagerly.

"Very well, let's go," Chen Yu said, feeling somewhat curious to witness it himself.

"Xiao Bing, you come along too."

"Great..." Shi Bing, who had been wanting to go and take a look, immediately rejoiced.

It turned out that ever since the Outer Sect Grand Competition was announced, disciples had been gathering in front of the Demon Suppressing Hall every day to warm up and spar, drawing a large crowd. Even many disciples who had been assigned to external missions had returned.

"Is that all?" Chen Yu did not find it particularly novel.

"Of course not," Zheng Huai said. "I wonder if Senior Brother has heard the news spread by the Cui clan?"

---

"Are you talking about that secret realm?" Chen Yu immediately understood.

"That's right, it's about the secret realm," Zheng Huai explained. "I heard from the senior brothers in the sect that this secret realm is no small matter, and our Spirit Ruins Sect will go all out for it."

"The entry slots will be decided based on the rankings of this Outer Sect Grand Competition. Any disciple who places in the top one hundred will receive vigorous cultivation resources from the sect, in hopes of achieving massive improvements within five years."

Chen Yu nodded and said, "That makes sense. Outer Sect disciples are all cultivators below the Four Symbols Realm. However, five years is quite a long time. Many might fail to suppress their cultivation and break through in the meantime, missing their chance at the secret realm five years later. Setting the threshold at the top one hundred is logical."

Xue Ren and the others nodded silently, their eyes filled with yearning.

However, Chen Yu suddenly remarked, "Whether that secret realm is truly restricted to those below the Four Symbols Realm, however, remains to be seen."

"Ah... hasn't it already been rumored this way?" Shi Bing asked in confusion.

"That may be what is said, but judging by the level of importance attached to it by the major sects, this trip to the secret realm will definitely not be simple. It is very likely that even Inner Sect disciples will find a way to enter. The methods of the elders are not something we can fathom."

Although it was merely their conjecture, this possibility could not be ruled out entirely.

"Senior Brother Chen, what is your current cultivation level?" Zheng Geng suddenly asked out of curiosity. Having not seen Chen Yu for over half a year, his cultivation must have improved significantly.

Chen Yu smiled and said, "I have already unlocked six orifices."

"Ah... The First Yuan Realm with six opened orifices? Senior Brother, you've already..." Xue Ren and the others stared at Chen Yu in utter shock and disbelief. When Chen Yu had charged through the Demon Suppressing Hall, he had only just broken through to the First Yuan Realm not long ago. How could he have already unlocked six orifices by now? This progression was simply too fast.

Shi Bing also looked at Chen Yu in astonishment. Judging by Chen Yu's aura, he didn't seem overwhelmingly powerful; he had assumed Chen Yu was at most at the first-orifice stage of the First Yuan Realm.

Xue Ren swallowed hard, his voice filled with envy and excitement as he said, "Senior Brother, then you must definitely participate in this Outer Sect Grand Competition! I believe with your strength, you can easily break into the top one hundred."

Chen Yu smiled faintly and said, "We shall see. The Outer Sect rankings are held once every three years. Even if I fail to make the top one hundred this time, I can always try again in three years."

Xue Ren and the others shook their heads in disagreement. After all, entering the top one hundred in this particular competition meant receiving dedicated sect training and achieving monumental progress that ordinary cultivation could never match.

Thinking about it, Chen Yu realized they made a valid point.