"Brother Hu, please look!" Chen Erniu handed the jade bottle to Hu Nan.
Hu Nan slowly uncorked the bottle, and a rich aroma of spiritual energy and medicine wafted out, almost filling the entire small house.
He tilted the bottle slightly, and a perfectly round, crimson pill slowly rolled out, landing in his palm.
The pill was warm to the touch, its spiritual energy pure and abundant, its surface faintly glowing, and fine spiritual energy patterns swirling around it.
"Indeed, it's a high-grade Foundation Establishment Pill." Hu Nan's tone carried a subtle hint of emotion.
Seeing Hu Nan's moved expression, Chen Erniu continued, "Brother Hu, besides this high-grade Foundation Establishment Pill, I have another treasure that can help you easily win the competition."
As he finished speaking, Chen Erniu raised his hand again, a flash of spiritual light appearing at his fingertips, and a jade pendant, entirely emerald green, appeared out of thin air in his hand.
The jade pendant was round and translucent, its surface engraved with intricate runes that faintly shimmered with a green light. It was surrounded by a dense aura of defensive spiritual energy, clearly no ordinary treasure.
He gently placed the pendant on the stone table and pushed it towards Hu Nan, his tone steady and confident: "This jade pendant is a defensive treasure called the 'Azure Cloud Pendant.'"
"It contains defensive spiritual power refined in my previous life, enough to defend against high-level spells of the Blood Demon Sect. Even against a full-force attack from a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator, it can steadily withstand the attack, ensuring your safety."
Hearing Chen Erniu's words, Qin Changsheng, far away in the courtyard, was also somewhat tempted.
After all, Li Hu was the young master of the Blood Demon Sect.
Moreover, Li Hu knew many spells.
With this spell, Hu Nan's victory in the competition would be much easier.
Qin Changsheng pondered for a long time and decided that this time, cooperating with Chen Erniu was a good option.
Even if he won the grand competition, he would only choose a Foundation Establishment Pill, a futon, and a Spirit-Suppressing Pearl.
Moreover, the Foundation Establishment Pill he obtained from the competition was merely a low-grade one.
Having received Qin Changsheng's instructions, Hu Nan didn't hesitate at all: "Brother Chen, it's a deal. I agree to cooperate with you."
"Good! Good! Good!" Hearing Hu Nan's reply, Chen Erniu could no longer contain his eagerness and joy, saying "Good!" three times in succession.
"Brother Hu is indeed straightforward!" Chen Erniu stood up with a smile: "Let's seal this with a high five!"
After saying this, Chen Erniu raised his right hand.
Hu Nan didn't hesitate at all, slowly stood up, raised his right palm, and slapped it towards Chen Erniu's palm.
"Clap—" Three crisp claps rang out.
Chen Erniu withdrew his palm and said: "Brother Hu, there's something I've always been quite puzzled about, and I'd like to ask you today."
"Brother Chen, please speak freely!" Hu Nan said.
"Three years ago, wasn't the golden light on that cultivation technique stone tablet Brother Hu?" Chen Erniu's expression was somewhat certain; clearly, he had already guessed, and today he was simply confirming it in person.
Hearing Chen Erniu's words, Qin Changsheng remained silent for a moment before letting Hu Nan admit it.
After receiving Qin Changsheng's permission, Hu Nan said, "That's right, it was me!"
Hearing Hu Nan's admission, Chen Erniu's face didn't show any surprise; he simply shook his head slightly: "Brother Hu, you… why didn't you know to hide the light?"
Hearing Chen Erniu's words, Qin Changsheng was somewhat surprised.
He hadn't expected that the light on the cultivation technique stone tablet could also be concealed.
At the same time, a thought flashed through Qin Changsheng's mind like lightning.
Chen Erniu must have also obtained something from the cultivation technique stone tablet!
And he had even concealed that light.
"It's just a little light, why hide it?" Hu Nan said dismissively, while asking, "Brother Chen must have also obtained an ancient divine power!"
Upon hearing this, Chen Erniu shook his head slightly, a hint of barely perceptible melancholy in his voice: "Brother Hu is joking. I don't possess your heaven-defying talent."
"I've merely comprehended a high-level secret technique."
"Congratulations, Brother Chen!" Hu Nan cupped his hands in greeting.
Chen Erniu waved his hand, his tone indifferent: "It's just a bit of luck, nothing to mention. Compared to the ancient divine power Brother Hu obtained, my high-level secret technique is ultimately inferior."
Saying this, he slowly stood up, his expression becoming solemn again, and looked at Hu Nan, his tone sincere: "Brother Hu, it's getting late, I won't disturb you any longer."
After saying this, Chen Erniu got up and left.
Far away in the outer courtyard, Qin Changsheng also slowly stood up.
"Chen Erniu...a reincarnation of a Nascent Soul cultivator..." Qin Changsheng murmured softly, his tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible shock and realization.
He hadn't expected that he would actually encounter a reincarnation of a Nascent Soul cultivator.
Before, he had always believed that Chen Erniu was the young master of the Blood Demon Sect.
Qin Changsheng didn't completely believe Chen Erniu's words.
However, he could still cooperate with Chen Erniu.
After all, the treasures Chen Erniu gave them were truly exceptional.
Both the high-grade Foundation Establishment Pill and the jade pendant were excellent treasures.
...
The next morning.
Just as dawn broke.
The Heavenly Sword Sect's plaza was packed with disciples who had come to watch the competition.
"I didn't expect Hu Nan to be so powerful!"
"He defeated the favorite to win, Lin Hao, in one move!"
"That was because Senior Brother Lin was caught off guard!"
"Today, Hu Nan will definitely be eliminated in the top sixteen!"
"That's right, today's champion will definitely be Wu Yong!"
"I think today's champion will be Senior Sister Jiang Lijuan!"
"That Li Hu is also very strong!"
The disciples were all discussing yesterday's competition.
They were also speculating about the favorites to win.
However, no one was optimistic about Hu Nan.
They all believed that Hu Nan was just lucky, getting the title of champion for free.
Hu Nan's luck couldn't possibly be that good today.
Zhang Han was also in the crowd, and upon hearing everyone's opinions of Hu Nan, he wholeheartedly agreed.
After all, he was extremely jealous of Hu Nan.
Originally, his strength and spiritual roots were similar to Hu Nan's.
He had always hovered around the fourth level of Qi Refining.
But now Hu Nan's cultivation had reached the Great Perfection of Qi Refining, and he had even entered the top sixteen of the competition.
So whenever he heard someone say something bad about Hu Nan, he would rush up and say a few words.
Half an hour later, more than ten sword lights suddenly flew through the sky.
The next instant, Sect Leader Xuan Yangzi, Elder Qingxuan, Fairy Qingling, Lin Zhentian, and others all arrived on the high platform.
"Junior Brother Lin, you will preside over this drawing ceremony again!" Xuan Yangzi looked at Lin Zhentian.
"Yes, sir!" Lin Zhentian cupped his hands in greeting to Xuan Yangzi and walked to the front of the platform.
"Silence!" Lin Zhentian said softly.
This voice instantly drowned out all the clamor and discussion.
The numerous disciples stopped talking and turned their gazes to Lin Zhentian on the platform.
Lin Zhentian's gaze slowly swept across the plaza as he spoke, "Today is the day of the Heavenly Sword Sect's Grand Tournament's Round of 16. Congratulations to the sixteen disciples who have emerged victorious and stood on this stage today. You are all the best of the sect, the hope for the future of the Heavenly Sword Sect!"
Lin Zhentian continued, "Without further ado, today's competition will adhere to the sect's Grand Tournament rules: no killing allowed. Before the matches, a draw will be held to determine the pairings for the Round of 16 and the potential opponents for the subsequent eight. The draw will be fair and impartial, entirely based on chance. Now, I invite the sixteen disciples who have advanced to come forward and draw their lots!"
As he finished speaking, Lin Zhentian raised his hand, a flash of spiritual light appearing at his fingertips, and an ancient wooden box materialized in his hand.
The wooden box was entirely black, its surface engraved with simple runes. Inside were sixteen numbered wooden slips, each corresponding to one of the sixteen pairings in the Round of 16.
As Lin Zhentian finished speaking, sixteen disciples, including Hu Nan, Li Hu, Jiang Lijuan, and Zhao Lei, stepped onto the arena.
"The drawing of lots begins!" Lin Zhentian waved his hand, and the wooden box flew to Jiang Lijuan's side.
After Jiang Lijuan drew a number, the box flew to the next disciple.
In less than a few minutes, Hu Nan and the others had all completed the drawing ceremony.
Hu Nan gently unfolded the wooden slip, revealing a small "3" engraved on it.
Hu Nan's luck was exceptionally good.
His opponents in the top sixteen and top eight were not very strong.
Only in the top four might he encounter Jiang Lijuan.
Li Hu, however, was placed in the opposite half of the bracket.
After reading the draw, Lin Zhentian raised his hand, signaling the disciples who had drawn their corresponding numbers to step forward: "Now, disciples, please come forward in the order of your matches. The battle for the top sixteen officially begins!"
With Lin Zhentian's announcement, the outer sect competition's elimination rounds officially began.
Because Hu Nan's opponents weren't very strong, and they didn't possess any advanced techniques,
in less than an hour, Hu Nan defeated his opponents in the top 16 and top 8, becoming the first to advance to the top four.
"How is Hu Nan so powerful?"
"He actually made it to the top four first?"
"That's impossible!"
"Hmph, Hu Nan is just lucky. His opponent in the top four is Senior Sister Jiang Lijuan!"
"Senior Sister Jiang will definitely defeat Hu Nan!"
Seeing Hu Nan enter the top four so easily, many disciples were astonished.
They originally thought Hu Nan would have a hard time reaching the top four, but they didn't expect his strength to be so formidable.
He defeated his opponents in the top 8 and top 16 in just a few moves.
Zhang Han, in particular, had a terribly grim expression.
Zhang Han had always thought Hu Nan's advancement to the top 16 was due to luck.
After entering the top 16, Hu Nan's good fortune came to an end.
Unexpectedly, Hu Nan continued his strong performance, becoming the first to enter the semi-finals.
This made Zhang Han extremely uncomfortable.
Especially seeing the way Lin Yao looked at Hu Nan made Zhang Han even more uncomfortable.
On the high platform, Xuan Yangzi's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he nodded slightly, while several elders also showed surprised expressions and began to whisper among themselves.
Not far away, Li Hu looked at Hu Nan's back, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes.
He clearly used Blood Demon Powder on Hu Nan.
How come Hu Nan didn't look like he had been drugged with Blood Demon Powder at all?
At the same time, Jiang Lijuan also defeated her opponent, and her gaze also turned to Hu Nan.
Jiang Lijuan also had some doubts.
Before the outer sect competition, she had never heard of Hu Nan's name.
But unexpectedly, this unassuming person defeated Lin Hao, entered the semi-finals first, and became her opponent in the semi-finals.
However, Jiang Lijuan wasn't overly worried.
She believed that with her strength, she could definitely defeat Hu Nan, enter the finals, and then win the championship.
A little over half an hour later, all the matches for the top eight had ended.
The final four were determined: Hu Nan, Jiang Lijuan, Li Hu, and Wu Yong.