Chapter 5

Xu Xiaoshou was flipping through the red interface in his mind.

Passive Value: 148.

"Not enough..."

Although it was much higher than before, it was still a far cry from the 1000 Passive Value needed to purchase a skill point.

From what he could tell, being attacked, suspected, or ridiculed could all generate Passive Value, but these were all situations that arose when others interacted with him.

In other words, if he wanted to gain more Passive Value, he would have to immerse himself in a crowd and cause a ruckus!

Xu Xiaoshou silently complained, "Isn't this just forcing me to become a clown? It feels like I'm turning into a villain..."

Drawing attention, being overly showy, and then having someone come out to crush him underfoot, becoming the protagonist of the heavens.

The more he thought about it, the more Xu Xiaoshou shuddered, "This is way too passive!"

Thinking of "passive," he thought of the "Passive System" and the black wheel, feeling as if his fate was being orchestrated.

"Whatever, I should focus on how to improve my strength in three days!"

Although his physical body had reached the innate stage, his cultivation at the fourth realm might not be enough to handle those high-realm battle maniacs.

Shaking his head, he stopped thinking and took out the pill bottle given by Elder Qiao. Inside, three "Spirit Refining Pills" lay quietly.

These "Spirit Refining Pills" were incredibly precious, each worth several times more than his twenty spirit crystals. Was Elder Qiao really that generous?

Xu Xiaoshou pondered. He currently had two major cultivation methods: one was the postnatal-level Spirit Refining Method he had been practicing.

This method was extremely slow, and even with the aid of spirit crystals, the absorption rate was less than one percent, wasting resources.

The second was the "Breathing Technique," a basic passive skill given by the system. Although he hadn't upgraded it, it might have unexpected effects.

"Let's try with spirit crystals first!"

Xu Xiaoshou put the pill bottle away, took out a spirit crystal, and then paused.

How do I cultivate again?

This "Breathing Technique" was a passive skill, and he didn't even know how to activate it, let alone absorb spirit crystals.

Could it be...

Xu Xiaoshou's face turned strange, and a very absurd cultivation method came to mind.

"Exhale..."

He deeply exhaled, holding the spirit crystal and taking a big suck.

"Whoa!"

This was a highly absurd idea, but unexpectedly, as he sucked, two streams of dense spirit energy flew from the spirit crystal, like green snakes, darting into Xu Xiaoshou's wide-open nostrils.

As his nostrils flared, Xu Xiaoshou felt his soul being gently caressed by a saintly maiden, and every pore on his body exploded with pleasure.

A sense of comfort and elevation rose from his feet and reached the top of his head.

"Ah~"

Xu Xiaoshou couldn't help but moan. This feeling was too wonderful, something he had never experienced in his eighteen years!

Soon, he came to his senses and couldn't help but shiver.

"Damn!"

"Is this cultivation?"

"Is it really this intense?"

The spirit crystal in his hand had shrunk slightly, and Xu Xiaoshou was surprised. Just one suck, and there was such a noticeable change?

He checked his dantian and was instantly shocked.

The dantian was like a vortex, and the spirit energy surged like waves, growing higher and higher, with no sign of instability.

He had just broken through to the fourth realm, and this one suck had directly stabilized his realm?

Xu Xiaoshou was overjoyed. This "Breathing Technique" was terrifying!

No need for active cultivation, no need to circulate cultivation methods, no need for a full cycle, no waste of resources, one suck for comfort, one suck for a realm.

You, deserve it!

"If this is upgraded to the innate stage, with sufficient spirit energy supply, one suck for a realm, it's not a dream!" Xu Xiaoshou was stunned. This was too powerful!

After about ten sucks, the spirit crystal was completely absorbed into Xu Xiaoshou's nostrils, and his realm also rose.

The previous cultivation method absorbed less than one percent of the spirit crystals, but this "Breathing Technique" was terrifying, absorbing everything perfectly.

Correspondingly, Xu Xiaoshou was now like a drunk shrimp, sprawled on the bed, looking disheveled.

Such an intense cultivation method not only consumed spirit crystals but also took a toll on the body.

"Clack..." Xu Xiaoshou's teeth chattered.

"Help, help me up, clack... I can still cultivate..."

The pill bottle fell from his chest with a thud.

Seeing this, Xu Xiaoshou's body trembled violently.

...

Three days passed in Xu Xiaoshou's increasingly intense cultivation.

Outside the Tiansang Spirit Palace, at the Outcloud Platform, the crowd was immense.

This place was originally called Outcloud Peak. According to legend, Deputy Dean Sang of the Tiansang Spirit Palace burned half of the peak, forging the Outcloud Platform, which could accommodate ten thousand people.

The Outcloud Platform was a concave area on the peak, surrounded by rows of spectator seats. From a bird's-eye view, it looked like a large black bowl resting on the peak.

At this moment, the spectator seats were almost empty, as most of the outer court disciples were on the Outcloud Platform.

A sword-wielding elder stood in the air, named Xiao Qixiu, the Grand Elder of the Spirit Law Pavilion, who managed all law enforcement in the inner and outer courts, wielding great power.

He was the chief referee for the outer court's "Fengyun Competition."

Xiao Qixiu opened his eyes to the sun, confirmed the time, and loudly silenced the noise on the Outcloud Platform.

"Quiet!"

Everyone's eyes immediately lit up, staring directly at him. Xiao Qixiu calmly took out a piece of paper and read:

"This competition has a total of 1782 participants, corresponding to the numbers on your Fengyun Orders."

"The preliminary round will be a group elimination match, with 100 people in each group, totaling 18 groups, corresponding to 18 arenas."

Xiao Qixiu then took out a purple array token, activating it with spirit energy, causing it to emit a purple light.

The Outcloud Platform shook, and eighteen massive arenas slowly appeared, each enclosed in a transparent light barrier.

Those who were originally standing on the Outcloud Platform were pushed to the side by the light barriers. These were the new participants in the "Fengyun Competition."

The veterans had already gathered at the edge of the Outcloud Platform, watching the show with crossed arms.

Eighteen black beams descended from the sky, landing in the eighteen arenas.

Xiao Qixiu loudly announced, "Each arena has a professional referee. When they step in to save you, it means you have been judged as a failure."

"Here, I advise you all, injuries are inevitable, but stop when you can."

"Once on the arena, be prepared to die. Referees are not gods; they can be distracted, stunned, shocked, or scratching their heads. At such times, they can't save you."

Some new participants were immediately alarmed. This was different from what they had imagined.

Referees being distracted?

What a joke, can't they be more professional?

The veterans, however, smiled without a word. Elder Xiao's jokes were always the same, making people nervous even in the heat.

Everyone knew that the law enforcement elders of the Spirit Law Pavilion were incredibly strong and cold. How could they be distracted on the arena?

Scratching their heads?

Ridiculous!

Seeing the rookies start to panic, Xiao Qixiu's lips curled, and his expression changed slightly.

This was right!

Life is full of surprises; how can you always be in perfect condition?

He raised his hand, and a distant, ancient bell sounded, "Ding—"

"Midday has arrived. The 'Fengyun Competition' begins!"

...

On Arena 12, the referee looked at the people outside the light barrier and said coldly:

"The group stage is an elimination match. The last person standing on the arena is the winner."

"The top ten in each group will receive prizes and advance to the next round. Everyone, do your best!"

He symbolically waved his arm and coldly said, "Roll call, enter the arena!"

"1101, Zhou Zuo."

A slightly short young man trembled and walked over. Liu Zhen reminded him, "Show your token and imprint it on the barrier."

Zhou Zuo did as told, and he was sucked into the arena.

"1102, Liu Zhen."

Liu Zhen realized they had signed up together, with consecutive numbers.

"..."

"1120, Chao Xiaosan."

A young man walked over with a bitter face, as if going to his execution.

"..."

"1130, Xu Xiaoshou."

No response.

The referee frowned and repeated, "1130, Xu Xiaoshou."

Still no response.

The arena and the crowd became lively.

"Didn't Xu Xiaoshou just come out of seclusion?"

"Yeah, I saw him that day, he's alive and well!"

"Did he oversleep?"

"Unlikely, I saw him on the road just now, walking a bit strangely."

"Maybe you saw wrong?"

The referee was angry and shouted, "1130, Xu Xiaoshou?"

Everyone fell silent, looking around, but no one saw Xu Xiaoshou. The referee had no choice but to skip him and continue with the next number.

If he didn't show up by the time limit, he would be considered to have forfeited.

Who is Xu Xiaoshou, to be so careless as to be late for the "Fengyun Competition"?

...

In the spectator seats.

Unlike other arenas, Arena 12 had spectators, and there were three of them.

A red-dressed woman with a seductive figure lounged in her chair, her red lips shimmering.

"Sister Su, is this the little beast brother you wanted me to see? Did you wake him up?"

Beside her, a white-dressed girl blushed and pouted, "Sister Rao, what are you saying!"

"Little beast brother will definitely come. He must have been delayed. This is his last match, and I must watch it."

The white-dressed girl, Su Qianqian, was about fourteen or fifteen, a little girl, but she had a giant sword taller than her, resting on her lap.

She gently wiped the giant sword on her lap, her eyes filled with memories, "When I first entered the outer court, I had no one. Little beast brother helped me a lot, and I managed to enter the inner court in a month."

"A month..." Rao Yinyin lowered her head, murmuring. Although she knew Su Qianqian didn't mean it, her unintentional words were even more hurtful!

Far away.

Elder Qiao was squatting on his seat, scratching his head, and shouting, "Damn Xu Xiaoshou, where did he go!"

"Didn't you even let me see you off?"

"Urgent!"

...

Inside the barrier.

"Last call!"

The referee's grim voice echoed: "1130, Xu Xiaoshou!"

Ninety-nine people inside the arena and three people outside looked eagerly.

Where is Xu Xiaoshou?