Chapter 48: The Target of All Arrows

The small forest was not far from the arena. With the speed of these disciples, a thousand-strong group surged into the woods in just a few breaths. At the same time, dozens of Flowing Cloud Sect enforcers also swept into the forest to supervise.

" Wang Yue, what are you up to?" Outside the forest, Shen Chen grabbed Wang Yue, somewhat exasperated. The latter had just entered and was eager to rush in.

" Big Brother, it's only two hundred purple sandalwood tokens. Look at all these people. If we're late, we won't even get a taste of the soup." Wang Yue turned his head, his face full of anxiety. Like many other disciples, he was unwilling to fall behind.

However, Wang Yue soon noticed the unusual atmosphere around him. It seemed... not only was his big brother Shen Chen calm and composed, but near them, over a dozen familiar faces were also lazily wandering around, showing no intention of rushing into the depths of the forest with the main group.

Some were even leaning against trees, eyes closed, as if they were not participating in a competitive assessment at all.

Wang Yue noticed that these dozen or so people were all top-ranking inner disciples, including Zhong Ling, Yuan Xiao, Fang Han, and others.

" Big Brother, what are they doing...?" The scene before him made Wang Yue think of something, but he was still unsure, looking at Shen Chen.

" Heh heh, don't you know? In this world, the weak always serve the strong."

Shen Chen soon found a patch of grass to lie down on, smiling nonchalantly as if he were talking about something ordinary.

" Oh, I see, they're all waiting to snatch... " Wang Yue suddenly understood, but he swallowed his words halfway. He didn't want to draw hatred by pointing out the obvious.

Wang Yue, holding a blade of grass, moved closer to Shen Chen and lowered his voice, his face showing a hint of suspicion. " Big Brother, are we also going to enjoy the fruits of others' efforts?"

" Hmm," Shen Chen opened one eye and nodded. " If you want to be a sage and can't bring yourself to do it, it's not too late to rush in now."

" Hehe, Big Brother, you make it sound like I have a choice. I'm not a gentleman, and I don't want to be a good guy. Getting something for nothing is what I'm all about." Wang Yue scratched his head and laughed awkwardly.

" Hmm, you're teachable. Wang Yue, always remember, if you want to live comfortably, don't care too much about constraints."

Shen Chen gave Wang Yue a lesson, not taking it seriously. This kid's grandfather and sister were kind-hearted people, and it was fine for them to stay in a small mountain village. But if they wanted to venture out into the world, they were bound to suffer.

Shen Chen didn't want Wang Yue to regret it in the future. For a long time to come, he was willing to play the bad guy and teach Wang Yue a few things.

" Hehe, Junior Brother Shen Chen, your words are so true. It seems you're destined for great things."

Zhong Ling, with a silver laugh, walked over, her slender waist swaying like a water snake, her ample chest trembling slightly with every movement, exuding a bewitching aura.

Behind her, seven or eight inner disciples followed. This enchanting beauty always had admirers, even the third-ranked inner disciple, Yuan Xiao, was smitten with her.

" Senior Sister Zhong Ling, you flatter me. Deceiving this kid is my specialty, nothing special." Shen Chen propped himself up from the grass, leaning back against a tree, his gaze calmly fixed on the bewitching beauty.

To be honest, Shen Chen didn't want to deal with this troublemaker who had caused him problems from the start. Beauty can be a curse, especially for a girl as captivating as Zhong Ling, who brought trouble wherever she went.

However, Shen Chen also didn't like being watched by a crowd while he slept. When this beauty arrived, half of the inner disciples waiting to snatch the purple sandalwood tokens slowly gathered around. Even Shen Chen, who was usually calm, felt uneasy.

" Last night, my master told me that if it weren't for the accident three months ago, she would have chosen you as her second personal disciple," Zhong Ling's eyes were like autumn water, her lips curling with a playful smile. " Tsk tsk, so envious. When she decided to take me, I was already at the sixth level of the Blood Fusion stage. You have such good fortune."

" Cough... That's just Elder Sima's favor. I was just lucky." Shen Chen rubbed his nose, coughing and laughing. From her tone, he could tell she was a bit jealous.

Two lifetimes of experience told Shen Chen that when a woman is jealous of a man, it can cause chaos, but when a woman is jealous of another woman, it can be deadly.

Shen Chen was also surprised that such a beautiful girl would care so much about her master...

However, Zhong Ling clearly wasn't going to let Shen Chen off the hook. Her smile widened as she teased, " The headmaster and the two elders' bet, my master also told me. Theoretically, to get two of the top five spots, you two need to knock at least one person out of the top four. So, you're prepared to fight me?"

Shen Chen didn't expect Zhong Ling to ask such a sharp question, but some things couldn't be avoided. He nodded, " Yes, it's unavoidable. To avoid being stripped of his cultivation, Wang Yue must fight you!"

" What about you?" Zhong Ling was clearly not satisfied. Shen Chen's words clearly didn't take her seriously.

" Cough... I don't have to, Elder Sima has been kind to me. I really don't want to fight you, Senior Sister Zhong Ling..." Shen Chen coughed, a premeditated response. To get one of the top five spots, he had to challenge the top three.

It wasn't that Shen Chen was being chivalrous, but as Elder Sima Ya's prized disciple, if she lost to him and then to Wang Yue, it would be too much of a blow.

Thinking of how Elder Sima Ya had protected him and even gifted him a unique movement technique, Shen Chen couldn't bear to do it. That's why he had insisted on challenging Yuan Xiao.

To others, his words that day might have seemed arrogant, but Shen Chen had his reasons.

However, Zhong Ling couldn't know Shen Chen's intentions. Hearing his words, she thought he was underestimating her. She huffed, her face showing a hint of anger, " Enough talk. I've already told my master that I'll defeat you first in the competition!"

" But I've already decided to challenge Yuan Xiao in the first round," Shen Chen rolled his eyes, realizing she was determined to challenge him. However, he couldn't fight her, not wanting to disappoint Elder Sima Ya.

" Humph! Arrogant brat, rest assured, I won't hold back. I'll make sure you can't get out of bed for three months!" Yuan Xiao, standing nearby, his face darkened when he heard Shen Chen's casual challenge. If not for Elder Sima Chuan's rule against private duels in the forest, he would have attacked already.

" We'll see on the arena!" Shen Chen glanced at him, responding coldly.

" Then after your first round, we'll fight!" Zhong Ling insisted, waving her fist at Shen Chen. " But... I can only hope you can last. I don't fight injured fellow disciples."

It wasn't surprising that Zhong Ling didn't think much of Shen Chen. She knew how strong Yuan Xiao was. Though he was annoying, his strength was undeniable, which is why she was ranked fourth, behind him.

As for her master's praise for Shen Chen, Zhong Ling didn't completely ignore it, but she believed that some things couldn't be changed by talent. The significant gap in cultivation made the outcome of the battle almost certain...

On the other side, Shen Chen, unaware that he had already been written off, waved his finger, " Beat Wang Yue first."

" Are you challenging me?" Hearing Shen Chen's words, Zhong Ling immediately turned her attention to Wang Yue, her face showing anger, her eyes shooting seductive glances.

Wang Yue, unlike Shen Chen, was only sixteen, and his youthful vigor made him vulnerable to such seductive gazes.

" Senior Sister Zhong Ling, I... I just want to get one of the top five spots..." Wang Yue's face turned red, his voice losing its confidence, unable to meet Zhong Ling's gaze.

" Don't say you know me. It's just a top five spot. What's so shameful? You sound like a thief," Shen Chen, embarrassed, was both amused and annoyed. This kid was too weak, losing his composure at just a glance from Zhong Ling. He needed to find a way to toughen him up...

Just as Shen Chen was lost in thought, a cold, mocking voice came from behind.

" Don't worry, not only him, but Shen Chen's dream of a top five spot will soon become a luxury!"

The voice was clearly hostile. Shen Chen turned to see a young man in armor, holding two large meteor hammers, walking toward them.

" Cao Shun? I thought he wouldn't make it back in time. I haven't seen him before."

" How could he not? Cao Shun has always been bitter about losing to Senior Brother Li Xuan. Now that he's finally ranked fifth, he won't give it up easily."

" Yes, I heard he came back to challenge Senior Brother Lin Hai, but since Lin Hai is dead, he's now the fifth. He'll defend this position in the competition."

Seeing the young man, many inner disciples were moved. Cao Shun, known as Iron Hammer Cao, was one of the earliest to achieve the fifth rank among their generation. However, after being defeated by Li Xuan, he left the sect in shame to train.

When news of Cao Shun's return for the competition spread, the older inner disciples immediately guessed his purpose—clearly, he wanted to reclaim his former glory.

" So, this is Cao Shun." Seeing the man in his twenties, Shen Chen felt a chill. Yuan Xiao's skills had already shown him the strength of those who had trained outside. Cao Shun's presence gave Shen Chen an even stronger sense of his formidable nature.

His intuition told him that Cao Shun was like a tiger that had survived countless battles. After years of training, he might be even more dangerous than the late Lin Hai.

Without arguing, Shen Chen whispered to Wang Yue, " Be careful. Besides Zhong Ling, he could be your biggest rival!"

" Yes!" Wang Yue nodded, the bloodthirsty aura around Cao Shun also making him uneasy.

But the situation wasn't over. Another inner disciple suddenly rushed into the crowd.

However, this one wasn't there to cause trouble but to deliver a message. Seeing Shen Chen, he ran over and said calmly, " Shen Chen, Senior Brother Li Xuan asked me to tell you that he will choose you as his opponent. He wants to avenge Senior Brother Lin Hai's death by defeating you."

" Shen Chen, I also have something to tell you. My brother, Tian Zhan, has returned. He heard about your achievements and wants to meet you in battle!" Another inner disciple, standing behind Zhong Ling, added with a proud expression.

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