What a coincidence?
Chen Yan frowned slightly. Between him and Ye Xiu, there was, after all, some degree of past grievance.
That day on Xuanyuan Street, Chen Yan had played a trick on him, making Ye Xiu pay for the tea.
Three mid-grade spirit stones were certainly nothing to a Chief Disciple of Kongyuan Mountain like Chen Yan.
The Seven-Revolutions Spiritual Essence Pills he had previously sold on the market had already earned him a hefty sum.
But these three mid-grade spirit stones, within the context of the Beiyuan Sect—a sect that could barely be considered second-rate on the Chenping Continent—while still not a huge amount, were enough to make Ye Xiu feel a slight pinch.
However, it was indeed Ye Xiu who was in the wrong first, lacking in courtesy.
He had looked down upon both the Kongshan Sect and Chen Yan himself.
That's why Chen Yan had employed a little scheme, giving Ye Xiu a small lesson just to annoy him a bit.
And after the first round of the Heavenly Summit Mountain Dao Inquiry, people's assessment of Chen Yan seemed to be in no way inferior to that of Chu Xiyao and others.
Even though he was only a "Martial Spring Realm early-stage" cultivator, the strength and potential he had displayed had completely won over the cultivators on the viewing stands.
Given that everyone's expectations for Chen Yan were now so high, he had even less reason to lose in the Heavenly Summit Mountain Dao Inquiry.
At the very least, before encountering a disciple from the Five Great Sects—where losing wouldn't be shameful—Chen Yan did not plan to lose.
Especially when facing an opponent like Ye Xiu, with whom he had some grudge, Chen Yan had an even more compelling reason to win.
"Arena Seven, second group!"
This round, the pace at Arena Seven seemed quite fast.
The first match had just concluded after a little over ten breaths.
And after the second group's battle began, it quickly turned into a one-sided domination.
It looked like the third group's match would start very soon.
Which meant the time for Chen Yan to take the stage was pressing.
"Senior Sister Chu says Ye Xiu is strong?"
Chen Yan asked casually, as if without much thought.
"Mhm."
Chu Xiyao nodded.
"What exactly did she say?"
Chen Yan continued to ask.
"It's hard to say."
Chu Xiyao said:
"Because Ye Xiu was the one who discovered Qin Yue's body, I paid a bit of attention to him during the first round of the Heavenly Summit Mountain Dao Inquiry. This person definitely did not exert his full strength in his first-round performance."
"Oh?"
Chen Yan's eyebrows raised slightly.
"But he still defeated his opponent with ease. In my view, perhaps this cultivator named Ye Xiu might have the confidence to compete with disciples of the Five Great Sects."
Chu Xiyao said.
"Then, Senior Sister Chu, what do you think my chances of winning are?"
Chen Yan asked again.
"That might depend on how much effort Chief Disciple Chen intends to put in."
Chu Xiyao's tone remained cool and placid, but the content of her words carried a hint of playfulness.
Hearing this, Chen Yan merely chuckled a couple of times and said nothing more.
In a sense, Chu Xiyao could be said to be Chen Yan's guide.
When she first met Chen Yan, he was nothing more than an utterly mediocre outer sect disciple.
But after that, everything changed.
He became a disciple of Lin Qifeng, then maneuvered between Kongyuan Mountain, Qingchan Peak, and the outer court.
And he "cheated" in the outer court competition, "accidentally" killing Qi Yadong.
Afterwards, he entered Kongyuan Mountain, formally becoming a Kongyuan Mountain disciple, and within a short year, created the Purple Mansion Kongshan Art.
And relying on the Purple Mansion Kongshan Art, he became the Chief Disciple of Kongyuan Mountain.
A legendary experience, one might say.
Chu Xiyao had never believed that Chen Yan had taken some so-called "forbidden drug" to kill Qi Yadong.
There were still many questionable points behind that.
Another few breaths passed, and the second group's match on Arena Seven had also concluded.
What followed immediately was the third group.
"I'll go wait for my turn now."
Chen Yan stood up, bowing with hands clasped in the direction of Lin Xinyang and Chu Xiyao respectively:
"Senior Brother Lin, Senior Sister Chu, this junior will take his leave for now."
Afterwards, he walked towards the center of the Daoyan Arena.
...
Not everyone was seated on the viewing stands.
Within the Daoyan Arena, below the arenas, many disciple cultivators had gathered to watch.
Watching up close gave a greater sense of immersion.
But it also made one more susceptible to accidental injury from the cultivators on the arena.
Suddenly, a wave of exclamations arose from beside a nearby arena.
A figure fell from the arena platform, landing heavily amidst the crowd.
Chen Yan glanced sideways at the direction of the figure, then continued stepping forward.
A figure in pure white Daoist robes slowly passed through the crowd.
The gilded cloud crane patterns on the sleeves were particularly eye-catching, and the token at his waist engraved with the four characters "Kongyuan Chief Disciple" swayed gently with his steps.
The crowd clearly also noticed this direct-line Chief Disciple of the Kongshan Sect, turning their heads to look.
"Arena Seven, fourth group!"
A shout came from several dozen meters ahead of Chen Yan.
"Kongshan Sect, Kongyuan Mountain Chief Disciple, Chen Yan!"
"Versus Beiyuan Sect disciple, Ye Xiu!"
Immediately, the crowd blocking Chen Yan's path slowly parted before him, opening a way.
And this path led precisely to Arena Seven.
Standing in the very center of Arena Seven was a youth with his hands clasped behind his back. At this moment, he was smiling as he looked towards Chen Yan walking towards the arena.
That person was Ye Xiu.
Under the gaze of the crowd, Chen Yan stepped onto the arena.
"Fellow Daoist Chen, it's been some time."
Ye Xiu said.
As soon as these words were spoken, the arena immediately erupted in murmurs.
Because his form of address for Chen Yan was actually "Fellow Daoist," and not his status within the Kongshan Sect.
Unless the two had a close relationship, according to the etiquette of the Chenping Continent's cultivation world, this was undoubtedly a provocative posture.
However, none of the people present could have imagined that Ye Xiu would dare to publicly provoke this direct-line Chief Disciple of the Kongshan Sect.
They merely assumed that Chen Yan and Ye Xiu might have some personal acquaintance in private.
"Long time no see."
Chen Yan remained unperturbed, smiling as he replied.
"I wonder if the tea from the teahouse on Xuanyuan Street that day suited Fellow Daoist Chen's taste?"
Ye Xiu asked.
"Poor quality stuff, just for rinsing the mouth."
Chen Yan said dismissively.
Hearing this, a flash of malice passed through Ye Xiu's eyes:
"Then Fellow Daoist Chen's mouth must truly be made of gold."
"I think perhaps the few spirit stones in Fellow Daoist Ye's pocket are the ones more precious."
Ye Xiu clenched his fist.
Smooth talker!
In terms of mere verbal sparring, he really couldn't outmatch him!
"I wonder if Fellow Daoist Chen's mouth will still be so sharp-tongued after taking my fist?"
Ye Xiu said through gritted teeth.
Hearing this, Chen Yan smiled faintly, adopting a stance and curling a finger towards Ye Xiu:
"That might still depend on Fellow Daoist Ye's capability."