If Spirit Snake Cliff only had two Spirit Connection Realm experts overseeing it, then it would be considered a second-rate sect on Chenping Continent.
But if it had a Myriad Transformations Realm cultivator overseeing it, then Spirit Snake Cliff could easily squeeze into the middle-to-lower ranks of the first-rate sects on Chenping Continent.
As for wanting to become a publicly recognized top-tier sect on Chenping Continent, it was absolutely necessary to have a great power from the upper three realms overseeing it.
And the Five Great Sects were the creators of the current order in Chenping Continent's cultivation world, entities that existed completely outside this ranking.
That white-haired elder wearing Spirit Snake Cliff's robes was likely a certain elder from Spirit Snake Cliff, which was why Gongsun Kang was treating him with such courtesy.
The two of them sat down on the viewing stand of the training grounds. Gongsun Kang would occasionally say something to that Spirit Snake Cliff elder, and the Spirit Snake Cliff elder would occasionally nod in response.
Many Biqiu Sect disciples were very curious about why a Spirit Snake Cliff elder would appear at Biqiu Sect's new disciple competition.
But Chen Yan was not among them.
His eyes were fixed solely on the champion's reward for this new disciple competition, that Tempering Pill.
"Seventh match, Yan Chen versus Wu Yang!"
The gong sounded again, and it was finally Chen Yan's turn to take the stage.
Within the training grounds, the gazes of many Biqiu Sect disciples turned towards Chen Yan's direction.
This handsome young man was undoubtedly a rather eye-catching existence among this batch of newly entered disciples.
He was one of the very few newly entered Body Forging Realm disciples who did not come from a cultivation family background, and he had a good relationship with Xing Ziang, the current benchmark figure of Biqiu Sect's younger generation.
His opponent, Wu Yang, was also a young master from a certain cultivation family, with a current cultivation at the mid-stage of Body Forging Realm.
If speaking purely in terms of realm, Wu Yang's cultivation was slightly higher than Chen Yan's by a minor stage, and he was also two years older than Chen Yan.
Therefore, while the Biqiu Sect disciples present all believed Yan Chen would definitely achieve considerable accomplishments in the future, when it came to just this sparring match, they were all more optimistic about Wu Yang.
Chen Yan slowly stepped onto the arena platform. He stood on the west side of the platform, while Wu Yang was on the east.
"Junior Brother Yan, I ask for your guidance."
Wu Yang, standing opposite, said this to Chen Yan. His mindset was relaxed, but the stance he adopted was not relaxed in the slightest.
Wu Yang intended to go all out.
After all, the champion's reward this time was a Tempering Pill, which could greatly increase the cultivation efficiency of Body Forging Realm cultivators.
Within Chenping Continent's cultivation world, there had always been a rumor.
It said that starting from stepping into the Body Forging Realm, the shorter the time used to break through to the Qi Circulation Realm, the smaller the difficulty of breaking through from the Qi Circulation Realm to the Martial Spring Realm.
This kind of rumor could only remain a rumor, as there was simply no way to verify it.
However, many cultivators would treat it as a kind of mysticism, thus trying every possible means to break through from the Body Forging Realm to the Qi Circulation Realm as quickly as possible.
This was also enough to show the importance of the Tempering Pill.
"Senior Brother Wu."
Chen Yan also raised his hands in a cupped fist salute.
Although Chen Yan and Wu Yang entered the sect in the same batch, Wu Yang was indeed two years older than "Yan Chen."
Therefore, it was a very normal thing for Chen Yan to address Wu Yang as senior brother.
On the viewing stand, Gongsun Kang and the Spirit Snake Cliff elder in dark green robes beside him also turned their gazes towards the arena platform at this moment.
The white-bearded elder standing beside Gongsun Kang, Elder Wang, leaned close to Gongsun Kang's ear, then lowered his voice and said something to Gongsun Kang.
Afterwards, Gongsun Kang nodded, smiling as he spoke to the Spirit Snake Cliff elder:
"Elder Xie, the two sect disciples standing on the arena platform now are both outstanding talents among this batch of new disciples."
"Mmm."
Spirit Snake Cliff's Elder Xie nodded, then said:
"So, I wonder what Sect Leader Gongsun actually thinks about my Spirit Snake Cliff's proposal?"
This Elder Xie paid almost no attention to what Gongsun Kang had just said to him, instead speaking to Gongsun Kang like this.
He was applying pressure.
Spirit Snake Cliff and Biqiu Sect were completely on two different levels as cultivation sects.
If Spirit Snake Cliff's previous sect leader was still alive today and had truly broken through to the Myriad Transformations Realm, becoming a Sixth Realm cultivator, then Spirit Snake Cliff's name would absolutely appear on the list of first-rate sects on Chenping Continent.
But compared to the empty reputation of a first-rate sect, Spirit Snake Cliff preferred to remain content with the status quo.
After all, if Spirit Snake Cliff truly announced that their sect had a Myriad Transformations Realm great power, publicly joining the ranks of first-rate sects, it would bring not only benefits, but also drawbacks.
Especially for a sect like Spirit Snake Cliff that controlled many gray market industries.
"Elder Xie, actually, recently my Biqiu Sect's manpower has also begun to run short..."
Gongsun Kang showed a troubled expression.
"Being short on people doesn't matter. With the material resources and financial power Sect Leader Gongsun currently possesses, recruiting another thousand outer court disciples would likely still be more than sufficient."
Elder Xie's fingers slowly tapped on the chair beside him.
"But if we do that, wouldn't the step be taken a bit too quickly..."
Gongsun Kang still spoke hesitantly.
"The opportunity is right here, Sect Leader Gongsun."
Elder Xie's fingers, which had been tapping the chair beneath him, suddenly paused for a moment:
"If this opportunity is missed, I'm afraid my Spirit Snake Sect will have no choice but to seek out another more suitable party to replace Biqiu Sect."
"...Allow me to consider it further, Elder Xie."
Gongsun Kang said.
"Very well, but time is running short, Sect Leader Gongsun."
Elder Xie said.
...
The view shifted back to the arena platform at this moment.
Chen Yan was currently in a standoff with Wu Yang.
For some reason, Chen Yan suddenly remembered the scene from back when he was in Kongshan Sect's outer court competition.
Only now, he was no longer the Chen Yan from back then, and his opponent was not a Kongshan Sect outer court disciple either.
Even compared to Kongshan Sect's outer court disciples, the guy standing before him now was far inferior.
Wu Yang tapped the ground with his toes, gathered true qi in his palms, then launched an extremely fierce chop towards Chen Yan's direction.
Full of openings.
Chen Yan thought to himself.
He simply took a half-step back with complete composure, not even adopting a defensive stance. He just lifted his foot, extended it forward, and lightly hooked Wu Yang's ankle.
Wu Yang immediately lost his balance.
Chen Yan then turned sideways, delivering another knee strike aimed at Wu Yang's cheek.
Wu Yang's reaction wasn't slow either. He raised his elbow to block Chen Yan's knee strike and hastily rotated his body, spinning once on the ground before standing up again.
But before he could even steady himself, what greeted him was a rather fierce combination of punches from Chen Yan, each wave of offense more powerful than the last.
Despite the gap of a minor stage, the force of Chen Yan's punches, infused with true qi, could undoubtedly penetrate Wu Yang's true qi defense and strike into his body.
After only a few breaths of exchanging blows, Wu Yang was knocked to the ground by Chen Yan and did not get up again.
"The Xing Family Fist Manual?"
On the viewing stand, Gongsun Sheng laughed once, then looked at Xing Ziang beside him:
"Senior Brother Xing, you really are generous."