"Holy shit! He actually defeated Senior Sister Xiao Xiao!"

"This senior brother is incredibly strong - his footwork is exquisite and his defense astonishing!"

Many cultivators participating in the Inner Sect Competition turned to look, pointing and whispering excitedly.

This left Su Yuan quite speechless.

He glanced at his system panel - his fame points had skyrocketed by about 600 points!

"Senior Brother Su, you're amazing!" Zhou Wuyou exclaimed excitedly.

"So strong! Unbelievably strong! Absolutely beastly!" Zhang Wei chimed in with equal enthusiasm.

Su Yuan glared at them both. "Stop shouting!"

He then turned to Song Cai in the corner. "When did I tell you to register me?"

Song Cai replied, "Wasn't it when you instructed us last time? I asked if you wanted to participate, and you told me to go register."

"Right, I told YOU to register - not to register ME!" Su Yuan countered.

"But I'm just an outer disciple! I'm not qualified for the Inner Sect Competition! So I thought you meant for me to register you," Song Cai shook his head.

Su Yuan eyed Song Cai suspiciously. "From now on, remember - I prefer to keep a low profile. I don't like attracting attention."

Zhang Wei looked puzzled. "Senior Brother, if you dislike fame, why did you open that betting pool?"

Su Yuan rolled his eyes. "I need to earn spirit stones, okay? That's completely different!"

Zhou Wuyou interjected, "You can earn spirit stones from the competition too, you know?"

"Oh?" Su Yuan blinked. "How much are we talking?"

Zhou Wuyou explained, "The champion gets fifty top-grade spirit stones - equivalent to five hundred thousand low-grade stones. Plus a spiritual artifact worth three hundred thousand stones, three self-selected Earth-grade techniques, and nomination for Inner Sect Head Brother position."

"Five hundred thousand stones? And a spiritual artifact?" Su Yuan felt slightly tempted, but quickly dismissed it.

After this competition, he stood to gain three million stones without revealing his true capabilities.

Thus Su Yuan reaffirmed his decision - he'd forfeit in the next round while he still could.

From the high platform of the main peak, Sect Leader Gu secretly overheard Su Yuan's conversation and thought to himself in surprise, "This Su kid seems reluctant to win. That won't do. With his Mystic Truth Derivation Art, his strength is ten times his peers. Combined with supreme-grade magical tools and that exquisite footwork, he could easily make top ten. The spirit stones then would be..."

As Su Yuan waited for his next match, another voice transmission suddenly reached his ears.

"Little Su, it's your Senior Brother Gu."

Su Yuan started, looking up to meet the smiling gaze of Gu Qingzhu. He immediately cupped his hands in salute.

"Try for top ten. I understand your fear of being targeted if you stand out - 'tall trees catch much wind' is indeed true. But without weathering storms, how can one see rainbows?" Sect Leader Gu transmitted.

Su Yuan spread his hands, spiritual energy coalescing into mist as a rainbow formed between his palms.

The corner of Sect Leader Gu's eye twitched as he transmitted, "If you make top ten, I'll personally make you a core disciple of the main peak. You can reside near me afterward - anyone who troubles you will answer to me. Show your true capabilities! Even if some Nascent Soul cultivator sneaks in to kill you, I can intercept them single-handedly. What's there to fear?"

The sect leader's words carried overwhelming dominance and absolute confidence, stirring Su Yuan deeply.

This left Su Yuan in a dilemma.

"Moreover," the sect leader tempted, "if you make top ten, your share of spirit stones could increase tenfold - three million becomes thirty million, perhaps more! Think carefully! Worst case, you can go into seclusion afterward and avoid visitors. I'll handle all your external missions myself - no need for you to leave the sect!"

Sect Leader Gu had perfectly read Su Yuan's psychology - cautious yet greedy, disliking fame yet not entirely opposed to it, full of contradictions.

Su Yuan was indeed tempted. While he preferred caution, he understood resources couldn't be obtained through excessive prudence. This one big move could secure cultivation resources for years to come - temporary high-profile for long-term low-profile!

Most crucially, within the sect was extremely safe with the sect leader backing him. Over time, the attention would naturally fade.

"Cough, cough - you said it! I'll be counting on your protection!" Su Yuan whispered, unable to transmit over such distance.

"No problem! I like your style. When you reach Golden Core, become my personal disciple," Sect Leader Gu laughed heartily.

Su Yuan curled his lip - an empty promise. Golden Core? That was far off!

Their secret exchange left their companions staring at Su Yuan in confusion.

Su Yuan turned to them with a smile. "I heard you all bet on me making top ten, top three, and champion? How much?"

Zhou Wuyou said, "Three hundred stones for top ten! Two-to-one odds!"

Zhang Wei added, "Eighty percent of my assets - eight hundred stones! Top three at two-point-five-to-one!"

Su Yuan looked at Song Cai.

Song Cai swallowed hard. "I didn't bet much... just three thousand stones all on you winning! Three-to-one odds!"

Su Yuan raised an eyebrow. "You're that wealthy?"

"My family comes from merchant stock - we're moderately comfortable," Song Cai admitted awkwardly.

Su Yuan gave him a long look before announcing to all, "Prepare to collect your winnings!"

The three were stunned - how had Su Yuan's attitude done a complete one-eighty so suddenly?

Su Yuan now seriously observed the arena battles, committing each fight to memory.

He spotted familiar figures entering the stage.

Ye Bufan faced a five-year veteran with superior spirit roots. After dozens of exchanges, he emerged victorious!

Liu Muwan also took the stage. Despite her supreme triple spirit roots, her cultivation time was too short. Defeated in the first round, her journey ended regrettably early.

Descending, Liu Muwan instinctively glanced toward Su Yuan.

Su Yuan nodded in acknowledgement.

Pursing her lips, Liu Muwan nodded back before blending into the spectator crowd. This wasn't her year to shine - participation was what mattered.

Su Yuan also witnessed the top ten favorites in action - each displaying overwhelming strength, defeating opponents in mere moves, sometimes instantly, showcasing their tier above the rest.

This dramatically increased Su Yuan's pressure.

Making top ten suddenly seemed far from easy!

The first round featured 280 participants.

140 were eliminated immediately.

Soon, the second round commenced.

"...Su Yuan versus Huang Bo - to the arena!"

"Senior Brother, do your best!" Zhou Wuyou cheered.

"Su Yuan, go for it!"

"Hmm."

Su Yuan paused mid-step, nodded, and ascended the platform with light steps.

The crowd erupted in surprise.

"Wow! It's Spiritual Extremes Peak's Senior Brother Huang! A top twenty favorite! I bet fifty stones on him making top twenty!"

"That guy who humiliated Senior Sister Xiao Xiao is done for now!"

"Serves him right for embarrassing my Xiao Xiao!" A bun-haired junior sister beside Li Xiao Xiao gloated.

Li Xiao Xiao clenched her fists. "Losing is losing. Next time, I'll defeat him myself!"

The junior sister unexpectedly comforted, "Senior Sister, maybe don't... he's younger than you. He'll probably surpass you."

"Whose side are you on?" Li Xiao Xiao rapped the junior sister's head sharply.

"Ow! Ow! Senior Sister, I was wrong!"

Opposite Su Yuan stood a burly man - Huang Bo himself!

Su Yuan suspiciously glanced at the high platform - was this Sect Leader Gu's doing? Facing such a strong opponent so early?

Sect Leader Gu also frowned - he hadn't manipulated anything. Luck was simply unpredictable.

On Mysterious Extremes Peak's platform, Wang Siming smiled faintly. "Pity. Su Yuan's not weak, but meeting Huang Bo this early means early elimination. Perhaps for the best - less attention this way."

Most spectators similarly assumed Su Yuan's defeat, ignoring his match in favor of more evenly-matched battles elsewhere.

Huang Bo assessed Su Yuan. "Your footwork is impressive, but the drain must be tremendous. One solid hit from me and you're done! Dragging it out guarantees my victory. Admit defeat now, or don't blame me for being ruthless."

Su Yuan calmly observed him - Huang Bo's complete profile already analyzed in his mind.

Originally at Qi Refining seventh layer, now eighth layer. Specialized in body refinement - physical prowess rivaling demon beasts. His hammer techniques were exquisite - a single strike could half-kill a demon beast!

The Foundation Establishment referee indifferently checked both competitors before announcing, "Begin!"

Instantly, Huang Bo advanced with powerful strides.

Su Yuan focused, summoning that low-grade magical sword again.

Below, Li Xiao Xiao scoffed. "Seeking death!"

But this time differed - dense Mystic Truth Qi coiled around the blade, manifesting as tri-colored radiance.

"Go!"

Su Yuan's soft command sent the tri-colored sword light streaking toward Huang Bo with speed matching Li Xiao Xiao's green sword!

Huang Bo frowned, producing a massive hammer to smash the incoming sword - no way that low-grade weapon could withstand his strike!

Screeeeech!

The sword split the air with a piercing shriek!

The tri-colored blade traced a graceful arc, suddenly accelerating past Huang Bo's defense, aiming straight for his face!

Huang Bo's expression changed as he slapped both hands together - earthen yellow energy coalescing into a protective shield.

"Screeeech!"

The sword's piercing cry directly assaulted Huang Bo's consciousness!

"What?"

Huang Bo was stunned - spiritual sense attack?!

The sword's resonance scattered his spiritual sense, disrupting his spell control. The earthen shield dimmed noticeably!

Seizing this moment, Su Yuan pinpointed the shield's weakness. The flying sword struck true, piercing through to slash Huang Bo's arm!

Tremendous force erupted from the impact - Mystic Truth Qi tore through Huang Bo's formidable physique, leaving a bone-deep gash that immediately gushed blood.

The pain snapped Huang Bo from the sword's mental assault. His hand clamped onto the spent sword - with one crushing grip, the low-grade weapon shattered!

But Huang Bo only stared at his wound in disbelief.

He'd lost. Had that strike landed on his heart or neck, he'd be severely wounded.

Destroying Su Yuan's weapon now would just seem like a sore loser's tantrum.

"Mysterious Extremes Peak's Su Yuan - victor!" declared the Foundation Establishment referee.

Shockwaves rippled through the crowd. Those who'd ignored the match now gaped in astonishment.

But those who'd watched were even more stunned.

Instant victory!

Again!

From such an unfamiliar disciple!

Su Yuan's strength far exceeded all expectations!

Even Wei Wen, Sun Hong and other top contenders turned to scrutinize him closely.

Su Yuan became the arena's focal point, his fame points skyrocketing.