Chapter 33: Defeating Shi Man (1)

On the Duel Platform, Shi Man looked down at Chen Chuan, who was a head shorter than him.

A smile that could be called kind appeared on his somewhat honest-looking face.

However, contrasted against his massive Physique, this smile always made people feel immense pressure.

"Junior Brother Chen Chuan, it was indeed surprising that you could defeat Senior Sister Feng." Shi Man’s voice was low and muffled, like the beating of a drum.

"However, your luck ends here. This battle will be your last in this competition."

His tone was calm and certain, as if he were merely stating an established fact.

Furnace Realm Ninth Level versus Furnace Realm First Level—there was a chasm of eight minor Realms between them.

In the eyes of the Outer Sect Disciples, this was an almost insurmountable gap.

A dark horse might occasionally pull off an upset, but in the face of absolute strength, they would eventually be forced back to their original state.

However, facing Shi Man’s almost tangible Aura of self-confidence...

Not only was there no fear on Chen Chuan’s face, but a cluster of scorching Battle Intent ignited in his eyes instead.

He lightly cracked his neck, his joints making faint popping sounds, as the corner of his mouth curled into an arc.

"Last battle? Senior Brother Shi, don’t speak too soon." Chen Chuan’s voice spread clearly around Platform Six.

"My goal for participating in this competition is to take first place."

"I wouldn’t be satisfied if I fell here."

Whoosh!

As soon as those words were spoken, the crowd below instantly exploded into an uproar.

"What did I just hear? He said he wants to take first place?"

"A Furnace Realm First Level wants to take first place in the Outer Sect Grand Competition? This is the funniest joke I’ve heard all year!"

"Did this kid Chen Chuan have his brain damaged by Senior Sister Feng just now?"

"I think he’s suffered Qi Deviation from Alchemy and developed a cognitive disorder."

"He’s getting ahead of himself! Definitely! After beating Feng Zhixian, he doesn’t even know his own name anymore."

"Senior Brother Shi Man, hurry up and wake him up with your casserole-sized fists. Let him know what a real beating feels like."

"I bet Chen Chuan won’t last three Moves! No, one Move!"

Laughter surged like a tide, almost drowning Chen Chuan.

Everyone looked at him as if he were a fool.

A mere Furnace Realm First Level dared to claim he would win the championship and even defeat Shi Man?

If this isn’t insanity, what is?

Even on the high platform, the other four Outer Sect geniuses who had been watching calmly couldn’t help but frown now.

Xiao Tianci, dressed in luxurious silk robes, sneered and shook his head. "The ignorant are fearless."

In his eyes, Chen Chuan’s actions were no different from those of a clown.

Lin Feng’s eyes were sharp as he said indifferently, "His courage is commendable, but he is too arrogant. This is not the way of the strong."

Su Wan, who had a gentle and soft temperament, furrowed her elegant brows and said softly:

"This Junior Brother Chen is a bit too overconfident."

There was a trace of imperceptible pity in her tone.

Han Bing coldly spat out two words: "Stupid."

Chen Ping wished he could rush up and cover his older brother’s mouth.

"My dear brother! Can you please say less?"

"That’s Shi Man, a Furnace Realm Ninth Level! He’s already got one foot in the Mountain Sea Realm."

He even began to wonder if his brother had been working too hard on Alchemy lately and had actually fried his brain.

Ye Linger’s small mouth was wide open, and she even forgot to lick the candied haws in her hand. Her lively large eyes were full of shock.

"Has Junior Brother’s brain been filled with water? How could he say such a thing?"

Although she felt Chen Chuan was mysterious, she didn’t believe he could cross eight minor Realms to defeat Shi Man.

Facing the doubts and ridicule pouring in from all directions, Chen Chuan turned a deaf ear.

His mind sank into his body, and with a thought, he said, "System, upgrade my cultivation to the Furnace Realm Ninth Level!"

[Ding! Host’s request detected. Upgrading to the Furnace Realm Ninth Level requires 3.2 million gold tickets. Confirm?]

"Confirm!"

[Ding! Consuming 3.2 million gold tickets. Cultivation upgrade in progress...]

A majestic and vast spiritual power emerged out of thin air, like a river breaking its dam, instantly shattering the invisible barriers within Chen Chuan’s body.

His Aura began to soar crazily, like a rocket!

Furnace Realm Second Level.

Third Level.

Fourth Level...

This process was completed in the blink of an eye.

When Shi Man heard Chen Chuan’s arrogant declaration, he looked at the latter with a playful gaze.

Just as he was about to say something, he happened to feel the Aura on Chen Chuan rapidly expanding like a volcanic eruption.

The playfulness on Shi Man’s face instantly froze, replaced by a look of shock and suspicion.

Below the platform, the mocking voices also stopped abruptly, like ducks being strangled by their necks.

Everyone’s eyes were fixed intently on Chen Chuan.

Chen Chuan was surrounded by surging Spiritual Qi, his robes fluttering and snapping loudly without any wind.

That powerful spiritual energy fluctuation had unexpectedly reached...

The Furnace Realm Ninth Level!

Boom!

The area around Platform Six seemed to have been hit by a heavy bomb, instantly boiling over!

"Furnace Realm Ninth Level? Am I seeing things?"

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible! He’s been in the sect for less than a month."

"He must have hidden his cultivation before. Man, he hid it so well!"

"No wonder he dared to speak so arrogantly; he came prepared."

"A dark horse! This is the true super dark horse!"

"Who said just now that he wouldn’t last one Move? Come out and show yourself."

"Oh my god, what a slap in the face. I can feel the sting even from this far away."

The expressions of the onlookers were colorful. Their previous mockery and disdain instantly turned into shock and disbelief, and their discussions became incredibly excited and gossipy.

A Disciple who looked like a skinny monkey poked his companion: "Hey, Gousheng, didn’t you just bet he wouldn’t last one Move?"

The Disciple named Gousheng’s face turned beet red, and he stiffened his neck, saying:

"Bullshit! I... that was a strategic Move to confuse the opponent."

"I saw that Senior Brother Chen was extraordinary long ago! Look at his temperament, his gaze—is he an ordinary person?"

"Give it a rest. You were the one shouting ’beat the crap out of him’ the loudest just now!"

"Cough! That was me putting psychological pressure on Senior Brother Shi Man to help Senior Brother Chen create an opportunity. What do you know?"

On the other side, several female Disciples’ eyes lit up:

"Heavens! Senior Brother Chen Chuan is actually so powerful, and he’s so handsome."

"Why didn’t I notice such a hidden gem in the Outer Sect before?"

"Strong and low-key. I love it, I love it."

"From now on, I am Senior Brother Chen Chuan’s most loyal supporter."

Chen Ping was completely petrified.

He stared blankly at his brother on the stage, whose Aura was incomparably powerful. His mouth was open wide enough to fit an egg.

"Furnace Realm Ninth Level? Grade Nine Bloodline? Was my brother always this awesome?"

"Father! Mother! Did you see that? Big brother isn’t a loser; he’s a peerless Genius!"

Feng Zhixian had originally been sitting in the distance, despondently regulating her breathing.

Feeling Chen Chuan’s undisguised Furnace Realm Ninth Level Aura, her delicate body trembled violently, and she suddenly looked up.

Looking at the figure on the stage whose Aura was not at all inferior to Shi Man’s, her beautiful eyes were filled with complex and unspeakable emotions.

There was shock, bitterness, and even more so, a sense of humiliation from being fooled.

"He really was playing with me before."

Thinking about the huge gap in strength between them, yet Chen Chuan had played along with her for so long, Feng Zhixian felt so terrible she could almost suffocate.