C45 Xu Annlan
Could it be that he was issuing a challenge?
Chen Yuze speculated silently.
But then he dismissed the idea with a shake of his head.
No, that seemed highly unlikely.
Lin Xuan was exceptionally gifted, indeed so much that even he felt overshadowed.
Yet Lin Xuan was just a novice, and it was uncertain whether he could even advance to the Qi Gathering Stage.
In contrast, Chen Yuze had already stealthily reached the Qi Transformation Stage and had even fortuitously grasped the nascent form of sword intent.
Those at the early stages of the Qi Transformation Stage from the Inner Sect might not stand a chance against him.
Let alone a prodigy who had not yet come into his own.
With this realization, Chen Yuze's worries dissipated.
He even chuckled at the absurdity of his concern.
Him, the top Outer Sect expert, fretting over a newcomer who had barely a month of training under his belt?
The thought would surely provoke laughter if shared with others.
Yet, Chen Yuze's mood soon sobered.
Lin Xuan's extraordinary display was the cause.
He couldn't deny that Lin Xuan's feats were beyond his reach.
It was a stroke of luck that Lin Xuan belonged to the current group of beginners, not his own.
Otherwise, he might have found himself outshone.
Chen Yuze felt a wave of relief wash over him.
Meanwhile, as Chen Yuze was wrapped up in his musings, the other disciples' eyes were glued to Lin Xuan.
Lin Xuan simply strolled by Chen Yuze as if he were merely taking a casual walk.
This only deepened the confusion for Chen Yuze and the rest.
But in a flicker of his gaze, Lin Xuan seized the moment.
He had successfully copied the treasures from Chen Yuze's possession.
"30,000 energy points expended, duplication successful, [Superior Grade Cultivation Talent] acquired."
"10,000 energy points expended, duplication successful, [Sword Intent Elementary] acquired."
"3,000 energy points expended, duplication successful, [High-grade Swordplay Talent] acquired."
The voice in his ear brought a glint of satisfaction to Lin Xuan's eyes.
Having passed by Chen Yuze, Lin Xuan made his way to the periphery of the plaza, settling in a less crowded spot.
With a focused intent, he activated his skill.
All the while, he meticulously masked his presence.
"Congratulations on enhancing your cultivation talent!"
"Kudos to you, Host, for advancing to the embryonic stage of sword intent!"
"Bravo, Host, for ascending to High-grade Swordplay Talent!"
Lin Xuan felt a surge of power as a gentle, warm current flowed through him.
Glancing at his attribute panel, he noticed a significant boost in all his talents listed under the Talent section.
Many of his attribute talents had achieved High-grade status.
A look of contentment washed over Lin Xuan's face.
He reflected on his martial arts training.
Suddenly, an odd sensation welled up within him.
It was as if he had swept aside a veil of fog, laying bare all the secrets.
No challenge seemed too great anymore.
Regrettably, this was not the ideal place for cultivation.
Otherwise, Lin Xuan estimated that his mastery of kendo could skyrocket in a very short time.
"Is this what they call the Concept? It truly is enigmatic."
Lin Xuan whispered to himself, his eyes sparkling with increased delight.
Time passed.
Then, abruptly, a louder uproar erupted ahead of him.
Lin Xuan looked up to see an elder and a young man approaching.
The Martial Arts Practice Field buzzed with excitement.
"The Outer Sect's Head Elder has arrived. In the past, it was always the Second and Third Elders presiding over the competition. Could it be the Head Elder's turn this time?"
"But is that really the highlight? More notably, Xu Annlan is here too!"
"Indeed, Brother Xu is a true disciple. It's rare for us to see him around the sect, so what brings him to our Outer Sect Competition?"
"I've heard Brother Xu intends to challenge Luo Feixue of the Hanxue Sect for a spot on the Potential Roll. He usually secludes himself for intensive training to enhance his strength. What's he doing here?"
The crowd engaged in animated discussions.
Lin Xuan quietly took note of key terms like Xu Annlan, Hanxue Sect, Luo Feixue, and Potential Roll.
From the surrounding chatter, he learned that the young man and the elder were none other than Xu Annlan and the Outer Sect's Head Elder.
Shaking off his initial astonishment, Lin Xuan's face lit up with excitement.
He hadn't anticipated the opportunity to replicate the skills of the Outer Sect's elite today, a move that had significantly bolstered his own prowess.
He had just received another substantial gift.
The Head Elder was by no means inferior to the Third Elder; he was undoubtedly a practitioner of the Spirit Opening Stage.
He had previously duplicated the Third Elder's skill once. Per the system's duplication rules, a treasure from a warrior can only be duplicated once.
If the Third Elder were to preside over the competition, he would lose the opportunity to duplicate his abilities.
However, if the Head Elder were in charge, that would be fantastic.
Xu Annlan, as a Core Disciple, was at the very least in the Spirit Opening Stage, and he surely possessed numerous treasures.
By duplicating the treasures from these two individuals, his own strength could significantly increase.
He anticipated a dramatic surge in his abilities!
Lin Xuan was ecstatic.
Without hesitation, he made his way through the crowd to the front, setting his sights on the Head Elder and Xu Annlan.
"Name: Xu Annlan."
"Cultivation: Second Level of the Spirit Opening Stage."
"Talent: Spirit Grade Cultivation Talent, Top Grade Strength Talent, Top Grade Speed Talent, Top Grade Swordplay Talent, Top Grade Violent Wind Attribute Talent, High-Grade Sharp Gold Talent, High-Grade Crimson Fire Talent, High-Grade Earth Attribute Talent."
"Martial Arts: Gale Sword Art (Rank 6 High-Grade, Initial Perfect Level), Wind-Rushing Palm (Rank 6 High-Grade, Great Completion), Flaming Fist (Rank 6 High-Grade, Great Completion), Gale Phantom Spell (Rank 6 High-Grade, Great Completion)"
"Concept: 20% Sword Intent, 10% Artistic Conception of Wind, 5% Artistic Conception of Fire."
"Treasure: Azure Mysterious Sword (Rank 6 High-Grade Spirit Artifact)."
Lin Xuan took in Xu Annlan's attribute panel and involuntarily inhaled sharply.
It was the most formidable attribute panel he had ever encountered.
Not Zhao Quxin, nor any of the other deacons, and certainly not the Third Elder could hold a candle to him.
He truly lived up to the title of Core Disciple!
He was incredibly powerful!
Lin Xuan's eyes sparkled with even greater delight.
He then turned his attention to the Head Elder standing nearby.
The Head Elder's cultivation level was just a notch above Xu Annlan's, having reached the third level of the Spirit Opening Stage. Yet, in other respects, his attribute panel fell short of Xu Annlan's by more than a small margin.
Still, he was considerably more powerful than the Third Elder.
Lin Xuan's gaze flickered as he scrutinized the attribute panels of the two before him.
They were laden with treasures, too valuable for him to simply ignore.
He needed to seize the chance to close in within ten meters of them.
Yet, Lin Xuan found himself growing concerned.
He had amassed 270,000 energy points over the past half-month and thought it would suffice.
But now, it seemed unlikely to be enough.
The sum fell short of replicating all the treasures they possessed.
"I'll have to really shine in this tournament to rack up more energy points," Lin Xuan pondered quietly.
His chances to approach them were limited.
On the field.
The Head Elder, accompanied by Xu Annlan, made their way to the forefront of the plaza.
Once he noticed that the disciples had nearly all assembled, he raised his voice to address them.
