Chapter 9

A group of Huashan Sect elders accompanied the Sect Leader to whisper above, while below, the three batches of outer sect disciples started the outer sect competition. The competition of nearly two hundred people was naturally decided by drawing lots. The outer sect competition was divided into three stages.

The first stage was the group knockout stage, the second stage was the final, and the last stage was the challenge match. The three batches of outer sect disciples could challenge anyone at will, and those who were confident could even challenge inner sect disciples.

The last battle was actually a time to showcase the outer sect disciples.

In the first stage of the knockout match, the opponent drawn by the third-year Su Fan was a boy named Zhengming, eleven years old, only about as tall as Su Fan's chin.

The two went up to the ring and performed the Huashan sword-holding salute to each other.

Zhengming said, "Senior Brother Su, please."

"Junior Brother, you make the first move."

Su Fan shook his head. Zhengming did not refuse this. As disciples of the same batch, they naturally all knew Su Fan's strength.

Starting with the Huashan sword technique 'White Clouds Emerging from the Cave', he held a wooden sword and quickly pointed it at Su Fan.

Seeing this, Su Fan's eyes did not move. His left foot shifted slightly, and his right hand lifted a large wooden sword, which was significantly larger than the standard Huashan wooden swords of many outer sect disciples, and with a simple basic sword move of lifting, he blocked the opponent's sword move.

Following that, he thrust out suddenly, his speed as fast as lightning, pointing straight at the opponent's throat.

This instantaneous change made Zhengming not even feel it before he was defeated.

"Su Fan wins!"

The outer sect deacon referee on the side saw this, took a deep look at Su Fan, and spoke.

Zhengming pulled a long face, full of frustration. He didn't expect that this outer sect competition would end just like this.

Regarding this, Su Fan did not have the slightest change, performed a sword-holding salute, and then walked off the ring.

This time, he had to perform well in order to quickly enter the inner sect. Only by entering the inner sect could he improve his strength faster.

As for the outer sect disciples of the same batch, he really didn't take them to heart. In terms of pure internal energy cultivation, he could even compare to the six-year batch, or even the nine-year batch. After all, he had practiced the Huashan Heart Method to the second layer and had opened up four of the twelve standard meridians, and was now preparing for the fifth one.

Although he had not reached the first-class level and a martial artist could not release internal energy, under the enhancement of internal energy, both speed and strength could be improved.

Su Fan's own physical fitness was far beyond these outer sect disciples, and as for sword moves, there was even less to say.

With his 'cheat', Su Fan practiced the Huashan sword techniques. Not to mention compared to those inner sect elders, even among disciples of more than nine years, there were very few who could compare to him.

Moreover, having lived two lifetimes, his understanding of many things on the internet in his previous life, although not necessarily correct, combined with some attempts and his 'cheat', could be said to have brought his understanding of sword techniques to a new level.

At the same time, his emphasis on basics made him even more prominent in Huashan sword techniques. He had no experience in fighting enemies, but to deal with these novices, his basic sword moves were enough.

To be honest, in these two years of practicing martial arts, especially practicing sword, Su Fan had been experimenting. Having read many novels in his previous life, especially martial arts novels, whether it was Jin Yong or Huang Yi's martial arts, there were many powerful characters among swordsmen: the Yue Maiden in Jin Yong's works, the Sword Demon Dugu Qiubai, Ximen Chuixue and Ye Gucheng in Lu Xiaofeng's works, etc.

Among them, Su Fan recognized Ximen Chuixue's sword philosophy the most. Although he could not be as 'extreme in emotion and extreme in sword' as Ximen Chuixue, he recognized Ximen Chuixue's way of practicing sword.

Su Fan also recognized it and was experimenting with it.

In Huang Yi's works, Ximen Chuixue's sword technique did not seem to be a high-level sword technique, but he could become a Sword God, which showed that sword techniques were not more powerful the higher they were.

Basic sword moves could also be dominant in the hands of the opponent.

Ximen Chuixue's sword technique was a killing sword; the sword must be stained with blood when it came out. Lu Xiaofeng commented that Ximen Chuixue's sword was very cold and very fast, fast to the point that it was difficult for people to catch.

Therefore, Su Fan had been practicing sword for these two years, especially basic sword moves, with this in mind. The sword was fast. After two years of continuous training, Su Fan's sword drawing was also extremely fast. The basic sword moves—chopping, hacking, collapsing, lifting, blocking, washing, intercepting, thrusting, stirring, pressing, hanging, cloud—had been practiced into his bones.

They came at his fingertips. They were just the simplest sword moves, but in that extremely fast move, the power was also very extraordinary.

Of course, perhaps for experts, he was still very immature now, but it was different for these outer sect disciples who were equally immature.

In one day, Su Fan fought three disciples of the same batch in succession, and no one could catch three of his moves.

This also attracted the attention of the elders above, especially the elders of the Sword Sect, who looked at Su Fan with burning eyes. In their words, he was simply a natural material for practicing sword.

For this reason, they even began to discuss with Xiong Qingyuan.

"Impossible!"

"Junior Brother, I finally found a seedling. No matter what, I will not let him go."

Xiong Qingyuan shook his head. No matter how the elders of the Sword Sect tempted him, he would not let go.

Just kidding, he knew that Su Fan's internal energy cultivation was even more surprising. In just three years, the Huashan Heart Method had been practiced to the second layer. This talent was considered top-tier among the Huashan disciples of all generations. More importantly, Su Fan's body was very similar to his, and there was absolutely no problem in practicing the outer sect body-tempering techniques. How could he let go of such a good successor?

The outer sect competition lasted for a total of three days.

Su Fan's performance was getting better and better. On the last day, in the challenge match, Su Fan directly challenged a senior brother of the nine-year batch and won the battle.

From then on, he was in the limelight in this outer sect competition.

After the competition ended, it was naturally time for promotion to the inner sect.

In this competition, only eight outer sect disciples were selected to enter the inner sect, among whom four were from the nine-year batch, two from the six-year batch, and two from the three-year batch.

Su Fan was naturally among them, and he was quite popular. Whether it was the Sword Sect or the Qi Sect, they all wanted to take Su Fan as an apprentice.

However, in the end, Su Fan was still taken by Xiong Qingyuan. Xiong Qingyuan himself had a very high status among the elders and had extremely strong strength, and he had never taken an apprentice.

"Su Fan, you take Xiong Duoduo and live here with your master from now on."

After the competition, Xiong Qingyuan, amidst the envious eyes of the elders, took Su Fan back to where he lived.

Xiong Qingyuan lived on the west side of Lotus Peak. There were a few side rooms here, and a few pear trees dotted the entrance, which was not so empty.

"I know you like to be alone. That courtyard on the west side is yours."

Arriving at the residence, Xiong Qingyuan pointed to the west side of the courtyards and said with a smile.

"Thank you, Master."

Being taken as an apprentice by Xiong Qingyuan, Su Fan was relatively happy. From the mouths of those senior brothers, Su Fan also learned about the situation of the inner sect elders. This Elder Xiong before him was one of the best in the Huashan Sect in terms of both status and strength.

With this backing, he had established a firm foothold in the Huashan Sect from now on. The next step was to practice diligently.

"You settle down first. In a few days, I will personally teach you martial arts. Duoduo is also my nephew. You are the senior brother from now on, so you must take good care of him."