Chapter 290: Arrogant Cihang? Eliminated in the First Match!

Dongyue Secret Realm arena.

Many contestants from different races gathered at the entrance of the secret realm, all curiously observing their surroundings.

Qiu Wanli, who had been teleported to this arena, was also among this group of contestants, sensing his own condition with great interest.

He couldn't help but feel a bit amazed: "I didn't expect that Big Brother Lu Yun would suddenly create a Primordial World version of virtual reality, and he even made it so good!"

He sensed it carefully, and the more he sensed, the more amazed he became.

Because he discovered that his spiritual avatar within this Yuanling Immortal Net felt no different from his true body in the real world.

Certain secret techniques and magic treasures of his were exactly the same.

Even within this Yuanling Immortal Net, he could actually use the Transmigration Chat Group! He didn't know how Lu Yun had managed to do it, but he could feel that achieving this level was by no means simple! Qiu Wanli couldn't help but ponder: "I'll ask Big Brother Lu Yun for advice later and set up a virtual space like this in my own world!"

Just then, he saw the entrance to the secret realm ahead open.

The competition had officially begun!

Qiu Wanli stepped into the Dongyue Secret Realm arena along with many other contestants, and a strange and magnificent scene immediately unfolded before his eyes. This secret realm seemed like a world forgotten by time; the mountains and rivers were magnificent, clouds and mist swirled, ancient trees towered into the sky, and spirit beasts appeared and disappeared, everywhere revealing the primitive charm and mysterious aura of the Primordial World.

As soon as everyone stepped in, they felt their cultivation change; it had all been suppressed to the Human Immortal Realm.

Many people were a bit panicked at first, but some couldn't help but feel secretly happy.

Immediately after, a gentle voice echoed in everyone's minds, announcing the specific rules of the competition: "In this secret realm, the cultivation of all contestants is unified to the Human Immortal Realm to ensure relative fairness. There are many checkpoints set up in this secret realm, which must be solved one by one using wisdom and strength. Each checkpoint will test your cultivation and mental state. You may act alone or cooperate in teams. Ultimately, the first ten people to pass the checkpoints will qualify for the next stage of the competition. Once you die during the competition, you are eliminated!"

Upon hearing this, Qiu Wanli muttered to himself: "Big Brother Lu Yun really knows how to play; he made a competition feel like an adventure game."

He had originally come to participate with a gaming mindset, wanting to enjoy this rare experience, but he hadn't expected that this "game" would soon reveal its harsh side.

Just as Qiu Wanli was considering whether to clear the checkpoints alone or to interact with a few seemingly friendly contestants and travel with them, he keenly sensed an unkind gaze locked onto him.

He followed the feeling and looked over, only to see a young man dressed in Daoist robes, with a cold expression and a faint immortal aura radiating from his body, staring at him coldly; that gaze was filled with arrogance.

This immediately piqued Qiu Wanli's interest: "May I ask for your name?"

The young man said with an arrogant face: "This poor Daoist is Cihang Daoren!"

Hearing this, Qiu Wanli couldn't help but feel a bit surprised: "You are Cihang Daoren?"

He couldn't help but size Cihang Daoren up from head to toe; clearly, he hadn't expected that just after watching Lu Yun beat up Guanyin in the Journey to the West World and swindle the other party out of a Jade Purified Bottle, he would see Guanyin's predecessor, Cihang, right after!

This was truly too coincidental!

Moreover, looking at the other party's appearance, it seemed they were here with ill intent? That made it even more interesting!

Qiu Wanli couldn't help but wonder if he should start a live stream directly.

Cihang Daoren didn't know what Qiu Wanli was thinking, and seeing the other party's reaction, he assumed the other party was intimidated by his reputation.

He said with an arrogant expression: "Since you recognize this poor Daoist, then things will be easy!"

Qiu Wanli asked curiously: "May I ask what business this Cihang Daoren has?"

Cihang Daoren said: "Just before entering the secret realm, I observed that you and I are the strongest among this batch of contestants, and I would like to discuss something with you."

Hearing this, the expressions of the other contestants nearby couldn't help but change slightly.

Because, since these two were already the strongest, if they joined forces, how would the rest of them compete against them?

Yet, in such a situation, they couldn't voice any objections, otherwise, if they were targeted by Cihang Daoren first or if he caused trouble later, it would be a headache.

At this moment, they could only hope that Qiu Wanli would not agree to cooperate with Cihang Daoren, while also quickly thinking about how they would respond if the two sides really reached a cooperation. And just under everyone's tense gaze, Cihang Daoren scanned Qiu Wanli up and down again, looking reluctant, and said with a tone of condescension: "Considering your strength is passable, I will give you a chance. Let us cooperate to break through the secret realm checkpoints, how about it?"

Hearing this, Qiu Wanli frowned, feeling displeased.

He was straightforward by nature and disliked this high-and-mighty attitude the most.

He didn't even think about it and refused directly: "No need, Qiu is used to walking alone!"

Cihang Daoren was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, seemingly surprised. Afterward, his expression sank, and a flash of anger appeared in his eyes.

He hadn't expected that Qiu Wanli, knowing his identity and knowing that he was a Golden Immortal of the Chan Sect, would dare to refuse him so directly!

In his view, this was a great disrespect to him, and also a disrespect to the Chan Sect.

"Since that is the case, this poor Daoist will deal with you here first!" Cihang Daoren snorted coldly.

His figure flickered as he lunged at Qiu Wanli, an Immortal Sword appearing in his hand, flashing with cold light, aiming straight for Qiu Wanli's vitals.

To this, Qiu Wanli only sneered: "Brain-dead!"

Before the words had even faded, he also made his move, and the moment he did, it was a domineering Magic Dao Supernatural Power! Qiu Wanli's figure didn't move; he just lifted his hand slightly, and a massive amount of magic energy surged from his palm, transforming into a pitch-black magic claw that rushed toward Cihang Daoren with a terrifying force that seemed to tear the space apart.

The momentum of this strike was so astonishing that it seemed as if even the heavens and earth changed color; the surrounding air emitted bursts of explosions under the pressure of the magic claw, and the space seemed as if it were about to collapse.

Seeing this, Cihang Daoren's expression changed drastically; he never expected that Qiu Wanli's strength would be so terrifying.

Everyone's realm was now only at the Human Immortal Realm, but the power of Qiu Wanli's strike far exceeded his expectations.

He hurriedly brandished the Immortal Sword in his hand, attempting to block this earth-shattering strike, but unfortunately, it was too late.

"Boom!"

The magic claw collided with the Immortal Sword, and only a deafening roar was heard; the Immortal Sword was instantly torn to pieces by the magic claw, turning into specks of light that dissipated in the air.

And Cihang Daoren's body was also torn to shreds like a piece of rag under this strike, eventually turning into a dim light and disappearing from the secret realm, eliminated.

The other contestants around saw this astonishing scene and gasped in unison; they hadn't expected that under the same cultivation level, the strength Qiu Wanli could erupt with would be so formidable, killing and eliminating the equally powerful Cihang Daoren in one strike. For a moment, their eyes looking at Qiu Wanli were filled with awe and longing.

"Fellow Daoist, I am willing to team up with you to clear the checkpoints!"

"Fellow Daoist, take me with you; I am good at support and will definitely be able to provide you with assistance!"

"Senior, I..."

However, facing everyone's requests, Qiu Wanli only shook his head indifferently.

He was aloof by nature and liked to walk alone; he had only been interested just now because he wanted to play around, but at this moment, he had already lost most of his interest in this competition.

He glanced at the crowd coldly, then his figure flickered, and he charged toward the depths of the secret realm alone. He prepared to clear this secret realm by himself and pass the first stage first.

Presumably, he should be able to meet some interesting opponents in the second stage.

He left behind a group of contestants who looked at each other in bewilderment, at a loss for what to do. They watched Qiu Wanli's departing back, feeling both awe and helplessness in their hearts.

They knew that this powerful lone wolf was no longer an existence they could reach.

But someone suddenly smiled and said, "Regardless, this senior has helped us eliminate a formidable rival!"

Once he said this, the eyes of the others lit up! That's right!

Originally, only ten people could break through in this competition arena. Qiu Wanli and Cihang Daoren would basically occupy the top two spots, and everyone else could only fight for the remaining eight. But now, because of the conflict between the two, Cihang Daoren had been eliminated, and the number of spots the others could fight for had actually become nine!

For a moment, they were all incredibly happy, feeling that Cihang Daoren was truly a great person!

Afterward, they began to search for other teammates to face the upcoming challenges together.

……

Inside the Yuanling Immortal Net.

After Cihang Daoren's consciousness emerged from the Secret Realm, he appeared directly outside the previous competition arena.

Cihang Daoren's consciousness was forcibly stripped from the Secret Realm and returned to the area outside the Yuanling Immortal Net competition arena. His face was pale, and his eyes were filled with disbelief and shame. He never expected that he would be eliminated by Qiu Wanli in a single blow in such a competition; for someone as proud and arrogant as him, this was undoubtedly a huge blow.

He looked around and found that countless spectators were watching him; some were surprised, some felt pity, but more were gloating. This made him feel even more embarrassed, as if his failure were being seen by everyone.

"How could this happen? How could I lose to an unknown nobody?" Cihang Daoren roared in his heart; he could not accept such a result.

However, reality was cruel. He knew he had lost the qualification to continue the competition and could only leave in dejection. He lowered his head and hurried through the crowd, wanting to escape this place that brought him such shame as quickly as possible.

However, just as he was about to leave the competition arena, a familiar voice came: "Junior brother, why are you out so soon? Could it be that you have already passed the competition?"

Cihang Daoren looked up and saw his senior brother Guangchengzi walking toward him with a smile. Guangchengzi's face was full of joy, clearly thinking that Cihang Daoren had also successfully advanced.

Cihang Daoren felt bitter in his heart; he knew he could not face his senior brother's praise and expectations right now. He suppressed the shame and anger in his heart and said in a low voice, "Senior brother, I... I failed."

Guangchengzi was stunned upon hearing this, and the joy on his face instantly froze. He looked at Cihang Daoren in disbelief, as if he could not believe his own ears.

"How is that possible? With your strength, how could you fail?" Guangchengzi couldn't help but ask.

Cihang Daoren gave a bitter smile and did not answer; he didn't dare to answer at all.

Cihang Daoren felt bitter in his heart, but he felt that as long as he didn't say anything, his senior brother Guangchengzi wouldn't know the specific details of the competition, which would also preserve a shred of his dignity.

However, fate did not seem to intend to let him off easily.

Just as he turned to leave silently, his gaze inadvertently swept across the entrance of the competition arena, and he actually saw his master, Yuanshi Tianzun, slowly walking out from the arena, his face so gloomy it seemed as if water could drip from it.

Cihang Daoren was instantly dumbfounded, and a surge of indescribable terror welled up in his heart.

He never expected that his master would witness his failure with his own eyes, which made him feel even more ashamed.

Yuanshi Tianzun walked over step by step, his gaze like a torch, as if he could see through everything.

Cihang Daoren did not dare to look directly at him and could only lower his head, silently praying in his heart that his master would not lash out here.

Yuanshi Tianzun looked at Cihang Daoren and was practically exploding with anger!

It wasn't that he couldn't accept a disciple failing, but failing in such a low-level stage of the competition, and failing because he underestimated his opponent just as the competition had begun, was truly something he could not accept!

What made him even more furious was that before Cihang Daoren was eliminated, he had actually announced his own affiliation!

If Cihang Daoren hadn't announced his affiliation, others might not have known he was a disciple of the Chan Sect, and he wouldn't have had to be embarrassed along with him!

However, although Yuanshi Tianzun was furious in his heart, he also understood that this was not the time to lash out. He suppressed his anger and said coldly to Cihang Daoren, "Get back to the Yuqing Sacred Realm and reflect on your mistakes!"

Cihang Daoren felt a chill in his heart upon hearing this, knowing that his master was truly angry. He dared not argue and hurriedly lowered his head, responding, "Yes, Master, this disciple will return to the Yuqing Sacred Realm immediately to reflect on my mistakes."

After speaking, he didn't dare to look at his master's face again, turned around, and hurried away from the Yuanling Immortal Net, feeling secretly annoyed in his heart.

He knew that his failure this time not only disappointed his master but also damaged the reputation of the Chan Sect. He swore that when he returned, he would definitely find the person who had embarrassed him and take this great revenge! Yuanshi Tianzun watched Cihang Daoren's departing back, his anger not yet dissipated, but he also knew that this was not the time to hold anyone accountable. He took a deep breath, tried to calm his emotions, and then turned to walk toward Guangchengzi.

Guangchengzi hurriedly bowed: "Greetings, Master!"

Yuanshi Tianzun said in a deep voice, "Since you have finished the competition, go find Nanji and work with him to keep an eye on the other disciples for me. If anyone performs too poorly, make them get back to reflect on their mistakes immediately!"

Guangchengzi hurriedly replied, "This disciple obeys!"

"Hmph!"

Yuanshi Tianzun let out a cold snort and stopped paying attention to the other competition arenas, preparing to find Laozi and the others to meet up and see what discoveries they had made.

(End of chapter)