Chapter 108: Cao Youqian – "Junior Sister, You're Weaker, So You Should Be the Seeded Candidate"
"Elder Hua, are you sure I can choose one of the ten seeded spots for the Inner Sect Tournament?"
Chu Feng looked at Elder Hua in front of him, feeling it was a bit unreal. After all, he'd been at the Miscellaneous Dao Institute for many years.
The Miscellaneous Dao Institute held an extremely low status within Wendao Academy. That Xiao Chen had become one of the top ten True Disciple seeds wasn't surprising.
Xiao Chen had earned it through his own strength. But as for becoming one of the ten Inner Sect seeds, Chu Feng had never even considered it.
Hua Chengfeng nodded. "That's right. This is the dean's recognition of you, Chief Chu, for your contributions these past years. Please decide within three days and notify me."
Naturally, he didn't mention that Chu Feng had missed the meeting due to his own oversight.
"No need for three days. I can give Elder Hua an answer right now."
As Chu Feng spoke, he waved toward Cao Youqian and Qin Qin in the distance. "You two decide. Who wants this seeded candidate spot?"
Upon hearing this, Cao Youqian stepped forward and said earnestly, "Master, let Junior Sister Qin have the spot."
Qin Qin quickly responded, "Senior Brother, I'm not as strong as you. It's only right for you to be one of the top ten seeded disciples."
"You're right."
Cao Youqian turned and looked at her seriously. "Precisely because of that, Junior Sister Qin, you need this spot."
???
Qin Qin looked confused and said weakly, "Senior Brother, you could've just said I'm weak."
This was the first time Hua Chengfeng had seen such a scene. In any other institute, a seeded spot would have people fighting tooth and nail. But in the Miscellaneous Dao Institute, it was completely different.
Chu Feng chuckled. "Then it's settled—Qin'er will become one of the ten Inner Sect seeds. Elder Hua, please take note."
"Oh."
Hua Chengfeng snapped back to his senses and said, "Alright, Nephew Qin, bring out your identity token so I can record it."
A moment later, Elder Hua soared away into the sky.
This little episode didn't affect the camaraderie within the Miscellaneous Dao Institute.
However, when the names of the ten Inner Sect seeded candidates were released, they stirred up intense discussion.
Even the Xuanhuo Alchemy King was alerted. After reading the list, he immediately prepared to storm the Miscellaneous Dao Institute.
Fortunately, Cao Youqian came to visit in time. After a private conversation in the study, the Xuanhuo Alchemy King beamed as he sent his descendant off from the Alchemy Institute.
As he watched Cao Youqian's departing figure, he even shouted, "My grandson, Youqian, has the bearing of a sage!"
The disciples of the Alchemy Institute were stunned by his words. In private, they speculated whether something was wrong with their chief. He was already so old, yet he actually said something that embarrassing in public.
Time flew by, and two months passed in the blink of an eye.
The Outer Sect Tournament began first.
Under Chu Feng's guidance, his four disciples all successfully broke through a minor realm. Xiao Chen reached the second level of the Heaven Origin Realm, Cao Youqian the fifth level of the True Fate Realm, Qin Qin the third level of the True Fate Realm, and Wang Baole the sixth level of the Dao Foundation Realm. This granted Chu Feng an additional 80 years of cultivation. He now had over 600 years of accumulated cultivation.
Early that morning, Chu Feng led his disciples to the site of the Outer Sect Tournament.
At the same time, within Wendao City—
Inside a private courtyard, the Ninth Princess was in closed-door cultivation at a critical point of breaking through to the True Fate Realm.
Old Zhao stood guard at the entrance, his spiritual sense covering several miles. No movement could escape his detection.
In recent days, the topic he heard most was news about the Outer Sect, Inner Sect, and True Disciple Tournaments of Wendao Academy.
Listening to all this, Old Zhao couldn't help but sigh inwardly: It seems the Ninth Princess will miss the chance to witness the brilliance of Wendao Academy's prodigies this time. But once she breaks through to the True Fate Realm and passes the academy's test, she can directly enter the Inner Sect.
"Master, it's so lively!"
On the high platform, Wang Baole looked at the sea of people below and couldn't help but exclaim.
Beside him, Cao Youqian chuckled and said, "This is nothing. Just wait until the True Disciple Tournament. That's when it really becomes the center of everyone's attention."
Wang Baole's eyes lit up with anticipation. "I wonder when I'll become a true disciple and be able to participate in the True Disciple Tournament."
Chu Feng replied seriously, "You just need to eat less. You'll definitely qualify for the next True Disciple Tournament."
???
Wang Baole tilted his head and asked, "Master, why won't you let me eat more?"
Chu Feng smiled. "If you keep eating this much, in thirty years you won't even be a Heaven Origin cultivator anymore. How will you compete in the True Disciple Tournament then?"
"Ah?"
Wang Baole immediately fell silent, unsure how to respond.
"Haha!"
A hearty laugh rang out from nearby. Everyone turned to see the Xuanhuo Alchemy King approaching with a cheerful smile.
"Senior Xuanhuo!"
"Greetings, Chief Xuanhuo!"
"No need for formality, no need."
The Xuanhuo Alchemy King smiled and said, "Xiao Feng, you're still as humorous and confident as ever. Hearing you talk like this makes me curious about this little guy."
Chu Feng replied with a straight face, "Senior, tread carefully. This little fatty isn't someone just anyone can afford to train. If you really try to raise him, he'll probably eat you out of house and home in ten years."
???
The Xuanhuo Alchemy King stared at Chu Feng in confusion, then looked at his own grandson.
Cao Youqian felt his ancestor's gaze and instinctively nodded, as if to say, 'Master is right.'
Only then did the Xuanhuo Alchemy King laugh and say, "I was just teasing you. Am I the kind of man who snatches other people's talents?"
Chu Feng immediately shifted the topic. "Of course not, Senior. Has the Alchemy Institute produced any new prodigies this time?"
The Xuanhuo Alchemy King shook his head. "Not this time. Those kids of mine almost failed to secure even a single seed spot."
As they spoke, the various chiefs of the institutes began arriving at the site of the Outer Sect Tournament.
As with the previous tournament, the event officially began after the drawing of lots.
Wang Baole held his own lot slip and quietly waited at the base of Arena No. 4 for his match.
An hour later, the referee atop the arena shouted, "Next match: Wang Baole from the Miscellaneous Dao Institute versus Zhu Huifei from the Beast Taming Institute!"
As the words fell, Wang Baole stepped onto the platform, carrying his firewood cleaver on his back. The moment he landed, a blood-colored wolf the size of a water buffalo leapt onto the arena.
A young man dressed in ornate robes sat on the wolf's back. He jumped down, carefully eyeing the chubby figure before him.
"Is your Miscellaneous Dao Institute really so poor? You're actually using a firewood cleaver as a weapon?"
As soon as he said that, the crowd, already stunned by Wang Baole's bizarre appearance, burst into laughter.
"Hahaha…"
Wang Baole ignored the laughter from below the arena and replied calmly, "You Beast Tamers are nothing special. That beast of yours wouldn't even qualify as dinner back when I was in Yunmeng Swamp."
The casual comment completely broke Zhu Huifei's composure. His face darkened as he roared in anger, "You little punk, you're asking for it! Wolf Bro, go teach this fat brat a hard lesson!"
"Awoooo…"
The blood wolf let out a howl and lunged straight at Wang Baole…
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