The disciples of the Divine Saint Sect couldn't help but get caught up in a passionate fervor. The annual outer court competition wasn't the cause of the commotion, rather the location where it was to be held.

The rarely seen patriarch was going to open up his little world for the disciples of the outer sect. The disciples never had the opportunity to look at much less enter the world of a heavenly graded treasure. 

The disciples were gathered at the very peak of the Divine Saint Sect mountain. Spectators were seated in stands enclosing the outer disciples. Inner court disciples and elders of the outer court could be recognized among the spectators. 

In just a few years the outer disciples would be eligible to challenge the inner court disciples for their positions so it was only natural that they had come to watch.

"What are our chances?" Jiang She asked her master while sizing up potential rivals. 

"You've grown far stronger these last two years, but you're still far too young to even think about competing with the older disciples in terms of strength." He replied. 

Although she didn't like to admit it, her master was right. She was among the youngest, if not the youngest of the outer court disciples. However in her opinion she wouldn't lose out to any of the other disciples in terms of strength.

"Quiet!" The head elder of the outer court cried, silencing the crowd. Standing next to him was an extraordinarily handsome young man. Even dozens of feet away Jiang She could feel the pressure he exerted. She knew without a doubt that he must be the patriarch of the sect.

Gifted cultivators would stop aging physically after they formed their golden cores. She wasn't sure exactly what realm the patriarch was at but he was easily the strongest being she had met yet. Perhaps if the Old Daoist had not lost his core he could've been just as strong if not stronger than the patriarch. 

"The rules for this year's competition is simple. Once you enter the little world you'll be matched up against a fellow disciple. In the case of defeat or death you'll be transported out of the world immediately. Each fight will have a time limit, in the case of a match running long both fighters will be disqualified." 

The patriarch wasted no time on pleasantries and delved straight into the rules of the competition. With the wave of his hand a brilliant light consumed the outer sect disciples. The competition to determine the strongest outer court disciple had just begun.

"So you'll be my opponent? I won't hold back!" A burly, tan disciple with a saber in hand declared. 

"I don't expect you to!" Jiang She retorted, while getting her talismans ready.

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The burly disciple dashed towards Jiang She, his Qi enveloping the entirety of his saber. 

Likewise she bolted forwards, meeting his saber with her fist. 

She was blown back several feet, losing in terms of brute strength to him. 

Jiang She whipped out talismans from her sleeves. The burly disciple charged at her determined to prevent her from igniting the talismans. 

"Three fold hurricane slash!" He roared, the Qi in the air dancing around him.

She managed to dodge the first slash but her left hand was struck by the second. She collapsed on the ground clutching her hand. The burly disciple relaxed after seeing her fall, sure of his victory he circulated the Qi in his body once more. The powerful Qi on his saber getting even more fierce. 

He threw launched another slash at her, intending to finish the battle. 

"Nine Nethers Redirection Palm!" 

The burly disciple was the one to be blown back this time. As the saber met the palm, his blade shattered and he was forced back several feet. 

Jiang She dashed forward determined to capitalize on the opening.

"Wait! I concede." Unexpectedly the burly disciple had chosen to yield. 

"A bladesman is nothing without his blade. My name is Chen Wudi! I shall redeem my loss!"

Chen Wudi bowed to her before fading from the little world.  She was then swallowed up by the brilliant light and transported to her second match.  

"Nice job getting to the second round! But I'm afraid this is as far as you go!" A handsome youth in extravagant robes declared. With a wave of his robes, Qi arrows hurtled towards Jiang She. 

She hastily ignited the paper talismans she had prepared beforehand. The Qi arrows smashed into her barrier, leaving cracks. 

She was up against one of the strongest outer sect disciples, Xinyi Ren. He was given the epithet , Intellect Arrow, at the tender age of ten. He had the unique ability to materialize and manipulate Qi outside of his own body to a frightening degree. She had even heard rumors that he had wiped out an entire clan during training outside, not even the children and women were spared from death.

"A talisman? Useless. I'll just blow it away." He muttered. With a wave of hand the Qi in the atmosphere thrashed her barrier. Her barrier was whipped apart by his ferocious Qi. She bolted in the opposite direction towards a heavily wooded forest in the opposite direction using the Nine Nether Steps. Xinyi Ren sprinted after her, even managing to close the distance somewhat. The only cultivator that had managed to pressure her this much was the Old Daoist. This was the first time she had ever fought such a skilled opponent. 

"Nine Nethers Presence Concealment!" Jiang She faded into the shadows of the tall trees. Xinyi Ren slowed to a halt and scanned the forest, trying to find even the slightest hint of her presence. 

"Not bad. You did a good job hiding yourself. However if you keep on running then we'll both lose out in the end. 

"Why don't we make a deal?"

Jiang She responded by releasing a succession of crossbow bolts. Xinyi Ren blew the bolts away with a wave of his hand. Xinyi Ren sat himself down on a fallen log, seemingly dropping all defense against Jiang She.

"Ready to make a deal now?"