NOVEL NEXT Ch. 26
Chapter 26: The Whole Arena Was Dumbfounded — This Isn’t Cultivation!
The entire martial arena fell into a deathly silence.
Tens of thousands of disciples, hundreds of elders, and even that inscrutable Sect Master seated on the main platform — all eyes were frozen upon the twentieth arena stage.
Frozen upon that burly man who had one foot stepping on the back of Qingfeng Hall’s captain, Zhao Qing, a massive spiked mace slung over his shoulder as he let out a sky-shaking roar.
Zhang Daniu!
And behind him stood the nineteen other “Ascension Group” members — though their robes were tattered and their breaths uneven, they still stood tall, maintaining their charge formation with unwavering pride.
They won?
Just like that… they won?
A group of mere Chores Courtyard and outer sect disciples, none above the Fifth Level of Qi Refining, had — in less than the time it took for one incense stick to burn — completely annihilated a team of inner sect elites led by a captain at the Seventh Level of Qi Refining?
Everyone’s minds crashed.
The scene before them utterly shattered their understanding of what “cultivator combat” should be.
There were no dazzling Daoist techniques clashing midair, no brilliant sword lights flashing, no graceful footwork or flying movement arts.
There was only — shields! Spiked maces! Formation! Charge!
This… this wasn’t cultivation at all!
“What… what the hell is this? How can this even count as a win?”
Finally, someone snapped out of their shock and shouted in disbelief.
“Yeah! They didn’t use any proper spells at all — just brute force and some weird weapons and formation tactics!”
“This is an insult to the sect tournament! A blasphemy against cultivators themselves!”
The crowd erupted, especially the proud inner sect disciples — a boiling wave of outrage bursting forth.
They couldn’t accept it.
The “immortal techniques” they prided themselves on had just been crushed by such crude, vulgar “mortal warfare tactics.”
Li Aotian’s face turned from stiff to livid green.
He glared death at Zhang Daniu on the arena, then slowly turned toward that calm, indifferent figure sitting in the corner — Chu Feng.
His face burned as if slapped with fire.
Sure, Qingfeng Hall was a soft target — but it was still an inner sect team!
And more importantly, it was part of his Li Aotian’s faction!
Now that soft target had been smashed by the Ascension Group in the most absurd, face-slapping manner possible — wasn’t this the same as publicly slapping Li Aotian himself?!
He had meticulously planned this whole thing, wanting to watch Chu Feng’s subordinates get slaughtered by Qingfeng Hall.
And what happened instead?
Those subordinates had counter-slaughtered Qingfeng Hall!
And in a way that made the entire sect dumbstruck!
How was this “suppression”?
It was clearly a massive “pledge of loyalty” delivered right to the Ascension Group’s doorstep!
On the main platform, Elder Liu Changqing’s hands were trembling.
Not from fear — but from excitement!
He looked at the majestic Zhang Daniu on stage, then at the shattered teacup at his feet.
Only one thought roared madly in his mind:
“My spirit stones! My advertisement budget! Worth it! Totally worth it!”
When he looked at Chu Feng now, it was no longer as a promising junior — it was like gazing upon a walking God of Wealth!
“Ahem!”
Just as the entire arena buzzed in chaos, the presiding elder’s dry cough, amplified by spiritual power, echoed across the field.
His expression was odd, but he still maintained the fairness of a referee as he loudly announced:
“In this match, all members of Qingfeng Hall have lost combat ability or fallen from the stage. The twenty-fifth group — Ascension Group — wins!”
“Wha—!”
The official declaration instantly sent another shockwave through the crowd.
Meanwhile, in the Ascension Group’s corner, an earth-shaking cheer erupted!
“We won! We actually won!”
“President’s amazing! Brother Daniu, you’re awesome!”
Those members who hadn’t fought were red-faced with excitement, their eyes shining with near-reverent admiration as they looked at Chu Feng and the triumphant Zhang Daniu and his squad.
“Come, family members, fall back. Neither arrogant in victory nor disheartened in defeat — prepare for the next ‘roadshow.’”
Chu Feng remained as composed as ever, as though what had just happened was merely a trivial matter.
Leading his team, he returned to their corner under countless complex gazes.
As soon as Zhang Daniu came back, he rushed excitedly to Chu Feng, pounding his chest with loud thuds.
“President! I didn’t embarrass you, did I? That Turtle Shell Formation, and that ‘Wula Charge’ — pretty powerful, huh?”
“It’s ‘Group,’ not ‘I.’”
Chu Feng corrected his wording, then patted his shoulder with a smile.
“Good job, Daniu. You’ve shown the initial qualities of an excellent ‘Project Manager’ — leading your team bravely into battle. This first victory has laid a solid foundation for our Group’s ‘brand image.’”
“Hehehe…”
Zhang Daniu scratched his head, not understanding what a Project Manager was, but being praised by the President made him happier than eating ten Qi Nourishing Pills.
While they were conducting their “post-battle review,” the sect tournament continued.
Soon, it was Li Aotian’s “Aotian Alliance’s” turn.
Their opponents — the alchemists from “Hundred Herbs Hall.”
“Aotian Alliance versus Hundred Herbs Hall! Proceed to Arena No. 3!”
Li Aotian took a deep breath, forcing down all the anger and humiliation within him.
He would respond to the Ascension Group’s insult with the most overwhelming, crushing victory possible!
He would show everyone — what a true cultivator was!
What true power was!
Leading his nineteen inner sect elites, he stepped onto the arena.
Clang!
The gong sounded.
“Kill!” Li Aotian uttered just one word.
The next instant — twenty dazzling sword lights, like twenty bolts of heavenly lightning, engulfed the entire stage.
The disciples of Hundred Herbs Hall didn’t even have time to fully activate their artifacts before they were blasted off their feet by the overwhelming sword pressure.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Figures were sent flying like dumplings tossed from a pot, blood spraying as screams filled the air.
It took only three breaths.
After three breaths, the arena stood silent — save for the twenty members of the Aotian Alliance. Not a single opponent remained standing.
The crowd once again fell into silence.
But this time, it wasn’t shock or absurdity — it was fear and reverence.
This was the sect tournament they recognized!
This was the power expected of inner sect geniuses!
Crushing! Unstoppable!
Li Aotian stood with his sword, his gaze cold as ice as he swept across the arena — and finally locked eyes on Chu Feng.
His look seemed to say:
See that, trash? This is power! What you’re doing is nothing but a clown’s trick!
Yet what nearly made him explode again — was that Chu Feng didn’t even look at him.
Chu Feng was lowering his head, holding a piece of charcoal, scribbling on a wooden board while speaking to Wu Hao and the others.
“…See, the Aotian Alliance’s victory just now is a textbook example of the ‘high-attack, high-profile’ model. Its advantage lies in strong brand impact — quickly building market confidence.”
“But the downside is just as obvious. The ‘operational cost’ is too high, and it’s overly reliant on the ‘core asset’ — that is, Li Aotian himself. Once the core asset collapses, the entire ‘company’ risks bankruptcy. Poor risk resistance — not a sustainable model, not at all…”
Li Aotian: “……”
He felt as if he had thrown another punch — right into cotton!