Chapter 90 - Arc 7: Dragon Ascension Gate | Chapter 90: Remaining Quota
Translator: Lynn
Sponsored chapter (8/10)
For the remaining three days, Xu Ziqing chose to be inconspicuous and stayed hidden in the cave, dedicating himself to practice and solidifying his cultivation.
Su Xin understood the delicate nature of Xu Ziqing’s identity and his numerous concerns, so he never went to find him, allowing Xu Ziqing to remain in solitude for a few days.
Finally, the last day of the competition arrived. In the evening, Xu Ziqing felt his mind restless and had to wake up from meditation. Fortunately, his cultivation base was already stable, so it wouldn’t be a wasted effort afterward.
Yun Lie also opened his eyes.
Xu Ziqing smiled shyly. “Thank you, Brother Yun, for protecting me.”
Yun Lie glanced at him, nodded slightly, and then flickered and disappeared into the storage ring.
Straightening his clothes, Xu Ziqing waved his hand to remove the restraints and stepped out of the cave. It was then that he noticed many cultivators flying out of the other caves, presumably all of them had been defeated, and now they were being summoned by Tang Wenfei’s sound transmission, just like him.
Stepping onto the green leaves, Xu Ziqing floated down, feeling somewhat more at ease than before. He overheard cultivators conversing with each other.
Some who were carefree and unaware of the reason:
“Brother, are you also summoned by Senior Tang?”
“Yes, I want to go to the main hall.”
“Please.”
While others felt anxious:
“I wonder why Senior Tang summoned those of us who lost?”
“Those who were left, perhaps!”
Another disgruntled cultivator who lost for a while expressed his anger:
“But I don’t know who they will keep…”
“Hmph, it’s not like they’ll stay if they win just one match! The person who fought against me used such low-level tactics to steal my spot. Little did he know that his own strength wasn’t good enough and that the heretics wouldn’t be able to complete it. Just look at the people who lost in the first two days, Senior. You’ll surely be able to expose these villains!”
“Yes, indeed…”
Each cultivator had their own thoughts, but they swiftly cast their techniques and hurriedly entered the hall.
Xu Ziqing also activated his spiritual power, transforming into a streak of blue light as he rushed toward the hall.
Inside the main hall, many cultivators had already taken their seats according to their assigned order.
Looking up, Xu Ziqing spotted Su Xin who had already seated himself and was waving at him. Xu Ziqing smiled warmly and hurriedly walked over to join him.
After the two were seated, more cultivators arrived, and they exchanged a few words in the meantime.
Seeing Xu Ziqing at this moment, Su Xin felt a sense of strangeness. “Brother Ziqing, I haven’t seen you for a few days, and you seem to have changed a lot. I wonder why?” As he spoke, the two elders behind him also focused their attention on Xu Ziqing.
Then Elder Peng, who had been protecting Xu Ziqing, spoke with a hint of surprise in his tone, “Xu Xiaoyou has broken through to the tenth stage of Qi Refinement?”
Elder Wu also took a closer look. With his higher cultivation level, he could discern more clearly. “The breakthrough is recent, and yet your realm is already stable.”
Xu Ziqing didn’t intend to hide it and nodded with a smile. “It was a fortunate coincidence.” This was an admission.
Su Xin was momentarily taken aback but then smiled happily. “Well, Brother Ziqing, you’ve been hiding in the cave for the past few days, and I thought you were being lazy to avoid trouble. Turns out, you’ve already made a breakthrough and are stabilizing your cultivation. You couldn’t keep it a secret from me!”
Knowing that Su Xin was teasing him, Xu Ziqing only smiled in response without saying a word.
By the time the two of them finished their conversation, all the cultivators in the temple had arrived.
Tang Wenfei stood at the front, wearing a smile on his lips. “The battles are over, and the number of people who will be staying behind has been determined. I gathered everyone here to announce this matter.”
The atmosphere in the hall became tense as all the cultivators eagerly awaited Tang Wenfei’s announcement.
The remaining spots were determined by the gatekeepers. Although some winners had a general idea in their hearts, they were unsure of the final outcome, leading to a sense of unease.
Tang Wenfei glanced at the crowd and began speaking, “Those with spiritual roots may stay.” This was a rule, but he wanted to emphasize it. He continued, “There are twenty more spots: Yan Boshang from Tianyan Sect, Zhang Tiantai from Shendao Sect, Diao Zimo from Leihuo Sect, Zhuo Hanyan from Loose Cultivator Alliance, Luohou from Qingtian Gate, Ji Banlian from Jingle Palace…” Upon hearing this, all the cultivators thought to themselves, “As expected, those six individuals secured their spots regardless of their victories or defeats!”
Continuing the list, Tang Wenfei announced, “Zhang Chi from Wuliang Sect, Ran Xingjian from Loose Cultivator Alliance, Mo Butong from Shenying School…” At this point, the names mentioned were only vaguely familiar to Xu Ziqing. They were likely cultivators close to the tenth stage of Qi Refinement, but he hadn’t paid much attention to them and hadn’t bothered to remember.
On the other hand, Su Xin turned his head and whispered in Xu Ziqing’s ear, “That Zhang Chi from Wuliang Sect actually made it. Since Wuliang Sect lost face, you and I should be cautious. Perhaps he will come looking for us, bringing bad luck.”
Xu Ziqing glanced at Zhang Chi and replied in a low voice, “From what I can tell, Zhang Chi doesn’t seem like a narrow-minded person…”
Su Xin sighed, “If he were as reckless as Hu Guangyuan, the prodigal son of Wuliang Sect, he wouldn’t have reached such a level. It’s just a conflict between sects. How can we juniors comprehend it? Zhang Chi was only kept due to his double spiritual root. His strength may not be outstanding, but he’s not a despicable person. He has certain obligations to fulfill.”
Xu Ziqing pondered silently and thought it made sense. However, he felt a sense of pity for Zhang Chi. It was unfortunate for someone with a good disposition to be forced into unrighteous acts. If he could timely discard such thoughts, it would be fine. But if he couldn’t, it would hinder his path to immortality.
After contemplating for a while, Xu Ziqing asked, “If he’s compelled… If the sect asks him to do something he can’t, then he doesn’t have to do it. Zhang Chi is an excellent disciple of the Wuliang Sect, so he should have the right to be willful.”
However, Su Xin responded, “Brother Ziqing, you’re correct. As a genius, it’s normal to have certain temperaments. However, Zhang Chi has his own troubles. It is said that he was born an orphan and almost died. He was later saved by his master, who discovered his talent within the sect and accepted him as a disciple. He now carries the grace of being saved and the grace of being taught and nurtured. After experiencing all this, he is loyal to Wuliang Sect. Naturally, even if he knows the consequences, he will willingly endure them.”
Hearing this, Xu Ziqing became even more perplexed. “Wuliang Sect has managed to establish a foothold alongside the Loose Cultivator Alliance for many years. They can’t be so short-sighted. Zhang Chi has a bright future, so why would he risk it all due to a fit of momentary anger? There’s a saying that goes, ‘You can kill a thousand enemies but hurt yourself by 800.’ It’s truly not worth it.”
Su Xin smiled and added, “I mentioned that I have to be cautious because of him, but it’s not the sect that wants him to act. It’s…” He glanced to the side.
Xu Ziqing’s eyes narrowed. “Hu Guangyuan?”
Su Xin nodded subtly. “Hu Guangyuan has always been arrogant, but he is the great-grandson of the sect lord of Wuliang Sect and is allowed to enjoy the treasures of heaven and earth. Even Zhang Chi is treated as a genius because of him. Haven’t you noticed? The Wuliang Sect disciples who came here all have high expectations for Hu Guangyuan. If Hu Guangyuan wants Zhang Chi to do something, Zhang Chi will definitely do it.”
Xu Ziqing was dumbfounded upon hearing this and after a long pause, he finally shook his head. “Zhang Chi is too inflexible… Regardless, it doesn’t matter whether your speculations come true. We need to be prepared. Whatever methods he employs to provoke troubles, we can ‘block soldiers and cover water’.”
Reading out the names didn’t take long. After Tang Wenfei stopped speaking, the number of available spots wasn’t beyond the cultivators’ expectations.
Those who were fortunate felt deflated, while those who were somewhat confident felt a sense of relief.
Tang Wenfei continued, “Stay here for one more night. Tomorrow morning, I will send you off Tenglong Peak and explain to the friends who chose to enter with their spiritual roots, as well as those who didn’t secure a spot. Let’s settle it tonight.”
Naturally, all the cultivators had no objections. They answered in unison and promptly returned to their respective caves.
Su Xin also let out a sigh of relief. “Finally, everything is settled.”
Apart from himself and Xu Ziqing, there were also Zhuo Hanyan and Ran Xingjian from the Loose Cultivator Alliance. The four of them had stayed behind, reaping much better rewards than many sects.
Before they left, many cultivators cast envious glances at them.
Although the four individuals who didn’t secure a spot were disappointed, they didn’t feel resentful. Zhuo Hanyan had the highest cultivation base, and it was only natural that Ran Xingjian was close behind. It was within everyone’s expectations. They quickly dispelled their gloom, knowing that there would be another chance in about ten years. Cultivators had long lifespans and didn’t have short-sighted perspectives. Since it was the last night, the members of the Loose Cultivation Alliance wanted to celebrate.
Su Xin suggested, “Why don’t we go to Senior Sister Zhuo’s cave and have a drink together?”
Min Caizhe and He Jinghui, both fond of drinking, laughed and replied, “That sounds great! But we don’t have any alcohol. How about it? Can we still drink?”
At that moment, Tong Yuansi spoke up, “I have two jars of pear white wine in my storage bag…”
Hui Feizhang added, “I have a jar of drunken incense here.”
Su Xin was in high spirits and exclaimed, “Since I made the suggestion, I had already prepared for it. Before coming here, I knew my Loose Cultivator Alliance would make a mark, so I brought Xianzhi wine in advance…” He smiled, “…ten barrels of it!”
Zhuo Hanyan and Ran Xingjian, who were usually arrogant and introverted respectively, now wore relaxed expressions. Zhuo Hanyan said, “Well, what are we waiting for? Hurry up and bring it. I’m going to drink to my heart’s content!” Elder Peng and Elder Wu, who were typically serious, also had smiles on their faces.
All the cultivators gathered in Zhuo Hanyan’s cave, drinking, discussing the Dao, laughing, and enjoying themselves throughout most of the night before reluctantly parting ways.
Due to the alcohol forced upon him by Su Xin, Xu Ziqing got drunk and returned to his cave slowly. He lay on the ground with a flushed face, muttering to himself, “Drinking today was so enjoyable. I’ll drink with you in the future… Oh, no… You don’t drink, don’t drink… why… don’t you drink?”
After that, he fell silent.
Regardless of how disheartened they were, everyone departed with Tang Wenfei the following morning.
Since Xu Ziqing was still recovering from his drunkenness, he didn’t wake up early. However, Su Xin came to fetch him, so he wasn’t late either. Xu Ziqing couldn’t help but wonder how Su Xin could be so energetic. Despite drinking more the previous night, Su Xin didn’t get drunk at all and still looked radiant.
All the cultivators stood at the foot of the cliff, leaving an empty space in front of them. Tang Wenfei, dressed in white brocade robes just like when they first met, looked elegant and refined.
At that moment, Tang Wenfei raised his hand, and clouds and mist billowed out from his robe sleeve, rapidly spreading and obscuring the sky and sun, as well as the view of all the cultivators.
When Xu Ziqing saw the sudden appearance of clouds and mist in the clear sky with only a few white clouds, he couldn’t help but recall the road of clouds that paved the sky when they arrived outside the Tenglong Mountain Range before the Ascension to the Dragon Gate. It was a spiritual sight. Could it be…
With this thought, he remembered what his friends had said before and couldn’t help but focus his consciousness on the ring, calling out, “Brother Yun, is this cloud and mist formed by the ‘Xiaoshui Zhenjing’?” Yun Lie’s cold voice came slowly, “That’s correct.”
Xu Ziqing secretly admired the incredible power of a Golden Core Daoist!
After a while, the clouds and mist filled the sky and became increasingly dense.
Tang Wenfei waved his sleeves, and the clouds and mist immediately gathered, gradually forming a thick layer of clouds that transformed into a long path extending far into the distance, beyond the mountains.
Having experienced this once before, the cultivators weren’t as surprised this time. After bidding farewell to their fellow disciples, they swiftly stepped onto the cloud path and stood atop it, waiting for Tang Wenfei.
Tang Wenfei’s figure swayed, and he appeared in front of the cultivators, leading them just like he did when they arrived.
Upon seeing his handsome figure and extraordinary demeanor, Xu Ziqing couldn’t help but yearn for him. While he struggled to converse with others, he found it easier to speak with his friends. Thus, he said to the people around him, “The ‘Xiaoshui Zhenjing’ is truly powerful. Senior Tang not only released numerous clouds and mists but also manipulated them freely. It’s evident that he is quite adept at this technique. If I were to practice this technique, I wonder how long it would take for me to reach such proficiency.”
Yun Lie’s tone remained calm as he replied, “Your attribute is wood. If you were to practice this technique, you would make progress more effortlessly.”
Xu Ziqing poured cold water on himself and was startled, then smiled and said, “Brother Yun is absolutely right. I already possess legendary techniques in my possession, so I shouldn’t be greedy.”
Yun Lie remarked, “It’s good that you understand.”
Originally, Xu Ziqing had no intention of seriously practicing the ‘Xiaoshui Zhenjing’. He mentioned it casually out of longing, but he didn’t expect Yun Lie to take it seriously. This made him reflect and not disappoint his friend. After hearing Yun Lie’s words, he suddenly realized that there were no shortcuts in the path of cultivation. Carelessness in words and actions could turn jokes into temptations, attracting greed and ultimately causing one to forget their original intentions and meet an untimely end.
Contemplating this, Xu Ziqing’s expression grew more serious, and he silently transmitted his voice, “Brother Yun, don’t worry, I won’t stray from the path.”
Yun Lie, being reticent as always, simply said, “I will watch over you.”
Xu Ziqing felt at ease, and his determination grew stronger.
Not long after, the cloud road rapidly shortened, bringing along the graceful Golden Core Daoist.
Tang Wenfei descended with the wind and landed on the ground, waving his robe sleeves freely. The clouds and mist surged like a torrent, and his cuffs absorbed them like a hungry whale.
Then, the Golden Core Daoist turned around and smiled gently, saying, “For the next year, all of you will practice here on this mountain, and I will also be in the spiritual vein. If you have no concerns about your livelihood, do not seek me out.”
The twenty or so cultivators looked at each other and responded in unison, “Yes, Senior Tang.”
Tang Wenfei was satisfied with their response. He then faced the steep mountain wall, raised his hand, and traced several mysterious patterns in the air, saying, “Open!”
All the cultivators looked up and witnessed numerous changes on the mountain wall.
The hundreds of caves vanished instantly, leaving only more than 20 scattered caves remaining.
They recognized that these were the caves they had chosen before.
Before the cultivators could react, the caves underwent another transformation.
In the sight of everyone, the more than 20 caves moved like living creatures, swiftly shifting on the mountain wall, instantly separating from each other. And in the next moment, the cave openings expanded rapidly. They went from being able to accommodate only one person to now fitting four or five people at the same time, with the interiors of the caves expanding as well.
Each movement brought about such changes, showcasing extraordinary methods.
All the cultivators were dumbfounded, as they had never seen such advanced techniques before.
Tang Wenfei seemed oblivious to their astonishment and simply nodded at the cultivators, saying, “Your caves have now been enlarged a hundredfold, providing ample space for practice and sharing. However, if you wish to compete with each other, do not endanger your lives. Otherwise, I will intervene and kill the troublemaker.”
Upon hearing these words, everyone became excited and replied, “Yes! We will surely remember the teachings of Senior Tang!”
Tang Wenfei offered a few more words of caution, emphasizing not to waste time and to make good use of their spiritual veins. He then departed without glancing back at the cultivators.
Among the people present, no one could discern his whereabouts.
As cultivators on the path to immortality, they had no qualms about parting ways. If there were multiple people from the same sect remaining, they would gather together. If only one person remained, they would return to their respective caves. Whether they would cultivate a closer bond and develop friendships would be determined after a long period of practice, as well as how their cultivation levels progressed.
After they left, only four individuals from the Loose Cultivator Alliance remained.
Zhuo Hanyan said, “I will discuss the Dao with Junior Brother Ran. What about you two?”
Su Xin raised an eyebrow and smiled, “Since Senior Sister Zhuo will be with Senior Brother Ran, I will naturally accompany Brother Ziqing. Although we have faced hardships together, there is a certain level of understanding between us that can be confirmed through mutual support.”
Zhuo Hanyan nodded and said, “Then I will go alone. Don’t burden Fellow Cultivator Xu too much.”
Su Xin nodded enthusiastically, saying, “Yes, yes, I will follow my senior sister’s order!” After seeing off Zhuo Hanyan, he grabbed Xu Ziqing’s sleeve and said happily, “Let’s go to your cave first. I have something to tell you about martial arts. Even though the newcomers may not have the same level of cultivation and experience as the previous day, there are still some fascinating things to see. We can’t miss out on them.”
The two of them went to Xu Ziqing’s cave together.
As they entered the cave, they were taken aback.
The cave, which was previously only ten feet in radius, could only serve as a hiding place, accommodating only one person to sit or lie down. There was hardly any room to stretch one’s arms or legs.
But now, as Tang Wenfei had promised, it had expanded a hundredfold. The cave walls were smooth, the bottom of the cave was level, and there was a small alcove on the side with stone futons and beds, resembling a stone room within the cave. It was ideal for meditation and practice. Moreover, outside the stone room, there was ample space to perform gestures and practice spells. With such a setup, it truly deserved to be called a cave!
Su Xin couldn’t help but exclaim, “Senior Tang’s abilities are truly divine!” However, he suddenly realized that his current cultivation level was low, and he didn’t know if his future journey to immortality would be as smooth as it seemed now. A sense of awe for the vast world overcame him.
It wasn’t timidity, but rather the feeling of encountering something immense, leaving one awestruck and hesitant to move forward.
Seeing this, Xu Ziqing smiled gently and reassured him, “Brother Ah Xin, you possess extraordinary talent. One day, you will emerge like a hidden dragon from the abyss and soar to the heavens. At that time, your abilities will not be inferior to Senior Tang.”
Su Xin let out a long breath and responded, “Brother Ziqing, you speak words of fortune. With the resources at hand, I am already ahead of many other cultivators. I shouldn’t have the intention of retreating when I’m so close to the door.” He quickly changed the subject with a smile, saying, “But let’s not dwell on that. Let me tell you what I’ve seen and heard in the past few days!”
Xu Ziqing happily sat down with him, and Su Xin, brimming with enthusiasm, vividly described the postures and actions of the monks during the fights. Xu Ziqing listened with a smile on his face, occasionally finding some ingenious and interesting details, which brought him much joy. Gradually, they began discussing and analyzing the techniques together.
Before they knew it, darkness had fallen.
Su Xin was initially engrossed in his excited storytelling, but suddenly he caught sight of something outside the cave and exclaimed, “Ah!”
Xu Ziqing, who was also focused, sensed that something was amiss and asked, “What’s wrong?”
Su Xin slapped his forehead and said, “We’ve been talking for too long. Just look outside.”
Xu Ziqing smiled and replied, “We are both cultivators, and we have sufficient energy at this time. There’s no need to sleep. In the past, we would go without sleep for several days. It’s just nighttime now, and there’s nothing to worry about.”
Su Xin let out a hearty laugh and said, “You’re right! We’ve discussed the Tao thoroughly, exploring both similarities and differences, and we won’t convince each other further. It’s best to end it here.” With a mischievous look in his eyes, he continued, “I need a good rest tonight because I have an important task tomorrow.”
Xu Ziqing was puzzled and asked, “What’s the important task?”
At that moment, Su Xin stood up and walked out of the cave freely, saying, “I lost the bet to you twice. The so-called important task is to practice skills with you… Tomorrow morning, I’ll disturb you again, Brother Ziqing. Rest well tonight.”
As his voice faded away, Xu Ziqing was momentarily stunned before bursting into a smile. “He keeps his word,” he said, shaking his head. “I guess I won’t have much time to relax in the next six days.” He then sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and focused his mind.
Now that he planned to practice spells during the day, he would use the night to accumulate his spiritual power, allowing him to extract his true energy more quickly.
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