Chapter 168 - Arc 11: The Sect's Grand Competition | Chapter 168: Match 15
Translator: Lynn
From the collection, Xu Ziqing selected the golden bead and expressed, “These were obtained from Li Cai. Apart from a couple with water and fire attributes, most of them are quite versatile. I particularly fancy this golden bead, so I’ve decided to take it. The rest shall be offered to Master, hoping that you will accept it.” While he did consider a few new friends, he prioritized honoring his Master.
Immortal Qiu He observed Xu Ziqing’s performance and noticed him brushing away several magical weapons. Assuming his disciple didn’t possess substantial reserves, he expected him to keep the items for himself. However, to his surprise, Xu Ziqing offered them up, evoking a sense of gratitude for his filial piety.
Being a renowned Jindan practitioner, Master Qiu He had no intention to covet his disciples’ gains. He glanced at the young disciples, smiling as he flicked the silver whip, making it bounce and fly into Luo Yao’s hand. “You focus intensively on studying talismans, but occasional restrictions can’t be avoided. You also need an offensive magical weapon. This is the ‘Bone Destruction Whip’. Despite its unattractive name, it’s top-grade. Take it and make good use of it.”
Luo Yao was momentarily bewildered. However, upon receiving the whip from Master Qiu He, his surprise couldn’t be hidden. His thoughts became somewhat complicated. In the past, he might have refused such a gift, but now, seeing the whip, he accepted it with gratitude, saying, “…Thank you for your kindness, senior.” His eyes flickered with uncertainty, pondering the implications.
Master Qiu He noticed the shift and offered gentle advice, “You’re overly cautious, and you possess a reserved temperament. The latter quality may help you achieve your goals, but the former could hinder your progress. Ponder on it carefully.” Hearing this, Luo Yao felt a jolt, raising his gaze to meet the Jindan Daoist’s eyes. The meaning within those eyes seemed profound, as if he had already seen through him. Yet, upon reflection, he interpreted the Master’s words as a subtle warning coupled with genuine concern, feeling a sense of gratitude. He took a deep breath and smiled calmly, “Thank you, Master, for your guidance. I will take it to heart.”
Observing the instruction being imparted, Master Qiu He nodded slightly. He then activated one of the ropes, sending it to Yue Jun. “This is called the ‘Immortal Binding Rope.’ It’s effective for capturing individuals, and I offer it to you.”
Yue Jun accepted it with joy, expressing his gratitude, “Thank you, Master!”
Next, Master Qiu He handed a ruler to Long Xuan, stating, “This is the ‘Huoyuan Ruler.’ It’s perfectly suited for you. Take it and make good use of it.”
Long Xuan also conveyed his gratitude for the gift.
In the end, Master Qiu He entrusted the Moon Worshiping Ding, a powerful item, to Qiu Ze, saying, “This is the ‘Moon Worshiping Ding,’ among the finest items. Possessing the strength of a mountain, it complements your earthly affinity. Collaborate with it, and your efforts will yield twice the results with half the exertion.”
Qiu Ze expressed his gratitude.
As the treasures were distributed, Yue Jun and the others felt a bit self-conscious, remarking, “The esteemed Masters have bestowed these exceptional magical treasures upon us, leaving a few of our female companions without. Even though Xu Ziqing acquired these, according to Master Qiu He’s allocation, Qiu Ze should receive one, and the rest should be shared with our junior sisters. It’s a bit unfair for individuals like us to benefit more, making it somewhat challenging to accept.”
Master Qiu He smiled reassuringly, “However, it’s appropriate to use items of that caliber if you possess the corresponding level of cultivation. My female disciples have yet to establish their foundations. Even if you were to give these to them, they wouldn’t be able to utilize them effectively. It’s better that you make the most of them. When they advance in their cultivation, I, as their master, will ensure they are appropriately taken care of.”
These words were meant to pacify the eight female disciples, encouraging them not to harbor feelings of envy.
The atmosphere soon regained its harmony.
Observing this, Xu Ziqing was pleased. Seeing Yun Lie alone, he couldn’t resist turning towards him and stated, “Although Li Cai’s items were of high quality, they don’t suit Shixiong’s nature. Allow me to find a rare sword for Shixiong.”
Yun Lie paused and responded, “You needn’t trouble yourself.”
Xu Ziqing sighed, “Is it possible that Shixiong finds me bothersome?”
Yun Lie assured, “You’ve never been a bother.”
Xu Ziqing chuckled, “In that case, I implore my Shixiong to agree to this proposition. Otherwise, I’ll remain unsettled, lost in idle thoughts, and fear it might affect my mood.”
Yun Lie shook his head, remarking, “You’ve been quite at ease recently.”
Xu Ziqing grinned, “It’s simply that I was overly cautious in the past.”
This exchange revealed a relaxed countenance on both of them.
Xu Ziqing indeed experienced a heightened sense of ease, a result of numerous battles and a fortified mindset. It felt as if a weight had been lifted from his heart, and at times, he felt a touch more astute.
He now had the clarity to reflect upon his journey in the realm of immortals. Initially, he fell victim to schemes and deceit upon entering this realm, prompting him to become overly cautious and stifled. However, whether it was during his bedridden days in his previous life or his carefree days in the mountain village, he wasn’t this rigid. He had found enjoyment in simple things. Presently, he realized there was no need for such excessive caution even in front of those closest to him.
Contemplating, Xu Ziqing considered that his senior brother had been with him since he was ten years old, hidden within a storage ring. The senior brother knew all about his experiences. Even during times of embarrassment and hardship, how could his senior brother have missed those moments? In the past, he didn’t shy away from being himself. However, upon meeting his senior brother face-to-face, he had become uneasy and apprehensive.
Yet this master, despite infrequent encounters, showed genuine kindness. Considering this, he resembled a father figure in Xu Ziqing’s life. Having no biological parents in this life, he ought to cherish this friendship. If he maintained a respectful distance without getting close, estrangement would eventually settle in. After arriving at this understanding, his outlook became much clearer, and it reflected in his words, actions, and demeanor.
Observing this change, Yun Lie nodded and remarked, “In the upcoming battle, let’s give it our all.”
Xu Ziqing turned and smiled, affirming, “Ziqing is grateful for Shixiong’s advice.”
Shortly after, the battle commenced.
Despite Xu Ziqing’s relatively recent entry into the Wuling Immortal Sect and his exceptional aptitude and diligent practice, he still lagged behind individuals who had immersed themselves for an extended period. Without timely comprehension of the Qingyun Needle, he might have been defeated by Du Linglong halfway, eliminating any possibility of competing.
However, even with these circumstances, Xu Ziqing had only two additional fights and was ultimately defeated by a direct disciple of the Nascent Soul Patriarch. This young man possessed a single spirit root, was two years younger than Xu Ziqing, and had been under his ancestor’s tutelage for a decade. Moreover, he specialized in thunder sword cultivation, showcasing an astonishing level of power.
Despite practicing swordsmanship with Yun Lie for many days, Xu Ziqing’s realm paled in comparison to this serious and devoted sword cultivator. Although the Qingyun Needle held great power, it hadn’t yet been honed to its peak. It was still in its early stages of comprehension. Faced with thunder-infused sword techniques, it succumbed within moments.
After an arduous battle, Xu Ziqing eventually stepped down from the arena, narrowly dodging a thunderous flash, and was defeated by that young man.
He landed in the top ten or so in the rankings, a commendable achievement, thankfully securing a spot in the top twenty. It was truly a satisfactory outcome for him.
In this competition involving hundreds of participants, only the top three were definitively determined. The Thunder Sword Cultivator who defeated Xu Ziqing claimed the second position, a worthy adversary.
Xu Ziqing’s accomplishment filled Master Qiu He with genuine joy.
In the Foundation Establishment stage, there were hundreds of thousands of monks. While most were ordinary inner sect disciples without a master, there were numerous disciples from the small peak and even the middle and upper peaks.
Historically, the top 20 rankings were typically dominated by disciples from the middle and upper peaks. It took years for small peak disciples to occasionally secure first or second place, but now, Xu Ziqing had earned this honor for himself.
Daoist Qiu He lacked a master, achieving recognition from the small peak purely through his own dedication. His background was far less prestigious than many small peak disciples who had been around for a long time. He had never envisioned experiencing such glory in his life. Once considered average and unremarkable, he was now finding great solace in his old age.
Xu Ziqing’s victory in this ranking brought generous rewards from the sect, including:
– Two top-rank spiritual artifacts
– Five middle-rank spiritual artifacts
– Twenty low-grade spiritual artifacts
– Thirty bottles of high-grade Buyuan Pill
– Five high-grade spirit stones
– Fifty middle-grade spirit stones
– Three hundred low-grade spirit stones
Such treatment was bestowed upon the top 20, but the top three received even more substantial rewards.
Nevertheless, many monks exhibited admiration and even envy.
It was no wonder everyone was eager to participate in this competition. Obtaining such a ranking meant an unexpected windfall. Not only was it worth several years of savings, but it could also be used to cultivate friendships. Even for personal cultivation, it saved a considerable amount of effort.
Xu Ziqing initially intended to use these rewards to honor his master, but Master Qiu He firmly declined. Consequently, Xu Ziqing had no choice but to bestow some benefits upon his junior sisters. Regrettably, they hadn’t reached the Foundation Establishment stage, rendering several rewards unusable for them. Only human-level exercises could be shared. Although there were only three copies of the human-level exercises, the junior sisters received a total of eight, and ultimately, no rewards went to waste.
After all, the Foundation Establishment stage’s grand competitions were just the beginning. Soon, the arenas were reconfigured into martial arts arenas, and the numerous martial arts arenas were further divided into ten to accommodate practitioners from the Golden Core Transformation period.
Master Qiu He and his group remained, still observing the competitions from the high platform. With hundreds of thousands of disciples in the Wuling Immortal Sect, these competitions would inevitably take a considerable amount of time…
—
In the depths of Jile Peak, a cavern was excavated and named Jile Residence.
One day, a monk in a yellow robe ascended the mountain hastily, presenting a token, and made his way into the heart of Jile Residence.
The cavern was remarkably spacious, its interior adorned with the skin of an unknown creature—smooth, soft, and a striking bright red.
A plush couch rested upon this unusual skin, and on the couch reclined a man. Surrounding him were over ten attractive men and women, each engaged in various acts—some playfully holding his fingers, others offering wine with their lips, and a few provocatively rubbing their knees together. Notably, some were engrossed in more intimate activities.
The yellow-robed monk displayed no sign of embarrassment, although he avoided looking at the men and women. He respectfully lowered his head and, with a slightly nervous tone, called out, “Elder Ancestor!”
The man responded with a soft “yes” before a beautiful female cultivator, obediently kneeling behind him, helped him lean against her chest, revealing his face.
This man possessed long, refined eyebrows and delicate eyes, thin lips, and a pale complexion that lent a rather feminine appearance.
Despite looking around thirty, his actual age undoubtedly exceeded that.
His voice was remarkably gentle as he inquired, “What’s the matter? You seem quite agitated.”
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