He waited until the Sect Competition was about to start, but Yun Man was still in the midst of her breakthrough and had not come out.
“Forget it. With my current strength, I should have nothing to fear from Foundation Establishment cultivators. As long as I don’t face a Golden Core cultivator, there shouldn’t be a big problem. I can’t always think about relying on my disciple.”
After taking a glance at Yun Man’s room, whose door remained tightly shut, Qin Xiao decided to go alone.
The sect’s martial arena was large, with a circular stone platform one meter high at its center. Seating for competitors and spectators surrounded it in eight sections, one for the main peak and each of the other seven peaks.
In previous years’ competitions, first place always went to the main peak. Second place went to the Great Elder’s Immortal Sword Peak. Third place sometimes changed, but the Second Elder’s Immortal Cloud Peak occupied it most often. And naturally, the one at the bottom was always Seven Stars Peak.
If it were in previous years, Qin Xiao only needed to surrender and concede, but this year would not do. If he surrendered again, he would have to give up Seven Stars Peak.
Back then, Qin Xiao had no cultivation at all; he was a mere mortal. Even with such a pact, he could only sign it. The cultivation world was not a place that spoke of human sentiment. The Seventh Elder had died fighting for the Sect, so the Sect could grant three years of preferential treatment, but once three years had passed, if you were of no help to the Sect, you could only be kicked out.
They had left him one chance. If Seven Stars Peak did not finish last in the Sect Competition, it could remain. Qin Xiao might be unable to cultivate, but he could recruit disciples.
Another quarter of an hour passed. Seeing that all the Peak Masters had arrived, Eighth Elder Zuo Hongcai came onto the central stone platform.
The Eighth Elder was the hall master of the main peak’s Rewards and Punishments Hall, overseeing the Sect’s rewards and punishments. This Sect martial competition also fell under his jurisdiction.
“Since all the Peak Masters have arrived, this Sect Competition shall now begin.”
After receiving a nod from the Sect Leader, Eighth Elder Zuo Hongcai formally announced the start.
“The rules are the same each year, but for our new disciples, I’ll explain them again.”
“There are two stages: the Points Round, followed by the Challenge Round.”
“Each peak may send up to three disciples for the Points Round. Lots determine which peaks face each other. A win earns three points, a draw earns one for each side, and a loss earns none.”
“The points decide your rankings. You’ll be divided into the top four and the bottom four. A lower-ranked peak gets one chance to challenge the peak immediately above it. Win, and you take its rank.”
“Does anyone have any objections?”
After Zuo Hongcai finished introducing, he habitually asked.
“Since there are no objections, let the drawing of lots begin.”
Seeing no one speak, Zuo Hongcai began the drawing of lots.
Qin Xiao knew the format. The Points Round tested each peak’s disciples and set their starting ranks for the Challenge Round. Anyone hoping to reach the top three needed at least fourth place in the preliminary standings: they could not skip ranks when challenging.
In previous years, Seven Stars Peak had surrendered all the way through the Points Round, ranking eighth with zero points, and also directly gave up on the Challenge Round, always ending up as the eighth. This chapter was taken from g.com without permission.
“This time, not only is my disciple at the peak of the Golden Core middle stage, I have also reached Body Refinement Second Layer. Even if I get no points in the Points Round, as long as I can defeat the seventh place in the Challenge Round, I won’t be eighth and can keep Seven Stars Peak.”
Qin Xiao was quite confident this time.
“First match from the draw: Immortal Sword Peak versus Seven Stars Peak.”
Zuo Hongcai directly announced the first pair of opposing peaks.
“What? The first match is actually Immortal Sword Peak and Seven Stars Peak?”
“Immortal Sword Peak’s luck is really good. Picking up three points for free.”
“Who says it isn’t? Immortal Sword’s three participating disciples are all in the Golden Core stage. Rumor has it Seven Stars Peak has one Golden Core stage disciple, but she didn’t come today. Only the useless Qin Xiao came. There’s no need to even fight.”
As soon as the information about the first match came out, the spectating disciples were all marveling at Immortal Sword Peak’s good luck. No one spoke a single word for Seven Stars Peak.
“Damn. Is this draw rigged? What a coincidence.”
Hearing that the first match was him and Immortal Sword Peak, Qin Xiao immediately became suspicious.
But this truly was not an inside job; his luck was indeed a bit bad.
“I was afraid I wouldn’t draw him. I didn’t expect my luck to be this good, drawing him on the first try.”
Yao Kaidong was looking at Qin Xiao’s position with a playful expression.
“Li Cheng, your chance for revenge has come. This time, don’t disappoint me again.”
“Senior Brother, don’t worry. I will personally repay the humiliation from last time.”
Li Cheng hurriedly replied to Yao Kaidong.
After getting injured last time, he turned misfortune into fortune and finally took that step, successfully breaking through to the Golden Core middle stage. It was precisely because he broke through that he was chosen as one of the three participating disciples this time.
Aside from Yao Kaidong and Li Cheng, Immortal Sword Peak’s other participating disciple this time was the Holy Maiden Liu Xueyue, who had successfully broken through to the Golden Core stage.
The Points Round had three rounds in total. Each peak would fight three times, meaning lots would be drawn three times. Qin Xiao did not expect his first match to be against Immortal Sword Peak, making him somewhat troubled for a moment. After all, Immortal Sword Peak’s disciples this time were all in the Golden Core stage and above. Even the weakest in cultivation, Holy Maiden Liu Xueyue, had many treasures accompanying her.
The subsequent draws were: main peak versus Immortal Beast Peak, Immortal Cloud Peak versus Immortal Artifact Peak, and Immortal Spring Peak versus Immortal Medicine Peak.
After the drawing of lots concluded, the first match began.
Li Cheng was the first to jump onto the stone platform, then provocatively looked at Qin Xiao.
“Where are the people from your Seven Stars Peak? Could they have run away?” The source of this chapter is g.com.
Looking at the preparation seats where only Qin Xiao sat alone, Li Cheng said with a playful smile.
“What? My disciple beat you like a dog last time. Are you back for more?”
Qin Xiao also directly retorted. Trash talk-who could not do that?
“Enough talk. Bring Yun Man out! I’ll settle the score today.”
Seeing Qin Xiao bring up last time again, Li Cheng immediately flared up.
“I don’t need my disciple to deal with trash like you. I’ll fight you myself.”
After saying this, Qin Xiao also walked toward the stone platform.
Qin Xiao was not simply showing off. He wanted to find out how long Body Refinement Second Layer could withstand a Golden Core opponent. If he could not win, he could concede. Provided Yun Man arrived for the Challenge Round, Seven Stars Peak would not finish last.
“You? A useless nobody. I could kill you with a flick of my finger. This is the disciple competition; blades can hurt anyone. If you want to die, I’ll oblige—and avenge my younger cousin.”
Li Cheng did not expect Qin Xiao to dare to come on stage. But this was good for him; this kid had crippled his cousin, and he could just take revenge right here. As long as he attacked fast enough, he would not even give him a chance to surrender.
“Less nonsense. Still want to kill me? Try killing me.”
Although Qin Xiao had no confidence in winning against Li Cheng, with Body Refinement Second Layer, he at least would not be instantly killed. He still had a chance to surrender.
“I won’t bully you, you useless fool. No weapon—I’ll use my fists.”
Li Cheng still had to consider face to some extent. After all, this was the Sect Competition, with the Sect Leader and all the Elders present. If he directly killed Qin Xiao, it would inevitably cause trouble.
Li Cheng was not being kind. He planned to hit Qin Xiao in the mouth first, preventing him from conceding, then torment him. Even if someone intervened and he could not kill Qin Xiao, he could at least vent his anger.
“Bare-handed? Even better. That will better test the limits of Body Refinement Second Layer.”
Seeing Li Cheng put away his weapon, Qin Xiao was even happier. Now there was even less danger to his life.
“Still laughing? Courting death.”
Seeing Qin Xiao wearing a slight smile, not taking him seriously at all, Li Cheng directly charged toward Qin Xiao.
Li Cheng’s fists were both wrapped in Spiritual Qi, and he showed no intention of holding back at all.