◎ First Stage – The Arena, Here I Come ◎
Dear Granny Headmistress,
Trouble always seems to pop up in the strangest places.
For example—my dantians, which only want to work once every few months.
Tsk. I spoiled them.
And then there’s the Senior Brother I happened to run into during my Zhenchuan training… who turned out to be a great big fox demon.
And not just any dog… but a Nine-Tails.
—Excerpt from Lin Shuang’s diary
Lin Shuang put down her charcoal pen,
glancing at the diary into which she’d embedded a secret “key.” Satisfied.
Even if someone stole her storage pouch, the diary wouldn’t get her socially executed—or expose any true secrets.
Perfect.
But beside her sat Huangfu Yuan, unusually silent since the night before.
His phoenix eyes dim and unreadable.
She gave a soft cough.
“You don’t like the fishtail braid?”
“Or the scorpion tail braid?”
“What about the princess bun?”
“Junior Sister… your neck’s itching again.”
“……”
Lin Shuang sighed.
She admitted it. She’d gone a little overboard last night and had pulled out a few strands of his fur.
It really wasn’t on purpose.
Once she realized he might be an actual Nine-Tailed Fox—possibly the last of his kind—
She confessed, she may have gotten… a bit too excited.
“Don’t be mad. I didn’t have a proper practice plan for styling my little companions before. Fine, I’ll rehearse on my own next time before braiding you again.”
As they spoke, the two of them stepped out of the wooden hut.
Their expressions were subtly, but unmistakably, refreshed.
Lin Shuang felt the delight of playing dress-up with a doll. It had been so long since she last styled anyone’s hair.
And his luxuriously fluffy tail fur… petting it brought more spiritual recovery than a full night’s sleep.
Huangfu Yuan’s phoenix eyes flickered too.
It had been ages since someone brushed his fur.
For those of his kind, smoothing one another’s fur was an instinctual form of intimacy.
At the moment, even his broken tails seemed to stir with a trace of regrowth.
It itched—
But it felt good.
The two walked one behind the other out of the hut.
Outside, the four others—Meng Zi and the rest—were drenched in sweat.
When they looked over and saw the pair, they were stunned.
“What—you’re already done breaking through?”
That fast?
At the moment, Lin Shuang’s scattered dantians were all at Qi Refining Stage Five,
while Huangfu Yuan had reached peak Foundation Condensation Stage Three.
Meng Zi rubbed his eyes.
Okay… maybe still a bit short of the mountain-breaking stone.
But what was with the satisfied glow on their faces?
Lin Shuang said nothing and continued hoeing the field.
Huangfu Yuan did the same.
But their movements were noticeably lighter than yesterday’s wheat-cutting session. Clearly, both were in good spirits.
Meng Zi rubbed his brow and hissed through his teeth.
“I slept so deeply last night—did I miss something?
Ugh, all because I dreamt of some strange thief again…”
“What kind of thief?”
Dao Dong, a firm believer that dreams reflect reality, asked, “Could it mean Meng-shidi’s about to have a breakthrough too?”
“No!” Meng Zi grimaced. “That thief was sick in the head—kept muttering things like ‘So smooth… so soft… just let me touch it one more time…’”
His face contorted in disgust.
Dao Dong was dumbfounded. “What kind of cultivator dreams like that?”
At that moment, Lin Shuang, who was carrying her golden sickle, nearly tripped into the furrow.
Huangfu Yuan said nothing.
Ding. Xiao Ai reminds you: fat-burning session begins.
In a flash, Lin Shuang reassembled her modular dantians into a single sphere—100% operation engaged!
Her entire body burst forth with the power of Foundation Condensation Stage Five!
Unlike the previous days, when each danitan acted on its own, now fused together, the giant spherical dantian operated as a perfectly locked, unified mechanism.
Fusion meant eruption.
All systems go—1 to 100% full-speed operation!
So effective.
Lin Shuang gripped her sickle.
“Routine One: Swan Arms Training—begin 100 reps!”
She charged into the wheat field and launched into her fat-burning regimen…
Raise arm—sword energy rises.
Drop arm—sword energy falls.
Each motion sent a full row of Foundation Condensation Stage Four wheat collapsing in a wave.
Those stalks crashed into the Stage Three wheat… which toppled into Stage Two…
Layer by layer, the force dispersed.
Until the Qi Refining stalks snapped cleanly at the root.
Meng Zi and the others: “……!”
As golden light flashed again and again, the wheat continually transformed into pages of the Dragon Draws Water Sword Manual.
Page 1. Page 23. Page 19. Page 6. Page 9…
Immediately, the Xiao Ai talisman zipped through the air, collecting the scattered pages.
Nearby, Huangfu Yuan unsheathed his sword.
His sword energy twisted like a braided rope—three beams intertwined and swept through three rows of wheat in a single motion.
Elder Shui’s Sword Manual: Page 2. Page 3…
Meng Zi and the others grit their teeth and redoubled their efforts.
The six of them drained their dantians over and over, sweat streaming down their faces, collapsing in the wheat fields.
Xiao Ai’s talisman zipped around inserting pills into their mouths,
or the young men of Lijia village would feed them bowls of spiritual vegetable porridge.
Exhaust, recover, repeat—
Again and again, their dantians gradually condensed.
At last, the wheat fields were cleared.
“Immortals, when you have time, could you help fix our chicken coop?”
The coop was broken, and the chickens were running wild.
Each one shifted from Foundation Condensation Stage One to Five at random.
Only by catching them at the right moment and grabbing them by the neck could they be subdued and returned to the coop.
And the firewood used to repair the coop?
As thick as an arm, and Foundation Condensation Stage Four–level hardness.
“When you have time, help patch our roof.”
“When you have time, fetch some water.”
“When you have time, walk Fangfang and her family…”
…
The stars rotated, time flew.
At last, Lin Shuang and the others—entirely renewed—stood before the Mountain-Shaking Stone that blocked the road out of Lijia Village.
Lin Shuang didn’t even draw a sword.
Holding her wheat sickle, sword energy surged forth and surrounded the boulder.
It didn’t budge.
She turned and took one step away—
Behind her, the boulder crumbled into dust.
[！]
[She did it—she’s reached Foundation Condensation Stage Five!]
No—
Right after that single slash, her modular dantian split back into a hundred scattered Qi Refining Stage Five dantians.
All of them slacking off again.
Meng Zi and the others all rolled their eyes.
Still, they gripped their sickles and struck the stone—
Each blow shattered more of the barrier.
[Chain Challenge 1: Mountain-Shaking Stone—Broken!]
[Entering Challenge 2: Little Sheep Crosses the River]
[Old Li has an important item for you to deliver to the Wang Village. Please cross the river.]
In an instant, the river next to the wheat field rose by three zhang, its width increasing a hundredfold.
[If your spiritual energy runs dry mid-crossing, no pills allowed. Falling into the river resets your progress.]
[This is a spiritual stamina challenge…]
[Good heavens.]
Lin Shuang and the others once again took to the skies.
“Ding! Xiao Ai…”
“Xiao Ai, don’t say it. I know we still have thirty thousand breaths of sprinting left…”
“Terrible. Having a countdown just makes it feel even harder.”
Lin Shuang: “…”
What sort of misunderstanding do they all have about Xiao Ai?
The next second, Xiao Ai spoke in her usual sweet, bubbly tone.
“Amazing! Wow, you actually made it through the first step!”
“So impressive, it’s already been three breaths!”
“Wowow, you’ve already flown a third of the way…”
Hopeless.
Still two-thirds to go.
Meng Zi genuinely wanted to shoot Xiao Ai down.
Dao Dong grew restless, gripping his array plate.
But in the next moment, Xiao Ai’s voice made them all hesitate to act on those wicked thoughts.
“You’re all doing so well!”
“This first third of the sprint is equal to practicing eight full sword sets at Cave 1700 in the Inner Sect. It’s also equivalent to seventeen incense sticks of dashing, or fifty-one rounds of small meridian circulation…”
Dao Dong: “!”
It was actually worth that much training?
He suddenly felt like he could keep going.
“So great! You’re almost there! If you finish this, you’ll receive ten thousand spirit stones as a reward!”
Meng Zi: “!”
Now he felt like he could keep going too!
“So great! You’re almost done! Then you can go to the rest floors to buy magical tools, take pills, and sip spirit tea!”
Huangfu Yuan’s phoenix eyes flickered.
In a flash, he couldn’t help but surge ahead to the front.
Lin Shuang, unwilling to fall behind, glanced at today’s progress and quickly caught up.
The six of them no longer looked in pain. On the contrary, a hint of anticipation crept onto their faces.
It felt as though the ten-thousand-li long river ahead could be crossed in just a blink.
[I want to enter that level too.]
[I want to attend morning and evening lessons with Junior Sister. Who understands this feeling?]
[Not painful at all. Not tedious. Even cultivation seems to carry a touch of sweetness.]
[I want that Xiao Ai talisman… Junior Sister, would you sell it…?]
[Same here.]
Lijia Village’s Ninefold Trial was in full swing.
The six of them advanced like a breaking wave.
Even when their progress hit a wall, it was only temporary. Soon, under Xiao Ai’s soft encouragement, they rallied once again.
At worst, they’d just go back to the straw hut and cultivate again.
What was there to fear?
The six of them gradually revealed expressions of ‘inflation.’
Meng Zi and the others even felt reluctant to leave.
Inside the Ninefold Trial, their cultivation speed was ten times the usual pace.
Once they left, that would be gone.
And future cultivation would be solitary again, with no Xiao Ai counting reps or cheering them on… a subtle, hard-to-place sense of loss lingered in their hearts.
The deeper into the Ninefold Trial they went, the slower their pace became.
Time passed in layers of stone.
Ten days went by.
Then twenty days…
…
And time outside moved forward too.
The Mountain and Sea Sect, the Wandering Blossom Sect, the Pill and Artifact Sect…
Each sect had begun opening their Inner and Outer Sect trial realms,
all preparing for the upcoming Twelve Sects Tournament of the Donghua Territory.
“From today onward, Outer Sect elites will follow me.”
“From today onward, you will be training in the Thousand Layer Flower Valley.”
Elder, Outer Sect disciple Xiao Qi has broken through to Foundation Condensation and trained his Diamond Defense Technique to the tenth layer. He can now withstand attacks at Foundation Condensation Stage Five.
The elder from the Mountain and Sea Sect froze when he heard this.
Xiao Qi?
He’d heard of him. Wasn’t he that sword-loving genius disciple?
How did he end up cultivating a defense technique?
But then he laughed.
Black cat, white cat—if it catches mice, it’s a good cat.
With this, the Mountain and Sea Sect would dominate the Outer Sect arena.
“Master, in our Wandering Blossom Sect, three Outer Sect disciples have mastered a joint technique. They can hold off a Foundation Condensation Stage Three cultivator for one incense stick of time.”
“The Artifact and Pill Sect has already prepared spirit treasures for their Outer Sect disciples.”
The Mountain and Sea Sect elder, who overheard all this while on guild duty: “…”
Oh? So everyone’s been hiding their trump cards.
Within the Council of the Twelve Elders, a puddle of water silently spread on the floor.
Heh.
When it comes to aces, how could anyone outmatch Clearwater Sect?
From within the rippling puddle, Shui Qiantan looked down at his message stone.
Little Red: Master, Outer Sect disciple Lin Shuang has reached Qi Refining Stage Five. She can defeat Foundation Condensation Stage Six cultivators.
Shui Qiantan: “…?”
He couldn’t understand it.
Did Little Red mistype something?
But whatever. If she can win, it’s fine.
The puddle on the floor shimmered with ripples.
…
Back in Zhenchuan.
Zhou Xuanwu emerged from his closed-door cultivation in the Ten Thousand Serpents Valley, only to find Zhao Keran and Chen Sixin already packed and ready. They nodded to him.
“Senior Brother Zhou, the Outer Sect secret realm has opened.”
The three of them shared a smile and immediately departed, following Xu Rui to begin training in the newly opened Outer Sect trial realm.
Days passed swiftly again.
Winter turned to spring.
The Outer Sect trial realm closed.
All Clearwater Sect Outer Sect disciples returned to their wooden huts.
Zhao Keran gazed toward the western gate, a trace of nostalgia in her eyes, before continuing with Zhou Xuanwu and Chen Sixin to carry out their duties in Zhenchuan.
The disciple tokens hanging from their sashes were no longer the same.
Now carved from purple-gold wood, the script on the surface seemed to swirl with water at all times.
—Reserved for Elite Outer Sect Disciples.
Zhao Keran ranked first. Zhou Xuanwu second. Chen Sixin third.
These tokens had been personally awarded by Transmission Hall Elder Li Daowei three days prior.
After Zhao Keran, clad in her Elite Outer Sect uniform, continued doing chores in Zhenchuan for several more days, she finally broke through to the peak of Foundation Condensation Stage One.
At last, the cry of immortal cranes echoed across the skies of the Twelve Sects of Donghua.
“Once every ten years—the Outer Sect Tournament of Donghua begins.”
“Once every ten years—the Inner Sect Tournament of Donghua begins.”
“The Inner Sect battles—Foundation Condensation middle and lower stages will proceed first.”
“This year’s battle venue—Mountain and Sea Sect!”
Outer Sect steward Xu Rui appeared at Zhenchuan’s Level 6000, alongside Elder Li Daowei from the Transmission Hall, hurriedly escorting Zhao Keran and the others away.
The green-robed elder and the pink-robed elder exchanged glances—
a rare moment of standing together.
Their eyes turned toward Lin Shuang and her group, still trapped within the Ninefold Trial.
They were already on the ninth and final stage: Movement Technique.
“Lin Shuang! Your ball-shaped dantian is daydreaming again. Hurry up and move!”
“How did you know? It’s the mid-session break. Half a day left.”
“…”
“Enough chatter—get in there!”
“Eat my formation!”
At long last, Lin Shuang and her group evaded the Foundation Condensation Stage Five rabbit leg strikes, managing to catch most of the rabbits and return them to their cages.
Huangfu Yuan’s phoenix eyes gleamed, gaze nearly fixed on a cage of glistening, juicy, fattened rabbits.
“Alright, time for bed.”
“I’m exhausted,” Mei Xin collapsed next to the rabbit pen.
Yawning, Lin Shuang stepped into Elder Li’s wooden hut and collapsed onto the spirit jade bed to restore her energy.
Lying on the jade bed, she looked over at the third volume of the Dragon Draws Water Sword Manual, which Xiao Ai had finally pieced together. She nodded repeatedly.
After reading a couple chapters of storybooks to rest her spirit, she sat up again to study.
She finished the final layer in one go.
Then she set it down.
[Ninefold Trial Stage Nine: “Why Eat the Bunny When It’s So Cute?”]
[Trial Passed.]
Lying on the jade bed, Lin Shuang opened her eyes—
just as Huangfu Yuan, having taken his medicine, gazed toward the projected screen.
Meng Zi had just finished counting his spirit stones and was about to start a second round.
Dao Dong, Mei Xin, and Chen Xingchuan looked up blankly from beside the rabbit cages.
The six of them wore expressions ranging from sheer exhaustion, to eager anticipation of a meal, to lingering satisfaction.
“It’s over?”
“What happened? Chen Xingchuan, weren’t we supposed to save one rabbit for tomorrow?”
“…I did save one. Dao Dong, it must’ve been you, right?”
“…Is it still possible to reopen the cages now?”
“Elder Li, your rabbits escaped again!”
…
[Absurd. Ridiculous.]
[Were there really people who didn’t want to pass the trial?]
[They were practically retired in there…]
[It wasn’t their doing. It was the elders… The Donghua Territory Inner Sect Tournament had begun.]
[Senior brothers and sisters heading to spectate had already departed.]
[Of course. If you arrived late, the cost of lodging near the Mountain and Sea Sect would double!]
[Wake up, you six!]
The projection text sighed helplessly.
The six figures in the image looked just as helpless.
But in the next instant, Elder Li of Lijia Village had already rushed over to thank them and shoved six large red bundles into their arms.
They were instantly teleported to the Rest Pavilion of Zhenchuan’s Level 6000.
Elder Li Min in pink robes and Elder Duan Wufang in green stood within.
Their cultivation at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage flared. Sleeves swept out with force.
“This round’s Foundation Condensation battle—we’re leading the team.”
“You six, come with us!”
“We have only half a day. The first match is about to begin.”
Lin Shuang revealed a look of “it’s finally happening.”
“Lin Shuang—especially you. In the Outer Sect Tournament, the Twelve Sects have likely already called your name.”
“Move!”
Lin. Dual-role Outer Sect and Inner Sect contestant. Shuang: “…”
Busy as ever.
“Does anyone have a teleportation talisman? Just lend me one real quick.”
This was a crisis.
She might miss her double-header kill-shot strategy!
This year’s Twelve Sect Tournament was hosted by the Mountain and Sea Sect.
Two days earlier, each sect had already begun sending elders and elite disciples to gather at the Mountain and Sea Sect.
Flying vessels, flying swords, and teleportation arrays filled the skies with radiant light.
Fortunately, the Clearwater Sect had strong ties with the Mountain and Sea Sect.
The two sects were practically neighbors.
[Xiao Qi: Lin Shuang, you’ll definitely be competing as an Outer Sect disciple, right? Once you get to the Mountain and Sea Sect, I’ll treat you.]
[Xiao Qi: Where are you?]
[Xiao Qi: Don’t tell me you joined the Inner Sect and aren’t coming to the Outer Sect tourney anymore?]
After sending those messages, Xiao Qi looked despondently toward the arena where the Clearwater Sect Outer Sect disciples stood ready.
Five green-robed disciples with blue belts—yet Lin Shuang’s figure was nowhere in sight.
Just like the Mountain and Sea Sect, three were the official contestants, and the rest were substitutes?
Was Lin Shuang really not coming?
Xiao Qi’s face was full of disappointment.
“Why are you so down, junior brother? You got into the Inner Sect and received personal guidance from an elder. You can now withstand a Foundation Condensation Stage Five cultivator for an entire incense stick.”
Sigh. So what?
Xiao Qi was a bit regretful. The elder who guided him had recommended he stay in the Inner Sect and not participate in the Outer Sect tournament.
But he had refused, wanting to meet Lin Shuang again.
He wanted to show her that he could now endure for a full incense stick.
Could she really not be coming?
Xiao Qi’s disappointment was plain to see.
“Look over there…”
Like fluttering blossoms in early spring, pink peach petals began to fall from the endless sky.
With each step, lotus flowers bloomed beneath their feet as several graceful women in gauzy robes walked toward the Mountain and Sea Sect’s arena, bamboo baskets slung on their arms.
“It’s the Wandering Blossom Sect!”
Not just the participants—even the spectators opened their eyes wide.
Wherever they walked, flower petals scattered around the disciples, accompanied by the fragrance of spring blooms.
Behind them was a flat boat encircled by six-colored flower wreaths. On it were weaving looms, flower pots, incense burners, and zither tables…
Beautiful cultivators—both men and women—sat onboard, embroidering, arranging flowers, or playing the zither and painting scrolls.
Falling petals lingered in the air.
Soon after, the six disciples from Clearwater Sect—including Lin Shuang—who were flying with their swords tied together like a bundle of blades, were completely swallowed up by the flower storm.
“Pffft!”
Meng Zi inhaled two petals, his face turning black.
“What the hell is this?”
Mei Xin frantically shook the petals from her hair.
Chen Xingchuan and Dao Dong activated cleansing spells.
Huangfu Yuan’s eyes glimmered as he allowed a single petal to rest gently on the tip of his nose.
He closed his eyes and took in the scent.
Beside him, Lin Shuang stood up from her cross-legged tea-drinking position and leaned forward.
At the same time, she pulled out a few changes of clothes from her mustard seed pouch.
With incense this nice…
She couldn’t let it go to waste.
“Lin Shuang, what are you doing? Scenting your laundry?”
“Mm.”
“…”
Other people might spray perfume—Lin Shuang, naturally, collected it for daily use.
“It’s peach blossom scent.”
She formed a hand seal and activated her item-retrieving sword technique—Dragon Draws Water.
In an instant, her sword aura spiraled forth and gathered three full baskets of flower petals that Meng Zi and the others didn’t want.
“These can be made into peach blossom jam, or scented stationery for letters to pen pals.”
“This also gives me incense for the next thirty days.”
Li Min: “…”
“That’s the Wandering Blossom Sect. Look closely—at the disciples on that flower boat.”
Lin Shuang glanced over. Several male cultivators with handsome features were embroidering, painting, arranging flowers… the female cultivators were doing the same.
“Their techniques are mostly related to seasonal flora. They may look gentle, but they combine softness with strength. Be cautious when you fight them.”
In past Twelve Sect Tournaments, the battles were usually left to Nascent Soul stage cultivators.
Foundation Condensation disciples rarely had the chance to spar with other sects.
Wandering Blossom Sect.
Lin Shuang fished out the book from her mustard seed pouch: How to Escape a Thousand-Year Single Dog Life.
Three volumes—Upper, Middle, and Lower—covering elite singles from all Twelve Sects, both human and demonic.
—Author: Anonymous Senior Brother of the Wandering Blossom Sect.
Meng Zi and Huangfu Yuan took one glance and exchanged subtle looks.
“So they were the ones who wrote it.”
Figures. Walking through a sea of blossoms—one must pick a flower.
The author teaching people how to court cultivators was indeed from the Wandering Blossom Sect.
As Lin Shuang flipped through the book, a wave of heat and sweet scent arrived from her left.
Unlike the dazzling blossoms of the Wandering Blossom Sect, this scene was all about love and warmth.
Rows of alchemy furnaces and refining furnaces lined up in pairs—men and women in red robes walked hand in hand.
“Junior Sister, you look tired. Sit on my furnace for a bit.”
“Senior Brother, I’m not tired. You’re the one who needs rest. I just made a Strengthening Vajra Pill—have one.”
“Junior Brother, you’re sweating so much. I’ll craft an Ice Soul Sword to cool you down.”
“Senior Sister, you’re the one who needs it. I’ll make you an Ice Soul Pill to beat the heat.”
These pairs, holding hands and wiping sweat from each other’s brows, quickly passed by Lin Shuang and her group.
Lin Shuang opened her mouth—and swallowed a full bite of dog food.
“The Pill and Artifact Sect has arrived.”
“No, this year they call themselves the Artifact and Pill Sect.”
“Huh? Really?”
“Yeah. This year their sect leader is from the refining side, so the pill side had to take a back seat. Don’t mix it up.”
“Ugh, they’re so annoying. Always changing their name every year!”
“That’s just how couples are. Quarrel at the head of the bed, make up at the foot of the bed. You’re a single rogue cultivator—what do you know? Artifact and Pill, Pill and Artifact—tonight you’re on top, tomorrow I am. Everyone gets to be happy… that’s the romantic culture of the Artifact and Pill Sect.”
Lin Shuang: “…”
Huangfu Yuan: “…”
Meng Zi covered his face.
Elder Duan Wufang’s expression was serious. “Disciples of the Artifact and Pill Sect choose a partner within ten years of joining. From then on, they cultivate as dao companions. One pill, one tool—they walk the path of cultivation together.”
“If you face them in a match, be careful. Their coordination is exceptional. They can communicate with just a look.”
Lin Shuang, Huangfu Yuan, and Meng Zi all twitched at the word “coordination.”
“What if it’s a three-on-three match…”
Lin Shuang raised her hand.
Li Min gave her a deep look. “They draw lots to see which couple gets split up. The separated one, full of sorrow and longing, will erupt with heartbreaking power. Don’t underestimate them.”
“…Seriously?”
Lin Shuang was impressed. This sect’s school culture was intense!
They covered academics, job placement, and even your love life.
Splitting couples up for battles only made them more desperate to win and reunite.
The founder of this sect must have been a ruthless genius.
Back when she chose her sect, Lin Shuang had considered Artifact and Pill seriously. After all, who in the cultivation world didn’t need pills and artifacts?
Joining them would mean a lifetime of guaranteed resources—a true iron rice bowl in the cultivation world.
But when she saw that the sect was full of couples, as a single woman in both lives, she felt deep fear.
She worried she wouldn’t find the right match in ten years, even after many arranged meetings.
Eating dog food every day? Who could stand that?
So she didn’t join the Artifact and Pill Sect.
As Lin Shuang shook her head at the memory, another group arrived from the right, bringing with them a scent of incense.
Unlike the vivid display of the Wandering Blossom Sect or the lovey-dovey atmosphere of the Artifact and Pill Sect, this group moved like still water—silent, serene.
A group of monks, even their robes didn’t make a sound when brushing together.
“It’s the Ten Thousand Monks Sect!”
“Are all their competitors this year those guys who’ve taken a vow of silence again?”
“In past records by the Wandering Blossom Sect, the most boring matches were always those involving the Ten Thousand Monks Sect.”
“Their viewership spirit stone income has always been the lowest.”
“There’s just no helping it—who wants to watch such a silent match… All cultivators below the Nascent Soul stage are usually in a silent meditation practice.”
The six of them twitched at their temples.
Li Min added, “Be careful. Though they cannot speak and suppress one of their senses, their eyesight, hearing, movements, and even spiritual awareness are all exceptionally sharp.”
Lin Shuang took a deep breath.
The Twelve Sects of Donghua Territory truly were an odd bunch.
Well, at least Clearwater Sect and Mountain and Sea Sect were still relatively normal.
Thank goodness she’d picked the right sect.
“Let’s go sign up at the mid- to lower-tier arena.”
The two elders encircled them and swiftly descended toward the Inner Sect battle arena.
Meanwhile, back in the Outer Sect competition field, Senior Brother Xu Rui from Clearwater Sect and Outer Sect disciples like Zhou Xuanwu were growing increasingly anxious.
Xiao Qi kept glancing worriedly toward the sky.
“Round One of the Outer Sect Tournament!”
“The top six will advance to the next round!”
“Contestants from each sect, please come to the stage.”
One after another, contestants took their places—embroidering with needle and thread, striking wooden fish in silence, or hand-in-hand like lovey-dovey Artifact and Pill dao companions—on the wide central arena platform.
Everyone stepped forward—except for the disciples from Clearwater Sect.
“What’s going on? Zhou Xuanwu, why are you all just standing there?!”
“Sister Chen, what are you doing? Get up there!”
The elder from the Mountain and Sea Sect overseeing the match also frowned from atop the stage.
“Move quickly.”
All around the arena, the surrounding mountains were packed with spectators.
Disciples from the Mountain and Sea Sect and Wandering Blossom Sect were co-hosting and broadcasting live projections of the battle.
“Hello, everyone. Welcome to the once-in-a-decade Outer Sect Tournament.”
“I’m Xiao Ke from the Wandering Blossom Sect.”
“And I’m Zhao Ming from the Mountain and Sea Sect.”
“We’ll be walking you through the details of this ten-yearly Outer Sect competition.”
“The match is about to begin.”
On the stage, the eleven participating sects stood out clearly with distinctive robes and varied magical tools, each occupying their own segment of the arena.
“This year’s Wandering Blossom Sect Outer Sect disciples are exceptionally skilled. They’ve embroidered the Four Seasons Hundred Blossoms Robe, which now sells for 100,000 spirit stones—ranked number one among second-tier battle garments.”
“And this year, the Ten Thousand Monks Sect… wait, what’s going on? Why hasn’t Clearwater Sect moved yet?”
The sweet-voiced commentator Kong Miaoke of the Wandering Blossom Sect sounded puzzled.
“I thought the projection had frozen.”
“Zero points to this commentator. Hasn’t Clearwater Sect been standing still forever? Oh—they’re really not moving? Well, never mind then.”
“What a waste—Clearwater Sect is eating up my screen time! An incense stick costs 50 spirit stones, you know!”
“Let’s go down and interview some of the Clearwater Sect disciples in the viewing stands to see what’s going on?”
The Mountain and Sea Sect’s commentator Zhao Ming quickly joined Kong Miaoke at the foot of the arena, heading for the viewing mountain of the Clearwater Sect.
Clearwater’s Outer Sect disciples occupied a small portion of the mountainside.
“Did they consult the elders to pick some lucky timing?”
“Or is Clearwater Sect forfeiting the tournament?”
Kong Miaoke, sweet and gentle as ever, posed the question.
The projection instantly displayed the nervous faces of the Clearwater Sect Outer Sect disciples.
But they weren’t nervous because they were being broadcast to tens of thousands of viewers.
No, it was because—
“We’re waiting for someone.”
The Clearwater Sect disciples all spoke in unison, looking toward the sky.
“Huh?”
Kong Miaoke was briefly stunned.
On the stage, the officiating elder barked, “Clearwater Sect Outer Sect elites! Are you forfeiting this match?!”
But still, no one moved. Not a single person.
Down below the stage, Zhao Keran and the others were also gazing up at the sky.
“Elder, the match hasn’t officially started yet.”
“We still have time.”
Zhao Keran stepped forward respectfully.
The waist token at her belt marked her as Clearwater Sect’s number one Outer Sect elite.
Number two, Zhou Xuanwu, gave a calm nod.
Number three, Chen Sixin, lifted her head with a complicated expression.
The fourth and fifth ranked Outer Sect disciples from Clearwater said nothing.
“Wait a minute, they’re five… Where’s the sixth?”
“The sixth is right here!”
The competition broadcast from the Wandering Blossom Sect displayed the disciple ranked sixth, who was currently sitting in the viewing stands.
“What’s he doing outside? Get on stage!”
“Hurry up already—everyone’s waiting!”
“Is this a joke? Still daydreaming on the spectator platform?”
But that disciple from Clearwater Sect’s Outer Sect, ranked sixth, blushed and waved his hand.
“No, it’s not me. I’m not the one competing!”
“Huh? Then is it the seventh-ranked? Where did they go, the latrine?”
Just as that message scrolled by—
A ripple of blue robes flashed across the sky.
In the final three seconds before the match began, red ribbons fluttered, gauze robes billowed, and wide sleeves caught the wind.
“Sorry, I’m a step late.”
A clear, elegant voice accompanied a broad sword slicing through the sky.
“But I’m not too late, am I?”
Zhao Keran, number one. Zhou Xuanwu, number two. Chen Sixin, number three—all took a step back in unison.
Leaving the lead position clear.
“!”
“!?”
The wide sword trailed red tassels as it landed steadily.
At her waist, her disciple wooden badge flipped, then settled.
—Lin Shuang
—Clearwater Sect Outer Sect: Ranked 10,123