Competition (Part 2) - Bonus Chapter

Many were surprised to see this. They had initially thought Xu Chunniang's previous easy victories were solely due to her higher cultivation level. They hadn't expected her to win so effortlessly against an opponent at the third level of Qi Condensation.

Such swift victories were uncommon in the third round of matches.

Inner Sect disciples naturally noticed this fight. "Wu Sheng's performance was quite good before. I didn't expect him to be trapped by a mere Water Bind Technique."

"It's mainly because Xu Chunniang acted quickly. She attacked right at the start of the match, seizing the initiative. Moreover, her proficiency with the Water Bind Technique is extremely high; she cast the sorcery almost instantaneously."

"If not for that unsightly birthmark on her face, I would have actually considered choosing her."

"Hahaha, her Spiritual Plant major is also quite peculiar. Although Spiritual Medicine Masters are highly sought after, there's a big difference between a Spiritual Plant Cultivator and a Spiritual Medicine Master."

Xu Chunniang was unaware of the Inner Sect disciples' opinions about her. Even if she knew, she wouldn't have cared; they were just irrelevant people to her.

Unlike others, Xu Chunniang didn't hold Inner Sect disciples in awe or admiration. In her view, she was no fundamentally different from them.

They had simply entered the Inner Sect earlier; she would get there eventually.

"Number ninety-one, Su Chen, Talisman major. Versus number ninety-one, Chu Mengjiao, Talisman major. Compete on Arena Seven."

Xu Chunniang raised her head with interest. Su Chen's opponent this time was also from the Talisman major.

How would they fight? Would they just grab talismans and throw them at each other?

The match began quickly. Chu Mengjiao struck first, hurling a handful of talismans towards Su Chen. Simultaneously, a Flying Sword under her control lunged at him!

"Chu Mengjiao's move is brilliant! Fighting fire with fire, haha. Su Chen likes to hit people with talismans, doesn't he? I guess it's his turn to get hit this time."

Xu Chunniang had a faint feeling that Su Chen wouldn't lose so easily, but she was also curious how he would break through the situation.

To her surprise, Su Chen remained composed. He retrieved a talisman from his Storage Bag and slapped it onto himself. A light barrier instantly enveloped him.

Numerous talismans exploded around him, but the light barrier remained unshaken. Then, the Flying Sword violently collided with the barrier, only managing to create ripples on its surface.

Chu Mengjiao gritted her teeth and desperately poured Spiritual Qi into her Flying Sword, charging at the light barrier once more.

However, the result was the same as before. The light barrier perfectly blocked the attack.

Just as she was unwilling to give up and was about to try again, Su Chen had already launched his counterattack. Three talismans flew towards her at extreme speed. She didn't even have time to deploy a shield.

"I surrender!"

No matter how unwilling she was, Chu Mengjiao knew she had lost.

Her Flying Sword couldn't even break through his defensive talisman. Even if he stood still and let her attack, she wouldn't be able to damage him.

Many Inner Sect disciples were drawn to this battle. "This Su Chen, although he's never truly fought before, his talismans... are very strong!"

"If he made all these talismans himself, his value would be even greater."

"Chu Mengjiao's talismans were actually quite good too. If Su Chen didn't have the defensive talisman, she might have already won."

The third round of matches drew to a close. With the end of the final battle, the top fifty individuals had been selected.

These were the strongest among the Outer Sect disciples. Their becoming retainers was practically a certainty.

Steward Mu's gaze swept across the entire venue. "The top fifty, step forward. Everyone else, step back."

Xu Chunniang was surprised to find an old acquaintance among these fifty people: Qi Haozhi.

She remembered he had a backer in the Inner Sect. That person... might have come today.

The other Outer Sect disciples looked at these fifty individuals with a mixture of envy, jealousy, and hatred.

Out of the total of about two hundred retainer positions, they had secured a quarter of them. Furthermore, as the first batch to be chosen, they would be following stronger Inner Sect disciples.

Inner Sect disciples stepped forward one after another, selecting the retainers they favored.

The selections from number one to ten went smoothly. However, an accident occurred during the selection by Song Lan, from the main peak, number eleven.

"What? You're unwilling to become my retainer?"

Song Lan pointed at Su Chen's nose, his face filled with rage. "Do you know what you are about to lose?"

Su Chen smiled, but his voice was calm. "There's no need for Senior Brother to worry about me. In any case, I have no intention of becoming anyone's retainer."

"Fine! You dare to refuse my recruitment, I'll remember you!"

Rejected, Song Lan snorted and chose another person he had previously favored.

The other Inner Sect disciples were very surprised to witness this. "No way, someone is this foolish? This is Senior Brother Song from the main peak. Following him would almost guarantee Foundation Establishment."

"I really don't understand what this Su Chen is thinking. He's throwing away a bright future that's been handed to him. Does he even consider himself someone important? As a mere Outer Sect disciple, it's his honor to work for us."

"This Su Chen does have some backbone, but I wonder if he'll still have it when his lifespan runs out, his cultivation remains stagnant, and he's trapped in the Outer Sect!"

Su Chen's refusal of recruitment caused a stir among the Inner Sect disciples. Among the Outer Sect disciples, it drew countless taunts.

"What? He actually refused recruitment from Senior Brother Eleven? This Su Chen is truly something! Does he know what he's doing?"

"Hahaha, isn't it great that he refused? That way, we have a chance. I wish more fools like this would show up!"

Xu Chunniang looked at Su Chen, her eyes shimmering with a strange light. She hadn't expected someone else to make the same choice as her.

This was good. When she refused recruitment, she wouldn't seem so unique.

Despite Xu Chunniang's outstanding performance, due to her ugly birthmark and her less popular major, no one chose her for a time. Strictly speaking, her appearance wasn't bad, but the birthmark on her face was simply too unsightly.

After all, once a retainer follows an Inner Sect disciple, it's a matter of several decades, so one must choose someone pleasing to the eye.

"Number thirty-four, Huangfu Yao of Pill Peak."

Xu Chunniang looked up and let out a soft "Oh."

The person who came up this time was none other than the young girl who had humiliated her on the flying ship. So her name was Huangfu Yao.

Huangfu Yao clearly saw Xu Chunniang as well and shot her a fierce glare. She obviously hadn't forgotten this "Ugly Girl" who had embarrassed her.

In such a setting, Huangfu Yao didn't do anything else. She directly recruited Qi Haozhi and then went down. However, from her expression, it seemed she was still holding a grudge for Xu Chunniang having made her lose face.

"I heard before that there was someone named Huangfu Tian who was taken in as a disciple by an elder of Pill Peak. I wonder what his relationship is with this Huangfu Yao."

Xu Chunniang secretly filed this away. It was good that Qi Haozhi had gone to the Inner Sect; that was one less person to cause her trouble.

"Number thirty-seven, Wei Dawu of Weapon Peak."

Hearing a familiar name, Xu Chunniang quickly raised her head and looked at the person approaching.

Thanks to fellow cultivator Fendou Ba Younger for the reward, and fellow cultivator Wa's monthly ticket. Today is another day of bonus updates!!