At midnight, Li Ping'an drifted back to his own cavern abode, utterly drained.
Socializing in an Immortal Sect was a hundred times more exhausting than fighting on an arena...
With his master's immortal power barrier enveloping the cavern abode, Li Ping'an could finally catch his breath for a while, free from the scrutiny of those Immortal Senses.
He took off his robe and boots, stored the clothes he had removed in a Storage Artifact called the "dirty clothes basket," then lay down in his personal reclining chair wearing only his undershirt and trousers.
The lotus pond trickled softly. Two butterflies, somehow placed there at some unknown time, were sipping droplets from the lotus leaves.
Li Ping'an stared blankly ahead, slowly recovering the greatly depleted mental energy caused by the Spirit Detonation Art. He was drowsy all over, with a faint headache besides.
He truly had been forcing himself to hold on earlier.
Using the Spirit Detonation Art on that scale today required him to control hundreds of Dharma artifacts at once, arranging them according to a formation before detonating them. That was still rather taxing for him, and it had drained his mind tremendously.
This exhaustion was neither a lack of spiritual power nor physical weakness. His primordial soul was simply worn out.
Alas, my cultivation is still far too low.
Li Ping'an sighed, then remembered that he now had a master and his father assisting him. He already possessed the right timing, location, and support of others, so there was nothing left to complain about.
He simply had to work twice as hard.
His father had currently gone to Myriad Cloud Hall on the Main Peak to continue accompanying the Sect Leader in receiving the visiting guests.
—Li Ping'an's official status was now merely that of an ordinary Inner Sect Disciple, making it inconvenient for him to attend such an occasion directly.
While returning Li Ping'an by cloud road, his father had grabbed his arm and sent him a few words through voice transmission.
Li Ping'an felt quite gratified by them.
His father had said:
"Wang Zaizhi did not deliberately intend to make things difficult for you today. He is only a disciple. The one behind him was actually his Grandmaster, that old Elder Bi.
"Since you were not injured, after this grand competition ends, find a way to get acquainted with him. It is better to resolve enmity than create it. There is a whole peak behind that disciple as well. Making things too ugly will not benefit unity within the sect or our own advancement.
"Going forward, we cannot lose face, but we must also find a way to give them some face, lest they become desperate and lash out... Leave it to your father."
Finally!
His old father was finally taking this matter of being a "Sect Leader candidate" seriously!
His father was finally no longer avoiding his expectations for the position of next Sect Leader!
That was more like it!
If Old Li stood tall sooner, Little Li could comfortably slack off while seeking the Dao.
In truth, many times, merely occupying a position and possessing a certain identity would cause others to see someone as a threat, even if that person did nothing at all.
Favored by the Founding Ancestor, Old Ancestor Kongming, his father had passively become a disruptor of Myriad Cloud Sect's "inheritance of power," naturally making him a thorn in the eyes of certain power groups.
Though many human Qi cultivators grew weary of power, there would always be those accustomed to standing above others, whose Dao hearts had gone astray and who remained attached to so-called authority...
That was simply human nature.
Li Ping'an quietly pondered these matters.
The reason he had directly brought out the Spirit Detonation Art today, expending a batch of Dharma artifacts to defeat Wang Zaizhi head-on, was primarily to establish his authority.
His father and he were currently low in cultivation, so they could not afford to suffer humiliation lightly.
Besides that, Li Ping'an had a secondary goal.
—He wanted to use the Spirit Detonation Art to draw the sect's attention, then take the opportunity to present the set of Dharma artifacts he and his father had been tinkering with to the sect, further solidifying his father's position within it.
That said, Wang Zaizhi's method of applying the power of Talismans had also been rather good. It was worth learning from.
Li Ping'an had only just recovered a little mentally when several Talismans appeared at his fingertips. He carefully recalled Wang Zaizhi's fighting techniques.
"Ahem."
That was a verbal reminder from his Heavenly Immortal master.
Li Ping'an hurriedly rose and looked toward his master as she strolled over. Lowering his head, he saluted her. "Master, did this disciple disturb your cultivation?"
"No."
Qing Su naturally lay down in the reclining chair beside him, closing her eyes and folding her hands over her lower abdomen. A faint breeze passed by, making her loose, soft ice-blue gown flutter slightly.
She pointed to the reclining chair beside her. "Lie down."
"Yes, Master."
Li Ping'an adjusted his clothes, moved his reclining chair back by half a zhang, and obediently lay down.
"Master," he said proactively, feeling somewhat guilty, "this disciple did not mention the explosive art before, but it was not intentional concealment. This method of fighting should originally only be used in a life-or-death struggle. This disciple had not planned to use it in the sect competition..."
"It is fine."
Qing Su said softly, "I also have many secret arts that I never told my master about."
"This disciple only has this fighting secret art, along with a few methods for alchemy and artifact refinement, as well as some miscellaneous spells..."
The more Li Ping'an spoke, the guiltier he felt, so he could only say:
"This disciple enjoys studying such things. Father previously helped me borrow many immortal books from the Daoist Scripture Hall, so my studies have become rather broad.
"If Master wishes to know, this disciple can demonstrate them for Master one by one right now."
"No need."
Qing Su's tone seemed somewhat disappointed.
"I only know how to enter seclusion and fight. I cannot teach you those things."
"Master, please do not say that. These things this disciple has blindly studied are ultimately merely peripheral arts!"
Li Ping'an hurriedly said:
"What Master can teach me is how to cultivate and how to survive in this world. Those are things that cannot be learned from books."
Qing Su turned to look at him. Finding that Li Ping'an was behind her, she lightly moved her delicate hand, and the wooden chair beneath her floated over until it was level with his.
Qing Su looked Li Ping'an up and down as though she had only met her disciple for the first time today.
Li Ping'an's Dao heart tingled uneasily. He always felt that his master's clear, lively eyes had examined every bone in his body.
Qing Su suddenly asked, "They said your comprehension is exceptional. Is that true?"
"I am actually... merely decent, I suppose."
Li Ping'an smiled bitterly.
"Master is asking this disciple to praise himself, and this disciple is rather thin-skinned.
"Comprehension is difficult to judge. Perhaps one day I will encounter a small bottleneck and get stuck there.
"For cultivation, fortune and aptitude are still more important."
"Then, disciple, look at this."
Qing Su took out a Jade Talisman and raised her hand to push it into Li Ping'an's palm.
Li Ping'an examined it for a few moments. Inside were lines of graceful, delicate writing. Upon close inspection, one could see that they were scripture passages copied down during different periods.
"Master, what is this?"
"Scriptures I could not comprehend before becoming immortal."
Qing Su's bright eyes sparkled. She seemed quite interested in this matter as she instructed:
"Try it. Let me see your comprehension."
His master's collection of incorrect answers?
Li Ping'an muttered, "Master, so when you took this disciple as your apprentice before, it was purely to repay this disciple's favor?"
"Otherwise?"
"It is nothing, nothing." Li Ping'an gave a bitter smile. "Being able to take Master as my master is truly a blessing cultivated over several lifetimes."
Qing Su blinked. "Truly?"
"Truly!"
Li Ping'an answered without hesitation, and a few more traces of a smile appeared on Qing Su's clear, lovely face.
Li Ping'an sighed inwardly... His master was even easier to coax than Junior Sister Mu had been back then.
Clutching the Jade Talisman, he closed his eyes and focused, beginning to ponder it carefully.
The examination Qing Su had given him was quite difficult for Li Ping'an.
Yet after comprehending one or two of the scripture passages, insights surged through Li Ping'an's heart, and he felt the urge to immediately enter seclusion and skip tomorrow's Heaven Ranking competition.
In the cavern abode, master tested disciple through Dao discussion; on the Main Peak, immortal music filled the gathering.
The night of the grand competition passed in lively fashion and was generally smooth, with only a minor disturbance occurring at the Affairs Hall during the latter half of the night.
On the morning of the second day of the sect competition, the Affairs Hall was packed with people.
Li Dazhi, dressed in a dark robe, stood before the hall entrance and cupped his hands toward the rows of immortals before him as he called out:
"Everyone!
"Those who travel a hundred li find the final ten the hardest. That is the difficulty of reaching the end!
"Yesterday's Human Ranking and Earth Ranking competitions concluded successfully. There were no mistakes in our work, and all parties coordinated in unison. This was entirely thanks to everyone's full support!
"Today's Heaven Ranking competition is even more crucial. I hope everyone in the Preparations Hall will continue your efforts and not show the slightest negligence!
"This humble Daoist has already requested permission from the Sect Leader. Once tomorrow's competition concludes, our Preparations Hall will celebrate here together. The sect will naturally provide rewards!"
More than a hundred immortals smiled and returned the salute at once.
Li Dazhi waved to one side.
Melodious bells rang out from the Main Peak, and streams of Immortal Light flew from the Affairs Hall.
Two rows of Immortal Cranes spread their wings from the thin mist among the forest, while fairies upon their backs scattered petals across the sky. The enormous arena beneath the Main Peak slowly rose into the air, and three cloud platforms rapidly took shape under the immortals' guidance.
The Heaven Ranking battles officially began!
Guests arrived on clouds from the main hall, while disciples from every peak rode clouds and controlled artifacts, forming several ribbons of color across the sky as they gathered at the foot of the Main Peak.
Anyone witnessing such a scene would praise Myriad Cloud Sect as a flourishing Immortal Sect.
Several elders cultivating in seclusion within the Bamboo Forest of the Back Mountain were smiling as well.
Li Ping'an followed behind his master, Qing Su, unable to stop himself from yawning several times.
He had forgotten to rest.
He had answered thirty percent of the questions his master had given him last night. His already weary mind had become even more exhausted, and he was now rather drowsy.
Li Ping'an decided that reaching the top fifty of the Heaven Ranking today would be enough. Once he finished fighting, he would go rest beneath the stage.
He had already attracted enough attention yesterday.
"Ping'an!"
Steward Wei Yanzi suddenly appeared from the side and gave Qing Su a Daoist salute.
"Immortal Qing Su, I have something to discuss with Ping'an!"
"Mhm." Qing Su nodded indifferently, then flashed away to wait farther ahead.
Li Ping'an leisurely stopped, only for Wei Yanzi to immediately seize his arm and ask through voice transmission.
"Ping'an, why do you look so exhausted?"
"I did not regulate my breathing properly, and Master tested me on scriptures for an entire night."
Li Ping'an sighed weakly.
"Does Deacon have anything urgent? If not, I should quickly meditate for a while."
"I do not have anything important," Wei Yanzi said. "Something happened last night, so I thought I should tell you early."
Li Ping'an immediately perked up. "What happened?"
"Wang Zaizhi's master is dissatisfied."
Wei Yanzi lowered his voice.
"A few immortals went to cause trouble at the Affairs Hall last night...
"Sigh, I do not know whether they have lost their minds. With so many guests present, could they not wait until the competition ended to raise whatever issue they had?"
Li Ping'an asked, "Which peak is his master from?"
Wei Yanzi said, "A True Immortal from Kaiyun Peak. His strength is ordinary. The strongest person in the Kaiyun Peak Master's lineage is Elder Bi."
Li Ping'an smiled. "What are they dissatisfied about?"
"First, they are dissatisfied with the sect showing favoritism. They said that you cultivated at Flowing Cloud Temple before, so why were you permitted to obtain immortal arts from the sect? By rights, methods of cultivating immortal arts may only be given to Inner Sect Disciples above the Void Refining Realm."
Wei Yanzi sighed and continued through voice transmission:
"Second, they are dissatisfied with your Spirit Detonation Art. You directly detonated so many Dharma artifacts, and they suspect you used the sect treasury. Otherwise, where could you have obtained so many artifacts?
"Third, they are dissatisfied that a minor cultivator at the Light Condensation Realm could enter the Earth Ranking's top ten at seventh place and advance to the Heaven Ranking. They also said that if everyone valued artifacts over the Dao, it would create an unhealthy trend within the sect."
Li Ping'an curled his lip and asked again, "How did my father handle it?"
"Quite impressively."
Wei Yanzi smiled.
"Ancestor Dazhi first refuted them point by point.
"He first produced a special permission Jade Talisman from an elder of the Merit Transmission Hall. Your cultivation of immortal arts was approved by that elder, so there was no violation of the rules.
"Then your father said that after the competition, he would have you display the artifact-refining method you created yourself.
"As for their claim that you valued artifacts over the Dao... An Inner Sect Elder directly pointed at their noses and cursed them out, saying they could not accept defeat. He said they had certainly grown capable, to think that dignified immortals would make things difficult for a child."
Li Ping'an could not help laughing.
What baby in this world was nearly thirty?
Wei Yanzi asked, "Ping'an, will there be any issue with displaying this artifact-refining method? Do you need anything prepared?"
"Help me prepare some low-quality treasure materials. Materials suitable for refining ordinary flying swords will do."
Li Ping'an's eyes flickered slightly as he said seriously:
"Just as Father said, after the competition, I will naturally explain to the elders how to rapidly refine the great number of Dharma artifacts needed to use the Spirit Detonation Art."
Wei Yanzi asked quietly, "Are you confident?"
"Of course."
"Then that is good." Wei Yanzi let out a breath of relief. "I will prepare the materials right away. Ping'an, do not feel pressured. Once those guests leave, those few immortals will no longer dare to make trouble. They are only deliberately trying to make things difficult for Ancestor Dazhi."
Li Ping'an said, "Deacon, rest assured."
Wei Yanzi gave him a thumbs-up, then rode away on a cloud in haste.
Immortal Light flashed beside Li Ping'an, and Qing Su appeared at his side, bringing him onward.
Li Ping'an seemed to want to speak but hesitated.
He could sense that his master was worried about him, but he did not know how to ease her concerns.
As they neared the arena, Qing Su suddenly said, "Don't be afraid."
"Hmm?"
Qing Su said calmly, "Wang Zaizhi's master can't beat me."
Li Ping'an: ...
He truly was moved.
But his master's thinking really was that simple.
Looking at his master's back so close before him, Li Ping'an could not help but feel a little warmth in his heart.
The rules for the Heaven Ranking battles were basically the same as those for the Earth Ranking: first came a points system, followed by round-robin group matches and elimination rounds. Starting with the semifinals, a double-elimination format was used, all in the name of maximizing spectacle.
Today, disciples at the True Unity Realm had begun appearing on the arena.
Some disciples who had been in the sect for nineteen years and sixty-eight months had cultivation far beyond that of someone like Li Ping'an, who had only entered the sect three years ago.
Li Ping'an had already stolen all the limelight yesterday, so today he kept an exceptionally low profile. With three wins and three losses, he barely made it into the top sixty-four elimination rounds, then calmly stopped at the top thirty-two. His disciple ranking settled around thirtieth.
Today, he focused on "lucky wins" and "graceful losses."
The disciples had originally hoped to see Li Ping'an use the Spirit Detonation Art again.
Unfortunately, all of Li Ping'an's opponents today were quite polite—far too polite, in fact. Two of them had wanted to surrender the moment they saw him, while those who defeated him all cupped their hands and apologized repeatedly, terrified of being blown up.
Fortunately, Li Ping'an took the initiative to promise that he would not use the Spirit Detonation Art again today. Only then were the matches completed normally.
In the end, Li Ping'an only used spear formations and Talismans against his opponents.
Wang Zaizhi became the only disciple in the sect to experience the Spirit Detonation Art.
Once his own matches were over, Li Ping'an was finally able to relax.
He hid behind his master and meditated with his eyes closed. Before long, he began to doze, recovering the mental energy he had expended over the past two days.
A moment later, Qing Su turned her head to glance behind her, tilting it slightly.
Beneath the glow of Immortal Light, Li Ping'an had fallen asleep with a smile at the corner of his lips. The brows he usually kept furrowed had relaxed slightly, and his handsome face looked clean and clear.
Qing Su watched him quietly for a while, then raised a hand and summoned a strand of Immortal Light, wrapping Li Ping'an in the power of a Heavenly Immortal so that the people around him would not disturb him.
Before long, Mu Ningning quietly slipped over and meditated behind Qing Su.
Mu Ningning had also prepared some dishes and snacks, waiting for Li Ping'an to wake up so they could eat and drink together.
In the distance, a petite figure occasionally raised her head to glance in this direction.
The Heaven Ranking competition was in full swing, while Li Ping'an slept more and more soundly.
Li Dazhi rode the clouds back and forth, busy preparing the closing ceremony for the competition.
As for the trouble Li Ping'an would face after the competition, when he had to prove his artifact-refining methods... Li Dazhi was fully confident and not worried in the least.
Before you continue