Sect Newcomer Competition (I)

After entering the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the two of them headed straight to Hall Master Lei Yue. Luckily, Hall Master Lei had not gone out.

"Reporting to Hall Master, Ye Xiaofeng requests an audience. He says he has something to discuss with you," a maid came in and said.

"Let him in." Lei Yue was sitting at his desk, busy handling the sect's affairs. Hearing that Ye Xiaofeng had business with him, he agreed to see him.

"Hall Master, long time no see." Ye Xiaofeng brought Shopkeeper Li to meet Lei Yue.

"Kid, where have you been running off to lately? Why haven't I seen hide nor hair of you?" Hall Master Lei knew Sword Douluo had also asked him to keep an eye on Ye Xiaofeng, but this kid was always absent from the sect lately.

"Well, seeing how you've been working day and night over the sect's affairs, Hall Master, I specially invited Shopkeeper Li to come and serve you for a few days." Ye Xiaofeng spouted nonsense with a perfectly straight face.

"Ye Xiaofeng, you've got some nerve. You brought an outsider into the sect without my special approval?" Hall Master Lei angrily slammed a hand onto the table.

"Hall Master, I've been wronged! Wasn't I thinking of you? My sincerity toward you is plain for heaven and earth to see!" Ye Xiaofeng lied without so much as a blush or a flutter of his heart.

"Guards, throw Ye Xiaofeng out of the sect," Hall Master Lei said coldly.

"Wait, Hall Master. Since you don't like it, I'll send Shopkeeper Li back immediately." Ye Xiaofeng hurriedly changed the subject.

"Do you think the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is somewhere you can come and go whenever you please? Leave Shopkeeper Li behind. You can get lost," the Hall Master said coldly.

"Don't be like that, Hall Master. I can still lend you a hand."

"I don't need your help."

"Then I'll guard your courtyard for you."

"I don't need you guarding my courtyard either. Speak. Stop beating around the bush. What is it?" Hall Master Lei was not so easily fooled, so he asked Ye Xiaofeng directly.

"Someone, take Shopkeeper Li to the kitchen." Ye Xiaofeng turned the tables and directly ordered the servants.

The servants naturally would not listen to Ye Xiaofeng. Hall Master Lei gave a slight nod, and they took Shopkeeper Li to the kitchen.

"Hall Master, come, come. Let's drink and talk." Ye Xiaofeng hurriedly ushered Hall Master Lei over.

"Kid, you can speak plainly now." Hall Master Lei sat down and drank the tea Ye Xiaofeng had just poured.

"Well, after tomorrow's newcomer competition, I thought we should celebrate. So I specially invited Shopkeeper Li to improve the sect's meals." Ye Xiaofeng smiled.

"That's it?" Hall Master Lei asked skeptically.

"Yes, that's it." Ye Xiaofeng replied with a smile.

"This little matter is rather difficult to handle." Hall Master Lei put on a troubled expression.

"Hall Master, this is just a small token of my respect." As he spoke, Ye Xiaofeng took out a check for one hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins.

"Kid, this isn't about money. The Sect Master has rules. I cannot exceed my authority," Hall Master Lei told Ye Xiaofeng again.

"Come, come, Hall Master. Try the delicacies from the Heavenly Human World Inn." Seeing the dishes being served, Ye Xiaofeng hurriedly shifted the focus.

"Mm, not bad. In the entire imperial capital, if Heavenly Human World Inn called itself second in cuisine, no one would dare call themselves first," Hall Master Lei said as he ate.

"Hall Master, drink up, drink up." Ye Xiaofeng eagerly attended to him, not forgetting to flatter him.

"Kid, tell me the truth. This old man isn't muddleheaded enough to fall for that." As a hall master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Lei Yue naturally was not foolish enough to be taken in so easily.

"Hall Master, here's the situation. Shopkeeper Li and I caused a little trouble outside, so we're taking shelter in the sect for a while. And through this food, I hope you can introduce me to the elders." Seeing that Hall Master Lei had eaten and drunk his fill, Ye Xiaofeng smiled and revealed the truth.

If Luo Shaotian heard that, he would probably vomit blood and die. How had 672 million become a little trouble in Ye Xiaofeng's mouth?

"Hall Master, once this is done, I'll give you the other half as well," Ye Xiaofeng said with a smile.

"Kid, understand this: this money isn't going into my own pocket." Hall Master Lei took the check from Ye Xiaofeng and tucked it into his pocket.

"I understand. Hall Master, you'll use this money to smooth things over for me. Please don't stand on ceremony. This is money we ought to spend." Ye Xiaofeng spoke to Hall Master Lei with the manner of someone asking for a favor, though both of them understood perfectly well and neither said it aloud.

"Good that you understand. Go prepare well for tomorrow's competition. Leave the rest to me. Don't worry." Having accepted the one-hundred-thousand check, Lei Yue was naturally quite pleased.

Ye Xiaofeng hurried to the kitchen, took Shopkeeper Li away, and returned to his residence. When he left, he took a meal that had been prepared for him as well.

Ye Xiaofeng had previously instructed Shopkeeper Li to make a portion for him too, so he could bring it back on the way.

"How did it go?" Shopkeeper Li hurriedly asked.

"It's settled. But if we want to get the money, we still need the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's help. Otherwise, the two of us won't get a single coin, and we might even lose our lives."

Ye Xiaofeng understood that if he wanted to get money from the Great Soul Arena, which had the empire backing it, he had to have a powerful backer. But to win over such a backer, he had to pay the corresponding price.

"Young Master, money is only an external possession. We should spend what needs to be spent." Since Shopkeeper Li had submitted to Ye Xiaofeng, he addressed him as Young Master.

"From the looks of it, we'll have to bleed heavily this time." Ye Xiaofeng was reluctant to give the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect such a large share, but in order to recover the money, he endured it. Those who accomplished great things did not fuss over trivialities.

The next morning, the competition began as scheduled. All the new disciples waited in the square.

"The top three in the newcomer competition will receive generous rewards. As for the specific rewards, this Hall Master will keep you guessing for now. Everyone, come draw lots." Hall Master Lei presided over the ceremony.

"The numbers in your hands are random and have nothing to do with your strength or background. The first fifty numbers will challenge the last fifty, and so on until the top three contestants are selected. Do you all understand?" Hall Master Lei asked the hundred people.

"Understood!"

"Of course, one lucky person among you may receive a bye and advance directly into the next round of finals. The rules are as follows: you may not deliberately kill your opponent; once an opponent admits defeat, you may not strike to kill; jumping off the arena counts as surrender. This Hall Master will personally oversee the entire competition. Now, the competition officially begins," Hall Master Lei said sternly.

In the first round, Ye Xiaofeng drew number 101 and received a direct bye. The competition proceeded normally.

In the second round, Ye Xiaofeng drew number 51 and received another bye. Wang Hao, who had previously clashed with Ye Xiaofeng, was grinding his teeth in fury. Why did he have to fight for his life while Ye Xiaofeng got two straight byes?

"Hall Master, I refuse to accept this! Why does Ye Xiaofeng get a bye twice?" Wang Hao said indignantly.

"Yeah, why?" The crowd below immediately began discussing it, especially those who had lost.

"Are you accusing this Hall Master of favoritism and fraud?" Hall Master Lei strode over and slapped Wang Hao across the face. Everyone else immediately fell silent.

"This disciple wouldn't dare!" Even if Wang Hao had ten thousand times the courage, he would not dare oppose the Hall Master.

"Your luck is worse than someone else's. You can't blame anyone for that. If you're dissatisfied, defeat him with your strength. Wouldn't that settle it?" Hall Master Lei said angrily. He had not expected a mere brat to question him.

In the third round, Ye Xiaofeng drew number 13 while Wang Hao drew number 26, as though everything had been arranged beforehand.

"Next match: Wang Hao versus Ye Xiaofeng."

"What's wrong? No way to get a bye this time?" Wang Hao stepped onto the arena and spoke coldly. This match, he would wash away his humiliation.

"Dealing with you is no different from getting a bye. Don't think so highly of yourself." Naturally, Ye Xiaofeng would not lose in a battle of words.

"You think I'll be as careless as before?" Wang Hao now wished he could kill Ye Xiaofeng.

"Even if you get serious, you won't be able to stir up much of a storm." Ye Xiaofeng despised this kind of person most.

"Are you two going to fight or not? If you don't start, this Hall Master will consider both of you to have forfeited the match." The people below were waiting to watch their duel, but the two had started bickering on the arena. In the end, even Hall Master Lei could not stand it anymore.

"Hehe, we're starting now. Second Soul Skill—Sweep the Thousand Armies!" Ye Xiaofeng gave Hall Master Lei an innocent smile. When he turned around, his aura instantly changed, and he launched the first attack.

"Second Soul Skill—Diamond Body Protection!" Wang Hao hurriedly tried to block Ye Xiaofeng's attack, but Ye Xiaofeng easily broke through his protection.

"How is that possible? Ye Xiaofeng broke Wang Hao's protection with a single sword strike!" The people below began discussing it again.

"Seven Kill truly deserves to be the martial soul with the strongest attack power in the world." Hall Master Lei nodded slightly in satisfaction. He had repeatedly wanted to take Ye Xiaofeng as his disciple, but Ye Xiaofeng was set on taking Chen Xin as his master.

"That's all? Bring out your strongest power and fight me." Ye Xiaofeng looked at Wang Hao disdainfully.

"Kid, don't get cocky too soon. Fourth Soul Skill—Great Vajra Palm!" The more Wang Hao looked at Ye Xiaofeng, the more furious he became, as if he were looking at an enemy.

"First Soul Skill—Green Lotus Bodyguard!" To everyone else, Ye Xiaofeng looked as arrogant as could be. Using his first Soul Skill to contend with someone else's fourth Soul Skill—wasn't that courting death?

But who knew that Ye Xiaofeng had every reason to be arrogant? His first Soul Skill had originally been a thousand-year one; it merely appeared as a hundred-year yellow soul ring under his simulated state.

When Wang Hao's Great Vajra Palm struck Ye Xiaofeng's Green Lotus Bodyguard, neither gained the upper hand. Wang Hao panicked and added more Soul Power. The protective barrier shattered, and both were sent staggering back several steps.

"Wang Hao, didn't you eat?" Ye Xiaofeng continued to mock Wang Hao.

"Fifth Soul Skill—Great Vajra Spring!" Wang Hao had not fully recovered the Soul Power he had expended in the previous two rounds. Using a ten-thousand-year Soul Skill now meant that even if he won, he would not be able to compete in the next match. But he could no longer care about that. As long as he defeated Ye Xiaofeng, he would kill him if necessary.

"Perfect timing. Third Soul Skill—One Sword Throat Seal!" Ye Xiaofeng used a quick step to dodge Wang Hao's ten-thousand-year Soul Skill. He was not foolish enough to clash head-on and suffer needless losses, so he directly used his third Soul Skill to counterattack.

Wang Hao wanted to defend himself, but he no longer had any Soul Power left to do so. If Ye Xiaofeng's sword had advanced another half inch, it would have pierced Wang Hao's throat. Before he could admit defeat, Ye Xiaofeng kicked him off the arena.

Wang Hao crashed off the arena, coughing blood before passing out. He was left half-dead.

"Hall Master, Ye Xiaofeng violated the competition rules. I suggest stripping him of his qualification to compete." Seeing Wang Hao's miserable state, someone took the chance to lodge a complaint so Ye Xiaofeng would be unable to participate in the later matches.

Ye Xiaofeng's strength was no good thing for them.

"Hey, the emperor isn't even worried, so why is a eunuch like you so anxious? Even if someone is going to complain, it should be Wang Hao. Let him complain, and I'll accept it."

Seeing Wang Hao unconscious and hearing Ye Xiaofeng's words, everyone was utterly speechless.

"Look, Wang Hao doesn't even have an objection. What the hell does it have to do with you?" Ye Xiaofeng snapped at the people below.

"Hall Master, look at him! Ye Xiaofeng has no martial virtue and spouts nonsense."

"Ye Xiaofeng, watch your attitude. This is not outside; this is a sect competition. Friendship first, competition second," the Hall Master said sternly. Even though he thought Ye Xiaofeng was right, he still had to calm everyone down on the surface.

"Hall Master, first, Wang Hao did not admit defeat just now. Second, Wang Hao is not dead. So how did I violate the competition rules?" Ye Xiaofeng acted like a dead pig unafraid of boiling water.

"Well, since he did not violate the rules, Ye Xiaofeng may continue competing. But be careful next time. You may not seriously injure others." Since Ye Xiaofeng had not violated the competition rules, the Hall Master had no authority to strip him of his qualification.

When the third round ended, thirteen people remained. The next round would take place that afternoon, though another lucky person would receive a direct bye.