On the night before the Inner Sect Grand Competition, the moon shone bright and the stars glittered brilliantly. Yet Qingyun Peak was ablaze with lights, countless rooms still illuminated as the disciples made their final preparations. Some polished their Flying Swords, some checked their talismans, while others sat cross-legged on their beds, seizing every last moment to cultivate in hopes of gaining even a sliver more strength before the competition.
Shen Hao's residence, however, was quiet. Unlike the other disciples, who were tense and busy, he sat cross-legged upon the Jade Bed without cultivating. His eyes were slightly closed as his consciousness sank into his body, sorting through the gains he had made during this period. His cultivation had broken through to Mid Qi Refining Fourth Layer, his spiritual energy thick and condensed, far surpassing cultivators of the same level; the Meridian Tempering Art had reached completion, leaving his meridians lustrous and white as jade, increasing the speed of spiritual energy circulation by thirty percent; the Spirit Devouring Art had advanced to its second layer, allowing him to devour elemental spiritual energy and greatly improve its refinement efficiency; the Flowing Cloud Steps had reached the third stage, Flowing Cloud Shadow Transformation, making his movement graceful and nimble, increasing his speed by forty percent while allowing him to leave afterimages to confuse his opponents.
Besides that, five Swiftness Talismans, two Iron Armor Talismans, and one Stealth Talisman lay in his Storage Pouch, each capable of producing marvelous effects at a critical moment. More importantly, his recent training in the Dense Forest had given him abundant combat experience. He could remain composed in the face of attacks from all manner of Demon Beasts.
As he was now, even against a Late Qi Refining Fourth Layer cultivator, he had the strength to fight. Even if he encountered an Early Qi Refining Fifth Layer cultivator, it was not as though he would have no room to strike back.
"Senior Brother Shen, are you asleep?" Just as Shen Hao finished assessing his own strength and his heart became calm, Zhang Shan's voice suddenly came from outside, carrying a touch of unease and excitement.
Shen Hao rose and went to open the door. Zhang Shan stood there holding a food box, an honest smile on his face. Faint steam rose from the box, carrying an enticing aroma. "Senior Brother Shen, the Inner Sect Grand Competition is tomorrow. I knew you might be cultivating, so I specially made some food. Let's eat a little together and relax, so you won't be too nervous tomorrow."
Shen Hao smiled and stepped aside to welcome Zhang Shan in. "That's thoughtful of you. I happen to be a little hungry as well."
Zhang Shan placed the food box on the stone table and lifted the lid. Inside were several delicate dishes: Spirit Grain Fried Pork, Stewed Spirit Chicken, and a plate of Cold Mixed Spirit Vegetables. Beside them sat a jug of crystal-clear Spirit Wine. The wine gave off a faint fragrance that refreshed the mind at a single breath. "I made all this with ingredients issued by the sect. I also saved up Spirit Stones for a long time to buy the Spirit Wine. It isn't worth much, so please don't mind it, Senior Brother Shen." Zhang Shan scratched his head, speaking somewhat embarrassedly.
Shen Hao picked up his chopsticks and took a bite of the Spirit Grain Fried Pork. It was fragrant and savory, spiritual energy spreading through his mouth and instantly invigorating him. "It tastes excellent—far better than the sect cafeteria's food," he praised.
The two sat before the stone table, eating and chatting. As the Spirit Wine went down his throat, a warm current flowed into his stomach, dispelling the weariness from his body. "Senior Brother Shen, do you think you can take First Place in tomorrow's Grand Tournament?" Zhang Shan took a sip of Spirit Wine, expectation shining in his eyes as he asked curiously.
Shen Hao shook his head and set down his wine cup, his gaze calm. "The Inner Sect Disciples are crouching tigers and hidden dragons. There are quite a few Qi Refining Fifth Layer cultivators as well. They have cultivated longer than I have and accumulated deeper foundations. First Place is not so easily won. I only seek to display my own strength, give it my all, and leave no regrets." He was speaking the truth. The Inner Sect Grand Competition was filled with crouching tigers and hidden dragons. Though his progress had been rapid, he was not arrogant enough to believe himself already invincible beneath the heavens.
Zhang Shan nodded, looking at Shen Hao with admiration. "Senior Brother Shen, your mindset is truly admirable. I'm so nervous that my palms are sweating. I'm afraid I'll perform poorly tomorrow and won't even make it past the first round." As he spoke, he could not help clenching his fists. His palms were indeed damp. Although he had broken through to the Early Qi Refining Third Layer during this period, the weakest disciples participating in the Inner Sect Grand Competition were all at the Qi Refining Fourth Layer. Advancing would be extremely difficult for him.
Shen Hao smiled, placed a piece of spirit chicken into Zhang Shan's bowl, and comforted him. "Relax. Just treat it as an ordinary spar. You've improved quickly during this time, and your swordsmanship has become more and more proficient. As long as you perform normally, you'll certainly achieve a good ranking. Even if you lose, it doesn't matter. The Grand Tournament is a chance to learn in the first place. Being able to exchange blows with the strong is itself a kind of gain."
Listening to Shen Hao's words, the tension in Zhang Shan's heart gradually dissipated. He nodded heavily. "Mm! Senior Brother Shen, I'll listen to you! Tomorrow, I'll definitely give it my all and never retreat!"
The two talked for a long while, from cultivation insights to the Demon Beasts of Back Mountain, then to all sorts of amusing tales from the Inner Sect. The atmosphere was warm and harmonious. Only when the night had deepened and moonlight filled the courtyard did Zhang Shan rise to take his leave. "Senior Brother Shen, it's getting late. I won't disturb your rest any longer. Tomorrow, let's go to the Training Ground together."
"Alright. We'll meet at the entrance during Mao Hour tomorrow." Shen Hao nodded and saw Zhang Shan to the door.
After seeing Zhang Shan off, Shen Hao returned to the room and cleaned the bowls and chopsticks from the stone table. He sat cross-legged on the Jade Bed once more, took out the Companion Jade Pendant, and infused it with a thread of spiritual energy. The jade pendant emitted a faint azure glow, its gentle aura enveloping his body and making his mind increasingly tranquil. He slowly closed his eyes and adjusted his breathing, bringing both body and spirit to their peak condition.
Tomorrow would be the day of the Inner Sect Grand Competition. Upon the Training Ground, he would display his skills and contend with the Inner Sect's finest disciples. Moonlight streamed through the window lattice and fell across him, outlining his tall, straight figure—quiet and resolute.
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