Three-Pulse Competition

Looking at the neatly arranged bookshelves not far away, Lu Nan no longer paid attention to the vanished gaze.

With a clear goal in mind, he headed straight for the Spirit Plant Area. This time, he had come to make up for his own shortcomings.

He remained there for an entire night, only waking at dawn when the commotion made by the Senior Brother on duty startled him awake.

Looking up, he saw the duty Senior Brother, Fang Rongxuan, staring at him with an embarrassed expression.

"Sorry, Junior Brother, I disturbed you!!!"

Lu Nan waved his hand. "Senior Brother Fang, there's no need to mind it. I was nearly done reading anyway!"

Since he often came to the Book Collection Pavilion to supplement his knowledge, the two had gradually become acquainted.

Moreover, Fang Rongxuan treated others kindly, so their relationship was fairly good.

Seeing that Lu Nan did not blame him, Fang Rongxuan visibly let out a sigh of relief.

He strode over and sighed. "Junior Brother, you really are diligent! Every time I see you, you're reading!!"

"You flatter me, Senior Brother. My talent is poor.

If I don't work hard, I'm afraid the sect will sweep me out the door a year from now!"

Fang Rongxuan encouraged him, "Junior Brother, you'll definitely be able to stay!!"

He then changed the subject. "Today is the day the sect distributes resources. How about we go together??"

"Alright!!" Lu Nan's eyes brightened as well. He returned the books to their original places.

After tidying up a little, he followed Fang Rongxuan. The two chatted and laughed as they headed toward the Resource Hall.

Before long, they had each received their allotted resources. Lu Nan was just about to bid farewell and return to consume his pills and cultivate.

Then he suddenly saw streaks of dazzling sword light flash overhead, and a trace of doubt inevitably flickered through his eyes.

Just then, he heard Fang Rongxuan at his side sigh. "Another year's competition!!!"

"A competition?? What competition?" Lu Nan asked curiously.

Fang Rongxuan did not hide anything and carefully explained the entire chain of events.

Lu Nan listened with great interest. It turned out that the current Azure Lotus Sword Sect was not its complete form.

The present Azure Lotus Sword Sect was merely one branch of it.

At its peak, the Azure Lotus Sword Sect had been the number one sect in the Southern Domain.

It was no exaggeration to say that the entire Southern Domain had obeyed its commands.

But for some unknown reason, several thousand years ago,

the vast Azure Lotus Sword Sect split into three branches: Qinglian, White Lotus, and Red Lotus.

Qinglian moved to the Northern Region, while White Lotus went to the Southern Region.

Red Lotus went to the Eastern Region. For a thousand years, the goal of all three branches had been to restore Qinglian's prestige.

Unfortunately, their long separation had caused the cultivators of the three branches to refuse to submit to one another.

Thus, the three branches had never reunited. However, every three years, they held a Three-Pulse Competition.

To prove the excellence of their own branch's disciples!!!

"Senior Brother Fang, how long have you been in the sect?" Lu Nan suddenly asked curiously.

Fang Rongxuan's expression stiffened. He looked at Lu Nan awkwardly. "Including this year, six years!!"

"Six years?? Then your cultivation???" Lu Nan looked at Fang Rongxuan in astonishment.

"Fifth layer of Qi Condensation!!"

Lu Nan stared at him in disbelief. "Huh???"

He immediately realized that this was inappropriate and looked at him apologetically.

Fang Rongxuan did not mind. "It can't be helped. My aptitude is too poor. Fortunately, I passed the Sect Assessment.

I became an Outer Disciple, and these past few years have been rather comfortable."

"As long as you pass the assessment, you can remain in the sect forever??" Lu Nan asked in surprise.

"How could there be such a good thing!

I have to make a breakthrough within three years, or I'll be stripped of my status as an Outer Disciple."

Fang Rongxuan said with a laugh.

Lu Nan nodded. "That's true!"

He then asked, "Senior Brother Fang, what else do you know about the Three-Pulse Competition??"

"I know quite a lot!!" Fang Rongxuan lifted his chin and looked at Lu Nan proudly.

He then continued, "As far as I know, over the past two years, the sect has lost more than it has won.

That was only what I'd heard before, but in the six years I've been in the sect,

the sect has never won. In the last competition, we were even completely shut out."

At this, Fang Rongxuan sighed repeatedly. "It's a pity my strength is insufficient, otherwise I would definitely put down the arrogance of those two branches."

"Why?" Lu Nan asked blankly.

Fang Rongxuan raised his head and glanced at him. "First, I can't stand the conduct of the other two branches. Second, of course, it's to advance further.

You don't know this, but the Sect Leader once declared it.

No matter who it is, as long as they can display our sect's might in the Three-Pulse Competition,

they may freely choose a peak to enter as a disciple!

If a Peak Lord truly takes them in, that would be soaring to the heavens in a single step!

They would directly advance to Core Disciple, and with good luck, they might even have hope of becoming a True Disciple."

Lu Nan was left utterly muddled by this string of words and could not help asking cautiously, "Senior Brother Fang, could you explain in more detail?"

Fang Rongxuan was taken aback, then remembered that Lu Nan had only just entered the sect and did not yet know.

He immediately explained patiently, "That involves the sect's structure.

From bottom to top, there are Servant Disciples, Outer Disciples, Inner Disciples, Core Disciples, True Disciples, Elders, Peak Lords, and the Sect Leader.

Among them, Servant Disciples and Outer Disciples are mostly in the Body Tempering and Qi Condensation stages.

Inner Disciples are at Foundation Establishment, while Core Disciples are at Golden Core.

As for True Disciples... the sect seemingly does not have any True Disciples yet.

As for Elders, they are all Nascent Soul cultivators. The Peak Lords and Sect Leader are said to be existences above Nascent Soul."

After a pause, he added, "The sect has a total of Nine Peaks, each corresponding to one Peak Lord.

As for the circumstances of each peak, you'll know once you pass the Sect Assessment."

Lu Nan's heart stirred at this. Perhaps he could try this Three-Pulse Competition as well?

If he truly succeeded and entered under a Peak Lord's tutelage,

then not only would he have someone to rely on, but acting within the sect in the future would also become much more convenient.

He just did not know what cultivation level this Three-Pulse Competition covered??

If it was Qi Condensation or Foundation Establishment, then going up there would only be courting death.

"Senior Brother Fang, what is the cultivation range for this Three-Pulse Competition??"

Fang Rongxuan was taken aback. He turned around and looked Lu Nan up and down. "I say, Junior Brother Lu, you aren't thinking of entering the Three-Pulse Competition, are you??"

"Just curious, just curious!!!" Lu Nan smiled awkwardly.

"It's nothing much. Anyone below Foundation Establishment can take the stage.

It is conducted in the form of Defend the Arena. As long as you successfully defend the arena, you win."

Lu Nan nodded, then smiled. "I can't miss such a lively grand occasion.

Senior Brother Fang, would you like to go together???"

Looking at the exceedingly curious Lu Nan, Fang Rongxuan hesitated for a moment before nodding. "It's boring to go back anyway, so let's go take a look.

I heard the sect accepted two geniuses this year. Perhaps this year's competition will be quite exciting."

Then, led by Fang Rongxuan, the two quickly arrived beside an enormous, bustling venue.

Countless people surrounded a massive arena. Directly behind it stood a towering viewing platform.

At this moment, it was already filled with many figures, every one of them carrying an extraordinary bearing.

Their auras were concealed, yet a single glance made it clear that they were no ordinary people.

Seeing this, Fang Rongxuan immediately explained it to Lu Nan.

Those seated above were all higher-ups of the Sword Sect, the Peak Lords of each peak.

Lu Nan also saw two young figures standing behind those great figures.

Su Wan and Ye Shuang!!!!