Disciple Competition (Part 1)

"Wang Beichen..."

Zeng Fan repeated the name, feeling pressure just from hearing it. If he wanted to place in this Disciple Competition, he might run into the person behind that name.

"A disciple with Body Tempering Muscle Perfection from an Earth Vein, huh? But if I'm unlucky enough to meet him, I'll have to fight him," Zeng Fan said with a smile to Murong Xue, a determined look on his face. With his experiences in two lifetimes, Zeng Fan naturally had his own principles. A disciple with Body Tempering Muscle Perfection wasn't enough to make him cower!

Murong Xue looked at the young man before her. He exuded an unyielding fierceness. The golden sunlight shone on his handsome face, making it glow.

The young woman was momentarily lost in thought.

"What's wrong?" Zeng Fan asked, noticing Murong Xue staring at him blankly.

Hearing Zeng Fan's voice, Murong Xue snapped back to reality. "Nothing, nothing! You've got leaves and twigs all over you. Hurry up and clean yourself up. Your clothes are tattered and messy too!"

Murong Xue's tone was flustered and slightly annoyed. Zeng Fan found it a bit odd, but as he listened, he looked down at himself and suddenly understood. He brushed off the dead branches and leaves and walked into the woods, taking out new clothes from his Storage Ring to change into.

"Even though he's a bit messy, he's still quite good-looking," the young woman chuckled softly to herself.

After tidying himself up, Zeng Fan emerged from the woods. His training for this period had come to a temporary halt. "Senior Jade Spirit Flood Dragon, I won't be coming here for a while. I need to focus on preparing for the competition," Zeng Fan said to the Jade Spirit Flood Dragon's massive form.

He was very grateful to the Jade Spirit Flood Dragon. Without its sparring sessions during this time, he wouldn't have figured out his Dragon Dance and certainly wouldn't have cultivated it so quickly.

The Jade Spirit Flood Dragon squinted its eyes again upon hearing this. It waved its large claws at Zeng Fan, signaling that it understood. After all, it still had a childlike nature; a little coaxing and it would be fine.

Zeng Fan then walked out with Murong Xue. A hint of reluctance flashed in the Jade Spirit Flood Dragon's eyes. They had spent some time together, after all. It shook its large head, as if thinking of something, and suddenly let out a low growl.

Just as Zeng Fan and Murong Xue turned around, two white objects flew into their arms. Zeng Fan reached out and caught them – two white scales.

"Are these... Jade Spirit Flood Dragon scales? Are they giving them to us for protection?" Zeng Fan looked up. The Jade Spirit Flood Dragon nodded at them, then flicked its body and dove into the water, leaving only ripples on the surface.

Zeng Fan and Murong Xue exchanged glances, feeling a bit guilty. To the Jade Spirit Flood Dragon, they were friends, but their initial contact was for their own cultivation. While they harbored no ill intentions towards the creature, their motives weren't entirely pure. And yet, this foolish dragon had given them scales.

The Jade Spirit Flood Dragon was now equivalent to a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Its scales were impenetrable to anyone below the Foundation Establishment realm, making them excellent protective artifacts for the two of them at their current level.

"Give me your scale too. I know a senior sister who's good at artifact refining. This size is perfect for a heart protector. I'll see if I can get it made during the competition. If it's done, I'll bring it to you," Murong Xue said, extending her hand to Zeng Fan.

Zeng Fan readily agreed. After spending this much time together, their relationship had become much more familiar, and there was no need for polite formalities.

Seeing Zeng Fan hand over the scale without hesitation, the young woman felt a surge of happiness. For ordinary people, these scales were treasures and wouldn't be easily given away. Zeng Fan's trust stirred something within her.

After walking out of the woods, Murong Xue waved goodbye to Zeng Fan and ran off cheerfully into the distance. A gentle breeze stirred her hair, her robes fluttering. Her retreating figure exuded an indescribable grace and elegance.

After watching Murong Xue leave, Zeng Fan turned and headed back to his residence, silently contemplating the upcoming competition. Along the way, he continuously reviewed the cultivation techniques and moves he had learned, strategizing how to deal with various opponents.

Meanwhile, Murong Xue tightly clutched the two scales, her steps light. She was excitedly thinking about finding that senior sister to craft the heart protector, humming a little tune as she walked back to her dwelling, leaving behind a faint, fragrant scent, as if even the air was infected by her joy.

Upon returning to his residence, Zeng Fan knocked on Yuan Jin's door, only to find he wasn't there. He must also be in secluded cultivation for the competition. Yuan Jin had previously declared he was going for special training after learning Zeng Fan was practicing the Fish Dragon Dance, but he hadn't told Zeng Fan where he was going.

"The competition should start in the next few days. I'll just wait for the notice. For now, I'll consolidate my cultivation," Zeng Fan thought. With that, he closed his eyes and began to cultivate.

The next morning, the sect's notice arrived.

"To encourage the cultivation of Body Tempering realm disciples, a Body Tempering Disciple Competition will be held starting tomorrow. Each Body Tempering realm will compete separately based on a draw, with two participants per match. The top ten finishers will have the opportunity to cultivate in the Quenching Body Pool, which is highly beneficial for Body Tempering realm cultivation. We hope all disciples will cultivate diligently and contribute to the sect soon!" At the Disciple Hall, an elder read out the sect's order and left immediately. After bowing to the elder, the disciples began to discuss amongst themselves.

"How are your preparations going? You broke through? Holy crap, have you mastered your killing move yet?" Yuan Jin slung an arm around Zeng Fan's shoulder, bombarding him with questions. He had rushed to the assembly just as it was announced, and Zeng Fan had no idea where he had come from.

"I've broken through to Body Tempering Muscle Mastery, and I've also mastered the killing move. Stop hugging me so tight," Zeng Fan said with a hint of helplessness. However, he carefully sensed the fluctuations around Yuan Jin and found that he had also become much stronger than before.

"You broke through too? Where did you go for your special training?" Zeng Fan asked in surprise. After all, Yuan Jin's cultivation was higher than his, so he should have broken through earlier.

"Can't say, can't say, hahaha, just got lucky, got lucky," Yuan Jin said, chuckling vaguely. Hearing Zeng Fan's confusion, Yuan Jin seemed to recall something, shivered slightly, and then answered evasively.

Zeng Fan knew Yuan Jin didn't want to answer, so he didn't press further. Everyone had secrets they couldn't share. The two returned to their residence, exchanging cultivation insights while awaiting the start of the competition.