The Second Grand Competition

After receiving his master's affirmation and agreement, Qin Fengming trained even more diligently, leaving early and returning late, rain or shine, without ever taking a break.

When his master returned, he didn't see Yuan Kejian and was naturally perplexed. Although he inquired with other disciples, he didn't delve too deeply into the matter, as the selection of new disciples for Luoxia Valley was in full swing. At this time, they were too busy to concern themselves with the disappearance of one or two new disciples.

The sun and moon traversed, flowers bloomed and fell, and several more months passed by unnoticed.

The day of the Hundred Refinements Hall competition drew closer and closer. During this period, the disciples who had entered Luoxia Valley at the same time as Qin Fengming also learned about the competition from their instructors. While everyone was excited, they were informed that they would not be allowed to participate in this year's competition, but could attend as spectators. This greatly disheartened the disciples.

However, after some thought, they all came to accept it. At most, they had only been in Luoxia Valley for three years, and had only been practicing martial arts for two years. The gap between them and the disciples who had entered six or seven years prior was, as one could imagine, considerable.

This grand competition would include all disciples currently cultivating in the Hundred Refinements Hall, numbering sixty to seventy people in total. The newest entrants had been there for at least five or six years, with over a dozen having been admitted ten years ago.

Fortunately, such competitions were limited to the Hundred Refinements Hall. If the disciples' children from Luoxia Valley were included, the number of peers would reach over a hundred.

The difficulty of achieving good results in a competition with so many skilled participants was, as one could imagine, immense.

While Qin Fengming didn't place much importance on the competition results, his youthful competitive spirit was certainly present. Therefore, apart from his daily martial arts practice, Qin Fengming paid no attention to anything else.

As the days passed, the day of the grand competition finally arrived.

Early one morning, a young man in a blue robe led Qin Fengming and the other disciples to a valley. This valley was extremely vast, and within it stood ten stone platforms, each two to three zhang high and about twenty zhang wide. The central platform was five to six zhang high.

Looking around, the surrounding platforms were clearly visible.

At this time, many disciples were already present in the valley, gathered in groups here and there. All around were youths in blue and brown robes; Qin Fengming had never seen these people before; they were not disciples of the Hundred Refinements Hall.

Looking at the disciples in grey robes gathered in the center of the valley, Qin Fengming knew that these were undoubtedly the disciples who would be participating in the competition.

It wasn't until the hour of si (9-11 AM) that over twenty people appeared on the central, five-to-six-zhang-high platform, with Zhang Li, the Hall Master of the Hundred Refinements Hall, seated among them.

"Listen up, disciples below. Those who wish to participate in this competition, go behind this stone platform to receive your tokens. The tokens will be used for the competition from now on."

As the crowd below discussed amongst themselves, Elder Wang, who had presided over Qin Fengming's entrance test, appeared before the high platform. After stopping the discussion, he spoke thus.

His voice was not very loud, but everyone present heard him clearly.

Following Elder Wang's words, disciples immediately stepped forward, and with practiced ease, went behind the stone platform.

Seeing this, Qin Fengming no longer hesitated. After nodding to Duan Meng, he also stepped out from the group.

A short while later, to the astonishment of Duan Meng and the others, Qin Fengming slowly walked back, holding a bamboo token with a number written on it.

"Fengming, are you going to participate in this competition too?" Duan Meng and the other disciples who had come with him were greatly surprised.

"Heh heh, that's right. I pleaded with the Hall Master, and only after much difficulty did he agree to let me give it a try."

Hearing that Qin Fengming was actually participating in the competition, the disciples who had come with him were all filled with disbelief. They had been explicitly told by their instructors that disciples of their cohort were not allowed to participate in this competition.

At this moment, Qin Fengming naturally wouldn't explain in detail. Although the other disciples didn't know that Qin Fengming had already taken the Hall Master as his master, Duan Meng did. Seeing that Qin Fengming was allowed to participate in the competition exceptionally, Duan Meng understood immediately.

He didn't press the matter further.

"I assume all participating disciples have received their tokens. I will now explain the competition rules. Disciples numbered one to eight go to High Platform One; disciples numbered nine to sixteen go to High Platform Two; disciples numbered seventeen to twenty-four go to High Platform Three, and so on. Disciples numbered fifty-seven to sixty-two go to High Platform Eight.

On each high platform, based on the smallest and largest numbers, then the second smallest and second largest, and so on, the four winners will compete again. The victor will directly advance. The four who lost the first round will compete again, and the winner will then compete against the two who lost against the previous winners to advance to the next round.

If there are any unclear points, you may go to your respective high platforms to ask the person in charge. Alright, now all disciples, please find your respective high platforms and begin the competition."

Elder Wang stood on the high platform and finished speaking in a calm and unhurried manner before returning to his seat.

After hearing the elder's words, the disciples all checked the tokens in their hands to confirm which high platform they should go to.

Qin Fengming held his token, which had the number forty-five written on it. After a moment of thought, he headed towards the platform marked with the number six.

Duan Meng and the other disciples who had come with him also set off, following behind Qin Fengming to the base of High Platform Six. This action caused hundreds of people present to turn their heads and watch, pointing and discussing amongst themselves.

At this time, a young man in a brown robe was already standing on High Platform Six. Looking at the eight people, including Qin Fengming, standing at the base of the platform, the young man's expression was solemn. He scanned everyone and said:

"This is a competition among fellow disciples. Stop when you've made your point; do not easily take a life. If you violate this, you will be severely punished. You must remember this. Now, numbers forty-one and forty-eight, come up to the stage. Numbers forty-two and forty-seven, prepare yourselves. The rest, step aside and wait."

Following the young man's words, two people immediately stepped out from the group and walked towards the stairs on the side.

"You may begin now." After collecting the tokens from the two, the brown-robed youth said.

After bowing to the brown-robed youth, the two faced each other, clasped their fists, and without a word, they both formed hand seals, wielded their weapons, and began to fight.

One of these two wielded a single saber, while the other used a long sword. The techniques they used were extraordinary. As their weapons moved, two balls of light intertwined, creating an extremely fierce battle.

Qin Fengming watched closely, and after a moment, he could discern the difference in their strength. The young man with the saber had a slight advantage.

As expected, after only a short while, the young man with the saber feigned an attack, luring his opponent into a trap under his saber.

Sensing the fight between the two, Qin Fengming's heart settled. After a year of diligent training, his swordsmanship and footwork were no longer comparable to before. Facing those two disciples, Qin Fengming could have subdued them in moments without even using his full strength.