Pre-Competition Conflict

"Lu Ming?"

Li Ansheng thought for a moment before analyzing the situation:

"He learned a whole set of martial techniques, so his foundation is solid enough. It's just that his cultivation realm is far too low."

"The people near the top of the inner sect are all geniuses as well. Their talents aren't lacking, and they've basically cultivated their martial arts to a certain level. So defeating them across realms will be very difficult."

"That's true."

Gongsun He nodded in agreement. "A genius can defeat an ordinary Martial Artist across realms, but it's very difficult to defeat another genius who can also challenge across realms."

"And the inner sect isn't short of people like that. They all have impressive battle records outside."

"So I estimate that, at the very least, he can make it into the top thirty. At most, he can enter the top twenty."

Li Ansheng spoke.

"Then your expectations for him are still pretty high." Gongsun He smiled.

"Let's wait and see. Didn't you report that quite a few promising talents have emerged in the sect recently?"

After parting with Zhu Ningyun, Lu Ming went straight back to his residence.

Since the preliminary competition would officially begin tomorrow, he only planned to cultivate his inner power before resting.

Although he felt that passing the preliminary competition would pose no problem, it would be better to face it in peak condition.

After all, maintaining a cautious attitude at all times could help avoid quite a few crises.

The night passed uneventfully.

The next day, Lu Ming dressed neatly. After meeting Cui Bai next door, he headed toward the same plaza from yesterday.

The plaza was square and spacious, large enough to accommodate ten thousand people.

Thus, even with more than a thousand inner sect disciples, it didn't seem crowded inside.

The preliminary competition would naturally be held there as well.

"What's wrong? Are you nervous?"

Sensing Cui Bai's condition, Lu Ming asked in confusion.

"A little."

Cui Bai rubbed his hands together. "I don't know why. Back then, when I faced so many demonic beasts in the Wuji Mountain Range, I wasn't this nervous."

Lu Ming thought about it. "Maybe those demonic beasts wouldn't laugh at your clumsiness and failures."

"Oh, get lost."

Hearing the teasing, Cui Bai shoved Lu Ming.

"I'm serious." Lu Ming easily dodged.

After that round of joking, Cui Bai really did relax a little.

Then they arrived at the plaza, where many people had already gotten there ahead of them.

Zhu Ningyun was one of them.

"Lu Ming."

Upon seeing an acquaintance, she walked over. She was dressed the same way as yesterday, except that a white forehead ribbon had been added to her snow-white brow.

"Ning Yun." Lu Ming nodded at her, then introduced Cui Bai.

"Zhu Ningyun? You're Zhu Ningyun?"

After learning who the person before him was, Cui Bai looked astonished. He had heard of her long ago—she was an astonishingly gifted genius.

It was said that she had cultivated faster than anyone else in the Wuji Sect over the past hundred years.

He never expected to meet her today, let alone find out that she knew Lu Ming.

Well, this was something.

"Greetings, Senior Sister Zhu." Cui Bai honestly cupped his hands.

"Greetings, Junior Brother Cui. You're the first person to call me Senior Sister." Zhu Ningyun also cupped her hands.

Cui Bai awkwardly scratched his head, unsure what else to say next.

Fortunately, some commotion came from nearby at that moment, rescuing him from the awkwardness.

It turned out that the inner sect disciples ranked in the top ten were appearing one after another.

The first to arrive was Wei Yu, ranked eighth. He held a folding fan and was still dressed like that carefree young master.

Lu Ming had already seen him at the Mission Hall. At the time, Feng Chao, who was ranked eleventh, had even expressed his desire to challenge him.

Next came Zou Changmeng, ranked fourth.

She was a female disciple who was said to be skilled in lightness skills. When she displayed them, she moved like a dancing butterfly.

Not only was her speed astonishing, but the sight was also extremely pleasing to behold.

As for Zou Changmeng herself, she was wearing a robe covered with a layer of white gauze today. She looked exceptionally graceful, while her features revealed a delicate beauty.

She drew the gazes of countless people.

After that, the inner sect disciples ranked first, second, fifth, and sixth also arrived.

Each of them had their own distinctive traits.

Lu Ming focused mainly on Chi Xuan, the long-renowned number one person in the inner sect.

He wanted to see what was so special about him.

Unexpectedly, Chi Xuan's senses were extremely sharp. He immediately noticed Lu Ming's gaze, turned around, and met his eyes.

After being discovered, Lu Ming's expression remained unchanged. He cupped his hands toward Chi Xuan in greeting, which could also be considered an apology for staring.

Chi Xuan froze. He had indeed sensed someone watching him, and that gaze had felt extremely unusual. He had thought another expert had appeared, but he hadn't expected it to be someone in the mid-stage of the Zhen Qi Realm.

He looked utterly ordinary.

After observing him again and finding nothing special, Chi Xuan politely returned the greeting and stopped paying attention to him.

"What's wrong? Do you know that person?" Beside him, He Jianjun, who was ranked second and carried an ancient zither on her back, asked in confusion.

"I don't know her. I just sensed a unique gaze a moment ago. I suppose it was an illusion."

Chi Xuan shook his head, then asked in return, "How far have you cultivated your Seven String Sword Qi?"

"You'll find out then. I'll definitely give you a huge surprise."

He Jianjun didn't answer directly. "You'd better be careful too. Everyone except me has improved."

"That's even better. Then defeating them will be more of a challenge."

Chi Xuan was brimming with confidence, looking completely unconcerned.

"As fellow swordsmen, his swordsmanship realm is already extremely high. He should be preparing to comprehend sword intent."

Beside Lu Ming, Zhu Ningyun, who held a long sword in her arms, suddenly spoke after witnessing their exchange of gazes. "That's why his senses are so sharp—he was able to detect your gaze."

Lu Ming nodded, feeling that she was probably right.

This person was a troublesome opponent.

"If you can see that, you must not be bad yourself, right?"

Lu Ming turned his head.

Zhu Ningyun shook her head. "I'm still far behind."

"I see."

"Junior Sister Zhu."

Lu Ming had just been about to speak when a man's voice suddenly came from nearby. He turned and saw a young man in a yellow robe at the late stage of the Zhen Qi Realm.

This person was none other than Li Biehe. Cui Bai recognized him at a glance, having witnessed yesterday's clash.

He quickly whispered the newcomer's identity to Lu Ming.

Li Biehe walked over, his face filled with delight. "I didn't expect you to come, Junior Sister Zhu. I didn't see you yesterday, so I thought you weren't going to participate in the preliminary competition."

Zhu Ningyun frowned. "I arrived late yesterday. It's normal that you didn't see me."

"So that's how it was."

Li Biehe smiled, then turned toward Lu Ming and Cui Bai. His smile immediately vanished. "And who are these two?"

Although he asked about both of them, his gaze stayed on Lu Ming, because he had clearly seen from a distance that Lu Ming was the one who spoke with Zhu Ningyun the most.

They seemed to have a good relationship.

That made him deeply uncomfortable.

"Lu Ming."

Seeing Li Biehe's attitude, Lu Ming knew he was here to pick a fight. Still, he chose courtesy before force.

"Cui Bai." Cui Bai also gave his name.

"Oh, so you're Junior Brother Lu and Junior Brother Cui. The two of you seem to have rather low cultivation realms. I wonder how many rounds you'll be able to pass in the preliminary competition?"

There was a hint of mockery in Li Biehe's voice.

"Then you needn't trouble yourself over it." Lu Ming's expression remained indifferent.

Li Biehe was about to say something else when Zhu Ningyun cut him off. "That's enough, Li Biehe. These are my friends. If you have nothing else to do, leave."

At her words, a flash of anger crossed Li Biehe's eyes, but he quickly hid it. He smiled and said:

"Very well. Still, I hope I'll meet Junior Brother Lu on the arena during the actual grand competition."

With that, he swaggered away.

"I'm sorry. It seems I've caused trouble for you two."

Zhu Ningyun hadn't expected something like this to happen either.

Lu Ming shook his head. "I'm fine. Don't take it to heart."

To be honest, he really hadn't taken this person seriously. He was nothing more than a clown jumping around.

"I'm fine too. Besides, he'll protect me."

Cui Bai slung an arm over Lu Ming's shoulder as he spoke.

His words immediately made both of them laugh.

Just like that, time quickly reached around seven in the morning. With the elders' arrival, the preliminary competition finally began.