First (Bonus Chapter for Cumulative Donations)

First (Bonus Chapter for Cumulative Donations)

It was nearly midnight now, and the bright moon hung high at the center of the sky.

At this moment, everyone undoubtedly favored Ye Jingyong even more. After all, he had the Mountain Splitting Seal Dharma Artifact, the Wide Cloud Sword, and two formidable Spirit Beasts.

At that moment, Ye Jingcheng waved his hand again. Before him, a Golden Scale Beast covered in golden armor appeared.

Its golden scale armor was not as eye-catching as the Crimson Armor Beast's red spikes.

Yet its gleaming golden scales and agile body still struck the gathered cultivators with an incomparable sense of impact.

Coupled with the Golden Scale Beast's massive fangs and sharp claws, both glinting with golden light, it was dazzling to behold.

The cultivators present had all studied Spirit Beasts extensively.

Naturally, they could tell that while this Golden Scale Beast was inferior to the Crimson Armor Beast, it was far stronger than the Flying Cloud Leopard!

Seen this way, Ye Jingcheng's Monster Beasts were instead considerably stronger than Ye Jingyong's.

After all, everyone had witnessed the Crimson Flame Fox's strength firsthand! "Looks like Second Brother is about to capsize in the gutter!" Ye Jingyong said with a self-mocking laugh, but his hands did not pause in the slightest as he began forming hand seals! He immediately released the Wide Cloud Sword! Waves of dazzling blade shadows appeared in the sky! Meanwhile, the Flying Cloud Leopard and Crimson Armor Beast sprang into action—one lunged to bite Ye Jingcheng's Crimson Flame Fox, while the other burrowed directly into the arena!

It too charged toward the Crimson Flame Fox! Compared to the Golden Scale Beast covered head to toe in scales, the Crimson Flame Fox was clearly regarded by Ye Jingyong as the point of breakthrough.

But Ye Jingcheng had already formed hand seals as well. Ironwood Vines instantly surged across the sky, first winding toward the Flying Cloud Leopard!

At the same time, nine Silver Snow Needles shot toward Ye Jingyong in a sneak attack!

This division of attention forced Ye Jingyong to immediately unleash the Mountain Splitting Seal at Ye Jingcheng.

A flash of spiritual light spread out, enveloping Ye Jingcheng!

It immobilized Ye Jingcheng's body. This scene was clearly identical to how Ye Jingyong had won last time! Quite a few cultivators sighed inwardly at Ye Jingcheng's carelessness.

But the next moment, Ye Jingcheng's Ironwood Vines pulled him free and swept toward the Flying Cloud Leopard.

The Flying Cloud Leopard was incredibly swift and nimble, dodging many of the Ironwood Vines. But just then, a bell transformed into a giant clock, abruptly covering the Flying Cloud Leopard! Ye Jingyong's expression changed drastically. He had not expected Ye Jingcheng to have been baiting him all along. Just as he thought the Crimson Armor Beast would succeed! The Golden Scale Beast kept stomping the ground, and countless earthen spikes stabbed down into the earth, piercing through the Crimson Armor Beast's Earth Escape Technique and forcing it back to the surface. What awaited it were five consecutive Fireball Spells!

Brilliant explosions rang out one after another. At the same time, Ye Jingcheng sent the nine Silver Snow Needles stabbing toward Ye Jingyong once more! The Flying Cloud Leopard was trapped by the Heaven Trapping Bell, while the Crimson Armor Beast had its greatest advantage, its escape technique, broken by the Golden Scale Beast and Crimson Flame Fox! It was even being besieged by the Crimson Flame Fox! Ye Jingyong frowned and rushed toward the Crimson Armor Beast. The Wide Cloud Sword cleared a path, shredding all the Ironwood Vines, while he recalled the Mountain Splitting Seal and tried to smash it down upon the Golden Scale Beast! But even when the spiritual light trapped the Golden Scale Beast, Ye Jingcheng's Ironwood Vines could pull it out of the light's range!

At that moment, an Ice Seal Talisman had somehow appeared beneath the Crimson Armor Beast's feet!

As ice spread outward, the Crimson Armor Beast was unable to move and directly took a Fireball Spell!

It was blasted out of the arena.

In his desperation, Ye Jingyong charged out, intending to defeat Ye Jingcheng first while he could not attend to everything after casting the Ironwood Vines.

But the Golden Scale Beast suddenly stomped the ground, and countless earthen spikes shot toward Ye Jingyong's abdomen.

This sight filled Ye Jingyong with horror.

As he dodged, he was ensnared by Ironwood Vines. At the same time, the Crimson Flame Fox in the distance spat out a massive Fireball.

It was about to blast toward Ye Jingyong.

Though unwilling, Ye Jingyong still opened his mouth and conceded.

"Jingcheng, Second Brother lost!"

Bitterness showed in Ye Jingyong's eyes. He knew this was still only a match. If it had been a true battle of life and death, Ye Jingcheng's Crimson Flame Fox and Golden Scale Beast might have been even more unrestrained! This coordination of two spells, combined with Ye Jingcheng's Ironwood Vines, was practically impossible to counter! Of course, what Ye Jingyong admired even more was Ye Jingcheng's control over his two Spirit Beasts.

"Jingcheng, can having Spirit Beasts refine pills improve your control over them?" Ye Jingyong still asked.

"It can!" Ye Jingcheng nodded. Of course, he actually did not know whether that was true.

He relied on the Blood Pact of the Treasure Book. He understood every single thought of his Spirit Beasts with perfect clarity—this was his greatest advantage! But he could not tell Ye Jingyong about that.

Still, while he could not guarantee mutual understanding, it could improve a Spirit Beast's responsiveness to spells.

His Golden Scale Beast and Crimson Flame Fox trained relentlessly! Ordinary cultivators simply could not replicate his training, because he could use the Treasure Book to restore the spiritual energy of both Spirit Beasts.

"Ye Jingcheng wins!"

"In this mid-stage Qi Refinement Clan Competition, Ye Jingcheng ranks first and may choose one Profound Rank Cultivation Method from the Scripture Pavilion or one First Rank Late Stage Spirit Beast. Ye Jingyong ranks second and may choose one Yellow Rank Cultivation Method or one First Rank Late Stage Spirit Beast. Ye Xingyuan ranks third and may choose one Yellow Rank Cultivation Method or one First Rank Mid Stage Spirit Beast!"

Ye Xinghe began announcing the results! The top three could choose Cultivation Methods or Spirit Beasts, while those ranked fourth through tenth would receive Spirit Stone rewards, or Dharma Artifacts and spirit pills.

The cultivators could make their own choices.

Especially those at late-stage Qi Refinement—since there were only ten of them, all ten received rewards.

This was also recognition for their ability to break through to late-stage Qi Refinement before the age of fifty.

"All rewards may be collected from the Treasure Pavilion tomorrow!" Ye Xinghe said at last.

Beside them, the early-stage Qi Refinement matches also ended quickly.

The announced results were not much different from those of the mid-stage Qi Refinement competition.

"Alright, the Clan Competition has ended. I hope everyone remembers today's humiliation. From the blazing sun to the bright moon, we must never forget!" Ye Haiyi flew into the sky and spoke again! His words drew a response from every member of the Ye Family.

Ye Jingcheng could not help looking toward the mountain peak, his gaze shifting slightly. He still had not seen Ye Haiyun.

Logically speaking, with something having happened to Turtle Ancestor, Ye Haiyun should have had time to spare as well.

With so much evidence pointing in that direction, Ye Jingcheng increasingly believed that Turtle Ancestor was not dead!

However, he knew that his current strength was too low. He was not yet qualified to stand at the center of the family's decision-making.

It was enough for him to know it in his heart. If he insisted on investigating, he might even be mistaken for an informant from another family.

Ye Jingcheng shook his head and continued considering Cultivation Methods!

Now that both of his Spirit Beasts could improve his cultivation, the most crucial thing was to find a Cultivation Method with fire and earth attributes!

But Ye Jingcheng hesitated. His Beast Communication Mark was a full Seven Inches long, and he could still communicate with several more Spirit Beasts!

If possible, he wanted to choose Cultivation Methods of four attributes, perfectly corresponding to his Four Spiritual Roots!

But in that case, raising too many Spirit Beasts might also drag down his progress.

As Ye Jingcheng hesitated, he headed toward his small courtyard beneath the moonlight!

Before long, the gate of the small courtyard came into view.