Sect Minor Competition

After returning to the Outer Court, Fang Xiao planned to first head to the External Affairs Hall to submit his mission. On the way there, he noticed that the Outer Court had several times more disciples than usual. He decided to ask around after turning in the mission and find out whether something had happened recently. After all, burying one's head in bitter cultivation was nothing more than building a cart behind closed doors. He still needed to keep abreast of the Cultivation World's news and developments, or if he missed an opportunity, he would not even have a place to weep.

There were plenty of people coming and going from the External Affairs Hall as well, and the disciples in charge of missions were nearly overwhelmed. From afar, Fang Xiao saw that Huo Daochen had not yet returned to his clan, so he walked straight over to his desk and waited for him to finish.

"Senior Brother Huo."

"Junior Brother Fang, you're back. It seems this mission went very smoothly."

Fang Xiao placed his Identity Token on the table and gave Huo Daochen a detailed account of the mission.

"Junior Brother, your strength is truly remarkable. You actually slew a high-level demon beast."

"Pure luck. If it had not already been injured, I would have had no choice but to flee in disgrace."

"You're too modest, Junior Brother."

Fang Xiao falsely claimed that the White Tiger Demon Beast had long been grievously wounded and that he had merely picked up an easy kill.

Huo Daochen believed him without probing further and credited one hundred Merit Points from this mission to his Identity Token.

One hundred points might seem like a lot, but Fang Xiao had checked the exchange list at the Merit Hall. The most important item for Outer Court disciples, and the one sitting at the very top of the list, was the Foundation Establishment Pill. A single pill cost twelve thousand Merit Points. One sect Merit Point was equivalent to one Spirit Stone, though the two could not be exchanged for each other. This was also to prevent important sect resources from flowing outside. Merit Points could, however, circulate between disciples, so even in a holy land like the Tianlan Sect, Foundation Establishment Pills were still in short supply.

Thus, the Sect Grand Competition came into being. Every ten years, each of the Eight Outer Courts held its own Sect Grand Competition. Only the top thirty Outer Court disciples were qualified to exchange for Foundation Establishment Pills. If a disciple failed in Foundation Establishment, they could exchange for another pill if they won again in the next competition. In other words, two hundred and forty Foundation Establishment Pills were made available every ten years. Yet each year, there were far more than two hundred and forty Peak Qi Condensation disciples waiting for them. Such was the foundation of a holy land. The next Sect Grand Competition would be held in three years.

The Foundation Establishment Pill Huo Daochen used this time had been privately supplied by his clan. If he succeeded, all would be well. But if luck failed him and he failed to establish his foundation, he would still have a chance to compete for another pill three years later.

"Thank you, Senior Brother. There seem to be many more Outer Court disciples lately. Do you know why?" Fang Xiao retrieved his Identity Token and voiced his question.

"Even if you hadn't asked, I was planning to tell you. A month from now, the Outer Court will hold its once-every-three-years Sect Minor Competition. Any disciple whose cultivation has not yet broken through to Qi Refining Late Stage may participate. Those disciples carrying out missions outside have all returned early to prepare for the competition."

"The Sect Minor Competition? Is it similar to the Sect Grand Competition?"

"Yes. For disciples like you, Junior Brother, who have great talent but have not yet fully grown, the sect awards Merit Points through the minor competition. After all, accumulating Merit Points through missions takes both time and effort. The sect does not want exceptionally gifted disciples wasting their time on missions."

"So that's how it is." Fang Xiao suddenly understood.

"So if you want to exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill as soon as possible, Junior Brother, you must not miss this Outer Court competition. Don't let yourself have the strength but lack enough Merit Points. In two days, I'll be returning to my clan. The next time we meet will likely be in the sect."

"Thank you for the advice, Senior Brother. Then I wish you success in Foundation Establishment."

"Hahaha, the same to you, Junior Brother. May your immortal path be smooth. I'll wait for you in the sect."

Huo Daochen was clearly brimming with confidence.

After leaving the External Affairs Hall, Fang Xiao stopped by the Merit Hall to collect this month's sect resources. He also took another look at the Foundation Establishment Pill at the top of the exchange list, then looked at his own hundred Merit Points and smiled helplessly.

The road back to his residence was filled with unfamiliar faces. As expected, as a new disciple who had only entered the sect one year and one month ago, he was at a disadvantage even in the Sect Minor Competition. Though he had some confidence in his true strength, he had never underestimated others. He would naturally go all out in the Sect Minor Competition. This was also the first step toward testing his sword against the world.

I'm only fourteen now. If I miss the Foundation Establishment Pill three years from now, I'll be twenty-seven by the next chance. There may be Foundation Establishment opportunities outside the sect, but there are far too many uncertainties. Cultivation means fighting for what you want. What I want is mine. If they won't give it to me, then they'll have to. I absolutely will not miss the Sect Grand Competition three years from now.

Each time his conviction became firmer, it was also a tempering of his Sword Heart. Even an ordinary mortal sword needed frequent polishing, and so did the Sword Heart. One had to constantly recognize one's own heart and strengthen one's convictions, brushing away the dust on the Sword Heart. Otherwise, if the Sword Heart became covered in dust, then upon encountering setbacks, it might even be destroyed. The Sword Heart was a Sword Cultivator's dao heart. If one's dao heart was destroyed, that person was finished.

When he returned to his residence, Li Jun and his wife happened to be there as well. He learned that the last of the Green Jade Corn had ripened. With the aid of spells, the quality of this harvest of spirit rice was higher than before. As for the Golden Corn, it had just been planted and would need nearly two more months to mature.

He then dismissed the two of them and began his daily cultivation. His cultivation rose sharply each day, his Sword Art became ever more fluid, and his Sword Dao Realm steadily climbed, pressing toward the peak of his current realm.

When I have time, I should visit the Scripture Repository and see whether there are any Sword Cultivator's Insights. Building a cart behind closed doors is no good in the end. Some questions cannot be solved by thinking alone. I can also visit Old Man Fan while I'm there.

After finishing his cultivation, his tasks for the day were not yet done. He still needed to process the spirit herbs he had bought and the materials left behind by the White Tiger Demon. He had to prepare to brew new spirit wine, but before that, he needed to practice with more ordinary spirit herbs.

Both the spirit herbs and demon beast materials were suited for Qi Refining Late Stage cultivators. He had only brewed spirit wine from spirit rice a few times in total. If he handled these materials directly, he feared he would waste them.

Over the next month, Fang Xiao continuously brewed spirit wine. Of course, he did not neglect his cultivation either. Finally, three days before the Sect Minor Competition, he successfully brewed Tiger Bone Wine of Qi Refining Late Stage. Its effects on Body Tempering were astonishing, and it could also increase one's qi and blood.

Naturally, he also took two days during that time to complete a simple mission and fulfill this month's quota.

On the very day he brewed the Tiger Bone Wine, the rules and rewards for the minor competition were announced, and the disciples began rubbing their fists and polishing their palms.

The rules were simple as well: a lottery-based arena system. Disciples who wished to participate had to register within these three days. The competition would last five days. On the day of the competition, lots would be drawn, and those who drew matching lots would engage in spell combat. Deacons who had condensed False Cores would be responsible for maintaining order, while Golden Core Elders would be present to watch. The competing disciples could go all out. However, all participating disciples were forbidden from using pills during combat. The spirit talismans they used could not exceed the Qi Condensation Stage, and no more than ten could be used.

Now that he could go all out, Fang Xiao was relieved. He was a Sword Cultivator, after all. What he feared was that his full-force strike might instantly kill his opponent on the spot. That would be quite a spectacle.

He then headed to the Outer Court plaza. The last time there had been such a long queue here was when he had first entered the sect. An hour later, Fang Xiao handed over his Identity Token at the registration table and successfully signed up. All that remained was to wait for the minor competition three days later.