True Intent Tournament

"No, you are a genius, a genius the likes of which I have never heard of..."

Luo Lan stopped pressuring the youth, placed her hands on his shoulders, and said with great excitement, "Look at you! You were indeed slow to start, as slow as a snail, but once you grasped it, the momentum was unstoppable! Haha!"

Chen Changming smiled.

In the village, they all said he was ill-omened and short-lived, yet all his achievements were brought about by this very ill omen.

Luo Lan slung an arm around the youth like a brother and laughed, "Come on, the timing is perfect. Let's go participate in the True Intent Tournament for the Lingxiao Sword Technique."

"Uh... alright..."

Chen Changming was still unaccustomed to such intimacy and feared being seen by others, so he quickly pulled away.

This Senior Sister really thought of herself as a man!

Luo Lan was carefree and paid no mind to the youth's embarrassment, striding forward with long, bold steps while Chen Changming followed closely behind.

After crossing two mountains, the two climbed up to Lingxiao Peak.

This was the main peak of the Lingxiao Sect, where the Sect Master Hall was located. In front of the hall lay a plaza used for hosting grand sect events.

On ordinary days, outer sect disciples were not permitted to enter.

It was Chen Changming's first time here as well, and he was filled with curiosity, constantly scanning the surrounding scenery and clicking his tongue in admiration.

"Some areas were only just repaired recently. Those thousand-cut scoundrels from the Blood Demon Sect caused so much destruction when they retreated!"

Pointing at some of the newly constructed features, Luo Lan could not help but curse in anger.

"Damn the Blood Demon Sect!"

Chen Changming echoed her sentiment.

So many high-quality spirit fields in the spirit rice cultivation zone had been ruined by the Blood Demon Sect, causing him to lose a massive source of resources.

"By the way, Senior Sister, how is the spirit rice cultivation valley doing now?"

Chen Changming asked suddenly.

"It has barely recovered enough to plant some spirit rice. Fortunately, there are few people in the sect, so consumption isn't high..."

Luo Lan replied truthfully.

Chen Changming nodded. In truth, he wanted to go cultivate spirit rice, but now that he was an outer sect disciple, he no longer had the qualifications to do so.

Fortunately, he could earn contribution points by completing tasks; this income came quickly and the rewards were generous.

Thinking of this, he felt no more resentment in his heart.

A lowly person struggling in this chaotic world must take things as they come; where is there any permanent livelihood?

Back when he was a little beggar, he had nearly frozen to death in Xiliang City. If that scoundrel hadn't forced him into a corner, how would he have ever killed a man?

After killing the man and fleeing the city, he was discovered by a passing Silver-Robed Immortal Master, which completely changed his fate.

Thinking of the Silver-Robed Immortal Master, Chen Changming also remembered the key left on his chest by that large red bird. Now that the key had turned into a small cyan dot, it had shown no reaction, and he did not know how long it would be before the owner came to retrieve it.

Now that my sword technique has had a breakthrough, the Heavenly Furnace Body-Forging Art should also be put on the agenda...

Chen Changming thought to himself.

He had never had the time to practice this body-refining technique, but now that his Lingxiao Sword Technique had improved, he was prepared to begin training in this art as well.

Because his aptitude was truly too poor, his time for cultivation was stretched thin, and he often found himself unable to attend to everything at once; there was simply no helping it.

An incense stick of time passed.

The two finally arrived at the plaza halfway up the mountain. By now, hundreds of people had gathered, including both outer and inner sect disciples.

"Senior Sister!"

"Greetings, Senior Sister!"

When the outer sect disciples saw Luo Lan, they quickly cleared a path, their expressions filled with deep respect.

Luo Lan smiled and nodded, leading Chen Changming all the way to the center of the plaza, entering the area where the inner sect disciples were gathered.

"You've all heard, haven't you? This Chen Changming has a Five Elements Mixed Spirit Root, yet he received the favor of Senior Sister, who has been teaching him the Lingxiao Sword Technique for over half a year!"

"Oh my, I'm truly envious to death."

"Senior Sister is kind-hearted and warm-blooded; why won't she look at me with such favor? It's too heartbreaking..."

"Sigh..."

The outer sect disciples whispered among themselves, truly envious of Chen Changming's luck.

Hearing the crowd's discussion, Chen Changming was filled with emotion.

Without Senior Sister, how would someone with his trash-tier aptitude ever dare to touch the Lingxiao Sword Technique?

Learning the Breeze Sword Technique would have been good enough.

Yu Hailong was also in the crowd. He first greeted the Senior Sister, then leaned in with a mysterious air and a look of envy, asking in a low voice, "Hey, Chen Changming, how is your Lingxiao Sword Technique coming along now?"

"So-so, I suppose."

Chen Changming smiled lightly and countered, "Senior Brother Yu, have you learned the Lingxiao Sword Technique yet?"

Yu Hailong's face flushed red. "Not yet. I've only learned the Breeze Sword Technique; I'll save the Lingxiao Sword Technique for later. I just came today to broaden my horizons and see how others execute it..."

"Mhm."

Chen Changming nodded with a smile and said nothing more.

So-so?

Hearing the conversation between the two junior brothers, Luo Lan's lips curled into a mysterious smile.

The dark horse of this tournament would undoubtedly be Junior Brother Chen Changming!

His mastery of the Lingxiao Sword Technique was something even she struggled to parry. If she were also at the third level of Qi Refining, she would have lost their recent sparring match long ago.

Luo Lan felt very happy.

She had withstood all sorts of pressure to finally teach such an excellent "disciple," and it made all her hard work worthwhile.

Because the news of Luo Lan teaching Chen Changming the Lingxiao Sword Technique had spread like wildfire throughout the sect, many inner disciples cast their gazes toward them.

"Senior Brother, that kid next to Luo Lan is the Five Elements Mixed Spirit Root trash. I can't believe he actually has the guts to participate in the True Intent Tournament!"

The disciples of Skyfire Peak were gathered together, numbering in the dozens. Shi Kelang stood respectfully beside a young man, pointing in a certain direction as he lowered his voice.

The senior brother beside him was the top inner disciple of Skyfire Peak.

Ma Tianxing.

He was currently at the ninth level of Qi Refining, just a step away from the tenth.

"Heh, nothing to worry about..."

Ma Tianxing smiled faintly, not taking it to heart at all.

He was also here to participate in the True Intent Tournament for the Lingxiao Sword Technique; although he hailed from Skyfire Peak, he also practiced the Lingxiao Sword Technique as a secondary discipline.

Seeing that his senior brother didn't care, Shi Kelang sighed inwardly.

His senior brother's cultivation realm was too high, and his standards were naturally just as lofty, so he wouldn't even spare a glance for that outer disciple with the Five Elements Mixed Spirit Root.

The inner disciples from the six major peaks of the Lingxiao Sect were gathered together, scattered across the plaza. Some merely glanced at Chen Changming beside Luo Lan, their eyes flashing with a hint of light contempt before they looked away.

"The Sect Master is here."

Someone whispered.

A stir ran through the crowd as they all looked toward the Sect Master Hall.

The great doors opened slowly, and a group of people filed out.

The Sect Master of the Lingxiao Sect, the various Peak Masters, and several powerful elders were all among them.

The clamor of the plaza vanished instantly, replaced by a profound silence.

After all, the row of people sitting in front of the hall represented the upper echelons of the Lingxiao Sect—figures as elusive as dragons.

Having chanced upon this occasion, the disciples in the plaza were treated to a rare sight, and they deeply etched the images of these high-ranking figures into their minds.

"The Lingxiao Sword Technique True Intent Tournament is held every three years. I wonder if we will see any surprises this time..."

A middle-aged man wore an expectant look as he chuckled.

This man was Li Yue, the Sect Master of the Lingxiao Sect.

Guo Haichuan, the Peak Master of Skyfire Peak, coughed and laughed. "Sect Master, the last tournament produced quite a few good seedlings—for instance, Ma Tianxing from my Skyfire Peak, Jin Huanyu from Blackwater Peak, and Zhao Liuhe from Greenwood Peak. There was no lack of talent from the outer sect either, such as Elder Luo's precious granddaughter..."

At the mention of Elder Luo's precious granddaughter, the high-ranking members of the Lingxiao Sect all displayed strange expressions.

Elder Luo's granddaughter possessed decent talent, yet she had stubbornly insisted on joining the outer sect, which had caused quite a stir throughout the entire sect at the time. Over the past half-year, she had even done something major: teaching an outer disciple with a Five Elements Mixed Spirit Root to cultivate the Lingxiao Sword Technique.

One had to wonder what had gotten into that girl.