Top 100

Evening.

"Today's matches have determined the top 100. That concludes today's competition!"

"Tomorrow at the Hour of the Snake, the top 50 will be decided. Make sure none of you are late!"

"Dismissed!"

With that call, the crowd below scattered like birds and beasts. The disciples who had advanced began preparing for tomorrow's matches, while those who had lost could only wait another five years to participate again. Those over thirty could only remain in Shaolin and serve the sect, or pass through Shaolin's Eighteen Bronze Men to become lay disciples of Shaolin!

The elders from the other major sects watching the matches sighed. "Shaolin! It truly deserves to be called Shaolin. These disciples are indeed far stronger than those of our sects!"

"Their cultivation techniques and martial skills are also quite formidable. They're simply too difficult to practice, though. Among so many disciples, I haven't seen many who have cultivated their martial skills to perfection!"

"Still, even mastering just the surface is enough to rival disciples from certain great sects. As expected of a sect with a thousand-year legacy!"

The Kongtong Sect elder murmured, "It seems Shaolin's foundation is still intact! The Imperial Court launched a fierce assault on Shaolin last time, yet it recovered so quickly. It seems we were right to join Shaolin's camp!"

The Emei Sect Shītài said disdainfully, "Are Kongtong Sect people really so good at trimming their sails to the wind, falling whichever way the wind blows? How spineless!"

"Hehe! Emei Shītài! Who doesn't know that your sect was founded by a Princess of the previous dynasty? Have you ever submitted to the Imperial Court of that era? It's only because your foundation runs so deep that the Imperial Court couldn't suppress you!"

"Our Kongtong Sect is not like Shaolin or Emei, with foundations stretching back over a thousand years. We only want to follow the general tide properly!"

"Hmph! A pack of spineless wretches!"

The Diancang Sect elder chuckled. "Hehe! Everyone, stop arguing! Those who came to Shaolin are all in the same camp, so why quarrel? Harmony brings wealth! Harmony brings wealth!"

The Huashan Sect elder looked utterly disdainful. "Diancang Sect Elder, you're just trying to smooth things over! Your sect lies in the southwest, so it makes no difference to you who takes charge, does it?"

"Huashan Sect Elder! You can't put it that way! Southern Shaolin has shown kindness to our Diancang Sect. Our Sect Master ordered us that should anything happen to Shaolin, we must help without hesitation!"

"Speaking of which, your Huashan Sect belongs to the northern forces, doesn't it? Why have you traveled thousands of miles to Southern Shaolin? You wouldn't happen to have some ulterior motive, would you?"

"Bullshit! Our Huashan Sect owes Northern Shaolin a favor. We came to repay that debt! We'll definitely involve ourselves in Southern Shaolin's affairs. The only question is whether muddle-makers like your Diancang Sect will dare to act when the time comes!"

"Hehe! Northern Shaolin didn't come, yet they sent your Huashan Sect instead. That's truly interesting!"

Huashan Sect and Diancang Sect were both renowned for their swordsmanship. Both sects coveted the title of the greatest sword sect under heaven. They frequently tested their swords against each other, with victories and defeats on both sides, neither willing to yield to the other. Thus, they had accumulated no small amount of resentment over the years.

The Kunlun Sect elder chuckled. "Hehe! Diancang Sect Elder, you may not know this. Southern and Northern Shaolin have an agreement: neither side may interfere in the other's territory!"

"Southern Shaolin and Northern Shaolin ultimately share the same roots. If something happens, Northern Shaolin cannot simply stand aside. So, they called in a favor and had Huashan Sect come help Southern Shaolin!"

"So that's how it is! Then may I ask, Kunlun Sect Elder, was a great sect with a legacy of over a thousand years like yours also sent here by Northern Shaolin?"

"Hehe! Our Sect Master lost a wager to Northern Shaolin's Abbot, and agreed to one request from Northern Shaolin. That is why we came specifically to assist Southern Shaolin in this situation!"

"I see! It seems Northern Shaolin still holds Southern Shaolin close to its heart!"

"Northern Shaolin's Abbot is famous for his compassion. He is a master among masters. If Southern Shaolin encounters trouble, he will certainly help!"

At this moment, Southern Shaolin's Abbot smiled faintly. "Hehe! Everyone has traveled a long way to Southern Shaolin Temple. Please, come inside and have a seat!"

"Abbot, you are too courteous! We'll come over at once!"

At this time, Li Changfeng returned to Arhat Hall and saw that Second Brother was badly injured, lying unconscious on the bed with a pale face. Rage filled his face!

"Damn it! Dong Tianbao! Don't let me run into you, or I'll beat you until you're bedridden and unable to move for a month!"

"Sixth Brother! Don't be rash! Dong Tianbao is far too powerful! If you encounter him, it's best to surrender. He doesn't know how to hold back when he strikes. It would be bad if you got injured!"

"Eldest Brother! Don't worry, I know my limits. But did you make it into the top ten?"

"Top ten? Are you kidding? I'd be lucky to make the top twenty. Shaolin is a crouching tiger, hidden dragon—there are experts everywhere. Those who can enter the top fifty probably aren't much weaker than me!"

"But Sixth Brother, your progress in strength truly shocks me. In just over half a year, you've reached this level. Your strength is no less than mine. Terrifying! Truly terrifying!"

"Hehe! Eldest Brother, I merely encountered a little fortuitous opportunity during my travels. That's how I gained this level of strength!"

"So that's it! Sixth Brother, you really do have some luck!"

Fortuitous opportunities were quite commonplace in this world. Encountering inheritances left behind by powerful senior experts and making a tremendous leap in strength was nothing unusual.

And Li Changfeng could only use this lie to fool Eldest Brother. He couldn't exactly say that his strength came entirely from the system, could he?

"Third Brother! Are you confident about the next round of matches?"

"No confidence at all, Eldest Brother! I'll be thanking heaven and earth if I can make the top 100 and avoid going to Wooden Dummy Alley. I truly have no confidence in the matches after reaching the top 100. I'm twenty-five this year. If I can't enter Arhat Hall this time, I can only apply to become a lay disciple!"

Hearing this, Eldest Brother helplessly patted Third Brother on the shoulder. "Third Brother! We've spent a long time together, and our bond is the deepest. If anything happens in the future, remember to come find me at Subduing Tiger Hall!"

"Hahaha! Thank you, Eldest Brother! With those words from you, I'm at ease!"

"All I can do now is save up more contribution points, exchange them for a martial skill, and then prepare to go down the mountain!"

"Alright! Third Brother, after you leave, remember to come back often and visit your Eldest Brother!"

"Sixth Brother! I envy you so much. You had the chance to enter Subduing Tiger Hall as soon as you came to Shaolin Temple. When you make a name for yourself someday, don't forget me!"

"Third Brother! Don't worry! I could forget anyone, but never you! You're the senior brother who brought me into the sect!"

"Hehe! Good that you remember!"

"By the way, Third Brother! How far have you cultivated the Shaolin Bronze Body Skill? Can that part of you... still be used?"

Third Brother's face instantly turned red. Embarrassed and furious, he snapped, "Sixth Brother! Fuck you! Of all the pots you could lift, you had to lift the one that wouldn't boil! Are you looking for trouble? To restore that part to how it was, I have to cultivate the Shaolin Bronze Body Skill to perfection. Only when the golden body can be summoned and withdrawn at will can it be used!"

"You and Eldest Brother might have a chance! Me? I might never manage it in this lifetime. Sixth Brother, fuck you—I'm going to castrate you!"

Li Changfeng burst out laughing and hurriedly ran backward. "Third Brother! Don't blame me. These are things you'll have to face sooner or later. I merely told you ahead of time!"

"Sixth Brother! You bastard! Don't run!!!!"