Competition

As Zhou Qing cleared the scene, he replayed what had just happened in his mind, pondering whether his Supersonic Iron Pellet had any other uses.

It did not take him long to realize that instead of firing the iron pellet, he could have it circle around his body. That would also be a fairly effective means of self-defense.

After all, no one would want to approach someone with supersonic projectiles whirling around them.

Put that way, even before he had begun cultivating, he already possessed the ability to threaten high-level Qi Refinement cultivators.

Zhou Qing could not help feeling a little pleased with himself.

But he quickly suppressed his smugness.

With his current strength, he was basically no more than an ant in the Cultivation World. It was far too early for him to feel proud.

Besides, he was nothing but a glass cannon.

The iron pellets he fired were immensely powerful, but he himself was terribly fragile.

If his iron pellets missed and someone closed in on him, then forget cultivators—even an ordinary burly mortal could knock him down.

Only cultivation could solve his problems.

What was more, cultivation held its most enticing reward... immortality!

As Zhou Qing cleared away the ruins, he waited for tomorrow's teaching with both anticipation and unease.

Just after night fell, he suddenly heard someone knocking at the door. Wei Xu's voice soon came from outside. "Brother Zhou, are you home?"

Zhou Qing went over and opened the courtyard gate, smiling as he asked, "Brother Wei, what brings you here?"

Wei Xu caught sight of the mess in his courtyard and stared in astonishment. "What happened here?"

"It collapsed from years of disrepair. It's nothing."

Zhou Qing spoke as if nothing had happened. "Did you need something, Brother Wei?"

Wei Xu nodded. "Senior Apprentice Wei Kuang suddenly came to find me earlier and asked about you."

Zhou Qing's heart tightened. "What did he ask about?"

Wei Xu smiled. "Nothing much. He only asked about Brother Zhou passing the test, as well as your conduct on the journey to the Azure Cloud Sect."

"That is strange."

Zhou Qing smiled. "Why did he suddenly take an interest in me?"

Wei Xu said, "Brother Zhou is simply that sort of person. Among a crowd, the moment you speak, everyone's eyes naturally gather on you alone."

"Brother Wei, don't joke around."

Wei Xu turned serious. "I am not joking. I think that is probably why Wei Kuang asked about you as well."

Zhou Qing's heart stirred. "Brother Wei, do you have some insight into this?"

Wei Xu gave an easy laugh. "He tried to pry information out of me, so naturally I did not hold back either. I learned a few things from him in return."

"Apparently, after we receive teachings tomorrow and begin cultivation, once everyone has entered the path, the elders will select one Senior Apprentice from among all sixty Outer Disciples of our cohort to assist them in managing the junior apprentices."

Isn't that just a class monitor...?

Zhou Qing smiled. "Senior Apprentice Wei Kuang presumably intends to compete for the position of Senior Apprentice. But what does that have to do with me? An immortal sect should naturally select its Senior Apprentice based on cultivation."

"I only have one spiritual root. In theory, my cultivation speed should be only one-eighth of yours, with your eight spiritual roots. No matter how one looks at it, the position will not fall to me."

"Besides, we cultivators fear we do not have enough time even when focusing solely on cultivation. Where would we find the energy to concern ourselves with so many affairs?"

Wei Xu said, "Brother Zhou knows one side of the matter, but not the other."

"At the Azure Cloud Sect, the position of Senior Apprentice grants access to many resources. The sect frequently assigns missions to its disciples, and completing them earns corresponding rewards. The Senior Apprentice is responsible for recommending candidates to the sect."

"That point alone is enough to make people's eyes burn with envy."

"If one of us from Cloud Prefecture City becomes Senior Apprentice, then when assigning missions, they can naturally favor our own faction a little—choosing tasks that are less troublesome and laborious, yet offer generous rewards."

"That would save us a great deal of time for cultivation, while also allowing us to obtain many more resources."

"Though cultivation takes priority in selecting the Senior Apprentice, other factors are also considered, such as temperament, comprehension, and prestige among the disciples of the same cohort."

"After all, the sect selects a Senior Apprentice to help manage everyone. They cannot choose someone who is at odds with their fellow disciples and therefore unable to fulfill their duties conscientiously."

"The reason he is paying attention to Brother Zhou is because he has seen that you are the one most favored by public opinion among us."

So the position of Senior Apprentice really was an important one.

Zhou Qing had no intention of competing for it.

Since the position was so important, it could easily become a target for all arrows. It would draw far too much attention every day, and attention was what he feared most right now.

Therefore, no matter what, he did not want to put himself in that position.

What he was more curious about was Wei Xu's purpose in coming here.

Although the selection of Senior Apprentice took many factors into account, cultivation was definitely the most important.

With the talent of one spiritual root, under normal circumstances, no matter how outstanding he was in other respects, it would be difficult to make up for the flaw in his spiritual root.

Wei Xu could not possibly be unaware of that.

With a turn of thought, Zhou Qing immediately understood Wei Xu's intentions. Smiling, he asked, "Brother Wei, do you also intend to compete for this position?"

Wei Xu did not hide it. He said seriously, "Brother Zhou's breadth of knowledge and steadfastness of character surpass mine tenfold."

"If Brother Zhou were to take the position of Senior Apprentice, this younger brother would be wholeheartedly convinced. But if someone else takes it, then this younger brother cannot help but contend for it."

Wei Xu's meaning was clear. If Zhou Qing wanted to compete for the position, he and the disciples from Cloud Prefecture City would fully support Zhou Qing.

But if Zhou Qing felt he had no chance and did not intend to fight for it, Wei Xu hoped that Zhou Qing and the other disciples from Cloud Prefecture City would support him.

Zhou Qing asked, "Have you spoken to the other companions about this?"

Wei Xu shook his head. "This younger brother came to seek Brother Zhou's opinion first. Once I receive a definite answer, I will visit the other companions one by one."

It had to be said, Wei Xu's way of handling matters truly made people feel comfortable.

Zhou Qing smiled. "Then I wish Brother Wei may have his wish fulfilled."

Wei Xu's eyes lit up. He clasped his hands toward Zhou Qing, then left Zhou Qing's courtyard.

After seeing Wei Xu off, Zhou Qing saw that it had already grown dark. He left the remaining work in the courtyard for later and returned to the main room where he rested.

He could not help recalling what Wei Xu had just said.

This Wei Xu truly counted as someone remarkable. On his very first day at the Azure Cloud Sect, he had already grasped the situation and decisively chosen to gather strength to seek benefits for himself and those of his own side.

Even if someone like him had never entered the Cultivation World, he would still make something of himself.

The only fear was that when a tree rose above the forest, the wind would be the first to batter it. Hopefully, he would not be broken so easily.

Zhou Qing soon put the matter aside.

He needed to sleep early so he would have enough energy to listen to tomorrow's sermon.

Before dawn the next day, Zhou Qing got up.

The effects of the Bigu Pill were still active, so he did not need to worry about eating.

He followed the small path through the bamboo forest, strolling toward the mountaintop.

At the summit was a broad platform. This was the Azure Cloud Sect's Sermon Platform.

Newly admitted disciples would listen here as the stewards of the Hall of Skill Transmission explained cultivation techniques, then begin cultivating under the stewards' supervision.