The first round

But faces were all they could make out. They could not hear a single word the elders were saying.

Elder Yan Shi said, "S-Sect Master Lu, w-we agreed no one could poach disciples. H-how could you..."

Elder Xuanji said, "Oh, honestly, can't you get your words out faster? Sect Master Lu, how could you give Shen Leyan a peace pendant?"

Elder Qian Yun said, "So Shen Leyan likes peace pendants..."

Lu Yuanyi said mildly, "Did none of you sneak off to see Shen Leyan last night?"

The elders replied, "...How can recruiting disciples for cultivation be called sneaking around?!"

"What can I do if he won't accept your gifts?"

The elders stared at Lu Yuanyi's unruffled face, secretly gritting their teeth.

Damn it, he'd managed to show off again!

The sand in the hourglass ran out, and the resonant toll of the morning bell slowly spread through the sect.

Banners snapped along both sides of the stone steps. Dawn had just broken, and a gleam of daylight slowly rose behind the outlines of the mountains, bringing the auspicious clouds embroidered on the banners vividly to life.

The disciples responsible for ceremonial music struck the chime bells and played their reed organs, flutes, and zithers. The grand, solemn music soared into the clouds.

The other disciples immediately fell silent and bowed.

Lu Yuanyi's slightly deep voice rang out before the Ancestor Hall, carrying a coolness that seemed steeped in incense. Through the hazy morning mist, it sounded distant, as though coming from the moon.

"Glorious Heaven above, shine upon the earth below.

Gather the spirit of the earth; bestow gentle winds and sweet rain.

Let all find their rightful place, and all living things flourish..."

Shen Leyan remained bowed with his hands clasped alongside the disciples around him until the invocation ended.

The heavy wooden doors of the Ancestor Hall slowly opened, and the elders overseeing the main peaks led their direct disciples inside to burn incense and pay their respects.

The remaining disciples waited on the training platforms, quietly observing the ceremony.

Only after the sun rose and daylight brightened did the sacrificial ceremony draw to a close.

The disciples participating in the Apprenticeship Ceremony perked up, excitement showing on their faces as they waited for the elder from the Law Enforcement Hall to announce the rules.

"The Apprenticeship Ceremony will once again use a points-based tournament. All disciples will draw lots, and those assigned to the same platform will compete in pairs.

"The winner will receive three points and advance to the next round. The loser will receive no points and be eliminated, with no further opportunities to compete. All points will appear directly on the Jade Token you carry.

"If the elders or your senior brothers and sisters see an outstanding performance, they may offer to take you as a disciple on the spot."

Shen Leyan listened carefully to the rules, deep in thought.

On the surface, successfully finding a master truly had nothing to do with how many matches one won. But undoubtedly, the more matches one won, the greater the chance of being noticed.

The elders would not take disciples with mediocre aptitude and low cultivation just to give themselves more trouble. After all, direct disciples bore greater responsibilities than ordinary disciples, whether learning to manage sect affairs or leaving the mountain to gain experience through more dangerous missions.

Failing to teach a disciple properly would not merely embarrass the master; it could also cost other people their lives.

"Once all matches have concluded, disciples may exchange the points on their Jade Tokens for rewards at the Inner Sect's Scripture Pavilion."

An uproar swept through the crowd.

Someone impatiently asked, "Can we exchange them for anything?! Even saint-grade cultivation arts in the Scripture Pavilion?"

The elder from the Law Enforcement Hall answered with a smile, "Yes. If you win every match through the final round, your points should be enough to exchange for a saint-grade cultivation art."

The atmosphere on the platforms instantly boiled over like water dripping into hot oil.

Before the matches had even begun, everyone was already rubbing their hands in anticipation, eager to try.

The rewards were tempting, but taking first place was no easy feat.

Shen Leyan steadied himself, setting aside thoughts of the outcome for now, and continued quietly listening as the elder announced the remaining rules.

"During the matches, killing blows, poison, and concealed weapons are forbidden. You may not use your own Pills or magical artifacts. The Cloud Radiance Sect will provide standardized weapons for everyone. Whether sabers, spears, swords, or halberds, you may choose freely."

"Furthermore, there will be no rest between matches. Once the first round ends, the next will begin immediately, continuing until all matches are finished—is anything still unclear?"

At the final rule, everyone's expressions varied.

Standardized weapons made sense, given the differences in their backgrounds. If Ji Lianyi, crown prince of Great Xia, casually produced a few saint-grade magical artifacts, he could probably remain undefeated on the Martial Arts Training Ground. That would naturally defeat the purpose of the Apprenticeship Ceremony.

But without any breaks between matches, and with Pills forbidden, their Spiritual Power would certainly recover more slowly than they consumed it. As the fighting continued, they would inevitably exhaust their Spiritual Power and grow physically weary.

This was probably... a test of their resolve.

The path of cultivation was arduous to begin with. Only those who pursued it tirelessly could go far.

"Very well. Since there are no questions, begin drawing lots."

Several hundred small balls of light flew down from the steps of the Ancestor Hall, dancing through the air like mischievous little sprites.

Shen Leyan moved his fingertips slightly. A wisp of wind Spiritual Power formed a small whirlwind, sweeping a ball of light from the sky into his palm.

The ball shattered, revealing a slip of paper bearing the words "Platform Seven, Number One."

As several people obtained their numbers, the others gradually realized that drawing lots meant catching the balls of light flying overhead.

Spiritual Power of every color immediately filled the sky. Some disciples from prominent families even used Sword Flight to chase after the lights.

"Disciples who have obtained their numbers may proceed directly to their assigned platforms and wait. Each platform will have eight disciples, numbered one through eight. Number One will face Number Eight, Number Two will face Number Seven, and so on. Is that clear?"

Everyone obtained their numbers one after another and soon took their places on their assigned platforms.

Shen Leyan surveyed the people sharing his platform. None were familiar faces.

Chen Jing was on the neighboring platform, while Ji Lianyi was at the far end.

Number Eight, his first opponent, was about his age, dressed in coarse black clothes, with a broad, rounded face and a cheerful expression. He took the initiative to greet him.

"Senior Brother, I only had my Spiritual Root tested a few days ago, so I haven't been cultivating long. Please give me some pointers during our match."

Shen Leyan returned his salute.

"Numbers One and Eight on each platform, please select your weapons. All other disciples should step off and watch."

A weapon rack appeared out of thin air above each platform, holding every weapon cultivators commonly used, from sabers and swords to folding fans and zithers.

Shen Leyan was most familiar with longswords, so he casually chose an iron sword of suitable length.

Number Eight selected two enormous iron hammers, hefted them in his hands, then kept them with a satisfied look.

Although his opponent had not cultivated Spiritual Power for long, he clearly possessed natural strength. Otherwise, he could not have handled two such enormous hammers so easily.

"Knocking your opponent off the platform counts as victory. Now—begin!"

Number Eight gave an honest smile. "Please instruct me, Senior Brother!"

Earth-yellow light surged over the two iron hammers. Already immensely heavy and densely covered with spikes, they became even more powerful with the addition of earth Spiritual Power.

Shen Leyan saw the muscles in his opponent's arms bulge and his steps grow much heavier. Clearly, even holding the two hammers had become a strain.

If one of those hammers struck him, he would probably be sent flying more than ten meters.

Bang!

Shen Leyan rapidly retreated several steps and turned sideways to evade Number Eight's sweeping blow. The hammer's weight and tremendous momentum carried his opponent through the missed strike, smashing it into the ground nearby. Several fine cracks appeared in the platform's hard stone surface!

His opponent was immensely strong but not agile. As long as Shen Leyan sensed the shifting wind and anticipated his moves, he could dodge them easily.

He had no intention of immediately using the Azure Shadow Profound Art. Though the movement technique was excellent for keeping an opponent chasing him during a fight, it also consumed considerable Spiritual Power. Today's tournament was a battle of endurance. He needed to conserve his energy and use it where it mattered.

On the platform, one fighter attacked ever more fiercely, his twin hammers whipping up gusts as he drove his opponent to the edge several times.

The other, a slender youth, merely dodged around the platform, barely emitting any fluctuations of Spiritual Power. Yet each time, he escaped the huge hammers by a hair's breadth and remained on the platform.

Gradually, the first matches on the other platforms reached their conclusions.

Chen Jing really did seem destined to clash with fire. His opponent's Spiritual Power had singed away a large clump of his hair, leaving him rather disheveled. Fortunately, he made it through the first round.

Ji Lianyi had been the first to win. He had even brought two young attendants to shade him from the sun and fan him.

The winners hurried to circulate their cultivation arts, restore their Spiritual Power, and regulate their breathing. Those eliminated hung their heads, regretting the many things they had failed to do well.

Across from Shen Leyan, Number Eight was panting heavily. He discarded one hammer and pointed at him. "Senior Brother, y-you, you... can you stop dodging?!"

Shen Leyan warily maintained a relatively safe distance. "Then can you surrender and stop fighting?"

He had hardly used any Spiritual Power and still had plenty of stamina. He could probably keep circling Number Eight for another entire day.

Number Eight hesitated for a while. Unwilling to concede outright, he stopped where he was to rest.

"Senior Brother, how can you run so much?"

Apart from the sweat soaking the hair at his temples and making his eyes look even darker, the youth showed little sign of exhaustion. If anything, he looked invigorated.

They had been fighting for almost an hour!

"...Probably from all the practice I got back in the Southwestern Territory."

Once Number Eight stopped to rest, he could no longer lift his huge hammer again. Helplessly, he said, "I really have no strength left—I surrender."

He jumped off the platform of his own accord.

Two hours later, the first round had concluded entirely. Only four people remained on each platform.

Everyone rested in their own corner or called their friends over to analyze their upcoming opponents. Only quiet conversation could be heard across the Martial Arts Training Ground.

Of those eliminated in the first round, none had yet been accepted by a master.

Shen Leyan rested for a while and drank a bowl of water. After ensuring his dantian was brimming with Spiritual Power, he walked slowly to the neighboring platform and found Chen Jing.

Chen Jing touched his scorched hair, looking deeply worried. "Leyan, how am I supposed to face anyone looking like this?!"

"...It's fine. Only a few ends got burned off. They'll grow back in a fortnight. Better than ending up with a Mediterranean bald spot."

"What is a Mediterranean bald spot?"

Shen Leyan picked up a twig and drew a picture of the bald patch on the ground, making Senior Brother Chen Jing laugh despite himself.

"Only you could come up with a name like that!"

"I heard someone say it when I was little—you weren't hurt, were you? Aside from losing some hair?"

"No. I just used a bit too much Spiritual Power."

His damaged Spiritual Root already made restoring Spiritual Power slower.

Shen Leyan was about to say, "Let me transfer some Spiritual Power to you," when Chen Jing began fretting over his hair again.

"Ah... I'll leave such a terrible impression on Senior Brother Zheng looking like this..."

Shen Leyan said, "..."

"Senior Brother Chen Jing! Sit down and meditate right now! I have plenty of Spiritual Power. I'll give you some!"

Before long, the elder from the Law Enforcement Hall signaled for everyone to return to their platforms and prepare.

"The first round has ended. The second will now begin immediately. Its rules will differ slightly from the previous round. The four people on each platform will fight a free-for-all until only one remains standing on it. You may form alliances of two or three, or fight independently. Is that clear? You now have one stick of incense to decide your tactics and find allies."

Everyone nodded, and most immediately began seeking allies.

"Let's team up and eliminate the others first, then compete for the final spot on our own merits. What do you say?"

"That person should be the strongest on our platform. If we fight separately, none of us can beat him. Why don't the three of us ally first and eliminate him together, then settle things among ourselves? What do you think?"

"An alliance is all very well, but what if someone plays dirty and ambushes their allies?"

"Hmph, what ridiculous rules. Even if all three of you attack me together, you're still no match for me!"

Shen Leyan observed the reactions of the other people on Platform Seven while considering his tactics.

He had never practiced any offensive cultivation arts, nor did he have an advantage in cultivation level. To become the last person remaining on Platform Seven, he could only rely on the Azure Shadow Profound Art to evade every attack and win by dragging things out.

That also made it difficult to convince anyone to ally with him.

What if someone asked, "What can you do if we ally with you?"

He could hardly answer, "I'm not much use. I can only make sure I don't get knocked off the platform," could he?

No one would want to ally with him then!

Besides... he barely knew the others on Platform Seven. He knew nothing of their temperaments or character, and with their interests at odds, he did not think they could form an alliance with complete trust in one another.

Within moments, two people on Platform Seven had formed an alliance. The remaining person apparently had his own considerations and, like Shen Leyan, chose to fight independently.

The incense burned out, and the elder from the Law Enforcement Hall announced loudly.

"Second round—begin!"