Chapter 205: Chapter 205 Out of the Mountain 1
Translator: 549690339 —
To become a true disciple, one must participate in this year’s Sect Grand Competition.
Chen Mobai had been a spectator last year, but he still felt it necessary to consult those with experience.
Junior Brother, you’re finally leaving the mountain.”
On top of Small Yang Ridge, Qi Rui and Xi Jinghuo broke into laughter upon hearing Chen Mobai’s words.
With your cultivation level, you will certainly shock everyone when you step out.”
Xi Jinghuo sipped some spiritual wine and expressed confidence in Chen Mobai.
“Although I have a good cultivation realm, my dueling experience and techniques are far from yours. Being in the top hundred in this Sect Grand Competition would already be a great achievement.”
“Junior Brother, you’re being much too modest.”
Qi Rui’s words could only invite a bitter smile from Chen Mobai.
For some reason, both men were very confident in him, believing that as long as he participated, even if he couldn’t become a true disciple, entering the top hundred would be as easy as reaching out.
But Chen Mobai himself estimated that with his duelling skills, being able to enter the top hundred would already be a great accomplishment.
Last year, a total of 1600 Qi Cultivation disciples participated in the Sect Grand Competition. As he had been watching all along, he made detailed notes on some notable individuals.
Of these, there were 176 at the ninth level of Qi Cultivation.
Among the twenty-four true disciples of the previous session, eight bitter cultivators had obtained Foundation Building Pills and no longer participated. With their hearts set on seclusion, they honed their energy, prepared to grasp the opportunity for transformation, and breakthrough at any time with a Foundation Building Pill.
Among the remaining sixteen true disciples, E Yun, Zhou Wangshen, and Hong He, the three top disciples, had all successfully built their foundations and, under the arrangement of the sect, led their own teams to the Yun Meng Ze to establish a Fang Market.
Six individuals, including Liu Guilong from the Spirit Plant Department, had failed the foundation establishment. Aiming to vie for the position of true disciple to get a second Foundation Building Pill, Liu Guilong fell short, with no support from the Spirit Plant Department and his injuries not yet healed. He was defeated by a dark horse when they had narrowed down to the top hundred.
Besides Liu Guilong, three others also lost the position of true disciple.
Seven individuals including Yuan Chiye and Ding Ying, although having received Foundation Building Pills, did not plan to give up their positions as true disciples due to their Incomplete Dual Cultivation Technique.
Nevertheless, last year’s Sect Grand Competition had put the Divine Wood Sect’s twenty-four true disciples through a significant reshuffling.
Fourteen new people ascended to the position of true disciple, becoming the influential figures of the Divine Wood Sect.
Yuan Chiye, a friend of Chen Mobai, advanced even further, securing the third place among the true disciples, replacing the previous E Yun.
I hope my luck in drawing lots will be as good as it was last year.”
Qi Rui expressed his hopes as he drank.
Last year, he did not encounter any strong opponents along the way and made it to the top forty-eight. Unfortunately, in the final round for the top twenty-four true disciples, he was thoroughly defeated by the current sixth disciple.
Chen Mobai then asked about what matters to pay attention to during the Sect Grand Competition, and both Qi Rui and Xi Jinghuo gave detailed answers. However, all details boiled down to one thing – strength.
If one is strong enough, the position of a true disciple won’t be out of reach.
The next day, Chen Mobai made another trip to Divine Wood City, bringing two jars of freshly brewed Jade Bud Spiritual Wine as a gift for Inspector Sun Gaochang.
“Hmm, I know. Go find Lu Jun.”
Upon learning that Chen Mobai intended to participate in the Sect Grand Competition and had the idea to compete for the position of true disciple, Sun Gaochang nodded slightly. After accepting the two jars of wine, he uttered only one sentence, allowing Chen Mobai to leave.
A confused Chen Mobai exited and found Lu Jun, who shook his head slightly after hearing the news.
“Junior Brother Chen, it seems Inspector Sun doesn’t think highly of you.”
“Oh, why’s that?”
“If I’m not mistaken, you should have reached the ninth level of Qi Cultivation, otherwise you wouldn’t think about competing for the position of true disciple.”
“Elder Brother, your eyes truly see all.”
Chen Mobai did not deny this.
Then you should also know that there’s a huge gap between the ninth level of Qi Cultivation and the true disciples. Li Li, who cultivates the Rain Sword Technique, along with the support of a Rank-2 Flying Sword from our Spirit Plant Department, just barely made it into the top twenty-four.”
Lu Jun’s words made Chen Mobai understand why Li Li suddenly possessed a Rank-2 Spring Rain Sword last year. It was the Spirit Plant Department, aiming for its own prestige, that had provided support.
“Our Spirit Plant Department members usually get a magic artifact from the backend when participating in the Sect Grand Competition. Those we need to ensure become true disciples, like Elder Brother Li, are given Rank-2 artifacts.”
“But that requires the consent of the three Foundation Establishment cultivators. If I were to go talk to them, at most I could borrow a Rank-1 high-grade magic artifact for you.”
“But don’t be disheartened, Junior Brother. First, go and experience the atmosphere of the Sect Grand Competition. Once you improve your rank in a few years and have hopes of entering the ranks of true disciples, Inspector Sun will certainly arrange a suitable Rank-2 magic artifact for you.”
As Sun Gaochang’s confidant, Lu Jun going to the Spirit Plant Department’s backend was already considerable coverage for Chen Mobai’s two jars of wine. Consequently, Chen Mobai chose a Rank-i high-grade Green Wood Sword.
The Elixir of Longevity’s development direction is extremely vast, allowing one to advance in both spell and sword techniques.
Since Chen Mobai intended to use the Red Flame Sword Charm to veil Pure Yang Scroll, it was time to practice Sword Control Technique now that his realm couldn’t advance any further.
Before leaving, Chen Mobai presented Lu Jun with a jar of Jade Bud Spiritual Wine as a thank you gift, which the latter accepted without reservation.
He enquired once again about the start of the Foundation Building Pill formulation.
As before, he advised them to always leave some spirit grass prepared to concoct a batch of Foundation Building Pills.
This implied that formulation hadn’t begun yet but they were considering it.
It was estimated to be within a year or two.
Participating in the Sect Grand Competition for the first time reminded Chen Mobai of when he participated in the enrollment trial in Red Sandstone City. Fortunately, compared to his previous easy and calm demeanor, this time he was a little nervous.
Fortunately, those arranging the lineup for the Divine Wood Sect did not jumble it haphazardly, and the first few rounds separated those at Qi Cultivation’s ninth level.
Chen Mobai’s opponents in the first two rounds were all cannon fodder below the sixth level of Qi Cultivation, and even with his poor duelling skills, he easily defeated them with the sheer gap in spiritual power.
In the third and fourth rounds, however, his opponents were in the later stages of Qi Cultivation.
Nonetheless, under Chen Mobai’s ninth level of Qi Cultivation and the Rank-1 high-grade Flying Sword from the Spirit Plant Department, none of them could withstand even one blow.
Through these four rounds, Chen Mobai finally understood the pleasure of outclassing someone in terms of cultivation realm, as Master Qing Ping once said.
It was only in the fifth round that he finally met a decent opponent, an array maker at the ninth level of Qi Cultivation.
However, the opponent seemed not to have obtained the magic artifact resources from their array maker department. Relying on the green wood sword and his superb understanding equivalent to a Rank-2 Talisman Maker of the Tianhe Realm, Chen Mobai spotted the fatal flaw in his opponent’s formation and narrowly defeated them.
After this round, Chen Mobai advanced to the top forty-eight..