Chapter 18: Sect Competition
Gu Mingsi walked into the room, a smile plastered across his face. "Brother Shi, I want to ask you for a favor." Shi Feng hurriedly said, "Senior Brother, please tell me what you want." Gu Mingsi replied, "I dare not tell you what you want, but I do want to ask you for something. I'm not good at smelting, and I can't even make ten pieces of iron essence every month. Brother, you're diligent, so how about we make a deal? You help me refine ten pieces of fifth-grade iron essence, and I'll give you ten spirit stones."
Shi Feng said, "Ten pieces of fifth-grade iron essence are only the reward of five spirit stones. Brother, you paid too much." Gu Mingsi said, "I know this. But I can't let you suffer. Asking you to refine the iron essence will waste your time. With the time you spent helping me, you should have earned more than five spirit stones. Brother, can you help?" Shi Feng said readily, "No problem, Brother Gu, even if you don't give me spirit stones, brothers should help each other." Gu Mingsi was overjoyed, and his impression of Shi Feng changed immediately.
For the next few months, Shi Feng worked in the Sword Casting Valley and rarely returned to Yuxiu Mountain.
A year passed in the blink of an eye. Shi Feng had grown considerably taller, and he also learned a lot about the Equipment Refining Hall. In fact, the Equipment Refining Hall was divided into two major departments: refining and processing. Outer disciples were not part of the core department; they only refined materials. The true practitioners of equipment refining were inner disciples with magical powers. The head of the Equipment Refining Hall, Master Gan Chu, was a great cultivator in the Golden Core stage. His four Foundation Establishment stage disciples and over thirty Qi Refining stage disciples were the true equipment refiners.
When refining magical instruments, the quality of the materials is naturally the basis, but the key is how to turn the materials into spiritual instruments. Various combinations of restrictions must be added to the materials. Spiritual instruments are also divided into nine grades. There are up to nine levels of restrictions on the initial spiritual instruments, with nine as the number. For every nine restrictions added, the grade of the spiritual instrument will increase by one level. Of course, this sounds simple, but it is actually extremely complicated. Every additional restriction is very difficult and may even make the material scrapped.
After adding the restrictions, the cultivators still had to slowly refine the spirit weapon with their true energy, and only then could the spirit weapon finally take shape. Shi Feng and other outer disciples lacked the physical strength to refine spirit weapons.
In fact, not only was it impossible to refine spiritual weapons, but even how to add restrictions was beyond the knowledge of outer disciples. After all, the combination, evolution, carving, and fusion of restrictions with materials were all sect secrets. Shi Feng and his team only did one thing: refining various materials.
Of course, refining materials alone is no easy task. Sword Forging Valley isn't the only refining location, as the different elements in the material's refining methods vary. For example, the purple-winged insect spends its entire life hidden within yew trees, absorbing the wood's spiritual energy. Once it leaves the tree, deprived of the nourishment of that energy, it explodes and dies. Therefore, extracting the purple-winged insect requires a location rich in wood spiritual energy.
As a millennial sect, Taiji Sect possessed substantial financial resources. Their Sword Forging Valley even had a dedicated Wood Spirit Hall, constructed entirely of ten-thousand-year-old fragrant wood. It housed a massive magic array, activated by numerous Wood Spirit Stones, providing a rich supply of wood spirit energy. Here, the disciples first used magical instruments to locate the purple-winged insect, then used axes and saws to slice through the purple fir wood, gradually finding its location before retrieving it.
This required extreme caution, as the purple-winged insects would harden upon contact with gold, rendering them completely useless. Therefore, after finding the approximate location, the disciples would use a small knife to peel the purple fir wood piece by piece, finally using a small wooden spoon to pry the purple-winged insects out. This meticulous process was even more difficult than extracting iron essence.
In addition, corresponding to materials of other attributes, the Sword Forging Valley also has various refining sites, about fifteen or sixteen in total, large and small.
Because Shi Feng cultivated the Pure Yuan Gong and could multitask, he could handle any area of Sword Forging Valley with ease. For example, while extracting wood-based materials in the Wood Spirit Hall, he could practice the "Rejuvenation Technique" to ward off the overpowering wood spirit energy while simultaneously extracting purple-winged insects. Over the course of a year, Shi Feng refined a vast and high-quality supply of materials. His dedication to excellence ultimately resulted in materials of mostly top-tier quality, earning him immense praise. Luo San, the chief steward, often personally mentored Shi Feng. He was the most skilled in the refining department, and thanks to his guidance, Shi Feng's skills continued to improve.
During this time, Shi Feng discovered that no matter how dense the Five Elements' spiritual energy was, he couldn't absorb or transform it. This was especially true of the fire spiritual energy, which vanished in an instant. Wood spiritual energy was slightly better, lingering within him for about a meal's time, but it eventually dissipated. His lack of spiritual roots was undeniable. Senior Brother Changqing had said that spiritual roots were a person's innate constitution and could not be altered. It seemed that if he wanted to pursue the path of cultivation, he would have to be reborn in his next life.
Thinking of this, Shi Feng couldn't help but feel sad. Fortunately, he was still young at heart, and after a while he slowly put the matter behind him.
One day, Shi Feng was hammering iron when he heard Manager Luo at the door calling him out, and he hurriedly put down the hammer.
When he walked out of the door, he saw Manager Luo talking with the eldest senior brother Changqing. Manager Luo said, "Shi Feng, your eldest senior brother is looking for you. Senior brother Changqing, please talk slowly. I still have some things to deal with." He clasped his fists and walked away.
Chang Qing hadn't seen Shi Feng for three or two months. He had grown taller, his complexion dark and rosy, and he seemed in good spirits. He pulled him aside, asked about his recent situation, and then said, "Brother, I'm here to tell you that tomorrow is the day of the sect competition. You must stay back at Yuxiu Mountain tonight. Tomorrow at noon, Master will take us to Iron Sword Peak."
Shi Feng asked, "A small sect competition?" Chang Qing replied, "Yes, it's a competition among all the Qi Refining disciples of our entire Iron Sword Peak branch. This is for our Grandmaster and the elders to assess our progress." Shi Feng said, "But I..." Chang Qing interrupted, "I know you don't have spiritual roots, nor do you have any cultivation techniques or supernatural powers. But Master said that while you don't have to participate in the competition, you must be present. This rule cannot be broken. I've already told Manager Luo that you don't have to return to the Weapon Refining Hall for the next two days."
That night, Shi Feng returned to his own residence in Yuxiu Mountain. The next morning, at dawn, he hurried to the gate where Liu Yunzi was in seclusion. The other six brothers and sisters were already waiting there. Over the past year, Shi Feng had rarely run into them. When they did, he would just nod and say hello.
At noon, the door opened silently and Liu Yunzi walked out. Shi Feng hadn't seen his master since the day he became his apprentice. Everyone bowed and saluted, "Disciple greets Master." Liu Yunzi glanced at everyone. As for Shi Feng, he simply ignored him and said, "Well, not bad. It seems that you have been working hard recently. Zhang Peijun and Zhou Qing have both reached the seventh level of Qi Refining Stage, one level higher than last time. Good." Zhang and Zhou were excited to receive praise from their master.
Liu Yunzi said, "Today is a small competition. Master will personally test you. You must show your best skills and don't lose face for me." Without waiting for anyone to respond, he summoned the Meteor Shuttle, mounted it first, and waved his sleeves, saying, "Let's go."
The competition took place on a platform east of Iron Sword Peak, known as the "Sword Testing Platform." It was a spacious five acres, with neatly arranged black and white stone strips forming a massive Tai Chi pattern. Beneath the platform, a makeshift canopy housed three rows of tables and chairs, each filled with magical tea and fruit.
At three quarters past noon, Taoist Master Dao Chong and the old man in black descended from the sky. All the disciples bowed and said in unison, "Welcome to the Master and Grandmaster Zhao." Taoist Master Dao Chong and the other two nodded and took the first seat. Other elders in the Foundation Establishment stage took their seats behind them.
All the inner disciples in the Qi Refining stage who needed to participate in the competition stood on the stage, lined up in rows according to their seniority. Shi Feng was at the end of the fifth row on the left. Since he did not need to participate in the competition, he was probably the most relaxed among all the disciples at this moment.
Taoist Master Dao Chong took a sip of the spiritual tea and said loudly, "Time flies. I just finished my retreat, and already it's the day of the biennial competition. Junior Brother Zhao will still be the host and commentator of this competition." After saying that, he put down the cup and nodded to the old man in black.
The old man in black stood up and said, "Hey, you all know the rules. Let me say it again. All Qi Refining disciples in the sect will draw lots to determine their opponents based on their current cultivation level. Qi Refining Level 5 will face Qi Refining Level 5. The first round of drawing lots was drawn three days ago, and you all know who your opponents are. After the first round, the winning disciples will participate in a challenge match. Disciples of the same level can challenge each other at will, but higher-level disciples are not allowed to challenge lower-level disciples. Conversely, if a lower-level disciple feels that his or her skills are good, he or she can challenge a higher-level disciple. If you win the challenge, he or she will naturally receive a generous reward. In the end, the top three will be decided, and each of these three disciples will receive a reward of 300 spirit stones. In addition, the first-place winner will be rewarded with a spirit weapon, and the second-place winner will be rewarded with a bottle of Qi Rejuvenation Pill."
The total amount of spirit stones that inner disciples receive in a year is no more than sixty. Three hundred spirit stones is the total amount for five years, not to mention spiritual weapons. A good spiritual weapon can greatly increase one's strength. I don't know how many spirit stones it will cost.
Therefore, all the disciples were both excited and worried. If they won, they would naturally gain both fame and fortune, but if they lost, especially if they were defeated by lower-level junior brothers, they would lose face and would be severely punished by their master when they returned.
Seeing all the disciples' eyes gleaming, rubbing their hands, and eager to fight, the black-robed elder nodded with satisfaction. "I'll repeat the rules of victory and defeat. The Tai Chi diagram on the stage serves as the boundary. Anyone forced out of this circle loses. Anyone unable to move and counterattack for ten breaths loses. Anyone who falls to the ground for ten breaths loses. Anyone who voluntarily admits defeat loses. Anyone who is too exhausted to fight again loses. Since this is a competition, then you must show your true abilities. It's okay to accidentally hurt someone. However, in competitions within the same sect, secretly attacking someone is strictly prohibited. If someone dares to continue attacking someone after they have already lost, not only will they lose directly, but they will also be punished according to the sect's rules. Do you understand?"
Everyone responded in unison, "Disciple understands."
The old man in black nodded and said, "Let's begin. Starting with the third-level Qi Refining disciples, the first group will go on stage to compete." With a wave of his hand, everyone retreated outside the Tai Chi diagram and sat down cross-legged on both sides of the stage. They still sat in order of seniority, but everyone was already whispering and discussing.
Shi Feng had been a member of the sect for a year and had already gained a good understanding of the sect's situation. Since the death of Danyang Zhenren, only two Jindan-stage masters remained at Tiejian Peak: Dao Chong and the black-clothed old man named Zhao Tianhu. Dao Chong had four Foundation Establishment-stage disciples, while Danyang Zhenren and Zhao Tianhu each had three Foundation Establishment disciples. Each of these Foundation Establishment disciples had their own disciples, ranging from a dozen to four or five. Tiejian Peak consisted of two Jindan-stage disciples, eleven Foundation Establishment disciples, and over a hundred Qi Refining-stage inner disciples. These disciples ranged in height, stature, and appearance, men, women, and children. The oldest had already turned gray, while the youngest was only twelve or thirteen years old, younger than Shi Feng.
At this time, there were only two people left on the stage. They were the two disciples who drew lots to be in the first group to compete. They each took three steps back, clasped their fists and saluted each other, chanted spells and cast spells, and fought together.
Shi Feng knew nothing about martial arts and magical powers, so naturally he couldn't understand the intricacies of the process, but even a layman could enjoy the excitement. He watched as teams of disciples took the stage to battle. Some fought fiercely, their fights difficult to determine, while others were incredibly fast, with one side being knocked out of the ring the moment they clashed. Each disciple employed a different magical power and wielded a variety of magical instruments. Some used swords and spears, some tokens and seals, and still others used talismans, summoning millstone-sized stones to fall. Among them, the fourth senior brother's symbolic form was a massive, twenty-foot-long wolf-fang club. This club danced in the air on its own, occasionally emitting flames from the end. It was incredibly powerful, and he won the first match with ease.
As Shi Feng watched, a question suddenly occurred to his mind, "Tai Chi Sect is famous in Dayan for its sword cultivation, so why is it that none of its disciples can use flying swords?" He wanted to ask his fellow disciples, but seeing that they were all staring at the stage with nervous expressions, he didn't want to disturb them.
After each competition, the black-clothed old man Zhao Tianhu would comment on what was wrong with the skills, what were the mistakes in the strategies during the competition, etc. It was a rare opportunity to receive personal guidance from a Jindan cultivator, which would often answer the doubts that had troubled them for a long time, and it was very likely that they would break through the bottleneck and move to the next level. Therefore, regardless of the winner or loser, the disciples in the audience would listen attentively with their ears perked up.
The competition lasted from morning to night, with only a short break of half an hour in between. By the afternoon, all the competitions were over and the top three were decided. Chang Qing ranked second, only losing to a disciple of Dao Chong who was in the Great Perfection stage of Qi Refining.
After all the disciples lined up on the stage again, awaiting Dao Chong's instructions, Dao Chong turned and asked Liu Yunzi, "Liu Yunzi, why didn't one of your disciples participate in the competition?" Liu Yunzi hurriedly said, "Master Headmaster, this disciple is Shi Feng. He has no spiritual roots and has never cultivated any magical powers."
Shi Feng had grown taller, and his clothes were neat and tidy, which was very different from the sloppy appearance of the little beggar who had just come up the mountain. Dao Chong was in seclusion and his mind was free from any stagnation, so he didn't think about it for a while. When Liu Yunzi said it, he immediately nodded and said, "Yes, yes." He stood up and personally gave the sect rewards to the top three disciples. He also encouraged the disciples and announced the end of the competition.
The disciples left the sword-testing platform, following their respective masters. Shi Feng had just stepped off the platform when he heard a faint voice beside him, "Shi Feng, come to see me at Qiyuan Cave tonight at midnight. Don't tell anyone about this, not even your master. Remember." It was the voice of Taoist Chong.