Tumor Sword Immortal

Chapter 274 Just Comparing
"Chu Guihai of Xuanri Peak is a diligent cultivator who has reached the Tongxuan realm. He also possesses a Xuan treasure and is a highly skilled individual who is mentioned in the annual martial arts competition. In this respect, he can be considered a worthy opponent for me."

“Cen Yunfeng’s junior sister Xu Li, although she joined the sect later and her cultivation level is slightly lower, only at the peak of the Refining Cauldron realm, is very favored by the master and has quite a few powerful items. She is also someone worth paying attention to.”

"Chai Yun of Pivot Star Peak, although that kid's cultivation is at the Refinement stage, I haven't heard of him having any special reliance. However, this time he was specially selected by the sect leader to participate, and he is also the son of a high-ranking official in the imperial court, so he must have quite a few trump cards."

"The rest... oh, there's Liu Yun," Niu Wansan said with a hint of disgust. "Liu Yun's master died long ago. The sect wanted to reassign them, but he refused. Instead, he took the lead and started teaching his junior brothers and sisters. He even had the nerve to accept the sect's resources. He really thinks he's an inner sect elder. He's shameless."

Niu Wansan mentioned a few things, which surprised Pei Xia.

The Refining Cauldrons and Profound Realms were all young inner disciples. He couldn't help but ask, "I heard that the top few in this martial arts competition are supposed to participate in the competition among the four sects of the Eastern Frontier to compete for a spot in the Liancheng Illusionary Realm? Why haven't I seen any cultivators at the Opening Mansion Realm?"

Niu Wansan glanced at him and sneered, "You're still too naive. Those who have reached the Open Mansion Realm are already elders of the inner sect. If they want to participate in the Four Sects Martial Arts Competition, they only need to register. Why would they need to participate in our sect's competition?"

Pei Xia: "..."

Nobody told me!

We chatted all the way, and the mountain path seemed to fly by. Before long, we reached the top of Xuanri Peak.

This mountain peak must have been cut off by an external force, revealing a large, exceptionally flat open space. As the main training ground for the sect, it has been planned with a considerable number of arenas for competitions.

Pei Xia arrived early, but there were still quite a few disciples waiting around.

The Changjing Sect has relatively scarce cultivation resources, but it is relatively lenient in accepting disciples. In particular, many children of the Caobang brothers can come to the Changjing Sect to make a living if they are willing and can successfully communicate with the spiritual sea.

It would be difficult for most disciples to achieve anything in their cultivation. However, most of these people are also quite simple and honest. Even if they can't achieve anything, they at least have a good attitude.

Even disregarding the rewards, these sect-wide martial arts competitions are an opportunity to test oneself and prove one's cultivation achievements to one's master.

So a huge number of people came, a massive crowd.

Several inner disciples of Xuanri Peak were maintaining order or checking the competition roster, preparing for the moment when numbers would be called out for the participants to go on stage.

Among these people, Niu Wansan, an inner disciple with a purple turban, and Pei Xia, an outer elder with a blue turban, were quite influential. Wherever they went, many disciples bowed and paid their respects to them.

Perhaps basking in the envious gazes of the crowd, Niu Wansan became somewhat smug. He deliberately walked up to a disciple of Xuanri Peak and casually struck up a conversation: "Little Zheng, how many people signed up this year?"

The disciple called Xiao Zheng glanced up. He did recognize Niu Wansan, but there was no respect in his eyes. He lazily replied, "Busy, get lost."

Niu Wansan didn't feel ashamed at all. On the contrary, he felt more honored to be able to talk to the disciple in charge of the conference. He said nonchalantly, "Alright, you go ahead and get busy."

He came over to look at Pei Xia and whispered smugly, "See? This is my network of connections. I haven't been in the Changjing Sect for nothing all these years."

Given Niu Wansan's age and cultivation level, he should have been demoted to an outer sect elder long ago. The fact that he remained in the inner sect is somewhat of a lucky escape.

After Pei Xia, many more disciples arrived at the summit one after another. Because the Grand Martial Arts Arena was temporarily closed, everyone crowded into a corner of Xuanri Peak, making it very congested.

Fortunately, it didn't take too long. From afar, we saw two beams of light ascending from the pine trees on the mountainside and landing on the high platform, revealing two figures.

One of them was Yang Xuzhong, the head of Xuanri Peak and an inner sect elder.

The other one, dressed in a green robe and carrying a long sword, with a slender figure, was none other than Ji Shaofu, an elder of the Pivot Star Peak.

In the past, because she had been cultivating in seclusion for many years, Ji Shaofu was known by name but never seen in the sect.

So this escort of the Netherworld Flower back to the sect has truly made their name known. Even the lowest-ranking disciples know that there is a beautiful elder on Pivot Star Peak with formidable cultivation and astonishing willpower. "See that? That's Elder Ji Shaofu from the inner sect," Niu Wansan said, looking at Pei Xia beside him. "Isn't she beautiful?"

Looking from afar, Pei Xia could see that Ji Shaofu's complexion had indeed improved significantly, and her spiritual energy had been replenished, even surpassing its strength when she first left Changjing Sect.

It seems that Huang Bing spared no expense in treating her during the month since she returned to her clan.

Niu Wansan was also looking at Ji Shaofu, but the fat man's eyes revealed more than just longing. He sighed and said, "Ji Shaofu, she's even younger than me."

Different people are born with different fates.

Regardless of talent, Ji Shaofu was picked up by the sect leader Huang Bing and brought into his sect, becoming the sect leader's junior sister. This fortunate background alone is something that even a disciple like Niu Wansan could never obtain.

Some monks who have struggled throughout their lives often say that cultivation is actually about cultivating one's destiny. Although this statement sounds dejected, it does contain some truth to it.

In the month since returning to the sect, Pei Xia has not seen Ji Shaofu again. Now that she is well, she feels a little relieved.

After all, we've been through thick and thin together, so let's call each other friends.

Pei Xia was thinking and was about to look away when Ji Shaofu on the high platform seemed to have noticed him.

From a distance, their eyes met, and Ji Shaofu suddenly smiled and waved to him from afar.

The disciples below the stage immediately became excited, and one sharp-eyed disciple shouted, "Grandmaster Ji is looking this way!"

"She waved at us!"

"It was definitely beckoning to me. I met Master Ji three years ago!"

The sudden uproar of the crowd, accompanied by countless raised hands, instantly obscured half of Pei Xia's vision.

Even so, he still raised his hand and politely waved to Ji Shaofu.

She saw it and laughed even more heartily.

In fact, Ji Shaofu was not fond of smiling. She was in seclusion for many years and had few friends. Even when she was in the sect, she was very aloof towards her nominal disciples.

That's why everyone gets so excited when they see her smile.

"cough!"

A cough mixed with spiritual energy silenced the noisy martial arts disciples.

Yang Xuzhong, who was standing next to Ji Shaofu, slowly stood up.

This nearly sixty-year-old elder was a highly respected figure in the sect. As soon as he spoke, the crowd immediately fell silent.

"This time, Elder Ji and I will jointly preside over the sect's martial arts competition. Since it's being held at my Xuanri Peak, let's follow the rules of Xuanri Peak. Forget about drawing lots; nobody knows anyone else's number. In a little while, my disciples will take the roster and call out numbers randomly, pairing up in twos. Hurry up, don't delay everyone from going back for lunch... or going back to cultivate diligently."

After saying that, he arrived very quickly and waved his hand, instructing his disciples below, "Let's begin."

(End of this chapter)