If I stay in the Hehuan Sect, I'll live off the pampered daughters of the Heavenly Pride Sect.

Yu Jianhuan gazed at the high platform, a cold indifference in her phoenix eyes.

"If I were the peak master of Bai Sang Peak, I would also laugh, laugh for others to see, and laugh for Jiang Yuan to see."

Jin Qiaoqiao said, "The smiles of those in power are often not a sign of reassurance, but a rope."

The silver spear pressed down again on the stage, shattering two layers of Jiang Yuan's wooden shield. The spear tip grazed his shoulder, and a ring of patterns lit up on the protective light screen.

Jiang Yuan gritted his teeth, clasped his hands together, and a phantom image of a green tree appeared behind him.

Someone in the stands shouted, "Bai Sang Qing Yuan Fa!"

"Senior Brother Jiang is going to give it his all!"

"Isn't this something only inner disciples at the core level can learn?"

"It seems Bai Sangfeng really wants to promote him."

Su Qingying's eyes turned cold.

"It's too early for him to use this now."

Qin Wanzhuang said, "The foundation cannot support it."

Wenren Ji said, "It will cause injury."

Lin Wanqing asked anxiously, "Will the elders stop us?"

Mo Chengyue said, "I won't stop them as long as their lives aren't in danger."

Lin Wanqing asked, "Why?"

Mo Chengyue looked at the battle platform.

"Because this is a major competition."

Xie Buci added a sentence.

"It's also a show for those people on the high platform."

The illusory image of green wood behind Jiang Yuan rose higher, and vines wrapped around the silver-spear disciple from all sides. As the wood energy surged, his originally pale face became flushed.

The disciples of Tianlan Peak also sensed something was wrong and withdrew their spears slightly.

"Junior Brother Jiang, your technique is unstable."

Jiang Yuandao said, "I told you, I can't lose."

The disciple from Tianlan Peak said, "You're gambling with your very foundation."

Jiang Yuandao said, "If I don't gamble, I won't even be remembered."

The silver-spear disciple remained silent for a moment, then swept his spear horizontally, clearing away the vines that were close at him.

"Then I'll have to wake you up."

Jiang Yuan's sleeves billowed, and the illusory image of green wood split into dozens of thin vines, which intertwined to form a net and pressed down.

The silver-spear disciple changed his footwork in quick succession, flicking and pushing with the tip of his spear, first breaking the vine knot on the left, then intercepting the wood energy on the right, and finally the spear shaft rebounded, striking Jiang Yuan's chest defense.

Jiang Yuan retreated to the edge of the battle platform, but did not fall.

Someone stood up from Bai Sangfeng's seat.

Hang in there!

"Senior Brother Jiang, don't retreat!"

"Win one more game, and you'll be a candidate!"

"The Peak Master is watching you!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the flush on Jiang Yuan's face deepened.

He raised his hand to his chest, and the illusory image of the green tree rose again, its leaves densely covering half of the battle platform.

Su Qingying said in a low voice, "Rushing us any further will only create chaos."

Jin Qiaoqiao said, "It's already in chaos."

Yu Jianhuan withdrew her fingertips into her sleeve.

"It looks terrible."

Lin Wanqing's face turned pale.

"Where is the elder? Why hasn't the elder called a halt yet?"

Qin Wanzhuang said, "He can still stand."

Wenren Ji said, "He denies it."

Mo Chengyue said, "So the rules are also waiting."

Lin Wanqing looked at him.

"What are you waiting for?"

Mo Chengyue said, "Wait until he raises the price to a level that satisfies Fengmai."

On the battle stage, Jiang Yuan spat out a mouthful of blood, but the illusory image of Qingmu shone brighter with the blood aura.

The silver-spear disciple's expression also changed.

"Jiang Yuan, are you crazy?"

Jiang Yuandao said, "I can't go back."

The silver-spear disciple asked, "Go back where?"

Jiang Yuandao: "Medicine field."

After those two words were uttered, the outer disciples quieted down considerably.

The silver-spear disciple gripped the spear shaft tightly, then his foot sank, and the spear's momentum shifted from fast to heavy. The spear swept through the wooden net, and the butt of the spear aimed at Jiang Yuan's shoulder blade.

He wanted to deprive Jiang Yuan of his spellcasting ability.

But Jiang Yuan stepped aside, using his shoulder to block the spear's tail, and pressed his palms to the ground.

The green vines closed in from under the silver-spear disciple's feet, finally trapping him for half a breath.

Jiang Yuan raised his palm, and the wood energy formed a seal, pressing down on the opponent's chest.

The silver-spear disciple was forced to abandon his spear and retreat. The protective light screen lit up between the two, and the jade talisman that determined the outcome emitted a clear sound at the same time.

The elder's voice echoed across the battle arena.

"Jiang Yuan of Bai Sang Peak wins."

Cheers erupted from the Bai Sangfeng audience.

"We won!"

"Senior Brother Jiang has won three consecutive matches!"

"There's hope for Bai Sang Peak!"

"Even those from the outer sect can enter the core!"

Jiang Yuan stood on the stage, blood still dripping from the corner of his mouth, while the illusory green wood behind him began to scatter.

Just as Lin Wanqing was about to smile, Su Qingying stood up half an inch.

"wrong."

Wenren Ji said, "The Qi is disordered."

Qin Wanzhuang placed her hand on the hilt of the sword.

"The meridians are in reverse."

On stage, Jiang Yuan's right arm suddenly drooped down, and the wood energy surged back into his body. He swayed twice and finally couldn't hold on and knelt down.

The elder immediately stepped onto the stage, placed his palm on his back, and several beams of spiritual light sealed the flow of his meridians.

The peak master of Bai Sang Peak also rose from the high platform, his robes fluttering to the edge of the battle stage, his face still maintaining a reassuring expression.

The peak master of Bai Sang Peak said, "Jiang Yuan's will is commendable. Although he has lost his old body, he still upholds the spirit of Bai Sang Peak."

Jiang Yuan looked up, his face pale and bloodless.

"Peak Master, this disciple has not lost."

The peak master of Bai Sang Peak said, "Of course you didn't lose."

Jiang Yuan's eyes were red.

"This disciple can continue."

The elder deacon frowned.

"He cannot fight today."

The peak master of Bai Sang Peak nodded.

"Follow the rules."

He turned to face the crowd, his sleeves billowing in the wind.

"Jiang Yuan has won three consecutive matches, bringing glory to the peak. From today onwards, he will be included in the core training program of Bai Sang Peak."

The audience was silent for a moment, then applause and cheers erupted again.

"core!"

"Senior Brother Jiang has truly changed his fate!"

"He did it!"

"It's totally worth it!"

"If it were me, I would fight too!"

Lin Wanqing did not clap along.

She looked at Jiang Yuan, who was being helped up by the elder, and her voice was strained.

"Senior Brother Mo, is he really worth it?"

Mo Chengyue gazed at the battle platform, his expression remaining largely unchanged.

"The nurturing was real, and so was the exploitation."

These words, falling around Qingquan Peak, were like an invisible, thin blade, cutting a slit in the bustling scene just moments before.

The faces of the disciples who were eavesdropping nearby changed.

Someone asked in a low voice, "What do you mean?"

Another person whispered, "What Mo Chengyue said shouldn't be just random talk."

"But Jiang Yuan has entered the core team."

"Look at how he was carried away, does it look like he's made a profit?"

"The Peak Master himself announced it, how could he possibly harm him?"

"That's a very naive question."

Lin Wanqing held the booklet, but didn't write anything for a long time.

"So, what will happen to him in the future?"

Mo Chengyue said, "Bai Sangfeng will give him pills, cultivation techniques, better accommodations, and more opportunities to win."

Xie Buci said, "The reputation he gained today at the cost of his life will become the rope that binds him tomorrow."

Yu Jianhuan chuckled softly, but there was little playfulness in that chuckle.

"How pitiful, he thought he had finally crawled out of the medicinal herb field."

Jin Qiaoqiao said, "Perhaps he knows."

Everyone looked at her.

Jin Qiaoqiao said, "Some cages are where people walk in on their own because it's colder outside."

Su Qingying sat back down, her gaze sweeping over the battle platform and landing on the young disciples whose cheeks were flushed with excitement.

"What they saw was the word 'core'."

Qin Wanzhuang said, "I can't see the price."

Wenren Ji said, "If I see it, I will go too."

Mo Chengyue nodded.

"Because this is the best of times."

Xie Buci continued, "It was also the worst of times."