"Water, fire, combine!"

A water sphere the size of a basketball collided directly with a fireball half a meter in diameter.

The area where Yang Fan was located was immediately shrouded in fog.

"Fireball!"

Fireballs, like bullets, swept into the mist.

Ye Feng's magical power was reduced to only a small fraction.

Of course, even if he only used swordsmanship, Yang Fan's magical power was almost depleted.

"puff!"

Just as Ye Feng was about to continue his attack, the sound of a fireball striking someone rang out.

Yang Fan rolled out of the mist, sword in hand.

Three fireballs hovered above his head.

"I... admit defeat!"

Although he was somewhat unwilling, his opponent was simply too strong, and he had no choice but to stop there.

"Ye Feng wins this round!"

The winners and losers had already been decided in the other four arenas.

With the referee's announcement, the outer disciples' competition came to a complete end, and the rankings were determined.

Ye Feng: First place, undefeated in nine battles

Yang Fan: Second, eight wins out of nine games.

Ding Xiu: Third, seven wins out of nine.

Yu Man: Fourth, five wins out of nine games

...

With the battles of the mid-stage Qi Refining disciples coming to an end, the competition is also nearing its conclusion. Only a few are still in the later stages of their matches and have finished their competitions. Next up is the awards ceremony...

Ye Feng waited expectantly with the others in the same spot.

Just then, several Foundation Establishment deacons floated over from the outside.

"Liu Bin, I am Murong Bai, a Foundation Establishment Steward from the External Affairs Hall. Would you be willing to become my disciple and take me as your master?"

"Disciple...Disciple is willing!!"

Liu Bin's face lit up with ecstasy, and he immediately prostrated himself in worship.

The others, who didn't have masters, showed anticipation on their faces; even Ye Feng couldn't help but feel a little excited.

I'm going to become an apprentice myself!!

From now on, you can call for help when you need it; that's what people call having a powerful backer!

I wonder who would accept me as a disciple...

"Yang Fan, I am Li Wentai from the Enforcement Hall. Would you be willing to become my disciple and take me as your master?"

"This disciple is willing!"

“Wu Yong...”

...

In the blink of an eye, the three were taken away, and several Foundation Establishment deacons turned and went to the edge of the arena.

There were also about a hundred spectators there.

Some people, even if they lost, still performed exceptionally well and had the opportunity to be accepted as disciples.

I never expected that my first place wouldn't be taken away first.

He had originally been thinking about whether he should try to refuse if he was taken to the Enforcement Hall.

After all, once you get to the Enforcement Hall, every day is filled with various spell practice and tactical training.

Semi-military management means he can't make money, so it's definitely not suitable for him.

I was surprised that I wasn't invited by the Enforcement Hall.

Ye Feng glanced at the remaining people and felt relieved. The Hundred Arts would definitely be taking on apprentices later; no matter which master they chose, it wouldn't interfere with their alchemy...

"Senior brother, I'm leaving now. My master is over there!"

After an hour of rest, Yu Man had recovered and started talking to Ye Feng again.

This guy, on the surface, is the senior brother, but once he gets the upper hand in the fight, he immediately transforms into the senior sister.

Unless he is offered tangible benefits first, Ye Feng will never believe her.

Ye Feng looked at her and nodded without saying anything.

But after only a moment, he lost his composure.

Why has everyone left?

Only Ye Feng and referee Jiang Wei remained in place.

The two looked at each other in bewilderment.

"Don't worry, you're the champion of the competition, someone will definitely take you as their disciple."

Strictly speaking, Jiang Wei actually quite liked this kid, even though he was a bit of a show-off.

But in a major competition, who wouldn't want to stand out?

"Once you are accepted as a disciple at the Foundation Establishment stage, your treatment will be the same as that of an inner disciple. As long as you don't have the most useless mixed spiritual root, you will have a great chance of reaching the Foundation Establishment stage in the future."

Now only the two of them were waiting. Although Jiang Wei didn't know why no one had come to take Ye Feng away, he still offered some words of comfort.

However, this consolation was a bit too much for Ye Feng to bear.

Could it be because of my spiritual root?

Anything below three spiritual roots is considered a mixed spiritual root.

The worst mixed spiritual root... generally refers to a low-grade three spiritual roots.

He, on the other hand, possessed only a dozen or twenty points of the four spiritual roots at a low level, totaling less than a hundred.

That's fucking ridiculous!

Sure enough, Ye Feng remained standing in the same spot until someone came to dismantle the ring and clear the space.

Whispers came from not far away.

"Why doesn't the winner of that competition take on any apprentices?"

"Yeah, that's strange. Could it be that they've done something wrong?"

"You guys don't know yet, do you? This Ye Feng actually has four mixed spiritual roots, and they're all low-grade!"

"ah?"

...

Jiang Wei glanced helplessly at Ye Feng. Ye Feng could hear the surrounding whispers, so Jiang Wei naturally took them all in.

I didn't expect Ye Feng's spiritual root to be so poor.

Theoretically speaking, with such poor spiritual roots, it would be extremely difficult to even advance to the outer sect in the menial tasks area, let alone cultivate spells and win first place in the grand competition.

But Ye Feng is just such an anomaly.

Next, the awards ceremony will take place.

Led by Jiang Wei, Ye Feng stood at the forefront of the mid-stage disciples.

The others, led by their respective masters, also took their places below.

"Our Qingyun Sect... hopes that all disciples will carry on the torch and make the sect great and glorious."

After Qingsong finished speaking, he began presenting the awards, personally awarding the first prize to each winner.

Seeing that the referee standing next to Ye Feng was the same one as before, even Ye Feng, who was usually calm and collected, couldn't help but be taken aback for a moment.

He had overheard the earlier scramble among the Foundation Establishment cultivators, but he hadn't expected that the mixed spiritual root would deter everyone from competing for it.

"There are still some rare and precious materials in this world that can enhance one's spiritual roots. I will continue to work hard in the future!"

Qingsong handed the items to Ye Feng and offered him some words of encouragement.

Ye Feng's face lit up with excitement, his expression radiating positivity.

Of course, I was also very excited.

The 8,000 spirit stones are all in the storage belt that was given to me. The mid-grade magic sword is worth about 800 to 1,000.

With the spirit stones I had left, I can really go all out now!

"Inner disciples, step forward to pay homage to the ancestral master!"

...

Even as Ye Feng left, he could still hear the sounds coming from inside the main hall.

"...Protect the sect...Respect teachers and value the Way...Be ready to sacrifice everything for the sect at any time!"

The people inside also showed complicated expressions towards Ye Feng.

Looking at the scene before her, the Primordial Saintess Xiao Xuan couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

The sect's top scorer in the grand competition... failed to enter the inner sect.

"Senior sister...that guy is so pitiful."

Xiao Xuan shook her head, signaling her to be quiet. This was a matter for the Qingyun Sect itself; outsiders interfering would change the nature of the situation.

Even if you say it, it won't work...

"This competition has come to a successful conclusion!"

...

Ye Feng felt a deep sense of desolation as he walked away!

Zeng Yuan is also missing; he probably went somewhere to receive an award.

The next time I climb this mountain will be when I'm in the late stage of Qi Refining and about to enter the inner sect.

Although I can improve at any time, the tallest tree in the forest is bound to be felled by the wind.

If one leaves the sect and lacks a fundamental cultivation method, all advancements will be tenfold or even a hundredfold.

Even if you have to leave, you must first learn alchemy. Once you have the ability to make money, you won't be afraid to go anywhere!

Thinking of this, Ye Feng's mood improved.

Now that you've registered at the outer gate, you can leave the mountain.

I wonder what Afu's expression will be when he sees himself promoted to outer sect...

"Ye Feng!"

A clear, crisp female voice rang out.

Ye Feng turned around in confusion. Apart from Yu Man, whom he had just met, he didn't know any other female cultivators.

It's her!