Chapter 256: The First Scene

Day 1 of the competition

Han Yueshan and others got up before dawn. They rushed to the competition venue, but found it was full of people.

There are eight realms from the Foundation Establishment Stage to the Nascent Soul Stage, and each has a corresponding competition arena.

Xi Jing had already gone to the preparation area, and the others could only stand outside.

Zhao Xue complained, "It's not as clear as the shadow ball here."

Tao Zi said: "No matter how unclear it is, we have to stand here. Xi Jing will feel at ease knowing that we are here."

He also understood this principle, so he stopped talking about it.

Han Yueshan looked around and suddenly said, "There are so few people on the physical training side."

Li Xiu said: "This is normal."

Zhao Xue said excitedly: "Great, this way we can stand in front and watch Senior Sister."

At this time, the cry of cranes resounded through the sky, and everyone turned their heads to look.

Several white cranes, carrying people from the three sects and four schools, slowly landed on the ground.

Everyone spontaneously made way for them. Led by their elders, senior brothers and sisters, they came slowly and took their seats in the front - the Sword Sect had specially arranged seats for them.

Tao Zi supported Li Xiu, who was nearly falling down due to the crowding. Han Yueshan said with emotion, "Fortunately, they are not on the side of the independent cultivators, otherwise we would have to stand further out."

"The competition venues for the independent cultivators and the sect disciples are too close to each other. Many people who are clearly sect disciples are standing on the independent cultivators' side to watch the competition."

Tao Zi heard a familiar complaining voice, turned around and saw that it was that unlucky monk.

The monk also saw her and waved in surprise, "Daoyou!"

Tao Zi smiled and nodded in greeting.

Han Yueshan asked in confusion, "Senior Sister, do you know him?"

"Let's go together for a while."

The unlucky monk and his companion squeezed over and asked, "Fellow Daoist Tao, are you having a competition today?"

"No."

He scratched his head and nodded, "That's right, if there is one, fellow Taoist should be inside."

They got to know each other and exchanged pleasantries until a bell rang and everyone fell silent.

Xi Jing was the first competition for the casual cultivators on the first day.

"San Xiu Xi Jing, similar to Fu Xiu, the first level of foundation building!"

"Xu Ming, a casual cultivator, has reached the second level of foundation building!"

After someone read out the identities of the two people coming on stage, Xi Jing and her opponent walked up.

A transparent light curtain rose around the competition stage, and both sides saluted.

The clear and urgent bell rang again, and Tao Zi looked at Xi Jing from afar.

She didn't make the first move. After waiting there for ten seconds, Xu Ming couldn't help but make the first move.

Han Yueshan murmured, "Xu Ming, second level foundation building, good at defense."

Their plan was to wait for the defenders to take the first action, as they were afraid that the news was false, after all, someone would deliberately release false news.

Xi Jing did not use the talisman directly - even for a talisman master, there are restrictions on the talismans that can be brought to the competition stage - only those talismans that cannot be made on the spot are allowed.

However, this type of talisman is generally of a higher level, and even if it can be used, there are various restrictions - to prevent a Foundation Establishment Stage talisman master from preparing talismans made by a Nascent Soul Stage talisman master in advance.

In general, there are so many rules that people once privately complained that the Sword Sect was too cautious.

Tao Zi watched Xu Ming's moves several times and knew that this man was no match for Xi Jing.

Sure enough, Xi Jing knocked Xu Ming down without even using any spells.

He jumped up again, looking unhappy. He originally thought that the opponent was not as strong as him, so he gave up the advantageous attack. He never expected that the opponent was stronger than him.

This time it was Xi Jing's turn to initiate the attack. Xu Ming was unable to defend himself and could only rely on dodging to hold on.

Tao Zi said: "This person is a typical independent cultivator."

The unlucky monk looked over and uttered a puzzled sound: "Huh?"

"There are no talismans, only magical instruments—and they are of the first or second grade."

The unlucky cultivator was silent for a moment, then muttered, "Most casual cultivators are like this during the Foundation Establishment Stage."

“That’s why I say typical.”

Han Yueshan smiled and joked, "Then we are atypical!"

"Ah?" The unlucky monk looked at him.

"We have our senior sister protecting us."

The monk questioned: "If there is a senior sister, there should be a master."

He was silent.

The unfortunate cultivator's companion suddenly realized and said, "Yes, there are some ordinary sects that participate in the competition under the guise of independent cultivators, but the number of people from such sects generally does not exceed five. If it is higher, the Sword Sect will notice something is wrong."

Han Yueshan asked curiously, "How did you notice it?"

"When you register as independent cultivators, don't you have to press a large stone? The big sects use that stone to determine whether a person is an independent cultivator or not."

Tao Zi put it more accurately: "The incense of master and disciple reaches the heavens, and it will leave traces in the dark. The stone can sense fellow disciples. If the sect has too few people, there is a certain chance that it will not be detected."

Han Yueshan almost couldn't remember when the stone appeared, but Zhao Xue seemed to be thinking: "Then can we find the origin of the first master through the master-disciple incense?"

The unlucky monk was furious: "Who needs to look for this thing? It's not in the family tree?"

He was speechless, it seemed.

As they were talking, Xi Jing had already won. She happily stepped down from the stage and rushed towards them.

Looking at her jumping figure, Tao Zi's eyes softened.

Han Yueshan happily opened his arms: "Junior sister, give me a hug!"

Xi Jing ignored him mercilessly and threw herself into her senior sister's arms: "Senior sister, I'm awesome, right?"

Tao Zi touched her hair and said, "Well, that's amazing. We'll have something delicious to eat later."

"yeah!"

Xi Jing's face was full of pride. She won the first competition!

Tao Zi touched her head, and the unlucky monk's companion suddenly asked, "What realm is your master at?"

"Foundation Establishment Stage." Han Yueshan paused, realizing what he was thinking, and continued, "My master is irresponsible and disappeared several years ago. We were brought all the way here by my senior sister."

Zhao Xue listened to his senior brother's explanation and understood what was going on. He then said, "Yes, when he disappeared, we were only in the Body Refining Stage. If it weren't for my senior sister, we would have died long ago."

The man's expression softened slightly, and he said, "No wonder it wasn't detected."

The unlucky monk laughed carelessly and said, "In that case, you are no different from casual cultivators."

Tao Zi looked at them and smiled, "We'll leave first. See you in the afternoon."

Han Yueshan's competition is in the afternoon.

The unlucky monk asked in confusion, "Hey, don't you guys want to watch the competition later? Know yourself and know your enemy!"

She smiled and shook her head: "Go back and watch the photo ball."

"That's right."

They walked away.

Xi Jing held onto her senior sister's arm and chirped, "Senior sister, I didn't even use the talisman!"

"Xi Jing is amazing."

Han Yueshan joked, "It took you three quarters of an hour to solve it. I must be faster than you."

"Hmph, wait and see."

The senior and junior brothers started arguing again. Tao Zi did not try to stop them, but just watched with a smile.

Li Xiu whispered, "Yue Shan's opponent this afternoon is at the fourth level of foundation building, so there's no need to worry."

"indeed."

Indeed, Han Yueshan defeated his opponent within a quarter of an hour and won the competition.

The moment he won, he looked at his senior sisters, junior brothers and junior sisters in the distance with a smile.