Chapter 3 Rebirth (Part 3) What will be the disciple of the good-for-nothing Jiuqu Chen...?

There are countless methods and techniques in the world today, with all sorts of cultivation methods emerging one after another.

However, people always have their own preferences, and what is easiest to learn is usually the most popular. Over time, the number of favored cultivation resources increases, creating a cycle.

For example, in the world where Qingxing lives, there are all kinds of cultivation, but the most mainstream are still the six types: sword, puppet, talisman, medicine, body, and formation.

These six categories are the main subjects taught by various sects.

However, with more people learning, a hierarchy will emerge among the six disciplines. The one that occupies the highest position and is chosen by the most people is naturally the sword—after all, the youthful spirit of "one sword chilling fourteen provinces" has always been admired by people.

The one whose selection rate is decreasing and which is called "beautiful waste" by the disciples is none other than "Array".

The reason is simple—it's too difficult.

Array cultivators need to memorize many incantations, but the powerful ancient incantations are often difficult to pronounce and mostly lost, while the easy-to-remember incantations can only play a weak role. Over time, "array cultivators" have gradually been marginalized and become a magic system that can only play a supporting role.

He can draw a formation for anyone who has reached the Foundation Establishment stage by randomly grabbing them from the roadside.

But there are almost none who have truly mastered the art of formations to its fullest extent.

So when Gudako was helping Qingxing make a choice, she deliberately skipped the "array cultivator" option and focused on explaining the "sword cultivator" option in detail.

“Golden-patterned sword, yellow talisman paper, wooden puppet…” Qingxing carefully counted the magical artifacts on the table, her gaze sweeping over each one before finally settling on the dull wooden divine bead. “Aren’t you really going to consider learning array formations?”

"Take it, take it." Gudako replied perfunctorily, pressing her palm against the golden-patterned sword as if testing its quality. "This sword is not bad! Let me see you swing it a couple of times!"

Qingxing carefully put away the Wood God Pearl, then spread her right hand, and the Golden Pattern Sword flashed for a moment before flying into her hand.

She closed her eyes, raised the sword above her head, and then quickly swung it downwards.

The sword wind was fierce, instantly creating a crack wherever it passed, barely stopping at a small blade of grass at the end.

"Yes, yes!"

Guda flew around Qingxing once, very excited, thinking: She usually doesn't show off, but her strength is not bad!

Qingxing remained unmoved. She had no special affinity for swordsmanship and always felt awkward wielding it. Looking at the superior golden-patterned sword in her hand, Qingxing felt a slight regret: "I have a wood elemental root, so I can't bring this sword to its full potential."

"No problem, no problem, I'll just find a good wood-attribute sword later." Guda flew to Qingxing's shoulder and perched there. "Wood spirit root, we can practice medicine too, and poison the villains!"

Qingxing hesitated for a moment: "But I can't possibly use poisonous herbs against Su Lin, can I?"

Perhaps after returning home, Su Lin couldn't shake off his anger, so an hour ago, he specially sent Bai Lu to Tingyu Garden to challenge Qing Xing to a duel.

Of course, he didn't just send one egret; Qingxing suspected that he had summoned every bird with white feathers from the entire Taihua Mountain.

A group of white creatures rushed into the sky above Tingyu Garden, chattering loudly and making quite a scene. Qingxing didn't want to pay attention, but Guda had a sudden idea and said that martial arts competitions were the fastest way to test cultivation talent, urging her to agree and try to find the most suitable magic system tonight.

Aside from formal competitions like the inner sect tests, there are few rules for disciples challenging each other to duels in Taihua Mountain. Each person can carry multiple magical artifacts and use any method—as long as they are not evil cultivators, they can win.

Thus, the scene of the two choosing magical artifacts came to be.

"Given his appearance, even the most poisonous one couldn't be too bad." Gudako waved her hand dismissively. "Let's try out the six major magic systems tonight!"

Qingxing looked at the pile of high-level magical artifacts and said, "Isn't it a bit too much to bring so many magical artifacts?"

Gudako recalled Su Lin's behavior this morning and felt that if the target was him, it did seem a bit like bullying.

"Then pick two that you're most comfortable using on a daily basis?"

“Actually, I think,” Qingxing hesitated, “it would be enough to just try the sword, body, and formation techniques.”

As for the remaining three categories... she had practiced them before, but she really didn't like them and always felt restricted.

"Alright."

Gudako nodded, accepting her suggestion. After all, if Qingxing didn't like it, even with high talent, it would be difficult to achieve anything significant.

Su Lin's duel is scheduled for around 5 PM, at the martial arts arena on the back of Qiyun Peak.

Because of the big-mouthed egret that had been spreading the word throughout the day, everyone on Qiyun Peak now knows that Su Lin and Qingxing will have a duel tonight. So some people came to the back mountain early, hoping to join in the fun.

However, they didn't want to see Su Lin; he was always either challenging others to fights or on his way to one, like a fighting cock. What interested them most was Qing Xing, Jiu Qu Chen's closed-door disciple.

Jiu Qu Chen is a well-known figure in Taihua Mountain for his connections. He was qualified to take on disciples because of his blood relation with the sect leader's younger brother. However, after having disciples, he did not strive for improvement and spent his days eating, drinking, and having fun. His cultivation level barely remained at the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm.

Of course, being in the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm isn't insignificant, but among the elders of the Deity Transformation realm, it's clearly not enough; one could even call it a good-for-nothing.

So, what kind of person would the incompetent apprentice be?

Qingxing doesn't usually socialize much, and this is her first time accepting a challenge. Coupled with the previous rumors of Su Lin's unrequited love for her, everyone is eager to see the outcome of this competition.

So when Qingxing arrived at the back mountain, the entire training ground was packed with people, and there were even disciples flying swords in the sky, lining up to watch the excitement.

With Guda in tow, Qingxing pushed her way forward expressionlessly, saying "Excuse me, please make way" as she reached out to push through the crowd. She even wondered: Is half of Qiyun Peak here?

As soon as Su Lin arrived at the martial arts arena, he lit an incense stick and stood by the platform waiting for Qingxing. The incense was already half-burned, but Qingxing still hadn't arrived.

He was never a patient person to begin with, and now he was even more anxious, but he couldn't just rush into Tingyu Garden and grab the person; that would be too embarrassing.

The disciples below the stage began to murmur: Could it be that Qingxing knew she couldn't win and simply stood them up?

After all, Su Lin, as the sect leader's disciple, does possess some strength.

"Hey, here it comes! Qingxing is here!"

A surprised voice came from across the training ground. Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw Qingxing being squeezed so tightly by the disciples that her face was almost distorted. She struggled to raise her hand, as if she wanted to speak.

People around her immediately made way for her. Qingxing breathed a sigh of relief and quickly went to the martial arts stage to unload the bundle on her back.

"I told you I was flying over." Guda rested her head on her shoulder, her tone full of resentment. "Now look what happened, we've made a huge fool of ourselves."

"It's alright." Qingxing comforted it while squatting down and taking out the golden-patterned sword from her bundle. "At least we weren't late."

Su Lin waited there for half an incense stick's time, watching his opponent arrive, only to be ignored and even take out various high-level magical artifacts right in front of him. He was immediately enraged and struck the bronze bell in the training ground with his sword.

With a loud "boom," the bell rang throughout the entire venue.

What are you doing? Are you still going to compete or not?!

"We must compete." Qingxing finally took out the wooden god bead from the bottom. She looked up at Su Lin and pointed to the unburnt incense. "Isn't it time yet? Senior brother, don't be impatient."

"you!"

Su Lin felt a lump in his throat, unable to swallow or spit it out. He glanced at the bundle Qingxing had placed on the ground and sneered, "Junior Sister, you really are a servant by birth. You even use a tattered bag to carry high-level magic artifacts. It's such a waste."

Qingxing: "There's nothing I can do. Master only gave me the magical artifacts, not the bag."

She genuinely felt that Su Lin's words made no mistake, and her reply was also the truth without any emotion. It seemed that Jiu Qu Chen had never considered the issue of carrying the magic weapon when he threw it to her.

But those words struck a nerve with Su Lin. He snorted coldly, his forehead throbbing.

The disciples below the stage were captivated by the dazzling aura of the wealthy man, their curiosity about Qingxing growing even stronger—this man spoke in a seemingly indifferent manner, but in reality, his words were sharp and insidious, making people feel uneasy all over! He was also like a live mudfish, impossible to catch!

“Hey, if you ask me, this Junior Sister Qingxing is probably just like her master, with only mediocre skills!” Disciple A said, stroking his chin.

Disciple B retorted, "I think Junior Sister Qingxing's words and actions are unpredictable, and she seems to have a deep mind."

Disciple A was displeased: "Are you deliberately contradicting me?"

Disciple B: "Hey, why are you so serious about this!"

Disciple A held out his hand: "I bet fifty spirit stones, Su Linsheng! Do you dare?"

Disciple B: "Alright! Let's bet! I'll bet a hundred, Qingxing wins!"

With the two of them setting an example, the other disciples followed suit, taking out their month's savings to join in the fun.

Many people support Qingxing, but overall, Su Lin still has a higher percentage.

When the incense had burned out, the supervisor landed his sword in the center of the training ground, waved his hand, and made a sound amplification note so that the entire training ground could hear his voice.

"Su Lin, the seventeenth disciple under the sect leader, is fighting against Qing Xing, a disciple of Jiu Qu Chen Guan Sect."

"The first player to step out of the stage loses within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn; the match decides the winner!"

Boom—

The bronze bell suddenly rang, and the training ground fell silent instantly.

Qingxing closed her eyes, gripped the golden-patterned sword, and carefully sensed the flow of spiritual energy around her.

Su Lin is a sword cultivator, with the earth element, and is currently at the ninth level of Foundation Establishment. In terms of cultivation level alone, he is five levels above Qingxing.

The two on stage did not make any moves, but the disciples watching from below held their breath.

brush--

Su Lin made the first move. He stepped on the ground, his spiritual energy surging around him, and slashed at Qingxing with his sword.

Someone let out a soft "Oh," Su Lin's move was swift and decisive, and it carried 70% of his power. If one were to meet it head-on, there would likely be a risk of having one's tiger's mouth cracked.

For a moment, everyone stared intently at Qingxing, wanting to see how she would respond.

The golden-patterned sword in her hand hummed. Qingxing glanced at the surging spiritual energy wrapped around Su Lin's sword and guessed that she had never systematically learned swordsmanship and was all self-taught, so she should not be able to withstand this move.

However, this challenge was merely a test. After pondering for a moment, Qingxing slowly released her spiritual power, and strands of green energy wrapped around the golden-patterned sword, emitting a faint light.

As Su Lin's sword wind swept in, Qingxing felt the pressure emanating from the higher level. She raised her sword to parry, and the two sword energies collided, causing Qingxing's tiger's mouth to ache from the impact.

The two remained locked in a stalemate, unable to determine who was superior for the time being.

"Junior Sister Qingxing, admit defeat."

As Su Lin spoke, he unceremoniously applied spiritual power to his hands. In the instant the two swords clashed, he had already figured out Qingxing's strength.

She didn't understand swordsmanship and blindly parried the attacks. She could only maintain her strength temporarily by relying on the spiritual power within her body. Once Su Lin exerted his full strength, Qingxing's fate would be only one—to collapse on the stage with serious injuries.

Just when she was about to avenge her previous defeat, Su Lin smirked and thought: I really have to thank my good-for-nothing master. He didn't teach me anything. So what if I have magical artifacts? I still lost to him!

"no."

Qingxing rejected his provocation and directly drew her golden-patterned sword. With a "sizzle," spiritual energy erupted on the stage, forcing the disciples who were closer to the stage to take a few steps back to avoid being affected.

After a flash of white light, everyone opened their eyes to find the training ground transformed—Su Lin stood to the side, sword in hand, his hair ribbon cut in half. Qing Xing knelt on the ground, blood smeared at the corner of her mouth, her golden-patterned sword still in her hand.

The disciple who had previously spoken ill of Qingxing immediately laughed upon seeing this: "I knew Qingxing was just like her master!"

He's already vomiting blood after just the first move!

He didn't try to lower his voice; it was loud enough for the two people on stage to hear. Guda glared at him angrily, while Su Lin became even more arrogant, raising his sword and swinging it again.

"Junior sister, your senior brother will cover the cost of your wound treatment!"

Qingxing remained expressionless. She raised her hand to wipe the blood from the corner of her mouth, and in full view of everyone, she threw away the golden-patterned sword and took out a dark green bead.

The beads were dull and had nothing special about them.

Everyone: ?

What is this for?!

Guda, who was still perched on Qingxing's shoulder, looked on with a "wow" expression.

As Su Lin's sword tip touched the top of Qingxing's head, some people in the audience opened their mouths wide, thinking: Could it be that Qingxing only realized she couldn't beat him now, so she gave up on herself?

Just like her incompetent master, she has absolutely no skills!

Some disciples were already feeling the pain of losing the spirit stones they had gambled away, but unexpectedly, something happened in the next moment that surprised everyone.

Qingxing looked up, and a sudden gust of wind swept by, blowing her hair ribbon. The wooden god pearl in Qingxing's hand burst forth with a dazzling blue light, and everything seemed to freeze in time. Su Lin's sword wind stopped just above her head.

Qingxing reached out and lightly touched the tip of the sword.

She said calmly, "Senior brother, you flatter me."

Thud—

Green flames erupted beneath Su Lin's feet, and the disciples below watched in disbelief as he vanished into thin air.

A note from the author:

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The book's progression is: Qi Refining – Foundation Establishment – ​​Golden Core – Nascent Soul – Deity Transformation – Mahayana – Tribulation Transcending.

The 101st level of Qi Refining is Foundation Establishment.

The Foundation Establishment stage has ten levels, and the eleventh level is the Golden Core stage.