Chapter 319 Half-Demon Fox's Black Moonlight Monk 20

In the spectator seats, the various sect leaders sat tall and imposing, their gazes fixed on every detail of the match. As the host, Li Yizhi sat in the center.

Behind Li Yizhi stood a tall and straight man holding a long sword. The man's name was Yang Qingyi, Li Yizhi's fifth disciple and the last disciple of the Tianjian Sect in the Jindan stage competition.

Yang Qingyi glanced at his master cautiously, only to see that his master's face was stern, and he was obviously unhappy that he had just lost the Jindan stage competition.

Yang Qingyi lowered his head, feeling uneasy. Even his breathing became cautious, not daring to make any sound. Fortunately, the new junior sister Wu Jieying defeated Xie Yan, and the master's expression eased slightly.

Xie Yan stood on the round platform, his figure stretched out in the afterglow of the setting sun. He gripped the long sword tightly in his hand, his fingertips turning blue and white from exerting too much force. He fell into self-doubt. How could he lose?

The elder of Lingxiao Sect slowly stepped forward, his hand resting on Xie Yan's shoulder with the generosity and warmth of an elder.

"The road of cultivation is long and full of challenges, and there will always be setbacks and failures. You are still young. If you lose heart over such a small matter, how will you cope with greater challenges in the future?"

Xie Yan raised his head, his gaze becoming firm again. He sensed the profound meaning in the elder's words.

"Thank you for your advice, Elder. I understand. This failure will only make me work harder. I will never be discouraged by this, but will turn it into motivation to move forward."

Upon hearing this, the elder's eyes flashed with relief. He knew that Xie Yan had grasped the true meaning of cultivation. "Great! With this mindset, you will surely surpass your current self and reach new heights in the future."

Xie Yan looked into the distance. This time, there was no confusion in his eyes. Instead, there was only determination for the future and a desire to practice.

In contrast, Yang Qingyi was filled with depression and frustration. He had practiced for so long, yet he still came in second. His master must be very disappointed in him!

…

In this sect competition, five of the top ten in the Golden Core Stage came from the Lingxiao Sect. Fortunately, the first in the Foundation Establishment Stage came from the Tianjian Sect, which finally made Li Yizhi feel a little better.

After the people from the various sects left, Li Yizhi called Wu Jieying over and asked her, "According to the rules of our Tianjian Sect, you can make a request of me. Tell me, what do you want?"

Wu Jieying bowed in the direction of Li Yizhi and said seriously: "My sister is still in the outer gate, I want her to enter the inner gate."

Li Yizhi frowned, "Are you sure you don't want to go to the Sword Tomb? Everyone can only participate in the sect competition once. This means that before you reach the Golden Core stage, you will not be able to enter the Sword Tomb and take your natal sword."

Wu Jieying nodded without hesitation, "I'm sure."

Li Yizhi looked at Wu Jieying with a hint of disappointment. The Way of Mercy required practitioners to abandon all emotional attachments, remaining calm and focused, in order to achieve further progress in the Dao.

Wu Jieying possesses a rare and top-grade ice spiritual root, which makes her naturally suitable for practicing the ruthless way, but she is addicted to worldly family affection.

Having talent but not being able to utilize it is such a waste! How wonderful it would be if such spiritual roots were his!

Shen Xinran had just left the medicinal field and was about to return to her residence when she ran into Gao Liming. She only heard Gao Liming say to her, "The Sect Master wants to see you. Come with me!"

Shen Xinran probably guessed why Li Yizhi was looking for her, so she didn't ask any more questions and just followed Gao Liming.

The atmosphere in the meeting hall was solemn and dignified. Li Yizhi sat at the head of the table, his face stern and his eyes revealing an unchallenged majesty. The elders of the Heavenly Sword Sect sat on either side.

Shen Xinran followed Gao Liming inside. Li Yizhi's cold voice echoed in the room: "Your sister won first place in this competition. She wants you to enter the inner gate. What do you think?"

Li Yizhi's original intention was to make Shen Xinran give up.

But Shen Xinran smiled and said, "Thank you, sister, for giving me this opportunity. I am deeply honored."

Li Yizhi said in a threatening tone, "You have five spiritual roots. After entering the inner sect, if no elder is willing to accept you as a disciple, you can only be a nominal disciple. Even so, are you willing?"

Shen Xinran smiled and replied, "I believe that as long as I work hard enough, the five spiritual roots can also bloom with dazzling light."

Li Yizhi frowned and said in a deep voice, "It just so happens that all the elders are here. If anyone thinks she's suitable, take her back."

As soon as Li Yizhi finished speaking, the elder of the First Peak frowned and said, "Let me make it clear first, I don't want a loser with five spiritual roots."

The elder from the second peak followed up, "I don't want it either. We sword cultivators already have limited resources. How can we give them to a useless person with five spiritual roots?"

The elder of the third peak: "The third peak is already full..."

The elders from the first peak to the ninth peak all expressed their rejection of Shen Xinran.

Shen Xinran was not surprised by this, because Wu Qingge in the plot was also despised in this way and could only clean the inner gate in the end.

At this moment, Qiao Nangen from the Eleventh Peak spoke up: "If no one wants to take her in, let her come to the Eleventh Peak!"

Shen Xinran looked in the direction of the voice and saw an elder wearing a gray robe. Unlike the other elders, his face was covered with wrinkles, which were the natural signs of aging.

Li Yizhi asked, "What kind of disciple do you want her to be?"

Qiao Nangen said casually: "Just be a true disciple!"

Everyone present was shocked when these words came out. Because in the inner sect, not only elders had ranks, but disciples also had ranks. From registered disciples, personal disciples, inner disciples, to true disciples.

True disciples cannot be accepted randomly, because they are like one's own children, and the teacher must teach them everything he has learned throughout his life. Qiao Nangen only accepted three true disciples in his life.

Li Yizhi frowned, a hint of warning in his voice. "You have to think carefully, she only has five spiritual roots."

Qiao Nangen glanced at Shen Xinran with a faint expression, "It's okay, it looks like all its limbs are still intact, as long as it can make a fire."

Shen Xinran was also stunned. How could this be different from the plot? She raised her hand and asked cautiously, "Can I refuse?"

After all, true disciples often hear that there is a lot of work but little pay.

This made Tang Liangchen, who was still standing by, laugh out loud. "Of course you can. If you reject him, you can come directly to our Tenth Peak. I can accept you as my disciple."

The tenth peak? Then the man before him must be Yi Xiaoyue's master. The one who'd spent a thousand spirit stones on the Black Hair Rejuvenation Pill!

Shen Xinran was moved.

Qiao Nangen's face darkened. He stood up and cursed at Tang Liangchen, "Why, you still want to snatch my disciple from me!"

After he finished speaking, he turned to look at Shen Xinran and angrily scolded: “And you, after reading my book, you still want to recognize someone else as your master!”

Book? What book?

Shen Xinran was even more surprised. Suddenly, an idea flashed in her mind: could it be the book that Senior Sister Yi gave her?

After a moment of silence, Shen Xinran said, "Can I give you a small suggestion? You should practice calligraphy more in the future!"

Qiao Nangen was so angry that he raised his hand and slapped Shen Xinran's shoulder fiercely, "Letting you see my true teachings is already a gift to you, and you actually dare to despise my ugly handwriting!"

Shen Xinran sighed, because the handwriting in that book was really ugly, dancing, as if it was written by a three-year-old child. It looked like she had copied it down almost by guessing.

Qiao Nangen put his hands behind his back and snorted coldly, "I'll give you one day to go back and pack your things. Report to the Eleventh Peak tomorrow!"

Shen Xinran: “…”

Doesn't this even give her a chance to refuse?