As the Newcomer Competition began, all the Foundation Establishment stage novices from all over Lingzhou flocked to the venue—Yunqi City.
However, this competition is quite stingy. During the preliminary and semi-final rounds, contestants are responsible for their own food and lodging. Only when they reach the final eight will the organizer, Yunqi City Lord, provide food and lodging.
Before setting off, Shen Zhaozhao clung to the doorframe of the alchemy room, looking pitiful: "Second Senior Brother, are you really not coming with me to support me? What if someone beats me up?"
Xiao Jingrui was slowly flicking a few strangely colored pills into the furnace. Hearing this, he didn't even turn his head: "No, I recently found a fool and I'm planning to swindle spirit stones from him. I can't get away."
Shen Zhaozhao: "..."
How fragile their camaraderie is!
While she was still internally ranting and raving, Xiao Jingrui casually tossed her a small jade bottle.
Shen Zhaozhao instinctively caught it, pulled off the stopper and looked inside—three pills lay quietly at the bottom of the bottle, translucent and white, with clear and engraved patterns, their surfaces shimmering with a warm, flowing light, and a rich, vibrant medicinal fragrance instantly filled the air.
Nine-Turn Life-Extending Pill?
It's rumored to be a top-tier life-saving elixir that can keep someone alive as long as they have a breath left, buying them time for treatment. And this one looks absolutely amazing, the kind that's priceless and unavailable!
Shen Zhaozhao's eyes widened instantly: "Second Senior Brother, this..."
She struck it rich?!
Xiao Jingrui finally turned around, his handsome face showing a hint of weariness. He pressed his temples and said meaningfully, "I'm afraid you'll cause me trouble everywhere. If you mess someone up too badly and they die on the spot, I'll give you one of these. At least it will save their lives and prevent their sect from attacking us, leaving me to clean up the mess."
Shen Zhaozhao's fingers, which were gripping the jade bottle, were trembling: "..."
That's really reliable! Their camaraderie as fellow students is amazing!
Yunqi City was bustling with activity.
In the center of the vast plaza stood a huge jade disc shimmering with azure light, topped with three large, elegant characters: "Qingyun List".
This is the real-time ranking list of all participating cultivators in this Newcomer Competition. The list will be automatically updated based on the current cultivation level of each person who successfully signs in and registers.
Shen Zhaozhao squeezed into the crowd, standing on tiptoe to peek at the list.
As expected, the top of the list was entirely composed of direct disciples from the five top sects. The cultivation levels indicated after their names were at least at the fifth level of Foundation Establishment, with the top few even reaching the seventh or eighth level of Foundation Establishment.
A dozen or so people below them were scattered among a few disciples from other medium-sized sects, whose cultivation levels were mostly hovering around the third or fourth level of Foundation Establishment.
In the cultivation world of Lingzhou, top sects almost monopolize all the top-tier spirit mines, secret realms, and rare treasures. With such abundant resources, their disciples have a significant advantage over others from the start.
Do small sects and independent cultivators want to stand out at such a grand event?
It's as difficult as climbing to heaven.
However, just as Shen Zhaozhao was about to step forward and announce the name of her sect, which was extremely embarrassing, a commotion suddenly broke out in the crowd behind her, accompanied by several suppressed gasps.
She turned around at the sound.
Gu Xuanchen.
The chief disciple of the Tianyan Sect, dressed in a black brocade robe, stood tall and straight like a pine tree. He was protecting Yun Wan'er. Surrounded by a group of Tianyan Sect disciples, they made their way through the crowded throng like Moses parting the sea, heading straight for the registration office.
As the undisputed top sect in Lingzhou, Tianyan Sect had its elders all recuperating in their caves, but Gu Xuanchen, the sect leader's personal disciple at the Great Perfection of the Golden Core stage, was significant enough to represent the sect at the event.
As he stood in front of the registration desk, the invisible aura of a powerful figure emanating from him quieted the previously noisy surroundings.
The cultivator in charge of registration straightened his back instantly upon seeing him, his face filled with utmost respect, and his voice trembled with a hint of flattery: "Senior Brother Gu, why have you come in person? Please, please come in!"
Gu Xuanchen didn't even lift his eyelids, maintaining a haughty demeanor as if he were merely inspecting his own business.
He gracefully took out a jade slip from his bosom, its surface smooth and shimmering with a faint golden light, and casually placed it on the registration table.
The jade slip landed on the platform with a crisp, light sound, yet it seemed to carry an immense weight. "This is a handwritten note from my master, True Person Lingxiao."
Lingxiao Zhenren!
The moment those four words were uttered, even the air seemed to freeze for a moment.
That was the most promising powerhouse in Lingzhou to ascend to the Upper Realm, a figure whose mere stomp would shake the entire cultivation world. His own handwritten letter?!
The registered monk's face flushed red with excitement, and his hands trembled slightly, as if he were holding not a jade slip, but some rare treasure.
“My master said that the purpose of the Newcomer Competition is to select truly promising and capable up-and-coming talents, rather than focusing on superficial cultivation levels.”
His gaze swept casually over the disciples of the small and medium-sized sects and independent cultivators beside him, with a condescending scrutiny: "My master believes that although his personal disciple Yun Wan'er is currently at the ninth level of Qi Refining, her cultivation techniques, magical artifacts, and understanding of the Dao make her overall strength far surpass that of ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators."
"It would be unfair to exclude them simply because of their cultivation level; it would be a waste of true geniuses."
"Therefore, my teacher specifically instructed me to bring this letter with me."
Gu Xuanchen slightly raised his chin, pointing to the jade slip that exuded an aura of majesty, "I request that the organizers of this competition allow Junior Sister Wan'er to participate in the competition with her Qi Refining cultivation, challenging a Foundation Establishment disciple who is at a higher level."
"This is not an isolated case; it is a rectification of past wrongs, demonstrating the fair and just nature of the competition, and letting all cultivators in the world understand what true 'strength' is."
As soon as he finished speaking, the entire room fell silent.
Everyone understood the unspoken arrogance in the jade slip.
He is a direct disciple of Master Lingxiao. Even at the Qi Refining stage, he can easily defeat you Foundation Establishment stage players from your makeshift teams. Why are you preventing Qi Refining players from participating in the competition?
That's because you're ignorant!
It's you who are being unfair!
Now I, the Emperor, will personally open your eyes to what a true genius is!
Yun Wan'er shrank back behind Gu Xuanchen at the opportune moment, her face displaying a perfect balance of grievance and resilience, as if she had endured a tremendous injustice and was finally being vindicated.
Shen Zhaozhao stood in the crowd, rolling her eyes so hard they almost reached the back of her head.
fair?
Good grief, you're redefining fairness, huh?
This handwritten note is practically saying, "My disciple is awesome, all you trashy Foundation Establishment cultivators should step aside and make way for her."
Gu Xuanchen's words were so grand and righteous that the disciples of the Tianyan Sect were naturally silenced and dared not utter a single objection. Their gazes toward Yun Wan'er were even filled with pride and admiration.
However, other top sects had no intention of tolerating this blatant act of opening back doors.
"Oh."
A short, undisguised sneer suddenly pierced through the crowd.
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