Chapter 30 The Extinction of the Clan's Lineage
The Grand Elder said with displeasure, "Perhaps it's because we made a name for ourselves during our last trip to the forbidden area, and I suspect some sects in the alliance are holding their breath and want to use the competition to humiliate and suppress us!"
Ming Cang sighed inwardly. Every time there was a competition, their Peach Blossom Valley was always at the bottom, and he still had to put on a smiling face and exchange pleasantries with those old guys. Just thinking about it made him feel annoyed.
Xiao Huan said, "Sect Leader, I heard that the main events of the competition are all the geniuses of each sect... and there are also many secondary events. We don't have enough people..."
After the preliminary competition, the final competition will be held three months later. In the end, these people can only do odd jobs in the sect, and it is almost impossible for them to participate in the competition.
The disciples who can advance within the sect are nothing more than a few personal disciples such as Nan Muyin, Yu Qianling, and Cen Feng. If there is no one to replace them after a round of competition, wouldn't that be exhausting?
Ming Cang sighed and said, "So we'll only participate in the main events. The other competitions will be arranged depending on the situation. As long as our total score can get us into the top ten, that'll be fine!"
Cen Feng asked, "Why do you want to be in the top ten?"
"Because after the initial competition, only the top ten sects are qualified to enter a great secret realm, which contains things that the sects urgently need."
Upon hearing this, everyone exchanged glances. Looking at the sect leader's solemn expression, they realized that things were definitely not that simple.
Ming Cang instructed Xiao Huan and the others, "Hurry up and clean the Transmission Hall; we'll need it tomorrow."
"Yes, Sect Leader!" Xiao Huan and the others bowed and withdrew.
Ming Cang and the elders exchanged glances. "Hey, all of you, come with me. You'll understand the reason when we get there."
The group followed Mingcang to a waterfall. The tiny water droplets spraying from the waterfall were as fine as dust, filling the air as a misty fog, draping the mountain streams and forests in a thin veil.
Ye Luo looked at what was in front of her with a puzzled expression, but did not find anything unusual.
“This is it.” After saying that, Ming Cang waved his sleeve towards the waterfall, and the cascading water revealed an entrance.
Ye Luo and the others were all taken aback, not expecting that there was such a hidden world inside.
"You may all go inside."
Ye Luo leaped into the air and landed steadily on the ground. What greeted her was a surge of spiritual energy, which was even purer than the one she had encountered in the forbidden area of the Spirit Mansion.
"Master, where is this?" Yu Xian'er looked around. She had been in the sect for so many years and still didn't know such a place existed.
"This is the ancestral vein." Ming Cang led them down the floating stone steps.
Ye Luo looked down and saw a small islet not far away, covered with some lush spiritual plants that all seemed to be growing normally.
The only unusual thing was that the huge old peach tree next to it was bare, without a single leaf, and exuded a deathly aura, looking withered and dying.
After a short while, Mingcang stepped forward, stroked the old peach tree, and sighed, "This is our lineage."
Lineage?
Ye Luo looked up at the enormous peach tree, "Could it be the Tree of Spiritual Eyes?"
Ming Cang looked surprised, not expecting Ye Luo to recognize this thing. "Yes, this is the spirit tree that the founding ancestor transplanted back then. It's a pity that it's about to lose all its vitality."
Yu Qianling: "How did it become like this?"
"The specific reason is not very clear, but several hundred years ago, this spirit tree suddenly began to lose its vitality and spiritual energy, and then it became what it is today."
Ye Luo suddenly realized why the spiritual energy in Peach Blossom Valley was so thin; it turned out that the sect's lineage was about to dry up.
The lineage is the foundation for the continuation of a sect. Everyone present knows what it means if it is lost.
Cen Feng asked sadly, "Master, is there really no way?"
"have!"
Ming Cang's eyes revealed expectation, "I've heard that there's a divine wood elixir in the Star Abyss Secret Realm that can revive all trees. If we can get it, perhaps we can be saved!"
Ye Luo asked, "Star Abyss Secret Realm? Is that the great secret realm that only the top ten in the preliminary competition are qualified to enter?"
"right!"
Ming Cang nodded, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopped. This task was arduous. Even the preliminary competition was full of geniuses. How easy would it be to stand out from hundreds of sects and break into the top ten?
Moreover, he still had to enter a dangerous secret realm to obtain the divine elixir. In truth, he had already given up hope, but a glimmer of expectation still lingered in his heart.
Ye Luo carefully recalled the plot of the Star Abyss Secret Realm, and after a long while, he smiled confidently and said, "No problem, the divine liquid is ours!"
He roughly knew where the divine liquid appeared, so his priority now was to figure out how to get a ranking in this preliminary competition.
Seeing Ye Luo's high spirits, everyone became more and more excited.
"That's right!" Cen Feng clenched his fist and said, "It's just the top ten, let's give it our all!"
"Fight! Fight! I've been looking for a fight!" Yu Qianling exclaimed excitedly, unable to wait any longer.
Feng Yue, dressed in a black robe, stood not far away. Although he had not uttered a word, a resolute look appeared in his eyes.
"Good, good!" Ming Cang looked at his disciples with great satisfaction. He knew he hadn't spoiled these children in vain.
Ye Luo: "Master, what is the schedule for the preliminary rounds?"
"Come on, everyone, come here."
Ming Cang invited everyone to sit down on the ground and said, "The preliminary competition is mainly divided into: individual arena matches, two-on-two team matches, three-on-three team matches, six-on-six relay matches, and finally the secret realm team battle."
Upon hearing this, Ye Luo inwardly complained, "Why is this like a sports meet?" and asked, "Do non-main events also get bonus points?"
"We'll add points, just a little less." The Grand Elder handed them a competition schedule booklet to read. "There are also competitions in alchemy, talisman drawing, weapon crafting, and formation. If they conflict with the main event, we can just withdraw from the competition if we can't make it."
Ye Luo quickly browsed through it and found that there were not only poems, songs, zithers, flutes, and music, but also a cooking competition?
This is absolutely ridiculous!
Even a highly skilled person proficient in all six arts would probably have to kneel down in this kind of competition.
"As expected... the major sects just want to rely on numbers."
The Second Elder sighed, "That's right! So even though some sects lost points in the main competition, they would send people to try their best to make up for it in these secondary events, and their rankings would remain stable."
The Grand Elder said, "Therefore, if conditions permit, everyone should take on more events, which is better than giving away points by withdrawing from the competition."
Ming Cang: "Sigh, it seems that's all we can do. We need to mobilize the other disciples; they have to share the burden."
After a brief discussion, Ming Cang revealed the secret formula for opening the forbidden area of the sect's veins and told them that they could all enter this place to cultivate in the future. Then he left with the elders.
Seeing the group meditating cross-legged, Ye Luo turned and ran to the library. He desperately needed to practice some movement techniques, as he had almost lost his life last time he fought the Six-Eyed Demon Spider.
He wandered around for a long time but couldn't find a cultivation technique he liked.
What do you want?
The sudden sound startled Ye Luo, who then noticed a white-robed female cultivator standing silently behind him, holding a scroll.
"Who are you...?"
"Fourth Elder."
Her voice was cold and aloof, and coupled with the aura of keeping strangers at bay, he couldn't help but become respectful. "Disciple Ye Luo greets Fourth Elder!"
"Hmm." She nodded, her gaze indifferent, glanced at him, and continued, "The library is under my jurisdiction. What kind of cultivation manuals are you looking for?"
Upon hearing this, Ye Luo thought for a moment and said, "I want a movement technique that makes me run fast, and a technique that can enhance my spiritual sense."
"Don't you want the sword technique?"
"No need." He had a copy of the "Nine Netherworld Ruthless Technique" on him and was planning to start cultivating it once his injuries had healed.
She raised her delicate hand and beckoned to the bookshelf, and two cultivation manuals came into her hands. "This is the movement technique 'Wind and Thunder Technique,' which has six levels. Although it's only a fragment, it's more than enough for you."
"This is the Great Divine Guidance Technique, a cultivation method for spiritual consciousness. Cen Feng is also practicing this technique."
"Thank you, Fourth Elder." Ye Luo bowed and accepted the cultivation manual. By the time he looked up, the Fourth Elder had already vanished without a trace.
"So mysterious..."
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