I Pick up a Lost Godhood

Chapter 152 - 150: Rookie’s First Shot

In the past, the best anyone had managed was to climb two ranks. After all, no one was a pushover. A single battle was enough to expose most of your strength and leave you injured. The higher-ranked combatants, well-rested and waiting, were almost guaranteed victory.

This followed the law of the Cultivation World: the weak were prey for the strong. For the weak to defeat the strong, they had to expend far more effort.

Generally, no one made consecutive challenges. Most opted to play it safe, improving their rank bit by bit. For some Sub-Halls, the goal was simply to defend their current position.

For instance, the last time Lingyin Hall challenged Dao Guang Hall, they had already been exhausted from defending their rank against Immortal Origin Hall. Dao Guang Hall took care of Lingyin Hall almost without breaking a sweat.

This time, however, Lingyin Hall was coming on strong. With the addition of a powerhouse like Li Tianyi, anything was possible. Besides, Lingyin Hall was already formidable in its own right—that had been the case back in Ning Zhiyuan’s day as well. The Sub-Hall battle was the ultimate test of a Sub-Hall’s underlying strength.

After the Sub-Hall battles came the individual ranking battles. The Hall Elders would formulate new rankings based on past performance and contributions over the last few years. Anyone who objected to their placement could issue a challenge. Any unranked disciple could also challenge a disciple on the list. A victory meant you took their rank.

High-ranking disciples received a fixed quota of resource rewards. It wasn’t just a status symbol—it was a tangible boost to their cultivation.

One could say they had cultivated for years just for this day.

The Cultivation World was like sailing against the current: if you didn’t advance, you fell behind. The slightest lapse in willpower could mean all one’s efforts would go to waste.

At this moment, Wang Meng and Zhou Qian wore grave expressions. Beside them, the Golden Rhinoceros’s eyes were wide as bells. It was all or nothing.

The lid of the jar was popped open, and a fragrant aroma wafted out. But the expressions on the faces of the two men and the rhinoceros didn’t relax. After failing so many times, none of them were getting their hopes up.

Wang Meng scooped out a spoonful, gritted his teeth, and took the first taste. He immediately clapped a hand over his mouth and rushed outside, followed by the sound of violent spitting.

’This fucking stuff is beyond disgusting!’

’You really can’t teach yourself how to brew wine, can you?’

The wine-brewing Elder in the Holy Hall paid no mind to others. Forget learning from him, you weren’t even allowed to watch, and he certainly wouldn’t pass on his skills. You could call him selfish for cherishing his own secrets, but the unique craft was his, and there was nothing anyone could do. Zhou Feng had exhausted all his options and had to give up. However, the two of them did manage to find some recipes and started experimenting. The result of their experiments was pure agony.

"Xiaoben, why don’t you try some?" Zhou Feng asked.

Although the Spirit Rhinoceros was called Xiaoben, it was anything but foolish. It immediately backed away, and the moment it reached the door, it galloped off.

It had been used as a test subject far too many times. The concoction was utterly revolting.

Zhou Feng took a sip and immediately retched, spitting it right out.

Just then, Wang Meng returned from outside, having finished throwing up. "Looks like we’ll have to figure something out after the Grand Tournament."

"The Grand Tournament... what Grand Tournament? Oh! The Grand Tournament! Crap, I completely forgot all about it! This is bad... Maybe you shouldn’t go."

Zhou Feng was genuinely worried. He was the type to get completely absorbed in his research, forgetting everything else in the process. That was fine for him, but Wang Meng had the Grand Tournament to attend.

It wasn’t just for his own sake; as a disciple of Thunderlight Hall, he had to do his part.

Wang Meng smiled. "Don’t worry, Old Zhou. The important thing is to participate and do my best!"

Zhou Feng opened his mouth to speak but then stopped himself. In the end, he didn’t try to dissuade him. ’Perhaps experiencing a few setbacks would be good for Wang Meng, too.’

"You go on ahead. I’ll go try to secretly learn a thing or two, see if I can find the knack to it!"

"Haha, I’ll leave it to you then."

Inside Thunderlight Pavilion, the members participating in the Grand Tournament had already gathered.

Main Team: Wang Meng, Hu Jing, Zhang Xiaojiang, Zhou Qian, Suo Ming.

Alternates: Ma Tian’Er, Liuu Mei.

They were headed to the Hundred Herbs Pavilion. When a lower-ranked Sub-Hall went to a higher-ranked one, it was called a challenge. However, if the very last-place Sub-Hall actually managed to challenge the first-place one, the challenge could then cycle back to the lowest-ranked Sub-Hall. Of course, such a thing had never happened in the history of the Holy Hall.

The Sub-Hall battles were team-based, which was vastly different from individual combat.

The individual battles, on the other hand, were held at the Holy Hall Pavilion.

Zhao Ya, Wan Jing, and Wang Bodang had all arrived. In the past, Thunderlight Hall had basically always forfeited. Even when they didn’t, the Elders were unwilling to tag along just to be humiliated.

The disciples were pleasantly surprised.

Zhao Ya smiled faintly. "Today is a momentous day for our Thunderlight Hall. Elder Wan, Elder Wang, and I will accompany you in your campaign against Hundred Herbs Hall. Remember, you are not alone today. You represent the hopes of every disciple in Thunderlight Hall. Give it your all! A victory over yourselves is a victory in itself!"

"Do your best," Wan Jing said with a faint smile, as sparing with his words as ever.

"That bunch of wimps from Hundred Herbs Hall ain’t shit! Go knock ’em flat!" Wang Bodang roared, shaking his fist without a shred of courtesy.

The great doors opened, revealing a dense crowd of Thunderlight Hall disciples waiting outside.

"Wang Meng, we’re with you!"

"Senior Sister Hu Jing, you’re the best! We love you!"

"Zhang Xiaojiang, show them that a big guy can be a Bow Cultivator!"

"Zhou Qian, unleash the Divine Power of your Bursting Fire Talismans! Burn Hundred Herbs Hall to the ground!"

"Kill! Kill! Kill! Brother Suo, you’re the strongest! Wear them down ’til they drop!"

"Let’s all go, brothers! We’ll turn Hundred Herbs Hall into our home ground!"

The disciples of Thunderlight Hall were fired up. They had waited so long for this moment. They yearned for a miracle, yearned for these new disciples—all with less than three years in the hall—to bring them a glimmer of hope.

「At this time, Hundred Herbs Hall was also packed with a sea of people.」 The vast majority were, of course, disciples of Hundred Herbs Hall, and their spirits were even higher.

"Thunderlight Hall thinks they can make a comeback at our expense? In their dreams!"

"Even if a salted fish flips over, it’s still just a salted fish!"

Hundred Herbs Hall had a huge number of disciples. Some had even rushed back from outside the Holy Hall to cheer on their juniors. While not many of their disciples found glory out in the world, most of them were very wealthy. Hundred Herbs Hall specialized in agriculture and possessed many auxiliary magical arts related to planting, so its members never had to worry about making a living.

Besides Hundred Herbs Hall, disciples from other Sub-Halls had naturally come to watch the spectacle. The largest contingent was from Beast Hall. Their Senior, Jia Shidao, had arrived with Beast Hall’s elite disciples. Whoever won today could become their next opponent. Of course, the ideal outcome would be for both Hundred Herbs Hall and Thunderlight Hall to cripple each other. That way, they could focus all their energy on preparing to face Fire Cloud Hall.

Qiao Qian, Dill, Ai Zhishu, Moo Xun, and Jin Zhigang—the Five Spirits Saints of Hundred Herbs Hall. For any Holy Hall Disciple, this was a moment of supreme glory. They stood there, basking in the adoring gazes of the countless spectators. As the Senior, Qiao Qian was undoubtedly the center of attention. ’I see Jia Shidao is here,’ he thought, ’but so what? I will win this battle, and it will be a magnificent victory. It will also put plenty of pressure on Beast Hall. How could a pathetic little Thunderlight Hall possibly stand in my way!’

"Senior, the people from Thunderlight Hall have arrived," Zhang Liang said respectfully. In this moment, he was firmly on the side of Hundred Herbs Hall. No matter what had happened in the past, he was a member of this Sub-Hall, and he could not betray it.

A boisterous, disorderly crowd swarmed in through the entrance, and Qiao Qian couldn’t help but frown. ’Damn,’ he thought, ’they brought everyone. You don’t need such a huge entourage just to get humiliated.’

When the disciples of Hundred Herbs Hall saw how large the opposing crowd was, they resolved not to be outdone in presence. They all stood up straighter, puffing out their chests. A single glance at the two groups made the difference obvious. The attire of the Thunderlight Hall contingent was clearly far shabbier than their own. The disciples of Hundred Herbs Hall had always been the wealthiest.

The Hundred Herbs Hall Elder, Jii Fei, was also taken aback for a moment. He suddenly realized Thunderlight Hall’s visit was not a friendly one. ’All three of their Elders actually came?’ he thought. ’What are they planning, a rebellion?’

Jii Fei put on a smile and stepped forward to greet them. "This lineup is making me a little nervous, Junior Sister Zhao. Surely there’s no need for such a grand spectacle?"

"Senior Brother Jii, our opponent is Hundred Herbs Hall. It’s only right that we take it seriously."

"Hehe, it seems Junior Sister Zhao is quite confident this time," Jii Fei said with a thin smile. "Junior Brother Wan, Junior Brother Wang, long time no see. I believe this is the first time you’ve attended the Grand Tournament, correct?"

"Enough with the pleasantries, Senior Brother Jii. Let’s get this show on the road! Thunderlight Hall is here today to take back our rightful place!"

Wang Bodang’s voice boomed like a great bell. It was all about presence. You absolutely could not appear weak on your opponent’s home ground.

Wang Bodang’s voice immediately resonated with the disciples of Thunderlight Hall, who began to roar and howl like a pack of wild beasts.

The disciples of Hundred Herbs Hall were momentarily stunned. ’What a bunch of hopeless thugs,’ they thought. ’How do they resemble Holy Hall Disciples at all? They’re no different from a pack of destitute Loose Cultivators from the outside world.’

A cold sneer touched Jii Fei’s lips. "Junior Brother, the Grand Tournament is won with strength, not just talk."

Without waiting for a reply, he ignored Wang Bodang and locked his gaze onto Wang Meng. "This must be the renowned Junior Brother Wang who has caused such a stir in the Holy Hall."

Instantly, every eye in the venue focused on Wang Meng. This was the legendary figure himself!

The youngest Elder in the history of the Holy Hall. A presence that had even made the great Senior Ning Zhiyuan feel awkward.

A natural Second Layer cultivator, and a disciple who had been with his hall for less than three years.

Suddenly becoming the center of attention, with gazes so intense they felt like they could set him on fire, would make anyone with a weaker disposition immediately nervous.

This was Jii Fei’s attempt to intimidate him from the start. ’I refuse to believe Wang Meng has ever faced a situation like this,’ he thought. ’Zhou Feng made a fool of himself back in the day. These research types can only bury their heads in their work; they can’t handle the big stage. To think he actually dared to participate in the Grand Tournament... he really has a death wish.’

Wang Meng smiled faintly. "Senior Brother Jii, for the purposes of the Grand Tournament, I am just an ordinary disciple. So, in the battles to come, I must ask the disciples of Hundred Herbs Hall not to hold anything back."

"Haha, it’s wonderful that you feel that way, Junior Brother Wang! The Grand Tournament is the truest test of one’s strength, and a time-honored tradition of our Holy Hall." Turning to his disciples, he added, "You all heard him! You are to give it your all. Do not disappoint Junior Brother Wang’s kind intentions."

"Master, rest assured!"

Qiao Qian glared at Wang Meng. ’He really has the guts to show up. I’ll beat him so badly he’ll be scrambling on the floor for his teeth. Let’s see what face he has left to keep his title as an Elder then!’

The tension in the air was palpable, with swords all but drawn. The crowd moved to the main square of Hundred Herbs Hall, where the disciples fanned out in circles, some even taking to the air to clear a large enough space for the combatants.

Jii Fei glanced at Zhao Ya. "Qiao Qian, begin."

Qiao Qian bowed. "Dill, you’ll fight the first match!"

"Yes, Senior." Dill, a rather stern-looking female Technique Cultivator, walked to the center of the arena. "I await instruction from the senior brothers and sisters of Thunderlight Hall!"

According to the rules of the Grand Tournament, the higher-ranked Sub-Hall sent out their fighter first, and the lower-ranked Sub-Hall had to meet the challenge. This gave the lower-ranked Sub-Hall an opportunity while also putting pressure on the higher-ranked one. It forced them to diligently train all their disciples, lest they be defeated through clever matchups, exploiting any single weakness in their lineup.

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