novelraw Chapter 31 – I also want to serve Elder Mu
Chapter 31 – I also want to serve Elder Mu
This "trial," despite leaving them battered and bruised, feeling as if their bones were being drained dry, ultimately rewarded them with the coveted mid-grade Qi-Gathering Pill! Such a treasure, for Inner Sect disciples trapped at the bottleneck of the Ninth Level of Qi Refining and desperately seeking a breakthrough, was worth a hundred times more than ordinary healing elixirs!
In an instant, their hearts were filled with boundless respect and awe for Mu Xiaochuan, akin to the endless flow of a mighty river, mixed with an indescribable fervor and loyalty. Seeing the expressions of pain mixed with joy on their faces, Mu Xiaochuan's last bit of frustration vanished, replaced by a sense of control and satisfaction. He waved them off to heal, standing with his hands behind his back, feeling the slightly invigorated spiritual power within him from the recent "guidance," and the empty balance of thrill points, a confident smile playing on his lips.
"Thrill points, once spent, can be earned again. This Yunqi Peak Grand Tournament surely won't disappoint me."
Time flew by, and in a few days, the entire Yunqi Peak was enveloped in a tense yet excited atmosphere. The once-every-five-years Yunqi Peak Grand Tournament had finally begun amidst great anticipation.
The main venue for the tournament was set at the main peak square of Yunqi Peak—Lan Yun Terrace. This platform, carved from a massive piece of white jade, was vast enough to accommodate thousands. The edges of the platform were shrouded in mist, with cranes gathering, and in the center stood ten arenas made from special black crystals. Defensive formations surrounded the arenas, emitting a faint spiritual light, capable of withstanding the intense battles of Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Today, Lan Yun Terrace was bustling with people. Besides the disciples and elders of Yunqi Peak, cultivators from several other peaks had also come to watch the excitement. The high viewing platform was filled with prominent figures from various peaks.
Yun Wange, the Peak Master of Yunqi Peak, and Liang Yichen, the Vice Sect Master, sat at the central main seat. Liang Yichen, dressed in a purple-gold Daoist robe symbolizing his status, had a handsome yet somewhat sinister face, and the pressure of his Ninth Level Foundation Establishment cultivation was subtly felt, creating an inexplicable sense of oppression. Yun Wange, in an exquisite cloud-patterned brocade palace dress with a veil covering her face, exuded mystery and nobility. Her gaze was calm as it swept over the crowd below, occasionally turning to converse softly with Vice Peak Master Shen Jinglan, her demeanor composed and graceful. Shen Jinglan, a middle-aged man with a scholarly appearance and a deep Foundation Establishment Stage Seven cultivation, usually assisted Yun Wange in handling various matters within the peak, acting with steadiness and earning deep trust from everyone.
Seated on either side of them were Chen Xuanfeng, the Hall Master of the Law Enforcement Hall (at the peak of Foundation Establishment Stage Six, skilled in lightning techniques), Mu Qingyao, the Hall Master of the Elixir Hall (Foundation Establishment Stage Six, with a cold demeanor), Sun Qian, the Hall Master of the Artifact Refining Hall (Foundation Establishment Stage Five, with a burly build), Li Ruoxu, the Hall Master of the Technique Transmission Hall (Foundation Establishment Stage Five, with an immortal-like demeanor), Liu Ruyan from the Spiritual Herb Garden, and Ye Qingyu from the Heaven Vault Pavilion, among other Inner Sect elders.
Mu Xiaochuan, Chen Changfeng, Lin Zhennan, and several other Outer Sect elders were seated further out. Today, Mu Xiaochuan wore a brand-new dark green elder's Daoist robe, which accentuated his jade-like face and steady yet slightly unruly demeanor.
"How is Junior Sister Liu today? I wonder how much progress she has made with the Mysterious Ice Sword Manual and Ice Soul Glazed Body..." He slightly turned his head, his gaze falling on Liu Ruyan. Sensing his gaze, Liu Ruyan looked back at Mu Xiaochuan. His eyes were filled with gentle warmth, like the warm sun of spring, shining straight into Liu Ruyan's heart. Liu Ruyan's lips curled into a gentle smile, her eyes full of affection.
At that moment, a faintly cold gaze fell upon Mu Xiaochuan. His heart stirred, and he looked up calmly, meeting the eyes of Liang Yichen! Seeing Mu Xiaochuan's gaze, Liang Yichen's lips curled into a cold smile, his eyes openly challenging. Mu Xiaochuan inwardly sneered but returned the challenge with an equally defiant look. The solid touch of the Black Tortoise Ink Scale Armor gave him confidence, and he even slightly raised his chin, as if to say, "Bring it on."
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Liang Yichen's gaze turned even colder, but as the Vice Sect Master, he had to suppress his anger under the watchful eyes of the crowd and slowly shifted his gaze away.
"Dong—Dong—Dong—"
Three melodious and solemn chimes echoed through the sky, announcing the official start of the Yunqi Peak Grand Tournament! The square fell silent, and all eyes focused on the central arenas.
As per tradition, the tournament began with the Outer Sect disciples' competition. The host, an Outer Sect elder from the Technique Transmission Hall, announced the rules, emphasizing restraint and forbidding malicious harm. Then, he began reading the matchups for the first round of the Outer Sect disciples.
Besides the Main Hall occupying twenty seats, the other six halls and the Heaven Vault Pavilion each had ten seats, totaling eighty participants. Today would see a brutal contest, with forty facing elimination. Gathered in the designated area below the arenas, the participants were tense yet excited. Su Yao and Lin Yue stood side by side, holding each other's hands tightly, encouraging each other as they faced the upcoming challenge.
Mu Xiaochuan's gaze fell on them, nodding slightly, offering an encouraging look. These two girls, nourished by the high-grade Qi-Gathering Pill and their recent intense training, had quietly reached the fifth level of Qi Refining, making the first two rounds manageable.
Soon, it was Lin Yue's turn to take the stage. Her opponent was a fourth-level Qi Refining disciple from the Artifact Refining Hall, with a sturdy build and wielding a large axe, clearly a power-type fighter.
"Hmph! Little girl from the Heaven Vault Pavilion, I heard you got in because of Elder Mu? Better surrender quickly, so you don't get hurt!" The disciple taunted as soon as he stepped onto the stage, clearly unaware of Mu Xiaochuan's reputation across Yunqi Peak. Lin Yue's face turned slightly pale, but she took a deep breath, her eyes firming up: "Please, Senior Brother, guide me!"
With that, she moved, launching an attack! Her movements were light and swift, like a swallow darting through the forest, her speed astonishing as she nimbly maneuvered around the sturdy disciple. In her hands, she held a pair of thin, shimmering short blades. The disciple swung his axe, aiming for a decisive strike, but Lin Yue's agility far exceeded his expectations, slipping through his grasp and leaving cuts on his clothes, drawing blood.
"Damn it!" The disciple roared, hurling his axe and clenching his fists, a layer of earthy yellow light enveloping him, indicating the activation of a defensive technique, preparing to withstand attacks and engage in close combat. However, as he charged forward, Lin Yue's eyes flashed with cunning, and instead of retreating, she advanced, slipping into his guard at an impossible angle. Her short blades didn't aim for vital points but instead struck precise rhythms on key nodes of his spiritual energy flow under his arms and ribs!
With her advantage in cultivation level, Lin Yue's swift strikes left the disciple unable to react, let alone evade. "Ugh!" The disciple felt a numbing pain where he was struck, his spiritual energy flow disrupted, and the earthy yellow protective glow dissipated! Lin Yue seized the opportunity, crossing her blades at his neck.
"Thank you for letting me win, Senior Brother." Lin Yue panted slightly, sweat beading on her forehead, but her face radiated the joy of victory. "I... I lost..." The disciple was filled with disbelief and dejection, unable to comprehend how he lost so decisively.
"Wow—" The crowd erupted in astonishment! "So fast?" "Lin Yue actually won? How did she win?" "Impossible! When did she break through to the fifth level of Qi Refining?" "In just over a month, she went from the third level to the fifth level of Qi Refining. I want to serve Elder Mu too."
On the viewing platform, Sun Qian, the Hall Master of the Artifact Refining Hall, looked displeased, while Ye Qingyu clapped and laughed. Ye Qingyu was secretly amazed, knowing that Mu Xiaochuan favored those two maids, but never expecting them to break through two levels in such a short time, her admiration for Mu Xiaochuan growing.
Next, Su Yao took to the stage. Her opponent was also a fifth-level Qi Refining disciple from the Law Enforcement Hall, wielding a swift and powerful sword. Su Yao's movements were graceful, like a celestial being dancing under the moonlight, always evading the sharp sword edge at the last moment. Her fingertips flicked, releasing subtle spiritual energy like a serpent, disrupting her opponent's rhythm. Finally, after dozens of exchanges, Su Yao seized a gap in her opponent's defense, striking a nerve in his wrist, causing him to drop his sword, securing an easy victory.
The consecutive victories of Su Yao and Lin Yue, despite sparking rumors of "Elder Mu's private guidance," also led many to reassess the strength of the Heaven Vault Pavilion. Watching his two girls win, Mu Xiaochuan felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction.
"Ding! Congratulations to the host for witnessing the victory of close ones, feeling joyful, and earning 20 thrill points." The system's notification was the cherry on top.
The Outer Sect disciples' competition continued intensely, with other disciples from the Heaven Vault Pavilion taking the stage, achieving mixed results. Shi Poxiao and Luo Lixue naturally won without suspense, while Tie Meng showcased impressive strength and a more stable fighting style, unexpectedly eliminating his opponent and becoming a dark horse among the Outer Sect disciples, drawing considerable attention.
On the first day, the first round of the Outer Sect disciples' competition concluded, with the Heaven Vault Pavilion achieving average results. Lin Yue, Su Yao, Shi Poxiao, Luo Lixue, and Tie Meng advanced, while the others were eliminated. However, the most sensational news of the day was that two Outer Sect female disciples of average aptitude, in just over a month, had broken through from the third level to the fifth level of Qi Refining, simply by becoming Mu Xiaochuan's maids.
Now, every female disciple on Yunqi Peak had the same thought: "I want to serve Elder Mu too."