bayedsolid Chapter 290 Annual Competition and Sect Rewards
Chapter 290 Annual Competition and Sect Rewards
Lin Changsheng took in the reactions of the several people and was not surprised.
The people present are all Golden Core cultivators, and perhaps their aptitude is already quite high.
To achieve the status of a Golden Elixir True Person, one needs talent, diligence, opportunity, and luck—all three are indispensable.
For these True Persons, mere talent, even the talent of an Earth Spiritual Root, merely means a slightly higher chance of advancing to the Golden Core stage in the future.
Perhaps only the legendary and extremely rare 'Heavenly Spiritual Root' aptitude could truly move these elders.
After all, that was a divinely bestowed talent, known as the 'seed of the Nascent Soul'.
“Fellow Daoist Zhang Meng, your four disciples seem to have been trained quite well. Their low-grade spiritual roots have reached such a level of cultivation within ten years, which is basically the limit. They should be able to achieve good results.”
Shen Wenyao's beautiful eyes swept over the disciples of Mingling Peak, and she chatted with Lin Changsheng seemingly casually.
With the eyesight of a Golden Core cultivator, one can basically discern the general state of a Qi Condensation cultivator at a glance.
However, she joined the Ghost Valley Sect a little late, and the disciples on the peak had not yet grown up. Her participation in this minor competition was just a formality, just like Lin Changsheng's ten years ago.
"Hopefully, we won't lose too badly."
Lin Changsheng smiled faintly and said casually.
……
Senior Brother Tan announced the start of the competition.
Ten arenas were opened simultaneously, and disciples from each peak were randomly selected and assigned to participate in the battles.
These were all new disciples from ten years ago. The highest level of their cultivation was no more than the late stage of Qi Condensation, and the lowest was only the second or third level of Qi Condensation.
These are newly initiated disciples who probably spend most of their time improving their cultivation, so their attack methods are very monotonous.
It's nothing more than low-level magical artifacts, a few common ghost magic spells, as well as talismans, puppet ghosts, etc.
To the Golden Core cultivators, those clumsy fighting techniques were no different from children playing around.
After about half a day, most of the ordinary disciples had been eliminated, leaving only the elite disciples from each peak.
Lin Changsheng's four nominal disciples remain steadfast.
The eldest disciple, Hao Chi, possesses the 'Blood Burning Secret Technique' taught to him, and his cultivation level is at the seventh level of Qi Condensation, already surpassing most disciples in the middle stage of Qi Condensation.
Even when encountering someone of the same cultivation level, activating the 'Blood Burning Secret Technique' provides a significant advantage.
The second disciple, Han Jiuying, although of mediocre talent, was perfectly suited to the Netherworld Poison Manual of the 'Heavenly Poison Master' and had extremely high attainments in poison arts.
After several matches, Lin Changsheng could see that his second disciple was fighting with restraint, as if he was afraid of accidentally poisoning his opponent.
Whenever the Foundation Establishment referee announced the result, Han Jiuying would always step forward immediately to remove the toxins from the opposing disciple.
This scene left a considerable shadow in the minds of the disciples of the same batch in the Guigu Sect.
The third disciple, Lu Ming, although his cultivation was not as good as his senior brothers and sisters, his talent lay in cultivating puppet ghosts, and he perfectly inherited the ghost-raising style of the Ghost Valley Sect.
The release of the late-stage, fully-developed first-tier puppet ghost shocked everyone.
This special ghost-raising constitution is difficult to detect in spiritual root tests, so Lin Changsheng got lucky and took advantage of it.
The fourth disciple, He Dawei, had mediocre talent, but he had an astonishing number of first-tier spell talismans in his reserves, and he managed to fight to the very end by relying on these talismans.
Over the years, thanks to his quick wit, He Dawei has often been in charge of handling matters such as the allocation and distribution of resources within the peak area.
As an elder, Lin Changsheng would naturally not handle such trivial matters personally.
The quick-thinking He Dawei seized the opportunity to withhold some of the resources meant for ordinary disciples and distribute them to four registered disciples. Everyone benefited, so no one complained to their master.
As for the ordinary disciples within the peak, everyone is the same. If anyone dares to have an opinion, he wouldn't mind personally going to their door for a chat.
Over the years, He Dawei has accumulated so much wealth that he is almost the wealthiest among the disciples of Mingling Peak.
Even when encountering elite disciples from other peaks who also possess numerous magical talismans, He Dawei remained fearless.
Through years of practice, he has become very experienced in activating talismans. Whether it is the speed of activation or the connection between different talismans, everything is very smooth and natural. In addition, the talismans made by his master are of higher quality and more powerful than other people's talismans of the same level, which gives him a huge advantage.
To Lin Changsheng's surprise, Hao Chi, who had mastered the 'Blood Burning Secret Technique', was defeated in a battle not long after, and his opponent was actually Feng Ping, who had left Mingling Peak years ago.
He discovered that this young man was not practicing the same techniques passed down from the Ghost Valley Sect, but his cultivation method was exceptionally domineering and strange, and his aura was almost as strong as that of a late-stage Qi Condensation cultivator.
He wasn't the only one who was equally surprised.
When Wan Ku Zhenren, who was standing to the side, sensed the aura of martial arts on Feng Ping's body, he was also taken aback.
But seeing an unknown disciple from within the peak defeat the senior disciple of Mingling Peak, he felt a sense of pride.
In the final competition for newly initiated disciples, Lin Changsheng's Mingling Peak ranked second, only behind Moguang Peak.
In the final match, Han Jiuying, with her Qi Condensation Level 7 cultivation, lost to Lu Chong, the personal disciple of Demon Light True Person, who was at Qi Condensation Level 9.
This child possesses a superior spiritual root, and his cultivation progresses rapidly. Furthermore, his magical power, magical artifacts, and cultivation techniques are all of excellent quality.
Han Jiuying's poison skills are not suitable for direct confrontation; they are more effective in flanking maneuvers and surprise attacks.
If it weren't for the venue limitations, he might have had a chance to contend with Lu Chong. In a head-on fight, he would have had no advantage whatsoever.
Thus, Lu Chong of Demon Light Peak undoubtedly became the first among the new disciples of the previous year.
Lin Changsheng was slightly pleased that Mingling Peak managed to get second place; he had originally expected to compete for a top-three finish.
In reality, the other peaks have a large number of disciples, and it is impossible for a Golden Core elder to teach a new disciple so meticulously.
Lin Changsheng, however, had few disciples. To avoid becoming impoverished and weak, he devoted considerable effort to his four nominal disciples.
In fact, apart from the time he attempted to break through to the Golden Core stage, he has rarely engaged in long periods of seclusion over the years.
Therefore, it is not surprising that he ranked high in the competition.
Similarly, the next ten-year mini-competition might be the time for Shen Wenyao of Qingluan Peak to unleash her full potential.
Finally, under Lin Changsheng's selection, Mingling Peak added more than sixty new immortal seedlings this year.
Two people have superior spiritual roots, four have mid-grade spiritual roots, and the rest have inferior spiritual roots.
While the proportion of high-quality seedlings may seem slightly higher, this is a result of the rapid development of the Guigu Sect.
Families of all sizes around have selected their most promising offspring and sent them over as investments. In the near future, there may be very few cases of such a concentration of highly promising offspring.
……
With the addition of this second batch of immortal seedlings, the once empty Mingling Peak training ground has finally regained some liveliness.
Lin Changsheng accepted the newly initiated male and female disciples, along with two high-grade spiritual root seedlings, as his nominal disciples.
They are the fifth disciple, Yun Miaomiao, and the sixth disciple, Wu Gang.
In less than half a month, the two celestial seedlings successively developed divine consciousness, cultivated magical power, and advanced to the first level of Qi Condensation.
The fifth disciple, Yun Miaomiao, was also discovered by Lin Changsheng to have an exceptional affinity for wind-attribute magic.
This made Lin Changsheng sigh inwardly, no wonder the sect always selects the best candidates when recruiting disciples.
Teaching him is less stressful and less effort, and the utilization rate of resources is much higher, far exceeding that of the first four disciples.
With such talent, if nurtured using methods that stimulate potential, one could advance to the late stage of Qi Condensation in less than ten years.
They shone brightly in the next competition.
But Lin Changsheng would not treat it so hastily.
Hao Chi and the other three were of average talent. Even if they cultivated step by step, without special care, it would be difficult for them to advance to the Foundation Establishment stage in this lifetime.
Overdrawing one's potential, taking unconventional paths, and forcing growth only accelerates cultivation at the cost of increasing the difficulty of later advancements.
But Yun Miaomiao and Wu Gang are different. These two are favored by heaven, and to waste their potential would be a waste of their talents and go against the natural order.
Now that he has joined the Netherworld Peak, Lin Changsheng will teach him according to his aptitude.
After instructing the two in their cultivation, Lin Changsheng established rules for the disciples of Mingling Peak.
Every three years, an internal examination and competition is held, and those who perform outstandingly can challenge the six registered disciples.
If the result is successful, the new disciple can take their place.
In this way, the other disciples in the peak have a goal to strive for and catch up with, and the six disciples who are still registered disciples also have a sense of urgency.
However, in the short term, the top four need not be worried too much; the pressure is mainly on the two newly emerged geniuses with superior spiritual roots.
Three years later, the two will not only face competition from more than sixty peers, but also challenges from older disciples.
Lin Changsheng wanted to see if these two geniuses with top-grade spiritual roots could withstand the pressure and grow up quickly.
For the next period of time, the disciples within the peak were more enthusiastic about cultivation than ever before.
Under the guidance of the six registered disciples, the new disciples worked hard in their cultivation, and the older disciples, who had been somewhat weary, also began to work hard again.
Looking at the Mingling Peak gradually getting back on track, Lin Changsheng couldn't help but sigh.
More than a hundred years ago, he was a rogue cultivator who was disliked by Golden Core-level sects.
Now, he has become one of the Golden Core elders of a Nascent Soul-level sect. He once envied the mid-grade spiritual root aptitude, and is now working hard to cultivate in the Netherworld Spirit Peak, all in order to strive to become one of his disciples.
Six months later, news came from Tiangui Peak.
When Master Guigu returned from his trip, he distributed the small rewards that had been piling up.
In addition to the resources used to train disciples within the peak, each elder will receive a corresponding amount of cultivation resources based on their ranking.
With the resources secured, Lin Changsheng summoned Hao Chi, Han Jiuying, Lu Ming, and He Dawei to reward them.
He also gave a portion to Yun Miaomiao and Wu Gang as a reward.
After the six disciples bowed in gratitude, they left the cave.
……
A border desert in Gunju.
A plume of eerie black smoke enveloped three figures as they flew across the desolate desert below and landed on a sand dune.
Before long, the billowing black smoke dissipated, revealing three young figures: two men and one woman.
"Senior Brother Feng, is there really a relic here that you mentioned?"
A square-faced boy curiously examined the empty sand dune, his tone somewhat puzzled.
Beside him stood a girl with a cool and aloof demeanor, silent and warily surveying her surroundings.
"That's natural. My entire cultivation technique comes from the ruins here. It's just a pity that a peak Tier 1 demonic beast is blocking the way, making it difficult for me to continue exploring on my own."
"However, with the help of Junior Brother Hao Chi and Junior Sister Han, the three of us working together would be no threat even to a peak first-tier demonic beast."
"The treasures and heritage within the ruins will be divided equally among the three of us, but you two must remember to keep it a secret once you return."
Feng Ping patted his chest confidently to assure them, while also cautiously reminding the two of their own sins.
During the conversation, after a lengthy search, Feng Ping finally found the entrance to the 'ruins' next to a weathered, dead tree.
"Haha, found it, this is it!"
"The ruins are located below the passage, but it's still some distance from where the monsters are. I'll lead the way, and you two can follow behind since you're not familiar with the terrain."
Feng Ping seemed completely unconcerned, effortlessly leaping down and entering the passageway.
"Second Junior Sister, there might be danger down there. Stay behind me from now on and don't stray too far."
Seeing this, Hao Chi turned back to give Han Jiuying some instructions before following her in.
At the crucial moment, Han Jiuying suddenly reached out and grabbed Hao Chi, a hint of hesitation in her cool eyes:
"Senior brother, wait a minute. I have a feeling that this ruin may not be so simple."
Hao Chi was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, but seeing Feng Ping already gone, he couldn't help but advise, "..."
"Second Junior Sister, are you saying there's danger here? But Senior Brother Feng Ping has already explored this place before, and after obtaining an opportunity, he escaped unscathed."
"A late-stage first-tier demonic beast. With the three of us, even if we are no match for it, escaping unscathed shouldn't be difficult. Besides, we both possess 'quasi-second-tier' life-saving talismans bestowed upon us by our master..."
Since practicing the 'Blood Burning Secret Technique' bestowed upon him by his master, Hao Chi has once again become the disciple with the highest cultivation level.
However, he lost to his senior brother Feng Ping in the sect's small competition, which made him feel frustrated and ashamed of his master's cultivation.
Not long ago, his senior brother Feng Ping, whom he hadn't contacted for many years, suddenly found him and revealed the key to his cultivation advancement: he had found a high-level cultivator's ruins!
Importantly, Senior Brother Feng Ping not only shared the secret, but also took the initiative to invite him to explore the secret realm together.
This immediately piqued his interest.
Unfortunately, the third junior brother is on duty in the Immortal City, and the fourth junior brother is usually busy handling matters at the main peak.
Since his fifth and sixth junior brothers were still weak in cultivation, he could only come out with his second junior sister, Han Jiuying.
"Junior brothers and sisters, come down quickly! Such a rare ruin is right in front of us. Come with me to retrieve the treasures inside!"
As the two were talking, Feng Ping's urging voice came from the passage below.
……
Inside Mingling Peak.
Lin Changsheng was entertaining guests in a side hall.
Many years later, Jin Mengqiao brought an old woman at the Golden Core level to visit Mingling Peak again.
"These are some materials our caravan has collected in recent years. Are you satisfied with them, senior?"
A woman dressed in purple, with exquisite and charming makeup, Jin Mengqiao, smiled and took out a heavy storage bag and handed it over.
"That's right, to have found such a large number in just a few years, you've really put your heart into it."
Lin Changsheng checked the items and nodded in satisfaction.
Although Jin Mengqiao was arrogant, her ability to get things done was beyond doubt, and the materials she collected exceeded his expectations.
With these, he could then begin to create even more powerful Tier 3 puppets.
"I'm glad you're satisfied, senior. Could these materials be used to offset the toll fees for the caravan that we agreed upon earlier?"
Jin Mengqiao's eyes darted around, sparkling with intelligence, while her words carried a hint of girlish coquetry.
"If this can be done every time in the future, we can consider using materials to offset toll fees."
Lin Changsheng looked at Jin Mengqiao with a half-smile, not exposing the woman's cleverness, and nodded slightly in agreement.
These mineral materials and other items are procured centrally within the territory of Gunzhou, and the prices are not high.
However, if the market price is used to offset the caravan's toll, Lin Changsheng will not suffer any loss. But the price difference will indirectly save the caravan a large amount of spirit stones.
"Don't worry, senior. I will personally oversee the quality of every mineral material from now on."
Jin Mengqiao was overjoyed and thanked her with a smile.
……
Suddenly, Lin Changsheng's expression changed slightly, as if he sensed something.
He looked up and gazed in a certain direction towards Gunzhou.
A moment earlier, he realized that the 'sensing talisman' he had drawn himself had been activated.
He only bestowed this kind of magical talisman upon his six nominal disciples.