A Sect from a Spirit Vein

Chapter 260: Chapter 221: Lin Le Takes the Stage

The news that our sect is about to hold an internal competition instantly set the entire Yunshan Sect abuzz.

The competition is planned to start on December 25th and end on December 30th. The following day is the first day of the new year, so there will be a New Year’s banquet that evening, and the sect will officially lift the mountain closure, allowing free entry and exit.

The disciples, who had been holding back for a long time, immediately began to discuss fervently. The recently concluded Competition of the Hundred Arts Skills of Immortal Cultivation focused on ”miscellaneous skills” outside the main cultivation practice, so some disciples did not participate.

But the internal competition, where true skills are shown on stage, focuses on cultivation and power. More plainly, it’s about whose fists are bigger.

In the Cultivation Realm, the size of one’s fists is the fundamental basis for survival. Everyone was full of passion, caught in a conflicted state of both hoping for the competition day to arrive soon and wishing for it to be postponed for more preparation, even if just one day of extra cultivation would help.

Especially for those disciples who were eliminated in the Competition of the Hundred Arts, comforting themselves that they were only weaker in those skills, but in terms of cultivation and power, they are surely not inferior to anyone in battle!

Hmph, this time I will prove to you that the Hundred Arts Skills are just extras. You wasted too much time on them, utterly foolish. Just wait for me to seize the crown and astonish everyone, hahaha...

Amidst everyone’s various fantasies, the rules and rewards of the competition were also announced, and the bulletin boards around Bichao Mountain were instantly surrounded by crowds.

This time, the competition is divided into three tracks: Early-Stage Qi Cultivation, Mid-Stage Qi Cultivation, and Late-Stage Qi Cultivation. Each track has individual and team categories. The team competition consists of ten members per team (since only eight disciples in Late-Stage Qi Cultivation are participating, they are divided into two teams of four each).

The competition venue is no longer a traditional stage but a complete simulation of real combat. The sect will designate a large area in the middle of Bichao Mountain and modify the terrain to include boulders, forests, swamps, and mounds. The flight altitude can go anywhere as long as it doesn’t enter the Mountain Protection Grand Array.

The top four individuals and the top team in each track will be rewarded. The Yunshan Sect has recently come into a windfall, and the richness of the prizes makes the disciples green with envy: magical artifacts, spirit pills, high-level techniques, and even secret techniques. Moreover, Lu Qian has explicitly stated that the individual first-place winners in each of the three tracks can have their disciple level increased by one, causing everyone to exclaim in excitement.

Who wouldn’t want to replace the white feather on their arm with a Silver Feather or add another Silver Feather? Walking around receiving envious looks from fellow disciples—it must feel fantastic!

While everyone was fervently preparing for the sect competition, some less powerful disciples were worried, fearing that they would be knocked down as soon as they stepped on the stage, which would be quite embarrassing.

Lin Le was one of them.

At seventeen, he was mature and steady, with a warm temperament, always aspiring to live up to Lu Qian’s standards, and treated people with some of Lu Qian’s demeanor.

Generationally, he was the senior brother among the fifth-generation disciples; by role, he was now the Business Steward, managing Shuangye Square and most sect business affairs. He was also the head of the Yunshan Sect’s intelligence group, holding the sect’s eyes and ears.

Having long held important positions, naturally, he cultivated a certain elegance. However, this sect competition weighed heavily on his mind, and he couldn’t help but sigh at the dinner table, worrying his mother and Wu Yan.

Initially, he had mostly accepted the reality, knowing that he would likely not make much progress on the path of cultivation. But he was still young and valued his reputation; his junior brothers might secretly think whatever they wanted, but outwardly, they always showed respect. Yet, this time, appearing publicly and making a fool of himself would naturally be upsetting.

”Le, what’s the matter? Did Immortal Master Lu give you a difficult task?” Mrs. Lin put down her bowl and chopsticks and asked worriedly.

Wu Yan’s clear eyes were also fixed on Lin Le, her jade-like fair face full of concern.

The once skinny, yellow-haired girl had grown into a pure, lively maiden, at the prime of her youth, tall and elegant, with a bright appearance like a drop of morning dew in the forest. Her natural talent surpassed most female cultivators on Bichao Mountain.

In recent years, her relationship with Lin Le had progressed considerably. They were childhood sweethearts, mutually affectionate, but Lin Le, aware of their different lifespans, believed that enduring short-term pain was better than long-term suffering, thus choosing to avoid confronting it.

However, Wu Yan paid no heed. With such a girl tirelessly attending to him every day, taking care of every aspect of life, what adolescent could resist?

Ultimately, facing Wu Yan’s fawn-like pure eyes, Lin Le finally revealed his feelings not long ago. Knowing Lin Le’s true intentions and concerns, Wu Yan often seemed hesitated to speak, which puzzled Lin Le.

Faced with the care from his closest kin, Lin Le explained everything thoroughly.

Having spent many years in the mountains, Mrs. Lin knew quite a lot about cultivators, and she suggested, ”How about telling Immortal Master Lu? We won’t participate.”

Lin Le shook his head, ”The Sect Leader’s order requires all below the elders to participate. Since I hold an important position, how can I seek special treatment?”

Then Wu Yan suddenly made up her mind. She reached out with her slender hand and gently held Lin Le, ”Brother Le, on that day, I’ll be there cheering for you. Don’t worry, you’ll definitely win.”

Faced with such encouragement, Lin Le could only nod his head.

On the first day of the competition, colorful flags fluttered across Bichao Mountain, extraordinarily lively.

Lu Qian, accompanied by the elders of the Yunshan Sect, sat on the high stands outside the arena, closely observing the competition.

Of course, Guh Niqiang did not attend. She had no interest whatsoever in these children’s games.

Lin Le touched the number plate in his pocket, sighing helplessly. His luck wasn’t too great; not only did he draw an early number, but his opponent was a disciple at the fourth level of Qi Cultivation. It seemed that he would embarrass himself in front of the Sect Leader and all elders this time.

Just as he was feeling despondent, the referee called out Lin Le’s name loudly. Lin Le took a deep breath, hurriedly walked into the arena, swept his gaze, and saw Wu Yan standing along the sidelines, squeezed among the onlooking disciples, waving and cheering vigorously for him, her face flushed red from calling out with all her strength, warming his heart.

He had previously considered surrendering as soon as he stepped onto the stage, but now he couldn’t show such weakness in front of Sister Yann, he must give it his best.

His opponent was already in position, looking somewhat nervous, saluting Lin Le with cupped hands, ”Greetings, Senior Brother Lin. With all the elders watching the match, I... I also wish to earn a place. If I offend you during the match, I beg your forgiveness.”

Lin Le naturally understood his meaning; he feared Lin Le’s position and wanted to win but also worried about retaliation afterward.

Lin Le nodded, ”Rest assured, Junior Brother Zhang, let’s compete fairly without any hard feelings.”

Lu Qian naturally watched this match with interest. He sighed inwardly, having already anticipated the outcome.

The referee announced the start. When the gong sounded, Junior Brother Zhang quickly retreated, raising his hand as a few talismans glowed and flew towards him.

But Lin Le stood still, forming a seal with his hand, using the Earth Element Technique he was most familiar with.

Huh?

However, as soon as he made a move, Lin Le was surprised. A thick Earth Shield quickly formed, far exceeding his usual practice.

Is this me performing extraordinarily?

The talismans burst on the Earth Shield, leaving only a few cracks, and in the next moment, to Junior Brother Zhang’s astonishment, the Earth Shield suddenly shattered, transforming into a series of human-head-sized Earth Bombs, shooting toward him with a volley of bangs.

Lu Qian’s divine sense twitched, and he was inwardly shocked.