Chapter 167: Is Yu Zhao Strong Enough?
This novel is translated and hosted only on BCatranslation
Ye Cong Xin had always been delicate since birth, and her mother died giving birth to her. After her mother passed away, Elder Ye, her father, brought her back to the Five Elements Sect and raised her on his own.
When Ye Cong Xin was ten years old, Elder Ye died in an accident, leaving her in a vulnerable position within the sect. Despite her difficulties, Ye Cong Xin’s gentle nature and tragic background earned her sympathy from others, so she was never treated too harshly.
However, things took a turn for the worse after her fight with Yu Zhao. In front of everyone, she was severely injured, coughing up blood. To stop the rumors that began to spread, Master Qing Yan took her in as his disciple.
Even though Xiu Luo usually didn’t pay much attention to Ye Cong Xin, she could clearly recall her life story.
It wasn’t until Yu Zhao pointed it out that Xiu Luo noticed something strange about Ye Cong Xin.
“Strange, why didn’t I think of that before?” Xiu Luo muttered, puzzled.
Yu Zhao stayed silent.
This was the second clue.
Yu Zhao knew Ye Cong Xin’s secret, so during the chaotic battle among the eight teams, she kept a close eye on her. That’s when she noticed something odd.
Ye Cong Xin wasn’t holding her own because her skills had improved; it was because the disciples she fought seemed to overlook her, almost as if she wasn’t there. Even Yu Zhao found that if she lost focus for a moment, Ye Cong Xin would seem to vanish, only to reappear once Yu Zhao actively searched for her.
This wasn’t just a coincidence.
It seemed Ye Cong Xin had made another deal with something sinister, gaining a technique that allowed her to hide her presence. This realization made Yu Zhao feel a growing sense of urgency.
While Yu Zhao was pushing herself forward, Ye Cong Xin was also making strides, but this time, she was advancing faster than in the previous life by devouring other’s fortune at an alarming pace. Yu Zhao glanced at Zhou Jin Yue, who was being congratulated up ahead, and made a decision.
After the selection competition ended, many disciples came forward to congratulate the winners, including Zhou Jin Yue and Fang Cheng Lang. But as they approached, they noticed that besides Pu Xing He, Quan Ye, and the unexpectedly lucky He Luo Luo, the others didn’t seem too happy. Instead, they looked worried, their expressions tense.
The other disciples were puzzled.
Zhou Jin Yue quickly thanked her fellow sect members before excusing herself and heading toward the outskirts. Fang Cheng Lang and Lan Zi Yu exchanged knowing looks, understanding that Zhou Jin Yue was probably going to find Yu Zhao. They watched her leave with complicated emotions.
When Yu Zhao and Zhou Jin Yue met, neither spoke right away. They first headed to a secluded spot.
“Senior Sister Jin Yue…”
“Junior Sister Yu Zhao, let me speak first,” Zhou Jin Yue said seriously as she looked at Yu Zhao. “Even though you can’t represent the Five Elements Sect in the sect competition, you can still participate in the individual competition. If you make it into the top twenty, you’ll still earn a spot on the floating island. I believe in your strength—you can do it.”
In the cultivation world, the Great Competition was divided into a sect competition and an individual competition. The top twenty from both would qualify for the floating island. However, compared to the sect competition, the individual competition, which gathered elites from all over, was far more challenging and demanding.
Moreover, the rules for the individual competition were less strict. In other words, anything could happen during the competition, including the possibility of death, which was all too common.
The top twenty from the individual competition were the best of the best, forged in the most brutal battles. That’s why most sect disciples avoided it unless necessary—the risks were too high, and the rewards often didn’t justify them.
But Zhou Jin Yue knew Yu Zhao well. She was confident that Yu Zhao wasn’t one to back down from a challenge.
“Senior Sister Jin Yue, I was thinking the same thing,” Yu Zhao replied with a slight smile.
For her, there wasn’t much difference between the sect competition and the individual competition. If anything, she preferred the individual competition, where the life-and-death stakes would push her to her limits.
Besides, in her past life, Wu Shao Zhen had emerged victorious among many formidable opponents. Yu Zhao believed she wasn’t any weaker than Wu Shao Zhen. In fact, she could do even better.
“If you’ve decided to join the individual competition, you need to head to the Achievement Pavilion as soon as possible. The registration deadline is less than a month away,” Zhou Jin Yue reminded her.
The Great Competition, led by the Five Elements Sect, rotated between the seven major sects. This year, it was being hosted by the Achievement Pavilion, known for its expertise in artifact crafting.
“I’ll leave as soon as I return,” Yu Zhao said.
Zhou Jin Yue nodded, then hesitated before asking, “Is there something you want to tell me?”
“You know me well, Senior Sister Jin Yue.” Yu Zhao’s expression turned serious. “There’s something strange about Ye Cong Xin. You need to be careful around her.”
If it were anyone else, they might have doubted Yu Zhao’s words. But standing before Yu Zhao was Zhou Jin Yue, the wise and perceptive senior sister. She took Yu Zhao’s warning to heart immediately.
“I understand. I’ll keep an eye on her.”
Zhou Jin Yue didn’t tell Yu Zhao that she had already been watching Ye Cong Xin. Without solid evidence, there was no point in saying more. If Ye Cong Xin was indeed up to something, she would eventually slip up.
“See you at the competition, Senior Sister Jin Yue.”
“See you at the competition.”
Yu Zhao stayed at the sect for less than a day before setting off for the Achievement Pavilion in the Eastern Region.
Meanwhile, when Zhou Jin Yue returned to the main peak, she was summoned by Sect Master Ji Yuan.
“Jin Yue, what did Yu Zhao say? She isn’t upset with the sect, is she? I had no other choice,” the Sect Master said, looking worried.
Zhou Jin Yue had initially been angry with her master, but seeing his troubled expression, she couldn’t bring herself to blame him. She sighed and said, “She’s headed to the Achievement Pavilion to join the individual competition.”
“The individual competition?” Sect Master Ji Yuan was surprised for a moment, then suddenly clapped his hands and laughed. “Good, the individual competition is good!”
“Master!” Zhou Jin Yue said, her tone annoyed.
The Sect Master quickly explained, “Jin Yue, I’m just happy for Yu Zhao. Since Master Qing Yan doesn’t think much of her, this is the perfect chance for her to prove her strength.”
“But many cultivators die in the individual competition. I’m worried…”
With Yu Zhao not around, Zhou Jin Yue finally admitted her fears.
“You’re underestimating Yu Zhao,” Sect Master Ji Yuan said with a mysterious smile. “Even if you were to face her, the odds of winning would be fifty-fifty.”
Hearing this, Zhou Jin Yue felt a sense of relief. She didn’t mind if Yu Zhao surpassed her. What she feared most was that Yu Zhao wouldn’t be strong enough to achieve her goals.
“My dear child, you shouldn’t be the one worrying. The ones who should be concerned are those on Lone Moon Peak. Once the competition starts, they’ll realize just how wrong they were.”
He wondered what their expressions would be then.
On Lone Moon Peak, Lan Zi Yu, Su Ming, Quan Ye, and Ye Cong Xin stood outside Master Qing Yan’s cave, occasionally peeking inside.
Su Ming paced back and forth, looking anxious. “Master called Senior Brother in alone. Do you think he’s going to punish him?”
This novel is translated and hosted only on BCatranslation
Quan Ye crossed his arms and scoffed. “Senior Brother took the side of an outsider. Of course Master would be angry.”
Su Ming glared at him. “Did you forget what Second Senior Brother taught you yesterday? Do you need him to help you remember again?”
Lan Zi Yu shot a cold look at Quan Ye.
Quan Ye stiffened, looking up at the sky, but didn’t dare say anything more.
Among the four senior brothers, Lan Zi Yu had the worst temper, and when he disciplined someone, he didn’t hold back. Quan Ye was most afraid of him.
“Senior Brothers, please don’t fight. Let’s focus on worrying about Senior Brother,” Ye Cong Xin pleaded.
The group fell silent, each of them worrying about what was happening inside the cave.