Chapter 86

Chapter 86: Sect Selection Trials

At Spirit Gathering Peak, inside the martial arena, the air shook with heckling and cheers: “Fight, fight, fight!” “Don’t wimp out, just go for it!” “Get in there, go for the family jewels!” “Are you running out of steam, Wu Pockmarks? Your body is so flimsy, you ought to tonify it!” “…”

Walking along, Rong Shu found that nearly all of the platforms had been requisitioned for the sect’s selection trials. A casual sweep of her gaze showed disciples dueling atop every stage while clusters of disciples watched below, and sect elders acting as referees kept a close eye on each match.

Whenever a bout produced a clear outcome, the on-duty sect elders recorded the winners and losers.

Heaven’s Evolution Sect’s selection trials lasted three months. In the first two months came Phase One, the free challenge period; in the final month came the points elimination rounds.

During the free challenge period, any disciple could challenge any disciple within the same major realm. If both sides agreed, they would step onto the platform to settle the matter. The winner received five points, and the loser lost two.

When the two months ended, the top three hundred point earners in each of the three major realms—Golden Core, Foundation Establishment, and Qi Refining—qualified for Phase Two, the points elimination bracket.

Phase Two paired opponents randomly in one-on-one matches. Winners advanced; losers were eliminated. In the end, the top one hundred within each of the three realms would represent Heaven’s Evolution Sect in the upcoming grand sect tournament. This phase lasted half a month.

The final half month was reserved for the chosen disciples to make adjustments and prepare.

In addition, if any disciple disputed the rankings, each day exactly one disciple could receive a single opportunity to challenge anyone on the roster, and the challenged party could not refuse. The same rule applied there: the winner stayed, the loser was eliminated; regardless of outcome, neither disciple would have another chance to challenge anyone else.

Rong Shu stopped beside one of the platforms to watch. After a while, someone called to her: “Rong Shu.”

She turned and saw Cheng Bu Fan standing not far away, beckoning.

She walked over and asked with a smile: “Senior Brother Cheng, you came to the Outer Peaks to watch the matches too?”

Cheng Bu Fan had not bothered to conceal his aura, so she could clearly sense that he was now at the tenth layer of Qi Refining. He drew Rong Shu to a quieter spot and, at her question, rolled his eyes: “Think again, I’m here to compete.”

Before she could ask more, his expression fell: “My old man forced me.”

“If I weren’t on the verge of Foundation Establishment, competing in the Qi Refining bracket might still be possible.”

“But that old man wants me to enter the Foundation Establishment bracket. Damn it, even if I break through in time, I’ll just be a fresh Foundation Establishment rookie waiting to be bullied.”

His teeth ground with frustration.

“Uh, well…” Rong Shu had no idea how to comfort him. She did not have to compete herself. [Hehehe.]

“Right, this is for you,” he said. Having finished venting and feeling better, Cheng Bu Fan remembered why he had sought her out and drew a jade-green lotus from his Storage Pouch.

Under the sunlight, the lotus’s petals sent off prismatic glimmers.

“What is this?” she asked with a puzzled face, though in her heart she knew very well that the thing he pressed into her hand was the Seven Illusion Azure Lotus. [Seven Illusion Azure Lotus, without a doubt.]

“You’re at the third layer of Qi Refining, aren’t you?” Cheng Bu Fan wore a look that said he had seen straight through her, then he gave the lotus a casual shake and added: “There’s only three months left. Judging by your pace, I don’t see you hitting the fourth layer in time.”

“This is a Seven Illusion Azure Lotus, something that can push a Qi Refining cultivator up a full layer. Use it.”

With that, he held the Seven Illusion Azure Lotus out to her.

Although she had vaguely guessed his intention, hearing him say it aloud still surprised Rong Shu. She asked curiously: “What about you? You’re at the tenth layer of Qi Refining but haven’t reached Foundation Establishment yet. Breaking into Foundation Establishment is much harder than reaching the fourth layer of Qi Refining. You should need the Seven Illusion Azure Lotus even more.”

“I already took one. I can’t take a second in the short term. Besides, I’m aiming for Foundation Establishment, and this thing doesn’t help much with that. It’s extra, so I’m giving it to you.”

When Rong Shu hesitated to accept, Cheng Bu Fan simply tucked it into her hand.

“Ah, this isn’t really proper…” she said, looking conflicted. This made her feel so awkward. For a moment, the other Seven Illusion Azure Lotus sitting in her Han Chuan Cosmos Pearl felt uncomfortably hot. [If I had known, I should have just asked him for some Spirit Stones back then. But asking for only Spirit Stones wouldn’t have fit the persona I was playing.]

“Just take it,” Cheng Bu Fan said with a dismissive wave. “You don’t want to fail to reach the fourth layer and get punished by my father with confinement at the Cliff of Reflection, do you?”

At that, Rong Shu nodded: “All right, thank you, senior brother. If I come across some rare heavenly materials and earthly treasures in the future, I will gift them to senior brother.”

Cheng Bu Fan snorted and rolled his eyes: “You? Finding heavenly materials and earthly treasures? Just focus on breaking through.”

“Okay, Senior Brother Cheng,” she replied cheerfully, unbothered by the disdain.

She had been puzzling over what excuse or reason to use to justify another breakthrough on short notice. Now Cheng Bu Fan had delivered the perfect justification into her hands.

With the Seven Illusion Azure Lotus, if she still failed to break through, it would not be ordinary aptitude anymore; it would be abysmal aptitude.

“I will definitely break through within two days,” Rong Shu promised.

“Good,” Cheng Bu Fan said. With the lotus helping, he had no reason to doubt her. “I need to go into seclusion too. Otherwise, breaking into Foundation Establishment within three months will be a stretch.”

Though he spoke of difficulties, his face showed little gloom. Seeing this, Rong Shu felt reassured. If Peak Master Cheng had set this condition, he likely would not have saddled his own son with a demand that could not be met even with his utmost effort.

“Then I’ll await the good news of Senior Brother Cheng’s glorious step into Foundation Establishment,” Rong Shu said, flinging her small hand toward the distance as if unfurling a brilliant tableau: “When the grand sect tournament comes, senior brother will surely make your name resound through the realms: punch Sky Piercing Sect, kick Giant Spirit Sect, and win the admiration of the countless beautiful immortal maidens of Glorious Radiance Sect.”

Anyone with a sense of modesty would have demurred at least twice. Unfortunately, Cheng Bu Fan did not.

Hands on hips and head tipped back, he laughed: “Hahaha, I think so too! Those so-called Sword Sons and Saint Sons from Sky Piercing Sect and Giant Spirit Sect, I, Cheng Bu Fan, will suppress them all with one palm!”

“Wow, Senior Brother Cheng, so mighty!” Rong Shu said, clapping rapidly.

“…” Passing disciples, hearing just the tail end of their exchange, made faces of disgust and hurried away at a brisk pace.