Chapter 63

Chapter 63: The Assembly Approaches

“Is it true?”

“The disciples sent people to verify it. She’s in the top twenty. No mistake.”

An Inner Sect disciple at mid Qi Refining—Zhao Chun—had reached nineteenth on the sect’s most dangerous training-ground rankings. In the Ling Zhen Sect, such a thing hadn’t happened in over a hundred years.

The news spread like wildfire. Within a day, the entire sect knew—and it reached Du Fan Zhi.

He didn’t dare treat it lightly. After confirming it himself, he went straight to Li Shu.

“So I misjudged her,” Li Shu said slowly. “A hidden gem.”

Because Zhao Chun’s spirit roots were so strange, Li Shu had never paid her much attention. And it wasn’t only her—he had too many disciples to guide each one personally. Most only earned his notice after reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage, when they were brought beneath him to receive instruction.

A few of his disciples had made the rankings before, but their placements were unremarkable—eighties, nineties. Nothing that drew the eye.

Zhao Chun’s nineteenth place was different. Even Li Shu was surprised.

Du Fan Zhi asked quietly, “Should we have someone approach her?”

“No need,” Li Shu said, waving a hand. “Not yet.”

“At the tournament, we can speak then. She is under me, after all. If she truly has ability, she may be useful.”

“Focus on running the tournament. Don’t waste time on anything else.”

“When Zi Xun breaks through to the Essence Condensation Stage, the overall situation will be set.”

Huo Zi Xun—Li Shu’s senior disciple—had long stood at the peak of the late Foundation Establishment Stage. This seclusion was for one purpose: entering the Essence Condensation Stage. Once he succeeded, master and disciple would both be Essence Condensation cultivators. Within the Ling Zhen Sect, that would make them an unquestionable pillar of power.

Only one regret remained: they had failed to seize the Purple Luo Jade Branch. Li Shu knew only that Chi Song was dead. As for who had taken the treasure—he had no clue.

Du Fan Zhi understood priorities. He acknowledged the order, reported a few Inner Sect matters, then withdrew.

The moment he stepped out of the hall, he nearly collided with a woman approaching. She had long brows, phoenix eyes, and a face untouched by powder.

Du Fan Zhi hastily bowed. “Senior Sister.”

This was Liu Xuan—Li Shu’s second personal disciple, a late Foundation Establishment cultivator second only to Huo Zi Xun among their line. She spent most of her time outside the sect and rarely involved herself in factional conflict, focusing solely on the Dao. It was precisely that detachment that had earned Du Fan Zhi Li Shu’s favor.

She returned his salute with a small nod. “I’ve come back to pay my respects to Master.”

“As you should,” Du Fan Zhi said. “This Junior Brother won’t disturb you. I’ll take my leave.”

He began to step aside, but Liu Xuan spoke again. “I heard there’s been talk in the sect recently—an Inner Sect disciple who reached the top twenty in the Threefold Stone Forest. Have you heard?”

Du Fan Zhi paused, surprised by her interest. “Senior Sister may not know yet. That disciple is also under Master. Nineteenth place.”

Liu Xuan’s eyes widened slightly. A bright smile surfaced. “So she’s a fellow disciple. Then I must find a chance to meet her.”

“That will be easy,” Du Fan Zhi said at once. “I’m hosting a tournament at the Round-Drum Dao Arena to decide the twenty spots for the Hundred Sects Assembly. Junior Sister Zhao Chun will certainly attend. I’ll invite Senior Sister to come in person.”

The invitation was not casual. Within the Inner Sect, Liu Xuan’s standing was exceptional. If she appeared, the tournament’s weight would rise.

All of this swirled because of Zhao Chun—and she knew nothing of it.

Her only concern was that making the rankings earned her five hundred Cui Stones. It wasn’t much, but it filled a few gaps.

She cultivated in her quarters for over a month. Her aura grew steadier, her foundation firmer. With her current methods, she feared no seventh-level Qi Refining disciple. Against an eighth-level, she could likely trade a few blows.

While she trained, Cui Cui eagerly gathered information and reported the tournament roster to her.

Among the four elders, Qiu Silhouette had taken no disciples. Li Shu had nineteen disciples; including Zhao Chun, eight would compete. Wu Yun Zhang had three disciples; only one would compete. The largest group belonged to Ge Xing Chao—over three hundred disciples, with around one hundred and fifty entering the tournament.

And there was also Zheng Chen Qing, the sect master’s personal disciple, who had just reached the ninth level of the Qi Refining Stage.

Zhao Chun had thought Li Shu’s line was already large. She hadn’t expected Ge Xing Chao’s to be monstrous.

Later, she learned why: sect rules required dual-spirit-root disciples in the Inner Sect to be taken under an elder. Qiu Silhouette, young and stubborn, refused to accept disciples. Wu Yun Zhang was obsessed with forging artifacts and likewise refused. Li Shu accepted disciples sparingly—without Qiu Silhouette’s words back then, he would never have taken Zhao Chun.

So the burden fell on Ge Xing Chao. By sect law, he took in a crowded house.

In total, 162 disciples would fight. Among them, fifty-five were late Qi Refining—the true focus of the battle. There were eight ninth-level disciples as well, nearly guaranteeing half of the twenty spots.

Some might be startled that Zhao Chun ranked nineteenth, but few truly saw her as a threat. Sixth level was still mid-stage. It didn’t enter their eyes.

The tournament was set at the Round-Drum Dao Arena, beside the Sky-Piercing River. A massive round stone embedded in the ground resembled a great drum, giving the arena its name.

All participants were disciples under elders—dual-spirit-root talents, geniuses in the eyes of others. Aside from a handful of Inner Sect Foundation Establishment disciples who came to watch, many Outer Sect disciples arrived too. But without Du Fan Zhi’s invitation, they couldn’t take seats and were forced to crowd the outer ring.

Zhao Chun’s three Senior Sisters arrived, along with Zhou Pian Ran. They had taken leave specifically to come and cheer for her.

Scanning the crowd, Zhao Chun even spotted the reception steward Cao Wen Guan standing beside Cui Lan E, leaning close as he spoke to her. They looked unusually familiar.

On the pavilion above, Meng Han sat with Xu Feng. After returning to the sect, Meng Han had received Zhao Chun’s message and learned she was safe. Only then had he truly relaxed. He came today both because Du Fan Zhi invited him and because he believed in Zhao Chun without reservation—certain she could claim a spot for the Hundred Sects Assembly.

Du Fan Zhi sat in the main seat. Beside him, one place remained conspicuously empty.

Then a rich fragrance drifted in. A graceful woman entered, and someone exclaimed, startled, “Alchemist Liu is here!”

Liu Xuan inclined her head to the crowd and walked to the seat with an easy smile. “I was delayed by opening my furnace. I’ve kept everyone waiting.”

Voices rose at once—no one minded, of course.

Du Fan Zhi lifted a hand. “Now that Senior Sister has arrived, we begin.”

At his signal, the bell-striking disciple rang the great bronze bell atop the platform. Immediately after, two rows of drums thundered in unison. The crowd roared, arms raised, excitement surging—and the competing disciples’ blood burned hot in their veins.