Chapter 20: Dauntless Spirit

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

A night passed without any special events.

Early the next morning, Lu Yi woke up and had breakfast with Lu Gaoyang and Wang Siqi. Lu Gaoyang then said, “Let’s go, we’re heading to the Martial Arena!”

Lu Yi looked at the outstretched hand of Lu Gaoyang and his expression changed. He quickly said, “Hold on, Father! I plan to go there myself today!”

Lu Gaoyang’s hand paused. He looked at Lu Yi with a puzzled expression.”Why? Wouldn’t it be more convenient for me to take you there?”

Lu Yi cleared his throat and explained, “You know I’m quite well-known now. It’s still early, and if I go there too soon, I might attract a crowd, and that would be embarrassing. It’s better if I go leisurely.”

Upon hearing Lu Yi’s explanation, Lu Gaoyang thought for a moment and found it reasonable. Wang Siqi also smiled and added, “Since that’s the case, let Yi go by himself. He’s grown up now and has his own ideas.”

Lu Gaoyang and Wang Siqi departed on their flying swords, and Lu Yi breathed a sigh of relief, ‘Today I wouldn’t be dragged along and there’s still a chance for me to improve my image.’

With a happy expression on his face, Lu Yi ran out of the door.

When Lu Yi arrived at the Martial Arena, quite many people had already gathered. The previous day’s selection and preliminary matches had been completed, so there were fewer people in the square, but the area around the Martial Arena was becoming increasingly crowded.

Seeing Lu Yi approach, the eyes of the outer disciples lit up.

“It’s Lu Yi!”

“Yesterday, I was hoping to witness Lu Yi’s swordsmanship, but I missed it whether it was on White Sun Peak or at the Martial Arena.”

“Yes, but today, the top ten will be decided, and we’ll definitely get to see Lu Yi’s swordsmanship!”

…

Many disciples were filled with anticipation.

Lu Yi walked into the Martial Arena and headed toward the central stage, which was surrounded by ten larger platforms. These ten platforms were meant for the ranking matches.

In previous Grand Competitions, 320 disciples were competing on these ten platforms to determine the top ten.

Currently, the area of the platforms had already filled with disciples, and they were all among the top 320.

When the disciples saw Lu Yi coming, they cast inquisitive glances at him, some with caution. He even noticed a few hostile looks from some of the Level 9 Qi Refiner cultivators.

Lu Yi wondered if he had done something to offend them. He had no idea why these people seemed so unfriendly. Deciding not to think too much about it, he turned his attention elsewhere.

Just then, Lu Yi heard Wang Wulian’s voice, “Lu Yi, over here!”

Turning his head, Lu Yi saw Wang Wulian waving at him with a smile on his face.

Lu Yi walked over and greeted him, “Hi, Wulian!”

Lu Yi looked around and asked with confusion, “Where’s Ling? Why haven’t I seen him?”

Lu Ling was not weak and Lu Yi was surprised not to find him there.

Wang Wulian chuckled wryly and explained, “Ling was unlucky. Jiang Fan is on his platform, and he didn’t advance.”

“Jiang Fan?” Lu Yi thought for a moment and then recalled. He asked, “Is he the one at the Level 10 Qi Refiner?”

“Who else could it be?” Wang Wulian said.

Lu Yi sighed, realizing that it was not just Li Qi who had been unlucky. Lu Ling was also in a tough spot. Despite having the strength to make it to the top one hundred, Lu Ling did not pass the preliminaries.

However, the outer sect would not consider this fairness or unfairness. As the saying goes, luck might be intangible, but it’s indeed important in cultivation. In fact, luck was also a part of one’s strength.

Lu Yi had no problem with this understanding. In his past life, he had read countless novels where the scions of destiny weren’t necessarily the most talented, but they were like cockroaches that could not be killed no matter how hard you tried. And they always ended up with various treasures. No one could reason with that.

“By the way, Wulian. Who is that senior disciple in the green robe? Why does he look at me as if I’ve taken something important from him?” Lu Yi asked puzzledly.

That senior disciple’s gaze was far from friendly. It made Lu Yi wonder if he had stolen the guy’s wife or something.

Wang Wulian glanced in the direction Lu Yi had indicated but quickly averted his gaze. He grinned and said, “Well, it’s because your cultivation broke through to the Level 7 Qi Refiner, Lu Yi.”

“What does my breakthrough to the Level 7 Qi Refiner have to do with this?” Lu Yi was perplexed.

“Ha… It’s because of your astonishing talent, Lu Yi. With the strength of the Level 7 Qi Refiner, you’re already comparable to Level 9. Now that you’ve broken through to Level 7, some people might be feeling threatened,” Wang Wulian said with a mischievous smile.

“Lu Yi, you should know that the top ten disciples in each year’s Grand Competition can be exempted from assessment and directly enter the inner sect, right?”

Lu Yi nodded and replied, “I know.”

Truth be told, it was Lu Yi’s goal.

Wang Wulian continued to explain, “Among the outer sect disciples in this session, there are only six senior disciples at the Level 10 Qi Refiner. The remaining four are selected from the Level 9 Qi Refiner disciples. That guy you saw just now is named Mo Lingxi. He has the strength to enter the top ten, or to put it accurately, he’s right in the tenth place. Do you understand what I mean, Lu Yi?”

Lu Yi suddenly realized. He finally understood why a few Level 9 Qi Refiner disciples had been giving him hostile looks earlier.

Those guys were probably qualified to vie for the top ten in the outer sect. With Lu Yi emerging, it was like adding a new competitor. Moreover, considering Lu Yi’s demonstrated strength, they probably were not confident they could beat him.

As for the unfriendly guy, Lu Yi now understood his perspective as well. If Lu Yi managed to get into the top ten, he would be the one knocked out, and then he wouldn’t be able to enter the inner sect. That must be quite frustrating. It was not a surprise that guy was so unfriendly. Lu Yi felt a bit sympathetic toward him.

Sighing, Lu Yi said, “I hope Mo Lingxi has better luck next year.”

Wang Wulian was baffled, looking at Lu Yi, who was sighing with sympathy and said, “Lu Yi, do you think you’ll definitely make it into the top ten?”

Lu Yi smiled and said confidently, “Of course.”

In fact, Lu Yi’s goal was not just the top ten; he aimed for the first place. He had not forgotten the sect’s rewards for the Grand Competition. The higher the ranking, the better the rewards.

Wang Wulian grinned, gave Lu Yi a thumbs-up, and said, “Lu Yi, you’ve got quite the dauntless spirit! But don’t underestimate those who are competing for the top ten. They’re not like me and Ling. They all have their unique skills, and at the very least, they have cultivated an art to the Transformation stage, and some even have magic tools.”

Lu Yi felt strange and thought, ‘Magic tools? I have two, a low-grade magic sword and a pair of mid-grade magic boots. As for techniques at the Transformation stage, it was not boasting to say that I was still a bit lacking compared to them.’

As they were conversing, Dugu Fang arrived at the central stage once again.

Looking at Lu Yi and the others, Dugu Fang’s expression had softened compared to yesterday. He said, “Being able to enter the ranking matches, all of you are the elite disciples of our White Cloud Sect’s outer sect. I’m sure you will all enter the inner sect in the future. Today’s competition is to determine the rankings. Let the ranking matches begin!”

Then, Dugu Fang waved his hand again. 320 stone tablets appeared, flying towards Lu Yi and the others.