Chapter 23.1

It had already been a month since Fu Yan last left Bai Yueli’s courtyard, and she had not seen Bai Yueli again during that time. At this moment, she could not help pausing slightly.

As if sensing her gaze, Bai Yueli up ahead suddenly turned back and glanced at Fu Yan. For some reason, Fu Yan guiltily shifted her gaze away.

It was probably because she had taken Bai Yueli’s jade slip of insights, yet after a whole month, she still had no clue whatsoever regarding the Heart-Comprehending Sword Strike. That was why she inexplicably felt a little guilty.

When Tong Zhen saw Bai Yueli look over, she could not help smiling at her in a friendly manner. Then she pulled Fu Yan and chased after her, smiling brightly as she looked at Bai Yueli and said, “Hello, Senior Sister Bai!”

Fu Yan felt somewhat awkward. She had originally wanted to slow down and let Bai Yueli up ahead leave first. Unexpectedly, Tong Zhen had dragged her right under the other person’s eyes.

“Senior Sister Bai,” Fu Yan could only greet politely.

Tong Zhen, however, had the temperament of a child who could naturally become familiar with anyone. Seeing that Bai Yueli did not show any impatience, she hurriedly asked, “Senior Sister Bai, this is our first time participating in the inner sect ranking competition. Can you tell us about the specific situation?”

Hearing this, Bai Yueli first glanced at Fu Yan, but very quickly withdrew her gaze. Seeing Tong Zhen’s curious-baby appearance, she could only briefly explain some of the basic rules.

The Shuiling Sect’s inner sect ranking competition was held once a year. Before the competition began, the elders would divide all the inner disciples into ten groups. Then, each group would hold matches. Every time a person won a match, they could gain one point. Losing matches gave no points. The preliminary round had five rounds in total. After that, each group would have someone with the highest score. Generally speaking, the final top ten would basically be these ten people, though of course, that did not rule out the possibility of dark horses forcing their way in.

The later rankings were also calculated by points. The finals for the top one hundred were separated from the rest as well. In other words, if one did not have enough points to enter the top one hundred during the preliminary round, it was very likely that one would have no way to participate in the finals for the top one hundred.

After listening, Fu Yan could not help sighing. “If an ordinary disciple [bailiantales.com]continuously runs into senior brothers and sisters who want to enter the top fifty, wouldn’t their points never be able to rise?”

Bai Yueli turned back to look at her. “The elders naturally won’t put all the powerful ones into the same group. Later opponents between groups are decided by drawing lots. On the path of cultivation, sometimes, luck is also a kind of strength.”

“It’s so complicated!” Tong Zhen had already been listening in a fog, and now she felt her head hurt even more.

What could relieve worry? Only a fragrant chicken drumstick!

Then, under Fu Yan and Bai Yueli’s somewhat astonished gazes, Tong Zhen took out a chicken drumstick from her storage spirit ring all on her own and began eating it in slight grievance.

Fu Yan: “…”

“I’m sorry. Thank you for telling us the rules, Senior Sister Bai. Then we’ll head over first.” Fu Yan smiled somewhat awkwardly, then hurriedly pulled Tong Zhen and flew toward the competition arena on the main peak.

Bai Yueli did not continue saying anything either. She merely continued riding her sword unhurriedly.

When Fu Yan and Tong Zhen arrived at the main peak’s competition arena, both of them were slightly shocked by the sight before them. At this moment, the competition arena was already packed with people. Looking from afar, all one could see were countless little heads of varying heights.

“There are so many people!” Tong Zhen held up her chicken drumstick, so surprised she even forgot to eat.

Fu Yan nodded, but very quickly felt relieved. “Today’s ranking competition isn’t only attended by all inner disciples. The outer disciples from the left peak have also come to watch the excitement, and there are also quite a few elders.”

As soon as her words fell, Tong Zhen finally came back to herself. She hurriedly bit into the chicken drumstick and [bailiantales.com]answered somewhat unclearly, “That’s right. Let’s hurry and find somewhere to sit.”

Fu Yan did not refuse. Very soon, the two of them found an empty spot in the bustling arena.

When the sun had climbed high, this year’s ranking competition finally officially began. The inner sect’s grand elder slowly walked to the center of the arena. After signaling for all the disciples to quiet down, he slowly opened his mouth and said, “First, welcome, disciples, to the inner sect ranking competition. A year has passed. I trust everyone’s cultivation has not remained stagnant. It is time for you to display your strongest abilities…”

This inner sect grand elder looked like an ordinary, fifty- or sixty-year-old grandfather, and his face appeared very amiable. However, although his speaking voice was clearly not loud, it spread steadily and powerfully into the ears of everyone present.

This kind of strength would not be lower than late Dao Integration.

“The rules for this year’s ranking competition are still the same as in previous years, so I will not explain them one by one. Newly promoted inner disciples may ask their fellow senior brothers and sisters. All right, this old man will not waste more words.”

“The Shuiling Sect Inner Sect’s five hundred sixty-eighth ranking competition officially begins!”

As the grand elder’s voice fell, all the disciples present cheered at once. Everyone’s eyes were filled with burning excitement. After all, many disciples had trained hard for an entire year precisely to shine brightly in this competition.

“Hey, Fu Yan, what rank are you planning to fight your way up to?” Beside her, Tong Zhen finally finished her chicken drumstick after the grand elder’s last words fell. While wiping her hands and mouth with a handkerchief, she asked Fu Yan curiously.

Fu Yan: “…” Why did that tone make it sound as if she could fight her way up to whatever rank she wanted?

In truth, Fu Yan still had a certain understanding of her own strength. At most, she could only force her way into the top fifty. If she had successfully broken through to middle Illumination a few days ago, then she should have been able to enter the top thirty.

As for the top ten or top twenty, without cultivation at the late ​Read on BaiLianTales​Illumination stage, Fu Yan felt there should be no hope at all.

“I’m not sure. I should be able to enter the top one hundred,” Fu Yan thought for a moment, then answered somewhat casually.

After Tong Zhen finished wiping her little hands, her whole person looked satisfied from eating her fill. Then she nodded too. “Then I want to enter the top one hundred too!”

As they spoke, the administrative elders over at the arena seemed to be preparing to announce the group assignments. Tong Zhen stretched her neck and looked over, then immediately showed a nervous expression.

“What’s wrong?” Fu Yan asked her.

Only then did Tong Zhen turn back to look at her and say, “Please don’t put us in the same group. I don’t want to run into you on the stage.”

Fu Yan found these words somewhat amusing and could not help asking, “Why? Even if we do meet, we can just do our best and fight.”

“No, no, no!” Tong Zhen hurriedly shook her head, then said helplessly, “Fu Yan, your sword technique is too powerful. I definitely can’t beat you.”

“…”

Fu Yan wanted to say that with the terrifying strength of Tong Zhen’s physical body, she herself was also completely unsure if she could break through Tong Zhen’s defense. If they truly faced each other, the outcome could be said to be fifty-fifty.

Thinking of this, just as Fu Yan wanted to say something, she heard someone shout, “The group list is out. You can check it in your identity tokens.”

In an instant, all the inner disciples present lowered their heads one after another and released spiritual power into their ident[Read on BaiLianTales]ity tokens to check the group list.

“That’s great!” Tong Zhen beside her suddenly looked full of excitement. She swiftly raised her eyes to look at Fu Yan and said, “We’re not together. I was assigned to Group Six, and you’re in Group Eight, Fu Yan.”

Fu Yan nodded without minding much. She briefly looked over all the groups and found it somewhat amusing. Just as Bai Yueli had said earlier, the administrative elders had indeed divided everyone very fairly.

Among the top twenty from the previous ranking, each group had been assigned two people. According to ranking, the strength of the ten groups from top to bottom would not differ too much.

Just as Fu Yan was about to put away her identity token, Tong Zhen beside her suddenly cried out in surprise, “Fu Yan, Eldest Senior Sister Bai Yueli is actually in the same group as you!”

Hearing this, Fu Yan could not help pausing slightly. Just now, she had only roughly glanced at the list and had not looked too carefully. Now, after Tong Zhen’s reminder, she realized that Bai Yueli’s name had indeed appeared in Group Eight.

In truth, each group had more than eighty people and a total of five rounds of matches. Each round had over a dozen matches, so even if they were assigned to the same group, that did not mean they would one hundred percent run into each other.

However, if she truly did face Bai Yueli, Fu Yan knew that she definitely could not win. But she also wanted to know how many moves her current strength could last against Bai Yueli.

There was a feeling of both hoping to face her and hoping not to face her. Fu Yan did not know what kind of state of mind she was in right now either.

“All right, the groups have been divided. I trust everyone has already found their own group. Then all of you, quickly head to the arena of your assigned group. The ranking competition will begin immediately.”

At the center of the vast arena, the grand elder’s warm voice rang out again. After he finished speaking, the surrounding crowd began moving in twos and threes.

“Then I’ll head to Group Six first!” Tong Zhen also stood up from her seat stolen content and greeted Fu Yan before preparing to turn and leave.

Fu Yan nodded. She also had to head over to Group Eight.

Group Eight’s arena was on the far right side of the square. When Fu Yan hurried over, the place was already crowded with people. The spectator seats around the outside were packed full as well.

Just as Fu Yan was still somewhat confused about why there were so many people here, she saw Bai Yueli slowly walking over as well. In an instant, everyone’s gazes were drawn away.

“Ahhh!! I finally saw Senior Sister Bai! Look, everyone! Senior Sister Bai is really too beautiful, wuwu!”

“Although the other groups also have very exciting battles, I still want to watch Senior Sister Bai’s group. Do you think Senior Sister Bai will still be able to sit firmly as number one in the inner sect this year?”

“She definitely can. Other than Senior Sister Bai, who else can take first place? My good friend is actually in Group Eight too. I wonder if he can last one move against Senior Sister Bai.”

“It’s hard to say, right? After all, Senior Brother Yu Heng’s strength isn’t simple either.”

“…”

The chattering discussions all around made Fu Yan’s head ache a little. No wonder there were so many people here. So they had all come for Bai Yueli.

“All disciples of Group Eight, come here to draw lots.” An administrative elder on the stage suddenly called out loudly.

Fu Yan had no time to care about too much else and directly walked over to line up. There were only around eighty people in ​read the original at bailiantales.com​one group, so very soon, it was her turn. She casually reached into the paper box, pulled out a slip of paper, then quickly stepped aside.

Opening the slip, she saw four large characters clearly written on it: “Number Thirty-Seven.”

Less than fifteen minutes after the lots were drawn, another series of loud bell chimes rang out from the entire main peak. In the next second, everyone heard the grand elder’s voice spread over.

“The inner sect ranking competition officially begins.”

The matches were decided by drawing lots within each group. Fu Yan had just sat down in the disciples’ resting area to the side when she saw the administrative elder on the platform already draw two numbers.

At the same time, the other groups beside them also began today’s first matches in the ranking competition. The voices of the administrative elders rang out one after another throughout the arena.

“Group One, Number Thirty-Three against Number Sixty-Five!”

“Group Two, Number Twenty-Seven against Number Eighty-One!”

“…”

“Group Eight, Round One, Match One: Number Six against Number Forty-Nine!”

…

Very soon, Fu Yan saw two inner disciples beside her step onto the arena one after another. bailiantales.comAfter saluting each other, they both took up their weapons. In the blink of an eye, they had already fought to a heated stage, and everyone around watched with great interest.

Fu Yan watched for a while and could already guess the outcome of this match, so she withdrew her gaze. However, halfway through, her eyes somehow landed on Bai Yueli to the right by some strange coincidence.

She wondered what number Bai Yueli was.

Today, Bai Yueli was finally not dressed entirely in white. Instead, like all the inner disciples, she wore the light-blue sect disciple uniform. Yet this did not diminish her cold, stunning, transcendent temperament in the slightest.

Sure enough, a person’s aura really was innate.

As if sensing the gaze falling on her, Bai Yueli suddenly turned slightly and looked over, just in time to meet Fu Yan’s gaze before Fu Yan could react.

Fu Yan immediately paused. She hurriedly nodded in greeting, then swiftly moved her gaze away. Being caught secretly looking at someone on the spot was very awkward.

“Number Forty-Nine wins, gains one point!”

Fortunately, the match on the platform had already determined a winner at this moment and attracted most people’s attention. The result was also within Fu Yan’s expectations.

After several more matches ended, Fu Yan finally heard the number that belonged to her.

“Match Six, Number Thirty-Seven against Number Fifty-Two!”

As soon as the words fell, Fu Yan slowly stood up. Holding her stolen contentbroken Linglong Sword, she walked step by step onto the arena ahead. One breath later, her opponent also stood opposite her.

It was a disciple at middle Illumination stage.

“Number Fifty-Two, Lin Zhong. Please instruct me.” He was the first to raise his hand and salute Fu Yan.

Fu Yan raised her hand in return. “Number Thirty-Seven, Fu Yan. Please instruct me.”

Lin Zhong was a blade cultivator. As soon as the two finished saluting, he swiftly raised his long blade and charged directly toward Fu Yan.

Fu Yan was not careless at all. She directly used her Wind Shadow Steps and swept backward, quickly widening the distance between them completely.

Although Fu Yan’s cultivation was one stage lower than his, Lin Zhong did not dare hold any wishful thoughts. After all, he could not even beat Zhou Zhenlie, let alone Fu Yan, who had shattered Zhou Zhenlie’s qi sea.

Seeing Fu Yan easily dodge his strike, Lin Zhong could only quickly use his most powerful attack. “Blazing Red Blade!”

In an instant, the long blade in Lin Zhong’s hand seemed to ignite on its own. Flames surged up with a roar, burning so fiercely that even the air seemed to distort. He gripped the long blade tightly like this, and the true essence inside his body also exploded rapidly. His entire figure pressed straight toward Fu Yan ahead.

Lin Zhong’s blade came with fierce momentum. Added to that, his explosive true essence raised his speed, so Fu Yan naturally had no reason to keep dodging. She swiftly turned the broken Linglong Sword in her hand with a reverse motion, then leapt and directly collided with the flaming long blade.

In an instant, an incomparably enormous current of qi churned through the air. The true essence inside Fu Yan’s body surged out once more. Lin Zhong immediately felt a tremendous pressure attack him. By the time he reacted, his blade flames had already collapsed in an instant.

In that moment, the force of Fu Yan’s sword struck Lin Zhong directly. He swiftly fell backward, and in the next instant, he crashed [stolen content]heavily onto the ground, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

Bean-sized beads of sweat slowly slid down his forehead. Lin Zhong felt somewhat helpless. He had actually failed to receive even one sword strike from the other party.

“Match Six, Number Thirty-Seven wins, gains one point!”

As the administrative elder’s voice rang out, this match had already reached its result. Such a swift battle made everyone unable to help feeling somewhat incredulous.

“That was way too fast. Didn’t they only just get on stage a few breaths ago? The winner and loser are already decided!”

“What? Match Six is already over too? I only went to the latrine for a moment, and two matches are gone?”

“Who is this junior sister? She’s clearly only at early Illumination stage, yet she could defeat middle Illumination-stage Lin Zhong with one sword strike?”

“You mean Junior Sister Fu Yan? Haven’t you heard about what happened a month ago? She’s the one who shattered Zhou Zhenlie’s qi sea in one move during the life-and-death challenge! Lin Zhong’s strength can’t even compare to Zhou Zhenlie’s. Isn’t this obvious?”

“So it was her. I didn’t go watch back then.”

“I feel like this Fu Yan might be one of this year’s dark horses. Guess how far she can make it?”

“Hard to say. But the top one hundred definitely won’t be a problem. As for whether she can enter the top fifty, that depends on her strength later.”

“…”

Amid the discussions from the spectator seats, Fu Yan on the stage had already put away her broken Linglong Sword and slowly walked down. Then she returned to her seat.

The next match was also between two newly promoted disciples at early Illumination stage. This kind of match was not only nothing worth watching, it also would not end that quickly. Everyone shifted their gazes one after another toward the matches between other groups.

“Quick, look over at Group Six! That junior sister can actually fight evenly with Li Yanwei, who’s ranked ninety-eighth. She seems to be a newcomer this year too, right? This batch is way too abnormal. Why are they all dark horses? Are they leaving us old disciples any room to survive?”

At that moment, Fu Yan suddenly heard a voice full of disbelief from behind her. After hearing that person’s words, she could not help looking curiously toward Group Six.

Very quickly, she saw a familiar figure.

On Group Six’s arena, Tong Zhen was currently fighting a man. Her luck seemed somewhat poor; right after going up, she had encountered Li Yanwei, ranked ninety-eighth.

No matter what, Tong Zhen could be considered the first friend Fu Yan had made in the Shuiling Sect’s inner sect. Fu Yan naturally hoped Tong Zhen could win, so she raised her eyes and carefully watched Group Six’s match.

At this moment, Tong Zhen had already exchanged four or five moves with the other party, yet she still had not fallen into a disadvantage. Li Yanwei across from her also felt extremely troubled. At first, when he saw Tong Zhen, a newly promoted disciple at early Illumination stage, step onto the stage, he had thought this match would end very quickly. Unexpectedly, he had actually kicked an iron plate.

This Junior Sister Tong looked timid and shy, but who would have thought that she was actually hiding her strength? His attacks had no way of breaking through her defense at all.

“Junior Sister Tong is indeed powerful.” Li Yanwei could not help smiling bitterly. If this continued, he would probably fall into a disadvantage very soon. At this moment, he had no choice but to bring out his strongest ability.

Hearing this, Tong Zhen looked at him somewhat blankly, as if she still had not [Read on BaiLianTales]noticed the situation of this match.

Tong Zhen truly did not have much of a concept of it. After all, ever since she had stepped onto the stage, Li Yanwei had been the one attacking her. She could only passively block and defend, not daring to be careless in the slightest, afraid that one careless mistake would get her knocked off the stage.

After hearing Li Yanwei’s voice, Tong Zhen immediately looked at him with a wronged expression, thinking, Can’t you slow down a little? Your attacks keep coming one after another without even giving me a chance to breathe.

Li Yanwei: “…”