Holding the Sword to Carry Away Senior Sister (Transmigration) - Chapter 23.1

Fu Yan had not seen Bai Yueli for a full month since leaving her courtyard. At this moment, she couldn’t help but feel a slight daze.

Sensing a gaze upon her, Bai Yueli suddenly turned her head and glanced at Fu Yan. For some reason, Fu Yan felt a bit guilty and shifted her gaze away.

It was likely because she had taken Bai Yueli’s jade slip of insights, yet a month had passed and she still had no clue regarding the “Heart-Piercing Strike.” That was undoubtedly why she felt this inexplicable guilt.

Seeing Bai Yueli look over, Tong Zhen gave a friendly smile and pulled Fu Yan along to catch up. She looked at Bai Yueli with a beaming smile and said, “Hello, Senior Sister Bai!”

Fu Yan felt a bit awkward. She had originally intended to slow down and let Bai Yueli go ahead first, but she hadn’t expected to be dragged right under the other woman’s nose by Tong Zhen.

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

Tong Zhen, however, possessed the heart of a child and was naturally sociable. Seeing that Bai Yueli didn’t look impatient, she hurriedly asked, “Senior Sister Bai, this is our first time participating in the inner sect Ranking Tournament. Can you tell us about the specific details?”

Hearing this, Bai Yueli first cast a glance at Fu Yan, but she quickly withdrew her gaze. Seeing Tong Zhen’s “curious baby” expression, she could only simply explain some of the basic rules.

The Shui Ling Sect’s inner sect Ranking Tournament was held once a year. Before the tournament began, the elders would divide all the inner disciples into ten small groups. Then, each group would conduct matches. For every match a person won, they would earn one point; there were no points for a loss. The preliminary round consisted of five rounds in total. Following this, each group would have a person with the highest score. Basically, the final top ten would be those ten people—though the possibility of a “dark horse” breaking through could not be ruled out.

The subsequent rankings were also calculated based on points. The finals for the top one hundred were also separated from the rest. In other words, if one’s points weren’t high enough to reach the top hundred during the preliminaries, they likely wouldn’t be able to participate in the top-hundred finals.

After listening, Fu Yan couldn’t help but sigh. “If an ordinary disciple continuously runs into senior brothers and sisters who are in the top fifty, wouldn’t their points never go up?”

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

“It’s so complicated!” Tong Zhen was already hearing it as if through a fog, and now she felt her head growing even larger.

How to solve worries? Only a fragrant chicken leg!

Then, under the somewhat startled gazes of both Fu Yan and Bai Yueli, Tong Zhen went ahead and took a chicken leg out of her storage ring and began to eat it with a slightly aggrieved look.

Fu Yan: “…”

“Sorry about that. Thank you, Senior Sister Bai, for telling us the rules. We’ll head over first then.” Fu Yan gave a sheepish smile and hurriedly pulled Tong Zhen away, flying toward the Main Peak’s arena.

Bai Yueli didn’t say anything further, but continued to fly on her sword at an unhurried pace.

When Fu Yan and Tong Zhen arrived at the Main Peak’s arena, they were both slightly shocked by the scene before them. The arena was already a sea of people; looking from a distance, one could only see a mass of small heads of varying heights.

“So many people!” Tong Zhen held her chicken leg, so surprised she forgot to eat it.

Fu Yan nodded, though she soon felt relieved. “For today’s Ranking Tournament, not only have all the inner disciples come to participate, but the outer disciples from the Left Peak have also come to watch the excitement, along with many elders.”

At those words, Tong Zhen finally snapped out of it. She quickly took a bite of her chicken leg and responded somewhat muffle-mouthed, “That’s true. Let’s hurry and find a place to sit.”

Fu Yan didn’t refuse. Soon, the two of them found a vacant spot in the boisterous arena.

As the sun reached its zenith, this year’s Ranking Tournament finally officially began. The Grand Elder of the inner sect slowly walked to the center of the arena. After signaling for all the disciples to quiet down, he slowly spoke, “First of all, I welcome all disciples who have come to participate in the inner sect Ranking Tournament. A year has passed, and I believe everyone’s cultivation has not stagnated. It is time to display your strongest strength…”

This inner sect Grand Elder looked like a normal grandfather in his sixties, and his face appeared very kind and approachable. However, although his voice was clearly not loud, it traveled steadily and powerfully into the ears of everyone present.

This kind of strength would not be lower than the Late Hedo Stage.

“This year’s Ranking Tournament rules are the same as in previous years, so I won’t go into detail. New inner disciples can ask their fellow brothers and sisters. Alright, I, this old man, won’t waste any more words.”

“The 568th Shui Ling Sect Inner Sect Ranking Tournament officially begins!”

As the Grand Elder’s voice fell, all the disciples present immediately began to cheer. Everyone’s eyes were filled with fervent passion; after all, many disciples had practiced hard for a year just to shine in this tournament.

“Hey, Fu Yan, what rank are you planning to reach?” Beside her, Tong Zhen finally finished her chicken leg just as the Grand Elder’s last words faded. As she took out a handkerchief to wipe her hands and mouth, she curiously asked Fu Yan.

Fu Yan: “…” This tone made it sound as if she could reach whatever rank she wanted.

In truth, Fu Yan had a certain understanding of her own strength. At most, she could only break into the top fifty. If she had successfully broken through to the Middle Opening Light stage a few days ago, she should have been able to break into the top thirty. As for the top ten or top twenty, Fu Yan felt there was likely no hope unless her cultivation reached the Late Opening Light stage.

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

Tong Zhen finished wiping her small hands, looking satisfied and full. She then nodded as well. “Then I want to enter the top hundred too!”

As she spoke, the deacon elders over in the arena seemed to be preparing to announce the group assignments. Tong Zhen craned her neck to look, her face suddenly becoming a mask of trepidation.

“What’s wrong?” Fu Yan asked her.

Tong Zhen then turned back to look at her and said, “Please don’t let us be in the same group. I really don’t want to run into you on the stage.”

Hearing this made Fu Yan find it a bit funny. She couldn’t help but ask, “Why? Even if we do meet, we’ll just do our best to compete.”

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

“…”

Fu Yan wanted to say that given the terrifying strength of Tong Zhen’s physical body, she was also completely uncertain if she could break through her defense. If they really faced off, the chances of winning or losing were essentially fifty-fifty.

Just as Fu Yan was about to say something, she heard someone shout, “The group list is out! You can check it in your identity plaques.”

In an instant, all the inner disciples present lowered their heads and released spiritual energy into their identity plaques to check the group list.

“That’s great!” Tong Zhen was suddenly full of excitement. She quickly looked up at Fu Yan and said, “We aren’t together! I’ve been assigned to Group 6, and Fu Yan, you are in Group 8.”

Fu Yan nodded, unconcerned. She took a simple look at all the groups and found it a bit amusing. Just as Bai Yueli had said, the deacon elders had indeed divided them very fairly.

For the top twenty of the previous tournament, each group was assigned two of them. In terms of ranking, the strength of the ten groups from top to bottom would not differ much.

Just as Fu Yan was about to put down her identity plaque, Tong Zhen beside her suddenly cried out in surprise, “Fu Yan, Great Senior Sister Bai Yueli has actually been assigned to the same group as you!!”

Hearing this, Fu Yan couldn’t help but be slightly stunned. She had only glanced at the list roughly just now and hadn’t looked too closely. Now, hearing Tong Zhen’s reminder, she discovered that Bai Yueli’s name truly did appear in Group 8.

Actually, each group had about eighty people, and there were five rounds of matches in total. Each round had a dozen or so matches, so even if they were in the same group, it didn’t mean they would 100% run into each other.

However, if she really did face Bai Yueli, Fu Yan knew she definitely wouldn’t be able to win. But she also wanted to know how many moves her current strength could last in Bai Yueli’s hands.

It was a state of mind where she both hoped to face her and hoped she wouldn’t. Fu Yan didn’t know what her current heart was feeling.

“Alright, the grouping is complete. I believe everyone has found their respective groups. Now, everyone, proceed quickly to the arena of your group. The Ranking Tournament is about to begin.”

The Grand Elder’s gentle voice once again drifted from the center of the massive arena. As he finished speaking, the surrounding crowds began to move in groups of two and three.

“Then I’ll head over to Group 6 first!” Tong Zhen also stood up from her seat, greeted Fu Yan, and prepared to turn and leave.

Fu Yan nodded; she had to go over to Group 8’s side as well.

Group 8’s arena was on the far right of the plaza. When Fu Yan hurried over, the place was already crowded with people, and the outer spectator stands were completely filled.

Just as Fu Yan was wondering why there were so many people on this side, she saw Bai Yueli also slowly walking toward them. In an instant, everyone’s gaze was drawn away.

“AHHH!! I finally see Senior Sister Bai! Look, everyone, Senior Sister Bai is so beautiful, woohoo!”

“Even though other groups have exciting battles, I still want to watch Senior Sister Bai’s group. Do you think Senior Sister Bai can still firmly hold the number one spot in the inner sect this year?”

“She definitely can! Who else but Senior Sister Bai could take first place? My good friend is actually in Group 8 too. I wonder if he can last a single move in Senior Sister Bai’s hands.”

“It’s hard to say though. After all, Senior Brother Yu Heng’s strength is not simple either.”

“…”

The chirping gossip all around made Fu Yan’s head ache a bit. No wonder there were so many people here; they were all here for Bai Yueli.

“All disciples of Group 8, come to me to draw lots,” a deacon elder on the stage suddenly called out.

Fu Yan didn’t waste time and went straight into the line. There were only about eighty people in a group, so it was quickly her turn. She randomly reached into the cardboard box and pulled out a piece of paper, then quickly moved to the side.

Opening the slip of paper, the words “Number 37” were written boldly on it.

Less than fifteen minutes after the drawing was finished, a series of loud bell tolls echoed once more across the Main Peak. The next second, everyone heard the Grand Elder’s voice: “The inner sect Ranking Tournament officially begins.”

The matches were decided by shaking lots within each group. Fu Yan had just sat down in the area for disciples to rest when she saw the deacon elder on the platform shake out two numbers.

At the same time, the other groups nearby also began the first match of today’s tournament. The voices of the various deacon elders echoed throughout the arena.

“Group 1, Number 33 versus Number 65!”

“Group 2, Number 27 versus Number 81!”

“…”

“Group 8, First Round, First Match: Number 6 versus Number 49!”