Chapter 83: On the Eve of the Grand Tournament

Several more days passed.

Atop the peak of Green Mountain, a steward in a blue robe adorned with cloud patterns from the Southern Hall bowed slightly and handed over a booklet. “Elder Lin, there are three new disciples under your tutelage who have entered the sect. This is the roster for the Grand Competition. Please have a look.”

After speaking, he raised his head and curiously observed the Daoist before him. The news of Green Mountain acquiring a new elder had gradually spread in these three months. Even someone like him, who paid little attention to external affairs, had heard of it. It was said that the newcomer was a wandering cultivator from outside the sect, who, many years ago, had been a disciple of Elder Zhang Dahai. Thus, by fortunate chance, he obtained the Green Mountain seal and became the most nominal elder in the sect.

At first glance now, he didn’t seem as lacking as the rumors suggested. To cultivate to the late Foundation Establishment in the mundane world was far more difficult than within the sect. If he had always followed Elder Zhang, perhaps he would have already reached completion and inheriting the Green Mountain legacy would be only natural.

What a pity.

The steward secretly shook his head. Perhaps Green Mountain now was not even as good as the mundane world. At least outside, one could live freely.

Lin Ze took the booklet and flipped through it.

Xiao Bao, Jiachen three hundred sixty-five.

Su Bai Lu, Dingmo one hundred fifty-six.

Wang Yao, Wushen thirty-three.

After reading, Lin Ze calmly closed the roster.

In the outer sect alone, tens of thousands of disciples were recruited in the past decade; naturally, they couldn’t all compete together. Instead, the batches were divided into sixty groups based on the heavenly stems and earthly branches, each with about five to six hundred people.

Previously, in Su Bai Lu’s simulation, she had taken first place in the Wushen group and caught the eye of an inner sect elder. Perhaps because she transferred from Clear Wind Mountain to his tutelage, she was placed in the Dingmo batch this time.

It was all very normal allocation. Even Lin Ze couldn’t find fault with it. Those who clamored to split Green Mountain seemed to have vanished quietly after the Southern Hall’s steward from Huayang Peak intervened.

He handed the booklet back. Seeing the steward about to leave, Lin Ze raised his hand to stop him. “Wait.”

The Southern Hall steward paused in confusion. “What instruction does Elder Lin have?”

Before he finished asking, a pill had already appeared in his palm.

The pill glowed with a gentle green light and exuded a rich fragrance.

He was slightly stunned, thinking that Lin Ze was the first to dare give something openly to the Southern Hall in broad daylight.

“How much is it worth in spirit stones?”

“On ordinary days, about thirty-five. Recently, it’s pricier, could fetch thirty-seven.”

“The compensation for Zhang Jialin’s arm from Huayang Peak.”

With this, Lin Ze turned away. He’d originally intended to give Wang Yao some motivation; Green Mountain hardly lacked this trifling sum, and now the matter was settled. As for the remaining seven spirit stones, he’d used Green Mountain for three months, totaling eighteen spirit stones. Subtracting Wang Yao’s merit for clearing the monkey infestation, the extra would be counted as interest.

“Goodness.” The Southern Hall steward felt a pang in his teeth. Clearly it was compensation, yet Elder Lin made it sound like hush money.

What surprised him more was that Green Mountain could still produce a Foundation Establishment pill. Ever since Zhang Dahai owed the Southern Hall over eight thousand merit points, the sect had stopped Green Mountain’s monthly stipend. The new elder must rely on his own resources to support the cultivators here.

The smooth pill felt almost hot to the touch. The steward shook his head, resigned, and walked down the mountain. Heaven knew how miserable these disciples’ lives were, but that was not his concern.

…

“No more…” Yang Mu’s face was twisted in agony as he waved his hand. “I really can’t take another bite.”

It was his first time experiencing the feeling of being stuffed from eating too many pills. With Wang Yao and Senior Sister Su already breaking through to the peak of Qi Refinement, the surplus pills naturally ended up in his stomach.

“Senior Brother Xiao, what realm are you at?”

“Huh?”

Xiao Bao was crouched on the ground, snatching an adorable rabbit from the little fox’s mouth. He tore off a crispy roasted rabbit leg and shoved it into his mouth, contemplating for a long time before replying seriously, “I forgot.”

Yang Mu swallowed hard. Lucky there’s still a little fox on the mountain, or else he’d be the weakest one here.

“By the way, isn’t today the day of the Grand Competition?” He glanced at the empty mountaintop and suddenly asked.

“Yes.” Xiao Bao licked his fingers and nodded, still savoring the taste.

“Then why are you still here?”

“Master said—” Before Xiao Bao could finish, Yang Mu, anxious and flustered, grabbed him and dashed down the mountain.

…

At this moment, the entire East Yue mountain range was boiling.

For all outer sect disciples, the Grand Competition was a threshold; crossing it meant a bright future. It was also the only place where they could interact with the inner sect.

“Ordinary cultivators can’t enter the inner sect.” He Lin patted his belly with a cheerful smile. “Those seniors are extremely strict in choosing disciples, even peculiar. Every decade, there are tens of thousands of new disciples, but those who catch their eye can be counted on one hand. Often, not even one is selected.”

“What do you mean by peculiar?” Lin Ze asked in confusion.

He hadn’t planned to come today, but had been blocked at the mountain gate early on by these two old men.

Upon hearing this, Elder Pan Yang from Cloud Residence Peak’s face darkened. He muttered resentfully, “When I participated in the outer sect Grand Competition years ago, I not only had Foundation Establishment cultivation, but had also comprehended sword intent from a lower-grade sword technique. I was riding high, but…”

“But then the elder stroked his beard and sighed, saying, ‘What a pity, you’re at Foundation Establishment. If you were at Qi Refinement, we might consider it.’” He Lin, struggling to suppress laughter, added.

“How can being at a higher realm be a disadvantage!” Pan Yang was indignant.

Seeing Lin Ze’s puzzled expression, He Lin explained, “The inner sect never chooses based on cultivation realm. They only accept those extraordinary individuals. If they so desire, they can even spend enormous resources to forcibly raise someone to the Golden Core stage.”

Having sword intent at Foundation Establishment was common, but at Qi Refinement, it was rare. If at early Qi Refinement, it was truly exceptional.

Lin Ze nodded gently.

No wonder Qin Hongxiu and the white fox, both at Golden Core level, were as different as a burly man and a child.

The three arrived at a grand hall.

A large paper was pasted at the entrance: Dingmo.

“Rest assured, Elder Lin. Your other two disciples are under the care of other elders,” Pan Yang said with a slight smile. “They’re in luck this time and needn’t be too nervous.”

He Lin also nodded with a smile.

There were a full sixty halls, and Dingmo had the most disciples from Little Pill Peak and Cloud Residence Peak. So, after confirming the situation, the two had invited Lin Ze to observe.

Lin Ze looked over, somewhat taken aback.

They nearly had the word ‘cheat’ written on their faces, and it was cheating on behalf of Green Mountain.

Recalling Qin Hongxiu’s words from that night, it seemed these lower-ranked mountain gates had already caught on.

“In truth… there’s no need for this.”

“No need to be formal with us. Speaking of pill arts, Elder Lin, have you made any progress recently?” He Lin’s eyes flashed with a touch of plaintive longing. It had been nearly half a month, and Lin Ze had not once visited Little Pill Peak.