Chapter 47: Semi-Finalists and a Lingering Gaze

“Senior Sister, you misunderstand. I didn’t activate my cultivation technique because it’s unrelated to talismans, not out of any disrespect.”

‘[Activating my cultivation technique is out of the question. The “Ocean Surge” of the Ocean Convergence Art is currently one of my trump cards, not to be used lightly.]’

Their foundational skills were simply not on the same level. A Three-Spirit Root granted Qiao Li a much faster cultivation speed than a Five-Spirit Root, yet while a Three-Spirit Root offered ease, one could not indulge in it, lest it lead to stagnation.

Lian Yueying had shown Qiao Li consideration, and a defeat was a defeat. Qiao Li secretly resolved to cultivate diligently, then clasped her fists and descended the martial arts stage. Seeing that both cultivators at the eighth level had been defeated, the remaining participants naturally refrained from stepping up to challenge them.

This was precisely why the sect organized both minor and major competitions. As the saying went, ‘knowing shame breeds courage,’ and with contribution points as rewards, disciples were always drawn to strive for improvement. Victors reaped benefits and continued their progress. Those defeated, if ambitious, would also redouble their efforts, fostering a virtuous cycle.

However, those who lacked ambition were not a concern for the sect; if they gave up on themselves, no amount of persuasion from others would be effective.

The other three matches also gradually concluded. As expected, Li Ming and Zhou Yan advanced, along with Yu Cheng, who had recently reached the ninth level of Qi Condensation.

As the final spiritual energy barrier fell, the four victors of the day stood upon the martial arts stage. Each of them cast a glance at the others, some bowing, some clasping their fists, all collectively offering a distant salute.

Thus, the highly anticipated semi-final roster for the Lake Hall’s Minor Competition was unveiled.

Upon first entering the Tuoshan Sect, Lian Yueying, like the other disciples below the stage, could only watch as her Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters vied for victory in combat. Yet, in a mere two years, circumstances had dramatically shifted; Lian Yueying now stood on the elevated platform, having defeated those whose cultivation had once surpassed her own.

The scenes from that period flickered before Lian Yueying’s eyes. Although most of them depicted tedious, repetitive moments, the effort she had invested had ultimately borne fruit.

‘[Now that I think about it, progressing from the fifth to the eighth level of Qi Condensation at this speed is considered fast even for a Three-Spirit Root.]’

This speed, of course, referred to a Three-Spirit Root cultivating independently without external aid. For someone like her, who utilized pills and spirit-gathering formations at maximum capacity, reaching the threshold of the ninth level would likely be within grasp.

“The fourth round of the Lake Hall Minor Competition has concluded. The victors are Li Ming, Zhou Yan, Yu Cheng, and Lian Yueying. The semi-finals will be held three days from now. Any objections should be stated now.”

The announcement was made by the Head of Bamboo Hall’s eldest disciple, a cultivator at the late Foundation Establishment stage, possessing profound strength. They served as the invigilator, preventing any excessive force that might lead to accidents.

When their words fell silent, no one raised any objections. Only then did they nod to the other Foundation Establishment cultivators of Lake Hall and gracefully depart.

Only with this did the fourth round truly conclude, allowing Lian Yueying to let out a sigh of relief. While reaching the top four was within her expectations, the feeling of erupting after prolonged immersion was far more satisfying than merely being praised. Her mood was immeasurably brightened.

This was true for her, and it was true for others as well; dark horses often garnered more attention than regular contenders. Consequently, apart from the well-liked Zhou Yan, there were surprisingly more disciples gathered around Lian Yueying.

“Junior Sister Lian, your cultivation has advanced by leaps and bounds, yet your foundation remains utterly stable. Is this perhaps related to your daily mountain climbing? Could you share some tips to help us avoid unnecessary detours?”

‘[Mine is the real detour. Those who regularly temper their bodies and guide their Qi possess far superior bones and blood than I do; currently, only my meridians are slightly better than an ordinary person’s. However, the Buried Qi Transformation Method is deemed an evil technique by the Dao Alliance, and only my master can decide who sees it, so I cannot answer.]’

Lian Yueying found herself in a predicament, yet then she heard someone nearby interject, “Junior Sister Lian, your devotion to talismans inevitably leads to unorthodox paths, but with such formidable strength, I presume talismans are merely a facade for your true power. Do you have the confidence to defeat Senior Brother Li Ming?”

‘[You damn idiots! Rotten wood cannot be carved! You label talismans as unorthodox every single day; do you dare step up and spar with me?!]’

“Senior Sister Lian, don’t listen to his foolishness! I’ve watched all of your matches. You only started drawing talismans the day before yesterday, and by this morning, you were already successfully forming them. Senior Sister, could you teach me how to wield talismans with such divine proficiency?”

The surrounding clamor extended beyond these few remarks, broadly categorizing into several factions, though the vast majority of questions were beyond Lian Yueying’s ability to answer.

Noticing Lian Yueying’s prolonged silence, the assembly of fellow disciples gradually quieted. Only then did she speak, “I appreciate your kindness, fellow disciples. I am usually a person of few words and not very articulate, but I must say this: there are no shortcuts in cultivation, and the strength of talismans depends entirely on practice. I hope you all consider this carefully. Farewell.”

Lian Yueying descended from the other side of the martial arts stage, distancing herself from the crowd. The Lake Hall disciples, doused with cold water by her words, reacted in various ways: some pondered, some remained bewildered, and some sneered derisively. None of this, however, concerned Lian Yueying.

‘[I had hoped to make some friends, but now, because of my strength, everyone who approaches me has ulterior motives and personal gain in mind. Perhaps I should wait until this fervor passes.]’

Nonetheless, Lian Yueying understood that it was difficult for someone as inarticulate, or to put it more bluntly, as reclusive as she was, to forge friendships independently. Fortunately, she still had Yun Meng, her master, and Huaxi.

Moving away from the crowd, Lian Yueying’s heart gradually calmed. Just as she was about to descend the mountain and return to her abode, she looked up and spotted Ouyang Xiu not far away.

“Senior Brother Ouyang, what brings you here?”

“The view is excellent from here.”

Ouyang Xiu greeted her with a smile, then pointed towards the martial arts arena. Standing beside him, Lian Yueying followed his gaze. Indeed, with the vision of a late-stage Qi Condensation cultivator, one could observe the entire arena from this vantage point.

“Junior Sister, you didn’t use any of your ultimate techniques in the first four matches, which makes me curious: did you still have strength to spare that day?”

‘[Had I not activated the Ocean Convergence Art in my Qi Sea during that critical moment, I wouldn’t have known I possessed such explosive power.]’

Ouyang Xiu was one of the few people Lian Yueying could somewhat trust, and the only peer she genuinely called “Senior Brother” from the heart. However, she habitually disliked being seen through by others, so she merely offered a smile.

“Some things are simply not suitable for use against fellow disciples. What about you, Senior Brother? Do you still have any trump cards up your sleeve?”

“None.”

Ouyang Xiu candidly shook his head, his tone as sincere as his honest face, which surprised Lian Yueying. She then heard him add, “After that day, I went to the Scripture Repository to search for cultivation techniques and spells. Although I haven’t found anything suitable yet, Junior Sister Lian’s performance awakened me to the fact that my efforts are still far from enough.”

‘[No trump cards… Even if that were truly the case, it would have been difficult for me to win that day. Back then, Senior Brother Ouyang’s protective golden light was still prominent, clearly indicating he had plenty of spiritual energy remaining within him.]’

Lian Yueying had since practiced “Ocean Surge” several times herself, experimenting with how much force was needed to draw how much, and to what extent that could trigger an outburst. Through repeated practice, she gradually grasped the knack.

‘[The Ocean Convergence Art actually possesses so many functions. Is it truly as Master said, that cultivation techniques never have a single application, or have I simply stumbled upon a treasure? Unfortunately, most of that old beast’s fortune was taken by that damned Qing Yan; otherwise, I could have researched it further.]’

“Senior Brother, you’re too modest. I watched Peak Hall’s fourth match the day before yesterday. For you to stand out in Peak Hall truly demonstrates your strength. And you’ve actually broken through to the ninth level of Qi Condensation!”

“I had stayed at the eighth level long enough; it was time to break through.”

He spoke as if Ouyang Xiu could have broken through much earlier if he had simply wished to, which brought a hint of confusion to Lian Yueying’s delicate face. Noticing this, Ouyang Xiu quickly explained, “It wasn’t that easy for me. My master advised me to proceed steadily, and given my nature, I couldn’t simply break through at will. So, I’ve always practiced and cultivated simultaneously.”

Ouyang Xiu’s earnest explanation drew a gentle smile from Lian Yueying. The meticulously drawn slanting rouge beside her peach blossom eyes, with its charming curve, was captivating, causing Ouyang Xiu to momentarily freeze, a strange feeling inexplicably stirring within him. He instinctively clutched his chest.

After her smile, Lian Yueying turned her gaze towards the few individuals surrounded on the martial arts stage, oblivious to Ouyang Xiu’s change. “Even I didn’t need to reveal my true strength, and the other three are no different. I’m still quite vexed about how to bridge the gap in our cultivation levels.”

Her tone was laden with worry, yet tinged with a hint of anticipation. Ouyang Xiu’s gaze was drawn to her, and he happened to catch a glimpse of Lian Yueying’s profile.

Her skin was fair and delicate, exquisitely soft, yet beneath that gentleness lay powerful muscles and surging vitality, giving her complexion a pleasing, rosy glow.

Lian Yueying understood that cultivation required essence refined from food, but she only supplemented with pure essence, causing her body to grow incrementally. She was taller than other women her age, yet due to diligent training, she carried not an ounce of superfluous flesh.

A gentle breeze swept past, carrying the inherent body fragrance of her Grand Yin Physique directly into Ouyang Xiu’s nostrils, intensifying the peculiar sensation within his heart.

Apart from his entry into the sect — no, rather, in his eighteen years of life — Ouyang Xiu had never experienced such a feeling. His gaze was fixated upon Lian Yueying, unable to tear itself away for a long time.

After a moment, Lian Yueying, noticing Ouyang Xiu’s stillness, turned her head to look, only to find his eyes fixed intently on her. Having once been a man, Lian Yueying recognized this as a sign of burgeoning affection.

‘[Thankfully, it’s just at the stage of developing interest.]’

Lian Yueying took two steps back and asked, “What are you looking at, Senior Brother? Are you thinking about your opponent for the hall’s minor competition?”

Hearing her words, Ouyang Xiu snapped back to reality. He didn’t know what was happening to him, but Lian Yueying’s voice brought him a sense of comfort. “Nothing,” he replied. “My heart was beating very fast just now, and I’m not sure why.”

“Most likely, Senior Brother, you haven’t rested well. The competitions have been intense these past few days, and proper relaxation would be beneficial for your performance.”

“No, it’s not that.”

Ouyang Xiu firmly denied it, then glanced at Lian Yueying’s delicately smiling, yet somewhat forced, face. Unaware of how he might have offended her, he could only cup his hands in apology. “My apologies, Junior Sister.”

‘[What’s going on? Why is he suddenly apologizing? What on earth is he thinking?]’

“Senior Brother, you haven’t done anything wrong. Why are you apologizing?”

“But Junior Sister…”

“Enough, Senior Brother.”

Lian Yueying was also unaccustomed to handling such situations. She pointed towards the martial arts arena, attempting to steer Ouyang Xiu back to normal. “Senior Brother must recognize Senior Brother Li Ming. Did you cross paths with him during the last sect-wide competition?”

At the mention of combat, Ouyang Xiu indeed regained some composure.

“No, Li Ming had bad luck last time. During the major competition, he quickly encountered Senior Sister Fang, who was second in Peak Hall, and was defeated before even reaching the quarter-finals.”

“Oh, it’s been four years since the last major competition. This Senior Sister should have reached Foundation Establishment by now, shouldn’t she?”

“No, Senior Sister Fang hasn’t found the Harmonizing Breath Fruit, and being a sword fanatic, she spent all her spirit stones and contribution points on sword cultivation-related items. She remains at Great Perfection to this day. However, the contribution points from this minor competition combined with the major one should be enough for her to exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill.”

‘[A sword fanatic… She sounds like an interesting person. But what terrifying power must she wield, having been stuck at Great Perfection for four or five years?]’

Lian Yueying, however, had no concerns about the Foundation Establishment Pill. With all four necessary ingredients in hand, she only needed to entrust the materials to Huaxi.

“Very well, Senior Brother, please make sure to rest. I’ll be taking my leave now.”

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