Chapter 461 - 419: Identity

Chapter 461: Chapter 419: Identity

Thinking of this, Lu Qian gratefully glanced at Senior Sister Qingfeng and helped up Wu Yan, who was still kneeling on the ground: "Little Yan, you should get up. I spoke harshly just now, I apologize for wronging you."

Wu Yan was overwhelmed with fear, repeatedly saying she dared not accept it.

Lu Qian then turned to Wang Yu: "Senior Sister was right, in the past, I was too self-reliant on my intelligence and overlooked the strength of relying on everyone. If there are any shortcomings in the future, I hope Senior Brother Wang will kindly guide me."

Wang Yu nodded slightly, not putting the earlier dispute to heart. As he saw it now, right was right, and wrong was wrong, there was no need to conceal anything. Explaining clearly was enough.

His greater concern was the current situation: "Since the Xuanguang Sect’s invasion is imminent, does the Sect Leader have any plans?"

Everyone’s expressions grew serious again. If they could pass this ordeal, the Yunshan Sect could dominate one region, but if they couldn’t, the extinction of the entire sect seemed just before them...

Lu Qian took a deep breath: "The Xuanguang Sect’s attack boils down to two scenarios. One is that they successfully found a Golden Core helper to hold off Master Cangfeng, freeing their hands to launch a Thunder Strike on us. The other is that they failed and have to gather all their current strength for a final battle."

"In the end, it’s just eight words: An army comes, the general blocks; water comes, the earth challenges."

"From now on, we must find every way to increase our strength bit by bit, so that when the Xuanguang Sect launches its attack, we have enough power to resist."

"At the same time, we must also prepare for the worst..."

Half an hour later, Lu Qian led several people back to the banquet, drinking a few more cups with everyone. His gaze swept across the joyful disciples gathered, then he exchanged a few words with the high-ranking members of the Shuangye Alliance and publicly announced a decision.

"Currently in the county, the situation is outwardly calm, but secretly turbulent and extremely dangerous. In such chaotic times, only by diligently practicing martial defense and strengthening oneself with tranquility overcoming chaos, can we ensure peace and prosperity."

"Since the founding of the Shuangye Alliance nine years ago, there have been a total of 570 cultivators in the entire alliance. Everyone has been working hard, but it’s unclear how well the skills for conflict have been honed."

"After much deliberation, we decided to hold the first Shuangye Alliance Martial Arts Competition in five days. Selecting talents, urging the laggard, and inspiring martial virtues."

"Aside from the True Disciples, all the disciples of Yunshan Sect must participate."

Lu Qian’s words caused a great stir among the crowd, instantly igniting the atmosphere to a new high.

The path of the Dao is treacherous, only the martial arts can defend the Dao, petty people obstruct, only martial might can subdue. The skill in combat is both a means to defend the Dao and greatly affects the cultivators’ personal interests.

Upon hearing that Alliance Leader Lu Qian would host the first martial arts competition throughout the entire Shuangye Alliance, most people, except for a few not good at fighting, were excited and thrilled.

Who wouldn’t want to stand proud on the stage, to be admired by all, to earn the favor of their instructors, and win rich rewards?

Although the Shuangye Alliance had sent cultivators to participate in the Shuangye Square competitions before, it was just a small group, covering a very narrow scope. A martial arts competition at the entire Shuangye Alliance level was indeed a first.

Lu Qian briefly introduced a few more details, letting everyone know that the competition would be divided into Early-Stage Qi Cultivation, Mid-Stage Qi Cultivation, and Late-Stage Qi Cultivation tracks, each track having individual and team categories, with each team consisting of ten members.

The competition venue would not be a stage but a simulated combat environment. A large area in Lingsha City would be allotted and the terrain altered to include scattered rocks, forests, swamps, and mounds, with flying height unrestricted as long as it was below the Mountain Protection Grand Array.

As for the prizes, what Lu Qian mentioned next caused the crowd to cheer once more.

In addition to awarding special prizes to the top ten individuals in each track and the top three teams, any participant exhibiting commendable performance as judged by the referees would receive a prize.

The number of winners would be no less than seventy percent of the total number of participants!

The Alliance Leader really has such grand sincerity!

Such an unprecedented scale of rewards now tempted even those less skilled in combat to endeavor a trial for the prize’s allure.

"Besides prize incentives, the first place individual in each track, if a Yunshan disciple, will be elevated by one disciple rank. For non-Yunshan disciples, respective sects will award honors separately."

Upon hearing this, everyone’s eyes sparkled, especially Yunshan disciples yearning for rank elevation.

As the sect’s power grew, so did the number of disciples, making the requirements for rank elevation ever tougher, nowhere near as straightforward as the initial days of the sect’s establishment.

Even outstanding young disciples like Li Da and Wang Ruoyu were currently in the Inner Sect Ding Class, still quite a way from the Inner Sect Bing Class.

Therefore, as Lu Qian’s words fell, Li Da began to calculate rapidly.

The Sect Leader just mentioned that True Disciples don’t participate, so Junior Martial Uncle Jiang Baitao is excluded. I’m currently at the sixth level of Qi Cultivation with profound cultivation techniques and rich combat experience. Even encountering someone at the seventh level, I’m not intimidated.

It seems my biggest rival in the Mid-Stage Qi Cultivation track is Wang Shitou beside me.

Turning his head, he saw Wang Ruoyu stuffing cakes into his mouth, hastily searching for water as his gaze met Li Da’s. He choked unthinkingly, spraying cake powder all over the place.

With this fool as my opponent, the odds are quite in my favor.

Li Da wiped the powder residue off his face, thinking viciously.

Noting everyone’s eagerness, Lu Qian and several elders nodded quietly.

This Martial Arts Competition is partly for assessment, partly for tempering, but notably to seize this chance for a grand upgrade and renewal for the cultivators under us, distributing all kinds of unused Magical Artifacts, Spirit Pills, and Talismans from the overstocked vault.

Preparing for the destiny-making battle ahead.

The banquet concluded amidst disciples’ excited discussions. Glancing at Fang Hui, who couldn’t help but inch closer, Lu Qian, feeling the time ripe, invited everyone for a rest while taking the impatient Fang Hui to the quiet room.

"Matters concerning Divine Sense are of grave importance. After all, injuries of the flesh can be healed, but once the Divine Soul is damaged, it’s quite difficult to treat," Lu Qian said slowly, "So I must first ascertain your identity to decide whether to trust you and accept your research."

"Fellow Daoist Fang, why do you have the Star Dew Nourishing Spirit Pill from the Danxia Sect?"

Originally intending to inquire about the relationship between Yunshan Sect and Danxia Sect, the topic was deftly shifted by Lu Qian. Yet the anxious wait had robbed Fang Hui of any initiative, leaving him utterly defeated in the ensuing probing exchanges.

Finally, under Lu Qian’s tight questioning and guidance, Fang Hui revealed an identity that startled even Lu Qian.

"I was also once an Inner Sect Disciple of the Danxia Sect, hence I have the pill formula for the Star Dew Nourishing Spirit Pill."