Chapter 35: Notice of the Outer Sect Grand Competition

Upon returning to her sect’s wooden cabin, it felt as though the brief but weighty entanglement at the foot of the mountain had been separated from her by an invisible barrier. The air regained its chill and purity, leaving only the faint ripple of spiritual energy flowing quietly around. The past was done; the road ahead was hers alone to walk.

Just as she was settling into this tranquil state, an unusual commotion erupted outside. Many footsteps surged in the same direction, whispers and murmurs filling the air with an atmosphere distinctly unlike the ordinary quiet.

She opened her eyes, a slight frown etching her brow.

“What’s going on out there? Is there some sort of market?” Ye Ming, too, was disturbed, his tone brimming with irritation at the interruption.

Bai Yueqing rose and pushed open the wooden door.

A stream of outer disciples was hurrying toward the square before the Hall of Stewards. After a brief pause to consider, she joined the flow.

At the Martial Arena of the Outer Sect of Azure Cloud Sect, nearly every outer disciple had gathered, speaking in low voices, their eyes flickering toward the temporary high platform at the front. An unusual tension permeated the crowd, heavier even than the morning chill.

Bai Yueqing stood toward the back, disliking the press of bodies. Yet the urgent tolling of the Steward Hall bell—nine resonant strikes at dawn—meant something of great importance to every outer disciple was to be announced, and none could afford to miss it.

The gray-cloth-wrapped sword on her back gave a slight tremor, and Ye Ming’s disgruntled voice sounded in her mind:

“What’s all this nonsense? Disturbing a sword’s peace at dawn—outrageous!”

“Don’t these people ever train? Milling about like this, it’s like a marketplace.”

“Silence,” Bai Yueqing chided inwardly, her gaze sweeping the crowd.

“What are you afraid of? No one but you can hear me,” Ye Ming retorted, still muttering, but soon he quieted, spreading his awareness to sense the surroundings.

“Hm? Something’s off. Everyone’s tense and excited.”

“What could be happening? Has the demonic sect invaded?”

Bai Yueqing felt it too. The air was charged not with panic, but with restless anticipation, colored by nervous ambition.

She noticed Liu Lingyun, an acquaintance, craning her neck with visible excitement on her round face. Even the usually composed Zhou Qingwan was pursing her lips, her gaze fixed intently on the platform.

At that moment, several powerful auras swept in from the distance, alighting atop the dais in an instant. Leading them was Elder Li Qifeng, chief steward of the outer sect. His lean features and deep, ancient eyes swept across the assembled disciples, and the noisy arena fell instantly silent.

Li Qifeng wasted no words. With a flick of his finger, a streak of spiritual light shot into the sky and unfolded into a massive scroll, runes flowing across it in clear, shining script.

His voice was not loud, yet it carried to every ear: “By order of the sect.”

“This year’s Inner Sect Assessment will be held ahead of schedule and merged with the annual Outer Sect Tournament.”

A collective gasp spread across the crowd.

The Inner Sect assessment, brought forward? And merged with the annual tournament?

Such a thing had never happened before!

Ignoring the mounting commotion, Li Qifeng continued in a steady tone:

“The top three in the tournament will advance directly to the inner sect, without further trials.”

That sentence struck like a drop of cold water in boiling oil, setting the crowd ablaze.

Direct promotion to the inner sect—this was every outer disciple’s dream! In past years, there had always been rewards, but never such a shortcut.

Excitement, joy, and disbelief swept through the crowd.

A surge of satisfaction rose in Bai Yueqing’s heart.

To enter the inner sect directly—what an irresistible temptation. It meant higher-level techniques, a wider world, and richer resources. Instinctively, she thought of the sword on her back, with its ever-growing “appetite.”

“Wow!” Ye Ming exclaimed in her mind, delight pure and unfiltered. “The inner sect—there’s bound to be even better stuff!”

“You have to win this, for me—uh, for our future!”

She ignored his antics, her mind racing. The opportunity was immense, but so was the coming competition. For these three spots, every disciple stuck at the mid to late stages of Qi Refinement would fight with everything they had.

Li Qifeng’s voice rose again, quieting the crowd: “The tournament rules are as follows: all participants will draw lots for opponents. Single-elimination matches will proceed until eight remain. Final rankings will be determined by the judging elders.”

Simple and ruthless—this would test not only raw strength, but also luck. Draw a strong opponent too early, and you might be eliminated in the first round.

“In addition…” Li Qifeng paused, his gaze seeming to brush, ever so slightly, across several spots in the crowd, including where Bai Yueqing stood.

“This tournament is to test your true combat strength. All means are permitted, but deliberate attempts on lives will be severely punished.”

All means permitted!

That meant talismans, magic artifacts, even special tricks could be used. The contest would be about more than cultivation and swordsmanship—it would test comprehensive strength and personal resources.

Bai Yueqing frowned slightly. This was not good news for her. She had few resources beyond Ye Ming.

“All means permitted? Ha!” Ye Ming was suddenly elated. “That’s tailor-made for us! With me here, talismans and artifacts are nothing!”

“Don’t worry. Just watch me shine and carve a path straight into the inner sect for you!”

His confidence, nearly blind, nonetheless dispelled a trace of Bai Yueqing’s unease.

Indeed, she had Ye Ming—that was her unique advantage.

“The tournament will begin in ten days. Those wishing to participate may register at the Steward Hall.”

With those words, Li Qifeng gave the crowd one last profound look.

“This is a great opportunity granted by the sect. See to it you do not waste it.”

The spiritual scroll vanished. With a flash, Li Qifeng and the other inner sect stewards disappeared from the platform, leaving the Martial Arena in uproar.

“Top three! Straight into the inner sect! I’m going all in this time!”

“I need to stock up on more Exploding Flame Talismans!”

“Hmph, can’t make up for lack of cultivation with external tricks. It’s a low path!”

“Senior sister, let’s team up to hunt monsters for contribution points and exchange them for a good sword!”

The crowd split at once—some surged toward the registration office, others hurried off, presumably to prepare for the contest in the coming days.

Liu Lingyun squeezed up to Bai Yueqing, her face flushed with excitement. “Yueqing, did you hear? Direct entry to the inner sect!”

“Let’s go sign up together! This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance!”

Zhou Qingwan also approached, her expression far graver than Liu Lingyun’s. “The opportunity is great, but so is the risk. Many will stop at nothing for the top three. Junior sister Bai, if you participate, be extremely careful.”

Her gaze flickered again to the sword on Bai Yueqing’s back, her meaning clear.

Bai Yueqing nodded. “Thank you for the warning, senior sister. I understand.”

She turned to Liu Lingyun. “Senior sister Liu, I’ll sign up shortly.”

“Great!” Liu Lingyun cheered and dashed off toward the registration.

Zhou Qingwan sighed. “Take care of yourself.” With that, she left as well.

Bai Yueqing stood where she was, the surrounding commotion muffled as if by an invisible barrier. She drew a deep breath of icy air to steady her swirling thoughts.

“What are you waiting for?” Ye Ming prompted. “Go register! Then we need a strategy.”

“Ten days—maybe you can make a breakthrough, or find me some snacks to fuel up?”

“No snacks,” Bai Yueqing replied as she strode toward the Steward Hall. “But in these ten days, you and I must become even more attuned.”

“Attuned? Aren’t we attuned enough?” Ye Ming protested. “I was the first to support you, wasn’t I?”

“That’s not what I meant,” she answered inwardly. “During the tournament, with so many eyes watching, we can’t act as freely as we do in private. When to guide, how much strength to use—all must be seamless, as if it’s my own doing.”

Ye Ming fell silent, clearly pondering the issue. He soon understood her concern: to a master’s eye, even the slightest discordance could betray them.

“Got it.” When he spoke again, his tone was markedly more serious. “We need to practice, so no one can tell I’m guiding you. It has to look like you suddenly broke through, your swordsmanship soaring.”

“Exactly.” Bai Yueqing nodded.

She would not only compete, but win beautifully—win so that none could question her, all while concealing Ye Ming’s presence as much as possible.

She reached the registration desk and solemnly signed her name on the thick roster.

The top ten—she must break through.

Not only for the inner sect, but to prove that, with her sword, she, Bai Yueqing, could carve a path to the highest heavens.

“All right, first step complete,” Ye Ming’s voice rang out with renewed vigor. “Next ten days—hell training begins! Get ready for a trial by fire!”