Heavenly Sword Peak
Ruyi Pei woke up from unconsciousness.
Her long black hair cascaded like a waterfall, and her icy blue eyes still held a trace of confusion.
“I… lost?”
For the last strike, she had overexerted herself using Sword Dao Pillar Heaven, then felt a tremendous force slam her backward before losing consciousness.
“Awake?”
Ruyi Pei turned at the sound and saw Huasheng leaning against the doorframe.
“Huasheng?”
“There’s good news and bad news. Which one do you want first?”
Huasheng raised an eyebrow.
“…”
Ruyi Pei silently adjusted her plain white robe as the sword qi tidied her hair on its own.
“Bad news.”
“You lost to Ye Luqing. She told me to pass on a message—remember to keep your promise.”
“Tch…”
Ruyi Pei’s face instantly fell from calm to bitter.
Just thinking about the bet with Ye Luqing made her want to bang her head against the wall.
A Nascent Soul losing to a Golden Core and having to serve as a stool for someone she hated…
It was simply terrible.
Seeing Ruyi Pei’s energy completely drained, Huasheng chuckled:
“Isn’t there good news too…”
“The Fifth Elder has decided to accept you as a personal disciple. Happy now?”
Besides Sect Master Feng Linyi of the Combined Dao Realm on Heavenly Sword Peak, there were five elders in the Void Crossing Realm and nine elders in the Transformation God Realm.
Their ranks were based on cultivation level, and the peak disciples secretly called them the “Upper Five, Lower Nine,” totaling fourteen elders.
Every disciple dreamed of being accepted as a personal disciple by an elder.
The “Upper Five” elders in the Void Crossing Realm were especially coveted—their discipleship was a lifelong goal.
As for Sect Master Feng Linyi’s personal discipleship, as long as Destined Female Lead Xiao Qingxuan was around, no disciple dared even to think about it.
“…Noted.”
Ruyi Pei propped herself up, her face once again an expressionless mask without joy or sorrow.
Huasheng raised an eyebrow and straightened, stepping away from the doorframe.
From what he knew of Ruyi Pei, she should have been excited to hear this.
The five elders of the Void Crossing Realm had not accepted personal disciples for a long time.
Being their disciple guaranteed at least reaching the Transformation God Realm as a Heavenly Monarch, with the chance to inherit the legacy of a Heavenly Monarch.
It was common knowledge that breaking through from Nascent Soul to Transformation God had trapped countless prodigies.
Ninety-nine percent of Nascent Soul cultivators never crossed this barrier in their entire lives.
Even Chief Xiao was only a Half-Step Transformation God now, showing how difficult the Transformation God Realm was to break through.
“Hey, ‘Senior Sister Pei,’ are you okay?”
Huasheng looked Ruyi Pei up and down. How ridiculous was the bet with Ye Luqing that even such great news as becoming a personal disciple couldn’t cheer her up?
“I’m fine…”
Ruyi Pei glanced at Huasheng and frowned slightly.
“I told you not to call me Senior Sister.”
In cultivation, those with higher realms were always respected first, even over age, both in Xuanxiao Upper Sect and the entire cultivation world.
But Ruyi Pei and Huasheng were from the same generation, with close cultivation levels and strengths, trading victories and defeats in actual combat.
Now that she had just stepped into the Nascent Soul Realm, Huasheng would likely catch up soon.
Huasheng smiled. They had competed since they joined the sect. Aside from Xiao Qingxuan, they were the most talented disciples of that generation on Heavenly Sword Peak.
Thinking of this, Huasheng’s smile faded, and he looked at Ruyi Pei more seriously.
“What exactly did Senior Sister Ye ask for?”
“If it’s too much… I can ask the Seventh Elder for help.”
Upon hearing this, Ruyi Pei looked at Huasheng with a hint of warmth in her heart.
The Seventh Elder of Heavenly Sword Peak had long wanted to accept Huasheng as a personal disciple, but Huasheng never agreed.
His goal was similar to Ruyi Pei’s. Compared to a Transformation God Realm elder, Huasheng aimed to become a disciple of a Void Crossing Heavenly Monarch to advance further on the cultivation path.
If he opened that door and asked the Seventh Elder for help now, it would mean he had accepted discipleship.
After a moment, Ruyi Pei shook her head.
Although having an elder intervene could resolve her bet with Ye Luqing, she didn’t want Huasheng to pay such a heavy price.
“I’ll handle it myself, but you should focus on breaking through to Nascent Soul.”
“Senior Brother Shen under the Third Elder’s tutelage has been pushing to break into the Transformation God Realm for three years and may break through anytime.”
“When that happens, the Third Elder’s personal disciple spot will open, and many will compete for it.”
After saying this, Ruyi Pei shifted her thoughts, changed her clothes, and prepared to meet the Fifth Elder.
Huasheng didn’t object but watched her leave, then sighed.
Ruyi Pei had always been focused on Xiao Qingxuan’s shadow, ignoring much along the way.
But wasn’t someone out there watching Ruyi Pei’s back as well…
***
“You want to team up with Xiao Qingxuan for the sect-wide tournament’s doubles competition?”
Bai Yuhan looked at Ying Qianqian with some surprise.
A double formation team had never appeared in past sect-wide tournaments.
“Yeah.”
Ying Qianqian nodded earnestly. She had been considering this for a long time.
Bai Yuhan then glanced toward Ye Luqing.
“Luqing, what do you think?”
“Me? I’m fine with anything…”
Ye Luqing scratched her face, uninterested in the sect-wide tournament.
But if personal disciples had to participate, teaming up with Xiao Qianqian for a doubles match wasn’t a bad idea.
At least it was more reliable than strangers.
Sensing Ye Luqing’s intention to just get through the tournament, Bai Yuhan smiled helplessly.
“The doubles match tests cooperation. Both of you specialize in formations, which means your combat styles are limited and lack offensive options.”
“Usually, doubles teams consist of one main attacker and one supporter.”
“For example, Sword cultivator + Formation cultivator, Spell cultivator + Alchemy cultivator, or Body cultivator + Talisman cultivator are common combos.”
“Some teams use double attackers, like double Sword cultivators or Spell + Body cultivators, focusing all-out offense without worrying about endurance.”
“Double-support teams are rarely seen in the sect-wide tournament.”
She really couldn’t imagine who a double formation team could beat—double Alchemy cultivators?
“You two excel in support combat. If you teamed up with other Nascent Soul disciples from the peak, you’d have a chance at a good ranking.”
Bai Yuhan smiled gently.
“The rewards for this year’s sect-wide tournament are very generous.”
Hearing this, Ye Luqing’s eyes brightened.
“Master, what are the rewards for this year’s tournament?”
Xiao Qingxuan might soon return to Xuanxiao Upper Sect with a way to recover her memories, so Ye Luqing had to improve her strength quickly.
Including preparing for Xiao Qingxuan’s further blackening, she needed to boost her own defenses to avoid being easily killed again like in her previous life.
Bai Yuhan nodded and patiently explained, considering Ye Luqing’s lost memories.
“In previous years, the top eight in the singles and the top four in the doubles could freely select one Earth-Grade treasure from Wanshi Peak’s treasury.”
“This year, on top of that, first place in both singles and doubles will also receive an additional Earth-Grade Technique from Scroll Peak.”
Upon hearing this, Ye Luqing felt tempted.
Two Earth-Grade items, whether in value or utility, were exactly what she lacked.
Double formation cultivators were indeed limited in combat power—forget first place, it might be hard to even place effectively.
Moreover, both she and Ying Qianqian were at Golden Core Realm, facing Nascent Soul opponents would be difficult.
“Sorry, Xiaoqing. I really need that Earth-Grade Technique.” Ye Luqing thought silently.
However, just as Ye Luqing planned to politely decline Ying Qianqian, the System’s voice echoed in her mind.
[Blackening Value causality detected, special event triggered]
[Quest: Team up with Ying Qianqian to participate in the sect-wide tournament doubles competition]
[Quest Reward: 1000 Blackening Value Shop points, random discount on Earth-Grade Technique Combination Pack]