Chapter 19: Six Sons of a Thousand Mountains

The Ninth Province holds a sect grand competition every three years.

Yuan Yao thought for two seconds, nodded, and said, "Participate."

And Cang Li, who was standing nearby, heard Yuan Yao's answer, only glanced at her, and didn't say anything.

Hearing that, Weng Mingshu laughed and said, "I think with your strength, you should be able to rank in the top thousand!"

Yuan Yao raised her eyebrows slightly and said, "Last time you participated in the sect grand competition, what place did you get on the disciple rankings?"

"Sixty-seventh place, but I was still young three years ago; this year I will definitely make it into the top fifty, no, the top twenty!" Weng Mingshu said confidently.

Although Yuan Yao did not participate in the previous Ninth Province sect grand competition and was not present, she firmly remembered her senior brothers' and sisters' results.

Yuan Yao said, "In the last sect grand competition, on the disciple rankings, my eldest senior brother was eighth, second senior sister ninth, third senior brother thirty-first, fourth senior brother thirteenth, fifth senior brother seventh. If I participate this year, even if I can't surpass them, I must at least get closer to them."

Hearing that, Weng Mingshu looked at her with a complex expression.

"My mother often tells me that one shouldn't be overly ambitious or try to swallow an elephant whole, or else one will choke oneself. Although, you can fight above your level, but your cultivation is only at the ninth layer of Qi Refining, so it's impossible to close the gap with those senior brothers and sisters of yours."

Moreover, during the grand competition, participants are not allowed to wear defensive magical artifacts.

There are only three months left until the sect grand competition.

Even if Yuan Yao could break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm within these three months, she still couldn't compare to those senior brothers and sisters of hers.

Especially Yuan Yao's youngest senior brother, Ying Wuji—his strength is monstrous!

Three years ago, Ying Wuji was only thirteen when he had already broken through to the initial Golden Core stage.

Now, three years later, Ying Wuji's cultivation might have already reached the Nascent Soul Realm.

Yuan Yao nodded slightly and said, "Indeed, these senior brothers and sisters of mine are too formidable."

"Who let you not cultivate properly?" came Cang Li's cool voice.

Yuan Yao let out a soft hum and puffed out her cheeks.

Weng Mingshu still wanted to chat with Yuan Yao, but was firmly rejected by Yuan Yao with a serious face: "I am now someone who loves cultivation; please don't disturb my cultivation."

Weng Mingshu: "... It wouldn't hurt to do it now, would it?"

"I'm too weak." Yuan Yao sighed deeply, "I know I'm ashamed, so I can't waste any more time."

Weng Mingshu was instantly speechless, even feeling that she herself was "too bad" for stopping someone from striving forward.

"Then go cultivate; I won't disturb you."

After saying that, Weng Mingshu got up and went to look for Yan Haonan.

Yuan Yao then began sitting cross-legged, breathing in and out.

Cang Li silently guarded by Yuan Yao's side.

At the same time, the three from the Chixiao Sect were in the corner; after exchanging glances, they ultimately decided to head toward the direction where those giant pythons had just fled.

Everyone saw those three step forward into the dark depths, their expressions varied.

"Aren't those three the most afraid of death? How dare they now go to such a perilous, unpredictable place?"

"Lin Jingtao has a compass in his hand; could they possibly tell direction?" A cultivator with sharp eyes saw the compass Lin Jingtao was holding, and could faintly see the needle on the compass turning.

"Could that place really be an exit?"

Many people's hearts stirred.

"Daoist Friend Lin!" a cultivator couldn't help but call out to Lin Jingtao, "May I ask if you've detected an exit?"

Lin Jingtao halted his steps, turned to look at the crowd, and gave an inscrutable smile: "Not an exit."

"Then what about you..."

Lin Jingtao pretended to be mysterious and shook his head, "Sorry, we cannot disclose that."

Having said that, he led the other two toward the dark place.

The crowd exchanged glances, subtly sensing something unusual. Since that place isn't an exit, it might very well be—a treasure land!

Many began to whisper and exchange glances, their eyes occasionally turning toward Yan Haonan and Cang Li.

One could see Yan Haonan fully absorbed in conversation with Weng Mingshu, seemingly oblivious to the surrounding commotion. Meanwhile, Cang Li sat with eyes closed beside his junior sister, cultivating with an air of leisurely contentment.

Evidently, they had no interest in the movements of the three from the Chixiao Sect.

Everyone was at a loss for a moment.

They wanted to find the treasure land, but feared their strength was insufficient, risking death.

Meanwhile, Lin Jingtao and his two companions entered the dark area.

They felt the surrounding temperature grow increasingly cold and yin, and couldn't help but shiver.

"Senior Brother, they didn't follow us!" one person occasionally glanced back.

Lin Jingtao naturally also noticed they hadn't followed, and his face instantly darkened.

"Senior Brother, what should we do now? Do we really have to go in?"

"It's pitch black in here; what if those giant pythons suddenly come out?"

"Senior Brother, is there really a tomb of that Body Integration Realm expert inside? Or could it just be hearsay?"

Lin Jingtao frowned, "The compass needle points to this spot; the tomb is almost certainly inside."

"This compass is the Lin family's heirloom; it's extraordinary, so the direction it points to is absolutely correct."

He originally intended to lure Cang Li and the others into the tomb, so they could become his sacrificial pawns and clear a path for him.

He never expected Cang Li and the others wouldn't take the bait!

"Senior Brother, do we really have to go in?" the two exchanged glances and couldn't help but feel reluctant.

Upon hearing that, Lin Jingtao's expression turned grim as he lowered his eyes to glance at the compass, then lifted his gaze to the dark depths.

He too was somewhat hesitant.

…

Meanwhile, those cultivators outside, although they hadn't entered the dark area, still hadn't diverted their attention from it.

Time passed bit by bit.

After three hours, the surrounding spiritual energy suddenly began to surge wildly, startling everyone, who all looked up.

She saw the high‑ponytail girl sitting cross‑legged, constantly drawing in the surrounding spiritual energy, which surged wildly into her body.

"This…" Everyone seeing this was shocked.

Cang Li's face shifted; he quickly rose to act as Yuan Yao's Dharma protector.

"Is she… about to break through?!" Weng Mingshu exclaimed.

Yan Haonan narrowed his eyes slightly. "Yes."

Everyone knows that Thousand Mountain Immortal Lord accepted six disciples, but when people mention his sixth disciple, they always say: I heard that Thousand Mountain Immortal Lord's little disciple has yet to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm! They say his little disciple is just too lazy, but I think not; it's because his little disciple's talent is too low—"lazy" is merely an excuse to save face for his little disciple…

The more such talk spreads, the truer it seems.

Thus, the more talented the Thousand Mountain Five Children are, the more worthless the Sixth Child appears.

But looking at it now, rumors remain rumors and cannot be fully trusted.

Thousand Mountain Immortal Lord's little disciple Yuan Yao possesses talent not inferior to that of the other five.