Chapter 16: The Competition Begins

Inside the room.

Wang Jianqiang sat cross-legged, his consciousness already having arrived within his Soul Sea.

Inside the vast, empty Soul Sea, a screen of light emerged.

Wang Jianqiang looked toward the Attribute Panel.

During this period, the consumption of Cultivation Points had been limited, and the accumulated amount was quite considerable, having already reached 358 points.

His thoughts stirred.

The Attribute Panel flickered and arrived at the secondary cultivation page.

"Alchemy Dao: Level 1 High-Grade Alchemist"

"Artifact Dao: Not Yet Ranked"

His attention fell upon the Artifact Dao, and with a shift of his thoughts, he added 60 Cultivation Points to the Artifact Dao.

Under the experience bonus equivalent to 60 years of bitter cultivation, his Artifact Dao cultivation directly climbed from Not Yet Ranked to Level 1 High-Grade.

His consciousness withdrew from the Soul Sea.

He flipped his palm and took out a Jade Slip from his Storage Bag.

As his attention focused on the Jade Slip, the system's voice sounded as expected.

"Ding, inferior diagram detected. Optimizing and upgrading the diagram requires 20 Cultivation Points. Do you wish to optimize and upgrade?"

"Yes."

"Ding, the Water Moon Skirt diagram has been successfully optimized and upgraded to a Perfect Water Moon Skirt diagram."

Wang Jianqiang placed the Perfect Water Moon Skirt diagram to the side and took out three more diagrams.

"Ding, inferior diagram detected. Optimizing and upgrading requires 20 Cultivation Points. Do you wish to optimize and upgrade?"

"Ding, inferior diagram detected. Optimizing and upgrading requires 20 Cultivation Points. Do you wish to optimize and upgrade?"

"Ding, inferior diagram detected. Optimizing and upgrading requires 20 Cultivation Points. Do you wish to optimize and upgrade?"

Three voices sounded in succession.

"Yes."

"Ding, the Purple Jade Shoes diagram has been successfully optimized and upgraded to a Perfect Purple Jade Shoes diagram."

"Ding, the Mystic Water Ring diagram has been successfully optimized and upgraded to a Perfect Mystic Water Ring diagram."

"Ding, the Cloud Water Cold Light Sword diagram has been successfully optimized and upgraded to a Perfect Cloud Water Cold Light Sword diagram."

Once the four intermediate diagrams purchased were all optimized and upgraded, Wang Jianqiang took out the only high-grade Magic Tool diagram, the Small Thousand Mountain Seal diagram.

"Ding, inferior diagram detected. Optimizing and upgrading requires 30 Cultivation Points. Do you wish to optimize and upgrade?"

"Yes."

"Ding, the Small Thousand Mountain Seal diagram has been successfully optimized and upgraded to a Perfect Small Thousand Mountain Seal diagram."

After all the diagrams were optimized and upgraded, Wang Jianqiang took out the Pill Furnace he had prepared long ago and began the refining of the Magic Tools.

With the 100% success rate bestowed by the system, he successfully refined a Magic Tool on his very first attempt.

What surprised him was that refining Magic Tools could actually also earn Cultivation Point rewards.

His motivation for refining was suddenly even greater.

In a mere three days, four Perfect Intermediate Magical Tools and one high-grade Magic Tool were all successfully refined.

He called Wang Yuyao over.

When Wang Yuyao learned that these five Magic Tools were all gifts for her, she was excited beyond measure.

Her favorability increased once again.

It rose in one breath to 99 points.

It was just one point away from reaching the maximum value.

This unexpected surprise gave Wang Jianqiang a mental boost.

After calming down, he couldn't help but complain a little.

Why did it have to get stuck at 99 points of all things?

This kind of "Pin-Duo-Duo" behavior was simply shameful.

While Wang Yuyao happily returned with the Magic Tools to refine them, Wang Jianqiang returned once again to his bitter cultivation.

Time passed.

As the day of the competition rapidly approached.

Some Outer Sect Disciples who had been out executing missions or in long-term closed-door cultivation emerged one after another.

The entire Outer Sect clearly became lively.

In the blink of an eye, the day of the Outer Sect Competition arrived.

Wang Jianqiang ended his closed-door cultivation and walked toward the Square where the competition was being held.

Along the way, the flow of people was endless.

There were those who had signed up for the competition with faces full of nervousness and anticipation, and there were also those like Wang Jianqiang who were purely there to watch the excitement.

Soon, a massive square capable of holding ten thousand people appeared ahead.

Looking out, ten massive arenas, each a hundred feet high, rose from the ground side-by-side, dividing the square into two halves.

On both sides were rows upon rows of seats.

Wang Jianqiang arrived at the spectator area and casually found a seat to sit down.

Half an hour later.

The surrounding seats were already completely filled with people; at a glance, it was a sea of heads.

Whoosh~

At one moment, three figures suddenly appeared above the Square.

A tyrannical aura spread across the entire venue, and the previously noisy Square instantly fell silent.

Wang Jianqiang's gaze swept over the three people.

The information of the three people instantly appeared in his mind.

"Two at the Golden Core Initial Stage, one at the Golden Core Mid Stage!"

"As expected of a sect grand event, to think three Inner Sect Elders came all at once."

Just as Wang Jianqiang was feeling moved.

The Elder at the Golden Core Mid Stage among the three spoke slowly, "This old man is Yun Zhongque, the host for this grand competition."

As he spoke, he waved his palm, and a cluster of light orbs appeared in mid-air.

"Inside each of these light orbs is wrapped a number plate; there are a total of 1,880 light orbs, corresponding to the number of participants in this grand competition."

"Those who draw the same number will be opponents in this round."

"Now, begin the draw."

After Yun Zhongque's voice fell, one figure after another darted into the air.

A moment later, the 1,880 light orbs were each taken by the participants, and the number plates inside were revealed.

Among these participants, Wang Jianqiang saw Wang Yuyao, he also saw Su Yutong, and he even saw Chen Jiaojiao and her Dao Companion Niu Shouren.

What surprised him was that Su Yutong's cultivation had actually reached Qi Refining Perfection.

This cultivation speed seemed somewhat abnormal.

After a second thought, he felt relieved.

Recently, in order to purchase resources, he had sold a considerable number of Perfect Cloud Glow Pills to the Outer Affairs Hall.

If this woman had the intention, it would not be difficult for her to buy some.

"It was quite a bargain for her."

Wang Jianqiang shook his head, then immediately stopped paying attention to her.

"Those who drew numbers 1 to 10, please go to the number 1 to 10 arenas respectively."

Yun Zhongque's voice sounded again.

Wang Jianqiang focused his eyes and looked; twenty figures had already ascended the arenas.

Among them was actually Wang Yuyao.

Wang Jianqiang raised his eyebrows, his attention focused on the number 3 arena.

Wang Yuyao's opponent was a rugged middle-aged man.

His cultivation had reached Qi Refining Layer Nine.

Such cultivation could be considered a medium level among all the participants.

"The match begins."

Following Yun Zhongque speaking once more.

The twenty participants on the ten arenas moved simultaneously.

On the number 3 arena.

Wang Yuyao and the rugged middle-aged man attacked at the same time.

Wang Yuyao wielded the Perfect Cloud Water Cold Light Sword; the sword was like cold light, beating her opponent until he had no power to fight back.

The two fought for a moment, and in the end, Wang Yuyao achieved victory.

After watching this battle, Wang Jianqiang could not help but shake his head.

This battle appeared as if Wang Yuyao occupied an absolute advantage.

But the opponent's Magic Tool was only a low-grade Magic Tool.

Wang Yuyao occupied an absolute advantage in both cultivation and Magic Tool, yet she failed to kill her opponent instantly.

It could only be said that her foundation was too weak.

If not for the benefit of the Magic Tool.

Relying on herself alone, if she wanted to defeat the opponent, it would likely be extremely difficult even with the cultivation advantage.

Immediately after, he could not help but smile.

Half a year ago, Wang Yuyao was only at Qi Refining Layer Six.

Although her cultivation climbed rapidly to Qi Refining Perfection because of the Perfect Pill, she had not yet had time to improve her spell cultivation. Currently, her level of spell cultivation was still stuck at the Qi Refining Layer Six stage.

It was understandable that she was at a disadvantage.

Looking at himself, he did not have this kind of trouble.

Because he had always been devoted to bitter cultivation in the past, he had never practiced combat-related spells at all.

Thinking of this, Wang Jianqiang felt somewhat awkward.

"I am going to the Cold Pool Secret Realm soon; I should practice some spells later."