Chapter 779: Well-behaved Disciple Comes into the Embrace 13

On the day of the sect ranking competition.

All the new disciples were eager to try, determined to win honor today.

What they represent in the competition is not just themselves, but also their respective institutes.

Several institutes were seated in different viewing sections, with the front row reserved for the disciples participating in the competition.

The proudest were the Sword Cultivation Institute disciples.

You know, for many years past, first place in every sect competition has always been taken by the Sword Cultivation Institute.

This year will surely be the same! There won't be any surprises!

But besides the competition, the disciples also have another matter they care about.

That is the match between Fei Mian, the personal disciple of the Venerable Lingxu, and Xie Xi, who is touted as the strongest among the new disciples of the Sword Cultivation Institute.

Some disciples even bet spirit stones on who will win.

"Hey hey hey, make way!"

Several alchemy disciples rushed into the pavilion; around them were people preparing to bet spirit stones. They asked enthusiastically, "Which side are you all betting on to win?"

"Hey, why even ask? It's definitely Xie Xi. You haven't seen his strength from the last minor test, have you? At only thirteen, he's already at the fifth layer of Qi Refining. The last person this strong was Senior Brother Luo Yi Ping."

The disciple sitting beside the table inside shook his head and said.

The people beside him also chimed in agreement.

"Exactly, you wouldn't know if you're not from the Sword Cultivation Institute, but Fei Mian used to be an outer disciple, never even entered an institute; three months ago he was just a little trash with only the second layer of Qi Refining. Even if the Venerable Lingxu took him as a disciple, he could never beat Xie Xi, your junior brother!"

The two's arrogant demeanor made several disciples from other institutes around them quite dissatisfied.

They spoke as if your Sword Cultivation Institute were the best under heaven.

Then they deliberately wanted to dampen their spirits!

"Then I'll bet on Fei Mian! Even if his strength is lacking, anyone chosen by the Venerable Lingxu as a disciple certainly won't be bad!"

The few alchemy disciples who had just squeezed in all bet on Fei Mian.

"Exactly, your Sword Cultivation Institute's junior brother is so strong, why wasn't he chosen by the Venerable?"

Just then, the disciples participating in the preliminary trial all had to pass by this place on their way to the challenge platform.

They overheard the conversation among the senior brothers in the pavilion and all looked enviously at Fei Mian and Xie Xi.

They are both new disciples, yet only these two have become prominent figures.

Xie Xi puffed his cheeks and rolled his eyes, just happening to hear that remark.

He also wanted to know why all the limelight that should be his keeps being snatched by Fei Mian, that little trash—it's really annoying.

Fei Mian, lagging a few steps behind, heard it and curiously went to look into the pavilion; although he didn't know what they were doing, those senior brothers were praising him.

Today his hair was also personally tied by his Master, with a silver-patterned hairband; after three months of care, it has become as fluffy as a snowball, delicate and cute, his eyes seeming to hold tiny diamonds, full of spiritual aura.

"Fei Mian, little uncle! Go on! Take first place!"

The few alchemy disciples from earlier smiled at him, gesturing, "I've put all my half-month's alchemy money on you!"

Fei Mian pressed his lips, a little shy, nodded obediently, glanced over furtively, and raised his voice to reply.

"Good—"

He intends to bring this back to tell his Master, that many people support him!

He will surely not disappoint them!

Upon arriving beneath the challenge platform, they first need to compete by level.

Qi Refining has nine layers, but among the new disciples, the highest level Xie Xi has reached is only the fifth layer of Qi Refining, and he is the only one at that level.

Therefore, the level-based matches consist of only two bouts; Xie Xi gets a bye and advances directly to the final match.

Fei Mian needs to take first place in the third-layer match to earn the chance to face Xie Xi.

All the immortals sit high on the opposite side of the challenge platform.

Jin Chen sits at the very top, with an excellent view, but his gaze falls only on Fei Mian, who has already flown onto the floating challenge stage.

It seems there is a telepathic connection; Fei Mian happened to turn his head, and upon seeing his Master, he immediately broke into a sweet smile, tiptoed and waved.

Jin Chen chuckled lightly and nodded, as a response.

Having received the response, Fei Mian's smile deepened; he had made all preparations and was only waiting for the match to begin.

Luorongchang waved his hand, and the disciples beneath him immediately rang the bell.

The match began.

"Venerable, I heard you took in a new disciple; I didn't believe it at first, but seeing him today, it's indeed true."

The female immortal to Jin Chen's left asked doubtfully, "Why did you take him as a disciple?"

The other immortals all looked over, obviously also curious about this question.

Elder Linghe shook his legs; being short-statured, sitting on the high chair made him look strange and comical.

"This question is quite wonderful; the disciple has his own merits, you'll see once you watch the match, asking over and over is truly annoying."

He shook his head and swayed, "Really annoying, really annoying."

All the immortals: "……"

"After all these years, Elder Linghe is still this... lively."

"Tsk, don't think we don't know you're all just trying to fool the old man."

Elder Linghe wouldn't listen; he jumped down from the seat, hands behind his back, and walked over to Jin Chen.

"Guess what! I've been running to your place every day these days! I've already discovered the secret of your disciple's physique! You've truly gotten a treasure!"

Jin Chen calmly nodded, "I know."

As for Fei Mian's physique issue, he only discovered it after keeping him nearby; it is indeed an unexpected delight.

"If he ever finds a Dao Lu in the future, it would still be twice the result with half the effort! You'd better pick well! In ten more years you can find him a Dao Lu!"

Jin Chen: "……"

This old man really knows how to bring up a sore point.

Does he really like to cuckold himself?

If you keep nagging, you won't be allowed to ask for spirit stones this month.

The greedy Old Man Ling He immediately fell silent, tiptoed back, continued to sway his legs, and watched the match below.

The content of these two people's chat was very mysterious; the immortal masters still didn't know why, and could only continue watching the match, trying to find the reason.

On the dueling platform.

Fei Mian kept Master's words in mind, needing to end his match with peers of the same level as quickly as possible in order to nurture his essence and energy, so that when fighting Xie Xi he could maintain his best condition, and the first match must not use the Xuan power of the mutated dark spirit root.

So he used the Chiba Spirit Technique taught by Master.

As the leaves moved with him, he transformed Xuan power into leaf blades.

Soon all the observing fellow disciples and immortal masters discovered that, although it was a same-level match, none of the competitors could last more than two moves in Fei Mian's hands! In fact, the vast majority were defeated in a single move, and anyone hit by Xuan power would fall off the dueling platform.

Therefore, this match ended very quickly.

Even just the time it took to burn an incense stick, only Fei Mian remained on the floating dueling platform.

He didn't even catch his breath, knowing he had already won, he still tiptoed and waved at Master.

Soon, the first-place among the fourth-layer disciples was also chosen.

Adding the weightless Xie Xi, next would be their three-way match.

The first-place fourth-layer Qi Refining disciple is also from the Sword Cultivation Academy.