Chapter 516: Team First

After the great battle, Lan Yuan was rarely quiet.

All five people were severely injured.

Liu Yu's left arm was completely immobile.

Huo Luan's old wounds on her waist had burst open, and she had added new ones; she had been carried back to her room on a door panel.

The aftereffects of the Blood-Urging Gu Pill Gu Niangzi had taken kicked in; she had been in a deep sleep ever since returning to Lan Yuan, her body burning hot. Hu busied himself back and forth, performing acupuncture on her for half the night before finally suppressing that feverish agitation.

Wang Ji's right shoulder was wrapped like a zongzi, and her face was frighteningly pale, yet she still sat under the lamp, using her left hand to write down the arrangements for tomorrow, one by one.

Cheng Feng was no less injured than anyone else.

The gashes on his ribs and waist had split open again and again, wrapped in a thick layer of medicinal cloth.

When Hu changed his dressings, his hands were trembling.

Yet Cheng Feng gritted his teeth and didn't make a sound, only staring blankly out the window; after the doctor left, he snuck up and walked a few laps in the courtyard.

He could not sleep.

After several days of duels, basically everyone was now carrying injuries.

But, could this really make those high and mighty people from the Immortal Sect take notice?

At the third watch, Wang Ji walked to the veranda and saw him sitting on a stone stool under the osmanthus tree wearing his outer robe, so she walked over and sat down too.

Moonlight leaked through the gaps in the leaves, landing on their shoulders like fine silver dust.

"Thanks to you today," Wang Ji began, her voice so soft it was hoarse. "Without those last few moves of yours, we wouldn't have made it to the next round."

Cheng Feng didn't respond, only looking at her shoulder wrapped in bandages before shifting his gaze away: "That palm strike from Bai Wugou almost crippled your arm."

"He didn't have it easy either," Wang Ji lowered her head, slowly stroking the scabbard on her lap with her left hand. "Qingyuan Sword Qi was poured into his heart; he won't be able to use White Flame for another three months."

Cheng Feng gave an "un." The two sat under the moon for a good while, neither speaking again.

The night breeze brushed past, the scent of osmanthus so faint it was almost imperceptible, leaving only the smell of medicine and a faint scent of blood throughout the courtyard.

In the second half of the night, Cheng Feng was called to the study by Wang Ji.

Liu Yu was not there, and Huo Luan and Gu Niangzi had also gone to sleep.

Only one lamp was lit in the study, and a scroll of paper was spread out on the table; it was the list Wang Ji had just finished writing.

Cheng Feng glanced at it; it listed the "usable" people among the various teams in this Martial Dao competition, and several names had already been crossed out in vermilion ink.

His own name was circled at the very top, with the words "catches the eye" written next to it.

"The Immortal Sect has already sent word," Wang Ji said, her back to him as she looked at an old map on the wall, her voice extremely faint. "They have taken a liking to you and me."

"If we can complete the trials after the Immortal Sect, we will basically have no problems."

"Picking the two of us?" Cheng Feng asked.

"You and I are both Immortal Seeds. The others have no Immortal Fate," Wang Ji turned around, her gaze looking straight into Cheng Feng's eyes.

"Huo Luan doesn't have it, Liu Yu doesn't have it, and Gu Niangzi doesn't have it either. You and I are the only ones they find acceptable."

Cheng Feng fell silent. He had guessed it long ago.

No matter how good Huo Luan's Blade Technique was, it was just the military path; without a Different Body or bloodline, she could not catch the eye of the Immortal Sect.

No matter how steady or ruthless Liu Yu was, he was still a mortal body.

Although Gu Niangzi knew Gu Arts, those insects were ultimately external objects.

They were worlds apart from an Immortal Seed or Different Body.

They could fight and struggle, but in this Martial Dao competition where one's future was determined by Root Bone, what they were struggling for had always only been at the "human" level.

"Are you going to leave?" Cheng Feng asked.

"If I can leave, I will," Wang Ji said. "Struggling until now was all for this gate. I won't stay behind for anyone."

Cheng Feng nodded: "Me too."

Wang Ji smiled and said nothing more.

On the last day of the Martial Dao competition, there were no duels at the Great Drill Ground.

Yet Tianqi City was even livelier than when the competition began. The area in front of the notice board outside the South Gate was crowded with people.

Several Golden Guards protected a notice, and a clerk with a loud voice stood on a high stool, reading it word for word.

The notice stated that the top three teams could enter the main platform of the Great Drill Ground to be personally selected by the Immortal Sect, who would bestow rankings and rewards.

This news was like water splashed into hot oil, causing the whole city to boil over.

In front of tens of thousands of people, the top three rankings and the favor of the Immortal Sect would be decided at once.

This was no longer just selecting martial artists; it was clearly selecting Immortal Seedlings.

The Martial Dao competitions of the previous many years had been unremarkable.

This year, so many Different Bodies had emerged; it was surely a prosperous and flourishing year.

The Immortal Sect descending to participate is proof enough.

"Have you heard? The Immortal Sect is playing for real this time."

"Anyone who is chosen will not only be able to enter the Immortal Gate, but will also receive techniques, Mysterious Weapons, pills, and even Spirit Fields and Immortal Registries."

"That Cheng Feng and Zhou Yanran have already been noted down."

"Do you think the people from the Bai family have a chance? That 'White Flame Body' of theirs fights in such an eerie way."

"Not to mention She Hualong of the Black Water Sect; with that movement technique and that poison, who could withstand it? I think he can take second place."

"Although the Zhennan Wang Ji Team is first, in the end, only two can catch the eye of the Immortal Sect. As for the others, they fight tooth and nail only to end up with some gold, silver, or techniques."

When these words reached Lan Yuan, Huo Luan was peeling a pear in the courtyard.

The pear skin fell off in circles; her hand paused for a moment, then she continued peeling.

Liu Yu sat on the veranda polishing his Sword, his left arm still in a sling, the blade polished until it shone brightly.

Gu Niangzi was sunning her Gu insects under the eaves, a few gray moths lazily flapping their wings. Wang Ji stood under the osmanthus tree, holding a scroll of competition official documents that had just been delivered, delaying in opening it.

"Did you all hear that?" Wang Ji did not turn her head.

"I heard it." Huo Luan cut a pear in half, tossed one half to Liu Yu, and bit into her own with a crunch.

"They said only two from our team can enter the Immortal Sect. The rest are just there to make up the numbers. They aren't wrong."

"Whether they are wrong or not is not for them to decide." Cheng Feng walked out of his room, having changed into clean clothes; his complexion was already much better than it had been in the past few days.

He walked up to Huo Luan, broke off a small piece of pear from her hand, and chewed it a few times: "Tomorrow, when we get on the main stage, we will still be five people."

"Who the Immortal Sect chooses is their business. We will stand in a row, and we must not let our spirits sag."

Huo Luan looked at him and suddenly smiled: "Don't say it, but the way you talk lately, you're sounding more and more like a leader."

Cheng Feng looked at the curvaceous Huo Luan before him, and his heart stirred slightly.

Gu Niangzi also laughed softly: "He wants to be an Immortal, so of course he is different."

Naturally, this Gu Niangzi's bewitching charm was also very eye-catching.

They really were getting bigger one after another.

The more one looked, the more one liked it!!!

Cheng Feng did not take the bait and only nodded toward Wang Ji.

Wang Ji opened the official letter, glanced at it, and said: "At the hour of Si, the three strongest teams enter the main stage."

"Only those from each team who can go on stage are to remain on the main stage. There is no dress code, but you are not permitted to carry any Mysterious Weapon onto the stage."

"We can't even carry our sabers?" Huo Luan frowned.

"No," Wang Ji said, "this is not a fight to the death; it is a selection."

"What they want to see is the person themselves, not the saber in your hand."

"Then what about Cheng Feng? All his skills are in his fists; having no saber or shield is actually better for him," Huo Luan said.

"I was always fine with either saber or fists," Cheng Feng said, "but as for you, your saber never leaves your hand, yet tomorrow you will have to be empty-handed."

Huo Luan flicked the small fruit-peeling knife, pinning it into a tree: "Even without a saber, I am still Huo Luan."

Liu Yu stood up, slowly sheathed his Narrow Saber, and after staring at it for a good while, he turned and went back to his room.

Being without a handy tool for the time being really felt quite uncomfortable.

The group ate breakfast and walked out.

The main stage of the Great Drill Ground had been repaved with bluestone, and incense burners were lit at the four corners, with smoke curling around. The nine-colored pillars of fire were still burning high, but today they were no longer the signal for the start, but rather to build momentum for the Immortal Sect's selection.

Three large sandalwood chairs were placed in front of the stage, but they were empty. Further up, the seating area for the Immortal Sect Envoy was surrounded by a circle of plain gauze curtains, making it impossible to see clearly how many people were sitting inside.

The three strongest teams entered the venue one by one.

Even though Bai Wugou was severely injured, he still had to get up at this time to wait for the Immortal to call his name; he could not fight, but he could still walk.

The people from the Black Water Sect were all dressed in black, with She Hualong walking in the middle, his waist so supple it seemed to have no joints at all.

Wang Ji led Cheng Feng and the other three, walking at the very back.

Of the five, only Wang Ji and Cheng Feng looked normal. Huo Luan's hands were empty, and her gait was unnatural, like a martial artist who had been stripped of their saber.

"Stand straight," an Immortal official in green robes stepped forward, his voice clear and smooth, "The Immortal Sect Envoy has issued an order: this Martial Dao tournament will select two people as top-tier Immortal Seedlings."

"Among them, Zhennan Prince Ji Zhouyanran, with the Qingyuan Sword Body, is ranked first,"

"Awarded the status of Outer Disciple of the Shangqing Sect, granted one Qingyuan Sword, ten Yangqi Pills, and one Green Jade Token."

As the words fell, a low murmur erupted from the stands.

The Shangqing Sect—that was a major sect with true great powers presiding over it.

"Cheng Feng, with the Bloodline of Dragon and Snake and Body Tempering into Gang, is ranked second."

"Awarded the status of Outer Disciple of the Shangqing Sect, granted three Tuiti Xuan Pills, one Mysterious Grade Cultivation Method, and one Black Iron Token."

Cheng Feng's heart shook, and he looked up toward the gauze curtains. He had originally thought he would at most be a nominal member; he had not expected to be ranked second.

"The others are awarded one thousand gold, admission to the Great Zhou Martial Academy for further study, and a Martial Token; you may choose three cultivation methods or martial techniques for yourselves," the official finished speaking and returned to his position.

Huo Luan let out a "chi" sound and whispered: "Not bad, a thousand taels of gold. My injuries weren't suffered in vain."

Liu Yu did not speak, only exhaling softly. Gu Niangzi's lips curved, and she whispered: "That's fine too. I didn't want to go and serve those Immortal officials anyway."

Cheng Feng did not smile. He stood there, suddenly feeling a heavy weight on his shoulders.

Everything before his eyes felt so far away from when he first started in that dilapidated courtyard in Qingxi County, yet it had all come so quickly.

"Cheng Feng, Zhou Yanran, come forward to receive your appointment!" the official shouted again.

Cheng Feng turned his head to look at Huo Luan.

Huo Luan tilted her chin at him: "Go on. Let me see what it looks like when my brother is appointed as an Immortal Seedling."

Cheng Feng stepped forward. Wang Ji walked beside him, looking straight ahead.

The two reached the center of the stage and stood side by side. The nine-colored pillars of fire suddenly surged in unison, like nine rainbow bridges spanning the sky, illuminating the entire stage.

The Immortal official of the Shangqing Sect took out two jade tokens and personally placed them into their hands.

Cheng Feng looked down at the Black Iron Token in his palm; the token was ice-cold, and a tiny "Qing" character was engraved on it.

He gripped it tightly, as if grasping a door that had just been opened.

The door to a higher level of this world was about to be slowly pushed open by him.