He waited until the Sect Competition was about to start, but Yun Man was still in the midst of her breakthrough and had not come out.
"Forget it. With my current strength, I should have nothing to fear from Foundation Establishment cultivators. As long as I don't face a Golden Core cultivator, there shouldn't be a big problem. I can't always think about relying on my disciple."
After taking a glance at Yun Man's room, whose door remained tightly shut, Qin Xiao decided to go alone.
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The Sect's martial arts arena was very large. In the center was a circular stone platform one meter high. With the stone platform as the center, eight directions were marked out. These eight directions were the preparation seats and spectator seats for the main peak and the other seven peaks.
In previous years' competitions, first place always went to the main peak. Second place went to the Great Elder's Immortal Sword Peak. Third place sometimes changed, but the Second Elder's Immortal Cloud Peak occupied it most often. And naturally, the one at the bottom was always Seven Stars Peak.
If it were in previous years, Qin Xiao only needed to surrender and concede, but this year would not do. If he surrendered again, he would have to give up Seven Stars Peak.
Back then, Qin Xiao had no cultivation at all; he was a mere mortal. Even with such a pact, he could only sign it. The cultivation world was not a place that spoke of human sentiment. The Seventh Elder had died fighting for the Sect, so the Sect could grant three years of preferential treatment, but once three years had passed, if you were of no help to the Sect, you could only be kicked out.
Fortunately, those people back then had not been completely ruthless. As long as Seven Stars Peak did not come last in the Sect Competition, it could continue to be retained. You, Qin Xiao, could not cultivate, but you could recruit disciples. After all, it still counted as leaving a sliver of opportunity.
Another quarter of an hour passed. Seeing that all the Peak Masters had arrived, Eighth Elder Zuo Hongcai came onto the central stone platform.
Eighth Elder was the hall master of the main peak's Rewards and Punishments Hall, overseeing the Sect's rewards and punishments. This Sect martial competition also fell under his jurisdiction.
"Since all the Peak Masters have arrived, this Sect Competition shall now begin."
After receiving a nod from the Sect Leader, Eighth Elder Zuo Hongcai formally announced the start.
"Although the competition rules are the same every year, there are inevitably new disciples who have entered the Sect. This old man will repeat the rules once more."
"The competition is divided into two rounds. The first round is the Points Round. The second round is the Challenge Round."
"The Points Round means each peak can send up to three disciples. The drawing of lots determines which two peaks fight each other. Winning one match adds three points. A draw gives each side one point. Losing adds no points."
"In the end, rankings are based on points, divided into the top four groups and the bottom four groups. Those ranked lower can challenge the one ranked above them, but only have one chance. As long as they win, they can replace the other's ranking."
"Does anyone have any objections?"
After Zuo Hongcai finished introducing, he habitually asked.
"Since there are no objections, let the drawing of lots begin."
Seeing no one speak, Zuo Hongcai began the drawing of lots.
Qin Xiao naturally knew this competition format. The Points Round was the preliminary selection, comparing the strength of each peak's disciples. However, the preliminary round also determined the rankings for the Challenge Round. If one wanted to enter the top three, one at least needed to get fourth place in the Points Round, since one could not challenge across levels.
In previous years, Seven Stars Peak had surrendered all the way through the Points Round, ranking eighth with zero points, and also directly gave up on the Challenge Round, always ending up as the eighth.
"This time, not only is my disciple at the peak of the Golden Core middle stage, I have also reached Body Refinement Second Layer. Even if I get no points in the Points Round, as long as I can defeat the seventh place in the Challenge Round, I won't be eighth and can keep Seven Stars Peak."
Qin Xiao was quite confident this time.
"First match from the draw: Immortal Sword Peak versus Seven Stars Peak."
Zuo Hongcai directly announced the first pair of opposing peaks.
"What? The first match is actually Immortal Sword Peak and Seven Stars Peak?"
"Immortal Sword Peak's luck is really good. Picking up three points for free."
"Who says it isn't? Immortal Sword's three participating disciples are all in the Golden Core stage. Rumor has it Seven Stars Peak has one Golden Core stage disciple, but she didn't come today. Only the useless Qin Xiao came. There's no need to even fight."
As soon as the information about the first match came out, the spectating disciples were all marveling at Immortal Sword Peak's good luck. No one spoke a single word for Seven Stars Peak.
"Damn, there couldn't be some inside job, right? What a coincidence?"
Hearing that the first match was him and Immortal Sword Peak, Qin Xiao immediately became suspicious.
But this truly was not an inside job; his luck was indeed a bit bad.
"I was afraid I wouldn't draw him. I didn't expect my luck to be this good, drawing him on the first try."
Yao Kaidong was looking at Qin Xiao's position with a playful expression.
"Li Cheng, your chance for revenge has come. This time, don't disappoint me again."
"Senior Brother, don't worry. I will personally repay the humiliation from last time."
Li Cheng hurriedly replied to Yao Kaidong.
After getting injured last time, he turned misfortune into fortune and finally took that step, successfully breaking through to the Golden Core middle stage. It was precisely because he broke through that he was chosen as one of the three participating disciples this time.
Aside from Yao Kaidong and Li Cheng, Immortal Sword Peak's other participating disciple this time was the Holy Maiden Liu Xueyue, who had successfully broken through to the Golden Core stage.
The Points Round had three rounds in total. Each peak would fight three times, meaning lots would be drawn three times. Qin Xiao did not expect his first match to be against Immortal Sword Peak, making him somewhat troubled for a moment. After all, Immortal Sword Peak's disciples this time were all in the Golden Core stage and above. Even the weakest in cultivation, Holy Maiden Liu Xueyue, had many treasures accompanying her.
The subsequent draws were: main peak versus Immortal Beast Peak, Immortal Cloud Peak versus Immortal Artifact Peak, and Immortal Spring Peak versus Immortal Medicine Peak.
After the drawing of lots concluded, the first match began.
Li Cheng was the first to jump onto the stone platform, then provocatively looked at Qin Xiao.
"Where are the people from your Seven Stars Peak? Could they have run away?"
Looking at the preparation seats where only Qin Xiao sat alone, Li Cheng said with a playful smile.
"What? Last time, you were beaten into a dog by my disciple. This time you still want to look for abuse?"
Qin Xiao also directly retorted. Trash talk-who could not do that?
"Less nonsense. Make Yun Man come out. The grudge from last time, I will definitely repay it today."
Seeing Qin Xiao bring up last time again, Li Cheng immediately flared up.
"To deal with trash like you, where is the need for my disciple to take the stage? I'll meet you."
After saying this, Qin Xiao also walked toward the stone platform.
It was not that Qin Xiao was being reckless. He did not know how long his Body Refinement Second Layer could last against a Golden Core stage opponent, but he wanted to use this opportunity to test it out. After all, if he could not win, he could just surrender. As long as Yun Man could arrive during the Challenge Round, Seven Stars Peak would not be last.
"You? A useless person. I can extinguish you with a flick of my finger. In the disciple competition, weapons have no eyes. If you want to die, I can also grant your wish, just in time to avenge my younger brother."
Li Cheng did not expect Qin Xiao to dare to come on stage. But this was good for him; this kid had crippled his cousin, and he could just take revenge right here. As long as he attacked fast enough, he would not even give him a chance to surrender.
"Less nonsense. Still want to kill me? Try killing me."
Although Qin Xiao had no confidence in winning against Li Cheng, with Body Refinement Second Layer, he at least would not be instantly killed. He still had a chance to surrender.
"You're a useless person. I won't bully you either. I won't use weapons. I'll fight bare-handed."
Li Cheng still had to consider face to some extent. After all, this was the Sect Competition, with the Sect Leader and all the Elders present. If he directly killed Qin Xiao, it would inevitably cause trouble.
However, Li Cheng was not being kind. His first punch was planned to directly hit Qin Xiao's mouth, first making him unable to surrender, then slowly torturing him. Even if someone intervened in the end and he could not kill Qin Xiao, he could still vent his anger well.
"Bare-handed? Even better. That will better test the limits of Body Refinement Second Layer."
Seeing Li Cheng put away his weapon, Qin Xiao was even happier. Now there was even less danger to his life.
"Still laughing? Courting death."
Seeing Qin Xiao wearing a slight smile, not taking him seriously at all, Li Cheng directly charged toward Qin Xiao.
Li Cheng's fists were both wrapped in Spiritual Qi, and he showed no intention of holding back at all.