CHAPTER 273: CHAPTER 201 INNER SECT DISCIPLE COMPETITION_2

Once, he was full of enthusiasm.

But now, he can only muddle through life, with no hope of breaking through in this lifetime.

"Young people need to accept their fate. Without enough support, you end up like me—still young enough to marry into a family."

Small Knife was curious, and the old man seemed eager to have someone to talk to, chatting animatedly, so much so that he didn’t realize the Inner Sect martial arts tournament had already begun.

It seemed that with this old Inner Sect disciple at the peak of the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation around, several unfriendly glances swept over, but that’s all they did.

Presiding over the event was an Outer Sect Elder.

According to the explanation by the old disciple, this Elder, although from the Outer Sect, had the Peak of Qi Cultivation strength and was one of the three strongest elders in the Outer Sect.

The Elder offered a few encouraging words before announcing the rewards, causing quite a stir among the crowd; the rewards were evidently generous.

Then the Elder explained the rules: the use of one-time items like spirit talismans was prohibited.

Additionally, even winning just one match could earn you a spirit stone as encouragement; the victors could choose to continue, with the reward doubling after each additional victory, and so on.

If you lost, naturally, the rewarded spirit stones would be gone.

This was a test of the disciples’ character.

Then, they immediately began with the draw.

"Han Xiaodao!" The first name called was Small Knife, making him pause.

"What are you, a First-Layer Qi Cultivation, doing joining in the fun? Go up there and concede immediately, or be careful you don’t get an underhanded beat." The old disciple warned him.

Seeing Small Knife go up without a care, the old man shook his head. Youngsters, once they suffer, it’s too late; cultivators vie against heaven for their destiny, not a moment should be wasted.

The opponent came up, appearing like a middle-aged man, Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer.

It’s apparent that even after becoming an Inner Sect disciple, his future was already set; this was his limit.

Due to the previous conversation with the old disciple, concepts like core disciples had very strict age restrictions, because if you wanted to leave this world, you needed strength, yet couldn’t exceed sixty in age.

"Haha! The biggest loser of the Inner Sect, with you, I’ve finally got a win." The opponent laughed heartily.

A flying sword emerged.

It shot towards Small Knife at supersonic speed.

Top-grade rune?

Small Knife was taken aback, recalling the old man’s words.

Those without confident potential start considering nurturing a magical flying sword from the First-Layer Qi Cultivation.

But those with potential would only consider nurturing one after reaching Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer and entering the Inner Sect.

If your potential is sufficient, by entering the Inner Sect before the age of thirty, reaching the Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer, the sect would reward you with a magical flying sword and even various resources, treating you as a seed for core discipleship.

This one clearly thought he had potential, but judging by his looks, he was definitely over thirty.

"Whoosh!" An earth attribute flying sword shot out from Small Knife’s side.

Junior-level magical artifact.

It was naturally a trophy gained.

Small Knife thought he could achieve a swift victory, not expecting that sword fighting was not easy; initially, only by relying on the flying sword being far superior to the top-grade talisman did he avoid being in a disadvantageous position.

"Two rookies, haven’t even mastered sword control technique, such an embarrassment to us Inner Sect disciples." Many spectators booed, making sarcastic remarks.

Small Knife’s opponent was fully controlling his flying sword.

He was also mumbling to himself, persevere, persevere, I must win, First-Layer Qi Cultivation’s spiritual power won’t last long, as long as I hold on, I can win one match.

As the bottom of Inner Sect disciples, just winning one match was not a loss of face.

So, he persevered, striving to persevere.

Soon, Small Knife gradually became proficient in controlling his flying sword.

"You at First-Layer Qi Cultivation are already lacking spiritual power, surrender now, forcing yourself to continue could lead to internal injury." The opponent called out between attacks.

With a glance at the opponent’s somewhat pale face, Small Knife paid no heed.

Where else to find an evenly matched sparring partner for free sword control practice?

This felt great, his skill in controlling the flying sword was rapidly improving, just getting started earlier, at this rate he’d achieve minor achievement soon.

"Courting death, don’t blame me for being ruthless." His opponent was shocked by the depth of Small Knife’s spiritual Qi, predicting that he had reached the Second Layer of Qi Cultivation, having profound foundation.

But nonetheless should be reaching a limit, and holding on stubbornly.

Because he too couldn’t last much longer.

The top-grade talisman countering a beginner controlling a junior-level magical artifact made his consumption obviously higher than the opponent.

Therefore, he made a decisive decision and poured all his spiritual power into his attack.

In an instant, the top-grade talisman burst forth, rapidly piercing toward Small Knife.

This strike, made at no expense of spiritual power, had the power of a Dharma artifact level for sure.

Seeing this, Small Knife knew that his sparring was over, with no hesitation, he infused large amounts of spiritual Qi into his flying sword to block.

Because a flow of spiritual Qi was being refined in Small Knife’s body, always maintaining over eighty percent of spiritual power reserve.

"Boom!"

"No!" The top-grade talisman sword let out a wail, forcibly trying to counter a level up, and under this burst, facing a magical flying sword equally supplied with plentiful spiritual Qi, it directly shattered apart.

"Impossible?" Instantly, his opponent sprayed a mouthful of blood, collapsing unconscious.

The surroundings fell into silence.

This... was this pretending to be weak to catch the strong?

"How could it be possible, he’s at least Qi Cultivation Third Layer." Someone cried out from below.

Upon seeing this, Small Knife directly dismissed the concealing breath skill, revealing his own spiritual Qi fluctuations.

Not just Qi Cultivation Third Layer, but at the peak of the Third Layer.

"Inner Sect disciple Han Xiaodao wins one match, rewarded spirit stone: 1, as encouragement.

Moreover, having grappled at the Early Stage of Qi Cultivation against the Middle Stage, according to regulations, the reward is multiplied by ten, making it ten spirit stones."

"Alright, next match." That referee elder spoke.

Small Knife was taken aback, ten times the reward? That’s good news, he was just worrying about spirit stones, he was delighted and said, "I’ll continue the challenge."

"Are you sure? Lose, and the reward of those ten spirit stones is gone." The elder was surprised.

"I’m sure."

"Overestimating yourself." The elder made this judgment, but still expressionlessly continued the draw.

"Inner Sect disciple, Dong Shanxing, come to the stage."

"Haha, kid, your luck ends here; I’m not a disciple without a magical artifact." a middle-aged man jumped up.

No hidden strength, Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer.

This strength and age made it clear that as an Inner Sect disciple, he had reached his limit.

Seeing Small Knife ignoring him, this man’s flying sword fiercely shot out, morale high.

Below, the audience discussed, isn’t this Inner Sect shameful? How could a First-Layer of Qi Cultivation reach Third Layer so quickly?

This caught their interest.

On Small Knife’s side, his flying sword also sped out.

Two flying swords attacked each other.

Both being junior-level magical artifacts, it was obvious Small Knife’s sword control technique was inferior, quickly falling behind.

"Sure to lose! Might as well give up." Someone assessed.

The gap in strength, gap in sword control technique, were clear, nothing worth watching.

"This kid doesn’t know his limits, if he got those ten spirit stones wouldn’t that be better, now he ends up with nothing." Jeers arose, undisguised.

"Indeed, even left the elder with the impression of being reckless, gaining nothing at the expense of everything." Someone chimed in.

But Small Knife focused entirely on controlling his sword.

Sword fighting! It was novel to him.

Several times, Small Knife rescued from mistakes using bursts, consuming double spiritual power to block the opponent’s sword.

While his opponent remained calm and patient.

With time passing, Small Knife’s sword control technique finally reached minor achievement, improving greatly, and the gap with the opponent wasn’t that big anymore.

However, the opponent didn’t pay attention to this, certain he would win this battle, predicting that the opponent would run out of spiritual power.

Soon, his expression changed.

"No, impossible? How can he still maintain it?"

Definitely reached the limit?

Yet he didn’t dare wait as his spiritual Qi was depleting fast.

Persevere, persevere!

The luster of the flying sword quickly dimmed, while Small Knife gained the upper hand.

"I, I surrender." This man, with disbelief on his face, made the right choice.

Inner Sect disciple Han Xiaodao wins two matches, rewarded spirit stones: 2. As he was at the Early Stage of Qi Cultivation while facing the Middle Stage, the reward is multiplied by ten, totaling twenty spirit stones."

"Continue the challenge." Small Knife chuckled.

The elder gave him a glance and drew lots again.

Inner Sect disciple, Fan Zhong, come to the stage.

"Haha!" Loud laughter erupted from below because this participant had the strength of the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation."