Chapter 173: Before the Trial
’That Fang Yun is only at the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining. So what if he has the Seven-Aperture Exquisite Body?’
She herself possessed a special constitution and was already at the Qi Refining Tenth Layer.
Besides, assuming their special constitutions were developed to a similar extent, her Snow Spirit Body provided a greater boost in combat than the Seven-Aperture Exquisite Body.
’He’s only at the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining. His development of his special constitution can’t possibly match mine.’
With her advantage in Realm, Lin Caixuan couldn’t imagine any reason why she wouldn’t take first place in the Four-Sect Trial.
"According to the latest news, Fang Yun is now number one on the Celestial Cloud Sect’s Inner Sect Ranking. The Four-Sect Trial isn’t a direct duel; when your Spiritual Power runs low, you can use medicinal pills to recover quickly."
As he said this, the green-robed elder, Tang Huobing, thought that perhaps they could add a rule prohibiting the use of medicinal pills in future Four-Sect Trials.
’But adding it later would be useless for this time around.’
’What if, in a future Four-Sect Trial, our Wind Ling Sect produces a disciple similar to Fang Yun?’
After some thought, Tang Huobing abandoned the idea.
"Elder Tang, you have to have confidence in me."
"I do have confidence in you, but what if something unexpected happens? You should know, I always make thorough preparations before I start refining pills. Otherwise, I never would have succeeded in refining this Top-grade Foundation Establishment Pill..."
He had been furious when he first learned that the Top-grade Foundation Establishment Pill he had worked so hard to refine would be used as the first-place prize for the Four-Sect Trial.
Lin Caixuan listened to Tang Huobing, nodding cooperatively.
Elder Tang had summoned her many times already.
Every time, he would talk about the Top-grade Foundation Establishment Pill.
Her master had told her to just bear with him.
So, she could only endure it.
’Once the Four-Sect Trial is over and I bring back the Top-grade Foundation Establishment Pill, all this trouble will be over.’
At that point, the Top-grade Foundation Establishment Pill would be swapped out for a different reward.
Lin Caixuan had no objection to this, as with her talent, taking a Top-grade Foundation Establishment Pill was completely unnecessary.
...
「Vast Sea Sect」
「In a Side Hall」
"Lefan, whether your younger sister gets a chance at Foundation Establishment will depend entirely on your performance in this Four-Sect Trial."
"Don’t worry, Grandfather. I will definitely help my sister achieve Foundation Establishment!" Xiao Lefan said with great solemnity.
Half a year ago, he had been fully prepared and planned to undergo Foundation Establishment to become a sect Elder.
But then he received news from his grandfather that the first-place prize for this Four-Sect Trial might be a Top-grade Foundation Establishment Pill.
So, he postponed his Foundation Establishment.
He later received confirmation that the reward was indeed a Top-grade Foundation Establishment Pill.
Over the past few months, despite not having undergone Foundation Establishment, his strength had still progressed.
"You have two main rivals: Lin Caixuan of the Wind Ling Sect and Fang Yun of the Celestial Cloud Sect. Of the two, Lin Caixuan is the one you should watch out for the most."
"Understood."
"If it comes down to just killing energy bodies, you might not be able to match them," Luo Yiyang said, taking out a compass-like Magical Artifact. "This is a top-grade Magical Artifact, the Spiritual Source Disc, that I asked Elder Wu to specially forge for you. The Spiritual Source Disc will react to any Spiritual Power fluctuations within a five-li radius."
"A specially forged top-grade Magical Artifact?"
Xiao Lefan was stunned.
He knew a bit about Artifact Refining. He knew that for Cultivators who had become true Artifact Refiners, forging a mere top-grade Magical Artifact was considered shameful.
"You can’t wield a Lower-Grade Spiritual Artifact yet. And because I had him forge this top-grade Magical Artifact, that old coot now sends me a spirit-sense message to curse me out every time he sees me."
"Grandfather, thank you for going through so much trouble."
"Thankfully, the old coot doesn’t dare to curse me in public," Luo Yiyang said with a smile.
’Isn’t that just because Elder Wu is afraid of losing face...?’
Xiao Lefan took the top-grade Magical Artifact, grumbling silently to himself.
"With the Spiritual Source Disc, you can hang back, quickly locate the disciples from the other three sects, and then snatch their points."
In the Four-Sect Trial, if a disciple defeated someone from another sect...
...the defeated disciple would be eliminated early, and their total points would be halved.
That lost half would then go to the disciple who defeated them.
"I understand, Grandfather."
’This way, I have a much better chance of taking first place in the Four-Sect Trial.’
Xiao Lefan looked at the top-grade Magical Artifact in his hand, his conviction growing even stronger.
He knew that Elder Wu specialized in refining detection-type Magical and Spiritual Artifacts. However, those artifacts mostly detected fluctuations in Demon Power and Yin Power; it was rare for one to directly detect Spiritual Power.
’After this Four-Sect Trial, this top-grade Magical Artifact won’t be of much use to me.’
...
「Star Moon Valley」
The three elders leading the contingent for the Four-Sect Trial were chatting.
"It’s so frustrating. The first-place prize in this Four-Sect Trial is completely out of reach for our Star Moon Valley disciples."
"What can we do about it? It’s a fact that the quality of our Star Moon Valley disciples has been merely average for the past twenty years."
"If this were twenty years ago, that first-place prize would have been mine for the taking!"
"Haha, we all know how formidable you are, Zhao," Wen Zhongyun said, praising the younger Elder.
"The one thing I don’t understand is why the Vast Sea Sect agreed to increase the rewards."
The rewards for the Four-Sect Trial were decided by the four major sects.
The Celestial Cloud Sect proposed increasing the rewards, the Wind Ling Sect offered up a Top-grade Foundation Establishment Pill, and the Vast Sea Sect also agreed to the increase.
Only Star Moon Valley refused.
Twenty years ago, they would have absolutely agreed to increase the rewards.
One sect proposed, two agreed, and one objected.
Under such circumstances, the proposal passed, and Star Moon Valley had to reluctantly contribute more to the prize pool.
"Let’s just hope more of our Star Moon Valley disciples make it into the top ten. That way, we can at least recoup some of our losses."
"Yes, let’s hope so."
...
「Within the Celestial Cloud Sect」
There were now five days left until the start of the Four-Sect Trial.
It would take time to travel to the trial’s location, so they were set to gather today.
He had rested well the night before.
Fang Yun woke up feeling refreshed and comfortable.
He was fully prepared for the Four-Sect Trial and was already looking forward to the moment it ended and the Top-grade Foundation Establishment Pill was in his hands.
Because the Top-grade Foundation Establishment Pill was so incredibly valuable, it was the only prize for the individual with the highest score in the Four-Sect Trial.
The first-place winner would receive no other rewards.
After leaving his room, Fang Yun planned to find Song Qiaoqiao so they could go to Battle Peak to assemble together.
As he went to look for Song Qiaoqiao, she was also coming to find him.
The two of them met in the central area of the Inner Sect’s A-grade residences.
"Senior Sister, it looks like we had the same idea," Fang Yun said, quickening his pace to meet her.
Song Qiaoqiao nodded, then immediately began to speak about the Four-Sect Trial.
"During the Four-Sect Trial, after we enter the Secret Realm, I’ll find you as soon as possible, Junior Brother."
Fang Yun gently shook his head. "Senior Sister, you don’t need to do that. It would be great if we run into each other during the trial, but it’s fine if we don’t. Don’t waste your time trying to find me."
Even without any help, Fang Yun felt that taking first place wouldn’t be difficult at all.