Chapter 269: 270: Zhong Lingxiu's Conspiracy
The competition of the Three Sects was not a one-time event; instead, there were three different venues set up for the trials, and cultivators could go to the field of their expertise to compete.
Generally speaking, achieving a ranking in just one event could make one’s name resound throughout the Immortal Spirit Continent. However, Li Xiaobai’s goal today was to become an all-rounder and to bag all the prizes of the Three Sects.
A long line formed at the city gate as the cultivators registered one by one.
This time, Li Xiaobai queued up honestly with Liu Fei. Located in the central core area of Central Province, this place teemed with masters and high-ranking cultivators who kept a low profile; causing any trouble here might mean death without even knowing how it happened.
Ji Wuqing was always fanning the flames at his side, “Giggle, lad, get on with it, make them kneel before this lord!”
Li Xiaobai was speechless, “You know nothing, chick. Here at someone’s doorstep, we must understand etiquette and not speak nonsense. How could I, a good cultivator who abides by the law, possibly harm my fellow cultivators?”
Liu Fei nodded in agreement at the side, feeling somewhat uneasy about the idea of fighting with strangers.
Blending in with the queue, Li Xiaobai listened attentively to the conversations among the crowd.
“Hey, have you heard? The disciple of the Elixir Sect’s Medicine King is here too!”
“Yeah, the grand meeting of the Three Sects this year is exceptionally lively. The Saint Heir of the Fire Qilin Cave is here too; the entourage is even more ostentatious than my sect elder’s travels—truly enviable!”
“How can your elder compare to the noble identity of the Fire Qilin Cave’s Saint Heir? I see this competition is destined to be a clash between the top forces.”
“Today, there seems to be no chance for us Loose Cultivators to stand out.”
“Sigh…”
Listening to the discussion among the cultivators up ahead, Li Xiaobai couldn’t help but interject, “Brother, do you know which Saint Heir from the Fire Qilin Cave has come?”
The person ahead eyed Li Xiaobai cautiously but brightened up when he caught a glimpse of Liu Fei. Clearing his throat, he said.
“It is certainly the Fire Qiling Saint Child from the Fire Qilin Cave. Rumor has it that this Saint Heir emerged abruptly some time ago and in just a short month, he awakened his bloodline inheritance, far surpassing the other three Fire Qilin Cave Saint Heirs.”
“Thank you for the guidance, good sir!”
Li Xiaobai nodded repeatedly upon hearing this. From the description, he had a vague idea of who this arriving Saint Heir from the Fire Qilin Cave might be.
An unexpected rise, a sudden emergence—it could be no one else but Ergouzi, who was previously captured, right?
“Hehe, no problem at all, I’m ranked four hundred ninety-seventh on the roster of cultivators, the ever loyal and gentlemanly Liu Xiaohui. Miss, if you’re free, maybe we can have a meal together?”
The cultivator ignored Li Xiaobai and said to the somewhat shy Liu Fei with a smile.
“Thank you for your generous offer, sir.”
Liu Fei said somewhat awkwardly.
Li Xiaobai’s face darkened just a bit as the man attempted to undermine him to his face, “Thanks, brother, perhaps another time.”
The cultivator turned away, no longer speaking.
“Giggle, a mere ranking on the roster of cultivators and he dares to pick up girls?” Ji Wuqing scoffed disdainfully.
It should be noted that after several major events, Li Xiaobai’s ranking had already made it to the list of formidable cultivators. Although there was a hint of nepotism from Elder Tianji, in terms of strength, aside from the Great Crossing Realm Experts, Li Xiaobai truly feared no one.
“Ha, that’s not important. Did you hear clearly what that fellow just said? A Saint Heir from the Fire Qilin Cave is here.”
Li Xiaobai said.
“Giggle, why even ask? It’s definitely that mutt Ergouzi. I’ve been so worried about it, yet it seems to be living quite the life of luxury. Lad, find a chance to teach it a lesson in the grand competition!”
Ji Wuqing ruffled its feathers. It had considered staging a daring raid to rescue Ergouzi from the Fire Qilin Cave, but now that Ergouzi had become a Saint Heir and was apparently living better than Ji Wuqing itself, there was a slight imbalance in its feelings.
“We should find an opportunity to make contact. Now that Ergouzi is part of the higher echelons of the Fire Qilin Cave, it might bring us considerable advantages.”
Having a grand backer in Central Province would undoubtedly be very comfortable.
The queue slowly moved forward, and the disciple responsible for registering information approached Li Xiaobai and the others.
“Excuse me, you need to register your identities to enter the city during the competition. Please state your names.”
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“Treasure Pavilion’s Liu Fei.”
“Li Xiaobai begs for a quick death.”
Li Xiaobai thought for a moment and decided to advertise himself. The registering disciple didn’t hesitate, recorded his words, and handed Li Xiaobai a small token, engraved with “Quality Shop Li Xiaobai”—his identity token.
With this token, his ranking during the competition would be displayed.
Liu Fei also received one and looked at the token with a face full of joy. She felt she had taken a big step closer to winning the competition.
This was her first time participating in a competition and she felt an indescribable excitement.
Upon entering the city, she looked around curiously at everything.
Li Xiaobai was helpless, “Sister, you’re the little princess of Treasure Pavilion, with a high status and identity. You need to act with dignity.”
“But I just want to see what this competition is all about!”
The sister felt somewhat aggrieved.
Just then, a beam of light pierced through the void in the sky, bursting into brilliant sparks, and a name clearly emerged.
“First place in the alchemy competition: Yao Chenzi, Grade Seven Elixirs!”
“Second place in the alchemy competition: Xi Yao, Grade Six and a Half Elixirs!”
“…”
Surprised exclamations came from all around, “Hiss, the apprentice of the Medicine King is truly extraordinary, seizing first place in the Elixir Sect’s trial with his first attempt!”
“Indeed, it’s said that this young man is only twenty, in the prime of his youth. Truly, a hero emerges from the young!”
“Such incredible talent…”
Li Xiaobai felt the small token in his pocket stir and took it out to see that the leaderboard had changed.
The Earth Rankings.
3000th: Medicine King Hall’s Yao Chenzi.
3001st: Li Xiaobai who begs for a quick death.
“Giggle, boy, that Yao Chenzi snatched your ranking. Let’s take him down!”
Ji Wuqing looked at the token in Li Xiaobai’s hands and screeched in surprise.
“Let’s go, let’s first check out Elixir Sect’s territory.”
At the same time, within Elixir Sect, Zhong Lingxiu had a face full of bitter resentment as she looked at the disciple who had come to report.
“Are you sure it’s Li Xiaobai?”
“Yes, inside Tianfeng City many cultivators saw him. Sword Imprisonment, Demon’s Wicked Sword, only Li Xiaobai has such skill!”
The disciple said.
“Good, because of him, my uncle died, and I suffered great humiliation. I’ll go to my father right now, today no matter what he has to pay the price!”
“You continue to watch him. If there is any movement, report to me immediately!”
“Yes!”
The disciple left.
Zhong Lingxiu could not sit still anymore. After Wendao Peak, both the Saint Heir of Array Formation Sect and the Saint Heir of Qi Sect put pressure together, causing her to be put under house arrest by the sect and not allowed to leave.
However, she was ultimately her father’s daughter, and he would definitely side with her.
If her father was willing to take action, Li Xiaobai would be doomed!
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