“Is this matter true?”
“This disciple sent someone to investigate. She indeed entered the top twenty, there is no mistake.”
Zhao Chun, an Inner Sect disciple at the mid Qi Refining Stage, had climbed to the nineteenth rank among the sect's danger zones. Such a situation had not occurred in the True Spirit Sect for over a hundred years.
Thus, the news spread with extreme speed, becoming known throughout the entire sect within a single day and reaching the ears of Du Fanzhi. He dared not be careless and, after investigating to confirm, immediately informed Li Su.
“To think I misjudged. Is she a hidden gem?”
Because her spiritual root had a strange origin, Li Su had not paid much attention to the disciple named Zhao Chun. It wasn't just her; he had so many disciples under him, how could he possibly guide each one individually?
They all had to achieve Foundation Establishment before they would earn a bit of his favor and be brought under his tutelage for personal instruction. Although there were not many disciples in the sect who managed to get their names on the ranking list, there were always a few.
However, their achievements were all in the eighties or nineties, not very eye-catching. For Zhao Chun to achieve nineteenth in a single stroke surprised even Li Su. Du Fanzhi asked in a low voice, “Does this disciple need to make contact with her?”
“There's no rush for this matter.”
Li Su waved his hand and replied, “It will not be too late to make contact during the Dueling Assembly. In any case, she is under my tutelage. Since she possesses some ability, she might be of some assistance.”
“You just focus on organizing the assembly well. There is no need to concern yourself with anything else. When Zixun breaks through to the Core Formation stage, our great momentum will be established.”
His eldest disciple, Huo Zixun, was already at the peak of the late Foundation Establishment Stage. This time, he was in seclusion precisely to advance to the Core Formation stage. Once he succeeded, the master and disciple pair would both be in the Core Formation Stage, making them an absolute major power within the True Spirit Sect.
However, failing to obtain the Amethyst Spirit Branch was a great regret for him. He only knew that Chi Song had died, but not who had taken the treasure. Du Fanzhi understood the priorities.
He answered "yes" in a low voice, reported a few other miscellaneous matters of the Inner Sect, and then took his leave from his master, exiting the great hall. Unexpectedly, just as he stepped out of the hall's entrance, he came face to face with a woman with long eyebrows, phoenix eyes, and an unadorned face.
Du Fanzhi hurriedly said, “Senior Sister has arrived.” This woman was Li Su’s second personal disciple, Liu Xuan, also a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, second only to Huo Zixun among the disciples. She was often away from the sect and rarely returned, nor did she involve herself much in power struggles, being single-mindedly devoted to the Dao.
It was for this reason that Du Fanzhi had come into Li Su’s notice.
“Mm,” she nodded slightly, her voice gentle.
“I have returned to the sect this time precisely to pay my respects to Master.”
“As it should be. In that case, this junior brother will not disturb you and shall take his leave.”
Du Fanzhi took his leave as requested, but before he could move away, he heard Liu Xuan ask, “There has been a rumor in the sect recently, about an Inner Sect disciple who broke into the top twenty at the Threefold Stone Forest. Has Junior Brother heard of this?”
Du Fanzhi didn't know why she was interested in this matter, but he replied, “Senior Sister may not know yet, but this disciple is also under Master's tutelage, ranked nineteenth.”
“So she is a fellow disciple.”
Liu Xuan’s eyes widened slightly, a smile gracing her face.
“If that’s the case, I must find an opportunity to meet her.”
“That would be easy. This junior brother has set up a Dueling Assembly at the Round Drum Arena to decide the twenty who will go to the Hundred Sects Assembly. Junior Sister Nineteen will also be there. When the time comes, I will invite Senior Sister to be present in person.”
His words served as an invitation to Liu Xuan. Her status among the Inner Sect disciples was indeed extraordinary, and her presence would lend a certain degree of importance to the assembly. This matter might have been sparked by Zhao Chun, but she herself was unaware of it.
After breaking into the Sword Radiance Realm, she had returned to her residence and closed her door. She only knew that there were many discussions about her outside, but she had no idea that she had already become a semi-famous figure, causing many Inner Sect disciples to look at her with new eyes.
Furthermore, for getting on the ranking list, she also received five hundred Essence Stones from the sect. Although it wasn't a large amount, it could at least supplement her own needs. After cultivating diligently in her residence for over a month, her aura became even more stable and robust.
Zhao Chun lowered her gaze, feeling quite confident about the Dueling Assembly. With her current means, she had no fear of a Qi Refining Stage 7 disciple and might even be able to exchange a few moves with an eighth-layer one.
While Zhao Chun was cultivating, Cui Cui had also gathered information about the participants in the upcoming duel and reported it to her as if seeking praise. Among the four elders, aside from Qiu Jianying who had not taken any disciples, Li Su had nineteen disciples under his name, and including her, a total of eight would be participating.
Wu Yunzhang had three disciples, with one participating. The one with the most was Ge Xingchao, who had taken in over three hundred disciples, of which one hundred and fifty would be participating. In addition, there was the Sect Master's personal disciple, Zheng Chenqing, who had just broken through to the ninth layer of Qi Refining.
Zhao Chun had originally thought that Li Su already had many disciples, but she didn't expect Ge Xingchao to have three hundred under his tutelage. She later learned that there was a sect rule: after entering the Inner Sect, disciples with Dual Spirit Roots had to be taken in by an elder.
Qiu Jianying was still young and refused to take apprentices. Wu Yunzhang was obsessed with artifact forging and was also unwilling to accept disciples. Li Su was selective about his disciples; if not for Qiu Jianying’s words back then, he definitely would not have accepted Zhao Chun.
Therefore, only Ge Xingchao was left to accept a full house of disciples in accordance with the sect's regulations. A total of one hundred and sixty-two people were coming to the Dueling Assembly. Among them, the fifty-five in the late stage of Qi Refining were the focus of this battle.
There were even eight at the ninth layer of Qi Refining, who had virtually locked down half of the twenty spots. These disciples might have been surprised that Zhao Chun had made it to nineteenth on the ranking list, but they did not truly consider her an opponent.
She was merely at the sixth layer of Qi Refining, hardly worthy of their notice. The Dueling Assembly was set up at the Round Drum Arena. This place was beside the Heaven-Piercing River and was named after a huge, round stone embedded in the ground that resembled a large drum.
Those who came to this assembly were all disciples of the elders, possessing Dual Spirit Roots, and were seen as genius disciples by others. Therefore, aside from a few Inner Sect Foundation Establishment disciples who came to watch, many from the Outer Sect had also come.
However, without an invitation from Du Fanzhi, they could not be seated and could only gather in the outer circle of the Dao arena. Her three senior sisters and Zhou Pianran had also arrived. They had specifically requested leave today to come and cheer for Zhao Chun from below the stage.
Zhao Chun looked over and was surprised to see the Reception Deacon, Cao Wenguan, standing beside Cui Lan'e, whispering to her from time to time. They seemed to be extremely familiar. On the high pavilion, Meng Han and Xu Feng sat together.
After returning to the sect, he had received a message from Zhao Chun and learned that she had also returned, which finally put him at ease. He had come this time, one, at the invitation of Du Fanzhi, and two, for Zhao Chun. He had full confidence that she could win a spot for the Hundred Sects Assembly.
Du Fanzhi was seated in the main seat, with an empty seat beside him. Everyone was still wondering about it when a faint, rich fragrance drifted into the pavilion. A graceful woman walked in, and someone was heard exclaiming in surprise, “It’s actually Alchemist Liu!”
The elders' personal disciples were one tier, but what truly earned the admiration of the Inner Sect disciples was Liu Xuan’s exquisite alchemy skill. At such a young age, she was already a Yellow Grade Tier-3 Alchemist, capable of refining pills for Foundation Establishment cultivators.
If she were to advance to the Core Formation stage and become a Tier-2 alchemist, she could then concoct pills for the sect elders. The True Spirit Sect's path of alchemy had been in decline, and it had been a long time before someone like Liu Xuan appeared, so naturally, she was treasured in every way.
She nodded to the crowd in acknowledgment and slowly walked to her seat, smiling.
“I was delayed by opening the furnace today. I’ve made my fellow Daoists wait.”
The crowd below all said it was no matter. Then they saw Du Fanzhi raise his hand and say, “Senior Sister has arrived, let us begin immediately.” At these words, a disciple in charge of the bell received his signal and struck the large bronze bell on the high platform.
This was followed by the thunderous sound of two rows of large drums beating in unison. The spectators grew interested, raising their arms and shouting. The atmosphere instantly soared, causing the participating disciples’ blood to boil with excitement.
(End of this chapter)