"What!"
Song Wuwen and Li Xuan, along with the other two, changed their expressions instantly. If Senior Brother Su Yueze's words were true, wouldn't all the disciples of the Seventh Peak have to participate?
Not only that, but to maintain the status of the Seventh Peak, one of their disciples had to enter the top ten in this disciple sparring competition. For a time, Song Wuwen and the others fell silent.
Li Xuan, who was not very familiar with the other peaks, pondered for a moment and then looked at Su Yueze, saying, "Senior Brother, with your strength, it shouldn't be difficult to enter the top ten, right?"
As soon as Li Xuan finished speaking, Chai Jingyuan, He Xidong, and Song Wuwen all smiled wryly and looked at Su Yueze with complex expressions.
"Fifth Junior Brother, to be honest, in the last disciple sparring competition, I ranked thirty-ninth. There's still quite a gap to the top ten," Su Yueze sighed slightly and lowered his head with a hint of self-reproach.
"Fifth Junior Brother, the disciple sparring competition back then wasn't as severe as this one. Senior Brother was just going through the motions, which is why he ranked thirty-ninth. If Senior Brother had gone all out, it wouldn't have been difficult to enter the top twenty. However, even so, the competition for the top ten is by no means easy."
"Moreover, the resources and spiritual energy concentration of the top six peaks are superior to ours on the Seventh Peak. After so many years, the disciples of the top six peaks have likely become even stronger."
Chai Jingyuan, seeing Su Yueze's expression, stepped forward and patted his shoulder. He looked at Li Xuan solemnly and said.
Li Xuan, after a moment of thought, understood. While the average strength of the Seventh Peak disciples was not weak, the sheer number of disciples was too few. Including himself, there were only five disciples.
The number of disciples from the top six peaks was hundreds of times that of the Seventh Peak. Selecting disciples to compete from such a large pool of students would be effortless, and naturally, those chosen would be of considerable strength.
"All of us disciples on the Seventh Peak are participating this time. The hope of entering the top ten is extremely slim. For the next three months, everyone should focus on closed-door cultivation with all their might. Hopefully, through this disciple sparring competition, the Sect Master can see the hardships faced by the disciples of the Seventh Peak. Perhaps, it might even be possible to preserve Master's elder status."
Su Yueze's gaze moved from Chai Jingyuan and the others, finally settling on Li Xuan.
"Senior Brother, in this disciple sparring competition, is it a free-for-all regardless of strength, or is it fought according to cultivation levels?" Li Xuan asked, seeing this.
Su Yueze was slightly taken aback, seemingly understanding the meaning behind Li Xuan's question. He pondered for a moment and replied, "Naturally, it's fought according to cultivation levels. Otherwise, if the disciples of the Third Peak teamed up, let alone us on the Seventh Peak, it's unlikely even disciples from other peaks would have a chance to enter the top ten."
A faint smile appeared on Li Xuan's face upon hearing this, and his expression became slightly resolute. "If that's the case, then Master Elder's position shouldn't be so easily stripped away."
Su Yueze's expression turned serious. "Fifth Junior Brother, although your three senior brothers and I have never witnessed your true strength, it's likely difficult to secure first place in your level."
Li Xuan nodded slightly. Disciples who broke through to the Free Realm in the Azure Hall must have encountered many opportunities, and their hidden trump cards would certainly not be weak. However, Li Xuan was absolutely confident in his own strength. If others had trump cards, why shouldn't he?
Furthermore, this matter concerned his Master's reputation, and Li Xuan would absolutely not allow his Master's reputation to be tarnished.
"Senior Brother, Second Senior Brother, Third Senior Brother, Fourth Senior Brother, please rest assured. This matter concerns Master's reputation, and as Master's fifth disciple, I, Li Xuan, bear no responsibility. If I didn't have some confidence, I wouldn't have said this. Senior Brothers, you can all rest easy."
"I originally thought it was a free-for-all, where I wouldn't have any chance to exert myself. But now that it's fought by cultivation level, I do have an opportunity. This battle, we can only win."
Li Xuan finished speaking, his eyes revealing a determined gaze.
Su Yueze and the others, upon hearing this, showed a hint of relief. Then, they all nodded in unison. "Since that's the case, we, as senior brothers, will not slack off either. Fifth Junior Brother, since you've stepped forward, we too will do our utmost!"
Li Xuan smiled and said with conviction, "In this battle, we will strive with all our might!"
Three months passed in the blink of an eye.
On this day, a thunderous roar echoed through the sky above the Seventh Peak. Subsequently, a multicolored rainbow, as if descending from the nine heavens, shot into the peaks of seven mountains.
Figures exuding powerful auras whistled through the air. Upon closer inspection, on each mountain peak, an elder stepped out first into the sky.
Among the seven figures, the elder at the end was none other than Luo Kang.
*Dong!*
As the seven figures appeared, a sonorous bell chime instantly resonated through heaven and earth. At this moment, Li Xuan, who was meditating by the spiritual waterfall, immediately opened his eyes.
As soon as he opened his eyes, Li Xuan saw the rainbow bridge in the sky. With a thought, he vanished.
"Greetings, Senior Brother, Second Senior Brother, Third Senior Brother, Fourth Senior Brother." Outside the spiritual waterfall, as Li Xuan appeared halfway up the back mountain, he saw Su Yueze and the other four already waiting. Li Xuan stepped forward and clasped his hands in greeting.
"Huh? Fifth Junior Brother, I see you're still at the advanced stage of the Free Realm, but you seem noticeably different from three months ago. It looks like you've put in a lot of effort during these past three months," Song Wuwen remarked, looking at Li Xuan with surprise.
Li Xuan smiled faintly and then looked at Song Wuwen and the other three, saying, "Aren't the four Senior Brothers the same? I'm sure your strength now is not comparable to what it was three months ago."
"Naturally. By the way, Fifth Junior Brother, do you have confidence in the Free Realm level?" Chai Jingyuan also smiled slightly and then asked Li Xuan.
Li Xuan slowly nodded. "While I don't have absolute confidence of winning the championship, entering the top ten should not be a problem."
As Li Xuan spoke, a powerful sense of confidence emanated from him.
Su Yueze and the other three were also delighted, and then they all nodded in unison and looked up at the sky.
"The disciple sparring competition begins now. Seven Peak supervising elders, lead your respective disciples to participate."
A deep voice echoed from above the Azure Hall.
In the vast sky, a phantom formed from the spiritual energy of the heavens and earth rapidly coalesced, eventually transforming into a tall middle-aged man floating amidst the clouds.
To the left and right of this middle-aged man, three figures appeared on each side.
The one in the center was the Sect Master of the Azure Hall, as well as the ruler of the Azure Firmament Continent, An Batian. The six figures flanking him were the peak masters of the front six peaks.
As An Batian's voice fell, Luo Kang also flew out from the Seventh Peak. In an instant, he arrived in front of Li Xuan and the other four.
"Cough, cough... are you all ready? Then let's go. Li Xuan, although I haven't had the chance to guide you much, as a disciple of the Seventh Peak, you cannot let down our Seventh Peak's reputation. However, do what you can. Let's go."
Luo Kang naturally noticed the gazes of Song Wuwen and the others. He coughed lightly and then slowly spoke.
"Your disciple obeys." Li Xuan bowed and replied.
Song Wuwen and the other four also withdrew their gazes and looked at Luo Kang in unison.
Luo Kang nodded slightly, then waved his hand, and a surge of immense spiritual energy flowed towards Li Xuan and the others. With a flash of light, the six of them vanished from their original positions.
As the spiritual light dissipated, Li Xuan found himself and his senior brothers appearing in the mid-air above the seven peaks.
Li Xuan surveyed his surroundings and the desolation of the Seventh Peak was starkly evident.
Above each mountain peak, participating disciples were present. Each peak had nearly a hundred disciples. Only above the Seventh Peak, there were only the six of them.
"This looks a bit sparse," Li Xuan mused. Just as he was about to observe the strength of other disciples, he felt a scrutinizing gaze upon him. With a thought, he shot towards the source of the sensation.
Li Xuan glanced and his expression turned slightly grave. This gaze came from above the Third Peak.
And the person was none other than Qiu Shaolong, with whom Li Xuan had a previous grievance in the marketplace. Seeing the smug look in Qiu Shaolong's eyes, Li Xuan pouted and withdrew his gaze, no longer looking at Qiu Shaolong.
"Let's begin," a moment later, An Batian spoke slowly among the seven powerful figures in the sky.
In mid-air, a figure shot out.
"Seven peaks, each sending a hundred disciples to compete. Now, let's begin the groupings!"