14: Chapter 14 Cloud and Mist Canyon

On the afternoon of this day, Lin Xuan had just finished a round of practicing the Lightning Strike Technique, and a faint tingling sensation of electricity still remained on his fingertips when the courtyard gate was pushed open with a "bang." Chen Hao burst in, full of energy, his face filled with irrepressible excitement.

"Lin Xuan! Look!"

Without wasting any words, Chen Hao jumped directly into the center of the small courtyard, formed hand seals with both hands, and began chanting.

Suddenly, the aura of fire-attribute Spiritual Qi around him surged, and a crimson light rapidly gathered in his palms. In the blink of an eye, it condensed into a fist-sized, slightly trembling, crimson fireball that emitted a scorching heat!

"Go!" Chen Hao gave a low shout and flicked his wrist.

The crimson fireball shot out, accurately hitting the bowl-thick withered bamboo stake that Lin Xuan usually used to practice his Spells.

"Boom!"

With a muffled sound, the flames exploded. Wood chips flew from the withered bamboo stake, leaving it charred black. A bowl-sized burn crater appeared in the center, with flames still licking at the edges.

"Haha! How was that? Fireball Technique! I just mastered it!" Chen Hao withdrew his hand, smugly brushed the non-existent dust from his palms, and wore an expression that said, "Hurry up and praise me."

The aura around him was thicker than when they last met; clearly, after his Breakthrough to Level 1 Qi Refining, his cultivation was still steadily advancing.

"The power is impressive."

Lin Xuan praised him sincerely and walked over to examine the damage to the bamboo stake. The destructive power of this Fireball Technique was far stronger than his own currently crooked Lightning Strike Technique.

"Your control is also very precise."

"That's right!" Chen Hao chuckled, leaned in, and lowered his voice, "Let me tell you, the Senior Brother who teaches Spells at our Flame Peak said that the speed and power of my Fireball Technique are considered top-tier among the new Disciples! Hehe, it was worth all that secret extra training."

He suddenly remembered something and asked, "By the way, you should be starting to practice Spells too, right? Which one did you choose? Although the low-level Spells in the Dharma Transmission Pavilion of each Peak are the same, our Flame Peak recently collected a few new Spells with good power that haven't been uploaded to the main pavilion yet. Do you want me to help you copy them from Flame Peak?"

"Thanks, but no need for now." Lin Xuan shook his head. His fingertips moved slightly, and a faint, pale purple electric arc flashed by with a "crackling" sound. "I'm practicing the Lightning Strike Technique."

"Lightning Strike Technique?" Chen Hao's eyes lit up, but then he became a bit worried. "Lightning Spells are good and suitable for you, but I heard from a Senior Brother that they consume a lot of Spiritual Qi and are hard to master. Your Spiritual Qi..." He didn't finish, but his meaning was clear.

"Take it slow; I'll be able to master it eventually." Lin Xuan said in a calm tone, then changed the subject, "You were so excited when you came in just now; it wasn't just to show off your Fireball Technique, right?"

"Oh, right!" Chen Hao slapped his forehead. "Almost forgot the main business. I just came back from the Mission Hall and heard some definite news! In one year, the Sect will hold the 'Outer Sect Competition'!"

Seeing that Lin Xuan's expression remained unchanged, he assumed he didn't realize the importance and quickly explained, "This competition is no casual affair! Only new Disciples who joined within the last three years are allowed to participate, and the purpose is to unearth promising talent! I heard the rewards are very generous; the top twenty will get at least several dozen Spirit Stones, plus Medicinal Pills. Those with higher rankings might even be rewarded with Low Grade Magical Artifacts! More importantly, if you perform well, you could be noticed by the Elders of various Peaks or even the Peak Masters and receive key training!"

The more Chen Hao spoke, the more excited he became, gesturing wildly, "You know that guy Chen Yufei, right? Houtu Peak is treating him like a precious gem now, supplying him with resources without restriction. It's said he's already reached Qi Refining Level 2! In this competition, he's definitely aiming for the top ten, or even the top five! If he really gets a good ranking, he'll be even more arrogant among our batch of Disciples."

He looked at Lin Xuan and patted his shoulder hard, "Lin Xuan, although you started a bit slowly, don't be discouraged! You still have a year; Cultivate harder and sign up when the time comes! Even if you get eliminated in the first round, it's a chance to train, to spar with fellow Disciples, and to accumulate real combat experience! It's better than just burying your head in cultivation all the time!"

Lin Xuan listened, but he was thinking about something else entirely.

In one year, even if he tried his hardest to break through to Level 1 Qi Refining, his Spiritual Qi would at most just barely reach thirty-six strands, making him bottom-tier among those in the early Qi Refinement Stage.

As for those participating in the competition, geniuses like Chen Yufei were likely already at the Qi Refining Level 3, and there would definitely be no shortage of Disciples with High Grade or Medium Grade Spiritual Roots at Qi Refining Level 2.

With his meager cultivation and shallow Spells, going up there probably wouldn't be about "accumulating experience," but rather one-sided bullying and getting beaten up. Apart from exposing his pathetic background and attracting attention, it would be meaningless.

He had no intention of participating in the competition, but he didn't show it on his face, merely nodding, "Mm, I will consider it."

Chen Hao assumed he had taken it to heart and was very happy. He then added mysteriously, "There's another piece of news that I think you'll be even more interested in. In about half a year, the Sect will open the outer area of the 'Cloud Mist Valley,' allowing Disciples below Qi Refining Level 3 to go in and collect a few specified medicinal herbs. That place is much richer than the back mountain of our Emerald Bamboo Peak; it's said that you can even occasionally encounter Low Grade Level 1 Yao Beasts! Although it's a bit dangerous, the opportunities are also great!"

Cloud Mist Valley!

Lin Xuan's eyes flickered. This was indeed a more practical goal.

The competition was about fighting people; the valley was about fighting the heavens and fighting beasts.

Although the latter was equally dangerous, it was more covert and better suited for him to utilize the advantages of the spirit control tower and the Herb-Seeking Mouse.

If he could prepare in advance and gain something in the valley, it might greatly accelerate his cultivation speed.

He firmly memorized the name "Cloud Mist Valley."

The two chatted for a while longer, and Chen Hao brought up some things he had heard within the Sect.

"The territory of our Sanyang Sect is truly boundlessly large."

Chen Hao sighed, "One hundred and eight immortal Peaks, scattered like stars. I heard that some immortal Peaks are extremely far apart; if a Disciple in the Qi Refinement Stage relied solely on walking on two legs, it would take several months! Therefore, each Peak is actually like a small Sect, having its own General Affairs Hall, Mission Hall, Dharma Transmission Pavilion, and some superior immortal Peaks even have their own Pill Refining Room and Artifact Refining workshops!"

Only when one reaches the late Qi Refining stage and can fly on a Magical Artifact for a long time does traveling between the Peaks become convenient.

Although teleportation formations and flying Spirit Beasts are convenient, they require Spirit Stones and contribution points every time, which is simply too expensive, especially for Disciples like us who haven't been initiated for long."

Lin Xuan nodded; this matched what he had observed.

Although Emerald Bamboo Peak was remote and desolate, it had all the necessary basic facilities, but its scale and resources were far from comparable to superior immortal Peaks like Houtu Peak and Sharp Metal Peak.

"As for our Emerald Bamboo Peak, sigh,"

Chen Hao lowered his voice, "I heard the Senior Brothers discussing in private that among those one hundred and eight Peaks, it belongs to the lower-ranked 'inferior immortal Peaks.' The Spiritual Qi is thin, there are no special products, and the cultivation of the Disciples on the Peak is generally not high. It is said that our Peak Master is a great Cultivator in the 'False Core' Realm, but he has been in seclusion for years, and most of the Peak's affairs are handled by a few Elders in the Foundation Establishment Stage."

False Core Realm? Lin Xuan understood in his heart. The Golden Core Dao is extremely difficult.

After reaching the Peak of Foundation Establishment, if one is unable to condense a perfect Golden Core, some Cultivators will choose to take a shortcut, using special techniques or external objects to assist in condensing a flawed "False Core." Although it possesses some of the power of a Golden Core and extends one's Lifespan, their potential is exhausted, and there is no longer any possibility of truly forming a Golden Core.

A False Core Cultivator guarding an inferior immortal Peak is consistent with the structure of a Nascent Soul Sect like the Sanyang Sect.

"Inferior immortal Peaks also have their advantages." Chen Hao was optimistic, "The competition isn't so insane, and there aren't so many rules. In places like Houtu Peak or Sharp Metal Peak, Disciples fight tooth and nail for resources, and I've heard they even stab each other in the back. Here, although we are a bit poor, at least it's considered stable."

Stable? Lin Xuan thought of the two old Disciples in the back mountain who were arguing endlessly over a stalk of silver thread grass, and he remained noncommittal.

The scarcity of resources will breed conflict everywhere; it's just the form and intensity that differ.

After seeing off Chen Hao, who was still full of enthusiasm and daydreaming about the future competition and the trip to the valley, Lin Xuan returned to the Quiet Room.

Outside the window, the twilight deepened, and bamboo shadows danced.

He sat down cross-legged, but did not immediately Cultivate; instead, he thought quietly.

The Outer Sect Competition—the excitement belonged to others. The Cloud Mist Valley was perhaps the opportunity that belonged to him.

Half a year's time, half a year to prepare.

He needed a faster rate of improvement, stronger self-preservation capabilities, and more trump cards accumulated for the trip to the valley.

His gaze fell to the corner of the Quiet Room, where the withered bamboo stake used for practicing Spells was placed. Besides the charred marks from the Fireball, there were a few shallow, crooked scorch marks from his Lightning Strike.

He reached out, and a faint light gathered at his fingertips. A pale purple electric arc, slightly more solid than before, quietly danced.

The road is still long; take it one step at a time.