23: The race is over, the cenotaph is erected, and the mission is complete.

At this moment, inside the Kui Ling Hall of Little Bamboo Peak.

Li Yi was like an old monk in deep meditation; whatever the other Elders said had nothing to do with him.

Lü Yang, sitting beside Li Yi, was nervous to death.

He had staked his entire net worth; as long as Jiang Yan secured fourth place, he would earn the resources to Breakthrough to the Core Formation Realm.

“This Jiang Yan is a good talent. Although this Elder didn't win the bet, I want this Disciple.”

“Cut it out. What do you have to teach him? He'd be better off following me to practice Alchemy.”

“What's the damn use of Alchemy? You're just misleading the students. No matter what, I am a Disciple of Spirit Sword Peak; following me is the Righteous Path.”

...As these Elders argued back and forth, Elder Liu Feng, who was off to the side, hatched a wicked scheme.

After quietly leaving the Kui Ling Hall, he called over his Disciple, Liu Ruyan.

Liu Ruyan was very surprised to learn that Jiang Yan was already an Outer Sect Disciple, but she was secretly happy.

“Ruyan, he was once your husband in the mortal world. Since he has stepped onto the Immortal Path, you can renew your immortal connection. Find a way to win him over,” Liu Feng instructed.

“Yes, this Disciple will head to Hua Ling Peak now,” Liu Ruyan gave a respectful bow and then headed toward Hua Ling Peak.

In truth, Liu Ruyan was still very uneasy. After all, Jiang Yan had made a clean break with her, and she was the one who had proposed it.

And after entering the Sect, so many things had happened.

‘Sigh... Jiang Yan, I hope you can understand me.’

Watching Liu Ruyan's departing figure, Liu Feng stroked his beard and revealed a smug smile.

Upon Liu Feng's return to the Kui Ling Hall, Lü Yang leaned closer to Li Yi and asked, “Aren't you worried?”

“Why should I be worried?” Li Yi didn't even open his eyes; he merely revealed a smile and spoke in a flat tone, “Have you ever seen me fail?”

Lü Yang subconsciously shook his head, and then he understood.

On the competition stage.

Jiang Yan was locked in a bitter struggle this time because Ouyang Feng before him was true to his name—a complete madman.

If it weren't for Li Yi's order not to expose his true strength, he really would have wanted to hack the opponent to death.

“Kid, you're strong, but you lack Foundation and depth.” Ouyang Feng provoked Jiang Yan with words even as he made his Moves.

Jiang Yan took a step back and raised his hand, shouting, “Fine, you win. I admit defeat.”

“Haha, a wise Move!” Ouyang Feng said smugly.

But below the stage, Zhuang Yu frowned. He could see that Jiang Yan hadn't used his full strength at all.

“What's with this guy? Why lose on purpose?” Zhuang Yu wondered aloud.

“A loss is a loss. Why do there have to be so many reasons?” Yu Xian said resentfully.

Zhuang Yu ignored Yu Xian. In his view, this Jiang Yan was very strange, as if he were doing this intentionally.

“Alright, you don't need to go up. I'll go admit defeat. In a moment, I want to see which of you and Senior Brother Ouyang is actually stronger,” Yu Xian said before decisively jumping onto the stage.

As expected, he admitted defeat directly.

But Yu Xian didn't leave; after all, this match was to determine third and fourth place.

“Jiang Yan, get on the stage!” Yu Xian beckoned with his hand.

Jiang Yan was speechless; acting was exhausting, okay? ...As Wang Zheng announced the start, Jiang Yan and Yu Xian began to fight.

The two first tested each other with fists and kicks. As their fists collided, Jiang Yan and Yu Xian each took a step back.

“How is this possible? I'm a solid Qi Refining Level Two!”

Yu Xian was very surprised. He could feel that he had lost that exchange just now, as his hand was still numb.

“I was born with more strength than others, so my fists are a bit harder,” Jiang Yan said with a smile.

“You really do have some skill, then try my sword techniques!”

After Yu Xian spoke, he quickly drew his longsword. The moment he drew it, a sword chime rang in Jiang Yan's ears.

The piercing sword chime caused him to daze for a moment, and in that split second, Yu Xian had already charged over.

Jiang Yan defended unprepared and then retreated several steps consecutively before putting some distance between himself and Yu Xian.

‘What a strange sword technique.’

‘I almost really lost!’

“Not bad, to be able to block this Move,” Yu Xian said, his tone now serious and flat. “No wonder Shuang'er was no match for you; it seems your mental strength is superior to ordinary people.”

Jiang Yan knew that fighting like this, it would be hard to break that sword chime.

Suddenly, a smile appeared on his lips because he had finally thought of a way to break the deadlock.

Seeing that Jiang Yan could actually smile, Yu Xian instantly activated his sword chime Move.

“Roar!”

Just as Yu Xian was about to reach Jiang Yan, a sound wave Spell instantly shattered his sword chime.

“Pfft!”

Yu Xian muffled a groan and spat out a mouthful of blood. He never expected that Jiang Yan would know sound wave Spells.

That's right, this was Jiang Yan's Tiger Roar Sound Wave!

And just when Yu Xian felt there was no way to beat Jiang Yan, Jiang Yan suddenly raised his hand: “I admit defeat, my Spiritual Qi is exhausted!”

Huh?

Everyone was dumbfounded; this was a result no one had anticipated.

Spiritual Qi exhausted?

Just one Spell can exhaust all Spiritual Qi?

Jiang Yan didn't care what others thought; he turned and walked down the stage.

Wang Zheng and Gao Li glanced at each other and then nodded.

In their view, there was no problem at all; after all, it was normal to admit defeat when one's Spiritual Qi was exhausted.

Yu Xian, standing on the stage, was dazed. Had he just won like that? Why did it feel a bit unrealistic?

“You're really something, still faking it even now!” Ji Daofeng gave him a thumbs up.

“Sigh, I had no choice,” Jiang Yan said, spreading his hands helplessly.

“Can you tell me why?” Ji Daofeng pressed.

Jiang Yan looked seriously at Ji Daofeng: “A loss is a loss, why so many questions?”

“Fine, keep faking it. I'll see when you finally slip up,” Ji Daofeng curled his lip and turned his gaze back to the stage.

Jiang Yan didn't have much interest in the final match because he had long since guessed that Zhuang Yu would win.

And as he expected, by the tenth Move, Zhuang Yu's sword was against Ouyang Feng's chest.

With that, the Outer Sect Disciple Ranking Competition completely ended.

Jiang Yan's prize was very practical: one hundred Spirit Stones.

As for first place, it was a longsword Magical Artifact; second place was a defensive Magical Artifact; and third place was a Storage Pouch.

Just as Jiang Yan was about to leave, Liu Ruyan blocked his path.

“My Revered Master wants to take you as a Disciple,” Liu Ruyan said.

“Sorry, I'm waiting for the Outer Sect Disciple Apprenticeship Ceremony.” After refusing, Jiang Yan turned to leave.

“Don't you want to be with me anymore?” Liu Ruyan hurriedly asked.

Hearing Liu Ruyan's words, the hair on Jiang Yan's neck stood up, and he nearly stumbled.

“Liu Ruyan, you have no shame, but I still do! Please stay away from me in the future!” After tossing out those words, Jiang Yan vanished from before Liu Ruyan.

Leaving Hua Ling Peak, he didn't go to Spirit Beast Peak but instead returned to the Zayou Place.

Upon learning that Jiang Yan had secured fourth place, Steward Pang was immediately overjoyed, for he would no longer have to follow Li Chunsheng's whims.

But in the next moment, Steward Pang could no longer smile.

“Ma Zi is dead, killed by the Dagan Prince Zhou Ling. I've already avenged him.”

Steward Pang's expression turned bitter, and tears slowly flowed down: “It was I who harmed him. I shouldn't have given the spot to him.”

Jiang Yan patted Steward Pang's shoulder: “Take me to where Ma Zi lived. I want to set up a cenotaph for him.”

Steward Pang wiped his tears and nodded heavily, then led Jiang Yan toward the East Wing.

Ma Zi lived very simply; besides a few changes of clothes, there was nothing else.

Jiang Yan picked up these clothes, his heart feeling very heavy, for Ma Zi was the first person to be good to him after entering the Immortal Sect.

“Ma Zi, I hope in your next life, you can be reborn directly into a cultivation Family...”

After covering Ma Zi's cenotaph with soil, Jiang Yan and the others lit three sticks of incense for him.

As Jiang Yan and the others returned to the Zayou Place, Steward Pang seemed to remember something and said in a low voice, “Ma Yu and Zhao Qing have been expelled from the Sect. Before they left, they asked me to give these two Scripture Pavilion Tokens to you.”

Jiang Yan took the two Scripture Pavilion Tokens and asked, “They moved to the Market Town?”

Jiang Yan had heard Ma Yu mention that if one were expelled from the Sect or no longer wanted to be a Menial Servant, they could go to the Market Town to make a living.

“Yeah.” Steward Pang nodded. “I heard they joined the Joyful Tower.”

Jiang Yan felt there was nothing wrong with Ma Yu and Zhao Qing's choice.

After all, one could cultivate anywhere, and rather than staying in the Sect, it was better for them to go out and earn enough cultivation resources.

After packing his things, Jiang Yan bid farewell to everyone one by one and then headed to Spirit Beast Peak.

Inside the Animal Rearing Chamber, Jiang Yan sat by the window, reminiscing about his experiences over the past two months.

Li Yi wasn't there, so Steward Qian let Jiang Yan go in to rest.

After all, Jiang Yan was Li Yi's Disciple; as a steward, he didn't dare to say much.

“You're back quite early!”

“This Disciple did not fail Revered Master's instructions and has successfully completed the task.”