110: Song Qing

Instructor Lin sighed, feeling quite puzzled.

In his opinion, recruitment trials like this were merely the most insignificant method for the Crimson Flame Sect's Inner Sect to recruit new members. Their more important function was to provide Outer Sect Disciples with a goal, like a carrot, giving them something to look forward to, helping them settle down, and preventing them from feeling lost.

Therefore, whether the rules changed or not was completely unimportant. The simpler, the better; the easier to understand, the more it could ignite the fighting spirit of those who yearned to become Inner Sect Disciples.

As they spoke, several registration Disciples arrived in front of the arena, calling out for the participating Disciples to register. In just a moment, two long lines had formed.

In previous years' minor competitions, only a few dozen people entered the third round. But this year, Han Yi looked at the Outer Sect Disciples coming and going, and there were probably over a hundred people.

"Oh right, Han Yi, I heard that Song Qing from the Song Family also entered the third round of the competition..."

Before leaving to line up, Li Tie quietly said to Han Yi.

Song Qing?

Han Yi frowned. Wasn't that kid demoted to a Mining Disciple and undergoing labor reform at the Mining Camp?

But then, Han Yi had another thought: the Sect's minor competition was open to all Outer Sect Disciples. Although Song Qing was a Mining Disciple, if he registered, then went through the first and second rounds of selection, and then passed the third round of competition to become an Inner Sect Disciple again, the entire process would be reasonable and nobody could find fault with it.

Perhaps some people would even praise Song Qing for his resolute character, saying that even after becoming a Mining Disciple, he didn't get discouraged and continued to Cultivate, striving for progress.

But Han Yi could guess with his toes that after Song Qing became a Mining Disciple, given his status as a direct descendant of the Song Family, he would undoubtedly still throw his weight around. Even the so-called first and second rounds were probably just a formality.

What's more, Song Qing himself was a Martial Artist at the late Refining Bone Stage, close to the Lianxue Stage. As a scion of a noble family, his weapons, elixirs, and Cultivation Techniques were all top-grade. Among the Outer Sect Disciples, probably very few were his match...

Thinking of this, Han Yi couldn't help but sigh. With that kid Song Qing's character, if he became an Inner Sect Disciple, he would definitely come looking for trouble with him. There was no good solution for Elder Li's matter, and unexpectedly, this complication with Song Qing popped up again...

"All Disciples, quiet!"

As the crowd grew, Inner Sect Disciples gradually arrived to maintain order.

Han Yi also prepared to go to the spectator stand nearby to sit for a while and wait for the minor competition to begin.

"Han Yi!"

Han Yi looked over at the sound and saw Pan Sheng walking towards him, dressed in grey-black leather armor with crimson patterns on the hem, holding a long saber, looking like a patrolling Disciple.

"What's this?"

"Haha, how's this leather armor? Isn't it super cool?"

Having been in contact with Han Yi for a long time, Pan Sheng had also learned a few new words from Han Yi.

"For this Sect minor competition, the hall wants me to be responsible for maintaining order. It's really too boring. My poor little Miss Hong will have to sleep alone..."

Pan Sheng pouted and said somewhat helplessly.

"Senior Brother Pan, maintaining order is a bit boring, but your little Miss Hong might not necessarily be sleeping alone~"

Han Yi's lips curved up as he said with a mischievous smile.

"Get lost, you guy who ruins the sincere love between me and little Hong..."

"Oh right, Senior Brother Pan, I heard that the rules for this Sect minor competition have changed. Do you have any inside information?"

Han Yi leaned closer and asked with a grin.

"I heard that the Sect seems to have increased the number of Inner Sect Disciple spots this time and will be using a 'arena challenge' method..."

As a Disciple of the Outer Affairs Hall, Pan Sheng had indeed heard some rumors.

"But what does that have to do with you? Just sit obediently in the spectator stand, and after the minor competition ends, enter the Sect with the winners!"

Pan Sheng rolled his eyes. Minor competitions like this were held by the Outer Affairs Hall once a year, and he had seen them many times. They were completely meaningless. It was just a bunch of Outer Sect Disciples at the Skin Refinement and Refining Bone Stages pecking at each other like chickens.

Moreover, the Sect's minor competition was only taken seriously by the Outer Sect Disciples. Within the Crimson Flame Sect, the minor competition was never given much thought. Just like the current square, although people were coming and going and it looked extremely lively, very few of the Sect's true higher-ups would show up.

At most, a few idle Elders from the Outer Affairs Hall or the Law Enforcement Hall would come to watch and register the identities of the newly admitted Disciples.

What truly garnered the attention of the Crimson Flame Sect's top brass was the Sect's grand competition held every three years!

The outcome of the Sect's grand competition determined the redistribution of interests among the various halls, such as territory, crimson blood tiger meat, and other important cultivation resources. It was said that during the grand competition, even the Sect Leader, who was usually nowhere to be seen, would appear!

"But, Senior Brother Pan, I heard that kid Song Qing participated in this recruitment trial and even entered the third round!"

Han Yi lowered his head and said in a hushed voice.

When Song Qing was in the guard team, he not only had a bad relationship with Han Yi but also had many conflicts with others in their Ninth Squad.

"Song Qing?"

After hearing this, Pan Sheng revealed a strange smile and said mysteriously, "Junior Brother Han, I forgot to tell you, do you know the mission of Li Feng, Senior Brother Li, in this minor competition?"

At this moment, he was swaying around, circling the area. For a while, he slowly stopped speaking, seemingly stretching his muscles after standing for a long time.

Han Yi was still waiting for Pan Sheng to speak, but seeing the half-smile on his face, he just wouldn't say anything.

At this point, Han Yi knew the reason. Pan Sheng was open-hearted and generous, and quite loyal to his friends, but he had one flaw: he liked to keep people in suspense.

So, Han Yi didn't press further. He just stood there, arms crossed over his chest, looking as if he were contemplating what to eat for lunch, neither anxious nor impatient.

Having known Pan Sheng for so long, he already knew that this kid's biggest wicked pleasure was leisurely waiting for others to press him for information.

After others pressed him, he would still slowly not speak, just wanting to see them look desperately anxious.

The more anxious others were, the happier he was. It could be said that he was quite malicious.

But it didn't matter, Han Yi already knew how to deal with Pan Sheng's wicked preferences...

That was, ignore him!

As expected, after waiting for a while, Pan Sheng looked left and right, circled around several times, but still didn't get Han Yi to ask. Instead, he himself started scratching his ears and cheeks.

"Ah, just now I suddenly forgot what Senior Brother Li was going to do. He just told me, and I forgot. I'm really getting old, my brain isn't working well. I was thinking for a long time just now, and now I finally remembered..." Pan Sheng sighed deeply, pretending to naturally continue what he had said before.