113: Competition

"Yo, Liu Yishou, you've participated in the Sect's minor competition five times already. If you ask me, you should just wash up and go to sleep. Change your name to Liu Liushou and stop making a fuss here!"

This Liu Yishou seemed to be a regular participant in the Sect's minor competition; a Disciple who knew him mocked.

"Hmph, don't you know that great squares have no corners, and great talents mature late? I, Liu Yishou, am destined for great achievements..."

"Silence!"

Elder Li roared, instantly overpowering the noisy chatter of the Disciples. The high platform hummed continuously, making everyone's eardrums ache.

"This year's rules were personally set by the Sect Lord, so there is naturally no falsehood!"

Elder Li cupped his hands towards the east, first bowing, and then spoke again: "This year's third round is called 'Contesting the Arena'!"

"The rules are also simple. Do you see these ten competition high platforms? Anyone can voluntarily go up to the arena and compete to become the arena master. Once you become the arena master, as long as you stay on the high platform for the time it takes an incense stick to burn, you can become an Inner Sect Disciple!"

"Furthermore, for the first ten arena masters who successfully advance, the Sect will issue Breakthrough pills such as 'Essence Tempering Pill', 'Blood Transformation Pill', and even 'Qi and Blood Pill' based on cultivation!"

"And among all the arena masters, those who perform exceptionally well will receive special attention from the Sect and will receive extra care from the Sect when assigning tasks!"

Instantly, below the high platform, the crowd that had just calmed down became agitated again. However, this time Elder Li did not stop them.

Because at first, when he saw these rules, he was also surprised for a while, but later, after thinking of a plan the Sect had, he understood the significance of changing the rules for this year's Sect's minor competition.

After a long while, the Outer Sect Disciples finally quieted down, and Elder Li continued to explain the rules.

"Of course, within the time it takes an incense stick to burn, others can go up to challenge the arena master, but they can challenge a maximum of three times. In other words, as long as the arena master wins three times, or stays on the platform for the time it takes an incense stick to burn, they can advance!"

"In addition, challengers who go on stage must decide the winner within a quarter of an hour. If a quarter of an hour is up, the arena master wins. If anyone deliberately drags out the time, both parties will lose their competition qualification!"

"When one party voluntarily admits defeat, or after a quarter of an hour is up, the arena contest ends!"

"One last point: during competition among fellow Disciples, severely endangering another person's life is strictly forbidden. Those who violate this will lose their competition qualification!"

After hearing Elder Li's words, Han Yi looked at the Outer Sect Disciples below the high platform with a hint of sympathy.

'The rules set by these old fellows are truly strict... not giving anyone a loophole to exploit...'

'And saying that severely harming another person's life is strictly forbidden sounds nice, but injuring or crippling should not be considered harming life. In other words, as long as the opponent doesn't admit defeat and no one is killed, any means can be used...'

At this moment, below the high platform, many Disciples' eyes flickered with sharp light, seemingly having also thought of this point.

"May I ask Elder Li, what happens if the arena master fails...?"

A quick-witted Disciple bravely asked.

"Good question!"

Elder Li shouted, then revealed his chilling white teeth, and sneered: "Since being an arena master has many benefits, if the arena master fails, they naturally lose their competition qualification! Come again next year!"

"Among the Disciples, if there are any who fear injury and dare not go on stage to contest the arena, then there is no need for them to serve the Crimson Flame Sect anymore. Our Crimson Flame Sect does not need cowards and weaklings!"

The Disciples' hearts trembled. The Sect was forcing everyone to go on stage and fight! The rewards were so generous, but they had to fight for them with their lives!

Indeed, there is no such thing as a free lunch in the world!

"Furthermore, challengers can challenge the arena master unlimited times. Even if they fail, they can challenge again. If a Disciple can win ten times as a challenger, they can also advance to become an Inner Sect Disciple..."

Elder Li added a few more sentences, speaking slowly. This was just a supplementary rule, and clearly, Elder Li didn't think anyone could achieve this.

After all, if you can defeat the arena master ten times, why be a challenger?

"Alright, that's all there is to say. I hope all Disciples will strive forward bravely and not fear strong enemies!"

"The Sect's minor competition, begin!"

As soon as Elder Li finished speaking, from the crowd, a man wearing a lake-blue robe, with a green longsword at his waist, and a sinister face, unfolded his movement technique and instantly appeared on the competition high platform at an extremely fast speed.

Swish!

Immediately, countless eyes looked over. Han Yi also looked over, his eyes narrowing.

"This, could it be the one who was rumored to have deserted in battle, left his companions behind, and fled alone a while ago?"

"Hmph, isn't it him? The Young Master of the Song Family. I heard he was demoted to a Mining Disciple. Tsk tsk, look at his fair appearance, he definitely hasn't been in the mines! I don't know how he got into the third round!"

"Shhh, this Song Qing is a Refining Bone Stage Martial Artist. He has pills, various medicinal supplements, and various high-level martial arts techniques. His strength is formidable. Isn't it simple for him to win in the first and second rounds? I think he can easily advance in this third round too. With his father here, looking at the Buddha's face rather than the monk's... who would dare go up and fight him!"

Below the arena, upon seeing Song Qing, everyone discussed amongst themselves, secretly despising Song Qing's petty behavior.

Of course, as Outer Sect Disciples, they also knew their place. Regardless, this Song Qing was considered top-tier in strength among the Outer Sect. No one was willing to chew on this tough bone.

'This Song Qing, in the Outer Sect, what kind of high-level pill did he take? How did he become a Lianxue Stage Martial Artist so quickly?'

Han Yi's eyes flickered, his heart filled with suspicion. He remembered that when he was performing an escort mission in the Outer Sect before, even with full equipment, Song Qing's overall strength was only around 50. But now, when he looked just now, Song Qing's overall strength floating above his head had actually become '58~65', having become a Lianxue Stage Martial Artist!

Don't look at how Han Yi was able to break through from the Refining Bone Stage to become a Refining Blood Martial Artist in just a few months; he was able to achieve such results through the System's attribute points.

According to his understanding, for a major Realm Breakthrough like from the Refining Bone Stage to the Lianxue Stage, even with the help of 'Essence Tempering Pill' and 'Blood Transformation Pill', it would take several years at most, and at least seven or eight months of refinement.

But now, in just a short month, Song Qing was able to break through to the Lianxue Stage, which made Han Yi's imagination run wild.

Perhaps, it was Song Qing's father, Elder Song, who found high-level pills and used the power of money...

Han Yi no longer paid attention to this. Anyway, no matter how Song Qing cultivated, he was no match for him!