104: Chapter 104 The Combat Strength of Each Sect

When almost everyone had arrived, Manager Qin walked out from the back hall.

He still had that same lean appearance, but today, his expression was exceptionally solemn.

He walked to the main seat and sat down, his gaze sweeping across the crowd in the hall before he spoke slowly.

"The Sect Master arranged for me to handle this matter, and almost everyone is here."

"I called you here today because there is an important matter."

The crowd quieted down, waiting for him to continue.

"In one month, the major Sects of Yun Province will hold a Qi Refining Stage Disciple Exchange Meeting in Qinglan City."

Manager Qin said.

"At that time, all the major Sects within the Qingzhou Prefecture will participate. There will be martial arts sparring and Dao discussions. Those with outstanding performance can obtain rewards such as foundation establishment pills."

foundation establishment pill.

As soon as these words were spoken, a commotion immediately broke out in the hall.

The foundation establishment pill was a treasure that Qi Refining Stage Disciples dreamed of.

A single foundation establishment pill could increase the chance of a Foundation Establishment Breakthrough by thirty percent.

Many Disciples at the Qi Refining Stage Peak were stuck at a Bottleneck for years simply because they lacked a foundation establishment pill.

"Quiet."

Manager Qin raised his hand to suppress the sounds of discussion.

"The Sect will select the best candidates to participate in the Exchange Meeting."

"Some of you may have already heard that for this Exchange Meeting, every faction will send their strongest Disciples. You must be mentally prepared."

He took a list out from his robes.

"I have a list here, mainly of the famous individuals from each Sect; it's much more complete and detailed than the rumors you've heard."

He began reading from it.

"Jinyang Sect: Two senior Disciples at the Qi Refining Level 9 Peak."

"'Iron Sword' Chen Yuanba and 'Ice Sword' Liu Ruyan; Zhou Yuan at the Qi Refining Level 9 Middle Stage; and Lin Jingyun at the Qi Refining Level 9 Early Stage."

Chen Yuanba. Liu Ruyan.

Everyone present had heard of these two names.

They were the pillars of the Jinyang Sect's outer Sect, rumored to be half-step Foundation Establishment figures who could achieve a Breakthrough at any time.

Zhou Yuan was also a formidable opponent in this Exchange Meeting, being at the Qi Refining Level 9 Middle Stage with sharp sword techniques.

Lin Jingyun, on the other hand, was an acquaintance; having dealt with him in the Secret Realm last time, he was someone worth befriending.

Manager Qin continued reading:

"Medicine King Valley: They have abundant Medicinal Pills, and their Disciples' cultivation is generally high."

"They have three Disciples at the Qi Refining Level 9 Peak, led by 'Pill Obsessive' Yun Yifei. This person is obsessed with the Dao of Alchemy, but his cultivation is extremely high and should not be underestimated."

The most headache-inducing thing about the people from Medicine King Valley wasn't their cultivation, but the countless Medicinal Pills they carried.

If they couldn't win, they'd pop pills; after popping pills, they'd keep fighting. It was practically cheating.

"Qingxin Pavilion: All female Disciples, all at the Qi Refining Level 9 Late Stage."

"Leading them is 'Pure Heart Sword' Su Qianxue, whose sword techniques are superb; it's said she already has the prototype of Sword Intent."

"The female Disciples of Qingxin Pavilion are all beautiful, but do not be fooled by their appearances."

At this point, many male Disciples began to snicker.

Manager Qin glanced below and then continued.

"That 'Pure Heart Sword' Su Qianxue is said to have once, with a single sword, challenged an evil minor Sect alone and left behind a river of blood."

The Disciples who were snickering earlier tightened their expressions and instantly became serious.

Having read to this point, Manager Qin also paused.

Suddenly, his tone became heavy:

"Blood Fiend Sect: The most dangerous figure—'Blood Butcher' Li Sha at the Qi Refining Level 9 Peak."

"This man has over a hundred lives on his hands; he is ruthless and his methods are cruel. There is also Xu Sen at the Qi Refining Level 9 Early Stage."

Blood Butcher Li Sha.

As soon as this name came out, the temperature in the hall seemed to drop by a few degrees.

Li Changsheng's eyes narrowed slightly.

Li Sha.

Qi Refining Level 9 Peak.

Over a hundred lives.

Xu Sen was coming too.

The man he had wounded with a single sword strike in the Secret Realm had now also broken through to the ninth level of Qi Refining.

The people from the Blood Fiend Sect were indeed coming.

Manager Qin looked at everyone's reaction, sighed, and continued:

"As for our Qinglan Sword Sect..."

He paused, seemingly weighing his words.

"Within our Sect, several Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters at the Qi Refining Level 9 Peak are in seclusion attempting to reach Foundation Establishment and cannot participate. Therefore, the strongest combat power we can send this time..."

He looked at Mo Han: "Mo Han, Qi Refining Level 9 Late Stage."

He then looked at Lu Yu and Li Changsheng: "Lu Yu, Qi Refining Level 9 Middle Stage; Li Changsheng, Qi Refining Level 9 Early Stage."

Then he looked at the others.

"And the rest of you are mostly at the eighth level of Qi Refining. When the time comes, we will look at the selection results and choose the best to participate."

The hall fell into a silence.

There were several opponents at the Qi Refining Level 9 Peak.

On their side, the strongest was only at the Qi Refining Level 9 Late Stage. This gap was not small.

"What, are you scared?"

Manager Qin suddenly smiled.

"Scared of what? Does a higher cultivation level guarantee a win? If that were the case, why bother with a martial arts competition? We could just report our cultivation levels and be done with it."

He stood up, his gaze sweeping over everyone:

"Remember, in a martial arts competition, what is compared is not just cultivation, but also experience, Heart-Nature, courage, and luck."

"None of you reached where you are today in the Qinglan Sword Sect by luck alone."

"Show your skills and let those people see that the Disciples of the Qinglan Sword Sect are not to be bullied."

These words were heartening, and fighting spirit ignited in the eyes of several young Disciples.

Manager Qin gave a few more instructions regarding things to note and then dismissed the crowd.

As they walked out of the discussion hall, Li Changsheng was called out to by Mo Han.

"Li Changsheng."

Li Changsheng turned back to look at this cold and stern young man.

Mo Han walked up to him, sized him up for a few moments, and suddenly said, "You are stronger than I imagined."

Li Changsheng did not speak.

Mo Han continued.

"I heard about you while I was in seclusion."

"Coming from the General Affairs Hall, you went from Qi Refining Level 1 to Level 9 in just over three years after entering the Qinglan Sword Sect."

"Some also say that a year ago, you killed a member of the Blood Fiend Sect at the eighth level of Qi Refining in the Secret Realm."

He looked at Li Changsheng with a sharp gaze.

"I don't fully believe what those people say. But I believe one thing: you are a person of ability."

Li Changsheng was silent for a moment before saying,

"Senior Brother Mo overpraises me."

Mo Han shook his head.

"It's not overpraise. During the Exchange Meeting, we might have to fight side by side. At that time, don't drag us down."

After saying that, he turned and left.

Li Changsheng stood there, watching his back.

Li Changqing walked over and asked in a low voice,

"What did he mean by that?"

Li Changsheng thought for a bit and said,

"Probably... it was recognition."

Li Changqing smiled.

"That's rare."

"I've heard that Mo Han is famously arrogant. There aren't many people who can get his recognition."

Li Changsheng said nothing, only looking into the distance.

Blood Fiend Sect.

Li Sha.

Xu Sen.

And those opponents at the Qi Refining Level 9 Peak.

The Exchange Meeting in a month's time was destined not to be peaceful.

Time passed quickly.

Three days before the Exchange Meeting, Qinglan City welcomed its liveliest moment of the year.

This city, built against the mountains, usually had a permanent population of only twenty to thirty thousand, with most people being transient traders.

Now, however, it surpassed the past, as the entire city was packed with Cultivators who had rushed there from all over Yun Province.

People came and went on the streets, and various accents intertwined.

The sounds of hawking, bargaining, and acquaintances greeting each other rose and fell.

Tea houses and restaurants were fully occupied, inns and guesthouses were packed, and even the open ground outside the city was filled with temporary tents.

The team from the Qinglan Sword Sect arrived at noon.

A cyan flying boat flew slowly from the direction of the Qinglan Mountains and landed at the city gate.

Li Changsheng followed the crowd off the boat and stepped onto this legendary city for the first time.

Qinglan City was much larger than he had imagined.

The city walls were over ten zhang high and built entirely of massive cyan-gray stones, covered in dense runes that emitted faint ripples of spiritual power.

The gate tower was five stories high, with upturned eaves and bracket sets, looking magnificent and imposing.

Two teams of armored guards stood at the city gate, each with a strong Aura; the leader was actually a Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator.

"This is Qinglan City."

For this Exchange Meeting, Elder Zhang led the team, and he spoke up.

"A place co-managed by the five major Sects of Yun Province, and also the venue for this Exchange Meeting."

"Everyone keep up, don't wander off."

Everyone responded and followed Elder Zhang into the city.