This humble Taoist priest, Qianhe, begins his quest for immortality by slaying demons and monsters.

Chapter 17 Shi Jian's Arrogance, Zhong Bai's Formidable Strength

This year's Maoshan competition was exceptionally grand. When Zhong Bai arrived at the arena, it was just as Ming Wanqian was announcing the rules.

"The rules for this competition are very simple: whoever stands on the five fighting platforms until the very end will be among the top five in this competition!"

Disciples under the age of thirty are welcome to participate!

Yes, that's right. This time, Maoshan doesn't intend to determine who is first or second. They only want the five disciples who can persevere to the end.

In such a title defense match, luck is almost impossible to play a role in.

As Ming Wanqian finished speaking, a young man dressed in a Yin-Yang Daoist robe, with his hair tied up and wearing a crown, slowly stepped forward from the crowd.

"This humble Taoist priest is Shi Jian. I humbly request guidance from my fellow disciples!"

Standing on the first dueling platform, Shi Jian stared intently at his fellow disciples below, while simultaneously releasing the aura of a peak fourth-level Qi Refining cultivator.

As bolts of lightning inadvertently emanated from his body, everyone felt an intense sense of oppression!

Even Zhong Bai had to admit that Shi Jian, the future Thunder King, was beginning to show his talent.

"Peak of the fourth level of Qi Refining, and minor mastery of the Lightning Thunder Fist, tsk tsk tsk, as expected of you, Shi Jian. If it weren't for my cheat code, I would truly only be able to look up to you from now on..."

After a moment of reflection, Zhong Bai was somewhat tempted, now that Shi Jian had already occupied the first dueling platform.

Moreover, judging from their posture, they are determined to seize it without hesitation, which would be extremely difficult.
When it came time to offer further guidance, Shi Jian's gaze swept around the room before settling on the disciples of the Talisman Hall.

To be precise, it landed on Lin Fengjiao, who was also at the fourth level of Qi Refining.

Thirty years old is a threshold. Although there are disciples older than Shi Jian and the others who participated this time, most of them are outer disciples and their cultivation level is at most the third level of Qi Refining.

It hasn't even reached the third level of Qi Refining yet...

Therefore, the top five spots are almost certainly destined to belong to the direct disciples of each hall.

Taking a deep breath, Lin Fengjiao frowned. Deep down, she didn't really want to compete with Shi Jian, but the other man's gaze was too provocative.

They're all around twenty years old, so who can truly suppress their arrogance?
Moreover, Lin Fengjiao still vividly remembers Shi Jian's disdain for the Talisman Hall.

"Calm down, control yourself!"

This competition isn't about determining who's better than Shi Jian, but about earning the qualification to go down the mountain to eliminate demons and protect the righteous path. Lin Fengjiao, you can do it…”

After taking a deep breath, Lin Fengjiao relaxed her brows and eyes. Without the slightest hesitation, she tiptoed and used the Bagua Youlong Step to easily step onto the second dueling platform.

Seeing that Lin Fengjiao did not choose to compete with him on the same fighting stage, Shi Jian's domineering expression disappeared, replaced by regret.

Shi Jiantai wanted to prove himself, to prove that his talent could surpass Lin Fengjiao's, and to prove that he was the number one disciple of this generation!

Unfortunately, Lin Fengjiao did not give him that chance.

Seeing that Lin Fengjiao had occupied the second arena, Zhong Bai stopped waiting. He had waited a year and finally had this opportunity. If he didn't seize it now, would he really want to fight someone else?
In an instant, a flash of lightning streaked across the sky. Before any of the disciples could react, Zhong Bai had already used his lightning escape technique to arrive at the third dueling platform.

With a series of crackling sounds, followed by the resounding of bones and muscles, and the terrifying surging of blood and qi, coupled with the occasional flashes of lightning, Zhong Bai truly made all his fellow disciples realize the difference between them!

On a high platform in the distance.

This was the viewing area for the elders to watch the competition. They found it unsurprising and nothing unusual about the sense of pressure that Shi Jian and Lin Fengjiao, who were of the same age, displayed.

But... the moment Zhong Bai, this nobody, stepped onto the stage, their blood and qi surged, and they noticed something different.

"Good heavens, Senior Brother Qian Yuan, that's not fair of you!"

"Tsk tsk tsk, Junior Nephew Zhong Bai has only been practicing for less than five years, and already possesses the cultivation of the third level of Qi Refining. That's one thing; one could assume it's just the early stage effect of the Divine Firmament Five Thunder Technique. But Senior Brother Qian Yuan has truly hidden the strength of his perfected Thunder Escape Technique and the Qi and blood of his perfected Upper Clarity Body Tempering Technique!"

“Indeed, Junior Brother Changsheng is absolutely right. Senior Brother Qianyuan just said that it was a stroke of luck for Junior Nephew Zhong Bai to make it into the top five. Hehe, now it seems that even though my disciple Lin Fengjiao has already reached the fourth level of Qi Refining, she is probably no match for Junior Nephew Zhong Bai!”

Lin Fengjiao's master from the Talisman Hall delivered the finishing blow.

Immediately afterwards, the other elders all looked at True Person Qian Yuan with strange expressions.

Everyone says that a disciple reflects his master, but Zhong Bai's true character was so well hidden that if it weren't for the grand competition, they wouldn't have been able to see through him at all.

So... does Master Qian Yuan also have a secret weapon up his sleeve?
Feeling the suspicious gazes of his fellow disciples, Master Qian Yuan felt as if the sky had fallen.

Honestly, he had no idea when Zhong Bai had mastered the Thunder Escape Technique or the Shangqing Body Tempering Technique; Zhong Bai had never mentioned these to him.

As for whether he had a hidden skill, Master Qian Yuan couldn't deny it, because he truly did hold something back...

"Ahem, Junior Brother Changsheng, Junior Brother Lin, what are you saying? I have been in charge of the Law Enforcement Hall for decades. When have I ever hidden anything from you two junior brothers?"

"Senior brother doesn't know about Zhong Bai's situation either. As for the rest, let's wait and see what happens in the competition..."

Forcibly circumventing the topic, everyone shifted their gaze to the dueling platform upon hearing about the competition.

......................................................

"Junior Brother Zhong Bai, I never imagined such a tremendous change could happen in just one year. Fine, I'll give you the third arena, and I'll go and fight for the fourth one!"

Having said that, Si Mu lightly leaped onto the fourth dueling platform, revealing the aura of the third level of Qi Refining. Si Mu was also ready to summon a deity to possess him at any moment!

Seeing that only the last arena remained unclaimed, just as everyone was about to scramble for it, a woman from the Talisman Hall quickly stepped onto the stage.

This person is none other than Lin Fengjiao's junior sister, Zhe Gu.

However, they are not the same master. Zhe Gu's master is Huang Zhen, the third elder of the Talisman Hall.

Upon seeing Aunt Zhe step onto the stage, the disciples' faces immediately turned ugly. Aunt Zhe's strength was only average; she was just an ordinary Qi Refining Level 3 cultivator.

However... after all, Zhe Gu is a woman, and they all come from Maoshan. They simply couldn't bring themselves to compete with Zhe Gu for the dueling platform.

Therefore... everyone's eyes fell on Zhong Bai and Simu!
To be precise, most of the attention was focused on Si Mu. Although summoning a deity to possess him was extraordinary, at least there was still a chance to try.

As for the three ahead of them, Shi Jian and Lin Fengjiao were not even worth considering, as their cultivation levels far surpassed theirs.

Zhong Bai's mastery of thunder magic is considerable, and his qi and blood are overwhelming; it's clear to anyone with eyes that he's not someone to be trifled with.

Therefore, although some people had designs on him, there weren't many.

Five people occupied the dueling platform, and the next step was to fight for the last incense stick.

Everyone was giving it their all, even Zhong Bai and the others dared not let their guard down, after all, it was not impossible to capsize in a ditch.

"Junior Brother Four Eyes, please forgive me. I have come to ask you for your teachings!"

The first to make a move was an outer disciple, Lei Gang!

He was almost thirty years old and at the third level of Qi Refining; he could have applied to leave the mountain directly.

But... the top five in this competition will be able to directly establish their own training grounds, which is vastly different from the situation of the outer disciples who come down the mountain.

To put it bluntly, after outer disciples leave the mountain, they are responsible for their own lives and deaths. Establishing a training ground is the base of Maoshan. If they encounter evil spirits that they cannot deal with, they can ask Maoshan for help. Moreover, the speed at which Maoshan comes to their aid is far beyond what ordinary outer disciples can do.

Therefore, Lei Gang wanted to take a gamble!
(End of this chapter)