Gou Zai Fei Men made up myths

Although Black Wind Stronghold was burdened with heavy debts, life had to go on. However, Shen Mo felt even more pressure.

Regardless, with the agreement with the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, the sect's finances were greatly improved, and the disciples' cultivation resources became relatively more abundant.

Shen Mo did not distribute these resources equally, but continued to strictly implement the "contribution point system".

Completing sect missions, achieving breakthroughs in cultivation, and making contributions in specific areas (such as Li Xiaocao successfully cultivating new medicines or Zhao Qingyan creating qualified talismans) will all earn you corresponding contribution points.

Disciples can use contribution points to exchange for longer cultivation time beside the Spirit Eye, better elixirs, access to more profound cultivation manuals, and even more opportunities to ask the sect leader or senior brothers and sisters for answers.

This fair, transparent, and merit-based system greatly motivated the disciples. The entire sect was filled with a vibrant atmosphere of competition and striving for excellence.

In order to further test the disciples' progress in their cultivation, consolidate their foundation, and inspire their fighting spirit, Shen Mo decided to hold the first sect competition of Qingyun Sect half a month after the new disciples entered the sect.

The disciples erupted in excitement upon hearing the news!

"A mini-competition? Is there a competition already?" Shi Tie rubbed his hands together, his dark face full of excitement. "I'll just have to test the power of the 'Giant Spirit Mountain-Shaking Technique'!"

"I wonder what we'll be competing in..." Su Xiaomei's eyes sparkled with anticipation; she really wanted to test the effectiveness of the "Nourishing Spirit and Concentrating Mind Technique."

"I...I'm a little nervous," Zhang Daniu said, scratching his head and chuckling sheepishly.

"I must get a good ranking!" Lin Xiaofan clenched his fists tightly, his eyes burning with fighting spirit.

Even the youngest, Qian Xiaodou, was eager to try, her little face full of curiosity and nervousness.

A few days before the competition, Shen Mo announced the competition events, which were not simply arena battles (after all, most disciples had not yet reached the Qi Refining stage), but were divided into three major categories:

I. Foundation Assessment: This includes tests on the total amount, purity, and control of spiritual power (or qi and blood). This is to examine the results of daily arduous training.

II. Specialized Skills: Disciples may choose one skill to demonstrate based on their own strengths. For example, Shi Tie and Zhang Daniu may demonstrate strength and defense; Su Xiao and Zhao Qingyan may demonstrate divine sense perception or talisman drawing.

Li Xiaocao demonstrated the cultivation of spiritual plants; Wang Lie demonstrated tracking and concealment; Sun Xiaohou demonstrated eloquence and information gathering, etc. This is to encourage disciples to develop their own strengths.

III. Practical Exercises: Simulated combat exercises will be conducted in groups to assess teamwork and adaptability. The rule is to stop short of a direct confrontation.

The rewards are also very generous: the top three will receive a large number of contribution points and a chance to enter the Enlightenment Cave for cultivation; those who perform exceptionally well will be eligible to receive personal guidance from the sect leader or exchange for valuable items.

The program was well-designed, balancing comprehensiveness with individual needs, and the rewards were enticing, completely igniting the disciples' enthusiasm!

On the day of the competition, the weather was perfect, with gentle breezes and bright sunshine.

The newly renovated square in front of the main hall has been set up as a temporary competition venue.

Shen Mo sat in the main seat, with Shi Tie and Su Xiao, as his senior brothers and sisters, assisting him. All the disciples were gathered together, and the atmosphere was lively.

The first item is the assessment of fundamental knowledge.

Shen Mo personally took action, using a simple spirit-testing disc and his self-made blood and qi stones to test each of his disciples.

The results were surprisingly good!

Shi Tie's vital energy is immense, burning like in a furnace, far surpassing Tongji University! The effects of the "Giant Spirit Shaking Mountain Technique" are remarkable!

Su Xiao's divine sense was refined and his perception was sharp; the second level of Qi Refining was now completely stable!

Li Xiaocao's spiritual power is gentle and mellow, full of vitality, and her affinity for plants is visible to the naked eye!

Although Lin Xiaofan's total spiritual power is small, it is exceptionally pure, especially with a hint of the cool, moonlight-like aura, indicating amazing potential!

Even those with the worst aptitude, such as Zhang Daniu and Wang Lie, have built an extremely solid foundation, and their qi and blood or spiritual power are several times stronger than when they first entered the sect!

The disciples' progress far exceeded Shen Mo's expectations! It's clear that no one has slacked off in the past two weeks!

The second section, showcasing specialized skills and talents, was even more精彩纷呈 (splendid and diverse).

Shi Tie roared and smashed a piece of several hundred-pound bluestone into pieces with one punch, drawing cheers from the audience!

Zhang Daniu firmly planted his feet in a horse stance, allowing his three disciples to push him simultaneously, yet he remained unmoved, demonstrating astonishing lower body strength!

With her eyes blindfolded, Su Xiao accurately named the five different medicinal herbs and their ages on a table ten steps away, relying solely on her divine sense! This drew gasps of amazement from the crowd!

Zhao Qingyan drew a basic purification talisman on the spot. Although it was the lowest-level talisman, the strokes were smooth and the spiritual light was contained within. She succeeded on the first try! This showed that she had an extremely high talent in the art of talismans!

Li Xiaocao presented a pot of "Moonlight Grass" that she had carefully cultivated. The grass leaves were crystal clear and emitted a faint light in the sunlight. It was growing very well, far exceeding the level of ordinary medicinal gardens!

Wang Lie demonstrated his tracking skills, finding the items that Sun Xiaohou had hidden in advance in a complex terrain in no time—a truly remarkable feat!

Sun Xiaohou then simulated a procurement negotiation, speaking eloquently and fooling the "other party" until they were completely dumbfounded, making everyone burst into laughter!

Each displayed their unique strengths and talents! Shen Mo observed this with delight. These disciples were indeed all promising individuals!

The third item was a practical exercise. Shen Mo divided his disciples into three groups to conduct simulated attack and defense drills.

At first, everyone was a bit confused and acted independently. But with Shen Mo's guidance and the command of Shi Tie and Su Xiao, they quickly developed a methodical approach.

Shi Tie stood at the front, drawing fire; Zhang Daniu provided support from the flanks; Wang Lie roamed and harassed; Su Xiao used a weak illusion to disrupt them; Zhao Qingyan attempted to set up a simple trapping formation.

Li Xiaocao was responsible for taking care of the "wounded" (in a simulation)... Although their teamwork was still inexperienced, the basic structure of the team was already emerging!

The day-long competition came to a close in a tense, enthusiastic, and joyful atmosphere.

Ultimately, based on a comprehensive evaluation, Su Xiao won first place with his solid foundation and outstanding spiritual sense!

Shi Tie came in second, while Li Xiaocao ranked third due to her special contributions to spiritual plants and her solid foundation in spiritual power!

Shen Mo personally presented the awards (contribution point plaques and Enlightenment Cave cultivation tokens) to the winning disciples, and gave detailed comments and encouragement on the performance of each disciple.

"This small competition is not about competing with others, but about examining ourselves and clarifying our direction."

Shen Mo concluded, "You have all made rapid progress, each with your own strengths, which greatly pleases your teacher! I hope you will remain humble and diligent, learn from each other's strengths and make up for your weaknesses, and work together to advance! The future of Qingyun Sect is in your hands!"

"We will heed the sect leader's teachings!" all the disciples shouted in unison, their voices booming and soaring into the sky! Every face was filled with pride, excitement, and boundless anticipation for the future!

As the sun climbed over the eastern ridge, casting its golden rays into the valleys of Qingyun Mountain, a new day began on this land that was gradually coming to life.

Birds chirped and twittered on the branches, and the air was filled with the refreshing scent of dew, mixed with the faint fragrance of herbs and trees wafting from the herb garden on the back hill, which was invigorating to smell.

The Qingyun Sect has really changed lately. Ever since they established a connection with the Hundred Treasures Pavilion and secured a stable source of income, the disciples have a secure livelihood, feel at ease, and are working with extra enthusiasm.

In addition, Shen Mo's "contribution points" system meant that whoever worked harder and progressed faster could exchange for better cultivation resources. It was very fair, and everyone was eager to contribute, with no one willing to fall behind.

"Hey! Ha!"

On the cleared ground next to the Spirit Eye in the back mountain, Shi Tie's deep shouts rolled over like muffled thunder.

He was shirtless, his bronze skin glistening in the morning light, his muscles bulging as he practiced the "Giant Spirit Shaking Mountain Technique".

Each punch he threw was accompanied by a whooshing sound, causing the bluestone slabs beneath his feet to tremble slightly. When he got into the swing of things, his blood and qi surged throughout his body, and his skin even faintly glowed with a very faint red light, which looked quite frightening.

"Brother Tiezi! You made such a big commotion! I just swept the floor clean, and you've stirred up all the dust again!" Zhang Daniu walked by carrying a thick beam that required two people to hug, grinning widely with envy in his voice.

He practices the "Earth-Shaking Skill," and his strength has increased rapidly. He is now one of the strongest laborers in the sect, but compared to Shi Tie's increasingly inhuman strength, he is still far inferior.

Shi Tie exhaled, his chest heaving violently, and laughed heartily, his voice booming: "That was exhilarating! I feel full of energy! This method passed down from our ancestor is truly wonderful!"

He felt he was about to reach the other side, his body brimming with energy, just one last opportunity away.

He is now the rightful senior disciple of the sect, with the highest cultivation level and the greatest strength. This responsibility and prestige make him work extra hard in his cultivation.