Chapter 41: The Competition Begins

All the good food and care Bai He had given him had clearly not been in vain.

"Then I’ll have to trouble you. There’s one more thing I haven’t had the chance to tell you. This morning, I discovered that I’ve already broken through to the Golden Core stage. I’m now at the early Golden Core stage."

In his entire life, his cultivation had never progressed as quickly as it had in this past half month.

Ye Shiyuan was also surprised.

He had never imagined someone could cultivate at such speed.

"Little Elder Bai is exceptionally gifted. The founding ancestor accepting you as his final disciple was the greatest recognition of your talent."

Bai He was in an excellent mood and could not help but laugh. "That’s well said! I knew it, I must be a genius too. I won’t continue cultivating for the time being!"

After working so hard for so long, he deserved a rest.

Moreover, now that all the major sects had arrived at Lingguang Sect, as an elder, he needed to contribute as well.

"Yes, Little Elder Bai."

"As for you and Xiao Feng, just stay at Baize Peak and cultivate. I’ll be going down the mountain frequently over the next few days."

...

"Third Senior Sister!"

Bai He ran toward the vicinity of Yaoxing Peak and soon spotted the Third Elder, Zhou Yifei.

She was responsible for receiving the female disciples, such as those from Qixiu Valley.

At this very moment, she was speaking with Gao Jiangting, the Valley Master of Qixiu Valley.

Hearing Bai He’s voice, Zhou Yifei waved at him.

Bai He quickly ran over.

"Third Senior Sister."

"This is Valley Master Gao," Zhou Yifei said. Then she introduced him to Gao Jiangting. "I believe Valley Master Gao already knows him. He is the Fifth Elder of Lingguang Sect, Bai He."

"So you are the final disciple of the founding ancestor of Lingguang Sect. I have long admired your name."

Standing behind Gao Jiangting was her most proud disciple, Su Yuluan.

Bai He was now close enough to observe her clearly.

Her eyes were exceptionally beautiful, like a clear spring of water, truly stunning.

Anyone who saw those eyes would probably want to know what the owner of such eyes looked like.

"Bai He!" Zhou Yifei suddenly called out sharply.

Bai He immediately snapped back to his senses and met her slightly angry gaze.

"What are you looking at?"

Well... at a beautiful woman!

"Sorry, Senior Sister," Bai He apologized at once.

If he said he had been admiring a beauty, he would probably be treated like a pervert and laughed at.

"Valley Master, since you still have matters to attend to, I won’t disturb you further."

Gao Jiangting nodded faintly. "Very well, Third Elder."

After speaking, she led her disciples away and entered the courtyard that had been arranged for them.

Once they had left, Zhou Yifei could not help but scold him. "Bai He, what were you staring at just now? Your eyes were practically glued to that female disciple’s face. Aren’t you afraid of embarrassing yourself?"

In truth, Zhou Yifei treated Bai He very well and rarely scolded him. But his behavior just now had indeed been somewhat disgraceful.

Fortunately, Bai He was a man of proper standing within the sect.

If he had acted even more inappropriately, it would have been impossible to explain.

After all, everyone knew the strict rules of Qixiu Valley.

"Senior Sister, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to."

"You tell me—usually at times like this, you stay up on the mountain and never come down. Why did you come here today?"

Bai He’s behavior was truly unusual.

"Senior Sister, this time, I’m going to participate in the disciple competition as well!"

Zhou Yifei nodded. "I nearly forgot that you’ve taken in a disciple as well. But he hasn’t been in the sect for long. It’s not suitable for him to participate in this kind of competition. Senior Sister advises you to forget about it."

"Senior Sister, why shouldn’t I be allowed to participate?" Bai He protested. "I am also an elder of Lingguang Sect, and my disciple is a first-generation disciple too. Besides, this is such a good opportunity for experience. I want Xiao Feng to go out and have a match with others. And Senior Sister, there’s something I need to trouble you with. Please help me."

Zhou Yifei had known all along that Bai He would not come to see her for no reason.

"What is it? Let me make this clear first, if Senior Brother Yao finds out, the one who gets scolded will be you. It has nothing to do with me."

"I know, I know. I’ve already thought it through. All of you have several disciples participating, but I only have one. So I hope you can include Ye Shiyuan as well."

How could Zhou Yifei not recognize Ye Shiyuan?

He had once been the future star of Lingguang Sect.

"Him?"

"Yes!"

"I personally don’t mind. I’m just afraid that if Senior Brother Yap finds out, he won’t be pleased."

After all, Ye Shiyuan had once been Yao Xiangli’s chief disciple.

"I’m not afraid. Senior Sister, if anything happens, I’ll take responsibility."

"Very well then, I agree."

"Thank you, Senior Sister!"

...

After the major sects had spent a full day settling in, the competition officially began.

Bai He sat in the seat at the far right with only two people standing behind him.

He had originally planned to bring both Xiao Wan and Xiao Cui along, but the two of them were accustomed to going out at dawn and dusk to gather herbs.

Bai He did not make things difficult for them and simply let them do as they pleased.

In the first match, the disciple on the stage was from the Qinghai Sect.

This disciple appeared somewhat older around forty years of age.

He held a sword in his hand and wore a long robe, looking somewhat like a scholar. He looks refined and gentle in bearing.