Chapter 272 - 231: Sect Grand Competition

Chapter 272: Chapter 231: Sect Grand Competition

Under the moonlight, Ju Ruo Mountain was already covered in demon corpses.

Zhang Ji and Qiu Yiyang remained there, eating roasted pangolin meat.

As it was a Demon King, its flesh was quite difficult to cook. Zhang Ji had to conjure his Triple True Flame just to get it thoroughly roasted.

However, it was indeed a highly nourishing meal, not much inferior to the many supplements Zhang Ji had consumed on Origin Star. It even raised his avatar’s energy level considerably.

From a certain perspective, the resources in this world were truly abundant.

"Brother Zhang, what are your plans for the future?" Qiu Yiyang asked Zhang Ji.

"Wander around, slay demons, and vanquish evil," Zhang Ji replied.

These words were true, but not the complete truth.

It was true that Zhang Ji would slay demons, but his greater objective was to seize the numerous high-tier resources of this world to strengthen himself.

"In that case, I have a proposal," said Qiu Yiyang.

"Let’s hear it," Zhang Ji said.

"There are still five Demon Kings alive in Hunran Country. Why don’t we join forces, Brother Zhang, and eliminate them to restore peace to this land?" Qiu Yiyang suggested.

"That works," Zhang Ji said with a slight smile and a nod.

After finishing the roasted meat, Zhang Ji collected the entirety of Ju Ruo Mountain, preparing to take it back to Origin Star. There, he would refine it and make it a part of his own strength.

Improving one’s strength by consuming various supplements was one method. Direct modification using [Rationalist School] techniques was another. To put it bluntly, both were forms of external reinforcement, and [Rationalist School] combat was even more direct.

As his power grew, Zhang Ji gained a clearer understanding of the essence of evolution.

The evolution of living beings had always been about devouring external matter, absorbing its energy, and converting it into one’s own nourishment to build a stronger self, one more capable of adapting to its environment.

When you got down to it, the many schools of combat were all interconnected.

At the highest levels, they all returned to the same origin.

「Qunxu Continent.」

The Two Realms Basin had been mostly unified by Hudson and Gu Jie.

Zhang Ji held a formal discipleship ceremony for Hudson right there.

Just like when Gu Jie became his disciple, it wasn’t a grand affair; Zhang Ji had never been fond of pomp and ceremony.

The change in status meant many things. Gaining recognition was one aspect, but the subsequent benefits—such as increased access to resources, higher standing, and greater authority—far surpassed what he’d had before.

However, Zhang Ji didn’t want to see Hudson become some useless, second-generation freeloader, so he also placed stricter requirements on him.

Pouring resources into him was fine, but if there were no results, he would be reassigned to logistics.

As for Gu Jie, Zhang Ji wasn’t worried. Gu Jie never slacked in his cultivation and possessed a very stable temperament.

He even felt that Gu Jie was growing a bit too fast.

At this rate, he might even break through to B-rank this year, a cultivation speed that was just as fast, if not faster, than his own back in the day.

Although the support of numerous resources was a factor, Zhang Ji still found it quite astonishing.

This level of talent was nearly on par with the legendary figures of the universe.

But Zhang Ji felt it would be difficult for Gu Jie to maintain this momentum all the way to the top. After all, the path only grew harder, and being unable to digest resources, no matter how plentiful, was a real problem.

It was like his own current situation. He had a surplus of low- and mid-tier resources that he couldn’t possibly consume all by himself. To continue increasing his cultivation efficiency, he had to go straight for high-tier resources.

While handling matters with his disciples, Zhang Ji didn’t neglect his affairs in the Qingcang Sect.

Within the Qingcang Sect, he had successively obtained the *Azure Dragon God-Stinging Skill* from Divine Peak and the *Celestial One Profound Spirit Scripture* from Huaxiang Peak. Both were (Myth)-level techniques that could lead one directly to the Profound Heart Realm.

For the time being, however, Zhang Ji didn’t plan to learn them. He merely used them as references to build his foundation and enrich his future path.

He had, however, gained some insights from the *Nine Marvels Dao Scripture*. He isolated the *Izakai Skill* and, with the enhanced intellect from his [Prajna Stance], fused the previous Eight Marvelous Skills. He then extrapolated them into a powerful technique-based fighting skill: the *Eight Extremes Fighting Skill*. After seven days, he successfully formed a new (Legendary)-grade technique-based fighting crystal.

For the current Zhang Ji, a (Legendary)-grade technique-based fighting skill was indeed very easy to master.

To put it simply, his attributes were already up to par, and he could intuitively grasp many aspects of the technique through his existing knowledge. A little practice was all it took to master it completely.

With this, Zhang Ji had another combat method in his arsenal.

His close-combat options had expanded. His fist, palm, finger, claw, and leg techniques had reached the pinnacle of perfection, and his defense, movement, and reflexes had also been greatly enhanced.

His every move was now bordering on the Dao.

Each technique could strike an enemy’s vital points in the most effortless, simple, and direct way to achieve his goal.

It was subtlety within subtlety, the ultimate of the ultimate.

Just then, the Qingcang Sect happened to be holding its internal grand competition.

Zhang Ji had pushed his cultivation realm within the sect to the Divine Acupoint Realm.

Of the ten divine acupoints, he had currently opened eight.

He was only holding back for fear of attracting too much attention. Otherwise, he could have reached the peak of the Merging Realm and broken through to the Mountain-Splitting Realm in minutes.

Even so, his cultivation speed was fast enough to shock all the cultivators of the Qingcang Sect.

On the tournament stage of Divine Peak, Zhang Ji, with a longsword on his back, casually pushed his opponent—a Senior Brother at the peak of the Divine Acupoint Realm—off the stage with a single palm strike.

The selection for the final spots was currently underway.

From the ten major peaks—each including its subordinate secondary and outer peaks—the strongest disciple from the Molting Realm, Divine Acupoint Realm, and Merging Realm would be selected based on their combat prowess.

These three disciples would then proceed to the head peak, Jingchu Peak, where the Sect Leader resides, for the final competition. The Peak Masters of the ten peaks and the Sect Leader would all be present, or at the very least send a Divine Intent avatar. The rewards for the winners would be extremely generous, and their corresponding major peaks would also receive a greater share of resources.

"Junior Brother Li Long is truly worthy of being the Celestial Monarch’s personal disciple! How long has he even been in the sect? For his skills to have reached such a level of refinement!"

"Indeed! That Palm Skill of his is exquisitely profound. I must admit, even I am no match for it!"

"What’s even more commendable is his attitude toward his fellow disciples. Despite his superior martial arts, he has remained restrained, never once drawing his sword. His strikes are pulled back at the last moment. Such magnanimity is truly remarkable."

The various lecturers, professors, Hall Masters, and other leaders watching the matches all nodded, showering Zhang Ji with praise.

In reality, Zhang Ji couldn’t care less about martial virtue.

He was purely trying to save energy and avoid trouble.

’If this were me back in the day at the same realm, I would’ve just crippled any opponent, even if they were a fellow disciple.’

But then again...

Even if Zhang Ji had actually sent these disciples flying off the stage to lie there in a heap, he probably still would have received plenty of praise.

That was just how this world worked; the strong and the talented were always given extra leeway.

"I declare that the Divine Acupoint Realm champion of Divine Peak is Li Long!"

The referee stepped onto the stage and announced the results of the match.

With this, Zhang Ji was now qualified to represent Divine Peak in the Divine Acupoint Realm category of the Ten Peaks Grand Competition.

Zhang Ji wasn’t particularly excited. This was an inevitable outcome.

Besides, he was already plotting something bigger.

’I’m going to take first place in the Divine Acupoint Realm for the entire Qingcang Sect, too.’

’Since I’ve already established myself as a super-genius, I might as well see it through to the end.’

’After this debut, I should have some fame throughout the Qingcang Sect.’

’Personal disciple of a Celestial Monarch and the Divine Acupoint champion of the Ten Peaks—won’t I be seen as the star of tomorrow?’

’Won’t I be able to enter those Secret Realms whenever I want?’

However, after the incident with Celestial Monarch Qin’s descent, Zhang Ji now felt a bit disgusted by the idea of those Secret Realms.

He really didn’t like the feeling of being enveloped by a crisis where the enemy was strong and he was weak, which happened whenever one of those old bastards descended.

So, he could put aside going to Secret Realms for now. Once he built up his reputation, he would first acquire all the top-tier techniques from the ten peaks. He’d take the lesser ones too, just to enrich his database.

’If I can’t use them, I can always give them to my subordinates.’

...

After Zhang Ji’s competition ended, the championship matches for the other two realms also concluded one after another.

Zhang Ji recognized the Merging Realm champion; it was Xiao Mingyu, the lecturer from Pure Heart Hall who had once taught him.

His cultivation was at the peak of the Merging Realm, and he possessed an exquisitely subtle saber technique, which was how he managed to secure the championship for his realm in this competition.

The champion for the Molting Realm was a woman named Wan Lan.

She wasn’t of the Human Race, but from the Guoju race. Her figure was slender and tall, standing over 1.9 meters. Faint, bluish-gray scales were visible on her neck, and her nails were sharper and reddish-brown.

Her Body Technique was agile, and her combat style focused on speed and explosive power. Her leg techniques were particularly noteworthy, and she wielded two short daggers.

It was true that "an inch longer is an inch stronger," but Wan Lan’s daggers could be thrown like flying knives. In truth, her attack range was far greater than a mere inch.

The three of them thus formed the team of disciples representing Divine Peak in the Ten Peaks Grand Competition.

After two days of preparation, the trio boarded Divine Peak’s large Sky-Breaking Shuttle and headed for the head peak.

Accompanying them were some lecturers, professors, and elders.

As the main participants, the three were put together to communicate.

It was called "communicating," but in reality, Zhang Ji didn’t say a word, and Wan Lan was also the cold and aloof type. Only Xiao Mingyu spoke, sharing the information he had gathered with the other two.

"Junior Brother Li Long, I looked into the Divine Acupoint champion from Ruding Peak this year. He also uses a sword, and he didn’t even draw it during his matches. I heard he practices a secret sword-nurturing art. If he’s nurtured his sword long enough, he can unleash power far beyond his realm. You need to be careful. Also, there’s Six Clouds Peak. The Barbarian Race member who uses a hammer has immense strength. Be careful not to clash with him head-on..."

"Wan Lan, you need to watch out for the two from Qianji Peak and Jingchu Peak. They both have corresponding defensive Magical Artifacts, so your flying dagger technique might not be effective..."

Zhang Ji glanced at Xiao Mingyu, already understanding his situation.

’On the surface, he’s sharing collected information and data, but the deeper reason is that he’s trying to hide his nervousness.’

’When others become the champion of a major peak, it’s because they truly have the strength for it.’

’But in his case, it’s largely due to luck.’

’The senior brothers ahead of him have all broken through and advanced, "graduating" and moving on to their posts.’

’His generation on Divine Peak doesn’t have many outstanding disciples, so someone like him, who’s barely above average, got lucky and won the championship this time.’

Of course, he wasn’t weak.

It was just that compared to the Merging Realm champions of the other major peaks, he didn’t quite measure up.

His combat power was obviously a tier lower.

Information gathered in Zhang Ji’s eyes. He wanted to try using the *Izakai Skill* to alter Xiao Mingyu’s fate and see if he could make him win the Merging Realm championship of the Ten Peaks Grand Competition.

The difficulty was immense. Zhang Ji’s current mastery of the *Izakai Skill* wasn’t very profound—he could barely use it—but there was indeed room to maneuver.

After a long period of deduction, the corners of Zhang Ji’s mouth curved up. He had seen a sliver of possibility.