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墨書 Inktalez
The new competition for the Immortal Sect is scheduled to take place at the end of next summer, which is still ten months away. Both publicly and privately, all sects are gearing up for it. This is not only to showcase their own strength but also for an important reason—to use the participating disciples to investigate the Heavenly Valley's Ancient Celestial Field. To this end, the Nine Li Sect has invested heavily, providing each disciple with three Fire Origin Pills and a Supplementary Spirit Pill from the very beginning, and gathering all participating disciples for intensive training at the Fire Cave. The Fire Cave is the place within the Nine Li Cave Heaven where the Li Fire Aura is most abundant. Except during the eruption period of the Fire Spirit Eye, this location greatly benefits those cultivating the Li Fire Scripture. Generally, disciples below the Golden Core Stage are not even allowed to enter the Fire Jade Cave for cultivation; they can only wait in line under special approval from the Sect Leader's Elder Brother. However, starting now, the entire Fire Cave is exclusively open to participating disciples. Even the refining area of the Fire Jade Cave has halted operations, with each Fire Jade Cave assigned one disciple to enter seclusion.
This time, the Nine Li Sect has selected eighteen disciples to participate. Among them are five from Nine Vermilion Peaks: besides Li Hong, Chuxiong, Chuxuan, and Chu Liang are all on the list. Additionally, there is one disciple from Ling Panzai's Master Uncle whom Li Hong knows; they entered the Mountain Gate together, and his Dao name is Chu Hai. Currently at the Refining Qi Early Stage, he is already considered quite outstanding, making him a candidate for this new talent competition. Notably among this group is a familiar face—Chu Xi, who was unsurprisingly designated by Nine Purple Peak's Elder Brother Ling Xiangzi to participate.
The remaining candidates include Ling Xuzi's third disciple and team leader Chu Huai, along with several other senior brothers from different branches whom Li Hong does not know. Among this group, on paper, Chu Huai has the highest cultivation level—he is at the Initial Stage of Caution. Although Li Hong's actual level is higher than his due to his cultivation method, he appears to be only at Qi Refinement Late Stage on the surface, so he still ranks below Chu Huai in terms of visible strength. In addition to having the highest cultivation level, Chu Huai is also a direct disciple of the Sect Leader. With both prestige and ability combined, he was appointed as team leader by Ling Xuzi, making his status quite significant.
As training began, he quickly became the leader among his peers. Standing before the Fire Cave, Chu Huai assumed a senior brother's demeanor and loudly admonished everyone: "Our masters have high hopes for us; we must earn face for ourselves! If anyone feels they cannot endure hardship, tell me now—I will immediately report to our master and have you withdraw! If no one wishes to back out, starting now we must train hard without slacking! With Elixirs and help from the Fire Cave, I believe each of you can at least elevate your cultivation by one level! Let’s work hard together!" His words were truly inspiring; especially with his tall stature and righteous expression that made him appear even more serious. Li Hong couldn't help but feel some admiration for him.
However, as everyone moved toward the Fire Cave, Chu Huai deliberately lagged behind to approach Chu Xi. Li Hong became alert. Being at a higher cultivation level and having keen senses, he overheard Chu Huai whispering to Chu Xi: "Junior Sister, that speech just now doesn’t apply to you. If you’re tired and want to rest, just let me know; if you need anything else, just tell me. I will definitely take care of it."
Chu Xi replied lightly: "Thank you, Brother Chu Huai, but there's no need." She refused to say another word to him. What kind of person is this! Putting on one face in front while showing another behind! Li Hong felt disdainful and decided not to look at him anymore; his attitude mirrored that of Chu Xi toward Chu Huai.
Chu Huai soon sensed this change and occasionally cast puzzled glances at Li Hong. He thought long and hard about whether he had offended him; why did this supposedly well-connected Chu Hong dislike him? It puzzled him greatly. However, when he saw the contemptuous expression on Chu Xi's face that resembled Li Hong's own disdainful look, he began to understand a bit more as anger started to burn within him.
When it came time to assign spots in the Fire Jade Cave, he began making things difficult for Li Hong. There were only seventeen spots available across two rows of Fire Jade Caves plus eight refining areas in total; however, there were eighteen participants in this competition—meaning one candidate would have to choose a spot around Fire Lake instead. Originally intending to reserve this position for himself in hopes of gaining a good reputation, after noticing Li Hong's unusual attitude towards him, he decided instead to give it to Li Hong.
One by one, disciples flew into their assigned Fire Jade Caves until there were fewer and fewer left around Fire Lake. When only Chu Huai and Li Hong remained, Chu Huai smiled "gently" and said: "Junior Brother Chu Hong, there’s only one Fire Jade Cave left now; only one of us can enter it—what do you think we should do? How about this: I’ll go in first; once my seclusion period ends, I’ll let you take my place." Before Li Hong could object, he continued with a smile: "It’s settled then! Junior Brother Chu Hong truly has a broad mind; even willing to let me go first into the Fire Jade Cave makes me feel uneasy."
Though his words sounded pleasant enough, there was not a hint of "unease" on his face as he ignored Li Hong entirely and immediately flew into the last available Fire Jade Cave on his sword. The door closed behind him.
Li Hong found it amusing; indeed he was a petty villain disguised as a gentleman! In truth, Li Hong had no desire to enter the Fire Jade Cave—its dense Li Fire Aura was of no use to him; what he needed during cultivation were Multicolored Light Dots instead. Unfortunately for him, those were least present in the Fire Cave.
He turned around and left. Just as he flew out of the Fire Cave, someone called out from behind: "Junior Brother wait!" It was Ling Yizi. He had witnessed what had just transpired and felt indignant on behalf of Li Hong; constrained by respect for their master’s reputation though he didn’t confront them directly at that moment.
Now in a low voice comforting Li Hong he said: "Junior Brother don’t be angry with such people; why not go inside? I know several places that are just as good as cultivating in the Fire Jade Cave."
Li Hong smiled sincerely: "Really no need; I forgot to mention that I cultivate Six Spirit Salty Ritual—secluding myself in the Fire Cave would actually be wasting time. Since I have nothing else going on right now anyway, I might as well accompany you to Elder Peak to find Master Yue Changzi."
Upon hearing Six Spirit Salty Ritual mentioned, Ling Yizi paused slightly before quickly reacting with applause in agreement: "Wait!" He turned back into the Fire Cave to inform those guarding it before happily flying off with Li Hong toward Elder Peak.
After chatting with Yue Changzi and Ling Yizi about refining tools for quite some time until it grew dark outside—Yue Changzi went inside while Ling Yizi pulled Li Hong along for drinks instead. The two hit it off remarkably well over drinks that lasted three full hours; today’s drinking session surpassed any other in Li Hong’s life.
By the time Ling Yizi drunkenly collapsed onto his bed while snoring loudly like a bellows, Li Hong staggered out on his sword feeling hot all over—his skin felt like it was burning beneath its surface—and his head wasn’t very clear either; it grew heavier with every passing moment.
Originally instinctively flying toward Nine Vermilion Peaks but soon recalling that everyone there—including his master—believed he was still secluded in the Fire Cave; showing up in such a disheveled state wouldn’t be appropriate after all.
Better not return then! With a light tap of his toes on Lingyi’s back—the spirit beast—he turned without any particular destination in mind for where he would spend the night.
As alcohol surged through him causing blurry vision almost leading him into sleep mid-air while half-awake; below appeared what seemed like an expanse of bright white ground.
Whatever—it’ll do! With heavy limbs feeling like lead as he dove straight down onto that ground before lying flat out asleep.
He dreamt many vague dreams involving his sister-in-law Wanyi, older brother Li Wu, girl from Xia named Chu Xia along with Chuxiong… until finally appearing was Spirit Stone’s gaunt old face… He seemed quite angry as he tugged at his beard before bellowing loudly into his ear while drawing out a knife readying himself for violence.
Startled awake by fear-induced adrenaline coursing through him—Li Hong bolted upright realizing it was daylight outside—the sun shining brightly overhead making everything seem dazzlingly bright while remnants of last night’s intoxication lingered uncomfortably within him causing squinting eyes as he sat dazedly recalling how he'd spent last night here.
Looking around confusedly—what place is this?
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