https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-284-He-Anxia-s-Decision-to-Leave-Part-2-/12964811/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-285-The-Sect-Competition-Bright-Moon-Sect-is-in-Disarray-The-Holy-Land-is-Watching-Part/12964819/
Chapter 285: The Sect Competition! Bright Moon Sect is in Disarray! The Holy Land is Watching! (Part
Chapter 285: The Sect Competition! Bright Moon Sect is in Disarray! The Holy Land is Watching! (Part 1)
In the end, the elders accepted Lin Fan's proposal, mainly because Xiao Ling'er and the others' strength was indeed a bit beyond the standard. Even these elders couldn't defeat them, and it would be too unfair to fight against their disciples.
"Speaking of it, it's truly a bittersweet feeling."
They exchanged glances, all revealing a slight bitter smile, "Unknowingly, we old-timers have become outdated."
The bad news was that they were surpassed by the younger generation, and the new waves were pushing the old ones aside.
The good news was... these newcomers were from their own sect.
Therefore, this obsolescence wasn't something they couldn't accept.
Thinking of this, their mood naturally improved.
...
"The Inner Sect Competition, speaking of it, in those cultivation and fantasy novels I've read, every somewhat decent sect would have such an arrangement, right? I had completely forgotten about it."
After the elders left, Lin Fan pondered, stroking his chin.
"The elders will surely handle the competition between the ordinary inner and outer sect disciples properly. I don't need to worry about that."
"So, what I need to do is..."
"Inform my direct disciples about this matter."
Subsequently, Lin Fan began to contemplate.
He wasn't thinking about how they would fight, but rather, what rewards to give.
There should be some prizes, right? It wouldn't sound good if nothing interesting was offered.
However, the problem was that most of them were following the protagonist template, with exaggerated fortunes and opportunities, and they had more and more good things. Currently, Lin Fan didn't have enough interesting items to capture the interest of all of them.
Cultivation techniques and secret techniques? He had already put these things in the Scripture Repository long ago.
These were just some of the items he had.
"It's better to let them have a friendly match, and the rewards will be relatively average."
"The first place can have priority in cultivating the 'Body as Formation' technique."
"At least it's considered an 'Invincible Technique', and it's still quite attractive."
Lin Fan had never been one to keep secrets, nor did he hold back.
Or perhaps...
It was truly absurd for him to hold back when it came to his 'cheats' for his disciples. The more they learned and the stronger they became, the more powerful he would be...
Why hold back?
For this reason, although he had created many powerful cultivation techniques and magical arts, he had basically put them all in the Scripture Repository.
His direct disciples could freely choose and cultivate them.
Otherwise, why would there be such trouble?
...
After making up his mind, Lin Fan took out a string of telepathy talismans and scanned them with his divine sense, simultaneously contacting all his disciples, "In half a month, the Inner Sect Competition will be held."
"As my direct disciples, you don't need to participate in this competition, but if you're interested, you can come to watch."
"Also, after the Inner Sect Competition, if you're interested, you can also spar and exchange with each other."
"I've prepared some small gifts as prizes."
"But this is not a requirement, it's entirely voluntary."
"...
"Hey, these telepathy talismans are really not convenient."
"If I could get the Sky Observing Mirror and create an 'Immortal Mechanism', that would be much more convenient."
After putting away a series of telepathy talismans, Lin Fan shook his head.
Too troublesome!
Even in the era of pagers on Earth, one pager could contact multiple people, but telepathy talismans couldn't. These talismans were essentially 'parent-child talismans'.
Two talismans made a pair.
A pair of telepathy talismans could only communicate with each other, and that was the limit.
Therefore...
A cultivator would need to prepare as many telepathy talismans as the number of 'fellow cultivators' they needed to contact.
Cultivators who were already accustomed to this might not find it troublesome, as it had always been this way. But for Lin Fan, it was different.
So troublesome!
A 'mobile phone' that could contact everyone and had multiple functions would be much better, right?
Unfortunately, he couldn't create it.
Even if he 'copied the answers', he would first need to make the Sky Observing Mirror work for him.
"Let's continue developing."
"Who knows what the future holds."
Although it was almost impossible to obtain the Sky Observing Mirror from the Ten Thousand Flowers Holy Land, given their formidable strength, the future was unpredictable.
Moreover, it wasn't necessary to forcefully take it.
Perhaps in the future, if the situation was right, they could exchange it, and that would be good too.
...
"The Inner Sect Competition?"
Xiao Ling'er's eyes lit up, "I'd like to join in the fun."
"...
"The Boundary-breaking Pill should be a good gift."
As the senior direct disciple, she naturally wanted to set an example.
It wouldn't be right to bully her junior disciples, but she could help them in this way.
"I'm only good at pill concocting, so... the Boundary-breaking Pill it is."
"It's decided then."
"If there's an opportunity for direct disciples to spar, I'd also like to participate, and I'm quite excited about it!"
Xiao Ling'er's eyes sparkled with excitement.
"All the junior disciples are incredibly strong, especially Jian Jian and YaYa. When facing them, I'm not sure if I can win, but if I can fight them, it will definitely bring me great improvement!"
"...
...
Deep within the Scripture Repository.
Fan Jiangqiang received the news, causing his scalp to tingle: "At least it's not mandatory. I guess that settles it then?"
"What?"
"Sparring between direct disciples?"
"Most of them are just there for show. If I go, wouldn't I just be asking for a beating?"
"No way, no way."
"I'm not going anyway."
"..."
...
"Sparring with fellow disciples and sisters?"
Wang Teng paced excitedly: "I'm looking forward to it!"
"But..."
He suddenly felt dejected.
"My skills don't seem suitable for sparring, do they?"
Using the Artificial Sun Fist on his own people?
Or the Invincible Sword Art?
This...
Is that even appropriate?
...
Qin Yu, Jiang Li, and Xu Fenglai were traveling together.
Jiang Ni had been sent to the Spirit Sword Sect for further training.
At this moment, the three of them received the news, and they were all a bit surprised.
"Senior Brother, Senior Sister, are you going back?" Xu Fenglai asked, scratching his head.
"I've recently had some realizations," Qin Yu said thoughtfully. "I'm not really suited for fighting, and I'm afraid it might affect my path. For now, I think I'll pass."
"If Senior Brother Qin isn't going, then I won't go back either," Jiang Li said with a soft smile. "I've only been in the sect for a short time, and with my current strength, I don't have the qualifications to join in the excitement."
"Then I won't go either."
Xu Fenglai helplessly spread his hands: "My strength is just average. Fighting against Senior Sister and YaYa, it'd be like asking for a beating. I'll wait for some opportunities and talk about other things after I've improved."
The three of them decided not to go.
And they all waited for Lin Fan's response...
...
"I..."
"Should I participate?"
Zhu Rou Rong was a bit lost.
He disliked fighting and preferred to focus on breeding.
In the end, he decided not to participate.
It was better to focus on breeding and logistics than anything else.
...
Many direct disciples had their own thoughts.
Some decided to participate, while others chose to 'abstain'.
Some even prepared 'rewards'.
As time passed, the news of the Inner Sect Competition in the Moon Embrace Palace spread throughout the sect, becoming common knowledge.
The disciples were especially excited.
The most frequently discussed topic was:
"This is great!"
"I've worked hard in my cultivation for many years. This time, I must show my worth!"
"Showcase my own brilliance!"
"Being noticed by the elders and sect leaders, becoming a direct disciple..."
"..."
Some disciples spread rumors.
"I heard that Senior Sister is preparing rewards for those who rank high in the competition!"
"Oh?"
"Is that true? Then the competition will be even fiercer!"
"Of course. Even without Senior Sister's rewards, the competition won't be any less intense!"
"That's true."
"It's not just Senior Sister. Sister Huoyun also said that she would personally craft a magical treasure for those who rank in the top ten!"
"Ahhhh!"
"You see how red my eyes are?"
"They're red enough, redder than a rabbit! But what's the use? With my strength, it's hard to even rank in the top thousand, let alone the top ten?"
"Of course. Do you think I'm unaware of my own abilities? I know I can't get those rewards, so I'm not going to compete. Otherwise, why would I be red-eyed?"
"Hey, you're actually a genius! What you said makes sense."
"..."
...
The disciples were excited! The seven 'mascots' who received the news were especially eager.
Qiu Yongqin thought it over several times but decided not to participate.
Firstly, he was busy in the East Domain, and secondly, with his current strength, sparring with ordinary inner and outer sect disciples would be unfair.
It was meaningless.
"Isn't Senior Brother Qiu participating?"
Murong Pipa sighed: "That's truly a pity."
"As the seven disciples with the longest 'tenure' in the Moon Embrace Palace, we should, in theory, be at the forefront of the Inner Sect Competition. We can't be careless!"
"We can't be complacent!"
"Indeed, the sect has developed rapidly in recent years, and its growth is remarkable. Although the disciples we've accepted have shorter cultivation times than us, many of them have talents surpassing ours."
"If we really compete, we might not be their match."
Pei Xiuqin nodded: "That's natural, but we can't underestimate ourselves either."
"With Senior Sister's resources, we have the advantage. Even if we can't make it to the top ten, we should still aim for a good ranking."
"Otherwise, it would be embarrassing."
Zuo Qingqing agreed.
Xu Shuyi was very nervous.
Fang Kun scratched his ears and cheeks, growing impatient.
At the same time, the Moon Embrace Palace's invitation letters were sent out.
The Fan Family, Liu Family, and Hai Family, all three families, were invited.
The Jade Dragon Palace, Guiyuan Sect, Dan Tower, Spirit Sword Sect, Beast Taming Ring, Five Elements School, Great Harmony Palace, Ten Thousand Flowers Holy Land... Even the Bright Moon Sect and White-Black Academy were not 'spared'.
They were invited to 'witness' the competition!
This was a matter of face and a symbol of strength for a sect.
The more people and big shots who attended, the more face the sect gained.
And the more face they had, the stronger their strength was perceived to be.
If they lacked strength...
Why would others give them face? Whether they came or not was their business.
Sending or not sending the invitation letters was the Moon Embrace Palace's decision.
...
Bright Moon Sect.
Upon seeing the invitation letter, Ji Haoyue's lips twitched.
"This is outrageous!"
Slap!
He angrily threw the invitation letter on the ground, even wanting to step on it: "The Moon Embrace Palace is too much!"
"They're already pointing fingers at us, and now they want us to go and witness their disciples' prowess?"
"They want us to see the Moon Embrace Palace disciples' arrogance?"
"It's clear they're trying to embarrass our Bright Moon Sect!"
Ji Haoyue felt extremely frustrated.
It was no secret that the Bright Moon Sect was going through a transitional period, struggling to find its footing.
The Holy Son had passed away, and they hadn't yet found a suitable successor.
The Holy Daughter, Wen Ruyan, while capable, lacked the charisma to hold her own in this Golden Age. She was competent but not exceptional.
Ji Haoyue was well aware of the numerous prodigies in the Moon Embrace Sect, each one more extraordinary than the last, especially Xiao Ling'er.
But what did this invitation mean?
They were rivals! Bitter enemies!
And now they were inviting the Bright Moon Sect to witness their ceremony? It was nothing more than a blatant display of arrogance!
This was too much!
As he spoke, the other elders chimed in, each expressing their discontent.
"They're going too far!"
"So what if they have prodigies?"
"Who knows if they'll even survive?"
"Hmph, while our disciples may be ordinary, they are the backbone of any sect. No sect can do without them!"
"We won't go, no matter what!"
"..."
They were all indignant, feeling deeply offended.
In their opinion, no one would dare act so brazenly.
It was indeed a blatant insult.
Lu Ming observed their reactions with a subtle wink.
Hmm...
Indeed, his fellow elders seemed to have a mischievous streak.
They likely had an ulterior motive for inviting the Bright Moon Sect, and it certainly wasn't out of goodwill.
It was purely to provoke and humiliate them.
However, the members of the Bright Moon Sect were not fools.
They had no intention of attending and being subjected to such treatment.
But...
Could he grant their wish?
Lu Ming quietly raised his hand, "Your concerns are valid, but from the sect's perspective, I have a different opinion."
The elders stared at him, wide-eyed.
Ji Haoyue's eyelids twitched, "What do you mean, Elder Lu?"
"It's like this," Lu Ming began.
"They might indeed be inviting us just to humiliate us, to deliberately make our sect feel awkward."
"If we attend, their prodigies will undoubtedly shine, making our own seem mediocre in comparison, and it will indeed be embarrassing, leaving us humiliated."
"That's exactly what they aim to achieve."
"Exactly!" The senior elder frowned, "So how can we possibly go?"
"If we attend, we'll be playing right into their hands, offering our faces to be disgraced."
"Moreover, I assure you that if we go, those bastards from the Moon Embrace Sect will seize the opportunity to humiliate us without mercy!"
"Well said, Elder Lu," Lu Ming nodded in agreement.
The others were speechless.
So, you know it's right, but you still have a different opinion?
Lu Ming continued, "For us individually, this is indeed a matter of great shame..."
"But for the sect, it might not be a bad thing."
"Think about it."
"We can gain valuable intelligence about the Moon Embrace Sect at the cost of our personal humiliation..."
"Is it a loss or a gain?"
"Everyone knows Xiao Ling'er and the others are heavenly prodigies, but who knows if there are other hidden talents within the Moon Embrace Sect? If there are, who are they? How strong are they? What are their exceptional abilities, and do they have any weaknesses?"
The elders were taken aback.
Suddenly, they realized the hidden meaning behind Lu Ming's words.
Lu Ming gently prodded, "We are enemies, and as the saying goes, 'Know thy enemy, know thyself, and you shall win a hundred battles.' The better we understand our enemies, the greater our chances of victory!"
"In the future, when we clash, the more we know, the less we'll lose."
"However..."
"Personal dignity is also important."
"Ahem."
Lu Ming stopped there, leaving the rest unsaid.
Upon hearing this, Ji Haoyue and the elders exchanged glances.
Indeed, what he said made perfect sense.
But...
While his logic was sound, who would be willing to sacrifice their personal dignity? Moreover, it wasn't just about personal honor; the Bright Moon Sect attending the Moon Embrace Sect's internal competition carried a hint of groveling.
It was embarrassing either way.
Agree?
Whoever agreed might be the one sent.
So...
I agree, but I won't say it.
Everyone fell silent, and Ji Haoyue looked around, wanting to exclaim, "This is utterly ridiculous!"
If none of you speak up or take a stance, I might have to go myself!
Do I not care about my reputation?
He bent down, picked up the invitation he had thrown aside, and said softly, "Elder Lu's words are indeed wise. This is an excellent opportunity to gather intelligence on the Moon Embrace Sect."
"After all, the younger generation is the future of any sect."
"If we can learn about their prodigies in advance, our sect can prepare accordingly, whether it's sending assassins or..."
"We can seize the initiative."
"So, which elder is willing to undertake this task?"
"Well..." The senior elder cleared his throat, "I've been busy crafting talismans recently, and there are many matters to attend to in my lineage. I simply can't spare the time."
The other elders followed suit, each making excuses to decline.
Ji Haoyue was speechless.
Finally, he turned to the only one who hadn't refused, Lu Ming.
The elders, seeing this, looked at Lu Ming with encouraging eyes.
Lu Ming: "..."
Great, I'm the one left!
"This..."
Lu Ming sighed, "Personal dignity is something I don't hold too dearly.
(End of Chapter)
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