Chapter 138: Eldest Senior Brother! The Sect Grand Tournament
“Ten years from now, the Martial Sect will open its second Outer Sect Disciple Selection Assembly!” After leaving behind that single declaration, you returned to the sect, tossing the group of failures outside the gate without another glance.
A month passed in a flash. It was time for you to inspect the thirty Inner Sect disciples on their progress in the Martial Way.
At the Martial Sect Martial Arena, the thirty Inner Sect disciples stood anxiously, waiting for your inspection.
“Display everything you have learned this past month. Let me see it.”
The thirty disciples who had just entered the Martial Way began their demonstration.
The cultivation method you had given them was considered quite good on the Martial Way. By rank, it was at least Mystic-rank middle-grade.
Under your guidance and with an ample supply of demonic beast flesh and blood, only ten of the thirty had successfully entered the threshold and cultivated a trace of internal force.
Looking at the dejected crowd, you consoled them. “Do not be discouraged. The Martial Way cannot be rushed. Return and cultivate patiently.”
The twenty Inner Sect disciples who had not entered the Dao went back, while you kept the ten who had succeeded.
You looked at the disciple who had cultivated the most internal force and had the best talent, and asked, “What is your name?”
“Reporting to the Sect Master, this disciple is named Ye Fan.” Ye Fan cupped his hands in salute, neither haughty nor humble.
“A good name! As of today, you are the Martial Sect’s Chief Eldest Senior Brother!” You began the appointment immediately.
“As the Martial Sect’s Eldest Senior Brother, you will face challenges from every disciple in the sect. Do you have confidence?”
“I do!!!”
“Very good! Starting tomorrow, this Sect Master will lecture on the Dao here. Go back and prepare.”
“Master.” After everyone had left, Xiao Long came to your side and reported, “Over this past month, of the two thousand nine hundred-plus Outer Sect disciples, quite a few have already withdrawn from the sect because they could not bear the slow progress of their Martial Way cultivation!”
“Mm, how many exactly?” You had long anticipated this and spoke with some indifference.
“More than half have left. Only five hundred remain in the Outer Sect…” Xiao Long said hesitantly.
“Understood. Record the names of those who withdrew. They are never to be recruited again!” Adhering to the principle of preferring quality over quantity, these disciples who had left the sect had entered your blacklist.
The next day, at the Martial Sect Martial Arena, all five hundred and thirty disciples assembled. You began formally teaching the Martial Way!
You explained the entry stage of the Martial Way thoroughly so everyone could understand.
You lectured for seven consecutive days. After the seventh day, the Outer Sect disciples dispersed, leaving only the Inner Sect disciples and the ten Core Disciples. These were the ones who could truly inherit the villagers’ Martial Way legacy!
You gave the thirty disciples one-on-one guidance, and took out the introductory chapter of the villagers’ inherited cultivation method separately for everyone to choose and cultivate on their own.
“The opening method is enough for you to cultivate for some time. When you condense true qi within your bodies, you may come to me for the follow-up method.”
“If there are no questions, disperse.” You said to the crowd.
You handed all sect affairs over to Xiao Long, then entered secluded cultivation yourself.
You began to comprehend the power of the Laws of Heaven and Earth. After all, the more Laws of Heaven and Earth one mastered, the stronger one’s strength would be after breaking through to the Return-to-Void realm.
Of course, you knew that if one could comprehend a single Law of Heaven and Earth to an extremely profound level, one’s strength would likewise undergo a qualitative transformation!
You began to comprehend the Law of Lightning Mark on your right hand. This mark had been brought back from your last simulation.
The Law of Lightning had the deepest connection to you, the most contact, and was relatively the easiest Law to master.
Five years later, through your unremitting efforts, a Law of Lightning Mark successfully condensed in the palm of your left hand!
This mark was condensed from your own insights over these years.
It was a Law of Lightning Mark you could fully control! Though far less profound than the one on your right hand, it possessed infinite possibilities!
With this Law of Lightning Mark, it meant you could already break through to the Return-to-Void realm!
Of course, you did not do so. After all, it was merely a single Law of Heaven and Earth. You still did not think much of it.
“Five years. It is time to inspect the disciples’ cultivation progress.” You sighed at how quickly time had passed, then emerged from seclusion.
“All disciples, assemble at the sect’s Martial Arena!” You stood in the air, taking the entire Martial Sect into view.
An hour later, all five hundred and thirty disciples had arrived. Leading them was the Martial Sect’s Eldest Senior Brother whom you had personally appointed, Ye Fan!
“You have cultivated the Martial Way for over five years now. Today, let this Sect Master see how you have done!”
You waved your hand, and dozens of arenas erupted from the earth, appearing before the disciples.
“A miracle!!!”
“Moving mountains and filling seas, a great divine ability!”
“The Sect Master is so strong, he is simply a legendary immortal!”
“Will we one day have such strength too?”
Your display strengthened the disciples’ resolve to cultivate the Martial Way, making it unshakable.
“Starting with the Outer Sect disciples, two by two, you will duel. The final ten standing on the arena will be rewarded one thousand low-grade spirit stones!”
“Furthermore, all ten will have one chance to challenge an Inner Sect disciple. Whoever succeeds will be promoted to the Inner Sect!”
With spirit stones as the reward, the Outer Sect disciples were all excited, as if they had been injected with chicken blood.
The Outer Sect disciples’ tournament ended quickly. This level of combat was like children fighting to you. It could not stir even a trace of interest.
Under the expectant gazes of the disciples, you waved your hand, and ten thousand low-grade spirit stones split into ten portions, appearing before the crowd.
“Thank you, Sect Master, for the reward!”
“The final three Inner Sect disciples standing on the arena will receive twenty thousand low-grade spirit stones, as well as a chance to challenge a Core Disciple!”
“Succeed in the challenge, and you will be promoted to Core Disciple!”
The Inner Sect disciples’ competition began. Five years had passed, and these twenty Inner Sect disciples had reached the tenth layer of the Martial Way.
The highest among them had actually reached the fifteenth layer of the Martial Way, already comparable to a Core Disciple!
“As expected, as long as one perseveres, there will always be gains.” You nodded in satisfaction.
The Inner Sect tournament ended quickly, and you immediately began the Core Disciple tournament.
The Core Disciple tournament did not exceed your expectations. As the Martial Sect’s most talented Eldest Senior Brother, Ye Fan won with a cultivation at the twentieth layer of the Martial Way!
The dust settled, and you announced, “Five years from now will be the time for this sect to recruit disciples again. You may descend the mountain to temper yourselves. Prepare well!”