Chapter 115: Sparring

The next day, the bells of the Ten Peaks chimed.

All newly admitted disciples of the Qingyun Sect, including the new outer disciples, gathered at the Ancestral Hall. Led by Liu Wenchen, the new disciples individually offered incense and bowed to the ancestral statue.

Once the ceremony was complete, the inner disciples grew even more tense. The upcoming segment was the most crucial: a sparring match held before the Ancestral Hall to determine superiority.

"Sect Master Gong," Kong Yuanba said with a smile, turning his head to observe Gong Caiyi, whose graceful figure was accentuated by a flowing gauze dress, "I heard you made a bet with Sect Master Liu's daughter?" He continued, "Would you like to make a bet with me as well?"

Gong Caiyi's beautiful face was slightly cold. "No interest!"

Liu Wenchen, seated in the middle, felt helpless. Even with him between them, Kong Yuanba didn't give up harassing Gong Caiyi.

"Sect Master Kong, our disciples' sparring is about to begin," Liu Wenchen stated. "Please be quiet for a moment."

Kong Yuanba scoffed. He squinted, scanning the new disciples gathered beside each peak master, and sneered, "There are quite a few new disciples, but I wonder how many of them are actually any good."

Liu Wenchen's expression darkened. Years had passed, but Kong Yuanba remained as arrogant as ever. However, the Giant Sect was one of the three strongest among the Nine Sects, while the Qingyun Sect was one of the three weakest.

He gave a meaningful look to a few peak masters, who understood. They all urged their new disciples not to hold back and to fully display their strength later. They shouldn't let the Qingyun Sect's reputation be diminished in front of outsiders. The new disciples, feeling Kong Yuanba's disdain, were all holding their breath.

And so, twenty new inner disciples, including Jiang Fan, began their sparring matches by drawing lots.

A wooden box appeared before them. Liu Wenchen explained, "Inside the box are two spheres for each number from one to ten. Those who draw the same number will spar against each other."

Many immediately noticed Cao Zhen and Tao Zhengjun. These two could be considered the strongest among the new disciples. Although there were also highly talented female disciples like Xu Youran, Xu Yining, and Chen Siling, their cultivation was still shallow, and their realms were not very high. Drawing any of them would still offer a chance to fight. But drawing Cao Zhen or Tao Zhengjun would mean instant elimination. It was their first appearance before the Sect Master and the nine elders, and everyone hoped to leave a good impression. As for the ultimate reward of entering the Scripture Pavilion, they didn't dare to have high hopes.

Soon, Jiang Fan drew a number three. Liu Wenchen immediately began the pairings.

"Cao Zhen of Reincarnation Peak will face Tao Suling of Carefree Peak!"

"Tao Zhengjun of Sect Master Peak will face Wu Jiangtao of Heaven-Chasing Peak!"

Hearing these two pairings, all the new disciples, except Tao Suling and Wu Jiangtao, let out a long sigh of relief. The two strongest had been picked out; the rest would be easier to handle.

"Jiang Fan of Sect Master Peak will face Zheng Jiu of Mad Blade Peak!"

Jiang Fan's gaze sought him out and found a tall, handsome disciple holding the number three sphere, who was receiving much attention from the female disciples. This disciple was now looking at him disdainfully.

"So you're the Sect Master's disciple with no spirit root?" Zheng Jiu sneered. "I've heard much about you. Just try not to get knocked down by me in three moves later."

Laughter erupted all around them. If one were to ask who was the strongest among the new disciples, it was undoubtedly Cao Zhen and Tao Zhengjun. But in terms of who had the greatest fame, it was certainly Jiang Fan, this "dark horse."

"This guy's luck is terrible; he actually drew Zheng Jiu, the newly accepted favorite disciple of Mad Blade Peak Master," someone commented. "He already established his foundation and mastered a high-grade Yellow-level saber technique. His saber technique is said to be exquisite and highly acclaimed. It's questionable if a disciple like Jiang Fan, with no spirit root, can even withstand three moves from him."

Jiang Fan merely treated their discussions as idle chatter.

Gong Caiyi glanced at Liu Qingxian with a half-smile and said, "Miss Liu, if Jiang Fan is defeated before he even gets a chance to fight Cao Zhen, how will our bet be settled?" She wasn't very optimistic about Jiang Fan's strength. Jiang Fan's excellence lay in his comprehension, alchemy, and other areas, but the inherent weakness of having no spirit root meant his martial arts strength would inevitably be limited. It was possible he couldn't even pass the challenge of Zheng Jiu.

Liu Qingxian, however, smiled mysteriously. "If he can't even beat Zheng Jiu, then I'll concede defeat."

Gong Caiyi was surprised. Why was Liu Qingxian so optimistic about Jiang Fan's strength? Clearly, his strength couldn't be that high.

As the disciples' order was arranged, the sparring matches quickly began.

Cao Zhen and Tao Zhengjun proved themselves worthy of being the highly anticipated new disciples. Within five rounds, they successfully defeated their opponents, and both appeared to have reserves of strength. The other matches proceeded in an orderly fashion.

Kong Wushuang watched the matches with his hands behind his back, shaking his head faintly. "Besides Cao Zhen and Tao Zhengjun showing some potential, the rest are unbearable to watch. The Qingyun Sect is truly too barren; there aren't any promising talents left."

He didn't deliberately lower his voice, so all the disciples present heard him.

Cao Zhen's brow furrowed. "Kong Wushuang, do you dare to spar with me?" On Qingyun Sect's territory, such arrogance could not be ignored by him, who considered himself the strongest new disciple.

Kong Wushuang sneered, "You? You're no match for me! I'm not interested in you!"

Just then, Liu Wenchen said expressionlessly, "The last pairing: Jiang Fan versus Zheng Jiu." He frowned slightly. He couldn't help but feel a headache coming on. What he feared most was Jiang Fan making a public appearance and affecting his own reputation. Yet, at a grand ceremony like this, Jiang Fan had no choice but to appear. And appearing wasn't enough; he also had to challenge someone. And his luck was so bad that he drew Zheng Jiu! Zheng Jiu was definitely among the strongest of the new disciples.

Cao Zhen's attention was drawn, and he glanced at Jiang Fan disdainfully. "Fight me? You might not even qualify to make it all the way to me." What made Cao Zhen's eyebrow twitch was that Kong Wushuang's eyes, however, gleamed with a hint of interest. "Excellent!" Kong Wushuang exclaimed. "The only person I consider a rival has finally entered the arena. Let me see what you've got."

Cao Zhen was indignant. Kong Wushuang disdained his strength but thought highly of Jiang Fan? Why? He was universally acknowledged as the strongest among Qingyun Sect's new disciples! Why was everyone so optimistic about Jiang Fan?

The thoughts of all parties present differed, but without exception, everyone was quite interested in this battle—far more so than the sparring matches of Cao Zhen and Tao Zhengjun.

Jiang Fan calmly walked forward. Zheng Jiu, with a large saber strapped to his back, glanced at the empty-handed Jiang Fan and asked, "Where's your weapon?"

"No need," Jiang Fan replied, shaking his head. Against such strength, there was no need to draw his purple sword yet.

Zheng Jiu laughed in anger. "Arrogant! Do you really think that just because you've been the Sect Master's disciple for a few days, you're somehow superior? Sparring is about strength, not status! Fine, I'll do you a favor and use my saber to knock some sense into you!"

He strode forward, moving as fast as lightning, kicking up dust from the ground. His long saber gleamed with cold light as he unleashed a powerful chop towards Jiang Fan: "Thousands of Troops!"

The new disciples' eyes all lit up. Cao Zhen and Tao Zhengjun both looked slightly serious; the power of that saber strike exceeded their expectations.

Liu Wenchen's face was grim. He was getting angry. No spirit root, and arrogant enough not to use a weapon? Who gave Jiang Fan such courage? Wasn't he just asking for trouble?

However, with a dull thud, Liu Wenchen's expression subtly changed. It didn't sound like a saber strike; it sounded more like a punch or kick. Looking up, the imposing Zheng Jiu was actually spitting blood, stumbling backward repeatedly, and then dropped to his knees with a thud. If not for his long saber propping him up against his waist, he would have already fallen to the ground and been unable to get up.

Jiang Fan cupped his hands expressionlessly. "You concede."

After a brief silence, the entire hall erupted in an uproar.