Chương 70: The Bet! Disciples' Skill Competition!

Disciples' Skill Competition!

Disciples' Skill Competition! Updated! Read now: In the sky, two streaks of light, one after the other, sped toward the direction of Green Wave Cave.

Zhou Ding and Yu Kun both stood on the flying boat, with the undulating Taiyue Mountains beneath their feet.

Amidst the swirling clouds and mist, sunlight filters through the gaps in the clouds, bathing the mountains in a golden hue. The cascading waterfalls and flowing springs shimmer with a crystalline light under the sunlight, creating a magnificent and breathtaking scene that soothes the soul.

But Zhou Ding had no time to appreciate the scenery.

He looked at Yu Kun beside him and asked, "Senior Brother, could you tell me why Master summoned me?"

Yu Kun, as Li Huayuan's eldest disciple, is a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator. He is talkative, kind, and well-liked among his fellow disciples.

Upon hearing Zhou Ding's question, Yu Kun smiled slightly but did not answer directly.

"You're not the only one; the other junior brothers have been notified as well."

Zhou Ding was startled upon hearing this.

Have all the fellow disciples been notified?

Could it be that something big has happened?

Li Huayuan has eight disciples, who are currently staying in the sect.

The eldest disciple was Yu Kun, the third disciple was Liu Jing, the fourth disciple was Song Meng, the sixth disciple was Wu Xuan, the seventh disciple was Zhong Weiniang, and then there were Zhou Ding and Han Li.

Before this, Li Huayuan had never summoned all his disciples at the same time.

Could something big have happened?

What could it be?

A sense of doubt welled up in his mind.

He looked at Yu Kun, waiting for what he would say next.

Yu Kun remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking.

"Junior brother, do you still remember the old Daoist Fuyunzi of the Qingxu Sect?"

Zhou Ding was taken aback.

Fu Yunzi is a Core Formation cultivator from the Qingxu Sect. He has some connection with Li Huayuan and had met him before in the Blood Forbidden Land.

He nodded.

"Could this matter be related to Fuyunzi?"

Yu Kun sighed and explained the whole story.

The reason for this was actually the bet that Fuyunzi and Li Huayuan made when the Crimson Forbidden Land opened last time.

The two men bet on the gains their respective disciples would make in the forbidden area.

As a result, Li Huayuan won because of the dark horse Zhou Ding's appearance, and Fuyunzi lost to him a Bloodline Dragon's inner core.

The Bloodline Flood Dragon is a level-five demon beast, and moreover, a dragon-type demon beast. Its inner core is priceless and can be used to refine various rare pills, which are also of great use to Core Formation cultivators.

Fu Yunzi was heartbroken by the loss and felt resentful, which lingered in his heart.

Sure enough, after several years, he's back again.

This time, it's another challenge; he wants to gamble with Li Huayuan again.

After listening, Zhou Ding couldn't help but mutter something under his breath.

"This old Taoist priest has quite a gambling instinct."

Losing once isn't enough, do you want to lose again?

Upon hearing this, Yu Kun couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"That's right. I heard that after Fuyunzi went back, he gave those disciples who participated in the Blood Forbidden Land a good scolding."

Zhou Ding nodded in understanding, but still had doubts in his heart.

"But what does this bet have to do with us disciples?"

Yu Kun shook his head.

"Our master didn't say, but we'll find out when we get there."

Zhou Ding remained silent and did not press the matter further.

The airship continued its journey.

About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, a sacred peak appeared ahead.

The majestic Lingfeng Peak rises straight into the clouds, its summit shrouded in mist.

A huge waterfall cascades down from the mountainside, its waters flowing like a silver river falling from the heavens, creating a deafening roar.

A misty haze filled the air, forming a magnificent rainbow under the sunlight, spanning between the two mountain peaks—a truly breathtaking sight.

This is the location of Li Huayuan's Daoist temple, Green Wave Cave.

Two streaks of light landed in front of the waterfall.

Zhou Ding and Yu Kun put away their flying boat and were about to enter the cave when they heard another whooshing sound behind them.

A streak of gray light descended, revealing a person.

It was Han Li.

He still looked the same as always, wearing a drab gray Taoist robe, with an ordinary face, so plain that he would be easily lost in a crowd.

At this moment, he had a look of confusion in his eyes, clearly having received the notification but not knowing what it was about.

"Senior Brother Yu, Senior Brother Zhou," Han Li said, bowing respectfully.

Yu Kun briefly recounted the events.

After listening, a hint of doubt flashed in Han Li's eyes.

He glanced at Zhou Ding and saw that Zhou Ding's expression was calm and he could not tell whether he was happy or angry, which made him even more unsure.

The three of them entered the Green Wave Cave together.

……

Inside Green Wave Cave lies a hidden world.

After passing through the long passageway, the view suddenly opened up before me.

A bright and spacious hall appeared before us, measuring several tens of feet in size.

Dozens of luminous pearls were embedded around the hall, illuminating the entire space as if it were daytime.

In the very center of the hall, there was a long table made of rosewood.

On the table were several plates of spiritual fruits, including vermilion Zhu fruit, golden Huangjing fruit, and emerald green Qingling fruit, each one round and full of spiritual energy.

There were also several pots of exquisite tea, their fragrant aroma soothing and refreshing.

Li Huayuan and an old Taoist priest sat on opposite sides of a long table, enjoying tea.

Li Huayuan still had that lean and refined appearance, dressed in a blue Taoist robe, with a leisurely demeanor.

The old Taoist priest had the appearance of a white-haired man with a youthful face; his hair was snow-white, but his face was ruddy like that of a middle-aged man.

He was dressed in a gray Taoist robe, with a gourd of wine hanging from his waist. He was leaning back in his chair, looking nonchalant, which contrasted sharply with Li Huayuan's dignified demeanor.

This old Taoist priest was none other than Fuyunzi.

Several people stood behind Li Huayuan.

The fourth disciple, Song Meng, was thin and sharp-eyed, with a cultivation level of mid-Foundation Establishment.

The sixth disciple, Wu Xuan, was handsome and dressed in luxurious clothes, with a cultivation level of the early Foundation Establishment stage.

The seventh disciple, Zhong Weiniang, was beautiful and gentle. She was at the early stage of Foundation Establishment and was the only female disciple under Li Huayuan. She wore a light blue dress and her long hair was simply tied back. She stood there quietly, like a beautiful orchid.

Several other people were also standing behind Fu Yunzi.

The three men and one woman were all at the Foundation Establishment stage.

The woman was strikingly beautiful, dressed in red, with a cold expression. Her features were exquisite, her skin as white as snow, and her phoenix eyes held a sharp edge. Standing there, she resembled a rose with thorns. With a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivation level, her aura was steady, clearly indicating considerable strength.

The three male cultivators each had their own unique characteristics.

He was a burly man with broad shoulders and a powerful build, possessing an extraordinary aura and a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation level.

He was thin, with a sinister face, cold eyes, and an aura that was difficult to discern, giving people a sinister feeling.

He was refined, with a fair complexion, holding a folding fan, and his demeanor was elegant, giving him the air of a dashing young gentleman.

Zhou Ding glanced at the group of people, keeping a close eye on them.

Those who dared to challenge Fuyunzi must be the best of the Qingxu Sect.

These people were composed and had sharp eyes; they were clearly not easy to deal with.

Zhou Ding, Han Li, and Yu Kun entered the hall.

He quickly stepped forward and bowed to Li Huayuan.

"Disciple greets Master."

Li Huayuan nodded and put down his teacup.

"Everyone's here."

He pointed to Fuyunzi opposite him and introduced him, "This is Fellow Daoist Fuyunzi of the Qingxu Sect. Please call him Uncle-Master."

Just as Zhou Ding and the others were about to bow, Fu Yunzi waved his hand.

"No, no, call him 'Senior Uncle'! This old Taoist is clearly older than your master, how can you call him 'Junior Uncle'? Call him 'Senior Uncle'!"

His voice was loud and clear, with a hint of roguishness, which sounded particularly out of place in the quiet hall.

Upon hearing this, Li Huayuan couldn't help but roll his eyes.

"What's the difference between 'uncle' and 'elder brother'? It doesn't matter what you call them."

Fu Yunzi glared at him.

"How can you say there's no difference? Martial Uncle is an elder, and Martial Master is also an elder, but Martial Master is older than Martial Uncle! Don't you even understand this basic etiquette? I'm 380 years old this year, how old are you? It's not an exaggeration to call you a junior!"

Li Huayuan was too lazy to argue with him and waved his hand.

"Whatever you like, call me Master Uncle then."

Zhou Ding and the others suppressed their laughter and bowed again.

"Greetings, Master Fuyunzi."

Fu Yunzi nodded in satisfaction.

"That's more like it."

He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and then looked at Li Huayuan.

"Alright, everyone's here. How do you want to compete?"

Li Huayuan put down his teacup and said slowly, "You're the one who challenged me to a duel, so naturally you set the rules."

Upon hearing this, Fu Yunzi did not stand on ceremony.

"Alright! Then the old Taoist priest will speak."

He stood up, walked to the center of the hall, glanced at the disciples behind Li Huayuan, and then looked at the people he had brought with him, clearing his throat.

"For this competition, we'll have our disciples participate. There will be three rounds, best two out of three. Whoever wins two rounds wins."

Li Huayuan raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Disciples competing?"

Fu Yunzi nodded.

"Yes! Combat, alchemy, formations, talisman making... all of these are fine. Let the disciples compete. This will not only allow them to see the skills of our disciples, but also give these young people a chance to learn from each other and broaden their horizons."

Li Huayuan pondered for a moment and then nodded.

"That's interesting. So, tell me, which three events are we comparing?"

Fu Yunzi thought for a moment and said, "Alchemy, formations, and combat. These three best demonstrate the fundamentals of a cultivator, what do you think?"

Li Huayuan nodded.

"Okay. It's settled then."

After some discussion, the two finalized the specific rules for the competition.

Alchemy: Each side sends one disciple to refine a designated elixir within a specified time. The winner is determined by the quality, purity, and success rate of the elixir.

Formation: Each side sends one disciple to set up a formation. The winner is determined by the sophistication and power of the formation. They can also try to break each other's formations. Whoever breaks the opponent's formation first wins.

Combat: Each side sends one disciple to fight a fair duel on the arena. They may use magical artifacts, talismans, and spells, but may not use one-time-use high-powered treasures. The winner is determined by one side conceding defeat.

The competition is scheduled for three days from now.

The location is on the open ground outside Green Wave Cave.

After listening to Li Huayuan's supplement, Fu Yunzi nodded in satisfaction.

"Okay! It's settled then."

He turned to look at Li Huayuan, a smug look flashing in his eyes.

"Li Huayuan, this old Taoist has come prepared. You'd better be prepared to lose. If you lose, you'll have to extract three pieces of iron essence for me."

His visit this time wasn't entirely because he lost the bet last time.

The problem was that his natal magic weapon had a slight issue and needed to be improved by incorporating iron essence.

The cultivation technique practiced by Li Huayuan possessed powerful true fire, making him far more efficient at refining iron essence than others.

His purpose in coming here was to win a few pieces of iron essence from Li Huayuan.

Li Huayuan smiled slightly, neither confirming nor denying.

"Let's wait and see."

Fu Yunzi laughed and stood up.

"Then we shall take our leave now, and meet again in three days."

With a wave of his hand, he led a few disciples and strode away.

……

After Fu Yunzi left, the hall fell silent.

Li Huayuan picked up his teacup, took a slow sip, and glanced at his disciples.

That seemingly casual gaze sent a chill down the spines of everyone present.

Zhou Ding could feel that gaze lingered on him for a moment, then moved away, landing on Han Li, and then on the others.

After a moment, Li Huayuan slowly spoke.

"Do any of you have any special skills?"

His voice was calm, revealing no emotion.

But everyone knew that this was a troop mobilization.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Ding's heart stirred, but he did not speak immediately.

He lowered his eyes and pondered silently.

The bet between the two Core Formation cultivators led to the entry of a Foundation Establishment disciple.

If we win, that would be great, everyone would be happy, and we might even get to show off in front of our master.

But what if we lose...

Who knows if Li Huayuan will take it to heart?

Although he usually appears gentle and is kind to his disciples, he is, after all, a Core Formation cultivator, and no one can say for sure what his temperament is like.

If he loses face and takes his anger out on his disciples, then it would be a great loss.

Who would be willing to take on this obviously hot potato?

Han Li remained silent, his eyes lowered, as if lost in thought.

He has always been cautious and never takes the initiative to stand out.

His principle is to hide whenever possible and never easily expose himself.

Liu Jing and Song Meng exchanged a glance, a hint of interest flashing in their eyes, but neither spoke.

They were skilled in combat and were eager to try this kind of contest.

However, neither of them were reckless and knew they should first observe their master's attitude.

Wu Xuan lowered his head, seemingly lost in thought.

Zhong Weiniang bit her lower lip, hesitating to speak.

The hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

The only sound could be the dripping of the spring water in the corner, drip, drip.

A moment later, a voice rang out.

"This disciple excels in combat; let this disciple go."

The one speaking was Song Meng, the fourth disciple.

He stepped forward, cupped his hands in a salute to Li Huayuan, his gaze firm and unwavering.

Li Huayuan glanced at him, nodded, but didn't say anything.

His gaze continued to sweep over the others.

Zhou Ding could feel that gaze linger on him for a moment.

He felt a chill run down his spine, but still remained silent.

Han Li lowered his head even further, wishing he could disappear into a crack in the ground.

Li Huayuan's gaze slowly swept over everyone, taking in each person's reaction.

A moment later, he smiled.

That smile had a deeper meaning.

"What, are you all afraid of losing?"

His voice remained calm, yet carried a hint of mockery.

Upon hearing this, everyone felt a pang of anxiety.

Zhou Ding secretly groaned.

He knew that Li Huayuan was forcing them to make a statement.

If I don't speak up soon, I'm afraid I'll be remembered for it.

Sure enough, Li Huayuan continued, "Don't worry, I'm not the kind of person to hold grudges. If we lose, it's not your fault. But if we win..."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd.

"Choose any treasure from my treasure vault."

Upon hearing this, everyone's eyes lit up.

Li Huayuan's treasure pavilion was famous for its vast collection of treasures.

He was a veteran Core Formation cultivator in Yellow Maple Valley, and had accumulated considerable wealth over the years.

Any single treasure inside is incredibly valuable.

Zhou Ding's heart stirred.

He didn't want to get involved in this mess, but since Li Huayuan had already said so, if he didn't express his opinion, he might anger the other party.

Besides, there's a reward for winning.

Could there be something he wants in his treasure vault?

He hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward.

"This disciple knows some formations and alchemy, and is willing to share Master's burdens."

Seeing this, Han Li had no choice but to speak up as well.

He knew that if he didn't speak up now, it would really be inappropriate.

"This disciple is skilled in alchemy."

Liu Jing and Zhong Weiniang exchanged a glance and stepped forward as well.

"This disciple only knows how to fight."

Li Huayuan nodded in satisfaction.

"Alright. In that case, three days from now, Song Meng, Liu Jing, and Zhong Weiniang will be in charge of the magic duel, Zhou Ding will be in charge of the formation, and Han Li will be in charge of the alchemy."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the group.

"Prepare well. In three days, do your best to win the bet for your master."

Everyone responded in unison, "Yes!"

……

After leaving Green Wave Cave, Zhou Ding and Han Li returned together.

Neither of them spoke the rest of the way, each lost in their own thoughts.

Zhou Ding was pondering how to deal with the situation three days from now.

Although he knows some formations, he is only at the beginner level, and his chances of winning against Fuyunzi's disciple are not high.

After all, he didn't know the level of the opponent's formation.

Han Li was also making plans.

He had been refining pills for many years and was very experienced. He believed that he was no less capable than an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Each with their own thoughts, they remained silent the entire way.

……

Upon returning to his cave dwelling, Zhou Ding had just stepped into the main hall when Xin Ruyin came to greet him.

"Zhou Lang, you're back? What does your master want with you?"

She noticed that Zhou Ding's expression was unusual and felt somewhat worried.

Xiao Mei also came over, looking at Zhou Ding curiously.

Zhou Ding sighed and recounted what had happened at Green Wave Cave.

"Disciples competing?"

Xin Ruyin was surprised after hearing this.

Unexpectedly, even a Core Formation cultivator would act so recklessly, actually letting his disciples compete and setting up a betting scheme.

Xiaomei's eyes widened even more.

"Young Master, are you going to have a competition with someone? Isn't it dangerous?"

Zhou Ding gave a wry smile.

"It was a bit ridiculous, but I couldn't disobey my master's orders, so I had no choice but to go along with it."

He paused, then added, "However, it's a contest of formations, not a life-or-death battle, so there's no danger."

Xin Ruyin pondered for a moment, a thoughtful look flashing in her eyes.

"Zhou Lang, I will go with you in three days."

Her voice was calm, yet confident.

Upon learning that there would be a reward for winning the competition, she wanted to help Zhou Ding.

She was worried that if he lost the competition, he would be reprimanded by his master.

Xin Ruyin was confident in her mastery of array formations.

Her array formation skills have improved considerably these days from studying the "Qingyang Array Manual".

Those obscure and difficult principles of array formations were child's play to her.

She can even improve certain ancient formations, something that was unthinkable before.

If it were a contest of formations, she was confident she wouldn't lose to those Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Looking at her, Zhou Ding felt a surge of warmth in his heart.

He pondered for a moment, then nodded.

"it is good."

If Xin Ruyin were willing to help, it would greatly increase the chances of winning.