Chapter 8: A Sudden Competition and a Weird Old Man!
"What's with all the noise outside?!"
In a room, a young man with short black hair, white skin, and blue eyes was silently constructing what seemed to be a clone of himself.
Xu Yongzheng had been practicing the Endless Graveyard Technique for an entire day without knowing.
Unfortunately, he couldn't focus because of all the noise outside.
Out of frustration and curiosity, he quickly left his room to see what was going on.
To his surprise, he saw tons of people training or sparring with each other, completely disregarding the thought that others could be cultivating. Xu Yongzheng was confused so he went to the nearest person and asked him about this.
"Hey, do you know what's happening? Why is everybody training, is there a competition or something?" The Outer Disciple looked at him speechlessly for a moment before responding.
"Don't you know? A competition is being held for the Outer Disciples, and whoever comes in first place can become an Inner Disciple immediately!" The disciple said before running off.
Nobody wanted to miss out on this chance to become an Inner Disciple.
After hearing this, Xu Yongzheng was shocked and confused.
Why was a competition happening and why wasn't he informed?
Why was the competition happening now all of a sudden?
Too many questions went through Xu Yongzheng's head, giving him a mild headache so he went back in his room. He didn't practice any techniques and just laid on the floor to think.
'I should be able to get another technique from the Arts Hall right?' The Arts Hall was the part of the Azure Sword Sect that contained all of the techniques and arts.
It was also commonly known that you can't learn another technique until you finish the one you're given when you join the sect. For an Inner Disciple or Outer Disciple with a little bit of talent, this won't be hard. But for someone like Xu Yongzheng who previously had no talent, it was almost impossible without immense time.
After thinking to himself, Xu Yongzheng headed for the Arts Hall. He passed through by ton of Outer Disciples practicing the Raging Waters Technique with their friends and peers.
'This is what I looked like just half a month ago...' Xu Yongzheng felt embarrassed as he looked at some of the Outer Disciples failing to generate the smallest bit of water from their blades.
He could feel himself growing more ashamed so he sped up his pace towards the Arts Hall.
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.
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After reaching the Arts Hall, multiple beads of sweat rolled down Xu Yongzheng's face.
Not because he was tired, but because he was nervous. After all, this was his first time ever being at the Arts Hall despite having the Raging Waters Technique.
During the recruiting of Outer Disciples, the disciples aren't given the choice to learn whatever technique they want in the Arts Hall.
They're simply given the choice of learning one of three provided techniques, one of them is the Raging Waters Technique.
The other two techniques are the Raging Spirit Qi Arts and the Water Demon Fist Arts.
Most of the Arts within the sect are related to the use of Spirit Qi and magical elements.
Most Outer Disciples are naturally deterred from the Raging Spirit Qi Arts because of this. Finding people capable of comprehending elements isn't hard, but the Azure Sword Sect naturally attracts physical fighters.
Xu Yongzheng wanted to learn the Raging Spirit Qi Arts when he first joined the sect because he wanted to cast spells. Unfortunately, his talent said otherwise and he had to settle for the Raging Waters Technique.
Since there are only a few people who use the Raging Spirit Qi Arts amongst the Outer Disciples, most people don't know anything about it.
The Water Demon Fist Arts is strictly for the people who fight bare-handed. This Art depends heavily on the user's Spirit Qi and if cultivated to the final level, can manifest a water demon from the user's Spirit Qi.
The Outer Disciples were pretty much split upon these three techniques and arts, though there are a few Outer Disciples who have reached the peak of those techniques and skills.
Those people learned more than one technique and are usually geniuses, for example, Yao Yan.
"What's your business here?" The annoyed voice of an old man sounded not far from the entrance of the Arts Hall. Xu Yongzheng instantly noticed a man wearing a straw hat sitting in a chair.
It seems like he was intentionally holding his head down as he spoke to Xu Yongzheng.
"Ah, I'm here to learn another technique..." Xu Yongzheng didn't want to speak in a loud voice in case anyone heard him. Not to be lowkey, but because he knew he sounded fake right now.
"Show me your comprehension of your first technique." The old man gave an immediate response without even moving. Xu Yongzheng wasn't surprised and instead started using the Raging Waters Technique with his wooden sword.
The wooden sword was a katana to be exact, which was perfect for a sword technique like this, but sadly it was only wood. But instantly, the wooden sword became a pure body of water and kept its form.
Normally, if someone else were to execute this same technique, the sword's form would be unstable but Xu Yongzheng was different. Thanks to his prior water manipulation training, this was a piece of cake.
'I dare say the last level of this technique was easier than the first!' Xu Yongzheng couldn't help but feel slightly arrogant as he looked at the water sword. The once dull and wooden sword was now a slick and sharp blade of water.
The details of the sword were enhanced and the old man was a little surprised.
"Oh, I see you've perfectly mastered this technique huh? To be able to keep the form of the entire sword stable, you're free to go." The old man was surprised for one second but waved his hand the next before putting his head back down.
'Hmm...What a weird old man...' A smile formed on Xu Yongzheng's face as he walked into the Arts Hall.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone