Chapter 13: The Championship Will Only Belong to Me
Jiang Heng took the booklet and asked thoughtfully, "Do you have information on high-level experts of all ranks?"
"Yes, our Wanhe Hall is a loose organization with members from all levels, including Outer Sect, Inner Sect, and Core Sect. We gather information for each of these levels."
"Then I appreciate Brother Liang's kind gesture."
"Brother Jiang, there's no need to be so polite. You are one of the top contenders for the championship predicted by our hall's brothers. In the future, when you enter the Inner Sect or even the Core Sect, you will have more opportunities to interact with others. This small gesture is nothing."
Jiang Heng looked at Liang Pingwei curiously and asked, "Top contender?"
"Many people have high expectations for me, but only a few believe that I have a chance to win. Why do you have this prediction?"
Liang Pingwei smiled and looked at Jiang Heng, "Brother Jiang entered the Outer Sect less than a month ago and has already defeated the top talents like Meng Lingshui and Pu Xingyu, becoming the master of the Dueling Platform. Your martial arts achievements during this period are almost unmatched in the entire Outer Sect."
"Based on our assessment of the strengths of various top experts, we believe that as long as Brother Jiang breaks through to the Eighth Stage, he has a great chance of winning."
"For ordinary people, it's almost impossible to achieve a two-stage improvement in a month, but for Brother Jiang, it's still possible."
"I wonder if Brother Jiang is confident in yourself?"
Jiang Heng smiled indifferently, his eyes filled with arrogance. "The championship will only belong to me!"
He opened the small booklet in his hand and went straight to the section about the top contenders for the championship.
There were only five names listed:
Qi Peng, 19 years old, Tenth Stage of Body Refining Realm, Great Accomplishment level Meteor Sword Technique, Great Accomplishment level Swift Wind Steps, Last year's champion of the sect's competition.
Bu Hanyi, 17 years old, Tenth Stage of Body Refining Realm, Great Accomplishment level or higher Radiant Sword Technique, Great Accomplishment level or higher Phantom Steps, Ranked 29th in last year's sect competition.
Gu Zhaojun, 18 years old, Ninth Stage of Body Refining Realm, Great Accomplishment level Illusory Sword Technique, Great Accomplishment level Swift Wind Steps, Ranked 7th in last year's sect competition.
Lan Gaozhuo, 24 years old, Tenth Stage of Body Refining Realm, Great Accomplishment level Falling Moon Blade Technique.
Jiang Heng, 16 years old, Sixth Stage of Body Refining Realm or higher, Perfect level Breaking Rock Fist, Perfect level Swift Wind Steps, Suspected Perfect level Bronze Statue Technique.
"Only two contenders for the championship have reached the Tenth Stage of their cultivation?"
Jiang Heng raised an eyebrow, surprised.
Liang Pingwei next to him gave him a strange look and said,
Brother Jiang, as a genius like you, you may not be aware that progress isn't guaranteed through cultivation alone."
"The strength of a martial artist's physical body requires a considerable amount of resources just to maintain their vitality."
"After the three-year sect welfare period, most Outer Sect disciples are busy with various tasks, earning contribution points and striving to maintain their vitality or make slight progress."
"Plus, we exclude those Outer Sect disciples who have been here for over ten years."
"So, the top contenders for the championship are generally new talents, not those older disciples who have lingered in the Outer Sect for a long time."
At this point, Liang Pingwei sighed.
"The gap between geniuses and ordinary people is truly despair-inducing."
"Geniuses can focus on their daily cultivation while the sect provides abundant resources, allowing them to progress rapidly."
"On the other hand, ordinary disciples lack sufficient time for cultivation, resources are scarce, and combined with poor talent, their progress often stagnates or even regresses."
Jiang Heng nodded thoughtfully.
Indeed, cultivation relied heavily on resources. For example, without the system, he might have spent several more years as a menial servant.
Liang Pingwei continued, "Of course, there are some Tenth Stage disciples."
"However, combat is not solely determined by one's cultivation level; martial arts mastery is also crucial."
"Even among peers of the same cultivation level, the advancement in martial arts mastery significantly outweighs the difference of one or two small cultivation realms."
"Most geniuses either focus on increasing their cultivation or dedicate themselves to studying martial arts, as balancing both is difficult."
"Only the top-tier geniuses can manage both."
"That's what makes them the top contenders for the championship."
Liang Pingwei had spent six years in the Outer Sect, and while his cultivation level wasn't high, his knowledge exceeded what Jiang Heng could comprehend.
Just as the two were chatting...
"Silence!"
A dignified and heavy voice echoed throughout the venue.
Everyone turned their gaze toward the center of the square.
There, a figure in flowing white robes had appeared on the elevated platform, and no one knew when.
The crowd in the square immediately fell silent.
"Dear disciples, I am Su Qinghe, the steward in charge of overseeing this sect competition."
"First, let me briefly introduce the competition's format."
Su Qinghe was a middle-aged man with a handsome appearance. He carried a longsword and wore flowing white robes, exuding an elegant and swordsman-like aura. His speech was concise and straightforward.
"The sect competition is divided into two stages."
"The first stage is the Savage Beast Hunting Trial."
"Everyone will enter the designated area in the West Luo Mountain Range to hunt savage beasts. For each left ear of a savage beast you harvest, you'll earn one point. Within one week, the top fifty in terms of points will qualify for the sect competition."
"Even if you don't secure a ranking, you can exchange your contribution points based on your individual score."
"In addition, malicious killings are strictly prohibited. If any such incidents are discovered by randomly patrolling stewards, your points will be reset, and you may face sect penalties."
"The second stage is the arena matches."
"The top fifty will be drawn for duels. Winners will advance, while losers will exchange opponents and continue to fight, all based on a points system. In the end, the final rankings will be determined according to the accumulated points."
"Any questions?"
A disciple raised their hand and asked, "Steward Su, what if someone possesses top-ten strength but is defeated by stronger individuals or by a group in the first stage? Wouldn't they miss the chance to showcase their abilities?"
Su Qinghe scanned the disciple with an indifferent expression.
"Talent is essential but not the sole factor."
"Connections, opportunities, and strategies are equally important."
"In the sect competition, only the results matter."
"If you have unparalleled talent but are already killed, who do you think will care about you?"
After a pause, Su Qinghe continued, "Alright! Since there are no more questions, let's begin!"
With that, he moved gracefully and landed at the entrance of the square before proceeding outward.
The stewards and attendants around the square led the Outer Sect disciples, and together they set off. They descended the mountain and continued heading west.
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