"And, the top ten disciples in each of the five groups will receive an additional Spirit Cleansing Fruit, corresponding to their respective realms."
Ye Yudong, who was about to announce the start of the competition, suddenly froze. Then, he raised his voice and announced loudly.
"Hiss~ Spirit Cleansing Fruit! There's actually a Spirit Cleansing Fruit."
"The sect is being unusually generous, offering a treasure like the Spirit Cleansing Fruit."
"The sect leader must be heartbroken right now."
"I don't know if the sect leader will be heartbroken, but I know if I don't fight for a top ten spot, I'll regret it for the rest of my life!"
"Sign up! Should I sign up? I want to sign up!"
The disciples, who had lost interest earlier, became completely excited.
The Spirit Cleansing Fruit was the only known spiritual fruit on the Taiyuan Continent that could enhance a cultivator's aptitude and purify spiritual roots.
Although cultivators on the Taiyuan Continent had developed various techniques and pills to improve spiritual roots and aptitude, they all came with side effects.
Only the Spirit Cleansing Fruit was a treasure without any side effects. Consuming three fruits, depending on one's aptitude, could generally raise one's spiritual root by a level.
For those with exceptional talent, it was even possible to improve by two levels.
This was a rarer treasure than Foundation Establishment Pills, Jade Liquid Golden Pills, or Nascent Soul Pills.
Seeing the disciples' enthusiasm, Ye Yudong thanked Yang Hong in his heart for saving the situation and felt a bit pleased. With the momentum building, the subsequent activities would be much simpler.
"Quiet!"
Ye Yudong's gentle command was not loud, but the entire training ground instantly fell silent.
"There are five arenas over there, each corresponding to a cultivation realm. On the crystal walls outside the arenas, there are registration arrays. Disciples, please find the corresponding arena to register yourselves."
As Ye Yudong finished speaking, the disciples dispersed like a flock of birds.
Yang Hong, who was invisible, shook his head and sighed, "Still inexperienced. Their organizational skills are truly lacking."
However, he also failed to consider that the Spirit Cleansing Fruit was a treasure that even the Ten Great Immortal Sects only managed to auction three to five pieces of once every hundred years. For the sect to directly offer fifteen pieces, how could the disciples remain calm?
At this very moment, Ke Jimei, Zhong Chengfeng, and Ran Boren, three cultivators at the Integration stage, were already communicating telepathically, discussing how to approach Yang Hong for a Spirit Cleansing Fruit.
Following that, twenty-seven disciples at the Spirit Transformation stage surrounded Ye Yudong, clamoring that they, as Spirit Transformation disciples, also wanted to participate in the sect grand competition and wanted to be ranked in the top ten.
Yang Hong continued to transmit messages in secret.
"Esteemed junior brothers, Spirit Transformation realm cultivators are not required to compete this time, so you will not be engaging in direct combat.
Your competition will be planting spiritual plants. Each of you will choose a seed you are most proficient with and plant it at the edge of the training ground. When the five arenas complete their battles, your spiritual plants will be judged based on their value and growth stage."
"This... alright."
A group of Spirit Transformation disciples seemed hesitant, but since Ye Yudong had said so, they dared not object. They knew this was a request from the sect leader, and that it was initiated by Yang Hong.
...
While Ye Yudong was arranging special competitions for the Spirit Transformation disciples, Gu Boji, the head of the Internal Affairs Department, had already registered himself early for the Qi Refining stage arena.
"After the battles between the two major alliances conclude, I will break through to the Foundation Establishment realm. Otherwise, my lifespan will affect my future cultivation."
Sensing the true qi of the twelfth layer of Qi Refining within his body, Gu Boji had no worries about breaking through to Foundation Establishment. His pursuit was immortality!
Upon entering the sect, Yang Hong, in addition to imparting him the "Ten Martial Arts" and "Five Elements Grand Circle Art," had also given him the "Clear Breeze Breathing Technique."
By cultivating the "Clear Breeze Breathing Technique," Gu Boji's true qi grew much slower than disciples of the same period, but the purity of his true qi was ten times that of ordinary disciples.
While other disciples, even his own son, had already established their foundations, he remained at the Qi Refining stage.
However, his actual combat power far surpassed that of his Foundation Establishment realm son, who was at the third layer.
Registration for the sect grand competition was simple. Connect your spiritual sense to the artifact crystal, leave your name, and the illusion array would randomly match the opponents.
As for disciples who had not yet cultivated their spiritual sense?
They could just go and cool off!
Without spiritual sense, they couldn't even use artifacts. Would they be seeking death on the arena?
Soon, it was Gu Boji's turn to enter the arena. His opponent, upon seeing him, burst into laughter.
"Senior Brother Gu, it's you. You should just step down yourself.
You're the head of the Internal Affairs Department. If I accidentally injure you, I fear the other senior brothers in Internal Affairs will tear me apart."
The disciple spoke as if he cared for Gu Boji, but his tone was clearly sarcastic.
Gu Boji, the only Qi Refining realm manager in the Clear Breeze Villa, known as Grandpa Porcelain, was recognized by everyone in the sect.
Gu Boji was also aware of his nickname. Since he had never revealed his strength, he couldn't be bothered to explain.
"So much nonsense. Are you fighting or not? If not, surrender and step down."
"Fight, why wouldn't I fight? I'll let Minister Gu have three moves before I make my move."
"Then... scram~"
Bang~
Without any fancy moves, Gu Boji simply shifted his position and struck out with his palm. The disciple spun through the air and was sent flying out of the arena.
"..."
A moment of silence fell over the crowd. All the disciples who had come to watch the spectacle were stunned.
Was this still Grandpa Porcelain?
Was this really that Minister Gu who might fall with a gust of wind?
This person, with equally white hair, was so familiar yet so strange.
"Gu Boji wins. The next match is Chi Guoqiong versus Yin Jizhen."
Regardless of others' thoughts, Ran Boren, who was also somewhat surprised, directly announced Gu Boji's victory and began the next match.
Battles among Qi Refining realm disciples were very simple. Either one move to kill, or ten moves to decide the victor. There was no back-and-forth exchange, as their true qi reserves were limited.
Furthermore, this was a competition, not a life-or-death struggle. They were all fellow disciples, and if they found themselves at a disadvantage, they would simply surrender.
Therefore, the battles proceeded very quickly.
In the second round, Gu Boji faced Kuang Jingyun, a disciple of the inner sect and a Heavenly Spiritual Root genius with a golden destiny level. He had entered the sect three years ago, had his cultivation suppressed by Yang Hong, yet had still broken through to the ninth layer of Qi Refining and was on the verge of establishing his foundation.
"Senior Brother Gu, be careful. Junior brother will not hold back."
"Junior Brother Kuang, rest assured, I will hold back."
"Arrogant~ Behold my flying sword!"
Bang~
Kuang Jingyun's flying sword was sharp, and his sword control was exceptionally skilled!
Unfortunately, Gu Boji did not confront him head-on. He simply dodged the flying sword with the Lingbo Footwork and sent Kuang Jingyun flying out of the arena with a single palm strike.
One move, still just one move!
"Strange~ Strange, is our Gu Porcelain this strong?"
"This is Gu Porcelain?"
Even Ran Boren and the other three Integration stage cultivators were surprised, wondering if they had misidentified him.
In the subsequent six rounds, Gu Boji continued his one-move strategy, defeating all his opponents with a single palm strike, achieving pure and overwhelming victories.
He decisively secured first place in the Qi Refining group.
Although it was only a battle between Qi Refining disciples, the four Integration stage cultivators could see the underlying strength. Gu Boji could completely fight opponents of a higher realm, and might even be a match for early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators.
"The sect leader is indeed the sect leader. His ability to discern talent is truly admirable. Boren is impressed."
Upon witnessing Gu Boji's strength, the other four leaders of the two departments and three halls, along with the former leader, could not help but exclaim, marveling at Yang Hong's keen judgment.
Other management personnel, including Gu Boji's deputy, Zhang Zhengyan, looked at Gu Boji with astonishment, a single thought flashing through their minds simultaneously:
"An old fox who plays the pig to eat the tiger!"