After looking at Qin Chu, Yan Yi nodded. He knew that if Qin Chu retreated upon hearing that Qian Qing and Liu Nan were causing trouble, he wouldn't be Qin Chu.
“From what I understand, due to the Seal on the periphery of the Azure King’s Ancient Ruins, Cultivators above the Fourth Rank cannot enter. This means that those who go in to compete for Opportunities are all below the Fourth Rank. Their schemes against you won’t exceed this level. As for the map, there’s one at the back of the handbook, which should be more detailed than those of other Disciples,” Yan Yi explained the situation to Qin Chu.
“I understand. Go back and tell the Peak Master that as long as Qin Chu is alive, he won’t disappoint him,” Qin Chu said to Yan Yi.
Yan Yi left. Qin Chu understood his intentions; he had achieved his goal of coming to find Qin Chu. He still needed to go to Qianluo Peak to check on Chu Yun. Failing to take down Qin Chu with his Third Rank Peak Cultivation was a significant blow to Chu Yun.
Holding the handbook, Qin Chu meticulously studied it, gradually gaining an understanding of the Azure King’s Ancient Ruins. At the back of the handbook was a map, drawn by previous Azure Bamboo Peak Disciples who had entered the Azure King’s Ancient Ruins. The other six Peaks also had such maps.
Qin Chu also learned about some of the dangers within the Azure King’s Ancient Ruins, such as the Formations and mechanisms, and Yao Beasts. It was difficult to determine the Rank of the Yao Beasts.
The Azure King’s Ancient Ruins had existed for too long. Although there was a Seal on the outside, Yao Beasts below the Fourth Rank could enter. The Yao Beasts that entered might have been very weak at the time, but it was normal for them to grow stronger over the long years.
After some thought, Qin Chu put the handbook and map into his Storage Ring. He knew that risk and Opportunity were directly proportional; only by taking risks could one gain rewards.
Perhaps some people would shy away from such a trial due to the high risks, but Qin Chu intended to participate. He had his own considerations. To find out about his origins, he needed strength. Mo Daozi was right; he possessed Sacred Blood, which was tied to powerful forces. With his current strength, jumping into that would likely not even cause a ripple.
Adjusting his thoughts, Qin Chu consumed a Condensing Yuan Pill and began to Cultivate.
The atmosphere in Qingyun Sect was exceptionally oppressive. The annual Sect Disciple competition was about to begin, and news of the Azure King Secret Realm’s impending emergence had also spread. These two events greatly impacted the Disciples of Qingyun Sect.
The Utility Hall of Azure Bamboo Peak remained unaffected. Bai Yu, Lin Zheng, Er Pang, and others still led the Utility Disciples in completing tasks. Everyone had a strong desire to become stronger, not for anything else, but for respect.
This was a world where the strong preyed on the weak. To be respected, one needed strength. Although the Utility Hall was currently under Qin Chu’s protection, how long could Qin Chu stay in the Utility Hall?
Many Utility Disciples understood that Qin Chu was too outstanding; the Sect would definitely focus on nurturing him, and his departure from the Utility Hall was only a matter of time.
At the beginning and end of each month, Qin Chu would leave Duan Ya to accept tasks at the Merit Hall. If there were few tasks, he would even go to the Merit Hall of the Main Peak to accept them. As for the hostile gazes from the Main Peak’s people, he ignored them. The Sect had no rule preventing him from accepting tasks from the Main Peak, so why shouldn't he?
Previously, the people of the Main Peak thought Qin Chu was like a grasshopper in autumn, not long for this world. But now, they no longer thought that way. Qin Chu was exceptionally domineering even when he first entered the Condensing Yuan Realm, and now that he had Cultivated to the Eighth Rank of the Condensing Yuan Realm, his combat strength had naturally risen sharply.
Qian Qing, Liu Nan, and others also knew about Qin Chu taking tasks, but they didn't act against him because the Opportunity was slim. They tried to follow him once, but Qin Chu always passed through Azure Bamboo Peak when leaving the Main Peak to go to Miyun Mountain, making it unrealistic to track him. Reaching Azure Bamboo Peak would easily expose them.
The Sect Assembly arrived as scheduled. The Inner Sect Disciples and Outer Sect Disciples of the seven Peaks all underwent self-challenges and internal rankings. The top ten Outer Sect Disciples and top ten Inner Sect Disciples, led by the high-ranking officials of their respective areas, gathered in the square in front of the Qingyun Sect Main Hall to begin the overall ranking of the Outer Sect Disciples and Inner Sect Disciples of the entire Qingyun Sect.
Core Disciples also had rankings, but not in public, mainly to avoid damaging their reputation. They would have arena battles in the Core Disciple area, and then the rankings would be announced. This meant that the people of Qingyun Sect only knew the rankings, not the details of the battles or who defeated whom.
Aside from Azure Bamboo Peak, the Disciples of the other six Peaks felt much more at ease seeing Qin Chu still wearing a coarse cloth robe, because at this time, Qin Chu was still a Utility Disciple and was not qualified to participate in the ranking battles for Outer Sect Disciples and Inner Sect Disciples.
Tightening the long sword on his back, Qin Chu straightened his body. What was wrong with being a Utility Disciple? Being a Utility Disciple was not shameful.
Previously, Qin Chu’s long sword hung at his waist, but after Cultivating the Startling Spirit Sword Art, he carried the long sword on his back.
“Watch carefully, see how others fight,” Luo Zhen said to Qin Chu, who was standing beside Elder Song.
Qin Chu nodded. In the past, he was always the one fighting. Today, he wanted to watch others fight and observe their strengths.
The Sect Disciple ranking battle involved drawing lots, with two-on-two duels. The loser was eliminated. The last ten remaining would be the top ten of the Outer Sect Disciple ranking. Afterward, they would compete individually to determine the top ten.
In less than half a day, the results were out. The first and second places went to the Main Peak, and the third place to Qianluo Peak. Azure Bamboo Peak only had one Outer Sect Disciple enter the top ten, securing the sixth place.
After Su Shanhe, who was presiding over the assembly, announced the rankings, Qin Chu stepped out from the Azure Bamboo Peak’s contingent.
“Qin Chu, you are a Utility Disciple. You are not qualified to participate in today’s assembly,” Su Shanhe stood up from his seat.
“I, Qin Chu, am not here to participate in the Sect Disciple competition today. I came out just to ask, the top ranker and the second ranker, do you dare to fight a match to let everyone see if your rankings are inflated?” Qin Chu said after glancing at the Outer Sect Disciples from the Main Peak who had secured the first and second Ranks.
“Don’t make trouble, get down!” Su Shanhe was furious. What was Qin Chu doing? The top ranker and second ranker were both Disciples of the Main Peak.
Qin Chu smiled, “Don’t you dare? If the top ranker and second ranker dare not accept the challenge of a Utility Disciple like me, isn’t that a bit too pathetic? People will say that the top ranker and second ranker of the Outer Sect Disciples are not even as good as a Utility Disciple! Oh, right, those two glared at me in the Merit Hall. Where’s your ability to glare now? Don’t tell me it’s gone?”
Everyone understood that Qin Chu was there to cause trouble. If the Outer Sect Disciples of the Main Peak didn't fight, they would be humiliated. If they fought, they would surely lose.
“What’s going on? Where’s your courage? Our Qingyun Sect Disciples can lose, can be defeated, but they cannot lack even the courage to draw their swords.” Lu Yuan, who had been observing, stood up. He was somewhat angry, angry at the lack of ambition of the Outer Sect Disciples. Now that Qin Chu had challenged them, the Outer Sect Disciples of the Main Peak actually dared not respond.
Helplessly, the two Disciples from the Main Peak conceded defeat. They truly lacked the courage to fight Qin Chu.
The atmosphere was awkward. Although Qin Chu did not participate in the Outer Sect Disciple battles, he had now become the uncrowned king, unrivaled among the Outer Sect Disciples.