Chapter Eight: The Target—The Gate of Life and Death

With only five days remaining until the Life and Death Sect Grand Competition, Liu Piaopiao brought Zhou Qi another defensive artifact: a lower-grade spirit artifact, the Golden Threaded Robe; five pills to restore spiritual power; and four Vitality Pills.

Zhengyi Sect had certainly shown great generosity in compensating Zhou Qi. After all, in their eyes, it would be extremely difficult for someone at the seventh level of Qi Condensation to survive the competition, especially when targeted by others.

The twelve members of Zhengyi Sect were preparing to set out.

The team was led by Elder Diwu Xingwen, the sect’s strongest combatant and the very face of Zhengyi Sect. The group was also accompanied by Liu Piaopiao, who, although not participating in battle, was responsible for coordination and negotiation thanks to her status as the sect leader’s daughter and her striking appearance. The remaining ten were composed of nine disciples selected through the sect competition and the scapegoat, Zhou Qi.

At the main square of Zhengyi Sect, all the cultivators wore grave expressions. The allocation of resources for the coming year depended on these ten; regardless of their usual thoughts, at this moment, everyone held but one hope: that Zhengyi Sect would achieve excellent results in the Five Sects Grand Competition.

Liu Chengfeng gazed upon the ten disciples before him and launched into his customary send-off speech...

"Disciples of Zhengyi Sect, you are our hope and our pride. I urge you to guard against arrogance and impatience, to remain composed, and never to give up until the very end. Though our sect’s results have never been the best over the years, neither have they been the worst. This time, I hope you give your all and bring honor to the sect. Look well at the sky above Zhengyi Sect, at the earth beneath your feet, at your fellow sect members around you..."

Diwu Xingwen looked up at the sky and was compelled to interrupt, "Sect leader, time is running short. We should be on our way."

Liu Chengfeng glanced at the sun’s position and realized that indeed, it was late. He reluctantly halted his impassioned speech. "Very well, then let me say three more things..."

The crowd was speechless, enduring the final three points with difficulty. They had started the send-off at dawn, and now it was already noon, yet the team had not even departed.

"Let’s go," Liu Chengfeng declared with a grand wave of his hand, brimming with enthusiasm; anyone unaware would have thought he was going too.

A small flying artifact appeared before Diwu Xingwen, resembling an airship but open to the elements. The group boarded, and Diwu Xingwen placed a spirit stone into the array aboard the ship.

The vessel shot straight up into the sky.

It was a vertical takeoff. Zhou Qi, unprepared, clung tightly to She Yicheng beside him, his face turning pale as memories of his bungee-jumping misadventures flooded back.

Liu Piaopiao, noticing Zhou Qi’s pallor, asked with concern, "Junior Brother Zhou, are you feeling unwell?"

"I’m fine, just a bit afraid of heights," Zhou Qi replied quietly.

A cultivator afraid of heights?

Everyone was briefly speechless. Cultivators could ride swords—did he really think he’d fall to his death?

Zhai Qianqian, one of only two female disciples in the group, burst out laughing. When Diwu Xingwen glanced at her with a stony face, she struggled to stifle her mirth.

The airship was steady and swift, protected by an array so there was no wind to sting their eyes. Hovering about a hundred meters above the ground, after a while, Zhou Qi finally acclimated.

Watching the blue sky and drifting clouds recede behind them, the lush forest gliding beneath their feet, Zhou Qi’s heart swelled with a sense of grandeur; he felt as though the heavens and earth belonged to him alone.

Suddenly, a shadow overhead cut short his soaring spirits.

Looking up, he saw a massive flying artifact sweeping above their ship.

"That belongs to Lingji Cave. They’re very strong. In past competitions, they always finished first or second, so they get more resources and naturally can build bigger artifacts. The disciples of Lingji Cave are notoriously ruthless. If you face them, you must be careful," Liu Piaopiao explained.

It was true—there was no pain like comparison.

But this did not dampen Zhou Qi’s resolve. So what if they had a "luxury ride"? The competition wasn’t about flying artifacts; the true test was the people.

No one was in the mood to admire the scenery any longer. In silence, they sped toward the Life and Death Sect.

Halfway there, a giant bat lunged at their ship.

The bat had a human-like face, razor-sharp fangs glinting with a cold sheen, and its enormous wings whipped up a gale that rocked the ship violently.

"Everyone be careful and hold on—this is a Tier Two demon beast, a Sky Bat," Diwu Xingwen announced as a blue-glowing sword floated before him.

"Go!" The sword grew larger, its blue light intensifying, then streaked like a rainbow toward the Sky Bat’s head.

The bat tried to dodge, but the sword had locked onto its target. Despite its fierce struggles, it could only watch as the sword pierced its skull, reducing it inch by inch to ashes.

"How unlucky, to encounter such a beast in broad daylight. It seems this journey will be full of uncertainties," Zhuge Qingsen said, shaking his head.

"Spare us your doom-mongering. It’s only a Tier Two demon beast—what’s the big deal?" Zhai Qianqian retorted.

"You don’t understand. Before we left, I cast a divination. The outcome was dire. Now, to meet a Sky Bat in daylight... I wonder if we’ll even make it back," Zhuge Qingsen sighed.

"Enough talk—just do your best." The sword flew back and disappeared into Diwu Xingwen’s storage ring as he rebuked them.

They had not even reached the Life and Death Sect, yet morale had already dropped by half. The sect leader’s efforts before departure had been in vain; if Zhuge Qingsen kept talking, there’d be no point in competing at all.

The group fell silent, each weighed down by a sense of heaviness.

"Sister, are there a lot of demon beasts?" Zhou Qi was unbothered by this mood; if he didn’t understand something, he asked.

"Of course. The Mystical Heaven Continent is home not just to humans, but also to other races. The demon and fiend clans once ruled these lands. Back then, humans were miserable, nothing more than food for other races. In the end, human cultivators defeated the others, and since then, no race has matched humanity’s strength. The demon and fiend beasts you see today are mostly of low cultivation, lacking intelligence, acting only on instinct. As for those who have attained higher cultivation and intelligence, you might not even recognize them if they stood before you," Liu Piaopiao replied.

"Powerful demon and fiend clans wouldn’t dare show themselves now. If they did, they’d be hunted by human experts; every part of them is valuable. It’s said that only in some hidden minor worlds do many such races still survive," added Zhai Qianqian.

"I’ve heard some regions are still ruled by other races, but they’ve long since made pacts with the major sects, making regular tribute in exchange for survival," Fu Shaojian, the top disciple at the Foundation Establishment stage, joined in. He was the foremost among the sect’s competitors this time, at the fifth level of Foundation Establishment, as was Wan Yanwen. Although they were tied for first in the competition, Fu Shaojian would likely edge out if it came to a real fight.

"So it’s just like us," Zhuge Qingsen interjected.

Well, he wasn’t wrong.

"If you can’t contribute to the conversation, then keep your mouth shut," Zhai Qianqian scolded—clearly, the two of them were well acquainted.

With that, the group’s mood lightened. Conversation resumed, gradually dispelling the gloom Zhuge Qingsen had brought.

Diwu Xingwen let them talk. Though they were sect-mates, when it came to resources, competition was fierce and no one would hesitate to stab another in the back if given the chance.

But this time, they needed to work together for the sect’s sake; better communication would help them face the battles to come.

Liu Piaopiao felt a bit frustrated. She had prepared a host of instructive speeches, but one remark from her junior brother had left her with nowhere to use them.