Chapter 50: Blood Shadow Dagger

  "If I concede now, it won't affect the top ten quota, will it?" Shi Sheng looked at Wu Qi and immediately asked the staff below the stage.

  "It's just like that, and it's also giving up the competition for the top three places. You'd better think carefully!" The officer reminded him.

  "I give up!" Shi Sheng said resolutely, and immediately cupped his hands to Wu Qi, smiling as he walked down from the stage. The top three rankings were not worth fighting for, and all his hidden cards had already been exposed. If the opponent was unguarded, they might still be of some use.

  Now that others have learned about his strange movements and small fireballs, it's likely to be difficult to even get into the top ten with precautions in place. Moreover, Shi Sheng's current state is also very bad, he has already lost his combat power, walked down from the stage calmly, and sat down on a wooden chair at will.

  "Pathetic, you're giving up so easily!" said Song Lao with a casual tone.

  "The old man doesn't think so, this child is wise!" An elder stroked his beard, a look of appreciation on his face. Xiao Lao's eyes flashed with a hint of doubt as he looked at Shi Sheng, his face thoughtful.

  Time slowly passed, until it was almost evening, when the sect's trial finally came to an end. Several disciples in charge of the event reported back to Elder Liu, who nodded his head in approval.

  "Alright, this sect's competition has come to an end. I will announce the ranking of the winners, but as for the rest of the rankings, I won't be announcing them now. Tomorrow, there will be a special person who will post the announcement!"

  "Third place, Yang Fan, will be rewarded with a high-grade spiritual artifact. Second place, Ding Qian'er, will be rewarded with an extreme-quality spiritual artifact. And the champion, Wu Qi, will be rewarded with a single piece of spiritual treasure!" Liu Changlao announced loudly, and the crowd responded with some envy and jealousy.

  After a pause, Liu Chang Lao continued: "Fourth place is Yu Tie, fifth place... tenth place Shi Sheng! Tomorrow, go to Tian Yang Pavilion to receive your rewards. This trial of the sect ends here!"

  Liu Changlao finished his announcement and left Lier Yang Square with several other elders. The stewards then began to preside over the dispersal ceremony, and Shi Sheng and others left one after another. Guan Ping's face was gloomy, and he glanced at Shi Sheng's back. He had originally been very hopeful of getting into the top three, but now he hadn't even made it into the top ten.

  ……

  "Really? Congratulations, Ah Sheng! I knew you'd definitely succeed!" Inside the ancient fragrance chamber, Lin Wan'er was beaming with joy as she pulled Shi Sheng to the dinner table, where four small dishes were already prepared.

  "Wan'er sister rarely indulges in luxury, and yet she's made so many delicious dishes!" Shi Sheng was also very excited, almost recounting the entire competition process.

  "This silver is also earned by you, eat some good food to celebrate, today's trial must be very tiring, go rest early!" Lin Wan'er smiled and picked a few pieces of meat into Shi Sheng's bowl.

  "Lin Wan'er is also eating, there's so much of it, don't give it all to me, or I'll become a fatty!" As he spoke, Shi Sheng gave Lin Wan'er a few pieces of meat as well. The two chatted and laughed together, surrounded by a warm atmosphere, while Lin Wan'er felt wrapped in happiness, with a gentle smile on her face.

  ……

  After dinner, Shi Sheng returned to his room alone, feeling indeed a bit physically and mentally exhausted, and fell asleep without thinking much. When he woke up again, it was already the next afternoon.

  "Ah, so comfortable!" Shi Sheng stretched his waist, feeling that his body had recovered to about 70-80%, after washing up and having a meal with Lin Wan'er, Shi Sheng prepared to go to the Tianyang Pavilion to receive his reward.

  "Is Shi Sheng here?" Just then, a voice came from outside the door, it was Xiao Chang Lao.

  "Please come in, Elder Xiao!" Shi Sheng said. Lin Wan'er, being very considerate, returned to her own room and did not disturb the two of them chatting.

  "Xiao Lao Lao, please take a seat. Thank you for your help yesterday, otherwise..." Shi Sheng thought of Song Lao's various difficulties and if it wasn't for Xiao Lao Lao's protection, he would have been eliminated long ago. It seems that in this 'University House', without someone backing you up, it's really not easy to get by.

  "No big deal!" Xiao Lao sat casually on a wooden chair, smiling and said: "Congratulations, I didn't expect you to actually make it into the top ten, really beyond my expectations!"

  "It was just a fluke; if I were to try again, I'm afraid it would be difficult to even make the top ten." Shi Sheng said with some helplessness.

  Xiao Lao nodded: "En, this is not bad. Everyone knows your background and has some guard against you. It's indeed difficult to win. This time, I have a few questions that require you to answer truthfully!"

  "Xiao Chang Lao, may I ask?" Shi Sheng said with a stir in his heart.

  "Where did the precious clothes on your body come from? Where did you learn that small fireball technique?" asked Xiao Lao with a seemingly casual tone.

  Shi Sheng An Dao indeed, but I had already thought of a countermeasure, recalling: "Xiao Chang Lao, my disciple met a little girl when he went down the mountain last time..."

  In this way, Shi Sheng almost completely told what had happened, without even hiding the blood needle, and it sounded more true and credible. Xiao Lao tightly stared at Shi Sheng for a long time, seeing that his tone and attitude were not like those of a liar, and he nodded slightly.

  "What about the Small Fireball Technique?" asked Xiao Chang.

  "It was also taught by that girl, right? Elder Xiao, what kind of big family can cultivate such a little monster? She looks like she's only five or six years old!" Shi Sheng said with some doubt.

  Xiao Lao Lao first narrowed his eyes in thought for a moment, then smiled: "Little monster? Hehe, perhaps it's just your little opportunity."

  I'm here to inform you of something, all newcomers who enter the sect will participate in the initiation ceremony, and then be selected by some elders as their disciples. You currently have no master and have not participated in the initiation ceremony, so it's inevitable that there will be some rumors!

  "So, I'm prepared to take you in as a disciple. Are you willing to acknowledge me as your master?" asked Xiao Changlao with a slight smile and an even tone.

  Shi Sheng's heart moved slightly, and among the people of Tianxuan Sect, he was most familiar with Xiao Changlao. Among those he had come into contact with, Xiao Changlao could be considered a straightforward and upright person. If he could become his disciple under his seat, Shi Sheng would naturally be willing.

  "Disciple is willing to pay respects to Elder Xiao as his master!" As soon as the words were spoken, Shi Sheng stood up and was about to perform a kneeling bow, but Elder Xiao merely stroked his sleeve, and an invisible force acted on Shi Sheng's body, lifting him back up.

  "We cultivators don't need such mundane etiquette, and I'm not fond of it either!" Xiao Changlao chuckled, his personality being quite carefree and unbound by trivial matters!

  "Thank you, Master!" Shi Sheng's face turned serious, although he wasn't clear about this world and how others viewed their masters, but in his heart, he regarded Xiao Changlao as a benefactor and respected him deeply.

  "En, although you've become my disciple, don't think you can do as you please. This Tian Xuan Sect isn't a place where I have the final say, and I won't provide you with any resources either. You'll still need to work hard to earn them yourself, understand?" Elder Xiao's expression turned serious.

  "I understand!" Shi Sheng replied solemnly.

  "That's good, here is the list of disciples from Huahaijing, they are your 'same source' fellow apprentices, take it and have a good look, later on get along well with everyone, sometimes there will be some tasks, your own fellow apprentices will work together, generally more tacit than 'same door' fellow apprentices, I still have some things to do, so I'll leave first!" Xiao Lao said, leaving behind a booklet, then turned and left.

  Shi Sheng flipped through the booklet, carefully recording every name of his fellow disciples. There were also a few female disciples inside, but almost everyone on the list had been seen in the trials.

  "This ice silkworm cape, Elder Xiao and the others didn't notice it at first? It wasn't just that they didn't pay attention, but for some reason, Wang Bo actually recognized it with one glance!" Shi Sheng was somewhat puzzled.

  After a moment of silence, Shi Sheng put away the small book and smiled on his face: "Hehe, fifty pieces of Xuanjing Jade, plus more than ten pieces in hand, can finally buy that dagger!"

  After speaking, Shi Sheng and Lin Wan'er exchanged a glance, then went to the Scripture Pavilion to return the ancient scroll, retrieved two pieces of Xuanjing Jade as deposit, came to the Tianyang Pavilion to receive fifty pieces of Xuanjing Jade reward, and finally arrived at the Refining Pavilion, spending sixty pieces of Xuanjing Jade to buy this long-awaited high-grade spiritual instrument - Blood Shadow Dagger.

  "Li Changlao, this is the Refining Pavilion. I suppose we can refine the spiritual artifact a bit?" Shi Sheng asked aloud.

  Upon hearing this, the middle-aged man in grey robes from the Alchemy Pavilion was slightly taken aback: "Refining equipment? That's only natural. However, if you don't have the materials yourself, I'm afraid you won't be able to afford the price."

  "The disciple just wants to modify the Blood Shadow Dagger!" Shi Sheng's face turned serious.

  "What changes do you want to make? If it's to improve quality, the price won't be too low!" Old Master Li said casually.

  "Just put your hand behind the Blood Shadow Dagger and drill nine small holes, no need for major modifications like upgrading quality!" Shi Sheng revealed a sinister smile, while Li Chang Lao looked at him with some confusion, not understanding what it was for.

  "Huh? It's actually you?" Just then, a figure slowly walked down from the second floor of the Alchemy Pavilion. Seeing Shi Sheng at first stunned, and then revealed a thoughtful and playful expression. Shi Sheng's pupils shrank! (End of this chapter, next chapter is more exciting!)

  (PS: To ensure quality, I couldn't write too fast, but thank you all for recommending votes and supporting Xian Nian's achievement to such a high level, thank you very much, asking for collection!!!)