Chapter 101: The Great Contest at Mysterious Machine Mountain

  Fang Ziyuan led Li Ruo straight to the waist of Xiongshan Mountain, where two stone gates quietly opened a door gap on the smooth mountain wall covered with green vines.

  Fang Ziyuan turned his head and smiled, urging: "Ran Jian, let's hurry up, the Thirteenth Elder is waiting for us."

  Li Ran's heart was racing with anxiety, he nodded vigorously, and the two squeezed through the cave entrance, making their way through the mist-shrouded mountain cave, turning a corner around a rocky wall, where they were met with a stunning sight: a crystal-clear cavern filled with glittering icicles that seemed to defy gravity.

  It was obviously a naturally formed stone cave, with strange rocks jutting out, but there was no cool air, instead it had a bright and warm feeling. Li Ruo knew that it was the power of the seal, and didn't dare to look closely, and after walking up to the stone table, a refined middle-aged man holding an ancient scroll was quietly standing there.

  It was precisely the elder Xiao Baiyi who had met him before.

  Li Ruo Knife followed closely behind Fang Zi Yan and hastily paid his respects.

  "I have seen Master!"

  "Long time no see, Elder Xiao!"

  Xiao Baiyi smiled and raised his head: "Get up, you two, Ran Jian, come sit here!"

  Xiao Bai Yi pointed to a stone chair below, Li Ran's heart was both excited and nervous, he walked up to the chair and sat down respectfully.

  Fang Ziyuan walked to the side of his master and said in a low voice, "Master, as you expected, Burning Knife successfully defeated Xiao Tingfeng and occupied the 50th position on the Golden Sword List. Our Thirteen Peaks made a big splash in that battle, and our reputation is spreading outside."

  Li Ran Dao hastily bowed his head and said: "Disciple is terrified, luckily obtained this achievement."

  Xiao Bai Yi smiled and looked at Li Ruo Dao with a gentle nod:

  "To be honest, Burning Blade, I'm extremely curious about your growth rate. Logically speaking, your sensitivity to the spiritual energy of heaven and earth is extremely low, and your qualifications for cultivation are not even comparable to those of ordinary people. However, your progress has completely defied common sense."

  Of course, a person's cultivation talent is not just about the degree of spiritual energy fusion, but also many other aspects. So I guess you should have a natural talent in the realm of spiritual power, and only then can you achieve this. This can also explain why you can understand the sword intent at such a low level."

  Li Ran's heart skipped a beat.

  The little sword is his biggest obstacle in cultivation, this secret will not be told to anyone, since the immortal guessed that he has an extraordinary spiritual talent, why not respond with it.

  Li Ruo Knife slightly bowed and said vaguely: "When I was young, I could feel some kind of fluctuation outside my body. Later, I knew that those should be the power of heaven and earth."

  Xiao Baiyi and Fang Ziyuan turned their heads to look at each other, revealing a "so it's like that" gaze.

  Xiao Baiyi smiled and nodded: "Ran Jian, do you know why I asked you to come today?"

  Li Ruo quickly replied: "It must be that Li Ruo achieved some results on the Golden Sword List, and Elder summoned him to show encouragement..."

  Li Ruo's words were left unspoken, as Xiao Baiyi smiled and shook his head, saying slowly: "It's not just that. Li Ruo, you should also know that the Grey Robe Golden Sword disciples represent a kind of innate talent for cultivation. Once the Golden Sword disciples enter the Divine Movement stage, we elders will inevitably choose those who are pleasing to our eyes as our direct disciples..."

  Xiao Baiyi said these words personally, Li Ruo's heart jumped heavily and his eyes lit up instantly.

  Xiao Baiyi smiled and continued: "However, Burning Knife, your talent makes me somewhat unable to bear the urge to move my Heart of Love too early, and I can hardly wait for you to grow into the Divine Movement period..."

  Li Ran Dao heard this and suddenly felt a surge of warmth in his heart, both shocked and delighted, his body straightened up at once.

  Now I only have the Ninefold Power of Jingyuan, from nine to ten is not difficult, but breaking through from ten to the Divine Movement Period is too hard. It's a huge barrier that lies across the path of cultivation, and if you want to break through it, thousands of difficulties and hardships await, many people are stuck at this barrier for their entire lives.

  Only then can those in grey robes with golden swords who have broken through to the Divine Movement stage be taken as disciples by Dan Shang and the Upper Immortal, depending on the situation.

  Li Ruo's knife is still far from reaching its divine movement period, and it's unknown how many days it will take to achieve it. However, saving his father can't wait any longer.

  In the world of cultivation, the relationship between a master and his disciple is like that of father and son. If Xiao Baiyi had accepted him as his disciple earlier, Li Ruo could have asked for help.

  "Elder, you...you are going to..." Li Ran's knife was excited and didn't know what to say.

  Seeing Li Ruo's knife like this, Xiao Baiyi and Fang Ziyuan smiled at the same time.

  Xiao Baiyi shook his head and smiled, "Feng Knife, don't be too happy too early. Wanting to become my apprentice isn't that easy. You still have to fulfill one of my conditions first. If you can do it, I'll immediately take you as my apprentice. If not, then perhaps you'll have to wait until after you enter the Divine Movement stage."

  Li Ran's eyes widened in surprise, and he asked nervously: "Elder, what conditions?"

  Xiao Baiyi turned his head to look at Fang Ziyuan, who smiled and took a step forward to explain: "Ran Jian, you new disciples may not know yet, but in five days it will be the biennial grand event of the entire Xuanji Mountain's gray-clothed disciple competition. At that time, more than 20,000 gray-clothed disciples will gather at the Thirty-Third Heaven Sword Peak.

  The Tianjian Peak has the Tian Di Sword Array, when the time comes, the sword array will open, and the entire mountain peak will release a powerful sword intent that will oppress and intimidate. The closer you get to the top of the peak, the stronger and more terrifying the sword intent will be. At that time, your 20,000 gray-robed disciples will compete in the sword intent's oppression to climb the mountain height, the higher you climb, the better ranking you will get."

  Li Ran suddenly understood when he heard this. The whole mysterious mountain grey robe disciple competition was a grand event, just thinking about it could imagine how grand it would be.

  "Elder, are you asking me what ranking I should achieve in that big competition?"

  Xiao Baiyi smiled and nodded, saying with some regret: "Ran Jian, I won't hide it from you, our thirteen peak disciples have never ranked well in the previous great competitions. I want you to enter the top ten this time. If you can do that, after the competition ends, I'll let Zi Yan arrange your master ceremony."

  Li Ran Dao heard this, his heart calmed down and sank into deep thought. His mind was racing with ideas, analyzing many things in an instant. He slightly raised his head to look at the person above him and slowly asked:

  "Elder, I am ranked 50th in the Gray Robe Golden Sword ranking, and among the 20,000 Gray Robe disciples, there are at least 49 people stronger than me. Yet you set a goal for me to be in the top 10 of the Grand Competition. It seems that in the Grand Competition, breaking through the sword array's oppressive pressure and climbing the mountain requires even more emphasis on spiritual power."

  Xiao Baiyi and Fang Ziyuan listened at the same time and clapped their hands in laughter.

  "Fang Ziyuan said: 'Ran Jian, you have once again proven my words. Although you appear calm on the surface, your mind is actually very quick-witted. You can analyze all this from just a few sentences, your brain is really sharp.'"

  In front of these two people, Li Ran didn't think of hiding his clumsiness and smiled slightly.

  Fang Ziyuan explained: "In fact, under the pressure of a large sword array, what is being compared is still comprehensive strength, including your physical toughness, the intensity of your skills, spiritual power, and even your willpower and perseverance. Of course, spiritual power is a very crucial factor."

  Facing the sword array's oppressive might, climbing the mountain is not just a battle, but also a cultivation. Under the enormous pressure, it can even allow a person to achieve a qualitative transformation from within. The mountain gate arranges such a grand competition every two years, and the ultimate goal is still not to temper the disciples."

  Xiao Baiyi said, "In this Gray Clothes disciple competition, each peak will give points to the Dan Xian elder based on their disciples' achievements. If the points accumulate to a certain degree, it will give the elder an opportunity to enter the Holy Mountain and meet the Infant Transformation Period Ancestor."

  "Ran Jian, if you can enter the top ten in this grand competition, I'll have enough points to make a comeback. It's been many years since I've seen Old Ancestor, and I really miss him. Ran Jian, it all depends on you this time."

  Li Rendao only then understood the cause and effect, and knew why Xiao Changlao was so enthusiastic about this matter. Suddenly felt that Xiao Changlao's wish was very real, very touching, just like Li Rendao himself also had a pressing wish.

  With a surge of hot blood in his heart, Li Ran slowly straightened his body and said, "Elder, please be at ease. In the Grand Competition, I will definitely go all out to fight for it."

  Bidding farewell to Dan Sheng Shang Xian, Li Rou Knife walked alone on the mountain path, with a hint of excitement in his heart.

  Finally learned the intention of that Dan Sheng Upper Immortal, it seems that the Upper Immortal indeed favors himself. From joining Xuanji Mountain to now, all his efforts have finally seen a glimmer of reward, and as long as he completes one more thing, he will be successful.

  He looked up and saw the mountain scenery, Li Ran's knife turned around and walked towards the Cang Zhen Pavilion.

  Facing the sword array's oppressive might as they climbed the mountain, what was being compared was ultimate combined strength. Li Ran didn't think that he would definitely be able to stand out, among the 20,000 grey-robed figures, who knew which person had what kind of potential? With 3,000 points in hand, if he didn't convert them into actual strength before the Great Comparison, he would inevitably regret it later.

  His footsteps quickened as he turned past the mountains, and finally saw the building nestled in the valley below. His heart filled with joy, he hastened his pace, but the scene before him made Li Ran's eyebrows furrow in an instant, and he couldn't help but laugh bitterly.

  More and more people are rushing to this place, the empty building is now crowded with people. In the large hall on the first floor, there are at least thirty or so people in sight. Behind the reception desk, seven gray-robed female disciples are busy attending to the crowd.

  So many people come here, wanting to exchange rare and precious items for strength before the big comparison that happens every two years.

  Li Rendao shook his head and lined up at the back of the queue, wondering when it would be his turn. At this time, Xie Wenyu, who was sitting behind the desk, happened to raise her head and caught a glimpse of Li Rendao's figure. She quickly leaned forward and waved at him, shouting:

  "Brother Jin Jian, come here, I'll help you with the formalities."

  The people in front finally saw the figure of Li Ruo Dao, and everyone's eyes were filled with fervor and reverence, voluntarily giving way to Li Ruo Dao. The name of Li Ruo Dao was as brilliant as the sun at noon on the Thirteen Peaks, who hadn't heard of his achievement of defeating Xiao Ting Feng?

  Li Ran shook his head with a wry smile and said, "Everyone is lining up, isn't this bad?"

  Xie Wanmei smiled and walked out from behind the desk, pulling Li Ran's knife to the front: "Senior brother, this is a privilege of Jinjian disciples, you don't need to be modest. It's noisy here, let's go, I'll take you to a side hall."