[Outer Courtyard, Divine Cauldron Sect]
"This time, the inner sect trial is going to be really intense."
"Huh, why?"
Outside the Affairs Hall of the Outer Sect, a large crowd had gathered, their voices brimming with enthusiasm and youthful vigor.
"Didn't you hear? This time, the reward for the competition isn't only entry to the inner sect, but also a quota to enter the Blood Mist Valley."
"Blood Mist Valley? The secret realm our sect has been in conflict with the Black Lotus Sect over?"
A young disciple asked in surprise.
"Yes, the same one. I heard that many inheritances and treasures were found inside the secret realm, which can change your life forever. Agh…I am so envious."
Another young man replied, feeling envious.
His realm was quite low, and he couldn't even enter the inner sect. So, all he could do was be jealous, that's all.
"Tch…don't forget the danger inside. Moreover, I heard someone from the Black Lotus Sect even killed one of our elders for that secret realm. I don't know if the quota is a reward or punishment."
A tall guy suddenly entered their gossip, clearly in a bad mood.
"Hey, isn't that Mo Zhiran? He is still here?"
Just when the disciples were busy gossiping with an envious tone, suddenly one of them spotted a young man in a flowing long robe.
It was none other than Zhiran who looked a little taller and fuller than before.
"Damn, his look changed all of a sudden. I heard he managed to defeat even Wu Kang despite being at the Third level of Qi refinement."
One of the young men said with surprise. The incident that happened one month ago was still being discussed among the outer sect.
After all, there wasn't much happening in the sect, and one month wasn't a long time to forget that incident.
"Yeah, haha…it serves him right for that bully, Wu Kang. I heard his face was black as the bottom of a pot from the explosion of the talisman."
One of them said excitedly. Apparently, he was also bullied by Wu Kang before and lost a few spirit stones. Of course, he would be happy to see his downfall.
"Shss…don't talk loudly. Don't you know that Wu Zhen already left his seclusion?"
Hearing him talking so loudly, his friend hurriedly stopped him in time. Although Wu Kang was injured, his brother Wu Zhen was still there.
If he heard their words, they would have a hard time in the outer sect. After all, that guy was a genius.
"Yeah, and I heard Wu Zhen already reached the ninth layer of the Qi condensation realm this time. Tch…tch…I don't know what he will do with this Mo Zhiran when he knows about this incident."
The tall guy said with a smirk as if ready to watch the show. He seemed particularly interested in this conflict.
"But Zhiran also has Mo Tianyu, who is in the same realm. I don't think Wu Zhen can do anything."
Another person countered as they continued their discussion with fervor. Before the start of the competition, all they could do was gossip and relieve the stress of Cultivation.
…
'Ninth level of Qi condensation realm. Not bad. Unfortunately, spirit stones aren't enough to reach the peak. Otherwise…'
Zhiran thought while slowly walking towards the Affairs hall, intending to register for the Inner sect trial.
Due to the Proficient level of the Divine Core technique, he easily reached the Ninth level of the Qi Condensation realm with the spirit stones.
Although he had to do a few missions here and there, he at least managed to reach there within a month.
Before, he would have never thought such things were even possible for him.
'With Cloud Piercing Sword at the Proficient level and a few other skilled techniques, I can finally enter the inner sect or might even reach the top.'
Zhiran thought while clenching his fist, eager for blood-inducing battle. He especially wanted to thrash and defeat Wu Zhen and Tianyu in front of everyone.
Unfortunately for him, he didn't manage to extract a brain from any corpses this month, nor was he able to kill someone like Elder Shuren.
So, he was in dire need to enter the inner sect and expand his reach.
"Name!"
It didn't take long for Zhiran to reach the place where the names of the participants were being recorded.
The inner sect trial was a battle mode where the top ten candidates were able to enter the inner sect every five years from the outer sect.
And the top three could even choose the peak they wanted to join.
Although it sounded awesome, it was nothing in front of a truly talented one, as they had already been skimmed through and accepted as a disciple by the elder five years ago, right at the initiation ceremony.
So, basically, this trial was just for those late bloomers, although he and Tianyu came later.
"Mo Zhiran!"
"Hmm?"
As soon as he said his name, the disciple recording the name looked up in surprise.
Not only him, but also other disciples were looking at him in shock from the moment he entered the registration venue.
"Mo Zhiran? Why is he registering for an Inner sect competition?"
"Isn't he only at the Early stage of Qi condensation?"
"What is he doing here?"
These were the questions of all the disciples who were near him. After all, no matter how you looked, he didn't seem to belong here.
"Zhiran, are you joking with me? Don't you know that to enter the inner sect trial, you need to be at the late stage of the Qi condensation realm?"
Sure enough, the disciple registering the names also thought Zhiran was playing around. How could an early-stage disciple have the guts to come here?
Wasn't he just joking with him?
"Swish!"
Unfortunately for him, Zhiran wasn't someone who liked to talk.
Instead of defending himself, he unleashes his aura at the seventh level of Qi Condensation, forcing the unsuspecting disciples to stagger back a few steps.
"Am I qualified now?"
He then asked while slowly reducing his aura back into his body. Now that he revealed his realm, there shouldn't be any issue, right?