Mortal: Starting by joining the Falling Cloud Sect

When Zhou Qing returned to the courtyard, it was already noon the next day.

This trip to the market was truly wonderful, but the most important thing right now is to take stock of what we've gained.

In terms of magical artifacts, in addition to the Crimson Flame Ring, Zhou Qing also purchased a top-tier defensive magical artifact, the Yuanling Shield, at the market, bought the Ink Scale Boat at the auction, and obtained the Azure Edge Sword through murder and robbery.

The Yuanling Shield has considerable defensive power. When activated, it forms a spiritual energy shield that can protect the user from all directions and also has a counter-shock effect on ordinary magical artifacts.

The Qingfeng Sword needs no introduction; it's a top-tier, top-grade magic weapon. What does that mean?

It's on the same level as the Red Thread Escape Needle of Star Dust Pavilion, the Azure Condensation Mirror of Many Treasures Woman, and the Silver Greatsword of the Barefoot Giant of Giant Sword Sect.

Zhou Qing only slightly activated it, and its sharpness felt like it could directly cut through his Crimson Flame Ring; its speed was as fast as a shooting star.

However, the mana required to activate it is enormous. With Zhou Qing's current mana reserves, once he uses the Qingfeng Sword, it will basically be a situation where there is no retreat and only offense without defense.

In this way, Zhou Qing has all three skills: attack, defense, and escape.

Regarding talismans, Zhou Qing had purchased them from the Luoyun Sect's market over the past few years, and this time he replenished some high-quality ones at the Yunmeng Market.

There are several low- and mid-level beginner talismans, and two Earth Prison Talismans and one Fire Blast Talisman among the high-level beginner talismans.

The intermediate-level talisman consists of only one Earth Escape Talisman, used for self-preservation.

Zhou Qing longed for a talisman, but unfortunately, he never encountered one.

A single Heavenly Thunder Seed—this treasure can even kill a Foundation Establishment cultivator; it is Zhou Qing's greatest trump card at present.

The spirit beasts were two level-one demon beasts, the Sun Crows, who had accompanied Zhou Qing for many years and had made great contributions in battle.

A number of elixirs and spirit stones.

……

With the Yunmeng Conference approaching, Zhou Qing stopped leaving the peak and stayed in the courtyard to familiarize himself with the newly acquired magical artifacts.

Fulfilling days always pass quickly, and before we knew it, the day of the Yunmeng Conference arrived.

As the bell tolled throughout the entire Luoyun Sect, the Yunmeng Tournament, held once every thirty years, officially began.

"Brother Zhou, hurry up! The bell has rung, the first match is about to begin!" Song Yao's clear and cheerful voice came from outside.

"Coming, coming." Zhou Qing finished packing his things before opening the door.

Zhou Qing wasn't supposed to go to the arena today, because the first two days of the tournament were for external disciples, while inner disciples could directly participate in the third day's competition and enter the final battle for spots.

This can be considered a minor privilege for inner disciples. In the world of cultivation, aptitude often means everything, and the Luoyun Sect is no exception.

Song Yao was extremely excited about the tournament and kept pestering Song Yu to give her a day off so she could go watch the competition.

Song Yu couldn't refuse, but due to his cultivation and lack of time to look after the child, he entrusted the care to Zhou Qing.

Zhou Qing thought that since he had nothing else to do before the final competition for the spot, he agreed.

The two arrived together at the foot of the main peak of the Luoyun Sect, where there was a vast open space.

On this open space, Luoyun Sect has set up three magic arrays, each over a hundred feet wide, and more than a dozen fighting platforms, which allow disciples to compete freely while also preventing accidental injury to onlookers.

Battles between disciples in the Qi Refining stage primarily focus on the competition of magical artifacts. Disciples with strong magical power may use some spells as a supplement, but talismans are rarely used.

After all, using talismans is equivalent to spending spirit stones, and people are reluctant to use them unless it's absolutely necessary.

One competition after another took place, keeping the audience entertained.

When the battle between the two sides became intense, it drew cheers from the crowd.

If one side is defeated in a panic, the disciples in the stands will not hold back in mocking and ridiculing them.

Just as Zhou Qing was getting a little tired of watching the fighting and wanted to check on Song Yao beside him, he discovered that she had somehow run to a stone pavilion in the distance and was chatting away with a group of foreign affairs disciples from Bai Feng Peak.

Zhou Qing was far inferior to that lively and energetic spirit.

"I'm not much older than her, so why is there such a big difference? It seems that cultivating immortality has made my personality calm and indifferent."

And so, it was already the afternoon of the second day.

The preliminary examinations for the external affairs disciples have all concluded, and the eighty who have stood out will compete with the eighty inner disciples tomorrow for the final ten spots.

Among these eighty people, Zhou Qing was particularly impressed by several of them. In Zhou Qing's opinion, they were quite capable, and he would think about how to deal with them if he encountered them that night.

One was a burly man with the twelfth level of Qi cultivation. He wielded a giant hammer with immense strength, and often knocked his opponent off the stage with a single blow.

The other female cultivator wielded a long whip, which, when wielded, resembled a snake or a dragon, with ever-changing attack methods that were difficult to defend against.

After escorting Song Yao back to her residence, Zhou Qing returned to his own courtyard.

After pondering for a while in bed, he already had an answer in his heart. He then sat down to meditate and regulate his breathing, quietly waiting for tomorrow's competition.

……

Upon opening his eyes, Zhou Qing discovered that Song Yao had not come to see him today, so he went out alone to the competition arena.

"Next match: Xiong Ba of Fire Cloud Peak versus Zhou Qing of White Phoenix Peak!"

The law enforcement cultivator slowly announced the two opposing sides. His voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly throughout the area around the magic array, allowing the nearby disciples to hear it clearly.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Qing calmly walked onto the stage.

However, when he saw the person opposite him, he laughed. It was the burly man who had impressed him the day before.

This is truly a perfect preparation!

Outside the arena, there was the same stone pavilion as yesterday, but today was different. In the pavilion, which appeared to be empty, two women were sitting.

One was charming and lovely, the other gentle and refined; they were Song Yao and Song Yu.

"Sister, look, Brother Zhou is on stage!" Song Yao said sweetly.

Song Yu had already seen it, but he was slightly surprised.

"Just over a year later, his cultivation level actually advanced another level, reaching the Great Perfection of Qi Refining."

This made her recall how long it took her back then.

"Hmm, I used it for less than a year back then, so I was slightly better than him!"

On the other side, on the arena.

Xiong Ba and Zhou Qing exchanged greetings.

Upon hearing the law enforcement cultivator above announce "The contest begins," Xiong Ba immediately took out his sledgehammer and charged toward Zhou Qing with great strides.

He had just seen the smile on Zhou Qing's lips, and whatever the reason for his smile, it was a stain on the battle!

Zhou Qing saw Xiong Ba charging towards him like a wild bull, but his expression remained unchanged. He calmly curled his five fingers slightly, and then suddenly flicked them.

Five fireballs were fired in quick succession, heading straight for Xiong Ba.

Xiong Ba suddenly stopped and hurriedly threw out his hammer to defend himself.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Zhou Qing took out the quicksand talisman he had prepared beforehand and slammed it onto the ground.

In the blink of an eye, the hard stone platform beneath Xiong Ba's feet instantly turned into soft quicksand. Xiong Ba tried to escape, but found that he couldn't muster any strength no matter what he did, and the more he struggled, the deeper he sank.

Left with no other choice, Xiong Ba could only use a magic incantation to launch his giant hammer at Zhou Qing from a distance, hoping to keep Zhou Qing busy and delay until the talisman ended.

Without the added strength of the Bear King, the giant hammer was just an ordinary high-grade magic weapon. Zhou Qing easily blocked it by simply releasing the Crimson Flame Wheel.

Then, he made a hand seal again and used the Spirit Vine Technique.

The spirit vines spread out, easily binding the immobile Xiong Ba tightly.

With a gentle wave of his hand, Zhou Qing flung Xiong Ba out of the arena.

"Zhou Qing of Bai Feng Peak wins!" The law enforcement cultivator slowly announced the winner.

At the same time, Zhou Qing withdrew the Crimson Flame Ring, the spell disappeared, and the talisman turned to ashes.

Meanwhile, Xiong Ba broke free from the vines, recalled his giant hammer, and clasped his hands in a fist salute to Zhou Qing: "You're amazing, sir! I, Xiong, am truly impressed!"

Zhou Qing smiled slightly and returned the greeting with clasped hands.

Such a lopsided battle naturally sparked much discussion among the audience.

"This Senior Brother Zhou from White Phoenix Peak is really amazing. Xiong Ba from Fire Cloud Peak didn't even touch the hem of his clothes before being knocked off the stage."

"I know him. I entered the sect on the same day as this Senior Brother Zhou. We were both inner disciples. He was selected to go to White Phoenix Peak, while I went to Heavenly Spring Peak. At that time, I could tell that he was no ordinary person."

"Oh? I remember you said that Senior Brother Zhou Qing was selected for White Phoenix Peak because of his looks?" another disciple teased from the side.

"His appearance is also part of Senior Brother Zhou's excellence!"

Upon hearing this, everyone gave a thumbs up, expressing their admiration.