The Long Journey to Immortality

Based on Qiu Peng's analysis of the battle situation as he wandered around observing, the probability of these two winning the final competition was at least 75%.

Nian Haoge, on the other hand, mainly focused on the match between He Lanwei and He Lanyan.

Although her assessment of the two was somewhat conservative, she was optimistic that if they had a good draw, they should be able to advance to the semi-finals and make a big splash.

This result was much better than Han Lu had initially hoped for.

Hearing Nian Haoge speak with great enthusiasm about the good news of his fellow disciples in the sect, unlike his usual indifferent demeanor, Han Lu couldn't help but beam with joy.

Just as they were talking, a paper sword flew over.

The paper sword was issued by Qingxu Daoren, inviting "True Phoenix Fairy Han Lu" to the arena area to watch the minor competition.

This is merely an invitation for ceremonial purposes; the Zhengyi Sect never forces its elders to "put on a show."

However, considering the outstanding performance of her disciples, Han Lu still believed that the paper sword had a deeper meaning. She immediately wrote back seriously, indicating that she would definitely attend the next day and wanted to see the young talents of the sect's new generation outside the arena.

Although she was filled with excitement, Han Lu still maintained a reserved demeanor in front of her closest disciple, Nian Haoge.

Han Lu had intended to send paper swords to each of the four disciples to encourage them, but after much hesitation, she only asked Nian Haoge to run the errand once.

They will each receive a copy of the information obtained from Zhong Wencheng, so that the group can review it on the spot after the match results are announced and cram at the last minute.

In addition, there are some healing pills.

He Lanyan, who lost a match in the preliminary rounds, received special treatment.

An extra text message arrived, containing some empty words of encouragement, and Han Lu also privately promised some rewards to motivate her disciple who had suffered a setback in the preliminary selection.

With everything prepared, Nian Haoge accepted the order and left.

Han Lu then called Qiu Peng over and asked him questions at random, letting him share his thoughts and see what this "newcomer" had learned in the competition.

Before going to the competition as an audience member, Han Lu had already spoken to Qiu Peng, instructing him not to focus solely on cultivation and spiritual practice.

Therefore, Qiu Peng's answers during the report were varied, and he even made suggestions on the Xiaobi, an activity that has been passed down for nearly 10,000 years in the Zhengyi School.

Han Lu initially thought this part was just for fun and didn't take it to heart at all.

But as Qiu Peng described, elaborated, and analyzed with examples, she increasingly felt that her apprentice seemed to be a management talent who could establish his own school of thought.

To be honest, when Han Lu praised Qiu Peng a few times, Qiu Peng felt as if he had found a kindred spirit.

"Master, you understand me so well."

"When I was in the ancient cultivation secret realm, I relied on my good memory from cultivating Taoism to finish junior and senior high school courses early on. I have already started to study management textbooks in university. Although my level is not particularly high, I dare to say here that I understand management."

“If Master doesn’t mind, you can take my suggestion as your own and find an opportunity to report it to the sect leader so that it can be promoted and improved. This would be my contribution to the sect after joining the sect.”

Han Lu nodded slightly, keeping the matter in mind. "I don't need these credits, but I won't erase your name to take credit. However, Sect Master Xuancheng does care a lot about the competitions, and if your suggestion suits his taste, there's a good chance it will be adopted."

"Perhaps the sect leader will remember your name and give you some contribution points or magic items."

Qiu Peng was overjoyed upon hearing this.

After discussing his observations and insights on trivial matters, Qiu Peng, guided by Han Lu, began to share his reflections on the nearly one hundred battles between Qi Refining cultivators that he had witnessed over the past two days.

It must be said that Qiu Peng, who received scientific education in the ancient cultivation secret realm, has a completely different way of thinking from ordinary cultivators in the Central Plains.

He focuses more on summarizing methods and digging into the essence, just like Han Lu when she had just rebuilt her cultivation and stood back on the Qi Refining Realm arena.

He quickly summarized a set of rules, demonstrating a "superior" perspective.

Unfortunately, these things still exist only in my mind, and it's difficult to explain them completely to others.

Even though Han Lu had similar thoughts, she still couldn't help but feel confused at times while listening to Qiu Peng's descriptions.

Qiu Peng was also very troubled by this.

It's like having a bellyful of sweet words for your partner, but all you can say when you finally open your mouth is, "Have you eaten?"

“Here’s an assignment for you,” Han Lu suggested. She remembered that she used to write things down on paper and then slowly work out the solutions step by step in her mind. “You can use the experience and insights you’ve summarized over the past two days to write a small textbook on combat techniques for the Qi Refining Realm.”

"If you compile it to my satisfaction, you will not only be rewarded with spirit stones and magic treasures, but it will also be used as teaching material for the lineage in the future, for newly recruited Qi Refining disciples to use, so that no matter how many generations of disciples, they will remember you as their senior brother."

"How about this? It shouldn't be too difficult. I'll give you three months."

Upon hearing this, Qiu Peng hesitated for a moment but still accepted the somewhat difficult task.

"Okay, Master, I will try my best to complete the mission."

After receiving many favors and benefits from Han Lu, Qiu Peng, as her apprentice, naturally wanted to shine and use his own strength to try to benefit his fellow apprentices.

[Author's Note] Because there weren't many interludes in the book to begin with, I only found out yesterday that the interlude function had been disabled again.

Chapter 728 Observing the Small Competition

Han Lu kept saying that the task was not difficult, but she actually knew very well that this task was a really difficult one for Qiu Peng, who had only been involved in the cultivation world for less than half a year.

Therefore, she not only offered verbal encouragement but also provided practical support.

He allocated some of his contribution points to Qiu Peng so that he could enter and leave the academy, read classic texts, and revise and improve his own theories based on the knowledge of predecessors.

He also promised Qiu Peng that he would take time every few days to answer his questions, so that Qiu Peng, who didn't even fully understand the techniques of the Qi Refining Realm, wouldn't write a book that would make him a laughing stock.

Most importantly, Han Lu provided Qiu Peng with ten mechanical pencils and a large quantity of smooth paper made using the new papermaking method.

There was nothing that could be done; Qiu Peng's calligraphy was inferior to his magical arts.

He wrote with a calligraphy brush in a crooked, dog-like manner.

Han Lu didn't want to have to distinguish each word when checking homework in the future, which would only add trouble for her.

Upon receiving the pen from Han Lu, Qiu Peng immediately understood exactly which aspect of his "shortcomings" Han Lu was nitpicking about.

After repeatedly promising that he would dedicate at least fifteen minutes each day to practicing calligraphy, Qiu Peng finally left Han Lu's room, carrying this important task with him.

With everything arranged, Han Lu finished the painting, which she had already mostly completed, according to her own habits. Then she continued her cultivation, patiently "applying" spiritual power to her golden core and attempting to draw the first core pattern.

This is a process that takes time and patience; it can't be rushed.

In less than five hours, Han Lu repeated the process nearly thirty times, but the surface of the golden core still showed no obvious changes.

Still preoccupied with the matter of watching the competition, she timed it perfectly, transformed into a four-winged true phoenix and circulated the "True Phoenix Manual" twice before transforming back into human form and leaving her residence alone to watch the competition in the arena area.

The arena area was much more lively than usual at this time.

In just two days, almost all the disciples at the Qi Refining Realm were willing to give themselves a more relaxed "practical lesson" by coming to the arena area to watch the competition, appreciate the exchanges between fellow disciples, and try to learn something new and improve themselves.

Or simply relax and calm your mind, which will be beneficial for your daily practice.

The elders, on the other hand, were not as enthusiastic about the smaller competitions as they were about the larger ones.

Firstly, the minor competition is insignificant to elders who do not value the training of disciples. Even if a disciple loses completely in the minor competition, it will not affect the treatment of the sect elders or the sect's status.

Secondly, the minor competition was just a small skirmish between disciples at the Qi Refining stage, which was rather boring to watch.

Unless it's a case like Han Lu's, where many disciples advance to the elimination rounds, elders with no vested interest in the event wouldn't have the slightest interest in coming to the scene and wasting their time watching.

Therefore, the viewing platform, which was not large to begin with, was set up in a corner of the branch arena area, with only five soft chairs placed there early on.

It should be noted that there are as many as twelve Golden Core cultivators in the East Mountain Academy.

Clearly, Qingxu Daoren and Piaomiaozi, who coordinated and organized the competition, did not expect that many Golden Core cultivators would come to observe and see the "rising stars" of their sect.

When Han Lu arrived, most of the disciples had already entered, while only her master, Piaomiaozi, was sitting on the viewing platform.

As Han Lu advanced to the Golden Core Realm, Piaomiaozi, as was customary, distanced himself slightly from Han Lu to prevent her from becoming like other cultivators who would reject discussions of seniority with fellow cultivators, which would only strain their otherwise good relationship.

Han Lu, however, did not take it seriously. She only addressed Piaomiaozi as "Fellow Daoist Piaomiao" or "Elder Piaomiao" in public, but still called him "Master" in private, even in front of Wen Erya.

Naturally, at this time, when there were only two people on the viewing platform, although Han Lu did not publicly bow, she still called him "Master" when she sat next to Piaomiaozi.

As the administrator of the academy, Piaomiaozi's presence was mandatory.

Of course, besides official business, he also came to the small competition venue to show his concern for his outstanding disciples.

Having come for roughly the same purpose and being extremely familiar with each other, Han Lu naturally chatted happily with Piaomiaozi.

She also wanted to know how her juniors, especially the students who had received her "pre-exam training," were doing.

When it comes to these topics, Piaomiaozi has a lot to say.

I rambled on and on, mostly expressing sadness rather than joy.

After all, cultivation depends on opportunity and talent. Even if one advances to the late Foundation Establishment stage, there is no guarantee that one will eventually form a false core and obtain the pass to advance to the Golden Core stage. So it goes without saying that ordinary Qi Refining disciples are even more likely to succeed.

He cultivated for three years to reach the sixth level of Qi Refining, and he might still reach the sixth level of Qi Refining after another three years of cultivation.

Cultivators like Han Lu and Wen Erya, who have had an almost smooth journey, are ultimately a very small minority.

We talked about things both far-reaching and things closer to home.

Piaomiaozi sat on the viewing platform, pointing out Han Lu's outstanding disciples.

There are currently twelve disciples in the Qi Refining Realm under the tutelage of Piaomiaozi. Among them, six have shown great promise and successfully advanced to the elimination rounds of the minor competition, making them outstanding among cultivators of the same cultivation level.

Han Lu followed Piao Miao Zi's hand and noted down the names of these juniors one by one, thinking that she would pay close attention to them later to see how far her "junior brothers and sisters" had progressed under Piao Miao Zi's tutelage.

Han Lu arrived at a time that was neither too early nor too late. About fifteen minutes later, Qingxu Daoist arrived just in time.

Sure enough, the soft chairs on the viewing platform were not full.

Aside from Qingxu Daoren, Piaomiaozi, Zhenfeng Xianzi Han Lu, only Wuhu Jushi, who had previously served as the abbot of Dongshan Academy, came to show his support.

Golden Core cultivators don't need to exert too much effort in the minor competition; everything is guided and organized by the cultivators affiliated with the academy.

Only Piaomiaozi occasionally needs to issue paper swords and transmit voice commands to act as the brain.

The four cultivators were all quite familiar with each other. Although there were slight differences in age and seniority, they were able to chat happily in a friendly tone, which made the atmosphere on the viewing platform much more relaxed.

It was thanks to the outstanding abilities of his four disciples.

On the first day, all four players played two matches and advanced to the next round.

This made Han Lu the center of attention on the viewing platform.

In particular, Piaomiaozi did not hesitate to praise Shen Xingsheng even though Shen Xingsheng had won one of his disciples' matches. He gave a fair evaluation of the sparring match between the disciples who were at the sixth level of Qi Refining.

This is perhaps why, even though Piaomiaozi only contributed a small amount to Han Lu's path of cultivation, Han Lu, who had achieved the Golden Core stage, was still willing to call him Master.

As the sun was about to set, the top eight teams in each group were finally determined.

The two Qi Refining Level 10 cultivators who took the stage as the finale of the day delivered a brilliant performance, bringing the day's competition to a perfect close.

The remaining matches will be held on the second day.