Infiltrating the righteous path? Just another place to be a sycophant.

But that's precisely why he's worth nurturing.

…………

The Heavenly Demon Sect Grand Competition.

This is the Heavenly Demon Sect's grand competition held once every twenty years. Only outstanding inner disciples and the true disciples of the various elders participate.

Moreover, those who are not at least at the Nascent Soul stage are not eligible to register.

However, there's no need to worry about anyone sneaking in. After all, anyone below the Nascent Soul stage who dares to sign up will surely die!

This sect competition is a matter of life and death. Perhaps one's master will step in to protect their disciples, but more often than not, they are left to fate.

Only the most realistic and brutal battles can unleash human potential and cultivate true powerhouses of the Heavenly Demon Sect.

Disciples who know each other well can team up, and winning is a kind of collective honor. After all, when fighting against righteous cultivators, the power of the team is still very important.

However, some loners choose to act alone.

After all, this allows them to better conceal themselves while also reaping greater rewards.

The sect competition takes place in a secret realm. Everyone has a token, and the one who obtains the most tokens from the other side wins. Surviving is also considered a victory, but the ranking will not be as high.

The disciples had arrived at the entrance to the secret realm, which was a dark cave. It was said that there was a spatial teleportation array inside the cave, and once inside, one would enter the secret realm.

Zhao Mengyuan also arrived here, but she could not participate because she was no longer a simple true disciple but had become a core member of the Heavenly Demon Sect.

As members of the leadership, we cannot participate in such a large competition.

Everyone watched the disciples participating in the competition, speculating about who would be the ultimate winner.

Who could be the dark horse this time?

"I think it must be Senior Brother Li Yun. I heard that he fought three righteous alliance experts single-handedly and even killed two of them. He's really amazing!"

"I think Senior Sister Zhiruo is not bad either. She is Elder Anxu's disciple and has the Demon Heaven Bladeless Technique. In the last competition, she was able to hold her own against Senior Brother Li Yun."

"Hey, what are you guys talking about? I think the biggest dark horse is definitely Senior Brother Lu An!"

Upon hearing Lu An's name, everyone's interest instantly shifted.

Discussions about Lu An have been ongoing for the past few months, as Lu An is inherently mysterious and no one in the sect has ever seen him make a move.

However, some of the participating disciples couldn't help but scoff when they heard Lu An's name.

He's just a nobody who's never actually fought. The only reason he was chosen as a true disciple of the Breaking Path is probably because he's a good sycophant.

They're just using the saintess's connections; it's all bluff and nothing to be afraid of.

This is what some people think, while others think differently.

"I really hope I don't run into Senior Brother Lu An as soon as I go in! I don't want to be eliminated so soon after I arrive!"

"Senior Brother Lu An, please, I beg you, show mercy when you see me!"

Some people were praying, but Lu An was nowhere to be seen.

On the judging panel, Li Podao, the vice sect leader, and a group of elders and core members of the Heavenly Demon Sect sat on the stage, watching the disciples below and discussing among themselves.

However, since Lu An was nowhere to be seen, some people couldn't help but start asking questions.

"Sect Master, where is your true disciple? Why hasn't he shown himself yet?" an elder asked.

"Yes, Sect Master, could they have run away?"

"Sect Master, who is this Lu An? You wouldn't be taking anyone as a disciple to fill the ranks for the sect's grand selection a few years in advance, would you?"

Hearing the elders' questions and taunts, Li Podao didn't care at all, but instead sneered.

"No rush. My disciple is different from yours. He will naturally be the last to appear."

Chapter Ten: The Grand Sect Competition

Heavenly Demon Sect, Heavenly Demon Peak

At that moment, a handsome young man was flying over on a sword.

Countless white clouds, like cotton candy, swept past him, and a figure was cast upon them.

"Hurry up...hurry up..."

With his strength at the ninth level of the Foundation Establishment stage, Lu An's sword-riding speed was obviously not comparable to those Nascent Soul stage experts. They were like shooting stars, flashing by in an instant, which was incredibly cool.

He was like a snail, unable to go fast even if he wanted to.

The gap in cultivation level cannot be bridged by cultivation techniques.

He had already seen different colored lights flashing past him from time to time. Those were all powerful figures in the Nascent Soul, Spirit Division, or Void Refinement stages, but none of them wanted to take him along.

"We're going to be late! We're going to be late! Hurry up!"

Lu An was so anxious he wanted to stomp his feet, but there was nothing he could do; his sword-riding speed was limited to this speed.

Although his master gave him a technique that allowed him to teleport, it was only within a specific range, and it wasn't worthwhile to use it for traveling, since the spiritual energy required was too much for someone at the Foundation Establishment stage.

So Lu An could only slowly fly towards the direction of the sect competition.

The sect competition is about to begin, and the resounding drumbeats, along with the spectacular aerial dragon dance and dragon dance performances, are also about to commence.

In the Heavenly Demon Sect, this ceremony signifies good fortune in martial arts, wishing all disciples good results, rewards, or enlightenment.

"Senior brother, have your disciples arrived yet?" asked Vice Sect Master Li Nayue.

This is an exceptionally mature and charming woman who has been alone for thousands of years. It is unknown whether she suffered heartbreak in her early years or was provoked by someone, as she does not even have a Daoist partner.

"Don't rush, don't rush." ​​Li Podao stroked his beard: "It hasn't started yet, has it? As long as we arrive on time, it'll be fine."

"That would be for the best. I don't mean anything by it, but I'm worried that your disciple might miss the appointed time, which would be bad."

"Even if you miss the time, it doesn't matter. Those who arrive first are not necessarily guaranteed a good ranking."

After hearing what Li Podao said, some elders sneered and then fell silent.

However, their gazes kept drifting towards the direction of Tianmo Peak.

Although they weren't happy with what Li Podao said, they still turned their attention to Tianmo Peak.

As time passed, the performances before the sect competition gradually came to an end.

The sect competition is about to officially begin.

A large bell floats in the air, and when the sect competition begins, the bell will ring to announce the start of the competition.

Li Podao, however, silently gazed at the horizon.

Why hasn't that brat arrived yet?

Finally, the time was almost up, and a man holding a large iron hammer prepared to ring the bell.

"Look! There's a figure over there!"

"Who is it that's so late?"

"This speed... could it be a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator?"

"Could this be Senior Brother Lu from Heavenly Demon Peak?"

As a figure appeared on the horizon, some people with keen eyesight also noticed it.

As the figure drew closer, some people finally saw it and realized who it was.

"This kid is finally here."

Li Podao looked at the figure flying on a sword and felt a familiar aura, and instantly breathed a sigh of relief.

Lu An finally arrived at the sect competition and landed slowly under the gazes of the crowd, which were filled with various emotions.

It's so embarrassing, but there's nothing I can do about it; that's just how fast he goes.

Even if it's incredibly embarrassing, he can't panic; this is what Li Podao taught him.

If you panic yourself, how can you keep others in line? Stay calm!

Ignoring the gazes and whispers of those around him, Lu An walked straight to Li Podao.

Lu An was wearing the uniform of a true disciple of Tianmo Peak, which was very similar to the clothes Zhao Mengyuan used to wear, only it had been changed to men's clothing.

It's another batch of junk that's been sitting at the bottom of the drawer.

"Disciple Lu An reports for duty!"

"Okay, it's good that you're here. Go and join the team."

Li Podao waved his hand, and Lu An immediately nodded, then turned and walked into the group of people preparing to enter the secret realm.

One, two, three... too many to count...

Lu An counted the number of people preparing to enter the secret realm, but gave up after a short while.

There are too many to count, simply too many to count. With so many Nascent Soul stages, not to mention the countless Spirit Transformation stages and Void Refinement stages, wouldn't this be a total disaster?

You're all big shots, and I'm just a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator. I'm doomed, doomed, doomed.

What a lousy master! If people find out he's only at the Foundation Establishment stage, killing him is just like killing an ant!

Not only will they die a horrible death, but they'll also be ridiculed for being such a worthless disciple!

"Is that Senior Brother Lu?"

"Yes, he's quite handsome."

"Wasn't it rumored that he was a Nascent Soul cultivator? How come his sword-riding speed is the same as a Foundation Establishment cultivator?"

"Perhaps it's because Senior Brother Lu is calm; that's how experts are."

Before everyone prepared to enter the secret realm, discussions about Lu An began to spread like wildfire again.

"Lu An... how could you be at the Nascent Soul stage...?"

Zhao Mengyuan gripped the armrest tightly, opening her divine sense to the fullest extent, trying to see through Lu An's cultivation level. However, Lu An's body was like a fog under her divine sense, and she could not detect it at all.

Mysterious, it's really too mysterious.

It wasn't just Zhao Mengyuan; the others were the same.

Similarly, their cultivation levels were shrouded in mystery, including those of the elders on the platform and the deputy sect leader.

"Why are all these guys staring at me...?"

Lu An was a little flustered. He didn't understand why these guys were all looking at him. Did his way of entering reveal his strength?

Damn it, a Foundation Establishment cultivator mixed in with a Nascent Soul cultivator, isn't that a complete disaster?

"Ahem, everyone, let me tell you, a new rule has been added this year." An elder stepped onto the stage, cleared his throat, and said, "If an individual or a team snatches too many tokens, their points will naturally accumulate. Whoever manages to take their tokens will receive even more points."

This is normal, and it's good that way. As long as I keep slacking off, I won't get noticed.

If no one else has a token, then his score will be low. With such a low score, who would bother watching him? Luckily, it's alright.

"True disciples start with five times the points of others. Obtaining a True Disciple Token will grant you an extremely generous amount of points."

what! ?

Lu An suddenly looked up, his body trembling, and a cracking sound of his heart breaking echoed in his mind.

Good grief, is this how you play the game? Aren't you just pushing him to his doom?

With the introduction of this rule, Lu An immediately felt countless malicious eyes staring at him.

Lu An, a true disciple of the sect leader Li Podao.

Horrible, so terrible.

But he could only hold the sword in one hand and pretend not to care with the other.

To outsiders, Lu An always appeared calm and composed, as if nothing could shock or frighten him.

But Lu An was already in a complete panic.

What should I do? Is this really going to mean I'm going to die a horrible death?

"The sect competition is about to begin. Once the bell rings, you may enter the secret realm!"

Boom!

As the deep, melodious bell rang out, everyone headed towards the black cave.