The annual competition
Some days later
Kaelen took a deep breath, steadying his still restless spiritual energy. After a few minutes, he finally managed to calm his cultivation.
Slowly leaving the cave, Kaelen looked around, murmuring:
"The master was right, I really am the only disciple here."
Without wasting any more time, he walked determinedly towards the exit of the Eighth Peak. He urgently needed to clarify some doubts with Elder Zhao.
As he descended the mountain, he noticed the complete silence around him.
"I didn't imagine it would be so empty," he whispered to himself, remembering the earlier words of his master Qian Xuan.
Upon reaching the common area of the inner sect, Kaelen looked for a disciple to ask how he could temporarily leave the sect.
After some time, he noticed that the sect was almost deserted at that hour, with few disciples circulating around.
Finally, after a brief walk, he found a disciple walking calmly through the area.
Kaelen approached, and, observing the inner disciple's robes, he said calmly:
"Excuse me, younger brother. How do I temporarily leave the sect?"
The disciple, interrupting his steps, stared at Kaelen for a moment before responding politely.
"You need to go to the Record Hall and request permission from the responsible deacon. Only he can grant your exit."
Kaelen quickly thanked him with a brief gesture:
"Understood, thank you for the information."
Without further conversation, Kaelen went straight to the Record Hall, hoping to resolve the matter that was troubling him.
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Arriving at the Record Hall, Kaelen saw Deacon Lin Yue sitting in a meditative posture, deeply focused on his cultivation. Upon noticing the young man's approach, Lin Yue slowly opened his eyes, staring at him calmly.
"Deacon Lin Yue, how can I temporarily leave the sect? I have something important to attend to in the city of Viresta."
Lin Yue replied without hesitation:
"You cannot leave the sect before reaching the Foundation Establishment level."
Kaelen frowned, slightly frustrated by the deacon's direct answer.
Noticing Kaelen's discontented expression, Lin Yue patiently explained:
"External disciples can leave the sect whenever they wish, since they are not exactly important to us. Servant disciples are even less relevant; we don't even record their identities, therefore we don't control their movements. However, once a disciple joins the inner sect, they become formally bound to the Celestial Dragon Sect, and their safety becomes our responsibility."
Lin Yue paused, analyzing Kaelen firmly before continuing:
"In your case, as a true disciple of the Eighth Peak, besides needing to reach at least the Foundation Establishment level, it will also be necessary to be accompanied by an inner elder, ensuring your safety during the entire period outside the sect."
Kaelen sighed slightly upon realizing how far he was from that level, still needing to completely pass through the Essence Forging stage and all the Qi Refinement before he could reach the Foundation Establishment.
After a brief moment of reflection, Kaelen decided to change the subject, asking:
"Deacon Lin Yue, is there any entertainment or competition available for inner disciples?"
Lin Yue pondered for a moment before replying calmly:
"It is rare for something like that to happen within the inner area, because most inner disciples prefer to cultivate in isolation. Look for yourself: there is hardly any movement here. The disciples who have not yet reached the Foundation Establishment are focused on breaking through that barrier, while those who have already passed are preparing to reach the Golden Core or exploring the external world in search of opportunities."
The deacon then gestured towards the external area of the sect and continued:
"Out in the external area, things are much livelier. Annually, tournaments and competitions take place among the external disciples. These disciples compete intensely for resources, recognition, and for the opportunity to be promoted to the inner area."
Hearing this, Kaelen felt his heart race with enthusiasm. The possibility of personally witnessing something he had often read about in the novels of his past life as Eric immediately excited him.
"Deacon Lin Yue, could I visit the external area to watch the competition?"
Lin Yue nodded with a slight smile:
"Of course. As a true disciple, you are free to go to the external areas. I recommend you go; perhaps it will be a good experience for you to better understand our sect."
Kaelen quickly thanked him, feeling excited at the prospect of seeing with his own eyes the legendary competition of disciples he had always read about during his life as Eric.
Noticing the young man's enthusiasm, Lin Yue picked up a communication jade and sent a quick message. In a few moments, a familiar figure appeared before them, with a calm expression and a slight smile on his lips.
"Elder Xuan Bei!"
Kaelen greeted, surprised to recognize the elder who had recruited him in the city of Viresta.
Xuan Bei nodded, smiling gently:
"Kaelen, do you wish to accompany the external disciples' competition?"
Kaelen quickly agreed, demonstrating his enthusiasm.
"Yes, Elder Xuan Bei. I have heard much about these competitions, and I would like to see how they work in person."
Xuan Bei let out a light laugh and commented naturally:
"With your exceptional talent, these basic disputes should not interest you that much. However, it is understandable that you want to experience the environment firsthand. Just remember that these competitions involve disciples of levels much inferior to your current potential."
While listening attentively, Kaelen decided to use his system to discreetly analyze the information of the elder in front of him:
[Name: Xuan Bei]
[Cultivation: Nascent Soul – Intermediate Stage]
[Talent: Spiritual Root]
[Constitution: Strong Body]
[Age: 3122/5882]
[History: Accepted as an inner disciple of the Celestial Dragon Sect 3,000 years ago. After reaching the Golden Core level, he chose to become an inner elder.]
[Recent events: Recently returned from a secret realm where he obtained a great opportunity and advanced to the intermediate level of the Nascent Soul. Taking advantage of his good mood due to success, he decided to recruit in Viresta, at which time he discovered Kaelen and Ermin.]
[Techniques: Celestial Dragon Technique.]
[Favorability: 1 star]
Kaelen was slightly surprised by the elder's advanced cultivation. It seemed that he was already directly connected to an exceptionally powerful sect.
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The External Sect contrasted completely with the deep silence of the inner area. There, the environment was vibrant and full of energy, with young disciples practicing martial techniques, training intensely, and cultivating with dedication everywhere.
In the distance, large circular arenas could be seen where external disciples waited around, some cultivating, others conversing. But all were clearly nervous, surrounded by excited spectators in stone stands. Amid the incessant movement, a young disciple named Zhou Fan was focused, silently observing the disciples.
"I need to enter the inner sect as soon as possible. While remaining as an external disciple, I will only be a tool used to gather resources through dangerous missions."
Zhou Fan clenched his fists with silent determination. He had been recruited by the sect three years earlier and, since then, had longed for an opportunity to advance.
"This time I will win the annual competition and secure the qualification necessary to join the inner sect. I cannot fail."
With that firm conviction, Zhou Fan closed his eyes, deeply focusing on his cultivation while patiently awaiting the start of the competition.
At the main stands, Kaelen arrived in the external area accompanied by Elder Xuan Bei, immediately attracting the attention of numerous disciples gathered in the stands.
"Look! An inner elder has come to watch this year's competition!" exclaimed an external disciple excitedly.
"And that young man beside him is clearly a true disciple. Just by the uniform, you can tell!"
"If we manage to impress them, our lives would be secure, wouldn't they?" commented another disciple enthusiastically.
Ignoring the voices echoing around, Xuan Bei and Kaelen proceeded directly to a reserved area in the stands, where the external elder responsible for the competition, Lu Hong, awaited anxiously.
Upon noticing Xuan Bei's arrival, Lu Hong immediately stood up and joined his hands in a respectful greeting:
"Elder Xuan Bei, it is an honor to have you here."
Xuan Bei responded with a slight smile:
"Brother Lu Hong, it has been a while since we last met and you have already reached the advanced stage of the Foundation Establishment. With your current talent, sometimes I wonder why you chose to become an external elder instead of an inner disciple."
Lu Hong smiled amicably.
"The resources of the position are tempting, older brother. Moreover, overseeing the young people of the external sect has its own benefits."
Xuan Bei nodded briefly in agreement, while introducing Kaelen:
"This is Kaelen, a true disciple of Master Qian Xuan, of the Eighth Peak."
Lu Hong immediately folded his hands in a respectful greeting and said to Kaelen:
"Greetings, Young Master Kaelen."
Kaelen felt slightly embarrassed by the formal manner in which he was addressed and quickly replied:
"Please, Elder Lu Hong, you can just call me Young Kaelen. There is no need for formalities."
"As you wish, young Kaelen." replied Lu Hong politely.
Then Kaelen looked at the information on his system:
[Name: Lu Hong]
[Cultivation: Foundation Establishment – Advanced Stage]
[Talent: Spiritual Root]
[Constitution: Mortal]
[Age: 318/833]
[History: Initially accepted as an external disciple, Lu Hong consumed an elixir that altered his talent, elevating him to a superior standard.]
[Recent events: Managed to break through to the advanced stage of the Foundation Establishment level thanks to a pill he bought from an inner elder of the Second Peak.]
[Techniques: Basic technique of the Celestial Dragon Sect.]
[Favorability: No impression.]
Kaelen observed attentively as Lu Hong advanced to the front of the stands and, with a powerful and authoritative voice, announced:
"Let the annual competition of the external disciples of the Celestial Dragon Sect begin!"