Xianxia :I live for ever in Cultivation World

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For the grand competition of the outer sect, He Song had no intention of participating at all. 

Even though Pinger repeatedly expressed her desire to see his heroic figure, He Song remained firm in his decision. 

Participating in the outer sect grand competition would bring no benefits to He Song. On the contrary, it would only bring disadvantages. 

Even if He Song managed to secure a spot in the top ten, the top three, or even win first place, it would only increase others' attention toward him, exposing him to the public eye and accelerating the revelation of his secrets. 

It was simply a path to death. 

As for the rewards for the top ten, top three, or even first place, they held no attraction for He Song. 

Foundation Establishment Pills? He Song had no shortage of them. 

High-grade magical artifacts? He Song also had no lack of them. 

The identity of being a disciple of a Golden Core True Lord?

What could be more terrifying than being constantly watched by a Golden Core elder? 

As an immortal practitioner, He Song should not appear in front of others or stand under the spotlight while still weak in cultivation. 

If he truly won first place in the grand competition, a Golden Core True Lord would immediately attach himself to He Song, scrutinizing his every move. 

He Song had many secrets, and if they were discovered, he might not even have a chance to escape. 

Wasn't this akin to an old man drinking poison, seeking his own death? 

Therefore, for this outer sect grand competition, He Song originally had no intention of participating, nor did he plan to watch it. 

However, many outer sect disciples chose to participate in this grand competition. Only a small number of disciples did not participate, but even those who didn't participate went out to watch. 

Upon learning about the movements of other disciples, He Song had no choice but to leave his seclusion and visit the venue of the outer sect grand competition. 

To avoid standing out, 

to avoid becoming the most conspicuous person in the crowd, 

to avoid appearing out of place among the disciples by neither participating nor watching the grand competition, 

and to avoid being remembered by Foundation Establishment elders or Golden Core True Lords, 

He Song ultimately decided to attend the venue of the outer sect grand competition. 

Not participating was acceptable. 

But he needed to come and watch. 

By doing so, although he wasn't part of the majority participating in the competition, he also wouldn't appear too unusual. 

There were also some outer sect disciples who didn't participate but came to watch. 

He Song blended in with these people, which wouldn't draw too much attention. 

On the vast square in the outer sect area of the Earth Sect, 

ten arenas were neatly arranged. 

He Song briefly glanced at the rules of this outer sect grand competition. 

At the end, the ten people still standing on the arenas would be the top ten of this grand competition. 

After the arena battles concluded, these ten would continue to compete to determine the top three and the champion. 

He Song had just arrived and hadn't yet fully understood the rules when he planned to find an arena to observe. 

Suddenly, a small figure appeared in front of him. 

"He Junior Brother, I knew you would come. Come quickly, Pinger's match is about to start. Let's hurry." 

As the voice rang out, He Song looked up and saw that Chu Shuangshuang had already stepped forward and started leading the way. 

Seeing this, He Song was speechless.

He had only come to blend in and avoid standing out. 

How did Chu Shuangshuang make it sound like he was certain to come? 

Previously, when Pinger persistently asked him to participate, he had firmly refused. 

But seeing Chu Shuangshuang's figure gradually moving away, after some thought, He Song quickly followed. 

Since he was already here, 

watching anyone was fine. 

Although Pinger's cultivation was only at the eighth level of Qi Condensation, she must have some hidden trump card since she dared to step onto the stage. 

Thinking this, 

He Song soon followed behind Chu Shuangshuang and arrived beneath one of the arenas. 

Standing side by side with Chu Shuangshuang under the arena, He Song looked up and immediately spotted Pinger's figure. 

At this moment, Pinger looked quite different from her usual self in He Song's impression. 

Pinger usually loved to smile and treated others warmly like a spring breeze. 

But now, standing on the arena, Pinger's face was extremely serious. 

Her artifact shield was activated, surrounding her, and her magic sword moved around her like a swimming dragon. 

Opposite Pinger stood another female cultivator. 

He Song didn't recognize this female cultivator, but cultivators generally had good appearances, so she could be considered beautiful. 

However, there were many beauties in the cultivation world, so He Song only glanced at her before focusing his attention on Pinger. 

"Eighth-level Qi Condensation against ninth-level Qi Condensation? Does Pinger have some hidden trump card?" 

Murmuring softly, He Song wanted to see what Pinger's trump card was. 

But suddenly, Chu Shuangshuang beside him showed a strange expression. 

"Pinger usually focuses solely on cultivation. I've never seen her practice any spells, and as for a trump card, she likely doesn't have one." 

It seemed Chu Shuangshuang was explaining things to He Song, or perhaps she believed Pinger was bound to lose.

The strange look on her face grew stronger. 

Turning her head to glance at He Song, seeing his surprised expression, Chu Shuangshuang continued, 

"I once advised her, but she insisted on testing the senior sisters' abilities. Since her cultivation is lower, losing wouldn't be shameful." 

"So…" 

Watching the two on the stage bowing to each other, seemingly about to fight at any moment, 

Chu Shuangshuang sighed, shook her head, and shrugged at He Song before stopping further explanation. 

Hearing Chu Shuangshuang's words, He Song was left speechless. 

He originally thought Pinger had some hidden trump card that might allow her to defeat a stronger opponent. 

But unexpectedly, Pinger didn't have any trump card. She stepped onto the arena merely to witness the senior sisters' abilities. 

With her cultivation at only the eighth level of Qi Condensation, losing indeed wouldn't be shameful, as Chu Shuangshuang said. 

At this moment, most of the disciples on the arenas were at the ninth level of Qi Condensation, and some had even reached the Great Perfection of Qi Condensation. 

Under such circumstances, 

a cultivator at the eighth level of Qi Condensation without any trump cards stepping onto the stage would indeed find it difficult to win. 

On the arena, 

after Pinger and the female cultivator exchanged greetings, they quickly engaged in battle. 

The clash of their magic swords rang out loudly, and waves of spiritual energy burst forth with each strike. 

But standing below the arena, He Song could clearly sense Pinger's lack of strength. 

Sure enough, 

after exchanging several blows, Pinger straightforwardly admitted defeat. 

Having admitted defeat, 

the two on the stage bowed to each other again, said their farewells, 

and Pinger immediately stepped down from the arena. 

She came over to He Song and Chu Shuangshuang. 

When He Song and Chu Shuangshuang had first arrived, Pinger had already noticed their presence. 

Unfortunately, she was on the arena at the time and couldn't greet them. 

Now that she had admitted defeat, Pinger naturally came over immediately. 

"Senior Brother, Senior Sister, Pinger lost." 

Coming before the two, Pinger's tone was filled with disappointment, but upon closer inspection, He Song keenly noticed that despite saying she had lost, Pinger didn't show any sign of discouragement on her face. 

Indeed, Chu Shuangshuang's earlier statement that Pinger had only stepped onto the arena to witness the senior sisters' abilities seemed correct. 

From Pinger's current lack of discouragement, it was clear she probably never intended to win. 

Since that was the case, 

after hearing her words, He Song simply nodded at her without saying anything. 

Beside him, Chu Shuangshuang also didn't offer any comforting words.

Like He Song, she simply nodded and then led the two away from this arena. 

They arrived beneath another arena, where the three finally stopped and began chatting casually. 

He Song didn't want to participate in this outer sect grand competition. 

Chu Shuangshuang already possessed a Foundation Establishment Pill, so she had no need to participate in this grand competition. 

Pinger had already participated, so naturally, she didn't intend to step onto the arena again. 

Thus, 

when the three gathered together, pointing out and discussing the disciples fighting on the arenas became a great way to pass the time. 

Among the outer sect disciples, He Song had relatively broad connections. 

While chatting casually with the two beside him, acquaintances among the outer sect disciples occasionally came over to greet him. 

He Song responded to each one, not appearing aloof. 

He blended in like an ordinary outer sect disciple, drawing no particular attention. 

The traditional outer sect grand competition of the Earth Sect occurred once every thirty years. 

This once-in-thirty-years grand competition was quite grand, with even richer rewards. 

At that time, Foundation Establishment elders from the sect would come to seek disciples. 

It wasn't like this outer sect grand competition, which only had ten arenas set up, appearing rather modest. 

This outer sect grand competition wasn't a traditional event of the Earth Sect but was instead organized by True Lord Fa Xuan as compensation for the outer sect disciples. 

Its purpose 

was actually to make it easier for outer sect disciples to advance to the Foundation Establishment stage, increasing the number of Foundation Establishment practitioners born within the sect. 

That was why ten Foundation Establishment Pills were awarded as prizes. 

In the outside world, many outer sect disciples already had Foundation Establishment elders as their masters, and their Foundation Establishment Pills were generally provided by their masters. 

Just like Pinger and Chu Shuangshuang, their Foundation Establishment Pills didn't need to worry about being provided by True Person Clear Moon. 

This time, the Earth Sect was going to war with the Seven Stars Sect, requiring all disciples to return to the mountain gate. 

At the same time, their masters would also be mobilized by the sect to fight against the Seven Stars Sect. 

In such a situation, some disciples who had already reached the Great Perfection of Qi Condensation might not have Foundation Establishment Pills to break through.

Their masters might not have time to seek Foundation Establishment Pills for them. 

Under these circumstances, 

holding a temporary outer sect grand competition to distribute Foundation Establishment Pills to those outer sect disciples who had reached the Great Perfection of Qi Condensation but lacked Foundation Establishment Pills became an excellent solution. 

Disciples at the Great Perfection of Qi Condensation naturally had stronger power than ordinary ninth-level Qi Condensation disciples. 

Their chances of achieving higher rankings were naturally greater. 

As for other rewards, such as high-grade magic artifacts or becoming the disciple of the sect master, 

they were merely secondary matters. 

If one already had a master, even if they won first place, they likely wouldn't be able to enjoy the status of being the sect master's disciple. 

Respecting one's teacher and valuing the path of cultivation was quite strict in the cultivation world. 

(End of Chapter) 

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