Chapter 34: Intensive Training

With the Incantation for the Qi Condensation stage up to the ninth level, Wang Lin felt greatly relieved and began a reclusive life. As the days passed, the entire Hengyue School was filled with a tense atmosphere.

All the Inner Sect Disciples were preparing for the year-end Grand Competition. Once they entered the top ten, they could obtain Magic Treasures, Medicinal Pills, Spirit Stones, Jade Talismans, and so on.

What made them even more envious was that this time, the Sect Leader had brought out the School's precious treasure, the Twin Moon Ring, as a reward for first place!

This Twin Moon Ring was originally a relic from a Senior of the School 300 years ago. It was quite powerful and was a rare treasure that combined both offense and defense.

Therefore, in private, the Inner Sect Disciples were rubbing their palms and gearing up with full energy.

As for the Grand Competition for the newcomers, there were only a few newcomers accepted as Inner Sect Disciples this year. In everyone's eyes, Wang Zhuo would undoubtedly become the Newcomer King.

On the other hand, among the Named Disciples, there was even greater hostility toward each other. For them, this Named Disciple Grand Competition represented a turning point in their lives, and everyone was secretly making their final preparations.

All this tense atmosphere had nothing to do with Wang Lin. Every day, besides Cultivating, he practiced the Gravity Spell. On the day before the end of the month, he left the Miscellaneous Duties Office and headed straight for the Main Courtyard.

He had already mastered the Hand Seal for concealing his aura. With a shift of his thoughts, the Spiritual Qi in his body naturally hid itself, creating the illusion that he had not yet reached the first level of Qi Condensation.

He felt that the Miscellaneous Duties Office was too crowded and unsuitable for cultivation, so he wanted to find a reason to go down the mountain to find a quiet place for secluded practice.

After arriving at the Main Courtyard, he walked in with large strides. Not long after, he reached the outside of Sun Dazhu's herb garden and respectfully said in a loud voice: "Disciple Wang Lin requests to see Master."

"What are you here for?" The gate of the herb garden did not open, and Sun Dazhu's impatient voice came from inside. It was clear that he extremely disliked this Disciple.

Wang Lin's expression remained normal, and on the surface, he was respectful, saying: "Disciple's cultivation is insufficient. I feel I cannot win in the competition tomorrow and am afraid of losing Face for Master, so I do not wish to participate."

"Hmph, at least you are sensible, kid. This time, your Junior Martial Uncle Daoxu's Disciple, Wang Zhuo, has already reached the Peak of the first level of Qi Condensation at a young age and can Breakthrough to the second level at any time. Even if you went, it would be useless; he could crush you with one finger. I heard you two are relatives; why is the gap so large?" Sun Dazhu said mockingly.

Wang Lin did not mind and said: "Wang Zhuo has been smart since childhood and has an abundant Spiritual Root; he is not someone this Disciple can compare to."

"Have you found any more Gourds in the last half year?" Sun Dazhu asked after a brief silence.

Wang Lin shook his head, showing a troubled look, and said: "This matter is also strange. I have gone to the spring many times, but I have never seen any more Gourds floating down."

"Is there anything else? If not, get lost. I get angry just seeing you!" Sun Dazhu said coldly. Whenever he saw this Disciple, he could not control his temper and wished he could slap him to death with one palm to avoid being laughed at by his peers.

"Master, Disciple finds staying on the mountain too stifling. I would like to go down the mountain and return after the New Year. What do you think?" Wang Lin lowered his head and said respectfully.

"Go down the mountain? No. If you hadn't mentioned it, I wouldn't have remembered. In four years, there will be the exchange conference with the Xuandao Sect. This time, your Senior Martial Uncle, the Sect Leader, has given the order. Most Inner Sect Disciples will undergo four years of intensive training after the New Year. You should participate too, so you don't lose Face and ruin my reputation at the exchange conference in four years!" Sun Dazhu refused flatly and said.

"Intensive training?" Wang Lin was stunned.

"The exchange happens every 20 years; it is a rule that has existed for hundreds of years. The Xuandao Sect and our Hengyue School are friendly on the surface, but secretly compete for superiority. In the last hundred years, we have lost several sparring matches to them, which is too shameful in terms of Face, hence the intensive training. Listen well, if you don't achieve anything during this intensive training and make me lose Face at the exchange conference in four years, I will expel you from the Hengyue School no matter what!" Sun Dazhu was unwilling to explain more and said this in a few words.

Wang Lin sighed inwardly; going out to Cultivate was clearly impossible now. Seeing Sun Dazhu's unkind tone, he nodded in agreement, bowed, and left.

Returning to the Miscellaneous Duties Office, Wang Lin pondered for a while. Since he could not go out to Cultivate, he would take advantage of this intensive training to find opportunities to Cultivate.

The next day, the School's Grand Competition began. The scene was bustling. Wang Lin hesitated for a moment, then did not go to watch. Instead, he seized every moment to breathe and regulate his breath, consolidating the second level of Qi Condensation.

In the following days, through the chatter among the Named Disciples, Wang Lin learned that among the Inner Sect Disciples, Senior Brother Zhang had won first place, though he heard it was because no Purple-robed Disciples had participated.

As for Wang Zhuo, he had undoubtedly become the Newcomer King and was arrogant and overbearing for a time, looking down on everyone else in his age group.

One week later, in the early morning, bursts of bell tolls echoed throughout the Hengyue School. It rang five times in total, which meant that all Inner Sect Disciples must quickly assemble at the School's main hall.

Wang Lin did not hear it while in the Dream Space. It was not until the furious Sun Dazhu kicked open the door of the Miscellaneous Duties Office that he was startled awake. He quickly put away the bead, concealed his cultivation, and pushed open the secret room door. He saw Sun Dazhu with a Face full of anger, roaring at Wang Lin: "Wang Lin, are your ears deaf? Didn't you hear the bell? You rebellious Disciple, all the Inner Sect Disciples in the entire School participating in the intensive training have arrived, except for you. You have made me lose all Face in front of my fellow Disciples. You… you are infuriating me!!!"

Wang Lin raised his eyebrows and remained silent.

Sun Dazhu glared fiercely at Wang Lin. He knew now was not the time to discipline his Disciple; the Sect Leader and the other Senior Martial Uncles were waiting. Without another word, he stepped forward, grabbed him, stepped on a seven-colored cloud, and quickly soared into the air.

At the fastest speed, he arrived outside the Main Courtyard's main hall and threw him heavily onto the ground. Sun Dazhu whispered sternly: "Wang Lin, follow me inside. If you lose Face for me again, I will risk being punished by the Sect Leader to slap you to death!" In that last sentence, murderous intent appeared in Sun Dazhu's eyes. He had reached the limit of his disgust for this Disciple and was determined to find an opportunity in the future to expel him from the School.

Wang Lin rubbed his arm. If he hadn't already reached the second level of Qi Condensation and his body hadn't become much stronger, that fall would definitely have broken his arm. He lowered his head and said softly: "Disciple obeys."

Sun Dazhu snorted, straightened his clothes, and walked into the main hall. Wang Lin took a deep breath, suppressed his anger, and followed with a calm expression.

The Hengyue School's main hall was the most solemn place in the entire School. The hall was extremely vast, with dozens of huge statues of the School's sages lined up on the left and right, and an aura of solemnity enveloped the interior.

After Wang Lin followed Sun Dazhu inside, dozens of gazes immediately converged on him. He immediately felt that breathing became somewhat difficult. With a sweep of his peripheral vision, he hurriedly lowered his head.