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The Great Tournament of Shushan was in full swing.

If you looked at the early stages of the Great Tournament from a modern sporting perspective, the drawing lots and matchups were typical of a “single elimination” format.

For example, 100 disciples would pair off and compete in sword fighting.

The 50 victorious disciples would then compete among themselves again in pairs, and so on, until the ranks from 1 to 50 were decided;

Similarly, the 50 disciples who lost would also spar in this manner to determine the ranks from 51 to 100… without any messy rules like a losers’ bracket comeback.

The problem with single elimination is that victories in the early stages are far more important than those later on.

For instance, in the earlier example, if you lost in the first round, you would have no chance of making the top 50, and even if you won every subsequent match, you would still only rank 51st at best.

And with random drawings, there’s always the chance that someone will come up against one of the powerhouses on the Immortal Sword Ranking.

This is why there is the latter half of the Tournament: the seat challenge battles.

Now, the lot-drawing and sword fighting phase of the early stages was approaching its end.

Ling Yunpo, An Zhisu, Lin Duanshan and others were still maintaining an undefeated record, and the competition for the coveted ranks on the Immortal Sword Ranking had narrowed to the top twenty.

Duan Fenhai, who had been defeated once before, also managed to maintain a winning streak afterwards, but even if he won all the way to the end, his final rank would not be appealing, hence he was bound to initiate a seat challenge in the latter half.

As the Foundation Establishment Rank disciples had been competing for many days in a row, they were utterly exhausted, leading the Shushan higher-ups to announce a day off so everyone could have a good rest and reset themselves.

Senior Sister An ran to the interior of Qingluo Peak to report this good news to her master.

Ling Yunpo decided to take this opportunity to go to the market at the foothills to buy some wine and dishes, and celebrate with his Senior Sister.

Unlike Kunlun, the Shangqing Sect of Shushan coexisted with mortal villages, with Sword Immortals living atop various peaks while common folk dwelt in the valleys between the mountains.

The corresponding markets were all set up within these valley villages, where mortals and cultivators lived together.

To avoid being pestered by the villagers (like requests for elixirs and such), Shushan Sect disciples entering the market would usually hide their Flying Swords and the like to avoid attracting undue attention.

Ling Yunpo entered a wine shop, asked the owner for a jug of wine, specifically the fine Monkey Brew, and also bought some spiced beef and hundred-year ginseng as a reserve.

While waiting for the boss to cut the meat and ginseng, he suddenly heard a group of Shushan Sect disciples chatting at a wine table across the room:

“…As for this Tournament, let’s not mention those powerhouses; the only person worth mentioning is the Weed-Cutting Sword Immortal’s junior brother who directly defeated Cangtie Sword Immortal Duan Fenhai and seized the second seat.”

“Is it the same person who went from Qi Refinement to Marrow Cleansing and killed a disciple from Ziyun Peak?” someone asked.

“Exactly. Eh, what was his name again? I only vaguely remember his surname is Ling…”

The crowd fell silent.

“I remember now!” Suddenly someone slapped the table, “I just happened to hear someone talking about it the day before yesterday, when the opening bets for this Tournament were brought up.”

“The first seat is definitely going to the Weed-Cutting Sword Immortal; there’s no other possibility. But who will end up with the second seat after the seat challenges conclude is the biggest focus of this wagering.”

“There are only four contenders, the three powerhouse veterans of past tournaments, and this newcomer who suddenly emerged, the Weed-Cutting Sword Immortal’s junior brother.”

“These four will be this tournament’s ‘Four Kings,’ and someone summarized them in a four-character idiom: ‘Duan Shan Fenhai, Sui Yue Po Yun.’

Hearing this, the group responded with an “Oh,” and someone said:

“Duan Shan is Lin Duanshan of Diamond Peak, Fenhai is Duan Fenhai of Yellow Dragon Peak, Sui Yue is Guan Shanyue of Green Bamboo Peak, whose sword is named ‘Crushing Moon,’ then Po Yun is…”

“It must be the Weed-Cutting Sword Immortal’s junior brother who’s called Ling Poyun,” another disciple exclaimed, “My goodness, is a fierce and domineering name a prerequisite to becoming a strong person?”

“That does seem true. Hey, what do you think about me changing my name to ‘Overlord’?”

Ling Yunpo, having received the jug of wine and side dishes from the shopkeeper, turned around expressionlessly.

I’m Ling Yunpo, damn it!

Returning to Qingluo Peak in a gloomy mood, Ling Yunpo saw An Zhisu drinking alone in the pavilion at the back.

“Senior Sister!” He dropped down to the ground along his sword light, holding up his wine and dishes, and smiled, “Why are you drinking alone here?”

An Zhisu let out a sigh and said:

“Junior Brother, did you know? They say that the rewards for the top three ranks in this Shushan Tournament include Mercurial Elixir Liquid.”

“Oh?” Ling Yunpo was startled inside but smiled outwardly, “Since Senior Sister is specifically mentioning it, it must be an extremely precious item.”

“Precious?” An Zhisu shook her head, “After reaching the Refining Mansion Rank, a spoonful can match sixty years of arduous cultivation.”

“That’s fantastic!” Ling Yunpo exclaimed with delight, “Senior Sister is at the Refining Mansion Rank, so this item is perfect for you.”

“No,” An Zhisu said seriously, “I’m going to save it for you.”

“`

Ling Yunpo: ………..

Even though he had long suspected it, hearing Senior Sister An confirm it in person still shocked him.

This was about the quality of Core Formation! It was about your Dao and future, Senior Sister!

“I don’t want it!” Ling Yunpo urgently refused, but An Zhisu held his hand down and spoke firmly, “Junior Brother, listen to me.”

“Master has been in seclusion for too long, and Qingluo Peak has become increasingly targeted in recent years, now facing hostility from all sides.”

“The last time our monthly stipend was deducted, and the manipulation of the lots in this sword competition are the best evidence of this.”

“Ultimately, it’s because Qingluo Peak not only lacks a Nascent Soul Elder, but we also don’t even have a Golden Core True Person, leaving us struggling to hold on by ourselves.”

“We can’t go on like this.”

An Zhisu’s tone was resolute, with an air of determination in her eyes so solid, it seemed almost to pierce through his chest:

“Junior Brother.”

“I’ve made up my mind, to protect Qingluo Peak’s Dao lineage, I will form my core within thirty years.”

“The time in the Refining Mansion is too short, even drinking Mercurial Elixir Liquid is useless… it’s better to leave it for you.”

Ling Yunpo opened his mouth, but he couldn’t say anything.

Thirty years sounds long, but for a cultivator at the Refining Mansion Rank, it is exceedingly short.

Ordinary cultivators at the Refining Mansion Rank, if they start cultivating at the age of twenty, need sixty years for Qi Refinement, and ten more for Marrow Cleansing; they often have to dedicate a hundred years to Refining Mansion, testing Core Formation only when their lifespan of two hundred years is reduced to just over a decade.

This is to maximize the chance of achieving a high quality core, which is vital for the cultivation path during the Golden Core Rank and not to be taken lightly.

An Zhisu, at the Refining Mansion Rank, has almost cultivated for thirty years; to cultivate for another thirty years would be a sixty-year process at the Refining Mansion.

Given her cultivation talent, if she tries Core Formation after just sixty years, at most she could achieve a fourth or fifth Grade Pill Formation, definitely missing out on the third Grade.

A fourth or fifth Grade Pill Formation means that the subsequent evolution will peak at an Intermediate Grade Nascent Soul.

Without a High Grade Nascent Soul, in the later stages of Ascension, it’s impossible to become a Daluo Golden Immortal.

At best, she could only cut down the Three Corpses and become a Heavenly Immortal… falling behind at one step means lagging at every step, with not even a chance to remedy the situation!

Were Ling Yunpo himself in her place, he acknowledges that despite his deep respect and affection for Senior Sister An, he could not possibly take such a matter lightly.

Yet Senior Sister An was willing to give up a brighter future for herself, just to become a Golden Core True Person as soon as possible and protect him…

“Senior Sister…” His voice was somewhat suppressed.

“Hmm?”

“I’ll find a way!” Ling Yunpo suddenly burst out, grabbing An Zhisu’s hands firmly, and said vehemently:

“I’ll find a way to change Qingluo Peak’s situation of facing enemies on all sides, starting with this Shushan competition!”

[Unyielding Character Attribute, Synchronization Value +1.]

In the Sea of Consciousness, prompts from the Kunlun Mirror began to flood in, but Ling Yunpo completely ignored them, gritting his teeth and swearing:

“Please, Senior Sister, don’t say such absurd things like ‘forming the core in thirty years’! If you treat your future as a joke again, Junior Brother here will go to the base of the Daoist temple and bash my head against the wall of Master’s seclusion chamber!”

“Junior Brother!” An Zhisu’s eyes immediately reddened, about to angrily scold him for making such a toxic vow, but she noticed in Ling Yunpo’s eyes a stubbornness and determination as unyielding as cold steel.

It was almost exactly like the steely expression on their master’s face when he took the Asura Path Elder’s attack to protect her.

She stared blankly at her Junior Brother, suddenly feeling a mournful sense of mission rising in her heart:

Perhaps our Qingluo lineage is of such unbreakable Sword Bone.

To desperately protect the people close to us, we soar out like Flying Swords burning at our core, never looking back.

But Junior Brother…

Now, it’s my turn to protect you like Master did…

With a heart heavy with sorrow, An Zhisu suddenly extended her arms, pulling him into a tight embrace.

Ling Yunpo: ?

“Junior Brother.” An Zhisu leaned her head on his shoulder, letting her tears fall as she said, “Don’t say such things ever again.”

Her tears slid down her cheeks, making her hold Ling Yunpo even tighter, her voice choking up:

“You mustn’t say such things, you have to be alright…”

“Even if it’s for your Senior Sister…”