Chapter 14: The Great Comparison Begins (Second update tonight!)

  When the two arrived at Huanjing Alley, it was already bustling with people. The Luoshui Sect had a large number of outer sect disciples, who didn't consume much of the sect's resources and could even bring many benefits to the sect, so they naturally recruited many. Perhaps they could also find one or two exceptionally talented individuals among them. Although such situations were rare, occurring only once every decade or so, it was still a possibility. That's why there was a recruitment of outer sect disciples every six months and an Outer Sect Grand Competition every year.

  It is said that the 137th leader of the Luoshui Sect, who later became the Supreme Elder, was a master who started from an outer disciple and rose to prominence without relying on any backing or connections, but rather through his own innate talent and strength, creating a legendary story.

  Not all disciples outside the Phantom Alley will participate, although this is just an internal competition and the Luoshui Sect is not a heretical sect. The competition won't be that cruel, but injuries are inevitable, and even deaths can occur from time to time. Therefore, those who think their strength is average will not participate, and after accumulating enough strength in one or two years, they will naturally have the strength to come again.

  The dragon- patterned dagger on Shen Cong's back was somewhat eye-catching, but what was even more eye-catching was the huge amount of money that its owner possessed. Yan Qing and others' propaganda had been effective, seeing the dagger was like seeing the person, seeing the person was like seeing the money. Most of the outer door disciples looked at Shen Cong with a hint of greed and sympathy in their eyes. Having too much money wasn't always a good thing, especially when one didn't have the ability to protect it, many people thought.

  "Look, Sun Lin has arrived!"

  Someone shouted, the crowd seemed a bit noisy, and then automatically parted a way. Sun Lin's face was expressionless, but anyone could feel a hint of pride from it. Behind Sun Lin followed two people, who were Yan Qing and Huo Qi.

  "Brother Sun, that little brat is over there, he's indeed come today." Yan Qing said gloomily as he saw Shen Cong in the distance. Nowadays, he had completely become one of Sun Lin's subordinates, a mix of voluntary and forced submission. Yan Qing himself was both happy and resentful about it. Anyone with ambitions would not be willing to become someone else's subordinate, especially when they felt they were not inferior. Unfortunately, Sun Lin was too overbearing, leaving Yan Qing no choice.

  Yan Qing didn't dare to show this emotion in front of Sun Lin, so he could only vent all his resentment towards Shen Cong, because he thought that everything was caused by Shen Cong. If he had just handed over the two silver coins in town back then, wouldn't everything have been fine?

  "There are always many people who aren't afraid to die, I really hope to meet him in the Illusory Alley next time." Huo Qi licked his lips, they had specifically looked up information to deal with Shen Cong, when Shen Cong first started cultivating half a year ago, he almost had no skills. Now that half a year has passed, how much power he has is completely imaginable. Moreover, they also found out that Shen Cong's current main cultivation method was actually the Nourishing Life Scripture, this secret book which has almost no amplification effect on attacks, so there's even less need to worry about anything."

  Sun Lin didn't say a word and walked up to Shen Cong, the people around them making way while wearing an expectant expression, hoping something would happen.

  "I hope you'll have better luck this time and make it to the later rounds." Sun Lin looked down his nose at Shen Cong, speaking as if he was looking down on him.

  "Borrowing a lucky phrase from my senior brother." Shen Cong smiled slightly and looked at Sun Lin calmly, without any hint of retreat in his eyes.

  Sun Lin sneered and smiled, "I just think that if you were to be dealt with by someone else, it would be less interesting for me. I really want to see the look on your face when you beg for mercy in front of me, how pitiful it will be."

  "That might disappoint Shixiong."

  Shen Cong still smiled, but this smile and these words made Sun Lin's eyebrows rise, a hint of anger floating on his face. "This time, if any fellow disciples encounter him inside, please spare him for me, I will definitely thank you afterwards!" Sun Lin's voice was loud, all the outer door disciples heard it clearly.

  When everyone heard such words, Sun Lin was already furious. If it weren't for the rules of the door, Sun Lin would have probably taken action long ago and wouldn't have said so many words.

  "How could Brother Sun have such great anger, who offended you?" A sweet and sticky voice sounded, Qian Min walked out from the crowd, seeing Shen Cong's eyes lit up involuntarily. The last time in Luoshan Mountains, Shen Cong's performance was still vivid in her mind. However, as soon as Qian Min took a few steps, she immediately discovered the subtle atmosphere between Shen Cong and Sun Lin, thinking of the rumors about Sun Lin borrowing money and the words just now, her face changed involuntarily.

  "Qian Shimei, you're here." Sun Lin saw Qian Min and, especially after glancing at Qian Min's slender figure, a spark of passion flashed in his eyes, but he quickly hid it. What was his would always be his, especially after he became an inner disciple.

  "Brother Sun!" Qian Min hesitated for a moment, then walked over firmly and called out to Sun Lin, but immediately stepped in front of Shen Cong, "Shen Shidi, long time no see, you're still so spirited."

  Qian Min's behavior left the people around her stunned, and Sun Lin's eyes even emitted an incredulous light, followed by a fierce anger, even more furious than before. Qian Min was already considered his own woman, but now his own woman was waving at Shen Cong, and they seemed to have a deep relationship, how could this not make Sun Lin's anger burn?

  "Qian Shi Jie, it's been a long time." Shen Cong smiled slightly, not particularly surprised by Qian Min's initiative to get close.

  "This knife is not bad, it seems that Shen Shidi didn't use his full strength back then." Qian Min looked at the Long Que knife with some surprise. He thought that Shen Cong was not at his peak in the Luoshan Mountains, after all, in the current outer gate competition, he must have used his strongest strength, but he didn't know that Shen Cong only knew the most basic chopping and defense.

  Sun Lin looked coldly at the two people in front of him, just about to turn around and leave, when he found that the crowd on the periphery was once again stirred up. A black-clad man with a strong build walked in. His appearance was handsome, but more importantly, his entire demeanor exuded a sharp edge, as if he could sweep away all obstacles in front of him with ease, yet somehow without making anyone feel uncomfortable.

  Sun Lin seemed to be at odds with this person, glanced at him and walked away. The man, however, was friendly towards Sun Lin, nodded slightly, and then walked in front of Shen Cong, "I presume you are Junior Brother Shen."

  Shen Cong nodded slightly, maintaining a smile on his face, but in his heart he despised the person in front of him. Meng Ran, Qin Wu's idol, was someone Shen Cong thought was pretending to be something he's not. However, Meng Ran's acting skills were indeed good, at least most people outside the school had a good impression of him, and many female students were crazy about him. His own strength was also very strong, and in this competition, his popularity was the highest, not inferior to Sun Lin.

  However, Shen Cong and he didn't have any friendship at all, but now he suddenly came to the door, it seems that he also saw the considerable amount of money on Shen Cong's body. Probably also thinking that Shen Cong's life is not guaranteed now, come over to show kindness, and then see if you can make a few more strokes, after all, Shen Cong has already offended Sun Lin, offending him again, I'm afraid in the big comparison really have to die without a burial. A pure conspiracy, just afraid you won't take the bait, and Meng Ran's attitude is exactly the same.

  "I've met Master Meng, I've long heard of your great name. I wanted to get closer to you, but I still have some things to say to Qian Shijie, so I'll take my leave for now. It's just as well that Qin Wu has a lot to say to Master Meng, so I'll go first." Shen Cong pushed Qin Wu forward in a very unrighteous manner, but Qin Wu was more than happy to oblige, meeting Meng Ran's astonished expression with a gaze full of deep feeling.

  Qian Min walked to one side, with a hint of a smile on her face. "It seems that you have offended many people. When we meet them in the competition later, it will probably be quite troublesome." Qian Min was the only person who had seen Shen Cong's true strength, so she naturally didn't think that Shen Cong would be at a disadvantage against those two men. Perhaps in terms of actual strength, he still had some shortcomings compared to them, but in terms of potential, he absolutely surpassed them. This was also the reason why Qian Min firmly stood on Shen Cong's side.

  "Some things aren't brought upon by oneself, but rather come on their own initiative."

  "It seems you're quite innocent." Qian Min intentionally or unintentionally moved closer, her sweet body fragrance wafting into Shen Cong's nostrils, causing his face to change color slightly. Seeing this, Qian Min's face revealed a hint of a smile, with an air of "help yourself".

  "Clang!"

  The sound of the bell rang out, and before anyone knew it, several people had appeared on the high platform. They were none other than the leader of the Luoshui Sect and several elders. The appearance of the sect leader shocked everyone. In previous outer sect competitions, the sect leader would not appear, nor would so many elders attend. At most, one elder would come to show respect for the competition.

  An elder stepped forward to explain the rules, "The rules are simple, you should all be clear, but this year there is a change. This time, the top thirty disciples can become inner door disciples, and I hope everyone will work hard. At the same time, this time the sect has also prepared some rewards, the top ten have them, the first place is the Rock Pearl, the second place is the Four-Stage Upper Grade Treasure Dragon Armor, the third place is the Four-Stage Lower Grade Treasure Lingyu Sword..."

  As soon as this was said, the people below couldn't help but take a cold breath. The Pan Shi Pearl is a fifth-grade treasure that does not provide defense or attack, but it continuously guides the spiritual energy of heaven and earth into the practitioner's body, which has great benefits for cultivation. Although the fourth-grade treasure is slightly inferior to the fifth-grade, it is also a rare product, and for an outer disciple with basic second-grade cultivation, it is hard to come by.

  In the past, such a rich prize was impossible, and it naturally shocked everyone, not understanding what the sect meant. However, with such a rich prize, it naturally delighted the disciples present, even Shen Congxin's thoughts changed slightly. If he had the Panshi Pearl, plus the accelerated cultivation function of the computer, Shen Cong's cultivation growth would reach an extremely high speed, and this first place, Shen Cong couldn't help but fight for it.

  The commotion below did not displease the elders, but after waiting for the sound to subside, they opened the entrance of the Illusory Alley. The entrance of the Illusory Alley was filled with a layer of colorful energy, as if there were monsters about to burst out.

  "The great comparison has begun, you may enter the cave."