Chapter 43

Guxuyao is the 36th generation disciple of Taiheng Sect. How exactly this generation is calculated involves a lot of disciples. According to the records in the Taiheng Sect's classics, the sect has a history of over 1,200 years since its founding. At the beginning of the sect, the seniority of disciples was not calculated in this way. However, after a significant event 600 years ago, the entire Taiheng Sect underwent a tremendous change.

Firstly, the strength of the Taiheng Sect was much greater than it is now. But after that event, the Taiheng Sect declined. The severe consequences of that disaster led to the death of most of the disciples. It was because of this that the Taiheng Sect buried the past and started counting from the first generation of disciples again.

The new rule established was that each generation would be every twenty years. Within these twenty years, whether from the secular world or from the cultivation world, all disciples who joined the sect were considered one generation. Due to their talent and the time of joining, there could be significant differences, so it was not uncommon for there to be large gaps in cultivation among disciples of the same generation.

In fact, this rule of a generation every twenty years was largely to accommodate the martial arts competition held by the Landon Pavilion.

"The rules of the competition, I will tell you again. I believe those who have heard it once have not forgotten it." The rule that is repeated every twenty years is something no one wants to hear.

"The competition consists of two teams. Each participating sect will form a team of new disciples and a team of core disciples. Each team is limited to eight people. The new disciples must be from the latest generation of cultivators, and the core disciples must be the elites of the sect." Ling San's loud voice echoed in the lecture hall.

"The specific rules will be explained by a dedicated person when we arrive at the Landon Pavilion. Now, I will announce the list of participants for this competition." Ling San's cloudy gaze swept over the crowd, and he saw many who could not hide their fear.

This news of the competition was indeed new to Guxuyao, but the most important thing now was not this, but how to transform the raging primordial energy in his body into a part of himself, thus breaking through to a higher realm.

"Guxuyao." As the saying goes, good things don't come, but bad things do. While he was thinking about how to remove the one-year countdown on his life, Ling San called his name.

Guxuyao was taken aback, but he could not refuse.

"Brother Gu, it is truly an honor for me to be able to participate in the competition held by the Landon Pavilion with you. Eh? Brother Gu, why do you look so pale? Are you afraid?" A hand suddenly patted Guxuyao's shoulder, and at the same time, Ling San also called out Yulin's name in the air.

He did not expect to be on the same team as Yulin, but Yulin indeed had the qualifications. His cultivation was already higher than Guxuyao's, and he had reached the Root Birth Realm. Among the new disciples, his cultivation speed was already very fast.

"Afraid? Why should I be afraid?"

Seeing Guxuyao so calm, Yulin smiled faintly and said nothing. However, Wu Chang, who was behind him, spoke in a shrill voice.

"Ah, so you, Great Hero Gu, don't know the danger of the competition? Hehe, no wonder, spending all day with female cultivators, what can you achieve?" Wu Chang said, and the Ma brothers behind him laughed with ill intent. "Let me tell you, the competition is very brutal. Losing one's life is a small matter, and many cultivators are left as cripples."

"Wu Chang, don't say that. Brother Gu's strength is astonishing; how could he be defeated by others?" As soon as Wu Chang finished speaking, Yulin interjected, his words filled with sarcasm.

Li Shuisheng, who was beside Guxuyao, turned red with anger. He admired Guxuyao greatly and could not tolerate his friend and idol being insulted like this.

However, before he could speak, the person involved spoke first. "I dare not say my strength is great. Brother Yu, you entered the sect fifteen years earlier than me and have already reached the Root Birth Realm. I am foolish and cannot match your rapid cultivation. As for Wu Chang, hehe, you will be there to cheer for Brother Yu. Be careful then. Primordial energy is blind, and if you are accidentally killed outside the arena, no one can blame you."

"You!" Wu Chang was furious, but before he could speak, a female voice suddenly interrupted.

"Hehe, you're right, Gu. Some people just like to be lackeys, it makes me so angry. Do you know, in the past, people like you were eaten by wild beasts!" Zibi squeezed through the crowd and came to Guxuyao's side.

"Hmph, speaking of that, who almost got eaten by the monkeys in the Great Wild Forest?" The Ma brothers, seeing Wu Chang being attacked, immediately launched their own attack.

But as soon as he finished speaking, a gust of wind blew, and Ma Ming suddenly cried out in pain.

Yulin frowned and reached out with a claw-like hand, but how could the wind be easily caught? When the wind changed direction, Yulin could only grab at empty air.

"Xiaohu, you're here." The person who arrived was Xiaohu. After several years, Xiaohu was no longer the young Taoist boy Guxuyao had seen before. With age, he had grown to be about the same height as Guxuyao, and while his face still had a hint of childishness, it was more filled with a sense of heroism. However, the pride in his eyes had never changed.

"Yulin, you're really ruthless, using such force against a fellow disciple. If I were caught by you, wouldn't I lose half an arm?" Xiaohu ignored Zibi and stared directly at Yulin.

As a cultivator from the Force Academy, Guxuyao could naturally see the severity of Yulin's attack, but Xiaohu had already reached the Root Birth Realm, and his cultivation speed was even faster than Zibi's.

"Hmph, we'll see." Yulin coldly snorted.

"New disciples of the Taiheng Sect, gather at the upper level array tomorrow at noon." This was Ling San's last word. After saying it, he landed and slowly left the lecture hall.

Seeing this, Yulin naturally did not stay. He glared at Guxuyao and turned to leave. Wu Chang and the Ma brothers also followed, leaving in a line.

However, before Ma Ming had taken two steps, Guxuyao and the others burst into laughter.

"Xiaohu, well done!" Zibi was overjoyed. Xiaohu had not only hit Ma Ming but also secretly torn the hem of his robe. Not only that, but after a few steps, Ma Ming's pants almost fell down.

Guxuyao's face also carried a smile, and the gloom in his heart dissipated. "Xiaohu, thank you." Guxuyao clasped his hands and sincerely thanked him.

Xiaohu blushed and turned his face away, muttering, "Hmph, I wasn't helping you, I was helping Zibi, no, I was ordered to help Zibi..."

Xiaohu was enthusiastic but did not want others to know. Although they had not been close over the years, every time he came to call Zibi back for cultivation, Guxuyao would chat with him for a few moments, and over time, they became familiar.

However, the scene of Xiaohu frequently coming to call Zibi back for cultivation had not happened for a long time.

"Zibi, how is life in the upper level?" Zibi had successfully passed the test and entered the upper level of the Taiheng Sect. She was also selected as a member of the new disciple team, and there was no doubt that she and Xiaohu were the main forces.

Hearing this, Zibi's face was filled with happiness, an expression Guxuyao had never seen before. "It's great, of course. I make rapid progress every day, Gu. What about you?"

"I? I'm still the same, far from the Root Birth Realm." Since Zibi entered the upper level, the two had not seen each other, but Guxuyao knew their friendship was still there.

"Keep it up, keep it up, Gu. You're going to the upper level tomorrow. I think you'll be in special training for a month. Gu, you should go back and prepare. I also need to go back and cultivate. I'll go first." After a few words of casual chat, Zibi hurriedly left. Seeing this, Xiaohu's face showed a hint of worry.

"Xiaohu, this..." They both noticed Zibi's abnormal behavior. Clearly, Xiaohu, being in the upper level with her, had seen more.

Xiaohu shook his head, said nothing, and turned into a gust of wind, chasing after Zibi.

The crowd had almost all left the lecture hall, and the training ground gradually became quiet. Guxuyao looked in the direction Xiaohu had left, lost in thought.

"Why has the once carefree Zibi become so devoted to cultivation..."

Although Li Shuisheng had not been very familiar with Zibi before, seeing Guxuyao's expression, he naturally knew something was wrong. As an outsider, he could not say much, so he could only gently pat Guxuyao's shoulder, giving him a supportive look.

Guxuyao retracted his gaze, nodded to Li Shuisheng, and left the lecture hall.

The next day, Zibi's prediction was very accurate. They were called to the upper level for special training. During the training, Guxuyao also saw all his teammates.

Besides the already familiar Yulin, Xiaohu, and Zibi, the other four were from the Physical Academy. This result surprised Guxuyao. The Physical Academy was usually the most low-key, but unexpectedly, it had the most powerful new disciples.

However, the other four were very easy to get along with. Two of them, like Guxuyao, were from the secular world, and after a few days of special training, they became good friends. The other two Physical Academy disciples, though not talkative, were very kind and friendly. Guxuyao did not have much conversation with them but often smiled at them.

The month-long special training mainly focused on practical combat skills for the new disciples. Day and night, the eight of them continuously fought with the senior disciples of the upper level of the Taiheng Sect. According to their words, once you get used to fighting strong opponents, you will get used to giving your all, and the possibility of losing to weaker opponents will decrease significantly.

Guxuyao very much agreed with this, but he was not afraid of underestimating his opponents. A hunter never underestimates his prey, even if it is just a small rabbit.