Chapter 174: Chapter 93: Unsolvable Main Taski

“Although you have reached the peak of the Qi Training Stage, there is still a considerable distance before your Strength of Divine Thought crosses the major threshold of the Primordial Spirit.

My expectations of you are very high. I hope that you can achieve the Yin God before stepping into the Divinity Transformation Realm, catching up with those Heaven’s pride of the sacred lands in this golden age of cultivation. Therefore, there is no need to rush the Spirit Refining Method.”

Shen Yuan felt a bit guilty, but on the surface, he maintained an attitude of nonchalance and carefreeness.

Gong Buyu’s cold and beautiful face showed a serious expression, she nodded softly and replied:

“I will certainly live up to Master’s trust and I will achieve the state of the Yin God before stepping into the Divinity Transformation Realm!”

Relieved that his own disciple had temporarily resolved the crisis of the Spirit Refining Method, Shen Yuan breathed a sigh of relief.

Actually, as soon as the main task of the Sect Grand Competition came out, Shen Yuan had noticed the existence of the “Great Void Spirit-refining Technique”.

However, Shen Yuan had just been trapped by the main task of the ‘Hundreds of Daoist Arts’ not too long ago, and he was completely uninterested in the “Great Void Spirit-refining Technique” that he had never heard of before.

In addition, among the various records released on the Daoist Forum, there was no record of anything above the Qi Training Stage. This concerns the foundations of all major sects. Therefore, Shen Yuan had no idea what the so-called Spirit Refining Method actually represented.

Now that Gong Buyu had mentioned it, Shen Yuan realized the importance of the Spirit Refining Method.

The whole situation suddenly became a bit awkward.

Gong Buhuo rejected the Spirit Refining Method of Rongcheng’s Fine Jade Grotto Heavens and chose to let Gong Buyu learn the Spirit Refining Method from Shen Yuan to complete her promotion.

Shen Yuan also needed the Spirit Refining Method after the “Purple Clouds Elemental Qi Refinement Method” to complete the subsequent stage of Refining Qi to Spirit Transmutation.

Although Shen Yuan could search for other Spirit Refining Methods to complete his later advancements, if Gong Buyu failed to cultivate up to the “Great Void Spirit-refining Technique”, it would surely arouse Gong Buhuo’s suspicion.

Once an old monster who has lived for ten thousand years harbors doubts, at that time Shen Yuan’s Supreme Taoist title would become hard to maintain. Moreover, finding another Spirit Refining Method was not an easy task. These true techniques were all treasures that suppressed the foundations of the sects and would not be easily revealed.

Even if he found a barely passable Spirit Refining Method, there would inevitably be a gap between it and the “Great Void Spirit-refining Technique”, which was renowned as the number one in the Primal Chaos Realm.

In this case, completing the main task: Sect Grand Competition, seemed to be the best way out.

As long as he completes the task and obtains the “Great Void Spirit-refining Technique”, everything seems to be solvable.

“But the problem at hand is, how does my Falling Clouds Sect, which is just an empty shell, complete the Sect Grand Competition?”

Thinking of this, Shen Yuan couldn’t help but feel a headache.

Gong Buyu entering his sect had successfully doubled the population of the Falling Clouds Sect, going from one person to exactly two people.

Even if he added Bai Xue, who was pretending to be the Senior Sister, it would just mean having one more cat. With such a lineup, let alone holding a Sect Grand Competition, they wouldn’t have enough to gather a table for mahjong. Thinking of this, Shen Yuan subtly opened the system interface regarding the main task: Sect Grand Competition.

Main Task: Sect Grand Competition.

To establish the host’s position in the sect, the host is required to participate in the Sect Grand Competition, and become the champion in the Sect Grand Competition!

Completion Reward: Falling Cloud Sect’s secret scripture “Great Void

Spirit-refining Technique”

Ignoring other related information, Shen Yuan attempted to click on the words Sect Grand Competition. A detailed explanation popped up on the Artificial Intelligence System.

System: Sect Grand Competition is a grand event held by all major sects to test the cultivation of their disciples. They usually call for a grand competition every three years, during which representatives from various grotto heavens sacred lands come to observe and witness the demeanor of the sect’s prodigies. The champion of the Sect Grand Competition becomes the leader among the disciples of the same generation and has the potential to be included in the future true disciples.

The more Shen Yuan looked at the introduction of the Sect Grand Competition, the colder his heart became. He was not capable of fulfilling any of the details mentioned.

Ignoring the fact that he only had one person and one cat as disciples, even just the condition of inviting representatives from various sects was something Shen Yuan couldn’t manage.

The condition of having representatives from various grotto heavens sacred lands attend, would inevitably require great sect renown to fulfill.

The entire Falling Clouds Sect had been erased from history by heavenly punishment, and even if Shen Yuan revealed the name of the Falling Clouds Sect, no one would care, let alone invite various grotto heavens sacred lands. If he were to use the name of the Supreme Taoist and have Rongcheng’s Fine Jade Grotto Heavens help in promotion, he might be able to attract the attention of various grotto heavens sacred lands. However, it was undoubtedly like roasting Shen Yuan on fire.

If he wasn’t careful, there might be a chance of his identity being exposed. For Shen Yuan, the risk was too great for just completing a main task.

Even if he managed to successfully hold the Sect Grand Competition after overcoming numerous difficulties and risks, and had representatives from various sects come to observe, the requirement of the main task was for Shen Yuan to become the champion in the Sect Grand Competition!

“As the Supreme Taoist and the founding ancestor and sect master of the Falling Cloud Sect, am I supposed to fight my own disciples?”

“If so, wouldn’t that be a huge joke?”

Shen Yuan only felt his eyelid twitch slightly. This main task seemed to be full of tricks and did not seem like it could be completed normally at all.

“This is much more difficult than the Electronic Scripture Depository copied out of the forum, they are completely two different things.”

Gong Buyu, who was by the side, saw Shen Yuan fall into silence, she began to feel a little restless.

“Did I say something wrong?”

“Or does Master have other thoughts?”

After a long period of contemplation, Shen Yuan was unable to find a solution and raised his head with a sense of regret.

Suddenly, Shen Yuan’s expression changed slightly, and he looked in the direction outside the Courtyard Secret Realm.

In front of the courtyard gate, a black car slowly stopped by the entrance, the luxurious and understated car was at odds with the rundown alley around it.

A young man opened the car door, slowly got out of the car, and came to the front of the courtyard.

The visitor was Xue Mingzhi, who hadn’t been here for a while. At this moment, he was dressed in fine clothes and was radiant, seemingly at his peak. Although his appearance hasn’t changed, his confident demeanor contrasts sharply with how he was before.

This month, for Xue Mingzhi, was undoubtedly the proudest month of his life.

A month ago, Xue Mingzhi and Shen Yuan participated in an auction in Yunfu Street, making him known to everyone in the Heaven’s Pride Association.

After returning, Shen Yuan bestowed upon him a cup of precious spiritual tea which rapidly advanced his Qi stage. In just a month, he successfully entered the peak of Qi Transformation Stage.

This pace shocked the entire Xue Family, even Uncle Changyuan from the Western Army went to the trouble of inviting a well-respected cultivator of Qi Training Stage to examine him.

Once they confirmed no instability in his foundation, Xue Mingzhi made a name for himself throughout the Imperial Capital.

His mere title as the son of an earl was placed on the desks of numerous dignitaries. Many noble families and royal relatives, sons of nobility who were unreachable for the Xue Family before, actively sent him invitations.

Some even ranked him as one of the top ten prodigies in the Imperial Capital, the future pillar of Great Xia’s Imperial Court.

Thus, Xue Mingzhi truly entered the upper class of the Imperial Capital, a feat that even his Uncle Changyuan’s family hadn’t achieved after thousands of years.

Previously unattainable well-bred ladies constantly flattered him, while royal relatives and sons of nobility addressed him as a brother.

For a while, Xue Mingzhi felt very elated.

Xue Mingzhi also learned from other sources that after he left, including the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, various forces tried to find him.

Normally, the Heaven’s Pride Association could easily decide on his identity, so it would be easy for forces like the Imperial Astronomical Bureau and Mount Laojun to find him.

But, as he advanced to the peak of Qi Transformation Stage, all the forces trying to find him suddenly went silent, which at one time led Xue Mingzhi to believe it was due to the massive influence brought by his advanced cultivation that deterred these forces from provoking him easily.

Xue Mingzhi thoroughly enjoyed the fame brought about by his increased strength, and after enjoying two hectic banquets, Xue Mingzhi didn’t completely sink into it.

He declined overtures from all the powers, and returned secretly to the small place of Wenn City.

Xue Mingzhi didn’t forget that Teacher Shen had asked him to visit after advancing to the peak of the Qi Transformation Stage.

Xue Mingzhi looked at this courtyard, and at first glance, noticed a newly added plaque above the courtyard.

“A miniature grotto-heaven with a scenic courtyard? This sacred ground of the teacher indeed deserves to be called a mini-grotto heaven.”

He straightened his clothes at the entrance, and despite his newfound fame, Xue Mingzhi didn’t dare show disrespect to Shen Yuan.

Xue Mingzhi knew well, his rise from being a small prodigy in the Xue Family to a renowned prodigy in the entire Imperial Capital was all due to his teacher’s help.

So when facing Teacher Shen, Xue Mingzhi wouldn’t dare show the slightest disrespect.

“Xue Mingzhi seeks to see Teacher!”

Shen Yuan looked at the confident Xue Mingzhi at the entrance, his lips curving up into a small smile as he instructed Gong Buyu:

“We have a guest. Go greet them!”

Gong Buyu got up and walked towards the gate with long strides.

As the courtyard gate slowly opened, Xue Mingzhi glanced at the beautiful girl with silver hair standing before him, his expression slightly stunned.

The girl’s gaze was indifferent, her demeanor as cold as ice, and just her presence at the gate made Xue Mingzhi feel a wave of cold envelop him.

“Who are you?”

Xue Mingzhi naturally wouldn’t dare to offend anyone coming from the mini-grotto heaven, and hurriedly asked.

“Come in. My master is waiting for you.”

Gong Buyu didn’t engage in small talk with Xue Mingzhi. She merely opened the gate and signaled for Xue Mingzhi to enter.

Xue Mingzhi’s eyes lit up instantly as he stepped into the courtyard and followed Gong Buyu, somewhat curiously asking:

“Are you Master Shen’s disciple?”

“I am the newly admitted disciple in name of my master.” Gong Buyu uncharacteristically patiently explained.

Xue Mingzhi was taken aback, a trace of regret showed on his face.

He had wanted to ingratiate himself with Shen Yuan a long time ago. Had he known Shen Yuan would take in disciples, it would have been natural that Xue Mingzhi would have willingly become Shen Yuan’s disciple.

He looked at the icy girl in front of him up and down, and asked in a low voice:

“Do you know what conditions need to be met to become Teacher Shen’s disciple?”

Gong Buyu gave Xue Mingzhi a glance, lightly shaking her head and replied:

“Your cultivation is too low, Teacher Shen will not accept you.”

“Too low?” Xue Mingzhi widened his eyes in disbelief, asking indignantly:

“Then what stage are you at?”

Gong Buyu paused slightly, letting her restrained aura disperse momentarily, turning the elemental Qi in the surrounding air into bone-chilling frost.

During the whole process, Xue Mingzhi didn’t even have the time to react, his breath was as if it had been completely frozen.

However, these conditions vanished in a flash, the surrounding temperature swiftly returned to normal, and Xue Mingzhi looked at Gong Buyu in shock while gasping for breath.

The aloof girl calmly answered:

“Peak of the Qi Refinement Stage..”