Seventeen thousand and seventeen

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The competition rules of the Azure Sword Sect are divided into two parts. The first round takes place within a large formation platform, where disciples enter to pass the first literary test. This primarily examines cultivation basics and types of spiritual herbs. As long as one attentively attends the lectures, passing this round is easy—essentially a gift of points.

After clearing this stage, the next tests are the swift-step trial followed by spellcasting tests, such as sound cultivation, which involves pieces tailored to three types of spiritual roots. Of course, during these tests, they must also defeat puppet mechanisms.

These fundamentals are also relatively straightforward. After passing these three stages, the next phase, unlike other sects across the continent, is said to be a test of fortune. Any disciple who can successfully navigate the sect’s maze within fifteen minutes qualifies to proceed to the next competition.

Many disciples complain about this round.

“What’s the point of testing luck? Shouldn’t it be about strength? When entering secret realms to seize opportunities, isn’t it mainly one’s own power that decides success?”

Despite the grumbling, some respond, “Historically, many great masters emerged due to extraordinary luck in receiving resources from secret realms. The sect’s setup must have its reasons.”

Song Chi thought to herself that luck was surely important. The original owner had poor fortune, always falling into dangerous situations alongside the protagonists, never getting the chance to seize opportunities. It was only when the male lead, Su Yu, gave her an unwanted spiritual fruit that her aptitude improved somewhat.

She was determined not to wade into this murky situation again. This time in the secret realm, she would follow her own path.

Of course, regardless of their dissatisfaction, the disciples could only keep quiet. Sect rules are rules, not open to dispute.

After the preliminary test came the real contest of strength. The sect’s rules were straightforward: the remaining disciples would draw lots to compete in ten matches each, and those who won six or seven matches would advance, forming the top two hundred disciples entering the Immortal Spirit Secret Realm.

The exact number of matches depended on how many passed the first round.

The sect made no effort to rank first, second, or third, because the secret realm could give rise to true masters at any time. The competition was thus conducted in a rough and simple manner, aiming only to select two hundred disciples.

It was also mentioned that one disciple who failed to qualify would be chosen to fill the final spot—the so-called “lucky fish” of the competition.

That fortunate “lucky fish” turned out to be Xi Ya. In the original story, she was quite unlucky, drawing matches against several talented disciples and losing five, missing the chance to enter the secret realm. Then, by drawing the lucky fish box, she bypassed many disciples and secured a spot.

Because this competition affected their fate, the Azure Academy adjusted the curriculum.

During the first hour of the morning, Mo Shubai explained the content of the upcoming tests. In the second hour, he led the disciples to the training hall to practice combat skills, offering instructions as they practiced. The matches were conducted in a partner-exchange format to prevent friends from fighting each other.

Song Chi’s opponent was changed to Ye Qingyu, who pursued her with a ferocious grin for an entire hour, leaving her so angry her face turned pale.

Facing Ye Qingyu, she realized she stood no chance, and her mood grew heavy.

If she didn’t have the original owner’s luck and ended up matched against these prodigies, what would she do? There was only one lucky fish slot; she was sure she wouldn’t get it.

With this heavy heart, she attended the afternoon sound cultivation class, where Mo Shubai distributed four score scrolls.

The first, “Cloud Water Chant,” was aligned with water spiritual power, mainly for stealth and defense.

The second, “Enchanted Vine’s Call,” used wood spiritual power and was quite potent, capable of bewildering an opponent’s mind to create a vivid illusion.

The third, “Shattered Gold,” was a metal spiritual power piece with strong armor-piercing ability, delivering instant strikes to vital points.

The last, “Soul Shatter Finale,” was even more formidable. It combined metal, water, and wood spiritual roots into a true killing move. Once the opponent’s armor was broken, this piece could instantly lock their spiritual power, assault their consciousness, and deliver a deadly strike with a sharp metal spiritual blade. There was even a hidden technique: if the metal and water roots were perfectly fused, it could instantly freeze the opponent’s dantian, sealing their fate.

“‘Soul Shatter Finale’ was composed by our master. You must never share it outside,” Mo Shubai reminded them with a faint smile.

This was the killing move created by the revered Xueqiao. The disciples felt a surge of excitement.

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See, the advantage of having such a genius disciple under a revered master—special tutoring like this.

“Master, rest assured, we will never share it,” the disciples said respectfully, standing and bowing towards the northern direction where the revered Xueqiao’s cave resided.

Then Mo Shubai played through the four pieces once, before having the disciples perform them. He walked around the classroom, offering guidance.

All four pieces were difficult. In fact, the first three were meant for sound cultivation disciples at the ninth level of Qi Refinement, which would take eight to nine years of steady study to reach.

The last piece, combining three spiritual powers into a killing move, likely required at least the Foundation Establishment stage to truly wield in battle.

Even prodigies like Ye Qingyu stumbled over the “Soul Shatter Finale.” Song Chi, with her steady spiritual power, had to pause three or four times to complete a single piece. Other disciples struggled not only with pitch but even to sustain the correct spiritual power through to the end.

So much so, just stepping onto the battlefield without becoming a laughingstock was a feat.

Mo Shubai smiled. “This piece contains all the secrets of spiritual power flow for sound cultivation disciples below Foundation Establishment. You must comprehend it yourselves. Understanding just thirty percent will allow you to pass the sect’s competition.”

This inspired all the disciples, who immediately began practicing eagerly.

Song Chi believed him, feeling the subtle connection to the mysterious energy in these four pieces. The first three laid the foundation for the last.

In fact, mastering the first three made the last much easier to handle.

So she practiced for a while before decisively giving up on the last piece, focusing honestly on the first three.

When Mo Shubai passed by, he couldn’t help but smile slightly, showing approval.

In fact, even the prodigies were struggling with the last piece. Everyone wanted to master a powerful move to stabilize their confidence.

Though prodigies preferred the challenge itself rather than the killing move.

After Song Chi focused on the first three, others began imitating her, abandoning the last piece and practicing the first three.

Eventually, the rest of the class recovered from their frustration and honestly practiced the first three pieces.

Mo Shubai gave instruction until nightfall, only releasing them when everyone had basically mastered the first three.

Song Chi thought this was unique to their class, but upon leaving, she found other classes were the same. It seemed that immortal masters from various sects were secretly providing extra tutoring to their disciples.

What left Song Chi speechless was that Mo Feiyun, a sword cultivator, was still stuck in the sound cultivation class learning the zither. But as a prodigy and the second male lead, he was entitled to such whimsy.

Qi Zhenmo, whose spiritual root wasn’t especially outstanding, was also in the sound cultivation class, much to Song Chi’s bewilderment.

However, Qi Zhenmo carried an air of confidence. Even without learning the Tianji Sect’s spells, he would probably pass the sect competition easily.

Song Chi paid no mind, returning to circulate her spiritual power once around her meridians before delving into the three pieces.

In the following days, she braved heavy snow to the herb garden to complete spiritual plant tasks related to the three pieces. There were indeed plants suitable for the music.

But after half a month, she still hadn’t fully grasped the elusive threshold.

By then, the new year had passed. Even in the cultivation world, the new year was observed, though not with much fanfare. Song Chi hadn’t gone home in three years and hadn’t even left the sect’s grounds.

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The Lantern Festival was approaching. This was a grand occasion in the cultivation world, with lanterns stretching for miles, brilliant fireworks, and streets crowded with people. Even Baihua Creek, Song Chi’s hometown, was packed on this day.

Baijiang City, backing onto the Azure Sword Sect and located south of Jade Qiong Mountain, was a well-known metropolis where the Lantern Festival was always lively.

Song Chi, of course, had never attended, busy with cultivation.

Though the sect competition was imminent, many disciples were tempted to descend the mountain to enjoy the festival and relax.

Song Chi noticed that the other three in her dorm had received many invitations in recent days.

She, being solitary and uninterested in romance, had no suitors.

These were secondary concerns. While holding her zither in the herb garden, Song Chi’s thoughts turned to the Lantern Festival only because she faced a challenge.

Mo Shubai’s four pieces were said to be mastered best by those “most sincere and passionate.”

“Sincerity and passion” simply meant emotional richness.

Among the prodigies, the first to master “Soul Shatter Finale” was Su Xiwu, a young man whose heart burned with intense love. His renditions exuded a fiery emotion that effortlessly stirred the mystical energy.

That was expected. Song Chi already knew of Su Xiwu’s talent. In her previous life, she had a senior brother whose musical skill was inferior but who was praised by teachers for his emotional depth. After such praise, he would always lament her lack of spirit.

Back then, she treated music as a pastime, with no competitive ambition, and responded with indifferent smiles.

Now, it was different. She genuinely envied him.

Next, the female lead Cui Xue Ruo also quickly mastered it. A woman of passionate emotion, she was willing to risk life and death for Mo Shubai, then fell into despair before loving the male lead Su Yu with equal fervor. Sharing life and death, she naturally could learn the piece.

Unexpectedly, even Ye Qingyu, a cold and aloof lone wolf, completed it. Then Ji Minghuang, a reserved and domineering woman seemingly devoid of love, also succeeded.

Then came Su Yu, the male lead. Readers often criticized him for his excessive ambition, focusing solely on his immortal path and the Tai Xuan Immortal Dynasty. Despite receiving unwavering love from the female lead, he cherished the original owner, with whom he once shared intimacy, with great pity. Readers doubted his love’s sincerity, feeling the female lead was unworthy.

Yet, after a delay of two or three days, he too mastered the piece.

Song Chi was utterly shocked upon hearing his performance. Perhaps readers had misunderstood Su Yu—he did have heart.

The slowest was Jiang Linyue, but he was clearly pretending. He was probably only slightly slower than Su Xiwu and had already mastered it long ago.

However, in Song Chi’s presence, he feigned a gentle demeanor, as if afraid his rapid progress would damage her resolve.

Indeed, Song Chi felt her resolve was somewhat shaken.

—So it seemed she alone lacked heart!

This was unreasonable and impossible—there was no justice in it.