Nearly four months had passed in the blink of an eye. Winter had arrived, bringing with it days upon days of heavy snow, blanketing Sword Peak in a thick layer of white.

  "Young Master, did you really break through? Sometimes I even wonder if you're really a third-grade spiritual root! Your cultivation speed is just as fast as the geniuses!"

  Ye Chen was about to leave. His two maids, Lu Jing and Lin Ke'er, had become increasingly competent, carefully adjusting Ye Chen's clothing and appearance.

  Ye Chen looked at the two of them, a smile on his face. His breakthrough was entirely due to his own efforts; the system had only provided minimal assistance.

  "I managed to break through, but you two also played a huge part."

  Hearing this, the two maids didn't blush. Instead, they exchanged flirtatious glances, their eyes glinting with longing as they gazed at Ye Chen. "If that's the case, should we help the Young Master with his cultivation tonight? Tonight, I'll go first. Yesterday, Lin Ke'er got lazy and took my turn, even though it should've been mine."

  The two women were no longer as shy as they had been when they first arrived at Green Cloud Sect. They had fully let go of their inhibitions. Their enthusiasm was high. After all, the benefits they received had been numerous. Since becoming Ye Chen's maids, they had access to nearly every kind of medicinal pill they could imagine. Plus, they could enjoy the cultivation benefits of the Stalactite Jade Spirit Bead Bed. Evening training sessions were provided as well.

  This treatment was, honestly, better than most disciples at Green Cloud Sect. Their cultivation levels had also skyrocketed, both of them breaking through to the sixth level of Qi Refining.

  Ye Chen smiled lightly at the two women, who were now squabbling over who would go first. He didn't intervene, instead strolling out the door. The reason he didn't cultivate this morning and went straight down the mountain was that today marked the third day of the Sect Competition.

  The Sect Competition was the biggest event of the year for Green Cloud Sect. Any disciple who had reached the middle stage of Qi Refining was required to participate. And if they performed well, they might be taken in as a disciple by one of the elders. Even if they weren't selected, anyone who made it into the top hundred would still receive rewards.

  Naturally, this made the disciples of Green Cloud Sect extremely enthusiastic. As for Ye Chen, he was determined to win the Foundation Establishment Pill offered as a prize for this year's competition. He certainly wouldn't miss it.

  Why was he so confident? Because Ye Chen had the strength.

  After breaking through again, Ye Chen had reached the eighth level of Qi Refining. As for the Five Elements Pills, he had already consumed them to their limit. His dantian had expanded three times its original size. His spiritual power was now far beyond that of a typical ninth-level Qi Refining cultivator. With greater spiritual power, his endurance in battle was significantly stronger.

  At the same time, his meridians had been enhanced. The output of his spiritual power was far greater now, making his spells more powerful. Not to mention his magic tools and spells.

  Looking across the entire Green Cloud Sect's Qi Refining cultivators, no one could match him. And it wasn't just the Green Cloud Sect. Even in some of the larger sects or even sacred places, finding someone in the Qi Refining stage who could challenge Ye Chen was not an easy task.

  Ye Chen was feeling confident, truly confident. Arriving at the sect's plaza, he was greeted by a throng of disciples. Even those who had been eliminated in the past few days had come to watch. The reason Ye Chen arrived on the third day of the competition was due to sect rules.

  Direct disciples and those at the ninth level of Qi Refining didn't have to go through the preliminary rounds—they could directly participate in the final selection of the top one hundred. Otherwise, it would be unfair to the regular disciples.

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  "Junior Brother, you're here?"

  Ye Chen looked over at the announcement board posted by the Internal Affairs Hall, eager to see who his opponent would be. It would be perfect if it was Li Xiaoyao. Even though almost half a year had passed, Ye Chen still hadn't forgotten the ridicule Li Xiaoyao had directed at him.

  However, before Ye Chen could find his name, a light laugh sounded from behind him. He turned around to see none other than Yao Xi, his senior sister. Her aura was visibly stronger than it had been during the Five Elements Cave competition. Clearly, all the gifts Ye Chen had given her over this period had greatly benefitted her.

  "Senior Sister, do you have confidence?" Ye Chen asked, a playful smile on his face.

  Yao Xi immediately nodded. "If I face Li Xiaoyao again, I believe I have the strength to fight him now. However, the direct disciples might be a different story. But sometimes, winning first place depends on luck. It's not always the strongest who wins. Still, it's worth competing for. How about you, Junior Brother?"

  Yao Xi turned to ask him.

  Ye Chen's lips curled into a slight smile. "Since I'm here, of course I'll compete for the Foundation Establishment Pill."

  Yao Xi chuckled and covered her mouth, thinking Ye Chen was joking. "In that case, if I face you, Junior Brother, I won't go easy, so don't expect me to go easy on you either."

  Ye Chen nodded. If he faced Yao Xi, he definitely wouldn't hold back.

  For Ye Chen, even if he didn't take first place, it wouldn't be the end of the world. After all, he wouldn't reach the ninth level of Qi Refining until next year.

  Waiting another year wasn't an issue. But when it came to first place, anyone could have it—except for Yao Xi. Because if Yao Xi somehow got lucky, secured first place, and won the Foundation Establishment Pill, breaking through to Foundation Establishment...

  What would he do then? No. Yao Xi had to lose.

  Yao Xi, unaware of Ye Chen's thoughts, heard her name called by the Internal Affairs Hall, signaling it was time for her match. She smiled and bid Ye Chen farewell.

  Ye Chen, meanwhile, continued scanning the list for his name. It didn't take long before he found it. However, when he saw the name of his opponent, a smile spread across his face. His first opponent was Ye Tian. It seemed this guy was actually somewhat impressive. He had made it into the top 100—there was something to him after all!

  It was fine though. Ye Tian hadn't been able to adapt to the sect and was always spreading rumors about him. Ye Chen had been planning to give Ye Tian a good lesson for a while.

  Just as Ye Chen was lost in thought, Ye Tian's voice came from behind him.

  "Seventh Brother, Seventh Brother, I saw it, we're opponents!"

  Ye Tian looked incredibly excited.

  "Indeed, what a coincidence!" Ye Chen replied with a smile, giving off a warm, friendly vibe. "Seventh Brother, let me tell you, I've broken through to the eighth level of Qi Refining now. I've been sweeping my way through to the top 100. By rights, I should be aiming for an even higher position, maybe even the top ten. But since we're brothers, I can't ignore family ties.

  "As a direct disciple, if you lose in the first round, it will be too embarrassing. So, if you give me a high-quality spirit stone and let me have the Five Elements Cave spot for the next two years, I'll deliberately take it easy in the match… A good performance in the Sect Competition might get us noticed by the elders and earn a chance to be taken in as a disciple. I'm doing so much for you, Seventh Brother, I'm really being generous here!"

  Ye Tian leaned in close to Ye Chen and whispered, making Ye Chen's mouth twitch. His so-called "cousin" couldn't stop talking about spirit stones whenever they met.

  Ye Chen had long suspected Ye Tian had fallen for a scam. And now, it seemed like that suspicion was right. Though they weren't real cousins, Ye Chen couldn't just watch Ye Tian continue to go down the wrong path.

  So, Ye Chen smiled and patted Ye Tian on the shoulder, "Since you called me Seventh Brother, I'll let you have a chance. I'll go easy on you in the match."

  With that, Ye Chen leisurely walked towards the arena, preparing to watch Yao Xi's fight.

  Ye Tian stood frozen for a moment. A third-grade spiritual root, and a direct disciple, sure. But he gave all the good things to women. What could he possibly use to fight me?

  However, since Ye Chen didn't appreciate the offer, Ye Tian thought, it was time to stop showing any mercy. Beating a direct disciple in front of everyone would definitely boost his reputation. He might even catch the eye of an elder and be accepted as a disciple. Once he became an elder's disciple, he could easily get out of paying his debts. And then, let's see if any of those creditors still dared to ask him for spirit stones!

  Ye Chen had no idea that Ye Tian's little mind was filled with so many strange thoughts. As Ye Chen walked through the arena, he noticed a lot of people staring at him. Among them was Li Xiaoyao. And there were also some people Ye Chen didn't recognize.

  For example, a cultivator at the eighth level of Qi Refining, who seemed to be looking at Ye Chen with some displeasure. There were also a few cultivators at the ninth level of Qi Refining, each with three cloud-like patterns on their chest, their expressions full of amusement as they watched him.

  Ye Chen could clearly feel their malice. However, he didn't care in the slightest. He didn't even bother trying to figure out who they were.

  After all, if you're not envied, you're just mediocre.

  Whoever they were, if they crossed paths with him in the arena, all they'd get was a beating. Simple as that!