Following the lynx's movement, a massive water arrow mixed with black qi erupted from its mouth, shattering all incoming attacks as it shot straight toward the center of the gathered disciples.
"Mu Chenze!"
Mu Chenze had been watching the field intently, having already planned how to counter every move the lynx might make using arrays.
As soon as Gu Ningyun called his name, he signaled for one group of disciples to throw defense array plates, another to throw attack array plates, and a third to stand by as replacements.
With that, the array cultivators officially entered the fray.
Array plates were consumables; once they were exhausted, defeating the lynx would become significantly harder.
Gu Ningyun was well aware of this.
As a dozen defense array plates opened layer by layer, Gu Ningyun had already charged forward, leading the sword cultivators who had finished recovering their spirit energy and the level four Qi Refining disciples skilled in close combat.
When close-combat disciples were engaged, long-range attacks risked hitting their own allies.
Gu Ningyun had coordinated with them beforehand: when the close-combat disciples retreated to recover spirit energy, the long-range attackers would step in to pin down the demon beast.
For now, the disciples specialized in long-range attacks focused on replenishing their spirit energy.
Sabers, spears, swords, and halberds; talismans and array plates; with an endless flow of spirit energy, the assault never wavered.
The lynx's movements were already hindered by its injured front paws, reducing its attack speed and agility.
Furthermore, after falling into the pit, its abdominal defenses had been breached, and its internal organs were damaged.
After a battle that raged for a day and a night, this rank two early stage demon beast was finally disemboweled and ground down to its death.
The moment their divine senses saw the beast's heart completely shredded by a spear tip, the six hundred and ninety-three disciples could no longer hold on and collapsed to the ground in unison.
By the time the battle had stretched from day into night, their pills, talismans, and array plates had already been exhausted.
The lynx had been worn down for a full day and was heavily injured, practically a spent force.
From night back into day, the six hundred-plus disciples had split into four waves—two for close combat and two for long-range—taking turns on the field and rotating through meditation to recover spirit energy. Only through this relentless cycle did they finally wear the lynx down to its end.
On Fighting Peak, Perfected Person Ye watched the scene in the recording stone, her eyes filled with admiration and praise.
She gave her orders: "Once the team competition concludes, copy the recording of this battle against the lynx and post it on the Governing Peak's Disciple Training Department platform in the most prominent position."
"I want all future new disciples to see that as long as the disciples of Xiaoyao are united, even those with low cultivation like Qi Refining levels three and four can overcome and grind down a rank two early stage beast whose strength far exceeds their own."
A Foundation Establishment disciple from the training department nodded in agreement.
Suddenly, Perfected Person Ye's expression shifted, turning into one of surprise.
"Wait."
Perfected Person Ye was at the Golden Core stage and served as the head of the New Disciple Training Department; it was rare for her to show such a complex expression in front of them.
The Foundation Establishment disciple quickly asked, "What is it, Senior Aunt?"
Perfected Person Ye pulled out her blue identity jade token and delved her divine sense into it to verify a message. She said, "I just received a message from the First Senior Sister of Governing Peak. She said this victory of the weak over the strong in the new disciple team competition was beautiful."
"Among all past generations of Xiaoyao disciples, almost no one has been able to achieve this—"
"To have cultivated for less than a year and spent only ten short days with several hundred fellow disciples, yet manage to gain such immense trust from them that everyone voluntarily followed orders and cooperated without reservation."
"In this generation, someone has done it."
"The commander remained unfazed in the face of danger, calm and methodical;"
"The commanded worked as one, trusting each other with unwavering resolve."
Stirred by the atmosphere of the battle, Perfected Person Ye felt a surge of emotion. "The First Senior Sister of Governing Peak said that although this team competition was just a fight between low-level disciples, it contained countless lessons worth learning, such as the art of war, strategy, cooperation, and trust."
"She wants us to compile all of Gu Ningyun's individual matches and the recording of this team competition and place them in the first row of the Fighting Peak platform. This way, every disciple who makes an appointment for a match on Fighting Peak can see these recordings."
"In the future, when they go out to gain experience, they can learn a thing or two to use when dealing with others."
The Foundation Establishment disciple took a deep breath. "The Fighting Peak platform!"
"That's a platform where only major events like the Hundred Sects Competition, or at least Golden Core stage duels, can be displayed—and even then, only if the recording is sufficiently breathtaking!"
As the referee for Arena Two who had witnessed Gu Ningyun's first individual match, he was now quite composed. "There is always a higher heaven and a greater person."
"Junior Brother, even seven or eight-year-old children have things worth learning from."
The Foundation Establishment disciple stroked his eighteen-year-old chin. "Sigh, I'm getting old. My thinking is rigid, nowhere near as flexible as these young disciples."
The referee for Arena Two: "..."
While the New Disciple Training Department continued to discuss the recording on the Fighting Peak platform, they weren't surprised that the First Senior Sister of Governing Peak—a dignified Nascent Soul True Monarch—was watching the Qi Refining stage new disciple competition.
There were many matches on Fighting Peak, and it was normal for a senior to take an interest on a whim.
At that moment, the First Senior Sister of Governing Peak they spoke of, a dignified Nascent Soul True Monarch, was hidden in the clouds above Fighting Peak, watching the scenes in the recording stones.
Her aura was restrained as she sat cross-legged with elegant composure atop a massive sword, withdrawing her divine sense from her identity jade token.
She had just finished her transmission to Perfected Person Ye, giving instructions to organize the recordings.
Beside her, a fat duck held its head high. "Quack quack quack! Master, this competition is fun, isn't it? I told you to come watch, but you weren't willing at first."
True Monarch Chanxi, despite being proven wrong, remained unruffled. "You said you ran back to Tingfeng because you admired Gu Ningyun's talent, not because you were greedy for food?"
"Of course!" the fat duck blurted out, its voice unintentionally loud. "Though that Spirit-Heart Fish is delicious, I grew tired of it a hundred years ago when I lived in Tingfeng with you."
"Since I entered the inner sect, every time a new generation of disciples joins, you return to Tingfeng. Is that also because you admire their talent?"
True Monarch Chanxi gestured for the fat duck to come closer.
Once it was within reach, she took out a pale pink ribbon and silently tied a bow around its neck.
"If that's truly the case, why is Gu Ningyun the only one you've mentioned repeatedly over the years?"
The fat duck felt a pang of guilt and, in its haste, didn't notice its master's handiwork.
It flapped its wings and squawked, "Isn't the focus supposed to be on this competition!"
Having finished tying the bow, True Monarch Chanxi admired her work with satisfaction and let the duck off the hook in a good mood.
She patted the fat duck's head. "The competition is over. It's time for me to return to Governing Peak. Are you coming with me?"
Eh? Did that question mean it had a choice not to go back?
The fat duck cautiously glanced at True Monarch Chanxi's expression and ventured, "This... this Great One needs to visit the little girl, so I won't be going back with you today."
True Monarch Chanxi maintained her calm and elegant expression, saying nothing.
This was a sign of non-opposition.
The fat duck rejoiced inwardly and slurped its drool.
Rate on N.U.
