As the matter developed, the protagonist was no longer the Lingxin Sect. The leader of the Xuanming Sect, Zhan Renjie, was furious on the spot and severely punished the instigator. At the same time, he stated that the Xuanming Sect would absolutely abide by the agreement to break the stone, so that the other leaders could rest assured. Afterwards, he specially sent a Taoist supervisor to the Lingxin Sect to apologize to Yue Songting. Yue Songting took the opportunity to back down, and from then on the disciples of the Xuanming Sect behaved much more well-behaved.
All of this was within expectations. Gu Pinglin didn't pay much attention to it and focused on preparing for the entry-level competition.
The entrance contest of Lingxin Sect is a simple battle, just enough to get the point across. Lingxin Sect recruits disciples through screening, and only those with talent and affinity can be selected. Now that the junior disciples have practiced for half a year, they have already built some foundation. This contest is a test, and the disciples who do not meet the standards will be sent to the outer sect. It is difficult for outer sect disciples to enter the core of the sect, and they do not have much future in cultivation. Therefore, everyone is very nervous, and most disciples also know themselves, and do not expect to become the last disciple of the head of the sect, as long as they can continue to stay, it is good enough.
The clouds blocked the sun, a cool breeze blew, and the grass and trees around the arena rustled.
The outcome was decided by a single sword strike. Gu Pinglin landed gracefully on the ground, turned around and smiled at his opponent: "Thank you for letting me win."
The opponent also bowed in submission and jumped off the stage.
Yue Songting in the stands had indeed noticed him and nodded in appreciation.
In order to avoid accidents during the competition, Chang Jinxin and Ren Ping were responsible for monitoring the competition. However, since junior disciples had only been practicing sword skills for a short time, accidental injuries were inevitable. Only Gu Pinglin managed each battle just right, winning without hurting anyone or appearing ostentatious. It was rare to have this level of control.
In the eyes of other leaders, qualifications are undoubtedly the most important, but Gu Pinglin knows Yue Songting best. He attaches great importance to character and appreciates disciples who act calmly and with discretion. After all, he is selecting the future leader this time and will inevitably be more cautious.
When Duan Qingming entered the sect, his cultivation level was above the fifth level of Na Yuan. After this was made public, no one took the initiative to challenge him. No matter which sect, geniuses would be cherished more. He was called to the stands as an exception and stood next to Yue Songting. He smiled and said a few words from time to time. Yue Songting stroked his beard and nodded while listening.
Gu Pinglin remained calm and pursed his lips slightly.
He was deliberately provoking himself. It was obvious that the master had been deceived by him.
Gu Pinglin absolutely didn't believe that Duan Qingming would respect and care about Lingxin Sect. If this lunatic became the master's last disciple, then the possibility of him inheriting the position of the head of the sect in the future would be too great. Chen Qian, Chang Jinxin, Bu Shuihan... none of them would be his opponent.
The Lingxin Sect cannot fall into his hands.
No one entered the arena to challenge again, and the result was announced with a smile. Gu Pinglin listened respectfully, saluted to Yue Songting in the stands, and then walked out of the competition arena.
Facing him, Bu Shuihan nodded.
Bu Shuihan changed into a short-sleeved white shirt with light blue patterns on the cuffs today, and a light blue silk ribbon that enhanced the gathering of energy was tied around his waist. He wore a small silver hair crown inlaid with moonstone on his head, and light blue Bufeng boots embroidered with white cloud patterns on his feet. He looked even more heroic.
When Gu Pinglin came to him, he hummed, "He has reached the second level of Na Yuan."
Gu Pinglin raised his eyebrows: "It won't take long for me to surpass you, brother. Are you jealous?"
"What a joke," Bu Shuihan raised his handsome face, "It's too early for you!"
Seeing that he was in a very good mood, Gu Pinglin changed his mind and said with a smile: "Congratulations, Senior Brother, on your breakthrough."
After three years of hard training, he finally advanced to the second level of Qi Refining. Bu Shuihan was so happy that he didn't pay attention to anything else: "You also know that it is impossible for you to surpass me now, but you have good aptitude. As long as you work hard, you will achieve something in the future."
"Thank you, senior brother." Gu Pinglin said.
Bu Shuihan looked around and saw that everyone was paying attention to the competition arena, so he lowered his voice and said, "Come with me."
Gu Pinglin's competition today had ended, so the two of them left the competition venue one after the other and walked to a secluded place. Bu Shuihan stopped, turned around, and handed Gu Pinglin a jade bottle.
Gu Pinglin was a little surprised and made a rough guess: "Pills?"
Bu Shuihan felt uncomfortable and deliberately said lightly: "I got it before, and it's useless now. This is Kaimai Pill, take one or two pills and you'll be fine."
The realm-breaking pills are very expensive, and the Meridian-Opening Pill is a common medicine for the lower stages. Just this one pill cost him at least several years of accumulated merit points. Gu Pinglin lowered his eyes slightly. In his previous life, in order to help himself break through the second level of Qi Refining, he took out the spiritual iron that he had treasured for many years and went to Hai City to exchange for many auxiliary precious pills. The arrogant and conceited boy was absolutely unreserved to the brothers he recognized.
Gu Pinglin was born in a humble family and suffered discrimination since childhood. He had never been taken care of by his father and brothers, so he regarded Bu Shuihan as his brother. That was why he lost his mind after his death and made a big mistake.
The two pills brought back memories. Gu Pinglin took a deep breath and quickly calmed down.
Bu Shuihan thought he was embarrassed, and said: "You have good talent, and you are more thoughtful than me, the master will definitely like you. Although..." Even if he used the elixir, he can't compare with Duan Qingming. Bu Shuihan didn't say it, and changed the subject, "As long as you work hard, the master will always see it. That kid named Duan has bad intentions, hum."
Gu Pinglin laughed when he heard this.
Bu Shuihan seemed to have a natural hostility towards Duan Qingming. Perhaps this was the instinctive rejection of sincerity towards hypocrisy.
Realm-breaking pills are usually used by those who have no hope of achieving the Great Dao and are about to die. After all, this is a trick. The cultivation gained by tricks is ultimately not as good as the realm achieved through solid cultivation. The foundation is not solid, which has a great impact on the future path. Therefore, ordinary cultivators will not use realm-breaking pills. However, low-level pills such as Kaimai Pills are not a big deal. After that, diligent cultivation can make up for the defects. Moreover, Gu Pinglin has the "Creation Art" in his hand, which can even repair the damaged Dantian Dao Meridian, so why should he be afraid of a mere realm-breaking pill.
Gu Pinglin took the pill without saying thank you: "I will do my best."
Bu Shuihan heaved a sigh of relief. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly noticed someone. He immediately frowned, turned around and shouted, "Who!"
"Sorry," Duan Qingming walked out from behind the rocks, "I came here to look for Xiaojiu, but I didn't expect Senior Brother Bu to be here too. I had to step away to avoid disturbing you two. I didn't mean to eavesdrop on your conversation."
"It's okay to eavesdrop," Bu Shuihan still didn't give him a good look, and turned to order, "Xiao Gu, take the pills. If anyone asks you about it, just say I gave it to you."
Gu Pinglin smiled: "Yes."
Duan Qingming was not angry either, and smiled gently: "It seems that Senior Brother Bu has a deep misunderstanding of me."
Bu Shui snorted coldly and walked away.
Duan Qingming walked to Gu Pinglin, turned around, stood shoulder to shoulder with him, and watched Bu Shuihan leave. Unlike Bu Shuihan, he was wearing an extremely wide black robe today, which was woven from refined ice silk, faintly shining with a vermilion luster, with the front open, revealing the black water python leather belt inside. This outfit was too heavy for an ordinary young man, and only a tall man like him could wear such a wide robe in a leisurely and elegant manner.
A red-patterned headband with a black background hung down with the long hair, with one band just beside the temples, contrasting with the red shadow at the corners of the eyes, making the eyes look even narrower and longer.
Gu Pinglin asked, "How does it feel to eavesdrop?"
Duan Qingming retracted his gaze: "Not good, didn't you see that he looked like he wanted to eat me."
Gu Pinglin was of course doing it on purpose, and he also found it funny. Duan Qingming might be cold-blooded, and might not care about worldly morals, but he would never do something as disqualified as eavesdropping. With the same pride, Gu Pinglin understood him better than anyone else.
"You looking for me?"
Duan Qingming hummed, but did not continue the topic. He looked at the jade bottle in his hand with interest.
Gu Pinglin said calmly: "It's a meridian-opening pill, how is it?"
Duan Qingming naturally took the jade bottle from him and took a look at it: "Bu Shuihan is really good to you."
Gu Pinglin didn't mind, and said meaningfully: "If you treat others with sincerity, you will naturally get sincerity from them."
Duan Qingming had a wide circle of friends in his previous life. He had a modest appearance and was good at controlling people's hearts. He was like a fish in water wherever he went. However, in his heart, he thought that everyone was just ants to be played with. Who could stand shoulder to shoulder with him in terms of wisdom and swordsmanship? And how many people really understood him? Born in a big family with unpredictable hearts, how much sincerity could he see when he entered the Xuanming Sect where the strong are respected? His extreme personality made him look for opponents and excitement at all costs.
Perhaps, geniuses are really destined to be lonely.
I died by self-detonation in my previous life, but I don’t know what happened to him later...
Gu Pinglin seemed to be thinking about something.
Duan Qingming looked at him twice, a light flashed in his eyes: "Do you want to use it?"
Gu Pinglin came back to his senses: "So what?"
"The Duan family produces hundreds of bottles of this kind of low-level realm-breaking pills every year, and even more high-level auxiliary pills," Duan Qingming paused, "but I have never used a single one."
The path of Taoism does not allow for shortcuts. It is truly rare that he was born into a noble family and yet was able to stick to his Taoism and not be tempted.
However, the purpose of his saying this at this moment...
Gu Pinglin raised his eyebrows and asked, "Do you think I shouldn't use it?"
Duan Qingming said: "If there is a first time, there will be a second time. Gu Xiaojiu, after getting the benefits brought by the elixir, are you sure you can still resist the temptation of the elixir?"
Gu Pinglin laughed: "You don't use it yourself, because you are afraid of such temptation?"
"The Meridian Opening Pill can't change anything. Losing the big picture for the small is not what a wise man would do."
"It is foolish to fall for the trick easily and give up the opportunity."
"It seems that you are determined to defeat me and really want to be Yue Songting's apprentice," Duan Qingming smiled and threw the jade bottle back to him, "heart for heart. Now that you have a sincere senior brother, do you still want a sincere master?"
These feelings were probably ridiculous in his eyes. Gu Pinglin chose to end the topic: "You have practiced for two years, are you still afraid that I will use the pill?"
"If you use the elixir of this sincere senior brother, you will lose, and you will lose faster." Duan Qingming reached out and tapped his cheek, then flicked his robe sleeves and floated away.
The familiar tone was annoying. Gu Pinglin frowned slightly, trying his best to dispel the unpleasant memories. He watched the corner of the ink-colored robe disappear behind the rocks before he followed.
As soon as he arrived outside the competition venue, a disciple saw him and said, "Junior Brother Gu, there is a letter from home for you."