Chapter 22
Chapter 22
After the Grand Competition, I will be an inner sect disciple!
Zhang Chen was a little excited. He bowed to Elder Blood River and jumped off the arena.
He had already achieved his goal of becoming an inner sect disciple. It did not matter if he won or lost the next match.
If his opponent was still as strong as Kong Qingsen, he would just admit defeat.
After all, the Blood Burst Technique had serious side effects. If he used it continuously, it was very easy to see that he was not affected.
There were Golden Core elders and 10 Foundation Establishment disciples in the stands. He was not confident that he could hide it from them. He would try not to use it unless he had to.
What Zhang Chen did not know was that he had already caught the attention of Patriarch Blood River.
With Patriarch Blood River’s Golden Core stage observation skills and hundreds of years of experience, he could tell that Zhang Chen was not affected by the madness of the Mad Blood Saber Technique.
One had to know that the power of the Mad Blood Saber Technique completely depended on the user’s level of madness.
But Zhang Chen’s technique was not mad, despite being called the Mad Blood Saber Technique.
Does he have a special physique, a special mind, or a treasure that can resist madness?
Patriarch Blood River looked at Zhang Chen in the crowd, deep in thought.
On the third day of the inner sect competition.
Only those who had won at least one match could enter the arena. This meant that they had some strength, and the intensity of the competition had increased significantly.
On the fourth day, those who could enter the arena had won two rounds and were about to become inner sect disciples. The competition became exciting.
On this day, Zhang Chen welcomed his third battle.
This was another disciple at the eighth level of Qi Refinement who knew two techniques.
Zhang Chen had watched his opponent’s previous battles and couldn’t defeat him when he only used the Mad Blood Saber Technique.
It wasn’t that the Mad Blood Saber Technique wasn’t strong, but that it was difficult to get close to the opponent. The two techniques usually involved movement and attacks.
Therefore, Zhang Chen admitted defeat as soon as he went up the stage.
This made Li Mumin a little unhappy. He felt that with the strength Zhang Chen had displayed previously, he had a chance of winning.
Zhang Chen was working for him. The stronger his subordinates were, the more face he would have.
Although he only hoped that Zhang Chen could become an inner sect disciple at the beginning, after seeing Zhang Chen’s strength, his expectations naturally increased.
However, in front of so many people, Li Mumin did not say anything.
The fifth day was the day to determine the final ranking of the competition.
Zhang Chen had admitted defeat the day before, so he naturally had no intention of competing today.
“This year’s inner sect competition has ended. The first place goes to…” Li Mumin announced the rankings.
Zhang Chen’s rank was 85th, and the next 15 ranks were unable to continue participating due to serious injuries, so they defaulted to lower rankings.
Finally, Patriarch Blood River stood up and announced, “In this competition, the top 100 will be promoted to inner sect disciples and will be rewarded with blood essence.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the 10 direct disciples began to distribute the blood essence according to the rankings.
Zhang Chen was ranked 85th and only received a bowl of blood essence.
“Thank you for the reward, Elder!” The hundred disciples who had been promoted bowed excitedly.
Patriarch Blood River spoke again, “Distribute inner sect identity tokens and clothing.”
The top 100 had already been announced the previous day, so they had been prepared in advance.
The 10 direct disciples waved their hands, and their identity tokens and clothes landed in their hands.
“From now on, you are all inner sect disciples of the Blood River Sect. Contribute more to the sect. At the same time, don’t slack off in your cultivation. Work hard to improve your cultivation level and reach the Foundation Establishment realm as soon as possible to become direct disciples.”
“We will remember Elder’s teachings and not disappoint the sect’s cultivation. We will work hard to cultivate.”
“Alright, you can all leave now.” Patriarch Blood River transformed into a blood river and disappeared before everyone’s eyes.
What Zhang Chen did not know was that Patriarch Blood River had glanced imperceptibly at him before leaving.
“Farewell, Elder Blood River!”
Back in his cave, Zhang Chen changed into the attire of an inner sect disciple.
White and red, like blood stained white clothes.
Then he took out the bronze identity token and played with it with a smile on his face.
“I’m an inner sect disciple now. I don’t have to worry about the blood sacrifice of Elder Black Blood anymore.
“Furthermore, as an inner sect disciple, the daily amount of demon blood that can be obtained has increased from one bowl to 10 bowls. And there is also an inner sect disciple-exclusive cave.
“In addition to the benefits, the sect’s tasks are different. Every year, inner sect disciples are required to go to the Demon Beast Mountain Range to capture demon beasts for the sect.
“Although it’s dangerous, if I have the strength, I can capture a few more demon beasts and put them in the beast garden to collect blood.
“With my current strength, catching a few demon beasts shouldn’t be a problem. The others will use demon blood to exchange for blood essence. I don’t have to go through so much trouble. I can completely devour and refine them myself.”
Early the next morning, Zhang Chen headed to the Internal Affairs Hall.
On the way, he saw the outer sect disciples bowing and giving way to him, a treatment that was markedly different from before.
When he arrived at the Internal Affairs Hall, Zhang Chen saw many inner sect disciples who had come to exchange their cave abodes.
“I’m a newly-promoted inner sect disciple, and I’m here to receive my inner sect cave abode,” Zhang Chen handed over his identity token.
After the Internal Affairs disciple confirmed his identity, he asked, “Brother, do you prefer the mountaintop, the mountainside, or the foot of the mountain?”
When he was an outer disciple, he didn’t have a choice.
After thinking for a moment, Zhang Chen said, “Give me the mountaintop.”
Although it was inconvenient, it was quiet and no one came up except to find him.
He had many secrets on him, so the mountaintop was more suitable for him.
“Alright, Senior Brother, please wait a moment.” The Internal Affairs disciple rummaged through the books and archives for a while before saying, “The 330th cave abode on the mountaintop is unoccupied. Do you confirm that you want it?”
Zhang Chen was not picky. As long as it was on the mountaintop, it was fine, so he nodded and said, “Yes, I’ll take Cave 330.”
“Senior Brother, I’ve already recorded it for you. The 330th cave abode in the inner sect belongs to you from now on. You have three days to clean up the original cave abode in the outer sect. After three days, it will be registered as an unoccupied cave abode and allocated to other outer sect disciples.”
The Internal Affairs disciple registered for a while and then respectfully handed back the identity token.
“Thank you.” Zhang Chen took back his identity token and sighed in his heart.
When I was an outer disciple, these disciples responsible for registration ignored me and didn’t even look at me properly. I had to be respectful to them and not offend them, and they assigned me difficult missions.
Now that I’m an inner sect disciple, everyone is respectful to me and fawns over me, afraid of offending me. Class distinctions are everywhere!
Zhang Chen did not have many things. He quickly sorted out the useful items in the cave abode and headed to his new cave abode.
Zhang Chen was in a good mood when he arrived at the inner sect’s 330th cave abode on the mountaintop.
“From now on, this will be my cave abode. I don’t know how long I will live here.”
Entering the cave abode, he found a spacious area.
Compared to the outer cave dwellings where more than 10 people crowded onto one mountain, this inner cave abode was like a villa.
However, this cave abode was empty, and he needed to add some furniture and daily necessities.
After tidying up the cave abode, Zhang Chen planned to visit his two neighbors who lived on the same mountain.
After all, he had to pass their cave abodes to come and go, so it was essential to maintain good relations with them.
When they arrived at the cave abode on the mountainside, Zhang Chen shouted, “Senior Brother, are you there?”
Soon, a thin man walked out of the cave abode and asked, “Who are you? Do you have business with me?”