19: Chapter 19: Rivals

Xiao Ran felt a surge of joy in his heart and began preparing for the Small Competition.

First, he still needed to digest the System rewards.

He had already mastered the Three-Part Return to Origin Finger, but it was not yet proficient enough.

Xiao Ran practiced repeatedly in the cultivation room until he could instantly unleash nine streams of finger force; only then was he satisfied.

His System points were now at 7,100 (previous 800 + Heifeng Mountains mission 5,000 + Scripture Pavilion mission 1,000 + Trial Tower record reward 300).

Xiao Ran opened the mall and scanned through it.

In the end, he spent 5,000 points to buy a Demon Heart Pill.

After consuming this pill, one's Comprehension Ability could be significantly improved for three days, which had miraculous effects on comprehending Cultivation Techniques.

With 2,100 points left, he couldn't afford anything useful, so he had to save them for now.

Next, Xiao Ran began to Cultivate the incomplete fragment of the Demon Shadow Clone Technique he had just obtained.

This was an Earth Rank Cultivation Technique; even if it was just a fragment, it was enough to keep Xiao Ran busy for a while.

Fortunately, with the assistance of the Demon Heart Pill, it took him seven days to finally master the first layer.

He could create a Clone with 30% of his original body's strength, lasting for the time it takes an incense stick to burn.

Although the time was short and the strength weak, it could serve as a scapegoat or confuse enemies at critical moments.

This was already enough.

Ten days before the Small Competition, Xiao Ran ended his closed-door cultivation.

"Junior Martial Uncle."

"The list for the Small Competition is out."

At this moment, Zhao Ying was waiting outside the cultivation room, and seeing Xiao Ran come out, he hurriedly stepped forward to report.

"Speak."

"For this Small Competition, there are 128 people in the Foundation Establishment Stage group, among whom there are a few to watch out for..."

Zhao Ying handed over a Jade Slip.

Xiao Ran glanced at it and saw a few familiar names.

Lu Qing, Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.

Oh, I heard he recently broke through to the Foundation Establishment Late Stage.

However, Xiao Ran was now at the Foundation Establishment Peak, and the likes of Lu Qing could not catch his Dharma Eye at all.

Han Cheng, Foundation Establishment Peak, Law Enforcement Hall direct Disciple, possesses the Profound Yin Demon Body.

Although it is not a Holy Body, it is still a famous special Physique.

Especially since this Physique is very suitable for demonic cultivation; I heard that a good Profound Yin Demon Body is no worse than the lowest-ranked Holy Body.

There is also a woman named Lin Yue'er, Foundation Establishment Peak, Phantom Demon Hall direct Disciple, skilled in illusion techniques.

"Han Cheng..."

"A person from the Law Enforcement Hall?"

Xiao Ran paused for a moment and asked.

"Yes, he is the Personal Disciple of the Grand Elder of the Law Enforcement Hall."

"He entered the Sect a year and a half ago, and in just over a year, he has already cultivated to the Foundation Establishment Peak. I heard he is just one step away from the Golden Core."

"Also, Junior Martial Uncle, I heard... Han Cheng and Lu Yan have a good relationship, and Lu Yan is one of Blood Child's men."

Zhao Ying said in a low voice, revealing all the information he had gathered.

Blood Child, the Eighth Demon Son.

Xiao Ran understood.

Blood Demon Son, that little punk, would definitely try to trip him up and not let him have it so easy.

After all, Xiao Ran had only used a few months and was about to break through to the Golden Core. Once he broke through to the Golden Core, the Demon Son Challenge Match could possibly affect Blood Demon Son's status.

"I see."

"How are you three preparing?"

Xiao Ran returned the Jade Slip to Zhao Ying and asked suddenly.

"Reporting to Junior Martial Uncle, Tie Shan and Domestic Manager Liu Qingqing have both signed up."

"I have been in the Sect for a few years, so I exceeded the registration limit."

Zhao Ying said, looking a bit embarrassed.

After all, he had been in the Sect for a long time, but his cultivation level was lower than Tie Shan's, which meant his talent was not as good as Tie Shan's.

"It's fine, tell them to fight well."

"Show me some Aura when you fight. If you secure a ranking, I will reward you heavily."

Xiao Ran generously made a big promise.

"Yes!"

Ten days later, the New Disciple Small Competition was held as scheduled.

The location was the Sect's largest martial arts arena, the Demon Fighting Arena.

In the center of the Demon Fighting Arena was a black stone platform with a diameter of a hundred zhang, surrounded by tiered spectator seats.

At this time, it was already filled with people, at least ten thousand.

When Xiao Ran arrived, it caused quite a commotion.

Because this small Sect competition was able to attract so many people, it was all thanks to Xiao Ran's popularity.

So many people wanted to come and see what kind of strength this Ninth Demon Son, who had recently stirred up a storm in the Demon Sect, truly possessed.

"Look! The Ninth Demon Son is here!"

"I heard he made it to the 26th floor of the Trial Tower?"

"Foundation Establishment Peak breaking into the Golden Core Middle Stage floor... is he even human?"

The spectator seats were abuzz with discussion.

Xiao Ran, as always, ignored these discussions and walked straight to the waiting area for the Foundation Establishment group.

There were already quite a few people sitting in the waiting area, and when they saw Xiao Ran enter, the atmosphere suddenly froze.

Lu Qing was also there; seeing Xiao Ran, he turned his head away with an ugly expression.

Han Cheng looked at Xiao Ran expressionlessly, his eyes cold.

Lin Yue'er smiled at Xiao Ran with a charming smile, but deep in her eyes, a hint of vigilance was hidden.

"Everyone."

A black-robed elder walked onto the central high platform, his voice spreading across the entire arena.

"The New Disciple Small Competition begins now."

"The rules are simple: draw lots for battles, the winner advances, the loser is eliminated. You are not allowed to intentionally kill, but causing injury is permitted. Violators will have their cultivation abolished and be expelled from the Sect."

As expected of the Demon Sect, the rules were all laid out in the open.

"Now, for the first round of the Foundation Establishment group, begin drawing lots."

As soon as he finished speaking, streams of light flew out from the elder's sleeves, landing precisely in the hands of every participating Disciple.

The lot Xiao Ran drew was Group C, Number 7.

His opponent was an Inner Sect Disciple at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage. When he saw the result of the draw, his face turned pale with fright.

Meeting a hot favorite to win the championship in the first round, he was screwed.

Indeed, the progress of the competition was very fast.

In Demon Sect battles, every move was a killing blow, and the entire martial arts arena was surging with blood energy.

Before long.

"Group C, Number 7, versus Group C, Number 8, get on the stage!"

Hearing this, Xiao Ran immediately jumped onto the arena.

His opponent also bit the bullet and went up.

"Begin!"

Xiao Ran did not move.

The opponent gritted his teeth and summoned a Flying Sword to stab at him.

Xiao Ran raised his hand and flicked out a stream of finger force.

Clang!

The Flying Sword was knocked away.

The opponent let out a muffled grunt and retreated three steps.

"I concede!"

He shouted decisively.

Xiao Ran won without any suspense.

"Group C, Number 7, Xiao Ran wins!"

Xiao Ran jumped off the arena and returned to the waiting area.

The following few rounds were all the same.

His opponents either conceded or were defeated by him in one move.

They were simply not on the same level.

Until the quarterfinals.

Xiao Ran's opponent was Lin Yue'er.

"Junior Martial Uncle Xiao, please enlighten me."

Lin Yue'er stepped onto the arena with a smile, her waist swaying and her hips wiggling.

Those who knew thought she was here for a martial arts competition; those who didn't might think she was here for a fashion show!

"Please."

Xiao Ran felt a bit of heat in his heart, but on the surface, he nodded calmly.

"Begin!"

As soon as the words fell, Lin Yue'er's figure flickered, turning into three phantoms that lunged at Xiao Ran from different directions.

Illusion technique?

Xiao Ran raised an eyebrow, and a phantom of a black vortex flashed in his eyes.

The Myriad Dao Guixu Body can break all laws.

Illusion techniques are also laws.

In his eyes, the three phantoms instantly became transparent; the one on the left was real, and the two on the right were fake.

Xiao Ran did not move, and when Lin Yue'er's true body approached, he pointed a finger out.

Three-Part Return to Origin Finger!

Lin Yue'er was greatly alarmed and hurriedly dodged, but her shoulder was still grazed by the finger force, and blood splattered.

"How did you see through it?"

Her face turned pale.

"With my eyes."

Xiao Ran said indifferently.

Lin Yue'er gritted her teeth and formed hand seals; suddenly, pink mist filled the arena.

"Phantom Demon Domain!"

Someone off the stage exclaimed.

This is the ultimate technique of the Phantom Demon Hall, capable of creating countless illusions within the Domain, making it impossible to defend against.

Xiao Ran was in the mist, and the scene before him began to distort.

But he just closed his eyes.

The Guixu Body operated at full power.

Devour!

The pink mist, as if encountering a nemesis, surged madly toward Xiao Ran and was absorbed into his body.

Three breaths later, the mist dissipated.

Lin Yue'er was dumbfounded.

"I concede."

She smiled bitterly.

"I accept the concession."