Cultivation: When you take things to the extreme

Chapter 271: Chapter 181: Disciple_1

“No good!”

“It’s the technique to Drag Thousand Mountains!”

Xiao Miao’s complexion changed, and he hurriedly urged his mana to dispel the other party’s Taoism curse skill.

In the three months’ time, although not long, under the highly efficient actions of the cultivators, Green Jade Mountain still managed to accomplish many things, including the spread of the Martial Arts Scripture and Taoist Scriptures.

Therefore, Xiao Miao was no longer the clueless newbie to Taoism he had been initially. On the contrary, with Elder Zhen’s help during this period, he had diligently studied the Taoist Scriptures, and he also mastered quite a few skills of Taoism.

Among them was the technique known as the “Fixation Skill,” which was another name for the technique to Drag Thousand Mountains.

This skill was extremely fast and could drag thousands of mountains and suppress the human body, making it impossible to move.

To break free, one either had to have strong mana to destroy it or to counter it with Taoism skills.

Xiao Miao had not expected that this little girl, who appeared to be only seven or eight years old, would have such formidable methods.

First, she used a fierce Thunder Series attack to force him back, then she created distance to employ her Taoism curse skill, putting him directly into mortal danger.

What should he do now?

Xiao Miao had no other tactics at his disposal. He could only channel his mana and first dispel the curse on him.

However…

“Roar!”

A sound like thunder or a dragon’s chant echoed as Shui Lingling’s petite body flickered and, through the use of a cultivating skill, she transformed into a thunder little dragon.

Though the thunder dragon was small, its speed was unmatched, and in the blink of an eye, it was before Xiao Miao.

And then…

“Boom!!”

A loud explosion sounded, and the Green Jade Talisman shattered.

Xiao Miao stood frozen on the spot, staring blankly at the young girl in front of him, at her silver-white short spear pointed at his abdomen, unsure of what to do.

The girl smiled and withdrew her short spear: “Big brother, you lost!”

Xiao Miao: “…”

At the same time, a resounding voice echoed through the void.

“Green Jade Talisman broken, Xiao Miao defeated!”

“The victor of this battle, Shui Lingling!”

“Shui Lingling gains fifty Azure Cloud Points!”

“Xiao Miao receives one Azure Cloud Point.”

“The contest is over, the battle has ended!”

Amidst the resounding voice, a white light emerged, and the space shifted once more, coming before a jade wall.

“Your Azure Cloud Jade Token has been exhausted. Would you like to end the competition, or do you wish to purchase a new Azure Cloud Jade Token?”

From within the jade wall, a spiritual thought transmitted such a message.

Only then did Xiao Miao come back to his senses, staring at the verdant jade wall in front of him, gritting his teeth and saying, “I was careless, it won’t happen again.”

After speaking, he took out a hundred spirit stones from his Storage Bag and placed them on the altar in front of the jade wall.

The jade wall emitted a ray of Spirit Light and consumed the hundred spirit stones, leaving behind only a piece of lush green jade.

It was none other than the Azure Cloud Jade Token!

Just last night, through the Azure Cloud Leaderboard Monument, Xiao Miao had learned the rules of the Competition of the Chosen.

A single defeat does not mean losing the chance to compete.

As long as you still have fighting strength, even if you are defeated by someone, you can purchase a new “Azure Cloud Jade Token” and rejoin the competition.

The Azure Cloud Jade Token has many functions, connecting to the Azure Cloud Leaderboard Monument while also acting as a life-saving measure and determining victory or defeat during the Competition of the Chosen.

The one in Xiao Miao’s hand was said to be able to withstand one attack from a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, just the thing to serve as a life-saving method for a Qi Refinement realm competitor.

When the Green Jade Talisman shatters, it is equal to defeat.

Afterward, one either spends spirit stones to purchase a new Azure Cloud Jade Token or withdraws from the current Competition of the Chosen.

Xiao Miao chose the former, as he was not willing to accept defeat just like that.

In his mind, Elder Zhen also said, “This little girl’s Thunder Series is so sharp, and she executes her Taoism so fluidly. Having such skills in the Qi Refinement Realm, did she cultivate in her mother’s womb, or is she an Old Demon in disguise?”

Xiao Miao fell silent and finally said, “Perhaps she is the favored disciple of the renowned King Shifa.”

“Hmm!?”

Elder Zhen seemed to catch something in his words: “What do you mean by that?”

Xiao Miao shook his head, his gaze innocent: “I didn’t mean anything particular!”

But Elder Zhen was not fooled: “You brat, you blame me for not teaching you all my skills. If it hadn’t been for the Wind-Thunder Escape Skill I transmitted to you, you couldn’t even have dodged that little girl’s first Thunder Series attack.”

“I know you have techniques to spare, but you always keep them to yourself. Now your disciple can’t beat someone else’s grand-disciple…”

“It’s your own lack of effort!”

Elder Zhen grew frustrated, repeatedly saying: “Let’s go again; I refuse to believe that old ghoul is so capable that every young disciple from Green Jade Mountain is as formidable as that little girl.”

Xiao Miao’s eyes rolled: “Alright, it’s settled then. If I still can’t win, you have to teach me more powerful spells when we go back.”

“Win first, then talk!”

“Xiao Miao, Qi Refinement complete!”

“Gui Sanqian, Qi Refinement complete!”

As he looked at the delicate-looking young boy before him, Xiao Miao fell silent.

The boy, surprised to see this, asked, “Does my fellow Daoist have something troubling him?”

“Fellow Daoist…”

Looking at the obviously young, yet utterly composed boy, Xiao Miao wanted to say something, but found he couldn’t articulate his thoughts and struggled before finally managing to ask, “Are you also a disciple of Green Jade Mountain?”

The boy nodded and said with a light laugh, “Indeed!”

Xiao Miao fell silent, then inquired, “What’s your relation to Shui Lingling?”

“Oh!”

Upon hearing this, the boy’s expression revealed understanding: “That is my junior sister.”

Xiao Miao fell silent, and after a long moment, he could only steel himself and say, “Let’s start.”

The boy smiled, “I have yet to fight anyone. It seems unfair to battle you like this, giving the impression of ganging up. So, I will let you have three moves. Within three moves, if you can make me step out of this circle, I will admit defeat. How does that sound?”

After saying this, he pointed with the tip of his foot and drew a circle just large enough for a person around himself.

“You…”

“That’s too much!”

Xiao Miao’s face changed, but before he could speak, Elder Zhen angrily protested: “This kid is so arrogant; he doesn’t even consider me at all. Little Miao, take him down, use the Five Elements Harmony skill I taught you!”

“This… Alright!”

Xiao Miao heard this and clenched his teeth, then said to the young child, “Then I’ll test your ability!”

“Be careful.”

That said, he activated his mana with both hands, one hand channeling the Law of Fire Spirit, the other drawing the power of Water.

“Merciless Water-Fire Mixed Yuan Skill!”

With one palm strike, water and fire moved together, merging without clashing, instead possessing immense might.

But the result was…

The child gestured with one hand, and with both hands, the black and white fish emerged chasing each other’s tails, Taiji Yin and Yang formed in an instant, swallowing up the mixed essence of water and fire in a moment.

“The Five Elements reversed, Yin-Yang Harmony?”

“Indeed impressive!”

“Pity…”

The child looked at Xiao Miao, his eyes curving into a smile, “Fellow Daoist, your skill has not yet reached the necessary level of proficiency.”

Xiao Miao’s face darkened, and without words, the Merciless Water-Fire appeared again, this time with a hidden streak of metal essence.

However…

With a turn of Yin and Yang, all of Taiji transformed.

Xiao Miao clenched his teeth, still without words.

The words of Elder Zhen echoed in his mind.

“Kid, give up. That brat has mastered the Taiji Yin-Yang Principle from the Martial Arts and Taoist Scriptures. Your Five Elements Harmony Skill hasn’t reached the necessary proficiency and can’t break his stance.”

“How come there are so many demons on Green Jade Mountain? That girl who knew the Thunder Series before was enough, now comes this little brat practicing Taiji. Where did that old fellow find such a group of disciples?”

“Are you even listening… holy shit, Miao, you’ve gone mad!”

Amidst Elder Zhen’s cry of astonishment, Xiao Miao launched another attack.

He transformed water and fire with both hands, adding in a surge of metal essence, gradually merging the powers of the three elements into one.

Just now, he had only managed to combine water and fire, with metal essence hidden behind and not forming part of the attack.

But now, the three elements united, gradually becoming one entity.

The might of his power substantially increased.

Seeing this, Elder Zhen was equally shocked.

He knew Xiao Miao’s situation well. Although Xiao Miao had been very diligent, the Five Elements Harmony Skill was incredibly profound and mystical, and until now he had only managed to merge two elements. There was still a gap before he could integrate three elements.

Yet unexpectedly, he now seemed on the verge of completion.

Had the stimulation allowed him to make a breakthrough right there and then?

Elder Zhen didn’t know, Xiao Miao also didn’t know, at the moment all he wanted was to defeat his opponent.

He gathered the force of the Tri-Element Integration and striking with a thunderous blow, aimed at Gui Sanqian.

“Hmm!”

Gui Sanqian’s expression sharpened, a serious look appearing on his young face for the first time, as the black and white fish circulated, transforming Taiji in an instant.

Fighting Scroll · Qi Three Thousand!

Yin-Yang Qi dissipated the power of three thousand, the Might of Tri-Element scattered in an instant, turning into a vast and mighty torrent.

“Bang!!”

With a thunderous strike, Xiao Miao’s body was sent flying, and the Azure Cloud Jade Token broke once again.

Xiao Miao sat on the ground, his face filled with disbelief.

This little child, this small child who seemed only seven or eight, had managed to withstand his Tri-Element Integration with a technique from the Fighting Scroll.

How is this possible?

He had also studied the Martial Arts Scripture, and although it was also mysterious, it was after all martial arts, not nearly as powerful as his Five Elements Harmony Skill.

Why then could this child break his Tri-Element attack with a technique from the Martial Arts Scripture?

Is this Competition of the Chosen really fair?

That King Shifa…

“You have my thanks for the lesson!”

Xiao Miao couldn’t accept it, Gui Sanqian did not bother explaining further, offering a salute to mark the end of the fight.

“Green Jade Talisman broken, Xiao Miao defeated!”

“Victor of this fight, Gui Sanqian!”

“Gui Sanqian is awarded fifty Azure Cloud Points!”

“Xiao Miao is awarded one Azure Cloud Point.”

“Victory and defeat have been decided, the battle is over!”

In the midst of the resonant voice, space twisted, and Xiao Miao found himself back in front of the Jade Pendant, facing the reality of his defeat anew.

In his mind, Elder Zhen spoke in a heavy tone, “That little brat is no ordinary person; his understanding of Taiji Yin and Yang exceeds what a Qi Refinement Realm brat should possess.”

Elder Zhen murmured to himself, but Xiao Miao was unresponsive.

“Your Azure Cloud Jade Token is exhausted. Do you choose to end the battle, or do you wish to purchase another Azure Cloud Jade Token?”

It wasn’t until the Jade Pendant gave the prompt that he suddenly awoke, took out two hundred spirit stones from his Storage Bag, and purchased a third Azure Cloud Jade Token.

The price of an Azure Cloud Jade Token doubled with each purchase.

Having spent three hundred spirit stones in total, it was a significant sum for Xiao Miao, who was still “carrying a penalty.”

But he didn’t care, grabbing the jade token and starting his third battle.

“Oh man, Miao, are you still going for it? Wasn’t being defeated twice enough for you?”

“I’m telling you, the people from Green Jade Mountain are not to be trifled with; competing with them is like bringing trouble upon yourself!”

Elder Zhen tried to persuade in the depths of his mind.

Yet Xiao Miao ignored it, “I achieved Tri-Element Integration just now. This Sky-reaching Tower truly aids in Enlightenment. One more fight, just one more fight, I swear I can win!”

“This…”

“Xiao Miao, Qi Cultivation complete!”

“Ji Changkong, Qi Cultivation complete!”

The world spun and space shifted again, revealing a cold-faced, handsome young man in black, appearing before Xiao Miao.

Xiao Miao looked at him, and before he could speak, the youth preemptively declared, “Are you ready?”

Xiao Miao’s gaze sharpened, and he spoke in a deep voice, “Please start!”

Hearing that, the youth didn’t waste words, immediately leaped up, his body suddenly glinting with sharpness as countless sword streams surged forth mightily.