Chapter 29: You Belong to Miss

"Three months later, the Sect Grand Contest?" Iwao raised an eyebrow at the mention of it. Was sending these treasures meant to motivate him? Every sect had its own Sect Grand Contest. For example, the Spirit Path Trial at Wind Sword Sect invited a group of prodigies to become Inner Sect Disciples in advance and then sent them into the Spirit Path to compete with other Inner Sect Disciples. Those who ranked high received numerous rewards and gained the sect's attention. Fiery Fire Sect's Sect Grand Contest, on the other hand, involved all newly admitted Inner Sect Disciples and Outer Sect Disciples. Compared to Wind Sword Sect's competition, it was much larger in scale. To rank in the top three would mark one as a formidable prodigy. "If I manage to get into the top three, what benefits does it bring to her?" Iwao frowned. Sect Grand Contest, he had to strive for it no matter what! Even without these treasures, he would still strive. "Well, are you genuinely unaware or pretending not to know?" Magar looked at Iwao strangely for a while. "Don't look at me like that, Elder Sexton. I genuinely don't understand the ins and outs of this," Iwao shrugged with a bitter smile. "During the day, several Inner Sect Elders came to visit your courtyard, wanting to take you as their disciple. Do you remember?" Magar said, "Later, Miss intervened and drove them all away, saying you wouldn't take any disciples." "I remember, so what?" Iwao admitted, there was indeed such an incident. He just didn't understand why Rana told them he wouldn't take any disciples. Was this considered her making another decision for him? "Now, everyone inside and outside the sect knows that you belong to Miss. Naturally, no one else will come to take you as a disciple. And if you can get into the top three in the Sect Grand Contest, it'll be a matter of face for Miss. You... understand, right?" Magar emphasized each word, suspecting that Iwao was deliberately waiting for him to explain. Could he not see through such an obvious matter? "???" Iwao expressed confusion. What's going on? How did I become her person? We just happened to return together. There's no relationship between us! "Anyway, let me explain it clearly to you. After the Five Chimes rang, the sect immediately held an emergency meeting. The Sect Master criticized Miss, saying that the Five Chimes should not have been sounded so hastily for you. But Miss insisted on standing by your side, almost quarreling with the Sect Master over it," Magar explained to Iwao in detail as he sat in the courtyard pavilion. "Are the Five Chimes very significant?" Iwao asked after a long silence. "Very significant!" Magar sighed, a hint of nostalgia and reminiscence flashing in his eyes. "This matter involves another secret, but it's a pain in the Sect Master's heart. I can't tell you about it for now. Just know that when Miss had the Five Chimes sound for you, from then on, no one in the sect will take you as a disciple. Everyone knows that you belong to her!" "What... what's going on?" Iwao wanted to laugh bitterly but couldn't. "This isn't a bad thing at all. Just enjoy all the resources for cultivation you have now!" Magar patted Iwao's shoulder. "Kid, I quite like you. I hope you can bear this responsibility! In the Sect Grand Contest, you must strive to enter the top three no matter what. If possible, aim for the first place and give Miss some face!" "From what you're saying, Rana's relationship with her father isn't too good?" Iwao keenly sensed this point. "Well, let's just say both have their difficulties," Magar shook his head. "As outsiders, there's nothing we can say." "All right." Iwao nodded, only half understanding, but he agreed nonetheless. Since Rana had given him so many cultivation resources, he indeed should strive to cultivate diligently! Three months later, in the Sect Grand Contest, no matter what, he had to fight for the top spot! That's just how this world worked. Rules restrained the weak, but the strong were not bound! The more you competed, the more you grabbed, the more belonged to you! "You're different from other Outer Sect Disciples. You don't have to attend classes or study, but you must never relax in cultivation! Because many Outer Sect Disciples, and even Inner Sect Disciples, will come to challenge you frequently, as the Five Chimes are of great significance! Remember, you... cannot lose!" Magar's usually soft voice turned serious and firm at this moment. "No matter who challenges me, I can't lose?" Iwao suddenly realized that the responsibility of the Five Chimes was much greater than he had imagined. "Cannot lose!" Magar emphasized each word. "If you can't win, don't accept the challenge until you're capable! That's just being cautious, not cowardly!" "Isn't that just being a cowardly turtle?" Swallow protested, feeling dissatisfied. "I don't brag. If anyone dares to provoke me, I'll poke them to death!" "Forget it." Iwao looked disdainful. "When faced with danger, those who fear death the most will evade it!" "That's because you've given me too little Spirit Jade to eat. If you gave me Spirit Jade every day, when my strength is restored, I wouldn't fear anyone!" Swallow gritted his teeth. "Elder Sexton, Swallow is just like that. Please excuse him," Iwao sighed. "I remember your words. Rest assured, if I can win, I'll fight, but if I can't, I'll stay indoors until I can. That way, I'll stand undefeated!" "Good, that way you can establish yourself as invincible!" Magar nodded, then smiled. "Iwao, go for it." After seeing Magar off, Iwao found himself not even a bit sleepy. "Cultivate!" "But I'm so sleepy!" Swallow protested. "Forget about sleeping. Get up and cultivate!" Iwao grabbed him and headed towards the cultivation room. "I'll give you some Spirit Jade to eat!" "Really? Great!" Swallow eagerly nodded, throwing all principles out the window. As the saying goes, people care about their reputation, just as trees care about their bark. For the sake of eating, he would even disregard his pride! Upon entering the cultivation room, Iwao took out several pieces of Double Marked Spirit Jade for him. "Not enough, not enough!" Swallow rubbed his hands. "More, I need more. I feel like my rank is about to break through lately!" "Finally not just First Rank anymore, huh?" Iwao sneered. "Hey, what's with that attitude? I'm the Primordial Hongmeng Tree! Are these rankings important to me? You just need to know that I'm strong, very strong, incomparably strong, and that's enough!" Swallow placed his hands on his hips. "Because my power has been sealed, for me, this isn't just an upgrade, it's an unsealing! Each unsealing increases my bloodline and strength significantly!" Swallow explained. "Oh, good luck then," Iwao replied, withdrawing his gaze. He thought to himself, "Come on, even if he upgrades from First Rank to Second Rank, he's still pretty weak!" Juniors his age, who were prodigies like him, typically started at Fifth Rank in terms of Illusionary Beast strength. Some even used treasures to elevate their Illusionary Beasts to Sixth Rank levels.