Chapter 27: What’s Meant to Be Will Be

Beside the diorama box, Su Xiaoyu sat in her wheelchair, watching the preparations in the Qixi Festival Sect with great interest.

She noticed the helplessness of Liu Jinzhi and Zhu Qian, and also witnessed the transaction between Weng Yuhan and Luo Cuiyu.

Similar situations were unfolding all over the Qixi Festival Sect.

For example, inside a pavilion, the sect’s most powerful Talisman Crafting Master, Hua Shulin, and the most powerful Formation Master, Gan Jiamin, came together and also made a deal, both departing with satisfaction.

Alchemy Master Li Yidan and Artifact Refining Master Gongye Qing also had an exchange, but ultimately seemed to reach no agreement, their transaction ending in failure.

Transactions, some successful and some not, occurred throughout the Qixi Festival Sect. Of course, some people didn’t contact anyone and simply focused on improving themselves, believing that any improvement, no matter how small, was valuable—that this seemingly insignificant boost might let them win one more match.

Under these circumstances, the afternoon gradually arrived.

The Qixi Festival Sect’s Grand Competition was finally about to begin.

Su Xiaoyu bought two bags of melon seeds and a cola, placing them on the table beside the diorama box. Holding a magnifying glass in one hand to watch the changes inside the box, she leisurely ate melon seeds and drank cola.

The rules for the Qixi Festival Sect’s Grand Competition were not particularly special: disciples were randomly drawn to fight in pairs. Winners entered the Winners Group, and losers entered the Losers Group. The Winners Group then continued fighting in pairs, winners advancing, losers going to the Losers Group. During this process, the Losers Group would also have internal fights; winners could revive and go back to fight in the Winners Group, while losers remained.

This mechanism fully gave everyone more chances to win, primarily aiming to let as many people as possible have the opportunity to use the facial cleanser.

Su Xiaoyu was quite pleased to see this. She hadn’t forgotten her purpose in instigating this Grand Competition—it was to film an advertisement. The use of the facial cleanser was naturally indispensable; the more uses, the better.

…

Inside the Qixi Festival Sect.

Many disciples gathered around the battle platform in the square, each one full of vigor and fighting spirit.

Tong Shishi stood on a high platform. Looking at the spirited morale of the many disciples in the sect, she couldn’t help but smile with contentment. As the Sect Master of the Qixi Festival Sect, seeing such vitality within her sect naturally brought her great satisfaction.

The reason for all this was undoubtedly the Heavenly Maiden. This made Tong Shishi feel increasingly fortunate that the Heavenly Maiden had chosen to favor the Qixi Festival Sect.

Tong Shishi looked at everyone and announced: “I declare the Qixi Festival Sect’s Grand Competition has begun. From now on, I will draw the lots.”

As her voice fell, Tong Shishi stepped forward.

A large box had been placed before her, containing many bamboo lots. Each bamboo lot had the name of a Qixi Festival Sect disciple written on it. She would draw two bamboo lots simultaneously; the names on them would determine who would fight each other.

Under everyone’s gaze, Tong Shishi drew two lots.

“First match: Li Yidan versus Liu Jinzhi.”

As soon as these words were spoken, Li Yidan and Liu Jinzhi’s locations were immediately covered by numerous gazes.

Li Yidan’s expression was calm. With her Qi Refining Tenth Layer cultivation, she was undoubtedly a favorite to win the championship. No matter who her opponent was, she was fearless.

Liu Jinzhi’s face, however, darkened. With her Qi Refining Seventh Layer cultivation, she was also among the top ranks of the Qixi Festival Sect. But how could she be so unlucky as to run into Li Yidan of all people?

“You two, ascend the battle platform.”

Tong Shishi’s voice rang out again.

Hearing the voice, Li Yidan calmly ascended the battle platform.

Liu Jinzhi went unwillingly, but she still got onto the battle platform.

As the two stood on the battle platform, a layer of Light Curtain rose around it, isolating the inside from the outside, preventing the commotion on the platform from affecting the surroundings.

Li Yidan looked at Liu Jinzhi: “Junior Sister Liu, I am about to make my move.”

Liu Jinzhi’s face showed helplessness: “Please show mercy, Senior Sister.”

If this were a normal Sect Grand Competition, facing such a disparate outcome, she would have wanted to surrender immediately. But the Heavenly Maiden had said that those who performed outstandingly in the competition could gain the qualification to consume Immortal Rice!

What exactly counted as an outstanding performance?

Did one absolutely have to win?

Faced with a powerful enemy, not flinching despite knowing one was outmatched, and fighting bravely—did that count as an outstanding performance?

Liu Jinzhi was uncertain about this, but she knew that surrendering before even fighting would certainly have nothing to do with outstanding performance.

So what she needed to do was clear.

“Rattan Spell!”

Liu Jinzhi attacked first, waving her hand to scatter plant seeds, which pattered onto the ground. These seeds then grew violently at a visible speed, transforming into vast swathes of vines that spread towards Li Yidan, completely covering her in a short time.

Facing such an attack, a gleam of flame burst forth in Li Yidan’s eyes.

As an Alchemy Master, Li Yidan was most skilled in all kinds of fire-attribute spells; she had no fear of wood-attribute spell attacks whatsoever.

“Deep Earth Flame!”

Li Yidan formed a hand seal with one hand. The air in all directions instantly became scorchingly hot. Immediately after, blazing flames fiercely erupted from the ground, spreading across the entire battle platform in an instant.

The plants surging towards her were instantly buried in a sea of fire, burned until nothing remained.

This situation gave Liu Jinzhi a great fright. She hadn’t fought in a long time and was momentarily flustered. She hastily cast another water-attribute spell, causing large sheets of rain to fall from the sky, attempting to extinguish the flames on the ground.

But…

“Junior Sister, you’re too late.”

Li Yidan’s voice came from not far ahead.

She formed another hand seal, and a streak of fire shot over, stopping directly before Liu Jinzhi’s forehead.

It was a Magical Artifact shaped like a Flying Sword, bathed in raging flames. This was precisely Li Yidan’s Magical Artifact!

Feeling the heat at her brow, Liu Jinzhi said helplessly: “I concede.”

The situation had reached this point; she clearly couldn’t hold on any longer. Trying to demonstrate enough outstanding performance before a cultivator like Li Yidan—a Qi Refining Tenth Layer powerhouse—was too difficult. To show a more outstanding performance, she would have to rely on the subsequent battles.

Thus, Li Yidan entered the Winners Group, and Liu Jinzhi entered the Losers Group.

Although she lost, Liu Jinzhi still held hope in her heart. As long as she could win in the Losers Group, she could return to the second round’s Winners Group.

…

After watching this battle, Su Xiaoyu’s eyes showed a trace of envy.

In the eyes of the Qixi Festival Sect members, she was the Heavenly Maiden, but this Heavenly Maiden was actually still just a Qi Refining 1st Layer entry-level cultivator who couldn’t yet master spells. Seeing Li Yidan, Liu Jinzhi, and others cast spells filled her heart with deep envy.

She wondered when she would be able to reach the Qi Refining 2nd Layer.