Chapter 90: The Sect’s Strength, Bottom of the Rankings

Seeing Qin Xiao’s indifferent expression, Lin Tiancheng could only slowly shake his head.

“In past years, two mid Nascent Soul cultivators might have challenged for the top three. This year is different. Even aside from Pure Yang Sect, Mysterious Yin Sect, and the Immortal Dao Merchant Association, Tianyi City and Pure Yang City won’t be easy to beat.”

Lin Tiancheng could do little about it. The Tianyuan Sect was over a thousand years old, but next to the great sects, it was still a novice.

“Sect Leader, during the last Abyss Secret Realm, didn’t the three forces stronger than us suffer heavy losses? The forces from other cities are even weaker. Why does your tone make it sound like we’re struggling even to reach the top three?”

Qin Xiao was confused by Lin Tiancheng’s words. Last time, those three forces only had a sole survivor escape.

Moreover, last time the leaders from the other three forces were only mid-stage Nascent Souls. The Immortal Dao Merchant Association’s Ling Wushuang was late-stage Nascent Soul, but his age definitely exceeded thirty-five.

“Why do you think the Pure Yang Sect is a Second-Level Sect? Why does the Third-Level Mysterious Yin Sect dare oppose it? Their accumulated strength is beyond anything the Tianyuan Sect has. The Abyss Secret Realm has been explored for countless years, and its dangers are manageable. We sent all our elites. They only picked some disciples to gain experience. Their losses were heavy, but they did not cripple those sects.”

Lin Tiancheng said helplessly.

In past years, the other cities had only participated as a formality. They were weaker. Unlike Spirit Medicine Valley, the Abyss Secret Realm could hold enough people for places to be settled by allocation. Spirit Medicine Valley admitted only a hundred people each time, so places had to be fought for. Those who knew they could not win simply went through the motions.

This year, besides the two dominant sects and the formidable Immortal Dao Merchant Association, there was Tianyi City with Chen Shunyi’s intervention, and the already strong Pure Yang City. With the Tianyuan Sect, that made six contenders.

The main contenders had always been the three sects, the enormous Pure Yang City, and the Immortal Dao Merchant Association. There were only five places for forces to secure entry to Spirit Medicine Valley. With Tianyi City joining this time, the Tianyuan Sect—usually fourth or fifth—might lose its place altogether.

“So in previous years’ spot competitions, what strength did other forces have? Did they all have mid-to-late-stage Nascent Soul disciples?”

Qin Xiao really did not know how much strength the other forces had to draw on, so he asked.

“Last time, Pure Yang Sect sent three disciples: one late Nascent Soul and two mid Nascent Soul. Mysterious Yin Sect sent three mid Nascent Soul disciples, and so did the Immortal Dao Merchant Association. Those three took the top three places. Pure Yang City had two mid Nascent Soul and one early Nascent Soul. We had one early Nascent Soul disciple and two at the peak of Golden Core.”

Even saying it left Lin Tiancheng short of confidence. Last time, the Tianyuan Sect had sent one early Nascent Soul disciple and two at the peak of Golden Core. They had barely taken fifth place.

“Then that early-stage Nascent Soul from last competition, after ten years, should now have mid-stage Nascent Soul strength, right? Why did you choose us?” You are reading on novelping.com, the official source.

Qin Xiao could hardly believe it.

“I know why. Senior Brother Mu was almost thirty-five last time. He’s too old now. The other two Senior Brothers at the peak of Golden Core were about the same age. They’re all in seclusion now.”

Upon hearing Qin Xiao ask this, Lin Shimeng quickly explained.

“So our sect’s strongest disciples under thirty-five are Yun Man and Shimeng? Plus me as filler?”

Qin Xiao could not quite believe it. He had thought the sect had plenty of strong disciples, all in seclusion. Now it seemed there was little strength in reserve at all.

“Exactly. That’s the difference in our strength. Qingzhou’s most gifted cultivators won’t make the Tianyuan Sect their first choice. They join the Merchant Association, Pure Yang Sect, or Mysterious Yin Sect. The lucky ones become personal disciples of powerful Heavenly Dynasty cultivators. That’s why the Elders fought over Yun Man when she joined.”

Lin Tiancheng also spoke truthfully. It was precisely because he had a Heavenly Spirit Root that he became Sect Leader. His daughter was also made the sect’s Holy Maiden precisely because of her Heavenly Spirit Root. In the cultivation world, talent isn’t the only factor, but it determines a person’s upper limit.

In the cultivation world, the weak were prey to the strong. The strong grew stronger and the weak weaker. The Tianyuan Sect worked hard just to retain its status as a Third-Level Sect. That was why the Great Elder, though he knew Yun Man had killed his son, could only put the blame on Qin Xiao. He could not touch Yun Man. She was more important to the sect than even its Great Elder.

“So Sect Leader, do you know what cultivation levels the disciples from other forces in this competition will be?”

Only now did Qin Xiao understand how weak the Tianyuan Sect was. No wonder the Mysterious Yin Sect looked down on it, though both were Third-Level Sects. Their accumulated strength was simply too different.

“According to the information I gathered, Pure Yang Sect will again send one late Nascent Soul disciple and two mid Nascent Soul disciples. The late-stage disciple has a Heavenly Spirit Root and is thirty-four this year. That disciple didn’t appear last time and has been personally taught by their Great Elder all along. You know one of the mid-stage disciples: Cang Xing, thirty-two. The other is his younger brother, Cang Chen, twenty-four, who also has a Heavenly Spirit Root.”

“Mysterious Yin Sect is much the same: three mid Nascent Soul disciples. You know Su Lin, who is thirty-three. The other two are Core Disciples, twin sisters with Heavenly Spirit Roots: Luo Yunbing and Luo Yunshuang, twenty-five.”

“The Immortal Dao Merchant Association is again sending just three mid Nascent Soul cultivators, but it has far more strength than that. Perhaps it’s doing this deliberately. Pure Yang City has gone to great lengths this time. It found a late Nascent Soul cultivator somewhere and gave that person a nominal Deputy City Lord post. Tianyi City has done the same, with a late Nascent Soul cultivator. Chen Shunyi has brought out his most gifted disciple.”

Lin Tiancheng investigated the disciples from other forces participating this time, and the information he obtained made him feel terrified.

This was also why, even though he knew his daughter and Yun Man had both broken through to mid-stage Nascent Soul, he still wasn’t optimistic.

The Tianyuan Sect might not even get the qualification to enter the Spirit Medicine Valley this time, let alone enter the top three.

“Didn’t you say Heavenly Spirit Roots are extremely rare? Why do I feel like they’re everywhere?”

Qin Xiao was baffled. Surely anyone who reached Nascent Soul before thirty-five had to have at least a Heavenly Spirit Root? Other sects had so many, yet the Tianyuan Sect had only two. One was the Sect Leader’s own daughter, and the other had joined for special reasons. What a pitiful showing. The source of this chapter is novelping.com.

“Heavenly Spirit Roots are naturally extremely scarce, but Qingzhou is vast with a large population. No matter how few, with such a large base, quite a few can appear. It’s just that none have joined our Tianyuan Sect.”

Hearing Qin Xiao’s complaint, Lin Shimeng explained.

For any force below a Third-Level Sect, finding a Heavenly Spirit Root holder was a rare stroke of luck. Such cultivators would hardly join a Fourth-Level Force—unless, like Lin Tiancheng, someone had a child with one. Even then, a child with better prospects elsewhere would not stay.

Lin Tiancheng had no choice-he was the Sect Leader, he couldn’t send his daughter away, could he? Would he still be Sect Leader then? It was precisely because he had sufficient authority to guarantee his daughter could get enough cultivation resources that she stayed in the sect as Holy Maiden.

A Li Family member had merely an Earthly Spirit Root, yet Immortal Sword Peak took him as a Personal Disciple and protected the family as well. The family’s eldest daughter also had an Earthly Spirit Root and was attractive, which was why Tan Wang had taken her as his dao companion.

Even an Earthly Spirit Root was a rare asset. Qin Xiao was now dealing with such powerful people that he had come to think Earthly Spirit Roots were ordinary and Heavenly Spirit Roots common.

“So, this time our Tianyuan Sect might not even get a spot, let alone ranking.”

Lin Tiancheng was also worried. If Tianyi City hadn’t intervened, at least they could guarantee fifth place. Now it’s somewhat uncertain.

“If that’s their strength, you can rest easy, Sect Leader. I guarantee we’ll win places. How many, I can’t promise.”

Qin Xiao also saw Lin Tiancheng’s helplessness and quickly assured him.

“Really? You have a way?”

“Of course. If my disciples can’t win, I’ll take over. That’s what their master is for.”

“With your words, I feel much more at ease.”

Lin Tiancheng still did not know what Qin Xiao was capable of. With that assurance, though, he could only choose to trust him.