As Han Yu stepped onto the arena platform, Zhong Yue, Sun Kang, and Liu Lan all turned their attention toward his ring, rising from their seats to approach.

Weaving through the crowd, Zhu San—Pig Third—also turned his head. He gestured toward the platform, addressing the Laborer Disciple he had cornered.

“Junior Brother, do you see that? A truly formidable opponent has just taken the stage. If you don’t buy my goods and end up facing this Han Yu, you’ll be knocked off the platform instantly. Your fate with the Outer Sect will be severed right there!”

The Laborer Disciple looked skeptical. “Is that true?”

“Of course it’s true! Would I lie to you?” Zhu San slapped his hairy chest with an open palm. “Let me tell you, becoming an Outer Disciple isn’t just about being stubborn and cultivating with your head down like an ox. You need to be flexible. Adaptable!”

He dangled a bracelet in front of the disciple.

“Take this bracelet. It still has two charges left. If you were to exchange for a defensive Protection Talisman, that would cost several Spirit Stones, wouldn’t it? This offers two full chances to turn defeat into victory, and I’m selling it to you for a mere three Spirit Stones. Is that not worth it?”

The Laborer Disciple was clearly tempted. After a moment of hesitation, he muttered, “Let me watch a bit more first. Just a bit more…”

Nearby, several Deacons, as well as Inner and Outer Disciples who heard Han Yu’s name, cast glances toward his arena.

On a smaller, more exclusive viewing stand further away, Li Tonghai sat with a sword strapped to his back. A purple-robed Wanchun Valley Deacon accompanied him as he observed the Laborer Disciple Grand Competition.

Witnessing the laughable skirmishes of these Laborer Disciples—who were far inferior to the disciples of the Spirit Sword Sect—Li Tonghai once again affirmed the conclusion he had reached after meeting the Wanchun Valley Sect Leader.

Wanchun Valley was simply not a sect built for combat.

Their Laborer Disciples looked harmless, like people solely dedicated to farming and nurturing spiritual plants. Where would such people get the notion to collude with Demonic Cultivators?

They lacked both the ambition and the capability.

Perhaps I really should report the true situation of Wanchun Valley to Master and ask him to make the final decision, Li Tonghai mused.

Given his Master’s hatred for evil and his black-and-white distinction between right and wrong, he would certainly never let a single Demonic Cultivator escape. However, he would also never wrongly slaughter an innocent man.

Who had spoken so categorically about Wanchun Valley colluding with the demonic path in the first place?

Fortunately, Master sent me to investigate first, preventing a complete misunderstanding.

As Li Tonghai pondered, he suddenly saw Han Yu ascend the platform. He narrowed his eyes.

The purple-robed Deacon beside him noticed his focus. “That is Han Yu, correct? Your neighbor from the Spirit Field Department.”

“Mm,” Li Tonghai replied. “He cultivates quite diligently. He should be a decent sort.”

“A pity, though,” the Deacon said with a touch of regret. “With Four Spirit Roots, he will likely struggle his whole life. It will be difficult for him to ever reach Foundation Establishment.”

Li Tonghai nodded slightly. “Quite a pity indeed.”

He watched for a moment longer. On the stage, Han Yu used a practiced Flame Technique to force his opponent to concede. Li Tonghai withdrew his gaze.

“Take me to see your Sect Leader. I have made my decision,” Li Tonghai announced.

The purple-robed Deacon was immediately overjoyed. “You are willing to activate the communication Sword Talisman and invite the Spirit Sword Sect to discuss the grave matters?”

“Correct. My Master will naturally come to distinguish right from wrong,” Li Tonghai stated firmly. “Whether Wanchun Valley is colluding with Demonic Cultivators… my Master will know at a single glance!”

The two men stopped watching the competition and hurriedly left the stands, returning to the Sect Hall on the main peak.

Han Yu waited on the platform for a few breaths. Finally, a young man stepped up opposite him, gripping a medicine hoe in his hands.

Seeing his opponent’s equipment, Han Yu couldn’t help but feel surprised.

“Spirit Field Department, Han Yu?” The Inner Disciple acting as referee confirmed their identities.

“Yes.”

“Medicine Garden, Fang Dawei?”

“Here.”

“Very well. Begin!”

As the referee announced the start, Fang Dawei of the Medicine Garden hurried forward, brandishing his hoe as he charged toward Han Yu.

Before he could close the distance, Han Yu raised a finger. A stream of fire surged directly forward.

Fang Dawei yelped in fright. He scrambled to the corner of the platform to dodge the flames, looking shaken.

“You know the Flame Technique?” he gasped.

Han Yu nodded and asked, “Is that tool in your hand a Magical Artifact?”

“No, it’s just been refined. Aside from being hard and good for loosening soil, it’s useless,” Fang Dawei admitted. “I thought using my family’s martial arts would give me an advantage. Better than the Water Control Technique, at least…”

He glanced tentatively at Han Yu’s hand. “Can you still cast spells? If you’re going to use the Flame Technique again, I surrender.”

Han Yu brought his fingers together, channeled his Spirit Breath, and ignited a second Flame Technique.

Fang Dawei immediately threw his hands up, still holding the hoe. “I concede!”

The referee recorded the result and ushered them off the platform. Han Yu would have to wait for his name to be called again for the next round.

As he stepped down, Zhong Yue approached. “Junior Brother Han, your spellcasting is impressive! Many Outer Disciples aren’t as proficient as you.”

Sun Kang and Liu Lan also came over to greet the victor.

The four of them gathered in a small circle. Zhong Yue, Sun Kang, and Liu Lan seemed a bit surprised to see one another, but Zhong Yue’s cheerful, smiling personality quickly smoothed things over.

She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small pouch. “Stir-fried melon seeds soaked in Moon Gazing Herb juice. Want some?”

She shared the snacks with Han Yu, Sun Kang, and Liu Lan, and they stood to the side to chat.

The melon seeds were slightly bitter but left a cooling sensation in the mouth, followed by a lingering, subtle fragrance. The aftertaste was quite pleasant.

Sun Kang and Liu Lan introduced themselves to Zhong Yue, and as they cracked shells and talked, the group gradually became acquainted.

Han Yu silently ate a few seeds. Seeing Fang Dawei, his recent opponent, raise his medicine hoe in a friendly gesture from a distance, Han Yu raised a hand and nodded back.

Fang Dawei smiled, then turned and left.

“That guy with the hoe just now… wasn’t that a bit of a cheat?” Liu Lan asked, feeling indignant on Han Yu’s behalf. “If everyone brings weapons or Magical Artifacts for defense and attack, couldn’t just anyone get into the Outer Sect?”

Zhong Yue laughed. “Those who can afford defensive or offensive Magical Artifacts have already secured plenty of cultivation resources. They would be at Qi Refining Stage Three by now. Why would they wait until today to fight over spots with Laborer Disciples?”

“Today’s competition is for those below the third stage of Qi Refining. There won’t be many who can produce Magical Artifacts or mastered spells.”

Liu Lan nodded in understanding. “That’s true… Those with ample Spirit Stones for cultivation wouldn’t be stuck here.”

As they spoke, Zhong Yue suddenly spotted Zhu San in the crowd.

He was surrounded by several dozen Laborer Disciples, gesticulating wildly as he preached to them. The disciples nodded in agreement from time to time.

Zhong Yue frowned immediately.

“Junior Brother Han! You really need to be careful—do you see Zhu San over there?”

“That guy follows senior brothers and sisters around, scavenging scraps. He hoards all sorts of random pills, near-broken Magical Artifacts, and incomplete cultivation manuals, treating them like treasures.”

“Normally, it wouldn’t matter. But right now, those Laborer Disciples are desperate. If they buy his junk, they might actually pose a threat to you.”

Han Yu looked over, nodded, and raised his guard.

Those scraps might be garbage to an expert, but in the early stages of Qi Refining, an item that allowed for even one extra attack or defense could determine the outcome of a match. It was not something he could afford to ignore.

From here on out, each round would be more intense than the last. It wouldn’t be as easy as the match against Fang Dawei.

After about half an hour, Han Yu’s name was called again.

He ascended the platform once more, waiting for the second round to begin.