Volume One, Chapter 11: Registration for the Martial Arts Competition

At the entrance to the Demon Suppression Prison.

Though called a gate, it was actually an immense hall, vast beyond measure.

At this moment, the hall was packed with a sea of people—menial disciples eager to register for the martial competition. A glance revealed at least ten thousand participants.

Liu Yiyun had never seen so many people before. He usually patrolled the “Area 13 on the First Level,” where he could only name a few hundred disciples.

A single martial contest had managed to draw out all these demons and fiends.

It was clear that even in this otherworld, there was still a significant number of laborers outside the official ranks.

And this was only the Demon Suppression Prison; if it were the entire Celestial Sanctum, the number of menial disciples might well reach into the hundreds of thousands.

At the center of the hall stood a table behind which sat a burly man with a well-developed chest—clearly a body cultivator.

“Greetings, sir. I come from Yufeng City in Qingzhou. At home, I have a gambling-addicted father and a seriously ill mother. I stand one seventy-eight tall, weigh one forty-six, enjoy foot massages at the Chunlai Pavilion, and once took first place in the ‘One Hundred Days of Demon Slaying’ contest held in the prison...”

The muscular man suddenly slammed his hand on the table. “Why don’t you start from the Creation of Heaven and Earth by the Lord of Xuan? Just give me your name and cultivation level.”

“Wang Ergou, Qi Refinement Complete.”

Wang Ergou?

A noisy murmur broke out among the crowd.

“Is that really Wang Ergou? I heard he single-handedly killed three demons at Qi Refinement Complete level.”

“Seems his strength has reached the verge of Foundation Establishment. He’s unquestionably the top among the menial disciples.”

At that moment, an untimely voice spoke up: “No, no, don’t forget Zhao Xing. He’s also here to register.”

“What?! Brother, are you referring to that heir of the Chrysanthemum Spear, whose strike arrives with a chilling gleam and whose spear moves like a dragon?”

“Of course. I just saw him! His meteor iron spear is long and thick, and he’s actually killed demons of the Foundation Establishment level.”

“This competition is going to be exciting.”

“By the way, Brother Cai Kun, aren’t you at Qi Refinement Level Six? Why just watch and not sign up?”

“Sign up for what? There are only ten promotion spots. The prison alone has at least eighteen hundred at Qi Refinement Level Nine. If I go up, I’ll just be a stepping stone. Unlike some who don’t know their place—I even saw some idiot at Level Three registering just now. Isn’t that laughable?”

...

“Next.” The burly man finished registering the last and continued calling out without looking up.

At that moment, a thin figure squeezed through the crowd.

“Ye Zihan, Qi Refinement Level Five.”

“Level Five?” The man looked up and asked, “Are you sure you want to register?”

Whenever menial disciples below Level Seven registered, he would ask a few more questions. Though the competition was open to all menial disciples in the prison, it was essentially designed for those few at Complete Qi Refinement level, just one step from Foundation Establishment.

The others were mere bystanders, going through the motions.

Level Seven could at least exchange a few moves without being utterly humiliated.

Level Five? Ha! That was just signing up for a beating with no benefit.

Hence, he kindly warned such “reckless youths.”

“Certain.” Ye Zihan replied coldly.

Some onlookers erupted in laughter.

“Hahaha, kid, don’t get your hopes up here. Even I at Level Nine don’t have the slightest chance at one of those formal jade foot spots. What makes you think you can at Level Five?”

“Kid, just wash your face and go to sleep—dreams can have anything.”

Facing their ridicule, Ye Zihan frowned. “Hmph! A bunch of useless people here just wasting time in the Demon Suppression Prison! Cultivation is about defying heaven and earth, fighting against demons and men alike. You don’t even have the courage to fight the strong, yet you mock others? You’re destined to remain mere menial disciples forever.”

There was some truth in his words, but not much.

If Ye Zihan were Level Nine, such words would be reasonable—Level Nine was close to Complete, with a real chance to win.

But he was only Level Five.

If he were out in the wild beyond the Celestial Sanctum and met a Complete Qi Refinement demon, even his bravado wouldn’t be enough to fill the gaps between the demon’s teeth.

Meanwhile, those mocking Ye Zihan were displeased by his arrogant speech. If not for the registrar’s presence, they would have surely attacked the boy.

Since they couldn’t fight, they resorted to verbal jabs.

A Level Seven cultivator stepped forward. “Heh, I call this self-awareness. At least it’s better than you going up there and embarrassing yourself. With your cultivation, why not take a good look at yourself first?”

Ye Zihan: “Already did. Pretty handsome!”

“Damn you!”

As the crowd grew agitated and Ye Zihan faced dozens of challengers alone, his teammate arrived.

*Clap, clap, clap.*

Liu Yiyun applauded and said, “My Zihan speaks well. If you lose courage just because the opponent is stronger, what kind of cultivation is that? The demons here are all more powerful than you—why are you still here? Go back to Chunlai Pavilion and lie on a woman’s belly.”

That voice shifted all the hostile gazes from Ye Zihan to Liu Yiyun.

Unfazed by the scrutinizing eyes, Liu Yiyun merely sneered, “Brother Zihan truly has great spirit. I admire him. I was hesitating about registering because of my low cultivation. After Brother Zihan’s inspiring words, I feel as if the clouds have parted to reveal the sun and moon. In that case, I’ll register to join the fun.”

“Liu Yiyun, Qi Refinement Level Seven.”

As for why he claimed Level Seven instead of Five—it didn’t matter. The competition was in three days; if he reached Level Seven by then, fine; if not, he’d forfeit.

Ye Zihan didn’t know Liu Yiyun, but seeing him as the only one defending him warmed his heart, giving him a feeling of kindred spirits met too late.

He cupped his hands and said, “Brother, your courage is commendable. I deeply admire it. We cultivators must have hearts unafraid of strong foes. No matter the opponent, one sword shall sever.”

“Good!”

“Well said!”

Ye Zihan’s passionate speech moved many to applause and cheers.

“Well said! I’m also Level Five and I’ll sign up. So what if my cultivation is low? I still have a heart to slay demons and eliminate evil.”

“I’m Level Three and I want to sign up! If you don’t want to be a formal jade foot cultivator, you’re no good as a menial disciple.”

“Me too! Level One and signing up!”