Jiang She had taken the day off, she had trained the first three layers of the Sure Kill Formula to perfection, anymore harsh training would be detrimental rather than helpful.

She had intended to take the day off and relax but was unfortunate enough to come across Zhou Xia.

"I know you'll be worried about me participating in the competition." He pretentiously proclaimed. "But worry not junior sister I am different now, stronger than before."

"I think I liked him better before he lost his mind." She thought inwardly.

"I vaguely remember you calling him a village idiot?" Her master replied.

"He's still an idiot, just even more insufferable than before."

Somewhere along the line it appeared that the idiot came to the conclusion that Jiang She actually cared about him, so he had pestered her constantly to the point where she even regretted being chosen as the poor unfortunate to bury him.

She would've just cremated him if she knew beforehand how much of an idiot he would become.

"I've heard that this years competition will be different." Zhou Xia muttered gravely. "At least according to Falcon Elder's words."

"Really? How so?" Jiang She's curiosity was roused. After suddenly realizing his innate talent Zhou Xia became acquainted with many of the outer court elders. Naturally that meant he was privy to information unknown to common outer court disciples like her.

"Apparently this year's outer court competition will be held in the sect patriarch's immortal grade treasure."

"The sect patriarch's immortal treasure?"

"When a heavenly graded treasure ascends and becomes immortal it becomes more than just stronger, they develop their own domain and consciousness." He explained. "It looks like the outer court disciples will be brawling in the patriarch's miniature world."

"However worry not junior sister, in this life I, Zhou Xia cannot be held down by anyone!"

"I really should get going, we'll talk later junior brother."

Jiang She strategically made her leave before he started ranting. If Zhou Xia was indeed telling the truth, all the preparation she had done for this year's competition would be for naught.

With only one day before the tournament she couldn't possibly prepare for a free for all with a thousand other disciples.

"Master? What do we do? We didn't train for this!"

"Keep calm!" Her master barked. "Is the inheritor of my sect really stressing over a mere outer court competition? Win or lose, we have bigger ambitions than this small competition!"

"But the fruit-

"Forget about the fruit! So what if you get your meridians fixed? Do you intend to cultivate your way to immortality through fruits and pills? The cultivators most important strength isn't powerful tools or rare fruits, it's their state of mind! When you falter even once on your path as a cultivator than you've already lost!"

"Yes master!"

"Good now worry! Believe in your training! Schemes and ploys will only get you so far, it's your cultivator's heart that truly matters!"

Rather than scheme or come up with clever ploys Jiang She dedicated the rest of her day to shopping. She had two years of spirit stones accumulated and spent the majority of them on Mortal Grade protection talismans and even bought managed to snag a Mid Tier Mortal Grade tool, the Sky Shattering Crossbow.

Unable to cultivate because of her shattered meridians she had focused on tempering her body and movement techniques, coupled with the plentiful protection talismans she was sure certain that she wouldn't lose out to even the top outer sect disciples.

Thousands of Li away was an Old Daoist mediating by a decrepit, old shack in Red River Hill.

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"Old Daoist, still cultivating? I thought your Dantian was destroyed?" A mocking, derisive voiced sneered. It belonged to a tall, handsome youth in white robes.

"Sentinel Iken, you have no business here in the lower worlds. Does your master know you're here?"

The Old Daoist sighed and calmly rose to his feet while dusting off his pants.

"Where's the girl Old Daoist?"

"I believe that's none of your business either."

"Lord Qi is dead. We've exterminated the Qi family." Iken said, grinning from ear to ear. "I just thought I'd do the girl a favor and send her off to see the rest of her family!"

"Lies..." The Old Daoist muttered. "Have you come to bully an old man? Tell me why you're really here."

"You see... After we slaughtered the Qin family and the rest of the heavenly clans we assumed that the complete ownership of the heavenly realm would've been ours to claim. What we didn't count on was a single rat managing to slip away. So naturally, I, Iken, Herald of Chains was sent down to this inferior world in order to take her head!"

"Is that so." The Old Daoist reached for the sword by his side. "And you've told me all this because-

"Because you're going to die here today. I might consider letting your soul pass on peacefully if you tell me where the girl is." Iken derisively mocked. "Not that it matters, once I refine your soul all your memories will be mine anyway."

"She's dead. I smothered her to death as an infant."

"Lies! Lies can't fool us you doddering old fool, you should know by know. Any last questions before I refine your soul?"

"How... how did Lord Qin perish?"

"He died pitifully and brutally. It was quite the sight, an immortal being begging for his life. I almost even felt pity for the old man-

"That's enough." The Old Daoist began absorbing Qi from the atmosphere. A vortex of Qi circled around him.

"So you still have some fight left in you? Its pointless to fight." Iken muttered, his grin fading. "Very well. This won't take but a second."

Chains erupted from the ground and gored the Old Daoist through all sides. The old man fell to his knees, his white robes stained in red.

"I told you it was pointless." Iken lazily shuffled towards the Old Daoist. "Now be a good boy and tell-

"Fine. I'll tell you." The Old Daoist said, his face wincing from pain.

"Good boy!" Iken exclaimed, retracting his chains. "Where is she!"

"Die!" The Old Daoist roared, as he leaped from the ground and slashed at Iken's head.

"Futile!" Iken raised out his arm, an ethereal shield materializing in front of him. "Useless! My shield has no blind-spot!"

The Old Daoist leaped into the air, bringing his sword down on Iken.

"Bastard!" The Old Daoist vaulted over Iken's shield and severed Iken's arm.

The Old Daoist didn't stop at the arm, and thrust his sword into Iken's heart.

"If a little pain is all it takes to defeat a warrior like you..." Iken grabbed the blade with his good hand, and kicked the Old Daoist away. "The I'll bear it!"

The Old Daoist was blown away by the kick and crashed through the walls of the shack. He struggled to his feet, undeterred from his wounds.

He rushed towards Iken, his Qi circulating throughout his shattered meridians.

"This ends now!" Iken roared, chains erupted from the ground in rapid succession.

"Yes... This ends now." The Old Daoist roared, dodging the chains until he finally made his way to the Herald of Chains.

A white, radiant spear materialized in Iken's hand, he lunged forward, his spear pointed at the Old Daoist.

The Old Daoist not losing in aggressiveness, didn't stop. His fist hurtled pass halberd and toward Iken's face, stopping just short of his face.

The Old Daoist's fist had lost to the spear.

Even Iken was astonished by the old mans tenacity. He had not stopped his charge, not even after being pierced through his chest.

And so the Old Daoist, former heavenly general of the Qin family, passed away on Red River Hill.