''Hah...! Hah...! Ugh...!''

'Too intense!'

Bai Qing screamed in her heart. She didn't know Kierra would be this harsh on personal training!

After just a mere hour, Bai Qing was on her knees, too exhausted to stand properly. It didn't help that she even trained with Yu Chen before this.

''Hm...''

Meanwhile, Kierra herself was pondering. Based on the descriptions Bai Qing provided, the opponents in this tournament were largely on the same level as Bai Qing, with some ahead of her by one or two steps.

The tournament was right around the corner. There was virtually no time to train Bai Qing as a wizard to that level, so the solution was obviously to combine both mana and qi utilization.

''Well, sit up, disciple,'' Kierra said. ''I will give you a five-minute rest. In the meantime, watch.''

Bai Qing did as Kierra said. She looked at the archwizard, who was tapping her lower lip with the back of her thumb—Kierra's habit when she was thinking.

'''' ... ''''

Time seemed to have slowed down as Bai Qing was drawn to Kierra's lips because of that particular gesture. Bai Qing learned from her beautician friend that it was quite hard to put such a thick layer of lipstick on someone and still make them look naturally beautiful. The more Bai Qing stared, the more she thought—

Cut the crap! Her friend must have been a scam beautician!

(╯｀□′)╯~╧╧

Just look at this divine beauty!

The thick red layer of lipstick matched Kierra's eyes perfectly, and all of them created a beautiful disharmony with her snow-white skin. Not to mention her absolutely exquisite facial features... Even the Jade Beauty would feel insecure in front of this woman!

''What is your root type?''

''Ah?''

Kierra's question snapped Bai Qing back to reality.

''Root type.''

''It's lightning, Ki- Master.''

''And your magic element was water, hm,'' Kierra said. ''A decent combination, I suppose.''

''Um... by any chance, you want me to combine them?''

''Why not? I can do it.''

Kierra spread out her palm. In a smooth motion, tiny zaps of lightning appeared on the left, and a simple orb of water appeared on the right. The former was made using qi, while the latter was mana-made.

Following that, Kierra mashed the two together, creating a lightning current. It looked significantly more formidable than usual.

''The main problem to solve is, again, efficiency. Stand up, disciple. I will personally guide you through it.''

As Bai Qing slowly rose to her feet, Kierra walked over to the side of her disciple.

''First, conjure lightning with qi.''

''Yes... is this enough—ah?''

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

Kierra suddenly grabbed Bai Qing's wrist. The cold touch from her slender hand startled the martial sister.

''Focus.'' Kierra said. ''I will guide mana through your wrist. Stabilize your lightning.''

''Y-Yes.''

With a rather nervous heart, Bai Qing continued to receive Kierra's guidance until late into the night.

Somewhere far from the Yunluo mountain range.

''Put the box over there!''

''Yes, manager!''

''Who is in charge of the cleaning?! Don't you see dust piling up all over the place??''

''Sorry, manager! It was me!''

''Get the hell to work!''

''Yes!!''

The arena was filled with workers renovating the place to prepare for the next Sprout Tournament. This tournament was held by the Immortal League, an alliance of immortal sects in the Central Divine Realm, with the purpose of creating friendly competitions between their sect's young talents.

As years passed, however, this event had become more than just that. It was now the place for major sects to assert their dominance by showcasing their best talents. Furthermore, all of the top sects were confirmed to participate in this event, so the competition was fierce.

Every year, General Manager Sang of the Immortal League was always stressed during this time. His job was to present the event most spectacularly, mainly to impress the big shots from the top sects who would inevitably come to watch.

Last year, he got scolded by one such bigshot because the tea was slightly cold!

(╬￣皿￣)＝○

You bitch! You said you were a master of hell flame or whatever, and you couldn't even heat a teacup?!

Ridiculous.

''Alas.''

General Manager Sang sighed and looked up at the starry sky. He just hoped this year would be peaceful.

Two days quickly passed, and it was time for the competition to start officially. Well, at least the reception of it. A lot of the major sects wanted to be the main character of the show, so they would purposely come late to steal all the attention. Once a lot of people started doing it, they looked like a bunch of idiots who forgot the time rather than the main characters, but no one dared to say anything, so they just kept doing it regardless.

Over the years, general manager Sang had come to like smaller sects more. They were more honest, down-to-earth, and overall friendlier than most. He especially adored the White Lotus Sect. Obedient disciples, peaceful masters. If he could practice their cultivation method, he would have switched sects a long time ago!

While checking in people, he wished for the White Lotus Sect to do well this year.

'I wonder when they would come. Normally, they come the earliest, but now...'

''Woah!''

''Is that the real deal??''

''Why are they this early this year?''

Suddenly, general manager Sang heard murmurs coming from the people in the reception room. When he looked in the direction that the people were staring at, he saw a bunch of bald heads. It was the monks of the Shaolin Temple - One of the top sects.

''Excuse me, could this humble disciple ask for a place for us to stay?''

A polite monk asked.

General manager Sang was a bit surprised. ''Oh, of course. Of course.''

After checking the monks in, he was once again spooked. This time, it was the Emei Sect.

''Can I have a check-in?''

A cold beauty asked. She was the master of a competitor, as well as the abbess at the same time.

''Of course, of course...''

What the hell was wrong with these people this time...? Did they finally snap out of the main character syndrome?

''Hm?''

Continuing the streak, Wudang Sect came right after. Then, Kunlun Sect, the Tang clan, and even Mount Hua were there!

All of the top six clans came early!

'What a day.'

General manager Sang sighed.

By night, almost everyone was present, but he noticed the White Lotus Sect was nowhere to be seen. Usually, Yu Chen the Phantom Sword should have been here with her disciples, but...

Night turned day, and today was the first day of the tournament.

The arena was filled with people chatting loudly, some making bets on who would win, some predicting who would lose first, and some just relaxing in their seats. On top of the regular audience seats was a private observation room reserved for sect leaders or elders who came to watch.

Tension filled the observation room.

The smaller sects' people were reluctant to speak, fearing that they might ruin the mood of the bigshots sitting at the front. They just looked out the window down the arena blankly, waiting for it to start.

In the arena, General Manager Sang was restless. He didn't see the White Lotus Sect anywhere!

Did they forget the date...?

He paced around and paced around until one of the organizers came to tell him to start the show. He sighed.

'How unfortunate.'

''Ahem!''

So he infused qi into his speech, amplifying his cough to make sure everyone heard him. The whole arena quieted down.

''Welcome to the Sprout Tournament, fellow cultivators! Today, I bring you—''

————————!!!

General Manager Sang's sentence was cut by a sudden roar that seemed to shake heaven and earth. It sent chills to the people, although they didn't see anything yet.

''What is...''

''Holy...!!''

A shadow covered the arena. When everyone looked up, a fearsome dragon was flapping its huge wings, looking down at them menacingly.