The Li family's treasure, yet Li Lin was completely unaware of it. It seemed like in his memory, the Li family never had any treasures. Could there be some secret involved? But now, he was unable to find an answer.
"Li Lin, the day after tomorrow is the Three Sects and Four Gates Conference. Let's see who performs better then." On the corridor, the figure of Qu Daojue appeared, his upright posture exuding confidence.
"Hehe, if you lose, you're buying me a drink," Li Lin said lightly.
"Alright, we won't return until we're drunk," Qu Daojue laughed.
"Can we not drink? It makes my head dizzy," Yun Hongling suddenly said.
"Haha..." Qu Daojue burst into laughter, "Didn't you drink quite enthusiastically last time?"
"Humph!" Hearing Li Lin and others laughing, Zhao Qingtian and Zhao Qinghai couldn't help but let out a cold snort softly.
Everyone entered the great hall, where there were dozens of chairs. At this moment, four elders and the sect master Yun Xiaotian, along with several guardians, were already present. Han Feng and Dong Pan were also among them, while the other disciples were not.
"Greetings to the Sect Master and the elders," everyone bowed.
"Please, take a seat," Yun Xiaotian said. As everyone was seated, Yun Xiaotian formed a hand seal, and immediately, an arc of light enveloped the great hall, setting up a prohibition.
"Alright, I've called everyone here to talk to the disciples participating in the Three Sects and Four Gates Conference," Yun Xiaotian said, his gaze fixed on everyone. "Yun Hongling, Zhao Qinghai, Han Feng, Qu Daojue, Li Lin, you five must give it your all. If our Yunyang Sect fails to enter the top three again, you all know the consequences, so you must try your hardest."
"The disciples understand," the five responded.
"Elder Yang, please explain the rules of the Three Sects and Four Gates Conference to them," Yun Xiaotian said to an elder by his side.
"Listen well, you five participating in the Three Sects and Four Gates Conference," Elder Yang said. "According to tradition, each of the Three Sects and Four Gates sends five participants, so there are thirty-five disciples in total. But that's not all." Elder Yang continued, "Traditionally, the conference is an affair of our Three Sects and Four Gates, but for a long time, it has been allowed for young disciples from other forces to participate, and many do each year."
"That's news to me," Li Lin raised an eyebrow, having never been told this before and thinking it was only for their own disciples.
"So, don't be careless. In the past, many disciples from other forces have achieved remarkable results," Elder Yang said.
Looking at the five disciples participating in the conference, Elder Yang continued, "With a significant number of participants, to ensure fairness, there are six days of competition. If no one is eliminated, there will be a match each day. Defeat your opponent to win; lose, and you're out. If any of you are defeated in the top five, it will cost our sect a set of Xuan-level martial techniques."
"A wager?" Li Lin couldn't help but ask.
"Indeed," Elder Yang smiled slightly. "Any disciple in the top five who loses will have to give up a scroll of Xuan-level beginner martial techniques to their opponent. If you're unlucky enough to lose to a Ling practitioner, our sect will lose a set of Xuan-level beginner spirit techniques. This is a tradition of the Three Sects and Four Gates Conference. Similarly, if you win, you can obtain a scroll of Xuan-level beginner martial techniques. Forces outside the Three Sects and Four Gates must also submit a scroll of Xuan-level beginner martial techniques to participate. If they lose, they lose the technique; if they win, they can also obtain a set of Xuan-level beginner martial techniques."
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"Hehe, Elder Yang, if we win these Xuan-level beginner martial techniques, do they belong to the sect or to us?" Li Lin suddenly laughed, now keenly interested. Xuan-level low-grade martial techniques were not cheap.
"They belong to you. The sect will not take the techniques you win. If you manage to enter the top five, you can win three sets of Xuan-level martial techniques. If you don't, you might even cause the sect to lose a set of Xuan-level low-grade martial techniques," Yun Xiaotian said, his gaze falling on Li Lin before continuing, "According to the rules of the Three Sects and Four Gates Conference, if any of you manage to get first place, you will receive a set of Xuan-level beginner martial techniques from each of the other six gates of the Three Sects and Four Gates, as well as three high-grade fifth-tier medicinal pills. That means, if any of you gets first place, you can obtain a total of ten sets of Xuan-level beginner martial techniques and eighteen high-grade fifth-tier medicinal pills."
"Ten sets of Xuan-level beginner martial techniques, plus eighteen high-grade fifth-tier medicinal pills." Li Lin was absolutely taken aback by this astonishing benefit. A single set of Xuan-level beginner martial techniques was already incredibly valuable, not to mention the fifth-tier high-grade medicinal pills, each worth tens of millions of gold coins. This was truly incredible.
"Sect Master, are there rewards for second and third places?" Li Lin asked.
"No, only the first place gets rewards. This is just an incentive for the disciples. Our Three Sects and Four Gates have another wager: if any sect fails to have disciples in the top three for five consecutive times, that sect must give each of the other six gates three sets of high-grade Xuan-level martial techniques and five seventh-tier medicinal pills each. Our Yunyang Sect has failed to place in the top three for the last four times," Yun Xiaotian said, his gaze on the five disciples participating in the conference.
Hearing Yun Xiaotian's words, the elders and guardians also showed solemn expressions. If Yunyang Sect lost, as elders and guardians, they would lose face.
"Getting first place would be a huge boon," Li Lin thought, considering the immense benefits of first place. However, he mused that achieving first place would not be easy, as he was currently only a first-level Martial General.
Li Lin thought to himself that if he had started practicing three years earlier, even two years, his strength would not be limited to a first-level Martial General. It was regrettable that he started late; the disciples of the Three Sects and Four Gates had been trained from a young age, and he had only been practicing for three years. Achieving first place would be extremely difficult.
"Alright, let me continue explaining the rules of the Three Sects and Four Gates Conference to you. It starts the day after tomorrow, so pay attention," Elder Yang said under Yun Xiaotian's signal. He explained that the conference lasts six days, with fifty to sixty participants expected, including those from the Three Sects and Four Gates as well as from other major forces. Some participants even come from ancient domains and Moyun City, with talents and strengths not inferior to theirs. Therefore, they must not be careless...
Under Elder Yang's explanation, Li Lin learned that the conference spans six days, with the first day featuring initial matchups. The number of participants would be reduced by half, leaving twenty to thirty people. The second day would continue with more matchups, reducing the number to around ten. The process would repeat on the third day, leaving fewer than ten participants. The fourth day would again feature matchups, narrowing it down to three finalists for the fifth day's competition. These three would be the top three of the conference.
During these four days, each participant would generally face one matchup, ensuring fairness. If there were multiple matches in one day, it would be unfair to those who had already competed and were facing fresh opponents.
The fifth day would determine two finalists through competition, with the winner on the sixth day claiming the first place. The first-place winner would receive a set of Xuan-level beginner martial techniques and five high-grade fifth-tier medicinal pills from each of the major gates.
After understanding these details, Yun Xiaotian once again emphasized the importance of this conference. The Yunyang Sect could not afford to lose again. Failing to place in the top three would not only cost them a significant amount of martial techniques and medicinal pills but also damage the sect's reputation, making them appear inferior to others.
An hour later, everyone dispersed, and the five participants in the Three Sects and Four Gates Conference were eager to compete. Winning even one match would net them a set of Xuan-level beginner martial techniques.
"Wushuang Sister, let's go out and have a look around. It's still early," Yun Hongling said, looking at the sky just after noon, eager to explore outside.
"Sure, I'd like to see how lively Tianjian City is," Li Wushuang's eyes lit up, excited about shopping, something many women enjoy.
"Hehe, little thief, you're coming with us," Yun Hongling said to Li Lin.
"I..." Li Lin frowned, "Do I have to go?"
Shopping with women was something Li Lin truly found uninteresting, considering it a tedious task.
"No way, you must come with me and Wushuang Sister," Yun Hongling insisted, grabbing Li Lin with one hand and Li Wushuang with the other, and they all headed out.