Gently pushing aside the jade-like legs on him, Ye Chen got up and stretched zily.

  He then took out the entry token for the Five Elements Cave from his Storage Ring and examined it, feeling particurly cheerful.

  Finally, the day had arrived when Yao Xi would compete for the spot.

  He had paid a great price for this.

  When they met st week, the dress Yao Xi wore was tighter than her usual attire.

  When she knelt, it was really taut.

  It was as if the fabric was wrapping around jelly.

  Just looking at it made one wonder about the texture.

  Anyway, Ye Chen found it quite pleasing to the eye.

  After the lecture ended, the two of them chatted and wandered around as usual.

  Yao Xi's attitude towards him was closer than usual.

  The distance between them was even closer than before.

  Ye Chen could even smell that special fragrance on Yao Xi.

  Along the way, Yao Xi seemed downcast, talking about the difficulties of cultivation, how falling behind in one step meant falling behind in every step.

  She spoke of Li Xiaoyao's strength.

  She mentioned her ck of confidence.

  She talked about the importance of the Five Elements Cave for those at the ninth level of Qi Refining, hinting to Ye Chen that it might be better to enter the cave when his cultivation was higher for better results.

  Meanwhile, as they passed by Qingyun Workshop, Yao Xi expressed a desire to look at defensive Magic Artifacts to counter Li Xiaoyao.

  She finally took a liking to one, but clearly didn't have enough Spirit Stones, and just like before, she looked at it reluctantly, hinting for Ye Chen to quickly buy it and gift it to her.

  However, this time Ye Chen didn't fall for it.

  He acted as if he didn't understand Yao Xi's hint.

  He simply walked out with Yao Xi without mentioning the spot for the Five Elements Cave.

  In the end, he bid farewell to Yao Xi, who hid her disappointment.

  Of course, Ye Chen couldn't just give the spot to Yao Xi now.

  The Five Elements Cave could expand a cultivator's dantian, which was hugely beneficial during the Qi Refining stage.

  Ye Chen had to ensure that when he gave this gift, it would be a huge surprise and deliver a critical hit.

  Ye Chen had discovered that the more surprised the recipient, the higher the critical hit reward.

  So, Ye Chen pnned to give the spot to Yao Xi after she lost to Li Xiaoyao.

  At that moment, when Yao Xi found the spot she thought she lost, her emotions would be like a roller coaster.

  It would surely maximize the critical hit reward.

  That's why Ye Chen pretended not to understand Yao Xi's hints and didn't give her the top-grade defensive Magic Artifact.

  After all, if Yao Xi had the top-grade defensive Magic Artifact and unexpectedly defeated Li Xiaoyao to get the spot, Ye Chen would be the one left dumbfounded.

  If Yao Xi got the spot, who would Ye Chen give his spot to?

  He couldn't possibly use it himself, could he?

  That would be such a waste.

  So, Ye Chen would rather go a week without giving gifts, waste a reward opportunity, and earn fewer top-grade Spirit Stones.

  He absolutely couldn't let Yao Xi win.

  Yao Xi losing was in Ye Chen's best interest.

  Moreover, the more miserably Yao Xi lost, the happier Ye Chen would be.

  ...

  Ordinary disciples competed for the Five Elements Cave spot based on strength.

  The competition for the spot would begin at nine.

  Competitions within sects in the cultivation world were simple, with random draws and pairings.

  After one match, the winner advanced.

  There were a total of eight disciples.

  The first round would decide four winners.

  The second round would decide two.

  Then there would be the finals.

  So, if things went efficiently, the spot's ownership could be determined before noon.

  When Ye Chen arrived at the rge square, quite a few disciples had already gathered to watch the excitement.

  Upon seeing Ye Chen, they all whispered with knowing smiles.

  Everyone knew that this direct disciple, this "Lick Spirit," was surely here to cheer for the senior sister.

  However, the senior sister was likely no match for Senior Brother Li.

  No one expected that Ye Chen wasn't here to cheer for Yao Xi at all.

  On the contrary, Ye Chen was here to cheer for Yao Xi's opponent.

  ...

  The competition was about to begin.

  All the participating disciples had arrived.

  "Senior Brother Li is here. Senior Brother Li has ninth-grade Spiritual Roots, and his talent in swordsmanship is exceptional. Entering the Five Elements Cave this year, then winning the Foundation Establishment Pill in the sect's grand competition, breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage is almost certain."

  "Honestly, I think Senior Brother Li should be the direct disciple of Sword Peak."

  "Sister Yao is here too. She's so beautiful!"

  "Look, our direct disciple is indeed going over..."

  "A direct disciple so obsessed with a female cultivator, it's really embarrassing for us men."

  The crowd was buzzing with discussions.

  Among the registered disciples, only Li Xiaoyao and Yao Xi were at the ninth level of Qi Refining.

  The others were at the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining, considered just making up the numbers.

  So, the disciples were more focused on the two of them.

  Ye Chen approached Yao Xi and smiled, "I wish Sister Yao great success in overcoming strong opponents on stage!"

  Yao Xi also smiled, "Thank you, Junior Brother Ye. The competition is about to start, so I need to calm my mind and focus. I won't chat much with you!"

  Yao Xi's coldness made Ye Chen purse his lips inwardly.

  This one really turns her back on people quickly.

  When he was giving gifts before, she was so responsive and enthusiastic.

  But just because he didn't give a gift st week.

  She immediately needed to calm her mind and didn't want to chat much.

  Tsk tsk...

  Quick to change faces, huh?

  I want to see what expression you'll show when I bring out the spot ter.

  Ye Chen and Yao Xi were both being watched by those around them.

  Seeing Yao Xi's cold attitude, the surrounding disciples couldn't help but snicker.

  Being a "Lick Spirit" for so long, giving so many gifts, and still getting nothing in return.

  A "Lick Spirit" is destined to have nothing.

  And in the distance, Li Xiaoyao, with a Magic Sword on his back, appeared to be resting with his eyes closed but was actually silently observing Yao Xi.

  Originally, when he saw Ye Chen approach, he frowned slightly.

  But seeing Yao Xi's cold attitude, Li Xiaoyao couldn't help but smile.

  ...

  However, soon the scene quieted down.

  The elder and stewards from the Internal Affairs Hall arrived.

  The elder was none other than Elder Chen, who was there when Ye Chen first entered the mountain.

  He raised his hand and threw down an array disk, and in an instant, a ptform thirty meters long and wide rose on the open ground of the rge square.

  Then, eight tokens flew out from his sleeve, glowing with spiritual light, making it impossible to see what was written on them.

  "First, for the first round's first group opponents, you two each choose a token. The names on the two tokens will be the first group's opponents."

  "You two choose for the second group."

  "You two choose for the third group..."

  To ensure fairness, the elder let the eight participants draw lots themselves to assign the first group's opponents.

  When the first person chose a token and the spiritual light faded, the crowd gasped.

  The name on it was Li Xiaoyao.

  This made the other participants a bit nervous, fearing they would draw Li Xiaoyao in the first round.

  The second person nervously chose the second token.

  When the name appeared, the crowd's uproar grew louder.

  Because the name on the token was Yao Xi!

  Everyone thought Yao Xi and Li Xiaoyao were the most likely to get the spot.

  Although Li Xiaoyao was stronger, in a battle, anything could happen.

  Li Xiaoyao might exhaust himself too much in the early rounds or accidentally get injured, affecting his strength.

  Yao Xi might have a chance to win.

  But no one expected the two to face off in the first round.

  The other disciples were overjoyed; with two ninth-level Qi Refining participants cshing in the first round, didn't that give them a chance?

  Yao Xi herself looked a bit stiff.

  She clearly didn't expect to face Li Xiaoyao in the first round.

  The situation was very dangerous.

  And Ye Chen, known in the sect as the number one "Lick Spirit" for the senior sister, couldn't help but curl his lips into a smile as he watched Yao Xi fall into such a disadvantageous situation.

  Facing off in the first round was great.

  It reduced unexpected outcomes and saved his time.

  It was simply perfect.

  But Ye Chen quickly suppressed his smile, his expression turning slightly peculiar.

  In the eyes of the other disciples, this expression seemed to show he was heartbroken for the senior sister.

  It made everyone sigh.

  Ye Chen, this "Lick Spirit," truly liked the senior sister.

  CPDD