The Qingfeng Sect’s arena had a long and storied history. In addition to the main stage, there were eight other training grounds.

The main stage was constructed entirely from Tier Two Jade Stone and was fortified with a No-Fly Restriction and a Protection Array. Below the stage, there were several hundred seats for spectators.

As the arena’s Steward, Niuzhi’s job was usually quite relaxed.

A few Firework Daoists managed the training grounds; anyone who wanted to rent one simply had to pay the fee. His only duty was to inspect the main stage once a month and check the arrays for any damage.

But this morning, he was rushed off his feet, mainly because too many important figures—people he rarely saw—had arrived.

"Steward, another True Disciple and two Inner Sect Disciples have arrived. The front row is full... Should I show them to the second row?"

Niuzhi had just personally shown an Elder to a private room when one of his subordinate Firework Daoists came jogging over, asking breathlessly.

"Are you dense? Save those remaining seats in the front row. Don’t seat anyone else up there without my express permission! Put them in the back!"

Niuzhi was so stressed he felt like he was about to break out in blisters. He hadn’t anticipated so many important people showing up this morning, and the seating arrangements had gone awry.

’All I can do now is hope no more big shots arrive. I can’t have an Elder sitting behind a Steward.’

’Then I’ll have to rearrange everyone, and I’d bet some petty Steward would end up holding a grudge against me.’

"Niuzhi, what are you doing just standing there? Hurry up and find Elder Jin a seat with a good view. It wasn’t easy for us to rush back from the Market."

Speak of the devil. A familiar voice came from behind him—it was none other than Niuzhi’s former direct supervisor, Lang Zhongping.

"Greetings, Elder Jin. Greetings, Steward Lang."

Niuzhi turned around, groaning inwardly. ’Two more bigwigs I can’t afford to offend.’

"There’s still a private room upstairs. It has a commanding view, and you won’t be disturbed... Shall I take you there?"

"That will do. We’ll leave as soon as it’s over. We can’t be away from the Market for too long."

Elder Jin was a short, stout, and unremarkable-looking middle-aged man. He wore a loose Daoist Robe, and seven or eight pouches hung from his waist.

Niuzhi led the way, served them tea, and after exchanging a few pleasantries, tactfully excused himself from the private room.

"Steward Lang, do you have any idea what’s going on? So many big shots showed up out of nowhere. The Combat stage of the True Inheritance Trial has never drawn this large of a crowd!"

Lang Zhongping had walked out with Niuzhi, seeing his old subordinate from the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall off.

Niuzhi couldn’t help but complain. "Let me list them for you! Never mind that all the Inner Sect Disciples are here—we also have two True Disciples! There are over ten Stewards, and even five Elders from the different halls!"

"I remember last year, for Chen Wei’s trial, only one Elder from the Transmission Hall and one from the Law Enforcement Hall came to supervise."

"You... You’ve really gotten dull from staying in this place. What happened to that sharp mind you used to have?"

But Niuzhi was his old subordinate, after all. Lang Zhongping chided him out of disappointment, then began to explain.

"Last year, it was a foregone conclusion that Chen Wei would be the only one to become a True Disciple, so who would bother to watch? This year wasn’t supposed to be a big deal either, but who could have predicted that Junior Brother Bai would sign up now instead of waiting until next year?"

"What’s more, he broke the Sect Leader’s record on the second trial, the Heart Inquiry Path. That introduced some suspense into this year’s competition for the True Disciple position, so naturally, the Elders grew interested."

"I see. But since that White Inner Sect was able to break the Sect Leader’s record, shouldn’t the True Disciple position be his for the taking?"

"Temperament and combat power aren’t directly related. Xiong Baishan’s Companion Bear Beast is no pushover. Even Elder Jin said that Junior Brother Bai was too hasty. If he had waited until next year, the True Disciple position would have been guaranteed."

Lang Zhongping sighed. He certainly hoped Bai Zichen would win, otherwise his prior investment would all be for naught.

"You’d better be on your toes. We might even see some Elders at the Hall Master level arrive... And in the future, try not to be so focused on your own little plot of land. Get out and see more of the sect."

"Understood. Please, head back to the private room. I’ll have someone bring up a couple of plates of Spirit Fruit right away."

Niuzhi breathed a sigh of relief, already calculating which Steward he should go and greet.

’The Elders are too far above my station,’ he thought. ’It would be inappropriate to approach and disturb them uninvited.’

Suddenly, a commotion erupted at the entrance. Many people stopped in their tracks to offer greetings, and some even turned around to wait for the newcomers to pass.

The Hall Master of the Law Enforcement Hall, Liang Yu, and an Elder from the Transmission Hall, Pei Dongyong, arrived together, causing an uproar.

Niuzhi’s heart leaped, and he rushed forward to welcome them.

Many of the Inner Sect Disciples were whispering amongst themselves, unable to understand why a single True Inheritance Trial had attracted so many Elders.

Excluding those in seclusion and those guarding critical locations, nearly half of all the Elders in the Qingfeng Sect had come to the arena grounds.

When the appointed hour arrived, Elder Zhang of the Law Enforcement Hall flew into the air above the stage. He recited the rules and purpose of the True Inheritance Trial’s Combat stage, as was customary, announced the names of the two disciples who had reached this third trial, and then gracefully descended.

BOOM!

A black bear descended from the sky. As it landed, it unfurled to a height of over ten feet. Perched on its shoulder was a man—Xiong Baishan.

Xiong Baishan, Eighth-Layer Qi Refining!

Companion Spirit Beast: Silver-Striped Black Bear, Tier One Peak!

The man and the bear took their position in a corner of the stage. Accompanied by several roars, a murderous aura filled the entire arena.

On the other side of the stage, Bai Zichen ascended the steps slowly, a golden shortsword held casually in his hand, his expression composed.

"Senior Sister Chen, who do you think will win?"

Several female disciples were sitting together. With Chen Wei at their center, they watched the situation on the stage unfold.

"I can’t believe Senior Brother Bai reached this level of cultivation in just a few years. My own ancestor said that with his temperament, even if he doesn’t become a True Disciple, he’s guaranteed to reach Foundation Establishment as long as he doesn’t meet an untimely end!"

Tan Qin said eagerly, her gaze fixed on the two men on stage with a look of undisguised admiration.

"Bai Zichen is protected by a special Cultivation Technique. My Clear Spirit Eye Technique causes a painful backlash if I so much as glance at him; otherwise, I could give you a proper observation."

Zhao Yaqing resisted the urge to use her Pupil Technique. The last time, the backlash had left her eyes bloodshot, and it took almost half a month for them to recover. The experience had left a deep impression.

"I don’t know either... Mainly, at the Qi Refining Stage, having a Tier One Peak Spirit Beast is just too much of an advantage. And in a confined space like the arena, Xiong Baishan’s edge is even greater."

After thinking for a long moment, Chen Wei shook her head, though her tone still suggested she favored Xiong Baishan.

’After all, even Senior Brother Su Li had said the Silver-Striped Black Bear was incredibly difficult to deal with.’

While the crowd in the stands was buzzing with discussion, the barrier around the main stage fell into place, signaling the official start of the Combat trial.

"Junior Brother Bai, I know you have a bright future ahead of you, but this match is mine to win!"

Xiong Baishan ducked behind his Bear Beast and summoned an Iron Pagoda. Tossing it into the air, a spectral Treasure Pagoda instantly materialized and enveloped him.

At the same time, he waved his hand, sending several Talismans flying. Beneficial Magic like Divine Movement, Giant Power, and Iron Wall settled onto the Bear Beast.

He had barely finished when a Golden Sword Light swept in. The Silver-Striped Black Bear swiped with both paws to block it, but the Sword Light nimbly dodged between them and slammed viciously into the Three-Story Treasure Pagoda, creating a deafening crash.

"Thick Earth Shield, rise!"

Xiong Baishan’s heart pounded in his chest. A single sword strike had made his Three Treasures Exquisite Pagoda shake violently, and two cracks had already appeared on its spectral form.

This was the Three Treasures Exquisite Pagoda, a Top-Grade Defensive Magical Artifact that had cost him more than half of his entire fortune!

He had wracked his brains and decided on the simplest, most shameless tactic for this Combat: let his Companion Spirit Beast attack while he focused entirely on defense, casting Beneficial Magic and harassing Bai Zichen with ranged attacks.

To that end, he had prepared over a hundred Talismans.

But from the very beginning, he had been put on the back foot, making all his careful planning look like a joke.

Faced with the agile Sword Light, the Silver-Striped Black Bear seemed slow and clumsy, unable to even function as a proper meat shield. Meanwhile, the Defensive Magical Artifact in which he had placed so much hope was already on the verge of shattering under Bai Zichen’s relentless barrage of sword strikes.

"Big Black, go tear him to shreds!"

Xiong Baishan saw the Thick Earth Shields rising within his Treasure Pagoda get struck repeatedly in the exact same spot by the Golden Sword Light. They held for only a few breaths before collapsing, and a vicious glint appeared in his eyes.

As he sent the Silver-Striped Black Bear charging forward, he pressed both hands onto the Three Treasures Exquisite Pagoda and poured his Magical Power into it like a bursting dam. He had been forced to play his trump card early.