Chapter 55 - The Scum Is Brave

They were stunned! Their face immediately became pale. The other disciples already cowered in their seat. Even Lei Ling was trembling. They are like a frog in the bottom of the well. They rarely see walking corpses, and when they see them, they're just one or two.

Everyone was scared except Fei Yin, Cheng Sheng, Li Tian and Feng Mo who are calm. After all, they already have fought against walking corpses before.

Fan Wen waited for them to calm down before he continued. "The Righteous Sects' Alliance already ensured everyone's safety." He said. "There will be teleportation arrays installed for you to leave in case you will feel in danger or cannot proceed anymore. But, if you will use the teleportation array to escape, you are disqualified." He explained.

There was a long silence. Xie Lan spoke. "This is the reason why those who will join should be willing." He said.

Fan Wen nodded. "This is a life and death battle." He said. "However, in this stage, you have your fellow disciples with you and you can help each other." He told them.

The disciples' complexion finally turned better. Xie Lan then spoke. "In this Group Stage, only 20 people will be chosen to advance in the last stage - ." He looked at them. " – the Maze." He said.

"A maze?"

"I'm not good with it." the disciples reacted.

Fan Wen sighed and helplessly looked at Xie Lan. Xie Lan shook his head to him, then turned to the disciples. "So, who wants to take part with the competition?" Fan Wen finally asked.

Fei Yin, Li Tian, Feng Mo and Cheng Sheng raised their hand. It is to be expected. "When is the competition, shifu?" Cheng Sheng asked.

"In thirty days." Fan Wen answered.

"Where will it be held?" Li Tian asked.

Xie Lan looked at them. "Zhongyang." He answered. "In Zunjingde Sect." he said. The Zunjingde Sect is the hosts for the Intersect Competition. The Righteous Alliance is also located in Zhongyang, the heart of the continent, sometimes called as Zhongxin.

The previous Intersect Competition, which is 10 years ago, it was held in Shanliang and the host is none other than the Shanliangde Sect. The competition is very exciting since the surrounding is only peaks, mountains and the seemingly never-ending forest. The participants from the sects all over the continent are flying and circling the peaks riding on their flying sword. Some of them fell after hitting a wall. There were some who lost his way in the forest.

"I want to join." Lei Qing said. She's one of the two female disciples of the Xinfaxian Sect. She's between the low and mid-level of Golden Core Stage, on par with Li Tian and Feng Mo, but a step behind Fei Yin. She's proud, but not to the point of being arrogant.

"Jie?!" Lei Ling reacted, shocked. Lei Qing is his elder sister.

"I also want to join." You Rou said. She's the second female disciple. She's in low-level Golden Core Stage. She is soft-spoken and rarely acts spoiled. She's the only daughter of the You family – a wealthy family second to the Feng family.

"Shijie. Shimei." Li Tian reacted, shocked. Feng Mo gaped at them. They are the only female disciples of the sect. This will be the first time the Xinfaxian Sect will be joining the Intersect Competition. The two female disciples are very brave and not at all delicate.

Xie Lan nodded. "What test will you be taking?" he asked the two. He's referring to the preliminary stage.

"I will be taking the second test." Lei Qing said, referring to the martial arts test. Although the Xinfaxian Sect teaches alchemy, but looking at the complex operations, she chose the way of the sword instead. Surprisingly, she didn't lag behind her fellow disciples. Instead, she's the fourth place in the martial arts ranking of their sect. The first placer, of course, is Fei Yin. The second placer is the zealous Feng Mo and the third place is Cheng Sheng. Li Tian is the fifth placer.

"I will be taking the first test – Pill Refining." You Rou said. Women are all meticulous. Thus, in Pill Refining, You Rou would be the first had it not been for Cheng Sheng. Before, when Cheng Sheng's aptitude in cultivation is low, he shifted all his attention to martial arts and alchemy.

Surprisingly, their perfect da shixiong is just slightly above average in Pill Refining. Aside from practicing martial arts, his remaining time was spent cooking foods for Cheng Sheng. One can say, he perfected the taste of the meat bun Cheng Sheng likes.

On the other hand, Li Tian might be intelligent, but his hands are only good for writing. He is clumsy when it comes to the ingredients. Yes, he is also a fail in kitchen. There's nothing to say about Feng Mo in Pill Refining. He is a hopeless case in alchemy.

Xie Lan nodded, seemingly pleased. Meanwhile, Fan Wen smiled. "Wen, you've trained them very well." Xie Lan told Fan Wen.

Fan Wen blushed. He ignored Xie Lan and turned to the other disciples of their sect. "How about you?" he asked. Almost all of them are on the Foundation Establishment Stage. Some remaining are in the late stage of the Qi Condensation. They are those that joined the sect as of late. If Cheng Sheng didn't gain a golden core, he'd also still be in this stage.

Thinking this, Xie Lan and Fan Wen looked at each other, their face serious. They need to talk to Cheng Sheng about this later.

"Shifu…" the disciples called.

"We are already cannon fodders. We don't want to be cannon fodders who will die." They answered.

Xie Lan and Fan Wen's face was covered in dark lines. These words, only Cheng Sheng can teach them. They need to talk to Cheng Sheng now! Thus, Fan Wen dismissed the disciples after he confirmed the 7 people who'll be joining.

Bamboo Pavilion.

Cheng Sheng rubbed his head that Fan Wen hit after he scolded him. He looked at Fan Wen who started their meeting.

"This competition produces Nascent Soul Stage cultivators, making them qualified to be elders of the sect." Fan Wen said as he looked at the seven disciples before him. "So, why should those already members of the sect still had to compete?" he asked. "It is because the other sects can poach them." He looked at them. "From the moment you joined until this time, we haven't made you – our disciples, pledge your allegiance to the sect by taking an oath. It is because we do not deem you unqualified, rather, we want you to freely make your choices." He explained. "We do not want to force you to be a part of our sect forever, so you can still return to your ordinary life, or that be a free cultivator." He smiled. "If you want to join other sects, you can, too." He told them.

"Shifu. We don't want to." Lei Qing said, her face serious.

You Rou nodded. "I will forever be a Xinfaxian disciple." She said and bowed.

"M-me, too!" Lei Ling said. "I don't want to leave the Xinfaxian!" he said. After an internal struggle, he finally chose to join the competition. He will be taking the Talisman Making test. Surprisingly, like You Rou, he is only second to Cheng Sheng in this area.

Fan Wen smiled, proud of his students. "Your shifu and I had taught you everything that you know." Xie Lan spoke. "If you still have some questions, you can approach us, or your shixiongs." He said and looked at the four core disciples of their sect – Fei Yin, Li Tian, Feng Mo and Cheng Sheng. "Xiao Yin. You'll be in charge of them." He told Fei Yin.

Fei Yin nodded. "Yes, founder." he said and bowed.

Meanwhile, You Rou and Lei Ling immediately looked at Cheng Sheng, their gaze burning. "Asking Cheng-shixiong for pointers!" they said and bowed.

Cheng Sheng had an awkward look on his face. "Who told you to be an alchemy master?" Feng Mo laughed. Cheng Sheng's lip twitched and he smiled at You Rou and Lei Ling. His smile was forced.

"Since you three will be joining, too, your shifu and I will not hide this from you." Xie Lan said as he looked at Lei Qing, Lei Ling and You Rou. "Last time, we were attacked. It was the work of demonic cultivators." He said. "Now, in the Intersect Competition, be more careful. If you've reached the third stage, be more cautious. If an accident occurs, there has to be a strange corpse that will mix in." his face became more serious. "A demonic cultivator may appear. This always happens." He reminded them. "This will be your first time joining, so, be always careful and be mindful of your surroundings. Also, be vigilant." He told them.

"Yes, founder!" they said and bowed.

"Alright." Fan Wen said. "Since this will be your first time leaving Xinfaxian, we'll send you off next week so you can have time to roam around the Zhongyang before the competition starts." He said. It will take them fifteen days to reach the Zhongyang – their stops on their way included. "So, prepare yourself and the things you needed to bring. Clothes – "

"Wen." Xie Lan called, cutting off Fan Wen's nagging that's about to start.

"Alright." Fan Wen said, more nervous than the disciples. "Also, tell your parents where will you go next month, okay?"

"Yes!" they answered.

Fan Wen sighed. The first day is the opening of the competition. In the morning is the registration for those who wanted to join the competition. The sects have already been registered but their disciples still need to register themselves. Also, there are sects that are newly established for the past ten years – like the Xinfaxian Sect, who will be participating, thus the registration process.

Meanwhile, in the afternoon, the rules of the competition will be announced along with the other details. The second day will be the preliminary stage and will last for three days. A day of rest will then be given to the participants who will be advancing to the second stage, which will be the next day. The second stage will last for five days. After that, another day will be given to the winners, before the third stage starts the next day. The participants were given seven days and by the end of the seventh day, the corpses were counted. Another day will be given for them to rest before the last stage – the longest stage, starts. In the fourth stage, the participants were given ten days. By the eleventh day, the winners will be announced. The 30th day of the competition is for the participants' relaxation as well as for them to make preparations to go back. At night, a banquet will be held for them to socialize with each other.