After being reborn, all I want to do is run away.

Chapter 16 The Inside Story of the Grand Competition

In the evening, Wu Qi came to see Shen Xu again.

"Come on! I'll treat you to dinner today," Wu Qi said generously.

The outer sect of the Green Bamboo Sword Sect has a special dining hall for its disciples, which is unlimited and free. However, most of the food provided is ordinary food. If you want to eat something better, such as food rich in vital energy, you have to pay a certain price, and that price is Qi-Nourishing Pills.

Following Wu Qi to the second floor of the cafeteria, Shen Xu curiously looked around at everything on the second floor, because he had never been here before, neither in his past life nor in this life.

After all, he had heard that the cost of living here was exceptionally high. He had used all his Qi-Nourishing Pills to improve his cultivation, so how could he have the opportunity to waste them on culinary desires?

However, it's different when someone is treating him; he can take the opportunity to see what's sold on the second floor.

"210, this is it." Wu Qi pushed open the door and entered, and a beautifully decorated private room came into Shen Xu's view.

"This will probably cost a lot of Qi-Nourishing Pills. Are you that rich, Wu Qi?" Shen Xu asked curiously.

"I don't have any money. It's all from my savings. Besides, you're much richer than me. Five hundred Qi-Nourishing Pills! Mo Shan has really lost out this time, haha..."

"It's just a fluke!"

"Why are you being modest between us? Tell me how it felt to defeat Mo Shan in front of so many people? I've fantasized about this since I was a child, but unfortunately, I'm not strong enough, so I've never been able to do it." Wu Qi's face showed a look of longing.

"It's alright! Mo Shan just broke through to the seventh level of Qi Nourishing Realm and was unstable, and his mentality was not good, so I seized the opportunity."

"That's still impressive. Even the worst Qi Cultivation Level 7 is still Qi Cultivation Level 7, which is a difference of two minor realms! Last time I said that the difference in realms couldn't be made up for by the difference in swordsmanship, but only a few days have passed and you've already proven me wrong." Wu Qi's tone couldn't help but feel a little wistful.

"Actually, what you said is not wrong. No matter how superb my swordsmanship is, I cannot defeat an enemy who is a whole realm higher than me. Only cultivation is the foundation of great strength."

"That's really rare! Shen Xu, even after defeating Mo Shan, you still have a clear understanding of yourself and haven't been blinded by this short-term victory."

"We'll talk about the rest later. Take a look and see what you'd like to eat. After all, the main purpose of this trip was to treat you to a meal." Wu Qi handed the menu to Shen Xu.

“I’ve never been here before and I don’t know much about the dishes, so it would be better if you came.” Shen Xu handed the menu back to Wu Qi.

"Alright! I know there are some really good dishes here, you must try them."

After all the dishes were served, Wu Qi said while eating, "Shen Xu, do you know that your name has spread throughout the outer sect? You injured Shen Xian and defeated Mo Shan. It can be said that the focus of the entire outer sect is on you now. Many eyes are on you. You should be careful."

There are many things I didn't want to tell you before because you were too weak. But now that you have the strength to defeat Mo Shan, there are some things you will know sooner or later. So I might as well tell you now.

While the outer sect appears calm on the surface, a turbulent undercurrent is brewing beneath, and the root of all this lies in this year's outer sect competition.

"The outer sect competition?"

Shen Xu carefully recalled his memories of the outer sect competition from his previous life, but there didn't seem to be anything particularly special about it. He remembered that he returned to Cuiyun Mountain after being defeated by Shen Guangjian with a single sword strike, and he didn't even have an impression of who ultimately won first place.

"Shen Xu, do you know what the reward is for being the top disciple in the outer sect?"

"All I know is that the top three in the outer sect competition will receive different rewards, and they can also directly enter the inner sect."

"You're right. In the past, the rewards were mostly good pills and weapons, which were not lacking for those with strength, but for those who lacked the strength."

However, this year's rewards have changed. A year ago, the sect leader personally announced that he would prepare the rewards for the outer sect this year. As a result, many people who were originally capable of entering the inner sect have suppressed their strength and honed their skills in order to obtain the extraordinary reward prepared by the sect leader in the outer sect competition.

And your 'clan brother' is one of them. Even some of the elders' children want to compete for this reward, and they are all young geniuses who have already reached the seventh level. Don't you think this year's outer sect competition is worth watching?"

"So that's how it is!" Shen Xu never expected that the seemingly simple outer sect competition would hide such a secret.

"Wu Qi, why are you telling me all this?"

"Of course I'm reminding you. Mo Shan and Shen Guangjian are not on the same level. Moreover, you are currently enjoying great popularity, and some of them have already noticed you. I estimate that someone will soon invite you to join them. I suggest you do not choose to join either side. The inner sect is even more treacherous, with numerous factions. If you can avoid getting involved, then do not get involved," Wu Qi said with a serious expression.

"I thought you were planning to have me win first place!" Shen Xu said with a smile when he saw Wu Qi's serious face.

"What are you talking about? Although your progress these past few days has surprised me, and I believe you can achieve good results in the outer sect competition, you shouldn't even think about getting first place."

"You haven't seen them. If you did, even if you were at the same level, they would give you a very strong sense of oppression. It's a strange feeling, like you just know you can't beat them." Wu Qi scratched his head.

Shen Xu said with a smile, "I am definitely going to defeat Shen Guangjian. If Shen Guangjian has the strength to compete for first place, then don't I, who defeated Shen Guangjian, have the qualifications to compete for first place?"

"This..." Wu Qi was speechless.

“Shen Xu, you are the one who can go far on this path. You dare to compete for first place with only the fifth level of Qi Cultivation. On the contrary, I am clearly more powerful than you, but I don’t even have the courage to face them.” Wu Qi’s tone was somewhat dejected.

"Alright! I believe you. If you really win first place in this outer sect competition, you can order whatever you want here, and I won't even flinch." Wu Qi said solemnly.

"Haha, Wu Qi, you're going to go bankrupt."

"If that day ever comes, I'd be happy even if we went bankrupt." Wu Qi toasted Shen Xu with tea instead of wine.

Back in the cabin, Shen Xu thought about what Wu Qi had said. His strength was indeed two minor realms lower than Shen Guangjian's. If he wanted to win the duel without any suspense, he needed something that could decide the outcome with a single sword strike—the Dao.

The Great Dao created all things and endowed them with unique natural laws and inherent characteristics. If a cultivator can comprehend the true nature and meaning of a certain thing, he can obtain the unique ability bestowed by the Great Dao, and that ability is called the meaning of the Dao.

In his previous life, Shen Xu possessed a Daoist intent—the intent of blood.