The Grand Competition! The Deng Family's Conditions!

Yang Feng coughed and began to speak slowly.

"The Grand Competition is a contest organized by the newly admitted disciples of the twenty-five branches of the Dongxian Hall."

The top ten will receive ten Qi-Nourishing Pills per month, plus a Spiritual Abode, for a period of one year; the top twenty will receive ten pills per month; the top thirty will receive two pills per month; and the top performers will also receive numerous rewards such as magical artifacts and combat techniques.

Lu Yun quickly did some mental calculations.

Putting aside everything else, even just the top ten Qi-cultivating pills plus a year of spiritual cultivation would cost over two hundred spirit stones.

His Adam's apple bobbed.

"Why has no one ever mentioned such a good thing?"

Yang Feng gave a wry smile: "The top thirty spots have always been dominated by scions of powerful families. It's extremely rare for independent cultivators to even get close to them, so naturally no one mentions them."

"Compare what?"

"The competition is divided into one literary contest and one martial contest. The literary contest tempers one's spiritual talents, while the martial contest is a battle of magic."

Yang Feng looked at the light in Lu Yun's eyes and shook his head.

"Junior brother, I advise you not to get involved. Even among the scions of noble families, there is still a sense of restraint in fighting."

However, they never hold back against rogue cultivators; if one's foundation is damaged in the process, it would be a greater loss than gain.

Lu Yun didn't reply, but instead asked, "To enter the top ten, what level of literary skill is required? And what are the requirements for martial arts?"

Yang Feng remained silent for a moment, as if recalling some old memories he didn't want to touch.

"In the literary competition, ten training sessions are enough to secure a place in the top thirty; in the martial competition—"

He looked up at Lu Yun and said, "You need to master at least one complete battle technique, with the peak of the third level of Qi Refining as a foundation. To be in the top ten, you need to be at the mid-stage of Qi Refining."

"Thirty out of the top thirty have mastered combat techniques?" Lu Yun found it hard to believe.

"When scions of noble families enter the Hall of Immortals, that is when they truly rise to prominence."

The Earth Fire Chamber is staffed, the weapon-refining techniques are taught, and the combat methods have already been practiced before entering the main hall. Even if they haven't, the family will provide full support after they enter, and they will master them within a month.

Lu Yun remained silent for a moment.

When will the competition be held?

"A month and a half later."

One and a half months.

The nascent flame in Lu Yun's heart was doused with cold water.

He originally thought there would be at least a year and a half of buffer time.

"The assessment just ended, and the grand competition is only half a month later. That's too rushed."

"urgent?"

Yang Feng coughed and said calmly, "The Grand Competition is not for mediocre people. The sooner you pass the Purity and Impurity Test, the sooner you can start preparing."

Moreover, this competition was orchestrated from beginning to end by the five major families, and was tailor-made for their own people.

Lu Yun remained silent.

He was confident he could pass the tenth test.

But to master a battle technique in a month and a half, even if it's just the beginning, is too rushed.

Not to mention, scions of aristocratic families never hold back when facing rogue cultivators.

Given his limited abilities, if he were to rashly step onto the stage, it would likely play right into the hands of certain individuals.

Reaching the fourth level of Qi Refining is even more difficult.

Seeing Lu Yun remain silent, Yang Feng sighed.

He felt the same way back then, only hoping that Lu Yun would cheer up soon and stop harboring unrealistic fantasies.

"Come on, I'll show you around."

As the two passed through the Sixteen Halls, groups of gray-robed disciples lingered for a moment when their eyes fell on Lu Yun's unfamiliar face.

No one paid much attention; everyone was too busy with their own tasks.

The Earth Fire Chamber is located on the east side of the main hall. It consists of a row of dark red stone chambers with tightly closed doors and numbered plaques embedded in the lintels.

Lu Yun took out the token and paused for a moment in front of door number sixty-five.

The token was affixed with a restriction, and the patterns on the stone gate lit up for a moment before sliding open to both sides.

The interior is about 60 square meters, and it is excessively spacious.

In the center stands a fire pit, three meters in diameter, shaped like a stove, its surface covered with old marks from chiseling and carving.

Those are the marks left by years of forging spiritual materials.

There was a dark, bottomless cave entrance in the center of the platform.

Embedded on the side of the platform is a fist-sized crimson crystal core, warm to the touch, which is the control center of the earth fire.

Apart from that, there were only a few stone tables and chairs inside, nothing else of value.

"The Earth Fire Chamber is already occupied. Yang Feng has the Earth Fire Chamber. Who is the other one?"

After the two went inside, a disciple who had been keeping watch saw this, his expression changed, and he quickly left.

Yang Feng taught him how to control the ground fire step by step.

Driven by true energy, the crystal core caused a scorching wave to surge up from the cave entrance, illuminating the entire room with its firelight.

The flames were a deep red with a hint of gold, unlike any ordinary firewood.

The indoor temperature suddenly soared, but the array on the fire platform immediately lit up, and an invisible light curtain locked all the heat waves inside the platform, and the four walls returned to coolness.

"The underground fire wasn't used for nothing."

Yang Feng pointed to a scale next to the crystal core, "Record how much you use, and someone will come to check and verify the payment every month."

Lu Yun's lips twitched. Natural gas?

Yang Feng nodded: "That's all there is to using the Earth Fire Chamber. The rest is all about practice. I'm in room 32. Feel free to contact me anytime if you need anything."

"Thank you very much, Brother Yang. Once things settle down, I'll treat you to a spiritual feast." Lu Yun clasped his hands in thanks, his gratitude coming from the bottom of his heart.

Yang Feng waved his hand and turned to leave.

Lu Yun began to try circulating his true qi through the "Tai Xu Bai Lian Jue" to draw out the earth fire and envelop a piece of medium-grade purple gold that had already been refined.

Flames surged, and the spiritual materials within slowly changed color.

After several attempts, apart from removing some impurities and barely qualifying as a first-time refinement, the ore ingot remained unchanged.

The Immortal Hall does not accept materials refined to the first level.

Ten rounds of training are the threshold.

Lu Yun stared at the slightly glowing purple-gold ingot in his palm and remained silent for a moment.

The Earth Fire Chamber is there, but the Hundred Refinements Technique is still in its infancy.

It's like a chef entering the kitchen before he's even sharpened his knife.

"It's time to go to Chengfa Pavilion."

After Lu Yun finished his meditation and had eaten and drunk his fill, he made sure the earth fire had been extinguished before pushing open the door and going out.

As soon as the door opened, a group of people surrounded them.

The leader was a young man with a long face, wearing a gray robe embroidered with flame patterns. Behind him were four or five disciples with similar flame patterns, completely blocking the entrance.

"You're the new owner of this underground fire chamber?" The horse-faced youth spoke rapidly, like a machine gun.

Lu Yun closed the door behind him, his gaze sweeping over the group, his expression indifferent: "Who are you?"

"The Deng family, Deng Chen."

The horse-faced youth sized up Lu Yun. "We've been eyeing this underground fire chamber for a long time. Which channel did you use, brother? You got there without making a sound."

Lu Yun's eyebrows twitched slightly. The Deng family was one of the five Foundation Establishment families in the Qinglan Domain.

"Which way you go is none of your business."

Deng Chen's face darkened, and he didn't mince words: "I don't care whose connections they are."

But since they've taken the Earth Fire Chamber that my Deng family has their eye on, that's my concern. Rent it to us for ten hours a day, and we'll call it quits.

Ten hours, and a single earth fire chamber can only be used for a maximum of twelve hours a day.

If he rents out ten, Lu Yun will only have two hours left.

He became a tenant.

Lu Yun chuckled and started to walk away.

Deng Chen's voice caught up from behind, turning colder.

"Are you sure you don't want to cooperate with my Deng family? Even if the new disciples of the Earth Fire Chamber have to hand over at least three thousand catties of ten-refinement spiritual materials every month, you haven't even mastered the Hundred Refinement Technique yet, what are you going to use to pay?"

Lu Yun kept walking.

"Believe me or not, with just one word from me, no one in this Immortal Hall will dare to rent your Earth Fire Chamber."

If you can't meet your quota next month, no matter how powerful your connections are, you'll have to slink out of the house.

Lu Yun didn't even turn his head.

Deng Chen stood there, his face ashen.

He stared at the receding figure, his eyes so dark they seemed to drip water.

"Keep an eye on him."

He whispered to the people behind him, "No one is allowed to rent this underground fire chamber. I want to see what they'll use to pay for it a month from now."

The disciples behind him dispersed in response.