The so-called Grand Sect Competition was actually very simple. It was a competition jointly initiated by the Four Sects and Three Clans in the Fire Spirit Province.

The four sects referred to the Thousand Illusions Sect, Pine Sword Sect, Spirit Pearl Sect, and Twofold Mystery Sect.

They were the four most powerful sects in the Fire Spirit Province in the West Infinity World with half-step kings and countless disciples watching over the sect. The four sects were extremely well known in the Fire Spirit Province.

The three clans were the three major clans: Liu, Xiao and Wen.

In terms of foundations, the three great clans were inferior to the four great sects but they were still no doubt overlord-level forces in the Fire Spirit Province.

The Grand Sect Competition was initiated by the four sects and three clans as a training activity for the younger generation of cultivators.

The competition was held in Ziniu Mountain.

The duration was one month.

The training mission was very simple: hunt and kill the savage beasts in the mountains to obtain their spirits!

The ranking results from the training were determined by the number of beast spirits each disciple obtained.

The higher a disciple was ranked, the greater the rewards they would receive.

For the participants, the ranking not only determined their reward, but was also a kind of honor. It would help their reputation spread throughout the entire Fire Spirit Province!

Lin Xun understood the background of the training, but he was still a little puzzled by something. This was training for the younger generation of cultivators from the four sects and three clans of the Fire Spirit Province.

Xia Xiaochong was from the Star Dome Sect and did not belong to those seven major forces, so would she be participating in the competition?

“My master asked me to participate, so I came.” Xia Xiaochong looked just as confused as Lin Xun.

Lin Xun was speechless again, but he roughly guessed in his mind that Xia Xiaochong’s master must have pulled some strings to make Xia Xiaochong qualified to participate in the training.

If her master was capable of doing that, then he wouldn’t be an ordinary person.

“So that means you alone are representing the entire Star Dome Sect, and you are competing against the other seven major forces?” Lin Xun looked bewildered.

“Yes.” Xia Xiaochong nodded, finding nothing wrong with it.

“This girl is really so clueless,” Lin Xun sighed to himself.

Anyone could tell that Xia Xiaochong wouldn’t achieve good results in the training because she was by herself, and her cultivation level was only at the perfect Spirit Sea Stage.

Whereas, the disciples of the other seven major forces participated in groups, and many were stronger than her in terms of cultivation level. Xia Xiaochong had already started at a disadvantage in this competition.

“Master said that I only need to fill the mid-grade Spirit Accumulation Orb with spirit power before the training ends. I thought it would be easy, but who knew...who knew...” Xia Xiaochong looked down, clearly in low spirits.

𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

“It seems that her master also knew that this training is asking a lot from her, so he asked very little of her.”

Thinking of this, Lin Xun said aloud, “Isn’t there still ten days before the end of the training, I will help you.”

Unexpectedly, Xia Xiaochong shook her head. “My master said that I have to handle my own matters.”

Her response took Lin Xun aback at first. Then, he smiled, “Okay, I’ll just follow you then, is that okay?”

“Of course.” Xia Xiaochong raised her innocent face and gave a bright and pure smile.

Ziniu Mountain was primitive and vast, stretching for thousands of miles.

According to Xia Xiaochong, Ziniu Mountain was a spectacular treasured place, but too many fierce beasts and terrifying creatures resided in the mountain, so it had yet to be taken over by human forces.

The participants of the training had been repeatedly warned before they came to Ziniu Mountain that they were only allowed to hunt on the periphery of Ziniu Mountain.

This was because in the depths of Ziniu Mountain lay a true monster king, a being comparable to a half-step king in terms of strength.

“No wonder I didn’t see a single beast along the way. They must have all been slaughtered by the sects’ disciple participants...”

Only then did it dawn on Lin Xun. Along the way, he also noticed traces of battle, blood stains, and monster beast remains in the wilderness.

Lin Xun couldn’t help but say aloud, “If you continue to move forward like this, you won’t be able to kill any prey at all.”

“Huh?” A blank look crossed Xia Xiaochong’s pretty face.

“She is too clueless…” Lin Xun sighed softly. This little girl is really an optimist. She’s too carefree and pure-hearted.

“Let’s go, I will take you to hunt for beasts.” Lin Xun decided to lead the way.

“But how do you know that I won’t find any prey?” Xia Xiaochong asked curiously as she followed him with hurried footsteps.

“It’s very simple. Did you see the many beast corpse remains and blood stains on the path? They suggest that there are already many people taking action in front of us. If we continue to follow them, do you think we will be able to hunt and kill any beasts?” Lin Xun explained patiently.

“What you said makes a lot of sense. You’re so amazing!“ Xia Xiaochong’s big clear eyes glimmered with admiration.

Lin Xun smiled awkwardly. What’s so amazing about this? Any cultivator who pays attention to the road would have noticed that, isn’t that right?

Indeed, Xia Xiaochong was a clueless little girl who knew little about the world and likely had never experienced such a situation in the past.

While talking, Lin Xun quickened his pace.

Before long, a burst of battle sounds erupted from the steep mountain ahead and brilliant beams of treasure light frequently shot into the air. The battle seemed very intense.

A group of young men and women were activating their treasures to subdue three golden armored rhinos.

The golden armored rhinos were built like giant statues, and their bodies were fully covered in golden scales. As they charged forward, the mountains and boulders split with cracks, and the trees collapsed. Their strength was no weaker than Heaven Ascension cultivators.

“It’s them.”

Lin Xun instantly recognized the group of young men and women. They were disciples from the Spirit Pearl Sect, one of the four major sects in the Fire Spirit Province, whom he had run into before. The group was headed by a young man called Mo Feng, a talent of the Heaven Ascension Stage.

“Let’s go this way.”

Lin Xun suddenly decided to change their route. He planned to go around the area.

Roar!

However, something unexpected happened on the distant battlefield. A golden armored rhino charged out of the encirclement in a berserk rage and was heading in the direction of Lin Xun.

Almost at the same time, roars of shock and anger rang out. The Spirit Pearl Sect disciples followed the rhino and attacked with all their might to subdue the golden armored rhino.

Rumble—

All sorts of colorful light poured down from above like waterfalls.

Lin Xun narrowed his eyes, and a cold frown creased his brows. He and Xia Xiaochong were standing in the direction of the attacks.

They planned to avoid the area, but now it was impossible to dodge at all. The Spirit Pearl Sect disciples attacked without restraint, and their attacks were coming from all directions. How could they dodge them?

It would be fine if it was unintentional. But Lin Xun found that, to his displeasure, the Spirit Pearl Sect disciples had already noticed him and Xia Xiaochong, but they still chose to take action. He couldn’t tolerate that!

“Ah—”

Xia Xiaochong screamed, but her reaction was a beat slower than Lin Xun's. By the time she realized that something was wrong, a golden armored rhino was already roaring towards them with a violent and berserk aura.

Moreover, waves of attack were launched their way...

Swoosh!

In the end, Lin Xun decided to hold back. With lightning-like movements, he grabbed Xia Xiaochong’s arm, activated the Hornless Ice Dragon Step, and vanished from the spot.

Boom!

Meanwhile, under the skyful of attacks, the golden armored rhino failed to escape and died on the spot. Its huge body crashed to the ground less than a foot away from Lin Xun, blood streaming everywhere.

Shua!

At the same time, a Spirit Pearl Sect disciple darted over and brought out a pale blue Spirit Accumulation Orb. He swept his hand across the air and a pale blue arc of light gushed out from the orb.

A spirit was forcibly extracted and pulled out from the rhino's corpse and imprisoned in the orb.

“Hey, it’s the little thing of the Star Dome Sect again! Hahaha, look at your little face, it’s so pale! Have you not seen such a bloody scene before?”

The Spirit Pearl Sect disciple put away the Spirit Accumulation Orb and burst into mocking laughter.

Xia Xiaochong raised her head and stated aloud, “I’m not afraid.”

Lin Xun frowned. “Friend, don’t you think you should apologize to us?”

“Apologize?” The Spirit Pearl Sect disciple picked his ear. “Who the hell are you? Are you qualified to ask me to apologize?”

Meanwhile, the other two golden armored rhinos were also slaughtered, and their spirits were extracted. Mo Feng also came over with the other disciples.

“What is it?” Mo Feng asked.

“This guy actually said that he wants us to apologize to them. I wonder if there is something wrong with his head,” the Spirit Pearl Sect disciple chuckled.

“Apologize?“ Mo Feng raised his eyebrows, “Haha, friend you must have been mistaken. We are here to hunt savage beasts. We have never offended you, isn’t that right?”

“Does that mean you dare to do it, but not admit it?” Lin Xun asked calmly.

If he wasn’t around, even if Xia Xiaochong managed to avoid the golden armored rhino, she couldn’t evade the wave of attacks from the Spirit Pearl Sect disciples.

But those guys refused to even apologize or admit it!

“Haha, my friend, it seems that you have a lot of discontent with us.” Mo Feng’s eyes glinted coldly.

The other disciples also donned hostile expressions.

An unfamiliar-looking boy dared to talk to us in such a way. Does he not want to live anymore?

But Lin Xun said indifferently, “It’s not quite discontent, I just want an explanation. Since you don't want to apologize, then it’s okay. Xiaochong, let’s go.”

He dragged Xia Xiaochong and left.

His response was not what Mo Feng and others expected. Lin Xun acted so tough just now, but he suddenly cowered away.

“Hahaha, he looks strong, but he’s actually very weak on the inside! That kid was just bluffing. He’s so embarrassing!”

The Spirit Pearl Sect disciples burst into laughter, thinking that Lin Xun retreated in fear.

A female disciple shook her head in disappointment. “Unexpectedly, he looks extraordinary on the outside, but he turned out to be a coward. I might have respected him a little if he was a little tougher. That guy is as cowardly and useless as Xiaochong.”

“Trash like him is not worthy of our attention. Let’s continue with our operation.” Mo Feng shook his head with a smile. He was a little wary of Lin Xun at first because he couldn’t see through the depths of his cultivation, but he realized that he was overthinking when he saw Lin Xun suppress his anger and leave with Xia Xiaochong.

How would a youngster who hangs around Xia Xiaochong be someone extraordinary?