A moment later, he sighed, "Forget it, I'll give up competing with you. Consider it me repaying your life."
"What?" Mo Qi felt his mind couldn't keep up. He rapidly processed various thoughts in his head. After a moment, he said, "I'm not asking you to give up. I think you should pay me the treatment fee you owe me, and then we can compete fairly."
"That's asking me to give up!"
"No," Mo Qi was a little anxious. He suddenly realized he was being put on the defensive. It seemed some things couldn't be argued logically; the more you argued, the less reasonable you became. "Fine, I won't ask you for the treatment fee. I'll pretend I never came. I can't afford to offend you, alright?" With that, he turned to leave.
Suddenly, he saw Xue Ying standing at the edge of the cliff, gazing into the distance with a hint of melancholy in her eyes. He slowly walked up behind her. Xue Ying turned her head, forcing a smile onto her face, "How did it go? How much money did you get?"
Mo Qi shook his head, "I suddenly realized, how can a life be measured by spirit stones? When I saved you, it wasn't for money. It was simply because Heaven cherishes life. Now, to save someone, I cannot forget my original intention. If I demand any money from him, it would be demeaning your life."
An indescribable light gradually shone in Xue Ying's eyes, only to dim again. "But Miss Zhen Zhen she..."
Mo Qi said leisurely, "We can only see what fate has in store for her. However, overall, this is not a losing deal. Even if your father manages to gather eleven hundred million spirit stones in three days, and Zhen Zhen cannot be saved for now, your mother has a chance to be saved."
At this moment, Xue Renkui walked over, glanced at Mo Qi, and then said to Xue Ying, "Ying'er, come home with me."
"I... I will come back," Xue Ying said, looking deeply at Xue Renkui. "Firstly, although my body has recovered, the pain of these past ten years has left a shadow on my heart. I feel a special sense of security at Mo's Pharmacy. Secondly, at Mo's Pharmacy, I can relax completely and enter a state of selflessness, which greatly aids my cultivation. Therefore, I wish to stay there for a while longer."
Xue Renkui, who had been in a state of distress, knew he couldn't persuade her and didn't want to add to his troubles. Hearing this, he sighed, "Alright, take care of yourself." He then turned and left.
Mo Qi realized that Xue Ying had developed a dependence on him, which greatly pleased him. He hoped this dependence could continue forever.
"I won't bring Xiao Hong and Xiao Cui this time," Xue Ying said somewhat shyly. "Please trouble Shopkeeper Mo."
Mo Qi pondered for a moment and immediately understood. She hadn't learned the flying technique yet and needed his help.
"No problem, it's a small effort," Mo Qi nodded heartily. He walked in front of Xue Ying, turned his back, stooped down, and with a hook of his hand, lifted Xue Ying onto his back.
Xue Ying let out a soft cry. She had originally intended for him to lend her a hand, just to gently hold her, like Xiao Hong and Xiao Cui. She never expected him to carry her directly.
Xue Ying's face was flushed. Just as she was about to voice her true intention, Mo Qi leaped into the air. The whistling wind blew away the words Xue Ying was about to say.
Mo Qi carried Xue Ying on his back. She was as soft and boneless as a feather, so light that she felt like nothing on his back. Mo Qi suddenly felt that even without his help, Xue Ying might have been able to fly.
"Have you practiced the flying technique before?" Mo Qi asked.
Xue Ying said, "I know the mental cultivation method and incantations, but I haven't practiced yet."
Mo Qi said, "Why don't we start practicing now?"
"Now?" Xue Ying was startled and tightened her grip on Mo Qi's shoulder. "But I'm not ready yet, and it's so high up here."
"Don't worry. Just use the mental cultivation method and incantations. I'll handle the rest and protect you," Mo Qi said.
"But... let's forget it," Xue Ying said. "If I'm going to learn, I should proceed step by step, not rush."
Mo Qi smiled, "Do you not trust me, or do you not trust yourself?"
"It's not that I don't trust you, I'm just... scared!" Xue Ying said, her hands and feet trembling.
Mo Qi flipped his hand and held her in his arms. Xue Ying was so embarrassed that she looked away.
"Trust me. Take one step forward, and the world opens up," Mo Qi said.
"What? Ah..." Xue Ying let out a cry of surprise. Mo Qi had let go, and she found herself floating in the air, startled by herself.
Mo Qi was also dumbfounded. Xue Ying had floated up without any mental cultivation method, incantations, or divine abilities.
After a moment of screaming, Xue Ying calmed down. Then, she used the mental cultivation method and incantations to move forward. Her movements gradually became more skillful from the initial awkwardness, and her flying speed increased. Eventually, she darted through the air like a bolt of lightning.
Mo Qi was greatly astonished. He immediately unleashed his body and pursued her at extreme speed. However, Xue Ying in his sight instantly became a mere dot, and in another instant, she vanished. Mo Qi took a teleportation pill and continued to chase at high speed, but he couldn't find any trace of her.
It wasn't until he returned to the shop that he saw Xue Ying waiting at the entrance, looking expectant. Upon inquiry, he learned that Xue Ying had arrived a good quarter of an hour ago.
This was almost the speed of a teleportation array! Mo Qi was stunned.
"What kind of flying technique did you learn?" Mo Qi couldn't help but ask.
Xue Ying also seemed puzzled, "I'm just learning the ordinary flying technique that everyone in the Zhenghe Sect learns."
Mo Qi found it even more incredible. He had witnessed the flying techniques of the Zhenghe Sect before, and there was nothing special about them. So why was she so exceptional?
Unable to figure it out after much thought, Mo Qi couldn't help but look at Xue Ying with newfound respect. First, she had broken Shui Ling's invincible divine ability, and then her nearly ghostly flying technique. There were simply too many miracles surrounding her. He couldn't help but wonder if, having endured pain and torment that ordinary people couldn't bear, it meant she was destined to possess abilities that ordinary people lacked. The teacher had once said that when Heaven is about to bestow a great responsibility upon a person, it will first test their resolve and strain their body...
At this moment, Xue Ying was also looking at Mo Qi. After a moment, she said gratefully, "Thank you. Since meeting you, I've experienced one surprise after another. It's as if I've been reborn. My days are no longer as bitter and difficult as before; every day is filled with joy and contentment. The primary reason I don't wish to stay longer in Yuxia Mountain is that my painful memories are still there. Secondly, I also hope this good fortune can continue."
"Of course," Mo Qi smiled. "Good fortune can continue, but you must stay with me."
Xue Ying's face instantly turned rosy. She turned and went into the house.
Mo Qi watched her retreating figure and chuckled foolishly.
Three days later, Mo Qi, carrying spirit stones in his storage bag, went to the Immortal Cultivation Association's auction house. Fortunately, Xue Renkui did not show up. It seemed he hadn't managed to gather the eleven hundred million spirit stones in the end. Mo Qi obtained the Nine Life Grass as he wished. However, since he still lacked important ingredients like Netherworld Water, he could only put the Nine Life Grass and its box into his storage bag.
To obtain Netherworld Water, one must enter the underworld. To enter the underworld, one must have a cultivation level of Tribulation Crossing or above, otherwise, the malevolent aura would surely tear one's skin and flesh apart, leaving only the soul to directly fall into reincarnation.
Mo Qi currently had eighty percent Golden Body protection, which he estimated would offer some resistance to the malevolent aura. However, he dared not test it lightly. There was a high chance he would go and never return. It was better to be cautious.
Therefore, the current task was to first improve his cultivation. Mo Qi spent his days refining pills and cultivating. Besides cultivating, he ate and slept.
Several months passed like this.
In the Zhenghe Sect, the Sect Master Xue Renkui and the Grand Elders, along with the peak masters of each peak, were discussing a major event.
Every ten years, all the cultivation sects in the Northern Territory would hold a ranking competition among their disciples. The number of individuals from each sect who entered the top ten would determine the number of disciples each sect could recommend to the Heavenly Steps Academy annually for the next ten years.
The Heavenly Steps Academy was a cultivation institution in the Qionglu Realm, specifically for training potential heavenly gods.
Below the South Heaven Gate were seven tiers, each with a Lord, a Hall Master, and stationed guards. The Lords and Hall Masters of each tier were produced from the Heavenly Steps Academy, while excellent disciples recommended by other sects could only serve as stationed guards.
The Hall Masters and Lords of each tier had the greatest opportunity to approach the celestial realm and were most likely to be observed and inspected by the celestial realm, thus further becoming heavenly gods.
Based on past experience, the four major sects of the Northern Territory could each have two to three disciples enter the top ten, meaning each sect would receive two to three slots. The remaining smaller sects combined would be fortunate to get even one slot.
The composition of the participants was as follows: each of the four major sects could send twenty disciples to compete, while all other smaller sects combined could send twenty disciples.
A total of one hundred participants. Each participant would randomly draw twenty opponents and engage in twenty matches to accumulate points. The top ten would be determined by their scores from highest to lowest.
Among the top ten, those with identical scores would have to compete further to determine their rankings.
The final rankings would also represent the recommendation order of each sect. The Heavenly Steps Academy accepted recommendations from each sect starting from the Qionglu Realm, followed by the Northern Territory.
If, in a particular year, the Qionglu Realm recommended a larger number of individuals, it might be the Northern Territory's turn, or even if it was their turn, the slots would be limited.
In such a situation, the recommendation order became extremely important.
Therefore, each sect not only had to strive for a spot in the top ten but also for a higher ranking within the top ten.
Every increase in ranking was a matter of life and death.
At this point, the peak masters of the Zhenghe Sect were arguing heatedly, with veins bulging and saliva flying. One said to let Zhang San from their peak participate, while another insisted on letting Wang Mazi participate. They were fighting fiercely.
Some also suggested holding an internal sect competition to select the participants.
However, Cui Xin believed that the sect had recently held an internal competition, so it was not advisable to hold another one. Participants could be recommended based on the results of that previous competition.
It was at this moment that Xue Renkui suddenly thought of Mo Qi.
He thought of Mo Qi because he missed Xue Ying.
What was going on with this daughter of his?
Finally, he didn't have to worry about her health, but now he had to worry about her thoughts.
What was she thinking? He had only saved her life, and she was so moved that she wanted to pledge herself to him?
Her thoughts were too strange, but to correct these strange thoughts of hers, he would probably have to get her back first.
To get her back, he would have to bring Mo Qi into the sect, perhaps as an outer disciple.
Perhaps the current situation was an opportunity. If he could achieve good results in the competition, becoming an outer disciple would be a natural progression. Even if he couldn't achieve good results, he could at least make a name for himself, leaving an impression in the minds of the peak masters and elders, and then proceed step by step.
"I think Mo Qi, who came to our sect from the Nine God Realm to gain experience, is good. He can be recommended to participate in the competition," Xue Renkui said with his eyes closed.
Silence fell upon the room, absolute and profound.
Yang Qiaozhi, the peak master of Zixia Peak, immediately said, "I also think this Mo Qi is good. He is handsome and elegant, with an extraordinary demeanor, peerless divine abilities, boundless magical power, and is transcendent. He is indeed a talent."
However, in his heart, he was thinking, who the hell is this guy?
The other peak masters and elders also chimed in, saying that Mo Qi arrived on auspicious clouds from the Nine God Realm, possessed extraordinary talent, had excellent roots, had wings, a halo above his head, and an immeasurable future.
Thus, Mo Qi was forcefully added to the list of competition participants. The other participants were the nineteen individuals ranked higher in the previous sect competition.
And the twentieth person, silently and without a trace, lost an opportunity.
There were too many matches in the ranking competition, requiring fifty matches to be held simultaneously. Each person had to fight five matches per day. The first stage of the competition lasted four days.
The second stage, to determine the top ten, would last one day, for a total of five days.