Chapter 10: The Great Competition of Servants

Although Suya and Gu Lieyang did not wager any material possessions in their bet, for the inner courtyard disciples, reputation often holds far greater importance than material wealth

Is there even a need to say it? Junior Brother Jiang must certainly hope to determine the outcome in the Trial Tower. The challenges in the Trial Tower are not observed by outsiders, so even if he loses, he won't have to suffer too much embarrassment

Amidst the laughter, a group of figures originally standing within a hundred meters at the mouth of the valley began to move. A large group of twenty to thirty people, led by a handsome young man, headed straight towards Jiang Shou.

The first level is guarded by a single-system first-tier puppet. Defeating the puppet allows one to ascend to the second level, which features a single-system second-tier puppet. The third and fourth levels follow this pattern.

It is precisely because everyone finds it laughable that they are even more astonished that Senior Sister Su from the inner sect would make an exception to allow Jiang Shou to join the sect

Just as Jiang Shou excitedly looked at the woman, her gaze suddenly crossed the crowd and, after a glance, she smiled lightly and nodded at Jiang Shou. It was then that Jiang Shou confirmed that she was indeed Senior Sister Su; otherwise, as an ordinary servant, it would be quite difficult for him to elicit a smile from an inner court disciple.

However, Gu Lieyang, who was walking a few meters away, lazily spoke up with a cold smile, "It seems that Senior Sister Su is even more anxious than I am. Do you really think this waste can surpass the candidate I have chosen? Ha, even if you want to admit defeat early, there is no need to be in such a hurry. Today, I have invited so many senior brothers to witness this, so take your time, no rush"

Where is that? I haven't made much progress this year

... ...

"What Senior Brother Gu said is true; Senior Sister Su is likely to miscalculate this time. Her judgment is truly poor!" As Gu Lieyang spoke, the tall young man standing beside him also smirked, casting a disdainful glance at Jiang Shou, as if he felt sullied by merely looking at him and quickly shifted his gaze away.

Just as Jiang Shou was standing quietly, Ye Lei was taken aback. What is going on? ... This kid's attitude ...

After a gaze of pity, Ye Lei said again, "You had better pray that it is the Trial Tower; otherwise, if it is a sparring match, I will cripple you in front of Senior Brother Gu!"

If it had not been for Su Ya two months ago, he would have already died at the feet of Gu Lie Yang, and he would not have been able to enter the Great Yuan Sect, nor would he have had the opportunity to approach the world filled with martial artists, which provided him the chance to seek a way to save his father

Under the cold and arrogant words, laughter and flattery echoed all around. However, Jiang Shou merely glanced at Ye Lei and stood silently in front of the mountain wall. The person before him was full of arrogance, clearly looking down on him, but Jiang Shou had no intention of arguing with him, as they would soon see whose strength was superior. Engaging in verbal sparring at this moment was truly pointless.

There is no need for excessive formalities; the competition for miscellaneous duties is more important. Please go in. Su Ya smiled faintly in response to Jiang Shou's greeting and waved her hand to indicate she was about to step forward.

For the vast majority of the miscellaneous workers, the normal annual salary is merely 10 low-grade spirit stones. Therefore, even though not everyone can achieve outstanding results, this grand competition remains the most prestigious event in the entire Miscellaneous Workers Valley

Then what is this contest if not a joke

As for the two or three dozen miscellaneous disciples standing beside Ye Lei, they merely stood quietly, as they were not qualified to step forward and greet him

In fact, no one knows how Jiang Shouwu's martial arts comprehension is. A person's cultivation aptitude and martial arts comprehension are not the same thing. However, in 90% of cases, if your cultivation aptitude is poor, your comprehension is unlikely to be much better. Therefore, considering Jiang Shou's well-known cultivation aptitude in Wangshan County, this kid's comprehension is probably also abysmally poor. As for the competition between Jiang Shou and Ye Lei, everyone truly just sees it as a joke.

Arriving early at Xueyi Valley, many servant disciples were scattered in pairs, standing in the snowy valley, engaged in excited conversations. As five to six hundred people gradually gathered in the valley, Jiang Shoucai, arriving with the morning light, also reached the valley's entrance. He glanced at the dispersed crowd ahead and proceeded inward along one side of the entrance.

"Junior Brother Jiang, good morning!" Ye Lei, who was at the forefront of the crowd, smiled brightly as he looked over. Although he was smiling, the expression was filled with a condescending pity. "Junior Brother Jiang, today we are to compete in front of Senior Brother Gu and Senior Sister Su. However, I still do not know whether we will determine the outcome in the Trial Tower or if we will spar directly in front of many senior brothers and sisters. Which one do you prefer?"

The Snowfall Peak includes a total of 697 miscellaneous workers, including Jiang Shou, among whom the most powerful are merely seven individuals at the fourth level of a single system. Additionally, there are around seventy to eighty at the third level of a single system, over two hundred at the second level of a single system, and more than three hundred at the first level of a single system. If one can achieve a top ten ranking in the grand competition, they will be qualified to serve as a miscellaneous affairs steward, with the opportunity for promotion to the outer sect after three consecutive years in office.

Senior Brother Gu!

The two young leaders on the far right also laughed, exchanging bewildered glances between Jiang Shou and Su Ya, their faces filled with a strange expression

What kind of talk is this? What do you mean by 'even if we lose'? That means we are definitely going to lose, alright? Do you really think someone with the surname Jiang can compare to Junior Brother Ye? This is just ridiculous!

Although puzzled, Ye Lei quickly set aside his concerns about Jiang Shou, for at that moment, the Servants' Valley suddenly fell silent, and hundreds of figures within the valley all turned their gazes toward the entrance.

In the past years, the miscellaneous servant competition was usually presided over by a few disciples from the outer court. However, this year, due to a gambling dispute, all five examiners who came down are disciples from the inner court. This is an exceptionally rare high standard for the entire Miscellaneous Servant Valley, which explains why Gu Lieyang and others are followed by a group of disciples who ranked in the top twenty among the miscellaneous servants last year

Ha, Junior Brother Ye is truly joking. Even if your cultivation levels are comparable, the two of you are simply not on the same level. Your martial arts comprehension is likely to surpass that of the entire Outer Disciples Valley. What kind of comprehension does Jiang Shou possess

Without saying anything else, Ye Lei began his study of the Red Fire Fist over a month ago. In the following month, he further studied two additional martial arts techniques. Martial arts are the foundation of combat. As for Jiang Shou? Although the others are uncertain, based on his cultivation aptitude, it seems that he has barely reached the peak of the first level in just over a month. It is likely that he hasn't even begun to learn a single martial art technique in the remaining time.

These two inner court disciples were specifically invited by Gu Lieyang to serve as witnesses in order to prove whose judgment is superior, his or Su Ya's: Yang Yikun and Fang He, disciples of the inner court of Piaoxue Peak

The rules of the servant competition are quite simple: participants must navigate the trial tower located in the Snowy Valley beneath the Snowy Peak to determine their scores. For servants, their cultivation talents are generally single-element, and they do not possess the strength to challenge higher levels. Therefore, the trial tower in the servant valley consists of only four levels.

Behind the woman followed three individuals, all of whom were smiling brightly like flowers. About four to five meters to their right was a handsome young man in a luxurious blue outfit leading the group, accompanied by a tall young man in purple beside him, with six or seven figures trailing behind them.

However, Yang and Fang truly felt a sense of idle frustration regarding the contest before them; it was impossible not to feel frustrated. Jiang Shou? This well-known figure still needed someone to witness the contest?! They could not comprehend what was going through Su Ya's mind to dare to use Jiang Shou as a wager against Gu Lieyang. What kind of courage did that require?

Jiang Shoucai, filled with excitement, stepped forward decisively. Upon reaching a few meters in front of Su Ya, he performed a deep bow and said, "Jiang Shoucai pays his respects to Senior Sister Su!"

"Well, I can't help it, you guys make me want to tease him a bit! One must always give someone a glimmer of hope before crushing it completely; that’s the real thrill, isn’t it!" Ye Lei, amidst the laughter around him, suddenly broke into a serious expression, his face lighting up with a smile, bending over with laughter. After a hearty laugh, Ye Lei looked at Jiang Shou with a mix of pride and pity, saying, "You really are out of luck today, facing me. Whether we compete in the Trial Tower or spar publicly, I will make sure you enjoy it thoroughly!"

That group of approximately twenty people was divided into three distinct waves, with five at the forefront. On the far left stood a young woman, alluring and graceful, with a delicate and charming face. Her curvaceous figure, complemented by a beautiful black dress, exuded an air of cold elegance and pride, enough to make anyone's heart race at a mere glance

Time has swiftly passed for more than twenty days. Within the Servants' Valley of Piaoxue Peak, as dawn breaks, figures emerge from the side courtyard, heading straight for the valley's exit. Most of the servants display excited and expectant expressions as they walk, for today marks the annual Servants' Competition of Piaoxue Peak.

Indeed, Junior Brother Ye holds him in too high regard

At this moment, a group of figures slowly approached the entrance

... ...

The lower your ranking, the heavier the various menial tasks you will have to undertake in the following year. Moreover, if you break through the first level of the Trial Tower, you will receive three low-grade spirit stones as a reward; breaking through the second level grants you ten stones, and the third level awards you twenty stones.

However, two months ago, when Suya appeared, Jiang Shou's consciousness had already become vague, and he truly could not remember what Suya looked like. Nevertheless, he knew that Suya would come today to preside over the miscellaneous servant competition at the library. Among the three groups of people walking from the valley entrance, only the black-clad woman among the five leaders in colorful attire was a woman

Jiang Shou's expression changed abruptly as he fixed his gaze on the alluring woman in black. He was not captivated by her beauty; rather, he was puzzled, wondering if this was indeed Su Ya, Senior Sister Su.

Unlike others who were excited and agitated, Jiang Shou's expression remained calm. He had no intention of engaging in conversation with anyone; he simply wanted to quietly wait for the start of the servant competition. However, just as he walked a few dozen meters along one side of the valley, a sudden burst of laughter erupted at the mouth of the valley.

The savior provided him with the opportunity to join the sect; had it not been for this opportunity, he would not have encountered that strange, palm-sized black object, nor would he possess the strength he has today. As for his feelings towards Su Ya, Jiang Shouxin himself could not describe them.

Upon seeing the newcomer Ye Lei, he was instantly delighted, stepping forward and bending slightly at the waist as he walked, his face beaming with a bright smile

As dawn broke, gray figures began to arrive continuously at the Snowy Valley, located several miles away. The Snowy Valley, resembling the shape of a pear, is cloaked in silver all year round. Within the valley, peculiar flowers and trees, resembling ice sculptures, stand tall, adding a brilliant and crystalline hue to the landscape.

Brother Ye, good morning. First, I would like to congratulate you. This year's competition will surely surpass last year's by a great margin

As Ye Lei spoke, Jiang Shou merely looked on calmly, but the group following Ye Lei burst into laughter. On one hand, they showered Ye Lei with flattery, while on the other, they regarded Jiang Shou with pity and mockery. Ye Lei seemed to revel in this attention, his demeanor becoming even more radiant. However, after a brief moment of brilliance, he suddenly adopted a serious expression, looking earnestly to his left and right, "Please don't say that. Junior Brother Ye is at the first level of Spirit Communication, and I am also at the first level of Spirit Communication. Our cultivation levels are the same, and we both practice first-grade martial arts. He still has hope."

... ...