"What? There's only one spot for the Five Elements Cave this year?"

  Yao Xi, who had gone to the Internal Affairs Hall to register, widened her beautiful eyes upon hearing the steward's words.

  The steward sighed helplessly, "Didn't the sect gain a new direct disciple this year? The number of direct disciples has increased to four. And all four have chosen to enter the Five Elements Cave this year."

  "So, there's only one spot left for disciples below the direct disciples."

  Yao Xi's expression stiffened upon hearing this.

  She had reached the ninth level of Qi Refining st year, but the competition for spots in the Five Elements Cave was too fierce.

  She didn't manage to secure a spot.

  This year, the senior brothers who were at the ninth level of Qi Refining either failed to break through or reached the age to leave the sect to handle various mundane affairs.

  Among the ordinary disciples, only she and Li Xiaoyao were at the ninth level of Qi Refining.

  Yao Xi thought that this year she would surely get a spot in the Five Elements Cave.

  Moreover, this year the Five Elements Cave was overflowing with spiritual energy.

  It was as if the heavens were helping her.

  But now, there was only one spot left.

  Li Xiaoyao had reached the ninth level of Qi Refining three years ago and had achieved Full Completion of Qi Refining.

  His mastery of the Qingyun Sword Technique was exceptional, reaching the Great Accomplishment realm.

  His strength was not much different from the direct disciples.

  Competing with Li Xiaoyao for this st spot was going to be extremely difficult.

  So Yao Xi was genuinely worried.

  In the sect, resources were limited and had to be fought for.

  If she couldn't enter the Five Elements Cave this time, her strength wouldn't improve.

  She could forget about winning first pce among the ordinary disciples in this year's sect competition and obtaining the Foundation Establishment Pill.

  The saying "fall behind in one step, fall behind in every step" was not just empty words.

  It was a true reflection of the cultivation world.

  Thus.

  After registering.

  Yao Xi returned to her small courtyard with a worried look in her phoenix eyes, losing interest even in her pnned alchemy session.

  In Yao Xi's small courtyard.

  A female cultivator was practicing. Seeing Yao Xi, she smiled and said, "Senior Sister is back? Your courtyard is so full of spiritual energy, much better than mine. Thank you for letting me use it..."

  If Ye Chen were here, he would recognize this female cultivator as the servant from Qingyun Workshop that day.

  Yao Xi shook her head, indicating it was no trouble.

  The female cultivator noticed Yao Xi's unhappy mood and curiously asked, "Senior Sister, you seem upset. Did something happen?"

  Upon hearing this, Yao Xi sighed, her voice filled with a pitiful tone, "There's only one spot for the Five Elements Cave this year!"

  "I'm probably no match for Senior Brother Li, and I might miss out on the Five Elements Cave again this year."

  "If I want to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage, it seems I'll have to wait another year."

  The female cultivator was puzzled after hearing this, "Why is there only one spot? Even if all the direct disciples enter this year, there should be... Oh, is it because of the new direct disciple? He's entering the Five Elements Cave this year too?"

  "That's such a waste."

  "Isn't he only at the sixth yer of Qi Refining? His speed of refining spiritual energy must be slower. How can he compete with the other direct disciples?"

  "He won't absorb much anyway. It would be better to let you have it."

  "He likes you so much, Senior Sister. Why don't you ask him to give up his spot, so there would be two spots for ordinary disciples?"

  "Besides Li Xiaoyao, no other disciple is your match, Senior Sister. That way, you'd be secure."

  The female cultivator realized the problem and immediately suggested a solution to Yao Xi.

  However, Yao Xi shook her head with a bitter smile, "Ye Chen may like me, but he's not foolish."

  "This year, the spiritual energy in the Five Elements Cave is erupting, and the effects will be better than in previous years. Any cultivator aiming for Foundation Establishment wouldn't miss such an opportunity."

  But the female cultivator was unconvinced, "Who says he's not foolish? I've heard he even gave away his spot to enter the Qingyun Sect."

  "That Sun Ruoxin, I've seen her, and she's far inferior to you, Senior Sister."

  "If Ye Chen can give away his spot to Sun Ruoxin, he surely wouldn't be stingy with you, Senior Sister."

  "So, you should at least try."

  Yao Xi shook her head, "Silly girl. Ye Chen is a direct disciple now, which means he knew he could enter the Qingyun Sect and had a better future, so he gave Sun Ruoxin the Qingyun Token."

  "If Ye Chen didn't have the chance to become a direct disciple, do you think he would have given away the Qingyun Token?"

  Hearing this, the female cultivator realized.

  It seemed to make sense.

  This direct disciple, rumored to be willing to give his life for a female cultivator, didn't seem so extreme after all. He wasn't indifferent to his future and didn't give everything away.

  Still, he was quite generous.

  The female cultivator's eyes lit up as she leaned in to whisper to Yao Xi, "Senior Sister, why don't you give yourself to Ye Chen?"

  "I saw it st time. The way Ye Chen looks at you, especially your back, is very focused."

  "If you give yourself to Ye Chen, he definitely won't refuse..."

  "Ouch..."

  Yao Xi flicked the female cultivator's forehead with a delicate hand, giving her a pyful gre, "What nonsense are you talking about? Go practice, or go home if you're not going to cultivate."

  Of course, Yao Xi wouldn't do such a thing.

  Even though Ye Chen was a direct disciple now.

  His talent was poor, and his cultivation was low.

  In less than two years, it was uncertain if he could even keep his status as a direct disciple.

  And as for herself?

  At the ninth level of Qi Refining, just a step away from the Foundation Establishment stage.

  Though the gap between them seemed small now.

  Once she broke through to the Foundation Establishment stage, their statuses would be worlds apart.

  In this situation, how could she possibly give herself to Ye Chen for a spot in the Five Elements Cave?

  It wasn't worth it at all.

  So, she wouldn't even consider the female cultivator's suggestion.

  But the other girl had a point.

  She could hint to Ye Chen about the importance of this year's Five Elements Cave spot.

  If she could persuade Ye Chen, it would be a pleasant surprise.

  However, Yao Xi didn't have high hopes.

  She was prepared to compete with Li Xiaoyao for the spot.

  From the Dragon Grasping Hand Ye Chen gave her to the supreme magic artifact hairpin.

  All were preparations Yao Xi made for the sect competition at the end of the year, to face Li Xiaoyao.

  After all, if she could win first pce among the ordinary disciples in the sect competition, she could get a low-grade Foundation Establishment Pill.

  With the Foundation Establishment Pill, her chances of a successful breakthrough would be higher.

  And even if she failed, the Foundation Establishment Pill could protect her meridians.

  Giving her another chance to break through.

  So Yao Xi had been preparing early on.

  Thus, she wasn't entirely hopeless.

  Even if she faced Li Xiaoyao, she might not lose.

  However, Li Xiaoyao's sword energy was fierce, and ordinary defensive magic artifacts might not withstand it.

  Perhaps she should find a way to get Ye Chen to give her another supreme defensive magic artifact.

  That way, her chances of winning would be greater...

  And tomorrow was the day she would attend the elder's lecture.

  Ye Chen would be there, but not to listen to the lecture.

  He would sit at the back, silently watching her.

  His gaze made her feel awkward even during Inedia.

  Yao Xi didn't really like being stared at by Ye Chen like that, even found it somewhat repulsive.

  But...

  For the sake of Foundation Establishment, such a small sacrifice was worth it.

  Yao Xi decided that tomorrow, she would wear something that accentuated her figure, giving Ye Chen a good view.

  That way, when Ye Chen gave her a defensive magic artifact, he wouldn't be stingy.

  Ye Chen might even seriously consider giving up the Five Elements Cave spot for her this year!

  In any case, the path of immortality is difficult!

  To reach the pinnacle, Yao Xi was willing to go all out!

  CPDD