“Well, as part of the Sect’s Outer Disciples, you will patrol the edges of the Mountains, and call for help should anything appear.” Elder Ke announced. “This is the revised roster. Plan your cultivation around it.”

There was a large paper table that was written on the board. Outer Disciples were mostly tasked to do it. The patrol was in groups of three. Mingwei’s turn would be in three months. He calculated, 90 days times 425 Qi per day was only 38,250 Qi. Since breaking through to the middle 3 star realm needed 720,000 QI, that meant it was quite unlikely that he would be able to make it.

Mingwei walked into his new room. As an outer disciple, he’s given a proper room, and everything was a far better quality. The bed was a little bit softer, but the linen was way smoother. The tables were rounded and looked new. He also had proper storage areas.

“Spatial ring.” He wondered. He wanted to make one, but it needed 10,000Qi.

He sighed, and looked at his Qi again.

Qi Storage

7,300/7,300 (1,500 extra from Qi-Cauldron)

Qi Gathered

4,250/1,800,000

(Qi - 720,000 - to reach middle 3 star)

(Qi - 1,440,000 - to reach pinnacle 3 star)

It’s still a long way to go. 6 pills at 700 per day for 7 days is an additional 29,400 Qi. Still very far from the middle 3-star level. So how should he spend these 90 days?

As Mingwei daydreamed for a moment, there was a knock on the door. Two other outer disciples walked in.

“Ah, Junior Brother MIngwei greets elder brothers. To what do I owe the honor of your visit?” They were both lower 3-star disciples like Mingwei, just that they were from the previous batch of promotees.

“As a new Outer Disciple, it is customary that you have a spar with our elder brother Kangzhen. Come now.”

Mingwei internally recoiled. This was one of the bullies! “Ah...”

“Come. Don’t make our Elder Brother wait.”

Mingwei didn’t sigh, even if he wanted to. He just nodded and went out. It seemed Mingwei wasn’t the only one. Multiple other outer disciples were already having a spar with Kangzhen. Kangzhen was also an outer disciple, but he is at pinnacle 3-star, and he looked at least 5 years older than Mingwei.

It honestly was a one sided beatdown. The odds of a pinnacle 3-star suffering a defeat was incredibly low when against a lower 3- star. 3 star was where the growth was exceptional. A pinnacle 3 star is almost ten times stronger than a beginner 3 star, but at higher realms, this ratio shrinks to about 2-3 times.

“Your turn.” Kangzhen had just defeated another beginner. Mingwei nodded and walked into the ring. He saw Ma Yuehua and Yu Huadao both suffered a defeat.

Mingwei bowed. “Junior brother Mingwei greets Elder Brother Kangzhen. This junior does not dare to spar with Elder Brother, and as such, this junior willingly surrenders.”

Kangzhen frowned, and instantly rushed in. His fists glowed, and he lunged with a Longbow Heavy Stab, at least 1,000 Qi! Mingwei mentally calculated that he would deal 2,400 to 4,800 damage. Did he still have Holding Stance left? Or does he have a Soul-bound item or other abilities that amplified his powers further?

Mingwei had no time to use holding stance, so he gritted his teeth and used a full strength Heavy Block at 1,160 Qi.

Qi Storage

6,140/7,300

Core Toughness

8,520/11,100 (-2,580)

Ugh! That hurt! The fact that it still dealt 2,500 core damage meant he had at least some soul-bound items that boosted his Qi-damage. And he still had Holding Stance! He hadn’t fully used it!

“Well, not bad, young brother.”

Kangzhen came again, and used another move. He hadn’t seen this move before! And he used about 2,000 Qi!

Mingwei managed to sneak in Longbow Holding Stance while Kangzhen talked, and so when that move came, he used another full strength Heavy Block!

But it wasn’t strong enough. The attack was too powerful, even if it was powered up by holding stance. It caused Mingwei to fly backwards and he landed on his back.

Qi Storage

4,780/7,300

Core Toughness

3,780/11,100 (-4,740)

That was painful. He felt his body crack. There was no way he could stop him, especially if he still had enough Qi for more attacks... or did he?

Mingwei looked at Kangzhen, and despite his bravado and swagger, he was exhausted. He had fought more than 10 other disciples before this, and noticed the other outer disciples are all similarly hurt. He probably used 30,000-40,000 Qi already, so he may have just about 10,000 left.

Still, he decided to kneel. “This Junior Brother surrenders.”

“Hah.” Kangzhen laughed. “But that was a good block, young brother. You practiced the Defense style, eh. That explains how young could take two hits.”

Mingwei noted that he was a big bully, and the best thing he could do at this point is just massage his ego and convince him that it’s enough. “Elder Brother’s hits are too strong, I am barely standing up.”

“I think you can take another hit.” Kangzhen smiled, and he came with another Longbow Heavy Stab for 2,000 Qi.

Mingwei noted that Kangzhen’s Holding Stance effect was no more. So he quickly did a Heavy Block for 900 Qi.

No damage.

“Oh! Here’s another one.”

Another 2,000 Qi Longbow Heavy Stab. Mingwei calculated, he too had 2 more Holding Stance left.

Again, he used a 900 Qi Heavy Block. No damage.

Qi Storage

2,980/7,300 (-1,800)

Core Toughness

3,780/11,100

Kangzhen did the earlier unknown move again, for 3,000 Qi, and MIngwei blocked with all the Qi he could release. It still hurt and made him fly backwards, but at least he managed to land on his feet. If Kangzhen activated his holding stance, Mingwei knew he had no way to successfully block his next move.

Qi Storage

1,820/7,300 (-1,160)

Core Toughness

1,890/11,100 (-1,890)

“Ugh. Elder Brother, please, spare my life.” Mingwei said. He really knew when he lost. 

Kangzhen just smiled. “Good one. You made me use 10,000 Qi in all those moves and you still stand.”

“Elder Brother was merely giving me a chance by not using Holding Stance.” Mingwei bowed.

“Well, that is true.” Kangzhen nodded. “Ah, I’m tired. Good spar, good spar.” He walked away with all his lackeys.

Mingwei just sat on the floor, exhausted and hurt. That really hurt!

“Your defensive style clearly has an advantage with a bully like him.” Ma Yuehao came over. “But I’m surprised you did not have a defensive soul-bound item. You should have one, you would have lasted perhaps one or two more hits.”

Mingwei smiled, “Ah, thanks for your advice... elder brother.”

“I’ll get back at him. Thinks himself a big shot just because he’s at pinnacle 3-star.” Yuehao said, and Mingwei got up. “You’re my batch, right? You look familiar.”

“Ah, yes, Elder brother.”

“I’m Ma Yuehao.”