I’ll Take That Opportunity Chapter 5 - The Competition Begins

"Just one more step, and I'll reach the 4th layer Qi Refinement stage." A faint smiled curled Ye Lin’s lips.

He had an incomplete spirit root, which hindered his cultivation speed, but Spirit Stones had allowed him to progress rapidly. No wonder Spirit Stones were so precious and highly coveted.

"Time to get to work."

Dusting off his clothes, Ye Lin stood. His thoughts turned to the artifact: a high-grade basic-tier sword, a treasure even inner disciples would envy.

Compared to spirit herbs, spirit medicines, and spirit fruits, artifacts were far rarer. Forging even a low-grade basic-tier artifact required immense resources, with a high risk of failure. Therefore, a single low-grade basic-tier artifact could be traded for at least ten low-grade basic-tier pills.

Ye Lin wasn't certain about Emerald Ripple Lake, but he knew that in the Azure Cloud Sect, there was only one lake. It had to be the Emerald Ripple Lake.

Before long, he arrived at the lake. Despite its elegant name, Emerald Ripple Lake was modest in size. A few figures worked along the shore, while a thin veil of mist hovered above the water.

Ye Lin placed his token by the lake's edge, then dived in. He searched the murky depths until he found a sword hilt jutting out from the bottom in a corner.

His heart surged with joy as he gripped the hilt and pulled the sword free. Back on the shore, he admired the blade, which exuded a faint, icy aura.

"As expected of a high-grade basic-tier sword. It’s extraordinary." He exclaimed in awe.

After confirming that no one was watching, Ye Lin swiftly took off and vanished from sight. With his 3rd layer Qi Refinement cultivation base, he could easily avoid detection by ordinary people whenever he wished.

Back at his residence, Ye Lin hid the sword carefully beneath his bed. The artifact was far too valuable—unless absolutely necessary, it was best not to reveal it.

"Alright, time to cultivate."

He retrieved the last three Spirit Stones and began operating his cultivation method. At the same time he absorbed the remaining spirit qi in his dantian. His progress accelerated.

Time elapsed. In the blink of an eye, fifteen days passed.

"Phew."

Ye Lin slowly opened his eyes and exhaled a stream of turbid air, and then dusted off his clothes.

[Name: Ye Lin]

[Cultivation base: 5th layer Qi Refinement]

[Fate grade: black (fraught with calamity)]

[Fate trait: shrouded in misfortune, transcendental perception]

[Fate prediction: tomorrow, you will participate in the handyman competition to contend for the position of handyman overseer. You will kill Zhang Liang. This act will draw the attention of Zhao Hu, a lackey of Zhang Liang's older brother, Zhang Xiao. Seeking to curry favor, Zhao Hu will plot against you. Tomorrow night, he will drug you, rendering you unconscious, and imprison you in a dungeon. Two months later, Zhang Xiao will emerge from seclusion and kill you.]

[Upcoming opportunity: none]

[Transcendental perception: you possess an incredible ability to grasp cultivation methods, mastering in days what others take months to learn.]

[Shrouded in misfortune: you are prone to accidents and betrayals.]

Ye Lin studied his fate prediction, his eyes narrowing. He recognized Zhang Xiao’s name immediately. He was the strongest outer disciple in the sect, and his cultivation base had reached the daunting 7th layer Qi Refinement stage.

In a direct confrontation, Ye Lin knew he stood no chance. Escaping, however, was a different matter. But the panel's ominous prediction was clear: he would be drugged and incapacitated.

"I must secure the position of handyman overseer and prepare for what’s to come." Ye Lin murmured.

His current status as a mere handyman disciple left him vulnerable and constrained. Moreover, once the handyman overseer and nine handyman team leaders were appointed tomorrow, he would no longer be able to focus on his cultivation in peace.

But securing the position of handyman overseer would change everything. Not only would Ye Lin control the allocation of resources for all handyman disciples, but he would also free himself from the authority of others.

Tasks issued by the sect typically flowed through the handyman overseer. Handyman disciples looking to undertake them had to seek approval from the handyman overseer, making the position incredibly advantageous. Additionally, the overseer was rewarded with a mid-grade basic-tier martial skill.

The next day, the usually tranquil handyman quarters were abuzz with excitement.

Countless figures hurried toward the sect square—today marked the start of the handyman competition, the event that could determine their futures. This was a rare chance to rise to greater heights and ascend to a higher position.

The sect square was vast, and today it was packed to capacity. At its center stood a massive stage.

An elderly figure stood atop a step at the forefront of the square, his voice booming across the square.

"Today marks the start of the handyman competition." He announced, "This event will determine one handyman overseer and nine handyman team leaders. These ten individuals will be in charge of all handyman disciples."

The elderly figure was an outer elder of the Azure Cloud Sect—a 9th layer Qi Refinement powerhouse.

"The rules are simple." He continued, "Anyone who wishes to compete may step onto the stage. From there, you will engage in combat. The strongest contestant will become the overseer, while the next nine will be appointed as team leaders."

With a wave of his hand, the elder concluded his speech.

The air grew tense as handyman disciples surged forward, climbing onto the stage. Their gazes were sharp and filled with caution as they appraised their competition.

Among the new handyman disciples, none dared to step forward. They all understood that the handyman competition was a battleground for the more experienced handyman disciples. For the rookies, today was an opportunity to observe, not to participate.

Ye Lin, however, was unfazed by the tension, his attention focused on the elder floating in the air.

No matter how long he watched, the elder’s panel failed to appear.

"Is it because his cultivation base is too high?" Ye Lin murmured under his breath.

It made sense. If he could freely view people’s panels, then he could simply look at the sect master’s. With a figure like that, the opportunities they encountered would undoubtedly be beyond imagination.

With these thoughts in mind, Ye Lin stepped onto the stage, his expression calm and unreadable.

"Alright, the rules of the competition are simple." The elder announced, "Falling off the stage means elimination. And… try not to kill."

Ye Lin’s brows furrowed slightly. Try not to kill… The wording was clear—killing was still permissible.

As the elder’s final words echoed, the disciples on stage leaped into action, launching fierce attacks at those closest to them. The scene descended into pandemonium, with figures clashing and bodies being flung off the stage one after another.

Bonds of friendship and brotherhood shattered instantly.

"Brother, I’m sorry, but you have to go." A voice called out.

A handyman disciple near Ye Lin stepped forward and swung a fist directly at Ye Lin’s face.

Ye Lin frowned, his movements calm and measured. With a casual wave of his hand, he deflected the attack, sending the disciple—a 1st layer Qi Refinement disciple—tumbling off the stage.

The exchange was so swift that it barely registered in the chaos.

Minutes passed, and the initial frenzy began to subside. Bodies littered the ground below, groaning in pain or unconscious.

On the stage, only eleven contestants remained—including Ye Lin.