Inside the inner gate of the Lingfu Sect, Chen An was hunched over, his hands propped on his knees. His chest rose and fell like a bellows, and he was panting heavily.
After being discovered by Elder Gu, Chen An didn't hesitate and used a teleportation talisman to escape. Though he managed to flee several dozen steps away in an instant, Chen An didn't relax even then. He quickly took all the swift escape talismans from his storage pouch and stuck them onto his body, continuing to run until he barely reached the inner gate, where he stopped just in time.
At that critical moment, if Chen An had panicked for even a moment, he would probably already be dead. Elder Gu's cultivation was far beyond his, and with just a flick of his finger, Chen An would have been left without a grave.
Even though he had now reached the inner gate, Chen An did not fully relax, as he wasn't sure if Elder Gu would pursue him.
If Elder Gu came after him, he would fall into a deadlock. Even if he revealed Elder Gu's secret, it might not save him, considering one was an outer gate elder, and the other was just a menial servant.
No matter how he thought about it, it was clear whose words would be more credible.
At this point, Chen An only had two choices. The first was to flee the mountain directly, and once he was far enough, even if Elder Gu wanted to find him, it would be nearly impossible.
However, upon thinking of this, Chen An frowned and shook his head. It had been difficult to settle down in the Lingfu Sect, and he now had a stable opportunity to earn spiritual stones.
If he gave up just like that, he would be unwilling. After all, if he left the Lingfu Sect, he couldn't be sure that he would be able to join another sect smoothly.
Thus, perhaps he could only choose the second path.
...
At the inner gate, in the Elder Hall, several red-robed attendants were handling the registration for the disciples' competition.
Since registration was nearing its end, there weren't many people in line. By the time Chen An arrived, he was the only one left to register.
Faced with the threat of Elder Gu, Chen An ultimately chose to sign up for the disciples' competition. As long as he secured first place, he would be able to become an inner disciple, making it impossible for Elder Gu to cause him trouble.
This was the most direct way to escape the outer gate, but it also came with significant difficulty.
Firstly, Chen An wasn't sure if he could win first place in the competition. After all, the person who entered the sect with him, Young Master Yun, had unparalleled talent and aptitude. Compared to him, Chen An didn't have much of a chance.
But even with little chance, he had to try. A cultivator's strength could represent many things, but it didn't tell the whole story.
Otherwise, Chen An would have never been able to defeat Wei Ming!
With that thought in mind, Chen An took a deep breath and approached the red-robed attendant in front of the Elder Hall. After respectfully bowing, he said, "I would like to sign up for the disciples' competition."
"Present your identity token for registration, then go back and wait for news. You will be notified in advance when the competition starts," the attendant explained without even lifting his head.
But this left Chen An in a dilemma, as he had no idea what an identity token was.
"What are you standing there for? Where's your identity token?"
Seeing that Chen An hadn't responded, the attendant raised his head in irritation. Chen An could only admit that as a mere outer gate servant, he didn't possess an identity token.
"A servant?" The attendant stared at Chen An in surprise, clearly not expecting a servant to want to participate in the competition.
"You're just a servant, so go back to tending the herb fields. Don't hang around here causing trouble. Leave now," the attendant said dismissively, waving him off.
However, participating in the disciples' competition was Chen An's last opportunity to rid himself of Elder Gu's threat, and he couldn't afford to give up now.
"I heard that there's no rule forbidding servants from participating in the competition. In fact, a senior many years ago was promoted to an inner disciple despite being a servant. Are you questioning the sect's rules by asking me to leave?"
Desperate, Chen An directly invoked the sect's rules to pressure the attendant. The attendant's face visibly changed, seemingly wary, but he also appeared annoyed by Chen An's lack of tact.
"Someone like you thinks you can compare to that senior? Let me tell you, when cultivators fight, there's no such thing as 'holding back.' The winner can do anything to the loser. Is that what you want?"
"'Life or death?'" Chen An was taken aback. He had assumed the competition would be a friendly spar, but this was far more serious than he expected.
"Hmph! In cultivator battles, there's no such thing as 'holding back.' The winner can do anything to the loser. That's the rule. So, if you're scared, leave now and stop wasting my time!"
The situation had already reached this point. Even though the disciples' competition was dangerous, it was still a contest among peers. If he didn't participate, he'd have to face Elder Gu, someone much more dangerous.
Thus, his choice was clear.
"I want to sign up!!"
Seeing that Chen An was determined, the attendant didn't argue further. After writing down his name, he dismissed him.
Before leaving, however, Chen An asked the attendant, "May I ask, if I don't show up on the day of the competition, will anyone come looking for me?"
"You brat, are you messing with me?" The attendant looked at him with impatience, clearly not understanding Chen An's question. "You've already registered. If you don't show up on the day of the competition, not only I, but even the Sect Leader himself will personally order your arrest and execution to set an example. Do you think the sect's rules are so easily broken?"
Faced with the attendant's scolding, Chen An didn't show any fear or unease. Instead, he let out a sigh of relief and relaxed.
By participating in the disciples' competition, he had essentially gained a "get out of jail free" card. At the very least, for the next month, he wouldn't have to worry about any danger.
As for what would happen after a month, that would depend on whether he could secure first place in the competition.
Having solved a major concern, Chen An felt much more at ease. After a brief moment of thought, he chose to return to the outer gate.
Logically, returning to the outer gate at this point could be dangerous since he had just exposed Elder Gu's secret, but he couldn't avoid it forever. Eventually, he would have to face Elder Gu again.
So, it was better to face him sooner rather than later, especially now that he had a "get out of jail free" card.
Having made up his mind, he returned to the outer gate. When he entered the Elder Hall, he was surprised to find that the servants who should have been resting were all present, and they immediately surrounded him as soon as they saw him.
"Chen An, you stole the elder's precious treasure, and now you dare to come back? Come with us to see the elder, and we'll deal with you on the spot!"
Seeing this, Chen An realized that Elder Gu had likely figured out his identity and made all the necessary preparations. But that was fine, because he had also made his preparations!