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

  Yao Xi, who had gone to the Internal Affairs Hall to register, was stunned upon hearing the steward's words. Her beautiful eyes widened in disbelief.

  The steward, equally helpless, sighed. "Yes, this year, the sect gained one more direct disciple. The total number of direct disciples has increased to four. And all four of them have chosen to enter the Five Elements Cave this year."

  He paused, then added, "So, the remaining quota for disciples below the direct disciple rank is just one."

  Yao Xi's expression stiffened at these words. She had reached the ninth level of Qi Refining last year, but the competition for the Five Elements Cave quota had been too fierce, and she hadn't managed to secure a spot.

  This year, however, several of the ninth-level Qi Refining senior brothers either failed their breakthroughs or had aged out and left the sect to manage mundane affairs. Among the ordinary disciples, only she and Li Xiaoyao had reached the ninth level of Qi Refining.

  Yao Xi had thought that this year, the Five Elements Cave quota would surely be hers. And with this year's Five Elements Cave filled to the brim with Five Elements Spiritual Qi, it felt like the heavens were assisting her. Yet, to her dismay, there was only one remaining spot.

  Li Xiaoyao had broken through to the ninth level of Qi Refining three years ago, achieving the Great Perfection of Qi Refining. His mastery of the Green Cloud Sword Art had reached an extraordinary level, and he was already at the pinnacle of the Great Completion realm. His strength was nearly on par with the direct disciples. Competing with Li Xiaoyao for this last quota seemed almost impossible.

  This left Yao Xi genuinely worried. Resources in the sect were limited, and they had to be fought for. If she couldn't enter the Five Elements Cave this time, her strength would stagnate. Without that breakthrough, she wouldn't be able to secure first place among the ordinary disciples in this year's sect competition, nor would she receive the Foundation Establishment Pill. The saying "one step slow, every step slow" wasn't an exaggeration.

  After registering her name, Yao Xi returned to her small courtyard with a troubled expression in her eyes. Even the idea of refining pills, which she had originally planned to do, no longer seemed appealing. She simply went inside to rest.

  In the quiet of Yao Xi's courtyard, a female cultivator was in the middle of her training. Upon seeing Yao Xi, she smiled and said, "Senior Sister, you're back? Your courtyard is filled with so much Spiritual Qi; it's so much better than mine. Thank you for letting me use it.…"

  If Ye Chen had been there, he would have immediately recognized this female cultivator. She was the same one who had sold him Dragon Grasp at Green Cloud Market.

  Yao Xi waved her hand, signaling that there was no need for thanks.

  The female cultivator, noticing the sorrow in Yao Xi's expression, asked with concern, "Senior Sister, you don't seem well. Is something wrong?"

  Yao Xi let out a deep sigh, her expression filled with a pitiful melancholy. "This year, there's only one quota for the Five Elements Cave! I'm most likely no match for Senior Brother Li, and it seems I'll be missing out on the Five Elements Cave again this year. Looks like I'll have to wait another year to break through to Foundation Establishment."

  The female cultivator, confused, responded, "How can there be only one quota? Even if all the direct disciples go, there should still be more… Oh, it's that new direct disciple, right? He's also going to the Five Elements Cave this year?

  "That's such a waste. He's only at the sixth level of Qi Refining, right? He must be much slower at absorbing Spirit Qi. How could he compete with the other direct disciples? Even if he goes, he won't be able to absorb much. It'd be better if the spot went to you, Senior Sister. Senior Sister, why don't you ask him to give up his spot? If he does, then there'll be two quotas for ordinary disciples. Besides Li Xiaoyao, no one else should be a match for you. This way, you'll have a guaranteed chance."

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  The female cultivator had figured out the problem and immediately suggested a solution to Yao Xi.

  However, upon hearing this, Yao Xi only smiled bitterly and shook her head. "Ye Chen may like me, but he's not foolish. This year, the Five Elements Cave's Spiritual Qi is overflowing, and the effects will be even greater than before. Any cultivator aiming for Foundation Establishment won't miss out on such an opportunity."

  The female cultivator, however, was a bit more stubborn. "Who says he's not foolish? I've heard that he even gave away his spot to someone else to enter Green Cloud Sect. That Sun Ruoxin, she's no match for you. If Ye Chen could give away his spot for Sun Ruoxin to enter Green Cloud Sect, then he certainly won't be stingy with you. So, Senior Sister, you should try asking him. There's no harm in trying."

  Yao Xi shook her head and smiled gently. "You're such a naive girl. Ye Chen is a direct disciple now. Do you know what that means? It means Ye Chen already knew he could enter Green Cloud Sect and that he has a much brighter future ahead. That's why he gave away the Green Cloud Token to Sun Ruoxin. If Ye Chen didn't have the chance to become a direct disciple, do you think he would've given away the Green Cloud Token?"

  Hearing this, the female cultivator seemed to realize something. She thought about it for a moment. It made sense. This so-called simp direct disciple, whom the other disciples joked about as being willing to give up even his life for the female cultivators, didn't seem so absurd after all.

  Suddenly, an idea crossed the female cultivator's mind. Her eyes brightened as she leaned in close to Yao Xi and whispered in her ear, "Senior Sister, why not just give yourself to Ye Chen? I saw it last time. The way Ye Chen looked at you, especially when he saw your back…. He was so meticulous in his gaze. If you give yourself to him, he definitely won't be able to refuse you…."

  Yao Xi flicked the female cultivator's forehead lightly with her delicate fingers, giving her a coquettish glare. "Stop talking nonsense. Go train, or if you're not going to, hurry up and leave."

  Yao Xi certainly had no intention of doing such a thing. Yes, Ye Chen was a direct disciple now. But his talent was poor, and his cultivation was weak. It wouldn't take two years before his status as a direct disciple could be in jeopardy.

  As for herself? She was already at the ninth level of Qi Refining, just one step away from Foundation Establishment. At this moment, their apparent gap might not seem too significant. But once she broke through to Foundation Establishment, their statuses would be worlds apart. In this situation, how could she possibly give herself to Ye Chen just for a spot in the Five Elements Cave?

  It wasn't worth it.

  Thus, Yao Xi didn't even entertain the idea the female cultivator had suggested. However, the female cultivator did make a point.

  Perhaps Yao Xi could drop some hints to Ye Chen, subtly mention how important this year's Five Elements Cave quota was to her. If she managed to persuade him, it would indeed be a pleasant surprise.

  But Yao Xi didn't have high expectations. She was still prepared to compete with Li Xiaoyao for the spot.

  After all, whether it was Ye Chen's Dragon Grasp or the exquisite hairpin magic tool, everything had been prepared for her to face Li Xiaoyao in the upcoming sect competition. Winning the first place in the ordinary disciple category would earn her a low-grade Foundation Establishment Pill.

  With the Foundation Establishment Pill, her chances of a successful breakthrough would be much higher. And even if the breakthrough failed, the Foundation Establishment Pill would protect her meridians, giving her another shot at the next breakthrough.

  Yao Xi had long since made her preparations. She wasn't truly despairing. Even if it came to facing Li Xiaoyao head-on, she might not necessarily lose.

  However, Li Xiaoyao's sword Qi was sharp, and ordinary defensive magic tools were hardly enough to block it. Perhaps she would need to find a way to get Ye Chen to give her another high-grade defensive magic tool. With that, her chances of winning would increase considerably….

  Tomorrow, she would be attending the elder's lecture. Ye Chen would be there, but not for the lecture. Instead, he would be sitting in the back, silently watching her. His gaze made even her fasting feel awkward.

  Yao Xi didn't particularly enjoy being stared at like that, and in fact, she found it a bit annoying. But for the sake of Foundation Establishment, this small sacrifice was worth it.

  Yao Xi decided that tomorrow, she would wear something that highlighted her figure more, letting Ye Chen enjoy the view.

  That way, when Ye Chen gave her a defensive magic tool, he surely wouldn't be stingy. He might even seriously consider giving up the Five Elements Cave spot for her! After all, the path to immortality was a hard one!

  To scale the peak of cultivation, Yao Xi was willing to go all out!