Zhi Rui chose a core from the catalog, The clerk looked at it with raised eyebrows, 'What an uncommon choice."He said, "Most people would choose an attack type."

"It's compatible with my main attribute." Zhi Rui answered.

"Oh, I hope you do well then." the clerk went to take the core. Zhi Rui reread the information about it.

'Ying tree, a spiritual tree that grows around heavily Yin places, cemeterys, bottom off cliffs where light doesn't reach. It can materialize its energy and move objects and repel attacks.'

Zhi Rui nodded, 'with this, I can materialize my energy, reduce impact and can manipulate objects. It's like having an invisible extra arm.

The clerk was coming with a small box, Zhi Rui Looked at it but the clerk extended his other hand. Annoyed she gave him her token.

He took it and extracted 50 merits points. as it was a level one core it was cheap.

Zhi Rui took it and ran to her cave. Inside, she opened the small box and a chilled white gem was inside. Zhi Rui rapidly started refining it.

---------

When the sun rose, every disciple was up to watch the tournament. between the two hundred new disciples.

Zhi Rui reached the place, she saw the big crowd, the morning dew still in the air, but she could feel the warmth of the sun reaching through the clouds. the arena was a small flattened demon peak, around thirty meters in diameter, with stands for the expectation all around.

Zhi Rui looked at the podium, behind it the sect leaders throne was empty but the tower maiden was seated, both seats in the highest place. The inner elders were underneath them, and in the bottom was the outer elders.

As Zhi Rui slowly passed through the crowd atop Blackie, she caught sight of Xun Lee gazing intensely at the tower maiden's direction.

Zhi Rui stopped in place. She turned her head in another direction but she was observing from the corner of her eyes as Xun Lee shoved people out of her way. People started complaining. until She reached ten steps near the tower maiden, the guards were already looking at her. She stopped with red eyes she opened her mouth "I-"

"It's a great honor to meet you, Tower maiden, in my years of preparation for entering the sect, I had taken you as my role model!"

Zhi Rui rudely jumped in with blackie and cut Xun Lee's word.

Zhi Rui got off blackie and bowed deeply, a mad look in her eyes.

Xun Lee was confused.

The tower maiden opened her mouth, but her steward spoke first

"The tower maidens is ill and cannot talk right now, it's a miracle we managed to bring her here. But I guarantee, that your feeling had reached her." He finished wit ha warm smile.

Zhi Rui rose her head and looked at the tower maiden, ignoring the smiling clown. She could see the veiled woman. But Zhi Rui knew just how much suffering was behind that veil. As the Steward grew impatient, the tower maiden gave a faint nod.

And Zhi Rui laughed cheerfully.

"I'm happy now. please tower maiden. participate more! your presence is essential to this sect!" Right? Zhi Rui turned to Xun Lee who was still lost.

Xun Lee rapidly nodded with a start "Yes! I wanted to tell, how much we were missing the tower maiden." She nodded repeatedly." Zhi Rui noticed that although very faint, The tower maiden flinched the moment Xun Lee's voice resounded.

Zhi Rui smirked internally. she bowed deeply and with blackie, she jumped around Xun Lee.

She looked angrily at Zhi Rui, but Zhi Rui eyes turned cold. feeling apprehensive Xun Lee got up on blackie and they both went to the spectator site.

"Why did you stop me?" Asked Xun Lee.

"You already know, you were giving yourself away. you have no idea how much the position of tower maiden is observed, whatever you were gonna do. would attract unwanted attention. And that would ultimately dwarf any plan you might have had." Zhi Rui said.

"So you are also aware of the reality of the tower maiden position." Xun Lee whispered.

'Aware? I lived it' Zhi Rui thought to herself. She thought about what just happened, Xun Lee most certainly knows who the tower maiden is, and she did not hate her. Zhi Rui suddenly turned to look beyond the sect leaders seat a streak of light was coming to the arena.

as a streak of light crossed the sky the people got up and started cheer.

The sect leader landed right on his throne he smiled and waved to everyone. He bowed with deep respect to the tower maiden "I'm glad you decided to join us, this place much better with you here." He said.

The tower maiden nodded.

The sect leader nodded again and turned to the people.

"The rules are simple. you can surrender whenever you want, you cannot kill or heavily injure, now, Zhi Rui and Bing ling. TO THE ARENA!" He yelled.

"Isn't she a level one? why is she included on the tournament? I even heard of her failing on a simple spell right when she entered the sect."

"I don't know. I heard she was a fanatic, maybe she demanded to participate?"

Commentaries like this sounded through the whole arena, Dubious glanced were directed at the sect leader. But nobody said anything about it, Zhi Rui entered the arena on top of blankie.

she dismounted and stood waiting for the adversary appear.

'Thump' a heavy shadow fell in the middle of the arena.

Zhi Rui looked at the chubby young man wearing a green heavy armor and wielding a heavy sword to his side.

"I know you're righteous, but this world is ruled by strength" Said the young man with a puffed chest "Forfait and let this tournament truly begin."

'This world is ruled by strength?' Zhi Rui smirked 'You don't say.'

Zhi Rui adjusted the crossbow artifact on her left arm. She patted Blackie 'Lightweight' she whispered.

on the edge of the arena, Elder Huang slashed his hand down. "Fight!"

Blakcie leaped as soon as elder Huang's voice echoed, The chubby man snorted he swung his sword in an upward slash, blackie swiftly changed directions passing right beside the man getting on his back. He snorted 'Trying to making me turn my back!?' he bolted in Zhi Rui direction.

Even though he was wearing heavy armor and wielding a heavy sword he was fast. Zhi Rui thought that blackie would not be able to catch him. Zhi Rui aimed her crossbow that was condensing her energy since before entering the arena. He was charging straight towards her. She aimed in the middle of his chest. with a flicker of her wrist, The arrow flew.