“So, I was thinking, I'd organize an event,” Sect Leader Xiong said with a smile, looking at her.
Bai Ran instantly felt it wouldn't be anything good: “It's not going to be another picking a bride with a silk ball or something…”
“No, no, no, I’m not that kind of person.”
Bai Ran sighed: “Sect Leader, just tell me directly, what do you need me to do?”
Sect Leader Xiong’s eyes crinkled with amusement: “Isn't the sect's ranking competition coming up soon?”
“I was thinking, could you take the disciples in the sect for some training?”
“Me?” Bai Ran pointed at herself, a little incredulous: “The sect's instructors or elders would do, why me?”
Sect Leader Xiong chuckled: “Because the team that participates in the sect ranking competition will be determined by you, the captain.”
Bai Ran was momentarily stunned: “I lead the disciples on a training expedition?”
Sect Leader Xiong nodded.
“I'm the captain of the participating team?”
Sect Leader Xiong nodded.
“I have to select the participants too?”
Sect Leader Xiong nodded again.
Bai Ran’s face darkened: “I refuse.”
“You’ll get eighty percent of the rewards.”
Sect Leader Xiong said, but Bai Ran was adamant: “Even with one hundred percent, I refuse.”
“Oh, young lady, don’t be so quick to refuse,” Sect Leader Xiong coaxed.
“This training is to act as mercenaries and complete missions. Think about it, how generous the rewards would be for mercenary work.”
Bai Ran looked at him: “I can do missions and train myself. Why should I drag so many burdens along?”
Sect Leader Xiong choked, as if making a great sacrifice: “As long as you agree, I will fulfill three of your conditions!”
“Any conditions at all?” Bai Ran raised an eyebrow.
“Any conditions at all,” Sect Leader Xiong said, looking at her: “Even if you want to ascend to the Upper Realm immediately, I can agree.”
Hearing this, Bai Ran pondered for a moment: “How many slots are there for the sect ranking competition?”
“Five, including you,” Sect Leader Xiong replied.
Five… After a long while, Bai Ran lightly chuckled: “Three conditions, plus all the rewards from the missions.”
Sect Leader Xiong’s heart bled, but he slapped his thigh: “It’s settled then!”
“I’ll go gather the disciples,” Sect Leader Xiong stood up.
Not long after, all the core disciples of the Que Tian Sect were gathered.
“Sect Leader, are we selecting disciples for the sect ranking competition?”
“That must be it, but it seems earlier than usual this year.”
The core disciples chattered, constantly discussing why Sect Leader Xiong had summoned them.
Sect Leader Xiong smiled, his hands behind his back: “I have summoned you all today precisely to prepare for the sect ranking competition.”
“However, before the sect ranking competition, I’ve decided that you will all undergo some training first.”
“Training?” a female disciple asked: “Why training this year?”
Hearing this, Sect Leader Xiong chuckled and pointed to Bai Ran not far away: “During this training, this young lady will select the other four disciples who will participate in the sect ranking competition!”
Training for a period would allow Bai Ran to better understand each disciple's abilities, and Bai Ran could also get to know the participating disciples.
But the core disciples exploded upon hearing this.
“Why should she choose the team! That’s unfair!”
“Exactly! Usually, Senior Sister Ran leads the team! Why is it suddenly someone else this year?”
“Unfair!”
The woman referred to as Senior Sister Ran had an unusually grim expression.
…
Sect Leader Xiong smiled, unsurprised by the disciples’ dissatisfaction.
He looked at Bai Ran, *The team is unhappy with your leadership, young lady, how will you resolve this…*
Bai Ran curled her lips into a smile and stepped forward: “Who is unhappy with me being the captain, or with me choosing the team, raise your hand.”
All the disciples present, over a dozen, raised their hands.
Core disciples were the top tier of disciples within the sect; they possessed outstanding strength and naturally wouldn't accept management from an outer disciple.
Facing these arrogant disciples, a good beating would make them obedient.
Bai Ran drew out her Feng Yin Sword, its tip pointing at the disciples opposite her: “Defeat me, and I will withdraw.”
“How can she be so arrogant!” a male disciple clenched his fist.
Fighting ten opponents at once, this woman was simply too insulting!
The woman called Senior Sister Ran was the first to charge at Bai Ran.
“I’ll see what you’re capable of!” She wielded a long sword and slashed at Bai Ran.
*Crack—* Bai Ran moved her hand, and the woman’s sword actually cracked!
“Nascent Soul Stage Seventh Level, your strength is not bad,” she said with a smile, looking at the woman before her.
The woman looked at the sword in her hand in disbelief, *How is this possible! My sword actually cracked!*
The remaining disciples were shocked and also launched attacks at Bai Ran.
“Let’s go together! I don’t believe she can fight all ten of us alone!”
The disciples attacked at an extremely rapid pace. Bai Ran grinned and instantly vanished from her spot.
“Where is she!” The disciples stopped abruptly, looking around.
*Damn it, where did she go!*
“Ah!” A scream rang out, and several disciples had already fallen to the ground.
*Damn it…* The disciples’ nerves tensed, completely unable to see her figure…
Suddenly, a heavy blow landed on their necks. Before the disciples could utter a sound, their limbs went weak and they collapsed to the ground.
Before long, no disciple was standing…
Completely annihilated… One disciple punched the ground, *We really lost…*
Bai Ran reappeared, clapping her hands: “The core disciples of Que Tian Sect, is this all you’ve got?”
Mockery, sheer mockery…
A woman clenched her fist: “You cheated!”
“I cheated?” Bai Ran raised her eyebrows: “Not only is your strength lacking, but your temperament is also problematic.”
“As core disciples of the sect, you are arrogant and look down on others. Not only can you not accept defeat, but you also try to slander others.”
“You truly think you’re the best in the world!”
Facing Bai Ran’s reprimand, the woman lowered her head in shame. She simply couldn’t accept the outcome of her defeat…
“You have ten minutes. Immediately return to your quarters, grab your essentials, and gather here,” Bai Ran sheathed the Feng Yin Sword.
“If you exceed ten minutes, then I’ll consider you to have forfeited the competition!”
The disciples hadn't even reacted before Bai Ran continued: “You have nine minutes and fifty-five seconds left.”
Instantly, the disciples on the scene stood up and bolted towards their quarters.
Over a dozen figures flashed by, leaving only Sect Leader Xiong and Bai Ran on the plaza.
“Hahahaha!” Sect Leader Xiong burst into laughter: “Young lady, I didn’t expect you to have such a talent for disciplining people!”
He laughed, watching the disciples flee in disarray.
Hearing this, Bai Ran sighed helplessly: “Sect Leader, you’re laughing a bit too loudly.”
Sect Leader Xiong’s eyes twinkled with amusement: “Entrusting the disciples to you, I feel at ease.”