Chapter 420: Chapter 419: Cannot Violate the Ancestral Teachings _1

“None of you go on stage, Lu Yang, you’ve had a vast range of experiences, it’s time for my luck to turn!” Meng Jingzhou stopped Lu Yang and Zhao Po, who had no plans to go on stage in the first place.

Before Meng Jingzhou could take the stage, another person beat him to it. He was a middle-aged man, collected and wise, with a long beard, a picture of refined elegance.

The long-bearded man was well-known locally, and people in the crowd recognized him, “It’s Mr. Xiang from Tenglong Academy. He has educated countless scholars in his academy, even mentoring one to become a distinguished scholar. His students are spread all over Wild State, including the Imperial City!”.

“Not just that, he is a bona fide Confucian Cultivator. One of his graduated students said that he had already reached the early stage of the Golden Core five years ago. It’s unknown if he has broken through now. Numerous prestigious families with Golden Core cultivation would like their offspring to be apprenticed to him, offering generous gifts as tribute, but he refuses all!”

“What, he reached the Golden Core early stage five years ago? How can we compete then? How could Fairy Qing Luo possibly beat him?”

In the world of cultivators, the term “Fairy” is often used to praise the beauty, talent, and power of female cultivators. After all, in public perception, there are no women amongst the immortals, and the term Fairy is not used casually.

Lu Yang never used the term “Fairy” to praise others. Not because he was cautious with his words, but he didn’t think it was a compliment…

“Don’t panic, Fairy Qing Luo is undoubtedly talented. She’s only eighteen and already in the late stage of Foundation Establishment – the youngest among all the past sect leaders of Cloud Platform Sect. Even if she faces someone in the early stage of the Golden Core phase, she could give a good fight!”

“That’s great… wait a minute, does that mean we have no chance at all?”

Mr. Xiang stood on the stage, a genteel smile dancing on his lips, “Sect Master Qing, please come forth.”

Qing Luo sighed leisurely, “Mr. Xiang, didn’t you read the rules? Competing cultivators must be under twenty years old. You’re in your forties; even if I were to choose a spouse, I would prefer someone closer to my age.”

Mr. Xiang, taking a hit, was immediately inspired to write a poem, “Before my birth, you were born. At your birth, I was old. We are destined to be apart.”

“Indeed, so could you please leave the stage? I’ve only paid for the venue for one day, and time is limited.”

Mr. Xiang left the stage, dispirited.

The subsequent cultivators who ascended the stage were more promising – all twenty-year-old talents, including those disguised as men.

“This girl named Qing Luo has quite a solid foundation. Despite having flaws, given her environment and lack of guidance, achieving this standard of Foundation Establishment is quite remarkable – either she had an extraordinary encounter, or she’s a genius.”

“She is quite impressive. Even in our Corpse Chasing Sect, she would be selected as a true inheritance disciple, competing for a top-eight or even top-four spot in the Sect’s competition.”

Lu Yang and Zhao Po quietly discussed Qing Luo’s talent.

“Why not try to recruit her into your Corpse Chasing Sect? A talent like her is wasted in such a small place,” Lu Yang laughed.

“Depends on the individual’s choice. I could try but it may not work. I have seen many who are unwilling to abandon their own sect, claiming it’s their home that took them in and raised them, and they can’t abandon it.”

“Also, because of our cultivation method in Corpse Chasing Sect, the faces of our members are whiter than ghost, like they have been dead for days. Some cultivators refuse to join us for this reason and choose other First Class Sects instead,” Zhao Po pointed to his face, which was paler than a woman’s. Whether legitimate corpse-drivers or not, they all looked alike.

Lu Yang nodded, agreeing with him. When he first met Zhao Po, he mistook him for a living corpse.

As they conversed, Qing Luo, demonstrating a solid foundation, easily defeated challenger after challenger with her masterful use of the Cloud Control Technique.

Finally, it was Meng Jingzhou’s turn.

Meng Jingzhou revealed a confident smile, steadily walking onto the stage. His mere presence was enough to create an intense pressure.

“I am the disciple of Seek Dao Sect, Meng Jingzhou!”

At his words, the crowd’s pupils contracted, prompting a wave of murmurs and restless chatter.

“Seek Dao Sect? The leading sect among the Five Great Immortal Sects?!”

“I heard that anyone who comes out from there is a peerless genius. Even those who run restaurants there could gain great reputation outside!”

“Why does the name Meng Jingzhou sound so familiar?”

“Isn’t he the one from the Qingzhou grand ceremony?”

Upon hearing Meng Jingzhou’s name, Lu Yang’s face changed drastically, “You mean the Meng Jingzhou who had already formed the golden core, but still participated in the competition for the prize of Golden Core comprehension?”

“I heard he simply enjoys bullying those of a lower realm.”

“Didn’t he go to disrupt the Qingzhou grand ceremony?”

“No, he doesn’t have any grudges with Qingzhou, he just wanted to challenge the judges.”

Lu Yang added, “He didn’t manage to beat the judges, and voluntarily jumped off the stage and forfeited.”

There was a lot of speculation among the crowd, everyone was hearing something different, but none were far from the truth.

Qing Luo’s face turned peculiar, she looked at Meng Jingzhou with clear disdain.

Clearly, she too had heard of Meng Jingzhou’s reputation.

After the Qingzhou grand ceremony, the story of Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou swept across the Central Continent like a whirlwind and was widely circulated among low-rank cultivators.

However, because of the vast range of the rumors, some information got skewed.

On hearing the whispering, Meng Jingzhou looked vexed. This was how his reputation got ruined.

“As a cultivator, I must have a steadfast heart. The opinions of others are like passing clouds to me. But why do I feel like I heard a familiar voice among all the whispers?”

“Nevermind, I’ll think about it later. Let’s win first!”

Meng Jingzhou gestured an ‘after you’, allowing Qing Luo to make the first move.

Since Meng Jingzhou met the contest rules, Qing Luo couldn’t say much and took the lead. She manipulated auspicious clouds into forming various weapons which she aimed explosively at Meng Jingzhou.

This move alone had taken down many challengers.

“What a mastery of Cloud Control Technique!” Meng Jingzhou’s eyes shone, readying his fist to meet the weapon onslaught.

“Exploding Punch!”

On collision with his punches, the eighteen weapons instantly dissociated into gentle billowing white clouds.

Qing Luo was formidable, but unluckily, she met Meng Jingzhou.

Even if Qing Luo was at the Golden Core Stage, she still wouldn’t be a match for Meng Jingzhou.

It took only three punches from Meng Jingzhou to force out all Qing Luo’s trump cards and press her into admitting defeat.

“I concede,” she said.

Accepting her defeat gracefully, she bit her lip and said to Meng Jingzhou, “According to our sect’s rules, whoever defeats me becomes my husband.”

Meng Jingzhou’s eyes sparkled, “In that case…”

Qing Luo made a firm decision that would shape her life trajectory.

“Going by that, I guess I’ll have to abolish that rule!”