Chapter 339: Where's My Patent Fee?

The Senior Disciple Sister took out a gilded invitation. Just by looking at the cover, one could tell it was very valuable. "There's a competition for the younger generation at the Qingzhou Grand Ceremony. The Qingzhou government sent an invitation to our Dao Seeking Sect, hoping we'd send one person to participate. I was planning to tell you about this, but since Junior Brother Meng brought it up, it saves me a lot of trouble."

"A competition for the younger generation?" Lu Yang was eager to try. Apart from the Five Elements Sect, he hadn't yet fought anyone his age.

"Let's go then, we'll use my carriage," Meng Jingzhou offered.

"Just the two of us? Aren't Junior Sister Tao and the others coming?"

"I did ask them all. Junior Sister Tao said she's waiting for the results from the Second Elder and the Eighth Elder, though I'm not sure what results. Plus, I saw her diligently studying the Feathered Immortal Physique, so I didn't press her."

"Junior Brother Man went back to his Barbarian tribe's hometown to visit relatives, and I don't know when he'll be back."

"Junior Brother Li is enjoying family life, trying every possible way to help our grand-niece form her Golden Core, so he's unwilling to come out."

Meng Jingzhou felt a pang of regret. This was such a rare opportunity. Of the fifteen prefectures in Daxia, there were only fifteen such large-scale events each year. If they missed this one, they'd have to wait another month. They just weren't catching a good time.

He was someone who enjoyed a lively atmosphere, so of course, the more people who went, the better.

After Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou left, the Senior Disciple Sister suddenly remembered something and opened the invitation: "On the third day of the 99,860th year of the Daxia calendar, the Qingzhou Grand Ceremony will be held as usual. We kindly request your esteemed sect to send an outstanding disciple to participate in the ceremony and offer guidance as a judge."

"Junior Brother Lu and Junior Brother Meng probably won't be on the arena stage... right?"

Yun Zhi murmured to herself, feeling she was likely worrying for nothing.

As the first and second strongest among the Dao Seeking Sect's younger generation, their strength was undeniable, far surpassing others.

If they were to compete in the arena, it would be simply unfair to others.

"When I was at home, I often heard them talk about grand ceremonies and how spectacular they were. Listening to their descriptions always made me want to see them for myself."

"It's a pity I hadn't started cultivating back then, so I wasn't qualified to attend."

"The Qingzhou Grand Ceremony is held for cultivators. To avoid disrupting the normal lives of mortals, Qingzhou designates a special area outside the city where powerful cultivators temporarily construct a city."

Inside the carriage, Meng Jingzhou gestured animatedly, while Lu Yang listened, his eyes wide with fascination.

"Besides combat competitions, the ceremony also features auctions, appraisal services, bartering, relic exploration, Golden Core appreciation, and all sorts of other activities. Every cultivator who goes there is sure to gain something significant."

"It's not just for our younger generation; there are also intermediate and high-level cultivators. However, those cultivators have their own social circles and won't be mingling with us."

Intermediate and high-level cultivators were considerably older than Lu Yang and his peers. If they were around, the younger generation would inevitably feel constrained in their actions.

Lu Yang understood this perfectly: when classmates came over to play, the way they played was completely different depending on whether parents were present or not.

"Cultivator exchange gatherings, we had those back then too. But at that time, everyone was very aggressive, constantly threatening to kill entire families. What was ostensibly an exchange meeting often became a dangerous place where rogue cultivators would secretly act, murdering people and seizing their treasures."

"That's why only major clans were qualified to host cultivator exchange gatherings, as they offered the highest safety. Examples include the Lianshan Clan behind the Nine-Layered Immortal, the Dragon and Phoenix Clans, and the Four Great Ferocious Clans."

The Immortal Fairy sighed, recalling how difficult things used to be.

Lu Yang recalled that the Nine-Layered Immortal once made the Immortal Fairy cook to make prisoners confess. The prisoners mentioned here were likely rogue cultivators who had crossed the line with the ancient Lianshan Clan.

"Later, when the five of us became immortals, we'd hold irregular exchange gatherings. Our gatherings were very safe; there were no reckless individuals committing murder and theft. However, I'm not good at organizing meetings, so Qing He would help me arrange them."

"One time, I suggested that since the exchange gathering was being held at my place, we should choose a unique location, like the Mother-Child River or Twin River — places with mountains and water, beautiful scenery. Anyone who wanted to play in the water could even go into the river."

"Qing He righteously and sternly rejected my suggestion, saying those places were very dangerous."

Lu Yang thought to himself, 'Fairy, your river water is the biggest enemy of family planning; who would dare go into that river?'

"Sometimes, Immortal Yingtian would also 'accidentally' let some books circulate at the gatherings, which chronicled the great achievements of us five immortals."

"I asked Immortal Yingtian why he did that, and he said that if immortals publicly bestowed books, people would doubt their authenticity. But if the books seemed to have circulated by accident, people would consider them much more reliable."

Lu Yang thought Immortal Yingtian made a lot of sense and learned a trick.

What Lu Yang didn't know was that the rumor of Immortal Yingtian making countless women pregnant also spread in a similar fashion.

The old horse slowly traveled for two days, traversing mountains and rivers, finally arriving in Qingzhou.

As soon as they entered Qingzhou territory, the old horse ceased its spatial shifting ability. Previously, they had been on secluded mountain paths where no one saw them, but that wouldn't do now. This was Qingzhou, bustling with people, and it would scare pedestrians.

Meng Jingzhou poked his head out and saw the scenery nearby, a wide smile spreading across his face. "We're almost there."

Lu Yang also poked his head out from the other side. The mountains were thickly forested, lush and green. Between the grand peaks, buildings constructed from bluestone were scattered, forming a picturesque scene.

Although they were temporary constructions, their exquisite structure clearly showed the effort put into them.

Many small black dots were moving from one building to another; these were cultivators.

The carriage was unremarkable, and the arrival of Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou did not attract any special attention.

Whoosh—

A dark shadow streaked overhead. The two looked up and saw a remarkably fast flying boat.

The flying boat's arrival drew gasps from the pedestrians.

"Look! That's the Thunderfire Sect's flying boat! So fast! How many spirit stones must that flying boat be worth? I heard the Thunderfire Sect has produced an extraordinary genius in this generation. Are those people following closely behind the flying boat the genius's protectors?"

"Oh, I was mistaken. The Thunderfire Sect's flying boat was speeding, and those behind it are constables."

"What's that strange magical artifact? The symbol on it belongs to the Cloud Dream Sword Sect!"

"Beneath the artifact is a sword, and on top of the sword is a large iron shell. I've never seen anything like it."

"I know what that is! It's called a flying vehicle. I heard it's a magical artifact invented by a sword dao genius from the Dao Seeking Sect, and it hasn't become widespread yet. Previously, sword-riding could only carry one person, but this flying vehicle can carry five."

"As expected of the Dao Seeking Sect! Their ingenuity and brilliant ideas are far beyond what we can achieve."

"Indeed! I heard the Dao Seeking Sect subtly shows signs of becoming the leader of the Five Great Immortal Sects. Everyone in their sect is a preeminent talent and an outstanding individual!"

Meng Jingzhou turned to look at Lu Yang, who had a strange expression on his face.

This flying vehicle was his invention. Later, the Fifth Elder had Li Haoran apply for a patent, and he hadn't paid attention to it since. He never thought it would be mass-produced already.

"Wait a minute, where are my patent royalties?"