Chapter 345: How are you sitting on the judges' seat?

The Qingzhou Grand Ceremony has officially commenced, with the grand competition for the younger generation being its most anticipated event.

Each year, this competition showcases young cultivators of exceptionally high potential, often making those who have spent their lives in obscurity feel ashamed and sigh with regret. Their potential has indeed been proven: aside from those who met an unexpected demise, most achieved great success and renown, either becoming sect leaders or establishing their own sects.

Not only does the Qingzhou government value these young cultivators, but many sect forces are also present, hoping to recruit promising talents. Perhaps due to the coming of a great era, the young cultivators participating in the competition in recent years have been even more extraordinary, continuously breaking previous records.

"Look! Isn't that Li Shaoyang from the Dingfeng Sect? I heard he's already reached the great perfection of Qi Refinement. He encountered bandits blocking his path during his travels down the mountain, and with a single strike of his long spear, he pierced through all three ninth-level Qi Refinement bandits!"

"What?! He's reached the great perfection of Qi Refinement at such a young age? That's a realm strong enough to rank among the top eight!"

Cultivators at the ninth level of Qi Refinement can attempt Foundation Establishment. To increase their success rate, they meticulously refine this realm, which outsiders refer to as the great perfection of Qi Refinement. Most cultivators gathered here are in the Qi Refinement stage, and achieving the great perfection of Qi Refinement is their ultimate goal. The Five Great Immortal Sects do not acknowledge this concept; they have no interest in even subdividing the Qi Refinement stage. To them, there is no significant difference between the first level of Qi Refinement and its great perfection.

"And that exceptionally beautiful female cultivator next to him is Qiao Hongye, from the first-rank Wuxiu Sect. She's also at the great perfection of Qi Refinement and possesses dual Wood and Fire spiritual roots. The Wuxiu Sect held an internal competition where several cultivators at the great perfection of Qi Refinement participated, and Qiao Hongye took first place!"

"In previous years, reaching the great perfection of Qi Refinement would be enough to rank among the top eight, but this year it's hard to say. There's a rumor that several Foundation Establishment cultivators are participating!"

"Foundation Establishment cultivators under eighteen?! And there are several?"

His companion said mysteriously, "Have you heard of Gu Qisheng from Changhong Palace? Born in the year, month, and hour of Yin, he possesses a Profound Yin physique. He encountered a great calamity at birth; if not for the Changhong Palace Master saving him, he would likely have died young."

"A Profound Yin physique incurs heavenly jealousy; their birth is a great calamity. If they overcome it, their cultivation will be smooth. If not, they will die prematurely."

"Someone saw Gu Qisheng arrive yesterday; he's already at the early Foundation Establishment stage."

"Hello, we're here to register for the competition."

A yamen runner was registering names nearby, and the scene was rather deserted. Typically, participants register in advance, but a small number decide to compete on the spur of the moment. The yamen runner glanced at the two individuals with friendly smiles. He couldn't discern their cultivation levels but didn't pay it much mind, as it was common for cultivators to carry artifacts that concealed their true power.

Pointing to a nearby stone, he said, "This is the lowest quality Profound Iron Stone. Only cultivators at the late Qi Refinement stage can break it. Go on, break the stone."

To the two, the Profound Iron Stone was no different from tofu. With a light palm strike, the stone shattered into pieces.

"Looks like they're at the Foundation Establishment stage," he muttered. "This year truly has hidden dragons and crouching tigers."

"This is the Age-Ring Stone," the runner continued. "Place your hand on it and channel your spiritual energy."

On the other side of the yamen runner was a stone resembling several roots, marked with concentric circles. It was specifically used in the cultivation world to test a cultivator's age. The two placed their hands on it and channeled their spiritual energy. The age rings lit up, circle after circle, finally stopping at the seventeenth circle.

"Under eighteen," he confirmed. "You can participate in the competition."

"Name?"

"Lu Yang."

"Sect?"

"Wendao Sect."

"Huh?" The yamen runner suddenly looked up sharply, scrutinizing Lu Yang as if he had seen a ghost.

Lu Yang asked curiously, "Is there a problem?"

The yamen runner recalled what the Prefectural Governor had said: "Encourage participation in the grand competition; the more people participate, the better. Don't be afraid if participants have prestigious backgrounds; only fear if those with prestigious backgrounds don't participate." With two Wendao Sect disciples participating, the Prefectural Governor would surely be very pleased.

"No, no problem," he quickly replied. "You can participate in the competition. And you, what's your name?"

"Meng Jingzhou, also from Wendao Sect."

"Here," he said, handing them two slips. "These are your numbers. In another quarter of an hour, the drawing of lots will begin to determine the combat list. Prepare yourselves."

"Understood!"

"That's strange," Lan Ting remarked, sitting upright in the judge's seat. "The first round of the grand competition is about to begin, but Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou haven't appeared yet."

"Perhaps something unexpected happened on the way, causing a delay," Bai Ming guessed, noting it was a common occurrence. He himself always encountered unexpected situations during his travels down the mountain.

"Wait," Yan Tianzhi said, as laconic as ever.

Lan Ting had just met Yan Tianzhi and wasn't yet familiar with him. Bai Ming had informed her that Yan Tianzhi rarely spoke, making it unlikely to expect any commentary from him. Lan Ting sighed helplessly. It seemed the heavy responsibility of commentary would fall upon her.

The people below noticed the three individuals on the judge's panel and began to whisper.

"Who are these three people?" someone muttered. "They look so young; can they really be judges?"

"Especially that girl," another added. "She's beautiful, I've never seen anyone so pretty, but she doesn't seem to have much combat experience."

"That's where you're mistaken," someone corrected. "These three are disciples of Immortal Sects, true prodigies. I heard they are the most outstanding among their peers in their respective sects!"

"More than that!" another exclaimed. "Someone in my family works for the Prefectural Office, and he said all three are Golden Core stage cultivators!"

"Golden Core stage?!"

"Now you know how big the talent gap is, right?"

The highest cultivation level among the participants is only Foundation Establishment, so Golden Core stage cultivators commenting on them is more than sufficient.

Lan Ting scanned the profiles of the cultivators participating in the first round and said in a gentle tone: "The first participant in this round is Feng He, a true disciple from the first-rank Qiqing Sect. Not long ago, Feng He broke through to the Foundation Establishment stage without the aid of a Foundation Establishment pill, relying solely on the solid foundation he laid during his Qi Refinement stage. He is now an early Foundation Establishment cultivator."

"The Qiqing Sect expresses its insights into the seven emotions and six desires through the path of music. Feng He has fully inherited the sect's true teachings and is skilled in the musical arts. With a single performance of 'Departure's Joy,' birds halt their flight, and flower buds burst open!"

"Feng He is also one of the seeded contestants in this grand competition. Let's look forward to his performance!"

Feng He's lips curved into a confident smile. With his early Foundation Establishment cultivation, he was certain to shine brightly in this grand competition. When roaming the cultivation world, one relies on strength, and two relies on reputation. This grand competition would be his starting point for gaining fame!

"Feng He's opponent is a cultivator who registered at the last minute," Lan Ting announced. "And that opponent is... Lu Yang from the Wendao Sect?!"

Lan Ting almost failed to maintain her composure halfway through her announcement. She put down the documents in her hand and looked towards the arena. Upon seeing that familiar figure, her expression turned very strange. She turned her head to look at Bai Ming beside her, whose expression was identical to hers.

Lu Yang saw Lan Ting and Bai Ming on the arena stage. He first raised his hand in greeting, then scratched the back of his head in confusion. What's going on? Didn't you say you were participating in the grand competition? How are you sitting on the judges' panel?