Chapter 411: Ancestral Teachings Cannot Be Violated

“None of you should go on stage. Lu Yang, you’ve had so many rich experiences on this journey; it’s about time my luck turned for the better!” Meng Jingzhou stopped Lu Yang and Zhao Po, who had no intention of going on stage anyway.

Before Meng Jingzhou went on stage, someone else stepped forward. It was a rather composed-looking middle-aged man with a long beard and an air of scholarly refinement.

The long-bearded middle-aged man was renowned locally. Someone in the audience recognized him: “It’s Grand Master Xiang from Soaring Dragon Academy! He founded Soaring Dragon Academy and has taught countless scholars. He even mentored a *Juren* (provincial graduate), and his disciples are spread throughout Barren State, even reaching the imperial capital!”

“Not only that, he’s also an orthodox Confucian cultivator. One of his graduated students said he already had an early Golden Core cultivation five years ago. It’s unknown whether he has broken through since then. Countless Golden Core families wish for their descendants to study under him, offering hefty sums as tuition, but he’s refused them all!”

“What? He was already early Golden Core five years ago! How can any of us compete then? How could Fairy Qingluo possibly defeat him?!”

The cultivation world liked to use the term ‘fairy’ to praise female cultivators’ beauty, talent, and strength. After all, in public perception, there were no females among immortals, so the term ‘fairy’ could be used however one pleased.

Lu Yang never used ‘fairy’ to praise anyone. It wasn't because he was cautious with his words, but rather because he felt it wasn't much of a compliment.

“Don’t panic! Fairy Qingluo is exceptionally talented. At just eighteen, she’s already at the late Foundation Establishment stage. She’s the youngest sect master in Cloud Platform Sect’s history, and it’s not impossible for her to fight an early Golden Core cultivator!”

“That’s great… Wait, doesn’t that mean we don’t stand a chance either?”

Grand Master Xiang stood on the arena stage, a refined smile playing on his lips. “Sect Master Qing, please.”

Qingluo let out a soft sigh. “Grand Master Xiang, didn’t you read the rules? Participants must be under twenty. You’re over forty. Even if I were looking for a husband, I’d at least look for someone closer to my age, wouldn’t I?”

Grand Master Xiang was struck by this blow, and poetic inspiration surged within him. He immediately composed two lines of poetry: “You were born when I was not; when you were born, I was old. We are destined to have no fate together.”

“Yes, indeed. So, could you please step down? I only paid for one day’s venue fee, and time is limited.”

Grand Master Xiang descended the stage, crestfallen.

The cultivators who came on stage afterward were more reliable. They were all young talents around twenty years old, and among them, there were quite a few women disguised as men, traveling the martial world.

Lu Yang and Zhao Po quietly commented on Qingluo’s talent.“This Qingluo has a solid foundation,” Lu Yang said. “Although there are flaws, it’s extremely rare to reach this level of Foundation Establishment cultivating in such an environment, lacking guidance. She either had a miraculous encounter or is a genius.”“She’s indeed quite good,” Zhao Po added. “Even in our Corpse Herding Sect, she could be selected as a true disciple and reach the top eight or even top four in the sect’s grand competition.”

“How about recruiting her into your Corpse Herding Sect? It’s a pity for such a genius to remain in a small place like this,” Lu Yang said with a smile.

“It’s up to her personal choice. I can try, but it might not work out,” Zhao Po replied. “I’ve seen many people unwilling to abandon their own sects, saying it’s where they were taken in and nurtured, and they can’t just forsake it.”

“Moreover, because of our cultivation technique, people from our Corpse Herding Sect have faces as pale as if they’ve been dead for days. Some cultivators are unwilling to join us because of this, choosing other first-grade sects instead,” Zhao Po said, pointing to his own face, which was paler than a woman’s. Both orthodox and unorthodox corpse herders shared this complexion.

Lu Yang nodded, deeply agreeing. When he first met Zhao Po, he had thought he was a living corpse.

As the two had discussed, Qingluo’s foundation was solid, and peers her age rarely matched her. Her cloud manipulation technique was masterful, and she easily defeated one ambitious young person after another.

Finally, it was Meng Jingzhou’s turn to step onto the stage.

Meng Jingzhou revealed a confident smile and calmly ascended the stage. Just standing there, he exuded immense pressure.

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

At these words, everyone’s pupils contracted slightly, and the audience immediately erupted into an unstoppable buzz of discussion.

“The Dao Inquiry Sect? The Dao Inquiry Sect, the leader of the Five Great Immortal Sects?!”

“I heard anyone who walks out of there is an unparalleled genius. Even someone who opens a restaurant can be called an ancestor outside.”

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

“It seems like it’s the Meng Jingzhou from the Qingzhou Grand Ceremony.”

Upon hearing Meng Jingzhou’s name, Lu Yang’s expression drastically changed, and he blurted out, “The Meng Jingzhou who already formed a Core but still participated in the competition just for the Core Formation insights among the rewards?!”

“I heard he just genuinely enjoys bullying lower-level cultivators?”

“Didn’t he go to the Qingzhou Grand Ceremony to cause trouble?”

“Not really, he had no grudge with Qingzhou. He just simply wanted to challenge the judges.”

Lu Yang followed up by saying, “He didn’t even win against the judges; he voluntarily jumped off the stage and forfeited.”

Everyone had different versions of the story, with various rumors circulating. However, without exception, they were all true.

Qingluo’s expression was peculiar; she looked at Meng Jingzhou with a hint of disdain. Clearly, she too had heard of Meng Jingzhou’s notorious reputation.

After the Qingzhou Grand Ceremony, the stories of Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou swept across the Central Continent like a whirlwind. They were widely spread among lower-level cultivators. However, due to the widespread nature of the rumors, the information became distorted.

Hearing the whispers, Meng Jingzhou’s face darkened. His reputation had been ruined just like that.

“As a cultivator, one must have a firm Dao heart. External evaluations are like fleeting clouds to me. But why did I hear a familiar voice in the discussion just now?”

“Never mind, I’ll deal with it later. First, I need to win!”

Meng Jingzhou gestured for Qingluo to make the first move.

Meng Jingzhou naturally complied with the rules. Qingluo had nothing to say and made the first move. An auspicious cloud rose behind her, transforming into eighteen kinds of weapons—axes, halberds, swords, forks, and more—all incredibly sharp, shooting towards Meng Jingzhou!

This single move alone had caused all previous challengers immense difficulty, leading to their defeat in the very first exchange.

“What splendid cloud manipulation!” Meng Jingzhou’s eyes lit up. Facing the barrage of eighteen weapons, he assumed a boxing stance.

“Crushing Fist!”

With a double-peak strike, the eighteen weapons met his fist seals and instantly turned into soft, fluffy white clouds.

It wasn’t that Qingluo wasn’t strong; it was merely a pity that she had encountered Meng Jingzhou. Let alone Qingluo being at the Foundation Establishment stage; even if she were at the Golden Core stage, she would still be no match for Meng Jingzhou.

Meng Jingzhou only needed three punches to force out all of Qingluo’s trump cards, forcing her to concede defeat.

“I concede.”

Qingluo accepted her defeat, gritting her teeth as she looked at Meng Jingzhou. “Our ancestral rules cannot be violated. According to them, whoever defeats me shall be my husband.”

Meng Jingzhou’s eyes lit up. “Then….”

Qingluo’s gaze was firm as she made a crucial decision concerning her life.

“Since that’s the case, I’ll just have to abolish this ancestral rule!”