Chapter 436 - 229: Jianzhen Lake, The Spoiler

Chapter 436: Chapter 229: Jianzhen Lake, The Spoiler

「The second day of the Small Hidden Dragon Assembly.」

The crowd around the arena next to Wangjiang Building had grown even larger.

The vast, open space by the Great River was almost completely packed. Calling it a sea of people would be no exaggeration.

First, it was the second day, the main event of the Small Hidden Dragon Assembly. This was the competition for cultivators at the Qi and Blood Second Transformation Realm, and only the winner could be called the grand champion of the assembly.

Second, the results of yesterday’s matches had spread like wildfire through the taverns and inns overnight.

The Cloud Mountain Sword Sect had swept the top three. Yao Tianchuan had defeated an opponent with a single sword strike, only to be defeated by a single strike himself, revealing an unstable Sword Heart.

Meanwhile, the previously unknown Zhang Shan from the Sword Sect had emerged as a dark horse. He had used fewer than five sword strikes from start to finish to seize the championship, making him arguably the most effortless winner in the history of the Small Hidden Dragon Assembly.

After such a dramatic competition, many spectators who had stayed away because of the crowds—and because it was only the First Transformation competition—were filled with regret. Adding to the excitement was the Yao family’s grand gesture of offering two entry spots to the Jianzhen Lake ruins. As a result, today’s crowd was much larger than yesterday’s, with people packed all the way to the riverbank.

Atop Wangjiang Building.

Ning Zi gazed down at the bustling crowd below and remarked,

"Jiangnan is so prosperous. Yunzhou Prefecture has a large population, but I’ve never seen a sight this grand. Does everyone here have so much money and free time? I’ve never seen so many people in one place!"

"Well, Jinling Prefecture is prosperous and densely populated, for one. For another, the Small Hidden Dragon Assembly is a major event in Jiangnan that draws a lot of attention. Many people have traveled from out of town, which is why we’re seeing a crowd like this."

Qin Zhenyang explained briefly, then added with a smile,

"Junior Sister Ning, are you nervous? That doesn’t seem like you."

Ning Zi lifted her chin, her long hair drifting in the morning light as she announced spiritedly,

"Scared? Me? Just watch, I won’t let Junior Brother Zhang steal all the spotlight!"

Xie Yuan immediately said,

"Senior Sister Ning, your swordsmanship is exceptional and your cultivation is profound. You’re sure to get off to a winning start!"

Ning Zi nodded and said with a grin,

"Even if you’re a little dense, Junior Brother Zhang, you certainly know what to say. You know, it wouldn’t be a bad idea for you to just come to Yao Yue Peak. I’d dote on you!"

Although Xie Yuan had always been aware of Ning Zi’s... magnanimity, he still tactfully declined:

"Thank you, Senior Sister, but Yao Yue Peak doesn’t accept male disciples, after all. I’m afraid I’m not so fortunate."

"There have been a few times in the Sect’s history where a male disciple married one of our peak’s disciples and was counted as a member of Yao Yue Peak. You should consider that shortcut, Junior Brother Zhang."

Seeing Ning Zi wiggle her brows and grin mischievously, Xie Yuan averted his gaze, remaining silent and flustered, determined to maintain his persona as the simple and honest Zhang Shan.

Ning Zi was naturally outgoing, and today, perhaps because she was about to compete, she seemed even more lively. She turned to Qin Zhenyang.

"Hey, Senior Brother Qin, this place is packed with experts. Do you think I can take first place?"

Qin Zhenyang offered some encouragement:

"With your cultivation, Junior Sister Ning, if you perform well and have a little bit of luck on your side, the chances are quite high."

Ning Zi’s cultivation was already extraordinary, and after losing last year’s duel between the two sects, she had trained with even greater diligence, making further progress this year.

She was already close to the level required to be on the Hidden Dragon List, so everyone was eagerly anticipating how she would perform this time.

Ning Zi beamed and said,

"I know asking now might sound a bit arrogant, but I’m just curious. Senior Brother Qin, what exactly are the Jianzhen Lake ruins like? I’ve heard about them a few times but never gotten the full story, and the curiosity is killing me."

Qin Zhenyang nodded.

"I was going to explain it to Junior Brother Zhang yesterday anyway, so this is a good time to tell you both. Heh, maybe hearing about it will give you some extra motivation to compete, bring out a little more of your strength, and take first place."

"I don’t need the temptation, I’m going to give it my all regardless!"

Ning Zi laughed.

"But still, tell us, tell us!"

Xie Yuan, along with Huang Zifeng and Lin Zhen beside him, all looked curious.

When Qin Zhenyang saw his junior brothers and sister all looking at him, he took a sip of tea to wet his throat before he began to speak.

"As you know, I went to the Jianzhen Lake ruins once, the year before last. I didn’t get in with a spot from the Small Hidden Dragon Assembly, though. Master had to ’trade’ for my spot.

"The full story is a bit long, so I’ll just give you the rundown. Jianzhen Lake is a real place, located deep within the Purple Gold Mountains, east of Jinling Prefecture.

"Jianzhen Lake used to be a famous scenic spot, with a calm lake and serene mountains, and the Yao family often went there to escape the summer heat. But an unknown number of years ago—probably during the dynasty before the last—the Yao family discovered there were ruins beneath the water.

"Not ordinary ancient ruins, of course, but the kind of place known as a ’secret realm’ or a ’Pocket World’.

"I won’t go into detail about the stories that unfolded around Jianzhen Lake after that. Suffice to say that for the past few decades, Jianzhen Lake had always been a forbidden land under the Yao family’s control. However, following the Turmoil of the Eight Sects, the Yao family’s power was severely diminished, and they no longer had the strength to keep such a large secret realm entirely for themselves.

"They were decisive. Before other powers could openly covet it, they made a proposal: to open Jianzhen Lake to other major sects and prominent families.

"The Yao family had done this before, but back then it was more like a gift they’d bestow upon friendly factions whenever they felt like it. Now, they’ve positioned themselves as the managers and caretakers of the ruins. As long as other powers pay an ’entrance fee’ in exchange, they can send their disciples inside."

Upon hearing this, the outspoken Ning Zi blurted out,

"So they’re just gatekeepers?"

Qin Zhenyang pondered for a moment before saying slowly,

"You could put it that way, but no one in the world understands the Jianzhen Lake ruins better than they do. When the other powers saw how decisive and pragmatic the Yao family was being, they didn’t make things difficult. They still respect their ownership of Jianzhen Lake, paying with treasures and Spirit Pills in exchange for the opportunity for their disciples to enter."

Xie Yuan said thoughtfully,

"So, the main value of these ruins is to help disciples cultivate? It doesn’t have much other value to speak of?"