Chapter 546 - 186: Attention from All Sides

At the foot of Celestial Derivation Peak.

The evening breeze carried the crisp, clean scent of mountain grass and trees. Chu Yunhai and Su Muyuan walked side-by-side, slowly ascending the peak.

The last rays of the setting sun fell upon them, stretching their shadows long.

Both were paragons of Celestial Derivation Peak’s younger generation. They were once hailed by some as the Twin Prodigies of Celestial Derivation and had known each other for many years, sharing a much closer bond than with other disciples.

Chu Yunhai turned to look at Su Muyuan beside him, a faint smile on his lips. "That Yang Jing is quite the rare talent," he began slowly. "In such a short time, he’s actually broken through to the Qi Eating Realm in two different martial arts. The strength he displayed when he defeated Ma Guoliang today was truly extraordinary. Are you confident about facing him tomorrow?"

Hearing this, Su Muyuan didn’t break his stride. He just let out a cold, sharp snort. A flash of arrogance crossed his narrow eyes, and his tone was certain, without a hint of hesitation. "Tomorrow, I will cut him down with my sword."

As soon as he finished speaking, Su Muyuan said no more. He pushed off lightly with his feet and strode up the peak. The hem of his green robes fluttered in the evening breeze, his back as straight as a pine, radiating a powerful confidence that came from deep within.

Chu Yunhai watched his receding figure and shook his head with a resigned smile.

Outsiders only saw Su Muyuan as a calm and composed gentleman from a prestigious family, as refined as jade. But only those who knew him well, like Chu Yunhai, understood the chilling arrogance that lay at the very core of this Su Family heir.

’The stronger the opponent, the more fiercely that arrogance burns. Tomorrow’s match is going to be far from peaceful.’

...

As the night deepened, the great hall on the Xuanzhen Sect’s Main Peak was brightly lit by candles.

In a quiet room in the rear hall, Cao Zhen, the Sect Leader of Xuanzhen Sect, sat in the main seat. He wore a black robe, his expression composed, possessing a naturally commanding presence.

Chief Elder Ouyang Jingxuan sat in a chair to the side, holding a cup of warm, clear tea. The wisps of steam blurred the features of his face.

Ouyang Jingxuan set down his teacup, looked up at Cao Zhen, and began to speak slowly. "Sect Leader, the Fushan Competition has now entered its fifth round, just two steps away from the finals. The families in the Prefecture City have been sending invitation requests one after another, all wishing to come and observe the subsequent matches."

Upon hearing this, Cao Zhen simply nodded slightly, his expression calm. He was not surprised in the least.

The Xuanzhen Sect was one of the five major sects in Jintai Prefecture. With its numerous disciples and formidable power, it was influential enough to affect the entire future course of the prefecture.

And the Fushan Competition was designed to screen for the most outstanding individuals among the Xuanzhen Sect’s next generation of disciples.

In the future, these young disciples would become the pillars of the Xuanzhen Sect, some even rising to high-level positions to lead the sect.

Therefore, in a sense, the Fushan Competition was never just an internal competition for the Xuanzhen Sect’s disciples. It was a major event that had the entire Jintai Prefecture on edge.

Naturally, the major families that had been entrenched in the Prefecture City for years wouldn’t miss this opportunity to build connections with future powerhouses.

Ouyang Jingxuan looked at Cao Zhen and continued, "The three great families of the Prefecture City—the Lin, Su, and Hong Families—have all sent word that they wish to send representatives to watch the matches in person. Besides them, many small and mid-sized families also want to come and join the excitement."

Cao Zhen’s fingers tapped lightly on the tabletop. He pondered for a moment before making his decision.

He looked up at Ouyang Jingxuan and said in a deep voice, "Then let them come. But we must set some rules. Each family cannot send more than five people. As for the representatives of the three great families—the Lin, Su, and Hong Families—set up their seats on the secondary platform, in the same rank as the Elders. The other small and mid-sized families can just observe from the square. No special arrangements are needed for them."

Ouyang Jingxuan nodded quickly. "Very well. I’ll go arrange for someone to pass on the news right away."

Cao Zhen gave a slight nod in assent.

In the quiet room, the candlelight flickered gently, casting their shadows on the wall. For a moment, only the soft CRACKLE of the burning wicks echoed through the tranquil hall.

...

Late at night, in Qing No. 4 Courtyard on Lingxi Peak, moonlight cascaded down like water, painting the green brick ground a silvery white.

Yang Jing, dressed in short, practical training clothes, was concentrating on practicing the Body Technique, "River-Crossing."

With a tap of his toes, his figure shot through the courtyard like a small boat, appearing and disappearing in flashes.

One moment he would flash to the left, the next he would shift sideways to the right. Sometimes, he would lightly tap a pillar with his toes, launching himself several feet into the air, only to land as light as a feather, without making the slightest sound.

His footwork grew faster and faster until his form blurred into a phantom under the moonlight. At times, he was like a startled swan skimming the water; at others, like a roaming dragon weaving through the air.

Every turn was incredibly agile, as if he were truly treading upon a surging river, using the water’s momentum to twist and move without any sense of sluggishness.

Inner Qi flowed slowly through his meridians. As he executed the footwork, it became smoother and more harmonious, and his affinity with the Body Technique increased bit by bit.

Two hours later, Yang Jing abruptly stopped and let out a long breath of turbid air.

He raised a hand to wipe the thin sheen of sweat from his brow, feeling the increasingly smooth flow of Inner Qi within his body.

At the same time, with a thought, a panel materialized before his eyes. The data for his three martial arts was clearly displayed, visible at a glance—

[Mountain-Breaking Seal: Minor Achievement (779/2000)]

[Indestructible True Skill: Second Layer, Minor Achievement (131/2000)]

[River-Crossing: Initiate (465/500)]

Yang Jing nodded slightly. With the help of the Bone Marrow Tempering Pill, his training efficiency for "River-Crossing" had once again increased by a large margin.

At this rate, "River-Crossing" should smoothly break through to the Qi Eating Realm tomorrow. By then, his strength would soar in every aspect.