Chapter 72
Unprecedented Attention, Prodigies Gather!
Luoxia Mountain.
As dawn breaks and white cranes take flight, the triennial grand competition of the sacred land begins.
Members from various departments of the four sacred sites successively headed to the "Stairway to Heaven".
The Heavenly Ladder is located on the mountainside of Luoxia Mountain, where there is a vast flat area with several arenas forged from meteorite iron. On the four sides are four pavilions carved with dragons and phoenixes, and each pavilion is topped with carvings of white lotus, three-legged golden crow, xiezhi and qilin.
"Governor Qin of Chu Prefecture has arrived!"
Amidst the clear, resonant sounds of bells and tripods, a group of people slowly approached.
The leader, dressed in a scarlet official robe of the third rank, with peacocks embroidered on the robe, was none other than Qin Yi, the governor of Chuzhou, also known as the governor-general of Chuzhou.
Many members of the holy site bowed in respect.
Although the Holy Land holds a transcendent status, the governor of a state is a high-ranking official in the divine dynasty. Those below the rank of a thousand households in the Holy Land must pay homage to the governor.
In a short while.
"Welcome to the Fifth Master of the Literary Academy!"
As the voice faded, an elderly man in a purple lotus-patterned official robe strolled over leisurely. His purple hair and double pupils, with a lotus blooming with every step, made him seem like a walking Confucian or Taoist sage. What was even more remarkable was his transcendent wisdom and temperament, which seemed to soothe everyone's anxiety.
"Welcome, Fifth Master!"
All the members of the Wendao Academy had a look of madness in their eyes, and their respect reached its peak. Their voices were filled with unprecedented awe.
The Fifth family is a first-class aristocratic family in the Divine Dynasty!
The old man in the purple lotus robe smiled and gently waved his hand.
"No need for formalities."
Qin Yi, the governor of Chuzhou, who was in the distance, also bowed respectfully and addressed him as "Your Excellency."
The old man nodded and led the group into the pavilion carved with white lotuses.
Next came the headquarters of the Martial Peak Hall. Again, officials in purple robes led the way, accompanied by commanders of thousands and hundreds. Amid the excited greetings of the Martial Peak Hall members, they stepped into the pavilion carved with a three-legged golden crow.
The leader, with an imposing demeanor, asked in a solemn voice:
"What are the chances of Martial Peak conquering Sunset Glow Mountain?"
A red-robed commander respectfully replied:
"Reporting back to you, sir, we are determined to succeed!"
The purple-robed official smiled and gave a word of praise:
"In the last Chuzhou Grand Competition, our Martial Peak Hall won the championship. If we can retain the title, the Central Headquarters will be very happy."
"At least in terms of selecting and training new talent, the Chu Zhou Martial Arts Hall has done a very good job!"
Everyone smiled broadly.
The old man in purple robes slowly suppressed his smile and said seriously:
"Remember, you must always defend the glory of the Martial Peak Palace, leaving the other three holy lands far behind!"
The crowd clasped their hands in a fist and bowed, accepting the order with firm and resounding voices:
"I will heed your teachings!"
Next to enter were Tianxuan Guard and Dongsi.
Lord Yu, dressed in a purple xiezhi robe from the East Temple, led the thousand and hundred households into the pavilion.
Lord Yu, looking down over the area of the Heavenly Ladder spanning eight miles, asked in a deep voice:
"Tell me the truth, what are your chances of success this time?"
The room was completely silent.
Lord Yu remained expressionless and coldly said:
"Are they all mute?"
"Get over here and answer me!"
A Chuzhou commander dressed in a red xiezhi robe stepped forward respectfully.
"Who will win?" Lord Yu stared at him.
The commander paused briefly, then spoke truthfully:
"Reporting back to Your Excellency, Huo Fengchun, a new member of the Martial Peak Hall, has an 80% chance of winning the title."
"Pei Hao of the Wendao Academy has a 20% chance."
Lord Yu sneered, emphasizing each word:
"So, this means that my Chuzhou East Temple hasn't made it into the top two for four consecutive years?"
"A bunch of useless parasites who hold positions without doing any work!!"
The purple-robed man, in a fit of rage, exuded an overwhelming aura.
Everyone fell silent.
Lord Yu pointed at the commander and cursed:
"Why were those two newcomers chosen by the Martial Peak Hall's Literary Academy? Are you slow to react or simply blind?!"
Qianhu lowered his head and explained in a humble manner:
"My lord, Huo Fengchun was born with the Brahma Battle Body. He was reserved by the Martial Extreme Hall twenty years ago and secretly protected and nurtured by the subordinate Sword-Hunting Office. His growth trajectory is all interfered with by the Martial Extreme Hall, and our East Temple has no way to intervene."
"Pei Hao is the same. He was born with a noble spirit and belongs to the Wendao Academy. He has been carefully protected by the Wendao Academy since early on. My Dongsi Temple tried to compete for him and even caused a dispute with the Daoji Division. We were severely warned by the Daoji Division that if we continue to make trouble, it will be a scandal for Luoxia Mountain."
Lord Yu's expression stiffened, and he laughed in extreme anger:
"Does Toji Temple lack outstanding talents?"
Qianhu immediately replied:
"have!"
"Sima Zongheng and Chen Zhengting."
"Sima Zongheng has the strength to be third, and Chen Zhengting can challenge for a top-five spot!"
Lord Yu's anger subsided considerably, and he said in a deep voice:
"The Central Headquarters attaches great importance to cultivating successors, especially as competition among the Holy Lands intensifies, with each area requiring a fierce battle of wits. To fail miserably in selecting new talent is simply a sign of the incompetence of your Chu Zhou East Temple!"
Many officials of the East Temple dared not speak.
For someone of their lofty status, the competition between newcomers is just a minor skirmish, but because it involves the face of the sacred place, it becomes exceptionally important!
Time passed slowly, and there was no more sound in the attic.
Until the 618 newlyweds entered the square in their respective formations.
Actually, the most attention-grabbing items are not the Brahma Battle Body and the Embryo of Righteousness.
Instead, he was a young man whose official robe was embroidered with three xiezhi (mythical beasts).
Six hundred and seventeen elite cavalrymen.
A squad leader!
In the corner of the attic, Xuanyuan Qinyin twitched the corners of her lips, inwardly grumbling.
What a striking young man, always standing out from the crowd!
At this moment, even the noble and dignified Lord Yu, dressed in purple robes, inquired:
"He's already a division commander?"
Qianhu was at a loss and quickly looked around for help.
Because of his high position and busy official duties, he rarely paid attention to the affairs of the lower levels of Dongsi Temple.
A centurion said cautiously:
"Sir, his name is Gu Lin, and he belongs to Cao Qingzhi's office in the Bingjin branch."
The commander immediately gave the order:
"The news came from Cao Qingzhi."
A moment later, Cao, the centurion, entered the yamen with utmost respect.
He paid his respects to the purple-robed official with great nervousness.
"Tell me about Gu Lin."
Upon hearing this, Cao Baihu began to explain in great detail, like pouring beans from a bamboo tube.
The old man in purple robes revealed a long-lost smile and nodded, saying:
"Diligent and hardworking, eager for promotion, and blessed with good fortune, this child is able to calmly handle dangerous situations—a good kid!"
"In just five months, I've already become a squad leader, my career is bright. At the same time, I've shown the three holy lands that I, Dongsi, am truly devoted to the Divine Dynasty. Even a newcomer is working hard to serve the country and protect the safety of the people!"
Everyone chimed in:
"What you say is absolutely right, sir."
Lord Yu remained silent, and did not inquire further about the newcomer's abilities.
His peers were all cultivating in seclusion at the Spirit Cleansing Pool, sparing no effort to improve their strength with the help of their superiors.
Meanwhile, Gu Lin was busy traveling around performing official duties.
It's obvious that Gu Lin's strength is far behind.
Cao Baihu respectfully withdrew, but did not leave the pavilion. He stood shamelessly in the corner, knowing that he would not have been qualified to enter if he had not been summoned. He was determined to make himself known to the public.
Meanwhile, the other three pavilions were also discussing the particularly conspicuous Dongsi Jujō.
Of the more than 600 new recruits, not one was a squad leader.
He was already the head of the Eastern Temple of the Divine Dynasty!
While others were diligently cultivating themselves, he was rising rapidly in his official career.
Five months and he's already a squad leader, that's truly astonishing!
As dawn breaks and white cranes take flight, the triennial grand competition of the sacred land begins.
Members from various departments of the four sacred sites successively headed to the "Stairway to Heaven".
The Heavenly Ladder is located on the mountainside of Luoxia Mountain, where there is a vast flat area with several arenas forged from meteorite iron. On the four sides are four pavilions carved with dragons and phoenixes, and each pavilion is topped with carvings of white lotus, three-legged golden crow, xiezhi and qilin.
"Governor Qin of Chu Prefecture has arrived!"
Amidst the clear, resonant sounds of bells and tripods, a group of people slowly approached.
The leader, dressed in a scarlet official robe of the third rank, with peacocks embroidered on the robe, was none other than Qin Yi, the governor of Chuzhou, also known as the governor-general of Chuzhou.
Many members of the holy site bowed in respect.
Although the Holy Land holds a transcendent status, the governor of a state is a high-ranking official in the divine dynasty. Those below the rank of a thousand households in the Holy Land must pay homage to the governor.
In a short while.
"Welcome to the Fifth Master of the Literary Academy!"
As the voice faded, an elderly man in a purple lotus-patterned official robe strolled over leisurely. His purple hair and double pupils, with a lotus blooming with every step, made him seem like a walking Confucian or Taoist sage. What was even more remarkable was his transcendent wisdom and temperament, which seemed to soothe everyone's anxiety.
"Welcome, Fifth Master!"
All the members of the Wendao Academy had a look of madness in their eyes, and their respect reached its peak. Their voices were filled with unprecedented awe.
The Fifth family is a first-class aristocratic family in the Divine Dynasty!
The old man in the purple lotus robe smiled and gently waved his hand.
"No need for formalities."
Qin Yi, the governor of Chuzhou, who was in the distance, also bowed respectfully and addressed him as "Your Excellency."
The old man nodded and led the group into the pavilion carved with white lotuses.
Next came the headquarters of the Martial Peak Hall. Again, officials in purple robes led the way, accompanied by commanders of thousands and hundreds. Amid the excited greetings of the Martial Peak Hall members, they stepped into the pavilion carved with a three-legged golden crow.
The leader, with an imposing demeanor, asked in a solemn voice:
"What are the chances of Martial Peak conquering Sunset Glow Mountain?"
A red-robed commander respectfully replied:
"Reporting back to you, sir, we are determined to succeed!"
The purple-robed official smiled and gave a word of praise:
"In the last Chuzhou Grand Competition, our Martial Peak Hall won the championship. If we can retain the title, the Central Headquarters will be very happy."
"At least in terms of selecting and training new talent, the Chu Zhou Martial Arts Hall has done a very good job!"
Everyone smiled broadly.
The old man in purple robes slowly suppressed his smile and said seriously:
"Remember, you must always defend the glory of the Martial Peak Palace, leaving the other three holy lands far behind!"
The crowd clasped their hands in a fist and bowed, accepting the order with firm and resounding voices:
"I will heed your teachings!"
Next to enter were Tianxuan Guard and Dongsi.
Lord Yu, dressed in a purple xiezhi robe from the East Temple, led the thousand and hundred households into the pavilion.
Lord Yu, looking down over the area of the Heavenly Ladder spanning eight miles, asked in a deep voice:
"Tell me the truth, what are your chances of success this time?"
The room was completely silent.
Lord Yu remained expressionless and coldly said:
"Are they all mute?"
"Get over here and answer me!"
A Chuzhou commander dressed in a red xiezhi robe stepped forward respectfully.
"Who will win?" Lord Yu stared at him.
The commander paused briefly, then spoke truthfully:
"Reporting back to Your Excellency, Huo Fengchun, a new member of the Martial Peak Hall, has an 80% chance of winning the title."
"Pei Hao of the Wendao Academy has a 20% chance."
Lord Yu sneered, emphasizing each word:
"So, this means that my Chuzhou East Temple hasn't made it into the top two for four consecutive years?"
"A bunch of useless parasites who hold positions without doing any work!!"
The purple-robed man, in a fit of rage, exuded an overwhelming aura.
Everyone fell silent.
Lord Yu pointed at the commander and cursed:
"Why were those two newcomers chosen by the Martial Peak Hall's Literary Academy? Are you slow to react or simply blind?!"
Qianhu lowered his head and explained in a humble manner:
"My lord, Huo Fengchun was born with the Brahma Battle Body. He was reserved by the Martial Extreme Hall twenty years ago and secretly protected and nurtured by the subordinate Sword-Hunting Office. His growth trajectory is all interfered with by the Martial Extreme Hall, and our East Temple has no way to intervene."
"Pei Hao is the same. He was born with a noble spirit and belongs to the Wendao Academy. He has been carefully protected by the Wendao Academy since early on. My Dongsi Temple tried to compete for him and even caused a dispute with the Daoji Division. We were severely warned by the Daoji Division that if we continue to make trouble, it will be a scandal for Luoxia Mountain."
Lord Yu's expression stiffened, and he laughed in extreme anger:
"Does Toji Temple lack outstanding talents?"
Qianhu immediately replied:
"have!"
"Sima Zongheng and Chen Zhengting."
"Sima Zongheng has the strength to be third, and Chen Zhengting can challenge for a top-five spot!"
Lord Yu's anger subsided considerably, and he said in a deep voice:
"The Central Headquarters attaches great importance to cultivating successors, especially as competition among the Holy Lands intensifies, with each area requiring a fierce battle of wits. To fail miserably in selecting new talent is simply a sign of the incompetence of your Chu Zhou East Temple!"
Many officials of the East Temple dared not speak.
For someone of their lofty status, the competition between newcomers is just a minor skirmish, but because it involves the face of the sacred place, it becomes exceptionally important!
Time passed slowly, and there was no more sound in the attic.
Until the 618 newlyweds entered the square in their respective formations.
Actually, the most attention-grabbing items are not the Brahma Battle Body and the Embryo of Righteousness.
Instead, he was a young man whose official robe was embroidered with three xiezhi (mythical beasts).
Six hundred and seventeen elite cavalrymen.
A squad leader!
In the corner of the attic, Xuanyuan Qinyin twitched the corners of her lips, inwardly grumbling.
What a striking young man, always standing out from the crowd!
At this moment, even the noble and dignified Lord Yu, dressed in purple robes, inquired:
"He's already a division commander?"
Qianhu was at a loss and quickly looked around for help.
Because of his high position and busy official duties, he rarely paid attention to the affairs of the lower levels of Dongsi Temple.
A centurion said cautiously:
"Sir, his name is Gu Lin, and he belongs to Cao Qingzhi's office in the Bingjin branch."
The commander immediately gave the order:
"The news came from Cao Qingzhi."
A moment later, Cao, the centurion, entered the yamen with utmost respect.
He paid his respects to the purple-robed official with great nervousness.
"Tell me about Gu Lin."
Upon hearing this, Cao Baihu began to explain in great detail, like pouring beans from a bamboo tube.
The old man in purple robes revealed a long-lost smile and nodded, saying:
"Diligent and hardworking, eager for promotion, and blessed with good fortune, this child is able to calmly handle dangerous situations—a good kid!"
"In just five months, I've already become a squad leader, my career is bright. At the same time, I've shown the three holy lands that I, Dongsi, am truly devoted to the Divine Dynasty. Even a newcomer is working hard to serve the country and protect the safety of the people!"
Everyone chimed in:
"What you say is absolutely right, sir."
Lord Yu remained silent, and did not inquire further about the newcomer's abilities.
His peers were all cultivating in seclusion at the Spirit Cleansing Pool, sparing no effort to improve their strength with the help of their superiors.
Meanwhile, Gu Lin was busy traveling around performing official duties.
It's obvious that Gu Lin's strength is far behind.
Cao Baihu respectfully withdrew, but did not leave the pavilion. He stood shamelessly in the corner, knowing that he would not have been qualified to enter if he had not been summoned. He was determined to make himself known to the public.
Meanwhile, the other three pavilions were also discussing the particularly conspicuous Dongsi Jujō.
Of the more than 600 new recruits, not one was a squad leader.
He was already the head of the Eastern Temple of the Divine Dynasty!
While others were diligently cultivating themselves, he was rising rapidly in his official career.
Five months and he's already a squad leader, that's truly astonishing!