Who Let Him Cultivate Immortality

Chapter 419: The Ancestral Rule Cannot Be Violated

“You two stay out of this. Lu Yang, after everything you’ve been through, it’s about time my luck changed!” Meng Jingzhou stopped Lu Yang and Zhao Po, even though neither of them had any intention of stepping onto the stage.

Just before Meng Jingzhou could go up, another person stepped forward first. He was a middle-aged man with a calm demeanor, sporting a long beard and scholarly elegance.

This bearded middle-aged man was quite famous in the local area. Someone in the crowd recognized him and said, “That’s Master Xiang from Tenglong Academy. He established the academy and has taught countless scholars, even producing a scholar who passed the imperial exams. His students are spread all across the Desolate Lands, and he even has disciples in the imperial capital!”

“Not only that, but he’s also a legitimate Confucian cultivator. According to one of his former students, five years ago, he had already reached the early stage of the Golden Core Stage. No one knows if he’s progressed since then, but many Golden Core families have tried to get their descendants to apprentice under him, offering extravagant gifts, but he refused them all!”

“What? He was at the Golden Core Stage five years ago? How could any of us compete, and how could Qing Luo possibly defeat him?”

In the world of cultivation, people often used the term “fairy” to describe a female cultivator’s beauty, talent, or strength. After all, in public perception, there were no female immortals, so the term “fairy” could be used however one wished.

Lu Yang never used the term “fairy” to compliment someone. It wasn’t that he was careful with his words; he just didn’t think it was much of a compliment.

“Don’t panic! Fairy Qing Luo is extremely talented. She reached the late stage of Foundation Building Stage at just eighteen. She’s the youngest Sect Leader in the history of the Yuntai Sect. It’s not impossible for her to take on someone at the early Golden Core Stage!”

“That’s good news! Wait… doesn’t that mean we have no chance either?”

Qing Luo sighed softly. “Master Xiang, didn’t you read the rules? Contestants must be under the age of twenty. You’re already in your forties. Even if I were to choose a husband, shouldn’t I find someone closer to my own age?”

Master Xiang, clearly affected by this blow, was suddenly struck by poetic inspiration and recited two lines: “You were not yet born when I was young; when you were born, I was already old. We are fated to be apart.”

“Exactly, so could you please step down? I’ve only paid for the stage rental for the day, and time is limited.”

With that, Master Xiang left the stage, heartbroken.

The subsequent challengers were more appropriate, all young and talented cultivators in their twenties, some of whom were even women disguised as men.

“This Qing Luo has a solid foundation. Though there are some flaws, it’s impressive considering she cultivated in such an environment with little guidance. Either she had some fortuitous encounters, or she’s simply a genius.”

“She is indeed quite good. Even in our Corpse-Driving Sect, she could qualify as a true disciple and could even place in the top eight or top four in the sect’s grand competitions.”

Lu Yang and Zhao Po whispered their evaluations of Qing Luo’s talent.

“Why not recruit her into your Corpse-Driving Sect? A genius like her staying in such a small place seems like a waste,” Lu Yang joked.

“It’s up to personal choice. I could give it a try, but I’ve seen many people who refuse to abandon their own sects, saying it’s the place that sheltered and raised them, and they can’t leave it behind.”

“Besides, due to our Corpse-Driving Sect’s cultivation methods, our members all end up with faces as pale as death. Some cultivators refuse to join us for that reason and prefer other first-grade sects.” Zhao Po pointed to his own pale face, which was paler than most women’s. No matter if they were orthodox or unorthodox Corpse Drivers, they all had this look.

Lu Yang nodded in agreement. When he first met Zhao Po, he thought he was a Living Corpse.

Just as Lu Yang and Zhao Po had said, Qing Luo had a solid foundation and was unmatched by her peers. Her mastery of the Cloud Control Technique was exceptional, allowing her to easily defeat one ambitious young challenger after another.

Finally, it was Meng Jingzhou’s turn to step up.

Meng Jingzhou displayed a confident smile as he calmly walked onto the stage. Just standing there, he exerted a tremendous pressure on everyone present.

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

The moment he spoke, the crowd’s eyes widened, and a wave of astonished murmurs spread through the audience.

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

“I’ve heard that even the most casual person from that sect is a peerless genius. Even their cooks can establish their own sects and become revered!”

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

“Isn’t he the one from the Qingzhou Festival, that Meng Jingzhou?”

Upon hearing Meng Jingzhou’s name, Lu Yang’s expression changed drastically, and he blurted out, “The one who had already formed his Golden Core but still competed to earn the reward for insights on forming the Golden Core?”

“I heard he just likes bullying those at lower stages!”

“Didn’t he crash the Qingzhou Festival just to cause trouble?”

“No, no, I heard he didn’t have any grudge against Qingzhou. He just wanted to challenge the judges for fun.”

Lu Yang added, “He didn’t even beat the judges. He just jumped off the stage and forfeited.”

The crowd continued debating, each person recounting different versions of the story, but all of them were based on facts.

Qing Luo’s expression turned odd as she looked at Meng Jingzhou with disdain. It was clear she had heard of his infamous reputation.

After the Qingzhou Festival, the tales of Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou had spread like wildfire across the Central Continent, particularly among lower-stage cultivators. However, due to how widely the stories had spread, the details had become somewhat distorted.

Meng Jingzhou felt exasperated as he listened to the crowd’s gossip. His reputation had been thoroughly tarnished.

“As a cultivator, one must have a steady Dao heart. What others think of me is like clouds passing by. But… why did some of those voices sound familiar?”

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

Meng Jingzhou gestured politely, indicating for Qing Luo to make the first move.

Since Meng Jingzhou complied with the competition rules, Qing Luo had no choice but to go on the offensive. She struck first, summoning auspicious clouds behind her. The clouds transformed into various weapons—axes, spears, swords, and many more—all sharp and deadly, launching toward Meng Jingzhou in a fierce barrage!

This technique had been more than enough to defeat all the previous challengers in one move.

“What a good Cloud Control Technique!” Meng Jingzhou’s eyes gleamed with admiration as he faced the oncoming assault of eighteen different weapons. He adopted a martial stance.

“Collapsing Fist!”

With a double fist strike aimed at both sides of his head, the eighteen weapons collided with his fists, instantly dissolving into soft, harmless clouds.

Qing Luo was undoubtedly powerful, but unfortunately for her, she had encountered Meng Jingzhou.

Even if Qing Luo were at the Golden Core Stage, she still wouldn’t have been Meng Jingzhou’s match.

With just three punches, Meng Jingzhou forced Qing Luo to reveal all her hidden techniques, leaving her with no choice but to admit defeat.

“I concede.”

Accepting her loss, Qing Luo gritted her teeth and said to Meng Jingzhou, “The ancestral rule cannot be violated. According to our ancestral rule, the one who defeats me must become my husband.”

Meng Jingzhou’s eyes lit up. “So then…”

Qing Luo’s eyes were resolute as she made a life-altering decision.

“In that case, I’ll have no choice but to abolish that ancestral rule!”

(End of the chapter)