Chapter 353: Why Are You Sitting in the Judges’ Seats?

Translator: yikaii Editor: yikaii

The Qingzhou Festival officially began, with the most eye-catching event being the competition for the younger generation.

Every year, this competition brings forth highly talented young cultivators, making those who have toiled in obscurity for a lifetime feel inadequate and sigh in despair.

These young cultivators’ potential has been proven over time; most of them, except for those who fall to unforeseen accidents, go on to achieve great success, either becoming succeeding their sect leaders or founding their own sects.

It’s not just the Qingzhou government that values these young cultivators; many sects and factions also attend, hoping to recruit some of the talents.

Perhaps due to the impending era of great contention, the young cultivators participating in recent years have been increasingly extraordinary, continuously breaking records from previous competitions.

“Look at that one—isn’t that Li Shaoyang from the Dingfeng Sect? I heard he’s already at the peak of the Qi Training Stage. When he went down the mountain to travel, he was blocked by robbers. With a single spear, he pierced through three robbers at the ninth level of Qi Training!”

“What? He’s already at the peak of the Qi Training Stage at such a young age? That’s a level that ranks within the top eight!”

Cultivators at the ninth level of Qi Training can attempt Foundation Building. To increase their success rate, they meticulously hone this stage, which outsiders refer to as the peak of Qi Training.

Most of the spectators here were at the Qi Training Stage, and reaching the peak of Qi Training was their highest aspiration.

The Five Great Immortal Sects, however, didn’t even bother with this notion—they weren’t interested in subdividing the Qi Training Stage. Whether one was at the first level or the peak, it made no difference to them.

“And that especially beautiful female cultivator next to him, her name is Qiao Hongye, from the top-tier sect Sleeveless Sect. She’s also at the peak of Qi Training, with dual Wood and Fire Spirit Roots. There was an internal sect competition in the Sleeveless Sect with several peak Qi Training participants, and Qiao Hongye took first place!”

“The peak of Qi Training would have ranked in the top eight in previous years, but this year it’s hard to say. Rumor has it that several Foundation Building Stage cultivators are participating this year!”

“Foundation Building Stage before eighteen? And there are several of them?”

One companion whispered mysteriously, “Have you heard of Gu Qisheng from Rainbow Palace? Born at the yin hour of a yin month in a yin year, he has the Profound Yin Constitution. He faced a great calamity at birth and would have died young if not for the intervention of the Rainbow Palace’s leader.”

“The Profound Yin Constitution suffers from heavenly jealousy; those born with it face great calamity. If they survive, their cultivation will be smooth. If not, they die young.”

“Someone spotted Gu Qisheng arriving yesterday—he’s already at the early stage of Foundation Building.”

…

“Hello, we’re here to register for the competition.”

At a nearby registration point, an officer was recording names. The area was relatively quiet.

Most competitors registered in advance, but a few made spontaneous decisions to compete.

The officer glanced at the two young men with friendly smiles. He couldn’t determine their cultivation level but wasn’t too concerned; it was common to travel with artifacts that concealed one’s true strength.

Pointing to a nearby stone, he said, “This is a low-grade black iron stone. Only cultivators in the late stage of Qi Training can shatter it. Break the stone.”

To the two men, the black iron stone was no different from tofu. With a light slap, the stone shattered into pieces.

“Looks like we have Foundation Building Stage cultivators this year. Truly a year of hidden dragons and crouching tigers.”

“This is the Year Wheel Stone. Place your hand on it and infuse it with spiritual energy.”

On the other side, the officer had a stone similar in appearance to a tree stump, marked with concentric rings. It was a tool commonly used in the cultivation world to test a person’s age.

Both men placed their hands on the stone and channeled their spiritual energy. The rings lit up one by one, finally stopping at the seventeenth ring.

“Under eighteen years old, you’re eligible to compete.”

“Name?”

“Lu Yang.”

“Sect?”

“Dao Seeking Sect.”

“Hm?” The officer suddenly looked up, scrutinizing Lu Yang as if he had seen a ghost.

Lu Yang asked curiously, “Is there a problem?”

The officer recalled the governor’s words: encourage participation in the competition; the more participants, the better. Don’t be afraid if those with significant backgrounds join; the real worry is if they don’t.

Two disciples from Dao Seeking Sect participating? The governor would be pleased.

“No, nothing at all. You’re eligible to compete. And you? What’s your name?”

“Meng Jingzhou, also from Dao Seeking Sect.”

“Here are your numbers. In a quarter of an hour, the drawing will begin to arrange the matchups. Be prepared.”

“No problem!”

…

“This is strange; the first round of the competition is about to start, but Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou are nowhere to be seen,” Lan Ting said, sitting in the judges’ seats with a puzzled expression.

“Maybe something happened on the way that caused a delay,” Bai Ming guessed. It was a common occurrence, as unexpected situations often arose during his training trips down the mountain.

“Wait,” Yan Tianzhi said, as laconic as ever.

Lan Ting had only recently met Yan Tianzhi and wasn’t familiar with him yet. Bai Ming had told her that Yan Tianzhi rarely spoke, so relying on him for commentary was unlikely.

Lan Ting sighed helplessly, realizing that the responsibility of providing commentary would likely fall on her shoulders.

People below began to notice the three judges and whispered among themselves.

“Who are those three? They look so young—are they qualified to be judges?”

“Especially that young girl. She’s beautiful, sure, but I’ve never seen someone so pretty. Still, she doesn’t look like she has much battle experience.”

“That’s where you’re wrong. These three are immortal sect disciples, prodigies of the highest order. I heard they’re the most outstanding among their peers!”

“It’s more than that. I have a relative working at the governor’s office who says all three are at the Golden Core Stage!”

“Golden Core Stage?!”

“Now you see the difference in talent, don’t you?”

The highest cultivation level among the competitors was Foundation Building Stage, so having Golden Core Stage judges was more than enough.

Lan Ting glanced at the profiles of the contestants for the first match and spoke gently, “The first competitor is Feng He, a true disciple of the top-tier Seven Emotions Sect. Not long ago, Feng He broke through to Foundation Building Stage without using a Foundation Building Pill, relying solely on the solid foundation he built during the Qi Training Stage. He is now at the early stage of Foundation Building.”

“The Seven Emotions Sect expresses insights into the seven emotions and six desires through music. Feng He has mastered the true teachings of his sect and excels in musical arts. His piece ‘Parting Joy’ is said to make birds pause and flowers bloom!”

“Feng He is also a seeded contestant in this competition. Let’s look forward to his performance!”

Feng He wore a confident smile. With his early Foundation Building cultivation, he was sure to shine brightly in this competition.

In the world of cultivation, one relied on both strength and reputation.

This competition would be the starting point of his fame!

“Feng He’s opponent is a cultivator who registered at the last minute. His opponent is… Lu Yang from Dao Seeking Sect?!”

Lan Ting almost lost her composure halfway through her announcement.

She put down the information sheet, looked at the stage, and saw a familiar figure. Her expression turned quite peculiar.

She turned to Bai Ming beside her, whose expression mirrored hers.

Lu Yang spotted Lan Ting and Bai Ming in the judges’ seats. He raised his hand to greet them, then scratched the back of his head in confusion.

What was going on?

Weren’t you guys here to compete? Why are you sitting in the judges’ seats?

(End of the chapter)