Chapter 15: An Unprecedented Spectacle

Shoulong Peak.

At this moment, Shoulong Peak was already in an uproar!

The peak was crowded with disciples, not only those participating in the monthly competition, but also many more who had come to watch, several times the usual number.

“Strange, why are there so many disciples at this month’s competition?”

Some elders who had just emerged from seclusion asked curiously upon seeing the scene.

“Why are you so excited? Most of them are just here to watch.”

“To watch? They’re never usually this eager.”

“You’ve just come out of seclusion, so you might not know. Our young sect master is participating in this month’s competition.”

The elder asked in surprise, “What? Since when did our young sect master take an interest in cultivation?”

He had heard a thing or two about Li Jianan’s reputation.

Pausing, he asked with even greater puzzlement, “But even so, would that really draw such a crowd?”

“Sigh... you don’t know. The young sect master has declared that he’ll take first place this month. With such a bold claim, of course everyone has come to see.”

The elder was startled. “What? The young sect master wants to win first place?”

They all knew perfectly well what sort of person Li Jianan was.

He had no interest in cultivation whatsoever, had yet to even reach the Qi Refining stage, and spent his days indulging in debauchery—he was a little devil in every sense.

Such a notorious playboy hoping to win first place in the monthly competition—impossible! It was nothing less than a madman’s dream, not even worth considering.

The elder asked again, “Are you telling the truth?”

“Have you been muddled by your years of closed-door cultivation? Of course it’s true. Why would I lie? The young sect master has already registered.”

“With his current strength, for him to take first, we’d all have to let him win—what would the others think? Even I wouldn’t be able to stand it.”

“No need to worry. The young sect master said we don’t need to intervene. He’ll defeat everyone and win first place himself!”

The elder’s eyes narrowed sharply. “He wants to win the competition on his own? That’s impossible!”

Even though this monthly competition was for the new disciples, there were still a few prodigies among them—one even at the peak of Qi Refining.

The young sect master had never cultivated. To defeat a peak Qi Refining disciple and take first place—how could that be possible?

It was utter fantasy!

After a pause, the elder wondered privately, “Could it be the young sect master had some fortuitous encounter and advanced his abilities overnight?”

“You think we’re living in a storyteller’s tale? Where you trip and find a martial arts manual? Fortunes like that don’t just fall from the sky. If anyone deserves such luck, it should be us who work hard at cultivation.”

“I was only speculating…”

Though Li Jianan’s reputation was poor, he never did anything without a plan—not even visiting brothels. He would never act without confidence.

And yet now he had made such a boast, claiming he would defeat all other disciples and seize first place.

So, the elder couldn’t help but suspect Li Jianan must have some hidden secret...

“Enough, the young sect master is here…”

A moment later, Li Jianan appeared atop Shoulong Peak.

“So, you are Li Jianan?”

Following everyone’s gaze, Jiang Churan soon found him.

She frowned slightly, but quickly concealed it.

So this was Li Jianan?

The man her grandfather had promised her to?

Jiang Churan glanced at him indifferently.

He looked lazy, his build unremarkable, his cultivation even worse...

Aside from his handsome face, there was nothing commendable about him.

He truly was a good-for-nothing; compared with the true prodigies, he wasn’t even on the same level.

This was her first time meeting Li Jianan, the man to whom she had been betrothed since childhood.

“He claims he’ll win first place. I’d had a sliver of expectation for him, but I’m glad I came to see for myself. I’ll have to speak with Grandfather about this engagement.”

A trace of disdain flickered in Jiang Churan’s eyes.

Was Grandfather getting senile? How could he have promised her to such a wastrel?

Though engaged, she had no intention of speaking with Li Jianan now.

Li Jianan looked at her and gave a half-hearted smile. “Yes.”

With a glance, he could sense her proud aura.

Under the morning sun, a shimmer of light played across her figure, highlighting her graceful form and the faintly visible fair skin beneath her thin dress.

Her looks, figure, and bearing were all exceptional.

The moment Li Jianan appeared, he drew the gaze of the entire crowd.

“Under the sect master’s leadership, Shengjing Sect rose from a third-rate order to a major force.

But alas, the young sect master is hopeless, showing no progress in cultivation to this day.

And now he’s boasting that he’ll win the monthly competition.

If Shengjing Sect falls into such unreliable hands, the future is grim…”

“At least the young sect master seems to be changing—he’s finally taking cultivation seriously, perhaps using the monthly trial as motivation.”

“Think before you speak. Who is he? Our young sect master Li Jianan, the notorious little devil. You think he’ll really cultivate? Impossible!

Perhaps he’s only here for the novelty. As for taking first place, maybe he’s arranged everything. Don’t forget who he is…”

“No way. I’ve prepared for this competition for so long.”

“Don’t be discouraged—maybe the young sect master really has changed. Let’s wait and see.”

Boom!

At that moment, within Shengjing Sect, the thunder of hooves echoed. Everyone turned to look, feeling the tremors.

“The Mo clan of Qingcheng has come to pay respects!”

“The Prince of Youzhou has come to pay respects!”

“Qinglong Stronghold has come to pay respects!”

“Yutian Sect has come…”

Resounding voices rang out as one dignified figure after another appeared before the crowd.

As these figures entered Shengjing Sect, the sect master Li Qingming hurried out to greet them.

Glancing at the assembled powers, he sneered, “Weren’t you all looking down on Shengjing Sect until now? What brings you here today?”

The master of Qinglong Stronghold forced a smile.

“With the Divine Thunder of the Nine Heavens descending on Shengjing Sect, and your young sect master’s fiancée being the Daughter of Martial Dao, who wouldn’t know? We’ve come especially to offer our congratulations.”

Now that Jiang Churan had become the Daughter of Martial Dao, her future prospects would be limitless. Coupled with her engagement to Li Jianan, Shengjing Sect was no longer what it once was.

Li Qingming glanced at them, then sipped his tea calmly.

“Please, everyone, take your seats.”

Despite Li Qingming’s cold demeanor, the master of Qinglong Stronghold kept smiling obsequiously.

“Sect Master Li, I was too impulsive before and have clashed with Shengjing Sect many times. I hope you’ll forgive me.”

Qinglong Stronghold and Shengjing Sect had been mortal rivals, their conflicts numbering in the hundreds. Especially in recent years, with Shengjing Sect growing weaker, it had often been suppressed by Yutian Sect.

But now, Qinglong Stronghold had bowed its head.

All because Shengjing Sect had produced a Daughter of Martial Dao.

Thus, all the neighboring powers had gathered.

It was an unprecedented spectacle for Shengjing Sect.

Li Qingming sipped his tea again and then fell silent.

The atmosphere in the hall grew tense…