Since that day, Xuan Lingzi had been in seclusion, recuperating his primordial spirit.

Qingjun, too, remained in the form of a pill, quietly staying inside Luo Jianqing’s storage ring. Fortunately, before entering a deep sleep, it had informed Luo Jianqing that the healing process had consumed a great deal of its medicinal power and it would need a long period of rest. Otherwise, Luo Jianqing would have been genuinely worried about its well-being.

In an instant, the vast Yuxiao Peak was reduced to only Luo Jianqing and Mo Qiu.

During this period of time, to vent his inner frustration, Luo Jianqing had been continuously practicing his swordsmanship without stopping. It wasn’t until the arrival of Venerable Hao Xingzi, who came to Yuxiao Peak to inform him about the upcoming sect competition, that Luo Jianqing snapped out of his single-minded training state.

On the day before the sect competition, Zuo Yunmo personally came to the foot of Yuxiao Peak to inform Luo Jianqing of the relevant matters for this event.

Wearing a light yellow Daoist robe, Zuo Yunmo had a Qingyun Sword tied around his waist. His voice was gentle, and his smile was as warm and gentle as Luo Jianqing remembered. He said, “Just like in previous years, you have the choice to watch the competitions of the Qi Refining and Foundation Building disciples. However, among the young generation of Taihua Mountain, only you, the eldest senior brother, have surpassed the Nascent Soul stage, so there’s no need for you to participate in the competition among our Golden Core disciples.”

Luo Jianqing nodded lightly and said, “Junior brother, we talked about having a spar once you broke through. Do you have any time for it?”

A faint hint of darkness flashed in Zuo Yunmo’s eyes, but he quickly concealed it and smiled, saying, “How about we wait until reaching the Nascent Soul stage? Perhaps that would truly be worthy of being called a spar.”

Luo Jianqing exclaimed in surprise, “Are you already confident?”

Zuo Yunmo smiled and said, “Within a year, reaching the late Golden Core stage should be expected.”

Luo Jianqing congratulated Zuo Yunmo once again, and Zuo Yunmo was about to take his leave. Before leaving, he casually asked, “That Mo Fellow, is he the comrade who experienced life and death with Senior Brother in the Flowing Flame Valley, spending three years together?”

Luo Jianqing smiled and replied, “Yes.”

Zuo Yunmo nodded with a smile, without asking further questions, and turned to leave.

As soon as Luo Jianqing turned around, he saw Mo Qiu dressed in red clothes. Mo Qiu seemed to have a particular fondness for wearing red attire. Among all the cultivators Luo Jianqing had ever seen, apart from his junior sister, no one else would consistently wear red. However, the combination of the red color and Mo Qiu’s beautiful face was remarkably harmonious.

Mo Qiu snorted lightly and said in a displeased tone, “The younger generation of Taihua Mountain seems to have declined a bit.”

Luo Jianqing was initially taken aback and then replied, “Over a hundred years ago, during the great war between humans and demons, Taihua Mountain lost many elites. Almost all of my senior disciples from the previous generation died in that war. After all, Taihua Mountain is the foremost among the three thousand sects and should contribute the greatest strength.”

Mo Qiu fell silent and after a while, said, “Your junior disciple just now possesses a top-grade aptitude, and reaching the late Golden Core stage before the age of sixty is considered quite good.”

Hearing this, Luo Jianqing naturally understood that Mo Qiu was actually praising the disciples of Taihua Mountain. Whether it was cultivators or demonic cultivators, they all harbored deep enmity towards the demon race. Taihua Mountain had sacrificed the lives of almost an entire generation of disciples for the sake of the human race, and it was indeed worthy of admiration.

Luo Jianqing said, “Although Second Junior Brother has the weakest aptitude among the seven of us, he is extremely diligent. Just like you, your aptitude is inferior, yet you were able to reach the late Nascent Soul stage before the age of sixty. You have already surpassed Yan Su from the Soul Breaking Sect. Mo Qiu, do you think aptitude is that important?”

Mo Qiu curled her lips and said, “Correct, I like your mindset.”

Luo Jianqing was speechless and asked, “What do I care if you like it or not?”

Mo Qiu raised an eyebrow and said, “Perhaps someday I might save your life again?”

Luo Jianqing replied expressionlessly, “Can you not jinx me to encounter life-threatening situations?”

Mo Qiu burst into laughter.

The next day, Luo Jianqing bowed to Xuan Lingzi in front of the bamboo house, informing him of his intention to participate in the sect’s grand competition.

This time, the bamboo house remained silent for a long time, but after a moment, a deep and cold voice sounded, “You have reached the Nascent Soul stage, so naturally, you should broaden your horizons. The intentions of the Four Sects and Eight Great Clans are not good, and their leader, Yan Su, is also in the early Nascent Soul stage, but his cultivation is more stable than yours. Jianqing, you must be more cautious.”

These words left Luo Jianqing momentarily stunned. A warm feeling gradually spread in his heart, softly, as if something had changed. Luo Jianqing said, “Master… this time, are you not going to remind me to not bring shame upon Yuxiao Peak?”

The bamboo house remained silent, and Luo Jianqing continued, “Really no need to say this anymore?”

Still getting no response. Luo Jianqing sighed as if in regret, his tone laced with a smile as he continued, “Master, if I bring shame upon Yuxiao Peak and when I return, you can’t blame me. After all, you didn’t say anything about it, so I…”

“Luo Jianqing, do not bring shame upon Yuxiao Peak!”

This voice, infused with spiritual power, directly entered Luo Jianqing’s ears. It carried a tone of anger but did not harm him.

Luo Jianqing couldn’t help but burst into laughter, and some of the pent-up frustration in his heart from the past few days finally dissipated. He said, “Very well, Master. I will go and fight for the honor of Yuxiao Peak. I just wonder, if I manage to win that honor, will there be a reward? For example, being able to open a door? As for the back door, it’s not necessary for now, but if I can open the front door, cough, cough…”

A burst of sword energy suddenly surged forth, sending Luo Jianqing flying. He landed steadily on the ground without any injuries.

“Nonsense!”

Luo Jianqing chuckled softly and walked back to the front of the bamboo house. He whispered a few words. After a short while, he voluntarily turned around and left, calling for Mo Qiu, who was sitting in the stone pavilion. The two of them descended the mountain together. Along the way, Mo Qiu had a dark expression. Shortly after leaving Yuxiao Peak, he directly asked, “What were you secretly talking to your master about just now?”

Luo Jianqing glanced at him and asked, “I don’t know why Mo Daoist is so curious?”

Mo Qiu sneered and said, “Ridiculous! Me, curious? How could I be curious?”

Luo Jianqing countered, “Then why did you ask me just now?”

Mo Qiu: “…I am concerned about you.”

Luo Jianqing: “…”

After a moment, Luo Jianqing said, “Whether I tell you or not is up to my own decision. I apologize for not informing you.”

Mo Qiu: “…”

The journey from Yuxiao Peak to Cangshuang Peak was not far. Soon, the two of them saw various cultivators gathered in the square of Cangshuang Peak. It was now the stage for the Foundation Establishment disciples’ competition. Two disciples at the late Foundation Establishment stage were engaged in a heated battle on the arena. Despite their low cultivation levels, their solid strength made the competition quite exciting.

When Luo Jianqing arrived at the square, countless gazes immediately gathered on him.

The disciples of Taihua Mountain looked at him with eager anticipation, and many junior sisters blushed with excitement. Ordinary disciples from other smaller sects also watched Luo Jianqing with great reverence, as if they were seeing an idol. The chattering voices overwhelmed the audience stands.

“Is this the legendary Senior Brother of Taihua Mountain? He’s so handsome!”

“This senior brother entered the Nascent Soul stage at the age of forty! My master said he might reach the Out of body stage by the age of sixty!”

“Impossible, right? That’s the Out-of-Bodystage. Even our Senior Elder from Dianling Sect is only in the early Nascent Soul stage…”

“Why is it impossible? Xuan Lingzi, who entered the Nascent Soul stage at fifty-six, reached the Deity Transformation stage before three hundred years old. It’s a sure thing for Senior Luo to reach the Out-of-Body stage at sixty!”

…

“Senior Brother, there’s something I want to ask of you.”

“Hahaha, Junior Sister, go ahead! As long as it’s something I can do, I’ll brave any danger!”

“Well… Senior Brother, I heard that you have a good relationship with the disciples of Taihua Mountain. Could you help me deliver this scarf to Senior Luo?”

“@$%@#$@#…”

…

Due to his exceptional hearing ability and high cultivation, Luo Jianqing naturally caught every word. Initially, Mo Qiu sat curiously by Luo Jianqing’s side, observing the situation on the competition stage. Suddenly hearing those words, his mouth twitched, and he said, “Why are they so gossipy!”

Luo Jianqing calmly said, “So now you understand how I felt earlier?”

At first, Mo Qiu didn’t understand, but after a while, he realized that Luo Jianqing was referring to his own gossipy behavior earlier. Mo Qiu became irritated and transmitted his voice directly, saying, “Who made you have that kind of relationship with your master? I… I was just curious!”

Luo Jianqing’s heart shook, and he asked, “What kind of relationship do I have with my master?”

Mo Qiu fell silent for a moment and then transmitted his voice again, saying, “Why are you asking me about something like that?”

Luo Jianqing suddenly fell silent.

The atmosphere between the two suddenly became awkward. It wasn’t until the Foundation Establishment stage disciples began their matches on the stage that Luo Jianqing transmitted his voice, saying, “The relationship between me and my master is not acceptable in society. If you find it repulsive as well, then after this grand competition, you should leave Taihua Mountain. We should see each other less.”

Mo Qiu replied, “If you want me to leave, I’ll leave? Isn’t it just being with your own master? What’s the big deal? You so-called righteous cultivators are boring. We demonic cultivators may have similar rules on the surface, but no one ever abides by them. The two guardians in my Demon Sect…” The voice transmission abruptly stopped, and Mo Qiu continued, “Two friends I know, they are blood brothers, and they have been together for millennia. The bond of blood is even closer than your master-disciple relationship, but no one in the demonic cultivation dares to say anything against them. Xuan Lingzi is the number one figure in the world today. Who dares to control him?”

Luo Jianqing lowered his gaze, looking at the scene on the competition stage, and said softly, “He himself will control himself.”

Mo Qiu fell silent for a moment.

Half an hour later, all the matches below the Golden Core stage came to an end. As expected, Taihua Mountain’s second senior brother, Zuo Yunmo, once again defeated third senior sister Wei Qiongyin and claimed the first place. At this point, only the matches among Nascent Soul stage cultivators remained, and there was only Luo Jianqing as the representative. As long as no one challenged him, he would be the first.

The elder in charge looked at Zuo Yunmo and asked, “Do you want to challenge?”

Zuo Yunmo raised his head and looked at Luo Jianqing on the spectator stand. Luo Jianqing faintly smiled and nodded at him, with a slight curve at the corner of his lips.

Zuo Yunmo turned his head and shook his head, saying, “Senior Brother’s strength is unparalleled. I naturally won’t challenge him.”

Luo Jianqing raised an eyebrow in surprise, only to hear the elder announcing the final results of this grand sect competition, “The Taihua Mountain Sect’s once-every-seven-years grand competition comes to an end. The first place in Qi Refinement stage goes to Lin Zhen of Cangshuang Peak, the first place in Foundation Establishment stage goes to Yue Yunfeng of Bisan Peak, the first place in Golden Core stage goes to Zuo Yunmo of Cangshuang Peak, and the first place in Nascent Soul stage goes to Luo…”

“Hold on!”

A loud voice suddenly rang out, interrupting the elder’s words.

The elder turned his head towards the spectator stands and saw a young man dressed in white silk standing up. He held a folding fan made of jade bones in his hand and smiled gracefully, saying, “I am Bai Qi of the Bai family, ranked seventh. I have come to Taihua Mountain on behalf of my family to witness this event. I have long admired Taihua Mountain. Since I have come here, the Sect Master has allowed us to treat Taihua Mountain as our own home. In that case, I wonder if I can participate in this competition?”

The scene erupted in an uproar!

Such a thing had never happened in the past thousand years!

Taihua Mountain had stood tall in the Xuantian Continent for millennia, weathering storms. During its peak, it dominated the continent, unmatched by anyone. However, a colossal inter-clan war a thousand years ago had shaken the foundation of Taihua Mountain. Even the peak masters had lost their lives, and countless elite cultivators had perished.

The four major sects and eight great families had developed within the past few thousand years. Among the eight great families, apart from the ancient Mo family and Wei family, the other six families did not have deep foundations. However, the Bai family, which was leading the way, had produced three cultivators in the Mahayana stage, with one of them even in the late stage!

The strength of the four major sects was also formidable.

In such circumstances, although Taihua Mountain remained the leader of the righteous path, it could no longer suppress the heroes as it did thousands of years ago.

Although Bai Qi’s words sounded elegant, it was still a provocation. However, the Sect Master of Haoming Peak, Venerable Guang Lingzi, laughed out loud and said, “It’s just a competition. If he wants to compete, let him. Why be so hesitant?”

This statement caught Bai Qi off guard, and he didn’t expect the other party to agree so quickly.

Guang Lingzi looked at Luo Jianqing and asked, “What do you say, Jianqing? Do you dare to accept the challenge? I heard that this Bai Qi from the Bai family just stepped into the Nascent Soul stage last year. He wouldn’t stoop so low as to bully a junior in a lower realm. He must be here to challenge you.”

With that statement, the rules were set: Challenges were allowed, but they must be against opponents in the same realm or higher.

Luo Jianqing understood as he looked at Guang Lingzi, then glanced at Hao Xingzi. He stood up and said, “I accept the challenge, Master!”

As soon as he finished speaking, Bai Qi swung his folding fan and smiled, saying, “Please!”

Watching the elegant demeanor of the other party, Luo Jianqing raised an eyebrow, emitting a laughter from his nose. He pointed his toe and stepped onto the competition platform in an instant. The next moment, Bai Qi also flew up and stood in front of Luo Jianqing.

Under the vast sky, Cangshuang Peak stood tall among the mountains, reaching towards the clouds. On the hundred-zhang square in front of Lingyun Hall, countless gazes converged on the competition platform.

Two white figures stood facing each other. One was dressed in a gorgeous silk robe, adorned with beautiful jade accessories. He wore a thick gemstone belt around his waist, and even the hairpin in his hair was made of hundred-year ice jade, a treasured artifact.

The other person wore a simple white Daoist robe, with a simple white belt tied around his waist. The only decorations on his whole body, apart from the plain jade hairpin, were the disciple’s jade plaque hanging from his waist.

However, when Luo Jianqing stepped onto the competition platform, it seemed as if the mist and radiance of the world paled in comparison, drawing all the brilliance from heaven and earth. He stood there quietly, like the most exquisite painting in the world, flawless features, an elegant and refined temperament, truly handsome and radiant.

On the other hand, Bai Qi, in the world of Xuantian Continent, was considered a remarkable figure among the younger generation. He ranked seventh among the young masters of the Bai family, with his strength second only to Bai Ji, the fourth young master of the Bai family. In the past, Bai Qi was also considered handsome and elegant, with a charming and suave demeanor. However, today, standing here, he completely became a backdrop.

“Can Senior Luo defeat the seventh young master of the Bai family?”

“What do you know? This seventh young master of the Bai family has only entered the Nascent Soul stage a year ago, while Senior Luo has been in it for two years.”

“It’s not necessarily the case. I heard that this seventh young master has access to incredible resources in the Bai family, just slightly inferior to the fourth young master. He possesses a great amount of cultivation resources, and it is said that he also has numerous treasures and techniques.”

“Anyway, Senior Luo is so handsome. I support Senior Luo!”

Listening to the discussions from the spectators, Bai Qi initially pretended to maintain his composure, but gradually his expression turned sour. He took out his long spear directly and looked at Luo Jianqing, who smiled back at him.

The elder referee shouted, “The competition begins!”

The next moment, Bai Qi lunged forward with his spear, moving at an incredible speed, transforming into multiple illusory shadows that pressed towards Luo Jianqing. From the very beginning, he held nothing back and launched full-force attacks. The speed of his spear was too fast for anyone to see clearly. Only Zuo Yunmo and Wei Qiongyin among the disciples of Taihua Mountain could perceive some of the techniques, while those on the spectator stands could only witness the fierce spear strikes.