Chapter 419: Ancestral Teachings Cannot Be Violated

"Don't any of you step up. Lu Yang, you brat, your journey has been so eventful already; it's about time my luck turned around!" Meng Jingzhou stopped Lu Yang and Zhao Po, who hadn't planned on taking the stage anyway.

Before Meng Jingzhou could step up, someone else beat him to it—a rather composed middle-aged man with a long, flowing beard, looking thoroughly refined and scholarly.

The long-bearded man was highly renowned locally, and someone in the crowd below instantly recognized him: "It's Master Xiang from the Tenglong Academy! He founded the academy and has taught countless successful scholars, even producing a provincial graduate. His disciples are scattered across Huangzhou, and he even has students in the Imperial Capital!"

"That's not all; he's a proper Confucian cultivator. According to one of his graduated students, he already reached the early Golden Core stage five years ago. Who knows if he has broken through further by now. Countless Golden Core clans want their descendants to study under him, offering fortunes as tuition, but he refused them all!"

"What? Early Golden Core five years ago? How are the rest of us supposed to compete? How could Fairy Qingluo possibly beat him!"

In the cultivation world, people loved using the title "Fairy" to praise a female cultivator's beauty, talent, or strength. After all, in the public consciousness, there were no women among the ancient immortals, so the term "Fairy" could be used however one pleased.

Lu Yang never used "Fairy" to praise anyone. It wasn't because he was cautious with his words, but rather because he didn't feel it was much of a compliment at all...

"Don't panic! Fairy Qingluo possesses magnificent talent. At just eighteen years old, she's already at the late Foundation Establishment stage, making her the youngest leader in the history of the Yuntai Sect. Facing an early Golden Core might not be an entirely unwinnable battle!"

"That's great... wait, doesn't that mean the rest of us still have no chance?"

Master Xiang stood upon the stage, an elegant smile gracing the corners of his lips: "Sect Leader Qing, please."

Qingluo sighed softly: "Master Xiang, did you not read the rules? The participating cultivators must be under twenty years old. You are already in your forties. Even if I am looking for a husband, I should at least find someone close to my own age, shouldn't I?"

Struck by her words, Master Xiang was suddenly gripped by poetic inspiration, reciting two lines on the spot: "You were born when I was not, I am old while you are young; you and I are destined to be apart."

"Indeed. So could you please step down? I only paid for one day's venue rental, and time is limited."

Dejected and forlorn, Master Xiang retreated from the stage.

The cultivators who took the stage afterward were much more suitable, all of them young talents in their twenties, including quite a few women traveling the world disguised as men.

"This girl named Qingluo has a decent foundation. Although there are flaws, to cultivate in this kind of environment without proper guidance and still achieve this level of Foundation Establishment is truly rare. She either had a fortuitous encounter or is a natural genius."

"She is quite good. Even in our Corpse Driving Sect, she would qualify as a core disciple and could make it into the top eight or even the top four in the grand sect tournament."

Lu Yang and Zhao Po softly evaluated Qingluo's talent.

"Why not recruit her into your Corpse Driving Sect? It's a pity for a genius like her to stay in such a small place," Lu Yang smiled.

"It depends on her personal choice. I can try, but it might not work. I've seen many people who refuse to abandon their own sects, saying it's the place that took them in and raised them, so they cannot abandon it."

"Besides, due to our sect's cultivation techniques, everyone in the Corpse Driving Sect looks as pale as if they've been dead for days. Some cultivators refuse to join us because of this and choose other first-rate sects instead," Zhao Po said, pointing to his own face, which was paler than a woman's. Whether they were orthodox or unorthodox corpse drivers, their complexions all looked this way.

Lu Yang nodded in deep agreement. When he first met Zhao Po, he had actually mistaken him for a living corpse.

Just as the two of them had noted, Qingluo possessed a solid foundation, finding few rivals among her peers. Her cloud-manipulation technique was masterfully executed, effortlessly defeating one ambitious young man after another.

Finally, it was Meng Jingzhou's turn to take the stage.

Meng Jingzhou wore a confident smile as he composedly stepped up. Just by standing there, he exerted an immense pressure on the crowd.

"I am Meng Jingzhou, a disciple of the Beyond Sect!"

The moment these words left his mouth, the crowd's eyes narrowed, and a sudden commotion erupted below as whispers broke out uncontrollably.

"The Beyond Sect? The head of the Five Great Immortal Sects?!"

"I heard that anyone who walks out of there is an peerless genius, and even a restaurant owner from that sect could be called an ancestor out in the world!"

"Why does the name Meng Jingzhou sound so familiar?"

"I think he's the same Meng Jingzhou from the Qingzhou Grand Ceremony."

Hearing Meng Jingzhou's name, Lu Yang's expression changed dramatically, and he blurted out: "The one who had clearly already achieved Core Formation, but still joined the competition just for the Core Formation insights offered as a reward?"

"How come I heard that he simply enjoys bullying those at lower cultivation realms?"

"Didn't he go to the Qingzhou Grand Ceremony just to cause trouble?"

"Probably not, he has no grudge against Qingzhou. He simply wanted to challenge the judges."

Lu Yang seized the opportunity to add: "He couldn't even beat the judges, so he voluntarily jumped off the stage to forfeit and admit defeat."

The crowd offered conflicting accounts, each story slightly different, but without exception, they were all facts.

Qingluo's expression grew strange, and she looked at Meng Jingzhou with an unmistakable look of disdain.

Clearly, she too had heard of Meng Jingzhou's great reputation.

After the Qingzhou Grand Ceremony, the exploits of Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou had swept across the Central Continent like a whirlwind, widely circulating among low-level cultivators.

However, because it had spread so far, the details had become distorted.

Hearing the discussions, lines of frustration covered Meng Jingzhou's forehead; his reputation had been thoroughly ruined.

"As a cultivator, one must have a steadfast heart. The opinions of the outside world are but passing clouds to me... though why does it feel like there was a familiar voice in that commotion just now?"

"Forget it, never mind. I'll win this fight first!"

Meng Jingzhou made a gesturing motion, inviting Qingluo to make the first move.

Meng Jingzhou certainly met the age criteria, so Qingluo couldn't say anything. She struck first, auspicious clouds rising behind her and transforming into the eighteen traditional weapons—axes, battleaxes, swords, and tridents—extremely sharp and blasting furiously toward Meng Jingzhou!

This single move alone had caused previous challengers to suffer bitterly, defeating them on the very first strike.

"What a fine cloud-manipulation technique!" Meng Jingzhou's eyes lit up. Facing the eighteen incoming weapons, he assumed a boxing stance.

"Collapsing Fist!"

Striking with both fists toward her ears, the moment the eighteen weapons collided with the fist imprints, they instantly dissolved into soft, fluffy white clouds.

Qingluo was undoubtedly strong, but unfortunately, she had encountered Meng Jingzhou.

Never mind that Qingluo was only at the Foundation Establishment stage; even if she were at the Golden Core stage, she would still be no match for him.

With just three punches, Meng Jingzhou forced out all of Qingluo's trump cards, leaving her with no choice but to concede.

"I lose."

Qingluo accepted her defeat, looking at Meng Jingzhou as she gritted her teeth and said: "The ancestral teachings cannot be violated. According to our ancestral rules, the one who defeats me shall be my husband."

Meng Jingzhou's eyes lit up: "Then..."

With a resolute gaze, Qingluo made a decision that would alter the course of her life.

"In that case, I have no choice but to abolish this ancestral rule!"