Chapter 830: Popular Lu Yang

Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou, two towering figures from *The Legends of the Dao Sect*, had even been granted two standalone character chapters by Daoist Buyu to recount their tales; the pair could well be described as renowned throughout the realm.

Whether they were cultivators hailing from distant lands or locals born of the Imperial Capital, all had heard of their illustrious names.

Yet the local cultivators of the Imperial Capital possessed a slightly deeper knowledge, well-remembered, for instance, of the formidable prestige Meng Jingzhou had once wielded in this very city.

Had he not run away from home in the years that followed, there would never have been any talk of the Four Young Masters of the Imperial Capital.

Of late, Lu Yang’s renown had eclipsed Meng Jingzhou's somewhat, for Daoist Buyu’s ascension to the Tribulation Transmutation Stage had drawn the gaze of myriad souls, and by extension, Lu Yang found himself thrust into the spotlight.

Lu Yang pressed a hand to his forehead, never imagining he was so famous that a single shout of "Old Lu" from Meng Jingzhou would instantly betray his identity.

Since matters had come to this, there was no longer any need for subterfuge.

Lu Yang removed his mask, revealing the countenance so well-known to the world. "It really is him!"

"You are Lu Yang!" Li Zhuo’s attention shifted abruptly to Lu Yang's side. His grandfather shared certain old entanglements with Daoist Buyu, and thus the elder had explicitly charged him that if he should ever cross paths with Lu Yang in the future, he must give him a thorough and proper lesson.

Now, however, he felt he would be fortunate enough just to save his own skin.

"Little Zhuo, you’ve grown quite arrogant, haven’t you? Snatching someone else’s seat just because there’s nowhere left to eat. How come you weren’t like this back when you used to run around with me?"

Li Zhuo forced a sycophantic smile, not daring to utter a single word.

"Uncle Xu, don’t mind the two of us any longer. We shall wander the Imperial Capital a bit more."

"Very well," Xu You replied with a smile, taking his leave of the Tianxiang Brothel.

"Young Master Meng, shall I be off as well?" Li Zhuo inquired with utmost caution, quietly stepping backward.

"Hold on, where do you think you’re going? When I was bidding earlier, I stated that today’s expenses would be on my coin. Since your final bid was higher, shouldn’t this promise be fulfilled by you instead?"

"Young Master Meng speaks the truth, precisely so." How could Li Zhuo dare say a single word of dissent? His sole desire now was to distance himself swiftly from Meng Jingzhou; he cared no more for spirit stones or female companions.

"Fine then, beat it."

As if granted a grand amnesty, Li Zhuo hurriedly fled the Tianxiang Brothel. The news of Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou’s appearance quickly spread through the entire Imperial Capital. "What? The disciple of that old rogue Buyu has appeared?" The Minister of the Ministry of Appointments could not sit still upon hearing this. His talent for cultivation was limited, leaving him with no hope of reaching the Tribulation Transmutation Stage, which was why he had not entered secluded meditation.

He had believed that he would never possess a chance to defeat Daoist Buyu in this lifetime, yet unexpected fortune had smiled upon him; the young disciple of Daoist Buyu had delivered himself right to his doorstep.

"Son, come here. How has your cultivation been progressing of late?" The Minister of Appointments summoned his youngest son, who was the most accomplished of all his children and possessed the finest innate talent for cultivation.

The Minister's son was exceedingly handsome, a man of striking appearance who could make young maidens turn their heads just by walking down the street.

"Thanks to the elixirs provided by you, Father, I have encountered few bottlenecks. I am already at the peak of the Nascent Soul Stage."

The Minister of Appointments nodded and spoke once more, "I hear that people outside have already begun calling you a chosen paragon?"

The son of the Minister of Appointments flashed a confident smile. "I dare not claim to be a paragon, it is merely the flattery of the world. But when it comes to combat, I have indeed never tasted defeat."

"Splendid. Lu Yang, the young disciple of Daoist Buyu, has arrived. Your father cannot best that old rogue Buyu, so now your father relies entirely upon you. Go and match your skills against Lu Yang."

"What?" The son of the Minister of Appointments was utterly dumbfounded. It was true he was a genius, but there was no way he could compare to a monster like Lu Yang, who had seized the championship at the Grand Twelve-Ten-Thousand-Year Celebration of the Dao Sect. That was an eccentric freak who could fight to a draw with the Young Sect Leader of the Lu Clan. If I were truly that capable in battle, why would I still be mingling in the Imperial Capital? I would have joined the Heavenly Court Sect directly.

·

"Grandfather, I was bullied by Meng Jingzhou and Lu Yang!" Li Zhuo cried out his grievances the moment he returned to the Left Prime Minister's estate. The more he pondered it along the journey, the more furious he became, yet he was no match for Meng Jingzhou and Lu Yang, leaving him with no choice but to seek his grandfather's aid.

His grandfather harbored old grudges against both the Meng family and Daoist Buyu. Given an opportunity to reclaim their honor, he would surely strike!

The Left Prime Minister was a silver-haired elder who lapsed into deep contemplation for a brief moment after listening to Li Zhuo’s heavily embellished account.

"You are saying that the disciple of that old rogue Buyu has also arrived?"

"It is mostly that Meng Jingzhou, he goes simply too far in his bullying!" Li Zhuo spoke with venomous resentment, though he did not care much about Lu Yang.

The Left Prime Minister turned a deaf ear to his words, continuing to mutter to himself, "You say, if you were to bow to Lu Yang and acknowledge him as your elder brother, then you and Lu Yang would become of the same generation. Wouldn't that mean Daoist Buyu becomes a generation below me, like a son? Is that not the logic?"

"Huh?"

"What are you 'huhing' for? Hurry up and go swear brotherhood with Lu Yang!"

When Lu Yang returned to the Meng estate, invitations arrived thick as falling snow, piling high across an entire table.

"So many of them, you are quite popular indeed," Meng Jingzhou teased.

Though he had no shortage of enemies in the Imperial Capital, he was still the Eldest Young Master of the Meng family after all, and those who found him distasteful dared not act openly against him.

Lu Yang drew a dividing line down the middle of the table, introducing them to Meng Jingzhou. "On the left are challenges to battle, and on the right are requests for sworn brotherhood."

"The challenges are all issued by the sons of my master's enemies, while the requests for brotherhood are all from the grandsons of my master's enemies."

"What is there to fear from challenges? Just fight them."

Lu Yang sighed softly. "In a single combat, I naturally have no fear. But the problem lies in the fact that these are all joint challenges."

In other words, they intended to gang up on him.

Meng Jingzhou scratched his head; this was indeed a thorny matter. Lu Yang could not possibly be foolish enough to walk into a gang fight, nor could he accept a whole horde of lackeys.

If he were to step outside while ignoring these invitations, one could not rule out the possibility of Lu Yang being ambushed, or being cornered by people clinging to his thighs, begging to call him elder brother.

"I have a way." A sudden spark of inspiration flashed through Meng Jingzhou's mind, conceiving a solution.

"What way?"

1

The Luotian Forest was a small woodland situated within the Imperial Capital, where cultivators journeyed year-round to comprehend the aura of the wood spirits.

On this day, the Luotian Forest was far more bustling than usual, as children of officials and scions of noble families gathered here in droves.

"You received a reply from Lu Yang as well?" Li Zhuo shared a decent rapport with the son of the Minister of Appointments, and the two began to chat casually upon crossing paths.

"Indeed. It said to have us resolve our matters here in the Luotian Forest, yet more than half the day has passed, so why is there no sign of anyone?" The son of the Minister of Appointments wondered aloud.

Just as the crowd was growing bewildered, they beheld Meng Jingzhou leaping down from the canopy of a tree.

"Quiet down, everyone. If anyone utters another word, I shall have my family raise the interest rates on your loans."

Instantly, all murmuring among the crowd ceased.

"The purpose of gathering everyone here today is surely clear to all of you. It is entirely for the sake of my brother, Lu Yang."

"Some among you bear the grudges of the older generation and wish to challenge Lu Yang; others wish to take advantage of our Sect Master and bow to Lu Yang as an elder brother. All of this is understandable."

"But there is only one Lu Yang. If you swarm him all at once, he certainly cannot win, and if you all rush to swear brotherhood together, he cannot accept it either."

"To resolve this dilemma, Lu Yang and I have consulted each other and decided to hold a grand tournament."

"A tournament?" The crowd frowned, failing to grasp Meng Jingzhou's meaning.

"As the saying goes, the strong are revered, and the strong possess special privileges."

"This tournament shall be named the First Lu Yang Hegemony Championship. The tournament will employ a group system, competing in pairs. The victorious party may advance to the next round, continuing until the final champion is determined."

While the crowd was still processing the meaning of Meng Jingzhou's words, a large, exquisitely packaged crimson box, measuring the height of a man, suddenly descended from the heavens, landing right before Meng Jingzhou.

Standing upon a tree branch, Meng Jingyu caught her breath; she was the one who had hurled the box down.

Meng Jingzhou tore the box open in a few swift motions, revealing Lu Yang bound tightly to a chair, and introduced him with great flourish.

"And this is the grand prize of our tournament—Lu Yang."

"As long as you win the championship, whether you wish to challenge Lu Yang or swear brotherhood with him, the choice is entirely yours."