Chapter 189 - 187: Competition
HUM.
HUMM.
A series of deep hums, like the ringing of a great bell, instantly drew everyone’s attention away from Fang Yang. Their gazes shifted toward the main hall of the Cyan Lotus Palace complex.
At the very front of the main hall stood a figure clad in a Dragon Robe.
Sen Wei!
Sen Wei’s beauty was otherworldly. She stood with her hands behind her back, so lovely she seemed almost unreal.
At this moment, Fang Yang, like everyone else, watched her in silence.
Her soft voice carried through the air. "There are nine main seats and seventy-two side seats in the hall. Due to the Array, I must remind you all to act within your capabilities. Do not choose a seat blindly."
As she finished speaking, a series of explosive rumbles echoed from within the main hall.
In an instant, waves of green, divine light rippled out, faintly forming the majestic and sacred silhouette of a massive cyan lotus in the air.
Seeing this, the crowd exchanged uncertain glances.
Ultimately, their gazes settled on Nanyu and Fang Yang.
Even Sen Hui, hidden in a high tower, watched with great anticipation.
This was because, among everyone present, Fang Yang and Nanyu were the strongest. Both were at the Tier Three Advanced realm!
"Hmph." Minghai Nanyu scoffed and was about to stride forward.
She had once been an existence on par with Sen Wei.
Unfortunately, the Battle of Xuan Yu had drawn a clear line between them.
But just as Minghai Nanyu made her move, Fang Yang flicked the sleeve of his Daoist robe and strode forward as well.
After his journey through the dreamscape, Fang Yang now saw things very clearly.
He was now inextricably linked to the Sen family.
Since that was the case, he might as well elevate his own status to command a higher price!
’The game isn’t over yet, and anyone can be a dark horse, right?’
RUMBLE—
The two of them moved at the same time, wisps of their auras leaking out and clashing with one another.
In an instant, a gale erupted, and frost and snow filled the air.
But to everyone’s shock, Fang Yang actually overpowered Minghai Nanyu, becoming the first young prodigy to step into the main hall and firmly claim one of the main seats!
Watching from behind, his cousin Fang Xuan stared, dumbfounded. "Brother, you’re so strong."
"He’s gotten stronger again..." Le Shiyu and Dongfang Xuezhi sighed with the same sentiment, almost in unison.
They understood now that from this day forward, Fang Yang would likely leave them far behind.
The old-timers hidden in the shadows, like the four Pavilion Elders known as Flower, Bird, Fish, and Insect, clicked their tongues in silent amazement.
"The Fang Clan may be in decline, but a peerless prodigy like Fang Yang, even from a fallen family, is worthy of Xiaohui."
"Indeed. He must have already passed the matriarch’s test."
They knew Fang Yang better than anyone.
But they never imagined he would become so formidable.
As for Sen Hui, upon seeing Fang Yang display his might once more, the smile never left her face. She was immensely proud of him.
After Fang Yang, the other main seats were filled one by one.
Sen Wei, Fang Yang, Minghai Nanyu, Dongfang Moran, Cyan Aura, and others took their places.
Essentially, the most outstanding figures of their generation had been revealed.
It was worth noting, however, that Sen Hui did not participate. Chen Ying, who was famed alongside her as one of the "Twin Beauties of the Pill Hall," was also absent.
At that moment, Fang Yang glanced around and couldn’t help but recall the first Young Dragon Tea Party hosted by Sen Wei.
Many people were no longer here.
The most obvious example was Zhang Ye, who had secretly competed with him back then. He had now fallen far behind.
He’d heard that Zhang Ye was currently trapped in some sort of legacy ground.
A slight smile touched Fang Yang’s lips as he thought:
’Looks like I grew quite quickly during the Battle of Xuan Yu. In just a few short years, I’ve managed to build a solid foundation.’
Of course, he couldn’t have done it without help from many different sides.
For example, the assistance of the Fang Clan, and his "Seek Fortune, Avoid Misfortune" talent.
But most importantly, it was due to his own hard work.
Just as Fang Yang was lost in thought, Sen Wei surveyed the crowd with a smile and said:
"Everyone’s cultivation level is different. A simple comparison of strength would be unfair. Therefore, this tea party will feature a scholarly duel."
The moment she finished speaking, a beautiful handmaiden stepped forward to explain the rules of the duel.
The scholarly duel was a competition of everyone’s talent and aptitude—specifically, their understanding of their respective schools of cultivation.
The task was for those in the nine main seats and seventy-two side seats to use the power of the Array to push a great cauldron back and forth. If the cauldron stopped in front of someone, that person would have to leave their seat.
The later one was forced to leave their seat, the better the reward!
’A competition of our understanding of our respective schools?’ Fang Yang’s sharp brows twitched as he shot a subtle glance at Sen Wei.
Different schools had different characteristics; it was basically impossible for them to be compatible.
Most people cultivated one primary and one secondary school, focusing on two in total.
With so many cultivators present, one could only imagine how many different schools were represented.
’In that case, can this great cauldron really measure one’s mastery over their school?’
’And even if it can, what benefit is in it for Sen Wei?’
Fang Yang didn’t understand.
He firmly believed that Sen Wei, much like himself, was an opportunist who never wasted her efforts on pointless tasks.
HUMMM—
While Fang Yang was pondering, Sen Wei’s ten fingers danced like fluttering butterflies as she activated the power of the Array.
After a low hum, a small, three-legged, pure-white cauldron materialized in the air.
Then, Sen Wei gave it a gentle push, sending it gliding toward the seventy-two side seats.
Dongfang Xuezhi and the others in the seventy-two side seats immediately began to exert their strength against it.
During this process, the pure-white cauldron gradually grew larger, and its color began to change.
It would turn the vermilion of the Fire Dao School, or the azure of the Water Dao School, shifting between various hues...
Gradually, people from the seventy-two side seats were forced to withdraw one after another, leaving only those in the nine main seats.
And the cauldron itself had transformed into a great, four-legged vessel!
"Fang Yang, catch." Cyan Aura’s eyes flashed as he shoved the great cauldron forward with both hands.
Fang Yang used a Tai Chi push-hands technique to redirect the great cauldron toward Dongfang Moran.
Unexpectedly, Dongfang Moran also pushed the great cauldron back toward Fang Yang.
Not only that, but the others in the nine main seats, such as Minghai Nanyu, avoided testing Sen Wei and instead, with a tacit understanding, all turned to attack Fang Yang!
"Hmph." Fang Yang snorted.
In that moment, he stomped his foot and dipped his shoulder.
A ball of lightning appeared at his side, coalescing into the shape of a thunder carp.
Master of the Thunder Dao!
He pushed the great cauldron, now emblazoned with a pattern of purple lightning, forward, overwhelming several of his opponents at once.
In an instant, everyone was stunned and speechless.
"Master of the Thunder Dao?!" Cyan Aura’s pupils contracted sharply.
Dongfang Moran sucked in a cold breath, his scalp tingling. "How did you get so strong so fast?"
"Dammit." Even Minghai Nanyu was so shocked she cursed under her breath. She could only struggle to withstand the force, her body stumbling backward.
For someone of Fang Yang’s age to have already advanced his cultivation of the Thunder Dao School to the Master Level was simply absurd!
Faced with this great cauldron of purple lightning, only Sen Wei was capable of receiving it.
At this moment, Fang Yang met the astonished gazes of the crowd with nothing more than a faint smile.
In truth, he still had another card up his sleeve!