飘零影音

Chapter 158 - Arc 11: The Sect\'s Grand Competition | Chapter 158: Match 5

Translator: Lynn

After Luo Yao’s departure, Du Zihui became increasingly infuriated. He contemplated chasing after Luo Yao to demand an explanation, but he noticed that there were two Jindan Daoists seated on the high platform where Luo Yao had returned. Recognizing their high status within the family, Du Zihui reluctantly suppressed his anger and returned to his position.

Upon seeing Luo Yao’s return, Xu Ziqing and the others warmly welcomed him.

Qiu Ze, concerned that Luo Yao might be upset about losing to Du Zihui, quickly consoled him, saying, “Don’t worry too much, Luo Yao. Just focus on improving in the future.”

Luo Yao nodded and replied, “It’s fine. He is indeed stronger than me, and I accept that.” After a moment of hesitation, he shared with his friends what Du Zihui had said to him on stage.

Qiu Ze and the others exchanged glances, surprised by Du Zihui’s unexpected words. It seemed to align with their previous speculations.

Yue Jun chimed in, “Luo Yao, you initially refused Young Master Du’s invitation because you thought he was a lazy person who didn’t like you. However, it appears that he is sincere now and possesses significant abilities. Even if his personality doesn’t match your expectations, as long as you can be practical about it, it shouldn’t hinder anything.”

Luo Yao had raised the topic with his friends because he wanted their input. He responded to Yue Jun’s comment, saying, “Upon further consideration, I agree. I just wonder why he is pursuing me so fervently and acting so closely.” His doubts remained.

Long Xuan chuckled and said, “Cultivators often need to seize opportunities in their practice. Young Master Du probably values your talisman-making abilities. If you join his family and serve him wholeheartedly, you’ll have access to abundant resources. The reason behind it doesn’t matter much.”

Luo Yao thought for a moment and added with a smile, “That makes sense. But I didn’t respond to him earlier, and he might be quite angry. If he doesn’t come back due to that anger, it means I’m not destined to join the Du family.”

Xu Ziqing had been listening but refrained from intervening, seeing that his friends had reached a decision. He smiled and ceased discussing the matter further. After pondering for a while, he turned to Yun Lie and inquired, Yun Shixiong, what are your thoughts on this matter?”

Yun Lie responded, “The Du family has a respectable reputation.”

Xu Ziqing couldn’t contain his curiosity and inquired, “Shixiong, can you tell me more about the Du family?”

Yun Lie contemplated for a while before responding, “The Du family has a Nascent Soul Daoist.”

Xu Ziqing waited for more information but didn’t get it. Puzzled, he asked, “Is that all?”

Yun Lie remained silent for a moment before adding, “There are two Nascent Soul Daoists in the Du family, and Sixing Peak’s records mention very few individuals from the Du family.”

Understanding Yun Lie’s limited knowledge about the Du family, Xu Ziqing’s expression became somewhat nuanced.

It appears that my senior brother only knows this much about the Du family. Given his dedication to cultivation and his typically cold temperament, it would likely take a Yuanying stage master or higher to catch his attention, especially when it comes to leapfrogging challenges and defeating Jindan stage opponents.

As Xu Ziqing pondered, Yun Lie spoke again, “If you want more details, you can ask Master.”

Xu Ziqing swiftly returned to his senses and sat down, saying, “I have nothing more to ask, brother. Please don’t worry.”

Yun Lie glanced at him and suggested, “If you’re curious, you can approach Master for further information.”

Xu Ziqing immediately stood up as if he had been granted permission and said, “Yes, thank you, brother, for pointing me in the right direction!” He then hurriedly took a few steps and approached Daoist Qiu He.

Surprised by his second disciple’s sudden urgency, Qiu He inquired, “Ziqing, what’s the matter?”

Xu Ziqing urged, “Master, please let me hide for a while.”

Upon hearing this, Daoist Qiu He chuckled, “Is Yun’er upset?” The idea of his eldest disciple being upset would genuinely amuse him as their master.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, Xu Ziqing scanned the surroundings, seeking a place to sit down.

In response, the eight female disciples promptly moved aside, making space for him.

Xu Ziqing settled into a cross-legged position, recounted the recent incident with some embarrassment, and then sheepishly scratched his nose, concluding with, “…That’s the situation.”

Master Qiu He couldn’t contain his laughter and coughed lightly before saying, “It’s natural for others not to see through your Da Shixiong’s appearance, given his superior cultivation base.”

Xu Ziqing nodded in agreement, fully aware of this fact. He had simply let his thoughts slip out for a moment.

However, both of them were steadfast cultivators, and they soon set aside their emotions and delved into more serious matters.

Qiu He, who had lived for over four hundred years, immediately began to share the details of the Du family with his two disciples.

In the Wuling Immortal Sect, due to the long lifespan of immortal cultivators, those who reached the status of ancestors would always leave behind descendants, some of whom could also inherit their bloodline. Over many years, these descendants would form enduring lineages. While those without spiritual roots could not remain in the sect, individuals possessing spiritual roots, whether they were part of side branches or direct lineages, had the potential to establish their own families of immortal cultivators.

Currently, there were numerous large-scale families within the Xianmen, and some even held secret titles such as the top ten families, which were tacitly acknowledged by the sect’s leadership.

The Du family was one such family, with their first Patriarch, Du Qingzhi, being an immortal who had ascended many years ago.

This immortal was a rare and exceptional genius in the vast expanse of nine thousand worlds. He managed to progress from refining Qi to transcending the tribulation in just five thousand years.

He had once been a dazzling legend, amassing countless beautiful female cultivators as wives and concubines, leaving behind numerous blood descendants. Not only did he achieve personal greatness, but even before his ascension, his family held a prestigious position within the sect.

However, after Du Qingzhi’s ascension, none of his descendants could match his stunning achievements. Consequently, the family’s prominence gradually waned.

Nonetheless, as the saying goes, “A skinny camel is still larger than a horse.” Even though the Du family didn’t rank among the top ten families in the Wuling Immortal Sect, their deep heritage and the presence of two Nascent Soul cultivators made them a formidable force not to be underestimated. Messing with the Du family was a decision no one dared to take lightly.

The Du family’s reputation within the sect was indeed outstanding.

The Wuling Immortal Sect was vast, and even with Sixing Peak guiding the orthodox disciples, there were inevitably matters that couldn’t be attended to.

Within such a sprawling sect, it was commonplace to find disciples who had powerful backers and those who flaunted their influence. Moreover, there were always a few unruly individuals who would bully others. However, these incidents were typically minor, and with millions of disciples in the sect, they amounted to little more than ripples in a vast ocean.

The upper echelons and influential families within the sect tended to have more troublemakers among their ranks. Occasionally, such incidents couldn’t be avoided, and it became necessary to make a name for oneself within Sixing Feng’s discipline, sometimes in more serious ways.

However, over the years, the Du family’s descendants had seldom been involved in significant disturbances.

Furthermore, Du Zihui’s personality was such that few people liked him upon first sight. However, once he stepped onto the martial arts stage, his true strength became apparent, which was a testament to the foundation of a large family.

Still, as capable as Master Qiu He was, he remained unaware of Du Zihui’s precise standing within the Du family—whether he was from the main lineage or a side branch. In the past, Du Zihui hadn’t exactly held a stellar reputation, which might have been a calculated choice by the Du family to maintain a low profile.

Realizing this, Xu Ziqing was deeply engrossed in the conversation, and his fellow disciples, including Qiu Ze, gathered around, equally attentive.

As ordinary inner sect disciples struggling for resources, they knew that Du Zihui hailed from a fairly influential family, but they were far from aware of the intricacies. Even if they had inquired, they had only managed to glean superficial information. Reflecting on the past glory of the Du family, they couldn’t help feeling a sense of trepidation regarding Luo Yao.

After Luo Yao finished listening to Master Qiu He’s explanation, his emotions were mixed.

Daoist Qiu He always looked out for the younger generation, so he wanted to challenge the group a bit and asked Xu Ziqing, “Ziqing, can you guess Du Zihui’s age?” Xu Ziqing shook his head and replied, “Disciples cannot determine his age.”

Master Qiu He chuckled and shared, “From my observations, this individual’s aura doesn’t possess the purity of a single spiritual root like yours. He is not a naturally gifted cultivator in that regard. However, I can tell that he has been cultivating for less than fifty years, and judging by the strength of his foundation, the maturity of his true essence, and the smoothness of his breath, he must have spent at least ten years or more in the late stage of foundation establishment.”

Xu Ziqing was left utterly astonished by this revelation, and even Luo Yao found himself in a state of disbelief.

While possessing a single spiritual root was ideal, it was common for cultivators to contend with impurities when absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. Nevertheless, Du Zihui had reached the late stage of foundation establishment in his thirties—a remarkable feat. Even with the backing of his family, achieving such progress was undeniably challenging.

However, the oddity of his behavior when recruiting people raised questions in the minds of Qiu Ze and the others. The Du family, despite maintaining a low profile, had managed to nurture disciples of such caliber, leaving them perplexed.

Upon hearing Master Qiu He’s explanations, the four of them gained a deeper understanding of the Du family and found clarity in their thoughts. They no longer harbored prejudices against the Du family due to Du Zihui’s peculiar actions.

After listening, Luo Yao felt a sense of unease and glanced back. He spotted Du Zihui on a high platform to the southeast, glaring fiercely at him with simmering anger.

Luo Yao realized that Du Zihui might approach him later. Considering that he had been practicing for a hundred years while Du Zihui was barely in his fifties, he decided to exercise tolerance.

With a nod of acknowledgment to Du Zihui, Luo Yao turned his attention elsewhere.

Meanwhile, on the high platform, Master Qiu He had finished his discussion and was about to address his disciples. He asked Xu Ziqing, “Ziqing, why don’t you check who your opponent is in the upcoming martial arts battle? It’s an important round, and if your opponent is well-known or skilled, I can offer some guidance.”

Xu Ziqing agreed and retrieved the letter talisman, revealing the name “Yanwutai match, Feixian Peak, Du Linglong.”

This revelation left him surprised—another Du?

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