Who Let Him Cultivate?! (WX)-Chapters 486: The Finals Begin

The Imperial Preceptor had concealed himself well. Even as the finals commenced, Yun Zhi still hadn’t located him.

The prodigies ate well, played well, and relaxed for an entire day, now participating in the finals with full vigor.

The arena buzzed with fervor as elders from various sects cheered for their disciples, hoping to see them secure a favorable ranking. Even a modest showing in the finals would be sufficient for bragging rights in the outside world.

Following instructions, the prodigies drew lots to determine their matchups.

Meng Jingzhou, Bai Ming, Yan Tianzhi, and Lan Ting—representing their respective sects at the Intermediate Golden Core Stage—gathered together.

“Who are your opponents?” Bai Ming asked, checking if any of them would face each other in the first round.

“My opponent is from the Qi-Commanding Sect.”

“Mine’s from the Mystic Sect.”

Everyone exhaled in relief.

“I don’t see anyone from the Hanging Monastery.” Meng Jingzhou scanned the crowd. A few monks were present, but none seemed to be from the Hanging Monastery. “I thought every immortal sect would send a disciple for every cultivation realm?”

Bai Ming frowned. He was most familiar with the Hanging Monastery’s situation. “That shouldn’t be the case. Shi Chan should have met the requirements for participating in the finals.”

“Perhaps he has something else to attend to?” Lan Ting hazarded a guess.

“Maybe.”

“I thought I’d encounter Lu Yang this time.” Bai Ming shook his head. Having lost to Lu Yang twice, he planned to seize this opportunity to redeem himself, only to find Meng Jingzhou representing the Dao-Seeking Sect at the Intermediate Golden Core Stage instead.

Yan Tianzhi was similarly disappointed. He had never exchanged blows with Lu Yang and hoped he could have a chance to do so.

Meng Jingzhou pouted. “Don’t worry, you’ll definitely encounter him. He’s also participating in the finals.”

Bai Ming blinked. “He has broken through to the Advanced Golden Core Stage?”

“Look at the judges’ platform,” Meng Jingzhou kindly hinted.

Bai Ming, Yan Tianzhi, and Lan Ting lifted their gazes.

The five immortal sect leaders sat upright at the judges’ platform, with Lu Yang occupying the central seat and waving at the three of them with a radiant smile.

Bai Ming: “???”

Why do I find this uncannily familiar?

It feels like Lu Yang sat in that same spot during our last visit to the Dao-Seeking Sect?

Meng Jingzhou sighed, lambasting Lu Yang’s shameless conduct. “That dog bastard Lu Yang abused his authority for personal gain, trampling the weak and currying favor with the strong, running wild without a care! He sends me into battle while he lounges in comfort on the stage. Just wait till I become acting sect leader. I’ll be sure to pay him back!”

~~~

On the judges’ platform, Lu Yang turned to Master Jiesha curiously. “Master, did the Hanging Monastery not send anyone?”

Master Jiesha remained silent, offering only a cryptic glance to Lu Yang to figure it out on his own.

Lu Yang nodded and returned a cryptic glance to Master Jiesha to figure it out on his own.

However, Lu Yang didn’t get what Master Jie Sha meant, and Master Jie Sha didn’t get what Lu Yang meant either.

Just then, the final judge arrived, clad in bright yellow robes and wearing an affable smile.

“Jiang Qun pays respects to all seniors present.” The young man cupped his hands in greeting to the five. Since the tournament was organized by the imperial court, it was only natural for them to send a representative.

Lu Yang also recognized Jiang Qun, Great Xia’s eldest imperial prince. During the Qing Province Grand Ceremony, he had gone by the alias of Xia Qun when serving as deputy to Qing Province’s governor.

“No need for such formalities, Your Highness,” said Luo Hongxia while cradling the treasure box. Throughout her journey here, many had shown undue concern for the box, and she feared some mishap might befall it.

Jiang Qun was puzzled about why Luo Hongxia carried the box herself, but realizing it likely involved her secrets, he refrained from asking.

Jiang Qun was particularly amiable toward Lu Yang, smiling as he remarked, “Sect Leader Lu, you’re truly a promising young talent.”

As a Basic Fusion cultivator, I rank second to last among the six of us. Of course, I have to be friendlier to the one ranked last.

If Lu Yang leaves, I’ll be ranked last here.

Moreover, before his departure, the Xia Emperor had instructed him to foster good relations with the Dao-Seeking Sect—with Lu Yang in particular. Emperor Father’s special emphasis on Lu Yang speaks volumes about his high regard for him.

“This—I mean, I have worked hard and achieved much. Becoming acting sect leader is only appropriate,” Lu Yang stated coolly, leaving Jiang Qun momentarily at a loss for how to respond.

Why is Sect Leader Lu not even the least bit modest?

“It’s been hard on you, Sect Leader Lu.” Jiang Qun finally managed to formulate a sentence after a long pause.

Sect Leader Lu naturally wasn’t modest—after all, it was Huang Doudou, Sect Leader Huang, who was currently in control of the body.

The real Sect Leader Lu had been sealed away in his mental space, his cries gone unheard by heaven and earth, and his pitiable fate so tragic that any witness couldn’t help but applaud.

“The Qi Training category matches should be starting soon.”

While other cultivation realms were divided into three phases—Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced—the Qi Training Stage had only a single category.

There was simply no need for further division, since the tournament’s main purpose was to sieve out archaic cultivators who had dispersed their cultivation to cultivate anew. Archaic cultivators wouldn’t linger at the Level Seven or Level Eight Qi Training stages; they had no reason to waste time on this stage. At minimum, they would reach the Great Perfection Qi Training Stage, and it was totally possible for them to skip the Qi Training Stage altogether.

Those who could make it to the finals were all at the Great Perfection Qi Training Stage, just one thought away from the Foundation Establishment Stage. There had been a few cases at the city and provincial levels where Level Nine Qi Training cultivators defeated Great Perfection Qi Training opponents, but they were quickly eliminated in later rounds. These Level Nine Qi Training cultivators didn’t face ordinary Great Perfection Qi Training opponents but those who had been virtually unmatched among their peers.

The Everlasting Immortal Fairy lamented regretfully, “What a pity Qi Refining Practitioners no longer exist. Otherwise, I could have let you witness how Qi Training cultivators defeat Golden Core and Nascent Soul cultivators.”

“Qi Refining Practitioners?” Lu Yang was unfamiliar with the term.

She explained, “Qi Refining Practitioners followed the cultivation system created by the earliest cultivators. By continuously refining the breath within one’s abdomen, they could enhance themselves continuously. Theoretically, it was even possible for one to become an immortal through the Qi Training Stage.”

Lu Yang asked, “If Qi Refining Practitioners were so powerful, why did they disappear?”

“While formidable, Qi Refining Practitioners had too many restrictions. Only a tiny fraction of people could cultivate it; perhaps not even one in a million could fulfil the criteria. Back then, the early phases of cultivation systems were still in development, so the Qi Refining Practitioner system was quickly abandoned. The modern Qi Training Stage evolved from the Qi Refining Practitioners.

“Conversely, since Qi Refining Practitioners were so rare, those who did become one cultivated at absurd speeds.”

After receiving auditory messages from the Dao-Seeking Sect disciples confirming everything was ready and that the Qi Training category matches could begin, the Everlasting Immortal Fairy solemnly declared the commencement of the finals.

“Qi Training matches are so boring,” Yang Ding muttered while discreetly stifling a yawn. “They’re nowhere as thrilling as the Foundation Establishment fights.”

~~~

On the arena stage, two Qi Training prodigies stepped forward.

“After you, Junior Brother.”

“Then I won’t stand on ceremony.” His opponent laughed heartily before executing a sword flourish and thrusting forward. Triumph flickered in his eyes. His aura suddenly surged as he broke through to the Foundation Establishment Stage!

Let’s see how you handle this!

The other party flashed a smile. While thrusting his sword, his aura also suddenly surged as he broke through to the Foundation Establishment Stage!

Let’s see how you handle this!

Yang Ding’s wish came true—the Qi Training match had turned into a Foundation Establishment match.