Chapter 44: Chapter 44 Fairy Xia, Please Enlighten Me (Seeking to Follow)
Translator: 549690339
“Disciple, with your talent, Mount Shu’s Lu Changsheng will definitely not be your match.”
“Xia, being so young with her cultivation having reached the fourth level of Dao Palace Realm, even Master Mingrang of the Immeasurable Temple is not her match, let alone someone like Lu Changsheng. How could he possibly be her opponent?”
“It seems our Inquiry Immortal Pavilion will finally be able to hold our heads high with pride at this Six Dao Conference.”
“Holy Maiden, please go easy on him. No need to wreck the harmony by causing an injury.”
The Elders of the Inquiry Immortal Pavilion already felt victory was in their grasp and were speaking in a relaxed tone.
Xia Ningxue had recently defeated Master Mingrang of the Immeasurable Temple, whereas Lu Changsheng was an obscure Elder from Mount Shu. It appeared that Xia Ningxue’s chances of winning were much greater.
Compared to the relaxed composure of the Elders of the Inquiry Immortal Pavilion, the mood among the Mount Shu Elders shifted dramatically…
“The Holy Maiden of Inquiry Immortal Pavilion is too monstrously talented; even I, Brother Zhao, might not be her match, let alone Lu. There’s no disgrace in Lu’s loss.”
“Indeed, if Brother Zhao, with his cultivation at the fifth level of the Dao Palace Realm, isn’t confident about defeating the Holy Maiden of Inquiry Immortal Pavilion, how could Lu possibly stand a chance?”
“Alas, our Shu Mountain Sect is going to decline to the second rank of sects.”
“Worst case, we’ll just have to take back the first place at the next Six Dao Conference.”
“Lu, you needn’t carry a psychological burden, lest you develop a heart demon that hinders your future cultivation.”
A collection of Mount Shu Elders comforted Lu Changsheng in advance to prevent the younger brother from developing a heart demon due to self-blame.
In the path of cultivation, nothing was more feared than being unable to overcome a heart demon, which could halt one’s progress or, even worse, lead to deviating from one’s cultivation path.
Lu Changsheng felt the pervasive air of pessimism among the people of Mount Shu and was left speechless.
He had yet to make a move.
“Hmph, my master will certainly win!”
Lian waved her fists, voicing her protest discontentedly.
Both she and Lin Qingzhi believed that their master, Lu Changsheng, who had been secretly cultivating in Mount Shu, was an Immortal and would not lose to some Holy Maiden.
“Lian, you are still young and don’t understand that the gap between some people is greater than the gap between people and dogs. Master Mingrang of the Immeasurable Temple is extraordinarily gifted and still lost to her opponent, which shows that her talent surpasses even that of a peerless genius. Your master has a fair talent within our Mount Shu, but once faced with a cultivation prodigy that appears once in a hundred thousand years…”
“Victory or defeat is a common occurrence in wars; sometimes, losing can be a good thing.”
“Lu, you don’t have to force yourself. If the situation is unfavorable, it’s better to just concede to avoid injury.”
“That’s right, gaining no benefit from a lopsided battle is not a disgrace. There’s no harm in conceding.”
“The most important thing in life is to be happy.”
Many Mount Shu Elders comforted Lu Changsheng again following Lian’s protest, advising him with all earnestness.
Lu Changsheng was resigned, but he knew these Mount Shu Elders meant well for him.
“Junior brother, do your best,”
Senior Brother Li Changye knew that Lu Changsheng was out of the ordinary, but he didn’t have absolute confidence that Lu could win. He was merely encouraging Lu to give it his all in the battle.
“I understand.”
Lu Changsheng carried the Nine Heavens Imperial Thunder Sword and stepped up to the Martial Arts Platform.
The eyes of Elders from the other sects fell on Lu Changsheng.
“Mount Shu’s Lu Changsheng is truly commendable for his courage. Knowing full well he’s outmatched, he still fights valiantly for the sake of his sect, a deed both moving and praiseworthy.”
“This match has no suspense.”
“Finally, Fairy Su of Inquiry Immortal Pavilion will get the better of the Taiyuan Real Man.”
“With such a monstrously talented disciple in Inquiry Immortal Pavilion, how can they fear not rising to prominence?”
“With her bearing, she’s likely to dominate an era.”
“Poor Lu Changsheng, to have encountered an extraordinary woman destined to dominate an era.”
“Mount Shu has been at the top for years, but there’s nothing it can do when a generational talent is born.”
The elders from other major sects generally had low expectations for the little- known Lu Changsheng.
Xia Ningxue had also been an obscure elder, but after defeating Master Mingrang of the third level of Dao Palace Realm, she became a well-known figure.
A graceful figure landed on the Martial Arts Platform, carrying a longsword on her back, dressed in white surpassing the snow, with skin like ice and bones like jade.
“Elder Lu, we meet again.”
Xia Ningxue smoothed her hair and sized up Lu Changsheng. His Innate Taoist Body always made it difficult for her to see through his current level of cultivation.
“How have you been recently, Fairy Xia?”
“Fine. And you?”
“All is well without incident.”
“I owed you a favor for saving my life last time, but I’ve repaid it by handing over the girl from the Huang Tribe to you. After going back to the Inquiry Immortal Pavilion, I was punished by the Pavilion Master. This time, the matter concerns the honor of our sect, and I won’t make concessions.”
“Neither will I.”
Lu Changsheng and Xia Ningxue stood on the Martial Arts Platform, exchanging words telepathically, as if catching up on old times.
“The Holy Maiden is acquainted with this Lu Changsheng?”
“It’s said that five years ago, when the Holy Maiden went on a mission to the Huang State with Elders Ku Mu and Luo Feng, the elder dispatched from the Shu Mountain Sect was this very Lu Changsheng. Elders Ku Mu and Luo Feng, that’s correct, isn’t it?”
“That’s right.”
Elder Ku Mu nodded.
Despite eight hundred years of cultivation, his ability was only at the fourth level of the Dao Palace Realm. Among the elders of the Inquiry Immortal Pavilion, his talent was only average and insufficient to represent the Pavilion in combat.
Elder Luo Feng, with the cultivation of the second layer of the Dao Palace Realm, had also fled back from the Huang State. Seeing Lu Changsheng and Xia Ningxue reminiscing, his eyes hardened with ruthlessness, feeling somewhat displeased inside.
He had pursued Xia Ningxue arduously for ten years without success, yet she was casually chatting with Lu Changsheng, whom she’d hardly met a few times. What did that guy Lu Changsheng have, apart from his good looks?
“Elder Ku Mu, Elder Luo Feng, what exactly is Lu Changsheng’s level of cultivation?”
“Hmph, he is nothing but at the first level of Dao Palace Realm, often pretending to be an elder of the Nascent Soul Realm and scheming against others. But in the face of absolute strength, these are merely insignificant tricks. Not to mention Fairy Xia taking action, even I could send him reeling.”
Luo Feng said disdainfully.
With his second-level cultivation of the Dao Palace Realm and on the verge of breaking through to the third level, he truly didn’t regard the first-level Lu Changsheng seriously.
“So, he’s just at the first level of the Dao Palace Realm.”
“Holy Maiden is at the fourth level of the Dao Palace Realm, and just the difference in realms alone is enough to crush this Lu Changsheng.”
“It seems that our Inquiry Immortal Pavilion is going to rank first in this Six Paths Conference.”
When Luo Feng mentioned Lu Changsheng’s level of cultivation, the other elders of the Inquiry Immortal Pavilion completely relaxed.
How could the fourth level of the Dao Palace Realm lose to the first level?
Even with Xia Ningxue’s talent, when she was at the first level of the Dao Palace Realm, she still had to flee in the face of the fourth-level Black Tiger Daoist.
“Strange, why can’t I discern Lu’s cultivation level?”
Elder Ku Mu felt that something was slightly amiss.
“We may begin now.”
The cold voice of the Fairy Pavilion Master echoed in the venue.
She was already eager to see the embarrassed expression of the Real Person of Taiyuan, urging the two who were still reminiscing to start.
“Master urges us on, so, I’m sorry, Elder Lu,” Xia Ningxue said with an increasingly serious expression, her sword intent growing whilst an invisible maelstrom of air surged around her, making her skirt flutter.
Lu Changsheng drew his sword: “Please enlighten me, Fairy Xia.”