The Prefecture Trials were held at the Jin Guang Prefecture’s training grounds, which were already bustling with people. Apart from Prefecture Lord Ling, the other six Prefecture Lords had all arrived.
“Haha, Prefecture Lord Yu, I see that the Disciples of your Jin Guang Prefecture have made significant progress in their cultivation. There are even three Qi Refining Stage Disciples who have reached the tenth level, and one at the Foundation Establishment Stage Completion. It seems the top spot in this Prefecture Trials will undoubtedly belong to your Jin Guang Prefecture.”
The speaker was a burly man, bare-cheasted and rugged in appearance. He was none other than Ge Shuang, the Prefecture Lord of Weapon Forging Prefecture.
“Prefecture Lord Ge, you flatter me. I see that your Weapon Forging Prefecture is also extraordinary. Each of your Disciples is full of fighting spirit and is a strong contender for the top spot.”
Yu Zhuo’s heart was already blooming with joy upon hearing the praise, but he still maintained a necessary humility.
However, he was extremely confident internally.
After all, Jin Guang Prefecture held an advantage in both the number and quality of its Disciples.
“The first place in these Prefecture Trials will definitely belong to my Jin Guang Prefecture!” Yu Zhuo thought to himself.
Yan Mo, the Prefecture Lord of the Heavenly Demon Prefecture, glanced at the empty seat beside him.
“I don’t think Prefecture Lord Ling will show up this time. After all, his Qing Xuan Prefecture has been last in the previous few trials, and it’s truly unnecessary for him to come and lose face. However, I heard that Prefecture Lord Ling took in a new Disciple a few years ago. I wonder how he is doing now?”
“Haha, Prefecture Lord Yan, you’ve just come out of seclusion so you don’t know. This Disciple Prefecture Lord Ling took in is actually a good-for-nothing who cannot Cultivate. It’s truly a huge joke! It tarnishes the reputation of us seven Prefecture Lords!”
“Is that true?”
“Absolutely true! Although I haven’t seen him, my Jin Guang Prefecture Disciples personally went to challenge him later, and he always kept his doors shut. What else could it be if not a guilty conscience? Just you wait, he definitely won’t dare to come to these Prefecture Trials.”
Yao Hongchen, the Prefecture Lord of Medicine Mansion, retorted:
“I don’t think so. Perhaps Lu Hao is truly in seclusion?”
Yu Zhuo scoffed, saying:
“Hmph, he’s just a small Qi Refining Cultivator. Can he be in seclusion for five years? How is that possible?”
...
Not only were the Prefecture Lords discussing, but the Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining Cultivators below the stage were also discussing whether the Disciple Prefecture Lord Ling took in would come.
Some even set up a betting pool, wagering on whether Lu Hao would come to participate in the Prefecture Trials.
However, the vast majority of people believed Lu Hao would not come, as he hadn’t shown his face for over five years.
Didn’t he know how the Sect Disciples viewed him?
If he had ability, would he still not leave his home? So, most people tacitly accepted the fact that Lu Hao was a good-for-nothing.
Naturally, they all bet that Lu Hao would not appear.
At this moment, a unique voice rang out.
“I bet one hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones that Senior Apprentice Brother Lu will definitely come!”
A person took out a bag of Spirit Stones and placed them on the table. It was Song Zhen.
He believed that Senior Apprentice Brother Lu would definitely come!
“Song Zhen, aren’t you just throwing away Spirit Stones? That’s one hundred Spirit Stones! If that good-for-nothing dared to show his face, he would have come out long ago. Why wait until now?”
Disciples’ monthly offerings were only ten Spirit Stones, so one hundred Spirit Stones was already an astronomical sum among Disciples.
“Exactly, exactly! If I were him, I would have quit the Sect myself and given the opportunity to others who needed it. Staying under Prefecture Lord Ling’s tutelage would only ruin his reputation!”
“That’s right! Someone who stays in his courtyard all day and dares not show his face doesn’t deserve to be Qing Xuan Prefecture’s Senior Apprentice Brother!”
People are like that. Upon hearing that Lu Hao, a good-for-nothing, could actually be taken in as the Prefecture Lord’s only Disciple, the flames of jealousy began to burn.
Therefore, most people, despite never having met Lu Hao, harbored some malice and prejudice towards him...
Those who were relatively clear-headed were few and far between. Most were quick to believe rumors and would even add fuel to the fire when boasting to others.
Most things people encounter in this world are not what they originally appear to be.
The training grounds were a scene of commotion...
Lu Hao set off from Qing Xuan Prefecture, strolling leisurely along the way, enjoying the beautiful scenery, and finally arrived at his destination just before the Prefecture Trials were about to begin.
He had already waited for half a year, so waiting a little longer didn't matter.
“Look, isn’t that Lu Hao? He actually dared to come out?!”
“Huh? Why is he at Qi Refining Stage Seven? Didn’t they say he was a good-for-nothing who couldn’t Cultivate?”
“Hmph, so what if he can Cultivate? Look at the Disciples from other Prefecture Lords. Not to mention those who have already reached Foundation Establishment, even among Qi Refining Cultivators, his cultivation is the lowest. Hmph, a good-for-nothing is a good-for-nothing after all.”
“Senior Apprentice Brother Lu! Over here!”
Song Zhen saw Lu Hao approaching, jumped up and waved, his face filled with excitement.
Then he turned to the person running the betting pool next to him and said,
“Bet one, pay five. You owe me five hundred Spirit Stones, don’t forget!”
The Disciple running the betting pool’s face turned pale, and he suddenly shouted,
“You people from Qing Xuan Prefecture are shameless! You colluded to trick me out of my Spirit Stones! And that Lu Hao, what kind of Prefecture Lord’s Disciple is he, actually teaming up with others to trick me out of these five hundred Spirit Stones! Shameless!”
The people around heard this and found it indeed made sense. How could anyone bet one hundred Spirit Stones on this good-for-nothing when it was common knowledge?
They were probably so shameless just for the five hundred Spirit Stones.
So, the people around immediately showed expressions of disdain, and even shifted their positions away, afraid of being too close to the people from Qing Xuan Prefecture.
Song Zhen bristled, his eyes a little red from feeling wronged. He shouted:
“You’re talking nonsense! I never told Senior Apprentice Brother!”
“Hmph, who would believe that?”
“Exactly, exactly. I think you don’t need to pay these five hundred Spirit Stones at all. It was a collusion from the start.”
“You... you are going too far!”
At this moment, Lu Hao had just walked up to Song Zhen, patted Song Zhen’s shoulder, and said:
“No need to waste your breath on them. Let’s see the true outcome in action.”
“Hmph, what’s with the act?”
...
In the distance, the Prefecture Lord of Jin Guang Prefecture saw Lu Hao’s arrival, a faint smile playing on his lips. He murmured:
“I was afraid you wouldn’t come.”
Then he turned and said something to the Disciple beside him, and the Disciple acknowledged the order and left.
The once-in-a-decade Prefecture Trials were finally about to begin.
Each prefecture would compete by drawing lots, following a points system. Winning a match earned two points, losing earned zero points, and a draw earned one point for each person.
The final rankings would be determined by points.
The drawing results were quickly out. Lu Hao took a look.
Qing Xuan Prefecture was actually matched against the Spirit Array Prefecture? This wouldn’t do!
He still had a mission to complete.
After a moment of thought, Lu Hao stood up, walked to the center of the training grounds, cupped his fists towards the Sect Master, and asked:
“May this Disciple request to challenge all Disciples of Jin Guang Prefecture alone?”
“If I win, that should count as winning first place in the Prefecture Trials, right?”
...
Instantly, the entire noisy training grounds fell silent. Everyone couldn’t believe their ears.
Did that good-for-nothing actually say that?
“Hahahaha, I’m dying of laughter! He actually wants to challenge all the Disciples in the Sect! Who does he think he is, Qi Refining Stage Seven? Hahahaha, I can’t take it!”
“I originally thought Prefecture Lord Ling only took in a good-for-nothing, but I didn’t expect him to be an idiot as well. Prefecture Lord Ling might not be able to preserve his reputation in his later years, hahaha.”
The Sect Master also didn’t expect Lu Hao to say such words, and said with slight anger:
“Lu Hao, do you know what you are saying? These are the Prefecture Trials! If you’re going to cause trouble, then get back to your Qing Xuan Prefecture!”