Fairy Xia, Please Grant Me Guidance

"Disciple, with your natural talent, Shushan's Lu Changsheng will definitely not be your match."

"Junior Sister Xia is young, and her cultivation has already reached the fourth layer of the Dao Palace Realm. Even Master Mingrang of the Boundless Temple is not Junior Sister Xia's match; how could a mere Lu Changsheng be Junior Sister Xia's match?"

"It seems our Ask Immortal Pavilion can finally hold our heads high in this Six Paths Assembly."

"Holy Maiden, you must go easy on him so as not to hurt our cordial relations."

The elders of the Ask Immortal Pavilion already felt that victory was in their grasp, their tones relaxed.

Xia Ningxue had defeated Master Mingrang of the Boundless Temple not long ago, while Lu Changsheng was an unknown elder of Shushan. No matter how one looked at it, Xia Ningxue had a greater chance of winning.

Compared to the relaxed and calm elders of the Ask Immortal Pavilion, the style of the Shushan elders took a sharp turn...

"The Ask Immortal Pavilion's Saintess is too monstrous. Even if Senior Brother Zhao were to fight, he might not be her match. Junior Brother Lu will not be disgraced by losing."

"That's right. Senior Brother Zhao has the cultivation of the fifth layer of the Dao Palace Realm and lacks the confidence to defeat the Saintess of the Ask Immortal Pavilion, let alone Junior Brother Lu."

"Alas, our Shushan is about to be reduced to the second-ranked sect."

"At worst, our Shushan will recapture first place at the next Six Paths Assembly."

"Junior Brother Lu need not bear any psychological burden, lest he develop a inner demon that hinders his future cultivation."

The crowd of Shushan elders comforted Lu Changsheng in advance, so as to prevent this little junior brother from developing an inner demon due to self-blame.

In the path of cultivation, the most terrifying thing was the inability to overcome inner demons, causing cultivation to stagnate from then on. Even more seriously, it would lead to Qi Deviation.

Lu Changsheng felt the pessimistic aura permeating the crowd of Shushan people and could not help being speechless.

He had not even made a move yet.

"Hmph, my master will definitely win!"

Lian waved her fists, protesting with dissatisfaction.

Both she and Lin Qingzhi believed that her master Lu Changsheng was an immortal living in seclusion in Shushan for cultivation, and would certainly not lose to some Saintess.

"Lian, you are still young and do not know that the gap between people is even greater than the gap between a person and a dog. Master Mingrang of the Boundless Temple has peerless talent, yet still lost to the other party. This shows that the other party's aptitude has already transcended the scope of peerless geniuses. Your master's aptitude is quite good within our Shushan, but when he encounters a once-in-ten-thousand-years cultivation prodigy..."

"Victory and defeat are common military matters. Sometimes, losing is also a good thing."

"Junior Brother Lu need not force it. If the situation is unfavorable, simply admit defeat outright to avoid injury."

"That's right. A battle with too great a disparity cannot yield any benefit, so there's nothing shameful about conceding."

"The most important thing for a person is to be happy."

Because of Lian's protest, many Shushan elders earnestly comforted Lu Changsheng once more.

Although Lu Changsheng was helpless, he also knew these Shushan elders meant well for him.

"Junior brother, do your best."

Eldest Senior Brother Li Changye knew Lu Changsheng was extraordinary, but he did not have absolute certainty that Lu Changsheng could win, only asking Lu Changsheng to fight to the best of his ability.

"I know."

Carrying the Nine Heavens Thunder-Controlling Sword on his back, Lu Changsheng walked onto the Martial Platform.

The gazes of the elders from the remaining sects fell upon Lu Changsheng.

"Lu Changsheng of Shushan truly has admirable courage. Knowing he cannot win, he still strives to fight for the sect. It is a stirring and pathetic sight."

"There is no suspense to speak of in this match."

"Fairy Su of the Ask Immortal Pavilion is finally going to win against Taiyuan True Person for once."

"With a disciple of such monstrous talent in the Ask Immortal Pavilion, why worry about failing to rise?"

"With this woman's aptitude, she is likely to suppress an entire era."

"Lu Changsheng is truly unlucky to have actually run into a heaven-blessed prodigy who suppresses an era."

"Shushan has held the top spot for years, but when encountering an era where such a genius is born, Shushan can do nothing about it."

The elders of the other major sects basically did not look favorably on the unknown Lu Changsheng.

Xia Ningxue was previously also an unknown elder, but after defeating Master Mingrang of the Dao Palace Realm, Third Layer, Xia Ningxue became a renowned figure.

A clear and graceful figure landed on the Martial Platform, carrying a long sword on her back, her white robes surpassing the snow, with icy skin and jade bones.

"Elder Lu, we meet again."

Xia Ningxue smoothed her hair and looked Lu Changsheng up and down. Lu Changsheng's Innate Dao Body caused her to remain unable to see through Lu Changsheng's current cultivation.

"Has Fairy Xia been well recently?"

"Mm. And you?"

"Everything is peaceful and uneventful."

"Last time, I thank you for saving my life. I originally owed you a favor, but I handed the Wilderness Tribe woman over to you, and upon returning to the Ask Immortal Pavilion, I suffered punishment from the Pavilion Master. That counted as repaying the favor. This time, it concerns the dignity of the sect, and I will not concede."

"Me too."

Lu Changsheng and Xia Ningxue stood on the Martial Platform, communicating via voice transmission, as if they were catching up on old times.

"The Saintess knows this Lu Changsheng?"

"I heard that five years ago, the Saintess, Elder Kumu, and Elder Luo Feng went to the Desolate Province to execute a mission, and the elder dispatched by the Shushan Sect was precisely this Lu Changsheng. Elder Kumu, Elder Luo Feng, am I right?"

"Precisely so."

Elder Kumu nodded.

He had cultivated for eight hundred years, yet possessed only the cultivation of the fourth layer of the Dao Palace Realm. Among the elders of the Ask Immortal Pavilion, his aptitude could only be considered ordinary, and he was unable to represent the Ask Immortal Pavilion in battle.

Elder Luo Feng of the Dao Palace Realm Second Layer had also fled back from the Desolate Province. Seeing Lu Changsheng and Xia Ningxue catching up, his gaze turned fierce, and he felt somewhat displeased in his heart.

He had bitterly pursued Xia Ningxue for ten years without result, yet Xia Ningxue was actually catching up with Lu Changsheng, whom she had met only a few times.

What did that fellow Lu Changsheng have besides being handsome?

"Elder Kumu, Elder Luo Feng, what exactly is that Lu Changsheng's cultivation?"

"Hmph, he is merely at the Dao Palace Realm, First Layer. He usually likes to pretend to be a Nascent Soul Realm elder to scheme against others. But in front of absolute strength, these are just insignificant little tricks. Setting aside Junior Sister Xia making a move, if it were me, I could beat him to a pulp."

Luo Feng spoke with utter disdain.

He was at the Dao Palace Realm Second Layer and was about to break through to the Dao Palace Realm, Third Layer. He truly did not take Lu Changsheng, who was at the Dao Palace Realm, First Layer, seriously.

"So it was merely cultivation at the Dao Palace Realm, First Layer."

"The Holy Maiden is at the fourth layer of the Dao Palace Realm. Relying solely on the gap in realms is enough to crush this Lu Changsheng."

"It seems our Ask Immortal Pavilion will rank first in this Six Paths Assembly."

Hearing Luo Feng mention Lu Changsheng's cultivation, the elders of the Ask Immortal Pavilion completely relaxed.

The fourth layer of the Dao Palace Realm against the Dao Palace Realm, First Layer—how could they lose?

Given Xia Ningxue's natural talent, when she was at the Dao Palace Realm, First Layer and encountered Black Tiger Dao Lord of the fourth layer of the Dao Palace Realm, she would still have had to flee in panic.

"Strange, why can this old man not clearly see Little Friend Lu's cultivation?"

Elder Kumu always felt something was slightly amiss.

"The match may begin."

The cold voice of the Pavilion Master of Ask Immortal Pavilion echoed through the venue.

She could no longer wait to see Taiyuan True Person's embarrassed expression, and thus urged the two people who were still catching up.

"Master is urging us. Elder Lu, I'm sorry."

Xia Ningxue's expression gradually grew serious. Sword momentum gradually arose, formless qi waves swirling as her skirt fluttered.

Lu Changsheng drew his sword: "Fairy Xia, please grant me guidance."