Before long, ten young and elegant cultivators, Liu Xiaolou included, had gathered in the hall. The banquet guests should all have arrived. Then, an old man with a fine beard emerged from behind the hall. He looked to be fifty or sixty, yet remained strikingly handsome, enough to inspire admiration.
The young cultivators in the hall all bowed and saluted him, calling together, "Greetings, Venerable Zheng!"
Liu Xiaolou followed suit, moving his lips as he thought, Could this be the head of the Zheng family?
Venerable Zheng smiled. "It is rare to have so many gathered here. All of you are rising talents and outstanding youths from around Luoshan. Your gathering at my Luoshan is Luoshan's good fortune. This old man is delighted beyond measure. Tonight's banquet may truly be called a grand feast."
After just a few sentences, Liu Xiaolou felt as though a warm iron had smoothed his heart. All at once, he had been counted among the outstanding youths and rising talents. Naturally, he was overjoyed. Along with the other young cultivators, he bowed modestly and repeatedly said, "We dare not."
Venerable Zheng took the seat of honor and nodded to the steward beside him. "Begin."
The steward stepped forward and announced loudly, "Let the outstanding youths determine their seats!"
As the name implied, "determining seats" meant arranging their ranking. Liu Xiaolou's spirits rose. The contest is starting. I just wonder how they intend to judge it.
Someone immediately stepped forward and cupped his hands. "This junior has reached Qi Refining Level 7!"
Another said, "This junior is at the sixth layer!"
Yet another said, "This junior is also at the sixth layer."
"This junior is at the fifth layer!"
"This junior is at the seventh layer!"
"This junior is at the fourth layer..."
"This junior is