Sect Grand Competition? I'll Be a Judge?

A few months passed in a state of (utter chaos), and Qingyunzi, the sect leader of Qingyun Sect, personally came to the back mountain to visit Li Wuyang.

"Fellow Daoist Li, are you getting used to living here?" Qingyunzi asked with a smile.

"It's very nice, very nice. The mountains and rivers are beautiful, and the spiritual energy... uh, it's okay." Li Wuyang chuckled. He couldn't exactly say he was being driven mad by his own mud doll.

"It's good that you're used to it." Qingyunzi stroked his beard and smiled. "I've come today because I have a favor to ask. Qingyun Sect's triennial outer disciple competition is about to begin, and I'd like to invite Fellow Daoist Li to be a judge. What do you think?"

"A judge?" Li Wuyang blinked and pointed to his nose. "Me? To be a judge for your disciple competition?" He, an Earth Immortal (considered a master in the Spiritual Stream Realm), was going to judge a competition for Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining stage youngsters? Wasn't that like using a cannon to swat a fly?

Qingyunzi quickly said, "Fellow Daoist, your cultivation is profound, and your knowledge is vast (he guessed). If you could offer some guidance, it would be a great fortune for our sect's disciples. Moreover..." He lowered his voice, "During this competition, Hundred Herbs Valley and Tiangong Workshop will also send people to observe. If you can preside, it will also enhance the prestige of our Qingyun Sect."

Li Wuyang understood. They wanted to use him, this "worldly expert," as a tiger's skin to intimidate their competitors. He had initially wanted to refuse, but then he thought, staying in his cave dwelling all day was quite boring. It would be nice to go out and watch the excitement, and perhaps see the level of the young cultivators in this Spiritual Stream Realm.

"Alright, I'm idle anyway," Li Wuyang agreed.

Qingyunzi was overjoyed and thanked him repeatedly.

Three days later, the Qingyun Sect's martial arts arena was bustling with people. The outer disciple competition officially began. On the high platform, Li Wuyang sat next to Qingyunzi as a specially invited judge. Xuan, as usual, sat aloofly a little further away, eyes closed in meditation, showing no interest in the commotion below.

The competition process... in Li Wuyang's eyes, it was simply like children playing house.

Two Foundation Establishment stage disciples fought, their flying swords darting back and forth, spells clashing with bangs, and the audience below cheered incessantly. Li Wuyang yawned repeatedly. The sword speed was as slow as a snail, and the power of the spells... it wouldn't even tickle him.

"Fellow Daoist Li, what do you think of this disciple? His swordsmanship is sharp, he's a top talent among our outer disciples!" Qingyunzi pointed to a white-clothed young man in the arena and asked proudly.

Li Wuyang glanced at him and casually commented, "His stance is unstable, his True Qi is superficial, his sword intent is scattered, and he's full of openings. If he were in our sect, he'd be too much of a burden even as cannon fodder."

Qingyunzi's smile froze instantly. The proud white-clothed young man below, hearing this evaluation, slipped and almost fell flat on his face. His swordsmanship became even more chaotic.

The other elders exchanged glances. This evaluation... was too harsh, wasn't it?

In the following few rounds, Li Wuyang's "poisonous tongue commentary" never stopped.

"Is that fire spell meant to light a cigarette for the opponent?"

"His movement technique is good, but it's clearly for escaping."

"Are you two fighting or dancing a ballroom dance? Your rhythm is terrible!"

"Sigh, I can't watch anymore. Give me a spirit fruit to munch on."

After a round of commentary, the disciples' mental states completely collapsed. Some performed poorly, while others questioned their own existence. The audience below, initially excited, turned to whispering and pity.

The observers from Hundred Herbs Valley and Tiangong Workshop, who had originally intended to find fault, fell silent after hearing Li Wuyang's comments. This senior's discernment... was too sharp! Although his words were harsh, they seemed to be accurate?

Qingyunzi broke out in a cold sweat and began to regret inviting this esteemed guest to be a judge. This wasn't enhancing their prestige; it was undermining them!

Finally, it was time for the last match, a showdown between two late-stage Foundation Establishment disciples, considered the top experts among the outer disciples. The two fought back and forth, sword qi crisscrossing the arena, the scene quite spectacular. At last, Qingyunzi felt he had regained some face.

"Fellow Daoist Li, what do you think of these two..." Qingyunzi asked cautiously.

Li Wuyang, chewing on a spirit fruit, mumbled, "Hmm, passable. Better than the ones before. They might last one move under my hand..."

He was telling the truth, but to everyone else, it sounded incredibly arrogant! The two disciples fighting intensely heard this and were so enraged that their True Qi almost went awry. Their attacks became fiercer, wishing they could defeat their opponent immediately and challenge Li Wuyang.

In the end, a disciple named Han Li (cough, the name coincidence is purely accidental) won by a narrow margin, taking first place. Although he had won, he was also greatly angered by Li Wuyang's evaluation. Young and spirited, he couldn't help but cup his hands towards the high platform and say, "Disciple Han Li, I have won by luck! I have long heard that Senior Li's cultivation is heavenly. I wonder if you could impart some guidance to this disciple and broaden my horizons!"

The entire arena fell silent. Everyone looked at Li Wuyang. Qingyunzi inwardly thought, "This is bad," and wanted to stop him.

However, Li Wuyang smiled, tossed away the fruit core, stood up, and said lazily, "You want me to guide you? Alright."

He slowly walked to the center of the arena and beckoned to Han Li, "Come on, use your strongest move."

Han Li took a deep breath, fully circulated his cultivation technique, summoned his natal flying sword, which transformed into a dazzling stream of light, and stabbed directly at Li Wuyang's face! This sword condensed all his cultivation and possessed an astonishing aura!

The disciples below held their breath.

Li Wuyang didn't even move. He simply extended two fingers and gently pinched.

Buzz!

The menacing flying sword, like a small fish caught in iron pincers, instantly stopped in mid-air. No matter how Han Li urged it on, it remained motionless!

Li Wuyang yawned and flicked his fingers slightly.

Clang!

The flying sword let out a mournful cry and flew back, embedding itself in the ground at Han Li's feet. The sword body trembled and buzzed. Han Li was forced back several steps by the recoil, his face pale, his eyes filled with disbelief.

The entire place was dead silent.

Li Wuyang clapped his hands and said to the stunned Han Li, "See? This is called a gap. Practice well, and strive to make me use... a second finger next time."

After speaking, he sauntered back to the high platform, leaving behind a figure who concealed his achievements and fame.

After this incident, Li Wuyang's reputation as "Senior Li" (and his sharp tongue) spread throughout Qingyun Sect and even among the lower-level cultivators in the entire Spiritual Stream Realm. Everyone knew that a peerless master lived in the back mountain, one who liked to teach people a lesson using two fingers