You Two Are Sitting in the Judges' Seats?

The Qingzhou Grand Ceremony has officially opened, with the most eye-catching event being the competition for the younger generation.

Every year, the grand competition produces outstanding young cultivators, making those who have wasted their lives in obscurity feel ashamed and sigh in despair.

The facts have proven the potential of these cultivators. Apart from those who died unexpectedly, most of them achieved great success, either becoming sect leaders or founding their own sects.

It wasn't just the Qingzhou government that valued these young cultivators; many sects and forces were also interested, wondering if they could poach them.

Perhaps due to the approaching great era, the young cultivators participating in the Grand Competition in recent years have been exceptional, constantly breaking previous records.

"Look over there! Isn't that Li Shaoyang from the Dingfeng Sect? I heard he's already Qi Refining the Great Perfection of Qi Refining. He went down the mountain to travel and encountered bandits blocking his way. He wielded a large spear and pierced through three bandits at the ninth level of Qi Refining with a single thrust!"

"What?! He's already at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining at such a young age? That's a level that's definitely in the top eight!"

Once you reach the ninth level of Qi Refining, you can attempt Foundation Establishment. To increase the success rate of Foundation Establishment, everyone meticulously refines this realm, which is what outsiders call the Great Perfection of Qi Refining.

Most of the cultivators who came to watch were in the Qi Refining stage, and the Great Perfection of Qi Refining was their ultimate goal.

The Five Great Immortal Sects don't have this concept. They don't even have the interest to categorize the Qi Refining stage. Whether it's the first level of Qi Refining or the Great Perfection of Qi Refining, there's no difference.

"And there's that exceptionally beautiful female cultivator next to her, named Qiao Hongye. She comes from the first-class sect, Wuxiu Sect, and is also at Qi Refining Great Perfection of Qi Refining. She has dual Spirit Root of wood and fire. Wuxiu Sect once held a sect competition, and several Great Perfection Qi Refining participated. Qiao Hongye came in first place in that competition!"

"In previous years, the Qi Refining Great Perfection stage would have ranked in the top eight, but this year it's hard to say. There are rumors that there are several Foundation Establishment Realm participating this year!"

"Foundation Establishment Realm under eighteen?! And there are several of them?"

My companion said mysteriously, "Have you heard of Gu Qisheng of Changhong Palace? He was born in a Yin year, Yin month, and Yin hour, with a Xuan Yin body. He encountered a great calamity at birth, and if it weren't for the Palace Master of Changhong Palace saving him, he would probably have died young."

"Those with the Xuan Yin Body are envied by Heaven; their birth is a great calamity. If they can overcome it, their cultivation will be smooth; if they cannot, they will perish halfway through."

"Someone saw Gu Qisheng yesterday; he's already at the Foundation Establishment Early Stage."

"Hello, we're here to register for the competition."

The yamen runners were registering names not far away; it was a quiet and deserted scene.

Most participants register in advance, but a small number decide to compete on a whim.

The constable glanced at the two men with friendly smiles, but couldn't discern their cultivation levels. He didn't pay them much attention, as it was common for them to carry Law Artifact that concealed their cultivation.

Pointing to the stone beside him, he said, "This is the lowest quality Xuan Iron Stone. Only a cultivator at the late stage of Qi Refining can break it."

The black iron stone was no different from tofu in front of the two of them; with a light pat, the stone shattered into pieces.

"Looks like he's in the Foundation Establishment Realm. This year is truly full of hidden talents."

"This is a tree ring stone. Place your hand on it and infuse it with Spiritual Qi."

On the other side of the yamen runners were several stones that looked similar to the main stones, with rings on them, which were used by cultivators to measure age.

The two placed their hands on it, channeling their Spiritual Qi into it. The rings of light lit up in concentric circles, finally stopping at the seventeenth circle.

"Anyone under eighteen can participate in the competition."

"Name?"

"Lu Yang."

"Sect."

"The Ask Dao Sect."

"Huh?" The constable looked up abruptly, scrutinizing the other person as if he had seen a ghost.

Lu Yang asked curiously, "Is there a problem?"

The yamen runner recalled what the governor had said, "We should encourage participation in the competition. The more people who participate, the better. Don't be afraid of those with impressive backgrounds; what's truly worrisome is that those with impressive backgrounds don't participate."

The governor should be very pleased that two Ask Dao Sect are participating in the competition.

"No, it's nothing. You can participate in the competition. And you, what's your name?"

"Meng Jingzhou is also from the Ask Dao Sect."

"Here you are, your numbers. In fifteen minutes, we will draw lots to determine the battle list. Get ready."

"No problem!"

"That's strange. The first round of the competition is about to start, so why haven't we seen Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou yet?" Lan Ting sat on the judges' panel, somewhat puzzled.

"Perhaps there was an accident on the way, which caused the delay," Bai Ming guessed. This was quite common; he always encountered unexpected situations when he went down the mountain for training.

"Wait." Yan Tianzhi was as sparing with his words as ever.

Lan Ting had just met Yan Tianzhi and wasn't familiar with him yet. Bai Ming told Lan Ting that Yan Tianzhi rarely spoke, so expecting him to offer any commentary was unlikely.

Lanting sighed helplessly; it seemed the heavy responsibility of providing commentary would fall on her shoulders.

Those below noticed the three judges and whispered among themselves.

"Who are these three people? They look so young, can they be judges?"

"Especially that little girl, she's pretty, I've never seen anyone so beautiful, but she seems to have no combat experience."

"That's what you don't understand. These three are disciples of the Immortal Sect, the pride of heaven. I've heard that they are the most outstanding among their peers in the sect!"

"That's not all! Someone in my family works in the government office, and he said all three of them are at the Golden Core stage!"

"Golden Core stage?!"

"Now you know how big the difference in talent is, right?"

The highest level participants in the competition are only at the Foundation Establishment Realm; the Golden Core Foundation Establishment Realm.

Lan Ting glanced at the information of the cultivators participating in the first round of the competition and said in a gentle tone, "The first participant is Feng He, True Disciple from the Seven Emotions Sect, a first-class sect. Not long ago, Feng He broke through to the Foundation Establishment Realm without the aid of Foundation Establishment, relying on the foundation he laid during the Qi Refining stage. He is now a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Early Stage."

"The Seven Emotions Sect expresses its understanding of the seven emotions and six desires through the art of music. Feng He has fully inherited the True Disciple of the Seven Emotions Sect and is skilled in the art of music. His rendition of 'Parting Joy' made the birds stop and the flower buds bloom!"

"Feng He is also a top contender in this competition, let's look forward to his performance!"

A confident smile appeared on Feng He's lips. With his Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivation, he was sure to shine in this competition.

In the world of martial arts, one relies on two things: skill and reputation.

This competition marked the beginning of his fame!

"Feng He's opponent is a cultivator who temporarily registered for the competition; his opponent is... Lu Yang from the Ask Dao Sect?!"

Lanting almost lost control of his expression halfway through his speech.

She put down the documents in her hand, looked at the arena, and saw that familiar figure, revealing a very strange expression.

She turned to look at Bai Ming beside her, whose expression mirrored hers.

When Lu Yang saw Lan Ting and Bai Ming on the stage, he first raised his hand to greet them, then scratched the back of his head in confusion.

What's going on?

Weren't you supposed to be participating in a major competition? Why are you sitting on the judges' panel?