The Ancestral Commandment Must Not Be Disobeyed

"None of you should go on stage. Lu Yang, you've had so many experiences along the way, it's time for my luck to turn around!" Meng Jingzhou stopped Lu Yang and Zhao Po, who had no intention of going on stage in the first place.

Before Meng Jingzhou took the stage, someone else stepped forward first. It was a middle-aged man who looked quite composed, with a long beard and a refined demeanor.

The middle-aged man with a long beard was a local celebrity. Someone in the audience recognized him. "He's Master Xiang from Tenglong Academy. He founded Tenglong Academy and has taught countless Xiucai, even a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial examination). His students are all over the remote province, and even the capital has his students!"

"More than that, he is also a traditional Confucian cultivator. I heard from one of his graduates that he already had the cultivation of the early stage of the Golden Core realm five years ago. I don't know if he has broken through now. Countless Golden Core families want their descendants to become his disciples, offering huge sums of money as a gift, but he has refused them all!"

"What? He reached the early stage of the Golden Core five years ago? How are we supposed to compete with him then? How could Fairy Qingluo possibly defeat him!"

In the cultivation world, the term "fairy" is often used to praise a female cultivator's beauty, talent, and strength. After all, in the public's perception, there are no women among immortals, so the term "fairy" can be used however one pleases.

Lu Yang never uses the word "fairy" to praise anyone, not because he's cautious with his words, but because he doesn't consider it a compliment...

"Don't panic. Fairy Qingluo is exceptionally talented. At only eighteen years old, she has already reached the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, making her the youngest among all the Sect Master of the Yuntai Sect. She might even be able to fight someone at the early Golden Core stage!"

"That's great... Wait, does that mean we don't have a chance either?"

Master Xiang stood on the arena, a graceful smile playing on his lips, "Sect Master Qing, please."

Qingluo sighed softly, "Mr. Xiang, didn't you read the rules? Participating cultivators must be under twenty years old. You're already over forty. Even if I were to find a husband, shouldn't I at least find someone around my age?"

Devastated, Mr. Xiang was inspired to write poetry and composed two lines on the spot, "You were born before I was born, you were born after I was old, we are destined to be apart."

"Yes, so could you please step down? I've only paid for the venue for one day, and time is limited."

Mr. Xiang left the stage in a daze.

The cultivators who took the stage later were more reliable; they were all talented young men in their twenties, and some of them were women disguised as men traveling the world.

"This Qingluo's foundation is not bad. Although it has flaws, it is extremely rare for her to have achieved this level of Foundation Establishment in this kind of environment with little guidance. She must have had a fortuitous encounter or she is a genius."

"That's pretty good. Even in our Corpse Driving Sect, they would be selected as True Disciple and compete for a place in the top eight or even the top four in the sect's grand competition."

Lu Yang and Zhao Po whispered their comments about Qingluo's talent.

"Why don't we recruit this guy into your Corpse-Driving Sect? It's a waste to leave such a genius in such a small place," Lu Yang said with a smile.

"It depends on the individual's choice. I can give it a try, but it's not guaranteed to work. I've seen many people who are unwilling to give up their sects, saying that this is the place that took them in and raised them, and they can't abandon their sects."

"Moreover, because of the Cultivation Method we use, the faces of people in our Corpse-Driving Sect are so white that they look like they've been dead for days. Some cultivators are unwilling to join us because of this, and instead join other first-class sects." Zhao Po pointed to his face, which was whiter than a woman's, and said that whether one is a traditional or unorthodox corpse-driving master, their face is the same.

Lu Yang nodded in agreement. When he first met Zhao Po, he thought he was a living corpse.

As the two said, Qingluo has a solid foundation and is hard to beat among her peers. Her cloud control technique is superb, and she easily defeats one ambitious young man after another.

Finally, it was Meng Jingzhou's turn to take the stage.

Meng Jingzhou smiled confidently and stepped onto the stage with composure. Just standing there, he exuded immense pressure.

"I am Meng Jingzhou, a disciple of the Ask Dao Sect!"

Upon hearing this, everyone's pupils contracted slightly, and the audience erupted in a commotion, with unstoppable discussions.

"The Ask Dao Sect? The Ask Dao Sect, the head of the Five Great Immortal Sects?!"

"I've heard that anyone who walks out of there is a peerless genius, and even restaurant owners can be considered masters outside!"

Why does the name Meng Jingzhou sound so familiar?

"It seems to be Meng Jingzhou from the Qingzhou Grand Ceremony."

Upon hearing Meng Jingzhou's name, Lu Yang's expression changed drastically, and he blurted out, "That Meng Jingzhou who has already formed his core, but still participated in the competition for the core formation experience reward?"

"I heard he simply enjoys bullying those of lower cultivation levels?"

"Wasn't he supposed to be causing trouble at the Qingzhou Grand Ceremony?"

"No, he has no grudge against Qingzhou. He just wants to challenge the judges."

Lu Yang then added, "You haven't even fought a judge yet, and you're already jumping off the stage to forfeit and admit defeat."

There were many different opinions, and the information they heard varied, but without exception, they were all true.

Qingluo looked at Meng Jingzhou with a strange expression and a look of disgust.

Clearly, she had also heard of Meng Jingzhou's reputation.

After the Qingzhou Grand Ceremony, the story of Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou spread like wildfire throughout the Central Continent, becoming widely known among low-level cultivators.

However, because the information was disseminated so widely, some discrepancies arose.

Hearing the whispers, Meng Jingzhou was speechless; his reputation had been ruined just like that.

"As a cultivator, one must have a firm Dao heart. External opinions are like fleeting clouds to me. But why do I feel like I heard a familiar voice in the discussion just now?"

"Forget it, never mind, let's win first!"

Meng Jingzhou gestured for Qingluo to make the first move.

Meng Jingzhou was naturally in accordance with the rules, so Qingluo couldn't say anything. She took the initiative and made the first move. Auspicious clouds rose behind her, which transformed into eighteen kinds of weapons, including axes, halberds, knives, and forks, all extremely sharp, and shot towards Meng Jingzhou!

This single move caused the challenging cultivator considerable trouble, resulting in his defeat in the very first move.

"What a brilliant cloud-controlling technique!" Meng Jingzhou's eyes lit up. Facing the eighteen kinds of weapons shooting towards him, he assumed a fist-fighting stance.

"Crushing Fist!"

The two peaks pierced the ears, and all kinds of weapons, when they met the fist imprint, instantly turned into warm, fluffy white clouds.

Qingluo was undeniably strong, but unfortunately, she encountered Meng Jingzhou.

Even if Qingluo were at the Foundation Establishment Realm, or even if she were at the Golden Core stage, she would still be no match for Meng Jingzhou.

Meng Jingzhou only threw three punches before forcing Qingluo to reveal all her trump cards, leaving her no choice but to admit defeat.

"I lost."

Qingluo accepted her defeat, looked at Meng Jingzhou, and said through gritted teeth, "The ancestral precepts cannot be disobeyed. According to the ancestral precepts, the one who surpasses me will be my husband."

Meng Jingzhou's eyes lit up. "Then..."

Qingluo's eyes were resolute as she made a decision concerning a major life event.

"In that case, I have no choice but to abolish this ancestral precept!"