Chapter 20

The crisp and pleasant system notification marked the curtain falling on the first round of the Four Symbols of Dharma Combat.

Wu Ming's heaven-defying achievement of fifteen layers of the Human Dao Seal stunned the entire audience.

If Zhang Miao's eleven layers was already a result that would hold its own even at the Sanqing Immortal Sect, then Wu Ming's fifteen layers was simply brutal... like a durian smashing through a door, tearing apart everyone's worldview.

The two elders of the Liu Family stood frozen long after the Command Flag hit the ground, unable to snap back to reality. Everything before their eyes felt hazy and unreal.

Fifteen layers? Fifteen layers? Fifteen layers!!

Not just in Wu Prefecture—search the entire Qiongzhou, how many people could condense fifteen layers of the Human Dao Seal in their first month of cultivation?

As Liu Li had confidently stated earlier: comprehending the Human Emperor Scroll relied heavily on one's actual cultivation base. A Desolate People youth who had just stepped onto the path of cultivation, severely lacking in resources—how much cultivation could he accumulate? How many layers of the Human Dao Seal could he support?

Of course, legends spoke of some innate Dao Seeds and Immortal Seeds within the Sanqing Immortal Sect who could achieve such progress. But the Liu Family elder found it hard to believe that something straight out of a legend was actually happening right before his eyes!

On the other side, after savoring the joy of replicating a classic scene, Wu Ming quickly put his momentary pride behind him.

It was just a well-deserved victory.

Fifteen layers of the Human Dao Seal—three came from the system's refinement bonuses. His true achievement was twelve layers of the Human Dao Seal... impressive, certainly, but not earth-shattering. The shackles of his actual cultivation base were still very real.

Of course, in Zhang Miao's eyes, Wu Ming had already become a Celestial Master descended from heaven, or even an ancient immortal reborn.

"Sanlang was right—you really are amazing! Fifteen layers, how did you do it!?"

Just as Wu Ming was about to answer, Zhang Miao gently shook her head. "Ah, I'm just asking casually. This must be your unique skill. Even if I used secret techniques or forbidden drugs to overdraw my cultivation, I couldn't come close... No wonder Sanlang, as proud as he is, always praises you whenever he brings you up."

"...Your Sanlang is starting to scare me a little."

On the other side, Liu Yi, one of the two Liu Family elders, suddenly gritted his teeth and put on a look of realization.

"I see—secret techniques, forbidden drugs, overdrawing cultivation! Truly a lowborn brat, using such despicable methods!"

But Liu Li shook his head. "No, it's easy to tell whether someone has used forbidden methods to overdraw. The Hengxiao Banner wouldn't allow it either. But this does remind me of something..."

With that, he looked up and said to Zhang Miao, "Prepare for the next round."

Zhang Miao was surprised. "We're still competing?"

Liu Yi was also confused and asked quietly, "Starting the next round just like that? Isn't that a bit rash?"

Liu Li sneered. "We were just intimidated by his opening move. Fifteen layers of the Human Dao Seal is indeed a shocking achievement, but that's only because we ordinary cultivators always have to consider the bigger picture and focus on practicality—we don't pour too much effort into the Human Emperor Scroll, the general outline of the Immortal Path. But if one doesn't care about a solid foundation and only chases temporary fame, spending most of their time memorizing various scriptures and commentaries, with a Nascent Soul True Person personally chanting scriptures and performing crown-tip transmission... then one month for fifteen layers isn't entirely impossible."

Liu Yi frowned. Even so, fifteen layers still seemed unbelievable, but since his senior brother said so, it was probably correct.

Liu Li continued, "Whether I'm right or wrong will be revealed soon. The second round of the Four Symbols of Dharma Combat—let the Command Flag judge!"

As his words fell, the fallen Apricot Yellow Banner gently righted itself and returned to position, its surface drooping low as if waiting for both sides to formally enter the arena.

Zhang Miao had no choice but to blink apologetically at Wu Ming before stepping back a few paces to her original position.

Then, Liu Li took out a square stone the size of a bean and placed it in his palm. After exhaling lightly and silently reciting a spell formula, the stone suddenly expanded until it was two feet square.

With a push of his palm, Liu Li sent the stone block in front of the Apricot Yellow Banner.

Bang!

The sound of its landing was heavy, followed by the crisp crack of shattered brick. The worn-out green bricks of the Sect Leader Temple couldn't bear the weight and had cracked under the stone!

Gu Bai winced slightly at the sight of the broken bricks, while Liu Li said coldly, "To measure physical strength, the first priority is brute force. And to measure brute force, the most common method is the Stone Lifting Method. True Person Gu Bai, do you have any objections?"

Wu Ming cut in, "Pay for the bricks first, and then we'll have no objections."

Liu Li shot him an incredulous look, gritted his teeth, and tossed a mortal silver ingot onto the ground.

But Wu Ming shook his head. "These are the bricks of a Nascent Soul True Person's Sect Leader Temple, bathed day and night in the original flavor of Nascent Soul—how could they be mortal goods..."

Bang!

A vein bulged on Liu Li's forehead. He threw down three Spirit Stones and roared.

"...Zhang Miao! What are you waiting for!?"

Zhang Miao, unfairly caught in the crossfire, stuck out her tongue. Before the scolding could continue, she stepped forward, crouched down, wrapped her arms around the stone block, took a light breath, and lifted it.

Wu Ming couldn't help but praise, "Good physique."

Zhang Miao set the stone down and smiled sheepishly. "Only eight hundred jin. It's nothing."

Wu Ming sighed inwardly. To people in this immortal martial world, eight hundred jin was indeed nothing. But before his transmigration, that would have far surpassed any mortal world professional record... And Zhang Miao, like him, had only been cultivating for a month!

Just then, Liu Li sneered, "When people from current noble families formally comprehend the Human Emperor Scroll and step onto the Immortal Path, they are usually fifteen or sixteen, when their minds are already mature. But before that, from birth, they undergo strict body tempering—eating spirit grains, bathing in medicinal baths. By the time they begin cultivation, their physique has long surpassed commoners like you!"

Wu Ming, singled out as a commoner, wasn't annoyed. He just stared intently at the stone block on the ground, gathered his energy for a few breaths, and stepped forward.

Bang!

Another dull thud, seemingly heavier than the stone's landing, yet the green bricks beneath his feet remained unharmed, faintly glowing with radiance—an omen of the earth's spiritual energy being drawn to this spot.

Of course, a contest of physique couldn't borrow external force. This step was simply Wu Ming using his most familiar Root Stance to adjust his physical state.

With that single step, the youth felt his blood flow like mercury, his bones and muscles connected in a single line, responding to his will. Riding the surging heat in his chest, he bent his knees, leaned forward, wrapped his arms tightly around the stone, straightened his waist and pushed with his legs, fingers tensed, arms straining... and firmly stabilized the eight hundred jin weight between his chest and waist!

"Wh...!?"

Beside him, Liu Yi had already ground a tooth to pieces!

A Desolate People boy with no foundation, wasting a month in these barren mountains and harsh waters, could have such strength!?

What a joke!

Liu Li couldn't help but show surprise, afraid the other might strike again: Standing before you is the reincarnation of an Ox Demon capable of lifting a thousand jun!

Fortunately, after a moment, when Wu Ming set down the stone, his face was already flushed red.

A weight that was still manageable for Zhang Miao required nearly his full effort... The gap between them was still very obvious.

Of course, just a month ago, Wu Ming at full strength couldn't have lifted even a third of this stone.

A month of Root Stance training had already transformed a frail, thin youth. But a commoner's transformation was merely reaching the starting point of those noble scions.

Wu Ming had expected this. He let out a long breath and smiled at Zhang Miao: "Congratulations, you win this round."

Zhang Miao quickly shook her head, replying shyly: "I used pills in advance, so it's an unfair victory... Besides, Sanlang said that the physique round is one where noble families get a head start, so winning is only natural; even laughing about it would be tasteless..."

Liu Li, who had been about to force a few laughs, suddenly felt like his throat was choked.

Wu Ming sighed: "Now I'm a bit regretful I didn't get to see your Sanlang in person."

"!?"

Zhang Miao's eyes suddenly lit up: "You want to see Sanlang again too!? Great! I always felt you two would get along! Last time in front of Dinghuang Prefecture, seeing you two together felt so right! It's a pity Sanlang only had time to say one sentence to you before being forced to part..."

"?"

Since crossing over, this was the first time Wu Ming had been hit with a question mark over his head.

Wait, is this side quest really unfolding like this?!

Unfortunately, before he could ponder it, Liu Li's roar swept over the scene.

"Zhang Miao, from this moment on, if you utter another half-word of nonsense, I'll make you regret it!"

Shouted down like that, Zhang Miao truly dared not speak recklessly anymore. She lowered her head and avoided talking to Wu Ming—but the glint in her eyes showed all sorts of turbulent thoughts clashing within her.

After silencing Zhang Miao, Liu Li said to Wu Ming: "Next is the third round..."

Before he finished, Gu Bai suddenly interrupted: "Hold on a moment."

Liu Li sneered: "What? Begging for mercy now? A bit late!"

Gu Bai said: "The third round requires a contest of magical power, but Wu Ming has already expended some of his magical power this morning in cultivation practice. Meanwhile, you three, though traveling from afar, came prepared. If I'm not mistaken, the Zhang family junior has taken Spirit Gathering Pill, Clear Heart Powder, and Origin Returning Soup according to the Three Talents Formula, putting her in a state far beyond normal—a temporary expedient. This imbalance is hardly fair."

Liu Li was stunned, not expecting that the Liu family's secret formula would be seen through at a glance by this old cripple...

But that wasn't the point now. He quickly recovered and laughed: "Haha, if True Person Gu Bai thinks it's unfair, feel free to produce a similar formula and give your disciple a temporary boost. But please note, not all temporary expedients will be recognized by the Shangqing Hengxiao Flag."

Gu Bai sighed: "I know well that though the Shangqing Hengxiao Flag is hailed as the pinnacle of fairness in the Nine Provinces, the fairness of the Nine Provinces has never been the fairness of rogue cultivators."

Liu Li said: "Treating families who have diligently cultivated for generations and rendered great service to the Immortal Path of Qiongzhou on equal footing with ignorant commoner rogue cultivators—that would be the greatest unfairness. True Person Gu Bai's lament is rather narrow-minded."

Gu Bai didn't argue further. He simply waved at Wu Ming: "Ming'er, come here."

When Wu Ming approached, Gu Bai continued: "A month ago, when you were about to cultivate the Spring Encounter Book, I said I had a cultivation notebook to find for you. Afterwards, I was busy in seclusion and put it off. Now is the right time."

With that, the old man gently placed a thin booklet into Wu Ming's hands.

Based on a survey in the book club, starting tomorrow, the update time will be unified to two chapters released together at 4 AM.

Also, I'm asking for all kinds of votes, thank you!