How Does Fellow Daoist Lu Curse People?

The sunlight was just right, golden radiance spilling over Lu He and setting the hems of his robes fluttering.

In his field of vision, figures rode the breeze along the mountain paths, darting and weaving toward the palace halfway up the mountain, bursts of air-splitting sound ringing out.

The Medicine Garden, which had only been peaceful for a few days, instantly became clamorous and tense again.

"This Tea Gathering is actually being held here. The scale truly is extraordinary. Interesting."

A flash of excitement passed through Lu He's dark eyes, and he no longer held back.

With a light tap of his toes, immense power surged forth, propelling his body into an afterimage barely visible to the naked eye.

Behind him, only a thunderous boom echoed without end, startling a flock of little sparrows from the trees.

About a quarter of an hour later.

Lu He's figure came to a halt before the palace. His toes touched down, effortlessly bleeding off his momentum, leaving only a faint, nearly imperceptible mark on the ground.

By then, more than thirty young figures were already waiting quietly.

Rumble—

The heavy bronze palace doors suddenly swung inward without any external force, the dull sound making the ground tremble faintly.

Someone froze in shock.

Beyond the doors was not the grand hall everyone had imagined, but a vast expanse stretching four or five li in both length and width.

Rows upon rows of meditation cushions were arranged across the bronze floor.

On the foremost cushions sat twelve figures whose auras blazed brilliantly.

And atop the high platform.

The managers stood in rows, their gazes sweeping over the crowd.

Lu He's pupils contracted slightly. Even his usual calm expression could not hold, revealing genuine shock.

From outside, this palace had looked nowhere near as spacious as it was within.

"Mustard seeds containing Mount Sumeru, like in the myths of my past life?"

He lowered his eyes and drew a deep breath, his expression swiftly returning to calm.

Just then.

The aged manager on the high platform, whose eyes had been half-closed, suddenly opened them. It was Deng Yuantong, the Medicine Garden's chief manager.

"Enter."

Deng Yuantong's voice was not loud, yet it reached every ear with perfect clarity. When it landed, it seemed to ring like metal and stone.

The dozens of seed cultivators before the doors came back to their senses and entered the spacious area one after another, finding vacant cushions and quietly taking their seats.

Seeing this, Deng Yuantong nodded in satisfaction and immediately spoke.

"All forty-five seeds of the Medicine Garden have arrived. Not bad. In that case, the Tea Gathering shall officially begin. However... today's rules have changed somewhat."

As he spoke, Deng Yuantong pointed a finger. A brilliant streak of spiritual light shot forth and plunged directly into the bronze floor.

Rumble—

As the ground shook violently, nine bronze platforms inscribed with Dao patterns rose from the earth.

His gaze swiftly swept over the young faces below, all filled with confusion.

A faint, almost imperceptible smile flickered in Deng Yuantong's clouded eyes.

"There are nine arenas below. The rules are simple. There will be two rounds in total.

"The first round will resemble the contest for the Spirit-Slaying Envoy slots. Every seed may take the stage at will and engage in one-on-one battles. Winners remain; losers leave. For every victory, you will receive fifteen contribution points.

"After three hours, the nine people still standing on the stages may enter the second-round ranking battles."

As soon as those words fell.

Everyone below turned to look at the twelve figures seated in the front.

Their expressions became incomparably ugly.

They knew all too well what treatment those people had enjoyed last month.

They had been able to comprehend the Vermilion Horn Stele for at least six hours every day. It was even said that the managers had supplied Black Jade Pills without limit.

Never mind that these people had already ranked among the top twelve on the previous Tea Gathering Rankings—even a dog would probably have undergone a terrifying transformation in strength after such treatment.

If any one of those twelve stepped onto a stage.

Was there any need for anyone else to compete?

Yet at that moment, under the questioning gazes of dozens, the twelve seated in the front continued resting with their eyes closed. They did not even raise an eyelid. Their powerful auras spilled out around them, as though each had become a world unto themselves.

On the high platform.

As though noticing everyone's doubts.

The aged voice rang out again the next instant.

"The twelve of them will only take the stage during the final hour."

Whew—

At those words, the seeds present all breathed sighs of relief.

If so, then this Tea Gathering truly was as generous in rewards as the rumors claimed.

Win two matches, and you would earn one Black Jade Pill!

Quite a few seeds revealed eager expressions, wanting to show off their skills in the first round.

As for the second round.

Though the managers had not announced the rewards, one could figure out with their buttocks that they would certainly be even more generous.

But... no matter how confident a seed might be, none dared hope to snatch a second-round slot from those twelve.

There was no other reason. The gap was simply too great.

Some quick-witted people soon realized something.

"The true purpose of this Tea Gathering is most likely to select the nine among those twelve who will enter the second round, as well as determine the second-round rankings."

"So there are only nine slots?"

Lu He's gaze unconsciously roamed over the twelve figures at the front before finally settling on Qin Lie.

"Now that I'm at the peak of the Body-Shedding Realm, with six Red Qiu True Talismans and the White Ape Dao Diagram's enhancement, I should have been able to defeat Qin Lie from a month ago. Unfortunately..."

A trace of regret flashed through his eyes.

Lu He was no fool. Over the past month, with so many managers pouring resources into Qin Lie as though their lives depended on it, Qin Lie's progress must have been rapid. He might even have condensed a seventh True Talisman already.

There was naturally no need to take that risk.

At that thought.

Lu He glanced directly at the descendants of several other managers, then began conserving his energy and quietly waiting for the final hour to arrive.

Since his sights were set on the second round, there was no need to waste his strength by taking the stage early for a mere dozen or twenty contribution points.

As time trickled by.

Perhaps because they had gone through a full growth cycle.

The Medicine Garden seeds had clearly risen another level in strength.

This prompted the managers on the high platform to lean together and discuss matters animatedly.

"Fellow Daoist Luo, I recall that little fellow's surname is Zhou. He is one of your third-rank seeds, isn't he? Judging by his attacks, he'll condense his second True Talisman within half a year. Next year, he should be listed among the second-rank seeds."

"His younger sister isn't bad either. Perhaps she will also become a second-rank seed next year."

"Fellow Daoist Luo and Fellow Daoist Chen truly have sharp eyes."

"Speaking of second-rank seeds, Fellow Daoist Lu, why has that newly promoted second-rank seed under you still not taken the stage? Does he look down on the contribution points we have bestowed, or does he have designs on the second round?"

At those words.

The dozens of surrounding managers all turned their heads, staring at Manager Lu seated in a corner with looks ranging from amusement to mockery.

The moment this Fellow Daoist Lu had entered the Medicine Garden, he had relied on his connections in the Inner Garden to directly seize a thousand mu of spiritual farmland. That was one thing, but he had also ignored the rules when it came to seed slots.

They had long harbored grievances over this.

Now that they had a chance to see him suffer, they naturally would not let it pass.

Hearing this.

Manager Lu's face darkened. A trace of irritable mana fluctuations spread from his body as he glared and cursed.

"His mother! That little Lu He is one of mine. How he performs is naturally for me to judge. What the hell does it have to do with you?"

"We are merely having a friendly exchange. How can Fellow Daoist Lu open his mouth and curse people? You truly lack even the slightest bearing of an immortal master."

"His mother!"

"You..."

"His mother!"

"Lu Zhao, do you dare come with me to the spell-dueling platform for a round?"

"I have a magic artifact. You can't beat me."

"You... you've gone too far!" The manager who had just spoken flushed the color of pig liver.

"His mother!"