Chapter 79: Xianmao, You Really Know How to Put on an Act! |
"Oh? Fellow Daoist Chunze, has your cultivation base advanced again?"
Wang Xianmao had no idea about Mu Chunze's complicated inner thoughts. Seeing the antlers on Mu Chunze's head giving off smoke, he casually offered a polite compliment.
However, he only received a cold glare in return.
'Your Wang Clan really deserves to die!'
"It hasn't. Let's just watch the horse racing."
Mu Chunze couldn't exactly sit there and have a staring contest with Wang Xianmao. No matter how stifled he felt, he couldn't admit that he had suffered a long-distance mental attack from Wang Yulou.
Inadvertently slapped in the face by Wang Yulou's achievements, Mu Chunze had no way to strike back.
It could only be said that with all the sins he had committed, this minor humiliation wasn't even enough to offset a fraction of them!
Wang Xianmao merely smiled faintly in response to Mu Chunze's coldness.
Above the preparation area of the racetrack was the main stage. Gao Jian's concubine dance troupe had already stepped down.
Zhong Ningyao gracefully walked onto the stage to take on her hosting duties for the day.
"Fellow Daoists, welcome to the Clear Stream Market Talisman Master Competition!
"Our three judges—Senior Wang Xianmao of the Anbei Kingdom Wang Clan, Senior Mu Chunze, the Town Guardian Cultivator of Clear Stream Market, and Senior Wu Jinyan, Patriarch of the Foundation Establishment Wu Clan—have already arrived.
"Now, please enjoy the horse racing event unique to Clear Stream Market. This race is provided by the Great Wild Marsh Yang Clan.
"The Great Wild Marsh Yang Clan has specialized in breeding mounts and spirit beasts for five hundred years, offering Fellow Daoists the finest cultivation companions!
"Let the horse racing begin!"
With her command, the horses in the preparation area bolted out from the starting line like they had gone mad.
Yang Qi had laid out a tempting reward: any horse that ran faster than those two serpent-scaled horses would receive a prize!
Many of the cultivators invited today were watching horse racing for the very first time.
The galloping herd of horses made the grandstands tremble, and the spectacular sight completely captivated the audience.
Life as a cultivator could be wonderful, but it could also be incredibly dull.
With the paths of upward mobility tightly blocked, trying to leap through the dragon gate had become an unattainable luxury.
Thus, with certain types of cultivator-exclusive pacifying entertainment numbing the souls of the lower-tier cultivators, the roaring popularity of horse racing was no surprise at all.
——
On the other side, Yulou was discussing the upcoming performance with Zhou Yingxi.
"It's like this, Fellow Daoist Yingxi. Please don't leave the stage after you finish playing the opening piece.
"When Ancestor Xianmao makes his entrance, I need you to use the Seven-String Zither to play some background music for him."
Yulou's instructions were not complicated. Zhou Yingxi replied,
"Understood. But should I not play when my father makes his entrance?"
Wang Yulou paused for a moment and said,
"Fellow Daoist Yingxi, our Wang Clan has no intention of playing favorites. It's just that the Wang Clan has invested heavily in this Clear Stream Market Talisman Master Competition.
"Naturally, we hope the Patriarch can make a grand display and boost the Wang Clan's reputation. I hope you can understand.
"Of course, Senior Chunze is also a seasoned Foundation Establishment cultivator with divine abilities. If you wish to provide some background music for him, you are certainly welcome to do so. I won't object."
Courtesy and reason were the baseline. Since the Wang Clan had invested spirit stones, they naturally needed to see results.
Promoting the reputation of Hundred Treasures Pavilion while simultaneously raising the Wang Clan's influence around Clear Stream Market were their core objectives.
Yulou's candor left Zhou Yingxi a little unsure of how to respond.
The Wang Clan might seem a bit selfish, but Wang Yulou's reasoning was completely fair and reasonable. Furthermore, he had agreed to let her play background music for her father, which made it difficult to argue back.
If she played it, it would make Mu Chunze and herself look a bit greedy.
If she didn't play it, Zhou Yingxi subconsciously felt she would be letting her father down.
"Yulou, something's happened. Come quickly!"
Wang Rongsheng's voice transmission talisman flew over. Hearing the message, Yulou's expression drastically changed.
He looked at the equally surprised Zhou Yingxi and said,
"Fellow Daoist Yingxi, the schedule remains the same. As for Senior Chunze's background music, you can decide on your own.
"There's a minor situation in the stands. I need to head over first."
Leaving Zhou Yingxi standing there in a daze, Yulou hurried over to the southern grandstand.
——
Anyone who had ever organized a large-scale event or project understood that when dealing with something of this magnitude, all sorts of accidents were bound to occur during execution.
All sorts of accidents—whether you could anticipate them or not—were unavoidable, simply because there were too many unpredictable factors.
"What happened?"
Noticing a group of cultivators surrounding his clan uncle, Yulou asked loudly.
"It's like this, Yulou. These Fellow Daoists also want to participate in the competition and registered at the last minute. The segments and timing of our competition are fixed.
"Too many last-minute registrations will affect our scheduled arrangements. How do you think we should handle this?"
Wang Rongsheng had actually already sent a voice transmission to the Patriarch, and the Patriarch's intention was for Yulou to step up and handle it.
The old Patriarch's reasoning was very simple.
Jade cannot become a masterpiece without being carved. Go, Wang Yulou, go and embrace your stage!
"Little Daoist, all of us here have a certain level of skill in talisman crafting, but we are the type who don't think our skills are enough to win.
"We knew there was a talisman competition in Clear Stream Market, so we came to take a look, considering it an opportunity to interact with fellow practitioners.
"But after arriving, we found out that the top twenty all get rewards. With that, we might as well give it a try.
"We wonder if this little Daoist could do us a favor?"
They were all respectable cultivators; becoming kings or ancestors in the mortal world wouldn't be difficult for them. Now that these last-minute registrants had clearly explained their reasons, Yulou knew exactly how to handle it.
"Uncle Rongsheng, let's change the competition format. Today will be the preliminaries, and tomorrow will be the finals. Since these Fellow Daoists want to participate, we naturally welcome them.
"I'd also like to ask Uncle Rongsheng to go and communicate with the Patriarch. If those two seniors... Well, the Patriarch will handle it, so you don't need to worry."
Midway through speaking, Yulou switched to a voice transmission.
Wang Rongsheng nodded repeatedly after hearing Yulou's arrangement. Indeed, since people had come to support them, there was no reason to chase them away!
——
As Zhou Yingxi's opening piece concluded, the Clear Stream Market Talisman Master Competition officially began.
"Please welcome Senior Wang Xianmao of the Anbei Kingdom Wang Clan to the stage!" Zhong Ningyao announced loudly, slightly exhilarated.
This was the grandest stage she had ever stepped onto in her life, acting as the host of a competition in front of thousands of cultivators.
To her, everything about today was incredibly unforgettable; she would likely remember it for the rest of her life.
Before Wang Xianmao even appeared, his voice rang out.
"Fellow Daoists have traveled from afar. It is the Wang Clan's honor that you are all willing to support this competition organized by us.
"During the finals tomorrow, I will select twenty Fellow Daoists from the audience and gift each of you a high-tier Qi Refining talisman.
"Consider this a token of appreciation for everyone's support."
Instantly, the entire venue erupted in excitement. Twenty high-tier Qi Refining talismans!
Cui Baihao immediately realized something—with so many people from Redwood Sect present, their chances of being selected were very high!
Then, as the entire audience looked toward the source of the voice, Wang Xianmao appeared.
Wearing a dark green high-grade spiritual artifact magical robe, Wang Xianmao walked out of the VIP room and released his suppression of its spiritual resonance. The turbulent spiritual aura of the magical robe cascaded outward. A few cultivators who practiced wood techniques immediately felt a tremendous attraction.
With pale green skin and clad in his dark green magical robe, Wang Xianmao descended step by step from the high-altitude VIP room of the racetrack.
With every step, a green lotus bloomed beneath his feet—this was Wang Yulou's suggestion. The key to making a grand display was that the impressiveness had to be dialed up to the max!
Following Patriarch Mangxiang's path to the Golden Core, the Behemoth Lineage was currently making its voice heard within the Red Lantern Illumination Sect!
As Zhou Yingxi's background music began to play, the Patriarch finally had his own exclusive entrance BGM.
Seeing Wang Xianmao's grand spectacle, the audience watched in sheer awe.
Was this the divine ability and magical power of a seasoned Foundation Establishment cultivator?
After every step the Patriarch took, a green lotus was left lingering in the sky.
By the time he walked from the edge of the venue to the midair space above the center, a heavenly path paved with green lotuses had been left trailing behind him.
Wang Xianmao merely raised his left hand lightly and tapped the air a few times.
The green lotuses instantly flew toward the ground in the center of the venue. Then, driven by both wood techniques and a formation array, a massive wooden competition platform rapidly grew into existence.
Wang Xianmao landed elegantly upon the platform and bowed to the surroundings.
Inside the VIP room, Mu Chunze, who also practiced wood techniques and possessed divine abilities, naturally saw right through Wang Xianmao's tricks.
With a darkened face, he muttered inwardly,
'Xianmao, you really know how to put on an act! You really know how to put on an act!
'Those green lotuses are nothing but a smokescreen! They're completely useless, not a single bit of use! You just used them purely for show!'
Accidents, both expected and unforeseen, were simply unavoidable due to the sheer number of variables in play.
"What happened?" Yulou asked loudly, noticing a crowd of cultivators surrounding his clan uncle.
"It's like this, Yulou. These Fellow Daoists also want to participate in the competition and signed up at the last minute. Our event schedule and timings are strictly set."
"With so many last-minute registrations, it's going to disrupt our planned schedule. How do you think we should handle this?"
Wang Rongsheng had actually already sent a sound transmission to the Patriarch, who wanted Yulou to step up and handle the situation.
The old Patriarch's reasoning was simple.
'An unpolished jade never shines. Go forth, Wang Yulou, and claim your stage!'
"Young Daoist, all of us here have a certain level of skill in talisman crafting, though we don't necessarily think we have what it takes to win."
"We heard there was a talisman competition in Clear Stream Market, so we came to take a look. We figured it'd be a good opportunity to interact with fellow practitioners."
"But we only found out after arriving that the top twenty would all receive rewards. In that case, we'd like to give it a try."
"We wonder if this Young Daoist might be willing to do us a favor and make an exception?"
Everyone present was a respectable cultivator; establishing themselves as kings or ancestors in the mortal realm would be effortless for them. Now that these latecomers had explained their reasoning, Yulou knew exactly how to handle it.
"Uncle Rongsheng, let's change the tournament format. Today will be the preliminaries, and tomorrow will be the finals. Since these Fellow Daoists wish to compete, they are naturally more than welcome."
"Please go and communicate this with the Patriarch, Uncle Rongsheng. If those two seniors... Well, the Patriarch will take care of it. You don't need to worry."
Halfway through his sentence, Yulou had switched to a sound transmission.
Hearing Yulou's arrangement, Wang Rongsheng nodded repeatedly. Indeed, since these people had come to support them, there was no reason to turn them away!
With the conclusion of Zhou Yingxi's opening piece, the Clear Stream Market Talisman Master Competition officially began.
"Please welcome Senior Wang Xianmao of the Anbei Kingdom Wang Clan!" Zhong Ningyao announced loudly, her voice laced with excitement.
This was the biggest stage she had ever stood on, hosting a competition in front of thousands of cultivators.
Everything about today was unforgettable; she would likely remember it for the rest of her life.
Wang Xianmao's voice rang out before he even revealed himself.
"Fellow Daoists, you have traveled from afar. It is the Wang Clan's profound honor that you are all willing to support the competition we are hosting."
"During tomorrow's finals, I will randomly select twenty Fellow Daoists from the audience, and each will be gifted a high-tier Qi Refining talisman."
"Consider it a token of our gratitude for everyone's support."
Instantly, the entire venue erupted in excitement. Twenty high-tier Qi Refining talismans!
Cui Baihao immediately realized something—with so many members of the Redwood Sect present, their chances of being chosen were quite high!
Then, as the entire audience turned their gazes toward the source of the voice, Wang Xianmao finally made his appearance.
Draped in a dark green high-grade spiritual artifact magical robe, Wang Xianmao stepped out of the VIP room and stopped suppressing his spiritual aura. As the surging spiritual energy of the robe spread outward, cultivators who practiced wood-element techniques instantly felt a powerful sense of attraction.
With a pale green complexion and clad in his deep green magical robe, Wang Xianmao descended step by step from the VIP room high above the racetrack.
With every step he took, a green lotus bloomed beneath his feet. This had been Yulou's suggestion: if they were going to make a grand public display, their prestige and style had to be pushed to the absolute maximum!
Following Patriarch Mangxiang's path toward the Golden Core, the Behemoth Lineage was finally making its voice heard within the Red Lantern Illumination Sect!
As Zhou Yingxi's background music began to play, the Patriarch received his very own exclusive entrance theme.
Seeing Wang Xianmao's extravagant display, the audience watched in sheer awe.
Was this the divine ability and magical power of a seasoned Foundation Establishment cultivator?
After every step the Patriarch took, a green lotus was left suspended in the sky.
By the time he walked from the edge of the arena to the space above the center stage, a heavenly path paved with green lotuses trailed behind him.
Wang Xianmao simply raised his left hand and lightly tapped the air a few times.
The green lotuses instantly flew toward the ground in the center of the arena. Then, under the dual activation of a wood-element technique and a formation array, a massive wooden platform rapidly sprouted, growing into a tournament stage.
Wang Xianmao landed elegantly upon the stage and bowed respectfully to his surroundings.
In the VIP room, Mu Chunze—who also practiced wood-element techniques and possessed divine abilities—could naturally see right through Wang Xianmao's parlor trick.
With a darkened face, he grumbled inwardly, 'Xianmao, you really know how to put on an act! You really do!'
"Those green lotuses are nothing but a sham. They're completely useless—without a single shred of actual utility! You're purely just using them to show off!"