Chapter 412 Lottery Draw (1)
“I’ve decided, she will be my 322nd concubine!”
Lu Er said without looking back, his attention completely captured by Cheng Hongling and Qi Huang.
“As long as my grandson likes her, it’s her good fortune.”
Elder Zuo showed a sinister smile. None of the women favored by this lecherous brat could ever struggle, because the Lu family’s Immortal Tablet was beyond human power to resist.
“322 of them? Your descendant has so many wives and concubines at such a young age?”
Ye Donglai, standing beside him, asked in astonishment.
“Young people have strong vitality, it’s normal.”
Elder Zuo explained casually.
“It’s fine if they have strong vitality, as long as it doesn’t burn too fiercely. If young people are full of thoughts about men and women, it’s not conducive to cultivation.”
Ye Donglai began to lecture.
“Hmph!”
Lu Er turned his head and said contemptuously, “Nonsense. If a person has no desires, where will the motivation to become stronger come from? Haven’t you heard the saying, Lust is the primary productive force!”
“Young friend, you are too biased. People have thousands of motivations, not just men and women. This thing not only makes people lose their minds, but also makes them lose their essence, spirit, and energy. That’s why most cultivators choose to remain single.”
Ye Donglai explained in detail.
“Unfortunately, I am not part of the majority in your eyes.”
Lu Er turned his head back again, continuing to stare at Cheng Hongling and Qi Huang with greedy eyes.
“Young friend seems very confident! May I know which sect you are from? And what is your Main Body’s cultivation level?”
Ye Donglai took the opportunity to test Lu Er’s background.
Lu Er did not speak again. A person who reached the Shentong Realm at only four or five hundred years old was not qualified to speak to him.
“No sect, just a rogue cultivator who stays at home. Elder Ye, please excuse me.”
Elder Zuo smoothed things over from the side. It seemed perfunctory, but it was the truth.
“A rogue cultivator? Then Elder Zuo should know Cheng Hongling’s glorious deeds better than anyone, right? The Emperor of the Xihui Dynasty couldn’t even get one of her clones, let alone a rogue cultivator! I advise your descendant to give up early so as not to bump into a nail.”
Ye Donglai said intentionally, his purpose naturally being to probe Lu Er’s background.
“The Emperor of the Xihui Dynasty? The territory managed by my doorman is bigger than his!”
Lu Er retorted sarcastically without looking back.
Seeing that the other party was just bragging and had no intention of revealing his background, Ye Donglai was at a loss.
“Master, it’s time for the opening ceremony,”
Steward Cai reminded from the side.
“Then let’s begin! This is the territory you manage, so you will preside over it personally.”
Elder Zuo instructed.
“Yes!”
Steward Cai took the order.
“You should go down first. If you meet Elder Ye’s personal disciple on the arena, be sure to exchange some pointers.”
Elder Zuo then instructed Lu Er.
Lu Er still ignored him, walking into the venue while watching his “prey.”
“What? Your descendant also intends to participate in the Evergreen Convention of Yongning Prefecture? Then where is his Main Body?”
Ye Donglai couldn’t suppress his inner curiosity and continued to ask.
“He’s not here, only the clone is participating!”
Elder Zuo answered truthfully.
“The clone is participating? Then with which sect’s disciples will he participate?”
Ye Donglai persistently asked.
“Brother Ye, there’s no need to be so nervous. He’s just acting on impulse to spar with the young people in the cultivation world of Xihui Dynasty, so he registered alone and did not join any sect.”
Elder Zuo had seen through Ye Donglai’s subtle intentions long ago, so he teased him.
“Registered alone? That’s allowed?”
Ye Donglai was stunned.
“Yes, it is. The Immortal Alliance only stipulates that the maximum number of participants in a team battle is ten, and there is no minimum. If Brother Ye is willing, you can also let your personal disciple participate alone. If he wins, it will bring you glory.”
Elder Zuo was trying to trick him.
“Forget it! My Donglai Sect is very poor. All our young and old rely on the Evergreen Convention to obtain some resources. We dare not take risks.”
Ye Donglai wisely refused. Hearing that the other party was participating alone, the big stone in his heart finally settled. A lone person, no matter how strong, couldn’t turn the heavens upside down, right?
Meanwhile, Steward Cai had already walked to the arena in the center of the venue, then circulated True Qi and shouted, “Fellow Daoists, the auspicious time has arrived, and the triennial Evergreen Convention will begin immediately. However, before that, I hope everyone can gather around, as I have some matters to announce.”
The various sects and factions in the field heard this and gathered around, the scene was spectacular.
Qi Huang had already seen such a scene in her dreams, so she was relatively calm. Several Senior Sisters were very excited, after all, being able to participate in this Evergreen Convention meant that they were the most outstanding disciples of their respective sects, and it was already a proud thing for them to be able to mix in.
“Everyone, since the outbreak of the terror, the resources in the cultivation world have become increasingly scarce. The Immortal Alliance holds the Evergreen Convention every three years to select the most outstanding Immortal Seeds for encouragement, so that we can use the best steel on the sharpest blades!”
Steward Cai gave a perfunctory opening speech, then changed the subject and pretended to sigh melodramatically, “However, it is a pity that Yongning Prefecture has not produced any outstanding geniuses in recent years. This truly makes me, a steward of the Immortal Alliance, feel somewhat guilty!”
As soon as these words were spoken, the cultivators present all cast their gazes towards Cheng Hongling, their faces showing confused expressions.
“They all say that Cheng Hongling’s talent is extraordinarily outstanding. So, in Steward Cai’s eyes, she is not considered a genius!”
“Nonsense. Steward Cai is an elder of the Immortal Alliance who travels far and wide. What kind of genius has he not seen? How could he put her in his eyes?”
“That’s right. I heard that there are some monsters in Zhongzhou who were already close to the Shentong Realm at the same age as her.”
…
Many female cultivators, driven by jealousy, even mocked her without concealment.
“This fellow surnamed Cai is really not a good person. He’s using public office for personal revenge, implicitly criticizing others!”
Shen Yuan cursed in a low voice.
“Yes, how can such a petty-minded person be a steward of the Immortal Alliance?”
“His master, Elder Zuo, is not much better. The upper beam is not straight, and the lower beam is crooked!”
…
Ruan Lingyu and Yun Fei also angrily denounced.
“Don’t be angry. I told you, the higher he jumps, the harder he falls.”
Qi Huang quickly appeased everyone’s emotions, after all, she was a “man.”
At this moment, Elder Zuo on the stage withdrew his gaze without a trace and continued, “In order to improve the situation in Yongning Prefecture, my master and I have decided to increase the investment in the Evergreen Convention rewards to help the local Immortal Seeds grow. However, since this would be unfair to cultivators from outside the region, we have changed the rules this year. For this Evergreen Convention, regardless of household registration or sect, as long as you are under thirty years old, you can participate regardless of where you come from.”
“Tch! He still says it’s for the sake of Yongning Prefecture’s Immortal Seeds, but he’s not restricting household registration or sects. How are we supposed to compete with those cultivators from outside the region?”
“Yes, any genius who comes out from there is already in the Guiyi Realm or even the Huashen Realm. Their strength is enough to be an elder or steward for our local sects. How can we fight them?”
“I think this is not support, but shameless suppression. It will be more difficult for us local cultivators to obtain resources than before.”
…
Some local cultivators complained in low voices.
“However, since this will attract many cultivators from outside the region, we have made some adjustments to the competition rules based on last year’s. In addition to still adopting the team battle format, the number of participants has been increased to ten, so that the competition can be concluded as soon as possible. Otherwise, when will it end?”
Steward Cai continued to elaborate.
“What a far-fetched excuse. Isn’t it just to suppress Junior Sister? Why put it so grandly?”
Yun Fei couldn’t help but pout.
“Finally, I want to remind everyone that since there are ten spots for prefectural-level Immortal Seeds, it means that only the sect that wins first place will have the qualification to represent Yongning Prefecture in the subsequent national-level Evergreen Convention. I hope everyone will not take it lightly.”
After Steward Cai finished speaking, he stopped and finally reminded, “For other specific regulations, you can go and check the notices on the wall. Everything is clearly written there. Anyone who dares to violate them will be immediately disqualified from the competition.”
“Alright, next, we will start the lottery draw. Opponents with consecutive numbers will be paired for matches. Those who get a bye will automatically advance to the next round until the final winner is decided to represent Yongning Prefecture in the national-level Evergreen Convention.”
After Steward Cai finished speaking, he ordered people to bring the lottery draw equipment and start the draw on the stage.
“One last thing, regarding the Evergreen Convention, the Immortal Alliance has always recognized the tokens, not the people. So, after you get your tokens, be sure to keep them safe. Don’t come back later to make trouble, saying that your token was snatched or replaced.”
Steward Cai added a final sentence, and then began the lottery draw ceremony.
“I wonder who our first opponent will be?”
Ruan Lingyu murmured in a tone of three parts anticipation and seven parts nervousness.
