Chapter 76: Chapter 75: Gathering of the Arrogant! Accidentally Entering the Top Tier!
"Indeed, everywhere you go, it’s still about social standing."
Seeing Zhou Yu’s attitude change drastically, Su Changqing wasn’t surprised and merely smiled indifferently.
Xuán Qīngzi chuckled and shook his head; this Prince of the Zixiao Country seemed to have missed the most important benefactor of his life.
"Hmph."
Uncle Fu snorted coldly, not bothering to argue with the young prince, but the King’s driver would not be let off easily.
Whoosh!
An unstoppable powerful aura silently leapt over the carriage, striking into the body of the King.
Up ahead, the man driving the carriage suddenly turned pale as his internal energy went into chaos.
"Pfft!"
The man couldn’t hold back a mouthful of blood that spewed from his mouth.
"Ah Da, what’s happening?"
Zhou Yu frowned and asked from inside the carriage.
"Well..."
The aura of the Great Saint was imperceptible to the King realm, of course.
After checking himself and finding nothing, the man uneasily said, "Probably a mistake in my practice, it’s not..."
"Pfft!"
Just as he spoke, another mouthful of blood spurted out, making his face instantly filled with terror.
...
Su Changqing and Uncle Fu, along with others, also hit the road.
They were not far from Zhou Yu’s carriage ahead, so bits of fresh blood drifted to them.
Su Changqing peeked out and immediately saw the man who had been intimidating spitting blood while driving.
"This man... what’s wrong with him?" Su Changqing was stunned.
Uncle Fu remained unperturbed, continuing to smile as he traveled.
Xuán Qīngzi glanced at Uncle Fu, then with a smile in his eyes, said:
"Maybe he was too angry, upset from having to apologize just now."
Uncle Fu’s smile grew wider upon hearing that.
Su Changqing knew they were teasing the other and shook his head helplessly without paying more attention.
...
The carriage moved forward as if climbing a winding mountain path.
As they ascended higher, their view suddenly opened up expansively.
From atop a height, they saw vast, endless mountains rising and falling, with red mist clouds floating in the valleys, making the scene look immortal.
In the distance, a majestic peak soared into the sky, with a mighty river cascading down from the summit.
The spectacular waterfall created myriad rainbows, making the land appear both real and surreal.
Faced with such enchanting scenery, Su Changqing couldn’t help but resonate inwardly and softly recite,
"On high, the grandeur of the earth and sky, the boundless river flows without return."
"Yellow clouds stretch a thousand miles, stirring wind, while white waves surge like snow upon the mountains."
Xuán Qīngzi, admiring the view himself, froze upon hearing this, then turned stiffly to look at Su Changqing.
Being a cultivator, he wasn’t very familiar with poetry.
Yet even so, he could sense the majestic atmosphere, grandeur, and magnificence in the verses.
In a few brief words, they vividly depicted the beauty of these vast lands.
"Chang Qing..."
Xuán Qīngzi hesitated, then said, "Is your teacher truly a failed Scholar?"
He knew Su Changqing had studied for two years, but initially thought it was mere basic enlightenment.
Yet unexpectedly, Su Changqing could even compose poetry!
And composed in such a manner that even he, an outsider, felt amazed—this was not something an ordinary Scholar could teach!
"Why would I deceive you about such a thing? It’s no glorious tale."
Su Changqing smiled and said, "Although my teacher didn’t achieve much, he treated me exceptionally well."
"When I start my cultivation, I must find some Confucian classics to give him."
Though not long parted, Su Changqing still missed his teacher and senior brother quite a lot.
"Really?"
Xuán Qīngzi fell into deep thought, while Uncle Fu silently grinned.
Scholar?
He’s actually a living Immortal Scholar!
He was amazed when he saw Li Qingchen in action at the Sword Emperor Sect ruins, never knowing Su Changqing had such a formidable teacher.
Fu didn’t know Su Changqing’s standing in Confucian pursuits, but he wouldn’t pale beside notable Confucian prodigies.
With differing thoughts, the trio continued chatting as they journeyed onward.
Uncle Fu and Su Changqing were strangers to the route, unfamiliar with the way.
But no matter, with someone ahead spitting blood while traveling, Uncle Fu had no need to worry but followed along.
After half an hour, they arrived at a giant platform that appeared as a flattened mountain peak.
Zhou Yu descended from his carriage ahead, and in the back, Su Changqing and others dismounted one by one.
"Are you planning to keep following me?"
Zhou Yu glanced at Su Changqing and the others behind him and asked calmly.
"Doesn’t this road lead to the Little Immortal Sect?" Su Changqing asked in confusion.
"Hehe, of course it leads there; just hope you don’t regret it later."
Zhou Yu raised an eyebrow and smiled, then strode toward the platform.
The middle-aged man cast a disdainful glance at Su Changqing and the others.
The Little Immortal Sect had spread news of its foundation throughout the Southern Domain.
Those prepared to attend had already investigated the routes and even tacitly assigned test locations.
Dragons don’t dwell among snakes.
Although they were all prodigies, prodigies were divided into tiers and circles.
On a platform like this, there were three in the vicinity: one highest, one middle, one lowest, arranged like steps.
The unknown would go to the lowest platform, those slightly famous to the middle one.
Only top prodigies would come to the highest platform, precisely where Zhou Yu had arrived on this peak.
Of course, ordinary prodigies could come too, but who would choose to disgrace themselves among top-notch prodigies?
The test was conducted concurrently, and if they left others in the dust, unable even to glimpse them, why seek discomfort?
Therefore, though not explicit in rules, most chose platforms suitable for themselves.
Unfortunately, Su Changqing and even Uncle Fu knew nothing about this.
"Can fireflies really compete with the bright moon?"
"You will soon realize my young master’s talent will leave you despairing!"
The middle-aged man sneered, turning to follow Zhou Yu onto the platform.
"Seems we’ve come to the wrong place."
Instead of being dejected, Su Changqing smiled confidently and said:
"My teacher said, losing is not scary, what’s scary is not daring to challenge."
"And what if we lose? It’s merely a minor setback!"
With that, Su Changqing boldly stepped onto the platform with his head held high.
"Good temperament."
Xuán Qīngzi praised upon hearing, then, with a subtle smile, looked at Zhou Yu’s back ahead and softly murmured,
"Some people possess talent so strong it may seem despairing, but unfortunately, you’ll be among the truly despairing ones."
With a slight chuckle, Xuán Qīngzi followed Su Changqing onto the platform.
By this time, the platform was already populated by hundreds of dignified, extraordinary youth.
Upon Zhou Yu’s arrival, acquaintances eagerly approached, speaking with gentle teasing:
"Zhou brother, been waiting for you."
Just as this was spoken, Su Changqing and Xuán Qīngzi arrived shortly after Zhou Yu.
The youth in brocade was startled, seeing their uncommon aura, then politely greeted with a smile:
"Are you with Zhou brother?"
Many present looked over.
Those who step onto this highest peak come with confidence and self-assurance, these two strangers had never been seen before.
But even so, no one dared to underestimate them, especially since they arrived with the Prince of Zixiao Country.
Yet before Su Changqing could speak, Zhou Yu had already indifferently remarked,
"Just two lost Loose Cultivators, a bit of conflict on the way delayed them."