Wu Changming’s words went unchallenged by Gu Mingyue, who instead brought up an unrelated matter:
"Fellow Daoist, look, the water in the Pool of Faith is about to overflow. Shouldn’t we start the Grand Competition under our sects? Since it involves the true transmission positions of the Southern Dipper’s Six Sons and the North Dipper’s Seven Sons, we mustn’t slacken the preparations. Better to set the candidates in advance, lest we delay it only to postpone the Water God’s conferment ceremony. Many nobles are waiting outside, and our master is observing too. We can’t let the temple’s Grand Competition delay our schedule."
Wu Changming nodded upon hearing this: "You have a point, but there’s no need for you to worry, junior brother. I have my own arrangements."
"Hold on, why does it not concern me? This matter is related to me," Gu Mingyue remarked with a smile, much like a smiling tiger.
"The ultimate goal of this Grand Competition is to decide the qualifications for the North Dipper’s Seven Sons and Southern Dipper’s Six Sons. It’s thanks to my merit in acquiring the Dragon Blood and obtaining the Dragon Essence, for which the Ancestral Master gifted us an extra opportunity. How does that relate to you?" Wu Changming immediately protested, raising his eyebrows.
Initially, under the Great Virtuous Master of the Yellow Heaven Dao, each of the ten Celestial Masters was awarded a spot, while the extra three spots were collectively contested, with the previous Grand Competition being for the slot belonging to Wu Changming’s sect.
However, Wu Changming achieved great merit during the contest for the Dragon Essence. The Great Virtuous Master gifted an additional opportunity, which, along with the Water God’s blessings, altered the contest to compete for the extra gifted slot.
The previous slot, meanwhile, he had long decided in private, leaving it for his own son, effectively appropriating it.
Upon hearing Wu Changming’s words, Gu Mingyue became displeased: "Junior brother, that’s incorrect. It was because I brought together Prince Pingbian’s Mansion, allowing the Yellow Heaven Dao to fully conquer the Northern Land, in addition to your great deeds, that the master awarded an extra slot. And this slot wasn’t exclusively for your lineage, but for all disciples of the Yellow Heaven Dao in the Northern Land."
"You... you... you speak nonsense..." Wu Changming’s fury welled up.
"Heh, getting angry won’t help. I’ve already reported this to the master, who agreed to include my lineage in the Grand Competition. Let’s discuss how to conduct the Grand Competition and settle the matter promptly," Gu Mingyue said with a smile.
Hearing Gu Mingyue, Wu Changming’s face turned cold: "I refuse to believe the master is so muddle-headed. I will ask him personally."
Wu Changming closed his eyes after speaking, a ripple emanated from him. Not long after, he opened his eyes, glaring at Gu Mingyue: "You despicable Gu Mingyue! The master merely made an exception for Prince Pingbian’s crown prince Zhang Xiaohua to join the Grand Competition. Yet, you twist this to say the master invited your lineage to participate. You truly are shameless."
Gu Mingyue’s expression remained unchanged as he smiled: "Why be angry, junior brother? Maybe I didn’t express myself clearly. Why get upset? Consider this an apology from your senior brother."
"Hmph, that Zhang Xiaohua is nothing more than a debauchee without any Martial Dao foundation. Even if he joins the Grand Competition, what use is he? Does the senior brother intend to cherry-pick, underestimating me too much?" Wu Changming retorted with disdain.
"You’re mistaken. Do you know why the master made an exception for Zhang Xiaohua to join this Grand Competition?" Gu Mingyue asked with a smile.
"Isn’t it just because of his status as Prince Pingbian’s crown prince?" Wu Changming scoffed.
"Wrong! Status is significant, but more importantly, it’s because he was exposed to the aura emitted by an Ancient Corpse, unexpectedly awakening a bloodline and acquiring a Divine Technique." Gu Mingyue revealed Zhang Xiaohua’s information without hesitation to undermine Wu Changming’s morale.
"What!" Wu Changming was visibly shocked: "This is cheating! Allowing a divine being with an awakened Divine Technique to compete against mortals, it’s blatant cheating!"
...
Next door, Zhang Chen, completely unaware of the unfolding situation, continued cheerily absorbing Incense Faith. This place was his treasure trove, where massive amounts of points rolled in daily, truly flourishing beneath the Yellow Heaven Dao.
Zhang Chen smiled, his lips curling with satisfaction at this treasure trove. As long as he stayed under the radar, he could eventually overpower beings at the Twelfth Tier.
Zhang Chen tirelessly engaged in the sacrificial refinement of the Six-Word True Mantra Seal. In just three days, with the enormous supply of his Magical Power, the Six-Word True Mantra Seal transformed from a golden state to a luminous state.
The material form of gold inexplicably vanished under the Magical Power’s refining, leaving only a phantom-like calligraphy guide resembling a Divine Technique in Zhang Chen’s hands.
Holding the Six-Word True Mantra Seal, Zhang Chen examined it for some time before saying: "The sacrificial refinement is essentially complete. Next, I’ll rely on a large supply of Incense Faith to elevate the guide’s power."
Muttering to himself, Zhang Chen returned to his courtyard, seeing Xiaodouding practicing Martial Dao.
"Senior Sister,"
Zhang Chen called inside the house, addressing Xiaodouding, who was regulating her Qi Blood with a stance.
Xiaodouding gradually finished her practice, then her eyes turned to Zhang Chen, speaking maturely: "What’s the matter?"
"I’ve found a way to solve your problem. Come, let’s try it," Zhang Chen told Xiaodouding.
Xiaodouding’s eyes lit up at the words: "You have a solution? How do you plan to solve my problem?"
Zhang Chen closed the doors, pulled Xiaodouding to sit on the bed, and spoke earnestly: "You need to perform Soul Emergence one more time, and push that palace out from your Ancestral Acupoint. Remember, this time you must hold it for a breath. Whether we solve the problem hinges on this."