Chapter 439: Chapter 424: Zhouyang’s Thoughts
The Zhou Family’s 400th anniversary celebration, the heavenly sacrificial ceremony is certainly important, but not many cultivators actually witness it live.
But the "Treasure Hunting Conference" is different.
The Zhou Family imposes no cultivation restrictions on the cultivators attending the "Treasure Hunting Conference". Any cultivator under sixty years old can register by paying just one lower-grade spirit stone to receive a number plate, and based on the drawn plate, they will be paired for individual duels. The victor proceeds to the next round until the top twenty are decided.
When Zhouyang and other key figures descended from Red Tiger Mountain to the specially prepared martial arena at the foot of the mountain, more than twenty thousand cultivators had already gathered there.
"This martial arena has been reinforced by the array set up by our Zhou Family Patriarch, Tier Four Array Master Zhou Guangxiang, with protective arrays in place. Once you cultivators step into the arena, feel free to unleash any magic and artifacts you know to engage in combat."
"However, I’d like to remind all fellow Daoists that during magical combat, although we will have Foundation Establishment cultivators from our Zhou Family watching over, their ability to save you immediately cannot be guaranteed. If you find yourself unable to match your opponent, it’s best to admit defeat voluntarily."
"Once one side voluntarily admits defeat, the other is strictly forbidden to attack further. Otherwise, not only will their score be canceled and participation disqualified, but they will also be added to our Zhou Family’s blacklist, banning them from entering any of our oases and marketplaces!"
"Additionally, magical combat can use Tier Two talismans, but Tier Three talismans and Tier Three puppet beasts that exceed Qi Cultivation Stage power are strictly prohibited. Violators will have their score canceled and be disqualified!"
"Finally, although we won’t test the bone age of the winners now, those who reach the top twenty will have to pass the bone age test to receive rewards, confirming their age requirement. Anyone attempting to cheat will face the punishment of cultivation abolition. If you harbor any lucky thoughts, you’d better return your number plate now!"
Covered by an ochre light shield, the large square martial arena saw Zhou Tongming, Vice Hall Master of the Zhou Family Martial Hall, announcing the rules of magical combat to those who registered for the "Treasure Hunting Conference".
According to Zhouyang’s plan, the "Treasure Hunting Conference" without identity restrictions was held first, followed by the one for Zhou Family cultivators.
This arrangement was obviously for the Zhou Family cultivators to gain combat experience by watching outsiders, realizing their shortcomings for a better performance in the upcoming combats.
Shortly after Zhou Tongming announced the kung fu rules, the magical combat of the "Treasure Hunting Conference" officially began due to Zhouyang’s arrival.
Originally, over twelve thousand cultivators registered for this "Treasure Hunting Conference." After Zhou Tongming’s last warning, over a thousand luck-relying people were scared into surrendering their number plates.
Verifying whether someone exceeds sixty years old only requires a Foundation Establishment cultivator to use the Tier Three lower-grade technique "Bone Touching Skill".
Those who withdrew thought the Zhou Family wouldn’t test everyone with "Bone Touching Skill", hoping to gamble while falsely claiming a memory lapse about their age if discovered, at most losing qualification.
But they hadn’t anticipated the Zhou Family’s punishment of cultivation abolition for intentional cheaters.
For a cultivator, probably no penalty is more severe, and none would truly risk gambling with their life.
When Zhou Tongming announced the start of the "Treasure Hunting Conference," he immediately began calling out the names of the first pair of dueling cultivators based on drawn number plates.
"Group A No. 1312 Zhang Meng vs. Group B No. 421 Yang Fei!"
Instantly, a mighty Seventh-Layer Qi Cultivation middle-aged man and a charming Eighth-Layer Qi Cultivation middle-aged female cultivator walked through the array’s protective shield into the arena, announced their names and origins, and began artifact combat.
Qi Cultivation Stage cultivators have low magical power, so their combat times aren’t long. With venue restrictions, dragging time by moving is futile.
Thus, within less than thirty breaths, the mighty Zhang Meng was pierced by middle-aged female cultivator Yang Fei with a golden hairpin through the defense shield, pointing at his chest.
"Fairy, impressive technique, Zhang admits defeat!"
Glaring at the golden hairpin on his chest, the formidable Zhang Meng didn’t waste time, promptly acknowledging defeat and withdrew his artifact to exit the stage.
Next up, the second pair of cultivators whose number plates and names were announced jumped onto the martial field and battled immediately.
Though these low-tier Qi Cultivation Stage cultivators’ combats seemed flawed and insignificant in the eyes of Zhouyang and other Purple Mansion cultivators, perhaps dull and tasteless,
The Qi Cultivation Stage cultivators below watched with great relish, deaf to time’s passage amid occasional cheers, never tiring.
Two days passed, and the first-round duels completed, selecting more than 5,000 contenders.
Then, another day passed, and the second round finished, with over 2,000 advancing.
The third and fourth rounds concluded after one more day, leaving only over 600 eligible to continue.
As the sixth day’s contests approached the half-day mark, the top twenty cultivators were finally chosen.
As expected by Zhouyang, sixteen of the top twenty cultivate within various cultivation clans, with only four coming from a loose cultivation background.
Naturally, all cultivators in the top twenty hold Ninth-Layer Qi Cultivation.
After five consecutive days of combat, these twenty’s spirits appeared fatigued. Consequently, two hours of rest were granted before the final duel.
At this moment, Zhouyang, usually silent, suddenly smiled at Chen Ping’an and other cultivators, saying, "Fellow Daoist Chen, Fellow Daoist Nie, and Fellow Daoist Yan, who do you think will claim first place this time?"
The three Zhouyang mentioned are Purple Mansion Clan leaders, each with kin in the top twenty, and the Chen Family and Yan Family even have two members each advancing.
"Although it might seem self-aggrandizing, Yan believes that the one who ultimately claims first place will definitely be Yan Shuanghua from the Yan Family!"
While Chen Ping’an and Nie Qiufeng were still contemplating how to respond to Zhouyang’s words, the Yan Family Patriarch, Yan Nantian, confidently stood up for his family’s younger generation.
Speaking of which, Zhouyang had once interacted with this Fire Fox Ridge Yan Family.
Back then, when he was still at the Foundation Establishment Stage, in the Desert Sea, he was summoned over by Purple Mansion Cultivator Xiao Bufan of the Yellow Sand Sect using the rescue tool "Seven-Colored Cloud Smoke," and he once fought hand in hand with a Yan Family cultivator named Yan Yunfei. Later, they were both recruited by Xiao Bufan to guard the Red Tiger Mountain Oasis for the Yellow Sand Sect.
Unfortunately, Yan Yunfei had bad luck and tragically fell here when the Golden-winged Thunder Eagle attacked the Red Tiger Mountain Oasis.
Now, Yan Nantian, in terms of age and generation, should still be Yan Yunfei’s junior.
"Fellow Daoist Yan is quite confident, but Chen similarly has more confidence in Chen Yunsheng from the Chen Family."
Chen Ping’an, returning to his senses at this moment, also smiled while supporting his family’s younger generation.
"Nie doesn’t have as much confidence as the two of you. From the previous battle, Nie could already tell that with Nie Hansha’s capability, even making it to the top three depends on luck and can’t compare to the talents of the two of you!"
Nie Qiufeng shook his head, a bitter smile appearing on his lips as he spoke quietly.
This time, the Zhou Family’s "Treasure Hunting Conference" attracted the attention of the young generation cultivators from the entire Boundless Desert Sea Cultivation Realm. These families all wanted to use this opportunity to let their outstanding descendants see the world and see if they could win the Foundation Establishment Pill reward.
However, now seeing their promising young ones obviously lagging behind the other two Purple Mansion Clan’s younger generation in terms of strength, how could Nie Qiufeng feel at ease?
Although strength doesn’t represent everything, in today’s "Treasure Hunting Conference," the weaker ones essentially lose the chance to get the Foundation Establishment Pill, missing an opportunity that could influence their entire life.
At this moment, Zhouyang chuckled indifferently, saying: "Why don’t you fellow Daoists make a bet with Zhou? We’ll each put up a Tier Three Treasure as a wager on a cultivator. Whoever wins at the end can offer this wager as a special reward for that cultivator. How about that?"
"Oh, then who would Fellow Daoist Zhou choose to bet on?"
Chen Ping’an’s eyes flashed with intent, staring brightly at Zhouyang as he asked.
"Don’t say Zhou doesn’t give you all face, Zhou bets on the loose cultivator Li Hong to take first place!"
Zhouyang’s face showed a fleeting smile, unabashedly stating who he favors.
"A loose cultivator, such as this one, can receive such high regard from Fellow Daoist Zhou. Looks like Chen misjudged earlier!"
Chen Ping’an’s eyes revealed a moment of surprise, glancing down towards the dueling arena below at a black-robed middle-aged man who was currently resting with eyes closed. That man was none other than the loose cultivator Li Hong that Zhouyang mentioned.
Yet Zhouyang didn’t elaborate, merely smiling while asking: "So, fellow Daoists, will you bet?"
"It’s merely a Tier Three Treasure, since Fellow Daoist Zhou is interested, Chen is naturally happy to oblige."
Chen Ping’an withdrew his gaze and nodded slightly, agreeing immediately.
Then, Yan Nantian confidently said: "Yan bets too."
"Though Nie doesn’t favor his younger generation, one’s image is in the balance, and a Tier Three Treasure is not much. Nie naturally won’t spoil the fun." Nie Qiufeng pondered briefly and, with a smile, agreed.
"Good, then let’s wait and see."
Zhouyang smiled satisfactorily, sealing the agreement on the spot.
Then he glanced over slightly at another person who had remained silent, which was none other than the current Sect Leader of the Yellow Sand Sect, Zhang Yunpeng.
The Yellow Sand Sect also had cultivators attending this "Treasure Hunting Conference," but they were merely ordinary disciples with no exceptional skill; none of the truly powerful Qi Cultivation Stage cultivators from the Yellow Sand Sect attended.
Zhouyang knew the reason, it was because Zhang Yunpeng didn’t wish those people to come.
The Yellow Sand Sect currently lacks no Foundation Establishment Pills; anyone with a bit of talent among the cultivators could easily obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill from within the sect now.
According to Zhouyang’s knowledge, the number of new successful Foundation Establishment cultivators in the Yellow Sand Sect had reached thirty in the past twenty years, showing just how much investment Zhang Yunpeng had made.
"Ultimately, clans and sects are different. Even when declining, the Yellow Sand Sect can open its doors to attract external talents without fear of disloyalty or betrayal."
"In contrast, we clans must be cautious even recruiting Honored Guest Cultivators, afraid of bringing in ungrateful opportunists."
"This Treasure Hunting Conference has revealed quite a few promising young loose cultivators, so our Zhou family should seize this chance to consider recruiting some as bridegrooms to strengthen our clan’s combat personnel among the lower-level cultivators."
Zhouyang’s mind raced with ideas, and he immediately communicated via sound transmission to Clan Leader Zhou Guangxiang, instructing him to gather the female cultivators interested in selecting grooms in the clan. After the "Treasure Hunting Conference," they would hold a Bridegroom Recruitment Conference, hoping to attract a few potential golden grooms.