Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou were the two central figures of *Legend of the Dao Seeking Sect*. Daoist Buyu had even dedicated two separate biographical chapters to recounting their tales, making both of them renowned throughout the world.
Whether they were cultivators visiting from afar or locals of the Imperial City, all had heard of their grand names.
The local cultivators of the Imperial City knew even more, such as what terrifying renown Meng Jingzhou had once held within its walls.
If he had not run away from home back then, what room would there have been for any so-called Four Young Masters of the Imperial City?
Lately, Lu Yang's name had eclipsed Meng Jingzhou's. Daoist Buyu's breakthrough into the Tribulation Transcendence stage had drawn the eyes of the entire realm, and Lu Yang had naturally basked in that spotlight as well.
Lu Yang pressed a hand to his forehead, surprised to find himself so famous. Old Meng had only shouted "Old Lu," and the onlookers had guessed his identity right away.
Since things had come to this, there was no longer any point in disguising himself.
Lu Yang took off his mask as well, revealing the face familiar to the entire cultivation realm.
"It really is him!"
"You're Lu Yang!" Li Zhuo's attention shifted toward Lu Yang. His grandfather had some past grudges with Daoist Buyu, so his grandfather had instructed him that if he ever ran into Lu Yang in the future, he must give the fellow a good thrashing.
Now, he felt he would be lucky just to save his own skin.
"Little Zhuo, you've grown quite arrogant, haven't you? Stealing other people's seats just because you couldn't find a table to eat? Why weren't you this brazen when you used to run with me?"
Li Zhuo forced an apologetic smile, not daring to utter a word.
"Uncle Xu, don't worry about the two of us. We're going to stroll around the Imperial City a bit more."
"Very well," Xu You replied with a smile, taking his leave from Tianxiang Restaurant.
"Young Master Meng, may I take my leave as well?" Li Zhuo asked cautiously, taking small steps backward.
"Hold on. What's the rush? When I made my bid earlier, I said today's tab for everyone would be on me. Since your final offer was higher, shouldn't you be the one fulfilling that promise?"
"Young Master Meng is right, absolutely right." How could Li Zhuo dare utter a single word of refusal? All he wanted was to get as far away from Meng Jingzhou as possible. Forget the spirit stones, forget his female companion—he didn't care about any of it anymore.
"Fine, get lost."
As if granted an imperial amnesty, Li Zhuo scurried out of Tianxiang Restaurant.
News of Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou's appearance spread across the Imperial City like wildfire.
"What? Old Scoundrel Buyu's disciple has shown up?" The Minister of Personnel shot up from his seat at the news. His talent for cultivation was limited, leaving him no hope of ever reaching the Tribulation Transcendence stage, which was why he was not in seclusion.
He had assumed he would never have the chance to triumph over Daoist Buyu in this lifetime. Little did he expect heaven to drop such an opportunity into his lap: Daoist Buyu's youngest disciple had delivered himself right to his doorstep.
"Son, come here. How has your cultivation been progressing lately?" The Minister of Personnel summoned his youngest son. Out of all his children, this one was the most promising, blessed with the highest cultivation talent.
The Minister of Personnel's son possessed dashing looks that turned the heads of young maidens whenever he walked down the street.
"Thanks to the pills provided by Father, I haven't encountered many bottlenecks. I have already reached the peak Nascent Soul stage."
The Minister of Personnel nodded and added, "I hear that people outside have started referring to you as a peerless prodigy?"
A confident smile appeared on the son's face. "I dare not claim to be a peerless prodigy; it's merely generous flattery from the world. However, when it comes to combat, I truly have never suffered a single defeat."
"Splendid! Old Scoundrel Buyu's youngest disciple, Lu Yang, has arrived. Your father cannot best that old scoundrel, so now my hopes rest entirely upon you. Go challenge Lu Yang to a spar."
"Huh?" The Minister of Personnel's son was struck dumb. He was a genius, yes, but how could he compare to a monster like Lu Yang, who had won the championship at the Dao Seeking Sect's 120,000-Year Grand Celebration? That was a terrifying prodigy capable of fighting Young Cult Master Lu to a draw! If he was that formidable in combat, why would he waste his time idling around the Imperial City? He would have joined the Heavenly Court Cult long ago!
***
"Grandfather, I was bullied by Meng Jingzhou and Lu Yang!" The moment Li Zhuo returned to the Left Prime Minister Residence, he cried out in grievance. The more he had thought about it on the way back, the angrier he had become. Yet he was no match for either Meng Jingzhou or Lu Yang, leaving him no choice but to seek his grandfather's help.
His grandfather had grudges with both the Meng Family and Daoist Buyu. Given the chance to reclaim face, he would definitely step in!
The Left Prime Minister was a white-haired elder. After listening to Li Zhuo's exaggerated account, he fell into deep contemplation for a moment.
"You're saying Old Scoundrel Buyu's disciple has also arrived?"
"It's mainly that Meng Jingzhou—he went far too far!" Li Zhuo said indignantly, not caring much about Lu Yang.
The Left Prime Minister turned a deaf ear to his complaint and continued muttering to himself, "Tell me, if you take Lu Yang as your big brother, wouldn't you and Lu Yang be peers of the same generation? And wouldn't that make Daoist Buyu belong to my son's generation? Doesn't that make sense?"
"Huh?"
"What are you 'huh-ing' about? Hurry up and go acknowledge Lu Yang as your big brother!"
***
When Lu Yang returned to the Meng Residence, invitations flooded in like snowflakes, covering an entire table.
"So many? You're quite popular," Meng Jingzhou teased.
Although he had plenty of enemies in the Imperial City himself, he was still the eldest young master of the Meng Family, after all. Those who disliked him did not dare cross him openly.
Lu Yang drew a dividing line down the middle of the table and explained to Meng Jingzhou, "On the left are challenge letters, and on the right are sworn-brotherhood proposals."
"The challenge letters are all from the sons of my master's enemies, while the sworn-brotherhood proposals are all from the grandsons of my master's enemies."
"What do you have to fear from challenge letters? Just fight them."
Lu Yang sighed mournfully. "Naturally, I have no fear of single combat. The problem is that these are all joint challenge letters."
In other words, they intended to gang up on him.
Meng Jingzhou scratched his head. This was indeed a tricky predicament. Lu Yang could neither be foolish enough to walk into a brawl against a mob nor accept a horde of sworn lackeys.
If he ignored the invitations and walked outside, it was entirely possible he would be ambushed—or have people throwing their arms around his legs, begging him to be their big brother.
"I have an idea!" Meng Jingzhou had a flash of inspiration.
"What idea?"
***
Luotian Forest was a small woodland situated within the Imperial City, where cultivators often came to comprehend wood-element spiritual qi.
Today, Luotian Forest was livelier than usual, filled with scions of high officials and prestigious clans gathering together.
"You received Lu Yang's reply too?" Li Zhuo was on good terms with the Minister of Personnel's son, and the two chatted as they met.
"Yeah, it said we should come to Luotian Forest to settle the matter. But half the day has passed, so why hasn't anyone shown up?" the Minister of Personnel's son asked, puzzled.
Just as the crowd was growing bewildered, Meng Jingzhou dropped down from the canopy of a tree.
"Quiet down, everyone! Whoever speaks another word, I'll have my family raise your interest rates!"
The crowd fell silent at once, no one daring to utter another whisper.
"I'm sure you all know full well why you've been gathered here today. It's all for my brother, Lu Yang."
"Some among you carry the grudges of the older generation and wish to challenge Lu Yang. Others wish to take advantage of our sect master's seniority by swearing brotherhood with Lu Yang. All of this is completely understandable."
"However, there is only one Lu Yang. If you swarm him all at once, he certainly can't beat you all; if you swarm him all at once to make him your big brother, he can't accept you all either."
"To resolve this issue, Lu Yang and I discussed it and decided to hold a grand tournament!"
"A tournament?" The crowd frowned, puzzled by Meng Jingzhou's words.
"As the saying goes, the strong are respected, and the strong possess privileges."
"This tournament shall be named the First Lu Yang Championship! The competition will use a bracket system, pitting participants against one another in pairs. The victors will advance to the next round until a final champion is crowned!"
While the crowd was still processing Meng Jingzhou's words, a person-sized, elaborately packaged red box suddenly descended from above, landing squarely in front of Meng Jingzhou.
Standing on a tree branch, Meng Jingyu caught her breath; she was the one who had hurled the box down.
Meng Jingzhou swiftly tore open the box, revealing Lu Yang bound tightly to a chair, and gave a grand introduction.
"And this is the grand prize of our tournament—Lu Yang!"
"Whoever wins the tournament may either challenge Lu Yang or take him as their big brother—whatever you desire!"
Chapter 909