Song of Adolescence

Side Story Arc: Follow the Dao, Chapter 6: Great Dragon and Elephant Arts

"A total of sixteen Daoist sects and thirty-two disciples are attending this year's congress. The disciples will be divided into four groups to compete. The four winners will then face off in pairs until the final winner is determined." The official in charge of the Court of Quietude stepped up to report to Lanyue Marquis and the others.

"Very well. Hurry and get started." Lanyue Marquis yawned.

The official in charge nodded. "The adjudicator has yet to arrive. Daoist arts are mysterious and profound. Without an adjudicator present, I'm afraid something may go amiss."

"Didn't we ask the Court of State Ceremonial to send an adjudicator? Where are their people?" Lanyue Marquis asked.

"We're here." A monk adorned with huge Buddhist beads stood in the middle of the arena. Although he had shaved his head and put on the clothes of a monk, Lanyue Marquis identified him with a single glance, and was taken aback. "Jin Yan."

"Jin Yan no longer exists in this world." The adjudicator bowed his head.

Lanyue Marquis suppressed his surprise and nodded. "This Marquis was mistaken. Since everyone has arrived, let's… begin."

When Lei Wujie saw that Fei Xuan had arrived, he felt a load off his heart. He turned to Lanyue Marquis with a grin and asked, "Marquis, who do you think will win this time?"

Lanyue Marquis drank his tea calmly. "All the famous Daoist sects under Heaven are here today, but in the end, only a few are capable of taking the final victory. The three mountains and two forests - Longhu Mountain, Qingcheng Mountain, Mao Mountain, Buxiu Forest, and Guixu Forest#, as well as the leader of Daoist sects - Wudang."

"No one from Wudang has entered Heavenly Revelations in many years," Tan Ze said interjected.

"That's true. Back then, during the Demonic Cult Eastern Incursion, Wudang suffered heavy losses and has since been silent for a long time. However, the leader of Daoist sects is still the leader of Daoist sects. Look at this list that they just submitted." Lanyue Marquis handed the list over to Tan Ze.

Tan Ze held the piece of paper in his hand and raised his head to look at the young Daoist standing in the arena. His hair was loose about him and he had a lazy expression on his face. "Luo Fei of Wudang?"

"In the first round, Zhao Tuo of Longhu Mountain versus Luo Fei of Wudang!"

"Wudang's Luo Fei wins!"

All he did was raise his hand and Zhao Tuo of Longhu Mountain was left kneeling on the ground. Luo Fei yawned widely, his expression apathetic.

"Deputy Director, did you see that?" Huang Kunlun asked in a low voice.

Tan Ze nodded. "He's the final disciple of that person."

"He's strong," Huang Kunlun said.

"Yes." Tan Ze furrowed his brows in a tight frown.

"Wudang's Luo Fei wins!"

"Wudang's Luo Fei wins!"

"Luo Fei of Wudang proceeds to the next round," the adjudicator announced loudly.

Lei Wujie's head was covered with sweat. "Where the heck did such a powerful person come from!"

Lanyue Marquis's face also fell. "Indeed. I feel as if I'm a jinx today. Whatever I say comes true."

"Wasn't he brought in by Xiao Chong?" Lei Wujie glared at Lanyue Marquis.

Lanyue Marquis sighed. "You're rather clever, aren't you? His Majesty did bring someone in, but the person he brought in is not Wudang's Luo Fei, but…"

"Longhu Mountain's Xuan Ze wins!"

"Longhu Mountain's Xuan Ze wins!"

"Longhu Mountain's Xuan Ze wins!"

"Xuan Ze of Longhu Mountain proceeds to the next round."

Lanyue Marquis breathed a sigh of relief. "Not bad. The kid has some skill, after all."

Xuan Ze of Longhu Mountain was dressed in purple-coloured robes and had a serious expression on his face. He was originally ranked second among the Daoists from Longhu Mountain who entered the capital. However, his younger martial brother who was known as the "feathered-robe high minister" disappeared without a word. He was feeling rather resentful, but his younger martial brother simply told him: win the Daoism Congress.

"Merely a bunch of ignorant and incompetent fools." Xuan Ze snorted coldly and glanced at Fei Xuan in the corner. "There's even such a little Daoist boy who looks barely weaned."

"Fei Xuan of Qingcheng Mountain versus Luo Xu of Mao Mountain."

"Go on. Don't be too hard on him," Xie Xuan said with a cheerful smile.

Fei Xuan walked onto the arena and bowed towards Luo Xu. "Please advise."

Luo Xu laughed. "Why is such a little Daoist boy here to participate in the Daoism Congress? Wouldn't your shifu worry about you? I don't want to hurt you. How about this, I'll put up a show with you…"

Fei Xuan placed his right foot firmly on the ground and waved his right hand. "Hah!"

Luo Xu only had time to feel a wave of supreme power heading towards him. Before he could recover himself, he heard a hissing sound and his entire shirt was torn to shreds by that wave of qi. He was stunned, and his face reddened with shame before he turned around and left the arena.

"That was amazing, little Fei Xuan." Lei Wujie applauded vigorously.

The three old celestial masters exchanged several looks, a hint of surprise in their eyes.

"Qingcheng Mountain's Fei Xuan wins!"

"Qingcheng Mountain's Fei Xuan wins!"

"Fei Xuan of Qingcheng Mountain proceeds to the next round."

The entire arena was in a stir. Although this little celestial master's name had already resounded throughout the Daoist sects, most people still thought that he was merely riding on Zhao Yuzhen's name and happened to recognise the State Preceptor as his master. At most, he had a little bit of talent, but now, he won three rounds in a row and clinched each victory instantly. It was indeed unexpected.

"If you hadn't gotten rid of some of the stronger people from various Daoist sects, he wouldn't have won these three rounds so easily." Lanyue Marquis sighed lightly.

Lei Wujie shrugged. "But those people were inferior to Fei Xuan anyway."

"Marquis, you were wrong about something." Tan Ze suddenly spoke up.

Lanyue Marquis bowed his head slightly. "Do tell."

"Even if Lei-xiongdi hadn't gotten rid of those people, they would have merely lasted one move longer against that person." Tan Ze pointed a finger at the person standing in the far corner dozing off.

Wudang's Luo Fei.

"Indeed, that fellow is pretty powerful. What martial arts does he practise? He doesn't seem to have any moves and is simply using his qi to fight," Lei Wujie asked curiously.

Tan Ze said solemnly, "That's the Wudang Pure Wuji skill, a supreme internal strength core technique of Daoism. It's comparable to the Great Dragon and Elephant Strength."

Unlike the other three groups, the fourth and last group did not have a particularly strong candidate who was clearly superior. Each match took a long and hard fight to decide the winner. The first three groups took only two hours in total and this fourth group fought for a whole four hours before the first round came to an end.

"That's more like it. That's a proper competition of Daoist arts," Lanyue Marquis remarked with a laugh. "What do you think, Lei-xiongdi?"

"The winner amongst them will have to fight the winner of the first group, right?" Lei Wujie asked.

"Presumably." Lanyue Marquis nodded.

"Zuo Tianxuan of Buxiu Forest wins and proceeds to the next round."

The young Daoist priest was standing in the arena, his clothes completely torn as he gasped for breath, looking utterly exhausted.

"I thought he'd be able to help Fei Xuan expend some of Wudang's Luo Fei's stamina, but looking at him, I'm afraid Luo Fei will be able to send him flying with a flick of his finger." Lei Wujie sighed.

"Take a break. The next round of the contest will begin in an hour," the adjudicator announced loudly.

Zuo Tianxuan walked back to Buxiu Forest's camp and Fei Xuan joined Xie Xuan, the two exchanging words softly. Xuan Ze was explaining something to Longhu Mountain's other disciples. Only Luo Fei, who was alone, continued dozing off in the corner indifferently.

"Strange, where did Li Fansong go?" Lei Wujie suddenly remembered. The little shishu who was inseparable from Fei Xuan never turned up…

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