Chapter 26: The Plans and Thoughts of a Gentleman
If there is a sect or force on the Central Continent that even the Hermit's Valley would prefer to avoid, it is undoubtedly the Confucians. The Confucians have numerous internal factions, yet they all share a common belief in the teachings of the Sages. They covertly influence the political landscape of the five great empires, mediate the relationship between the cultivation world and the imperial court, and even orchestrate the onset and conclusion of wars.
Zhong Haoran displayed the strength of a rightful successor of the Confucians, which surely suggests a significant background. The elders on the judging panel had long realized that the folding fan in Zhong Haoran's hand was a holy-level artifact! It has been ten thousand years since the last imperial-level practitioner appeared on the Central Continent, and imperial-level artifacts have become the stuff of legends.
There are rumors that these artifacts shattered the void alongside imperial-level experts and entered another world, while some say that imperial-level artifacts can become a world of their own, quietly guarding the legacy of the strongest practitioners of Daoist arts.
At present, holy-level weapons and artifacts represent the pinnacle of the cultivation journey and are not something that ordinary practitioners can touch! Zhong Haoran, of course, does not count as an extraordinary practitioner, but the fact that he possesses a holy-level treasure, even in a sealed state, makes it impossible to underestimate him!
An elder from the Hermit's Valley gave a stern shout, declaring the results of the match, causing many watching practitioners to feel dissatisfied.
"Why did it suddenly stop? It clearly wasn't finished yet!"
"Yeah, Zhong Haoran obviously hasn't even used his artifact yet—why declare him the loser?"
The spectators felt unfulfilled and were left wanting more.
"Ahem, the judgement has been made. If the two competitors have any objections, they may appeal after the match."
"Next match..."
The elder's voice boomed like thunder, suppressing all the murmurs. He began to call out the next pair of competitors.
Leo turned back to the spectator's section, while Zhong Haoran appeared to awaken from a dream, his face pale as he struggled to raise his head, his lips trembling.
It seemed he wanted to say something, but seeing Leo return to the spectator area, he could only hurriedly bow to the judging elder and follow Leo, sitting beside him.
"Brother Leo, you truly are a youthful prodigy; I admit I am inferior."
His cheeks reddened, as if he was still struggling for breath, but his demeanor returned to the previous humility, even carrying a hint of shame.
"Zhong, weren't you just saying you didn't believe you lost?" Leo teased.
"This is precisely why I feel ashamed. To compete with Leo and forget myself, almost violating the prohibition of my master, is truly unworthy of a gentleman."
Zhong Haoran clasped his hands, looking sincere.
"Brother Leo is indeed stronger than I; I have lost."
Leo nodded, choosing not to say anything further, thinking Zhong Haoran did exhibit a certain gentlemanly demeanor.
Next to Leo, the dark-skinned man who had been teasing him earlier was now too scared to breathe. The duel between Zhong Haoran and Leo completely surpassed his imagination as a Qi Refining Stage practitioner!
Earlier, he had confidently claimed Leo was of mediocre skill, even believing Zhong Haoran would surely be of average strength. But now, it seemed that with anyone else, he would not have lasted even half a round!
And after witnessing Leo's battle prowess, the spectators also stopped believing that he was just a mediocre talent.
Those who had mocked the name "Peach Fairy" moments ago now watched as Leo returned to the spectator area, their mouths closed tighter than their own doors.
(Definitely best not to provoke him!)
After another match, Leo's name was called once again.
"Match Nine: Leo vs. Chen Song!"
Leo stood up and was about to head onto the arena when he heard a shout beside him.
"I concede!"
Turning back, he found Chen Song, who had been sitting next to him, fidgeting restlessly.
Looking at Leo, he wore a smile that was both flattering and fearful...
Other onlookers expressed their disappointment, and the judging elder, seeing this, had to say, "Chen Song concedes; the winner of this match is Leo."
"The first day of the third district minor competition has concluded. The losers will move to the fourth district of the Hermit's Valley in a week, while the winners are to return tomorrow at the same time."
With a wave of his long sleeves, the elder dissipated the barrier and opened the wooden gate to the courtyard.
Many practitioners left one after another.
Leo was eager to return home and check on Reina, but just as he reached the door, Zhong Haoran stopped him.
"Leo! Please hold on, I would like to discuss something with you."
Zhong Haoran, smiling, blocked Leo's path. As a mid-level Condensation Stage practitioner, he had just been defeated by a ninth layer Qi Refining Stage practitioner like Leo and was to move into the communal dormitories of the fourth district, yet he showed no signs of anger.
"What is it?"
"Leo, you must have obtained the legacy of the Great Xia Dynasty, right?" Seeing no other practitioners nearby, Zhong Haoran said directly.
Leo immediately became alert, thinking that the insights of a Confucian successor were indeed profound.
The Great Xia was a unified dynasty on the Central Continent over ten thousand years ago, whose national strategy was based on the principles of star techniques, even to the point of obsession. Ultimately, the Great Xia fell into internal strife, fracturing into the current five great empires and numerous small nations.
"So what? The Great Xia was long extinct over ten thousand years ago," Leo replied.
"Haha, of course! I knew Leo wouldn't be one of those radical Great Xia restorationists." Zhong Haoran smiled slightly, then lowered his voice to say, "You must have inherited the legacy of the Desolate Star Emperor, right?"
As soon as these words were spoken, Leo felt a shock to his heart.
The Desolate Star Emperor—he actually knew that emperor's name!
The last imperial-level practitioner in human history!
Regardless of Leo's reaction, Zhong Haoran continued, "Although I don't know exactly what that emperor's legacy entails, your skills reminded me immediately of that emperor's grandeur."
Leo remained silent, quietly watching Zhong Haoran.
Even upon hearing the name of the Desolate Star Emperor, Leo maintained a calm expression, revealing no signs of a crack.
"Brother Zhong has seen and learned a great deal; I truly do not dare to compare."
"Compared to you, I'm just a poor kid from a small slum in the South He Divine Kingdom, who accidentally awakened a talent to embark on the path of cultivation. Otherwise, I would already be a frozen corpse by the roadside."
"The Desolate Star Emperor you mentioned, I have never heard of. I can only say that during my wandering, I happened to meet an old beggar who taught me this technique."
"To be honest, even now, I still don't know what this technique is called."
Leo spread his hands, his eyes filled with sincerity.
"Is that so…?" Zhong Haoran showed a look of confusion.
He didn't know what the legacy of the Desolate Star Emperor was, just having seen a few lines describing it in the vast Confucian classics, knowing it involved star system techniques.
The records stated that he was a fallen star from the outer realm, transformed into human form, with a unique constitution that allowed him to manifest an entire vast starry sky into the realms of the Central Continent through his skills.
Having reached the imperial-level, he could subdue enemies effortlessly, trapping them in a starry dimension with just a snap of his fingers, erasing them with the power of time!
Earlier in the duel, when he saw Leo use the Wutian Huari Technique, he instantly thought of this great emperor, but now, seeing Leo's sincere face, he felt uncertain.
Gentlemen are open and honest, while the petty often suspect and fret. Leo, merely about fifteen or sixteen, how could he deceive me?
Am I judging his open-heartedness with my own petty mindset...
Yes, yes, Leo's ability to defeat opponents across realms undoubtedly marks him as a true prodigy, wholeheartedly devoted to cultivation with no desire to play games with me; it's me who keeps doubting him, which is indeed detrimental to my own standing!
Self-reflect, Zhong Haoran! You must self-reflect!
Zhong Haoran thought this way, and thus began to trust Leo.
"Hmm, Leo, I believe you. Perhaps when your strength grows, you can explore his legacy; it might have wonderful similarities with your techniques!"
Leo nodded, thinking they shouldn't be merely similar; they should be one and the same.
"So, Brother Zhong, after saying so much, what exactly do you want?" Leo no longer wished to beat around the bush and asked directly.
Zhong Haoran nodded, rubbing his hands together, nervously saying, "Actually, I would like to hire Leo to help me with something."
"This is also the reason I, as a Confucian disciple, risked taboos to come to the Hermit's Valley."
"The emperor of the Xuanyin Kingdom, Ying Yan, has encountered something strange and will not live long. My master used the heavenly machine to deduce that a great opportunity to cure Ying Yan will soon appear near the Hermit's Valley!"
"If Ying Yan passes away, the Dawan Kingdom will surely take advantage of the chaos to launch an attack, and the Confucians do not wish to see this happen, which is why I was sent here!"