Staying Low-Key is Really Hard! [3k]

Translator: AnubisTL

In fact, as early as the grand examination, Gu Feng had already planned to find another suitable scapegoat besides Monk Wu De.

Unfortunately, he had yet to discover a Heaven's Chosen who was at the third level of Nurtured Spirit, possessed an extraordinary physique, and had cultivated Buddhist techniques.

A few days ago, he accidentally overheard Sima Juncong's complaints and learned that Dugu Ao had actually cultivated a Buddhist Body Tempering Technique.

This was a secret, and even the disciples of the Military Academy were not fully aware of it. Sima Juncong only knew about it because his father, the Northern Frontier Marshal, had mentioned it.

Dugu Ao had never revealed this trump card in public. Everyone thought he was proficient in spear techniques, and few knew that he was also quite accomplished in Body Refinement.

Moreover, Dugu Ao did indeed have some interest in Hua Wenyue. Coupled with his arrogant nature, even if he knew he was being misunderstood, he wouldn't bother to explain.

That's just how proud geniuses are—they fight and that's it!

Considering all this, he became the perfect target for Gu Feng to shift the blame onto.

"Can you manage to place this Image Stone into Dugu Ao's Storage Ring?" Gu Feng asked.

Hearing this, Sima Juncong showed a troubled expression but eventually nodded firmly. "Don't worry, even if it costs me my life, I'll get it done to mess with him!"

Watching Sima Juncong's retreating figure, Chu Youhuan curiously asked about the contents of the Image Stone.

Gu Feng smiled without answering. Of course, it wasn't anything scandalous—just some daily scenes of Hua Wenyue during the examination. It wasn't solid evidence, but it was enough to make Hua Wenyue ignore any explanations from Dugu Ao.

...

The martial arts competition for marriage was heating up, but perhaps because most people had a realistic sense of their own abilities, the actual number of participants wasn't high.

In the end, only about 2,500 people signed up, which left Gu Feng somewhat disappointed.

Still, it was an astonishing number, considering that among the current batch of new students, there were only around 2,000 who were at the third or fourth level of Nurtured Spirit.

The number of participants also included some older students from previous years who weren't particularly talented, otherwise, the number would have been even lower.

On the final day of registration, Gu Feng finally saw Dugu Ao's name on the list, which eased his mind.

Without Dugu Ao's participation, everything would have been meaningless.

"Boss, I'm in such a sorry state!" Sima Juncong appeared before Gu Feng, his face bruised and swollen as if he had been beaten up, but his eyes sparkled with excitement.

"Boss, after repeatedly provoking him, I finally managed to ignite Dugu Ao's anger, and he agreed to fight me at the same level. I took the opportunity to lose some treasures to him, and that Image Stone was mixed in among them!"

"Excellent! Now we just wait for the show to begin!" Gu Feng gave him an approving look.

...

With Hua Wenyue's encouragement, the participants' enthusiasm for cultivation soared.

Time flew by, and soon it was August 15th.

On this day, the martial arts competition for marriage drew an unprecedented crowd.

Not only the current batch of new students but also older students from previous years all turned out.

The usually bustling academy square was deserted, and even the Elders who taught classes rain or shine were absent.

Nearly two million cultivators gathered to find out which lucky individual would win the hand of Hua Wenyue, the golden flower.

"The Crown Princess has arrived!"

A phoenix carriage rolled through the sky, exuding an awe-inspiring aura.

"Is your sister here to stop you?" Gu Feng asked Hua Wenyue in a low voice, slightly taken aback.

"She can't stop me!"

As they spoke, a female cultivator with a striking resemblance to Hua Wenyue, possessing a graceful figure and flowing black hair, descended in front of Hua Wenyue, accompanied by a group of golden-armored cultivators.

The Crown Princess offered a gentle smile, "Why did you suddenly decide to hold a martial arts competition for marriage?"

Gu Feng observed this legendary Crown Princess, nodding inwardly. Her kind smile and elegant demeanor made her a fitting candidate for the role of a motherly figure to the realm.

"You chose to marry for love, I chose to marry for strength. Different paths, but the same destination!" Hua Wenyue seemed indifferent to her sister, speaking coldly.

The Crown Princess didn't mind, simply shaking her head with a smile before casually finding a spot to sit quietly.

"Let's begin!"

"Understood!" Gu Feng nodded, performing a mid-air flip to land in the center of the platform.

"The martial arts competition for marriage will follow a free-for-all rule. There's no time limit, and all means are allowed. The last 50 people remaining on the stage will advance to the final round.

In the final round, you can choose to challenge Hua Wenyue. If you win, you get the beauty. If you lose, Hua Wenyue will make her own choice!" Gu Feng spoke rapidly.

Before the crowd could react, he shouted, "The martial arts competition for marriage officially begins!"

"Boom—"

Dozens of participants were blown away by a wave of spiritual power before they could even react.

They were on the verge of tears. Ten thousand mid-grade spirit stones, and this was the experience they got?

The chaotic battle of over two thousand people was terrifying. The stage lasted only a few breaths before turning into dust.

"Is this the stage you spent ten million mid-grade spirit stones to build?" The stage's array formation instantly exploded, and the aftermath of the battle scattered everywhere, causing chaos. Hua Wenyue's face turned dark.

"Well, it was going to be destroyed anyway. Isn't it better to save some?" Gu Feng chuckled.

Monk Wu De's eyes widened in astonishment. To build this stage, Gu Feng had swindled another ten million mid-grade spirit stones from Hua Wenyue.

Upon closer inspection, what kind of stage was this? Apart from a layer of metal on the surface, the inside was filled with wood, and the array formation was of low quality.

A complete shoddy construction. Forget Spirit Nurturing Realm cultivators at the third or fourth level, it probably couldn't even withstand the aftermath of a battle between Innate Realm disciples.

They say the construction industry is full of pitfalls, and the ancients didn't lie!

"Don't mind the details, focus on your potential husband!" Gu Feng signaled Hua Wenyue to pay attention to the situation on the field.

When Dugu Ao was surrounded and activated his absolute defense, exuding an aura of invincibility, accompanied by the sound of chanting, Hua Wenyue's expression changed drastically.

In fact, that night, in a state of extreme panic, she didn't remember the opponent's techniques very clearly.

She only knew that when the opponent used his cultivation method, there would be ethereal Buddhist chants.

Most importantly, Dugu Ao's physique was strikingly similar to the one etched in her memory.

In Hua Wenyue's eyes, he was the only one so far who met all the criteria.

"So, is he among them?"

Ignoring Gu Feng's question, Hua Wenyue's gaze only grew colder.

Dugu Ao, completely unaware that he had been targeted, continued to fight valiantly.

With the assistance of several military academy disciples, it took less than an hour for him to become the only one left on the stage.

"Let's congratulate Dugu Ao!" Gu Feng stood beside the proud Dugu Ao, raising his right hand, basking in the cheers of two million cultivators present.

The cheers were deafening, Dugu Ao was like a blazing sun, radiant and dazzling, releasing his brilliance to the fullest, becoming the only shining star on the scene!

"Everyone, calm down, let me ask Dugu Ao if he dares to challenge Hua Wenyue!"

"Of course, I haven't even exerted my full strength yet!" Dugu Ao said with a proud expression. He naturally understood that a woman like Hua Wenyue would never willingly marry you unless you defeated her.

"Good!"

Gu Feng returned to Hua Wenyue's side and whispered to her, "Are you going to make your move?"

"Of course!"

Hua Wenyue stood up expressionlessly, and with her, ten female cultivators at the peak of the third level of Nurtured Spirit also rose.

Seeing this, Dugu Ao was momentarily stunned.

Before he could react, he was overwhelmed by a barrage of attacks.

Hua Wenyue led the assault, with the ten female cultivators supporting her with a special combat technique. After just over a hundred exchanges, Dugu Ao was forced into a defensive position.

Gradually, everyone noticed something was amiss. This wasn't a normal duel; it was more like a life-and-death struggle.

"Hua Wenyue, what are you doing!" Dugu Ao, disheveled and furious, roared as he clumsily blocked with his spear.

Hua Wenyue remained silent, only intensifying her attacks!

Gu Feng returned to the sidelines and stood there watching the spectacle. Suddenly, he noticed a gaze directed at him and instinctively turned his head.

"It seems Wenyue isn't truly interested in finding a cultivation partner!" It was the Crown Princess.

"Who knows? She seemed quite determined before, but women can be fickle!" Gu Feng casually replied.

The Crown Princess nodded slightly, giving Gu Feng a deep look, and then softly said, "Let's go!"

She was like a gentle breeze, arriving quickly and leaving just as fast.

"You don't truly want this martial competition for marriage!"

"Too much nonsense!"

Hua Wenyue's combat prowess was on par with Dugu Ao's, but the presence of the ten female cultivators created a significant gap between them.

Dugu Ao was surrounded and beaten mercilessly, howling in frustration.

"Senior Brother Dugu, we're here to help you!" A large group of Military Dao Academy cultivators charged in.

"Senior Sister Hua, we're here!"

A sea of female cultivators appeared, and both sides engaged in a massive group battle!

Gu Feng shook his head slightly. In terms of influence within their own sects, Dugu Ao was no match for Hua Wenyue.

The latter could mobilize all the Flower Sect disciples within the Grand Harmony Academy, while the former could only rally the current batch of disciples; others simply ignored him.

The disparity between the two sides was evident!

The Military Dao Academy was at a significant disadvantage!

Large numbers of cultivators lay on the ground, spitting blood.

The two million spectators on the scene were thoroughly entertained, but they couldn't help feeling bewildered.

This was supposed to be a martial competition for marriage, so how had it turned into a full-scale battle between two sects!

The battle raged from morning to noon, from noon to evening, and the entire Mid-Autumn Festival was spent in fierce combat.

Finally, the Grand Harmony Academy couldn't stand it any longer, and several vice-principals stepped in to stop the chaos.

"You damn witch, I'll never rest until you're dead!" Dugu Ao, tattered and bloodied, snarled at Hua Wenyue.

"Hmph, if you don't want others to know, don't do it. Your misdeeds in the examination hall have been exposed!" Hua Wenyue, dressed in pristine white, stood proudly. After fighting for an entire day, she was only slightly weakened but unharmed.

"What do you mean!" Dugu Ao suddenly realized that Hua Wenyue had mistaken him for the culprit in the examination hall.

Hua Wenyue didn't bother to respond. She simply took an Image Stone from a female cultivator beside her, glanced at it, and then crushed it!

"Don't ever appear before me again, or I'll beat you up every time I see you! You're just a toad lusting after swan meat. If it weren't for your father being the West Border Grand Marshal, you'd already be dead!" Hua Wenyue said without any courtesy.

This infuriated Dugu Ao to the point where his hair stood on end, his body trembling slightly, filled with the urge to fight her to the death.

He couldn't understand why this woman was slandering him so viciously!

"I have no idea what you're talking about!" Dugu Ao's face darkened as he glared at Hua Wenyue.

"Hmph—" Hua Wenyue didn't bother to explain further, simply giving him a haughty turn of her back.

Dugu Ao felt deeply humiliated, his knuckles turning white as he gripped his spear. Even now, he was still in a state of confusion.

He wanted to curse inwardly, swearing to himself that even if he remained single for life, he would never participate in a martial arts competition for marriage again.

Was this even a martial arts competition for marriage? It felt more like coming here to get abused!

After standing there for a long time, Dugu Ao finally came to a conclusion: this woman was insane!

"Let's go!"

After Dugu Ao left, the crowd erupted into noisy discussions, with phrases like "So it was him" and "Finally solved the case" mixed in.

Monk Wu De, being tactful, came forward to testify that Dugu Ao indeed resembled the person who had stolen his kasaya and Demon Subduing Pestle.

At this point, his suspicion was also cleared. Since he couldn't bring down Gu Feng, it was better to go with the flow and extend a friendly gesture to him.

"Ah—finally, it's over. Mission accomplished! Here, take this back. I didn't make any copies." Gu Feng walked up to Hua Wenyue, smiling as he cupped his hands in a salute and handed her the Image Stone containing the "promotional MV."

"Thank you. From now on, we'll be friends forever. If you ever need help, just come to me!" Hua Wenyue, for once, showed a rare smile.

"I definitely won't hold back!"

...

The following days passed uneventfully, and Gu Feng became the only male cultivator at Grand Harmony Academy who could freely enter the Flower Sect's residence.

He and Hua Wenyue had clearly become close friends.

One day, Gu Feng visited the Flower Sect's residence again.

"Where's Hua Wenyue?"

"Ah, Sect Leader Gu! Senior Sister Hua had another big fight with Dugu Ao yesterday and got a bit injured," a female cultivator said with a bright smile as she approached.

"Who won?" Gu Feng's lips twitched. He had underestimated a woman's desire for revenge. He had thought the matter was settled after that martial arts competition, but Hua Wenyue truly lived up to her word of beating Dugu Ao every time she saw him.

After that incident, Dugu Ao had thought long and hard and finally realized he had been framed.

At first, he tried to explain.

But later, he understood that explaining was a sign of weakness, so he stopped bothering.

Both of them were proud, and neither was willing to back down. They kept running into each other.

Every time they met, they wouldn't even speak—they just started fighting!

Each fight was a life-and-death struggle, ending only when one was completely defeated. It was brutal.

However, it wasn't without benefits. Through these battles, their strength improved by leaps and bounds, breaking through almost every month. Now, they were both powerful cultivators at the sixth level of Nurtured Spirit.

Influenced by the two, the other three Peerless Prodigies also trained relentlessly, ensuring their strength didn't fall behind.

"Senior Sister Hua broke a few ribs, and Dugu Ao was even worse—both his arms were broken!" the female cultivator said with a laugh.

"Sect Leader Gu, that 'promotional video' you made for Senior Sister Hua last time was so beautiful! When are you going to make one for me?"

"No problem, Shan Feier is currently staying at my Rosy Cloud Pavilion, so she's always available to assist you!" Gu Feng smiled slightly.

"That's great!"

"Thank you, Sect Master Gu!"

"We'll start tomorrow!"

"..."

A group of female cultivators, all quite beautiful, bustled around, serving tea and water, massaging and patting his back, giving Gu Feng a sense of royal indulgence.

"You're here!" Before long, Hua Wenyue, looking somewhat pale, walked over.

"Actually, you've already vented your anger. There's no need to constantly battle Dugu Ao. It's like killing a thousand enemies but losing eight hundred of your own!" Gu Feng took a sip of the Spirit Tea and said with a smile.

"That guy is just too detestable. He made me search for so long. It's not easy to let go of that anger!" Hua Wenyue spoke bluntly.

"By the way, you're here to ask about the year-end trial, right?"

"Yes, I heard the East Sea Trial is the most dangerous of all the trial projects!" Gu Feng frowned slightly.

"But you'll still go, won't you?" Hua Wenyue chuckled.

"Haha, I have no choice. Who can resist the treasures of the East Sea Aquatic Clan?" Gu Feng laughed bitterly.

"Don't worry, this time the danger shouldn't be too great. With me, Duan Yansheng, Wu Sheng, Zong Shixuan, and that annoying Dugu Ao leading, the team of a hundred will all be composed of students above the fifth level of Nurtured Spirit..."

"That's quite a formidable lineup. I..." Gu Feng hesitated.

"The five of us will each be responsible for twenty students. Although your strength isn't sufficient, I'll arrange for you to be in my team. No one will dare to gossip!" Hua Wenyue glanced at Gu Feng, her face full of pride.

"That's great. I'll trouble Senior Sister Hua to take good care of me. I don't want to die!" Gu Feng smiled and clasped his hands in gratitude.

"You're so young and already in charge of a sect. It's not easy.

Rest assured, with me around, it's hard for you to fall!" As she spoke, Hua Wenyue patted Gu Feng's shoulder, her eyes brimming with infinite charm.

"One lie requires a series of lies to cover it up. I'm really in a tough spot."

Gu Feng, who had already advanced his strength to the initial stage of the ninth level of Nurtured Spirit, found it quite challenging to remain low-key!

(End of the Chapter)

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