Volume One, Chapter 10: The Ascension Tournament! The Nationwide Qualification Test for Cultivation!
The lofty platform was soon enveloped in fragrance.
Yet, all around, there was silence.
Neither the hundreds of elegantly dressed women brought by Li Changhe, nor the powerful cultivators under Wang Mu’s command, uttered a sound. They all stood with slightly parted lips, staring at Li Yuanhua with surprise, as if their very worldview had been shaken to its core.
They thought to themselves: This venerable ancestor of the Li family, who had long since reached the Dao Lord realm of Divine Transformation, conducts business with such... smoothness?
“Is this what you call... being most upright and righteous?” Wang Mu, still reclined on Zixia’s lap, tried to glance at her face but found his view blocked by a lush, full curve.
Zixia parted her lips but said nothing for a long while.
Li Changhe kept his head bowed tightly. Though no one was looking at him, he felt his face burning with embarrassment.
The Li-Liang royal family had ruled this island through countless storms for a millennium. As cultivators themselves, bowing to great powers and influential figures was not something they found unacceptable.
But...
No matter what, the ancestor was a Divine Transformation expert!
And the young master of the Wang family, however noble his status, was just a junior.
Why this obsequiousness?
Why such a lack of backbone?
If this got out, how could the prestige of the Li family remain intact?
...
After his initial shock, Wang Mu’s gaze toward Li Yuanhua grew tinged with interest and admiration.
In any world,
Those shameless always fare better.
And those who are capable *and* shameless fare better than most!
This Li family ancestor has potential!
...
The Li family respectfully escorted Wang Mu and his entourage into the royal palace.
Wang Mu lounged on the broad dragon throne and declared the purpose of his visit.
“I intend to hold an Ascension Gathering on your Tianjue Island, offering free aptitude tests for all mortals! All expenses will be on me!”
“Understood! Understood! This old servant will make all the arrangements and find some fresh mortals for the young master to test thoroughly...” Li Yuanhua’s tone was obsequious, but midway through his words, he suddenly paused and sensed something amiss. “Test... aptitude?”
“Is there a problem?” Wang Mu asked.
“...” Li Yuanhua’s mind went blank for a moment before he quickly recovered.
“No, of course not! Forgive this old servant for daring to ask, but does the young master have any special requirements?”
Wang Mu frowned slightly, pondered, and shook his head.
“As long as they have reached the appropriate age and have not yet had their aptitude tested, all mortals are welcome.”
Li Yuanhua was listening intently and suddenly froze.
“That’s all?”
“That’s all.”
“Just... that? No gender restrictions?”
“???” Wang Mu squinted at him.
“I believe I have made myself quite clear.”
Li Yuanhua hurriedly lowered his head.
“Yes, yes, this old servant will arrange everything immediately!”
Having said that, he bowed respectfully and left the palace hall.
Outside, Li Changhe and the others waited anxiously. Seeing Li Yuanhua emerge, they rushed to surround him.
“Ancestor, how did it go? What instructions does the young master give?”
Li Yuanhua shot Li Changhe a sharp glance.
“Orders have been given: throughout the entire island, hold an Ascension Gathering! Every mortal of appropriate age who has not yet undergone aptitude testing may participate!
All expenses will be covered by the young master!”
At the mention of the Wang family’s young master, Li Yuanhua’s expression was filled with reverence as he cupped his hands toward the palace.
Free?
Aptitude testing?
Open to all mortals?
Li Changhe’s mind buzzed instantly.
Tianjue Island was vast.
Besides the Li-Liang royal city, there were dozens of other cities, with tens of millions of mortals.
Those suitable for aptitude testing would number at least in the millions!
This was no small matter.
“What kind of trick is the young master playing here?” Li Changhe asked in disbelief.
Li Yuanhua sneered and glared at him.
“The young master’s orders are to be followed without question. Must I teach you such basic manners after all these years in the palace?”
“Yes!” Li Changhe answered outwardly with respect but inwardly harbored doubts.
The Li family was the royal house of Liang Kingdom; officials treated him with utmost respect and would not understand the ways of those beneath them.
Suddenly, his eyes lit up with a clever idea.
“Ancestor, since we want to please the young master, shouldn’t we cover the cost of paying those mortals for aptitude testing ourselves?”
At these words,
Li Yuanhua slapped him sharply on the forehead.
“You blockhead! What kind of status does the young master hold? Not to mention the Langya Trade Association, which is wealthy across the seas...
Do you think he’s short of this little money?
The young master’s here to scatter money—probably because he’s tired of doing whatever he wants and wants to try a new game by throwing money around for fun!
And you want to take his place in giving away the money? That’s like giving up your seat on your wedding night—would you be happy?
I only teach you because you’re my descendant!
The first and most important rule of flattering a celestial being is—cater to their likes!”
This advice hit Li Changhe like a revelation, his eyes shining with sudden understanding.
“Ah, I see now. Thank you, ancestor, thank you for the guidance!”
He bowed repeatedly, grateful as though he had truly learned something.
Li Yuanhua waved his hand, signaling for Li Changhe to scram quickly.
Then,
He glanced back toward the palace hall, deep in thought.
He began pondering
How to make this Ascension Gathering magnificent and pleasing enough to satisfy the young master!
...
The news spread swiftly.
Centered on the Liang royal city, it radiated out to surrounding cities, causing quite a stir.
In a certain tavern,
During the mealtime rush, business was booming; patrons came and went continuously.
“Have you heard? The Wang family’s young master is holding an Ascension Gathering in Liang royal city. All mortals of age who haven’t had their aptitude tested can go—free of charge!”
“Such a good thing?”
“The Wang family young master? My grandmother says he’s a scoundrel who only appears once every five hundred years. Surely he has ill intentions!”
“But what if not? What if they find you have a spiritual root and you can cultivate?”
“Do you think it’s more likely you’ll be able to cultivate or that the young master will do something bad?”
“...”
The crowd murmured skeptically, doubting the whole affair.
...
Elsewhere,
Among the vast farmlands,
Farmers took a brief respite, sitting beneath a tree chatting.
“That’s the greatest playboy of the Northern Domain—no way he’s doing good deeds. Testing aptitudes is just an excuse to find women.”
“Hush—I heard the Wang family young master is unimaginably rich, with bowls of gold for meals, and even slept with celestial maidens. Why would he bother with mortals?”
“So what? Haven’t you seen those rich city boys in Wang city? Used to feasting on fish and meat, they often come to our fields to ‘experience life.’ Rich people are like that!
When they get tired of the good stuff, they want something rough!”
“My grandpa saw some immortal masters when he was young. They said cultivated women can be used as incense burners—greatly nourishing!”
“Incense burners? You mean cauldrons?”
“Yes, yes, cauldrons...”
“I think that’s probably right. They want to find some cultivatable girls to use as cauldrons. What vile playboys!”
“...”
As they spoke, their teeth ground in anger at the Wang family young master, but there was no hatred—only deep envy and jealousy.