Chapter 46: Chapter 44: Arrogant Qiu Yuanqing, Sharing the Favor
Pei Guangming seemed somewhat surprised by Du Youqian’s courteous demeanor.
But he soon relaxed and smiled, stroking his flowing beard with the air of a celestial sage. "Nephew Qiu, you’re still young. You’ll have many more opportunities. This time, I suppose I’ll just have to be shameless and take this advantage."
Du Youqian replied with perfect courtesy, "Martial Uncle Pei, you jest. It is my honor to receive your guidance."
He appeared remarkably composed, earning a few subtle nods of approval from the Foundation Establishment Elders serving as witnesses.
In truth, this was only because Du Youqian didn’t actually care about the status of a True Disciple.
If he had cared, he would have fought tooth and nail for it. He’d have battled to the bitter end, even if it meant ending up in a wretched, ugly state.
He certainly wouldn’t be putting on some hypocritical show of grace.
Unlike the first match, this challenge, which centered on the Array Dao, was held publicly in an open field.
All Zhongxuan Sect disciples could witness it with their own eyes.
Over a thousand disciples watched from afar as Du Youqian and Pei Guangming each chose a mountaintop outside Feixian Peak to set up their arrays.
Du Youqian hadn’t just proposed settling the matter with the Array Dao.
He had also laid out several rules.
This was, of course, his right.
According to the rules set by Du Youqian, they could only use dozens of common, unranked materials provided by the Sect to set up their arrays.
Each person would set up one offensive array, one Defense Type array, and then a utility array of their choosing.
Once the arrays were complete, they would be evaluated by a panel of three judges: a Foundation Establishment Elder, a Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Array Dao Hall, and a Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Mingfa Hall. The three would enter the arrays and individually score the three arrays set up by each of the two contestants.
Finally, their respective scores would be combined to determine the winner of the Array Dao competition.
For these disciples, although Du Youqian’s fame had skyrocketed in recent years, not many people had seen him in person.
As for Pei Guangming, he had long been outside the Sect’s mainstream, so the disciples were equally unfamiliar with him.
Logically, the number of disciples supporting the two should have been about the same.
But in reality, if you listened to the disciples’ conversations, you would know that almost everyone who came to watch supported Pei Guangming.
Even if they had never heard Pei Guangming’s name before, it didn’t stop them from proclaiming, "I hope Ancestor Pei gives that arrogant brat a harsh lesson."
Was Du Youqian arrogant?
’He certainly didn’t think so.’
In the more than seven years since joining the Zhongxuan Sect, he had been a complete recluse. He hadn’t bullied anyone or thrown his weight around.
And the decision to allow any disciple who wasn’t a True Disciple to challenge him hadn’t been his idea, either.
Did these disciples of the Zhongxuan Sect think Du Youqian was arrogant?
Probably not.
But here was this new disciple, suddenly designated as a True Successor Candidate.
Suppose there were ten shares of cultivation resources available for the several hundred disciples of Du Youqian’s generation.
Du Youqian alone claimed eight of them.
The other few hundred were left to share the remaining two.
Was this fair?
The Sect rules said it was fair.
So the disciples didn’t dare to openly question it.
For cultivators who depended on the Sect to survive, the Sect was everything.
But "Qiu Yuanqing" just had to be an arrogant brat.
If he wasn’t arrogant, how could he so brazenly hog eighty percent of the resources for himself? He just cultivated in seclusion all day, never thinking to share a little to build goodwill and camaraderie with his peers.
Du Youqian, completely focused on his array formation, was oblivious to the gossip and slander from the crowd of disciples.
’But even if he did know, he wouldn’t care.’
’Immortal cultivating is about amassing individual power, not fundraising or crowdfunding!’
’He was grateful that the Zhongxuan Sect had given him a full eighty percent of the resources allocated to his generation.’
’But if they had given him a hundred percent... he would have taken it without a second thought!’
’Immortal cultivating isn’t like running a startup.’
’Nor is it court politics.’
’There’s no rule that says you have to leave scraps for others.’
’In immortal cultivation, you take what you can get, and you seize every opportunity!’
So, Du Youqian faced this challenge with a calm mind. He could accept losing.
But winning, and continuing to monopolize a vast amount of resources for his cultivation, would be even better.
Although the Zhongxuan Sect was only a Fourth-class Sect, it still possessed some hidden depth.
Its teachings were ultimately far more profound than what Elder Tao alone had been able to offer.
It had filled many gaps in his knowledge, both in terms of general cultivation and specific Cultivation Techniques.
Du Youqian believed that if he could reach Foundation Establishment and obtain a more profound Inheritance in the Zhongxuan Sect, it would be a great boost for his cultivation in future reincarnations.
Du Youqian and Pei Guangming each set up their arrays, and neither knew the other’s progress.
Both maintained a serene focus, paying no mind to their opponent. They simply worked in silence, showcasing their talents and using the culmination of their life’s learning to secure their future.
Most of the disciples in the crowd were just there for the spectacle. The few who had studied the Array Dao could only tell that both men were highly skilled.
But to what degree? And who was better?
"Brother Wang, who do you think will win?"
"It’s got to be Ancestor Pei."
"Why?"
"Is there even a need to ask? That Junior Qiu is so young, and he’s already so amazing at Alchemy and Artifact Refining. Do you think he has any time left to study the Array Dao?"
"That makes sense. But why did he propose competing against Ancestor Pei in the Array Dao?"
"Because if they competed in anything else, he would lose even more miserably."
"Oh! Brother Wang, you make a good point!"
This was more or less the prevailing opinion.
Only the members of the Array Dao Hall and a few other cultivators who specialized in the Array Dao watched with glittering eyes, nodding repeatedly in appreciation.
Although they had yet to enter the arrays, they could already discern a few things just by carefully observing the two men’s array formation techniques.
Pei Guangming’s long-standing reputation was well-known, so his performance wasn’t particularly surprising.
But Qiu Yuanqing... since joining the Sect, he had used his status as a True Successor Candidate to borrow some texts from the Array Dao’s Inheritance, but everyone had assumed he was just browsing.
No one expected him to have genuine skill.
Considering this disciple was not yet even thirty-two...
Based on his performance so far, he was worth investing heavily in, even if he lost his status as a True Successor Candidate.
"Master Lei, what are your thoughts?" Xia Shouzheng, who was almost completely ignorant when it came to arrays, could only watch anxiously. He finally couldn’t help but ask.
Lei Jalin, the Vice Hall Master of the Array Dao Hall, glanced at him, her eyes twinkling as she spoke with a smile, "Master Xia, this is the first time I’ve ever seen you so agitated. It seems you place great importance on this disciple!"
Xia Shouzheng was not wearing his red cloak today, but a grayish-blue Crane Robe, making him look even more thin and delicate.
Before the dashing Lei Jalin, he looked positively meek.
At her words, he gave a wry smile. "You must be amused, Master Lei. The fate of our Treasure Hall for the next century rests on this boy’s shoulders. I can’t help but be invested."
"I heard," she said, "that you and Brother Ma have an agreement. If this Qiu Yuanqing breaks through to Foundation Establishment, he’ll serve as Vice Hall Master for both the Pill Furnace Hall and the Treasure Hall, allowing you both to share in the spoils. Is that right?"
