Chapter 198: Chapter 120: Zhong Ming: Being a Prodigy Is Just the Threshold to See Me
’I can perfectly deduce and locate the remaining acupoints in the dreamscape while simultaneously tempering my body with Solar Power in the real world...’
’That way, by the time I’ve finished charting out the Second Realm in the dreamscape, my physical body will have completed its tempering and purification in sync.’
...
Even in his sleep, Zhong Ming was full of vigor. Time flew by as he contemplated and cultivated.
The night passed quickly.
「The next morning.」
Thanks to the Void Moon Sect’s deliberate efforts, the rumor that Zhong Ming considered everyone a challenger had spread through more than half of the Prefecture City.
However, something happened that took Lin Kong, Zhu Junfeng, and the others by surprise.
Faced with this rumor, not many people in the Qinghe Commandery Mansion believed it.
The common folk of Qinghe Prefecture City and the visiting prodigies mostly scoffed at the idea.
In an inn in the Prefecture City, several finely dressed youths were shaking their heads, exasperated.
"Are the people from the Void Moon Sect taking us for fools?!"
"Seriously. They’re way too arrogant."
"Heh. They say Zhong Ming is arrogant and condescending, and I can believe that. But to claim he views every prodigy in the city as an ant and then said so in public? That’s just slander. No matter how stupid or arrogant Zhong Ming is, surely he’d know that doing so would make an enemy of everyone!"
This discussion wasn’t limited to the inn. Elsewhere, others also shook their heads in disbelief.
"The Void Moon Sect thought they were being clever. After being humiliated, they decided to drag everyone else down with them to make Zhong Ming a common enemy. But this attempt at slinging mud is just too clumsy."
"Just you wait. It won’t be long before Princess Qingyue issues a statement saying it’s all a smear campaign."
The First Young Master and the Seventh Young Master, who were following the matter, also felt the Void Moon Sect had acted foolishly.
"Even if Zhong Ming had actually said something like that, Princess Qingyue’s Mansion would vehemently deny it. What sense is there in letting a slanderous rumor be confirmed as fact?"
These widespread discussions represented the prevailing opinion in Qinghe: no matter how arrogant or foolish Zhong Ming was, he wouldn’t be so conceited as to view everyone as an enemy.
And Princess Qingyue certainly wouldn’t stand by and let it happen.
But just as they were all thinking this, a statement was issued from Princess Qingyue’s Mansion.
However, its contents left everyone following the incident utterly stunned.
"I hear that for some time now, people have been calling me number one in Qinghe Prefecture City. I also hear that others are saying this is just a smear campaign by the Void Moon Sect."
"To that, I have only this to say: it’s not a smear campaign. I’m not targeting the Void Moon Sect. In my eyes, all of you are trash."
"Of course, I know you won’t take that sitting down. Since that’s the case, I’ll give you an opportunity to witness what a peerless prodigy truly is."
"At noon today, I will be at the Crescent Inn, awaiting your challenges."
"However, as a peerless prodigy, I have no interest in dealing with ants! Therefore, challenging me comes with conditions. For the specifics, inquire at Princess Qingyue’s Mansion."
"I will tell you all just one thing—being a prodigy is merely the minimum requirement to meet me!"
"..."
"..."
"..."
Once this statement was released, the entirety of Qinghe Prefecture City fell silent for a long moment.
Then, a clamorous uproar, like a flash flood, erupted from every corner of Qinghe Prefecture City.
"He... He actually confirmed it!"
"Can someone this arrogant truly exist in the world?"
"’Being a prodigy is merely the minimum requirement to meet me’? HAHAHA! After saying that, is he not afraid of being beaten to death?!"
"Everyone, we’ve got a good show to watch! Let’s go, to Crescent Lake!"
"Count me in!"
Amid the thunderous uproar, countless Cultivators and commoners surged toward Crescent Lake.
