Chapter 78 The Promising Young Talent

The next morning dawned.

In Ancient Moon City, cheers rose and fell like waves, as nearly all cultivators who had stayed overnight for a soak in the bathhouse had made some sort of breakthrough.

Among them, quite a few had broken through major realms.

Even several Family Heads felt that they had stepped closer to the Nascent Soul Stage; after all, the more luxurious the bathhouse, the better the effect of the bath. It was hard not to level up in such an opulent environment.

Inside Tangneng First-class, Li Xiaobai gained several thousand Attribute Points once again, all of which he added to his defense.

Defensive power: [Sixth Turn of the Indestructible Golden Body (46000/60000) Upgradeable.]

Situ Yanyu also successfully advanced to the Foundation Establishment Stage, her aura far more formidable than when they had first met.

"Boss Ye, the gathering is about to start. Let's head out?"

"Let's go!"

"Woof, Lord Ergouzi is also setting out!"

Blessed Land of Cave Heaven, this place was a treasure trove discovered by the Xia Family, usually used for the planting and breeding of Spiritual Medicines, rich in Spiritual Energy, and pleasing to the eye in scenery.

Many family descendants and young elites were already gathered here.

Such gatherings were almost an annual event, but this year was extraordinary, with the two outstanding figures of Ancient Moon City together—Xia Jian and Wang Ruoxian presiding, which raised the level of the meeting substantially.

Everyone was eager to hear about the experiences these two had in the outside world, and to broaden their horizons.

For a small city like Ancient Moon City, the opportunity to interact with disciples of a Great Sect is naturally very rare.

By the time Li Xiaobai and his companions arrived, the place was already packed.

"With both Immortal Wang and the second son of the Xia Family returning this time, tell me, who do you think is more formidable?"

"Naturally, it's the son of the Xia Family. Young Master Xia has been in Zhenyuan Country all year round. That place is teeming with Golden Core Stage cultivators and Nascent Soul Stages as common as dogs. Training there, one has no choice but to be strong."

"That may not be true. I've heard that Immortal Wang received the true teachings of the Xiao Cheng Sect and might even have some connections with the Western Desert!"

"But if you ask me, it's Boss Ye from Tangneng First-class who's the most powerful. Even the family heads have conceded to her, and this bathhouse has truly been a blessing to the community."

"Yeah, I only soaked for one day, and I actually advanced an entire minor realm. It's truly miraculous."

Along the way, the conversations of the cultivators were all about several focal characters recently in the city, with their words full of longing.

Li Xiaobai shrugged his shoulders and casually found a place to sit down, and Ergouzi also swiftly took a seat beside him.

With that sitting, the whispering voices of the cultivators abruptly ceased, and they looked at Li Xiaobai with strange expressions, as the atmosphere suddenly fell silent in an eerie way.

Li Xiaobai was puzzled. Did he really have such a big face?

"Boss Ye, is this spot actually ours?" Li Ya whispered a reminder from the side.

"Is there a rule about this place?"

Li Xiaobai furrowed his brow. The seat he had chosen was just in a corner and he wasn't trying to steal the limelight from the host, so why couldn't he sit there?

"This is the challenge seat. There's a sparring session during the gathering, and whoever sits here can be freely challenged and must accept."

Li Ya seemed a bit anxious. Are you going to get up or not?

That seat was notorious; the last person who dared to sit there has three-chi tall grass on his grave now.

"I see, no matter, Liangchen likes the feeling of being challenged."

Li Xiaobai's eyes sparkled. This seat was tailor-made for him. Just by sitting here, even without showing off, he would still be besieged; Attribute Points were within his grasp.

"Exactly, Lord Ergouzi has a cultivation that reaches the skies; a mere challenge seat is nothing."

"Everyone listen up, this is Lord Ergouzi's capable right-hand man; only if you defeat him will you be qualified to challenge Lord Ergouzi himself!"

Lord Ergouzi stood upright, with his paws behind his back, looking disdainfully at the world.

The corners of his mouth could not stop splitting open, drooling all over the floor.

"This is... a dog!"

"Damn, the dog can speak human language!"

"It must be a Spirit Beast, but it's just too arrogant and also quite ugly. Its eyes and eyebrows look like a Husky's!"

"And it's drooling, so disgusting to watch."

The cultivators automatically ignored Lord Ergouzi's words, instead judging its appearance in great detail.

"Woof, your Lord Ergouzi is a supreme being!" Ergouzi's fur bristled.

"Boss Ye, are you sure you want to sit here?" Wang Ruoxian asked indifferently.

"Yeah, tired from walking, just taking a seat."

"It seems Boss Ye hasn't taken this little girl's words to heart. One really needs to contemplate more on the truth that there are skies beyond our skies."

"Boss Ye, you better just come down obediently. You can't sit here; you'll get killed by someone," Xia Liu sneered.

"Don't talk too much. The last time someone sat here was years ago. We haven't seen such a grand occasion in a long time. Boss Ye wants to challenge the young talents in the city, and we definitely welcome it."

Xia Jian said slowly, instructing the maid to start serving tea and snacks.

Pale-faced maids in white clothes and light makeup came to serve, pouring tea and wine, gradually easing the atmosphere.

Li Ya pulled Yan Yu quietly to the back of the crowd, staying clear of the challenger's seat. At any moment someone could lash out and strike, so it was better to keep a distance.

A servant brought over brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, lighting the incense burner. Wisps of blue smoke drifted, creating a very aesthetic scene.

The incense burning within was Calming Incense, which upon inhalation, steadied one's breath and cleared the mind.

"Young Master Xia has returned from Zhenyuan Country, so he must be well-versed in the Confucian righteous qi. Why not paint a picture to enhance the mood?" Wang Ruoxian said.

"I had the same thought, but painting alone can be a bit monotonous. Why don't we all take today's gathering as the subject and paint together?"

"Excellent."

"Express one's feelings with brush and ink, infuse the painting with righteous qi. I have long heard that Zhenyuan Country seeks the Tao through Confucianism. Today we are fortunate to witness this."

The cultivators nodded in agreement. It was their honor to paint alongside such accomplished painters.

"Prepare a painting for Boss Ye as well."

"Woof, your Lord Ergouzi also wants a painting!"

Li Xiaobai was speechless. Where could he paint? It was clear that they wanted to use this painting challenge to humiliate him.

And there was Lord Ergouzi, always causing trouble. Can you even hold a brush with your dog paws?

"Then let's begin. We'll have half an hour as the time limit, and after half an hour, we will all appreciate the works together," Xia Jian said in a cheery tone.

He pondered for a brief moment,

Picked up the brush, ground the ink, moistened it with water, drew lines, his brush strokes majestic as a dragon or snake, his movements as smooth as clouds and flowing water, seamlessly executed. The cultivators around him watched in astonishment; while they were still contemplating the composition, he had already started painting.

Although the specific content wasn't clear, just this mastery of brushwork alone already showed the demeanor of a great artist.

"Damn it, this guy is painting so smoothly, without any apparent thought. Could it be he already knew what he wanted to paint before?"

Ergouzi cursed, having received a piece of paper but after much struggle, not even a single hair stroke emerged.

Xia Liu was indignant: "This is divine skill in each stroke; my family practices diligently every day, and you, you mangy dog, what do you know."