Simulation becomes reality, have I ever looked down upon the eternity?

Chapter 558 The lottery for the Fangcun Mountain Sect Master Tianfu Star has ended!

[As the group from Xiaoqing Peak arrived, neither disciples from other branches came to greet them, nor did any elders stop to chat, clearly demonstrating their neglected state and how they had been ostracized by the other branches.]

The disciples were quite unfazed by this, having long since grown accustomed to it.

Since female disciples such as Qi Ling, Lü Qingyu, Xiao Wan'er, and Shen Qingyu began to distinguish themselves, the imbalance of female dominance within the peak has become increasingly apparent. Fortunately, the newly established peak is not yet plagued by infighting or backstabbing, and the four hundred disciples have instead become even more united as a result.

[Especially the male disciples, seeing their senior sisters paving the way, secretly resolved to train even harder.]

You often hear your fellow students encourage themselves by saying they want to "revitalize Xiaoqingfeng."

Even so, the outside world remained unmoved by human thoughts, and Xiao Qingfeng still ranked last in the various sect competitions.

[Entering the arena today, Nie Qingzhu secretly breathed a sigh of relief—if she had arrived using a magical artifact, she would have inevitably been subjected to further ridicule.]

As an elder of Yifeng, she not only had to withstand external pressure, but also constantly protect her disciples' hearts in seeking the Dao.

After all, the essence of cultivation lies first and foremost in one's Dao heart. Qi Yun Peak has been able to consistently rank first not only because of its abundant resources, but also because its disciples all possess a gleam in their eyes, and their self-assured and confident demeanor is unmatched by other peaks.

Nie Qingzhu's gaze swept across the venue, her only wish being that Xiao Qingfeng would pass smoothly at this Star-Picking Competition without any mishaps. As for the ranking, she dared not harbor too many expectations.

However, Qi Ling, standing at the forefront, gazed at the tens of thousands of cultivators from the eighteen sects on the plaza. His surface remained calm, but a sharp glint flickered in his eyes, like a dormant sword's edge, hidden yet unseen.

[Shortly afterward, a booming sound of drums suddenly arose on the horizon, like muffled thunder rumbling across the sea of ​​clouds.]

Qi Yunfeng, as the final peak, has finally made its appearance.

A majestic azure boat emerged from the clouds. On board, cultivators pounded drums and beat mallets, their voices echoing through the mountains. Two thousand disciples leaped onto their swords, landing in perfect unison in the center of the plaza like fleeting shadows. Amidst the fluttering of their robes, not a single person faltered.

[You narrowed your eyes slightly, a glint of jade-like brilliance appearing in them, as you quietly observed the aura. At the front of Qi Yun Peak's group, two elders possessed a harmonious and refined aura, clearly indicating they were at the Golden Core stage of the Great Dao.]

[Nine Golden Core cultivators have now appeared, but judging from their auras, they have all only passed the first Nine Heavenly Tribulations and have not yet reached a higher realm.]

[Once all eighteen meridians have arrived!]

Five figures suddenly appeared out of thin air on the high platform.

The elders immediately led tens of thousands of disciples in a unified bow, their voices shaking the heavens: "Greetings, Sect Master!"

The figure in the center gradually solidified, revealing an ordinary-looking old man.

[He possessed an air of solemnity about him; though lacking overwhelming power, he commanded respect and commanded respect—he was none other than Nong Mu, the current sect leader of Fangcun Mountain.]

[You secretly activated your eyesight to examine it closely, and discovered that this figure was not the real body, but an avatar of a Golden Core cultivator. What shocked you even more was that even as an avatar, you could vaguely sense its profound foundation, having survived the Second Heavenly Tribulation. As for its deeper cultivation level, with your current eyesight, you could no longer fathom even the slightest trace of it.]

This sect leader, surnamed Nong, hails from the Qiyun Peak lineage and has ruled Fangcun Mountain for nearly five hundred years. He was already the sect leader of Fangcun Mountain when your grandfather entered the mountain.

As the light and shadow gradually solidified, the four figures beside Nongmu revealed their true forms one by one.

[Among them, three—two men and one woman—stood half a body length behind the sect leader, exuding extraordinary bearing.]

These three are the leaders of the three halls that stand above the eighteen peaks: the Herb and Wood Hall, the Reward Hall, and the Punishment Hall. All of them are Golden Core cultivators who have survived the Heavenly Tribulation.

As for the figure that lagged behind the four, it was a young man following behind the sect leader, Nongmu.

[With a quick thought, you've already guessed his identity: Sun Miao, the senior disciple of Fangcun Mountain, the sect leader's direct disciple, known as the reincarnation of the Heavenly Mansion Star.]

Sun Miao was tall and imposing. Unlike the other disciples, he wore black armor over his left shoulder, his hair tied with a jade crown, and his sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes exuded an air of dominance and heroic spirit.

Judging from his cultivation level, he has already reached the mid-stage of the Heavenly Gate realm, and is not far from the late stage.

On the high platform, apart from the sect leader's avatar, everyone else was a key figure in the sect. Only Sun Miao was present as a disciple, the implication of which was self-evident—to be able to receive the worship of the masses alongside the sect leader today, this "Tianfu Star" was practically considered the undisputed successor to the sect leader.

The sect leader took a light step forward, and a sound rang out. Even from a distance of several dozen feet, it sounded as if right next to his ear, neither grand nor harsh, which was enough to prove that his cultivation was profound.

"Gentlemen, you are all disciples of Fangcun Mountain, and seekers of truth in this world."

"Since its founding, Fangcun Mountain has flourished for over two thousand years, serving as a pillar of the righteous path and the profound authority of Heaven and Earth. Therefore, its foundation lies in eradicating evil, upholding the Way, and rectifying the righteous path."

"However, the path of cultivation is like rowing against the current; skill is perfected through diligence and ruined by idleness. This Star-Picking Gathering was established by the first patriarch to warn future generations and mentor new talents, and it has been held more than three hundred times to date."

"This grand gathering was originally set up for the eighteen martial arts schools to exchange skills and verify their abilities."

"I hope all disciples will remember that the bond between fellow disciples lies in unity of purpose; in competitions and discussions, victory or defeat is of little consequence."

Before Nong Mu could finish speaking, disciples in the audience exclaimed in surprise, "I never imagined the Star-Picking Gathering has already been held three hundred times!"

The sect leader's gaze swept across the entire room, showing some satisfaction with the crowd's reactions.

[You didn't react much. This kind of event, passed down from the Eighteen Meridians Star-Picking Society, is something that almost every sect, whether righteous or demonic, has similar setups. It's not unique.]

This is essentially an assessment for outer disciples, an opportunity to prove their value and potential.

At this moment, the head of the Grass and Wood Hall stepped forward. He was a middle-aged cultivator with a prosperous appearance, and his voice was as loud as a bell: "The current prosperity of Fangcun Mountain is entirely due to the sect leader's diligent governance. Now, the sect is full of outstanding talents, which is truly a blessing for the sect..."

The Master of the Grass and Wood Hall spoke eloquently for half an incense stick's time, every word praising the Sect Master's wisdom and prowess, while also offering words of encouragement to his disciples.

[You've gleaned a clue from these deliberately flattering words: the Farmer Sect Master's control over Fangcun Mountain remains firm.]

Even the powerful and influential Master of the Herbal and Wood Hall, who controls the resources of spiritual herbs, is so obsequious, which speaks volumes about his influence.

"After discussions between the sect leader and the peak masters of each branch..."

The Master of the Grass and Wood Hall abruptly changed the subject, stating, "To avoid overlooking any exceptional talents, the number of participants from each lineage in this year's Star Picking Competition has been increased from nine to sixteen."

"Although the preliminary rounds have been expanded, only the top 100 will ultimately be selected for awards."

Sixteen people?

Your eyes flickered slightly.

[Upon hearing this, Nie Qingzhu's face turned ashen, her anger seething within her, yet she forcibly suppressed it. The elderly man beside her frowned deeply.]

[Nie Qingzhu secretly transmitted her voice, "Senior Brother Nian, this mountain is going too far! It's utterly absurd! What discussion was there? Our peak's list has already been submitted, and suddenly it's increased to sixteen disciples!"]

"Such frequent changes of policy are worse than simply abolishing Xiao Qingfeng's position!"

"We must get to the bottom of this matter by asking the people in the mountains..."

The old man, though his face was pale, remained remarkably calm. "Junior sister, please calm down. All they need to do is say, 'The peak masters have all reached an agreement,' and then accuse my Little Green Peak of staying indoors. We'll be the ones to take the blame."

"This just goes as they wanted!"

The elder's tone softened slightly, "Besides, given our peak's current resources, we lack truly outstanding disciples. Even if we manage to gather sixteen, the last seven would likely be of little use. It's better to have fewer but better ones." Nie Qingzhu's brows furrowed slightly, her eyes filled with even greater worry: "But in this way, the more disciples who make the cut, the slimmer our Little Green Peak's chances of breaking into the top 100 become."

"What if none of the disciples make it to the top 100 after the third round... what should we do then?"

Even if each branch manages to gather sixteen members, the lowest-ranking disciple is still stronger than the elite of Little Green Peak. With such layers of encirclement, the top one hundred spots will likely be completely divided up.

Although Qi Ling possesses the strength to be among the top 100, many talented individuals have failed in previous competitions because the preliminary rounds were decided by drawing lots, resulting in encounters with even stronger opponents.

[In the history of this millennium-long competition, there has never been a precedent where all of the top 100 spots were lost to other factions.]

If this comes true, Xiao Qingfeng will become a laughing stock.

[Old and resigned, he said, "I can only take it one step at a time. I hope my luck won't be that bad."]

On the high platform, the Master of the Grass and Wood Hall announced loudly, "The list of participating disciples from all eighteen lineages for this competition has been submitted."

[Having said this, he pointed to the sky, and instantly the clouds surged, revealing a gigantic celestial wheel.]

The surface of the compass is studded with countless runes, the sixty-year cycle symbols shimmering and gleaming like stars.

"A total of 281 disciples participated in the examination, the most in its history." His voice, booming like a bell, echoed through the mountains. "Your names have all been corresponding to the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches and are engraved on the wheel."

"Those who belong to the same cycle of sixty years will be paired according to their cycle: the first cycle corresponds to the second, the third to the fourth, and so on." He traced the wheel with his fingertips, and the runes flickered accordingly.

"Only the last one, Dingchou, will have a bye and will proceed directly to the next round."

The Master of the Grass and Wood Hall turned around and respectfully said, "We respectfully request the Sect Master to begin the process."

The sect leader of agriculture and animal husbandry nodded slightly, his robe sleeves fluttering lightly. Hundreds of jade slips inscribed with names swirled like a galaxy, disappearing into the celestial wheel that had begun to spin.

The jade slip touched the runes, sparking bursts of spiritual light.

You gaze up at this method of divination, its mysteries of the heavens, with great interest.

This game aligns with the principles of Heaven, and in the cultivation world, it's like dice in the mortal realm. Without the ability to deduce the outcome from all angles, victory or defeat depends entirely on fate—which is quite fair.

After a moment, the roulette wheel slowed down and finally came to a stop. Where the starlight condensed, the match-up list was clearly displayed.

[Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Bureau: "The matchups are now set, and will be announced one by one later."]

The disciples below the stage were all filled with anticipation; the first round of the competition was arguably the most exciting.

Sometimes, absurd situations arise where the strongest person faces off against the weakest, especially this year with the senior disciple from Fangcun Mountain participating.

[I don't know, but that poor guy drew "Tianfu Star," which basically means he's lost the first round.]

This year, each faction is teeming with hidden talents, and the lists of participants were kept secret until now. With the elites of all eighteen factions now on display, those disciples who enjoy speculating and betting are itching to try their luck, already secretly calculating their chances of winning.

Suddenly, the sect leader coughed softly, and the noisy arena fell silent, as still as an ancient temple in the dead of night.

[The farmer's gaze slowly swept over the crowd, and he said, "As you all know, in addition to the martial arts contest, five more arenas will need to be set up."]

"Debate, chess, calligraphy and painting, music, and object identification—these are the names of the five competitions."

"A total of ninety disciples were dispatched by each branch this time."

"Except for the chess tournament, which requires a direct confrontation, the other four tournaments do not require a fight."

"Starting tomorrow, we will hold a debate competition, with the winner determined by the number of debates presented and the speed at which they are completed."

"Finally, two winners will be selected to fill the 10th and 11th place positions."

The fact that the sect leader himself said this makes it all the more significant.

Having finished speaking, the sect leader, known for his seriousness, smiled slightly and said, "May your Dao flourish like the rising sun, and may your prosperity never cease."

After speaking, his figure vanished without a trace.

All the disciples bowed in respect.

[Finally, after the head of the Grass and Wood Hall explained the various arenas where the opponents had competed, the ceremony concluded.]

The atmosphere relaxed once the five people on the platform had left.

Many familiar disciples from various factions rushed to find the already announced match-up list.

At this moment, many disciples of Xiaoqing Peak breathed a sigh of relief, their faces showing relief, and murmured, "Fortunately, the senior brothers and sisters of Xiaoqing Peak weren't so unlucky this time."

"The opponents I faced in the first round were all unremarkable and nothing to fear."

Meanwhile, on Dragon Scale Peak, a disciple cried out in despair, his face full of frustration: "We lost! We lost! This damned draw!"

"I've only been a disciple for three years, and you want me to fight the senior disciple of Qi Yunfeng?"

The crowd cast sympathetic glances at him. The Heavenly Stem and Earthly Branch "Bingyin" contained several names; the first two were "Qi Yunfeng. Sun Miao," and the other was "Longlinfeng. Wang Shu."

[Of course, there was more schadenfreude than anything else; this has always been the most talked-about scene at the Star-Picking Party.]

Looking around, many disciples wore mournful faces. Most of them had drawn the best talents from their respective branches, and now they were pounding their chests and lamenting, "This is too unlucky! We've been tricked by Fangcun Mountain!"

You turn around, and a voice calls out behind you, "Junior Brother Zhou." You see a figure waving at you; it's Yang Chen from Qi Yun Peak.

He laughed and said, "Junior Brother Zhou, it seems we'll have to have a showdown tomorrow."

You were slightly surprised: "Senior Brother Yang didn't participate in the magic duel? Instead, he participated in the later debates on formations and other minor topics."

"With Senior Brother's cultivation at the early stage of the Heavenly Gate realm, he's more than capable of competing for a top-100 position."

This is no exaggeration. Yang Chen consistently ranks among the top ten disciples of Qi Yun Peak this year. Even on Xiao Qing Peak, only Qi Ling could rival him in such cultivation.

[It's important to know that the top ten performers on Qiyun Peak are not only guaranteed a spot in the top 100 of the Fangcun Mountain Grand Competition, but can even rank in the upper-middle tier. And anyone who makes it into the top 100 will receive generous rewards.]

Yang Chen smiled and shook his head, "Even if I make it into the top fifty, what then? My true desire is to compete with my junior brother."

"I still remember the trip to the East China Sea that I promised my junior brother!"

You smiled and said, "Then I look forward to competing with my senior brother in formations tomorrow."

(End of this chapter)