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

Chapter 572: As the number one sect leader, Nongmu was quite famous!

The moment of truth has finally arrived, and all eyes are focused on the final winner.

The scroll slowly unfurled, and images appeared in mid-air—a magnificent palace resembling a celestial palace, with layers of clouds, constructed of soft white mist, stretching all the way to the highest point.

Atop the clouds, sits a solitary and desolate throne.

A woman in white is ascending the cloud-like steps, walking step by step towards the celestial palace.

[Apart from this, there is nothing else in the picture, no divine light flowing, nor any strange phenomena appearing. The whole work appears exceptionally calm, even... ordinary.]

Compared to Fu Dongcheng's stunning masterpiece just now, which was so exquisite that it caused a dragon to coil around the arena for a long time, this one is clearly much more subdued and ordinary.

Upon seeing this, a mocking smile crept onto Kousen's lips. His previously tense mind immediately relaxed; his earlier worries that Zhou Jing might produce another astonishing feat, like during the battle formation debate, seemed to have been unfounded.

Such an ordinary painting is nothing to be afraid of.

[Lü Qingyu didn't pay much attention to the overall artistic conception of the painting, but her gaze was involuntarily drawn to the woman in white in the painting.]

A doubt quietly arose in her heart: Why would her junior brother paint a woman in white? Who exactly is this person? Although it's only a silhouette, she never wears white... It shouldn't be her.

Who could that be?

Nie Qingzhu was equally puzzled, secretly wondering who the woman Zhou Jing was describing was. Could it be that he had a particular fondness for white? She couldn't help but think that perhaps she could wear white more often in the future.

Strangely, however, the few who obtained the most Wenyu in the arena kept their eyes glued to the painting.

[Especially Duanmu Xiwei, the head of the Rewards Hall who presided over the competition, was particularly focused, as if trying to see another world within the painting.]

Fu Dongcheng was the same; a look of disbelief flashed in his eyes.

"Look! That painting... a painting!"

【"What's this!"】

A sudden exclamation shattered the silence: "What on earth is going on?!"

[The group had only glanced at the painting once, but when they came to their senses again, they were astonished to find themselves standing within a magnificent celestial palace.]

Before my eyes, jade pillars coiled like dragons, golden steps stood like phoenixes, starlight flowed across the dome, and a sea of ​​clouds surged beneath my feet. Heaven and earth shone together, creating a scene reminiscent of a divine realm.

At the same time, two truths emerged in everyone's minds like divine revelation:

"The spring day is long in the thirty-six palaces, the most magnificent of all in the Jade Capital."

Looking up, a sea of ​​clouds surged forth, supporting a jade staircase reaching to the heavens. The staircase, like layers of frost and snow, climbed higher and higher, ascending into the vast expanse of the nine heavens.

Atop the steps, a solitary imperial throne hangs, its form and presence defying description and indescribable.

Upon closer inspection, the throne is adorned with carvings of all living beings: flying insects and running beasts, mountains and rivers, lakes and seas, the sun, moon and stars are all depicted within.

In a daze, everyone seemed to glimpse—

[On that supreme imperial throne, once sat alone, overlooking the heavens and the earth, and all things in the human world; once there was a being... vast and unimaginable.]

Then, a clear shout resounded in all directions!

Suddenly, a woman in white robes with flowing sleeves ascended the celestial steps and cleaved the entire palace in two with a single stroke of her sword!

Suddenly, everyone's minds cleared, and they came to their senses, only to find themselves still standing in their seats on the viewing platform.

For a moment, I stood there stunned, my mind reeling, unable to calm down.

When I looked closely at the painting again, there was no longer any celestial palace, imperial throne, or woman in white—

Only a blank sheet of paper lay unfurled, as if everything that had happened before was just a grand dream.

Is it a dream? Or an illusion?

However, the once awe-inspiring, circling dragon seemed greatly frightened, and suddenly shrank back into Fu Dongcheng's painting, never daring to appear in the world again.

Not only those on and off the viewing platform, but even the elders on the second floor of the pavilion all changed their expressions.

[Qi Ling's eyes were filled with profound shock. The fire phoenix, which had been resting on her shoulder and manifesting with mysterious Daoist energy, seemed startled and suddenly flew into her brow, disappearing from sight.]

On the high platform, the thousand-tailed wrasses, which had been waiting for Duanmu Xiwei to ring the bell for guidance, now leaped down as if on command.

They did not rush towards the now-blank canvas, but instead gracefully circled around Zhou Jing, swirling and dancing, their scales shimmering.

"This... there are a thousand of them!"

Someone gasped in disbelief.

It was midday, and the sunlight poured down, illuminating the world.

The young man in blue robes smiled and raised his hand, his eyes like clear springs, his clothes fluttering lightly. Hundreds of shimmering fish swam around him like flowing water, their ripples highlighting his jade-like elegance and radiant spirit.

The disciples below the stage stared in stunned silence, their minds reeling.

Even the usually aloof Nie Qingzhu couldn't help but rise slightly, her gaze fixed on the arena, unable to look away.

Fu Dongcheng, standing to the side, had a complex expression in his eyes.

[Duanmu Xiwei's voice rang out.]

"Xiao Qingfeng, Zhou Jing, should be number one."

~

Fangcun Mountain, Evergreen Mountain.

As the place where the eighteen spiritual pillars of "Xieyue Sanxing Dongtian" converge, it can be called the first spiritual root of Fangcun Mountain.

Although this mountain is not towering into the clouds, it is the hub where the dragon veins of the entire grotto heaven converge, and it is also the place where the sect leader cultivates in seclusion.

Duanmu Xi walked slowly up the back mountain, his expression unchanged.

The mountain gate opened silently, as if it had already sensed her arrival. She climbed the steps with unhurried steps.

"Master, the results of the calligraphy and painting competition are in."

A gentle sound drifted from the mountains, like the wind rustling through the pine branches, serene and profound:

"Thank you for your help, Junior Sister Duanmu."

She nodded slightly and replied, "It's my duty, no need to trouble myself."

The voice from the mountains slowly asked, "Who will emerge victorious in this competition?"

Duanmu Xiwei replied in a calm tone, "Xiao Qingfeng, Zhou Jing."

She paused briefly, then added, "Fu Dongcheng of Guangxuan Peak is ranked second."

The voice rang out again, carrying a hint of understanding:

"Zhou Jing... also ranked first in the test of formation identification."

As the words fell, a figure slowly emerged from the mountain mist.

Unlike the solemn old man's image at the Star-Picking Ceremony—

The Fangcun Mountain Sect Master, Nongmu, who appeared at this moment was actually a middle-aged man with a gentle demeanor and a warm face.

He smiled slightly and said to Duanmu Xiwei:
"It seems that Junior Sister already knew that this Fu Dongcheng... is my disciple."

Duanmu Xiwei respectfully replied, "Fu Dongcheng and my senior brother had similar mannerisms when they were young, so I dared to make this guess."

Nong Mu nodded slightly, a hint of reminiscence in his eyes: "Dongcheng was indeed a disciple I took in by chance, and to this day... he still doesn't know my identity."

Duanmu Xiwei understood that the "dotting the eyes" technique was originally a skill that made the sect leader famous when he was young, and she had some guesses about it.

Upon hearing this, Nong Mu's eyes flickered slightly, and he asked softly, "In your opinion, Junior Sister, what do you think of Zhou Jing?"

Duanmu Xiwei nodded solemnly: "Extremely extraordinary."

She hesitated for a moment, then asked again, "In your opinion, Senior Brother, what should we do?" Nong Mu pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "Everyone in this world has their own destiny. How can we expect things to go as planned if we forcefully interfere?"

"His background has been thoroughly investigated by the Punishment Hall. He comes from the Zhou family of Qinghe, and his family background is indeed clean. His entry into Xiaoqing Peak was also due to the secret machinations of Longshou Peak."

Duanmu Xiwei was slightly shocked, never expecting that the sect leader had already noticed Zhou Jing.

She then followed up with, "So, should we include him in this trip to the East China Sea?"

Nongmu smiled calmly and said, "It's not too late to discuss this after he wins the next three competitions."

Duanmu Xi bowed slightly and said, "Junior Sister, I'll take my leave now."

Nongmu nodded slightly, watching her figure gradually disappear into the distance, before turning to look at the surging sea of ​​clouds between Fangcun Mountain, his gaze deep and profound.

He muttered to himself, a hint of regret in his voice: "Zhou Jing, if you weren't from Xiao Qingfeng... I really would like to capture you and see what you're really like."

"To be able to draw such a celestial palace, could you perhaps also be one of the destined stars?"

After a moment of silence, a deep look flashed across his eyes: "Little Qingfeng... ultimately, we still need to be mindful of things."

"Jiang Yingshuang's betrayal of the sect back then has always been a hidden danger."

His tone turned cold. "However, after the trip to the East Sea, no one will be able to stop me."

After speaking, his figure disappeared into the clouds.

Duanmu Xi walked slowly down Changqing Peak. Although his expression remained calm, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Over the years, for some reason, the sect leader has become increasingly unfathomable. His aura is profound, and his majesty grows ever stronger, making one feel as if standing on the edge of an abyss whenever they are in his presence.

On the surface, Senior Brother Nong seemed to be the same as before—he had been living in seclusion on Evergreen Mountain for many years, and he was still diligent and thorough in handling sect affairs, even under his leadership.

The power of the three halls—the Herb Hall, the Reward Hall, and the Punishment Hall—has completely surpassed that of the eighteen lineages.

The sect's power and prestige grew daily. Externally, he allied with the Longquan Sword Sect and the Western Kunlun, enabling Fangcun Mountain to gain a foothold among the nine righteous sects. Even though the sect's prestige was not what it once was, it never fell out of the ranks of the nine sects.

However, beneath this prosperity, there was a subtle, unspeakable anomaly.

The eighteen peak masters and the three elders all held him in high esteem and were cautious in their words and actions.

In Duanmu Xiwei's eyes, the agricultural and pastoral brother seemed to be the same as always, but she always kept a secret in her heart!
Her former fellow disciple, Nong, treated her differently from others, and even harbored feelings of being a Daoist couple with her.

The rumors circulating within the sect for many years are not entirely unfounded.

To avoid this matter, Duanmu Xiwei once publicly claimed that he had secretly pledged his life to a mortal and become a Daoist couple, thus cooling his worldly desires.

The pastor gradually calmed down.

Strangely, this has been happening since the grand gathering of elders from various righteous sects and heretics three hundred years ago.

When the elder brother, who was farm-trained, returned to the mountain gate injured, he seemed to have completely let go of this obsession and treated her as just an ordinary fellow disciple.

Duanmu Xiwei originally thought this was a good thing, but over the past three hundred years, she has always felt something unusual.

Women, in matters of love and romance, possess an unusually keen sensitivity.

She composed herself and banished that distracting thought.

What's more important right now is the upcoming trip to the East Sea Heavenly Emperor's Treasure Vault.

The emergence of such ancient relics is related to the rise and fall of sects over the past thousand years, and even the future changes in the power structure of the righteous, demonic, and heretical sects.

She also paid extra attention to Xiao Qingfeng and Zhou Jing's performance today.

I can't help but sigh: it's such a pity that such a talented person has fallen into Xiao Qingfeng's hands.

~

[The calligraphy and painting competition concluded on its seventh day.]

[The fourth round of combat begins.]

[The twelve groups of contestants competed simultaneously, with only two winners from each group advancing. Ultimately, only twenty-four victors remained, all of whom were truly top disciples from the eighteen lineages, representing the strongest generation of Fangcun Mountain. There were no lucky exceptions; all possessed exceptional strength.]

Shen Qingxue was also defeated by another fellow disciple at the Heavenly Gate Realm, but fortunately, she still managed to stumble into the top 100 of the Star Picking Gathering. After the final ceremony, she will be rewarded with treasures and elixirs.

At this point, only Qi Ling remains on the field from Xiao Qingfeng.

[If we include the other arena, then there's you.]

[At dawn, you push open the door and slowly walk out of the courtyard.]

Today's battle is between Qi Ling and Cai Lingkui, the senior disciple of Huoyun Peak, and it is also the most dangerous one yet.

[Many people inside Xiaoqing Peak are greeting you, which is different from ten days ago. Your reputation has quietly changed.]

The name "Zhou Jing" has now gained some recognition among the eighteen martial arts schools.

[After the last calligraphy and painting competition, I've gained some recognition.]

However, news arrived the next day that Fu Dongcheng of Guangxuan Peak was actually a disciple of the sect leader. This news quickly spread throughout the various branches, and was even personally confirmed by the head of the Grass and Wood Hall to be the sect leader's closed-door disciple. This news shook the entire Fangcun Mountain.

[It should be noted that even someone as prominent as Tianfu Star is only a disciple of the sect leader, not among those "closed to the sect."]

[From this point on, Fu Dongcheng's name resounded throughout the mountain gate, making all ninety of you who were competing at the same time pale in comparison.]

As the competition progressed, more hidden talents from each lineage began to reveal their abilities.

[For example, Qi Ling of Xiao Qingfeng, although originally famous, was only known within Xiao Qingfeng, but now his fame has spread far and wide.]

She won all six matches with overwhelming dominance, her brilliance dazzling.

Xie Mosheng of Danhe Peak, originally unknown and obscure, has achieved a remarkable six-game winning streak, drawing attention from all quarters.

[Jiang Ye of Dragon Tooth Peak was no exception; facing his senior brother from the same lineage, he easily defeated him with overwhelming force.]

A group of previously unknown disciples distinguished themselves at this Star-Picking Gathering.

In comparison, Zhou Jing of Xiao Qingfeng was not as eye-catching.

You slowly walk into the bamboo forest behind Xiaoqing Peak.

The morning mist drifted lazily through the woods, and the air was crisp and refreshing.

Today is the day Qi Ling will face off against the senior disciple of Huo Yunfeng. If he wins this battle, and then wins another, he will advance to the top nine of the competition.

[Nie Qingzhu specifically asked you to come along, and that's why you arrived at this bamboo forest so early.]

Upon reaching the thatched hut behind the mountain, they saw Nie Qingzhu already standing quietly waiting.

She was dressed in white today, exuding elegance and grace, with a dignified and composed demeanor.

You greeted him politely, saying, "Elder Nie."

She nodded slightly, her gaze calm.

Today is a crucial battle for Qi Ling, and everyone at Xiao Qing Peak is taking it extremely seriously. Qi Ling's displayed strength has even exceeded Nie Qingzhu's expectations.

Although she knew that Qi Ling possessed extraordinary talent and a true spirit bloodline, making him unique within Little Green Peak, he might not be considered top-tier within the entire Fangcun Mountain.

Unexpectedly, Qi Ling's current momentum is so strong that it is no less than that of the leading figures of the top eighteen lineages.

With Qi Ling's rapid progress and Zhou Jing's previous reputation, Xiao Qingfeng's performance at this Star Picking Competition has far exceeded her initial expectations.

[Nie Qingzhu looked at the young man in blue beside her and suddenly asked softly, "Do you think I look good in this white robe?"]

You paused slightly, then saw two more women approaching from outside the bamboo grove; they were Lü Qingyu and Xiao Wan'er.

[Also dressed in white.]

(End of this chapter)