Mountain and River Festival

Chapter 194 The Uncrowned First
Sheng Yuanyao, leading a group of limping subordinates, patrolled the city: "I told you not to spread rumors! You dare to spread rumors about your superior! I'll kill you all, or I'll change my name!"

Our subordinates are angry but dare not speak out. Are we really spreading rumors?
Oh, it's not morning sickness, that's not true, so it's a rumor, right?

In this respect, everyone has to admit that she definitely didn't have morning sickness...

But is it true that you were sitting in someone's lap? This is supposed to be a precise debunking, right? You've debunked the morning sickness myth, so everything else is fake too, right?
They even dragged us through the streets as a way to dispel the rumors... Women can be ruthless.

"Hey, what's going on at the Imperial Academy gate? So many people are watching?" Sheng Yuanyao glanced over and, ignoring the rumors, dashed over: "What gossip? What gossip?"

After squeezing through the crowd to the front, Sheng Yuanyao's heart skipped a beat.

At first glance, Qi Tuizhi's sword flashed like a dragon, aiming straight for the opponent's throat!

The other party is Lu Xingzhou!

Sheng Yuanyao almost wanted to shout that the Demon Suppression Division was here and that fighting was prohibited.

But before the words were even finished, Lu Xingzhou moved slightly.

The sword grazed past his body.

Lu Xingzhou turned sideways, grabbing Qi Tuizhi's wrist with one hand and thrusting his right elbow into Qi Tuizhi's chest, a pose that was incredibly cool.

Amidst the screams of a group of female students from the Imperial Academy, Qi Tuizhi reached out and blocked the elbow strike. With a "bang," the combined power of both sides exploded, and dust billowed in all directions.

"Mid-stage fourth rank!" Many people exclaimed, "Wasn't Lu Xingzhou a fifth rank before? How could his cultivation level have increased so rapidly!"

"You were hiding your cultivation before, or perhaps you accumulated strength and then unleashed it after your leg was healed?"

"I have to say, he looks really cool when he stands up and fights."

Sheng Yuanyao blushed.

Is this related to my dual cultivation in the volcano?
Pei Chuyun blushed.

This is the one I'm cultivating with...

"Whoosh!" Lu Xingzhou pulled his elbow back and simultaneously kicked out, while Qi Tuizhi's horizontal palm sliced ​​down and struck Lu Xingzhou's shin.

The result was like cutting through steel; it did nothing to stop Lu Xingzhou's kick, and instead, it cut his own palm painfully. Qi Tuizhi's heart tightened, and he quickly retreated.

Lu Xingzhou missed his kick and smoothly followed up with another kick.

The girls at the university screamed again, "He's so cool!"

As long as someone is handsome, any pose looks dashing. In fact, Sheng Yuanyao thought Lu Xingzhou was also very handsome when he was fighting in a wheelchair, with a unique kind of broken beauty. These vulgar women don't understand anything.

"Bang, bang, bang!" A series of kicks followed. Qi Tuizhi took a step back with each parry, crashing into a pillar at the entrance of the Imperial Academy with a horrified expression.

Those who have never faced Lu Xingzhou directly will never know how disgusting his series of kicks are.

Although he appeared unarmed, his legs were actually his weapons. He didn't dodge or evade when swords struck his legs; the clashes produced only a clang, and the swords were even knocked askew. The transmitted power was even more disgusting: one leg would erupt in flames, while the other would suddenly transform into a long, flowing stream of true energy, like a river or a sea.

This continuous alternation is almost like fighting two people at the same time. Each strike requires a different response, and it can twist the power within your body into a pretzel.

It's hard to imagine how Lu Xingzhou manages to have each leg generate completely opposite energy. Doesn't he end up twisted up like a pretzel?
"Bang!" Lu Xingzhou kicked the pillar.

Qi Tuizhi found an opportunity. His movements were as swift as a dragon as he turned and slashed at Lu Xingzhou's neck with his sword.

Lu Xingzhou said leisurely, "Brother Qi, guess what I was doing with my hands while I was kicking my legs?"

Qi Tuizhi's heart skipped a beat, and he wanted to stop his attack, but it was too late.

The ashes of several talismans fell into the dust.

Lu Xingzhou swiftly grabbed Qi Tuizhi's wrist, and flames erupted beneath him, the raging fire, as violent as a volcano, shooting straight up into the sky. Above, the clouds split open, thunder roared, and the flames crashed to the ground.

The martial arts style, which was all about punches and blows, suddenly turned into thunder and fire. And these weren't ordinary thunder and fire techniques, but rather formations that had been set up over a long period of time!
Qi Tuizhi let out a sharp shout, trying to retreat but was firmly grabbed by Lu Xingzhou, unable to leave even if he wanted to.

He could clearly sense Lu Xingzhou's murderous intent.

He was sparring at the gate of the Imperial Academy; was he planning to kill someone?
"Is he going to kill someone?" This thought crossed many people's minds, and some even tried to step forward to break up the fight.

A smile appeared on Lu Xingzhou's lips, and he suddenly loosened his grip on Qi Tuizhi. Qi Tuizhi, having lost his strength, stumbled backward and nearly fell.

But to their astonishment, they discovered that the thunder and fire had vanished.

Illusion!

"How could I kill someone?" Lu Xingzhou moved like a ghost, following closely beside the staggering Qi Tuizhi, while turning his head to chat: "Your lower body is not bad. With such a huge force pulling you back, you only staggered and did not fall flat on your backside."

Qi Tuizhi was both ashamed and angry, and in a fit of rage, he slashed horizontally with his sword again.

Lu Xingzhou kicked out casually, and Qi Tuizhi, who was in complete chaos, had no chance to dodge. He was kicked solidly, and his whole body flew up as if riding the clouds. He crashed into the other pillar with a "bang" and fell to the ground, looking extremely disheveled.

"Brother Qi, what a fine name. You chose the character 'Tui Zhi' (退之), which literally means 'retreat,' and sure enough, it means you'll get kicked away as you retreat." Lu Xingzhou dusted off his clothes and cupped his hands in greeting, "Please excuse my poor attempt."

There was complete silence as everyone stared blankly at Qi Tuizhi, who was struggling to get up from the ground. Many people were completely lost in thought.

Well, to be honest, many people would have bet on Lu Xingzhou to win. After all, Ye Wufeng was killed by Lu Xingzhou and his apprentice, and most people wouldn't consider A Nuo's combat strength to be very high. Therefore, Lu Xingzhou's combat power is automatically ranked higher in people's minds. Previously, no one questioned his ranking as a fifth-ranked character among the new talents, otherwise, a fifth-ranked character would usually be ranked at the bottom...

Even with an overestimation of Lu Xingzhou, no one could have imagined that he would so effortlessly and casually defeat Qi Tuizhi, as if toying with a child. Qi Tuizhi was actually quite powerful; those in the know understood the immense strength contained within the thunderous roar of each of his sword strikes. Many fourth and fifth-rank observers, even in his shoes, felt they would struggle to cope.

But for those who know how, it's not difficult. In front of Dugu Qingli, Pei Chuyun, and even Lu Xingzhou now, that sword poses no threat at all. That's because these three are awesome, not because Qi Tui is so weak.

It's one thing for Dugu Qingli and Pei Chuyun to be strong, but why is Lu Xingzhou so strong?

He's neither a direct descendant of a sacred land nor a legitimate son of a noble family... If he reaches this level, won't the Huo family regret it to the core?

But those who knew the ropes were ultimately fewer than those who were just watching the spectacle. In the eyes of the onlookers, Qi Tuizhi had become a laughingstock, and someone actually shouted out: "How exactly did Editor-in-Chief Sheng rank the newcomers first?! How can he even make the top ten?"

A clear female voice replied, "Go ahead and ask who ranked him second before you ask. It's none of my business!"

People turned their heads, and Sheng Yuanyao stood there with her hands on her hips: "I don't even agree with ranking him first. Come on, you surnamed Qi, let's have a fight?"

Gua Mei felt confident in herself.

After breaking through to the fourth rank, Qi Tuizhi felt as if he really wasn't stronger than him.

People looked at each other, suppressing their laughter. The fourth challenge, huh?
Qi Tuizhi coughed up blood, and in a fit of despair, declared, "Editor-in-Chief Sheng, please re-rank the new talent list. I, Qi, am not worthy of being number one! I'll challenge someone else!"

Damn it, everyone wants to challenge me, but not a single one can beat me. How can I live like this? Forget about studying at the Imperial Academy, I can barely stay in the capital!
Sheng Yuanyao sighed regretfully, "The new issue has only been running for a little over half a month, there's nothing we can do... We'll do it later, when we have the resources to switch to real-time rankings..."

Qi Tuizhi was so angry that he cursed, "Can't I even not want to be number one?!"

Sheng Yuanyao smiled apologetically: "I'm sorry, this is the first time I'll trouble you to sit for another two months."

Qi Tuizhi spat out another mouthful of blood and left in a huff.

Someone asked, "Editor-in-Chief Sheng, if the list were rearranged now, who do you think would be number one?"

Sheng Yuanyao glanced at Pei Chuyun, who shook her head slightly, indicating that she should not reveal that she had already reached the third rank for the time being.

Sheng Yuanyao curled her lips: "Many people saw Miss Dugu undergoing her minor tribulation that day. She should go straight into the Heroes Ranking and not participate in the Rising Star Ranking. As for the Rising Star Ranking... Anyway, my choice is Lu Xingzhou. Miss Pei can challenge him if she disagrees."

Pei Chuyun looked at Lu Xingzhou, her eyes as gentle as water, her voice softening slightly: "If it is Young Master Lu... Chuyun is willing to be subordinate to him."

In broad daylight, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, no one could imagine that this "willingness to remain below" was a matter of physics.

Sheng Yuanyao's eyes widened instantly upon hearing this: "You..."

Pei Chuyun didn't even glance at her, and gently asked Lu Xingzhou, "Young Master Lu, is there something you need at the Imperial Academy today?"

Lu Xingzhou said, "I'm here to see Miss Pei. I have something to discuss with her."

Pei Chuyun chuckled and said, "Then how about Young Master Lu escorts Chuyun home? We can chat on the way."

The onlookers sighed in dismay; it seemed Miss Pei had truly fallen for Lu Xingzhou… Many girls also sighed, it looked like Lu Xingzhou had no chance after all…

Uh, what about the one who's rumored to be experiencing morning sickness? Won't she say a few words?
Turning her head, Sheng Yuanyao was furious, but she remained silent, watching helplessly as Lu Xingzhou approached Pei Chuyun and left through the crowd.

Sheng Yuanyao gritted her teeth, glanced at A'nuo and saw her secretly following her master away, so she strode forward and grabbed her: "Lu Xiaonuo, wait a minute!"

Ah Nu struggled: "What are you doing!"

Sheng Yuanyao rubbed A Nuo's face: "Your master was kidnapped by a vixen, can't I kidnap you to balance things out?"

Ah Nuo: "...You can just go and destroy it."

"I'm trying to clear myself of morning sickness, how am I supposed to go?" Sheng Yuanyao picked up A'nuo, turned around and glared at her group of subordinates: "It's all your fault! Go, continue the parade to dispel the rumors!"

Ah Nuo sighed: "If you keep denying it, there won't even be any soup left."

Sheng Yuanyao retorted, "W-what soup? Who wants soup? We're brothers, do you know what brothers are?"

Suddenly, a light shone in the little girl's head.

The divination back then said you would be a mistress, but it turns out your mistress was my master!

If that's the case, what about the divination done for Madam Ye back then? Was it for the same person? Judging from the teaching scene today where their heads are so close together, it's very possible.

But when Yao was being assessed, she was only a sixth-rank official, so it wasn't surprising that she was only a minor official. Madam Ye is a first-rank official, so will Master die?

Sheng Yuanyao pinched her face: "Are you even listening to me?"

"Yes... Let's go offer incense together after Master dies."

"Hey? You little rascal, you're quite filial, aren't you?"

The crowd gradually dispersed.

People ate their fill of melons and went home satisfied for dinner.

No one knew the complex emotions running through the young couple's hearts. What people could see on the surface was Lu Xingzhou and Miss Pei's seemingly mutual affection, and Editor-in-Chief Sheng's public declaration that she was the most important person in their hearts.

Although it is uncrowned, it will surely cause a sensation in the capital, and perhaps even spread throughout the world.

(End of this chapter)