They traveled through time at the same time, but the villainous scientist

Chapter 342 The Grand Ceremony of Luo Tian Ends
Before dawn, the morning mist was like a veil.

Zhang Chulan, sporting heavy dark circles under his eyes, walked up the stone steps toward the venue.

The mountain breeze carried a bone-chilling coolness, but it couldn't dispel the confusion and anxiety in his mind.

Last night, his third and fourth brothers still hadn't returned. He sat alone in his room all night, trying to get some tips from Feng Baobao on how to defeat his enemies.

As a result, after practicing a set of "Awei's Eighteen Forms" in the yard, Bao'er had only one opinion:
"You can't win by fighting head-on. When the match starts, just lie down. I'll teach you an angle that will guarantee they pay out more."

What kind of tactic is this? Is it a staged accident?
Zhang Chulan was speechless. He knew he was no match for the opponent in terms of raw strength, but he was unwilling to accept it.

He still had many questions he wanted answered from his advisor.

The position of Celestial Master, the Jia Shen Rebellion, his grandfather's past... all these mysteries are like an invisible net, and he is at the center of the net.

Admitting defeat outright would mean giving up the only opportunity to stand before the advisor and have an equal dialogue.

He even had a ridiculous idea: to confront Zhuge Qing directly, reason with him, and appeal to his emotions to persuade him to be lenient and admit defeat.

After all, a descendant of the Wuhou School wouldn't possibly change his surname to Zhang just for the title of Celestial Master, would he? At worst, he can just hand over the Tongtian Talisman...

But he quickly dismissed the idea himself.

Judging from the cryptic attitude of his third and fourth brothers, Zhuge Qing's identity is definitely not simple; he is likely someone at a level in the company far beyond Zhuge Qing's comprehension.
Neither Bao'er's background nor her grandfather's secret could withstand the deeper involvement of such a behemoth as the company.

To confront them directly would be tantamount to inviting trouble.

After much deliberation, it seemed that only one path remained for him: to have a real fight with that monster who could even crack Wang Ye's Feng Hou Qi Men.

His only chance of winning was that mysterious martial art, the Old Farmer's Kung Fu that Bao'er had passed down to him.

It was this skill that allowed him to grow from a complete novice in the world of supernatural beings to someone who could rival his junior uncle Zhang Lingyu in just a few months.

He could clearly feel that the "seed" deep within his dantian, formed from primordial qi, was stirring restlessly, as if it were about to break free and undergo a qualitative transformation. That might be a sign of advancing to the next level.

This was his only hope...

Therefore, he meditated all night, desperately trying to break through that invisible barrier before the final battle.

As a result, he didn't advance to the next level, but he developed two dark circles under his eyes, as if he had been punched twice.

At this point, we can only take one step at a time.

Zhang Chulan took a deep breath of the morning air and, with a heavy heart as if heading to his execution, walked into the center of the venue.

The area around the arena was already bustling with noise.

The audience was in high spirits, their faces beaming with anticipation for the show.

The gazes directed at him were a mixture of contempt, disdain, and undisguised schadenfreude.

The whispers blended into a buzzing sound, and even from a distance, he could guess what they were saying.

They were simply hoping that the next successor of Zhuge Liang would use the most magnificent and overwhelming method to expose and punish the biggest stain on the Luo Tian Grand Ceremony, the "shameless woman."

However, as time passed, when the gong sounded to announce the start of the competition, the spot opposite him remained empty.

Zhuge Qing did not appear.

The excited clamor in the venue gradually subsided, replaced by a blank discussion.

what happened?

Did I oversleep?
That shouldn't be the case. How could a warlock get the time wrong?
In the audience, people looked at each other, their expressions shifting from anticipation to confusion.

Immediately afterwards, someone remembered Zhang Lingyu's strange forfeit and, recalling Zhang Chulan's numerous previous schemes, a speculation spread rapidly like a plague.

In an instant, everyone's expression changed. Countless sharp gazes, like tangible swords, pierced towards Zhang Chulan in the arena.

Could it be that even this brilliant strategist, the descendant of Zhuge Liang, was betrayed by this shameless fellow?

Sensing the drastic change in the atmosphere around him, Zhang Chulan immediately cried out in his heart that he was wronged.

Honestly, he didn't do anything wrong this time!
Considering Zhuge Qing's unfathomable background, he didn't dare to have any ulterior motives at all.

Amidst the intense atmosphere of this highly anticipated "trial," a small, thin figure ran in, panting, from the contestant's passage.

He is Zhuge Qing's younger brother, Zhuge Bai.

He jogged to the center of the field, bowed slightly to the referee on the platform, cleared his throat, and shouted with all his might:
"My older brother... he's unwell, so we're forfeiting this competition!"

The voice was clear and crisp, echoing in the silent hall, each word clearly penetrating everyone's ears.

The entire venue fell into a deathly silence.

Time seemed to have been paused.

Everyone stared wide-eyed, mouths agape, their faces bearing the same expression—disbelief.

On the high referee's platform, the Taoist priest from Longhu Mountain who was in charge of the proceedings was clearly also bewildered by this sudden turn of events.

He stood there stunned for a long time before picking up the microphone and tentatively coughing twice.

"Ahem... Because Zhuge Qing has forfeited, Zhang Chulan will not fight in this match..."

The sound wasn't loud, but it was like a pebble thrown into a stagnant pool, stirring up towering waves.

What's going on... I just won?

Zhang Chulan stood there, unconsciously scratching the back of his head, completely lost in thought, his mind unable to process what was happening.

This isn't right.

Based on his previous speculation, Zhuge Qing's elaborate preparations, even at the cost of revealing part of his strength, were all for the sake of the Eight Extraordinary Techniques. And the Tongtian Talisman, as one of the Eight Extraordinary Techniques, was precisely the prize for the final champion of this Luo Tian Grand Ceremony. How could he possibly give up at the last minute before the finals?

unless……

Zhang Chulan's gaze suddenly rose, passing over the throng of heads, and locked onto the figure at the highest point of the viewing platform.

Was it because his advisor did something?

Just like how we dealt with Junior Uncle Zhang Lingyu?

The moment this thought arose, the oppressive silence in the hall was completely shattered by a roar like a tsunami!
"A cover-up!!"

"There's something fishy going on!!"

"Give us a refund! They're treating us like idiots!"

"The prestigious Longhu Mountain and the Celestial Master's Mansion! Are they really going to resort to such underhanded tactics?!"

The angry shouts grew louder and louder as countless spectators stood up from their seats, waving their arms and throwing snacks, drink bottles, and anything else they could find towards the arena.

They felt their intelligence and enthusiasm had been trampled on like never before, and of course, the more important reason was that most of them had bet on Zhuge Qing to win this round.

However, no matter how fierce the audience's anger was, it could not change the already announced result.

Amidst a chorus of boos and curses, and under the gaze of countless scornful and angry eyes, Zhang Chulan secured his right to inherit the title of the next Celestial Master…

(End of this chapter)