Mountain Venerable and Sea Immortal

The next day, as dawn broke, the morning mist drifted over the upturned eaves of Haodu, enveloping the entire city in a warm spring glow.

In just one night, this capital city, the core of the Dongyi orthodox lineage, was bustling with activity. The streets and alleys were teeming with cultivators, and disciples from various clans and sects, dressed in distinctive attire and bearing their clan emblems and sect marks, walked in twos and threes or in processions. The flowing spiritual energy created a magnificent scene of Dongyi's young talents gathering. Members of the Hao clan guarded key locations, gently guiding the various groups; the Hao clan's black-armored soldiers patrolled the streets with steady steps, maintaining order throughout the city, exuding both excitement and solemnity as the grand competition approached.

The morning breeze still carried a slight chill, and a series of well-organized footsteps entered the courtyard where Lin Yan lived.

In the courtyard, a warm breeze gently blew. Lin Yan looked up and saw Elder Xuanzhen approaching. He immediately bowed and clasped his hands in a respectful gesture. "Elder Xuanzhen? This humble student greets Elder Xuanzhen."

An aura of warmth and approachability, like that of a family elder, emanated from Elder Xuanzhen and gently enveloped Lin Yan, permeating his heart and soul. Xuanzhen Zhenren stood still, his expression devoid of any of the sternness or aloofness expected of a sect elder. His eyes were filled with tenderness and warmth as he gazed upon Lin Yan, his gaze full of affection and concern. He simply raised his hand and said gently, "No need for formalities."

The moment Yi Azhu saw Lin Yan, her eyes lit up. Ignoring everyone around her, she rushed over and threw herself into Lin Yan's arms, hugging his arm tightly. Her voice was soft and dependent as she called out, "Brother!"

The girl had grown up beautifully, showing no trace of worldly shyness. Lin Yan was being held by her, and he gently patted her shoulder, a helpless yet doting smile in his eyes.

Not far away, Chen Dagang strode forward, a simple and sincere smile on his face, and cupped his hands to Lin Yan, saying, "Brother Lin Yan, it's great to finally meet you!"

On the other side, Yunxi stood quietly among her fellow disciples. Her light blue Taoist robe accentuated her gentle and elegant demeanor. A faint smile played in her almond-shaped eyes as she gazed tenderly at Lin Yan. Her eyes were filled with peace and contentment, and her expression was gentle and affectionate.

Lin Yan looked at Yun Xi and suddenly stammered, "Everyone's here! Good... I thought you'd be here in two days..."

"Senior Brother Lin, it truly feels like three autumns have passed since I last saw you."

Ye Qing remained aloof as she gracefully walked to Lin Yan and cupped her hands in greeting: "Senior Brother Lin, you look haggard. Last night..."

"You look pale and tired. How was your journey?" Lin Yan returned the greeting with a cupped hand.

Lin Yan greeted Su Lingyue, Shen Yue, Ouyang Dongfang, and the others with a bow.

When fellow disciples meet, a few pleasantries are inevitable. They are all old acquaintances who have cultivated together in the sect, and the atmosphere is exceptionally harmonious. The sect elders and sect leader went to the Hao clan's residence early in the morning to discuss the details of the competition with the leaders of the Hao and Hao clans. This gathering of young disciples is much more relaxed without the restraint of having elders present. They chatted back and forth, full of the warmth and everyday joy of a typical fellow disciple gathering.

Shortly after everyone was seated, the Hao Clan steward delivered the trial ground access jade tokens, indicating that the Hao Capital Trial Grounds were now open for participating disciples from various factions to familiarize themselves with the venue and warm up before the competition.

"We've been in such a rush to get to Haodu, we haven't had a chance to really explore the city," Su Luyue said, her eyes lighting up as she looked at the group. "Why don't we go for a stroll around the streets first?"

These words resonated perfectly with the young disciples. Having spent years in seclusion on Mount Lao, this was their first time stepping into such a bustling capital as Dongyi, and they were filled with curiosity. The group of young people immediately agreed, straightened their clothes, and left the courtyard together.

The streets of Haodu are wide and clean, lined with shops on both sides, where vendors' calls rise and fall. There are pharmacies selling spiritual herbs and elixirs, their windows displaying brightly colored medicinal herbs; there are weapon shops displaying magical artifacts and swords, the patterns on the scabbards gleaming with spiritual light; and there are street stalls selling Haodu's special snacks and exquisite accessories, where the atmosphere of everyday life and spiritual energy intertwine.

Chen Dagang stared at the fragrant roasted spirit beast meat on the street and couldn't resist buying a few skewers, savoring the delicious taste. Su Luyue pulled Yi Azhu along, picking and choosing at a small trinkets stall, occasionally picking up a jade hairpin to compare. Ye Qing and Shen Yue walked together, subtly observing the auras of disciples from other forces around them. Ouyang Dongfang stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes filled with arrogance, yet he couldn't help but admire the novel items on the street.

The group strolled around leisurely for about half an hour, sampling all the street food and taking in the sights of Haodu, before turning around and heading towards the training grounds.

The Haodu Trial Grounds are located in the west of the city, covering a vast area. Constructed entirely of ancient bluestone, the central arena is flat and spacious, surrounded by pale golden defensive barriers that can easily withstand the impact of Foundation Establishment cultivators' duels. Around the arena, spectator seats are arranged, and many disciples from various factions have already gathered, some warming up on the stage, others chatting below, creating a lively atmosphere.

The disciples of Laoshan, dressed in uniform blue robes, attracted considerable attention as soon as they entered. As one of the three core forces of Dongyi, the disciples of Laoshan have always been the focus of attention from all sides, and many people secretly sized up this group of blue-robed cultivators, speculating on their cultivation levels.

Lin Yan and his group found a quiet corner and had just settled down when a series of arrogant footsteps came from not far away. A group of disciples dressed in black martial attire and wearing the Hao clan emblem escorted Hao Lei as he entered.

Hao Lei, always arrogant and disdainful, relied on the Hao family's power to guard Mount Tai and never took other forces seriously. Seeing the group of Laoshan disciples in their blue robes, he immediately felt the urge to provoke them. He walked straight up to Chen Dagang, glancing at him sideways, his tone full of sarcasm: "The Laoshan disciples seem quite leisurely, not warming up on the stage, but instead chatting idly. Are they afraid of the grand competition in three days?"

Chen Dagang, being straightforward, immediately frowned: "Who are you? Don't talk nonsense!"

"Nonsense?" Hao Lei sneered, raising his hand to shove Chen Dagang's shoulder. His palm was wrapped with spiritual energy, clearly intending to embarrass Chen Dagang. "A mere brute dares to speak to me like that?"

Caught off guard, Chen Dagang was pushed back two steps, his face instantly turning red. The disciples of Laoshan all changed their expressions and stepped forward, the atmosphere instantly becoming tense. Seeing this, the surrounding cultivators also gathered around, waiting to see the show.

Lin Yan stepped forward, blocking Chen Dagang's path. He looked calmly at Hao Lei, his tone indifferent yet sharp: "Brother Hao, the training ground is a place for sparring, not a place for you to run wild. You've gone too far."

"So what if it's excessive?" Hao Lei's eyes flashed with a hint of defiance when he saw Lin Yan step forward. The scene of Lin Yan making him look so pathetic on the street yesterday was still vivid in his mind. He immediately leaped onto the central martial arts stage, pointed at Chen Dagang provocatively, and said, "If you have the guts, come up here and have a match. If you beat me, this matter will be over; if you lose, your Laoshan will apologize to me."

The crowd below the stage erupted in commotion, all eyes turning to the group from Laoshan, many waiting to see how they would respond.

Ouyang Dongfang was furious and swayed as he was about to step onto the stage, but Lin Yan raised his hand and firmly stopped him. Lin Yan glanced at Hao Lei on the stage, then turned to Chen Dagang, nodded slightly, and gestured for him to go up.

Chen Dagang understood, took a deep breath, and stepped onto the martial arts stage. His green robe fluttered gently in the wind, his figure as strong as a mountain, and he stood firmly opposite Hao Lei, neither humble nor arrogant.

"Please." Chen Dagang uttered a single word, his voice deep and resonant, without a single superfluous word.

Hao Lei snorted coldly, without uttering a single word. His dark spiritual energy surged suddenly, roaring and churning within his meridians—it was the Hao family's powerful and domineering mountain-suppressing technique. He clenched his fists, carrying the howling wind and immense power of his punches, and slammed them straight towards Chen Dagang's face.

The Hao family's martial arts technique uses brute force to overcome skill, and is unparalleled in its ferocity. When this punch landed, the cultivators around the stage couldn't help but show solemn expressions, clearly having witnessed the power of such a fist technique.

Chen Dagang remained calm and composed, advancing instead of retreating. He had practiced the Laoshan martial arts, which combined strength and flexibility; though his physique was robust, he was not clumsy. He stepped out with a variation of the Laoshan Flowing Cloud Step, slightly lowering his waist and firmly planting his feet on the ground, neither dodging nor avoiding, but forcefully raising his hand to meet the attack.

"Bang--!"

Their fists collided with a deafening roar, and the shockwave instantly exploded outwards. Chen Dagang felt a powerful force rush towards him, his arm muscles trembled slightly, and fine cracks appeared on the bluestone ground beneath his feet. He was startled and secretly channeled the profound spiritual energy of Laoshan Mountain to steadily withstand the attack without retreating a single step.

Hao Lei was also slightly taken aback, not expecting that this seemingly honest Laoshan disciple could withstand his punch without being at a disadvantage. Unconvinced, he launched an even fiercer attack, his fists raining down like raindrops, each strike aimed directly at vital points, the wind from his punches whistling and tearing the air apart with a crackling sound.

Relying on his solid foundation and the spiritual energy of Laoshan Mountain, Chen Dagang parried and blocked left and right, meeting Hao Lei's initial onslaught head-on. Occasionally, he would find an opening and retaliate with a punch, the wind of which was solid and carried a force that should not be underestimated, actually causing Hao Lei's breathing to become slightly disordered.

After only a dozen or so rounds, Hao Lei's attacks became increasingly fierce but also increasingly agitated, and his spiritual energy consumption suddenly accelerated. Chen Dagang seized the opportunity, his body swaying as he dodged a straight punch to the side, while his right fist, imbued with Laoshan spiritual energy, slammed heavily into Hao Lei's shoulder.

"Aww!"

Hao Lei winced in pain, his body slumped, and he felt a tightness in his chest.

Chen Dagang did not press his advantage, but stood firmly and said in a deep voice, "Your skills end here."

Hao Lei was both ashamed and furious. He gritted his teeth and channeled his spiritual power, causing his body to glow even brighter. With his last bit of strength, he unleashed a powerful punch, aiming straight for Chen Dagang's chest.

Chen Dagang remained calm, his hands crossed in front of his chest, his spiritual energy solidified like a shield, steadily catching the final blow.

"boom--!"

A surge of air caused the training platform to tremble slightly.

Hao Lei felt a sharp pain in his fists, his spiritual energy vanished, and he staggered back several steps, unable to stand steadily. He fell onto the stage with a thud, his breathing disordered.

Chen Dagang stood still, breathing slightly rapidly, but remained firmly in place.

"You flatter me," he said in a deep voice.

The audience fell silent for a moment, then erupted in murmurs and cheers.

Hao Lei sat on the stage, his face flushed and pale, too ashamed and angry to speak, he could only glare fiercely at Chen Dagang.