Under One Person: The End of Technique, Company Building

Zhuge Qi woke up at five o'clock.

When he opened his eyes, the morning light outside the window was still a grayish-blue, with only a pale golden ray of light slowly climbing up the treetops.

He lay in bed without rushing to get up, first going over the day's schedule in his mind—

The opening ceremony is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. at the martial arts training ground on the back mountain. The Old Master will give a speech at the opening ceremony, followed by a speech from a representative of the Ten Elders, and then the first round of drawing lots for the matchups will take place.

According to the schedule, at least three rounds of elimination matches need to be completed today to ensure that the seven-day schedule is not compressed.

Zhang Chulan was assigned to the third group to appear. His first opponent was a young disciple from a rogue sect in Yunnan. He was of average strength and posed no threat.

But what Zhuge Qi cared about was not Zhang Chulan's victory or defeat, but when and how the Quanxing Society would make its move.

The entire group of people seemed to have vanished into thin air.

Since that night when they caught two spies in the bamboo forest behind the mountain, there has been no trace of Quanxing in the entire Longhu Mountain.

Those who gathered information, scouted locations, and lay in wait were all wiped clean, as if they had been erased with an eraser.

Dou Le also increased patrols, but with little effect; apart from a few ordinary tourists who had mistakenly wandered into the back mountain, they caught nothing.

This in itself speaks volumes.

If Quanxing really abandons the Luotian Grand Ceremony plan, then the loss of Shen Chong, Xia He, and Lü Liang in Tianjin will have been in vain; but the Quanxing people are unreasonable, they only care about interests.

Since Gong Qing still dared to send people to scout the location, it means the plan is still progressing, just at a different pace and is being kept more hidden.

Zhuge Qi turned over, reached for his phone on the bedside table, unlocked it, and glanced at the time—5:17.

There are still nearly four hours until the opening ceremony, enough time for him to wash up, have breakfast, and then take a walk around the training ground.

He put his phone back, threw off the covers and sat up, stepping barefoot onto the cool blue brick floor, and walked to the window to open the wooden window.

A morning breeze carrying the scent of bamboo leaves wafted over him, causing the collar of his pajamas to sway slightly.

From the window, you can see the entire courtyard of the guesthouse: stone tables, stone stools, osmanthus trees, and blue brick screen walls, all shrouded in a thin layer of mist.

Ma Hong had already gotten up and was squatting in front of the tap in the corner of the yard, washing his face while humming some unknown tune.

Feng Baobao sat on a stone stool next to the stone table, with a tin lunchbox in front of her, and was using chopsticks to shovel noodles into her mouth.

Liu Yanyan passed by her from behind, peeked into the contents of the lunchbox, and her expression was indescribable.

Zhuge Qi couldn't help but smile.

He didn't make a sound to disturb them, gently closed the window, and turned to wash up.

Longhu Mountain has an exceptionally tranquil beauty in the early morning.

When Zhuge Qi finished washing up, changed his clothes, and walked out of the inn, the sun had already peeked halfway over the eastern ridgeline.

Golden rays of light slanted through the gaps in the bamboo forest, drawing long and short streaks of light on the ground, as if someone had casually scattered a handful of gold powder along the way.

He slowly walked along the gravel path beside the guesthouse toward the training ground.

Along the way, you can already see many early-rising disciples of the Celestial Master's Mansion busy at work. Some are moving tables and chairs, some are hanging banners, and some are sweeping the fallen leaves that have accumulated on the bluestone steps overnight.

Everyone was walking hurriedly, with a rhythm unique to those who were about to do something big.

While passing under an old ginkgo tree, Zhuge Qi encountered Zhang Lingyu.

Zhang Lingyu, dressed in a clean gray-white Taoist robe, with his hair neatly tied up with a wooden hairpin, was standing under a tree instructing two young disciples on how to adjust the position of the banner.

He saw Zhuge Qi approaching from afar, his expression didn't change much, he just nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

Zhuge Qi nodded in return, without stopping.

Since their conversation at the North China branch, Zhang Lingyu has maintained a distance from him that is neither too close nor too distant, neither deliberately avoiding him nor taking the initiative to get closer.

Zhuge Qi could understand that the conversation had indeed hurt the other party's Dao heart, but it was also necessary.

The Celestial Master's scheme needed someone to disrupt it, and Zhang Lingyu was the most suitable catalyst.

Besides, Zhang Lingyu knew that Xia He was not a good person, but she was unwilling to admit it.

When he reached the edge of the training ground, Zhuge Qi stopped.

The sight before him made him inwardly sigh in admiration—the Celestial Master's Mansion had indeed spared no expense.

The area behind the mountain, originally a bluestone training ground for disciples, has now been expanded into a large martial arts arena that can accommodate thousands of people at the same time.

The central main arena is about ten feet high and is made entirely of solid bluestone, with a surface polished smooth as a mirror.

The arena was surrounded by a low railing, with cloud patterns wrapped in red silk, which looked especially festive in the morning sunlight.

The arena is surrounded by tiered stands, from stone steps to wooden benches, and then to standing seats in the back row, with all the seating and standing positions clearly arranged.

Signs have been erected at the entrance to the stands, clearly indicating the division of the various faction areas—the Ten Elders and their families area, the independent cultivators area, the company area, and the Celestial Master's Mansion area, all clearly separated.

What caught Zhuge Qi's attention most were the inconspicuous corners around the training ground.

Surveillance cameras were hanging from the branches of several large trees, and the wires extended along the tree trunks to the underground cable trays.

At the corner of the outer wall of the martial arts arena stood company personnel in plainclothes. Some were pretending to look at their phones, while others were chatting with disciples of the Celestial Master's Mansion. Their positions formed a complete encirclement.

Dou Le did not give a perfunctory answer.

Zhuge Qi took out his phone and glanced at the time: 6:40.

There were still more than two hours until the official opening, but people had already begun to enter the stands.

Most of them were independent cultivators and disciples from small sects who had gotten up early to reserve a spot. They came in twos and threes, found a place with a good view, and sat down. Some started eating the dry food they had brought, while others looked down at the battle schedules saved on their phones.

Zhuge Qi stopped under a pine tree at the edge of the training ground, without walking closer to the arena.

This is a great spot; it won't attract too much attention, yet it offers a clear view of the entire training ground.

The shade of the tree covered most of him, and the morning light shone from behind him, casting a long, thin shadow in front of him.

Ma Hong appeared beside him at some point.

"Section Chief, I've brought you breakfast." Ma Hong took out a still-steaming paper package from his pocket and handed it over.

Zhuge Qi accepted it and thanked him.

The steaming hot paper package was pressed against my palm, the temperature just right.

He picked up a bun and took a bite. The filling was indeed substantial, with plenty of meat and juicy filling, and the dough was soft yet chewy.

Ma Hong also took out a steamed bun, stuffed it into his mouth in two bites, and said indistinctly, "Section Chief, I just went around and didn't find anything unusual. The sentries at the entrances to the back mountain are all in place, and Director Dou's men have been on duty in shifts since last night."

"Are there any movements from the Quanxing people?"

"No. The two spies who were arrested were interrogated by Director Dou all night last night. They kept repeating the same things: Gong Qing's arrangements, the route details, and the methods of communication. They explained almost everything. But they were just the outermost pawns, so they only knew a limited amount of information."

After finishing the last bite of his bun, Zhuge Qi folded the paper bag and put it in his pocket, then wiped his hands. "As expected."

If Quanxing were so easy to reveal all its cards, it wouldn't deserve the name Quanxing.

"Oh, right," Ma Hong added, "Xu San and Xu Si have started practicing too. When I passed by their guesthouse just now, I saw Zhang Chulan practicing boxing in the courtyard. His movements are much more agile than when he was in Tianjin."

"If he didn't even have this much drive, the Celestial Master wouldn't have taken a liking to him." Zhuge Qi's gaze remained fixed on the martial arts arena, his voice calm. "His greatest skill isn't the Qi Source Flow, but his ability to hold back."

Ma Hong pondered the meaning of those words for a moment, but did not respond.

As the morning light grew brighter, more and more people gathered in the training ground.

Just after seven o'clock, the convoys of the Ten Elders and the Shi Family began to arrive one after another.

The Wang family's black vans arrived first, with Wang Bing still wearing an elegant white linen shirt, followed by his butler and four retainers.

After getting out of the car, he stood at the entrance of the training ground for a moment, his eyes scanning the stands as if searching for the best viewing spot.

The Lü family's convoy followed closely behind. Lü Ci was still wearing a gray cloth jacket. After getting out of the car, he walked into the stands without saying a word and sat down in the area marked "Lü Family".

He was seated near the front, directly facing the center of the ring, giving him an excellent view.

Lu Jin arrived a step later than the other two, but with the smallest entourage, bringing only two disciples.

As soon as the old man came in, he greeted everyone he knew with a smile. When he passed by Zhuge Qi, he patted him on the shoulder and said, "Young man, you got up early."

Zhuge Qi respectfully replied, "Good morning, sir."

Lu Jin walked away with a smile. His figure looked particularly energetic in the morning light, not like a man in his seventies, but more like a playful old man going on a spring outing.

Zhuge Qi continued to stand under the pine tree, finished his steamed buns and soy milk, folded the empty cups and handed them to Ma Hong, then took out his phone, opened the notes app, and wrote a few lines.

After writing, he locked the screen, put the phone back in his pocket, and then turned his attention back to the training ground.

The sun had risen above the treetops, and golden rays bathed the entire bluestone ground, making the red silk cloud pattern appear vivid and dazzling.

The atmosphere in the training ground was getting more and more lively.

The stands were already more than 70% full. Some people were chatting, some were debating the ranking of a certain contestant, and some vendors were selling tea eggs and peanuts in the crowd with bamboo baskets.

The disciples of the Celestial Master's Mansion moved about, maintaining order, guiding people to their seats, and distributing competition schedule booklets, keeping themselves extremely busy.

Zhuge Qi saw Dou Le talking to several company employees in plain clothes not far away, gesturing with his hands as he spoke, his expression as serious as if he were planning a major offensive.

The sparse hair on his head swayed left and right in the morning breeze, with a few strands standing stubbornly in the wind, looking somewhat comical.

However, today is probably just an appetizer. The Quanxing faction will definitely make their move, but we don't know when yet.

Zhuge Qi pondered in his mind, his gaze never leaving the direction of the training ground.

By 8:30 a.m., the training ground was already packed.

The spot under that old pine tree was indeed excellent; Zhuge Qi stood there for almost an hour without being noticed by anyone.

He saw the Wang family members seated in the second row, the Lü family members in the area closest to the arena, and Lu Jin and several familiar older generation extraordinary individuals chatting leisurely on the left side of the stands, their expressions as relaxed as if they were listening to a story in a teahouse.

The disciples of the Zhuge family split into two groups: one group, dressed in civilian clothes, mingled around the perimeter of the loose cultivator area, while the other group, dressed in uniforms provided by the Celestial Master's Mansion, were scattered at several key entrances.

Zhuge Qing sat in the middle of the stands, next to Zhuge Bai. The little guy looked around excitedly, finding everything new and exciting.

Zhuge Guan and Zhuge Sheng sat in the back row, their heads down as they studied the match schedule in the tournament manual.

Feng Baobao was positioned slightly to the left of the unaffiliated training area. She was holding a thermal lunchbox in her arms, the lid slightly ajar, and she was using chopsticks to pick up noodles from inside.

Liu Yanyan sat next to her, her expression having evolved from shock to numbness, quietly drinking a bottle of mineral water.

Everything is normal.

That's perfectly normal.

So normal that Zhuge Qi felt something was amiss.

At 8:45, a long, drawn-out chime came from the direction of the main hall.

The bronze bell rang with a deep and resonant sound, striking nine times in total.

After the nine chimes subsided, the once noisy training ground gradually quieted down, as if a hand had gently pressed down the volume knob.

The murmurs in the stands subsided, the vendors' cries stopped, and even the birdsong in the mountains was almost drowned out.

Then, the old master walked out from the gatehouse on the east side of the martial arts arena.

Today he changed into a brand new dark blue Taoist robe, with dark gold cloud patterns embroidered on the cuffs and collar, and a matching silk sash tied around his waist.

Her hair was tied up with a white jade hairpin, not a single strand out of place, and her beard was trimmed neatly. Standing there, she resembled an ancient bell as steady as Mount Tai.

Two older disciples followed behind him, one on the left and one on the right, their postures dignified.

The old master walked to the front of the arena and stood still, his gaze slowly sweeping across the entire arena.

His gaze wasn't sharp; it even carried a hint of the gentleness characteristic of an old man. But with just that one sweep, everyone in the entire training ground involuntarily sat up straight, and even their breathing unconsciously became lighter.

Zhuge Qi knew that this was neither magic nor a suppression of aura; it was simply the weight of the Old Celestial Master himself.

He had lived for too many years, seen too many things, and witnessed the rise and fall of this world of supernatural beings.

Every time he appears in this position, he needs no embellishment; simply standing there says it all.

The old master stood in front of the arena, not in a hurry to speak.

He first turned his head slightly, looked at the red silk cloud patterns on the arena, at the familiar faces on the stage, and at the distant layered mountains and the valley shrouded in morning mist, before slowly opening his mouth—

"You've all come from afar, you must be tired from your journey."

The voice wasn't loud, but everyone present could hear it clearly, as if it were being spoken privately to each person.

"Today's grand Taoist ritual is a once-in-a-century event for the Celestial Master's Mansion of Longhu Mountain. We are honored by your presence, old and young, from the south and the north. The Celestial Master's Mansion is truly honored."

A burst of laughter erupted from the audience.

The old master smiled, his wrinkles smoothing out, making him look more like a kind old neighbor.

"As everyone knows, the purpose of the Luo Tian Grand Ceremony is to select the next Celestial Master. I, this old man, have sat in this position for most of my life, and it's time for me to make way for the younger generation. But while making way is one thing, we still need to choose someone capable of taking over. I won't lecture you on grand principles today; you all understand those. I only have one thing to say—"

He paused for a moment, his tone becoming heavy.

"Once you step onto this stage, it's all about skill. Winners shouldn't be smug, and losers shouldn't be discouraged. The road ahead for extraordinary individuals is long, and a victory or defeat in a short time won't make a difference."