The Transmigrator's Cultivation

Chapter 151 - Arc 11: The Sect's Grand Competition | Chapter 151: Deep Hatred

Translator: Lynn

The disciple residences were situated in the mountainous terrain near the Shifang Pavilion, forming dense clusters.

Countless inner sect disciples traversed the inner circle, appearing from a distance like swarming ants, a sight both amusing and somewhat disheartening.

Luo Yao gracefully rode a flying sword as he swiftly approached his disciple’s quarters.

This particular flying sword was unlike the ordinary ones; its hue was a deep, unobtrusive shade of dark red. Its distinctive feature was a magic talisman affixed to the tip of the sword, and the flow of the magical light enhanced the speed of the flying sword considerably.

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the flying sword descended gracefully from the clouds and settled in front of a courtyard.

This location was a floating residence, housing a small courtyard that belonged to Luo Yao.

Retracting his flying sword, Luo Yao was about to enter when, out of the blue, a fiery projectile hurtled toward him.

Luo Yao’s reflexes were lightning-fast. He deployed a talisman, forming a watery shield that dispersed the flames.

Turning around, his expression turned chilly. “It’s you again?”

There were three or five cultivators standing beneath a tree beside the courtyard entrance, each sporting disdainful expressions.

The leader among them appeared frivolous, hardly resembling a cultivator. He toyed with a hairpin in his hand, examining its vivid red hue. While speaking, he directed it toward Luo Yao. “Refusing to bow to my young master, even when you’re next to a Golden Core cultivator, Luo Yao, you certainly have some audacity.”

Luo Yao’s eyes briefly displayed a hint of disgust as he tossed out a talisman, dispersing another flame. “Master Du, if you have no business here, it’s best not to linger and disrupt people’s peace!”

The young master Du snorted contemptuously. “As long as you remain defiant, I’ll make your life difficult. Don’t think too highly of the Golden Core Stage cultivator beside you; he’s just a single brilliant individual. My Du family, on the other hand, wields great influence within this sect. There’s no mere genius here who can compare to us!”

Luo Yao’s expression soured, but he chose to endure. “There’s no need to bring up this matter again. I’m used to solitude. Young Master Du should seek someone else.”

Young Master Du’s countenance darkened, and several individuals behind him chimed in together.

“It’s your good fortune to be favored by our young master. Refusing his advances will bring you trouble!”

“Without any real talent, why would the young master bother with you? You should quickly seek his protection, or you’ll regret it!”

“You’re truly clueless. Let the young master’s servant educate you; you need to understand the young master’s authority!”

“That’s right, the young master can’t tolerate this person any longer…”

Suddenly, chaos erupted, and the surroundings became quite noisy. Luo Yao’s temper flared, and he nearly succumbed to the provocation.

In the end, it was Young Master Du who raised his hand to quell the commotion. He declared, “I’ll give you a few more days to consider. After the competition, Luo Yao, you’ll belong to my Du family!” With that, he turned and departed.

Once Young Master Du’s figure disappeared, Luo Yao sighed with relief and returned to his courtyard.

After taking just a couple of steps, he encountered a plainly dressed man rushing over, beads of sweat dotting his forehead, and a look of concern etched on his face. “Luo Yao, is Du Zihui causing trouble for you again?” Luo Yao nodded in acknowledgment.

The man, visibly relieved after scrutinizing Luo Yao, asked, “I heard you’ve recently connected with a Golden Core Stage Daoist. Is there any chance of him becoming your mentor due to our friendship?”

Luo Yao shook his head. “I merely went to obtain a general method, and it wasn’t Master Yun who possessed it; rather, it was a young cultivator. The young man was willing to lend it to me, which took some time. Now that the big competition is approaching, I’ve returned to stay here for a few days. After the competition, I’ll resume my practice on the Xiaolu Peak.”

The man’s eyes shimmered with envy. “Even if you can’t become his disciple, a Small Peak has a third-order spiritual vein on its peak, so it’s a great opportunity to cultivate alongside him.” The conversation shifted, and he continued, “You’ve been away for a while, and I was worried you might have offended a master or something. I wanted to check in on you. Yue Jun and Long Xuan are here too, you can catch up with them when you go inside.”

Luo Yao followed him inside.

Fuyouju was a spacious courtyard with many small residences for inner disciples.

Walking about half a mile to the left, they arrived at a small courtyard. It shared the same layout as the others, but it had a unique atmosphere.

Pushing open the door, they entered, revealing Luo Yao’s dwelling.

In the courtyard, there was a stone table, and two young men were seated on stone benches, pouring wine from jugs.

Upon seeing someone enter, they looked up with anticipation. Among them, one was Yue Jun, dressed in fine robes. He stood up, examined Luo Yao closely, and said with a smile, “It’s good to see you’re well.”

Yue Jun had a warrior’s aura about him and seemed to possess a straightforward personality. When he spotted Luo Yao, he pulled him over to sit on the stone bench. “Tell us about your experiences these past days. Did you receive the law transmission from that person?”

Luo Yao gestured for someone else to join, saying, “Qiu Ze, come too.” He proceeded to recount the events on Xiaolu Peak and added, “I borrowed some credit from you in the past, and now it’s time to repay it.”

The three of them readily accepted and subtracted the credited points.

Longxuan took a sip of wine, his eyes filled with enthusiasm. “Luo Yao, you’re incredibly lucky to have encountered the core disciple leader, ranked fifth on the Tianlong list! He’s a true genius. It’s a shame you couldn’t have a conversation with him. Sigh!”

Luo Yao was in a jovial mood among friends, and his smile was sincere. “Yun Zhenren is reserved and doesn’t engage in much conversation with others. However, I think he treats Ziqing quite favorably.”

The other two became curious, and Qiu Ze inquired, “Oh? How so?”

Luo Yao smiled and explained, “Although Ziqing has Master Qiu He as his shizun, Yun Zhenren taught him all his techniques. Furthermore, his current cultivation level is similar to ours, and he only recently reached the Foundation Establishment stage, not even a year ago. Despite that, he can effortlessly contribute as many credit points as the four of us combined…”

Yue Jun raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean? Could it be…”

Luo Yao nodded. “Yes, he ventured into the Heavenly Demon Cave earlier. The Golden Core stage cultivator bestowed all the crystal cores he obtained onto Ziqing, instantly elevating his wealth. That’s how it is.”

None of these individuals had a master, and they understood the arduous process of accumulating credit points over the years. Moreover, each of them had to practice certain unconventional techniques, so they could grasp the substantial cost involved. Gazing at Xu Ziqing now, they couldn’t help but sigh.

If they also had a mentor to support them like this, their cultivation journey would have been far less grueling!

After a collective sigh, they couldn’t help but envy the situation, but Yue Jun suddenly recalled something and glanced at Luo Yao, speaking in veiled terms that everyone in the group understood quite well.

Upon hearing this, Luo Yao’s expression immediately darkened, and he fell silent.

Qiu Ze sighed, “Luo Yao, I understand why you’re working so hard now, but this matter of revenge has become your inner demon. If you don’t resolve it, no matter how hard you try, you won’t break through this hurdle. No matter how skilled you become with talismans, how can you have the strength to seek revenge?”

Longxuan added, “Luo Yao, there’s nothing wrong with taking shortcuts when they’re available. At worst, you can consider it a favor and repay him in the future. It won’t be seen as taking advantage.”

Several friends tried to persuade him earnestly, but Luo Yao firmly declined, “Setting aside the fact that Xu Ziqing and I have barely become acquainted, I, Luo Yao, am not the type to take advantage of my friends.”

Seeing the genuine concern from his three old friends, he softened his tone a bit, “I appreciate your intentions. We’ve all cultivated for years, experienced kindness, and sought revenge. Vindictive people are despicable, not worth mentioning. Ziqing is a rare friend with a genuine heart, and I don’t want to tarnish our friendship like this. Moreover…” He sighed, “Although I dislike Du Zihui, he’s right. Master Yun on Xiaolu Peak is formidable, but he’s just one person. Ziqing is still growing, and his sects are not prestigious, not even on par with Daoist Yun himself. If I drag Ziqing down, I’ll only bring harm to him once again. It’s not right.”

At this point, the other three fell silent.

Luo Yao bore a deep grudge but never revealed his enemy’s identity to them, nor did he want them to get involved on his behalf. They assumed that knowing a Golden Core stage cultivator meant Luo Yao could seek revenge with ease. Yet now, it seemed that his enemy was even more powerful than a Golden Core Stage Daoist. Could it be… The thought left them shocked. After taking a deep breath, they stopped trying to persuade him.

If it was indeed a higher-level powerhouse, it was a matter they couldn’t intervene in.

Yue Jun was the first to change the subject, “Let’s not dwell on this. Tomorrow is the Sect’s Grand Competition. Will you be participating?”

Luo Yao didn’t want to burden his friends with his personal matters, so he replied, “I returned here to inform you about it. Tomorrow, Riqing will be taking part in the Grand Competition, and I’ve already made arrangements with him. Why don’t all of you come with me to support him?” Qiu Ze chimed in with a smile, “We’d love to see the battle skills of Master Yun.”

Longxuan added with enthusiasm, “If we could witness it, that would be fantastic!”

The group continued to chat and laugh, leaving behind their previous melancholic discussions.

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Xiaolu Peak.

Xu Ziqing and Yun Lie faced each other, a chessboard spread between them, and the pieces carefully positioned.

Since their return to the mortal realm and Yun Lie’s return to his own body, the two of them had never enjoyed such a leisurely moment.

Xu Ziqing’s chess skills had improved thanks to his expanded knowledge, and his determination to advance in his studies was even stronger. When he played chess with Yun Lie, his moves were more assertive than ever.

Yun Lie’s attacks still carried a hint of a killer’s aura, but due to his attainment of Golden Core Stage, he managed to temper his sharpness somewhat. Yet, in truth, his skills had become even more advanced.

The two of them settled into this peaceful atmosphere for a while.

Later, Xu Ziqing conceded a bet, saying, “Let’s take it easy today, Yun Shixiong. Tomorrow, I’ll be a diligent student, determined not to lose to anyone.”

Yun Lie nodded, “If you manage to secure a good ranking, the sect will surely reward you.”

Xu Ziqing smiled faintly, “Then I’ll aim to win even more.” After a moment of thought, he continued, “Ah Yao went back today to prepare and mentioned that he’s bringing some friends to assist tomorrow. I hope Shixiong doesn’t mind?” He paused, his expression serious, “If it bothers you, I can turn them away.”

Yun Lie cast a glance at him, his expression unwavering, “It’s not a problem.” After a brief contemplation, he added, “This person carries a deep-seated grudge. If he’s nursing such a hatred, be watchful.”

Xu Ziqing was taken aback, “A deep-seated grudge?”

Yun Lie explained, “I’ve encountered many individuals burdened by blood feuds. If they endure the humiliation without seeking vengeance, they conceal their feelings deeply, much like him. But the thirst for revenge festers within, and if they can’t get it, they can never truly move on.”

Xu Ziqing sighed, “He’s been through so much.”

Yun Lie’s eyes narrowed, “When you spend time with him, you’ll see it in his words and actions.”

Xu Ziqing nodded, understanding the implied message from his senior brother: “Yes, Shixiong.”

Whether he’d have the chance to meet Luo Yao remained uncertain, but he was prepared to gain insight into his character.

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