Chapter 310: Chapter 287: Lost the Competition, Won at Life (4K)_2
Shen Xiaoyao held on until the end, exhausting all his True Qi, not even leaving enough to refine Elixir Pills.
Darkness overtook Shen Xiaoyao’s vision, and he completely lost control, falling to the ground alongside the Mysterious Fire Mirror and the Opening Sun Sword.
“Hahaha, I’ve finally won!”
Zhang Sheng’s strength had also reached its limit; had Shen Xiaoyao continued to fight, Zhang Sheng might have been defeated by him.
Fortunately for Zhang Sheng, Shen Xiaoyao collapsed first.
The Supreme Elders of the Star Pavilion took a deep breath and announced the final victor, “The ultimate winner is Zhang Sheng of the Dragon Tiger Sect.”
Just as Lu Changsheng was about to check on his disciple Shen Xiaoyao, suddenly someone else reached Shen Xiaoyao before him, so Lu Changsheng no longer approached.
“Shen Xiaoyao!”
Tang Ling’er appeared beside Shen Xiaoyao, her face etched with urgency. She checked his breathing and found that, although weak, Shen Xiaoyao was far from critical condition.
Inside Shen Xiaoyao’s body, the remnants of Elixir Pills were being slowly absorbed by his Pure Yang Body.
Tang Ling’er instantly sighed with relief.
Zhang Sheng and the spectators on the viewing platform were astonished.
Although Zhang Sheng had ultimately won, why did it seem like Shen Xiaoyao was more like the winner in life?
Situ Kong, Grandmaster Chen, and others finally understood what Qin Kai meant when he said that winning or losing didn’t matter to Shen Xiaoyao.
As long as Shen Xiaoyao gained Tang Ling’er’s favor, the victory or defeat was irrelevant.
“Since Zhang Sheng has won, then in accordance with the rules, he will receive a medium-grade Immortal Artifact. We in the Star Pavilion will not break our word.”
The voice of the Pavilion Master of the Star Pavilion boomed like thunder.
“Wait, isn’t the winner supposed to… with Tang Ling’er…”
Zhang Sheng began to panic.
He had finally defeated Shen Xiaoyao, but from the Pavilion Master’s words, it seemed he had no intention of betrothing his daughter to him?
So what was the point of him getting first place?
A medium-grade Immortal Artifact was hardly scarce for the Dragon Tiger Sect.
Zhang Sheng wanted to marry Tang Ling’er, not a medium-grade Immortal Artifact.
“That’s right, the Star Pavilion never said that the victor could definitely marry Miss Tang, only that even if not chosen by the Star Pavilion, they would receive a medium-grade Immortal Artifact as compensation.”
“It seems the Star Pavilion has truly set its sights on Shen Xiaoyao.”
“Who would have thought that Shen Xiaoyao would lose the match but win at life. His fortune is indeed remarkable.”
“If this lad becomes part of the Star Pavilion, his future will be boundless.”
“With Mount Shu and the Star Pavilion joined in marriage, and with the Sect Leader of Mount Shu possessing the power of the Unity Realm at Great Accomplishment, Mount Shu will surely become famous throughout the world, becoming a major sect like the Dragon Tiger Sect or the Thousand Swords Manor!”
All the powerful figures from the great territories couldn’t help showing their envy.
Once Shen Xiaoyao married Tang Ling’er and became the son-in-law favored by destiny, with the resources of both Mount Shu and the Star Pavilion at his disposal, what difficulty would he have ascending to the Immortal Realm?
“Pavilion Master Tang!”
Zhang Sheng grew increasingly anxious.
He had clearly snatched the top spot, so why was the one favored by the other party not him, but Shen Xiaoyao?
“Tang Wansan, this isn’t right, is it? This isn’t what we agreed upon before.”
The Sect Master of the Dragon Tiger Sect, Zhang Qinglong, his face grim, called the Pavilion Master by his name.
He had come to the Zhong Zhou Conference confident that his son would marry Tang Ling’er and elevate the Dragon Tiger Sect to the most powerful sect in Zhong Zhou.
However, Shen Xiaoyao had emerged out of nowhere, stealing away the opportunity.
Even though Tang Wansan was the Pavilion Master, Zhang Qinglong did not hide his displeasure.
Such opportunities were exceedingly rare.
“I’ve never promised that Ling’er would definitely marry into your Dragon Tiger Sect. Ling’er and Shen Xiaoyao are fond of each other; as an old father, I still have to consider her wishes. I ask Brother Zhang not to take offense.”
Tang Wansan stood with his hands behind his back, casually offering Zhang Qinglong an explanation.
Tang Wansan’s interest in Shen Xiaoyao was far from simple.
Shen Xiaoyao and Tang Ling’er, having inherited the Pure Yang Body and Pure Yin Body in the Star Immortal Emperor’s Star Tower, complemented each other perfectly in constitution. United, they could exert even greater strength.
Next, Shen Xiaoyao’s cultivation at the fifth level of the Void Refinement Realm allowed him to push Zhang Sheng, at the seventh level, to such a state—an astounding talent indeed.
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, Tang Wansan saw auspicious clouds lingering over Shen Xiaoyao’s head. The lad possessed Great Fortune; entrusting his daughter to Shen Xiaoyao before ascending to the Immortal Realm should avert any misfortune.
There was one point, however, that Tang Wansan might not have wanted to explain to Zhang Qinglong. That was the alliance between Star Pavilion and Dragon Tiger Sect; it might not necessarily benefit the Star Pavilion in maintaining its dominant position.
On the contrary, an unparalleled genius like Shen Xiaoyao, who didn’t have much of a background, would more likely take into account the position of the Star Pavilion.
Zhang Qinglong’s gaze was dark and gloomy, clearly dissatisfied with Tang Wansan’s explanation.
Still, Zhang Qinglong was ultimately wary of the Star Pavilion’s terrifying strength and did not dare to act out, only able to swallow this frustration.
“I see that this young man is upright and his cultivation technique is of the Righteous Dao; he is not bad.”
The woman of the Unity Realm by Tang Wansan’s side looked at Shen Xiaoyao, showing a look of admiration.
It is only natural for a mother-in-law to look at her son-in-law and like him more and more.
When Shen Xiaoyao faintly woke up, he found himself lying on Tang Ling’er’s lap, and she was silently shedding tears.
“Ling’er, I lost. I’m sorry to have let you down…”
Having exhausted all his True Qi, Shen Xiaoyao felt extremely weak and thought that because he had lost the competition, Tang Ling’er would be forced to marry Zhang Sheng.
Shen Xiaoyao’s gaze was dull as he reached out to touch Tang Ling’er’s pitiable face.
Suddenly, Tang Ling’er broke into laughter through her tears. “Fool, my father has chosen you, not Zhang Sheng.”
“What?”
Shen Xiaoyao was stunned. Was his luck really that good? To lose a contest and still be picked?
Tang Ling’er protested, “Do you not want that?”
“No, no, no, I, Shen Xiaoyao, what merit or ability do I have to be favored by a beauty…”
Shen Xiaoyao’s eyes regained their brightness.
To think that Tang Ling’er, of such high status, would actually take an interest in him.
Shen Xiaoyao felt even more grateful to his master, Lu Changsheng. Without Lu Changsheng, he, Shen Xiaoyao, would have been just a descendant of a common merchant in Heyang City; how could he have had the chance to embark on the path of cultivation, let alone the opportunity to meet Tang Ling’er?
“Longevity, your disciple indeed has Great Fortune.”
Even Situ Kong had to admire the foresight Lu Changsheng had in choosing his disciples.
Shen Xiaoyao lost the contest yet still managed to marry Tang Ling’er, henceforth receiving the attention of the Star Pavilion, not to mention having Lu Changsheng as a master. He was truly a winner in life.
Lu Changsheng shook his head helplessly.
His disciple’s Qi Destiny was the first under the heavens.
Initially, Lu Changsheng had also been drawn to Shen Xiaoyao’s Qi Destiny, which was why he had chosen him as a disciple.
Suddenly, Lu Changsheng felt a chilling gaze upon him.
The Sect Master of the Dragon Tiger Sect swept a fierce and malevolent look over Lu Changsheng.
Clearly, Zhang Qinglong was very dissatisfied with him.
If it weren’t for a disciple trained by Lu Changsheng stealing the opportunity from his son, it would have been his son, Zhang Sheng, marrying Tang Ling’er right now.
Then, the Dragon Tiger Sect might have fully emerged as the leading Sect of Zhong Zhou.
Now their Young Sect Leader had lost to an obscure disciple from Mount Shu, and the Dragon Tiger Sect’s prestige was sure to plummet.
Lu Changsheng, however, was not afraid of Zhang Qinglong.
Lu Changsheng, after a seven-hundred-year retreat, who defeated the manor lord of Thousand Swords Manor, was confident even when facing the Sect Master of the Dragon Tiger Sect.
The only concern Lu Changsheng had was that the overall strength of the Dragon Tiger Sect was stronger than Mount Shu’s.
If the top experts from the Dragon Tiger Sect were to attack in full force, Mount Shu would risk being annihilated.
Fortunately, Mount Shu had formed alliances with Inquiry Immortal Pavilion, Immeasurable Temple, Hidden Dragon Temple, and Martial Alliance; with several major sects united, the Dragon Tiger Sect would likely hesitate to make a move.
“Disciple, now you have the opportunity to join Star Pavilion through marriage, do you still wish to practice with your master afterward?”
Lu Changsheng ignored the murderous look from the Dragon Tiger Sect that seemed to want to devour him and instead inquired about Shen Xiaoyao’s future plans.
If Shen Xiaoyao were to stay and cultivate in the Star Pavilion in the future, that might also be a good option.
“Disciple has received much kindness from Master and wishes to follow Master until Master ascends to the Immortal Realm. Only then will the disciple go to practice in the Star Pavilion. Moreover, the disciple will always retain the identity of a Mount Shu disciple.”
Shen Xiaoyao’s eyes were sincere, likely speaking from the heart.
“Very well.”
Lu Changsheng had not misjudged him; Shen Xiaoyao was indeed not ungrateful.
Thereafter, Lu Changsheng turned to look at Pavilion Master Tang Wansan of the Star Pavilion, realizing that the latter had chosen Shen Xiaoyao, probably also considering that Shen Xiaoyao would not compete with Tang Ling’er for power.
The Pavilion Master of the Star Pavilion was indeed not simple and might become the ultimate opponent of this Zhong Zhou Grand Assembly.