Martial Cultivator

Chapter 131: Willows by the Lake

After meeting the dean, he found some free time to temper his body another time. Finally, he accompanied Song Lian to the woman's house for a meal. When they walked out of the woman's courtyard, Song Lian, who had lost count of how many times he touched his round belly, exclaimed, "I have to say, braised cowpea with dried bamboo shoots is truly delicious."

Chen Chao smiled and said, "Yes. Your Excellency, you had eight bowls of rice. If it weren't for your occasional purchases of rice, I'm afraid that next time, Your Excellency really wouldn't be able to get a free meal from Elder Sister anymore."

Song Lian smiled without saying a word, feeling very satisfied.

"Eating braised cowpea with dried bamboo shoots every day is something that I wouldn't trade anything for."

Song Lian made a final judgment, his voice filled with pure joy.

Chen Chao chuckled and said, "Having a wife who can cook this dish is the most important thing, isn't it?"

Upon hearing this, Song Lian immediately looked at Chen Chao and asked, "How much longer do I have to wait?"

Rubbing his head, Chen Chao smiled and said, "Perhaps not much longer."

During his time here, he had already discerned that the woman had some interest in Song Lian. However, the woman was shy. It should ultimately be Song Lian taking the initiative in such matters. But, Chen Chao knew that this immediate superior still had reservations and could not make up his mind to open his mouth.

Song Lian snorted coldly, not completely satisfied with such an answer. But he did not say anything. Instead, he changed the subject and said, "These days, the Divine Capital has been very calm. Everyone is waiting for the Myriad Willow Convention."

Chen Chao nodded and said, "I'm waiting too."

Song Lian asked in all seriousness, "Are you confident or not? The Great Liang Dynasty's cultivators have never been the champions before."

Chen Chao pondered for a moment and smiled, saying, "If it were before, I'd have at most answered Your Excellency that I'll give it a shot. Now, well, I can say that I'll go all out."

Song Lian sighed and said, "You still need to consider your capabilities in such matters. Even if you don't win the championship, with your potential, you're destined to be an extremely important figure in our Great Liang Dynasty in the future. Don't think too much."

Chen Chao was quite touched when he heard this and was about to say something when Song Lian lowered his voice and asked, "Do you have any confidence in how far you can go? Top eight or the top four?"

Chen Chao frowned and asked, "What do you mean by that, Your Excellency?"

Song Lian said faintly, "A few days ago, the major gambling houses in the Divine Capital have already opened their books. I have some spare money and I want to place a bet."

Chen Chao looked at him and was silent for a long time before sighing, "I never thought that no matter how I looked or observed, I never truly understood you in the end, Your Excellency."

Song Lian's face did not turn red nor did his heart race faster as he said earnestly, "How can it be so easy to see through these things?"

Chen Chao fell into silence.

"Don't just stand there, quickly tell me so that I can place my bet. The latter half of my life depends on you."

……

……

The sound of cicadas continued chirping and the summer cicadas on the willow trees by the academy's South lake multiplied, signaling the arrival of midsummer. It also meant that the most crucial event in the Divine Capital was finally about to take place.

The Myriad Willow Convention was about to be held.

This was a significant event for the entire human race in the truest sense. After all, the essence of the Myriad Willow Convention was to discover true geniuses for the human race. Many years ago, the majority of the young talents who had shone brightly in the Myriad Willow Convention had later become extremely important figures for the human race.

Although the Myriad Willow Convention in recent years had not been as highly regarded as it was in the past, it was definitely still an important grand event in the cultivation world.

The Great Liang Dynasty was hosting this grand event belonging to the entire cultivation world for the first time, without any prior experience. However, the Great Liang Dynasty had already been preparing for ten years for this day, so there was no sense of hastiness. The venue for the exams had long been arranged. The construction started ten years ago by the lake in the western part of the city, and now the facilities were complete.

There were many willow trees by the lakeside, similar to the South Lake, which complemented the name 'Myriad Willow Convention.' Not far away, there were some giant rocks that appeared quite smooth, looking like they had not been deliberately shaped, as if they were a natural stone platform.

There were not just one but more than ten of these stone platforms, standing by the lakeside. This would be the place for the martial exam that would follow.

Not far from the stone platforms was a small mountain that grew along the lake, with a stretch of pavilions on the mountain.

The pavilions were extremely spacious. From a distance, they resembled a high platform. In reality, this was a high platform. Standing there, one could see the scenery of the lake.

In those pavilions, prominent figures from various sects would appear to enjoy the view. However, the written exam was never particularly interesting. It only involved setting questions and answering them, and no one had much interest in it. The martial exam, on the other hand, was still more than ten days away. But today was the start of the Myriad Willow Convention, even if those big shots found it uninteresting, they had to give sufficient face. Although this year's host was the Great Liang Dynasty, they did not take it to heart. However, no one wanted their own sect's reputation to be tarnished by such trivial matters.

Therefore, after 9 am, accompanied by the resounding sound of cicadas, several rays of afterglow light emerged from the clouds in the sky, and several figures appeared within the clouds.

Those were the truly important figures among the immortal cultivators who had come to the Divine Capital. Some were the heads of their sect, while others held important positions within their respective sects.

Perhaps it was because the Great Liang Dynasty was hosting the Myriad Willow Convention, or perhaps it was because the Myriad Willow Convention had lost much of its previous significance in recent years, but none of the truly top-notch sects had arrived.

No big shots came to observe the ceremony, nor did any young cultivators from those sects came to participate in this Myriad Willow Convention.

Several figures landed on the pavilions, and the young cultivators ascended the steps to their pre-assigned areas.

They were also wondering if the Great Liang emperor would attend today's Myriad Willow Convention in person. If it was not His Majesty the Emperor, then could it be that Warden?

For such a grand event, there had to be a powerful figure to preside over it on behalf of the Great Liang Dynasty.

Suddenly, a cry of astonishment rang out in the venue.

Two figures appeared by the lakeside, an old man in hemp robe brought a young girl along, slowly walking along the lakeside.

As the cultivators looked at the old man and the young girl, they quickly fell silent.

It was the same for the prominent figures.

The cultivation realm of the old man in hemp robe was too high. He was a great daoist sage from one of the two major Daoism sects, the Myriad Heaven Palace. It was impossible for them not to show respect.

The young girl had a low cultivation level, but her status was too high; the Saintess of the Myriad Heaven Palace. Among the young generation of cultivators, no one dared to provoke her.

Mentioning the word provoke, it brought to mind an earlier story.

Not far away from the pavilions, the cultivators from Old Pine Mountain had ugly expressions on their faces. The two people who had a dispute with Zhu Xia on the street over honey dates had silently hidden themselves in the crowd, afraid to look towards the lakeside.

As the old man in hemp robe slowly arrived at the pavilion, the cultivators all quietly paid their respects, including those so-called big shots.

They all displayed great respect.

However, Zhu Xia kept looking around, as if searching for something.