Chapter 56: First on the Hundred Flowers List

Other factions, though inferior to the Azure Cloud Sect, still had to show it some basic courtesy.

If their disciples managed to outperform the newly appointed inner sect true successors of the Azure Cloud Sect, or even if they merely fought to a draw, it would be enough to make their names resonate throughout the world.

Should they actually defeat a true successor of the Azure Cloud Sect, it would no longer be a matter of mere renown; it would be a direct slap to the face of the sect.

Offending the Azure Cloud Sect would leave a bitter taste in their mouths, and courting trouble down the line through petty retaliation would ultimately outweigh any gains.

Furthermore, the timing of the Azure Cloud Sect's grand ceremony for true successors always took the actual strength of the candidates into thorough consideration. With all these factors combined, the probability of an upset was virtually zero.

"However, do not assume that being a true successor is an easy path. In a year's time, many veteran inner sect disciples who have yet to attain true successor status will challenge you!"

Recalling Zhou Chen's fondness for beauty and carnal pleasures, Li Changhen offered a warning:

"Under the condition of matched cultivation realms, if you suffer a single defeat, half of your privileges will be stripped away and transferred to the one who defeated you."

"If you suffer two defeats, your status will be reduced to that of an ordinary inner sect disciple, though the title of true successor will remain in name."

"If you suffer three defeats, the title of true successor will be confiscated entirely, and you will be demoted to an ordinary inner sect disciple."

"Should you suffer only one defeat, the inner sect disciple who triumphed over you will challenge you once more a year later. If you win, you remain a true successor. But if you lose again, you will be replaced by your challenger."

"The capable rise, and the incompetent fall. It is entirely fair!"

Zhou Chen nodded without a hint of surprise.

Without pressure, there is no motivation; this system was designed precisely to prevent true successors from loafing and holding positions without contributing.

Besides, if you were given a full year to develop your strength and still managed to be consecutively defeated by three inner sect disciples within the same realm, then the title of true successor would indeed be undeserved.

It would be considered normal for one or two exceptionally talented inner sect disciples to defeat you, but you were granted a year of buffer time.

If you possessed true talent, that one year would be more than enough to elevate yourself and turn defeat into victory.

If you could not, it merely proved your mediocrity.

You would simply lack the qualifications to hold the rank of true successor.

The Azure Cloud Sect's rules were reasonably sound, far superior to those novels where protagonists were forced to spar with veteran disciples the moment they entered a sect!

Such scenarios only worked for protagonists equipped with external cheats; anyone else would stand no chance of survival.

Seeing Zhou Chen's complete indifference, Li Changhen felt compelled to issue a solemn reminder:

"Although you comprehended sword intent through the flawed Art of the Yi Arrow and mastered the first stance—showing remarkable talent—the inner sect disciples of the Azure Cloud Sect are also exceptionally gifted, and many among them are formidable powerhouses."

"Moreover, as news of your situation spreads, numerous inner sect disciples on the verge of advancing to the eighth layer of Body Tempering will deliberately suppress their cultivation, refusing to break through. Instead, they will train specifically in martial arts designed to counter you, simply waiting to defeat you a year from now!"

Hearing this, Zhou Chen suddenly raised a question:

"Senior Sister, while the title of a true successor carries immense prestige, would those disciples who are capable of breaking through not be wasting a whole year and suffering a net loss just to challenge me?"

"Who told you they would be wasting a year?"

Li Changhen did not answer directly. Instead, she asked, "I could have advanced to the Divine Might Realm three years ago. Do you know why I have yet to break through?"

"Why?"

Zhou Chen had not expected that Li Changhen could have broken through three years ago. Her talent was truly monstrous.

"Because of the foundation."

Li Changhen explained: "The Body Tempering Realm is the foundation of a martial artist, much like the cornerstone of a building. The better the foundation, the higher the building can rise. Martial arts are no different."

"Furthermore, the solidity of your foundation directly dictates the strength of your Divine Might Realm, the strength of all subsequent realms, and your ultimate potential."

"To give you an example: if in the Body Tempering Realm I cultivate only the Art of the Yi Arrow and then advance to the Divine Might Realm, my divine might strength is one, and my potential is one."

"However, if during the Body Tempering Realm I cultivate not only the Art of the Yi Arrow, but also bring the Mighty Divine Ox Fist to the ninth layer of Body Tempering before advancing, then my divine might strength might be one and a half, and my potential one and a half."

"If I then cultivate the Sky-Rending Sword Technique to the ninth layer of Body Tempering before breaking through, my divine might strength might reach three, and my potential as well."

"Do you understand now?"

"I understand!"

Zhou Chen had not anticipated such profound secrets. No wonder wandering cultivators lacking proper inheritances were beaten to a pulp by sect disciples; the disparity was simply too vast.

At the same time, Zhou Chen realized that those inner sect disciples suppressing their realms to cultivate other martial arts were not wasting time at all. Rather, it was equivalent to cultivating in advance—after all, they would have to learn those techniques sooner or later.

Only those of mediocre talent and lacking ambition would rush to break through relying on a single martial art.

"It seems I must work even harder to earn romantic affinity points!"

Zhou Chen had already set a small goal for himself: first, to cultivate all nine secret martial arts of the nine peaks of Azure Cloud to the ninth layer of Body Tempering, and then move on to the other supreme techniques of the sect.

"So you must apply yourself and not get defeated by the inner sect disciples a year from now, embarrassing my Divine Arrow Peak!"

"Rest assured, Senior Sister. Since I occupy the seat of a true successor, no one will ever take it away."

Zhou Chen smiled, casting the matter completely out of his mind.

In a year's time, he had no idea how far his strength would have progressed.

Let alone ordinary true successors.

He could even overturn the Eldest Senior Sister herself.

His opponents had never been mere disciples of the Azure Cloud Sect.

His sights were set on a sea of stars.

With food and wine consumed to the full, Zhou Chen reaped a bountiful harvest.

Though the Eldest Senior Sister appeared aloof and cold, she answered every question Zhou Chen asked without reservation, giving him a comprehensive understanding of the Azure Cloud Sect.

"Senior Sister, farewell!"

Zhou Chen led Qin Hongyu back to their residence.

Lying in bed, Qin Hongyu's heart remained in a tumult of excitement, making her too happy to sleep.

Zhou Chen, equally awake, embraced Qin Hongyu from behind, sending waves of sheer delight through her.

The business of earning 'money' had to be pursued with unwavering persistence, without a single moment of slack.

As the saying goes, every bit of toil yields a harvest.

Everything Zhou Chen had achieved today was the result of his own diligent efforts.

Within the Lustrous Wind and Moon Mirror, Zhou Chen's soul was also undergoing dual cultivation with Ji Fengxia and Liu Ruyi.

The three treasures of the human body are essence, Qi, and spirit.

Ji Fengxia and Liu Ruyi were currently treading the path of authentic divinity.

With the Lustrous Wind and Moon Atlas to comprehend and Zhou Chen backing them with all his might, their cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds with each passing day.

In return, Zhou Chen harvested an ever-increasing amount of romantic affinity points.

When it came to acquiring these points, Zhou Chen had developed a set of guiding principles.

First, the very first time always yielded the most.

Second, the higher the cultivation realm, the more points earned.

Third, the more creative the play, the greater the yield.

Fourth, the more participants involved, the higher the harvest.

As for other variables, they remained to be determined.

The night slipped away quietly. Zhou Chen checked his points, which had increased by six thousand, and nodded in satisfaction.

This was the fruit of his arduous labor.

Gazing at Qin Hongyu, who was sleeping soundly in his arms with faint tear tracks still lingering on her cheeks, Zhou Chen pressed a gentle kiss to her cheek.

"Brother Chen."

Qin Hongyu opened her eyes, her long eyelashes fluttering slightly as a blush crept across her face.

She had not been awakened by Zhou Chen's kiss...

Rather, she had been startled awake by his formidable endowment.

"Today I plan to take a stroll through Azure Cloud City. Care to join?"

"Azure Cloud City?"

Qin Hongyu's eyes lit up. This was the prefectural capital of Azure Cloud, and owing to the presence of the Azure Cloud Sect, it was even more renowned than Yunmeng City, the capital of their native Yunmeng Prefecture.

"Let us go together."

Seeing the eagerness in her eyes, Zhou Chen made the final decision and rose from the bed.

After a brief wash, Zhou Chen went to inform Li Changhen of their plans.

"You are newcomers and unfamiliar with Azure Cloud City. Take Ruyiyan with you to show you around," Li Changhen suggested.

"Many thanks, Senior Sister."

Zhou Chen gave a cupped-fist salute. Guided by Ruyiyan, he went to collect a Flood Dragon Steed, sharing the mount with Qin Hongyu.

Ruyiyan rode another Flood Dragon Steed, taking the lead at the front.

Although Azure Cloud City lay at the foot of the Azure Cloud Sect—its silhouette visible from the sect grounds—the distance was by no means short, measuring a full twenty miles.

Even at the swift pace of the Flood Dragon Steeds, it took Zhou Chen half an hour to reach the city gates.

Before them lay a road dozens of meters wide, behind which a massive city resembling a mountain peak stood grandly, like a dormant ancient beast radiating an awe-inspiring and solemn majesty.

A majestic Azure Cloud River flowed past the front of the city like a natural moat.

The river wound its way from this point, eventually merging into the Yunmeng Marsh of Yunmeng Prefecture.

"It's so huge!"

Qin Hongyu stared blankly at the ancient, weathered giant city, her face a mask of shock. The largest city she had ever witnessed prior to this was Qinghe County.

Yet Qinghe County was merely a small district town; how could it possibly compare to an ancient city with a history spanning a thousand years like Azure Cloud City?

"Indeed, it is massive!"

Zhou Chen had seen many grand cities in his past life, yet none could compare to Azure Cloud City.

It was truly a magnificent city worthy of a transcendent world.

He wondered just how tall and majestic the imperial capital of the Great Qian Dynasty must be?

It was said that the imperial capital boasted a population in the tens of millions. Zhou Chen found it hard to fathom just how vast an ancient city of tens of millions of souls would have to be.

Then again, considering this was a transcendent world, cities with populations in the hundreds of billions would not be out of the ordinary.

As for Azure Cloud City itself, its population hovered around four million.

Zhou Chen rode forward. At the city gates, guards were collecting an entry fee of ten copper coins per person.

Disciples of the Azure Cloud Sect, however, were exempt.

Zhou Chen rode directly into the city without any obstruction from the guards—after all, Ruyiyan was attired in the robes of an Azure Cloud disciple and mounted on a Flood Dragon Steed.

Flood Dragon Steeds were not mounts ordinary disciples could acquire.

Outer sect disciples had to pay to rent them.

Inner sect disciples could use them for free or purchase one outright.

True successors were simply granted one as a reward.

The mount Ruyiyan rode belonged to Li Changhen.

Entering Azure Cloud City, one was greeted by a street fully fifty meters wide, flanked by various vendors hawking every imaginable ware.

"Look! It's Fairy Qingshan!"

"Fairy Qingshan is so breathtaking!"

"She's looking right at me!"

"Look at your head, what kind of daydream are you having in broad daylight!"

A sudden commotion erupted ahead. Zhou Chen raised his eyes for a fleeting glimpse, realizing that even the descent of a celestial maiden could hardly rival this Fairy Qingshan.

Her temperament was pure and transcendent, untainted by mortal dust. Her exquisite countenance possessed the power to eclipse the moon and shame the flowers, to sink fish and cause wild geese to descend.

Her physique was equally flawless, exuding a natural grace and charm, yet inspiring no lewd thoughts lest one profane her sacred elegance.

Alas, in the blink of an eye, nothing remained save for an upright, unfathomable, ethereal, and singularly beautiful retreating figure that dissolved into a hazy mist within the sea of people.

"Senior Brother, that was Senior Sister Shi Qingshan of Azure Cloud Peak, the personal eldest disciple of the Sect Master, ranked fourth on the Qingzhou Heaven's Pride Board, right behind Senior Sister Li,"

Ruyiyan explained upon recognizing her, offering context to Zhou Chen:

"During last year's True Successor Grand Competition, she lost by merely half a move; her strength is comparable to Senior Sister Li's."

"Moreover, Senior Sister Qingshan is ranked fifth on the Qingzhou Hundred Flowers Board, enjoying immense renown."

"The Hundred Flowers Board?"

Hearing this piqued Zhou Chen's interest.

"And where does the Eldest Senior Sister rank?"

Zhou Chen was deeply curious.

Though Li Changhen was cold and distant, an iceberg beauty was still a beauty. By Zhou Chen's aesthetic standards, her ranking ought not to be low.

"Senior Sister Li is ranked ninth!" Ruyiyan said with a hint of lingering regret.

"Truthfully, once a beauty reaches a certain tier, it becomes difficult to distinguish their external merits. Those at the top of the rankings are all breathtaking, each possessing their own unique allure."

Zhou Chen paused, unable to suppress his curiosity:

"I wonder who holds the number one spot?"

"The number one spot belongs to our Sect Master!"

...