Volume 2: The Way That Can Be Told – Chapters 123: The Marriage Contest

It is said that to the southwest of Evil Land Continent, there used to be a desolate region filled with fierce beasts and poisonous insects, rarely visited by humans. One day, celestial immortals arrived suddenly. With a mere gesture, they turned their hands into clouds and rain, bringing abundant blessings. Using their supreme powers, they eradicated all demons and monsters from the land. What was once a barren wasteland gradually turned into a peaceful place where birds sang and deer roamed within a few years. A few more years passed, and mountains began to rise from the plain. These mountains were long and winding, with countless peaks and ridges. Their contours seemed to point straight toward the sky, hence they were named Sky-Pointing Ridges. Among them was a peak that resembled an immortal raising his hand to the heavens in question—people called it the Questioning Peak.

On the Questioning Peak stood the Way-Asking Sect, founded by those immortals who purified the southwest region. Since ancient times, it has been the leading sect in Evil Land Continent. If it weren’t for the Zhang family in the northwest producing two immortals of the seventh rank, their family would have dominated Evil Land Continent.

The Way-Asking Sect had three sect leaders. The first was Qin Wuxian, also known as the Immortal Without Strings. It was said he had reached the eighth rank of immortality. He pursued the Way through swordsmanship, and his martial skills were astonishing. The second sect leader was Yun Juanshu, whose cultivation level was unknown. Some said he was slightly stronger than Qin Wuxian, while others claimed he was unworthy of the title and had only become the deputy sect leader because of his deceased father’s reputation. No one in Evil Land Continent had ever seen him fight. The third sect leader was Luo Fei, a disciple of Qin Wuxian with extraordinary talent. He reached the rank of immortal in just three hundred years and was promoted to sect leader ahead of schedule. Nowadays, almost all major and minor decisions in the Way-Asking Sect were made by him, giving him absolute power.

One day, the Questioning Peak was crowded with people, adorned with colorful flags and flowers. A festive atmosphere filled the air as it was the day when Yun Zhaoying, the direct great-granddaughter of the second sect leader Yun Juanshu, held a competition to find a husband. At twenty years old, Yun Zhaoying was as beautiful as an immortal and came from a noble family. She was the only woman in the Yun family, treated like a treasure by everyone. People were willing to teach her strange and mysterious skills, and the best elixirs and magical treasures were readily available to her. At such a young age, she had already reached the seventh rank of immortality.

In Evil Land Continent, it was difficult to find a match as outstanding in terms of family background, cultivation, and beauty as her. Thus, holding a competition to find a husband was the only option left.

It was said that the Zhang family had visited the Way-Asking Sect many times to propose marriages for their descendants. Yun Juanshu never refused, responding with smiles. But on the actual matchmaking day, upon seeing the Zhang family’s descendants, he would politely decline, leaving everyone puzzled. Although the Zhang family was also a prominent force in Evil Land Continent, it was not advisable to quarrel with them. Moreover, the Zhang family alone could not do much to the Way-Asking Sect.

The Dao Asking Peak is divided into eleven layers, and this grand event was held on the eighth layer. Though it’s called the eighth layer, it’s actually a platform artificially built atop the peak. On this platform, there are countless pavilions, towers, bridges over streams, as well as strange pines and rocks. The various structures are either majestic or exquisitely crafted, appearing as if they were naturally formed, creating a magnificent sight.

On a square area spanning over ten miles, a high platform was erected. Around this platform, representatives from various major sects of Evil Soil Continent took their seats. Some powerful families sent hundreds of people, while smaller sects sent dozens or even just seven or eight. There were also those who came alone, clearly without any sect, hoping to try their luck. Even if they didn’t get selected, they could still enjoy the spectacle. Compared to those from established sects, they naturally appeared isolated and weak.

After the hour of Chen passed, a disciple from the Dao Asking Sect stepped onto the stage. He spoke some ceremonial words first, then got to the point by explaining the rules of this competition.

Although it was called a competition, there were many confusing rules.

The first rule was about appearance. Many young men hoping to find a spouse stepped onto the stage, and Yun Juanshu, the second sect leader of the Dao Asking Sect, personally inspected them behind a curtain. If their appearance was deemed unsuitable, they would be considered to have come in vain.

The second rule was about skill demonstration. This didn’t involve using magic or supernatural powers; instead, the young men were simply instructed to place their palms on a piece of white jade and exert slight pressure. Who won or lost was still determined by Yun Juanshu.

The third rule was about character assessment. After the first two rounds, only a few candidates would remain. In this final round, the selected men were taken to the back hall by disciples from the Dao Asking Sect, where they faced questions from Yun Juanshu and Yun Zhaoying. The details of this part were not disclosed at the time.

Upon hearing these three rules, the people below the stage racked their brains trying to figure out strategies. However, the rules were truly strange, and no clues could be found. Even the elders from major sects who had come to supervise their disciples struggled to advise them on how to gain an advantage, could only exchange helpless smiles.

In short, the rule meant: just place the people there, and let Yun Juanshu choose.

After reading out the rules, the disciple from the Dao Asking Sect instructed the young men competing to take turns stepping onto the stage and walking in a line. There was a beaded curtain hanging on the stage, but behind it, mist swirled, making it impossible to see what was inside.

There were hundreds of young men participating, and the first round alone took nearly an hour.

After everyone had gone through, a person stepped out from behind the beaded curtain. Without any expression, he raised his right hand, and dozens of red flowers flew out and landed among the young men.

These young disciples were not highly skilled in cultivation. In a flash, more than forty of them found a red flower appearing on their chests. The disciple from the Dao Seeking Sect stepped forward and said, “Those with red flowers on their chests have passed the first round and may stay on the stage. As for the rest, I’m sorry, but our sect master said that fate decides everything, so there’s no need for you to be upset.”

The Zhang family, the most prominent family in Evil Land Continent, sent over two hundred people this time, including more than thirty disciples competing. Yet after the first round, they suffered a complete defeat, with all thirty-plus young disciples returning in disappointment.

At that moment, a follower of the Zhang family shouted from the crowd, “Zhang Hui! That’s Zhang Hui!” Upon closer inspection, among the forty-plus people on the stage was indeed Zhang Hui, a talented member of a branch of the Zhang family.

Some of the Zhang family’s disciples felt uneasy. Zhang Hui had clearly been sent to that realm by them—how could he appear here? An elder asked, “If he’s from the Zhang family, why didn’t he come with us?” Another sharp-eyed elder remarked, “Is this man really from the Zhang family? Earlier, I saw a group from Zhongxuan City surrounding him and thought he must be a prominent figure there.”

The crowd glanced in the direction of Zhongxuan City. This time, Zhongxuan City sent over a large group of over a hundred people, but not a single young disciple. They all wondered: With such a display of power, could it really be for just a member of a branch family? It seemed utterly unreasonable. Someone who recognized Duan Tiande said, “The lord of Zhongxuan City has come in person. If it’s for Zhang Hui, this boy must have quite an impressive background.”

Zhang Hui, after hearing the rules of the Dao Seeking Sect’s marriage selection, was also anxious. He had prepared many fine magical artifacts and pills, thinking he would surely win against peers of his level. But they proved useless. Fortunately, he passed the first round unscathed, and seeing only forty-plus people left on the stage, his confidence soared.

Even more anxious than Zhang Hui were Duan Tiande, the lord of Zhongxuan City, and Huo Qing, the head of Qianyi Pavilion. Wukong had instructed them to take good care of Zhang Hui, saying to do their best while accepting fate. But who knew what the immortal truly intended? Fearing that Zhang Hui might fail the selection and incur Wukong’s wrath, they felt slightly relieved when he passed the first round smoothly.

Suddenly, four more disciples from the Dao Seeking Sect appeared on the stage. They carefully placed a sandalwood table on the ground, atop which lay a piece of crystal-clear, milky-white jade. Someone who knew valuables immediately exclaimed, “The Five Elements Heart-Questioning Jade!” Everyone was shocked.

The Five Elements Heart-Questioning Jade is not a magical artifact, but it is an indispensable treasure for every renowned sect. This jade can determine the distribution of the five elements in those who have just embarked on the path to immortality; the larger the jade, the more accurate the reading. After testing, those whose element is fire will see remarkable results in practicing fire-related powers, while those whose element is metal must learn metal-related spells to fully realize their potential.

An ordinary Heart-Questioning Jade, even as big as a palm, is already worth a fortune. The one before them is over half a person tall—truly befitting the thousands of years of heritage of the Daoist Sect, which indeed possesses great wealth.

But is this jade being brought out now to test each of the over forty people on the stage one by one? Envious glances appeared in the eyes of many in the audience. Many cultivators here, even though they had reached the level of Earth Immortals, had never had the chance to be tested in their early years; otherwise, they would have avoided many detours on their cultivation path. Even if those on the stage couldn’t win the hearts of beautiful women, they wouldn’t have come in vain.

For immortals, time is extremely precious. At this moment, the people on the stage had already begun the tests one by one. As magical energy was poured into the Five Elements Heart-Questioning Jade, its color changed instantly—some turned red and white, others black and yellow. By the time it was Zhang Hui’s turn, more than half of the people had been tested. When Zhang Hui placed his hand on it, the jade felt cool and comfortable. As he released a slight amount of magical energy, the jade instantly turned completely black, without any other colors.

Gasps erupted among the audience. Zhang Hui wasn’t particularly striking in appearance, but he possessed the rare Black Water constitution. If he practiced water-related spells, his achievements would far exceed those of ordinary people. Seeing the color of the Five Elements Heart-Questioning Jade and the expressions of the people below, Zhang Hui naturally realized he was different from the others. Overjoyed, he stood aside happily, while the others on the stage looked at him with envy.

As all forty-some people were tested, the last person placed his palm on it, and the jade turned a deep crimson!

“Black Water! Red Fire!” someone immediately exclaimed. People with such constitutions are highly sought after in any renowned sect. As long as nothing goes wrong, they will surely achieve great things in the future.