Chapter 24: No

If one overlooks Qing Cong's raised eyebrow, both in stature and appearance he would be the top choice even among a group of Foundation Establishment disciples, but the two clusters of intermittently furrowed brows became a terrifying sight, instantly reflecting Qing Cong's emotions, and combined with the innate arrogance from his background, this elegant‑talking handsome guy was filled with a violent temperament, like unstable nitroglycerin that explodes at the slightest touch.

Qing Cong said something to Feng Wu, who had just stepped down from the platform; Feng Wu covered his mouth, nodded with a smile, and also glanced toward Wei Yuning. Afterwards, Qing Cong and Feng Wu nodded farewell, took a few steps forward, stood at the very edge near the high platform, and prepared to ascend the stage.

Wei Yuning knew that Qing Cong was also a Physical Foundation Establishment practitioner, so he paid extra attention to his duel; seeing Qing Cong's position so close to the high platform, he felt a bit curious—was Qing Cong worried that standing too far would prevent him from jumping up?

Without any warning, a tiny tornado suddenly appeared, spiraling around Qing Cong. At first it was just a gentle breeze on his face; soon the wind speed clearly increased, emitting a whoosh, and a pale white trail became visible, about one meter in diameter but tens of meters high, and the height kept rising. After a few breaths, a white cloud drifting over the Great Cloud Hall plaza was sucked into the gale; now the tornado's path around Qing Cong grew ever clearer, its height reaching over thirty meters, its momentum astonishing.

Qing Cong's body was half concealed in the mist, and then he seemed to become a part of the tornado, swirling onto the high platform. Without waiting for Administrator Hong Zhi to speak, Qing Cong had already begun his attack.

A dragon‑shaped cloud burst from the tornado, charging straight at the wooden dummy; within the mist Qing Cong's figure could be faintly seen hidden inside. "Roar—", a dragon's roar sounded, the wooden dummy quivered, and a white aura lingered in the upper divine zone.

He was actually in first place. Wei Yuning's eyes widened in disbelief; Qing Cong truly had skill, not just a spoiled brat relying on his status to dominate.

But the audience's reaction surprised Wei Yuning. Most of the female cultivators of the Azure Luan Sect cheered loudly, whereas the disciples of the Cloud Veil Sect were few in response; the few who shouted loudly were people Wei Yuning recognized—the few who had previously gathered beside Qing Cong.

"Alright, what a good target—doesn't mind being a big one and even conjures a tornado; a Physical Foundation Establishment practitioner's body is the best weapon. Instead of using his own strengths, he foolishly studies the spell‑casting path—flashy but empty!" Since Qing Cong couldn't hear from the stage, the reckless little prodigies behind began unabashedly berating him.

Wei Yuning certainly didn't think the guys behind were wrong, but even if the raised‑eyebrow senior brother was flashy and abandoned close‑range attacks for spells, his results were solidly first place—so it couldn't be fake. Jealousy, pure jealousy.

"Well, Qing Cong's nephew's Dragon Cloud Body Technique is indeed impressive, but next time in combat, don't waste spiritual energy so much; the Dragon Cloud Body Technique is meant to aid speed and conceal the form, and overusing it defeats its purpose. Of course, Qing Cong's nephew's strength is outstanding; his current standing is first place—congratulations, nephew." Administrator Hong Zhi announced loudly from below.

"Thank you, senior uncle, for your teachings!" Qing Cong said solemnly, bowing his hands. He then waved to the audience below, walked to the edge of the high platform, gave a light hop, and stepped down.

Wei Yuning internally wanted to say "the boy is teachable," because Hong Zhi's words carried criticism; Qing Cong not only remained calm but also spoke humbly.

He realized he was wrong.

When Qing Cong was half a foot above the ground, his body halted. A cloud of mist appeared beneath his feet, its shape bizarre, bubbling like boiling water and gurgling, also like countless worms. The mist carried Qing Cong's body, drifting slowly; the distance from the high platform to the seat was only a few meters, yet it floated for over ten seconds.

When the proud‑looking Master Qing Cong finally sat down, Hong Zhi coughed once, then weakly called out, "Next up, Yuning!"

【7】 Wei Yuning heard his name and, like a reflex, sprang to his feet; fortunately, the "to" that reached his mouth was swallowed.

Wei Yuning heard his own name and, like a conditioned reflex, sprang up sharply; fortunately, the "dao" that was about to leave his lips was swallowed.

Aside from the menial work in the herb garden, very few people truly knew Wei Yuning; they only learned of this delicate handsome young man after noon today.

Besides the sparse cheers and applause from the menial work area, there were also shouts from the female cultivators of the Azure Luan Sect—the reason being that he had now become the Azure Luan Sect's son‑in‑law, thus one of their own.

"Yuning is also a Physical Foundation Establishment practitioner; like Qing Cong, just stick to close‑range attacks!" Hong Zhi added.

Hearing this, the crowd below stirred; many only knew he was establishing a foundation, unaware that he was a Physical Foundation Establishment practitioner. Indeed, Physical Foundation Establishment seems to be a relatively rare, alternative method.

"Qiu Hu, don't worry. Yuning's spiritual perception is extremely strong; I won't misjudge him. Even as a Physical Foundation Establishment practitioner, his future is boundless."

"Uncle, you're overthinking; I won't reject him because of that!"

After Wei Yuning stood up, the Cloud‑Goose Fairies on either side gathered with Qiu Hu, whispering private conversation.

He really wanted to interrogate the two female cultivators; speaking ill of someone behind their backs is immoral, and gathering next to the person to speak is not only immoral but also highly unprofessional.

Wei Yuning had just completed his Physical Foundation Establishment at noon today; aside from the ranged spell Lightning Chain, he hadn't learned any specialized close‑combat techniques, let alone those flashy body arts.

Wei Yuning originally intended to step onto the stage honestly, but felt a bit unwilling and wanted to learn from the senior brothers ahead.

He thought it over and decided to perform a simple parkour move: a run‑up, a jump, a front flip. However, his physical condition suddenly surged, and he lost control; what should have been a stable two‑foot landing turned into his face hitting the ground—Thud—, taking a dog‑eaten mud hit.

The audience below roared with laughter.

"Good!"

"New junior brother, what a splendid technique!"

"What kind of body technique is that? It looks very special!"

"This is called the 'Head‑First Earth‑Seizing Divine Skill', first injuring oneself, then frightening others!" The voice sounded familiar.

"Hahaha, what a good name!"

Wei Yuning scratched his head, embarrassingly wanting to crawl into a crack in the ground, but then thought, why feel ashamed in front of these other‑worldly country bumpkins? I'm a civilized person from the information age.

He stood up graciously, brushed off non‑existent dust from his body, then, with a smile, raised his right middle finger toward the crowd.

The audience's Qing Ge froze, recognizing the familiar gesture; suddenly he understood, then quickly extended both his left and right middle fingers, pointing at Wei Yuning.

Qing Ge sat in the front row; Wei Yuning couldn't avoid seeing his action.

"These country bumpkins are really terrible!" Wei Yuning muttered sarcastically, then turned to face the wooden dummy before him.

"How to fight, with what?" As a menial worker attending this marriage alliance ceremony, Wei Yuning hadn't brought a weapon, because disciples who haven't completed Foundation Establishment cannot continuously condense spiritual energy in their bodies, and can only cast formulaic spells like Lightning Chain through a weapon; therefore, aside from that, he possessed no other attack methods.

"Could I just punch it hard?" Wei Yuning thought for a while, feeling that perhaps this was the only option.

Wei Yuning stood for a while, and no one urged him; as a suddenly emerging prodigy disciple, the audience below couldn't imagine his inactivity was due to a lack of attack means.

After another ten breaths or so, a faint stir arose in the audience, and Wei Yuning finally was ready.

"Ah…." Without any dazzling body technique, Wei Yuning took small shuffling steps, raised his post‑Foundation Establishment pale pink fist, and slammed it at the wooden dummy.

Only Wei Yuning himself could see a flash of green light at the moment his fist met the wooden dummy; the attack ended there. The wooden dummy showed no reaction, not even a white aura in the lower ghost zone indicating attack power.

"Hahaha, this counts as Physical Foundation Establishment strength? Hahaha!" Qing Cong, pounding his own thigh, was the first to burst into laughter.