Chapter 183: Substituting onto the Stage

"Arrived?"

"Arrived."

"Your junior sister is ill and can't go on stage for the contest; you'll go up in her place later."

"Alright."

Arriving at Xu Yun Lao Dao's side, Zhang Xingyu received the task of substituting on stage.

He heard the Daoist say that on the way to the island, a junior sister reached out to play in the water and was injured by the lake's cold.

Zhang Xingyu walked toward the injured junior sister.

She was pale, her jaw clenched, and a chill seeped through her body.

This lake water is seriously perverse.

This cute junior sister is almost frozen into a popsicle.

Su Gaoxuan laughed at Xu Yun Lao Dao: "I tell you, Xu Yun Lao Dao, does Nan Hua Immortal Academy have no one left? You're sending a Qi Refinement Tier‑1 disciple into the fray?"

Xu Yun Lao Dao glared at him, his old face flushed, and said, "I'm sending my own disciple to train; what does that have to do with you?"

"Just show up later and make an appearance," Xu Yun said to Zhang Xingyu.

"Dean, rest assured, I will not disappoint your expectations," Zhang Xingyu replied, lifting his head.

Xu Yun Lao Dao stroked his long beard and shook his head.

"No need to force it. Your spiritual root is weak, your cultivation low; just protect yourself."

"Dean, rest assured, I will definitely win," Zhang Xingyu said, patting his chest.

Defeating a group of Qi Refinement rookies, victory is a must.

Think of me, Zhang Xingyu; as a prodigy of the Cultivation Realm, I've even beaten Golden Core masters like Wang Xinghe.

Fat Elder glanced at Zhang Xingyu and chuckled softly, "You little guy has ambition. But your cultivation is low; wanting to win is like a child trying to embroider the heavens—how fanciful."

Zhang Xingyu glared at Fat Elder.

"Dean, who is this Fat Old Man chattering here? My bout has nothing to do with him."

Xu Yun Lao Dao stroked his beard, smiling, and scolded, "You little brat, no respect. Let me tell you, that dead fat guy is the Dean of Su Yang Immortal Academy, Wang Xuefei. He's a Nascent Soul master. If you speak like that, watch out he might beat you into a pork head."

A Nascent Soul master, huh!

If I could trap a Nascent Soul master, it would be a real thrill.

With that thought, Zhang Xingyu respectfully bowed to Wang Xuefei.

"Senior Wang, I apologize to you. I failed to recognize a great master; I hope you, as a great person, will be magnanimous and not stoop to my level."

Wang Xuefei let out a light snort, the fat on his face quivering.

"Hmph! Ignorant junior. Who do you think I am, to spar with a junior like you?"

Zhang Xingyu's demeanor grew even more respectful.

"Senior, you're wrong about one thing. When I step onto the stage later, I will definitely win. Since I began cultivation, I've never lost a duel. Many masters have fallen to me; they call me the 'Little Lord of Ten‑Thousand Victories—feared by men, haunting ghosts, unbeaten in battle, invincible in attack.'"

Wang Xuefei shook the fat on his body, "You junior have some nerve! Calling yourself the Little Lord of Ten‑Thousand Victories—your lies don't blush, your bragging isn't even drafted. It's like sprinkling pepper in a graveyard, a numbing ghost."

Zhang Xingyu puffed his chest, "Senior, if you don't believe me, dare to wager with me."

"A wager! Interesting. I've loved betting all my life. I bet with Xu Yun Lao Dao and lose nine out of ten. Junior, what do you want to bet?"

"I'll bet on whether I'll lose the next match. If I don't lose, Senior pays me a hundred Four‑grade Spirit Pills. If I lose, I'll give you a hundred High‑grade Spirit Stones."

"You junior, you're quite calculating. One High‑grade Spirit Stone can't even buy a Four‑grade Spirit Pill. Besides, with that bear‑like look, can you even stake a wager?" Wang Xuefei asked.

"If I can't produce it, isn't our Dean there?" Zhang Xingyu said, pointing at Xu Yun Lao Dao.

"You junior, truly ruthless. But I like it. Xu Yun Lao Dao, I'll bet with you, my disciple; don't think you can stall." Wang Xuefei laughed toward Xu Yun Lao Dao.

Xu Yun Lao Dao let out a cold snort, about to refuse.

Zhang Xingyu quickly tossed him a storage bag, "Dean, this is my academy's student loan; please hold onto it for now."

Xu Yun Lao Dao glanced at the bag and asked Zhang Xingyu, "Made money?"

Zhang Xingyu nodded, "I earned a modest sum."

Soon, a gong sounded from the cloud stage: "Immortal Seed Conference, Stage 9, Round 9, Su Yang Immortal Academy's Su Zimei versus Nan Hua Immortal Academy's Zhang Xingyu."

Zhang Xingyu gracefully approached the foot of the stage, placing his hand on the image‑preserving pillar to leave a spiritual imprint.

A flash of white light passed, and Zhang Xingyu found himself on the stage.

On the stage stood a woman in white, long hair draped over her shoulders, serene and pleasant.

Zhang Xingyu scanned the tranquil woman, who was also covertly observing him.

The two locked eyes for a while, neither speaking.

"Clang!"

Another gong sounded from the stage.

"Immortal Seed Conference, Stage 9, Round 9, Su Yang Immortal Academy's Su Zimei versus Nan Hua Immortal Academy's Zhang Xingyu, officially begins."

Zhang Xingyu was somewhat speechless.

Why does this stage duel use a cracked bronze gong as a cue?

It's downright a mood‑killer!

Speechless as he was, he still clasped his fists to Su Zimei and said, "I am Zhang Xingyu of Nan Hua Immortal Academy, please teach me, Sister Su."

"I, Su Zimei of Su Yang Immortal Academy, request Senior Brother Zhang to instruct me!" Su Zimei replied, bowing.

Su Zimei drew her sword, and Zhang Xingyu waved his hand at her.

"Junior sister, don't rush to strike!"

"Why?"

"Junior sister, look: the cool breeze on this stage, the beautiful scenery—it's the perfect spot for a heart‑to‑heart chat."

Hmm.

How about we drink and chat here? I'll introduce you to the South China Immortal Academy, and you tell me some interesting stories about the Suyang Immortal Academy.

Well, that's not good. Our senior brothers and sisters are watching from below.

No worries, I'll set up a formation on the platform. With the formation, those below won't be able to see what we're doing.

Zhang Xingyu said, casually laying down the Grand Formation of Deceiving Heaven and Tricking Gods on the Cloud Platform.

The name of this formation sounds impressive, but it's actually just a high-level shielding formation.

After setting up the formation, he then conjured out spiritual food, spiritual fruit, and spirit liquor as if performing a trick.

"Junior Sister Su, come sit." Zhang Xingyu pointed to the blanket in the middle of the Cloud Platform and said.

Su Zimei hesitated for a moment, but eventually she put away her magic sword and sat cross-legged on the blanket.

"Come, try these snacks I brought from Dongsheng Shenzhou..."

"This is the spiritual fruit I bought from Dongsheng Shenzhou; the taste is not bad..."

"Try this spirit liquor, a specialty of East Victory Immortal City; one cup replenishes a hundred points of spiritual aura..."

Below the Cloud Platform, the spectators all stared at each other, bewildered.

What are those two up to up there?

There was no fighting, no shouting, only layers of thick mist spreading across the Cloud Platform.

After half an hour, Su Zimei lifted her flushed, pretty face.

"Senior Brother Zhang, shall we continue the match?"

"No more fighting; how about we call it a draw?"

Hmm.

Below the Cloud Platform, everyone was utterly confused.

Su Gaoxuan stood up, furrowed his brows, and shouted at Xu Yun Lao Dao: "Old Xu Yun, what's your disciple up to, setting up a formation on the Cloud Platform?"

Xu Yun Lao Dao laughed heartily: "Haha, how would I know? Perhaps your daughter has taken a liking to my disciple. The two are up there talking lovey-dovey, being all affectionate."

"Nonsense. How could my daughter fancy that good-for-nothing?" Su Gaoxuan spat on the ground.

He sat down heavily on the ground, worry showing in his small eyes that were almost buried in his fat.

Just then, a gong sounded on the Cloud Platform.

"Immortal Sprout Grand Assembly, Ninth Cloud Platform, Ninth Match: Su Zimei of the Suyang Immortal Academy versus Zhang Xingyu of the South China Immortal Academy — a draw."