Chapter 588: True? Grand Marshal

The Tian Shi Fu senior acting as referee, seeing the outcome settled, stepped onto the arena.

First, he looked at this junior brother who had been away from the mountain for years with surprise, then quickly checked the condition of the three fallen cultivators.

Though clashes between cultivators inevitably involve some bumps and bruises,

when their strengths are nearly equal, whoever holds back will surely lose.

But by unwritten rule, competitors never target an opponent’s vital points to avoid accidental death.

The Luo Tian Da Jiao is ultimately just a contest, not a feud with mortal enmity—no need to bear the burden of a murder charge.

After checking, the referee senior exhaled in relief: all three had merely fainted,

no serious injuries—take them offstage, let them rest well through the night, and they’ll be fine upon waking.

“Jia Zi Rat, winner: Zhang Jie!”

Then, naturally, the victor was announced.

Applause erupted—clap, clap, clap!

The audience, impressed by Zhang Jie’s brilliant match and overwhelming strength, offered him unrestrained applause.

Though not a clash of titans, both the young man with the dagger’s object-control technique

and the brute’s hard-body cultivation were exceptional.

Even Huang Ming Dao Chang’s soul-out-of-body ability left them awestruck,

exclaiming that the orthodox sects had hidden their depth so thoroughly.

And Zhang Jie’s overwhelming power—easily defeating them, sending them into infantile, sweet slumber—

left them exhilarated: another dark horse had emerged!

Tian Shi Fu’s Ling Yu Zhen Ren and the Zhu Ge family’s heir, Zhu Ge Qing, were seeded contenders,

strong candidates for the championship—but now, it was no longer a duel of two, but a tripod of three!

“Thank you, thank you all for your support.”

Zhang Jie smiled and waved.

Then, Zhang Jie suddenly looked up toward the audience, where an elder was surrounded by young cultivators, and bowed respectfully.

“What is Dao Chang Zhang Jie doing?”

The young cultivators around the elder were stunned, staring at him in disbelief.

Zhang Jie was a lay disciple of Long Hu Shan; though not ordained, he cultivated at home,

yet he was qualified to preside over Daoist rituals and perform liturgical rites,

a household Daoist priest—calling him “Dao Chang” was entirely appropriate.

“This kid’s strength has grown so much, and his perception isn’t weak at all.”

Since he was discovered, the elder dropped his disguise, withdrawing the qi subtly veiling his face.

His young disciples saw he was still as tall and handsome as before,

standing out sharply among the elderly competitors, yet strangely familiar.

Who else could it be but Lu Jin, patriarch of the Lu family—one of the four great clans of the cultivator world,

one of the Ten Elders, who donated the Tong Tian Lu as a prize,

igniting the entire Luo Tian Da Jiao, renowned for his virtue, upright conduct, and hailed as “flawless in life”?

“Wow! It’s Lu Lao Yezi! Lu Lao Yezi just gave me advice!”

Someone, like a fan meeting their idol, was overwhelmed with excitement.

“Rounding off, am I now considered a disciple of the Ten Elders?

Then, in the cultivator world, can’t I walk around like a king?”

Someone dared to entertain a bold thought.

“Too conservative, too conservative, brother.

Lu Lao Yezi taught us in a subtle, profound way—we can count ourselves as his heirs!”

The conservatives thought the radicals were too conservative.

“Lu Lao Yezi, I’m a fan of your great-granddaughter Linglong!

Could you get me her autograph?

If possible, I hope Miss Linglong will sign it on my hand!”

Some of Linglong’s fans sought to approach their idol through the great-grandfather route.

Meeting a Ten Elder while watching a match was like attending a concert and realizing the neighbor was Xue You,

watching a basketball game only to chat with Jordan—the crowd grew restless, eager to approach.

But Lu Jin himself paid them no mind, his brow furrowing instead.

First, the Golden Light Spell that blocked object-control and hard-body strikes,

then the method that amplified “qi momentum,” subduing foes without fighting,

then the ability to grasp the ethereal soul with bare hands,

and finally, this perception—able to detect and pierce his disguise across the arena…

Zhang Jie’s abilities were too powerful, too varied…

A normal young cultivator possessing just one was already among the elite;

Zhang Jie had mastered them all—truly unimaginable.

More terrifying was his casual demeanor—he hadn’t even used his full strength.

Who knew how many more unexpected cards and abilities this kid still held?

He had seen Zhang Jie before.

Back then, he visited the old Tian Shi to pay respects; this boy was studying there.

After observing, he concluded Zhang Jie was neither terrible nor outstanding—just average among his peers.

Now, he was utterly transformed—what kind of miracle had befallen this boy to cause such a metamorphosis?

Other uninformed cultivators might attribute Zhang Jie’s change to the Eight Marvelous Techniques.

After the Jia Shen Uprising, the Eight Marvelous Techniques had been mythologized,

as if possessing just one could transform a waste into a genius, a genius into a monster,

and if all eight were united, one might attain Dao like the ancient sages, ascending to immortality.

But as the master of the Tong Tian Lu, he could conclude: Zhang Jie’s transformation could not be caused by the Eight Marvelous Techniques.

Though miraculous, they could never produce such an implausible effect!

Yet that was not why Lu Jin was observing Zhang Jie.

Even if Zhang Jie held some great secret, as an elder,

could he possibly sink to underhanded schemes to seize it?

What drove him to conceal his identity and observe Zhang Jie was this:

He discovered his beloved great-granddaughter was secretly communicating with Zhang Jie!

If it were just ordinary contact, he wouldn’t care—he wasn’t some feudal relic enforcing arranged marriages.

Men marry when ready, women wed when ready—if both consent, he had no objection.

He had deep ties with the old Tian Shi, visiting Long Hu Shan many times,

bringing his great-granddaughter along several times; initially, he ignored her interest in Zhang Jie.

Because she had openly mentioned it, without concealment.

She said she met a highly motivated senior at Tian Shi Fu—though not gifted,

he was cheerful, diligent in cultivation, and his character impeccable—she admired him and wanted to learn from him.

And they had no real interaction—just ordinary friendship.

Who knew, recently, he noticed his great-granddaughter spending far more time on her phone,

often giggling foolishly, cheeks occasionally flushing.

Most crucially, whenever he approached while she held her phone,

she instantly grew tense, hiding it from him.

On several occasions, when he knocked, he heard a sound before she opened the door—

the click of a lock retracting.

Linglong had learned to lock her door—against him, her great-grandfather!

This abnormal behavior raised suspicion; he deliberately used his Concealment Technique,

and when she blushed while staring at her phone, he peeked from behind…

His great-granddaughter was looking at lewd pictures!

Pictures sent by that so-called honest, diligent, virtuous senior.

Lu Jin’s mind nearly shattered.

Who the hell sends their own lewd pictures?

He firmly opposed this match!

That’s why he came today—to see how this little scoundrel performed.

Turns out he did well…

But no matter how well he performed, his great-granddaughter would never be handed to such a man!

But no matter how good he was, her great-granddaughter could not be given to a man like this!

Lu Jin’s expression hardened, and he silently made his decision.

Today, Lu Jin is saying this plainly: even if he dies right here, even if he jumps off that cliff behind Long Hu Mountain,

he will never agree to let his great-granddaughter be with a boy who posts lewd pictures online!