Chapter 567 - 192: Fame Spreads in Jintai Prefecture, Miss Jinlian’s Thoughts

Below the arena.

Lu Shaohua crashed heavily to the ground, the dull thud kicking up a cloud of dust.

He lay curled in a ball, the front of his robes already dyed crimson with the blood he had coughed up. A fresh trickle of blood stained the corner of his mouth.

He slowly raised his head and gazed blankly at the imposing figure on the stage, his eyes filled with shock and bewilderment.

He had lost.

He had lost to a new disciple who had been in the sect for less than a year.

The realization struck him like a thunderbolt, leaving him momentarily dazed. ’It all feels like an absurd dream.’

His titles—third on the Hidden Dragon List, the top prodigy of Jintai Prefecture’s younger generation—all his past glories seemed like a joke at this moment.

Just then, several figures rushed over. They were disciples from Qingxu Peak.

They reached out to help Lu Shaohua up. "Senior Brother Lu, are you all right?"

Lu Shaohua raised a hand, gently pushing away their outstretched arms.

Gritting his teeth, he pushed himself off the ground and staggered to his feet. He was still unsteady, but he straightened his spine.

He was slowly recovering from the shock and stupor of his defeat. The bewilderment in his eyes faded, replaced by a complex mix of emotions.

He looked up at the stage and met Yang Jing’s gaze.

Yang Jing’s gaze was calm and open, devoid of any arrogance or contempt.

Lu Shaohua took a deep breath and wiped the blood from his lips. The roiling energy in his chest gradually subsided.

He faced Yang Jing on the stage and called out, "A loss is a loss. You are indeed stronger than me. I hope you can make it all the way!"

In his mind, Yang Jing’s strength was already on the verge of rivaling Chu Yunhai’s.

’Perhaps he can give Chu Yunhai a huge surprise in the end and shatter his seemingly unbreakable hold on the number one spot.’

Among the younger generation of Xuanzhen Sect disciples, aside from top-tier figures like the senior-most brothers and sisters of each peak, only Chu Yunhai had ever made him, Lu Shaohua, feel genuinely outmatched.

Now, there was another: Yang Jing.

A dark horse who had come out of nowhere to claim the top spot on the Hidden Dragon List.

To his surprise, Lu Shaohua found himself filled with keen anticipation for the ultimate showdown between Yang Jing and Chu Yunhai.

Upon hearing this, Yang Jing cupped his fists toward Lu Shaohua from across the distance, his expression remaining calm.

In his year at the Xuanzhen Sect, he had seen the darkness in people’s hearts, encountering petty villains like Yuwen Mingjue who targeted and schemed against him at every turn.

But he had also met far more upright and forthright men like Ma Guoliang and Zhao Chong, as well as true prodigies like Lu Shaohua—men who could accept defeat with grace.

They might have been arrogant, but they were not without pride. A loss was a loss, and they didn’t make excuses.

Seeing Yang Jing’s gesture, Lu Shaohua felt a weight lift from his heart, and the complex expression on his face softened.

He cupped his fists in return, then turned and walked toward the other disciples from Qingxu Peak without lingering.

His back was still straight, showing no sign of dejection.

Yang Jing had defeated him, yet showed no contempt or disdain. He hadn’t gloated arrogantly; instead, he had shown respect, allowing Lu Shaohua to save face.

This magnanimity improved Lu Shaohua’s impression of Yang Jing even further.

...

On the stage.

As Yang Jing watched Lu Shaohua’s departing figure, the roar of the crowd washed over him, growing ever louder.

"Yang Jing won! He actually beat Lu Shaohua! The man who was third on the Hidden Dragon List!"

"This is definitely the biggest upset of the Fushan Grand Competition! Yang Jing is the ultimate dark horse!"

"To fight his way into the top three... Yang Jing is doing the impossible!"

The cacophony of gasps, shouts, and discussions was almost deafening.

Yang Jing’s gaze swept over the roaring crowd below, but his thoughts had already drifted elsewhere.

He still clearly remembered his first visit to the Steward Main Hall. It was right after he had joined the Xuanzhen Sect and become an outer disciple of Lingxi Peak. That was when he had first seen the Hidden Dragon List posted on the wall.

The names on the list glittered with golden light, and the one ranked third was none other than Lu Shaohua.

Back then, Lu Shaohua had been an untouchable prodigy in his eyes.

A Core Disciple, specially cultivated by the sect, destined to one day join its highest ranks.

For the vast majority of Xuanzhen Sect disciples, a prodigy like him was a lofty, unattainable figure.

In the dead of night, Yang Jing himself had once dreamed of becoming such a prodigy, of one day shining brilliantly and basking in glory under the adoring gaze of the masses.

And today, he had actually done it.

Here, on this stage, under the gazes of thousands, he had defeated the very prodigy he could once only admire from afar.

An indescribable feeling surged through Yang Jing’s heart.

He could only imagine the earth-shattering changes that would appear on the Hidden Dragon List in the Steward Main Hall once the Fushan Grand Competition was over and the dust had settled.

Yang Jing’s gaze cut through the roaring crowd, settling on the area where the disciples of Yunxi Peak were gathered.

Sun Ningxiang was standing there. In her simple dress, she looked exceptionally elegant amidst the boisterous crowd.

Her eyes were locked on the stage, filled with delight.

Their gazes met across the distance. A radiant smile instantly bloomed on Sun Ningxiang’s lips, and her clear eyes crinkled into beautiful crescents as she gave him a gentle nod.

A warmth spread through Yang Jing’s heart. He returned her smile, the sharp intensity in his expression softening into gentleness.