Ling Luoyi held Gu Yuncheng, waiting quietly for the competition to end. She hadn't expected to hear her name, and looked up at Nangong Suzhang on the stage with confusion.
The elder was also bewildered and asked again, "Nangong Suzhang, who did you say you wanted to challenge?!"
The elder's voice rose at the end.
"Elder, you heard correctly. I want to challenge Eldest Miss Ling, Ling Luoyi."
The last three words were spoken by Nangong Suzhang, one by one, to ensure the elder didn't mishear or make a mistake.
The elder looked at Nangong Suzhang in disbelief, feeling like he was going mad.
He had merely gone through the motions, asking him once.
Who knew that he was already ranked fourth and still wanted to challenge someone!
And out of all people, he chose the one least likely to win!
According to the rules, Ling Luoyi had to accept, otherwise their rankings would be swapped.
The elder took a moment to compose himself and asked Ling Luoyi, "Ling Luoyi, do you accept Nangong Suzhang's challenge?"
Ling Luoyi put down Gu Yuncheng and said, "Since the First Prince wishes to challenge me, I gladly accept."
Nangong Suzhang watched Ling Luoyi walk onto the stage and said, "Eldest Miss Ling, it's not that I'm dissatisfied with my ranking. It's just that Tianwu Kingdom has too few cultivators at the Spiritual Master realm, and I cannot get access to them. So now, I have an opportunity, and I wish to ask Eldest Miss Ling for some guidance."
"Alright," Ling Luoyi had a good impression of Nangong Suzhang, so she readily agreed.
Nangong Suzhang had a gentle disposition and was approachable. Those who were close to him were also broad-minded individuals. He was highly regarded by the public, no less than Crown Prince Nangong Suqi. Such a person should have been a thorn in the Crown Prince's side, but Nangong Suzhang had no ambition for the throne. He yearned for cultivation more.
The Crown Prince knew his thoughts, and he was not a narrow-minded person. Therefore, the Crown Prince had a very good relationship with him.
Nangong Suzhang first bowed to Ling Luoyi, then took out his weapon. It was a long sword, which looked decent, but unfortunately, it was only a first-tier Illusionary Artifact.
Facing Ling Luoyi, Nangong Suzhang gave his all. However, there was no killing intent or fatal moves in his every strike. Everyone could see that Nangong Suzhang's desire for Ling Luoyi's guidance was genuine.
Ling Luoyi did not hold back either. During their spar, she pointed out some of Nangong Suzhang's current shortcomings.
Nangong Suzhang was not offended. Instead, he slowly adjusted his movements according to Ling Luoyi's advice, and his progress was visibly apparent.
The spectators, seeing Nangong Suzhang's improvement, began to reflect on themselves, wondering if they had similar shortcomings.
Their spar did not last long. After a quarter of an hour, Nangong Suzhang channeled all his spiritual power and unleashed his final sword strike.
Ling Luoyi watched the sword fall. She did not dodge, as the strike was not aimed at her.
Stones flew on the stage, but none came near Ling Luoyi.
The commotion on the stage ceased. Everyone stared in shock at a small gully about three steps away from Ling Luoyi.
"Wasn't that the First Prince's 'Thousand Sword Kill'? Why was it so powerful?"
"Sword intent! The First Prince has cultivated sword intent!"
"But why didn't the First Prince move?"
...
Those on the high platform also saw the situation clearly. Ling Luoyi stood calmly in place, while Nangong Suzhang maintained the posture of executing his final sword strike, his eyes closed and his expression serious.
The elder went on stage to announce Ling Luoyi's victory and, according to the rules, asked Ling Luochen.
Ling Luochen refused. He was already second, and if he were to challenge, it would only be Ling Luoyi, but he didn't need to. If he wanted to seek guidance from Ling Luoyi, he could do so at home, not on the competition stage.
The elder finally announced, "The Genius Selection Spiritual Cultivation Competition has now concluded. The first place is Ling Luoyi, the second place is Ling Luochen, the third place is Kong Hongming, the fourth place is Nangong Suzhang... Those whose names have been called, please gather outside the North City Gate on the twenty-third of this month at the end of the Si hour. Elder Qu will lead you to the capital of Longqing Kingdom."
"Yes!" Those whose names were called, except for the Ling siblings, responded.
Hearing that they could go to Longqing Kingdom, everyone present was envious. Although they knew they would only stay for a few days before returning and wouldn't be selected, they were still very envious of the opportunity to visit Longqing Kingdom.
Nangong Suzhang remained in his previous posture. The elder wanted to wake him up. Ling Luoyi saw this and said, "Elder, since the competition is over, there's no need to disturb the First Prince. Let him continue cultivating."
"Cultivating?" The elder was confused. Could one cultivate just by standing?
"This opportunity the First Prince has is not something everyone can have."
Since it was an opportunity, the elder did not want to interrupt. Moreover, the competition was over, and the venue was no longer needed.
Nangong Suzhang woke up a quarter of an hour later. Most of the people present had already left.
Nangong Suzhang walked out of the competition grounds and saw his father, mother, and concubine mother waiting for him. He walked over and paid his respects. The Emperor spoke, asking, "Zhang'er, Eldest Miss Ling said you encountered an opportunity just now. Can you tell your father what opportunity you encountered?"
"Replying to Father, your son feels like he had a dream. In the dream, a figure was practicing swordplay. Your son watched for a while, and before he could discern anything, he woke up." Nangong Suzhang was not lying. He had indeed only seen a figure practicing swordplay.
The Emperor knew his son's character. Seeing that he was a bit dejected, he comforted him, "Zhang'er, even though you didn't see anything, don't be discouraged. Try to recall it often; perhaps you'll gain something."
"Yes, thank you, Father." Nangong Suzhang suddenly saw Ling Huayu and his entourage emerge from the arena. He said to the Emperor, "Father, your son will go and thank Eldest Miss Ling first. After all, my progress is due to Eldest Miss Ling's guidance."
The Emperor also saw them and replied, "Go ahead."
"Yes." Nangong Suzhang walked to Ling Huayu's side and respectfully asked, "Patriarch Ling, this junior wishes to thank Eldest Miss Ling. Is Eldest Miss Ling available?"
Ling Huayu glanced at Nangong Suzhang, then back at Ling Luoyi, who was holding the white fox, and asked Ling Luoyi, "Lu'er, the First Prince wishes to speak with you. Is it convenient?"
"Alright."
"Lu'er, we'll wait for you in the carriage then."
Ling Luoyi nodded. The rest of the Ling family got into the carriage, while Ling Luochen merely walked a few steps forward.
"Does the First Prince need something from me?"
"Thank you, Eldest Miss Ling, for your guidance on the competition stage. I just heard from Father that I received an opportunity, which I believe is also thanks to Eldest Miss Ling. Therefore, I have come to thank you."
"You don't need to thank me. I didn't do much. However, since the First Prince has said so, I'll add a few more words. When you return, First Prince, you might want to think more about the scene you just saw. Perhaps you'll have new discoveries."
"I will remember. Father is waiting for me, so I will take my leave."
After speaking, Nangong Suzhang bowed to Ling Luoyi and returned to his carriage. The carriage slowly departed.
Ling Luoyi held Gu Yuncheng, watching Nangong Suzhang leave. Suddenly, Xiao Fengxi's voice echoed in her mind.
"Master, this person's soul is so clean."
"The soul is very clean?"
"Yes, Master. This person's soul has no impurities, like a newborn baby. But this is impossible. No matter who it is, once they grow up, their soul is inevitably stained. But this person's soul seems to have never been stained. It's so strange."
Xiao Fengxi could see people's souls. Apart from newborn babies, she had never seen such a clean soul.
Ling Luoyi thought of a possibility and asked, "Could it be the innate Sacred Soul Physique?"