Night of Despair

Chapter 293 - 293 291 internal comparison one

?Chapter 293: 291 internal comparison one Chapter 293: 291 internal comparison one “It’s too hard…” Guo Shangdong couldn’t help but sigh. “It feels like defeating the illusion is an endless journey…”

“It’s okay, it’s always like this in the beginning.” Xun Yang understood and patted his shoulder, “You’re already doing very well, many people can’t reach your level in a year. There are also those who regress in their Daoist Skills after their mindset falls.”

“…..” Yu Hong didn’t know what to say. He just felt that standing together with the two of them didn’t seem quite right.

Moreover, from Xun Yang’s words, he felt that the corruption in Qingchen Temple seemed to be more serious than he imagined.

The Guanwu Skill, a Daoist Skill that demands a strict mindset, could generally be judged by one’s mental state when practiced well.

And it’s very likely that many mentors in the temple are no longer able to maintain their initial mental resolve.

A decline in Daoist Skills seems to be the norm.

Soon after, four members of the Dao Seed Class, led by Zheng Ming, also arrived.

Four young Taoists, dressed neatly and with a detached demeanor, attracting quite a few glances as they entered.

Then, the remaining senior disciples of the Golden Jade Class also gradually arrived.

Finally, there were many pilgrims gathered around to watch the excitement.

“Although I informed everyone in advance, only half of the Golden Jade Class could come, but even half is quite a lot,” Guo Shangdong whispered to Yu Hong.

“Indeed quite a few…” Yu Hong looked around at the now dozen or so people beside him, noting that the Golden Jade Class had accumulated quite a number of disciples over the years.

When the number of people from the Golden Jade Class increased to twenty-one, it looked like a dense crowd.

The temple’s backyard became more and more lively.

These people appeared to have diverse dispositions, seemingly from all sorts of professions, ranging in age from teenagers to those in their forties.

Everyone changed into gray Daoist robes, forming small groups and quietly discussing topics of interest.

The Disciples had almost all arrived, followed by the middle-level managers, the managing Taoists.

They were divided into various roles like Chanting Taoists, Discipline Taoists, Music Taoists, and Registry Taoists.

After waiting for more than ten minutes, the mentors entered,
“Real People Yu Mo, Yu Fang, and Yu Zhong have arrived.”

The Chanting Taoist began his job loudly, holding a small Emperor Bell in his hand, which he gently tapped.

Ding.

At the sound of the bell, everyone’s spirit was lifted.

Three old Taoists, supported by young Taoist apprentices, slowly entered and took their respective seats. Everyone hurriedly paid their respects to the three.

“Qingchen Temple, the regular internal competition, officially begins!”

Among the old Taoists, Taoist Yu Mo stood up and recited the opening words loudly.

“On this occasion of welcoming the new class, this internal competition not only showcases the style of Qingchen Temple’s younger generation but also allows everyone to have a clear understanding and comparison of their own abilities.”

“Actually, this internal ranking is equivalent to the commission ranking outside…” Guo Shangdong whispered to Yu Hong below.

“It can be like that?” Yu Hong was speechless, was everything really just about money, deliberately holding an internal competition to showcase one’s strength and then setting public prices to earn extra money for the Disciples?

Next, were the Magic demonstrations by the Dao Seed Class, led by the so-called two geniuses, including the always cold-faced, handsome Taoist who seemed to consider talking to anyone a waste of his time.

He quickly went up, and soon a patient, allegedly possessed by evil, was brought to the scene.

“I’m in so much pain, who, who is cutting my flesh… Who is it!? Get out!!” The patient was tied to a metal stretcher, still struggling frantically as he was brought in, his eyes bloodshot and tears streaming down.

“Don’t worry, your pain will soon be relieved…” Zheng Ming took a few steps forward, standing beside his stretcher and placed his hand on the patient’s forehead.

Like an electric shock, the patient suddenly stiffened, then slowly closed his eyes, his expression softened, and then… he just fell asleep.

Right in front of at least forty or fifty people, he fell asleep.

Whirr.

To a thundering round of applause.

The watching crowd of pilgrims, mostly older folks, applauded enthusiastically giving him face.

After witnessing the treatment, they loudly praised and commended it.

Some even called out Zheng Ming’s nickname.

“As expected of the Jade-faced Taoist Lord Zheng Ming! Truly remarkable!!”

Zheng Ming’s face slightly reddened, pretending not to hear, but his gaze became even colder, he bowed to the surrounding crowd and the mentors and then stepped back.

“The case stage ends, next is the internal ranking. This time, we start with the junior disciples of the Golden Jade Class. The assessment method will be a display of Daoist Skills, and our sect’s Daoist Skills, due to special reasons, have a very unique assessment method,” the assessing Taoist said loudly.

He stepped back, opening the door to a large room.

“The method is, after entering the combat room, to engage in one-on-one free-hand combat. Teaching the junior disciples the Seven Feather Fist in attack and defense. The winner proceeds to the next round.”

Upon hearing this, the members of the Golden Jade Class looked at each other.

“Did I hear that our way of Cultivation involves assessment by literally fighting each other now?” a female disciple from the Golden Jade Class, clearly a newcomer, couldn’t help but ask quietly.

No one responded, even though many shared the same confusion, but since the sect’s rules had set it this way, they would follow suit.

“Ding Rou, watch me this time.” Guo Shangdong felt confident upon hearing this assessment method.

He patted Yu Hong’s arm, “Your muscles are all show, they look big but are actually useless, if you can’t handle it later, just shout to give up, got it? I’ll go up and avenge you after.”

“…..Yeah.” Yu Hong had no words to respond, just nodded to manage the other’s mood, as after all, it was meant kindly.

Although he didn’t know why it was like this, but… it seemed that Daoist cultivation couldn’t be assessed, it had to be observed through other means, for a simple judgment.

After all, a person’s spiritual willpower couldn’t truly be measured without an extreme environment.

Before long.

Taoist Yu Mo and the other two old Taoists took their seats in the main area and began watching the combat.

“The Golden Jade Class will first determine the top three winners and rank them, before the top three challenge the Dao Seed Class. Alright, begin now.”

Yu Mo gently sipped his wolfberry tea and gave the order.

“The challenge officially begins. The top three from Golden Jade Class will receive an Anzai Talisman each and an Amulet each. The overall top three will receive a custom-made Dao Artifact each,” the announcing Taoist explained loudly.

Soon, the registering Taoist called up competitors according to the rankings of the Golden Jade Class, one by one.

“The first match, Ding Shan versus Ding Hai.”

Two young men and women, completely lacking the temperament of Taoists, entered.

The two were of different heights, the taller one had a face full of freckles, fierce in demeanor. The shorter one, looking confused, had twin ponytails.

As soon as they entered, the door was closed.

The freckled man suddenly made a move, taking the opportunity to launch a sneak attack, aiming a punch at the back of the twin ponytails.

Snap.

His punch was dodged, parried to the side by twin ponytails, hitting the air.

Though the punch did not succeed, it did manage to annoy the surrounding audience.

People began to cheer from behind the latticed windows, hoping for the freckled man to be defeated soon.

Soon after, the two distanced themselves and each performed the Seven Feather Fist.

The Seven Feather Fist, when performed slowly, made beautiful and soothing movements, like seven different styles of flying birds fluttering their arms.

But now, in real combat, performed quickly, it appeared as graceful as a dance, with an additional mystical feel of a ritual.

The audience enjoyed it immensely.

Eventually, after a two-minute chase, twin ponytails won, knocking the freckled man to the ground with a punch.

As she raised her hands, out of breath, and exited, the crowd applauded her.

Though Yu Hong also clapped, he felt something…

“No wonder it was rehearsed, indeed good, this effect.”

Xun Yang muttered nearby, and it was heard by him directly.

Yu Hong, with a peculiar expression, looked at the excited onlookers outside and suddenly understood something.

“Second match, Ding Qun versus Ding Yan.”

Soon, the announcer’s voice rang out again.

The second pair of Taoists entered the large room, this time two attractive women from the Golden Jade Class, one voluptuous and the other pure.

The fight garnered even more interest from the audience outside. More and more onlookers gathered.

Especially when there were accidental flashes of spring views during the fight, the cheers surged wave after wave.

Yu Hong, seeing Guo Shangdong equally engrossed, shook his head, understanding what was going on.

As time passed, match after match proceeded, not all were staged—some real confrontations were mixed in.

Until the eighth match began.

“Eighth match, Ding Rou versus Ding Zhong.”

Amidst the chanting, Yu Hong slowly entered the room, waving his hand at Guo Shangdong who was cheering for him behind.

Squeak—a sound, the door closed.

He walked to the spot marked on the floor for confrontation, turned around and looked at his opponent.

It was Ding Zhong standing there, a well-built, broad-shouldered, and flat-headed middle-aged man. His physique was robust and muscular, clearly someone who exercised regularly, evident even through his Daoist robe.

“Greetings.” The opponent raised his palm in a salute.

“Greetings.” Yu Hong returned the gesture.

Apparently, for the sake of visual balance, they had arranged two disciples who appeared similarly built together.

But as for his classmates in the Golden Jade Class, even if they were senior students who joined the class earlier, Yu Hong was less enthusiastic. No matter how powerful the Guanwu Skill and Seven Feather Fist were, what could practicing for just a short time achieve?

“Let’s end it quickly.” He was too lazy to act.

Puff.

The door closed, marking the start of the fight.

At the moment when the wooden door shut,
Yu Hong stepped forward, making only the faintest of sounds, and in the blink of an eye, appeared beside Ding Zhong.

A side palm strike hitting the waist.

Bang.

The attack came too quickly, so much so that Ding Zhong didn’t manage to react. It was clear he had some training, but…

“Ah!” He screamed, fell to the ground clutching his waist, unable to get up.

“Ding Rou wins!”

The announcing Taoist declared.

“It’s another sneak attack!”

“It’s not proper martial-ethics, shouldn’t they have assumed a stance first?”

“This man lacks martial ethics, despite having such a big stature.”

Yu Hong, listening to the noisy complaints of the audience outside, was at a loss for words.

Was that really a sneak attack? He had already slowed down his speed considerably, but the opponent just couldn’t react—what could he do?

After exiting the room, he returned to the side of Guo Shangdong, who looked reticent and odd, and quietly stood there, continuing to watch the fights.