Inquiries About Longevity Chapter 1001: The Crown Prince - Novel Cool

Chapter 1001: The Crown Prince

Chapter 1001: The Crown Prince

The Fangtian Huayin, a colossal painting that blocked out the sky, displayed nearly a hundred live battles, each with its own twists and turns, captivating the audience.

In the center of the painting, a figure emerged, flickering for a moment before finally appearing clearly.

In the Shangguan family's viewing area, Yu'er was the first to spot Mo Hua, her eyes lighting up as she exclaimed, "Brother Mo! Mother, look!"

Wearing a palace dress, the graceful Wen Ren Wan watched the figure in the painting, dressed in a black and dark green robe of the Tai Xu Gate, with bright eyes and a composed demeanor, already exuding an aura of calmness amidst thousands of people. She smiled with relief.

At the same time, among the countless outer disciples, many pairs of eyes, some bright and some hidden, all fixed on Mo Hua.

These eyes conveyed various emotions.

Some were filled with anticipation, some puzzled, some intrigued, and some cold and indifferent...

However, many others still couldn't identify Mo Hua.

"Who is Mo Hua?"

There were five people from the Tai Xu Gate.

First, they ruled out Cheng Mo, the big guy, as he was likely to be a simple-minded brute rather than a formation master.

The remaining four were more difficult to identify.

"That guy looks arrogant and unruly, like a spoiled young master who does whatever he wants in the sect. Could he be Mo Hua?"

"He's from Tai'a Mountain..."

"That cold and unmannerly one with the 'genius' aura..."

"That's Ling Hu Xiao, the sword genius from Chong Xu Mountain."

"Is that the boy carrying the Lihuo Sword?"

"Idiot, he's already carrying a sword. How can he be a formation master?"

"Then..."

Everyone looked at each other, then turned their attention to the last person in the group, a slightly shorter boy with a handsome face, bright eyes, and a warm smile, instantly making people feel at ease, like a gentle spring breeze.

"Is he... Mo Hua?"

For a moment, the usually bustling Lundao Mountain fell silent.

Many who didn't know Mo Hua were left bewildered.

"Wasn't he supposed to be very gloomy?"

"Wasn't he supposed to be a spoiled young master?"

"Who is this boy with brows like the moon and eyes like stars, so handsome and sunny?"

"Who said he was a pervert? I think he's kind of cute..."

"How can such a young boy be an unsung formation genius?" Many female disciples and female cultivators, seeing Mo Hua's innocent and adorable face, couldn't help but stare in awe.

Many male disciples and male cultivators scowled in dissatisfaction, muttering, "You can't judge a book by its cover."

"Just because he looks cute doesn't mean he isn't a pervert. Don't be fooled by appearances."

"Exactly, the brighter the appearance, the darker the heart..."

"Moreover, this is a swordsman competition. Looks don't count for much..."

"I want to see what this formation genius of the Tai Xu Gate, the top formation master in Qian Xue Prefecture, can do. How dare he participate in the competition and challenge the Celestial Geniuses in sword combat?"

...

Countless cultivators and eyes were fixed on Mo Hua.

Inside Lundao Mountain, Mo Hua couldn't help but shiver.

He looked around, and through the towering formation and the sky-like Fangtian Huayin, he could vaguely see that the surroundings of Lundao Mountain were densely packed with cultivators, like ants covering the mountains and fields, or like a tidal wave, overwhelming the sky.

However, he couldn't see clearly, nor could he hear what they were saying.

This was the effect of a fifth-grade formation, isolating sight and sound to prevent the audience from disturbing the inner disciples' competition.

It was also a form of protection, preventing any malicious demons or high-level cultivators with unstable minds from suddenly attacking and slaughtering the Celestial Geniuses.

After all, the disciples' cultivation was only at the Foundation Establishment stage.

Qian Xue Prefecture was a fifth-grade realm, capable of accommodating Yu Hua and even Dongxu realm cultivators, who could unleash their full power.

If a massacre of Yu Hua level or higher were to occur, the young Celestial Geniuses would have no chance to fight back, resulting in heavy casualties.

The major families and sects in Qian Xue Prefecture would also suffer significant damage.

With the formation blocking their view, Mo Hua withdrew his gaze and focused on the ongoing competition.

This was his first competition.

His opponent was from a small sect in Qian Xue Bai Men, named Qing Shuang Men, which practiced a technique called the Qing Shuang Quan.

As it was the preliminary round of the 'Yellow' Character League, the rules were simple, and the victory condition was straightforward.

All they needed was a five-on-five victory.

The preliminary round's terrain wasn't too large, just a small mountain forest.

Both sides quickly met after circling a few times, and the battle commenced.

Cheng Mo charged forward.

Ou Yang Xuan fused with his sword, attacking from the flank, with Si Tu Jian responding.

Ling Hu Xiao unleashed the Chong Xu sword energy.

And then... nothing happened.

The battle ended, and the opponents were all defeated.

From start to finish, Mo Hua stood in his original position, not moving an inch, not even taking his hands out of his sleeves.

The battle, which had seemed imminent, ended in an instant.

On the Fangtian Huayin, Mo Hua's team emerged victorious, and after the image disappeared and the screen blurred for a moment, it refocused to broadcast the next competition.

A moment of silence filled the outer disciples' area.

In less than a moment, the crowd erupted in discussion.

"Is that it? Is the competition over?"

"What's going on?"

"This is a swordsman competition, and he didn't even move his hands?"

"Did he rely entirely on his teammates?"

"There's no way; his teammates were too strong. He didn't even have a chance to show his skills..."

"But he can't just sit back and take the credit, can he? At least he should have made a move, even if it's just a small one. At least it would show that he's participating..."

"It's also possible that he's hiding his true strength."

"Forget it; hiding one's strength doesn't look like that.

Looking at him like that, with his insufficient spiritual power, weak physical body, and delicate appearance, what could he possibly be hiding?"

"He doesn't have enough spiritual power for advanced cultivation techniques. With his thin arms and legs, he'd be finished if someone got close. I never expected him to have any skills..."

"In my opinion, he's here just to 'tag along'..."

Many cultivators, who had high expectations, couldn't help but feel disappointed.

On the contrary, those who truly knew Mo Hua, like Mu Rong Cai Yun, Hua Qian Qian, and Shang Guan Xu, couldn't help but feel it was only natural, albeit with a bitter smile.

This was indeed Mo Hua's style.

He would never take action unless absolutely necessary, not even lifting a finger.

However, in such a grand Swordsman Competition Congress, with so many "big shots" of the cultivation world watching, Mo Hua didn't move a finger or reveal any of his skills. This left many of them feeling both amused and exasperated.

Yu'er, however, didn't care about any of that. Instead, she happily exclaimed:

"Brother Mo is so amazing! He doesn't even need to take action, and his opponents all fall down!"

After experiencing the nightmare of demons and monsters, in Yu'er's heart, Mo Hua was the most formidable. He was powerful when he took action, but even more so when he didn't.

Wen Ren Wan couldn't help but chuckle, and she gently rubbed Yu'er's head.

There was a hint of regret in her heart as well.

This was the first Swordsman Competition, and under the watchful eyes of the crowd, she had wanted to see Mo Hua take some action, even if it was just a little, to at least "show his face."

But since he didn't, it was better to stay low-key and play it safe.

Wen Ren Wan knew that Mo Hua's identity was special, and she guessed that he had some secrets that weren't convenient to reveal, so she felt only a little regret and then let it go.

After all, the competition would go on for a long time, and there was no rush.

However, outside the Lun Dao Mountain, the controversy surrounding Mo Hua continued to grow.

Most of the cultivators who were unaware of the situation still believed that Mo Hua was a slacker.

Gu Zhang Hui, who was on duty, couldn't help but shake his head as he listened to the surrounding discussions, but he didn't say anything.

In the following days, Mo Hua also participated in a few matches.

But just like the first match, his teammates dominated while he kept his hands in his sleeves, following behind and "watching the show."

As time went on, his reputation naturally worsened.

Especially when compared to the true "Celestial Geniuses" from the Four Great Sects and the Eight Great Gates.

Every Celestial Genius from the other sects would take the lead, showing basic respect even when facing disciples of the Qian Xue Bai Men. They would charge ahead, sweeping through the competition with their first move, earning the admiration of the entire crowd.

The only exception was Mo Hua, this "leader," who was following behind his "little brothers."

This made the difference in their abilities even more apparent.

The doubts about Mo Hua grew louder, and each time he took the stage, a group of people would point and whisper:

"I've figured it out. This Mo Hua is just here to tag along, right?"

"Since he's not capable himself, he's thinking of relying on the two strong members of his team to get a good ranking?"

"I heard that one of his teammates is a sword genius from the Chong Xu Yi Ma, a talent that only appears once every five hundred years. The other, although not well-known, is said to be one of the top Celestial Geniuses of the Tai A Yi Ma."

"The other two are also quite capable, and they're said to be his 'trusted' followers in the Tai Xu Gate."

"So, with the three sects merging, the Tai Xu, Tai A, and Chong Xu Gates are actually just propping up this one person?"

"Is this accompanying the 'Prince' to study?"

"No, it's accompanying the 'Prince' to compete in the Swordsman Competition."

"Tsk tsk..."

"Why is the Tai Xu Gate treating him like this?"

"Didn't I just say that? He's accompanying the 'Prince' in the competition, and he's the private son of the Tai Xu Gate's leader."

"Nonsense! He's clearly the grandson of the Tai Xu Gate's ancestor!"

"It's not that different..."

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"No wonder..."

Someone sighed, "I feel sorry for Ling Hu Xiao. A once-in-five-hundred-years sword genius, and he's wasting his one chance at the Swordsman Competition."

"I've been watching the competition these past few days, and this Ling Hu Xiao has a pure sword heart and incredibly strong sword energy."

"Without Mo Hua as a burden, with a stronger teammate, he might have been able to compete with the Celestial Geniuses of the Four Great Sects. What a pity..."

"Can't he switch teammates?"

"What do you know? Even if he's a genius, he's still just a disciple. If the leader and ancestor give an order, what can he do? Can he refuse?"

"Indeed... Sigh, what a waste of a Celestial Genius..."

"Abusing power for personal gain, favoritism... In my opinion, the Tai Xu Gate is doomed..."

"The Tai Xu Gate is doomed!" The crowd nodded in agreement.

Someone spoke up, puzzled, "Wait... If I'm not mistaken, isn't the Tai Xu Gate currently... in first place in the competition?"

The crowd fell silent.

Some of them had flushed faces.

At this moment, another white-robed cultivator scoffed, "So what if they're in first? It's just the beginning. The Tai Xu Gate is taking advantage of the situation to get a good ranking."

"The further along, the harder it will be for the Tai Xu Gate."

"Especially in the Di Zi Ju and Tian Zi Ju, where the top Celestial Geniuses compete."

"After the three sects merged, the Tai Xu Gate finally got Ling Hu Xiao from the Chong Xu Gate, and they might have had a chance to rise further."

"Now, I don't know what their leader is thinking, adding someone who's holding them back. It will be difficult now."

"According to my prediction, by the Xuan Zi Ju, the Tai Xu Gate will start to show weakness. By the Di Zi Ju, their true colors will be exposed, and by the time they reach the Tian Zi Ju, their ranking will plummet."

"They might not fall out of the Eight Great Gates, but the top four is out of the question..."

This person spoke with confidence, making it all sound very convincing.

The crowd listened and nodded in agreement. Then, someone cupped their hands and said, "This brother seems to know a lot?"

"Of course," the cultivator raised his head, feeling a bit smug, "I won't hide it. My surname is Bai, and my name is Xiao Sheng. I graduated from the Qian Xue Prefecture and have focused on the Swordsman Competition for over a hundred years. I've watched countless competitions, big and small, and the cultivators call me 'Lun Jian Bai Xiao Sheng'."

"I can take one look at this competition's situation, the strengths of the sects, and the disciples' abilities, and I'll understand everything clearly, without a single mistake.

Bai Xiaosheng's expression was one of absolute certainty.

"So, this Mo Hua..."

"Undoubtedly a fraud." Bai Xiaosheng stated, "To be honest, I even suspect that his title of 'Zhen Dao Kui Shou' is undeserved. It's likely he got it through backdoor connections and deception."

"That's... impossible, isn't it?" Someone voiced their disbelief.

"If his status as the top contender in the Lunjian competition is fake, then without a doubt, the four major sects wouldn't let him off the hook."

Bai Xiaosheng shook his head. "You know nothing about the aristocratic families and sects. As long as there's enough benefit, their bottom line can be shockingly low."

"Furthermore, I can barely believe that his Divine Sense has surpassed one level. If it's two levels higher, that's already stretching it. But three levels? That's just treating others as fools."

"It's a pity I don't enjoy watching the Lun Zhen competition, or else I would have seen through their charade clearly."

Bai Xiaosheng shook his head and sighed, "You don't understand. Nowadays, the upper echelons of the cultivation world are nothing but a place for fame and fortune."

"The aristocratic families fabricate, the sects push the waves, set the stage, and put on a show, promoting a 'remarkable' genius for their own gain. This kind of thing is too common..."

Bai Xiaosheng spoke, leaving everyone unsure if his words were true or not.

The crowd of cultivators listened, half-believing and half-doubting his words.

"Is there a possibility..." Someone whispered, "That this 'Mo Hua' can actually compete in the Lunjian competition?"

Bai Xiaosheng scoffed, "What sword skills can he possibly discuss? Look at him, he can barely hold a sword. If he can really demonstrate any sword techniques, I'll publicly swallow my own high-grade Ben Ming Ling Jian!"

Bai Xiaosheng made his declaration.

The crowd was shocked by his boldness, and also by his audacity to gamble his Ben Ming sword over such a trivial matter. They nodded in admiration.

Some people, upon hearing him mention his "high-grade Ben Ming Ling Jian," were surprised to realize that this seemingly ordinary cultivator, who liked to boast and appeared like a scholarly cultivator, was already a powerful Jin Dan realm cultivator.

However, this was Qian Xue Prefecture, where Yu Hua cultivators occasionally flew in the sky, and it wasn't unusual to see a few Jin Dan cultivators walking on the ground.

After a while, amidst these questioning voices, Mo Hua completed the preliminary round of the Huang Character League.

Results: All victories.

However, he never once took action.

His teammates fought, endured, and suffered, while Mo Hua remained a passive observer, enjoying their victories.

This behavior of a "second-generation master" truly infuriated everyone.

Even the female cultivators from various sects, who had previously tried to defend him because of his handsome features, now felt embarrassed to speak up for him.

From then on, Mo Hua's reputation plummeted.

Despite doing nothing, saying nothing, and not even moving a muscle, he successfully transformed from a "possibly extreme, gloomy, potentially perverted, and enigmatic" Zhen Dao monster...

into a "Prince" of Tai Xu Gate who enjoyed the fruits of others' labor, a "second-generation master" who exploited his sect members, a burden at the Lunjian competition, and a good-for-nothing fraud.

Mo Hua's reputation took a nosedive.

In contrast, Ling Hu Xiao's reputation improved day by day.

His astonishing talent in the Sword Path and his masterful sword techniques, polished to perfection, garnered increasing admiration.

Many people felt sorry for him and believed he was being treated unfairly.

In the eyes of many, he was a silent and humble genius who endured humiliation, carried a heavy burden, and remained undeterred. He almost single-handedly led his team forward, a breathtakingly talented Sword Path prodigy.

As for the burden he carried, it was clear who it was.

...

Of course, these were all external opinions.

Inside Tai Xu Gate, there was a sense of tranquility.

Mo Hua was unaware that others held such strong opinions about him.

Even if he knew, he wouldn't have cared.

The idle gossip of unimportant people meant nothing to him. At most, he would silently make a mental note and settle the scores one by one when he had the time.

At this moment, Mo Hua was drinking.

Groups of junior disciples were lining up to offer him a toast.

Mo Hua, being amiable, accepted their gestures.

Fortunately, he was drinking fruit wine, and a small sip was enough, otherwise, even if the wine wasn't strong, he would surely get drunk and lose consciousness.

As the alcohol took effect, the atmosphere became lively, and everyone was in high spirits.

This was a small-scale celebration.

They were celebrating the Lunjian competition, and Tai Xu Gate had temporarily secured the top spot after the preliminary round of the Huang Character League.

This was just a minor victory, and a temporary one at that, so they could only celebrate on a small scale.

Even the Sect Leader and the elders didn't refuse.

Tai Xu Gate's temporary top ranking was a testament to the disciples' hard work, so it was only fitting to relax a little after the competition.

Moreover, they were well aware of the challenges ahead.

After this brief respite, the real tough battles would commence.

The Xuan Character League, the Di Character League, and the Tian Character League, which would be held on the Xuan Tian Peak, would become increasingly difficult with each round.

Their opponents would be the true Celestial Geniuses from the twelve streams, the eight major sects, and even the four major sects.

The Lun Dao Tian Yi would also arrange for the true Celestial Geniuses to engage in life-or-death battles based on the Tian Ji Yin Gu Fa.

With powerful opponents and ever-changing battle situations, victory and defeat would hinge on a single thought.

This was the real test.

Tai Xu Gate's ranking would face the onslaught of these arduous battles, and it might gradually slide down the ranks.

Where it would eventually end up, and where the dust would settle, was anyone's guess.

After the Huang Character League concluded, there was a period of rest for a few days.

The days of rest passed quickly, and before they knew it, the Xuan Character League's Lunjian competition officially began.

At the Xuan Character League, the competition intensified.

It was unlikely for someone to hide their strength and rely solely on their teammates, as in the Huang Character League.

Mo Hua couldn't slack off anymore; he had to demonstrate a portion of his abilities...

(End of Chapter)

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