Heavenly Dao Engine-Chapter 36 - 00 The First Person on the Sparrow List
Chapter 36: Chapter 0036: The First Person on the Sparrow List
Chapter 36 -0036: The First Person on the Sparrow List
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Kang Ning was unwilling to accept defeat, and once again channeled his True Essence into the Qin Pulse. This time, the ninth string echoed – the third thick string on the Qin Pulse. This time, the water column that was triggered was even shorter than the one caused by the first string, only reaching a height of nine inches.
Kang Ning moved his hand away from the Qin Pulse unwillingly, hung his head low, without daring to look at the audience, or Zhao Qian. He was afraid that what he would see wouldn’t be mere gazes, but one piercing dagger after another aiming at his heart.
“Brother Kang, please step down and wait for the final result.” Zhao Qian didn’t scoff at Kang Ning and continued to speak in her usual calm voice.
Using his sleeve to cover his face, Kang Ning bowed his head and hurried off the stage. He did not dare to return to the crowd of outer sect disciples. Instead, he sprinted along the edge of the crowd and quickly disappeared.
He wanted to be alone.
Zhao Qian said, “Let’s test the next one. Who wants to come up?”
When Zhao Qian started her demonstration, the outer sect disciples of the National Master Manor hardly took it seriously. They thought it was no big deal as if what a woman like Zhao Qian could effortlessly do, they could certainly do it as well. But when Kang Ning, a figure with a small reputation among the outer sect disciples, and a top hundred contender on the Sparrow List, went on stage and embarrassed himself, the outer sect disciples began to realize the Qin Pulse was nothing like they had imagined. It seemed able to accurately gauge the state of one’s meridians – there was no way to hide it; it was a pipe dream to think that they could bluff their way through or to cheat.
No one raised their hand.
Zhao Qian’s face turned serious, “Are there more than two thousand disciples of Huangque Hall of the National Master Manor, and not a single one willing to come on stage for the test? If that’s the case, I would be greatly disappointed. If you all are like this, how can Great Zhao rely on you in the future?”
“Where is Senior Brother Zhou? He is the most suitable for this test.”
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“Senior Brother Zhou, where are you? Please come on stage quickly, let the princess know that there are heroes in the Huangque Hall of our National Master Manor.”
…
Gradually, voices started to unite, and almost all outer sect disciples began clapping their hands and shouting in unison, “Senior Brother Zhou, get on stage. Senior Brother Zhou, get on stage.”
Zhou Kunlin was in the crowd. He arrived late. By the time Zhao Qian introduced the third jewelry box, he was still making his way there. As a result, he was standing at the back of the crowd, and those in front couldn’t see him.
He did covet the treasures presented by the princess; however, considering his status as the first on the Sparrow List, he didn’t rush to act. Yuan Dan, Ling Mu, Wang Gai, and others who were always with him said the same.
“Brother, you’re the top of the Sparrow List in Huangque Hall, and you’re our anchor. No matter when, you should be the last to enter the stage. That’s the only way it suits your status.”
…
Once Kang Ning’s meridian conditions were displayed through the Qin Pulse, the faces of Yuan Dan and the others turned somewhat solemn. They knew somewhat about Kang Ning’s situation. Even Kang Ning, who was ranked in the top hundred of the Sparrow List, had made a fool of himself in public. If Zhou Kunlin took the stage, could he definitely outshine Zhao Qian? At this point, everyone could see that Zhao Qian was not merely the princess of Great Zhao; she was impressive. To obtain that 500-year-old wild ginseng, one would need to have an even more impressive display than Zhao Qian.
…
As the outcries from the outer sect disciples grew louder, Zhou Kunlin realized he could no longer stay silent. If he hadn’t come, that would have been another story, but since he was here and didn’t participate, it wouldn’t bode well for his reputation or his Heart of Tao.
Yuan Dan was worried and tried to dissuade him, “Brother, you must be cautious.”
Zhou Kunlin shook his head, pushing Yuan Dan aside, and then raised his hand, “Your Highness, the princess, allow me to try.”
“It’s Senior Brother Zhou.”
“Senior Brother Zhou is here.”
“Senior Brother Zhou certainly won’t let us down.”
“Senior Brother Zhou, you’re the best.”
…
The moment Zhou Kunlin appeared, the gathered outer sect disciples, about two thousand in number, let out a deafening cheer. It seemed like they believed that as long as Zhou Kunlin made his move, he would surely impress Zhao Qian and force her to take back her words questioning the Huangque Hall.
Zhao Qian seemed to know Zhou Kunlin, “You are the number one on the Sparrow List, Senior Brother Zhou Kunlin, right? Come, please come on stage.”
The crowd in front of Zhou Kunlin quickly cleared a path. As Zhou Kunlin confidently strode forward, fervent gazes from many outer sect disciples followed him. Their veneration was much akin to watching a superstar strut onto a stage to receive an award. Among their looks of admiration and envy, there was also a touch of jealousy.
Zhou Kunlin had seen many such looks before. He knew what was the most appropriate way to behave in these situations. As he walked, he nodded affably to the people on both sides, his demeanor humble and polite. The resulting cheers of the outer sect disciples did not dwindle in the slightest. Instead, it seemed as if they grew even more intense.
Soon, Zhou Kunlin arrived on the stage. He bowed to the audience before giving a formal fist salute to Zhao Qian. “Kunlin pays his respect to the Princess,” he said.
Zhao Qian returned the gesture, remarking, “I have long heard of Brother Zhou’s esteemed reputation. I am very much looking forward to your performance. Now, please introduce yourself.”
Zhou Kunlin’s gaze quickly swept over the brocade box in the guard’s hands, his eyes revealing an undisguised anticipation. These past few days, he had been plotting to challenge the inner sect disciples as an outer sect disciple. He was confident in his strength. But if he could obtain the five hundred-year-old wild mountain ginseng and refine it, he would be even more confident.
“I am Zhou Kunlin, fifteen-years-old, at the third level of Qi Cultivation, and I have opened up six of my meridians. Currently, I am trying to open up the seventh meridian,” Zhou Kunlin replied casually, concealing his yearning.
Zhou Kunlin’s words made the outer sect disciples in the audience gasp in disbelief. Just before, Kang Ning was also at the third level of Qi Cultivation but had only opened up three meridians. While Zhou Kunlin, also at the same level, had opened up six meridians and was attempting to open up the seventh one. Such a massive gap was surprising. Considering this, Zhou Kunlin dominating the Sparrow List wasn’t unwarranted at all.
Qi Tian’s face became uncharacteristically serious. If not for Zhou Kunlin’s confession, he wouldn’t have known about Zhou Kunlin’s significant achievements.
Zhao Qian, who was usually composed, expressed her admiration, “I did not expect Brother Zhou to have opened up six meridians. I am very impressed. Now, please demonstrate your cultivation results.”
Zhou Kunlin walked up to the Qin Pulse, placing his hand on its foothold. As he circulated his technique within, his True Essence emerged from his body, flowing into the Qin Pulse.
The instant the first string of the Qin Pulse resonated, a powerful jet of water burst forth from the corresponding acupoint hole. Compared to Kang Ning’s feeble jet, Zhou Kunlin’s was much more forceful. Even after reaching two feet and five inches, it continued to surge upwards.
Zhao Qian’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully, her expression growing more serious.
All the outer sect disciples held their breath, their eyes wide, watching as the water column climbed higher and higher. Soon, it had reached a height of two feet and six inches. After that, its ascent slowed down significantly, inching upwards bit by bit.
Two feet six inches and one-fifth, two feet six inches and two-fifths…
Just when everyone had nearly stopped breathing, the water column finally came to a stop at two feet six inches and nine-fifths. There was an audible sigh of disappointment from the audience. Zhou Kunlin had barely missed beating Princess Zhao Qian, just barely.
Despite feeling a little regretful, Zhou Kunlin was still confident. He continued to pour the True Essence of his second meridian into the Qin Pulse.
Soon, the second string resonated, emitting a pure sound. The second column of water surged up fiercely. It directly surpassed the height of two feet and seven inches, reaching the height of two feet and eight inches. The height exceeded Princess Zhao’s by a whole inch.
The outer sect disciples burst into cheers. Yuan Dan, Ling Mu, and others were shouting at the top of their lungs, expressing their admiration for Senior Brother Zhou’s power. The first in the Sparrow List had revealed his true strength.
“Senior Brother Zhou, you’re the best!”
“Senior Brother Zhou, you’ve outshone the rest, you’re number one in the world!”
…
Compared to the frenzied yelling of the outer sect disciples, Zhao Qian was calm, showing no change in her expression at Zhou Kunlin’s water column surpassing hers by an inch – as if she did not care at all. However, she did give Zhou Kunlin an approving nod for his performance.
Zhou Kunlin allowed himself to breathe. He was, after all, the champion of Huangque Hall. If he were to lose consecutively to Zhao Qian in public, then it would indeed be as if there were no one left in their hall, just as she had said. Fortunately, he had never let himself down. After falling short by a mere fifth to Zhao Qian in the first round, the second round saw him surpass her by an inch. This was a strong assertion of his existence and power.
Zhou Kunlin thought to himself, ‘One’s success should not breed arrogance.’
With renewed determination, Zhou Kunlin focused his efforts, pouring True Essence from the third meridian into the Qin Pulse. Suddenly, the third string of the Qin Pulse vibrated, causing the third water column to surge into the sky. It reached the same formidable height of two feet and eight inches as before.
This sight garnered the blind approval of a few outer sect disciples while the majority remained speechlessly stunned.
It was clear that the impressions left by Zhao Qian and Kang Ning during their demonstrations were extraordinary.
Given that Zhao Qian’s demonstration was just for illustrative purposes, it could be assumed that she held back a considerable amount of her ability. The strings she resonated and the water columns she brought forth were continuous, one after the other, without any intervals.
While Kang Ning had elicited three as well, neither the strings he resonated nor the water columns were continuous. Visually speaking, the gaps weren’t extensive, but it definitely gave that impression.
