Big thanks and a shout-out to biki for sending me a laptop so that I can translate LWSL more conveniently!
On the morning of the first day of the ninth month, before the sun had completely risen, the descendants of the ten major families’ were already waiting outside of the royal family’s competition grounds.
Wu Xi stood on her tiptoes, looking at the main entrance: “Didn’t they tell participants to arrive at maoshi15am to 6:59am.? It’s already two ke past maoshi2Roughly about 5:30am., why have they still not opened the doors?”
Wu Chenliu, who had come together with them, said: “The clan leaders of the ten major families are probably still discussing the rules of the competition.”
Wu Xi said curiously: “Haven’t the rules of the competition been set a long time ago? Why would they be discussing the rules of the competition on the day of?”
Wu Chenliu explained: “They do so to prevent the members of the ten major families’ from finding a loophole, and exploiting the loophole to win. This is why the rules are different every year.”
“Oh.”
Standing beside them, Wu Qianqing patted Wu Ruo’s shoulder and instructed him uneasily: “Xiao-Ruo, after you enter the competition, if you can forfeit then just forfeit. Don’t persist to the end and get yourself hurt just because you don’t want to lose face, do you understand?”
“Dad, don’t worry. Your son isn’t as useless as you think.” Wu Ruo said as he looked into Wu Qianqing’s eyes with a serious expression, his tone seeming to hint at something.
Wu Qianqing nodded in a daze.
Wu Chenliu glanced at Wu Ruo. Internally, he always had the feeling that ‘this pretty fellow didn’t seem like a loser’.
At this moment, a eunuch appeared at the battlement of the entrance3Check out city gate entrances or palace gate entrances in guzhuang series’ for an idea of how it looks like. Reference here. and shouted to all the members of the ten major families’ below: “Members of the ten major families, please be quiet!”
Everyone stopped chattering, one after the other.
The eunuch waited until it was completely quiet before he spoke: “This year’s competition is the same as previous years. Participants will be separated according to their cultivation levels and enter the competition grounds, then they will participate in a free-for-all battle. Only the last person standing will be declared the winner. This time around, there are three points to take note of. The first point: participants may only forfeit the match one joss stick’s time after the competition has begun…”
When Wu Qianqing and Wu Xi heard this, they quickly frowned.
“The second point: during the duration of the competition, participants are not allowed to use equipment, otherwise it will be taken as the participant forfeiting the competition.”
In an instant, there was an uproar. These few days, everyone had prepared so much equipment in vain.
Wu Qianqing and Wu Xi’s frowns deepened even further.
The eunuch swept an indifferent look at everyone present: “The third point…”
Everyone hurriedly quietened down.
“The third point: during the duration of the competition, if participants suffer any injuries or die, they cannot hold the other party responsible nor can they seek revenge against the other party.”
Once these words were said, everyone was in an uproar.
Wu Chenliu frowned: “Why are the rules for the competition this time so similar to a fight to the death?”
Wu Qianqing’s eyebrows were practically in a knot. All three points of note were very unfavourable for Wu Ruo. However, if the participants of the first level were small children about three to five years old, they probably wouldn’t fight too viciously.
Suddenly, with a creaking sound, the entrance to the royal family’s competition grounds opened and the eunuch on the battlement shouted: “Enter the grounds—!”
The members of the ten major families’ entered the main hall of the competition grounds. Inside of the main hall, there were a total of ten sub-halls. The name of a major clan was labelled at the entrance of each sub-hall. The members of the ten major families’ only had to look for their clan leader according to the clan labelled at the entrance.
After Wu Ruo, Wu Qianqing and the others entered the Wu family’s sub-hall, they saw the main family members and the side branch family members standing on two different sides. As such, they walked over to the side branch family’s group. Wu Chenliu naturally also followed Wu Xi and stood where she stood. After all, he had already been kicked out of the Wu family. It didn’t matter where he stood, no one would criticize him.
When the Gaoling City Wu family members saw Wu Ruo and the others, their gazes flashed with ridicule. They deliberately distanced themselves from Wu Ruo and the others. A huge majority of them were all full of self-confidence. It seemed that they were very certain that they would be able to win in a competition among those who were of the same cultivation level as themselves.
“Xiao-Yu, you were able to become a sixth level practitioner in such a short period of time. You’ll definitely win the competition among the sixth level practitioners.” Ruan Lanru looked at the members of the Gaoling City Wu family with a smug expression: “Right now, you’re the person with the highest cultivation level in the Gaoling City Wu family. Mum believes that you can bring honour to our Wu family.”
These words immediately attracted the envy and jealousy of the Gaoling City Wu family members. Right now, Wu Yu’s cultivation level was even higher than Wu Bofang’s. As for the rest of them, they were still stuck at the third and fourth cultivation levels. They didn’t even know if they would still be able to advance any further in the future.
Internally, Wu Yu was enjoying these looks at him immensely, however, his expression was still very humble: “Mum, this is Huangdu City. There are definitely people who are more talented than me. There’s still no guarantee whether I can win.”
“If Mum says you can, then you definitely can.” Ruan Lanru glanced at Wu Qianqing derisively: “Your current cultivation level is even better than that of the person your great-grandfather favoured. So don’t belittle yourself. Put in your greatest effort and perform well for this competition.”
“I understand.”
Awkwardness was written across Wu Bofang’s face. He was a little displeased with Ruan Lanru’s words, however, Wu Yu was already a sixth level practitioner now. It really wasn’t a good idea to reprimand her in front of Wu Yu.
Wu Qianqing had always disliked keeping up with the Joneses4攀比 (pan bi): this is an extremely English phrase to be putting in the middle of a Chinese webnovel translation, considering how I’ve tried very much to retain the cultural nuances in my translation so far but I can’t think of any other phrase that encapsulates pan bi as well as ‘keeping up with the Joneses’. Pan bi means to compare oneself to others, but it also refers to doing so in a social context. I apologize if the phrase is a bit jarring and welcome any suggestions for something else that fits better., and he also disliked currying favour with others. It didn’t matter to him whether anyone in the Wu family surpassed him.
Wu Qianli looked at his own son with an expression of pride: “Xiao-Yu, I also believe that you can win the competition. Dage, sidi, wudi, don’t you agree?”
Look at what a good showing his son was making, he had only gone experience training for half a year and had already risen by two cultivation levels. His future prospects were endless.
“Hn, yes, of course.”
“Yes, definitely.”
Wu Qianjing, Wu Qianbin, Wu Qiantong and their wives were smiling on their faces, but internally, they were already going crazy with jealousy.
The corners of Wu Xi’s lips twitched with derision. Wu Yu had just become a sixth level practitioner, but his tail was already jutting to the sky. Then as a ninth level practitioner, shouldn’t her shifu fly straight to heaven already?
Wu Ruo watched these people whose hearts didn’t match their words and internally felt a bout of derision.
Once everyone in the Wu family had arranged themselves in an orderly fashion, the Wu family’s clan leader and Wu Chenzi walked into the sub-hall, standing in front of everyone and saying: “This year will be the same as it has been in past years. As long as you win the final competition, the Wu family will agree to one request of yours. However, the prerequisite is that it must be something within the capabilities of the Wu family; unduly excessive requests are not allowed. Other than that, we will also gift you some precious resources and monetary assets. All of you should have confidence to compete, yes?”
“Yes!” Everyone agreed, full of vitality.
The Wu family’s clan leader nodded with satisfaction, then looked at Wu Chenzi: “Does Lord State Tutor have anything to add?”
Wu Chenzi swept a glance across everyone present: “Everyone, you must keep safety as your first priority.”
These words reminded everyone of the third rule of the competition. Their expressions immediately became solemn.
It was right at this moment that a eunuch carrying a booklet came in: “Clan Leader Wu, this is the name list of competitors from your Wu family. Please check if there are any issues with it.”
This booklet was the name list from the registration day. The name list of every participant for each cultivation level was written on it, and the cover had been sealed, showing that it had never been opened by anyone else before.
“Thank you, Eunuch Qu.” The Wu family’s clan leader received the booklet for checking, confirming that the seal hadn’t been tampered with, then he nodded: “Everything is in order.”
“Then I’ll be taking my leave.”
The Wu family’s clan leader hurriedly took a pouch of money out of his sleeve and shoved it into Eunuch Qu’s hands.
Eunuch Qu beamed, turned around and left.
The Wu family’s clan leader opened the name list booklet as he said: “Participants for the first level practitioners’ competition, step out.”
When everyone heard this, they hurriedly nudged their children forward. Those who stepped out from the clusters of people were mostly children five years old and below.
Wu Qianqing patted Wu Ruo’s shoulder: “Go on.”
Wu Ruo nodded. Under everyone’s mocking looks, he joined the first row, standing calmly with the group of children.
“Heavens, that young man is also participating in the first level practitioners’ competition?” Someone quietly discussed.
“Hmph, he doesn’t have spiritual energy, letting him participate in the first level practitioners’ competition is already a huge honour for him.”
“Doesn’t have spiritual energy? Then after he goes up on the competition platform, won’t he simply be looking death in the face?”
“In any case, the one dying isn’t you. Why do you care so much?”
“Silence!” The Wu family’s clan leader opened the name list booklet as he said to the children: “When I read out your name, answer me in acknowledgement, do you understand?”
The children responded, seeming as though they understood but also as though they didn’t: “Yes, sir!”
The Wu family’s clan leader read out: “Wu Shunzhong5I’m not sure if JYB forgot about how generational names are awarded, or if the Huangdu Wu family practices the whole generational name thing differently from the Gaoling Wu side branch. Just to clarify: I don’t think these toddlers have gone for experience training and have come back successfully LMAO Also, while it’s not explicitly discussed in the novel, the generational names between the Huangdu Wu and Gaoling Wu families are most likely different. If we trace the generations back from Wu Bofang’s father, who was the one who split off from the main family (if I remembered correctly), all of his descendants’ generational character will differ from the generational character bestowed in the same generation of the Huangdu Wu family. Let’s say for example, Wu Bofang’s father is from the ‘Chen’ generation of the Huangdu Wu family. His grandchildren (A.K.A Wu Bofang’s own children) use the ‘Xuan’ generational character, but Wu Chenzi’s grandchildren use the ‘Yu’ generational character (as seen from Wu Yuxue and her older brother, Wu Yuchu). It’s impossible to tell if the ‘Shun’ generation children in the Huangdu Wu family are from the same generation as Wu Ruo, younger, or even from an older generation (this is entirely possible, since practitioners live much longer than regular people and stronger practitioners live longer than weaker ones. So if the Huangdu Wu family has always been much stronger than the Gaoling Wu ones, they would live longer and each generation in the Huangdu Wu may span across two generations in the Gaoling Wu for example)..”
A three year old child excitedly called out: “I’m here! I’m here!”
The Wu family’s clan leader nodded in acknowledgement: “Wu Shunyi.”
Another three year old little girl responded: “I’m here too!”
“Wu Baoxing6Not a huge deal, but again, absolutely zero indicators about whether the ‘Bao’ generation is older or younger than the ‘Shun’ generation and how they relate to Wu Ruo’s ‘An’ generation from the Gaoling Wu family.…”
The Wu family’s clan leader read out over a hundred names, and each of them had acknowledged their presence. Then finally, he read out: “Wu Chenzi…”
Everyone was stunned.
Wu Chenzi looked at the Wu family’s clan leader strangely: “What are you calling me for?”
“…” The Wu family’s clan leader looked at Wu Chenzi in shock, then he silently looked back at the booklet. He just about stared a hole into the names on the booklet. He didn’t dare to believe that the first level practitioners’ competition name list would have Wu Chenzi’s name.
“What on earth is going on?” When Wu Chenzi saw that the Wu family’s clan leader kept staring at the booklet, he took the booklet from him with a doubtful expression and quickly swept a look through it. After that, he realized that the first level practitioners’ competition name list actually had his name.
His expression was furious: “How can this be? Why would my name be here?”
“I’m not sure either.” The Wu family’s clan leader said with a bitter expression. Just now, it was because he had gotten caught up in reading out the names. On top of that, it had already been many years that he hadn’t called Wu Chenzi by name. That was why he had read out Wu Chenzi’s name in that moment without thinking twice.
“Ridiculous!” Wu Chenzi threw the booklet back at the Wu family’s clan leader with an enraged expression: “I have my dignity as a ninth level practitioner. How can I participate in the competition of the first level practitioners? Go quickly and investigate what happened, and also check if the booklet that the judge has also has my name.”
The judge that he mentioned was also the officer in charge of cross checking each family clan’s name list before the competition. In total, there were ten of them and each judge was in charge of one family clan.
“Yes, sir.”
Half a joss stick’s time after the Wu family’s clan leader left the sub-hall, he returned: “The booklet with the judge also has Lord State Tutor’s name.”
Wu Chenzi said angrily: “Someone must’ve secretly tampered with the names because they wanted to humiliate me! Quick, get them to change it back.”
The Wu family’s clan leader said in a small voice: “It cannot be changed anymore.”
Wu Chenzi glared at him in fury: “Why can’t it be changed?”
“Because…” Before the Wu family’s clan leader could finish speaking, the clan leaders of the Ling, Wen, Yun, Lu and Yan families entered: “Congratulations, congratulations! Congratulations to Lord State Tutor. We heard that Lord State Tutor will be participating in the first level practitioners’ competition. With Lord State Tutor’s ninth level skills, you’ll definitely be able to win victoriously, so we’re coming here to congratulate Lord State Tutor ahead of time.”
Wu Chenzi said harshly: “I registered for the ninth level practitioners’ competition. It definitely must’ve been the disciple in charge of registration who made a mistake. I must change it back.”
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