Lianyun Mountain, Meridian Refining Master Association!

Today is the very day of the triennial disciple selection of Lianyun Mountain. With the annual headquarters meeting not far off, besides the Meridian Refining Masters coming from all over to participate in the selection, there are also sub-branch chairmen returning from various cities for reports, making the atmosphere extraordinarily lively.

For those sub-branch chairmen of the Meridian Refining Master Association, whether they can shine at the annual meeting largely depends on whether the disciples sent from their city can secure a good ranking in the Lianyun Mountain disciple selection.

For example, if a talent selected from a city wins the championship in the triennial disciple selection, it might even lead to the sub-branch chairman of that city receiving a substantial reward, potentially even a direct promotion back to headquarters.

"Haha, Brother Bai, you seem to have arrived a bit early this time!"

"Brother Xiang, it seems several notable individuals have emerged from Yonglong City this time. Looks like you're going to make a big splash!"

"Elder Ge, you're here too!"

"Huh? Isn't that Lu Liancheng from Lushan City? Could he be here just to be at the bottom again?"

"..."

At the edge of a large square at Lianyun Mountain Headquarters, many sub-branch chairmen who came from various parts of Tenglong Continent were gathered together, greeting each other, creating a bustling scene.

Among them, some were full of enthusiasm, some were aloof and proud, and others were sullen and silent, but it seemed they all knew each other. Some even pointed at certain individuals while whispering.

In contrast, one elder with a slightly awkward expression seemed somewhat out of place with this bustling atmosphere. If Yun Xiao were here, he might recognize this person as Lu Liancheng, the sub-branch chairman of the Meridian Refining Master Association in Lushan City.

In the past, Lushan City, being remote, didn't produce any notable Meridian Refining talents, so whenever there was a Lianyun Mountain Headquarters disciple selection, Lushan City was always at the bottom, often eliminated in the first round.

As time went on, even the late-stage Origin Seeking Realm sub-branch chairman of Lushan City was also looked down upon and even isolated by many other city sub-branch chairmen.

This time, because the selection was close to the Lianyun Mountain annual meeting, many chairmen were here to watch the event. It seemed they had discussed in private, and this time, instead of merely isolating Lu Liancheng, they occasionally began to taunt him with cold sarcasm.

Every Meridian Refining Master had an air of arrogance, and for these sub-branch chairmen, besides their own Meridian Refining skills being exceptional, a more critical aspect was whether they could supply talents to the headquarters.

As an Earth Rank Middle Level Meridian Refining Master, Lu Liancheng's Meridian Refining Technique wasn't considered poor. However, due to the lack of achievements in the triennial Lianyun Mountain disciple selection, he became the subject of ridicule among the sub-branch chairmen.

"Hmph, in my opinion, since Lushan City hasn't produced any Meridian Refining talents over the years, it might as well be closed down, to avoid disgracing our Meridian Refining Master Association!"

In the crowd, there was a wrinkled elder referred to by everyone as Elder Ge, who seemed to have an extraordinary status. His sudden comment made Lu Liancheng's face flush red with anger.

"Ge Buqi, the decision to close the Lushan City Meridian Refining Master sub-branch is not yours to make!"

Previously, Lu Liancheng hadn't spoken because everyone was merely whispering among themselves, unlike Ge Buqi, who was excessively straightforward. Lu Liancheng had his temper and retorted on the spot, secretly mocking that Ge Buqi wasn't qualified to make such decisions.

"Did I say something wrong? With Lushan City's performance over the years, it's a wonder you, Lu Liancheng, have the face to come here early. If I were you, I would stay cooped up in Lushan City, not showing my face!"

Ge Buqi was also a genuine late-stage Origin Seeking Realm cultivator, and his Meridian Refining Technique seemed to be even stronger than Lu Liancheng's, only a step away from breaking through to the Earth Rank Advanced level, comparable to some elders in the Meridian Refining Master Association.

Moreover, over the years, Shiyun City, where Ge Buqi resided, had continuously supplied talents to Lianyun Mountain Headquarters, which helped him establish connections with many association elders, further boosting his arrogance and making him feel different from ordinary city sub-branch chairmen.

The other sub-branch chairmen were not bothered, but the fact that Lushan City was always at the bottom every time made Ge Buqi disdainful of Lu Liancheng's audacity to show up early.

As for Ge Buqi's remarks about Lushan City's lack of Meridian Refining talents, it was merely to undermine Lu Liancheng. Talents exist everywhere; Lushan City's failure to identify them over the years was deemed a reflection of Lu Liancheng's capabilities, which is why he voiced such words.

"You..."

Seeing everyone's eyes on him, Lu Liancheng felt his lungs were about to explode with anger. However, at the next moment, when his gaze fell on a coarse figure strolling in from the other side of the square, all his anger dissipated, replaced by a thick sense of mockery.

"Haha, I know you all think my Lushan City can't produce any meridian refining talents, but this time, my Lushan City will at least achieve a top ten ranking, do you believe it?"

Lu Liancheng no longer showed the anger from being mocked earlier, but after he said this, everyone was initially stunned and then showed a look of extreme disdain and sneered.

"Haha, what did I just hear? Lushan City, which has never passed the first round before, actually dreams of getting a top ten ranking. Isn't that a joke?"

The first to react was Ge Buqi from Shiyun City, who laughed three times loudly and said words that made everyone nod repeatedly, clearly agreeing deeply.

You must know there are countless cities in the Tenglong Continent like stars in the sky, so even if each city has only one spot to participate in the headquarters selection, there would still be over ten thousand people.

Ten thousand people may not seem like a lot compared to the billion cultivators of the Tenglong Continent, but in the small area of Refining Cloud Mountain Headquarters, it's not a small number.

To stand out among around ten thousand participants and finally grab a top ten spot is no easy feat, plus Refining Cloud Mountain's disciple selection is not always determined by your meridian refining level; there are other comprehensive considerations, among other factors.

At least according to Ge Buqi, they know every Refining Cloud Mountain Headquarters selection requires at least three rounds, and in the first round, most participants will be eliminated, and those who pass have the qualification for the next round of competition and examination.

As for the infamous Lushan City, it's a place that never even passed the first round before; now Lu Liancheng shamelessly says they will get a top ten ranking, which sounds like a huge joke.

"What? You don't believe it?"

Lu Liancheng turned his head, staring at the wrinkled face of Ge Buqi, his expression somewhat ambiguous, first posing a question and then suddenly raising his voice, saying: "If you don't believe it, dare to bet with me?"

"Betting?"

Suddenly hearing Lu Liancheng say such a thing, Ge Buqi really was somewhat taken aback, but he quickly calmed himself, thinking that Lu Liancheng was just bluffing here, unable to back down.

"I'll bet, what do you want to bet on?"

Ge Buqi, being ambitious, was goaded by Lu Liancheng before a large audience, and if he backed down, he would be looked down upon even after entering Refining Cloud Mountain Headquarters.

"I heard, Elder Ge, that you recently acquired an 'Earth Void Thunder Pearl.' How about betting on that?"

Lu Liancheng seemed to have thought about what to ask for already. When he said this, Ge Buqi's face slightly changed, thinking, how did this guy get such information? That Earth Void Thunder Pearl is an Earth Rank Advanced treasure that was hard to acquire.

"Sure, betting on the Earth Void Thunder Pearl is no problem, but I'm just afraid your Lushan City can't offer an equivalent wager."

Ge Buqi wouldn't back down easily. After saying this, many nodded slowly because Lushan City, being remote, wasn't known for any good items; if the wager wasn't equivalent, he could decline the bet.

"If I lose, I'll go to Shiyun City and become an elder for you, Elder Ge. How about that?"

However, just as everyone wanted to see what treasure Lu Liancheng would offer, they heard him say such words, which surprised them, and Ge Buqi was also stunned.

You must know that although Lushan City is remote, as Liancheng's Chairman, Lu Liancheng is certainly dominant in that city.

Though he can't hold his head high before these fellow Chairmen, in Lushan City, he's like a local emperor no one dares to offend.

So, previously, no one thought Lu Liancheng would put his chairman position on the line as a wager, compared to the value of the Earth Void Thunder Pearl, this could be considered differently by different people.

"Alright, I'll take the bet!"

Even before everyone had fully digested this, Ge Buqi clapped his hands together and loudly accepted, marking the formation of this bet in front of all the branch Chairmen; there's no chance of backing out.

Ge Buqi always viewed Lu Liancheng unfavorably, and he believed that for a place like Lushan City, passing the first round of the final selection was already remarkable; as for achieving a top ten ranking, only a city like Shiyun City could do it—Lushan City is just dreaming.

Therefore, Ge Buqi felt he had at least a ninety percent chance of winning, and when he could bring in another city's chairman to be his elder, it would certainly be a prestigious event, something even the headquarters elders wouldn't interfere with.