Cultivation System: Stronger with Age

While Lin Xuankong and the others were talking, another Martial Cultivator was knocked off the Cloud Mist Platform. At this moment, the chattering Martial Cultivators quieted down again. This was because Chu Qing, the Young Gang Leader of the Spirit Snake Gang, had stood up, now clad in a suit of silver Battle Armor!

As the first on the Hero List of the Demon Slaying Conference, Chu Qing was the most notable among all the Martial Cultivators present. His Martial Dao Realm, equipment, Demon Pearls, and Treasures all ranked first among the thousand Martial Cultivators participating in the Demon Slaying Conference!

At this moment, even Black Dragon Elder of the Holy Dragon Association rose. He stroked his beard and said with a smile, "Chu Qing, after you participate in the Demon Slaying Conference, once I report to the President, you'll be a formal member of our Holy Dragon Association! You must fight this battle well. If you can withstand ten breaths, the Steward position of the Holy Dragon Association's Great Marsh Branch will be yours!"

Upon hearing this, Chu Qing's expression became serious. He cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for your favor, Black Dragon Elder!"

Beside Black Dragon Elder, the expressions of the two Long Eyebrow Martial Cultivators flickered. As members of the Holy Dragon Association, they had toiled for over ten years after joining before becoming Stewards. Chu Qing, however, was incredibly fortunate!

A Steward of the Holy Dragon Association was not like a so-called steward from an ordinary gang. This position was comparable in status to the Black Tiger Gang Leader, the Yin Talisman Sect Leader, or even the Spirit Snake Gang Leader. Typically, only the most outstanding cultivators at the late-stage Fifth Layer were qualified for such a role in the Holy Dragon Association!

The hundreds of Martial Cultivators around them reacted to this, their expressions fluctuating and their eyes filled with envy. These third or fourth-layer Martial Cultivators knew they would never have the chance to climb to such a position, even if they trained for several decades or their entire lives. That was the Steward position of the Holy Dragon Association!

Never mind the Steward position; even an ordinary disciple of the Holy Dragon Association, upon arriving in any of the Hundred Cities of Great Marsh Prefecture, would be a top figure capable of commanding City Lords! If Chu Qing could withstand ten breaths, the Steward position in the Holy Dragon Association would be his for the taking!

As everyone was overcome with emotion, Chu Qing cupped his hands towards Black Dragon Elder, then leaped and floated onto the Cloud Mist Platform.

Lin Xuankong, meanwhile, activated his Double Pupil and gazed intently at the Cloud Mist Platform...

The Martial Cultivators on the mid-mountain platform were all excited now, their eyes fixed keenly on the summit platform. Everyone was certain that if anyone among the Martial Cultivators present could withstand ten breaths against the female Martial Cultivator, Chu Qing undoubtedly had the greatest chance!

From the crowd, Liang Qinhu, who had a dark complexion, showed a hint of excitement in his eyes and began to count in a low voice,

"One breath."

"Two breaths."

"Three breaths."

As Liang Qinhu counted, the other excited Martial Cultivators couldn't help but join in, their faces alight with anticipation,

"Four breaths."

"Five breaths."

"Six breaths."

The excitement in everyone's eyes grew. As fellow Martial Cultivators from Great Marsh Prefecture, they would naturally share in the honor if someone could withstand ten breaths!

"Seven breaths."

"Eight breaths."

"Nine breaths."

By the ninth breath, all their voices had converged, creating a mighty swell of sound as the crowd grew intensely emotional.

Just then,

BOOM!

A muffled sound resonated as the mist on the summit platform swirled, and a figure shot out—it was Chu Qing in his silver Battle Armor.

After being blasted off the platform, he twisted mid-air and landed silently on the mid-mountain platform beside Black Dragon Elder. His composure was clearly far superior to Liy Changming's earlier display!

Regrettably, he still hadn't withstood ten breaths!

The expressions on the faces of the hundreds of surrounding Martial Cultivators were extremely complex.

Some stared at Chu Qing with awe, marveling that he had endured nine breaths—nearly three times longer than Young Master Liy.

Others shook their heads slightly, sighing. He had been just one breath short! If he had held on, a Martial Cultivator from Great Marsh Prefecture would have finally withstood ten breaths.

Still others looked at Chu Qing with envy. After all, enduring nine breaths already marked him as the foremost figure of Great Marsh Prefecture's younger generation. After this battle, Chu Qing's prestige was bound to soar even higher! It's often said that comparing people, not just objects, is what truly highlights disparities. While that female Martial Cultivator was formidable, Chu Qing had managed to outperform almost everyone present by severalfold, even tenfold. Such a display of strength was, in its own way, despair-inducing for others!

Chu Qing showed a hint of regret on his face. "It's a pity my martial arts are still lacking. If I had refined the offensive moves of the Spiritual Snake Technique a bit more, I wouldn't have been struck by those palms just now!"

Vice Gang Leader Chu Yuhui, observing that Chu Qing's Heart Spirit was somewhat dejected, shook his head and smiled. "To withstand nine breaths under the attacks of the one on the summit is already enough to make you famous throughout Great Marsh Prefecture and even in Kyoto! After all, before this, no Martial Cultivator of the Same Tier has ever withstood nine breaths against her! This achievement has already proven your worth; there's no need for regret!"

Black Dragon Elder also had a smile on his face. "Very strong, Chu Qing, you are very strong. Among the new disciples the Holy Dragon Association has recruited over the past several decades, you are undoubtedly the most talented. The Steward position is as good as yours! Come, let's go to my stone building and have a drink together!"

Chu Qing turned to look at the surrounding Martial Cultivators. "There are still a dozen people who haven't competed yet. Aren't we going to watch until the end?"

Black Dragon Elder laughed. "Watching up to this point is sufficient. That individual on the summit has been growing stronger lately, far exceeding my expectations! As for the remaining Martial Cultivators, apart from Liang Qinhu, most are ranked outside the top hundred on the Hero List. What chance do they have of withstanding even three breaths? There's no need to watch them!"

With that, he affectionately took Chu Qing's hand and, accompanied by the Holy Dragon Association Stewards, Chu Yuhui, and the others present, briskly walked down Luoxia Slope.