Becoming a fox fairy from Liaozhai

Chapter 855 Setting up a Challenge
Gong Mengbi was like an old fisherman; after a whole day, he only caught some tattered clothes and rotten wood. To say that his catch was meager would be an understatement.

Chun Jingshu, on the other hand, wished this situation could continue. She always had an avoidance mentality, and even a moment of peace would be good.

But this superficial peace was clearly unsustainable. Even without the two immortals, Huang and Zi, they could have found out about Mingxia Temple in a few days.

Moreover, just one day later, the two immortals, Huang and Zi, appeared before Chun Jing Shu again.

When they found Chun Jing Shu, she was lingering in front of a pharmacy. The Prince's purchasing agents had come to this pharmacy earlier that day. Chun Jing Shu was hesitating whether to go in and ask when she caught a glimpse of her two cousins ​​flashing by.

Unexpectedly, they made no attempt to conceal themselves. It was Chun Jing Shu who pulled them to a corner of the alley. "Why did you two cousins ​​come like this? Wouldn't he be wary if he saw you?"

The purple-clad fox fairy, Chun Xueqing, laughed: "This is precisely how we lure him into a trap; we don't need to worry about him being wary."

Chun Jing Shu understood that they already had a plan, and hurriedly asked, "What method is it?"

Chun Xueqing handed over a rolled-up notice and said, "Gong Mengbi has received the Eight Winds Technique, so he probably won't miss this opportunity."

"King Lu wanted to establish a new altar for wind, clouds, thunder and rain to pray for favorable weather. However, the old altar in the southern suburbs was no longer usable, so he could only hold a competition to recruit talented people and select the best to preside over the construction of the new altar and the ritual for wind, clouds, thunder and rain."

Gong Mengbi took the notice, looked up at Chun Jingshu, and said, "So, this is an opportunity."

Chun Jing Shu had a guilty conscience and found it difficult to be confident in front of Gong Meng Bi. She could only force herself to remain calm: "If the Prince of Lu wants to recruit talented people, he will definitely attract many cultivators. At that time, there will be a mix of good and bad people, which will make it easier to blend in and maybe find an opportunity."

Gong Mengbi glanced at the notice, then casually put it aside, saying, "The stage is already set up, do you expect me to just stand by and watch?"

The pure and quiet girl remained silent, as if chilled to the bone.

Gong Mengbi said, "Since that's the case, then go and submit your invitation. Tell them that you, Gong Mingfu, a recluse, have come to test your skills after hearing the announcement."

Chun Jing Shu quickly agreed and fled Gong Meng Bi's room. She didn't dare to look at him, let alone meet his gaze, for fear that he might see something amiss in her eyes.

Although she knew that he had probably seen through her tricks.

Three days after the Prince of Lu issued the challenge, the arena was already set up. Naturally, the Prince of Lu could not set up the arena in his palace, as that would be a real mixed bag, and who knows what strange people might sneak in. So, in the end, it was set up in front of the imperial road outside the south gate of the Prince of Lu's palace, with a high platform built next to the Jinshui River.

Only by passing the arena can one transform from a wandering sorcerer into a guest of the royal palace, cross the Central Imperial Bridge over the Golden Water River, enter the palace, and become a distinguished guest of Prince Lu.

After the arena was set up, the servants of the Prince's Mansion found Gong Mengbi's residence based on the invitation and told him that he could challenge the arena at any time. Only by passing the arena could he enter the Prince's Mansion and be received by the Prince.

Conquering the challenge is only the first hurdle.

Chun Jing Shu glanced at the reply from the Prince of Lu's residence and asked, "When does the envoy plan to go?"

Gong Mengbi did not answer, but asked about another matter: "How is the investigation going these past few days?"

Chun Jingshu shook her head: "It's hard to find out about Mingxia Temple. It was only because the Lu Prince's Mansion set up a challenge these past few days and made a big fuss that we were able to find out more. All we know so far is that after the late emperor passed away and the country was in mourning, the Lu Prince held a grand ceremony, which is why the Taoists from Mingxia Temple came to join us."

Gong Mengbi was somewhat surprised: "Aren't the Taoist priests of Mingxia Temple practitioners from the surrounding area?"

Chun Jing Shu said, "No, I have tried to contact the cultivators in the vicinity, but I am not very familiar with the Taoists of Mingxia Temple. Mingxia Temple rarely goes out in the surrounding area and lives a secluded life in the Prince's Mansion."

Gong Mengbi's temples throbbed slightly. He rubbed his temples and said, "That's really strange."

“It is indeed strange. The Prince of Lu employs people who are not from the surrounding area, so how can he know whether their background is clean or not, and how can he enshrine them in his mansion?” Chun Jing Shu said this, but she actually had some guesses in her heart, but she dared not say them, nor could she tell Gong Meng Bi.

Gong Mengbi stared at Chun Jingshu, making her heart pound. He gave her the illusion that he was being dissected and thoroughly searched.

"Alright. There's no time like the present, let's go tonight." He glanced at Chun Jing Shu and said, "You'll come with me."

Chun Jing Shu didn't want to go, but she had no choice but to prepare a carriage and horses and set off around midnight, following Gong Meng Bi to the front of the Prince of Lu's mansion.

Upon reaching the south bank of the Jinshui River, a thin layer of mist obstructs the path. This mist divides the Imperial Street in half along the Jinshui River, concealing the view of ordinary people and preventing them from accidentally wandering in.

The dragon chariot passed through the thin mist and finally saw the raised arena on the bank of the Jinshui River.

The arena was now filled with noise as two cultivators were battling it out.

One of the young Taoist priests, wearing a robe with sun and moon patterns on the left and wielding a set of yin-yang magic rings, had already gained a significant advantage.

His opponent was a middle-aged Taoist priest who, with a flick of his whisk, summoned demons and soldiers to fight him.

But the young Taoist remained unmoved. His Yang Ring circled once, spewing forth true solar fire, which repelled all the demonic soldiers. His Yin Ring vanished, striking its opponent. The opponent, already aware of the attack, attempted to subdue it with its whisk, but was still struck in the chest, collapsing to the ground coughing up blood.

The young Taoist priest withdrew the Yin-Yang Ring and said, "You've lost."

The middle-aged Taoist priest remained silent, clutching his chest as he disappeared into the mist.

The young Taoist priest stood on the arena and asked, "Which of you two will go first?"

The question was directed at Gong Mengbi and another cultivator who had arrived before Gong Mengbi. The cultivator was wearing an old, gray-blue Taoist robe and had a travel-worn, somewhat weary face.

Gong Mengbi nodded to him and extended his hand, saying, "Please."

The Taoist priest nodded slightly, turning his gaze away from Gong Mengbi.

The Taoist priest leaped onto the platform, and the young Taoist priest opposite him, without asking his name, simply said, "Make your move."

The Taoist priest in green smiled apologetically and pointed to the sky.

The young Taoist priest looked up at the sky following his hand, and saw a huge hand stretching out from the sky, pressing him firmly onto the arena with one palm.

The young Taoist struggled desperately, but could not move at all. He couldn't even use his protective magic artifact, the Yin-Yang Ring, and had no choice but to admit defeat.

"What kind of move is this?" Chun Jing Shu looked up at the giant hand that had descended from the sky, but she couldn't recognize the supernatural power behind it.

Gong Mengbi gave her a strange look and said, "You can't even recognize my signature skill?"

The young Taoist priest breathed a sigh of relief and asked, "How should I address you, Taoist Master?"

"Just call me Daoist Gong," the Daoist said, bowing.

The young Taoist priest sent a messenger with a reply and a token, saying, "I am Luo Junxian from Mingxia Temple. Please accept this letter and await the summons of Prince Lu."

Gong Daoren accepted them one by one, stepped off the stage, and exchanged a glance with Gong Mengbi.

Gong Mengbi exclaimed, "What a brilliant illusion!"

Master Gong simply smiled slightly and said, "You flatter me."

Nara Daoist called out again from the arena: "It's your turn."

Gong Mengbi said, "I'll be right back."

Gong Daoren watched as he flew away, then reached out and made a grasping motion towards the sky. A giant foot descended and suppressed Luo Daoren once again.

Gong Daoist's pupils contracted slightly, and Luo Daoist exclaimed, "Are you all from the same family?"

Gong Mengbi simply smiled and denied it: "It was just a coincidence that I was practicing a similar supernatural power, and it happened on a whim. Please forgive me."