The Urban Cultivation Grandmaster

Chapter 32: Agreeing with Others Is a Virtue

The Tianjiang Hotel was vast. The venue where the Cultivators’ Promotion Association hosted guests was a short distance from where the conference was officially held, so attendees could take the hotel’s shuttle to the conference. Since everyone was a cultivator with excellent agility—able to scale walls and leap across rooftops like immortals on earth—many chose not to take the shuttle. This left the vehicles quite spacious and not crowded at all, so Mu Tian and Yang Chun sat back and enjoyed the ride in leisure. “Master, today has truly been an eye-opening experience. I’ve seen so many wondrous things—all kinds of spirit-infused objects, each with its own unique effects. It’s practically like another world,” Yang Chun said excitedly. “Stay calm. You’ll be even more surprised in the future. The world is changing rapidly—earth-shattering transformations occur every second. Keep your eyes open; the future will be even more spectacular. The treasures you’ve seen are merely the tip of the iceberg in this mystical civilization. Soon, a magnificent world will unfold before everyone’s eyes.” As his master, Mu Tian naturally exuded an air of authority at this moment, maintaining the composed demeanor of a sage who viewed everything as “perfectly normal” from start to finish. At the cultivator’s trading fair earlier, Mu Tian hadn’t made much of a haul aside from purchasing a piece of Zhanlan Cold Iron. It wasn’t that he hadn’t come across any good items—there were plenty of them—but unfortunately, Mu Tian was short on funds. Even for the Zhanlan Cold Iron, which cost 20 Spirit Stones, he had to pay half in Spirit Stones and the other half in spiritual herbs. Broke! Mu Tian was speechless. Soon, Mu Tian arrived at the conference center. It was a temporary stage set up in the square; even the guest seating consisted of portable chairs. However, the surrounding environment was quite pleasant—with an unobstructed view, proximity to Poyang Lake, and rolling hills winding through the landscape. With both mountains and water, the scenery was picturesque. As soon as he walked in, Yang Chun seemed to spot some classmates from Tianjiang Cultivator Academy who were volunteering there. She couldn’t contain her excitement and looked as if she wanted to run over immediately to chat with them. Mu Tian smiled gently and said, “If you want to go hang out with your classmates, go ahead. Feel free to do as you please.” Yang Chun nodded eagerly and jogged over with a cheerful smile. Since the conference hadn’t officially begun yet, the venue was bustling with guests and waitstaff moving back and forth, creating a lively and noisy atmosphere. Mu Tian glanced around, and suddenly his eyes lit up as he spotted several familiar figures. Lu Yue, the busty girl; her best friend Ke Ping; and his roommates Lü Fang and Gu Yunyun. Mu Tian was quite familiar with these four girls. Lu Yue often asked him for help with Daowen, and to explain things more clearly, they inevitably ended up video chatting from time to time. Through these interactions, Mu Tian had gotten to know all four of them, and he was fortunate enough to gain a thorough understanding of the situation in Lu Yue’s dorm. Needless to say, Lu Yue was a stunning beauty—gorgeous, with a full figure and a sweet personality. Ke Ping was the cute type, while their roommates, Lü Fang and Gu Yunyun, were no slouches either—tall and good-looking, they were easily among the most attractive girls in their class at the college. All four were wearing the standard volunteer uniforms—elegant yet dignified—but it seemed they were in a bit of trouble now. Standing before them was a girl about Lu Yue’s age, of average looks—she fell far short of Lu Yue, Lü Fang, and the others; even Ke Ping was cuter, prettier, and more attractive to boys than she was. Dressed in lavish, expensive clothes, she was all dolled up and exuded an air of nobility. Arrogant and haughty, she hurled sarcastic remarks at Lu Yue and her friends, acting every bit the spoiled rich girl. Mu Tian listened carefully and finally began to piece things together. That young woman, who looked every bit the spoiled rich girl, was a classmate of Lu Yue’s. For some unknown reason, the moment she saw Lu Yue and her friends—who had come to volunteer—she started speaking in a sarcastic, condescending tone, mocking them relentlessly and going out of her way to show off. Jealousy? A feud? Mu Tian mused gossipily, but he didn’t stop walking; he walked straight up to Lu Yue and greeted her. Mu Tian’s arrival instantly broke the tense atmosphere. “Teacher Mu,” “Teacher Mu,” “Teacher Mu”— Ke Ping, Gu Yunyun, and Lü Fang greeted Mu Tian with looks of delight. Lu Yue was also very happy to see Mu Tian, but remembering the past, she couldn’t help but feel a little awkward. On top of that, since her rival was giving her a hard time and Mu Tian had caught them in the act, she greeted him somewhat nervously: “Mu Tian.” The woman across from them also spotted Mu Tian. Seeing that Ke Ping, that little minx, was calling him “Teacher Mu,” while Lu Yue alone addressed him by his first name—and with an unnatural look on her face—Mu Tian and Lu Yue instantly became a “scandalous couple” in the woman’s eyes. “Oh, Lu Yue~ You’re really something. A vixen is a vixen—you’ve managed to latch onto another powerful figure in the blink of an eye. Tsk, tsk, tsk. Your seduction skills have really improved. I’m truly impressed!” the woman said in a sarcastic tone. Lu Yue was furious, her face flushing red: “Golden Phoenix, what nonsense are you spouting?” Ke Ping also spoke up to defend Lu Yue: “Golden Phoenix, what are you getting at? Back then, when your boyfriend fell for Xiao Yue, that wasn’t her fault. Do you really need to hold a grudge for all these years and be at odds with her over everything?” Instantly, Mu Tian’s curiosity flared up—so there really was a story behind this. When the Golden Phoenix heard Ke Ping’s words—the subtext of which was essentially that she lacked charm and couldn’t even keep her boyfriend—she immediately flew into a rage, fuming, “I can’t be bothered to talk to you lot. In my eyes, you’re all too low-class; it’s exhausting even to speak to you.” Golden Phoenix shot Mu Tian a glance, her anger growing. Why did all the outstanding men seem to be chasing after Lu Yue? She held up the invitation in her hand, pursed her lips, and raised an eyebrow. “Lu Yue, do you realize the gap between us?” “I’m here to attend the conference, while you’re just a server; I can step through the gates of the cultivator realm with ease, choosing from the finest cultivation techniques and rare treasures at will, while you’re left struggling desperately outside those gates—sometimes even sacrificing your body for personal gain.” Lu Yue was so furious she was on the verge of tears: “Don’t make such baseless accusations!” “Isn’t that true? What a joke! Don’t think that just because you’re clinging to the so-called Master Daowen’s coattails, you’ll rise from rags to riches. The world of cultivators is vast—the strong reign supreme, and strength is the only thing that matters. Master Daowen? What a joke!” Golden Phoenix grew angrier as she spoke. Determined to belittle Lu Yue and trample on her dignity, she immediately brought up certain opinions about Mu Tian that she’d overheard her elders discussing at home. In the cultivation world, there is no “number one” in scholarship or “number two” in martial arts—the strong reign supreme. Now that Mu Tian’s fame had spread across the world, it naturally sparked much discussion among cultivators. It was only natural for some to speak of him with envy, but discussing him behind closed doors was one thing; bringing it out into the open was quite another. Instantly, the previously boisterous venue fell silent, and the cultivators—known for their keen hearing—all pricked up their ears. “Is that so? I don’t know which school or sect Miss Jin hails from, but her insights are extraordinary and cut straight to the heart of the matter. With a single sentence, she has elucidated the true essence of the cultivation world—she truly possesses the bearing of a great master!” Mu Tian had originally been just watching the spectacle; since it was Lu Yue’s personal matter and he wasn’t very familiar with the details, he hadn’t spoken up until now. But now that the fire had spread to him, he could no longer remain silent. Lu Yue looked at Mu Tian with an apologetic expression, but Mu Tian clapped his hands, signaling that it was all right. After the Golden Phoenix finished speaking, she actually felt a twinge of regret. But since she’d already said it, she couldn’t back down now. Lifting her head, she declared, “Golden Phoenix of the Jin Family Martial Arts Hall! Master Mu, I deeply respect your profound research into Daowen texts...” “No! That’s not what I’m asking about—I’m asking about the joke...” Mu Tian interjected with a smirk. The Golden Phoenix was at a loss for words, but she didn’t back down. She had intended to smooth things over with her words, but since this Mu Tian lacked tact, she saw no need to be polite: “Of course it’s a joke. I hear that Teacher Mu spent three years at Tianhai Academy, ranking at the very bottom every year. I’m afraid your cultivation must be rather mediocre.” Mu Tian: “That’s right.” Golden Phoenix continued, “There you go. Since your cultivation isn’t up to par, you should keep a low profile in the cultivation world. In this world, strength speaks for itself, and respect has its limits.” Mu Tian nodded. “You’re absolutely right.” “The strong reign supreme. Even if you’re a master of Daowen literature, without the corresponding cultivation and combat prowess, all the glory you see before you is nothing more than a moon in a well or a flower in water...” “You’re absolutely right!” Thanks to “Xuan Yu★Xuan Zun” for the tip—appreciate your support!