《Becoming God of a Dystopian World》


 Chapter 1 - The Legendary Tale!

    The year 2020, Central ward of Tokyo, Japan.


    ''This year was hard for everyone.''


    A guy lying in a closed ss chamber thought.


    ''But Why is it only ME who has to go through all this shit?''


    He kept on thinking while feeling sad. Just then he heard someone issue an instruction outside.


    "Go. Fill it with the C-gas."


    After which the chamber which had a capsule-like shape, was filled with cold gas.


    ''Shit.''


    He freaked out and tried to break open the ss in front of him. But to his realization, he couldn''t move his hands, not even by an inch.


    After using all the strength he could muster, he tried but couldn''t even move his arms at all.


    ''Sigh''


    In the end, he gave up. He cursed himself and cursed his fate. He cursed the guy who trapped him in this situation.


    As time passed, the capsule was filled with that gas. He was hit with a feeling of drowsiness because of which he started to fall into a sleep-like state.


    The gas caused a cold to spread in his body. The temperature of his body fell so low and ice started forming over his skin.


    If someone saw him, they would think that it was just a very realistic ice sculpture. Soon his eyes closed and he fell into a forced sleep.


    This unlucky guy was Zhao Luo.


    A Chinese traveler with a normal name and a normal life till this happened to him.


    Thus his normal name couldn''t evene close to his abrupt fate.


    The ss capsule after being filled with the C-gas was like a reciprocal mirror. The reflection of a bunch of guys could be seen on the capsule. They all had the same equipment. Each of them was wearing ab coat indicating that this ce was aboratory of some sort and they were a group of researchers.


    ''Tap, Tap, Tap....''


    One of the researchers walked towards the capsule Zhao Luo was in. Hisb coat was golden and he was wearing sunsses.


    Yes, wearing sunsses indoors. He was a special weirdo. Nheless, every other person present in theb moved aside to make way for him to reach the capsule.


    He was Takuma. The lead researcher of this grant project which he had started. As the project was supposed to free humanity of their limited short lives so the name had to be grant too.


    ''Gone over death - GOD''. Takuma looked at the capsule and said,


    "Hopefully my decision will be able to change your life."


    After saying what he wanted while hoping that Zhao Luo could hear him. This was probably hisst time saying anything to Zhao Luo. Takuma pushed a button next to the capsule which made a countdown to start.


    ''3''


    The capsule rotated.


    ''2''


    It stopped vertically.


    ''1''


    It started moving down after a path was open below the capsule.


    ''Whoosh''


    The path closed after the capsule passed it.


    All the guys in theb left one by one, thest being Takuma.


    *******************


    2 weeks back.


    A Chinese guy left his hotel room on the 36th floor. He took the elevator to the ground floor. He left the hotel and stood at its entrance/exit.


    "NISU"


    He said nice, in Japanese which sounded funny.


    This guy was Zhao Luo. A Chinese traveler in his early 20''s. The guard outside the hotel gate stepped away after seeing Zhao Luoing out of the hotel. The reason for stepping away was simple. Zhao Luo loved to tell others about himself and once he started there was no stopping him.


    Summarizing the legendary tale of his, it usually went like this,


    ''I always had a weak body because of my lungs. Always suffering from a breathing problem whenever I was excited. So the doctors told me that I won''t live long which didn''te as a surprise to me cause I was a really intelligent kid. And intellegent people dont live long. Keh.''


    Zhao Luo would always stop at this point after praising himself and waiting for others to give a response then continue to hister half of the tale.


    ''I knew what I suffered from and how big of a problem it was. Still, I never gave in to my condition and instead decided to live the life of a traveler and here I am talking to you.''


    He would end his story by pointing at the guy being abused mentally with this legendary tale of his.


    Zhao Luo always did the opposite of what the majority of people were doing.


    Covid-19.


    A deadly virus.


    Because of covid-19 everyone was wearing a mask and keeping a safe distance from others. While Zhao Luo was on fullmando mode thinking that Covid-19 was a hoax.


    Zhao Luo started walking and after a while, he reached a building. Zhao Luo stopped in front of that building and looked at the banner at the entrance door.


    The banner started with ''Haunted Building'' in Japanese which Zhao Luo ignored and went to the next part.


    ''You don''t wanna enter? Dame Dame yooo~~''


    Zhao Luo had a grin on his face. Even though he didn''t know what was inside but just cause he was a fan of Japaneseedy he went inside. Like a child walking in a park. He looked happy while entering the building. But he didn''t know that this will be his worst choice.

 Chapter 2 - Haunted Building?

    After Zhao Luo went inside the building there was a little girl outside who lightly tucked her mothers'' skirt and said,


    "Oka~~a San, that Uncle went in the haunted building. Can we go in there too?"


    The girl was pointing at the building that Zhao Luo had just entered.


    Her mother trembled after looking at the haunted building. She had heard weird stories about this haunted building and some extreme stories even included people getting heart attacks inside there.


    So she said to her daughter,


    "Maybe we will go there when your daddy is with us okay boo. But not now."


    After making this excuse, she held her daughter''s hand and walked away from that ce as fast as she could.


    ***************


    Haunted Building, Central ward of Tokyo.


    Zhao Luo went inside and his breathing hastened as his excitement increased.


    He controlled his feeling.


    As he moved ahead, he could see some posters around him which had a spooky house printed on them. So he generally had an idea of what he ignored on the banner which was outside the building.


    ''Keh. As if I will be scared.''


    He thought. After which he said in a loud voice.


    "Come at me ghosts. I will face you all ALONE."


    Zhao Luo suddenly dered war on the ghosts in the building.


    These ghosts were obviously people who would only be pretending to be ghosts or other evil beings, but Zhao Luo felt quite satisfied after his deration and started moving.


    When Zhao Luo reached the stairs which moved to the first floor, he stopped there for a moment thinking about turning back and leaving the building.


    Even after his earlier bold announcement, Zhao Luo, in reality, was a very ''Cowardly'' man.


    He could even win in apetition if thepetition was based on, ''who can be the biggest coward''.


    Right when he was still deciding whether to move towards the first floor of the haunted building or leave the building,


    ''Tap, Tap''


    A drop fell on his right shoulder, then the next instant another drop fell on his left shoulder right away.


    Zhao Luo looked towards his left and saw a mummified ghost trying to grab him.


    The sudden appearance of this ghastly mummy shocked Zhao Luo and he screamed,


    "Ahhhhhhhh."


    Zhao Luo had fear clouding his mind, and in confusion decided to go up towards the first floor.


    Walking on all fours like a gori, he jumped on the stairs while making his way to the first floor.


    After reaching the first floor the stairs ended, even though the building had five floors. The stairs to the second floor were at a different point on the first floor, unlike the usual way where all the floors had their stairs connected.


    Zhao Luo looked down towards the descending stairs to see if the ghost was still following him but he couldn''t see the ghost. Even though he knew that it was a fake one but he couldn''t control himself.


    ''Huff, Huff, Finally. I can''t see that shit of a ghost''


    He thought while breathing heavily.


    Zhao Luo walked around the first floor. Just when he heard a grumble.


    ''Grrrrrrr''


    It was his stomach. Zhao Luo who was already scared out of his wits before started to look around anxiously.


    Right then he heard the same grumble sound again.


    ''Grrrrr''


    "This time it wasn''t my stomach"


    Zhao Luo said.


    Just then, he felt a hand on his shoulder.


    "Ahhhhhhhh"


    The hand touched him so suddenly that Zhao Luo didn''t even look back. He just ran.


    He reached the end of the floor and right there he saw stairs.


    Reaching the stairs which were going up, he decided to go up like before. So he started to climb the stairs but this time the stairs never ended. He climbed the stairs. while climbing his breathing was getting heavier and heavier. Each step became a burden.


    Just when he was ready to fall on the stairs giving up going up anymore, he saw thest of the stairs.


    "Huff, Huff, Finally. Fucking hell. Is this a haunted house or a stair climbing marathon? Huff, Huff."


    ''Tap, Tap''


    He reached thest step.


    Zhao Luo saw a small board on the wall in front of him with a digit on it. He freaked out after seeing it. The board had a five on it.


    ''5. I thought I was supposed to be on the second floor or maybe third but fifth. What a weird building''


    He thought.


    While Zhao Luo was lost in his thoughts, he heard someone addressing him.


    "Mr. Luo Zhao"


    A Japanese man wearing sunsses and a golden long coat over his clothes said.


    Zhao Luoughed after hearing his name backward which meant something else.


    "HAHAHAHAHAHAHA...cough, cough"


    Zhao Luo looked at the man and said,


    "It''s Zhao Luo, not Luo Zhao."


    Anger could be seen in the eyes of Zhao Luo even though heughed but this was the only thing he hated the most.


    Someone calling his name backward in front of him was a no-no. As his name backward meant ''Nude Photo''.


    Zhao Luo closed his hands tightly and moved towards the Japanese man.


    Clouded with anger Zhao Luo wanted nothing more than to punch that man.


    The only thing Zhao Luo forgot was his condition.


    The moment he reached the guy, he fainted.


    Running up on stairs for four floors and then getting extremely angry, caused his respiration to increase to the point that his lungs couldn''t handle it anymore.


    Thus his lungs stopped working. This caused his breathing to stop.


    Zhao Luo started falling like a log as he had fainted but just then like a shining knight, the Japanese guy grabbed the falling Zhao Luo and carried him in his arms like a princess.


    "I can''t let you get hurt."


    He said while tightly keeping Zhao Luo in his arms.


    Many people would have fainted if they saw this.


    The guy walked towards a door. After the door opened a big hall was seen. This hall was really enormous as if the whole fifth floor of this building only had this hall.


    Inside the hall, many people were present, who were wearing the same clothes as the guy holding Zhao Luo.


    This hall was aboratory.


    Right when the guy entered through the door, all the others looked at him and said in unison


    "Wee Project leader Takuma."


    This guy was Takuma.


    The man with the most brilliant mind in Japan who was working on human longevity.


    He was respected for his researches by many superior researchers.


    The project he was leading was supposed to increase the life span of a human and make their bodies way stronger than they could ever be.


    Takuma walked towards a bed in the hall, with Zhao Luo being carried by him.


    The bed Takuma was walking towards had a big capsule next to it.


    It was big enough to easily fit a person in there.


    Takuma ced the unconscious Zhao Luo on the bed and stared at his sleeping face.

 Chapter 3 - My First Kiss? & Project GOD.

    Takuma turned towards his staff and said,


    "Perform the endotracheal intubation. I don''t want any mistakes. Get him breathing again. He will be the one. The one who will see through our hopes. He is going to be the main hope of the ''Gone Over Death-GOD'' project. So hurry up."


    For some reason out of nowhere, Zhao Luo had be the ''main member'' of some weird project without even knowing.


    The other members of the project moved. One had an oxygen tank in his hand. One had a tube with him. The other one was bringing an oxygen pump. They fixed the equipment next to Zhao Luo and inserted the breathing tube through the mouth of Zhao Lou and pumped the oxygen into his lungs.


    Zhao Luo who was unconscious all this time was living in a dream. He was dreaming about drowning as he couldn''t breathe with all the water around him and when he was about to give up, a girl rescued him.


    After pulling him out of the water, she tried to perform CPR. Zhao Luo being a shy guy couldn''t even tell the girl that he was okay and there was no need to do this. This was going to be the first time Zhao Luo had an indirect kiss.


    His lips started twitching. Zhao Luo couldn''t wait for his lips to connect with hers but for some reason, his lips and the girl''s lips never connected.


    So Zhao Luo tried to peek. He opened the lid of his left eye slightly to check and what he saw was a tube which was half inside his mouth that was like a wall between the girls'' lips and his. Zhao Luo tried to blow this tube out of his mouth which went from trying for days to intense struggling for a week. Well, there is no time sense in dreams. So he didn''t know how much had passed since he fainted.


    In the end, Zhao Luo woke up.


    Almost two weeks had already passed since Zhao Luo had lost his consciousness after his breathing had stopped.


    Now His breathing had returned. His lungs were working fine and his condition had stabilized. Slowly Zhao Luo opened his eyes.


    ''Where am I?''


    He wondered.


    He moved around and saw a bunch of guys wearing the same type ofb coat as the guy he had met before fainting.


    All the memories of that day hit him like a flood.


    "Bastard"


    Zhao Luo said through his oxygen mask. While his eyes were still moving around looking for that man.


    "The subject is awake."


    One of the researchers said addressing Zhao Luo as the subject. Everyone in theb was alerted.


    All of the researchers of the GOD project gathered around the bed Zhao Luo was lying on.


    '' The hell ''


    He thought anxiously.


    '' What? Are they gonna do something to me?''


    Zhao Luo was scared.


    Right then the guy he was looking for made his entrance.


    ''Tap, Tap, Tap''


    The footsteps were the only thing Zhao Luo could hear as Takuma appeared in front of him after passing by the other researchers working under him on this project.


    "So you are finally awake. Our wait can finally end."


    Takuma smiled at Zhao Luo and turned towards the others.


    "Get ready to proceed with the next step of the project."


    After hearing themand from Takuma, the others started running around.


    Some were checking the data on theirputers. While others were pulling a gas tank towards the capsule which was next to the bed Zhao Luo was on.


    "You see I am working on a project. The project was already discontinued to end it as a failure but I am secretly still working on it. As they say, hard work is always paid. We needed someone like you. The main key to our project will be you. A guy who is just living by. A person who can''t even feel the excitement to its fullest. You are going to get treated by participating in this project. Your condition will get better. The best thing you get is to live long. So what do you say? You will do it right?"


    Takuma looked at Zhao Luo waiting for him to agree and ept his deal. But Zhao Luo was freaked out.


    "The fuck you trying to say, weirdo."


    Zhao Luo removed his oxygen mask and said.


    "The only thing I am participating in is getting the hell out of this building and reporting you to the Police."


    Zhao Luo even though he was feeling scared, said what he felt after hearing Takuma''s long exnation.


    It wasn''t like that he didn''t want to get better or as if he didn''t want to live long. But the thing was simple, he wasn''t willing to believe this guy who was the reason he fainted.


    "Don''t get too excited or else you will faint again Mr. Zhao Luo. I am sorry about before. But you need to listen to me. This is the only way you can get better and better in such a way that you can not even imagine."


    Takuma tried to persuade Zhao Luo who was like an angry bird right now.


    Zhao Luo breathed and calmed himself.


    "What is in it for you? How long do I participate in this? Will I get better? Why do I even participate in a project that is already supposed to be a failure?"


    He bombarded Takuma with his questions and waited for Takuma to answer them.


    Takuma pushed hisb coat behind doing a weird move. He adjusted his sses as if pushing them up to his nose.


    "I just want to prove that I haven''t failed and it''s already a sess. So please."


    Takuma said and continued,


    "You just have to sleep for a few years. Like just a little around 100 years. Don''t worry about food. Your body will be in a static condition. All the functions will stop except the ones which are important to keep you alive. As for your condition, I have already told you that it will be better so better that nothing can bepared."


    Takuma moved closer to Zhao Luo and grabbed his hand tightly,


    "As for why it''s you. It''s simple only you can participate in this project. As you are the perfect match for this project. A guy who has defied death. You don''t care about dying and that is why you are PERFECT for this project."


    Takuma added as much bullshit as he could to convince Zhao Luo that there was no one better than him for this project.


    But Zhao Luo was already convinced of something else.


    ''100 years of sleep. Are you gonna sing me a luby for a century? And Condition better than ever. Are you gonna rece my lungs with stars?''


    Zhao Luo after thinking it through decided to decline Takuma carefully.


    "Sorry. I understand what you are saying but I can''t participate in your project."


    Zhao Luo tried to get up from the bed he was in while looking at Takuma.


    Takuma had a bad expression on his face. Zhao Luo didn''t stop at that.


    "But it''s not like I don''t believe in your project. I know it''s a sess. Haha."


    Zhao Luo tried to be a positive guy just till he left this ce.


    ''Let me leave this shithole building then I will teach you a lesson. hahaha''


    Zhao Luo thought while looking calm on the outside.


    Takuma looked at Zhao Luo and nodded,


    "I understand. You are the first person to say that my project is a sess. Even I didn''t have much confidence in it. But thank you and know this. This will be helpful for you."


    Takuma said this, leaving Zhao Luo in confusion.


    Zhao Luo looked at Takuma and just then he felt a pain on his shoulder side. Takuma had injected him.


    "What did you do to me?" Zhao Luo screamed.


    "Zhao Luo, don''t worry. It''s just a little strong anesthesia that will put you to sleep for a day. Think of this as your sleep training. When you wake up, you will thank me. Hahaha.."


    Takuma patted the shoulder of Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Lou started to lose his consciousness as the effect of anesthesia spread.


    "Thank you? F*CK you."


    Zhao Luo lost his consciousness after cursing Takuma.

 Chapter 4 - 100 Years!

    One of the researchers came to Takuma and said,


    "Everything is ready."


    He stopped and looked at Takuma waiting for a reply. Takuma didn''t hear the researcher as he was busy staring at Zhao Luo.


    If Zhao Luo was awake, he would have said,


    ''Pervert, what are you looking at?''


    But sadly Zhao Luo was unconscious.


    ''What a tsundere. You will be grateful that I let you participate in this project. And you will be singing songs of my praises when you wake up''


    Takuma thought while looking at Zhao Luo.


    "Hahahahaha"


    Takumaughed but hisughter stopped as he saw his colleague staring at him like a panda.


    ''Cough, cough''


    "What are you staring at?"


    Takuma asked his colleague.


    "Sir, I said everything is ready. Should we ce Zhao Luo in the capsule?"


    The researcher asked Takuma as all the other researchers were also ready to advance things.


    "Not now. Let the anesthesia lose its effects first. I don''t want any shing effect because of this numbing content of anesthesia and the C-gas."


    Takuma told the researcher.


    While their wait continued, Zhao Luo was in a deep sleep.


    A dayter.


    The researchers had already moved Zhao Luo to the capsule. They were just waiting for Takuma to give them the signal so they could proceed with thest step of GOD.


    "AH, mhmm, pahhhhh"


    The sleeping Zhao Luo was waking up.


    "Where am I?"


    Zhao Luo looked around to find out a bunch of researchers was surrounding him.


    Imagine waking up in a capsule with a bunch of researchers around you. The worse thing is you can''t even move. Zhao Luo was going through the same thing. As freaked out as he was, he calmed himself down and tried to remember what was going around.


    "Fuck. It''s that bastard. Takuma Come out. Wait till I can move again then see what I will do to you "


    Zhao Luo said from inside the capsule. But sadly his voice couldn''t travel outside.


    Seeing him struggle and run his mouth, the researchers outside smiled as if sharing the weird taste of Takuma.


    "I heard that Takuma-san lured Zhao Luo here. Everything was nned just to get this guy here. He is a genius."


    Two researchers were talking to each other.


    After which they heard an instruction.


    "Go. Fill it with the C-gas"


    The instruction was from Takuma. So the researcher worked on it.


    ''PHHHHSHHHHHH''


    The capsule in which Zhao Luo was in soon filled with that gas.


    Zhao Luo couldn''t even move as the gas filled the capsule.


    Takuma walked towards the capsule and looked at his reflection. He thought,


    ''Looking as handsome as ever


    ''Ahem''


    He interrupted his thought and looked at the capsule and said,


    "Hopefully my decision will be able to change your life."


    After which he pressed a button next to the capsule because of which the capsule rotated and a path opened up beneath it.


    ''SHHHHHHHHH''


    The capsule with Zhao Luo in it went down.


    "To the basement, it goes"


    Takuma as if talking to himself, he said.


    "Destroy this path to the basement. So only the exit to the outside remains from outside. And put the basement Lab in self-power mode."


    Takuma gave some instructions to his team.


    "He will wake up in about 100 years. But theb can continue functioning for more than 1000 years easily."


    As if talking to himself again, Takuma said.


    After ending his self-talk, Takuma and his team of researchers took their stuff and left theb.


    After they all left the ce looked empty as if there was no one there, to begin with.


    *************


    Minutes passed.


    These minutes turned to hours.


    The hours turned to days. The days passed. Weeks passed. Months passed. Years passed. A century had already passed.


    The thing which was supposed to happen didn''t happen. The capsule that Zhao Luo was in, didn''t open.


    ''Everything was working fine but what happened? Why isn''t the capsule opening up?''


    If Takuma was here, he would be having such thoughts. If he was still alive.


    The actual reason was that the seal of the capsule was jammed. But who would know this?


    The years continued to fly away.


    In one of these past years, even though Zhao Luo was physically in a slumber. His mind was waking up.


    After more than 100 years of sleeping in that capsule, Zhao Luo was finally awake.


    '' Damn that bastard, Takuma ''


    Right after waking up Zhao Luo cursed Takuma.


    Takuma dragged Zhao Luo into his research for no reason and without his consent.


    Zhao Luo tried to open his eyes as one is supposed to do after waking up. But to his surprise, his eyelid wouldn''t listen to him.


    As if there was a beauty with nice curves behind a curtain. And if you could just move away from the curtain you would be able to see her. But your hands won''t listen to you.


    They won''t move. And the silhouette of that beauty keeps on fading till she is gone. Imagine the frustration. That was what Zhao Luo was going through right now.

 Chapter 5 - Broken Earth

    Zhao Luo could think and issuemands to his body parts but they wouldn''t respond.


    Zhao Luo tried to move his arms but they didn''t move. And the only thing he could see was pitch ck darkness like when we close our eyes.


    ''Shit. What is this?''


    He thought.


    The only thing he could do now was thinking so he didn''t hold back.


    ''How long have I been sleeping in this capsule?''


    Zhao Luo questioned himself.


    The conference inside the mind of Zhao Luo continued.


    ********


    The outside world was going through its change. Since the time Zhao Luo was put to sleep in the capsule, the change had begun.


    In these 100 years, many things changed.


    Humanity came on the brink of its destruction many times.


    First five years, a deadly virus took many lives.


    Then in the sixth year, its vine was developed which made a person''s body immune to the virus.


    All the rich people got vinated for the virus. They monopolized these vines. The virus was so deadly and so easily spread that it became a market game for these rich guys to sell this vine.


    In a single year, 3 billion vine shots were sold. 2 billion of them were already administered to people who could afford it.


    So in the seventh year, the virus had already died down. People thought that the vine worked as there were no new cases of people infected with this virus. But the number of vines sold was still around 2 billion.


    2 years after the development of that vine around 2 billion people died. All of them had one thing inmon, they all had been vinated for the virus.


    Most of the upper echelon of the world was already gone by 2029.


    The world was in chaos. The chain ofmand was broken.


    In just 10 years, a fear which was never felt before had enveloped the World. Imagine 2 billion deaths in one single year. The fear of losing your close one, your rtive without any reason. The fear of going out in a World ridden with deaths. That is what happened.


    Soldiers of every country became the ruling party. Without anyone tomand them and keep them organized, the soldiers had chosen war in this already broken World.


    ''Why choose war?''


    It was the result of human nature which does not let them be satisfied till they show who the top dog is.


    ''What are duties of a soldier?''


    One may ask.


    The answer is simple. It''s to maintain peace.


    But what if there is no governing body over the soldiers who are lower inmand. This is what happened after most of the ruling parties died because of the vine.


    Thus the war continued for more than 50 years. Soldiers kept on dying. Even those who didn''t want to take any part in the war had to. Civilians were forced to join the army.


    The only way to live was to fight every day. But nobody took thest step of using Nuclear weapons. They didn''t want to destroy thends that they will be taking.


    While the people were fighting for their survival, someone was sleepingfortably in one of those weird capsules that you see in sci-fi movies.


    Not knowing that this forced sleep that he was put to, kept him away from all the worldly troubles. His luck yed a great role in keeping him safe. He could have already died because of the virus or after taking its vine. Or in the war. But he would never know this as his sleep continues.


    In the year 2083, The World was now called the Broken Earth.


    There was no ce where you wouldn''t see dead bodies.


    The war had already stopped this year. It didn''t endpletely but just a break. As they say when you aren''t ready to be the best you keep your remaining strength for ater time. The parties at war decided to rest till they are ready.


    This was such a period of fake peace.


    There was a silent agreement between the remnants of each country. Countries that were still able to call themselves a COUNTRY. The treaty was only between them.


    ''No attacks on the neighboring country or any other country till they attack us''.


    The people lived. They lived peacefully in this rotten World. They survived. Fearing that anything could happen after what happened in thest sixty years.


    Time passed.


    The world kept on changing but one thing remained the same.


    Zhao Luo was still asleep.


    In the capsule that Takuma had designed. He enjoyed a beautiful sleep that is not known to anyone. Not knowing that the World he once knew had already gone.


    The year 2119.


    36 years of peace.


    Just when everything was getting better, a person was seeing everything from outer space.


    Grinning while looking at the suffering of the people who were living their lives in this broken world.


    He had long hairs that were tied with a hairpin. His beauty was unmatched. Even the most beautiful girls would pale in front of his contours andplexion. Sadly he was a man.


    A man who was alive while floating in outer space. If others could see him they would have started worshipping him as a God.


    Or either thought of him as an alien.


    The grin disappeared from the face of that unknown entity. He pulled a sword from nowhere which was twice his size. The sword had a bewitching shine on it. One wouldn''t be able to move his eyes away from that lustrous shine. The man halted the sword in a vertical position.


    "GO."


    The man said. After which he left his grip on the hilt of the sword.


    The sword instead of staying afloat, elerated towards the Earth showing that the sword had a will of its own.


    "I hope you can find your sessor. May fate bring us together, my friend."


    After saying the rubbish he wanted and acting like a madman talking to himself. The man disappeared leaving the space empty as it''s supposed to be.

 Chapter 6 - New Era

    ''Fhshhhhhhhhhh''


    The sword elerated towards the Earth.


    ''Khshhhhhhhhhh''


    It didn''t take long for that sword to reach the atmosphere of Earth.


    The sword looked like a mysteriousser beam traveling from space towards Earth. Even though the sword didn''t travel as fast as a beam. The speed wasn''t that much less whenpared to the speed of light.


    Soon it hit the surface of the Earth. Nobody was around that ce. As if a knife cutting into butter, the sword sliced into the Earth till only its hilt was visible from the outside.


    Right then,


    Everyone felt it. As if an announcement to everyone. No matter where one was, he felt that rumble.


    The people who felt that rumble thought that they were the only ones who felt that core shaking vibration.


    Some thought,


    ''Was I the only one who felt that? Am I going to die?''


    Everyone had a question.


    ''Were they going to die?''


    This was the state of the current World. Nobody knew the answer. But soon everything became clear.


    After a shaking rumble that every person felt from their core. The world they once knew was going to change.


    '' Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr ''


    A beast cry was heard to everyone which came from the core of the Earth. And the broken Earth in just name started to break.


    Cracks began to appear everywhere.


    Buildings fell. The people inside died. But some lucky ones survived.


    Cracks appeared on the surface of the Ocean floor. But the water didn''t go inside the cracks which were supposed to happen instead mountains rose from the cracks of the deep sea. As if the cracks were a mountain summoning portal.


    The same happened on thend. Mountains rose from the cracks which appeared on the surface of thend. The same thing was happening all over the World.


    The World was changing shape.


    As if growing, the Earth now was ten timesrger than the Earth people knew.


    The peaks of the mountains which rose from the cracks were t. These peaks were so spacious that if one was born up there he wouldn''t know that he was living on a mountain peak. These peaks had houses and big temples which looked like the huts of ancient times like the one build by the ancient civilization.


    People were living on these peaks which were like cities on the summit of these mountains.


    The cities were surrounded by walls.


    With only one gate through which a person could enter the city.


    The people who survived were on a rollercoaster of feelings.


    From fear to confusion. From confusion to bewilderment. They saw everything happen right in front of their eyes.


    Right then when everything stopped. Everyone heard a mighty voice in their heads.


    ''Wee to the new era.''


    The voice said.


    ''This will be the start of the New World.''


    After saying that the voice went silent.


    The people who were still together and survived stared at each other with a questioning look.


    '' Do others hear this too?''


    The answer was simple.


    ''Everyone can hear me.''


    The voice answered.


    ''Now what you all have to do is simple. Climb the stairs of the mountain in front of you and live.''


    The voice said in a calm tone.


    ''Otherwise, after ten days, the ones who still haven''t climbed to the top will be killed''


    The voice said in a ruthless tone after which nobody heard that voice again.


    Everyone knew that what they heard was true and if they didn''t do as the voice said they will be killed.


    One after another, everyone started climbing.


    **********


    While everyone was climbing the stairs.


    A capsule could be seen with all the rubble on it. Even though nobody from the outside could see inside the capsule. But someone was sleeping inside. Or that is what one would see who could look inside the capsule.


    That, someone, was Zhao Luo.


    The reason why the capsule didn''t open was because of all the rubble on it. Even though the capsule was sturdy enough to not break with all the rocks on it. The same couldn''t be said for its opening mechanism.


    Zhao Luo was already awake for many days now. Now he heard a voice in his head.


    Right after that voice stopped talking in his head, Zhao Luo''s mind went nk.


    ''WOW. First that Takuma puts me in this capsule. Now, this guy is talking in my head. I can''t even move. How am I supposed to climb some mountain??''


    Zhao Luo thought.


    '' Wait. This voice must belong to Takuma. That bastard is ying games with me.''


    Zhao Luo yed the detective in his mind and reached a decisive conclusion.


    ''If you can see my thoughts then let me out. I have slept enough.''


    Zhao Luo talked to Takuma in his thoughts.


    The progression of a mental disability was already in progress for Zhao Luo.


    Time passed while Zhao Luo kept on sending messages to Takuma in his mind.


    Waiting for a response from a person who is most likely no longer in this World.


    Time passed like lightning and soon the deadline was at the door.


    Ten dayster.


    On all four zones of the New World.


    The people who didn''t climb the stairs of the mountain heard amand in their heads.


    '' Die ''


    Right after they heard the same voice which talked to them before, a sharp wave passed and all of them were sliced. The sharpness wasparable to the sharpest sword. Some had their heads fall off while others had their bodies cut in half.


    The ones who were still climbing were left alive. They reached the gates on the wall at the peak of the mountain.


    After reaching the gates these people hear a voice in their head.


    ''Congrattions''


    The voice spoke to them. Then the gates in front of them opened. The remaining people entered through the gates.


    While Zhao Luo who was still in his thoughts didn''t hear the ''die'' instead he heard the ''congrattions''.


    Without doing anything. Not even climbing a single stair. Zhao Luo did sleep for 100 years. Maybe sleeping was like a cheat code for him.


    ''Congrattions for what?''


    Zhao Luo thought.


    ''Maybe I made some unbreakable record in sleeping''


    A serious thought passed through the mind of the trapped Zhao Luo.

 Chapter 7 - Into The New World

    The survivors had climbed the mountains in front of them from different ces when they had heard the instructions from the voice.


    The cities at the summit of these mountains of all four zones were quite simr to the old cities on Earth, like Athens in Greece or Damascus in Syria.


    The architecture of these new cities was the same but the cities were missing one thing. Advanced technology. To be precise the technology they were familiar with was nowhere to be found in these cities at the summit.


    The people there wore in cloth, a single sheet of cloth extended from their cor bone to their heels. Their houses were like big huts. This was how behind the people of entry mountains were either it is in their sense of fashion or dressing, or their house style.


    It wasn''t like the survivors couldin. Just surviving through all the ordeals they faced was a blessing.


    The survivors, after entering the city, met the citizens, that is, the people living in those cities. This was happening to all the survivors. No matter which mountain of the four zones they had climbed. These people guided the survivors.


    ***********


    Year 01 of the New Era.


    This was the First Year of The New Era which had already started since the mountains rose from the cracks and the World erged.


    The survivors had already settled in the cities at the summit of these mountains.


    They became familiar with the new World thanks to the citizens of the cities who were very epting of the survivors of the Broken Earth.


    Unlike what the survivors thought, they weren''t killed or hurt. Instead, they were just taught the basic knowledge of where they were, how to survive in this ce, and the ''rights and left~oops~ wrongs'' of this World.


    First, they learned about this erged new world''s deposition.


    The world now had four zones.


    North-West Zone.


    North-East Zone.


    South-West Zone.


    South-East Zone.


    Each zone was covering 1/6th part of the New Earth.


    An Plus ''+'' shaped ocean was covering the 2/6th part of the World.


    This ocean divided the four zones throughout the new world. It was impossible to cross this ocean at least by a ship. Thus this ocean was called the Dividend ocean.


    The people of the zones called it the dead-end sea as whoever tried to sail through this sea never came back.


    Each zone had mountain ranges. Every range had one entry mountain. The only entrance to these mountain ranges was through the stairs of the entry mountain. For normal people that is.


    All the ranges had a formation set up at their bases. Whenever people entered a 10km radius of these mountains, the formation would activate. After activation, without knowing, the people who had entered, without their knowledge, would be moved in front of the entry mountain.


    So no matter which location they enter from they would end up at the entry mountain after entering the range.


    Each range had 12 mountains.


    1 being the entry mountain which was at the forefront of a circle of mountains. The circle had 10 mountains. Each mountain had a city at the top. The smallest city was at the top of the entry mountain.


    The 12th mountain was in the middle of that mountain circle. This mountain was the tallest. Theparison with the surrounding mountains was so simple that one could say that a grown man was surrounded by 11 babies. Ten of them making a circle around it. And the eleventh was guarding them.


    That is how tall that mountain in the middle was.


    Some even considered it the door to the heavenly skies. That was just a consideration of ignorant masses of mortals.


    It was the mountain where all the greatest talents of the surrounding 11 mountains would study.


    Back to the zones, it wasn''t like the zones only had mountains.


    There were deserts, rivers, and even forests between different ranges of mountains.


    ************


    Years passed and World kept a steady pace.


    It was already the 5th Year of the New Era.


    The survivors had already be so familiar with the lifestyle in the cities that it was hard to differentiate between them and the citizens.


    Though none of them had set foot in the other cities. They all were still in the city of the entry mountain. While they were continuing with their peaceful lives,


    Somewhere in the North-East Zone.


    Three Mountain ranges were surrounding a ce. The ce in question was covering a few thousand miles. Each range was so far that it was impossible to guess the distance to those ranges. In the end, no matter which range of mountain looked closer, nobody could know.


    This ce was a desert. Famous for being the hottest desert in the North-East Zone. It was called the Sara desert.


    One thing was weird about this Sara desert.


    If someone looked at this desert from a high point, they could see a green patch in the middle of the desert.


    There was a small forest in the middle of this scorching desert. This was indeed weird. As the deserts were formed after the mountain ranges came out of the cracks.


    This forest had be insanelyrge in just 5 years. The people of the circling mountain ranges called it the Dread Forest.


    The trees in this forest were quite thick and tall. All of them were taupe trees with their branches being on the darker side because of the sunlight.


    In the middle of Dread Forest.


    One of the trees was so tall that it could be called the ''Giant'' of this forest. This giant tree was next to an empty patch.


    Its trunk was very thick, tall, and straight. As if it was a soldier tree ready to march.


    With a little crack right in the middle of the trunk at the ground level, this tree was truly an unsolvable puzzle. Nobody could answer the formation of crack there and the thing in the middle of that crack as the tree was whole above that crack.


    There was an otherworldly lighting out from something in the middle of that crack. Even though no sunlight was reaching there but still the light from that thing had illuminated the surrounding area. That shine had a golden overshadow with greyish shine filling the golden boundary.


    The Dread Forest had different beasts but none of them came close to that tree. That is how majestic that light was, which wasing out of that thing in the crack.


    That thing which was the cause of this shine was a hilt of a weapon. This hilt was simr to that hilt of the sword that some random entity had thrown from the space.


    It already had a tree growing around it. Or one could even say that the tree was growing on it. But that wasn''t the case. The reason that the tree had an enormous growth had something to with this sword.


    Right under this tree was a basement. This basement looked like crap now. There was rubble everywhere. If one walked in these he could see that there were destroyed pieces of equipment under the rocks. It was the sameb in which Zhao Luo was trapped in.


    The capsule was somewhere here buried under a mountain of rocks.


    And it wasn''t empty as our sleeping beauty was still in there.


    Zhao Luo who had already been awake in that capsule for thest 5 years had already achieved a breakthrough.


    A different kind of breakthrough. The breakthrough he had achieved was in his mental capacity.


    His mental capability of processing thoughts had increased to 9.


    A person can only have a single thought at a time.


    Consider a person who wants to eat fast-food, his thought would be something like


    ''I want to eat a burger.''


    ''or a pizza would do too.''


    ''Slurp'', drooling.


    He would be having one thought which will be like a flow or divided into three parts.


    But if it was Zhao Luo he would be having these thoughts simultaneously. Not even he could tell which thought came first. As if the parts were ovepping each other. But this was just a simpler version of the mental capacity that Zhao Luo had achieved in the few years he had been awake.


    Continuous thinking without sleeping for thest 5 years had helped him in increasing his mental capability to have 10 different thinking processes going on at the same time.


    This would be beneficial for many people but not Zhao Luo.


    As his mind had already turned into a battlefield.


    Zhao Luo was sitting on a dark floor. This was his mind space. Dark surrounding with dark floor. But it wasn''t like Zhao Luo was alone in this dark imaginary space. 9 people in front of him were in a heated debate.


    9 images of Zhao Luo were bickering with each other. These images were formed when the adjacent thoughts of Zhao Luo became free and separated themselves from Zhao Luo''s main Thought process.


    One of them went,


    ''I am the oldest of you all''


    He continued,


    ''So call me Senior 1''


    He looked at others with a confident smirk waiting for them to agree with hisment.


    The other images which looked just like the first one answered together at the same time.


    ''No, I was created first so call me Senior 1''


    After which they each looked at each other angrily and started fighting each other like girls.


    One of them was trying to p the other while the other was going for the hair. It was like a monkey''s royale rumble in a circus just that the monkeys were identical to each other, which is usually the case. As the fight continued one of the Zhao Luo punched another Zhao Luo.


    After which the Zhao Luo who was punched screamed at some other Zhao Luo,


    ''Punches weren''t allowed but you punched me now don''t me me for taking this seriously''.


    That Zhao Luo had no idea what this Zhao Luo was talking about as he received a punch on his face and fell.


    Looking at his counterparts fighting with each other Zhao Luo couldn''t keep watching this shit show. As in the end no matter who hit who, Zhao Luo was seeing himself getting hit.


    So Zhao Luo stood up and approached the other 9 of his images and opened his mouth.


    ''STOP''


    Zhao Luomanded. All of the images of Zhao Luo looked at him and started fading right after hearing hismand.


    After they all disappeared, Zhao Luo was left alone in his Dark World.


    ''This is getting boring.''


    Zhao Luo eximed while having a sad look on his face.

 Chapter 8 - Your Use

    Time kept on passing as time is the only thing that will keep on flowing no matter what happens.


    It was already the 6th Year of the New Era.


    Somewhere in the Dread Forest of Sara Desert in the North-East Zone.


    A giant tree with a crack was chilling under the sunlight even though the sunlight paled inparison to the light and shineing from a thing that was stuck in the crack of its bole.


    Right under this shining tree was the basement where Zhao Luo was resting.


    He was still trapped in the Capsule.


    Even though nobody could see it, a type of military drill was being held in the mind of Zhao Luo by the one only Zhao Luo himself.


    Zhao Luo had his thoughts standing in a row with each of them being next to the other one.


    Nine of them were standing there with Zhao Luo facing them with his back. They waited for Zhao Luo to speak.


    A year had already passed and in this one year time, Zhao Luo had improved immensely in controlling his thoughts. He could freely choose as to when these thoughts can appear in front of him as apparition form in his mind.


    The limit to these apparitions was still nine. So Zhao Luo had chosen carefully on the thoughts he had manifested as his training.


    In the dark space in his mind, Zhao Luo slowly turned towards his nine apparitions.


    "Gentlemen"


    Zhao Luo said while looking right at the nine thought apparitions after turning.


    Zhao Luo had a creepy smile on his face. The reason behind this untimely smile was simple, calling himself a gentleman made him smile from ear to ear. What a stupid reason to be happy. But one thing was sure, nobody would know this or could see these actions as this was all happening inside the mind of Zhao Luo.


    '' Tap, Tap, Tap ''


    Zhao Luo walked towards his thoughts apparitions and walked past them while looking up and down at each of them. As if the thoughts were some kind of food and Zhao Luo was the food inspector.


    The thoughts looked at Zhao Luo as if waiting for him to continue as he had said nothing after calling them out.


    Zhao Luo knew that they were waiting for him to continue but he couldn''t help it. He was still silently walking in this dark space in his mind with his footsteps being heard in this space even though there was no floor present.


    Zhao Luo stopped and again turned his back towards them.


    Zhao Luo couldn''t help but think of all the time which had passed since the first fight of his nine thoughts. All this time getting better at controlling them was like hell for him.


    Whenever his thoughts would manifest in apparitions form they would wreak havoc in his mind.


    They would start with arguing with each other without giving any face to their Master/Dad which was Zhao Luo.


    This arguing would ''most of the times'' lead to them fighting like babies. And then it would go to some weird emotional point of cursing. When the apparitions reached that point Zhao Luo had to disperse them.


    Then he tried to stop them without making them disappear from his mind space.


    It was hard so hard that at one point Zhao Luo had to face the beating of his thought apparitions. But it was all worth it.


    Now they were standing next to each other quietly waiting for Zhao Luo to say something like the soldiers in a military drill waiting for their leading officer to say something.


    "Hahaha"


    Zhao Luoughed loudly in his mind. Thisugh was mixed with a hint of sadness. As Zhao Luo was still unable to move his body or open his eyes. So hisugh wasparable toughs in texting just like the ''lol'' in texting applications where people would onlyugh in words but not in reality.


    "Sigh. It''s been a long time."


    Zhao Luo said to himself. Then he turned towards his thoughts which were still waiting for him to say something.


    "I am ZHAO LUO"


    Zhao Luo said to them. His voice was shaking. He opened his mouth again.


    "You all are also Zhao Luo"


    He spoke to them again. The one-sided conversation couldn''t get any weirder till Zhao Luo spoke again.


    "I can finally control you all. But what use do you guys even have? It''s not like you guys can do something relevant."


    Zhao Luo berated them. He was taking out his frustration on them. The reason for frustration was his time and


    ''hard work''


    that he had to put into controlling his thoughts.


    "So tell me, What use do you all have?"


    Zhao Luo said to them while giving them an unpleasant look.


    Just thinking that all the hard work one had put into doing something over a year time could be wasted would make anyone angry and sad.


    It was nothing different for our sleeping prince Zhao Luo.


    So Zhao Luo waited for his thought to reply while giving them that ''Up'' look.


    As they weren''t replying, Zhao Luo got red because of the building anger which was boiling inside him.


    ''~FWOOSH~''


    Zhao Luo pointed at one of the thoughts. His eyebrows almost touched each other that one could make a ''V'' shape out of his eyebrow tails right away.


    The thought apparition that Zhao Luo had pointed at was quiet for a few seconds.


    ''He must be thinking and this shows that there could be a use for these thoughts of mine.''


    Zhao Luo thought.


    But as the quietness continued, the others next to that apparition, who was questioned by Zhao Luo, looked at it and soon they realized something which turned their ''just looking'' into a stare.


    The thought was a fallen warrior. The other apparitions nodded as they shared a simr feeling with that sleeping warrior.


    ''PHATT''


    A short-lived snoring bubble burst and its sound were heard in this dark quiet ce.


    The thought looked around and after realizing that all the nine pairs of eyes were on him. Eight of them had a sincere look as if bidding farewell to him while one pair had a me burning in them.


    "Yes"


    The thought said.


    "What Yes?"


    Zhao Luo asked with a dumbfounded look.


    "Boss you said, gentlemen. That''s why I said yes."


    The thought answered with a righteous tone. As if he had done nothing wrong. But it was an announcement to everyone, of the time he went to his sleeping endeavor.


    "HAHAHAHAHA"


    Zhao Luo burst outughing after hearing the answer of this thought.


    What could he do exceptugh at the answer of this thought apparition?


    "What a mess"


    Zhao Luo said.

 Chapter 9 - First Step To Godhood

    Zhao Luo pointed at that apparition again.


    "I am asking you about your use. So tell me, how should I use you all? Especially you."


    Zhao Luo asked the question again from the same apparition that was sleeping before.


    Zhao Luo could think about how to use these thoughts in his mind while he is still in this state where he is unable to move his body or wake it up.


    But why didn''t he think on how to use his thoughts apparitions himself?


    The reason was simple.


    ''I don''t wanna''


    Yes just because he didn''t want to so he asked them instead of thinking on his own.


    After the apparition heard the question of Zhao Luo, it couldn''t think of an answer.


    The apparition was a part of Zhao Luo. An imaginary form he created after he took a ''thought'' and let it manifest in front of him which made all these apparitions a part of him.


    As Zhao Luo didn''t think on how to use these apparitions of his simrly they couldn''t know the answer to a question that even Zhao Luo doesn''t know about. So when faced with the question, the apparition started to break down.


    "I-I-I Do-Do-Don''t know "


    After saying itsst words the apparition fell apart and disappeared from the dark space leaving Zhao Luo with the other eight apparitions of his thoughts.


    Zhao Luo massaged his be as this was another block that he had to pass on his own.


    ''If only someone was there to guide me''


    Zhao Luo thought silently. Although he knew that this was his mind and there was no one except him here, he could only have wishful thinking.


    Right when Zhao Luo was lost in his thoughts. A shadow was bing clearer and clearer. It was just like the other apparitions of Zhao Luo. The only difference was the facial features and the age.


    This apparition looked way older than the other apparitions of Zhao Luo. But even though this apparition looked old, there was something unexinable about his looks.


    The passing of age was visible as the apparition looked like a ghostly old man but there was this grand aura surrounding that old apparition.


    After this old man appearedpletely, he looked as solid and whole as any human can get. Zhao Luo was shocked when he noticed the old man as there was another human standing in this dark space.


    ''What the Hell?''


    Zhao Luo thought while looking at the old man since, for Zhao Luo, this old man appeared suddenly in his mind space.


    ''Is he my thought? But I didn''t summon any after that gentleman.''


    Zhao Luo chuckled thinking about a past fool.


    He looked at the old man who existed in his mind space as another person. He wasn''t a part of Zhao Luo neither did he looked like an apparition anymore.


    The old man ignoring the questioning gaze that Zhao Luo was casting towards him moved towards the other eight apparitions which were still there.


    "They look even more interesting up close"


    The old man said with a creepy smile on his face after examining these apparitions.


    "You have already reached the third stage of Naoli. Very interesting talent."


    The old man looked at Zhao Luo while talking like he was impressed with the achievement of Zhao Luo.


    "Thank you, Old man."


    Zhao Luo blushed and thanked the old man as that old man was the first person to acknowledge his hard work.


    Even though he didn''t understand the words that the old man had used but he did know that he was getting praised. So he decided to ask the old man.


    "What do you mean by the third stage of Naoli?"


    Zhao Luo with an intriguing look waited for the old man to reply.


    "And Why should I tell you, young man?"


    The old man was still looking at Zhao Luo but right now he had a mischievous look in his eyes.


    Zhao Luo was taken back when he heard that.


    ''What does he want? What should I say? Why should he tell me that?''


    Zhao Luo was thinking hard right when the old man''s sound was heard again.


    "I am messing with you. HEHE."


    The old man giggled and was trying to act cute.


    ''I almost puked.''


    Being awake for so many years and just using his brain, the presence of Zhao Luo was unbelievably strong. But it only took one ''HEHE'' from the old man to leave his godly presence in disorder.


    The old man sat down in a lotus position and gestured at Zhao Luo, telling him to follow his movement.


    Zhao Luo followed his gesture and sat down in a lotus position facing the old man. They both were looking at each other. The old man waved his hand making few words appear out of nowhere. The words were shining in a golden light.


    "First Step to God Hood: Mastering the Naoli"


    Zhao Luo read the shining words that had appeared in front of him.


    The words disappeared soon. The shocked Zhao Luo was still trying toprehend the meaning behind the words that he had just read.


    He was looking at the old man with a look of a beggar waiting for the old man to tell him about what he read just now.


    "As you can read. Whoever wants to be a God has to start from here. The first step is to train your brainpower. And not just train it simply but it''s somethingpletely different."


    The old man spoke slowly and stopped at every sentence letting Zhao Lio digest the knowledge.


    "This is called Naoli."


    The old man showed Zhao Luo his fist. Then he opened up four fingers and said,


    "There are four stages to mastering the Naoli.


    Though it is almost impossible toprehend even the first stage as many talented experts are not even able to pass the first stage."


    The old man spoke with a sad look.


    "But cases like you are very rare that even these old eyes haven''t seen many like you."


    The old man smiled at Zhao Luo.


    "Just tell me what the third stage of Naoli is? How do I master its fourth stage if there is one?"


    Zhao Luo wanted answers. He didn''t want the smile of an old man as he could feel that the answers could lead to learning the use of his thought apparitions.


    "Take your own pace. The faster you go up, the harder will be your fall once you make a misstep."


    The old man reprimanded Zhao Luo which made Zhao Luo calm his eagerness.


    As Zhao Luo became calm the old man continued,


    "The first stage is Controlling. You need to control your thoughts by being calm. By controlling your thoughts you will be controlling your desire. Just doing that will let you assemble them in your mind. It sounds the easiest but achieving it is the hardest."


    The old man''s exnation was like a flowing river. It kept oning wave after wave at Zhao Luo who was like a never-ending well.


    Zhao Luo while listening to the old man had only one thought in his mind.


    ''Master''


    Maybe it was the charisma of the old man that made this thought appear in his mind or maybe it was his way of exining Naoli. Whatever it may be, in the mind of Zhao Luo this old man was already an extraordinary person.

 Chapter 10 - Naoli & Its Stages

    Zhao Luo and the Old man were still sitting in front of each other. The eight apparitions dissipated while the old man was telling Zhao Luo about the first stage of Naoli which was controlling.


    The question of Zhao Luo was answered in a form of a lecture by the old man.


    Zhao Luo was quite satisfied while listening to this old man''s rambling which was still ongoing.


    "The second stage of Naoli is ''Summoning''. A person who has already seeded in controlling his thought can summon it after assembling it in his mind."


    The old man spoke to Zhao Luo and then went quiet for a second.


    The old man closed his eyes and in an instant, an apparition of that old man appeared between Zhao Luo and the old man.


    ''Hmmm''


    Zhao Luo was wondering what the old man would do when he went quiet but this was out of his expectation. Unlike how Zhao Luo does it, the apparition summoned by the old man was an instantaneous action.


    "This is how you do it perfectly"


    Said the apparition of the old man. The old man was still quiet. Zhao Luo was further intrigued.


    As Zhao Luo almost did the same thing for over a year so he knew how hard it was to summon a thought as an apparition but he didn''t know that what he had aplished would take others more than a century. Others being in question were the geniuses that the old man had mentioned.


    ''Nod''


    Zhao Luo gestured at the old man by moving his neck up and down. The old man waved his hand and his apparition disappeared.


    "The third stage is ''Binding''. Binding is simply keeping the summoned thought in your mind as an apparition. But for as long as you want. The summoned thought which is like an apparition should stay in this mind space for as long as you want."


    The old man looked at Zhao Luo and smiled.


    "You have already achieved the third stage. Even though you haven''t mastered it but you have indeed stepped on this stage. Achieving the state of binding at your age without any guidance is already an unparalleled record young man. So be Proud of yourself."


    The old manplimented Zhao Luo again. After hearing thispliment again, the old man''s position became even grander in the mind of Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo knew that it was finally the time to learn thest stage of this ''Naoli''. The thing he had been waiting for was finallying.


    Finally, he will know how to use these apparitions.


    "What is the fourth stage of Naoli? How do I use my apparitions?"


    Zhao Luo went ahead and asked the old man about the fourth stage which the old man would be telling him even if he didn''t ask just to kill his curiosity.


    The old man looked as if he had paused. Instead of answering the questioning Zhao Luo, went ahead and questioned him instead.


    "Do you have a master?"


    Zhao Luo was taken back by the old man''s question.


    "I don''t know why you are asking about a master old man but I never had a master."


    Zhao Luo answered while thinking.


    ''Why is he even asking me that?''


    "Good. You are ready to learn the Fourth stage of Naoli."


    The old man told the confused Zhao Luo.


    "What does having a master has anything to do with the fourth stage of Naoli?"


    Zhao Luo was wondering so why not just question the old man directly.


    "I will be your master. As you achieved the third stage by yourself so I only exined what you have already aplished. But this is different. If I am to impart you my knowledge to help you in advancing to the fourth stage then you will have to be my student."


    The old man stated his condition to Zhao Luo.


    "Master, what are you talking about?"


    Zhao Luo questioned as if he didn''t understand anything.


    "Hahaha, indeed worth teaching."


    The old was quite pleased with Zhao Luo being shameless.


    "The fourth stage of Naoli is ''assimtion''.You controlled your thoughts. Then summoned them. Bound them to your mental space. Now you have to use them to increase your powers."


    The old man lectured Zhao Luo.


    "Old man, that is what I have asked you. How do I use them? How?"


    Zhao Luo was getting annoyed by the old man not getting to the point.


    "Oh Ho, is that how you talk to your master?"


    The old man scolded Zhao Luo and made a disappointing face.


    "Master"


    Zhao Luo said.


    "I was talking to myself, kindly continue, Hehe."


    Zhao Luo recovered very quickly. As they say, students always follow in their teacher''s footsteps.


    Zhao Luo was already picking the old man''s habits starting with his awfully ''not cute''ugh.


    "That''s better."


    The old man said.


    "But there is something we have to do before I teach you the fourth stage."


    The old man continued.


    "You will have to kowtow to me three times. This will make you my eternal student and bound our fates. Then my teachings will be your learnings and one day these same teachings will be your teachings and somebody else will be learning them. So tell me your name first."


    The old man told Zhao Luo.


    ''This situation feels like one from an old school martial arts movie.''


    Zhao Luo matched his situation to one of the movies he had seen where the student has to bow down showing respect to the teacher before the teacher can start imparting his teachings onto him.


    But during all this, since the old man had appeared in front of him till now, Zhao Luo realized that he forgot to ask the old man about his identity.


    Zhao Luo freaked out and asked the old man.


    "Old man, Who are you?"


    Zhao Luo was feeling a wave of embarrassment while asking that question.


    He thought,


    ''Shit, Why didn''t I ask him when he first appeared here?''


    While the old man was still quiet, Zhao Luo was going to take back his question and tell him that the old man didn''t have to answer his question.

 Chapter 11 - Emperas

    Before Zhao Luo could correct himself, the old man started speaking.


    "It''s been a long time since anyone called me by my name. So I don''t want to bring those memories back. Just call me Empera."


    The old man said with a solemn look but Zhao Luo was lost in the name that the old man wanted to be called with.


    "Empera? That''s an odd name, old man. How can '' Empera '' be a name? Sounds more like a title?"


    Zhao Luo questioned the old man.


    "Empera means emperor."


    Zhao Luo realized something and said.


    "Don''t tell me, it was your dream to be an emperor but you couldn''t achieve it in your life so you want me to call you Empera."


    Zhao Luo nodded while thinking,


    ''yep, this must be it. For the things, he will be teaching me and as his student, I should at least fulfill his wish''.


    "Sigh. Your stupidity knows no bounds, youngster."


    The old man said to Zhao Luo, who was going ''all-in'' on his imagination.


    Zhao Luo shut up after the old man called him out on his stupidity.


    The old man had been enveloped by a majestic aura,


    "The ce where I am from is ruled by Gods.


    These Gods rule over their Worlds. Then there is someone who rules over these Gods. I am one of them. The people who had ascended to Godhood who were ruled by me called me Empera as all those who are the strongest among the gods are called Empera. Only a few dared to say my name and when those few left my side, only the word Empera remained. As I was the Emperor of Gods so they called me that."


    The old man told Zhao Luo about his past, just this little bit was enough for now.


    "Should I call you Uncle Empera or Master Empera from now on?"


    Zhao Luo teasingly asked the old man.


    "Just Master would be enough."


    The old man simply replied to Zhao Luo without noticing the funny remark of Zhao Luo as he was lost in some other thoughts.


    Thus this rtionship of Master pupil started in the space inside the mind of Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo realized that his Master was thinking about something and stayed quiet so as not to disturb his master.


    He stood up and walked away from the old man.


    The apparition that Zhao Luo had summoned before as a result of his experience of summoning them over along period.


    The base of his thought apparitions was not solid but now with the knowledge of the stages of Naoli that his Master had taught him, he had a more profound view.


    So Zhao Luo stood there, gazing in the darkness of his mind.


    Zhao Luo closed his eyes.


    He was controlling his inner thoughts. Letting his mind settle down. Getting rid of those thoughts that had no meaning for the present Zhao Luo. Like,


    ''When will I wake up?''


    Or thoughts along the route of,


    ''How is the outside World be like?''


    This kind of random thought held no meaning to him now.


    After calming his mind and getting absolute control over all his thoughts he had achieved the first stage of Naoli.


    ''Controlling''.


    The difference now is the Knowledge that was once missing. Now Zhao Luo knew the correct way to go about summoning his thoughts as apparitions.


    Zhao Luo advanced to the second step.


    ''Summoning''


    He summoned the apparitions one by one and soon ording to his mental capability, he had reached his limit when he summoned the ninth apparition.


    This was easy for him as summoning was already his strong point.


    Now the third stage was binding these apparitions to his mind space. It was a littleplex for him if he went by the way his master had told him.


    First, he had to bind them then let them be free. Freedom was equivalent to giving them independence.


    Zhao Luo had already attained the third stage even before the old man had arrived in front of him. So he knew it by feeling.


    Zhao Luo looked at the nine apparitions and focused on them.


    He focused so hard that he started shouting without being aware of it,


    "Ahhhhhhh"


    As Zhao Luo went crazy, the old man was brought back to the present because of the screaming Zhao Luo.


    "Why are you screaming? ???"


    The old man asked Zhao Luo with a questioning look.


    "Master I am trying to bind them."


    Zhao Luo answered earnestly.


    The old man couldn''t decide whether he shouldugh or cry after hearing the reason for the screams that wereing from Zhao Luo.


    "You can bind them without screaming. Look at them."


    The old man instructed Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo followed the instructions of his master and looked at his summoned apparitions.


    The apparitions were calmly standing in front of him staring right at Zhao Luo.


    "As I have already told you that ''Binding'' is simplypelling the apparitions to your mind space. So why were you screaming?"


    The old man wanted to know the science behind the scream of Zhao Luo.


    "I thought by screaming at them, they would be bound to my mind space for a longer time. I have been doing the same thing before too."


    Zhao Luo started bbing.


    The old man was in a state of regret. He thought maybe he was too fast in letting this idiot be his pupil. If he didn''t stop the screaming Zhao Luo then either Zhao Luo or his apparitions would be sacrificing their hearing abilities sooner orter.


    "You just have tomand them to stay in your mind space till you order them to vanish and they will abide. Simple as that, this method doesn''t require screaming either."


    Zhao Luo was shocked after hearing what his master had to say.


    He looked at his apparitions and did as his master had good him.


    "Okay, so you guys have to stay here till I let you guys go. Why am I saying ''you guys'' to myself? Whatever, don''t disappear till I tell you to."


    Zhao Luo ryed hismand to his apparitions.


    Now he had aplished the correct Stage Three of Naoli, ''Binding''.


    "Good, you just need to master Binding, then you can move onto Assimtion."


    The old man told Zhao Luo.

 Chapter 12 - Assigning Tasks

    Zhao Luo was very eager to master ''Binding'' so he could already move onto thest stage of Naoli.


    But the question was that his apparitions were already in front of him, so what now?


    ''What do I have to do to master Binding?''


    Zhao Luo had this thought.


    So he looked at his master with wet puppy eyes.


    "You need to give task to your apparitions. Once theyplete a task, they will evolve into skilled apparitions. Only then can you master the binding sessfully. Just think of it as thepletion of a chapter."


    The old man answered the questions of Zhao Luo as if he could read his mind.


    "As to the task you will give them, think of something that you haven''t been able to do. The rest is up to you."


    The old man gave his instruction to Zhao Luo then closed his eyes. He started meditating.


    "What should be their task? There is nothing here to do so what should I even tell them to do?"


    Zhao Luo questioned himself.


    While wondering, he thought why not tell them to exercise.


    Zhao Luo went over to his apparitions and told them to start body-weight exercising.


    After an hour or so the mind of Zhao Luo was filled with such scenes that were hard to describe.


    One of the apparitions was doing squats like crazy.


    The second one was sitting on the dark floor doing a Russian twist.


    The third was standing on all fours like some animal. From time to time he would raise his leg and kick backward like a Donkey.


    The fourth one was breathing heavily while doing a nk. He was ready to give up already but looking at the ferocious gaze of Zhao Luo, he didn''t dare to.


    The fifth one was doing side lunges. He was barely keeping himself from falling to the side.


    The sixth was doing push-ups. His arms had already swollen to a painful point.


    The seventh was doing crunches. Abs were already visible on his belly but he couldn''t stop even after doing more few thousand of these crunches.


    The eighth one was just jumping up and down like a Kangaroo.


    The ninth was given the weirdest task. He had to keep on running in a circle formed around the apparitions and Zhao Luo.


    The ruckus caused by these apparitions disturbed the meditating Empera.


    The old man opened his eyes just to be shocked by the circus led by Zhao Luo undergoing in front of him.


    The old man looked at them with a grin and thought, what kind of unfortunate things they were to be tortured by Zhao Luo like this.


    For the old man, Zhao Luo was making them do dumb actions which had close to no effect that he knew of.


    But the old man didn''t know that these were like the hardest known bodyweight exercises that Zhao Luo knew of.


    Nheless, the old man was impressed with how Zhao Luo tasked his apparitions with these weird moves.


    The reason Zhao Luo gave these exercises to his apparitions was rted to his longing to exercise before. Because of his condition, he couldn''t do these kinds of exercises before. But it was quite refreshing to watch himself do these now as the exercises being done now was affecting the apparition''s physical state but for Zhao Luo, only his mental energy was being used.


    "Well, that''s already enough. Let''s move on to thest stage of Naoli before you exhaust your apparitions to death."


    The old man said while pitying his apparitions.


    "Master you are awake."


    Zhao Luo said to the old man and then looked at his apparitions.


    "STOP."


    Zhao Luomanded.


    "I wasn''t sleeping, young man. Have you never seen a meditating person before huh? Why is my pupil so dumb."


    The old man cursed himself.


    "Master, I was just messing with you. There is no need to curse yourself but I won''t stop you if that''s what you truly want."


    Zhao Luo kept on teasing his master.


    "Forget about the fourth stage. I am going back to sleep."


    The old man knew how to get back at Zhao Luo.


    "HAHA, master I am the dumb pupil. Please without your guidance I will end up like that."


    Zhao Luo pointed at one of the apparitions who still hadn''t stopped doing the exercise that it was tasked with.


    This was the third apparition. The one who was doing the donkey kicks.


    The old man was quite pleased with the self beating that Zhao Luo had disyed just now. The old man looked quite happy as he was smiling from ear to ear.


    "Now the Fourth Stage of Naoli is ''Assimtion''. To assimte your apparitions, you need to absorb their learnings and thus affecting your body."


    The old man exined to Zhao Luo.


    "Once your body changes through this absorption, it will indicate the mastering of Assimtion. Resulting in the achievement of the First Step to Godhood."


    The old man ended his exnation and looked at Zhao Luo wondering what step his dumb pupil will take now.


    Zhao Luo stood there scratching his head thinking hard on something.


    The old man noticed this unexpected reaction.


    "What is wrong?"


    The old man asked Zhao Luo.


    "How do I assimte them?"


    Zhao Luo asked the old man.


    The old man fell into a deep silence.


    "You will eat them. So they can merge with your body once they reach your stomach."


    The old man answered seriously.


    "Eat them? You mean I have to eat myself. R-Really?"


    Zhao Luo had a dark shade creeping over his face. Just thinking about eating his apparitions was making his mind go nk.

 Chapter 13 - The Journey Begins!

    The old man looked at his disciple as if he was looking at a mistake.


    He wondered,


    ''If he is so easy to fool, how will he even survive in this World?''


    While the old man was wondering about the future of his pupil, Zhao Luo was in a world where such questions were arising that neither had any exnation nor any basis.


    ''How should I eat them?''


    Eyes as wide as they can get, Zhao Luo was starting at his apparitions while having some crazy thoughts.


    ''Should I start from their hands?''


    ''Will they taste good?''


    ''They look ghastly. Will they taste like sh*t.''


    ''Who should I start from?''


    ''At least they look handsome.''


    Zhao Luo was looking at all the apparitions of his and while doing so he stopped at one of them. This one was still doing the donkey kicks. Zhao Luo squinted his eyes and thought,


    ''Not him.''


    Zhao Luo was still deciding who to start this ''assimtion process through eating'' with when he heard the old man talking to him.


    "I was joking."


    The old man still looked as serious as he looked before telling the joke.


    "You are lying, right?"


    Zhao Luo was just one step away from cursing this old man.


    "I was before but after getting a better understanding of your intelligence level, I think I won''t be doing anything like that again. Haha."


    The old man made fun of Zhao Luo.


    ''Damn this old man.''


    Zhao Luo cursed this old man while smiling. He couldn''t curse his master out loud anyways. The most important thing right now was to hide his embarrassment. So he tried to y it cool.


    "I was just ying along with your joke master. As if anyone would believe that."


    "Yeah, yeah. As expected from my student."


    The old man said with a teasing tone.


    Zhao Luo felt a heating sensation from his face.


    Before the embarrassing moment was prolonged, Zhao Luo questioned his master.


    "So-, how do I absorb these skilled apparitions?"


    Zhao Luo got back on track faster than a bullet train.


    After getting made fun of by an old man the only thing he wanted now was to achieve something.


    He was looking at the old man waiting for his master''s guidance.


    The old man who was known as The Empera sat down on the dark floor. He waved in the air. Out of nowhere, two pots appeared in his hands.


    Both pots had white liquid in them.


    "I will show you once, as to how much you can learn from this depends on yourself"


    The old man said to Zhao Luo then he proceeded to dip his pinky finger in one of the pots causing the color of the liquid to change to blue.


    "This blue liquid is your apparitions."


    The old man dipped his hand in the pot taking out some of that blue liquid from the pot in his palm and adding that much in the other pot causing the color of the liquid in the other pot to change too.


    Zhao Luo was quick on his foot and moved towards his apparitions.


    The old man was pleased to see the speed that Zhao Luo disyed in understanding his teaching of assimtion.


    Zhao Luo went over to his first apparition and touched his apparition with his pinky while blushing.


    The old man was so shocked to see the actions of Zhao Luo that he almost turned to a statue.


    "You FOOL."


    The old man screamed at Zhao Luo.


    The apparition was looking at Zhao Luo with a dumbfounding look.


    Zhao Luo looked at the screaming old man and wondered what he did wrong.


    "Oh Okay okay, I get it."


    Zhao Luo turned his hand and touched that apparition with his palm.


    As soon as the palm touched the apparition the apparition enveloped Zhao Luo.


    "FWOOOSH"


    A shing sound was heard in the mind of Zhao Luo as the enveloping shadow of his apparition was absorbed by him.


    Zhao Luo felt something changed inside him.


    As if a surge of power was rising inside him.


    Even though it was faint but he could still feel his immobilized muscles getting tighter.


    "You didn''t have to touch them with your pinky like that. The next step is like a key to the door. The key is your palm and door being the absorption process."


    Even though the old man was angry because of how Zhao Luo blushed while copying his moves, he still was impressed by his stupid pupil.


    Zhao Luo listened to the old man and nodded. He continued to touch the apparitions with his palm and the same scene repeated again and again.


    After seven more,


    "FWOOOSH"


    Thest apparition was left. It was the donkey king.


    Even though Zhao Luo was feeling reluctant he proceeded to absorb him.


    "FWOOOSH"


    After continuously absorbing all of his apparitions, he stood there assimting the surging power from these apparitions in his body.


    Zhao Luo closed his eyes to feel the changes rising in his body because of this ability.


    He could feel the sensation rising from different parts of his body. Even though he still couldn''t see the changes physically from his eyes. Even though he couldn''t get an outside view of his body but he knew the changes were there.


    He could feel a strength. The strength that gets stored in the body from working out for years after years.


    While Zhao Luo was still trying to inspect his body, the old man looking at him with a proud face. The expression on his face showed his sincere appreciation towards his disciple.


    He thought about how coincidental their connection was.


    One was trapped in a capsule with his body immobilized for the time being while the other was alive while being attached to a sword.


    A very long time ago he was ruling over a group of Gods, now he was reduced to a sorry state for someone who was once an Empera.


    The old man let go of all his irrelevant thoughts and started pping.


    ''p, p, p.''


    His pping contained so much power that the mind space of Zhao Luo started shaking and he was hit with a wave of stinging pain towards his head.


    Maybe this was the old man''s way of showing his praise for the young disciple of his but it was too much for Zhao Luo.


    "Thank you, Master."


    Zhao Luo bowed in front of the old man.


    He knew after feeling the growing changes in his body that this was just the beginning.


    "Congrattions, you are now on the path of Godhood."


    The old man was waiting for Zhao Luo to get up but he wouldn''t even budge.


    "You can get up now. Cough."


    Zhao Luo got up and looked at the old man. "You have done well. But this is just the start of a very long journey. It may be a very difficult path for you but don''t fret as this old man has taken you under his tutge."


    The old man told Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo nodded.


    ''What his future will be on this journey and What surprises will be brought to him on this path of Godhood''.


    Zhao Luo was just focused on this one thing.

 Chapter 14 - Worry >.<

    Zhao Luo was very satisfied by feeling the changes in his body. The surge of power after this first assimtion was noticeable.


    The happiness of achieving his first assimtion was already very overwhelming.


    Even though it was an aplishing moment for Zhao Luo, there was a worry that Zhao Luo had no way to solve.


    It wasn''t like he was already out of ideas rather it was just Zhao Luo not even thinking much about it. He was just waiting for a way out without doing Anything at all.


    One may think,


    ''What could he be waiting for?''


    It''s because Zhao Luo was waiting for an external factor to help him get rid of this worry as he never gave it a serious thought.


    This worry was on top of his list right now and it was a very concerning obstacle.


    It was moving his body, once again.


    The other was getting out of this cursed capsule.


    Just thinking about this was making him angry.


    Every time he thought about getting out of this capsule, he would remember a man.


    A man who was wearing a golden coat. Thest glimpse of the disturbing face of this man before losing his consciousness.


    It was the face of Takuma that would emerge in the mind of Zhao Luo whenever he would think about getting out of this capsule.


    Zhao Luo had a fit of exploding anger written all over his face when the old man noticed the angry expression on the face of his disciple.


    "What is troubling you?"


    The old man asked.


    Zhao Luo was brought to present by his master''s question. He felt touched because his master realized his minute change in expression and was worried for him. So Zhao Luo forgot about Takuma and calmed down.


    He didn''t know how he should exin to the old man about the things that he went through and what he is worried about. But he still started.


    "Master I am trapped in this capsule. Even though I was somehow able to achieve this in my mind and do so much. Sadly, in the end, all of this is just going on in a small world inside my mind. I want to go out. Meet new people and travel around the world as I used to before some idiot trapped me here. I just want to be Free. "


    ''Sniff, sniff.''


    Zhao Luo poured all his sadness into the ears of his master.


    Zhao Luo looked at his master to see if the old man was crying or if his beard was drenched in his tears but the old man was an Empera.


    An extraordinary individual.


    A leader from the world of Gods as proimed by him.


    The old man was scratching his right ear and yawning while reading from a book.


    After looking at this scene, Zhao Luo was astonished.


    ''Why did you even pretend to be worried? Why did you even ask me for my troubles? Damn this master of mine.''


    Zhao Luo wanted to punch the old man but he had already epted him as his master.


    ''What is he even reading?''


    So Zhao Luo waited and waited but the wait continued and turned into a soundless moment that prolonged for a while till Zhao Luo couldn''t bear it anymore and broke the silence.


    "Master, what are you reading?"


    Zhao Luo couldn''t hold back his curiosity.


    "Something that you will be reading soon."


    The old man replied.


    Zhao Luo had seeded in getting the old man''s response.


    "So did you hear what I said before?"


    Zhao Luo asked his master another question.


    "Yes, I did."


    The old man answered with a short reply.


    "Then, Then, Then, What is with your boring response?"


    Zhao Luo was quite hurt by the reaction of this old man.


    "It''s because your current state is better for you. So instead of being thankful, you areining about your state. What a disappointment."


    The moment the old manpleted his sentence, Zhao Luo fell on his knees.


    Something popped into his mind. It was thest thing he could remember rted to Takuma.


    The talk he had with Takuma before he lost his consciousness was somewhat simr.


    Zhao Luo couldn''t believe that the old man called his ''worries'' a ''Disappointment''.


    He was hurt. He wanted to know how he was wrong.


    Zhao Luo wanted answers. He wanted to know his fault.


    "How being unable to move my body is better for me? How is this state better? How?"


    Zhao Luo asked and it didn''t end here.


    In this heated moment, he said something which he would regret.


    "Do you even know how is it like to lose the feeling of your younger brother for years?"


    Zhao Luo looked at the old man.


    The old man after hearing his disciple talk about his younger brother shifted his gaze towards the area between the legs of Zhao Luo.


    That actionsted for not even a single second but it was sufficient to let Zhao Luo have this thought,


    ''Should I just kill myself?''


    The old man didn''t want to be too harsh with Zhao Luo.


    "So that is the thing which my disciple was worrying about. You want to y with your younger brother who is trapped in an icy cave. Hahaha "


    The old man teased the young man. He joked around. He didn''t miss the chance of shaming his disciple.


    Zhao Luo had never felt so embarrassed.


    The old man stoppedughing after a while and looked seriously at Zhao Luo.


    "Why do you think you can achieve Naoli this easily? Even though for you it was a long time, it is indeed nothingpared to the time it takes for one to master just a single stage of Naoli."


    The old man asked Zhao Luo.


    Yet he didn''t let Zhao Luo answer his question.


    "It''s because of this state where you can think for a boundless duration. You have already made a mental realm. The reason is that you don''t have to focus on your body. Just your mental state is conscious and your physical state is at rest. With all the concentration at one point the time it would take you to learn these things is reduced by so much that you can not imagine."


    As a master is supposed to be. The old man lectured Zhao Luo.


    Colour could be seen returning on the face of Zhao Luo after listening to his master''s answer.


    "Indeed I was wrong, master."


    Zhao Luo was already reflecting on his wrong thinking.

 Chapter 15 - Heavens Tomb

    The old man was happy. His disciple may have been a self-centered idiot but his approach to his mistakes was very impressive.


    The old man looked at the book in his hand and smirked.


    "Zhao Luo."


    The old man addressed Zhao Luo, seriously.


    This was the first time that the old man called him out like this. So Zhao Luo let go of all his worries and thoughts as he looked at his master.


    "Yes, Master."


    Zhao Luo knew that it was going to be something beneficial to him so he waspletely ready for what the old man was going to tell him now.


    The old man closed the book and ced it on his left palm. Right after that he waved and curled the fingers of his right hand towards Zhao Luo. The book started floating as a result of the waving gesture from the old man and went over towards Zhao Luo.


    The book that the old man was reading before reached Zhao Luo. Zhao Luo opened his right hand and the book ced itself on the palm of Zhao Luo. Zhao Luo looked at the book and at that instance, a memory came to him in the form of a shock.


    ''This ck color looks so familiar. The shining tone of these dark outlines. Don''t tell me that this is the book of the soul demon from hell. The book was used for bestowing death by that demon. Just a name is enough to plot the death of a being. Holy.''


    Zhao Luo was in a frenzy. He was so excited that he had lost all kinds of sensible judgment. He even forgot to flip the book to check if it was the same book from his memories. His inner otaku wasing to life. This was one of the secrets that Zhao Luo didn''t want anyone to know but as a famous saying goes that there is nothing that can be kept hidden forever. Zhao Luo didn''t want anyone to know but Zhao Luo was a hardcore crazy fan of a certain anime from his time which led to this exciting reaction.


    He was a single action away from confirming if his assumptions were correct. Just a turn of the devilish ck shining book would let him know. So without waiting any further he was turning the book.


    ''BaDump''


    Even though his body was still in a state of paralysis, his heartbeat was increasing slowly.


    ''BaDump''


    His slow heartbeat was getting louder.


    ''BaDump''


    So loud that it echoed in his mind space.


    Three excited beats were heard in the time taken for Zhao Luo to turn the book to its front.


    To his disappointment the there was nothing written on the front side of the book.


    ''Hmmm''


    The old man who was looking at Zhao Luo was confused by the reaction of his disciple.


    "You are disappointed. Do you even know the value of that book?"


    The old man was confused and angry with Zhao Luo.


    How could anyone be dissatisfied with something they received from the Emperor of Gods himself?


    Yet this insolent disciple of his was making a sad face just after turning the book.


    He didn''t even open it but the old man would never know that the disappointment of Zhao Luo was well justified.


    "Master, it looked familiar to something from my World."


    Zhao Luo replied but his answer wasn''t correct. He forgot to differentiate his World from a 2D World. Maybe the long sleep had already destroyed his reasoning.


    The old man couldn''t understand the meaning behind Zhao Luo''s answer.


    ''There wasn''t anything like it even in my World so how can there be something like it in your World?''


    The old man had a questioning thought in his mind but he decided to dismiss it.


    "Open it. Hmph."


    The old man ordered Zhao Luo. He was eagerly looking at Zhao Luo waiting for him to open the book and be blown away by the majesty of the contents inside it.


    Zhao Luo looked at the book in his right hand and flipped it open with his left hand.


    The book was opened and the first page appeared. The first page was emitting golden light. The thickness of this page covered half of the book.


    Zhao Luo was focused on the two words carved in that thick page.


    ''Heaven''s Tomb''


    Zhao Luo was mesmerized by the style of those words.


    He looked at the font and he couldn''t match with any of the fonts that he knew about. The two words were written so well that Zhao Luo was shocked but this shocksted for only a short moment.


    Zhao Luo thought of the meaning behind the words.


    ''The tomb of heaven. Heaven must be buried in this book or there may be some secret rted to heaven. Is Heaven even dead?''


    Zhao Luo was having a conference in his mind.

 Chapter 16 - Heavens Tomb 2

    Zhao Luo was still thinking about the words written on that thick page of the book that the old man had passed to him.


    ''Heaven''s tomb''


    He was considering Heaven as an individual and the book as the resting ce for that individual.


    Some may think ''how can some individual be resting in a book?''


    Imagine being buried in a book after your death.


    The answer is simple.


    ''The resting ce does not have to be taken as the body''s resting ce instead it could be that individual''s skills, thoughts, or knowledge which were buried in the book.''


    This was what Zhao Luo was doing right now. Thinking without a stop. Weird ideas were popping up in his head and even weirder was how he defined the book as some individual''s remnant, instead of just flipping to the next page.


    His basic idea was wrong.


    In the world of old man, the word ''heaven'' had different meanings. There were so many gods and then the emperors who ruled over them, each having heaven of their own or a ce that those Gods used to call their heaven.


    Zhao Luo couldn''t even start to guess them now as he was someone who had no idea what kind of World the old man was from.


    The old man knew that too. He was still looking at his disciple. This was the beginning of Zhao Luo''s journey. The thing which the old man was seeing waspletely different from what Zhao Luo was going through.


    In the vision of the old man, Zhao Luo was lost in those words. He thought that his disciple was so focused on the words because of the majestic aura that they had and the profoundness they contained. The old man didn''t consider it as a bad thing but his student was taking an unusual amount of time just to flip a page.


    The actual reality was odd, so odd that no one could rte to what Zhao Luo was going through at the moment.


    Zhao Luo was still looking at those words. It was true that they were written in a style that was impossible to find in his world. That was the first reason which caused him to stare at these words for so long.


    Second, the aura of these words, or as Zhao Luo considered them, the shine from these words was not something that Zhao Luo was familiar with. He thought of many things starting fromser to 3D radiance and so on yet he couldn''t match anything to the cause of this shine. It was sucking his attention towards the words. An unexinable depth was in front of Zhao Luo.


    Third, the way these two words were inscribed on the thick page of the book was also one of the things that he wasn''t familiar with. It looked as if they were etched a mile deep in a stone yet the page wasn''t even thicker than a hand.


    These three things made him think that this book was special. Special and not from his world. For him the position of this book was rising, even though it hadn''t reached the elevation that some other ''book note'' had in his mind.


    Now Zhao Luo slowly pulled himself out from the intense immersion. He looked at the old man and made a gesture which clearly said,


    ''I have used all of my brain cells and after expanding them I still haven''t reached a sound conclusion. Please exin about this.''


    He looked at the book in his hand.


    "Hahaha"


    The old manughed. Before he was waiting for his disciple as he was focused on the book so intensely. Now that disciple after looking at the Heaven''s Tomb for so long only had questions regarding the thick page of that book for the old man.


    "This book is my seventh most treasured possession. Among the million books that my collection holds, this one alone holds more value than all of them."


    The old man started telling about the book which was in the hand of Zhao Luo. Zhao Luo was shocked after hearing the value of the book. The old man felt satisfied after seeing the shock on his disciple''s face. This was the same that the old man once made when he got the book.


    "This book is the remnant of ancient Gods who brought their power together and made the firstbined heaven and called it, Athens."


    The old man was on the ''Origin of the book'' part and Zhao Luo was immersed in his story.


    "Athens, a ce which was considered as the once greatest and boundless heaven of my world. It was ruled by 7 Emperors. 7 emperasbined their resources and powers to create this masterpiece. Each one was so powerful that even I don''tpare to them. They allpiled their martial knowledge into one book. But one day a catastrophe had hit Athens and their so-called heavens were razed in a single night."


    The old man had eyes that were trying to remember the greatness of that ce and the beings who ruled it.


    Zhao Luo could feel the sadness in his master''s eyes.


    "After its destruction, only some ruins were left. Many people went there to investigate the ruins in hopes of finding some unparallel treasure. But none had the luck of this old man."


    The old man showed his white teeth to Zhao Luo in this dark chill space.


    "This is the story of this book, Heaven''s tomb"


    The old man went on and on about how he got the book and where it was from. But he still hadn''t answered the question which Zhao Luo had.


    In the end, Zhao Luo still listened as the old man continued. The story of his master was still very interesting for Zhao Luo.


    First, as a human, it was already overwhelming for him that he training in his mind while God is his mentor.


    Secondly, that godly mentor was telling him a story from his world.


    Third, he had already bestowed him something truly awesome.

 Chapter 17 - Once Again

    The old man had already covered the origin of Heaven''s Tomb and also the ''adventures'' he had to go through to get it. The book was already a thing that belonged to Zhao Luo. As for the questions that Zhao Luo had so far, held no meaning. As he had already started his journey to Godhood so one day maybe even he would have a heaven''s tomb of his own. It was just a timely thing that he will reach one day if he is to continue on the path he was on.


    "Do you understand the value of this book?"


    Asked the old man with a smirk on his face.


    ''Hah''


    Zhao Luo just had a simple reaction as he knew that the old man was showing how important his gift was and wanted some admiration from his student. The only thing was that even if the old man didn''t ask this question, Zhao Luo understood the importance of this book. Though this understanding barely touched the boundary of this book''s worth.


    As for admiring the old man, Zhao Luo already had a deep respect for his master. So just this once he decided to show it properly.


    Zhao Luo stood in front of his master and raised his right arm and brought it down to his waist while bending his back to give a half bow to his master and in that position Zhao Luo said,


    "Oh my godly master, thank you for bestowing me, an unworthy guy with such a gift."


    As Zhao Luo praised the old man, the old man was bbergasted with this action of Zhao Luo. The hair on his hands stood up as a result of goosebumps. The old man thought the praise by his student was too much for him to handle.


    Even though he had goosebumps, he felt nice. Having a disciple gave him afortable feeling. While the old man was thinking about his disciple, the disciple shouted.


    "Master, did I do too much?"


    Zhao Luo asked with a serious expression.


    "No, ''sniff'' you can continue."


    The old man said while sniffing like a little child.


    But Zhao Luo was still looking at the old man with a weird stare. He felt a little scared.


    The old man''s body was fading. But not just fading gradually instead his body was like a light bulb on a bad connection as it kept on disappearing and appearing. Even though it was happening to the old man''s body, he still hadn''t realized it. Every time the old man reappeared his body would lose its luster. The shining majestic aura that he had a little while ago was dissipating.


    "Master why is your silhouette losing its shine?" Zhao Luo was freaking out as he asked his master about the reason behind the old man''s flicking body.


    The old man looked at his body and realized that his time was running out. He wasn''t shocked at the least and looked proudly at Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo was looking at the old man who was looking at Zhao Luo. They kept on looking at each other. Both were as silent as a rock. The old man''s body was still flicking on and off. It would disappear in the dark space inside the mind of Zhao Luo and then appear again.


    Zhao Luo didn''t know if he shouldugh or cry. As the old man still hadn''t replied to his question. So Zhao Luo asked again in a different way ording to what he was feeling while watching the flicking body of his master.


    "Are you going to leave this ce?"


    Zhao Luo asked his master. The ce he was referring to was his mind space.


    "Yes."


    The old man replied to Zhao Luo.


    The heavy yet short answer gave Zhao Luo a weird feeling that he had never felt before.


    A feeling that one feels when they lose a loved one. The old man was his master and Zhao Luo already considered him like a family that he never had before.


    Even though he didn''t cry here but tears wereing out of his physical body which was still in a paralyzed state lying in the capsule.


    "You are my first disciple. The only person that I have ever taught. I intend to make you myst disciple too. This may be a short farewell till we meet again one day in the real world."


    The old man pointed upwards while saying thest line.


    Then he paused and used his remaining energy to stay in the mind space without disappearing again and again.


    This may have shortened his time by three times but it was enough for a master-disciple to say goodbyes to each other.


    "You will learn everything that you need to know and everything that you are supposed to do as my disciple and a person who is on the path of bing a God, once you flip to the second page of the book."


    The old man ryed his words to Zhao Luo assuring him that he will be able to advance in his journey.


    "Farewell, my disciple. I hope you will be a great person when we meet again."


    The old man looked sad while bidding his farewell.


    But could his sadness bepared to what his disciple, Zhao Luo was going through?


    The answer was no.


    Zhao Luo had so many things that he wanted to tell the old man but he realized that he didn''t have to leisure to chat with his master.


    Zhao Luo controlled his emotions and opened his mouth just to say these words.


    "Farewell, master".


    The moment these words came out of his mouth, the old man vanished. This time he disappeared for good. Zhao Luo could feel the emptiness in his mind space. He knew the old man wasn''t with him anymore.


    Zhao Luo sat down in a lotus position and closed his eyes.


    He went over the time with his master and thought about the guidance of the old man.


    If the old man never appeared then Zhao Luo and his apparitions would still be ying tag.


    They would have been fighting each other like animals and Zhao Luo would still be thinking about how to use them so they could be worth all the time he spent on summoning them. Yet the old man appeared in the time of his need. First, he taught him. Then he showed him the way, the answer to his first problem. After that, he guided him to the next stage. This continued for all the time the old man was with him. Till the end when he gave him one of his treasured belonging.


    ''What an amazing guy.''


    Zhao Luo finished at this thought. This was how he perceived the time spent with the old man.


    Zhao Luo opened his eyes and looked at the nk space. As he stared at the dark space, the only thing he felt was emptiness.


    This was the moment when he realized that he was left alone. But Zhao Luo wanted to deny this feeling of loneliness.


    "Summon"


    Zhao Luo issued amand in a rough tone.


    As themand echoed in his mind, nine apparitions were summoned in an instant.


    "Swoosh"


    Zhao Luo looked at them and they were all looking at Zhao Luo.


    All of them were crying as the thought of the old man''s disappearance was so strong that all the apparitions were materialized with that sad part as aponent.


    They all followed the same action of wiping their eyes.


    "Are you ready?"


    Zhao Luo looked at them as he was clenching his fist.


    ''Gulp''


    The sound of water going down the throat of his apparition was heard in the silent space as they noticed the action of their master.


    Zhao Luo went over to his apparitions and as he passed them one by one in such a way that when he stopped he was standing in the middle of his apparition while they were circling him.


    "Come at me at once."


    Zhao Luomanded his apparitions again.


    They all rushed at him like a lightning bolt.


    These apparitions were better and stronger than thest ones.


    All of them had the reaction timing of a beast and the strength of a bull.


    While Zhao Luo stood some levels above his apparitions in case of strength but he didn''t know any fighting skills except the ones he had seen in movies that he used to watch.


    While Zhao Luo was thinking about what move to use on his apparitions that wereing at him, a punchnded on his face.


    Followed by a kick at his abdomen. And thus the thrashing began.


    Zhao Luo was thrown and his apparition mmed an attack of their own on him again and again without leaving him a chance to fight back.


    ''m dunk''


    ''Chest spank''


    ''Best head drive''


    ''Usual kick on an unusual face.''


    The name of the attack kept on getting weirder and weirder.


    After leaving Zhao Luo ck and blue, all of the apparitions were feeling pretty satisfied.


    Yet the beating continued till Zhao Luo shouted in anger.


    "Enough"


    All of the apparitions disappeared.


    Zhao Luo couldn''t be recognized. All of his main features were swollen.


    This scenested for a few seconds as his face returned to its original features. The same goes for his body.


    Zhao Luo needed this beating to return to his senses. Though he didn''t expect it to turn out this badly.


    "Finally I am alone once again."


    Zhao Luo finally epted the truth.

 Chapter 18 - Contents!

    After being left alone in the solitary space by the old man''s disappearance and getting a hellish beating by his apparitions, Zhao Luo had nothing else to do except,


    "It''s time to flip the page."


    Zhao Luo said as he picked the book.


    Zhao Luo was ready to open the book again.


    His master had told him that the book will help him with his journey.


    He was going to test that. Maybe this will help him in getting his body out of the capsule.


    Or it may lead to something even better.


    Zhao Luo eagerly opened the book again.


    The book with the dark shiny cover was already making the dark surrounding even shadier gave out a golden radiance as soon as it was opened.


    Just like before the first page had two words on it.


    "Heaven''s Tomb."


    Zhao Luo read the words.


    He pondered over these words before going to the next page eager to know the content of this Godly book.


    ''Flip''


    Zhao Luo flipped the page.


    The eager Zhao Luo was shocked after seeing the content of the page.


    He stared as hard as he could but for that time frame, after he had turned the page, this page was empty just a simple nk golden paper with nothing written on it.


    ''Did the old man scam me?''


    Zhao Luo thought.


    As he couldn''t find anything on the page he was going to close the book but right while he was closing it, words started to appear on the page.


    The words appeared on the whole page at the same time as if they were submerged in the page before and wereing up now.


    Zhao Luo started reading from the top.


    A grand title was left on this page.


    "KNOWLEDGE"


    Zhao Luo read the title and an unknowing smile could be seen on his face.


    He thought about what kind of knowledge he will be getting as the book was aption of the experiences of ancient Gods from the old man''s World.


    Zhao Luo started reading the page and right from the start he was immersed in it.


    The book started with the introduction of a God exining their powers.


    What is a God?


    A being who is all powerful and supreme.


    Not just super powerful but also with different abilities.


    An ability that they had which was unbnced ording to Zhao Luo who had already read it.


    It was the power to bring a summoned apparition, which Zhao Luo was able to do, from their mind to life.


    They could be brought as physical bodies with just amand.


    That summoned apparition would have a solid form. The shape will be as the God that is summoning it would imagine it to be.


    The book called this summon a ''Bandit''.


    Zhao Luo stopped at this point as this was thest line of the page.


    ''Interesting''


    Zhao Luo thought.


    ''Maybe I will be able to summon a lion bandit.''


    Zhao Luo wondered. Then he went on to read the next page.


    But before he could even turn the page, the words on the current page once again disappeared leaving Zhao Luo in shock again.


    He had never read a book that had words appear on a nk page. And the page turning nk again once he was done reading those words.


    Like why can''t the words stay there from the start and not disappear once he is done reading them?


    Then new words appeared on the same page.


    This time they appeared faster than before. Zhao Luo was already getting used to this so he didn''t go in a state of shock.


    Zhao Luo starting reading again.


    To his surprise, the title was still the same.


    "Again ''KNOWLEDGE''. This must be a continuation to the ability of Gods."


    Zhao Luo guessed and continued.


    It was as he guessed. This time the writing continued from bandits.


    The exnation was on the power of bandits.


    Each summoned bandit could have different powers.


    The power of the created ''bandit''pletely depended on the quality of the boundary of the God that is summoning it and the rules of the space of that God.


    Boundaries were a measure of God''s power.


    Every God could set rules in their boundary ording to their will.


    A weaker God will have a low-quality boundary. As the strength of a God increase, the quality of their boundary would increase.


    This increase in the quality of boundary of that God affects the summoned ''bandit'' increasing its power and its abilities as well.


    The quality of the boundary was divided into nine levels.


    Starting from trash ( ck), wood, iron, bronze, silver, gold, tinum, diamond, and jadeite.


    "Did I read it right?"


    Zhao Luo was wondering if he saw it wrong after reading the qualities of the boundary.


    He didn''t think that there was a quality level of boundary named ''trash'' while its color was mentioned along with it.


    ''How lucky one has to be to have the trash quality boundary?''


    Zhao Luo had a thought.


    Zhao Luo continued.


    The summoned ''bandit'' had nine levels too.


    When the quality of the boundary is upgraded to the next level the summoned bandit will be that level too.


    The lowest of the summoned bandit would be a ''trash bandit''.


    The strongest should be a ''jadeite bandit''


    Yet the book mentioned that sometimes a bandit could hold even more power than it is allowed in the jadeite boundary.


    The bandit would then be a ''crimson bandit''.


    The quality of the boundary was easily detected.


    The name reflected the appearance of the boundary. A gold boundary would have gold shine. A diamond boundary would be giving a brilliant blinding shine of light with fiery color. The same goes for other boundaries.


    Only the trash quality boundary would have no color yet the presence of that God''s boundary could be easily felt.


    That is, the boundary would be present yet missing out on any outstanding feature.


    Thus the book decided to call such a God a trash level God. As God didn''t train himself faithfully in his journey to bing one.


    "So one can still be trash after bing a God. The hierarchy is still the same even if one bes a God."


    Zhao Luo chuckled but also felt fearful as he may be the one he isughing on.


    The words ended at the exnation of ''trash'' quality.


    Zhao Luo didn''t even try turning the page. This time he was ready for the words to disappear.


    Soon the words disappeared, the page was nk once again and then the next set of lines with new words appeared on the page.


    The title this time was different. It was not knowledge, unlike thest two times.


    Zhao Luo saw the title and knew that he was finally going to learn something useful.


    "Ways"


    Zhao Luo read the title which was written in grey color and the four letters shined with outstanding brightness.


    The shine from the words calmed the excited Zhao Luo.


    He went on to read the first line which went something like this.


    There were many ways to be a God.


    There were easy ways then there were hard ways then there were ways that were close to impossible to follow through but such ways showed results that were unachievable by other ways.


    Now Zhao Luo thought of himself as he was already on one of the ways.


    He didn''t know which kind of way was he on. He thought of his journey of mastering the first step of Godhood that the old man had taught him was mastering the Naoli.


    It may have been frustrating at times but it wasn''t that hard for him.


    ''Maybe my method is one of the weaker ones.''


    Zhao Luo thought andpared his method to one of the weaker ways just because he achieved the first step easily.


    ''Well, I will know soon.''


    Zhao Luo didn''t dwell on his thought about his way for too long and continued reading.


    The next line was on the weaker ways. It exined in such a way that Zhao Luo knew that he was far from the weaker ways. Too far ahead.


    As the next line''s exnation was on how the weaker ways focus on getting to Godhood by achieving the requirements for bing a God through the fastest ways.


    This would help the guy in bing the God in the shortest possible time yet after bing the God, his power will be weak. He may even end up with the lowest quality boundary which was a ''trash boundary''.


    The example given for this way was that the person will be able to create a single apparition after mastering the Naoli.


    Whereas Zhao Luo was already able to create nine of them.


    The harder the way was the longer it took to achieve each requirement on the path to Godhood.


    Yet the result was opposite to the easy way.


    The power a person will have once he bes a God through this way will be immense and their initial boundaries will have one of the superior qualities.


    The line ended here leaving Zhao Luo eager to know about the difficulty of his way to Godhood.

 Chapter 19 - A Crimson God?

    Finally, after Zhao Luo understood the division of ways on the difficulty level, the page turned nk again.


    While Zhao Luo was waiting for the new set of lines to appear on that nk page, he had a thought.


    ''Where do I stand on the path to Godhood?''


    ''How hard is my way?''


    ''How powerful will I be once I be a God after following my path?''


    Such thoughts lingered in his mind.


    The set of lines started appearing.


    Zhao Luo stopped thinking and focused on the page again. The title was still the same as thest one.


    "Ways"


    Zhao Luo read it out loud and then saw that there was a new heading that hadn''t appeared before this time.


    "Your Way"


    Zhao Luo knew that the book was addressing him.


    There were only two lines below the ''Your Way'' heading.


    Zhao Luo read the first line,


    "The best way to be a God is to follow the path that gives the greatest strength."


    Zhao Luo was immersed in the line thinking about how he agreed with this.


    When a person is aiming to be something then if he isn''t the strongest or the best once he bes that, then what''s the use of working all along the way.


    Zhao Luo continued to the second line.


    "The path that can result in the strongest powers is the path on Heaven''s Way."


    The new content ended here leaving Zhao Luo in a questioning state regarding this Heaven''s way.


    The words stayed there for a second after Zhao Luo had read them then they slid to left disappearing the thick first page of the heavens tomb.


    As they were disappearing new words were appearing on the page again.


    This time there were only two words that appeared. They were grand yet they were something that Zhao Luo was expecting as he already had many books so he knew how the writers would get the reader''s attention.


    ''By leaving them in a cliff hanger then starting from that cliff hanger to get the audience more immersed in it.''


    So as he had expected these words were,


    "Heaven''s Way"


    Zhao Luo read the words and knew that he was finally getting to the ripe part.


    The excited Zhao Luo was ready to learn Heaven''s Way.


    He was ready to be the strongest God ever.


    He was ready to work hard and give his all on this path.


    He was ready to be freed from this capsule.


    He was ready to move his body.


    As he was already ready for all of the above, new words appeared on the page.


    "The heaven''s way is abination of all our knowledge. We, the Seven Gods who are the strongest of our time are standing on a peak that is unseen by the ones who call themselves God too. Yet the ''Heaven''s Way'' which we have created will take you to a peak even higher than ours. Only the worthy ones will stay on this way. Even on this way, only the ones with the strongest wills will surpass us."


    Zhao Luo read all of it with a stern expression.


    "Another long exnation but an interesting one indeed. It''s like these seven Gods are talking to me personally."


    Zhao Luo said after reading it.


    That was the end of the words and now the new content was to appear as it had been happening all this time.


    Zhao Luo waited to read the next part but instead of disappearing these words were still there. Then he waited for a little more yet nothing out of the ordinary happened. The lines were still there, the words were the same too.


    Then Zhao Luo tried to turn to the next page.


    ''Flip.''


    He turned the page.


    And this time the page was white and nk. The shine from this page was so mesmerizing that only the shine of a full moon wasparable to it.


    Zhao Luo was still holding the book starting at the white page. He waited for the new content to appear on it so he can continue reading it.


    Instead of words appearing on it he felt a powerful suction force as if the book had grabbed him and was him inside.


    "What is happening?"


    Soon the dark mind space that he was in, turned darker than it was before.


    Seven pairs of eyes appeared in that dark space.


    ''Hmmm''


    ''Haaah''


    ''Interesting''


    Seven different sounds were hearding from where these eyes were in that space which also where Zhao Luo was.


    Zhao Luo felt an oppressive power from these eyes. He felt like he was continuously shrinking in front of them.


    The eyes felt like a giant to him and he felt himself to be an ant standing naked in front of these eyes.


    Six pair of eyes were in a circle except for the one in the middle of these six making


    it seven.


    These eyes were the eyes of the Seven Gods who were the author of this book.


    They had left a bit of their egos in the book so if they weren''t alive one day, their egos would help the one who reads their book.


    Six of the eyes had the same shine. The eyes were like diamonds.


    They had a yellow-brownish shine that was erupting from their eyeballs even in this darkness.


    The one in the middle was the only different one among these seven. It had a crimson shine.


    Sinceing to this ce, Zhao Luo unknowingly had been staring at this particr pair of eyes with the crimson shine.


    This staring contest ended when these eyes closed.


    "Don''t stare at me so hard. I feel shy."


    The sweet voice came from those eyes said to Zhao Luo. It was clear that the voice belonged to a woman.


    Zhao Luo was shocked and he blushed as he wasn''t such a person himself. To stare at someone who was staring at him, he couldn''t do such a feat.


    The eyes opened and the crimson shine had increased in intensity.


    A new voice was heard talking about Zhao Luo.


    "This insolent dog. If you had dared to stare at her in front of me, I would have pulled out your eyes from your doggy sockets and grilled them before throwing them in a pile of shit."


    The voice was disrespecting so disrespecting that Zhao Luo was already erupting with anger.


    "You bastard. Why would you even grill them if you aren''t going to eat them"


    Zhao Luo asked angrily.


    The eyes that disrespected Zhao Luo were lost for words as he had no way to answer the question that Zhao Luo had asked him.


    "Hahaha."


    Laughing sounds emerged from the other eyes.


    Another one of the eyes in the circle said to Zhao Luo,


    "Forgive my friend for disrespecting you, young man. Don''t let it get to you."


    Those eyes said with a heavy voice.


    Zhao Luo couldn''t tell if he was being asked for forgiveness or reprimanded because of the tone of these eyes.


    Even though he looked at the eyes that spoke to him just now and noded.


    The eyes in the middle with the crimson shine said to Zhao Luo.


    "You were brought here so we could examine you to know if you are worthy or not. Only after that will you be able to continue on the path of Heaven''s Way."


    The female voice addressed Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo started feeling nervous but then he remembered what the old man told him when he was teaching Zhao Luo the stages of Naoli.


    "Yes, I am a genius."


    Zhao Luo said. He may have mixed his memory with some other moment.


    "Okay as you say. We will know soon."


    The crimson eyes spoke thinking that Zhao Luo was talking to it.


    A crimson shine covered Zhao Luo. His whole body was filled with strength.


    This onlyst a moment and the shine left his body and returned to the eyes in the middle.


    Zhao Luo could feel the strength leaving his body along with the shine.


    Zhao Luo looked at the eyes looking forward to knowing his result and of he was worthy or not.


    He thought that if he wasn''t worthy then who would be.


    "Just barely."


    Said the eyes in the middle.


    "Barely?"


    Zhao Luo thought that the context was missing. Just barely but what did he pass ''barely'' in.


    "Your physical ability is just barely passable. Your body is just strong enough to handle the harshness of this path. If it was any weaker than it is already then it would have been not suitable for Heaven''s Way."


    The eyes exined.


    Then another shine covered his body. This time it looked as if his body was on fire. Instead of feeling hot, he felt a cooling and calming sensation as if someone was hugging him tofort him.


    This shine came from the eyes who had insulted Zhao Luo for starting the eyes in the middle.


    Then the shine returned in front of those eyes.


    And the eyes which had disrespected Zhao Luo said.


    "Let''s see the strength of your mind."


    After the eyes said that the fiery shine turned ck.


    The fiery shine died down and a white me appeared where the shine was.


    The white me turned golden and illuminated the whole area.


    "Not bad for someone with just a passable bo-"


    The eyes stopped talking as if someone had pped the face of the one talking.


    The golden me was dying down and a tinum beam shot upwards from within the dying me.


    "Hahaha, interesting. I take everything back. You are 100 times better than a dog. You may have been worth teaching if I was he-."


    The eyes stopped talking in the middle again.


    The tinum beam was dying down and from the dying beam, a radiant shine appeared illuminating the space as if someone had brought the sun in this space.


    The shine had clear crimson red rays which were blinding all of the eyes in the circle.


    Only the eyes in the middle were looking at the shine interestingly.


    "Mind of a Crimson God."


    Said the eyes while looking at the shine.


    "Told you."


    Zhao Luo smirked and folded his arms in front of his chest and looked upwards with his face tilted looking at the eyes as if they were his subjects.

 Chapter 20 - Awakening

    All the eyes were silent and they stayed that way for some time leaving Zhao Luo to enjoy his moment of joy.


    He felt nice and happy.


    The real reason for Zhao Luo being this excited wasn''t because the eyes were silent because his mind talent was as they had said instead it was because ''Mind of the Crimson God'' had a nice ring to it.


    He found it eptable and without even asking the eyes of the meaning behind this ''Mind of the Crimson God'' he just went ahead and announced his victory and took his victory pose.


    The eyes that had been disrespectful to Zhao Luo before spoke slowly to the other eyes.


    "So if this kid bes a God he will already be at Crimson level. Unbelievable."


    Another one of the eyes replied to this guy.


    "It is as you said."


    The other eyes started giving their opinion on the matter of Zhao Luo''s mind talent too.


    "He doesn''t even look past his twenties. So how could he already have a mind with the highest state of potential."


    They all were showing their shock that was caused because of the crimson shone that was caused by Zhao Luo.


    One of the eyes said to the eyes in the middle.


    "If he is guided the right way he may be even able to surpass you, oh Goddess."


    The style of addressing the eyes in the middle by the one that spoke just showed how important the person was to whom these eyes belonged.


    "You are right. It isn''t even a maybe, he will surpass all of us."


    The eyes in the middle spoke.


    Zhao Luo was listening to the conversation of these eyes carefully.


    He was a little angry as they were ignoring him and talking as if he wasn''t even present there but right now the important thing for him was something else.


    ''The old man said that these seven Gods were even stronger than him and now they are talking about being surpassed by me.''


    Zhao Luo couldn''t believe what he was hearing right now.


    The eyes were still talking about him.


    "I am still here. Can you exin to me too?"


    Zhao Luo asked the eyes in the middle.


    He was hoping for an answer that could clear up every question on his mind ability.


    "You have passed our assessment with ''Okay'' marks."


    The eyes which had been picking a bone with Zhao Luo since the beginning started speaking.


    "Though you may have surprised us a little but do remember this that there are many fishes in the sea as there are many birds in the sky."


    Zhao Luo couldn''t find a justifiable reason behind bringing fishes and birds here.


    He was confused and was looking at the eyes that spoke to him in a way that was asking the eyes to rify.


    "So stupid. Don''t becent in only your potential. The time to be proud about this will be when you achieve that level."


    The eyes tried to simplify its words.


    Even if it was an ego left by God, there was something that not all of these eyes knew how to exin.


    Zhao Luo was that something.


    They had never expected that someone with such a powerful mind would be following their Heaven''s Way.


    "Zhao Luo, you are an extraordinary individual. Even though your body is just passable, your mind is already at the highest state."


    The eyes promised Zhao Luo and continue to address him.


    "There have been talents like you even in our times and I am one of them."


    The eyes shone with a crimson light.


    "Yet my mind wasn''t even half strong as yours when I started my journey to Godhood."


    The eyes said to Zhao Luo.


    "You are worthy of Heaven''s Way."


    After the eyes in the middle said that to Zhao Luo, all the eyes disappeared.


    Zhao Luo was the only one in the dark area.


    Shortly after that, he felt a force grabbing him and lifting him upwards just to throw him awayter.


    After that horrible feeling, Zhao Luo found himself in his mind space where he was since the start with the Heaven''s Tomb in his hand.


    Zhao Luo noticed that the Heaven''s Tomb was closed.


    ''Guess I have passed the test to see if I was worthy to walk on Heaven''s way.''


    After thinking about the thing which just happened to him, Zhao Luo proceeded to open the book again.


    "What?"


    Zhao Luo eximed as he wasn''t able to open the book.


    Zhao Luo used all his force he could muster but he still couldn''t open it.


    Zhao Luo was a little disappointed just when the book started shining.


    Grey light starteding out of the book as then the intensity of the greyish light reached an all-time high.


    The book raised itself and floated above the hand of Zhao Luo.


    The heavens tomb started dividing itself. Soon it turned to so many parts that the particles of Heaven''s tomb were hardly visible.


    Then all of those microparticles rushed towards the palm of Zhao Luo.


    "Ahhhhh"


    Zhao Luo screamed as he felt something hot crawling under his skin and entering his hand from the side of his palm.


    The particles wherever they passed inside the arm of Zhao Luo to the other parts of his body, a burning sensation was left behind in that ce.


    Zhao Luo was in a situation where he felt an extreme sensation of pain from every part of his body.


    He was confused about whether to cry or scream because of the pain.


    This continued for a while till no part of Zhao Luo was left from where the sensation of pain was missing.


    "Shit. This is too much."


    Zhao Luo who was in pain wasining about what was happening to him.


    ''Is this book trying to kill me??''


    Zhao Luo thought because of the pain he felt.


    Soon the pain from all over his body gradually subsided.


    He could still feel the burning sensation from one part. Right on the wrist of his right hand, the pain was so much that he thought that his wrist would just fall off after melting.


    He looked at his wrist and below the crease on his wrist towards his arm, there was a book-shaped image lying there.


    "This is Heaven''s tomb. Why is it in my wrist?"


    Zhao Luo said questioning what had exactly happened as he recognized the shape and shine of the image on his wrist.


    While looking at the image of the Heaven''s Tomb on his wrist, Zhao Luo felt a change that his body was going through.


    When the pain had ended he felt a strength surging all around his body.


    He felt as if he only needed to wave his hand and the skies would fall.


    That is how strong he felt at this moment.


    Zhao Luo focused and tried to open his eyes.


    He sat down in a lotus position in his mind space and closed his eyes.


    Zhao Luo brought his hands closer towards his stomach without even realizing it.


    He was only focused on waking the hell up and leaving the capsule.


    He felt the energy coursing through his body and knew that this was the moment.


    ''If I don''t try to do it now then I will never be able to do itter.'' Zhao Luo thought.


    It had already been many minutes since Zhao Luo had sat down to focus on trying to move his physical body yet there was no sign of that happening.


    Zhao Luo didn''t give up. He still sat there like a rock, eyes closed and all his focus on only one thought.


    ''I will move my BODY.''


    More time passed.


    It was already more than an hour since Zhao Luo had sat down. He didn''t know how much time had already passed.


    Just like that, a few days had already passed and Zhao Luo was still sitting like that focused on the same thing without achieving any results, without waking up.


    Zhao Luo didn''t know but for him, not much time had passed, and just like that weeks went by and months passed away.


    Time kept on flowing yet there was no result.


    Then around a year time, Zhao Luo let out a roaring sound.


    Yes, it took Zhao Luo a year just to roar.


    His body started disappearing from his mind space.


    Soon it hadpletely disappeared from that dark space.


    "Mhmm, ah"


    Body creaking sound came from the body of Zhao Luo.


    He was trying to move it and it was responding.


    He still hadn''t opened his eyes yet.


    So he didn''t know that there was a golden radiance surrounding his body.


    His body was throbbing. That was how much force he was using to move it.


    Zhao Luo focused everything on opening his eyes and then slowly yet surely he could feel the sensation of control over his eyelids.


    "Shaa"~background music when Zhao Luo opens his eyes~


    Zhao Luo finally opened his eyes.


    He couldn''t believe it.


    He was finally awake.


    It felt as if he was in a long dream.


    Where he slept a lot, dreamt a lot, and learned a few things from an old man that he had met.


    "My body is finally awake."


    Zhao Luo said feeling the control over his body that he had gained again.

 Chapter 21 - Rose Of The Royal Family

    The North-East Zone.


    Middle of the Sara Desert, The Dread Forest.


    A lush green forest with tall and thick trees everywhere making it a cool and beautiful ce while the forest itself existed in the hottest desert of the North-East Zone.


    Three mountain ranges were surrounding the Sara desert yet the one which could be said as the closest to the Forest was the Xin Mountain Range.


    The Xin Mountain Range.


    Simr to all the ranges all over the World, it had twelve peaks too that''s twelve cities.


    Usually, the ordinary people of the Xin Mountain Range never went to the desert because it had only been around ten years since their World merged with another.


    So they didn''t venture out yet and stayed at their ces just getting through each day barely.


    People from some of the cities of the Xin Mountain Range would feel gratified if they were alive by the end of the day. If anyone got in a quarrel with someone, then most of the time only one would be alive by the end of the day.


    There were oppressors everywhere in the ten surrounding cities of the Xin Range and the entry mountain, that is, the entry city of the said range.


    Many would try to bully those who were weaker than them and those who wouldn''t argue back or quarrel with them thus fully taking advantage of those who weren''t able to fight back.


    There were some people who thought that this was the general rule of life as they continued their misdeeds. But some never did any wrong.


    These people were from the remaining people of the Earth who had climbed all the stairs and entered the Xin mountain range''s entry mountain.


    Yet when they did fight with someone who wronged them, like stole something from them and they fought back for it, in the end, they were forced to fight with that guy in a life deathmatch. The only loser will be the person who isn''t breathing.


    These matches were overseen by the self-proimed leader of each mountain''s city except the first three cities and the summit where the sect was.


    The tallest mountain of every range in this new world would be in the center of the range surrounded by the other ten mountains of the said range.


    The disciples of the Xin Sect were ignorant of the ongoing faced by the people of the other cities. The sect leader was to me but he couldn''t care less.


    Only the prosperity of the Xin Sect and his strength mattered to him. The disciples of the Xin Sect would wear purple robes with a badge on their chest.


    The seniority of the disciples was measured by the markings on the badge and the color of the badge.


    ---- ---- ----


    Back to the Sara Desert.


    At daytime, on the scorching sands of the Sara Desert, two silhouettes could be seen running over the scorching desert.


    These were the two disciples of the Xin Sect who were sent out to cover the details of the Sara desert and the green abnormality at its middle. They could be seen entering the Dread Forest yet there was no one there to see them.


    The purple robes of these disciples were quite an eye-catching sight on this green forest.


    One of the disciples said,


    "Elder sister, this forest looks nice. We should rest here and then set out to our sect when night hits as the desert would have cooled down by then. This will make our journey back to the sect a lot easier."


    The disciple that was talking could be said to have a nice appearance. Smiling while talking with a tanned face, he looked as if he was trying to impress the girl he was talking to.


    He was short but with his small face, he looked better than many.


    He looked around 19 years old.


    The elder sister he was talking to was only a year older than him in age yet in seniority, he was two levels ahead of her.


    As the badges they had on their chest were both ck. The guy who was talking had three white lines ''|||'' on his badge while the girl only had a single one ''|''.


    The girl looked at him and said through the veil that was covering her mouth.


    "Senior Brother Si, please stop joking. I have already told you to stop calling me elder sister as the seniority among disciples only depends on their cultivation level."


    The girl said to Si. She was trying to maintain an appropriate distance with this brother Si who had been trying to cross it for the whole time since they left the sect.


    "As for resting, we will do as you have proposed. Let''s look around the forest. We may find something interesting here."


    The girl said to Si Chen.


    Si Chen looked unhappy as this girl wouldn''t give him a chance.


    But he still acted as if he had done nothing wrong and smiled while looking at her.


    "Rose I was wrong in calling you ''elder sister'', so forgive me."


    Si Chen said to the girl whose name was Rose.


    ''This bitxh is trying to y innocent with me.''


    ''If I wanted to, I could have easily had my way with her.''


    Si Chen thought while letting go of the evil desires that he was harboring against Rose but she didn''t know. But this was all understandable, Si Chen having these desires and treating Rose nicely since their journey had started since his goal was to get closer to her and have an intimate rtionship with her.


    ''Why?''.


    Because Rose was a new disciple of the Xin sect who had started with a first-level ''I'' ck badge.


    Others had to be trainee disciples for years before they would reach the required strength level to get their badge upgraded to this level.


    Yet this girl already got a level ''1'' ck badge soon after she joined the sect.


    Then she became famous for her red veil which was covering the lower half of her face. Only her eyes could be seen.


    A body that could be called a wless woman''s body in everyone''s eyes and a covered face with eyes so stunning that one could dive in the depth of her deep eyes.


    Only this much was enough to mesmerize others.


    Soon after getting her badge, she was already being counted among the top beauties of the Xin Sect. With countless people fawning over Rose it was hard for her identity to be kept to be unknown after so muchmotion.


    Thus it was found out that Rose was an alias and she was one of the daughters, of the head of the Mo n.


    One of the three Royal Families of the Xin Range.


    So her poprity increased even more but the people fawning over her decreased leaving only those who were of high birth or royalty themselves interested in her.


    Thus it was understandable why a disciple would even risk annoying her just to get close to her.


    This is what Si Chen was doing.


    He was the son of the Chen family. The Chen family of the Xin Range was famous for their sword arts.


    Si Chen was a proud son of the Chen''s. He thought if he could get this girl of the Mo family to be his wife then his entry to Royalty would be simply free. Thus he tried to get Rose to go with him on this desert covering mission thanks to one of the elders who favored him.


    He seeded in doing this but theter part was looking impossible for him.


    ''Getting close to her.''


    In the way, the girl never initiated a conversation and all of their talks would end with Si Chen talking to himself.


    There were times when they encountered three beasts on their way and Si Chen thought that this was the time to impress this girl.


    The beasts were Sand Lions, they weren''t that fast it strong yet they were still feared. The reason for this fear lied in their fangs and their w technique. It was so fast that no one would when they were sliced up by those dark shiny ws and ripped off by those fangs.


    Si Chen thought that this was his time to shine.


    He went all out toward the three sand lions that wereing at them.


    His n was simple. He would get rid of one of the sand lions as fast as possible then hunt the remaining two with Rose and in return earning her praises.


    So Si Chen rushed toward the sand lion who looked the weakest. He pulled out his sword and hacked at the sand lion.


    "Insane sh"


    Si Chen called out his attack name.


    The sand lion tried to fend off the attack with his ws but the sword attack was unbearable even for his ws. The ws of the sand lion broke and he was sliced in half. The dust rose as the halved bodies of the beast fell.


    The sh wasn''t any special or insane in the least. It was just a normal vertical sh yet the beast wasn''t able to defend against it.


    It took 17 seconds for Si Chen to kill this beast. This showed why he was wearing a ''|||'' badge.


    He was already feeling an immense pleasure wondering how his goddess will be hugging him after he saves her from the other two beasts.


    Yet when he tried to look for the other two sand lions he couldn''t find them because of the first around him.


    He rushed out of the dusty area feeling fearful for Rose as how could a disciple with ''|'' badge fight against two sand lions.


    But soon when the dust settled and he could see the others two sand lions, he was shocked out of his wits. As if someone had hit his balls with a stick.


    The lions were already dead in a horrifying state. They were lying there in their pool of blood with their limbs separated apart.


    So Chen was confused and looked at Rose.


    "Are you okay?"


    Si Chen asked Rose.


    "How can I not be okay when it''s just this much."


    Rose answered with a cold voice and starting walking towards the garden leaving Si Chen in a frightened state.


    ''How can she demolish two sand lions this easily? She is supposed to be two levels below me yet in the same time as it took for me to kill one sand lion, she killed two.''


    Si Chen wondered and followed after Rose.


    Well, this was the only chance that Is Chen had.


    Now that they were already in the forest it was only the back trip left after looking around the forest for anything unusual.


    While Rose and Si Chen were going to look around the forest they heard a Roar sounding from the middle of the forest.


    The roar was so loud that their ears started hurting.


    "What could that be?"


    This was the first time Rose had started the conversation.


    Her voice was trembling as the roar had scared her a little. She looked at Si Chen who was right next to her and was astonished.


    Si Chen looked as if someone had pulled out his soul from his body.


    "I don''t know. I think we should leave right away."


    Si Chen advised Rose. As he was scared shitless because of the roar yet didn''t want to show it to her.


    "We can leaveter too. Right now we need to check on the cause of the roar."


    Rose said and started walking toward the middle of the forest.


    Si Chen had no way around except to follow Rose.


    Thus they both marched toward the center of the forest to find the source of the roar.

 Chapter 22 - Arrival

    Around the Giant tree in the middle of the Dread Forest.


    The empty patch of ground around the tree was shaking vigorously. The golden shine that was illuminating the space around the tree felt even more out of this World because of the momentary shaking that would happen at equal intervals of times.


    It was as if the ground was a wooden door and from right below it, someone was knocking on the door in such a manner that they intended to break the door.


    Everyone gets this kind of visitor sometimes.


    This time the visitor was Zhao Luo.


    A few hours back.


    Below the giant tree, theboratory was present. This was the ce where Zhao Luo had spent more than 100 years of his life.


    He was trapped in a capsule specially designed to sustain life for millennia yet Zhao Luo was only in there for 100 years.


    It had already been 110 years since he was put inside that capsule.


    Zhao Luo, who had been mentally awake for thest ten years, was finally able to control his body and open his eyes.


    "Haha, finally this feeling. Haaaa."


    Zhao Luo was feeling euphoria. The intense feeling of happiness because of finally moving his body and opening his eyes made him so happy that even if he died now he wouldn''t regret it.


    But he couldn''t die yet as his journey was just beginning.


    Now the next thing was getting out of the capsule. He tried to touch the ss of the door in front of him as he was lying t in the capsule bed. After touching it, he could feel the cold sensationing from the ss door. Then he tried pushing it upwards to open it.


    But to his surprise, it didn''t open.


    "Ah now, what is wrong with this. Let me OUT."


    Zhao Luo screamed when the ss door didn''t open.


    "Subject Has Awaken."


    A voice manly voice was heard from within the capsule.


    Zhao Luo creeped out because it felt like some guy was whispering in his ears.


    "Releasing the gas"


    The voice continued.


    After its announcement that only Zhao Luo could hear. The gas which was making it impossible for Zhao Luo to look outside the ss door was quickly released.


    "Opening the door"


    Another instruction was announced.


    "Hah, not bad, Takuma not bad."


    After feeling his body he knew that he was way better than how he was before even if he was not in the best condition.


    "Now after the door opens, I will finally be walking on my two legs. I will finally feel the sunlight falling on my body. I will be Free."


    Zhao Luo was excited. He couldn''t wait anymore to get out of this capsule and experience the World.


    The more eager he was the more his wait continued. The door didn''t open and another voice could be heard.


    "Error. Opening the door. Error. Opening the door. Error."


    The door didn''t open. Zhao Luo was stuck there. He was feeling anxious after hearing so many instructions.


    As the C-gas was clearedpletely, Zhao Luo knew the reason for this Error.


    There was a pile of big rocks on the capsule but fortunately, there were no cracks on the ss door and neither any bents on the capsule.


    ''Thank God, Takuma I will surely repay you somehow.''


    Zhao Luo thanked Takuma for making the capsule so sturdy that it was still fine under such heavy rocks. Otherwise, Zhao Luo would have already turned into human paste under these rocks.


    Zhao Luo thought about getting out of here somehow but how would he move the rocks above the capsule.


    He was thinking right when he heard the capsule''s voice again.


    "Initiating explosive ejection. Three seconds to prepare for the shock."


    Zhao Luo heard the instruction and was shocked. His crisis of getting out of the capsule without getting smashed by the rocks was going to be managed with this ejection. ''But what did it mean by the three seconds of preparation for the shock?''


    Zhao Luo thought while readying himself. He breathed in as hard as he could. Just then he realized some changes in his body but he didn''t even get the chance to fully check out these changes as the voice spoke again.


    "3"


    It was the start of the countdown as the three seconds had already passed


    "2"


    ''Gulp''


    He unconsciously swallowed his saliva in nervousness.


    "1"


    An explosion came from under the capsule which catapulted it upwards. The rocks above the capsule dispersed around it.


    A shocking sensation passed through his body as the magnitude of that explosion was so high. Zhao Luo had his eyes closed as the pain was so overbearing. Zhao Luo wasn''t able to help it and screamed in pain.


    His scream was filled with so much power that cracks appeared in the ss door and the rocks that had already dispersed around the capsule, turned to dust.


    After the pain subsided, Zhao Luo opened his eyes and was shocked when he saw the dust around the capsule.


    ''Was he trying to kill me?''


    Zhao Luo questioned with Takuma being the center of his question.


    "Pssshhh"


    The sound of the door opening could be heard as the ss door of the capsule opened upwards.


    After it waspletely opened, Zhao Luo leaped out of it like a cat instantly.


    Even though he hadn''t moved in an amazingly long time, he was feeling healthier than an athlete and stronger than a bodybuilder.


    He started to look at his body.


    The muscles he had never trained were visible with an astonishing shine as If someone had polished them.


    He turned towards the ss door of the capsule and noticed the cracks on it. While closely looking at the crack he could see the reflection of his face on the ss door.


    Another shock to Zhao Luo.


    "This, this is my face. I don''t believe it."


    Zhao Luo eximed while feeling his face with the fingers of his hands.


    His looks were the same but the same looks were perfected.


    The tone of his skin could be said to be whiter than snow.


    The edges of his face were as if someone had drawn them by sculpting the face on the diamond.


    If he was 3 on a scale of 1 to 10, it could be said that now, that scale would be useless to measure these angelic looks.


    Even the person who had changed so much was in shock.


    ''Is this love?''


    Zhao Luo was falling in love with himself. He had never seen a guy this handsome and gorgeous before neither did anyone else.


    He was indeed too good-looking now.


    Zhao Luo turned around to find a way to get out of here.


    He saw the rocks a little far ahead which were steep so he could climb them easily to go up.


    He ran towards them and jumped on the first rock and started climbing.


    After climbing on a thicker rock on which he could stand and dig towards the Earth''s surface, he took a rock that he would use as a shovel.


    He was trying toe up to the ground surface by destroying thest hurdle on his path.


    Thest hurdle was the rocky ground below the empty patch. The reason this ground being so thick and strengthened was that the golden roots of the giant tree were between the rocky ground which was below it and the empty green patch above it.


    It was the bad luck of Zhao Luo that he was trying to go up through this way.


    He hit the rocks above him with the little rock in his hand.


    "Just break and let me get out of this ce already."


    Zhao Luo said as if the rock could hear him it broke into pieces.


    The rock that was now in pieces wasn''t the one above Zhao Luo. It was the one in the hand of Zhao Luo which he used to hit the rocky ground above him.


    ''What should I do now?''


    He couldn''t find another rock around him and he was too far close to reaching the ground so he decided that he will indeed go up through here.


    Zhao Luo thought for a moment and clenched his fist.


    He could still feel the overflowing power in his body. He couldn''t exin it but right now he felt explosive energy in his hands.


    Zhao Luo threw a punch at the rocks above him and a hole was made in the rock which caused cracks to spread around and the rockyyer soon fell revealing a golden thick wood behind it.


    "Huh, this easy. I should have tried throwing a punch from the start."


    Zhao Luo felt joy when he realized how strong his punch was.


    "Why is a wood structure blocking the way?"


    Zhao Luo said to himself after seeing the golden root of the giant tree.


    He started throwing punches at it.


    A punch at a time. Every two seconds a punch wouldnd on the tree root. Each punch was leaving a short crack on that golden root.


    As the crack deepened, the smile on Zhao Luo''s face deepened along with it.


    ''FINALLY FINALLY FINALLY, I WILL BE OUT OF THIS PLACE.''


    But this happiness for Zhao Luo happened to be the reason for the fear of two people who were standing somewhere far from the giant tree.


    "It''sing out. Get ready."


    Rose said to Si Chen. Even though she felt fear as the beastly banging continued and the ground kept on shaking but as the youngest daughter of the Royal Mo family she had her pride.


    Whereas Si Chen was trembling in fear.


    Both pulled out their swords and we''re ready for the thing that was making this havoce out of the ground.


    Underground.


    "Just a little more."


    Zhao Luo threw thest few punches needed to destroy the golden tree root.


    Finally, there was space big enough for him to get out of that hole.


    He couldn''t wait and jumped out of the hole that he had made after punching like crazy.


    "I have finally arrived."


    It was evening time, as the sun was already close to setting the atmosphere could be said to be had eerie and half tranquil.


    Both Rose and Si Chen focused on the person who came out of the recently made hole in the ground.


    To their surprise, it was a guy.


    Even though they couldn''t see Zhao Luo well they both knew that the person that hade out was too handsome.


    Si Chen as a man himself couldn''t openly admit it but Rose unknowingly said.


    "So handsome."


    They both had their guards down.


    The hearing of Zhao Luo had be ten times better than before so he could hear what Rose had said about him and turned towards her.


    They both looked into the eyes of each other.


    This stare kept on going for a while leaving Si Chen feeling weird.


    ''Why are they ignoring me?''


    Si Chen thought.

 Chapter 23 - Survived By Sleeping

    Zhao Luo had already arrived on the surface. Behind him was the giant tree with the shining golden light radiating from the hilt of the sword that was stuck between the tree trunk.


    The shine from the tree was falling on Zhao Luo.


    He had gotten taller and a little sturdier than before. His hair had turned gray but there was a beautiful shine on them.


    He could easily get ads from hair productpanies but sadly that World was already gone.


    This was the new World, which Zhao Luo wasn''t familiar with.


    His hair had grown so long that it was reaching his ankles. Because of the golden shine falling on the gray hair, he looked mesmerizing.


    This was one of the reasons that the disciples of the Xin Mountain Range were staring at him.


    Even if his hair weren''t like this or the shine from the tree wasn''t falling on him, he had looks that were not seen by these two disciples before, so they would have stared at him nheless.


    Si Chen and Rose, both had their eyes fixed on Zhao Luo.


    As for Zhao Luo, hepletely ignored Si Chen and was looking right into the eyes of Rose.


    Even though he knew he was ''quite'' handsome now but the eyes of the woman in front of him were giving him the same feeling that he felt in the dark space of the book, the Heaven''s Tomb.


    The eyes of Rose gave out a simr impression forcing him to remember the eyes in the middle when he was pulled into the dark space.


    "They are beautiful."


    Zhao Luo unconsciously praised her eyes while looking at Rose.


    Rose knew that the man in front of him was talking about her eyes as most of her face was behind a veil.


    "Thank you."


    Rose thanked Zhao Luo for praising her. There was a tinge of redness on her cheeks. Apparently, single praise from the mouth of Zhao Luo was enough to make her blush.


    Si Chen didn''t have any words in his mouth after watching this little exchange between Rose and an unknown guy who wasn''t even dressed properly.


    ''Who was Rose?''


    She wasn''t some ordinary disciple of a sect.


    ''She was a genius.''


    Getting a mark one badge ''|'' soon after entering the sect was already extraordinary.


    Yet her powers were more or less equal to Si Chen.


    Above that, she was one of the top beauties of the Xin Sect.


    And even above that, she was a Royalty of the Xin Mountain Range.


    Now the same woman who had a lot of extraordinary individuals as her pursuers.


    They had also praised her like this.


    Every one of her pursuers had praised her beautiful eyes, cause it was a fact that just the beauty of her eyes was enough to make her one of the top beauties of their sect.


    She had never replied to anyone''s praise neither did she ever blush after hearing their praise whatever it may be.


    Yet now, what was happening.


    She replied to a total stranger and she was also blushing.


    ''Shit, this thing. Who does he think he is?''


    So Chen was angry at Zhao Luo.


    He couldn''t wait to go over towards Zhao Luo and sh him with his sword. But he couldn''t do it as Zhao Luo till now hadn''t done anything strange which would give them a reason to attack him.


    Zhao Luo looked at the sword in the hands of Rose and pondered for a while. After noticing that the other guy also had a sword in his hand, he asked them.


    "Why are you two holding your swords?"


    Zhao Luo couldn''t ignore the swords.


    ''What if they attack me suddenly?''


    This was what he was thinking.


    ''Beauties has always been a downfall for many big guys.''


    Zhao Luo kept on thinking random thoughts. He couldn''t get rid of the only thing he was doing for thest 10 years.


    Rose and Si Chen put their swords back in the scabbard at their waists.


    "There was a strange roar that we hearding from somewhere around here and before you came out of the hole, the ground was trembling too. So we thought that there was a beast here."


    Si Chen replied to Zhao Luo.


    "I see."


    Zhao Luo said.


    He looked around and noticed that he could only see trees where ever he looked.


    ''Wasn''t I in a building?''


    He thought.


    There was nothing around him except the trees and the two disciples of the Xin Sect.


    So he turned towards the girl.


    He was walking towards Rose but as he moved closer to her she averted her eyes and looked somewhere else.


    This left Zhao Luo in confusion and he looked at Si Chen.


    Si Chen was also looking at Zhao Luo in astonishment.


    He hadn''t seen such a shameful person before.


    He pointed at Zhao Luo. Zhao Luo looked downwards and saw that he could lightly see his body.


    It was then he realized that he was wearing a gown that was almost see-through so if he moved, his ''parts'' will be more or less visible to anyone who was looking at him.


    Zhao Luo stopped midway.


    At this time, he wanted nothing more than to go back through the hole from which he hade out.


    Si Chen walked towards Zhao Luo and came next to Zhao Luo.


    He waves his hand and a purple robe appeared on his hand.


    Zhao Luo was shocked as the man in front of him had made this robe appear from thin air.


    "How did you do this? Are you a magician?"


    Zhao Luo asked Si Chen.


    Si Chen was dumbfounded. Instead of taking the robe from him as wearing it. The guy in front of him was acting like a mad man and calling him a magician.


    When what he only did was taking out a pre-stored robe from his storage ring.


    "Is this your first time seeing someone taking out something from their storage ring."


    Si Chen instead of answering Zhao Luo asked a question.


    "Storage ring? What''s that?"


    Zhao Luo asked.


    "Wait let me change first then we will talk."


    Zhao Luo took the robe from Si Chen''s hand and went behind the tall tree to change into that robe.


    Rose and Si Chen were waiting for Zhao Luo when Si Chen thought.


    ''Why are we even waiting for him.''


    Then he turned towards Rose and said to her.


    "Rose, why don''t we ignore this guy and go back to our sect."


    Si Chen was thinking of dumping Zhao Luo because he could see where this was going.


    A guy in the middle of nowherees out of a hole, wearing a weird cloth, and doesn''t even know about a storage ring. Above everything else, he was hitting on his Rose openly.


    ''How audacious of him.''


    The next thing this guy will ask will be tagging along with us.


    Rose acted as if she didn''t hear Si Chen.


    Si Chen knew what her answer was.


    So he waited there quietly.


    Soon Zhao Luo came back.


    He was wearing the neat purple robe that Chen had given him.


    Zhao Luo looked at them and looked at himself and thought.


    ''Wow, we all look like cultivators.''


    What a weird thought to pass through the mind of a guy who has trained in his mind for thest ten years and met 8 Gods.


    Yet now he was thinking about how closely he and the other two looked like cultivators.


    Zhao Luo went over to Rose and Si Chen and thanked Si Chen for the robe.


    "Thank you, mister."


    Zhao Lou bowed halfway and joined his hands together showing how thankful he was for a simple robe.


    Then he looked at Si Chen waiting for Si Chen''s answer.


    "You don''t know about a storage ring?"


    Si Chen knew what Zhao Luo was asking for.


    But how could someone not know bout storage rings?


    Before Zhao Luo could answer to Si Chen, Rose interrupted.


    "Are you one of the people whose World was joined with ours?"


    Rose asked Zhao Luo.


    "I don''t understand what you are talking about."


    Zhao Luo was confused.


    ''What? Worlds joined together while I was in that capsule. How can that be? Were there even other worlds except for our Earth?''


    "Hmmm, anime."


    Rose said a word that Si Chen was unaware of.


    "You are an anime fan??" Zhao Luo instinctively replied to the word that Rose had spoken.


    "You are definitely a person of the other world."


    Rose was sure of this now.


    This was because one of the housemaids in their household was from the other world.


    Her cooking skills were extraordinary as the food she prepared was something that was never heard of before.


    When she was asked where she had learned to make such an insanely delicious food, her answer was just like her food that is never heard of before.


    "I learned it from my favorite anime."


    So Rose asked her thinking that anime was some royal Chef that these people from the other world may use.


    But then she knew what it meant.


    The word she had learned from that housemaid came in handy now.


    "All the people of the other World who couldn''t get to the entry mountains were killed, so how did you survive without climbing to the entry mountain?"


    Rose asked Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo was still confused as he didn''t know what had transpired in the time he was in the capsule.


    As for Rose, she knew a lot about all the things that happened ten years ago.


    He knew of the voice that her housemaid had heard when she reached the entry mountain.


    "Did you hear a voice somewhere around ten years ago?"


    Rose asked Zhao Luo. If he was from the other world then he must have heard that voice.


    "Hmmm"


    Zhao Luo thought.


    "Yes I did hear a voice ''congratting'' me but I am not sure if it was ten years ago."


    Zhao Luo replied to Rose.


    "It''s sure now you are from the other world."


    Rose said to Zhao Luo.


    "Then how did he survive without entering the Entry Mountain of any Range?"


    Si Chen questioned. As he also knew a little about the people from the other World and how they had to read the entry mountain to survive.


    Both Si Chen and Rose were looking at Zhao Luo and waiting for his answer.


    "I, I woke up and the voice congratted me."


    Zhao Luo said. Then he thought that why is he feeling nervous.


    It is a blessing to be able to achieve something by sleeping through it.


    "I survived by Sleeping."


    Zhao Luo said proudly.

 Chapter 24 - Mo Anna

    Si Chen and Rose stared at Zhao Luo. They waited for Zhao Luo toplete his answer.


    ''He may say it now, that what he told us was a joke.''


    Rose thought after hearing the ridiculous answer of Zhao Luo.


    She knew that there was no other way around to survive without climbing the entry mountain.


    It was known throughout the four zones that themand of the ''Voice'' was absolute.


    As before their World was merged with this new one, they had gone through something simr, but a very long time ago.


    This was known as the ''Command Of the Voice'' and whenever it is heard by the people of a World, it just indicates that a hellish trial will start.


    All of this knowledge about the Voice and the Commands which it has previously given to different people has been recorded over time and was stored in the sect of every range throughout the four zones.


    But now, in front of Rose, there was someone here who imed that he survived by sleeping through the hard trial of climbing the stairs of the entry mountain.


    He even passed it as he heard the voice congratting him too.


    Si Chen wasn''t any different than Rose. He was also specting on Zhao Luo''s answer.


    ''Impossible, he must be lying.''


    They were thinking when both Si Chen and Rose looked at each other. It was as if they both had the same idea.


    "Mister, can you go away for a moment?"


    Rose asked Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo felt a little hurt.


    ''First, this beauty was staring at me with her ''brother'' and now she is asking me to go away. At least she should tell me the reason.''


    Zhao Luo thought.


    "Why do you want me to go away?"


    He asked for the reason from Rose.


    Instead of getting a reply from Rose, Si Chen interrupted them.


    "Listen just do as she says, we will tell youter about the reason."


    Si Chen looked at Zhao Luo angrily. He was tired of answering this guy''s question.


    ''Overall if what I think is correct then we will have to deal with this weirdo. Hehe. That would be even better.''


    Si Chen thought while peeking at Rose.


    Zhao Luo was looking at Si Chen and thought about how weird this Si Chen was. First, he was pointing a sword at him but then he was nice enough to give him a robe. And now he was yelling at him because Zhao Luo asked for the reason from his ''sister''.


    "Interesting, I will go away but don''t forget to call me back."


    Zhao Luo said to them. He wasn''t angry at all.


    Instead, he was interested in this weird character named Si Chen.


    He had heard of siscon before but this was the first time he was seeing it ''live''.


    Zhao Luo nced towards Rose before turning around to go towards the tree. Since the moment he hade out of the hole, the tree had caught his sight.


    Zhao Luo was looking at the shineing from the tree and said,


    "What an amazing sight."


    While Zhao Luo was praising the tree, Si Chen was whispering something to Rose.


    "This guy may be from the Qi or Shen mountain range."


    The two names that were spoken by Si Chen just now were the names of the other two ranges surrounding the Sara Desert.


    The Qi Mountain range was ruled by the Qi Sect and the Shen Mountain Range was ruled by the Shen Sect.


    The three sects, Xin, Qi, and Shen Sect were enemies. There had been fights between the sects before too. So Si Chen thought that Zhao Luo was from one of the other two sects.


    "He may be acting to fool us just to stab uster."


    Si Chen gave another point of his thought about Zhao Luos'' identity to Rose.


    Rose was also pondering as she had the same idea as Si Chen but Zhao Luo also showed some simrities to the people of the other World.


    As he reacted to her when she had said ''anime'' but as she thought for longer, her mindset kept on changing.


    ''This isn''t a valid reason as the people of the other World may have climbed the entry mountains of the other two ranges too and maybe some of them knew about anime too and that''s how this guy also knew about the word.


    Rose shook her head. She remembered the words of the housemaid.


    "Young miss, you will not hear about ''anime'' from others of my World as after our World was semi-destroyed in the World War the knowledge of these treasures was lost." The housemaid sounded sad. But then she spoke again.


    "But thanks to my Otaku grandparents who had passed this treasure to my parents and from them, it was passed to me."


    The housemaid had told Rose a sad story.


    So after clearly thinking of all the ''if'' and the facts she knew she made a decision.


    "We should let this mane with us and if he is from one of the other two sects then he would surely try to run away or attack us. We can just subdue him then."


    Rose shared her decision with Si Chen.


    Si Chen also agreed with Rose.


    Zhao Luo who was still inspecting the tree heard Si Chen calling him.


    "Hey, hey,e back."


    Zhao Luo walked towards them.


    It had already been a few hours since Si Chen and Rose hade to the giant tree after hearing Zhao Luos'' roar.


    It was already night time and even though the sunlight couldn''t pass because of the thick trees, the moonlight had no problem falling on the ground.


    It was as if the trees had opened up a path for the moon to shine on Zhao Luo.


    The handsome Zhao Luo with long gray hair had a lustrous shine on them. The golden shine of the tree highlighting the background of Zhao Luo and the moon making a carpet of light for Zhao Luo to walk on baffled the Xin sects duo.


    The whole nature was acting for this guy.


    "Have you both decided to take me along?"


    Zhao Luo asked as if he knew the point of their conversation.


    They were further shocked.


    ''Hmm''


    Rose thought as her whole focus was on Zhao Luo.


    ''He gives off a simr feeling to that of the Sect Leader.''


    She thought of a bearded old man who gave off a simr aura that was radiating from Zhao Luo now.


    Zhao Luo stopped in front of them as asked again.


    "Shall we Go?"


    Zhao Luo smiled.


    He just wanted to see the World. He already knew that he had missed a lot of time while he was trapped in the capsule.


    Si Chen looked at Zhao Luo and then looked at Rose as if she would be the decision-maker.


    As for Rose, she was interested in Zhao Luo.


    ''No romantic feelings at all.''


    Rose thought.


    "Let''s go before the night gets too dark."


    As she said that she moved towards the exit of the Dread Forest.


    Zhao Luo and Si Chen followed her.


    She was running at a fairly fast pace.


    Rose kept on looking back to see if Zhao Luo was still keeping up with them but to her surprise, he hadn''t even shed a sweat till now.


    Zhao Luo noticed her gaze and said to her.


    "I know it''s a littlete now but betterte than never. I am Zhao Luo. Thank you for letting me apany you both."


    Zhao Luo introduced himself. He also thanked them for taking him along. Without them, he would still be the Dread Forest.


    Zhao Luo also noticed that he could talk while running this fast.


    Before he was trapped in the capsule, whenever he ran like this his lungs were never able to keep up with his speed so instead of talking he couldn''t even breathe before.


    This wasn''t even his limit. Zhao Luo was only keeping up with them. He knew that if he tried he could run three times faster than their current speed easily.


    After Zhao Luo introduced himself, Si Chen also introduced himself.


    "I am Si Chen, from one of the top martial arts ns of the Xin Mountain Range."


    Then he looked at Rose thinking about something.


    It was her turn to introduce herself but would she tell Zhao Luo her real name or will she go with Rose.


    Si Chen was nervously waiting.


    Just then the veil of Rose moved slightly indicating that she was going to talk.


    "I am Mo Anna."


    Rose introduced herself with her real name.


    "What a beautiful name."


    Zhao Luo instinctivelymented causing Rose to blush again.


    ''Just like her name, she is elegant, graceful, and quiet.''


    Zhao Luo thought.


    Si Chen was shocked. He knew that she was the youngest daughter of the Mo family but he didn''t know that she was from the direct line of the Mo n. He regretted hitting on her.


    "Just call me Rose. That will be morefortable."


    Rose didn''t want Zhao Luo to be inconvenienced by others because he called her name once they reach the sect.


    "As you wish, Rose."


    Zhao Luo smiled while telling her.


    The three were conversing while running out of the forest and they had already passed the forest and entered the desert.


    The night had just begun and thus the dangers of the night in the Sara desert would reveal themselves to the trio of Zhao Luo, Rose, and Si Chen.

 Chapter 25 - Heavens Judgement

    North-East Zone.


    Sara Desert. The biggest desert of this zone.


    There have been many dangerous beasts sighting reports before. So it was sure to be inhabited by many different kinds of strong beasts.


    Till now no one had inspected the whole desert. Neither was there a need to before.


    It was already night time and the desert was extremely cold.


    This was one of the characteristics of the Sara desert.


    It would be extremely hot during the day, the temperature would be reaching in the 50s of the degree Celsius. While during the night time it would drop by whole 60 degrees straight, in a span of half a day.


    That is freezing temperature.


    Zhao Luo and his twopanions could be seen running in the desert. He was going to the Xin Mountain Range being led by the two disciples of the Xin Sect, Rose and Si Chen.


    All three were wearing purple robes of the Xin Sect which had a built-in cold resistance system because of the thread used to make the cloth of the robe.


    It had already been an hour since they left the Dread forest but there was still a long way left to reach the Xin Range.


    ''They have been so silent all this time.''


    Zhao Luo thought.


    ''Should I start a conversation?''


    He was thinking of talking to Rose or Si Chen but then he thought about how he had nothing much to talk about.


    He who loved a boring life before being put to sleep for so long couldn''t talk to them about the training he did in his mind or the Godly master he had met who taught him about Godhood.


    ''I will just stay quiet.''


    Zhao Luo decided to let the silence continue.


    He was more interested in the robe he was wearing.


    It felt so light as if he was running naked. That was how light it was.


    It was superfortable to run in them. Plus they were cold resistant too.


    He was thinking of asking it from Si Chen forever.


    But Zhao Luo didn''t know that he could just get a new one for himself if he can join the Xin Sect.


    "ROOOO~sniff~AAAAR."


    While Zhao Luo was thinking about the robe, they heard a roar.


    It was so loud that it made them stop in their tracks.


    "A crying beast?"


    Zhao Luo questioned after hearing the cry.


    "Sand Lion to be exact."


    Si Chen answered to rify the origin of the sound they had heard.


    "Arm Yourself"


    Rose said in amanding tone.


    Si Chen and Rose both pulled out their swords and pointed them forward.


    Zhao Luo was looking at them and thought about the old man.


    ''He should have at least given me a sword.''


    ''Sigh Careless Old man.''


    Rose looked at the troubled Zhao Luo andforted him.


    "Don''t worry, you won''t have to fight."


    "Yeah, just sit back and watch me. I will take care of them."


    Si Chen also boosted.


    "Rooooooaaaar"


    Dust was being raised far away from the trio and sounds of Sand Lion cries could be heard.


    The roars got louder as the dust cloud kept on getting closer.


    It came to the point that they could see the number of Sand Lionsing their way.


    There were easily more than twenty Sand Lions.


    All of them bigger than the ones that Rose and Si Chen had defeated before.


    The one leading the Lion Hoard was massive. It was around 10 ft tall and as massive as an elephant.


    Its fangs were bigger than the sword of Si Chen and its ws were sharper than their swords.


    "Are you sure that I won''t have to fight?"


    Zhao Luo asked them.


    He looked at Si Chen and Rose. Both of them had trembling hands but they did their best to not show their fear.


    As the person who falls to his fear will never be able to defeat it.


    Even Zhao Luo was a little scared but this feeling was diminishing as an unknown strength was rising in his body.


    His wrist was getting hotter and hotter. He looked at his right arm''s wrist and noticed a shining book outline.


    He knew that it was Heaven''s Tomb.


    He was bringing his left hand closer to the book-shaped tattoo on his wrist to touch it just when Si Chen pulled out a short sword from his storage ring.


    Si Chen already had a sword in his hand that he had taken out from his scabbard. But now he had pulled out another one from his storage ring.


    ''Impressive.''


    Zhao Luo was impressed as he thought about how he was going to see a twin sword style from this guy.


    ''This may be my chance to learn sword fighting.''


    Zhao Luo thought.


    He decided to keep his focus on Si Chen so he could learn something from him.


    That is when Si Chen turned around having his back towards the closing dust cloud.


    He was looking directly at Zhao Luo.


    "Hmmm"


    Zhao Luo felt weird for a second.


    Instead of preparing for the attack, Si Chen was looking at him.


    Then Si Chen forcefully passed the sword that he had taken out of his storage ring to Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo was holding the sword that Si Chen had given to him.


    "It looks like you will have to help too."


    Si Chen didn''t have the confidence to face five of them with Rose but now there were more than twentying at them, all at once. So he thought that even if Zhao Luo couldn''t kill one he could at least keep a few of them upied without dying.


    ''And if he died? May he rest in pieces.''


    There has been a case before where the sand lions ambushed a disciple of their sect, who was left in pieces.


    With some of the pieces nowhere to be found. The pieces that weren''t found would be acting as fertilizers now.


    Si Chen thought about Zhao Luo ending up in that state.


    He felt a little sad but he couldn''t help it.


    Zhao Luo didn''t care much. He had a thing he could use against them.


    It''s better than fighting barehand.


    ''I just have to swing it at them.''


    Zhao Luo thought.


    The sand lion had already closed in on them.


    "Stay close to me."


    Rose warned Zhao Luo.


    Just like before Si Chen went towards the weakest-looking sand lion and attacked it at once but this time he didn''t say out his attack name as he didn''t want to get the attention of the other lions.


    ''ng''


    The sword of Si Chen collided against the ws of the Sand Lion and sparks flew everywhere.


    All the other sand lions had stopped as they were ordered to by their 10 ft tall sand lion leader.


    Zhao Luo and Rose hadn''t moved either. They were still waiting for the other beasts to move.


    They were already outnumbered by the sand lions so they couldn''t make the mistake of attacking them first.


    Si Chen attacked first because he knew Rose could cover for him but if all of them attacked then who would cover them.


    "Ahhhhh"


    Si Chen screamed and brought down his sword with more of his power.


    The ws of the sand lion were sliced through and the swordnded on its body. Instantly bringing the death decree on the sand lion.


    "Don''t underestimate me."


    Si Chen screamed because while he was fighting this sand lion the leader of the hoard didn''t send any other to help the sand lion he was fighting against.


    He was thinking of bringing down three of them at once but what a shame.


    Seeing as how Si Chen easily killed the sand lion Zhao Luo and Rose also went forward.


    They joined Si Chen and the leader of the hoard sent 12 of its beats towards them.


    "Roaaaar"


    The lions were divided into a group of four and each group attacked Zhao Luo, Rose, and Si Chen.


    Si Chen was barely able to fight the four of them at once. He didn''t worry about Rose as he knew she was more powerful than him.


    And as he had thought, Rose could easily manage the four lions and in a matter of seconds, she had already killed one of them.


    ''What? How?''


    Si Chen thought as he nced at Zhao Luo''s situation.


    He was a little worried about him so he peeked at him but the scene left him in shock.


    The four sand lions were already dead. Each was cut in a clean half.


    ''But it''s only been a few seconds since they attacked us.''


    Si Chen thought but then he concentrated on the lions in front of him as it was getting harder to fight the four of them with his focus being somewhere else.


    A few seconds ago.


    The four sand lions leaped at Zhao Luo.


    ''They look too serious. What attack should I use?'' Zhao Luo thought while the sand lions were circling him.


    The sand lions stopped around Zhao Luo and tried to attack him from four sides.


    Right when he was thinking about how to deal with this, he thought of his favorite game character and how the character would spin with his sword to kill his enemies.


    With the sword in his hand, under this night''s moon, Zhao Luo tightened his grip on the sword.


    He pushed one of his legs on the sand of the desert and gave his body a powerful spin.


    With the power flowing in him through the Heaven''s Tomb, he was unstoppable.


    "Heaven''s Judgement"


    Zhao Luo called out the name of his attack.


    One spin from Zhao Luo, the sword shed through all the sand lions in an instant.


    The spin was so fast that the beasts couldn''t even bring their ws in the way of Zhao Luo''s sword.


    The four sand lions, shed in half fell to the ground, dead.


    It all happened so fast that in the time taken by Rose to kill one of them Zhao Luo had killed four.


    Zhao Luo noticed that Si Chen was having a hard time so he jumped towards him.


    "Heaven''s sh"


    From behind the sand lions surrounding Si Chen, came Zhao Luo, and with a single yet powerful sh, he killed a sand lion in a single movement.


    From there it only took them 10 seconds to kill the 12 sand lions that the hoard leader had sent towards them.


    Rose was also looking at the dead bodies of the 4 sand lions that had attacked Zhao Luo.


    She was feeling astonished.


    ''He may be as strong as a ''|V'' mark disciple.''


    Rose deduced the strength disyed by Zhao Luo.

 Chapter 26 - 1v1 Against The Beast Leader :/

    The leader of the herd of sand lions, was the 10 ft tall sand lion who was thicker than an elephant.


    The sand lion was solely focused on Zhao Luo after he disyed his swords one spin sh which he had used to kill his four minions.


    In anger, the leader of the beasts pointed at Zhao Luo with his sharp and big ws.


    "ROOOOAR, roar, and roaaaar."


    The leader of the sand lions released some ground-shattering cries from his mouth as if he was trying to tell his minions something.


    Roughly tranted by various means, the roar went something like this,


    "That guy is too strong for you all, so let me handle him, and you guys can take care of the other two."


    As he said that, the remaining 11 sand lions went towards Si Chen and Rose.


    Zhao Luo, Si Chen, and Rose were looking at the beasts and their weirdmunication.


    ''Guess he has chosen me, heh.''


    Zhao Luo thought when the beast pointed at him with his ws.


    The trio had already killed 13 of these sand lions till now and now only 12 were left, the leader included.


    The sand lions with their leader were moving towards Zhao Luo who was now standing in front of Si Chen and Rose.


    The leader of the hoard stopped in front of Zhao Luo.


    While Si Chen and Rose moved away together.


    The leader looked up and down and smirked with his beastly face as he gazed at Zhao Luo with his beastly eyes.


    Zhao Luo had his brows furrowed because of the expression on this ugly beast in front of him.


    Zhao Luo pointed towards the dead bodies of the four sand lions that he had killed a little while ago and then moved his thumb across his throat sending a deadly message to the beast.


    ''You are dead, beast. I am going to kill you just like them.''


    While Zhao Luo was exchanging taunts with the leader of the sand lions, Rose and Si Chen had already engaged with the other sand lions.


    "ng"


    "ng"


    The shes from the sand lion ws kept oning one after the other.


    While Si Chen and Rose kept on defending against them, it was still getting hard for them.


    To be on defense against so many opponents where even a single mistake would be dangerous and life harming, it was proving to be a lot of pressure on both of them.


    "Let''s try to focus on one of them first. If we can get them one at a time and hopefully reduce their number while defending, it will be easy."


    Si Chen told Rose.


    It was a good way to lessen their burden seeing as how dire their situation was.


    If they could kill one of the sand lions first then it would mean that the attacksing towards them would decrease by two.


    And if they continued reducing the sand lions number this way, then they would eventually win.


    "Okay."


    Said Rose in response to Si Chen''s idea.


    "ng"


    Si Chen defended against an attack from one of the sand lions that was circling them.


    "Let''s focus on the fat one at your right side."


    He had already chosen the first target to kill.


    A fat sand lion was attacking from the right side of Rose.


    Both Si Chen and Rose hacked at it together while defending from the attacks of other sand lions.


    "ng, ng, sh."


    The fat sand lion was shed in half and fell towards the ground.


    ''Hah, one down.''


    Si Chen thought. He thought that it would be easy now and let down his guard.


    The death of one of theirpanions made the other sand lions more aggressive.


    They all attacked violently and focused on Si Chen.


    The sand lions in front of Rose also tried to go for Si Chen.


    Si Chen and Rose were fighting back to back, protecting each other from the circling sand lions.


    Rose tried to defend against the attacks from the sand lions in front of her that were aiming towards Si Chen but still, one of the lion ws passed her and went towards Si Chen who was already busy defending himself from the other sand lions.


    "Ahhhh"


    Si Chen screamed as a huge w mark was left on his bleeding back.


    But he still didn''t let go of his sword.


    The lion sacrificed itself tond a hit.


    Rose had already killed it.


    So 2 of the 11 sand lions were already down.


    There were only 9 left. But Si Chen wasn''t in a good condition as a hit hadnded on him and his back was bleeding badly as a result of that attack.


    "Will you -"


    "Don''t worry about me, this is nothing."


    Rose worried about Si Chen so she was gonna ask him if he could still fight but Si Chen interrupted her before she could evenplete her question.


    Rose and Si Chen turned towards the sand lions and the momentary paused had ended.


    The barrages of attacks from the sand lions continued.


    While defending Rose had gotten an idea.


    "Bear yourself."


    Rose said to Si Chen.


    "ng"


    After defending one of the attacksing towards her, she hacked her sword down on the sand with her full power.


    This caused the sand to rise making a little sand cloud with Si Chen and Rose at its center. This blocked the vision of the sand lions in front of them as it left them baffled.


    This gave Rose and Si Chen a chance to kill the sand lions without them defending their attacks.


    So both Si Chen and Rose moved their swords with their full force.


    Each time their sword passed through a sand lion''s body, the body of that sand lion would fell as pieces.


    "SLASH"


    ''Thud''


    ''Thud''


    ''Thud''


    "sh"


    ''Thud''


    ''Thud''


    When the suspended sand settled, among the 9 left from before, only 4 of these beasts were left.


    Rose had killed 3 of these sand lions with a sh whereas Si Chen had taken down 2.


    Now they both were left with 2 sand lions each.


    This all happened in under a minute.


    When the sand flew because of the attack from Rose, it acted as the ignition of the fight of Zhao Luo and the leader of the sand lions.


    The leader shed with his right w towards Zhao Luo''s face.


    Zhao Luo bent his body backward and barely escaped from the sharp w.


    ''Ssshhhhhh''


    ''Woah, that was so fast.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he heard the sound made by the passing w of the leader.


    As Zhao Luo regained his form he was going to be hit by the left w.


    He brought his sword in the way of the attack.


    ''ng''


    The sword in Zhao Luo''s hand and the left w of the leader of sand lions collided and sparks flew everywhere.


    Both were disying their force as they kept on using power to push the other back.


    "Roar"


    The leader roared as he pumped his beastly legs downwards to push Zhao Luo back.


    Zhao Luo could feel the weight of this sand lion and the power behind hisrge structure.


    It was like a piece of meat weighing a ton was stuck to his sword and he couldn''t let his sword go down.


    Zhao Luo had his hand trembling because of the sand lion''s power.


    But this trembling stopped in a second as mysterious energy seeped in his arms and his body felt strong energy coursing through his body.


    He was feeling an unmeasurable amount of power from his body.


    He felt like he could even throw this sand lion in the air like a ball.


    Zhao Luo focused on his wrist and saw the tattoo of Heaven''s Tomb shining.


    "It''s the heaven''s tomb, again"


    He knew that the power he was feeling was supplied to him by the book.


    "Roar?"


    The sand lion was confused as his body was being pushed back along with his left w.


    He was confused as this human who was half his size was not only matching him in power but also pushing him back.


    "ROOOOAR"


    The sand lion was annoyed as hended an attack from his right w on the sword too.


    But even that wasn''t enough to push Zhao Luo back.


    While the power contest was going on between Zhao Luo and The leader of the sand lions, Si Chen and Rose had already killed all of the 11 sand lions that had attacked them.


    "Huff"


    They both looked tired especially Si Chen who had taken a blow.


    He was barely standing.


    Rose and Si Chen directed their attention towards Zhao Luos'' fight.


    The power in the body of Zhao Luo passed on to his sword.


    But because of the sharp ws of the sand lion, the sword was under pressure from both sides.


    As it couldn''t handle the pressure, cracks started to appear on it. And while Zhao Luo was still pushing his sword toward the body of the sand lion as he was going to bring it down the sword broke into pieces.


    "Shit."


    Zhao Luo cursed.


    This caused the momentum to shift suddenly leaving Zhao Luo in a bad situation.


    The sand lion brought both of his ws down on Zhao Luo intending to finish him on the spot.


    "Zhao Luo."


    Rose screamed.


    "My Sword."


    Si Chen shouted.

 Chapter 27 - Bimba!

    Zhao Luo looked at his shattered sword and then saw the dual ws of the sand lion leadering towards his head with an incredible speed.


    ''Should I dodge this?''


    Zhao Luo thought.


    Rose was worried for Zhao Luo but if she could hear his thoughts she would p him.


    Obviously, if those sharp ws wereing at anyone, they would instinctively dodge them.


    As for Zhao Luo, he was contemting whether to dodge the attack or deal with the attack in some other way.


    Si Chen and Rose saw that Zhao Luo wasn''t moving so they thought maybe the breaking of the sword took a hit on Zhao Luo''s mental state and now he was struck with fear.


    That''s why he wasn''t even trying to dodge the fast ws.


    But who was Zhao Luo?


    He had already mastered the first step to Godhood.


    He was already a master of Naoli.


    The speed of the ws would have been fast for anyone who was around Rose and Si Chen''s level or even a few levels stronger than them.


    Yet for Zhao Luo, it was starting to slow down as it got close to him.


    The w attack of the leader wasn''t getting slower it was the perception of Zhao Luo that was increasing as he was immersed in his thoughts, thinking about which attack he should use to counter against the leader''s dual w attack.


    ''Hmm, I should dodge it then stab his neck with one of the broken shards. Maybe I can just kick his ws to break his attack.''


    ''What if my leg gets hurt? His ws look sharp as hell.''


    Zhao Luo thought.


    As the ws were infinitely close tonding on his head, he moved.


    Zhao Luo jumped behind and dodged the ws.


    "Roar."


    The sand lion leader cried as his attack missed the target.


    He followed Zhao Luo to throw another w attack.


    But before he could even raise his w to throw that attack, Zhao Luo rotated his body to touch the sand on the ground with his hands and flip forwards towards the sand lion.


    The power on his arms was so much that his forward flip happened in an instant and because of the high speed of his flip, the momentum of his turning body was stronger than anything he could throw at the sand lion.


    The sand lion was also shocked as he saw Zhao Luoing towards him in such a weird position.


    "Roar?"


    He was confused to the point of losing his defense.


    The sand lion was hit with Zhao Luo''s kicks as his feetnded directly on the sand lion''s face.


    The sand lion''s facial features changed as the footmark of Zhao Luo''s feet was left on its face while he was sent flying with Zhao Luo''s kick on his face.


    When the leader fell on the ground, the impact of his fall caused the sand to rise. It covered the leader''s condition.


    Rose and Si Chen rushed towards Zhao Luo.


    They both felt astonished after experiencing Zhao Luo''s strength and his moves.


    "Wow, you blew away that beast in one move."


    Si Chen eximed showing his excitement after witnessing Zhao Luo''s strength.


    They were bringing such a powerful guy back to their sect, he was excited because of the merit he may receive because of this unexpected event.


    Rose also looked excited.


    ''I knew he wasn''t normal but to think he was this strong.''


    Rose thought.


    They both were looking at Zhao Luo saying something to Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo looked as if he was lost somewhere.


    ''What was that? What kind of shitty kick was that?''


    He remembered the upgraded apparitions he had assimted into his body. He remembered one particr apparition who had been using donkey kicks even after all the others had stopped.


    ''This must be because of that apparition.''


    Zhao Luo concluded and felt a little resentful about how he could have chosen some other exercise at that time.


    Then he looked at how Rose and Si Chen were looking at him with the eyes of worship.


    ''Guess it wasn''t that bad.''


    Zhao Luo looked at the sand lions that had surrounded them and realized that both of them had already killed them all.


    "Good job guys."


    Zhao Luo said to them.


    While Zhao Luo was telling them that they did a good job he realized that So Chen was badly hurt as blood was still flowing through his injury.


    "You should rest and let Rose see to your injury."


    Zhao Luo said to Si Chen.


    "Don''t worry, it''s just a small injury as we have already covered half the distance. By the way, it will be even more dangerous to rest in the middle of the desert. So let''s move on towards our destination."


    Si Chen said to Zhao Luo.


    ''Nod''


    Zhao Luo noted agreeing with what Si Chen said. He then looked at Rose who was also looking at him with glitter in her eyes.


    She already had such beautiful eyes and now she was even starting at him so Zhao Luo couldn''t help but blush and turn away.


    "What?"


    Rose asked as Zhao Luo turned away from her.


    "Nothing."


    The redness on his handsome face was clear as the night moon.


    Zhao Luo with Si Chen and Rose moved towards the leader of the sand lions who was still lying on the ground.


    The sand lion was still unconscious.


    He had a really bad nightmare. The nightmare started with his fight with a human. The human had turned in a donkey midway through their fight. Then the second half of their fight started where the donkey was the only one attacking and he was just getting kicked everywhere till he died.


    The sand lion couldn''t ept the result as his trembling body got him out of the nightmare.


    "ROOOOAA~."


    He woke up with a loud cry which was left in his throat as he saw three shadows covering him while he was lying on the sand.


    He could feel a very intense feeling of paining from his face. He felt like his face was on fire.


    As he focused on the shadows of the three humans who were standing around him waiting for him to wake up, he realized that one of them looked like the one from his dreams.


    "ROAR."


    The sand lion almost shit his pants but thankfully he wasn''t wearing any.


    "Calm down."


    Zhao Luo said to it as he knew that the sand lion leader was intelligent enough to understand him.


    As the beast could understand his taunt before.


    "If you agree to be my pet, I will let you live. Otherwise."


    Zhao Luo gave the offer to the leader of the sand lions and then pointed towards the corpses of the other sand lions.


    He wanted to show the result of declining his offer.


    Even though Zhao Luo wasn''t an evil person but he had already made his mind when he saw the herd of sand lionsing at them.


    He wasn''t going to benevolent from now on.


    But he forgot something.


    Zhao Luo was never benevolent since the start or he never got a chance to show his benevolence to anyone but now he was walking on a path of power. A way of Immense power that will leave him with immense responsibility.


    The sand lion heard Zhao Luo''s offer and then looked at his minions who were all dead. Most of them were killed by Rose and Si Chen who were standing behind him.


    He had no way to get free from this ordeal.


    If he decided to fight, he would surely lose his life on the spot.


    ''Gulp.''


    The defeated leader of the sand lion wagged his tail and moved his head closer to Zhao Luo letting him pet his head.


    "Haha, what a smart guy."


    Zhao Luoughed.


    He ced his hand on the Sand Lions head and petted him.


    "I will call you Bimba from now on."


    Zhao Luo decided on a name for his first pet. He was feeling rather too excited to even give a name to a beast that he was fighting just moments ago.


    "Pffftt."


    Rose couldn''t help butugh when she heard the weird name that Zhao Luo gave to one of the scariest beasts of the Sara desert.


    ''What a bad naming sense. I feel bad for his future child.''


    Si Chen now knew what Zhao Luo was bad at. This may as well be one of his weaknesses.


    ''Is Bimba such a bad name? It sounds cool though. Oh man, this is so embarrassing.''


    Zhao Luo thought as Rose was stillughing at him and Si Chen was looking at him weirdly.


    Then he looked at the sand lion aka Bimba.


    The sand lion was crying as this was the first time that he had received a name.


    ''Guess you like it.''


    Zhao Luo felt d and as if Bimba could hear his thought.


    "Roar."


    Bimba gave a low yet sweet cry.


    Zhao Luo, Rose, and Si Chen got on Bimba.


    "Let''s go Bimba."


    They resumed their journey towards the Xin Sect.

 Chapter 28 - Climbing The Stairs >.<

    Sara Desert of the North-East Zone.


    Zhao Luo with Si Chen and Rose were on their way to the Xin Mountain Range, being led by Si Chen.


    They were sitting on top of Bimba the leader of the sand lion head that Zhao Luo, Si Chen, and Rose had defeated previously.


    Now Bimba acted as their transport through the desert.


    It was a veryfortable trip as Zhao Luo''s new pet was very fast and his posture while running through the desert was amazingly bnced so his back felt like the seat of a luxury sofa chair. Except the chair was only missing its handle.


    As their effortless journey towards the Xin Range had started, Rose and Si Chen took turns in exining the condition of the World to Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo waspletely astonished after learning the state of the Current World.


    The new World was abination of two Worlds.


    One was the World from which he was from and the other was the World which joined with theirs through the gates of dimensions.


    ''People of the Earth called it Cracks.''


    Then a trial was left by the voice of a certain diety which had to bepleted by the people of Earth to survive in this new World.


    ''Climbing the stairs.''


    Then the ones who had survived had entered the society of the people of the other World that is the people of the Mountain ranges.


    From the people of the Earth, intel about their World was acquired. One of which was very heart throbbing for Zhao Luo.


    ''So I have been sleeping for more than a century. Goddammit.''


    Zhao Luo thought. Then he felt a little sad.


    ''Takuma may as well be dead now. Sigh. If only he saw me now, he would be going crazy over his research sess.''


    Zhao Luo thought about the man who was the reason behind Zhao Luo''s long sleep.


    ''Just how did I pass the trial without climbing the stairs?''


    Zhao Luo questioned himself.


    Rose continued exining the current situation of the World to Zhao Luo.


    "Since the two worlds had joined, a new era had begun."


    Rose told Zhao Luo about how it was the 10th year of the New Era now.


    Zhao Luo was thinking about the World he used to travel and now it waspletely changed while he was sleeping.


    As they were moving closer to the Xin Range, they could see fog covering an area miles away from the mountains of the Xin Range.


    "Remember till we reach the central mountain, don''t fight with anyone."


    Si Chen warned Zhao Luo as they would be reaching the entry mountain soon.


    "Why would I even fight someone?"


    Zhao Luo thought about how Si Chen''s advice was unnecessary.


    ''Do I look like a dog going around biting anyone I see?''


    Zhao Luo questioned in his mind. He couldn''t ask it directly as Rose was there too.


    "There may be some things that you may find hard to ept. Even though you may want to take action against it, just try to control your emotions then."


    Si Chen exined a little but Zhao Luo was still confused.


    "Whatever, you will know soon, just remember to control your actions."


    Si Chen said to Zhao Luo seeing the confusion on his face.


    Rose also looked at Zhao Luo and thought about something.


    "Do you have any interest in joining a sect?"


    Rose asked Zhao Luo. She continued before Zhao Luo could even answer her question.


    "With your strength, you can easily pass the Xin Sect entrance examination set by the Sect elder."


    Rose exined to Zhao Luo.


    "It will be beneficial to you if you join the sect and we will help you too."


    Rose then pointed at Si Chen and herself.


    Zhao Luo listened to Rose and thought about joining the Xin Sect for a while.


    "I will tell you my decision after we enter the Xin Range."


    Zhao Luo answered while smiling. He thought about how this encounter with this duo was greatly helpful for him.


    They had brought Zhao Luo along with them and the three also fought the beasts together.


    They already shared a little bond ofradeship.


    Now the girl with the beautiful eyes and a veil covering her even more beautiful face was telling him to consider joining the Xin Sect for his benefit.


    He felt happy knowing that he already met someone who was caring for him and being his guide.


    ''I miss you, master.''


    Zhao Luo thought about his master. He couldn''t help but remember the old man who he had met in his mind and was guided by the old man for such a long time.


    The old man wasn''t here yet he still had Si Chen and Rose with him.


    While Zhao Luo was thinking about the old man and how he wasn''t lonely because of his newpanions, they had entered the fog surrounding the Xin Range.


    He could somewhat see a very big mountain in from of him.


    "That is the entry mountain of our Xin Mountain Range."


    Si Chen told Zhao Luo.


    He was from the Xin Range and he felt proud about that.


    ''Nod''


    Zhao Luo nodded and focused in front of him. With Bimba''s speed, it only took them a few minutes to reach the base of the entry mountain.


    Si Chen and Rose jumped down from Bimba''s back and looked at Zhao Luo.


    "Well let''s go."


    Si Chen said to Zhao Luo as Zhao Luo was still mounted on Bimba.


    Zhao Luo looked at the stairs of the entry mountain.


    He kept on looking and the stairs never ended even as they a cloud could be seen covering the highest visible stairs.


    He looked at Rose and said.


    "It looks like more than a hundred thousand stairs are leading up there."


    Zhao Luo said while smiling weirdly. Just thinking about climbing that many were giving an ache in his legs.


    "Yes to be urate, the number of stairs is 999,999."


    As Zhao Luo was hearing the number of stairs from Rose, he was baffled.


    ''Nine, nine nine nine nine-"


    His head started spinning and he looked towards the leading stairs again.


    "Can''t we take Bimba with us?"


    He meant to ask if they could ride Bimba up there.


    "No, beasts aren''t allowed if you don''t have permission from the Sect Bureau."


    Si Chen answered but then he looked at Rose. Rose knew what this look meant.


    "Sorry I can not help you with this."


    Rose already declined without even listening to what Si Chen had to say.


    Zhao Luo could understand a little as Rose was using a nickname.


    He already got to know about how Rose was from the Royal family and why she was using a nickname instead of her elegant name from Si Chen.


    ''Sigh, guess I will exercise a little.''


    Zhao Luo thought.


    He dismounted from Bimba by jumping from his back andnding between Si Chen and Rose.


    Zhao Luo went over to the stairs and right after climbing on the first one, he looked at Rose and Si Chen who were right next to him, and said,


    "Why don''t we race to see who reaches the top first?"


    Zhao Luo pointed upwards where the stairs were leading right towards the clouds.


    "How childish."


    Si Chenmented as he would lose.


    Even though his wound had already been somewhat treated, the pain was still there.


    "The losers will do one thing told by the winner."


    Rose added.


    Zhao Luo looked forward and started running up the stairs.


    Rose followed him with Si Chen screaming behind them.


    "Hey, that''s cheating."


    "Wait for me"


    "At least let me get ahead first."


    "Bastards"


    Si Chen ran as fast as he could.


    With Zhao Luo being in the lead they kept on climbing the stairs for hours.


    Finally, the cloud which was covering the stairs that Zhao Luo had seen while being on the ground was in sight.


    Even though it felt close, it was still many many stairs away from them.


    "Hah"


    "Hah"


    "Hah I said wait for me."


    Si Chen was breathing heavily. He was right behind Rose but because of the pain in his legs, he couldn''t keep up with them anymore.


    Rose looked at Si Chen and thought about turning around to help him.


    ''Ah I will lose like this but if I don''t help he may fall.''


    But before she could even turn around while thinking, Zhao Luo had already passed her.


    Si Chen almost lost his bnce as he had lost a lot of blood before and all this running caused him to be short on breath.


    Above all the pressure because of the height they were at, all factors included caused him to faint.


    But before he could faint he felt a strong grip on his shoulder that caused his eyes to open widely.


    "You didn''t have to."


    Si Chen said to Zhao Luo.


    ''So he would lose a request from a member of the royal family for some guy he met not too long ago.''


    Si Chen thought about how Zhao Luo came for him.


    His eyes moved towards Rose and saw her stopped there too.


    ''I am trash for thinking badly about them.''


    "Ahh."


    While he was thinking Zhao Luo pulled him in his arms and picked him up so fast that he could react and instead cried unconsciously.


    Rose had also started running again.


    Zhao Luo with Si Chen in his arms was following her closely.


    Even with the embarrassed Si Chen in his arms, his speed wasn''t any slower than before.


    Soon they entered through the cloud and after passing the cloud which was covering their sight, Zhao Luo saw that they had only covered half stairs till yet.


    ''Ha, I am just getting started too.''


    So the race between Zhao Luo and Rose on who will reach the top first continued.

 Chapter 29 - Lawless

    Xin Mountain Range.


    On the stairs of the entry mountain of the Xin Range, two silhouettes could be seen climbing the stairs pretty fast.


    The one in the lead was a girl whose face was covered with a veil.


    It was Rose.


    She was in the lead.


    Right behind her, Zhao Luo was trying to catch up to her. But it was harder than he had expected.


    Carrying Si Chen while racing against Rose on these rising stairs with the increasing pressure on his legs with every step he took, was proving hard for even Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo still hadn''t used all of the power in his legs. If he wanted to pass Rose, he could do it easily if he used all the strength in his legs.


    ''I should let her win.''


    Zhao Luo thought. It wouldn''t be bad if he owed a request to this beautiful girl.


    Zhao Luo who was sure that he was ''letting'' Rose win didn''t know that Rose was also staying back as she didn''t want to get too far from them.


    So Rose and Zhao Luo continued to climb the stairs while keeping the first and second positions respectively.


    Si Chen had fallen asleep while being in Zhao Luo''s embrace. Something he will regret as he awakens from his ''princess slumber''.


    Soon the walls of the city were in their sight and as they kept on running towards it, they could see the summit that started right after the stairs ended.


    "I guess I am the winner. Hehe."


    Rose said to Zhao Luo before speeding up as she saw that the stairs wereing to an end, to ensure her victory.


    Zhao Luo also saw that and decided to go a little faster. He didn''t want to win but he just wanted it to be close call to show Rose that he tried his best. As he was putting more power in his legs, without him realizing the shape of the Heaven''s Tomb on his wrist started shining.


    "Thud."


    A crack appeared on the stair where Zhao Luo had his foot just a second ago while he has his body leaping in the air as fast as a bullet.


    "Swoosh."


    Rose and even Zhao Luo himself didn''t know what happened as Zhao Luo with Si Chen in his arms passed Rose who was infinitely close to winning.


    "What?"


    Rose questioned as she saw Zhao Luo passing him right when her win was a stair away. With only one step she could have won the race but at thisst second, Zhao Luo had surprised her.


    Zhao Luo ended up being the first to reach the summit along with Si Chen who had no idea what was going on.


    "Hah, Guess I won."


    Zhao Luo said with a fumbling voice. It was already obvious to Rose that if Zhao Luo wanted to win, with this speed, he could have easily left her behind with this speed.


    ''So he kept on being behind me so we could go together.''


    Rose thought but she didn''t know that the eleration shown by Zhao Luo wasn''t intended in the least. Moreover, Zhao Luo didn''t even know that he could do something like this.


    ''Hmmm''


    Zhao Luo was thinking about what had transpired just now when he heard some voices in his head.


    The first voice said,


    ''As if we will let our disciple lose in a simple race like this.''


    Then another very familiar voice was heard.


    ''even if the girl is someone you like.''


    It was the voice of the eyes that had disrespected Zhao Luo for staring at the ''eyes in the middle'' when he was dragged into the dark space of the book.


    ''Hahaha.''


    The sound ofughter erupted in Zhao Luo''s mind as he felt a little embarrassed for being spied on by these oldies.


    ''Who is your disciple...''


    Zhao Luo questioned in his mind. The question was for the eyes.


    Zhao Luo didn''t have any memory of where he bowed to these eyes and called them his master especially the one who was trying to expose him. He only had one master, the old man.


    ''And I don''t like her.''


    Zhao Luo tried to exin.


    ''Hahaha.''


    The eyes startedughing even more and even a slight mesmerizing giggle was heard. It was from the crimson of the Goddess.


    Zhao Luo felt even more embarrassed.


    The sounds ofughter started dying down and soon he couldn''t feel the presence of the eyes in his mind.


    The glow from heaven''s tomb on his wrist had died down too.


    ''Whatever.''


    Zhao Luo thought while turning towards Rose who was right behind her.


    "So I owe you now. Ask me whatever you want."


    Rose affirmed Zhao Luo that she wouldn''t go back on the bet.


    Zhao Luo was looking at her very seriously.


    "Whatever?"


    Zhao Luo turned around while speaking lightly.


    Rose blushed a little.


    Si Chen had already woken up.


    His sleep was disturbed because of a heat source entering his body.


    His right shoulder felt extremely hot as he felt the continuous increase in the heating from something.


    When he opened his eyes he saw that Zhao Luo was standing on the summit then he noticed the weird expression on the face of Zhao Luo.


    ''Why is he making such a creepy face?''


    The expression of Zhao Luo''s returned to normal the next instant. It was so freakish that Si Chen closed his eyes and acted as if he had never wakened up.


    But now he had no chance but to wake up. He couldn''t enter the city while being carried by some man.


    What if someone from the sect saw him like this?


    ''I will be aughing stock.''


    Si Chen thought and decided to wake up but in such a way that Zhao Luo wouldn''t doubt him.


    ''I should probably start with a little waking-up call.''


    Sadly just when he was going to put his acting skills in motion, Rose started talking about the request and he couldn''t ruin this moment.


    He lost his chance to wake up.


    Zhao Luo and Rose woke side by side towards the entrance of the city on this summit.


    Si Chen''s heart started pounding heavily as he was looking for good timing to wake up.


    But he couldn''t find that percent timing.


    Then he heard Zhao Luo''s voice.


    "If it''s okay with you, you can get down now. I know you are awake."


    Zhao Luo said to the sleeping Chen.


    Si Chen felt like his heart had stopped as Zhao Luo addressed.


    What a shameful moment for a disciple of the Xin Sect.


    Being carried like a princess and still not getting down when he was already awake.


    "Tsk, I just woke up and was going to tell you to let me get down."


    Si Chen fought out of Zhao Luo''s hold and got down.


    He brushed his already clear and neat robes.


    "Umm, thank you."


    Si Chen thanked Zhao Luo for carrying him to the top.


    "What did you say, I couldn''t hear you clearly."


    Zhao Luo wanted to hear the gratitude again as Si Chen had just thrown a tantrum when he was told to get down.


    "Let''s go."


    Si Chen ignored Zhao Luo and walked towards the entrance of the city.


    Rose and Zhao Luo followed Si Chen.


    They reached the door at the entrance between the surrounding walls.


    The door was a thick metal door like the ones in old pces.


    Si Chen proceeded to knock on the door.


    The knock was more like Si Chen taking his anger out on the door.


    "Bang, bang, bang."


    "Who?"


    A hoarse voice spoke from the other side.


    Yet Si Chen didn''t reply.


    ''Slide''


    A horizontal metal te was pulled back from the other side.


    Someone was peeking at them through the door viewer.


    He realized that the three were wearing the Xin Sect Robes so he opened the gate before Si Chen could even answer the question of the guard.


    "Hello Masters."


    Said the guard as he straightened his back while weing the Zhao Luo trio.


    Si Chen and Rose ignore the guard and went past him entering through the door.


    "Thank you."


    Zhao Luo said to the guard and smiled at him then followed Si Chen and Rose.


    "The"


    "The Xin Sect disciple just thanked me."


    The guard eximed as he couldn''t believe what had happened just now.


    Zhao Luo could see people everywhere around him.


    Everyone had bad clothes. They were wearing rags with dirt on them. They looked skinny and as if they hadn''t gotten a good meal in a long time.


    "This is making me vomit. Let''s hurry to the Circle."


    Si Chen said while looking at the bad condition of the people around him.


    "What is this?"


    Zhao Luo questioned as he couldn''t bear the condition of the people anymore.


    The more he walked beside Si Chen and Rose, the more of these people he saw. There were even children whose bones were visible because of malnutrition.


    "It is bad but there is nothing we can do."


    Rose answered while looking a little gloomy.


    "Why? There should be something that we can do for them."


    Zhao Luo argued with the reasoning of rose.


    ''How can I leave them here in this condition as if it has nothing to do with me?''


    "They are from the other two ranges. That is why they are stuck in the entry mountain with limited food and amodation provided to them."


    Si Chen exined.


    "But still."


    Zhao Luo continued.


    A boy was approaching them.


    He had ragged clothes just like the others. Dirt covering his face.


    Zhao Luo was looking at him and he let the kide close to him.


    ''Stab''


    Zhao Luo saw blooding out of his leg as the kid had stabbed a knife in his leg. Even Bimba wasn''t able to hurt him but just a moment of carelessness caused this.


    Si Chen took out his sword to kill the kid who had stabbed Zhao Luo.


    But Zhao Luo stopped him. He was still looking at the kid who just smirked while looking at Zhao Luo''s wound and turned to walk back.


    "See that''s why they are in this situation. This is the Lawless City."


    Si Chen said.


    "So the entry mountain is like this then how will the circle be?"


    Zhao Luo questioned with a dejected look.


    In a while, Si Chen had bandaged Zhao Luo''s wound.


    Then he with Si Chen, and Rose went towards the middle of the City.

 Chapter 30 - Brother Sang

    Zhao Luo was moving towards the center of the city along with Si Chen and Rose.


    He looked around and as they kept on going at an average walking speed, he realized something.


    The outskirts of the city were slums where people had been mistreated and their rights had been taken from them.


    ''Why''


    Because they were from the other Mountain Ranges.


    It was approved to being hostile towards these people ording to the rtionships between the other ranges they were from and the Xin Range.


    This is how the world worked now.


    Si Chen exined everything to Zhao Luo.


    A while ago when they passed a restaurant, Zhao Luo stopped while Si Chen and Rose kept on moving.


    Zhao Luo had a question rising in his head.


    ''How long has it been since I got a chance to eat something?''


    Zhao Luo''s eyes got wet thinking about food as he was standing some steps away from the restaurant in thiswless city.


    "Shiga."


    That was the restaurant name.


    As there was a tilted broken signboard that looked as if it was hanging from a cliff, ready to fall.


    ''i hope it doesn''t fall on me.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he called Si Chen and Rose.


    "Hey, guys."


    Si Chen and Rose turned around and realized that Zhao Luo was standing next to that run-down restaurant. They moved towards him.


    "Are you hungry?"


    Rose delicately asked Zhao Luo.


    "Yes, a little."


    Zhao Luo wasn''t hungry at the least. He just wanted to feel the texture of food once again. Simple as that. It wouldn''t have even taken much time. So they moved towards the restaurant.


    "Who ate my noodles?"


    A voice came from inside the restaurant.


    "Noodles? I love noodles. Let''s order noodles first."


    Zhao Luo thought and as he opened the door to the restaurant, another loud voice entered his ear.


    "Die"


    In that split second, a head was rolling on the floor which soon ended up on Zhao Luo''s


    feet.


    It was the head of a Pig.


    The restaurant owner had a pig named ''belly''.


    It would usually get to eat all the leftovers of the customer''s food.


    But today it made a mistake.


    A while ago, the guy who had sliced the pig''s head off just now, had ordered his food and went to the Water Closet to wash his hand.


    His food had been served while he was still washing his hand.


    Belly, a pig, whose brain smarts were only eating food in the fastest time possible, saw a te.


    ''Oink, Oink, so much food. What a generous customer.''


    So Belly started chomping down on it.


    "Nom, Nom, oink"


    In a matter of seconds, the pig hadpletely defiled the noodle te.


    It was so full that it lied down next to the table digesting the food.


    As the man who came out ready to eat his food was left with a shock.


    "Why is the te on my table empty?"


    The owner also came towards the man.


    He was also frightened.


    The owner looked at the te and said.


    "I just put it there and it was full but now it''s empty."


    "Am I blind? I know it is empty now that is why I asked you about who ate it?"


    The answer of the owner was extremely exasperating for this customer.


    "The owner was silent as he looked around the restaurant.


    There were just a handful of customers today and everyone had their food in front of them. ''Who WOULD do such a thing?''


    The owner had sweat running down his head as he thought about the culprit''s identity.


    The guy controlled his anger and asked the owner again.


    "Where ate my noodles?"


    He had his hand on the hilt of the sword by his waist.


    Everyone in the restaurant was looking at this duo acting out their performance.


    It was apliment to their food. They could watch this show while enjoying their food.


    The owner sweated profusely.


    ''It will be my head if I don''t find the culprit.''


    The owner thought.


    "Burp"


    A sound was heard by everyone in the restaurant.


    A pig was lying on its back beneath the table. Its belly was protruding out as it turned continuously.


    "Why did it have to be you, belly?"


    The owner cried but he knew there was no saving for this pig of his.


    ''Oh, so it was you who ate my noodles.''


    The man took out his sword in an instant and sliced the head of Belly who didn''t even realize that it had been killed.


    Its head went rolling and stopped when it came in contact with the foot of Zhao Luo.


    The fresh blood was pouring out as the blood vessels opened up and the lower parts of Zhao Luo''s purple robes were painted red.


    The blood on his robes mixed with the stab mark on his leg further demonized his handsome looks.


    "What the shmucks."


    Zhao Luo sweater looking at the head of the pig on his foot.


    Zhao Luo moved back and excited the restaurant but before the door of the restaurant closed the head also rolled its way out of the restaurant.


    "Oh my Belly"


    The owner cried as his pig was departing away and away from him.


    "A pig head."


    So Chen said as the rolling head came to a stop aftering out of the restaurant.


    "I feel sick."


    Rose said while looking away from the head of the dead pig.


    "Same, let''s go to where we were headed before."


    Zhao Luo said to Rose and Si Chen.


    All the thoughts about food had vanished.


    His fantasy about reuniting with food was destroyed because of this incident.


    Just like Zhao Luo, even Si Chen wasn''t in the mood of eating anymore either, thus they decided to go towards the middle of the city.


    "But Why are we going to the middle of the city?"


    Zhao Luo suddenly asked Si Chen.


    "Every city has a teleportation circle in the middle of the city."


    "Generally called a ''TPC'' by the people of the Xin Range. The operators would be running it.


    These operators were personally chosen by one of the elders of the Xin Sect."


    Si Chen exined to Zhao Luo.


    The teleportation circle allowed a person or group of people or goods to be teleported from one teleportation circle ''TPC'' to another teleportation circle ''TPC''.


    The teleportation was limited to the cities within the Xin Range.


    There was one rule that had to be kept no matter what.


    ''The people of the Xin Range weren''t allowed to teleport to the middle mountains city that is the city with Xin Sect.''


    ''The disciples of the Xin Sect were allowed to teleport to the middle mountains teleportation circle ''TPC'' only. The operators weren''t allowed to let anyone else teleport there.''


    If the operators messed up then it will cost them their lives.


    Each teleportation cost 10 Xin coins.


    Every transaction in the Xin range could be done in three ways.


    Either you use something equivalent that the other party wants for the thing you are taking.


    The second way was that you could exchange them using gold coins or silver coins. This method was only used by the royal family.


    The third was the mostmon method. It was using the ck Xin coins.


    Si Chen told everything to Zhao Luo while they were on their way to the Teleportation Circle.


    "Well, I don''t own any of them though."


    Zhao Luo who had been wearing a borrowed robe said to Rose and Si Chen.


    Roseughed a little.


    "Don''t worry, you will get the Xin Coins once you join the Xin Sect. Well with your strength you may even get some gold or silver coins in a year."


    Si Chen confidently told Zhao Luo.


    This gave Zhao Luo some hope for his financial condition.


    While the three were still moving past the road that was leading towards the center of the city, there was a guy who was also going in the same direction.


    He was a little behind than Zhao Luo''s group.


    Zhao Luo who was still not familiar with the city yet kept on looking around the city as he was walking behind Si Chen and Rose.


    He realized that the conditions of the houses were getting better and the people looked healthy too.


    Si Chen noticed that Zhao Luo was looking around and told him.


    "This is the inner part of the entry City and this is also somewhat the middle of the city. We are just a short walk away from the Teleportation Circle."


    "Good."


    Zhao Luo said to Si Chen.


    After a little while, they had arrived in front of a ck squared building. It looked more like a tent.


    "The teleportation circle is inside."


    Si Chen said as he entered the building followed by Rose and Zhao Luo.


    And after they had entered another man entered the building.


    After entering the building Zhao Luo saw that in the middle of the building there was a circle drawn on the floor.


    Between that circle, there were weird markings.


    "Hmm, a Sun. That''s a moon there. They look like clouds."


    Zhao Luo tried to identify the markings. But he could only figure out three of them.


    "The inner markings of the circle represent Heaven and Earth. The thick rods surrounding the circle generate that power with the help of the marking and sets the coordinate. Thus teleporting the person on it to the designated ce."


    Si Chen exined to Zhao Luo.


    "Interesting."


    "That is not all. Each Mark inside the circle is capable of storing power too. Only the operators are taught how to use this teleportation circle."


    The man who had entered after their group said after listening to Si Chen''s iplete exnation.


    "You-you are the pig ughterer from the restaurant."


    Even though Zhao Luo had entered a secondte he knew that this guy was the one who had killed the pig. As he was holding the sword with pigs'' blood on its edges.


    "Hello, brother Sang."


    Rose and Si Chen bowed to the man who had ughtered the pig.

 Chapter 31 - With Brother Sang ;)

    Brother sang looked at Zhao Luo and stared at him for a moment.


    "Why is this guy so handsome?"


    Brother Sang thought. But he didn''t know that he was thinking out loud.


    "I hate handsome guys. I should beat this kid to a pulpter."


    Brother Sang''s evil thoughts were heard by everyone.


    "What are you saying, Brother Sang?"


    Rose questioned.


    "What did I say?"


    Brother Sang was stupid enough to not realize that they all heard what he was thinking about.


    As for him, he was thinking but for others, he was announcing his ns.


    "You are the same as always, Brother Sang."


    Si Chen said while smiling.


    This senior of his who went by the name of Brother Sang was a very helping fellow.


    Even the guys older than Sang would call him Brother Sang because there would be at least a single time in the Xin Sect when they would have been in trouble and Sang would be their hero of that moment.


    Even his enemies called him Brother Sang. This showed Sang''s strength and standing in the Xin Sect.


    Si Chen introduced Brother Sang to Zhao Luo just like this and Zhao Luo was quite impressed so he showed this brother Sang of the Xin Sect respect.


    "Nice to meet you, Brother Sang."


    Zhao Luo was going to lower his head a little but then he felt manly hands on his shoulder, stopping him midway.


    "I don''t take bows, instead of bowing to me why don''t we shake hands?"


    Brother Sang looked directly at Zhao Luo''s eyes.


    "Haha, I prefer shaking hands too."


    Zhao Luo felt a simr sensation from Brother Sang.


    Brother Sang removed his hands from Zhao Luo''s shoulder and brought his right hand in the middle between him and Zhao Luo to shake Zhao Luo''s hand.


    Each of his actions followed a rhythm. It could be said that this guy who instigated that they should shake hands was the pinnacle of discipline.


    Zhao Luo was very intrigued by Brother Sang''s action.


    He held Brother Sang''s hand and shook it. While shaking his hand Zhao Luo realized that his hand was suddenly under a crushing force as if Brother Sang was trying to disable his hand.


    ''Hmmm''


    He also used the power of his hand to match with Brother Sang''s power.


    Rose and Si Chen were looking at this intense handshake. This just may be the first time that Brother Sang gave someone the pleasure to shake his hand.


    Si Chen knew that brother sang was lying when he said that he would rather shake hands than ept the bow of someone.


    It was just him showing how much face he was giving Zhao Luo.


    Si Chen went through the same thing when he had seen Zhao Luo.


    It started with a wonder of Zhao Luo''s beauty then jealousy towards him which bow because of his character changed to the attachment as they had gotten close already.


    Zhao Luo gave out a slight smile as his lips curved beautifully.


    Brother Sang looked at that smile and lost all the strength in his hand. He then let go of Zhao Luo''s hand.


    "You are a dangerous yet worthy man to be called a friend."


    Brother Sang gave apliment to Zhao Luo.


    "Still nothingpared to you."


    Zhao Luo replied with a smile.


    Brother Sang nodded to Zhao Luo.


    ''What a good guy.''


    Sang thought as he turned towards Si Chen and Rose.


    "You guys have something to tell me."


    Brother Sang said.


    Rose as always remained quiet and Si Chen replied to Sang.


    "Brother Sang, we are returning from our mission. We have already inspected the Dread Forest. There was nothing special there."


    Si Chen gave a casual report of their mission to Sang. He hid the part of meeting Zhao Luo there.


    "Where did you meet this guy then? As I remember only you and Rose were chosen for this mission."


    Brother Sang questioned him as he could see that Si Chen hadn''t told him the whole thing.


    There was another reason behind his question but Si Chen didn''t know what that reason was.


    "Haha, he is my cousin."


    Si Chen nervously answered with an awkward smile.


    Rose tapped her head while looking at Si Chen who was smiling like a fool.


    Zhao Luo knew that Si Chen was doing this for him. If the word of him climbing out of the surface of dread forest came out then they would investigate him. And if that would happen and they somehow found out that he was from Earth and had survived without climbing the stairs then it may cause Zhao Luo to face some problems.


    He decided to remain quiet and would only nod as Si Chen looked at him during his exnation about them being together.


    "A cousin of the Chen with Zhou family name." Brother Sang grinned.


    It wasn''t an impossible thing to happen but unfortunately for Si Chen, there were families with the surname Zhao but they were of low status.


    Whereas the Chen family was famous for its unfair behavior towards the families which were lower in status than them.


    So how could they send one of their daughters to a low-status Zhao family?


    It was obvious that Si Chen was lying.


    Si Chen was sweating as he knew that brother sang hated liars no matter how close they are to him.


    ''Once you lie you die.''


    That was how brother Sang lived. He wouldn''t kill the liar instead he would just kill his rtionship with him.


    "Hahaha, I believe you. Don''t sweat it."


    Brother Sang didn''t trouble them with any more questions and turned towards the porters.


    With Zhao Luo and the other two following him, he asked them about their destination.


    "Where are you all headed?"


    Brother Sang asked them.


    "I am not sure yet."


    Zhao Luo answered first without realizing that it wasn''t his turn to answer.


    It was already obvious that he would be following Rose or Si Chen.


    "What about you Si Chen?"


    Brother Sang asked Si Chen this time.


    "I will be going to the 3rd City first to meet my father."


    Si Chen replied.


    "And you Rose?"


    He asked Rose.


    "I will be going to the Sect directly."


    Rose replied.


    Brother Sang looked at Rose and didn''t intrude any further.


    "So who are you going with Zhao Luo?"


    Brother Sang looked at Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo was still speechless as neither Rose nor Si Chen said that they will be taking him along with them.


    He looked at Rose.


    "Sorry, I can''t take you with me because of the sect rule."


    Rose wanted to take him along but that will only get him in trouble with the sect. Even with her royalty status, the rules of the sect weren''t something that could be taken lightly.


    "It''s okay. I can go with Si Chen."


    Zhao Luo looked at Si Chen as if telling him to agree with what Zhao Luo had said.


    SI Chen felt a little happy. He would have let Zhao Luoe along with him even if he didn''t say it like this.


    "Zhao Luo you can consider me as your true friend."


    Si Chen told Zhao Luo and showed him the eyes that said about his irrelevant expression.


    "You can definitely c-"


    Si Chen was speaking when he abruptly stopped in the middle of his word.


    Brother Sang who was standing behind Zhao Luo was looking at Si Chen with an angry expression.


    Si Chen realized that Brother Sang didn''t want him to take Zhao Luo along with him.


    "Ahem as I was saying, you may already be my friend but you can definitely can note with me."


    Even though what Si Chen said now was the same as what he said before but now it wasn''t making much sense.


    It was as if a toddler who had recently learned some words was talking.


    "Okay then guess I will just go to the 3rd City too and find some other amodations for now."


    Zhao Luo didn''t find it weird or disrespectful as it was a normal thing in his World.


    You don''t invite anyone you meet for the first time to your home.


    As Zhao Luo was making up his mind he heard Brother Sang talk.


    "Don''t worry Zhao Luo. You cane with me."


    Brother Sang told Zhao Luo.


    Now, this was a weird thing to do.


    Brother Sang didn''t even know him for longer than few minutes yet he was telling him to go with him. But Zhao Luo didn''t have any other better choices so he decided to go agree with him.


    "Okay, I will go with you. Thank you, brother Sang."


    Zhao Luo replied to Brother Sang.


    "No need to thank me. You call me brother sang so how can I let you go alone when your cousin isn''t taking you with him."


    Brother sang said throwing the me on Si Chen.


    Si Chen was looking down.


    He wasining silently.


    ''It was you who looked at me as if you were going to rip me apart if I took Zhao Luo along with me.''


    "Don''t worry. My house will be morefortable than your cousin''s house."


    Brother Sang said to Zhao Luo.


    ''Nod''


    Even though Zhao Luo had never gone to Si Chen''s house he still nodded agreeing with Brother Sang.


    "Let''s go then."


    Sang said to Zhao Luo and his other two fellow disciples.


    He then looked at the porter and nodded at him.


    "Send little sister to the Sect Teleportation Circle, the little brother will go to the third city''s teleportation Circle and us two will go to the 2nd City''s teleportation Circle."


    Sang ryed instructions to the porter after which first Rose went to stand between the Circle.


    She looked at Zhao Luo and her stare told him a simple yet short bye.


    ''We will meet soon.''


    Zhao Luo thought while looking at Rose.


    ''Fwooooosh''


    Rose disappeared as the porter waved his hand on a screen that was built in the rod in front of him.


    Then Si Chen went towards the middle of the Circle.


    "Let''s meet soon, Zhao Luo."


    "We will, I promise."


    Zhao Luo told him.


    ''Fwooosh''


    He disappeared too leaving Zhao Luo with Brother Sang.


    "It''s our turn, lets go."


    Brother Sang said to Zhao Luo as he walked towards the middle of the circle with Zhao Luo.


    This was the first time that Zhao Luo would be traveling through teleportation.


    Brother Sang threw a pouch towards the porter.


    The porter caught the brown pouch and opened it to check the amount.


    It was a pouch filled with Xin Coins.


    It was a total of forty Xin Coins.


    The porter nodded and waved his hand.


    ''Fwoooosh.''


    They both disappeared.

 Chapter 32 - Meeting With Past ;(

    Zhao Luo felt as if his head was spinning. For him, it was like being inside a rainbow.


    "So Many Colors."


    Everywhere he would look, it would be a multitude of colors.


    "Beautiful."


    Zhao Luo thought that he was traveling inside some color art.


    ''Fwooosh''


    The next instant he found himself looking down at some simr marks.


    2nd City of Xin Mountain Range.


    In contrast to its name, it was the 3rd biggest city of the Xin Mountain Range.


    In the middle of this big city, there was a ck building.


    All the teleportation to other cities or from other cities to this city were essed after entering that particr building, just like in any other city.


    The teleportation circle inside the building had two people appear on it.


    One of them had his eyes closed and looked normal.


    The other was hardly standing straight. He was stumbling around as if ready to fall any time.


    "Oh, hey hang in there."


    The person who had his eyes closed opened them.


    He was Brother Sang and the person who was standing like a drunk guy was Zhao Luo.


    Brother Sang supported Zhao Luo by holding him on his near shoulder.


    Zhao Luo snapped out of it. Everything happened in an instant and yet it felt like a long time. Zhao Luo thought he was in a dream filled with colors.


    "That was so overwhelming."


    Zhao Luo said to Brother Sang hinting about what he saw while teleporting.


    "Maybe try closing your eyes next time."


    Brother Sang replied.


    It wasmon knowledge to close your eyes right aftering into the circle.


    ''This guy.''


    But how would Zhao Luo know this?


    It was his first experience traveling through the teleportation circle.


    Brother Sang was looking intently at Zhao Luo and it got ufortable for Zhao Luo so he took a step back to help himself away fromBrother Sang.


    "Maybe you tell me the next time."


    Zhao Luo replied as he stood straight and regained hisposure.


    "There won''t be any need as I have already told you."


    Brother Sang replied.


    While they were conversing a guy was standing next to one of the rods around the circle.


    He came in front of Zhao Luo and Brother Sang.


    "Wee back Boss."


    He bowed respectfully and said while facing Brother Sang.


    Zhao Luo said while looking at this porter.


    "You are more than what meets the eye."


    Zhao Luo was trying to pry whileplimenting Brother Sang. A porter called him Boss, Zhao Luo already learned that porter was handpicked by one of the elders of the Xin Sect yet one of that porter was calling Brother Sang like that.


    "You will know as we move on from here. And you-you do this every time Ie back. You can stop this performance from now on."


    Brother Sang assured Zhao Luo that his curiosity will be answered soon.


    Then he started approaching the porter in his authoritative tone.


    ''Nod''


    The porter noted showing his agreement with what Brother Sang had said.


    "Let''s go."


    Brother Sang started walking towards the exit of the building with Zhao Luo following behind him.


    "Take care Boss."


    The porter again bowed bidding farewell to Brother Sang.


    Sang was already at the door. The porter did the same thing that he had reprimanded him for.


    Instead of opening the door by pushing lightly, he pushed the door where the hinges were, breaking the door a the result of the force he used to push the door.


    ''Guess you don''t annoy this guy.''


    Zhao Luo thought while looking at the angry Brother Sang.


    Sang then looked at the porter angrily.


    ''I would better stop doing that. Gulp.''


    The porter thought as he saw Brother Sang leaving with the handsome guy.


    Zhao Luo was walking beside Brother Sang who hadn''t spoken a single word since they had left the building with TPC in it.


    ''I will let him cool off.''


    Zhao Luo thought.


    As if Brother Sang could read his thoughts.


    "Don''t worry, I am not angry at all."


    Brother Sang gave a fake smile. The smile was so ugly that it scared Zhao Luo even more.


    Zhao Luo turned away from Brother Sang''s smile and looked straight ahead.


    He realized that something was different this time.


    Before when was on Entry City, thewless City. He remembered looking up and seeing the mountain in front of him being tall.


    So tall that its peak was higher than the one he was on then.


    "The peak of this mountain is uparably higher than even thest one."


    Zhao Luo eximed out loud catching Brother Sang''s attention.


    "It was because you were seeing the 9th mountain while being on the entry mountain. The mountains from the front of the entry City are started from the 9th City which is on top of the 9th mountain. From there the circle which is gradually closing in towards the Sect Mountain being at its center has 8 other peaks with a city on top of each peak. You may call it the cities at the summit of the Mountain."


    Brother Sang exined to Zhao Luo.


    "The one you see now in front of you is the Sect Mountain. It may look close as you are on the 2nd Mountain but the distance between it and us would have been even closer if we were on the 1st Mountain City."


    Brother Sang stopped as if indicating his exnation''s end.


    "So that''s where Rose went."


    Zhao Luo was going off the tracks. Thinking about Rose already that too when Brother Sang wasted his important breath exinIng the cities and the mountains of the Xin Range to Zhao Luo.


    "Huh, yeah that''s where all the Xin Sect Disciples and the Xin Sect trainees go to."


    Brother Sang said to Zhao Luo bringing him out of his World where there was only Rose and Zhao Luo.


    "Understood."


    Zhao Luo replied with an embarrassed face.


    Brother Sang smirked while looking at him.


    "We are here."


    As they were talking while walking alongside each other, Zhao Luo and Sang reached a gate.


    It was a 15-inch thick and 20-ft tall steel door.


    ''Does giants pass through this door?''


    Zhao Luo thought while looking up at the door.


    He saw that there was a signboard on the wall above the gates.


    "Sang Sang Merchants."


    Zhao Luo read the signboard and started at Brother Sang.


    "This is a coincidence right?"


    Zhao Luo asked Brother Sang.


    "Find it out yourself."


    Brother Sang replied while grinning and his squeaky eyes looking at the door.


    He went over to the giant door and made a first.


    "Bang, bang."


    He punched it twice and as if waves were rising on the door, a ripple could be seen going to all sides from where Sang had punched the door.


    "What amazing craftmanship."


    Zhao Luo was impressed with the design.


    The door opened and a line of people could be seen.


    Brother Sang passed the door with Zhao Luo.


    "Wee back Boss."


    There were at least 2 lines of 10 people standing on each side of the door.


    They all weed Brother Sang together.


    Their shout of wee freaked out Zhao Luo who again looked at Brother Sang.


    ''What a big shot.''


    Zhao Luo wondered while starting at Brother Sang.


    "Your eyes will fall out of you stare at me any longer. Hahaha."


    Brother Sang made fun of the surprised Zhao Luo and went on tough weirdly.


    The start was a big garden with countless trees which led to a big magical pce.


    It wasn''t floating or there was no magic being used around it or on it.


    "Why is it so enchanting?"


    Zhao Luo stared at it. The pce gave him the same feeling that he had when he looked at his face through the ss door of the capsule.


    ''So beautiful that it would be a waste to not appreciate it while looking at it.''


    "Let''s go in."


    Brother Sang said to Zhao Luo.


    He opened the door of the pce and led Zhao Luo inside.


    Zhao Luo entered the beautiful pce right after Brother Sang while wondering how it would look from the inside.


    "What?"


    Zhao Luo realized that except for a sofa and a seat it was more or less empty.


    "I don''t even stay here so there is no need for other things."


    Brother Sang already told Zhao Luo before he could question it.


    ''Well, it''s his house so he can keep it as he likes it.''


    Zhao Luo was looking around and he saw a picture of Brother Sang. The image was a piece of art as it was painted by someone. The big face of Brother Sang was amazingly depicted by the painter perfectly.


    ''He may even be equally skilledpared to Leonardo da Vinci.''


    Zhao Luo thought while passing looks between the painted Brother Sang and the Brother Sang right next to him.


    Then he looked upwards and there were more framed images.


    The image in the picture above Brother Sang''s looked like an older version of Brother Sang. They both closely resembled.


    It was also a painted picture. The one above that was slightly different but Zhao Luo could still tell the simrities between him and Brother Sang.


    Till now Zhao Luo had already realized that this was Brother Sang''s ancestry. The images represented the past generations.


    ''This must be the image of his grandfather.''


    Zhao Luo spected.


    There was still a picture left.


    Zhao Luo looked at the one above the image of Brother Sang''s grandfather and realized that this picture wasn''t drawn by someone as it was simr to the ones taken from a camera.


    The person in the picture looked even more familiar to him than when he hadpared Brother Sang to his grandfather''s picture.


    Zhao Luo stared at the picture and fumbled a little.


    "Who is that?"


    Zhao Luo asked Brother Sang while pointing at the picture of the man who caused such an intense reaction from him.


    "Him? He is my great Grandfather. He was a genius of his time."


    Brother Sang answered. Respect could be seen pouring out from Brother Sang''s eyes while telling Zhao Luo about his great grandfather.


    Zhao Luo couldn''t stand it any longer so he sat down on the floor.


    "Takuma is your Great Grandfather. Are you kidding me?"


    Zhao Luo shouted.

 Chapter 33 - Brother Sangs Story

    "Haha hahaha hahaha."


    A burst of franticughter with very short breaks echoed out in the main room of the magical pce of Brother Sang.


    Thisughter belonged to the one and only Brother Sang of the ''Sang Sang Merchants''.


    Zhao Luo freaked out while looking at his Brother Sangughing like a mad man.


    "He may have been rough with his actions but he is supposed to be mentally stable. Then why is heughing like this? I only mentioned him being Takuma''s Grandson."


    Zhao Luo couldn''t understand what was happening right now.


    Zhao Luo should be the oneughing like crazy as he may have found Takuma''s descendant but instead, it was Brother Sang who wasughing like that.


    Never in his wildest dreams, Zhao Luo would have imagined any connection between Brother Sang and Takuma, the researcher who was behind his 100 years of sleep in a capsule.


    So when Zhao Luo saw the picture of Takuma which was on the top of the line which had other pictures of Brother Sang''s father and grandfather, he guessed that Takuma was the father of Brother Sang''s Grandfather but when Zhao Luo asked unconsciously, Brother Sang startedughing frantically.


    ''He still hasn''t answered my question.''


    Zhao Luo thought.


    "Forgive me."


    Brother Sang regained hisposure and started at Zhao Luo for a few seconds.


    Zhao Luo didn''t say anything as he had already asked his question.


    "Would you mind listening to a story?"


    Brother Sang asked Zhao Luo but now his tone had changed to a very respectful one.


    Zhao Luo felt undeserving of the respect, he would rather have Brother Sang talk as he had been talking. Like how a big brother would.


    ''Nod''


    Zhao Luo didn''t mind it much and nodded as he was very interested in Brother Sang even before he found a connection between him and Takuma. So a story from Brother Sang was very much weed by his ears.


    "It is about a 14-year-old boy. He lived in a ruined World. Even though the state of the World was mostly spent, he still lived a veryfortable life. His father was a genius just like his father''s father who was also a genius and continuing to his father''s grandfather who was unparalleled among the geniuses of his time."


    Brother Sang had a sad look on his face. It was like he was going to cry.


    ''What he is telling isn''t sad at all but looking at his expression is a heartbreaking thing for me.''


    Zhao Luo didn''t know why his heart felt so heavy just because of the sad look on Brother Sang''s face.


    Brother Sang continued with his story.


    "The boy was always with his father. He also knew that his father was a genius but there was another truth rted to him and his father. That other truth was about the 14-year-old boy. The boy was born stupid and even after his father''s countless experiments on his son, the boy couldn''t improve his intelligence. After the countless tries, that boy''s father could only train him physically to fight for himself in the ruined World."


    Brother Sang was telling the story when Zhao Luo interrupted.


    "Who was the boy?"


    Zhao Luo asked as he had to know about the identity of the boy otherwise he wouldn''t be able to concentrate on brother Sang''s story.


    Brother Sang sat down on the sofa and said to Zhao Luo.


    "Please sit."


    As he pointed towards the chair to motion Zhao Luo to take a seat.


    "Hmm."


    Zhao Luo moved towards the chair and sat on it. He looked at Brother Sang who was going to tell him about the identity of the boy.


    Brother Sang tilted his big face a little and tried to bring out his sharp features if there were any.


    "You are looking at him."


    He said proudly.


    Zhao Luo controlled hisughter with his utmost power.


    "Let''s move towards the story."


    Brother Sang said to Zhao Luo who was making a weird face.


    "Yes please do so."


    Zhao Luo replied to Brother Sang who didn''t have any idea that he was the reason behind the weird face that Zhao Luo was making.


    "Everything was going fine till one day an earthquake happened and mountains after mountains emerged from the appearing cracks."


    Brother Sang closed his eyes as he could remember the scene like it happened yesterday.


    "Then I with my father and some other people climbed the entry mountain that you already know about."


    Brother Sang looked at Zhao Luo.


    "My father''s brilliance couldn''t be hidden even aftering here so he started a merchantpany in thewless city and named it after me."


    Brother Sang told the history of Sang Sang merchants.


    "Now Sang Sang Merchants are the Number 1 merchant group in the Xin Range. Financially we can rival two of three Royal families."


    Brother Sang told Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo was astonished. He didn''t know how rich the Royal family was but to rival a Royal family in terms of wealth wasn''t an ordinary thing. Especially when you are from another ce.


    "Your father must be a great guy."


    Zhao Luo said to Brother Sang. To make such a big name and so much money in just 10 years was an impossible feat.


    "Yes, he was a great guy indeed."


    Brother Sang was almost on the verge of tearing up but he didn''t.


    "My bad."


    Zhao Luo didn''t know that his father had passed away so he felt bad for him.


    "There was nothing that my father couldn''t achieve. But even after getting to the 2nd City aftering to the Xin Mountain Range, he still regretted something. Do you know what?"


    Brother Sang looked at Zhao Luo.


    ''What an unreasonable question. How would I even know that?''


    Zhao Luo thought but he couldn''t say it loud to Brother Sang who was already very emotional talking about his father.


    "No, I don''t know. Please tell me."


    Zhao Luo answered Brother Sang''s question while keeping his cool.


    "He regretted not acting on my great grandfather Takuma''s wish."


    Brother Sang spoke with a poker face.


    "What was the wish of Takuma?"


    Zhao Luo asked Brother Sang before Brother Sang could ask him.


    "My great grandfather had passed a verdict before he passed away. The verdict was about a guy who will appear in front of one of his descendants and will say his name. His wish was to serve the guy who will say his name to the best of their ability even sacrificing their lives for this said guy."


    Brother Sang told Zhao Luo. Zhao Luo was so touched that he remembered Takuma as an angel. He had never met a guy who was cooler than Takuma.


    "This verdict with my Great grandfather''s wish was passed to my grandfather who then passed it to my father before his death. Thenst year, my father passed this wish to me as he passed away. On that day I swore that if this persones in front of me and asks for my life, I will give my life to him without even questioning it. And here you are."


    Brother Sang got up from the sofa and bowed to Zhao Luo. He didn''t know what authority this man in front of him had but he will serve this man to the best of his ability from now on.


    Zhao Luo helped Brother Sang to get up. He waspletely silent in thetter half of the story that Brother Sang was telling him.


    Zhao Luo looked at Brother Sang''s wet eyes and then after a while, he moved towards the wall where the picture of Takuma was.


    He got close to the wall and tilted his head upwards looking at all the pictures of Takuma and his descendants.


    Zhao Luo raised his arm with his hand making a first.


    "Thud."


    He brought his fist down hitting his chest causing a loud THUD sound to echo in the almost empty hall of Brother Sang''s Pce.


    "Respect."


    Zhao Luo said while looking at the picture of Takuma at the top.


    "He is so Cool."


    Brother Sang eximed.


    "There was a time when I hated your great grandfather. But then after some long time, I realized that he was indeed a genius. My hate for him turned to nothing as I just wanted to meet him and tell him about the sess of his research which was Me. But sadly fate didn''t allow us to meet."


    Zhao Luo said after which he turned around to look at Brother Sang and continued with his speech.


    "Now that I see you and how Takuma left you with a job to take care of me. I feel bad at myself for hating him ever even though he went against my will."


    Zhao Luo felt a little regretful. Takuma''s action was nothing but a blessing for him and Zhao Luo knew it after learning how the World changed from Si Chen and Rose.


    "I shall call you master from now on."


    Brother Sang dered out of nowhere leaving Zhao Luo speechless.


    "Hmmm."


    Zhao Luo wondered.


    "Brother Sang how can you call me master when I call you brother and think of you as a brother too? Just call me Zhao Luo as you have been doing so."


    Zhao Luo didn''t want unnecessary titles. Especially not from Brother Sang just because of a wish from Takuma.


    Plus Brother Sang was already like a big brother kind of figure for him.


    "I will do as you say but you will have to at least let me serve you as my master, Brother Zhao Luo."


    Brother Sang said without any intention of backing down.


    "As you wish Brother Sang."


    Zhao Luo decided to let Brother Sang do as he wishes. For Brother Sang, it was like a duty that was to be fulfilled so Zhao Luo didn''t have any right to stop him from that.


    Just like this, Zhao Luo became the master of the biggest Merchant group of the Xin Mountain Range.

 Chapter 34 - Ramen

    2nd City, Sang Sang Merchants.


    Inside the Pce of Brother Sang, Zhao Luo was sitting on a chair.


    Brother Sang had his servants make something for Zhao Luo.


    He remembered seeing Zhao Luo entering the restaurant in the entry City. But for some reason, he rushed out of the restaurant abruptly.


    "You can stop doing that."


    Zhao Luo said to Sang.


    It would be annoying for anyone if someone who was sitting right next to them kept on taking quick peeks at them.


    That was what Brother Sang had been doing with Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo could only feel the momentary stares of Brother Sang that we''rending on him time after time yet no word was spoken by him except the only time he ordered one of his servants to make something special.


    "I will stop but it''s just that I have so many questions for you that I am barely holding myself from asking. Just so that I don''t annoy you, Brother Luo."


    Sang said to Zhao Luo exining the reason behind him acting weirdly.


    "I understand but remember that there are some things that are better left unknown."


    Zhao Luo said with a mysterious tone. In reality, he was just baffled as to what he was supposed to tell him.


    ''I slept for 100 years after your great grandfather trapped me in a capsule!''


    He couldn''t tell him that so he thought that it would be better left as a matter of past.


    "What wise words Brother Luo."


    Brother Sang was pretty impressed by Zhao Luo''s words.


    Brother Sang wasparing Zhao Luo to Takuma in terms of intelligence.


    But he didn''t know that Zhao Luo may have lived since then but he hadn''t aged even a single year while lying in the capsule.


    ''Sigh I feel bad for not telling my story.''


    Zhao Luo thought his words were anything but wise words.


    While Brother Sang was praising Zhao Luo and Zhao Luo was going through an internal regret, one of the servants came with a bowl ced on the tray that was in his hands.


    ''What could that be?''


    Zhao Luo thought as the servant was walking at a very slow pace and the contents of that bowl were not visible to Zhao Lio as he was sitting on the chair.


    ''How long has it been since I had a taste of something?''


    Zhao Luo thought as thest decade went through his head. Was it finally the time when he would be eating something? Will he finally feel the texture of meat? Will something edible finally go down to meet his gastric juices?


    Many thoughts to the point of insanity passed through his mind. He was close to losing his sanity as the servant was doing his best to take his time.


    But who was Zhao Luo?


    He was someone who was on the path to Godhood. Zhao Luo had the mental capability of a Crimson God.


    "Huh, I almost lost it."


    Zhao Luo said as he got up from the chair and walked towards the servant.


    This servant was a young girl.


    Someone from thewless City. There was a time when she was just waiting for her death in thewless city. Being bullied and taken advantage of every day was something that no one can go through. Yet this youngdy had to let it happen to her every day.


    For her, there was no escape from this daily torture except killing herself. But sadly the youngdy didn''t even have enough strength to finish her miserable life.


    Then one day something out of the ordinary happened in her life. One of the people who would harass her usually was going to repeat his action and because she was so scared that she couldn''t even fight back.


    She closed her eyes and waited to be harassed by that man yet after waiting and waiting for no had touched her and when she opened her eyes a face big enough to scare her was right in front of her.


    "Come with me and no one will ever wrong you. I won''t let anyone mess with my people."


    That guy with the big face told her.


    That is how this girl ended up in Brother Sang''s ''Sang Sang Merchant''.


    All the other servants with her were looking at their boss interacting with this handsome man since they had entered the premises of thend owned by Brother Sang.


    They even saw the scenes where Brother Sangughed like a mad man and where he bowed to Zhao Luo through the window of the Pce.


    Now, this girl was serving something to this important guest of her lord.


    She didn''t even realize when she started starting at Zhao Luo and became mesmerized with his silver beautiful hair and his handsome face. While her concentration drifted over Zhao Luo and she forgot to pace herself, she was now walking like a snail.


    But this state was broken when that handsome guy got up from his chair and was now in front of her.


    "Thank you for bringing me this."


    Zhao Luo thanked the youngdy with a smile causing her to blush. He took the bowl from her tray.


    "This-this is ramen."


    Zhao Luo saw the content of the bowl and he could see the noodles floating on top of the thick broth.


    There were meat pieces right above the noodles. With a half-boiled egg floating between the broth. It was a sight that would even cause a full person to drool.


    "This is one of the ancient recipes passed only in my family. I can assure you that you will not find this kind of ramen anywhere else except here."


    Brother Sang dered proudly and waited for Zhao Luo to eat it.


    The girl was also looking at Zhao Luo.


    ''How handsome will he be when he eats?''


    This girl was still focused on Zhao Luo''s features.


    Zhao Luo took the chopsticks that were on the tray. He split them into halves and held them in his hand.


    ''Uff, this feeling. How badly have I missed this sight?''


    Zhao Luo was in a state of excited questioning.


    After a long time, he was finally holding chopsticks while facing his food.


    Zhao Luo dipped his chopsticks in the broth and took a good quantity of soaked noodles out


    .


    He then rolled the noodles around the beef steak piece and a piece of the half-boiled egg making a big bite with nothing missing in it.


    The chopstick''s end which had rolled some of everything from the ramen ended up inside Zhao Luo''s mouth.


    ''Mmm, Mmmmm, Mmmmm.''


    Zhao Luo chewed on it and didn''t have any words to say as he experiencing bliss at this moment. The fine texture of the meat and the noodle was exploding in his mouth along with the spiciness of the broth. But it climaxed when the egg''s vor fell on his tongue from within the noodles.


    After a long long time, he finally had something to eat and it could be said that this ramen will be one of the best dishes avable in this World.


    "Delicious."


    Zhao Luo said with years on his eyes as he dipped his chopsticks on the broth again. In just a short time he had finished the big bowl filled with ramen and best steak pieces.


    Zhao Luo put the bowl back on the tray as the girl was still there. She couldn''t miss this show after getting the front row seats. The other servants were also peeking inside the main hall looking at everything that was going on.


    After Zhao Luo ced the bowl back, the youngdy went back, and as she left the main hall, the other servants surrounded her.


    "So what did he say about the ramen that I cooked?"


    A man with a big chef hat asked thedy. He was the one who had cooked the ramen for Zhao Luo.


    "He said that it was delicious."


    The youngdy replied to the chef.


    "It would have been the same if I had cooked it."


    A fat woman interrupted with her remark. But she wasn''t wrong as the recipe was the same no matter who cooked it so the taste wouldn''t have been any different.


    "So this is love at first sight."


    The youngdy unknowingly said with a smile of a maiden on her face while looking back at Zhao Luo who waspletely unaware of this.


    "Haha, silly girl."


    The fat woman startedughing as if it was an impossible thing to happen.


    Moving back to the main hall where Zhao Luo could be seen sitting on the chair again.


    He had just eaten his first dish finally. He was still going through the vor and the excitement he felt with every bite.


    "Brother Luo, have you made any ns?"


    Brother Sang asked Zhao Luo bringing him back to the present.


    This was a serious question for Zhao Luo and a very important one at that. He had to be serious about his every decision as wasting time because of a wrong decision would be fatal for his journey.


    "I will join the Xin Sect."


    Zhao Luo states his wish. As he had heard from Si Chen and Rose, joining the Xin Sect would be very beneficial for his training.

 Chapter 35 - Leaving For The Entrance Exam

    Zhao Luo knew what his next destination was.


    "I will go to the Xin Sect to train there."


    Zhao Luo told Brother Sang with a serious tone.


    He had already made his decision and there was no turning back on it.


    ''I can also meet Rose there. And Si Chen too.''


    Zhao Luo thought.


    Other reasons like these gave Zhao Luo the conviction that he should join the Xin Sect as soon as possible.


    Brother Sang looked at Zhao Luo who was having thoughts about the ''other reasons'' and thought.


    ''So he wants to join the Xin Sect. I will do my best to help him.''


    Brother Sang thought and after thinking for a while he made a very ugly face as if someone had kicked his balls.


    "How did I forget about that?"


    Brother Sang yelled causing Zhao Luo to be scared for a moment.


    "What happened?"


    Zhao Luo asked him. Why would a silent guy suddenly yell like that, there must be a very big reason behind it.


    "The entrance exam of the sect will be held tomorrow."


    Brother Sang told Zhao Luo.


    "What? There are entrance exams for sects too?"


    Zhao Luo was troubled by the word exam. He was already tired of exams even before he became a traveler.


    "Yeah, every sect requires people to pass their entrance exam before they could join them. The entrance exam for Xin Sect is held twice every year. Once at the mid of the Year and the other one takes ce before the Year ends. Coincidently tomorrow will mark the mid of the 11th year. So that''s why the exam will be held tomorrow."


    Brother Sang exined.


    Zhao Luo listened to everything that Brother Sang had to tell him about the entrance exam. It was all general information about the entrance exam.


    ''So I will have to face my first exam tomorrow.''


    Zhao Luo thought while feeling a little nervous.


    "What type of exam will it be?"


    Zhao Luo asked Brother Sang.


    If he could get some hint about the exam detail then he can prepare for it beforehand resulting in passing the test.


    "Hmm, actually every time the exam is different than thest one."


    Brother Sang answered Zhao Luo''s question causing Zhao Luo to be disappointed. But it didn''t make sense for the exam to be different every time.


    "There should some simrities to the previous exams. You said that the entrance exam takes ce twice a year right?"


    Zhao Luo questioned Brother Sang.


    "Yes it does happen twice but every exam is governed by a different elder of the sect. It''s almost impossible for one of the elders who already led an exam before to lead it again."


    Brother Sang exined to Zhao Luo.


    "Every elder pursues a different way. So when an elder leads the exam he will make the test ording to the way he is practicing."


    Sang kept on going with his exnation.


    ''Hmmm''


    Zhao Luo was listening to it while thinking about the ways that these elders of the sect were practicing.


    ''If the elder who will lead tomorrow''s exam would be a fighter then I should be able to pass the exam easily.''


    Zhao Luo thought as his fight with Bimba the sand lion''s herd leader, passed through his head.


    But who said there would only be a single exam.


    Zhao Luo looked at Brother Sang who was ready to continue his exnation.


    "The exam can have parts or just a single test. Everything depends on the mood of the elder."


    Brother Sang associated the oue of the test with the presiding elder''s decision.


    "So it all depends on how the presiding elder qualifies me."


    Zhao Luo said the obvious.


    "Yes 3 years ago when I joined the Sect the test was simply a test of one''s power. I had to subdue 5 sand lions who wereing at me together. It wasn''t hard, believe me, I defeated the sand lion in less than a minute and joined the Xin Sect as an outer disciple."


    Brother Sang told about the time when he had joined the sect with a smile on his face.


    "It''s because you are not normal. Even Si Chen can''t defeat 5 sand lions in a minute."


    Zhao Luo said as he remembered the fight between the sand lions and them in the Sara desert.


    ''But defeating 5 sand lions should be easy for me too.''


    Zhao Luo guessed as he knew how strong his body was.


    Sand lions weren''t a big challenge for him.


    "So don''t worry brother Zhao Luo, even if the test is different, it won''t be that hard for you."


    Brother Sang believed in Zhao Luo as he was a person who his great grandfather had told about.


    ''So how could be just someone normal?''


    Brother Sang questioned himself over Zhao Luo''s abilities.


    "Indeed. Well, everything will be clear tomorrow anyway so there is no need to worry about it now."


    Zhao Luo stopped talking about the content of the entrance exam of the Xin Sect. It was useless to think about something which wasn''t even sure to happen. He could only try his best tomorrow.


    "We can leave for the 1st City tomorrow. The sect''s entrance exam happens in the Sect building present in the 1st City. So you can apply there. As for your identity-."


    Brother Sang took out a token from his storage ring and gave the token to Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo inspected the token in his hand.


    The token had a picture drawn on it. Zhao Luo focused on the picture on the squared token piece.


    He could see a man who was standing on a mountain of gold coins and more coins wereing out of his pocket.


    There were big ''S'' ced on top of both of his raised hands. The man resembled the guy who was sitting on the sofa in front of him.


    It was Brother Sang.


    The 2 ''S'' shapes represented the Sang Sang of the ''Sang Sang Merchants''.


    "The design is amazing."


    Zhao Luo praised the features of the token causing Brother Sang to be happy.


    The card was designed by his father who had passed away.


    This token was only given to VIP members of the Sang Sang Merchants.


    And only some people held so much wealth that they could be the VIPs of this merchant group.


    ''The three Royal Families.''


    ''The five martial families of the 3rdd City.''


    ''The elders of the Sect.''


    ''The Core and Inner Disciples of the Xin Sect.''


    ''The leader of the ck market of the Xin Range.''


    So a person holding a VIP token wouldn''t be questioned deeply about his identity when registering for the entrance exam. Nobody will question him about where he was from?


    "This will solve the issue of your identity."


    Brother Sang said to Zhao Luo who was still looking at the token in his hand.


    "Thank you."


    Zhao Luo thanked Brother Sang for the token.


    "There is no need to thank me when I am just doing my duty."


    Brother Sang didn''t ept the thanks of Zhao Luo instead dered this action as his responsibility.


    It was alreadyte and nighttime, ao Brother Sang showed Zhao Luo his room so he could rest and then left him there.


    "So tomorrow will be the day."


    Zhao Luo thought wondering how he will do in the entrance exam tomorrow.


    There was a window in the room, Zhao Luo went towards the window and opened it.


    He could see the skies when he looked upwards.


    "So nice. The skies are still the same as they were before."


    Zhao Luo thought while looking at the stars that were shining in the skies.


    Then he looked a little ahead and saw a mountain whose peak couldn''t be seen as it was hidden between the clouds.


    That is how far up on the sky the summit of the mountain was.


    "Tomorrow."


    Zhao Luo looked at the mountain and thought again.


    After a while, he lied down on the bed in the room.


    While thinking about how much he went through except sleeping and finally he was here, Zhao Luo fell to his sleep.


    The serene night was as calm as a river without a ripple.


    The next day.


    "Chirp."


    "Chirp."


    The sounds of birds could be heard as Zhao Luo woke up from his sleep.


    ''Knock, knock.''


    "Brother Luo, are you ready?"


    Zhao Luo could hear Brother Sang knocking on the door and asking if he was ready to go.


    "Shit."


    Zhao Luo cursed in a low voice as he had just woken up thanks to the birds.


    "Yes, I am ready. I will being out soon."


    Zhao Luo said loudly so Brother Sang could hear him.


    Zhao Luo pped his face lightly and got rid of the sleepiness that was still looming over him.


    He opened the door and went out to go with Brother Sang.


    "Brother Luo let''s get you a haircut first."


    Sang said as he saw the hanging hairs of Zhao Luo.


    It wasn''t bad to have long hair but the hairs that were touching on the ground were weird.


    Even though Zhao Luo''s hair was a beautiful sight to behold it had to be cut.


    As brother Sang was talking with Zhao Luo while going towards the door of the house, two maids were entering through the door.


    One of the maids was the one who had brought the Ramen for Zhao Luo.


    She had a basket in her hand which had fresh fruits in it and a big scissor was next to the fruits.


    "There is no need to get a haircut."


    Zhao Luo said to Brother Sang as he grabbed the scissor which was in the basket of that youngdy when they got close to the maids.


    "Excuse me."


    Zhao Luo said to thatdy and proceeded to cut his hair in half the length.


    This caused his hair to be just long enough to reach his back.


    He looked even more handsome with the proportionate hairs hanging behind him.


    "Beautiful."


    Praised the youngdy while looking at Zhao Luo.

 Chapter 36 - Little Sister?

    Zhao Luo showed a smile to thedy who had just praised Zhao Luo''s new look.


    Zhao Luo knew how he looked beforeing out of the capsule. He didn''t know what caused his facial features to change in the 100 years of sleep he went through in the capsule. Nheless, he didn''t mind these changes.


    Zhao Luo looked at Brother Sang which caused Brother Sang to look somewhere else. Zhao Luo looked so dashing that Brother Sang feared that his eyes may wander at ''Danger'' Areas.


    "Let''s Go."


    "Yes, we should hurry."


    Zhao Luo said to Brother Sang who then sped up and took the lead.


    Zhao Luo followed Brother Sang out of the Pce they were in. They soon left thend of ''Sang Sang Merchant'' and went towards the building that was in the middle of the 2nd City.


    The building was the one with the Teleportation Circle ''TPC''. It was the same one where Zhao Luo with Brother Sang had teleported to from the entry city.


    After reaching the building, they both entered the building through the entrance which was stillcking a door.


    Zhao Luo was looking around and he noticed that around the teleportation circle 3 people were standing next to the porter.


    Brother Sang followed Zhao Luo''s gaze and knew what Zhao Luo was thinking.


    "They must be going to the 1st City too, to take the entrance exam of the Xin Sect."


    Brother Sang told Zhao Luo.


    "I thought there would be a lot of people taking the exam but it looks like it''s just them and me."


    Zhao Luo said to Brother Sang.


    In reality, he thought that the entrance exam would be crowded as there were 9 peaks around the peak where the Sect was so all the people from the cities on top of those peaks who had an interest in cultivation would be gathering for the exam.


    Yet from the 2nd City, it was just these 3.


    ''Or maybe we are just too early.''


    Zhao Luo spected as it could be this too. Maybe other people would be dropping like bombs in a little time.


    "We will leave in 30 minutes ording to the selected slot of teleportation."


    The porter announced to everyone in the TPC building, telling them about the time of teleportation.


    It was simple as there will be people teleporting to the 1st city from their respected cities so there could a high flux of teleportations which may damage the teleportation circle.


    That is why all the cities had a selected time slot for teleporting to the 1st City.


    Thest slot was given to the 2nd City, so nobody from the 2nd City misses this chance.


    As the porter made his announcement, Zhao Luo felt a little sad as he was eager to participate in this entrance exam of the Xin Sect. But now he still had to wait 30 minutes first before he could be teleported to the first City.


    "What should we do?"


    Zhao Luo asked Brother Sang.


    "What do you want to do?"


    Brother Sang gave the same question to Zhao Luo as he could think about nothing.


    "Hmmm."


    While Zhao Luo was thinking about how to spend his 30 minutes. The three people were making their way towards Zhao Luo.


    Before Zhao Luo didn''t clearly see them but now as they were approaching him Zhao Luo could easily differentiate between them.


    Two of them were walking a little behind the third one.


    The two in the back were a boy and a girl. Both looked quite young and the third, who was leading them was a short girl.


    "What is a kid doing here?"


    Zhao Luo asked as he looked at the little girl.


    "Don''t say that she looks like a kid in front of her, otherwise it will be a big problem for you."


    Brother Sang sweated while answering Zhao Luo''s question.


    "Paying respect to Brother Sang."


    The little girl said as she reached Zhao Luo and Brother Sang. She was wearing a white robe and with her face which was so white that even the moon wouldn''t darepete with her, she greeted Brother Sang like a fairy.


    ''Only the wings are missing.''


    Zhao Luo thoughtparing the little girl to the fairies from one of his World''s fairy tales.


    "It is an honor to be greeted by the young queen herself."


    Brother Sang greeted back. This little scene was so shocking for Zhao Luo that he didn''t even realize that his mouth was open all this time and he was staring at the little girl or as Brother Sang had just said, the young Queen.


    "It will be embarrassing if this handsome brother kept on staring at me like this."


    The little girl said in a cute manner causing Zhao Luo to blush and look away.


    "I am Feng Mei. The Queen of one of the three Royal families of the Xin Range, The Feng Family."


    The little girl introduced herself to Zhao Luo.


    ''So she is also from a Royal family.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he remembered Rose.


    The girl giggled as she had finished introducing herself and yet the handsome guy in front of her was lost in his thoughts.


    "Big brother, can I know your name?"


    The little girl asked the aloof Zhao Luo.


    Only then did Zhao Luo realized that he was being discourteous.


    "I am Zhao Luo."


    He didn''t know what to say after that as he didn''t even have a perfect identity that he could introduce himself as.


    "He is my distant rtive."


    Brother Sang interrupted covering for Zhao Luo.


    "If you are his rtive then you are my rtive too. Brother Sang has always treated me like a sister so anybody rted to him will be respected just as how he respects me."


    The girl said to Zhao Luo.


    "Amazing."


    Zhao Luo eximed. He was moved by the words of Feng Mei and praised her loudly without even realizing it.


    The little Feng Mei blushed.


    As they saw their Queen blushing, the guy and the girl behind Feng Mei red at Zhao Luo.


    ''We have to keep her safe from this guy.''


    They both had the same thought of keeping their little queen away from Zhao Luo.


    But Zhao Luo couldn''t care less as he, Feng Mei, and Brother Sang started talking together.


    Zhao Luo then found out about the Royal Feng Family and how the little angel became the Queen of the Feng family at such a young age.


    Feng Mei who was 17 years old had a height that betrayed her age and a face that even betrayed her height. But her height and face were irrelevant to her story. As Feng Mei told Zhao Luo.


    "It was when I was 12 years old, my parents went missing after going out to the Sara Desert on a journey."


    Feng Mei recalled her story and Zhao Luo who was looking at her could see the pain in her eyes.


    ''I want to protect her so badly.''


    Zhao Luo thought but then he took it back as the silhouette of Rose appeared in his mind.


    "Then a yearter, sadness enveloped the Feng House when the news of my parent''s death came forward. Only then did I realize how much pressure I wasn''t facing when my parents were there for me."


    The sadness in the little girl''s eyes changed into anger as she continued with her story.


    "My uncle tried to kill me so he could be the leader of the Feng House. That way he would get the title ''King of the Royal Feng House'' and he would be respected throughout the Xin Range. Fortunately, my grandfather saw through his greed and saved me. While punishing my Uncle by banishing him from the Xin Range."


    Feng Mei stopped here as everything after that was already clear. She became the Queen of the Royal Feng House at the age of 14.


    ''Such a small kid had to face a mountain of sadness and burdens.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he heard the story of Feng Mei and without realizing it, he was already hugging Feng Mei, who for him was just a little girl who looked so sad that she could cry anytime.


    Feng Mei felt Zhao Luo''s warmth, she felt a little weird as someone she had met for the first time was feeling her pain and hugging her as if showing his encouragement but she didn''t felt bad.


    She looked up and saw Zhao Luo''s handsome face with closed eyes. His shiny gray hairs were in front of her eyes which cause the sight of his face even more beautiful for the little Feng Mei.


    ''What a beautiful person.''


    Feng Mei thought as she blushed.


    The boy and the girl who were standing behind their Queen had a fire in their eyes. They would have burned Zhao Luo with that fire if they could.


    ''Brother Luo is an amazing individual.''


    Even Brother Sang was astonished by Zhao Luo''s action and praised Zhao Luo.


    ''What?''


    Zhao Luo realized that he was hugging the little girl as he couldn''t control his emotions after hearing her sad story.


    He released her from his embrace.


    "I never had a little sister before. Maybe fate had sent me here so i can meet you. You called me big brother so you will be my little sister from now on."


    Zhao Luo dered causing a smile to emerge on Feng Mei''s face as she looked at Zhao Luo''s dashing demeanor.


    ''Nod.''


    She nodded.


    While the melodrama between the three continued, the porter made another announcement.


    "It''s time. Kindly enter the circle."


    The porter said to the five people who were there.


    They started to enter the circle.


    Everyone entered the circle and waited for the porter to start the teleportation.


    But before the porter could start the teleportation a voice rang out from right outside the building as the owner of the voice was entering the building.


    "Wait For Me."


    The guy entering the building said.


    "Another One."


    Zhao Luo thought.

 Chapter 37 - Master Of Riddles

    A young man entered the building through the missing door at the entrance.


    "Wait, wait."


    The man said as he ran towards the teleportation circle.


    Zhao Luo stepped a little back to give the new guy some space to stand in the circle.


    As the man moved towards the group, Zhao Luo could see his face.


    ''Wow if it wasn''t for his voice, I would have thought of him as a girl.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he focused on the man''s features.


    With a slim body and a girly face, he had his shiny ck hair swinging left and right as he ran towards the circle.


    His face wasn''t just girly, it was so attractive that if someone saw him they would keep on looking at him.


    While Zhao Luo was thinking about his looks, the young man approached them and entered the circle.


    "Hello guys, I am Yan."


    The man, who looked like a beautiful woman to Zhao Luo, said to everyone while looking at them.


    He nced over everyone and didn''t know anyone except Brother Sang because Sang was famous in the 2nd City.


    While Feng Mei and her two subordinates weren''t known to him as they may be royalty but were from the 1st City.


    ''String.''


    His eyes passed over Zha Luo as they were standing close to each other and as if his heart skipped a beat when he saw Zhao Luo.


    "Nice to meet you, I am Zhao Luo."


    Zhao Luo said when he realized that this new entry was looking at him.


    "Me yan. Hehe."


    Yan''s senses were in shambles as he replied to Zhao Luo, with a red cheek.


    "Teleporting."


    The porter said as he couldn''t handle watching them anymore.


    ''Finally.''


    Zhao Luo thought as they all disappeared together.


    "So annoying."


    The porter said as peace finally descended around him.


    A ck building stood tall in the middle of the 1st City. It was way bigger than the other ck building of the other cities.


    This building had the teleportation circle of the 1st City.


    Inside the building, the Circle was empty, for now. The porter standing next to the rod was bored as the 2nd City''s people were runningte.


    "Yawn."


    This circle was at least 3 times bigger than the one that Zhao Luo saw on the 2nd City.


    "Woooosh."


    While the porter was yawning, his yawn was interrupted by the sudden teleportation of Zhao Luo''s group.


    This time Zhao Luo had his eyes closed as he didn''t want to go through another headache because of this.


    "Wee to the 1st City."


    The porter weed them as he scanned through the people who came from the 2nd City.


    "Oh My, Wee back my Queen."


    The porter respectfully said while bowing in front of the little Feng Mei. This caused a confused look to appear on Yan''s face.


    Yan looked around and saw that Zhao Luo was looking at her and pointed her finger between Feng Mei and the porter as if asking.


    ''Is she really a Queen?''


    Zhao Luo could understand Yan as he went through something simr before too.


    ''Nod.''


    Zhao Luo nodded while smiling at Yan.


    The porter was giving so much respect to the queen was because he was from the Feng Family too, otherwise, no such reaction from any porter would be seen.


    Feng Mei nodded at the porter and with Zhao Luo, Brother Sang, Yan, and her two subordinates moved out of the circle this leaving the building.


    Brother Sang was leading the way to the Xin Sect''s Branch.


    The Xin Sect''s Branch in the 1st City was where the entrance exam would take ce.


    ording to the time, the test would be starting soon. So instead of letting Zhao Luo sightsee around the city, he made his way towards the Sect''s Branch first.


    "How long till we reach the Sect building?"


    Zhao Luo asked Brother Sang while walking.


    "Elder brother we will be there soon. It isn''t that far away."


    Feng Mei answered Zhao Luo before Brother Sang could even open his mouth.


    This was another shocking moment for Yan.


    ''The queen of the Royal Feng''s just called this handsome guy, her elder brother. What?''


    Yan thought as royalty calling a guy ''elder brother'' will only happen if the guy is from an extraordinary background or if he is someone extraordinary.


    But she didn''t know that Zhao Luo wasn''t from any type of background. He was just a little special.


    Especially to Brother Sang and now to Feng Mei too in just a small encounter.


    While Yan was going through different realizations a voice was heard.


    "So this is the Xin Sect."


    "Yes, Xin Sect''s examination center for the people of the Xin Mountain Range who want to join the sect."


    Zhao Luo eximed as Brother Sang exined to him properly.


    They had reached a Big Building which was three-story high.


    The building was painted with some mystical colors which would reflect an otherworldly kind of beauty in the onlooker''s eyes.


    "Yes, let''s go in."


    Brother Sang said to them. Then they all followed Brother Sang who had entered the building.


    When they entered the building right after stepping their first foot inside, it was like they had warped to somece else.


    As the inside of the building was around ten timesrger than how it looked from the outside.


    "Intriguing."


    Zhao Luomented as he felt his head shake a little when he entered the building.


    It was like the entrance of the sect building had spitted him to this ce.


    Then he moved his sight towards the front and saw many people standing there. There were more than a thousand and everyone was standingfortably. This just showed him how amazingly big this hall was.


    "So they are all here to participate in the entrance exam. Xin Sect sure is popr."


    Zhao Luo guessed as he said it to Brother Sang.


    "Yes and No."


    Brother Sang said as he looked around the people, many of which were looking at Zhao Luo''s group too. Brother Sang continued to the exnation of his answer.


    "Some of them are like me. Guiding their acquaintances here while others are like Queen Feng Mei''s subordinates. They are just here to apany the one who will be taking the entrance exam."


    Brother Sang told Zhao Luo. This was aforting exnation for Zhao Luo as the number of people taking the exam would then be lessened to quite a lot.


    "That''s better."


    Zhao Luo said.


    "Everyone here to participate in the exam, kindly move up to the first floor."


    A Majestic voice rang out. Nobody could figure out, where the voice came from. As the mysterious voice was giving them the feeling of nearness as well asing from afar.


    Yet only Zhao Luo had his eyes in one ce.


    He was looking upwards towards the first floor with his eyes nted as he tried to see through the concrete above him.


    "Well, my eyes aren''t so good yet."


    He looked away as the concrete of the wall didn''t permit his eyes to look ahead. It''smon not to be able to look through walls.


    The first floor of the Sect''s Building, 1st City.


    "Haha, we have an interesting one."


    A man who looked young said but the next instant he looked like an old man.


    Everyone who was here to participate in the entrance exam started walking up to the 1st floor through the stairs.


    "Well let''s go little sister."


    Zhao Luo said to Feng Mei as Feng Mei smiled at him.


    "I will go with you too."


    Yan also butted in Zhao Luo''s and Feng Mei''s conversation.


    "The more the merrier."


    Zhao Luo told him and thus the group of three with Zhao Luo as their leader was formed.


    Before they started moving up through the stairs, Brother Sang put his hand on Zhao Luo''s shoulder.


    "Good Luck Brother Luo. It''s all on how you perform on the entrance exam."


    Brother Sang wished Zhao Luo well and then nodded at Feng Mei and Yan when he looked at them.


    Zhao Luo with Feng Mei next to him and Yan on his left started walking upwards with the countless others who were going up too.


    After a while, they reached the top, and soon everyone participating in the entrance exam was already there.


    "There is even less than half."


    Zhao Luo wondered as he looked around him.


    If there were more than a thousand people when they had entered, now it was around more than half of that. There were still 678 people here on the first floor ready to take the entrance exam of the Xin Sect.


    "Wee."


    The same voice, which had told them to move up, sounded again.


    Everyone was looking around to find who was behind this voice but couldn''t find him.


    The first floor was also like a big hall.


    Only Zhao Luo was looking at the middle of the whole floor.


    "Haha, it will be fun to test you. I can''t wait to get it started."


    A voice rang in only Zhao Luo''s ears.


    ''Who?''


    Zhao Luo asked.


    "You will know soon."


    The voice said whileughing lightly.


    The lights of the hall turned off as darkness befell on them.


    "Strength can be found, even in the weakest person, if one only remembers to look for the reason of that strength."


    The voice said.


    "Just like how it''s dark right now but even with the dimmest light, this darkness will fall."


    The voice said again mysteriously as from the center of the hall a little light could be seen.


    The darkness disappeared as if that light had eaten away that darkness.


    The old man who was talking to them could be seen with his finger pointing upwards, and a dim light could be seen burning on his fingertip.


    "I am the 2nd Elder of the Xin Sect. I will be supervising the exams this time."


    The old man introduced himself and told them about his role.


    The Xin Sect had many elders yet there wad ten elders below the Sect leader who were ranked ording to their seniority from 1-10.


    The elder who was the eldest in seniority was the First Elder. Yet the most Famous ranked elder was the Second Elder.


    "It''s the Master of Riddles."


    One of the participants said with a ghastly face while looking at the old man.

 Chapter 38 - First Test!

    Everyone in the first floor''s hall had their eyes on the old man. Sounds of whispers started to appear from everywhere as people started to discuss the old man.


    "Master of Riddles? What a weird old man."


    Zhao Luo thought while barely holding his chuckle when he heard the title of the mysterious old man in front of him. For him, riddles were a joke.


    ''In the end, the riddle is just about a simple word expressed in such a way that one being asked about it will be confused and yet this old man is a master of such riddles. Heh.''


    Zhao Luo thought wondering if the test will be rted to riddles.


    "Zhao Luo please don''t take him lightly. ording to the rumors, the Second Elder was the one who once taught the Xin Sect''s other ranked elders, except for the first elder."


    Yan noticed the look on Zhao Luo''s face and advised him.


    "Yes I know but how do you know that?"


    Zhao Luo knew what Yan meant but how did hee to know about this rumor.


    So he asked Yan with a curious look. Zhao Luo may as well know a little more about Yan before the test starts.


    "Haha, I-i said it without knowing. Please don''t mind what I said. how would I even know about the second elder or any rumor regarding him?"


    Yan evaded Zhao Luo''s question while contradicting himself.


    "Hmmm."


    Zhao Luo didn''t further question Yan.


    ''Boom.''


    A smacking sound came from where the Second Elder was.


    Everyone shushed as the smack sound reverberated in the air and focused their attention towards the second elder.


    ''How did he do that?''


    Zhao Luo thought as he noticed that there was nothing around the old man from which he could make such a smacking sound by hitting it.


    The old man was looking at Zhao Luo and gave a smile as if he had read his thoughts. This caused Zhao Luo to freak out a little.


    While he was looking at the Second Elder, the Second Elder raised his hand and brought it down at a very normal speed.


    He slowed his hand right before his palm would be facing the ground.


    "Boom."


    A sound sted from right under his palm. As if the Second Elder had smacked the air itself.


    The intense air pressure locked the space since he had started his hand movement. Right before he slowed his hand the air pressure was at the threshold of what that space could bear and then space ruptured causing everyone to hear that sting sound.


    But what was even more interesting was what happened after the st sound came.


    ''Boom.''


    ''Boom.''


    ''Boom.''


    The sound traveled in the air resounding four-five times.


    ''So how did you find my Wind m?''


    The voice of the second eldernded in Zhao Luo''s ears.


    Zhao Luo had no wordsing in his mouth as he was still focused on the old man''s action.


    "Some of you may already know about me while some of you will know me soon enough."


    The second elder said while moving his hand down on his white long beard.


    Everyone was listening to him with their utmost concentration as his earlier disy was already too exceptional for them, including Zhao Luo.


    "The first test will be simple."


    The Second Elder said while giving them a faint smile.


    "You just have to keep on standing till the test time ends."


    He continued. All the examinees were baffled.


    "How could ''standing'' till the test ends be a part of the exam to enter the Xin Sect?"


    One of the examinees said in confusion.


    "Respected Elder, how long will the testst?"


    A girl from among the group of examinees asked the Second Elder.


    ''She is a smart one.''


    Zhao Luo thought.


    While standing may not even be something difficult yet if one keeps on changing the conditions then it may even be impossible.


    Like standing on water. Standing on a peak of a mountain. Standing on burning coal. The simple process of standing can be made as hard and impossible as one wishes to.


    This the girl first asked about the time. This will let them know about the time that they will have to keep on standing for.


    "The test will onlyst for 3 minutes."


    The second elder replied to the young girl.


    He then waved his hand and took out a sand timer otherwise known as an hourss and made it float in front of him.


    Thus the sandss was between them and the Second Elder.


    The sand from the upper part would bepletely depleted when the 3 minutes pass.


    "Stand in the way you are mostfortable with."


    Said the Second elder.


    Some were starting normally. Some had to incline their backs on the wall. While some had a bent standing position.


    While Zhao Luo, Yan, and Feng Mei just stayed as they were.


    The second elder snapped the finger of his left hand which was the start of the first test of this entrance exam.


    The sand in the sandss started falling to the lower part slowly. This was just the start of this exam.


    ''This shouldn''t be everything there is to the test.''


    Zhao Luo thought as 10 seconds had already passed. He had his arms folded in front of his chest and his haors covering his shoulders.


    The Second Elder looked at everyone around him and smiled as no one was sweating.


    They didn''t have a problem standing till now.


    ''What if I do this then?''


    The old man questioned them inside his mind as he raised his hand upwards.


    He then starting bringing his hand downwards causing the pressure in the whole hall to rise.


    "What?"


    Questioning shouts came from many people who were in the hall trying to keep standing while the mysterious pressure was crashing on them.


    The old man grinned as the motion of his hand, even though was slow but kept oning down.


    Proportionally the pressure on the people taking the test kept on increasing.


    "I give up."


    The girl who had questioned the second elder before had already thrown the white g.


    Her looks were haggard while her face waspletely red as if someone had tried to suffocate her.


    The old man looked disappointed as he held some hopes towards this batch. Yet one of them had already given up in 20 seconds.


    He waved his hand and the girl disappeared.


    She then appeared back on the first floor.


    With 2 minutes and 40 seconds still to go, only 677 of the examinees were left.


    A minuteter, the hand of the old man was still quite high up as only 100 remained standing.


    Even among these, most of them were already on the verge of giving up or just falling downright in their ce.


    Only a few were standing without any difort visible on their face.


    Among these few were Yan, Feng Mei, and Zhao Luo.


    While Yan and Feng Mei were easily able to handle the pressure, Zhao Luo hadn''t even felt anything till now.


    Since the start when the girl had given up he felt that everything going around was weird.


    But then people started giving up left and right till only these 100 were left, which confused him even further.


    ''What''s going on?''


    He didn''t know why they were going up.


    Right when Zhao Luo was thinking that he felt like the second floor had fallen on his head.


    An intense pressure fell on him and he looked upwards.


    ''The floor is fine though.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he looked around and realized that others looked as if they were under way more pressure than him.


    Two third of the sad had already fallen.


    Only thest minute of this was remaining and yet this wasn''t the end.


    The Second Elder increased his hand speed thus increasing the pressure on everyone by two folds.


    ''Mhmm.''


    Feng Mei groaned as she felt a crushing air pressure acting on her body but she still held on.


    Yan was also barely holding on.


    More and more people kept on falling after fainting under the pressure. These were the ones who never gave up until the end.


    Only 20 people were left with thest 10 seconds remaining.


    The old man brought his hand down again increasing the pressure by three folds.


    Except for Zhao Luo and another man with red hair who was standing ahead of Zhao Luo everyone else was simply holding on with all of their willpower.


    Some were biting their lips. While others were holding on to their random thoughts.


    ''Just a little more.''


    ''I can''t lose now.''


    Yan was still okay but Feng Mei''s legs were shaking. Her legs had already given up yet she still somehow kept on standing.


    "3."


    The old man started the countdown as only 3 seconds were left from the 3-minute test.


    "2."


    "1."


    ''Thud, thud, thud.''


    Many fell on their butts and sat down as the test ended.


    Feng Mei had lost control of her body as she was falling backward but before she could even hit the ground, Zhao Luo embraced her keeping her from falling.


    "Thank you Elder Brother."


    Feng Mei thanked Zhao Luo while blushing as Zhao Luo only smiled and supported her to stand.


    "What is he doing?"


    A jealous voice could be heard from the second floor as Rose and Si Chen along with other disciples of the Xin Sect were observing the first test and their to-be juniors.


    The jealous voice belonged to Si Chen. While Rose was only looking at Zhao Luo with cold eyes as if he had done something wrong.


    "Quite Impressive."


    the Second Elder praised the examinees who had passed the first test.


    "All of you will move to the second test."


    The Second elder grinned while looking at Zhao Luo.

 Chapter 39 - Special

    Zhao Luo looked at everyone else.


    Except for him and the Second Elder, there were still 19 people there on the hall of the first floor where the test was taking ce.


    The 20 who passed the first test included Zhao Luo, Feng Mei, and Yan, and the other 17 who may as well be from some powerful backgrounds like the Queen of the Feng''s.


    ''The first test was easy. I don''t know why would they make so muchmotion at the start.''


    Zhao Luo thought but if the ones who failed heard him, they would have tried their best to give him a good beating.


    More than 658 examinees failed to stand in their ce for the 3 minutes of the test and yet this guy said that it was easy.


    The reason why Zhao Luo felt it was easy was because of the upgraded apparitions he had Assimted while training for Naoli.


    That assimtion had already improved his body''s structure that is, his bones and muscles to at least 50 times than how they were before. That is also one of the reasons why he was able to fight Bimba so easily, plus the mysterious energy from the Heaven''s Tomb acting as his battery.


    While Zhao Luo was thinking about the test and how the Second Elder was grinning at him, the Second Elder was nning the Second Test in his Mind.


    "Will the second test take ce here or will we move up to the second floor?"


    The red-haired guy who was standing somewhere in front of Zhao Luo asked the Second Elder.


    Zhao Luo couldn''t see his face so he didn''t know how the red-haired guy looked.


    But he also clicked with this guy''s question.


    ''Why is the old man taking so long? It has already been more than a minute since he said that we will be moving to the Second Test.''


    Zhao Luo thought while trying not to curse the elder.


    "Patience is a virtue. In chase of your goals don''t forget about the ones who are with you."


    The Elder said with a deep voice.


    This caused Zhao Luo to look at hispanions.


    ''Feng Mei.''


    Zhao Luo was worried about her as Yan don''t look half as bad as her.


    "We will move on to the second test soon. Mark this as a momentary break."


    Announced the Second Elder.


    The two remaining examinees sat at the ces they were standing on, including Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo let Feng Mei lean against his shoulders.


    ''She sure is an angel.''


    Zhao Luo looked at the tired Feng Mei and thought in his mind.


    He didn''t even know that he was smiling while looking at her.


    For Feng Mei, that smile was something that she would look forward to as Zhao Luo was already his elder brother but for the others who were with them, it wasn''t fun to watch.


    ''What a weird guy.''


    Yan thought while looking at Zhao Luo''s smile.


    His gaze went on to the little Feng Mei and jealousy could be seen lingering in his eyes.


    Then Yan looked at himself and started imagining things.


    ''What if I was leaning against his shoulder?''


    Yan thought as his gaze shifted towards Zhao Luo''s broad shoulders.


    Zhao Luo noticed that Yan was looking at him and nced at him. He still couldn''t get used to Yan''s girly cute face and his manly voice.


    "Is something wrong?"


    Zhao Luo asked Yan as he had been staring at his shoulders without saying anything.


    "N-No, I just spaced out."


    Yan answered while blushing lightly.


    ''Hmmm.''


    Zhao Luo wondered if there wasn''t anything going on.


    After that little interaction between the three, they closed their eyes and meditated for a while.


    Half an hourter.


    "The second test will start soon. This will also be the final test."


    The Second Elder said with a mighty voice waking them up from their meditation.


    Thus he announced the second test to be thest as well.


    "Even if you fail this test, you will still pass the exam."


    The Second Elder told them shocking news.


    "Then why are we even taking this test?"


    The man with the red hair asked the Second Elder.


    "You must be Su Shi from the Su Family. Su Family of the Four Martial Arts Families in the3rd City."


    The Second Elder looked at the man with the red hair.


    "But why are you dressing like a man?"


    The Second Elder said in a chilly tune as he waved his hand.


    Su Shi had her hair styled with a band that broke and her hair fell like the sunlight.


    Long shiny red locks of hair covered her face and her back as they went down.


    "Only a man can seed the Su family. So I have decided to forsake my identity."


    Su Shi said without a hint of regret in her voice.


    Zhao Luo looked at her but he still couldn''t see her face yet her sound now was very enchanting as it fell on his ears.


    ''Everyone''s got their reasons.''


    Zhao Luo looked at Su Shi who had decided to give up her identity for the sake of seeding her family then he looked at Feng Mei who had lost her parents at a young age as a result of jealousy.


    Then he looked at the Second Elder who had just heard the answer of Su Shi and was going to say something.


    "Why don''t you seed the Su Family by proudly embracing your identity? Be the strongest so no one can go against you for being a girl."


    Second Elder said with a mild smile causing Su Shi''s heart to beat fastly. As if all her questions have been answered instantly.


    ''This old man is very impressive.''


    Zhao Luo thought as the Second Elder''s answer was indeed the best assurance that the girl could get.


    She just had to focus on herself and be true to herself and once she is powerful, so powerful that no one can deny her, that will be her moment to shine.


    "The second test is a chance that I have bestowed upon you all."


    The Second elder waved his hand while answering Su Shi''s previous question.


    A table appeared in front of everyone except Zhao Luo. Everyone was already sitting so things were, even more, easier for the Second Elder.


    ''Woosh.''


    A paper and a pen appeared in front of everyone. Yet Zhao Luo was just looking around. He felt like, he was being singled out by the Second elder as he noticed that even Feng Mei and Yan got a paper and a pen on their tables.


    "Why not me?"


    Zhao Luo questioned in a light voice. Nobody could hear what he was saying not even Feng Mei had realized Zhao Luo''s confusion.


    Yet the old man knew what Zhao Luo had asked.


    "When the test starts a riddle will appear on all of your papers. Obviously, everyone will get a different riddle. If you answer it you will get a chance to answer another riddle."


    Second Elder told them.


    "Elder, What will we get for solving the riddle?"


    Feng Mei asked respectfully in her cute voice.


    "For every riddle you solve, you will get ''Sect Points'' ording to the difficulty of the riddle."


    Second Elder answered Feng Mei showing the importance of the second test.


    "Well, the test ''Solving the Riddles'' will begin now. Remember everyone will get a different riddle. The test time will be 5 minutes so don''t waste your time looking for help."


    Second Elder announced the start of the test while emphasizing the test name and warned them as asking others won''t be a help.


    It was either that you spend 5 minutes solving a single riddle or you may be lucky enough to solve more than one.


    As the Elder announced the start of the test a riddle starting appearing on everyone''s paper.


    "Umm if I may, Elder I think you forgot about me."


    Zhao Luo interrupted with a weird look.


    ''How could the elder forget about me?''


    Zhao Luo wondered as there were 19 sets of tables, paper, and pens as each set had appeared in front of everyone except him.


    "Don''t worry. I didn''t forget about you."


    The Second Elder said with a grin.


    "Really?"


    Zhao Luo asked the Second Elder thinking that the elder was messing with him.


    "Hohoho."


    Second Elder gave out a weirdugh as he disappeared from the ce he was standing on and appeared in front of Zhao Luo with incredible speed.


    In reality, he hadn''t disappeared, it was just the speed of his movements that were so fast that it looked as if he had disappeared.


    He ced his hands on Zhao Luo''s shoulder.


    After that Zhao Luo could only see the fading image of the hall on the first floor with the other 19 examinees as the Second Elder brought him to a different ce.


    Everything had happened in less than 5 seconds.


    Zhao Luo had no idea how the old man did this but it was an incredible thing for Zhao Luo.


    ''If only I can do this too.''


    Zhao Luo thought wondering if he will ever be able to do what the Second Elder had just done.


    "This is the top floor of the Sect''s building. Also, this floor is where only the ranked elders are allowed to enter."


    The Second Elder told Zhao Luo about the ce they were at.


    ''So we are still in the building.''


    Zhao Luo was assured.


    "The reason I brought you here is that you are different than the others. Many people were watching you so letting you take the second test here will be better."


    Second Elder told Zhao Luo, increasing his self-confidence even more.


    Zhao Luo still didn''t know that some of the disciples of the Xin Sect were spectating their performance.


    ''Even he knows that I am Special.''


    Zhao Luo smirked while going over the Second Elder''s remark.

 Chapter 40 - Solving Riddles!

    Test Hall on the first floor of Xin Sect''s Building.


    Little Feng Mei looked around her, left and right, and saw that everyone was scribbling something.


    Basically, they were solving the riddles and writing their answers to the riddle below it, on the paper that the old man had given them.


    Feng Mei also answered her riddle but the riddle stayed there and the next one didn''t appear.


    ''This answer is wrong too.''


    Feng Mei angrily thought while puffing her cheeks cutely.


    ''SCRIBBLE.''


    She wrote another answer but it was still wrong. So she looked around again.


    Feng Mei was already a Queen of the household and yet she was stuck in the first riddle. She had been taught by her Grandfather, High Schrs of the 4th City, and many other well-versed teachers. Yet now all the knowledge couldn''t help her solve a simple riddle.


    She calmly looked at the riddle and read it.


    "Riddle: A man stood in the rain without wearing anything over his head, for hours and hours yet his hair never got wet."


    Little Feng Mei who thought that it was easy, smiled at the difficulty of the answer and the points she will be getting soon.


    There were ''10 points'' written next to the riddle.


    She wrote the answer.


    "Answer: He stood under a cover."


    Feng Mei thought as she wrote the answer with her small hands.


    But the riddle didn''t change so she knew her answer was wrong.


    ''If he didn''t stand under a cover then how did his hair didn''t get wet?''


    Feng Mei thought.


    She was annoyed because no answer wasing in her head.


    She tried again as there was a limited time to umte the points.


    "Answer 02: He stood in the rain but the rain never fell on him."


    She waited but the riddle still stayed on the page.


    ''Another Wrong answer. Ahhhhh.''


    Feng Mei wanted to cry.


    If only she had seen the man then she would know how easy the riddle was.


    Feng Mei looked around again.


    Now she understood why everyone kept on scribbling.


    They weren''t solving their riddles directly instead they were just guessing and trying to get the right answer.


    "Answer 03: He used sidestepping to dodge the raindrops."


    Little Feng Mei had her imagination run wild. Even making the man a master of martial arts, such kind who wouldn''t even be touched by the nature.


    ''Still Wrong.''


    Every time she wrote an answer, she would think.


    Feng Mei put her pen down and looked at the riddle again.


    "Huff."


    Feng Mei took a deep breather.


    She picked her pen again and starting writing her yet another answer.


    "Answer 04: He was doing a handstand in the rain."


    Feng Mei wrote.


    If that person was here, he would have killed himself of embarrassment.


    ''Who in their right mind would even do a handstand in rain?''


    That man would have definitely had this thought if he looked at Feng Mei''s answer.


    ''This is wrong too. Sigh.''


    Tears could be seen in the eyes of Feng Mei as she was having second thoughts about giving up on getting the points.


    ''Even if I can''t solve this, I will still enter the Sect so why should I suffer like this?''


    Little Feng Mei thought as she ced her hand on the paper.


    Her fingers were hiding some of the words while leaving some of the words visible to her.


    She felt a little depressed and looked around her.


    Some of the people around her whose faces she could see had despair written all over their faces.


    Who were these examinees?


    Almost everyone was from a powerful and exceptional background. They belonged to big names of the Xin Range and yet they couldn''t even solve the first riddle.


    While the other people still hadn''t given up.


    One of these people was Yan.


    Yan was already answering his 2nd riddle.


    Seeing Yan and the others who were still trying was a motivational scene for Feng Mei as she looked at the paper.


    "This-this."


    Feng Mei was shocked as she saw the riddle on the paper which had some of its parts hidden by her hands.


    One of the words of the riddle which were under her index finger was hair.


    Looking at this was like a spark for her.


    "What if like the missing word the man was missing his hair?"


    Feng Mei said it out lightly unconsciously.


    "Answer 05: He was bald."


    Feng Mei answered while looking at the paper with her eyes wide opened.


    ''Woooosh.''


    The riddle disappeared and another one appeared in its ce.


    The top of her paper changed.


    "Adding 10 Points for Feng Mei."


    A sentence appeared on the top of the paper telling the addition of her points from clearing the first riddle.


    "10"


    Then a ten appeared on her paper.


    Feng Mei smiled cutely.


    ''Now if only I can solve this one too.''


    She thought while looking at the 2nd riddle.


    "Riddle 02: It follows you all the times when you block the light."


    The riddle went like this causing Feng Mei to think of countless answers again.


    Again a riddle worth 10 points appeared on her page.


    ''Light is when it''s day and during the day my subordinates follow me. So that''s the answer then.''


    Feng Mei thought while spinning the pen around her fingers. She was more than assured of her answer as she had just cleared herst riddle, so the feeling of getting the correct answer was still there.


    "Scribble."


    She started writing her answer.


    "Answer: My Subordinates."


    Feng Mei wrote her answer while thinking.


    ''This riddle is perfect for me. Ho ho.''


    She didn''t forget to give the victoryugh as she waited for her riddle to disappear yet she knew soon.


    ''Again Wrong? How?''


    Feng Mei couldn''t think of another better answer except this for the riddle. Getting the wrong answer again and again was getting annoying for the little Queen.


    She was frustrated but she knew that now want the time to be emotional.


    So after calming down she looked at the riddle again.


    ''So it''s something else.''


    Feng Mei thought as she looked around thinking about the riddle.


    ''This hall is well lighted, my subordinates are waiting below. What is following me then?''


    Little Feng Mei thought as she looked around again.


    But she failed to realize that if only she looked downwards at her right she would have known the answer to this riddle.


    Everyone else was suffering like this.


    Yan was stuck at his 3rd riddle.


    Su Shi was at her 4th riddle but she was still disappointed as she knew she could do better.


    But till now, among the 19 examinees here taking the 2nd test, only Su Shi had umted 30 points.


    On the top floor of the Sect''s Building.


    The Second Elder was sweating while looking at smug-faced handsome Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo was sitting in front of the Second Elder as if he was the Elder and the Second Elder was a child.


    A few minutes ago, to be exact around 4 minutes ago when the Second Elder had brought Zhao Luo here.


    The reason for bringing Zhao Luo here was simple.


    ''Since the time I told everyone to climb the stairs of the first floor, only this child has acted differently.''


    The Second Elder thought.


    ''Only he could see through my Deception technique.''


    The elder wondered while inspecting Zhao Luo.


    "Do you mind if I take your second test here?"


    He asked Zhao Luo.


    "Not at all. Just let me start."


    Zhao Luo answered with an eager attitude as he just wanted to get it over with.


    ''It''s just a test of riddles anyways.''


    He thought about how hard could it be.


    "It will be hard. Some may even be very hard to answer."


    Second Elder replied to Zhao Luo as if he could read his thoughts.


    "Take a seat."


    The Elder said.


    Zhao Luo sat down on the floor as a small table with a paper appeared in front of him.


    "You can begin. You can just tell me your answer directly."


    Second Elder gave the start mark to Zhao Luo.


    He then began spectating Zhao Luo as Zhao Luo focused on the riddle.


    ''Let''s see what you can do.''


    The Elder was excited. He loved making riddles and solving them. His knowledge had already reached a peak so the only excitement he would get was through engaging in Riddles.


    "A man stood in the rain without wearing anything over his head, for hours and hours yet his hair never got wet."


    Zhao Luo read the first riddle.


    "Hahaha."


    Zhao Luoughed after reading the riddle. Whileughing he looked at the Elder who was looking at him angrily.


    "Forgive me for that Elder. The riddle was just so funny that I couldn''t hold it in."


    Zhao Luo cupped his hand.


    "What is so funny about the riddle? Maybe you have already solved it after reading once."


    Second Elder asked Zhao Luo while trying to catch him off guard. As for the Elder, he was already of the opinion that nobody could solve his riddle right after reading it.


    "The person must be bald. You won''t get your hands wet if you don''t have them in the first ce."


    Zhao Luo raised his hands while answering the Elder''s question.


    "Right. You are correct. You will get 10 points for that."


    The Elder told Zhao Luo about his answer, that it was correct, and awarded him the points. He looked at Zhao Luo who was grinning while looking at the next riddle which had already appeared on the paper.


    Second Elder felt even more excited while observing Zhao Luo. Still, he thought that it would be best if he warned Zhao Luo.


    "Remember from now on, the riddles will-"


    "Shadow."


    Zhao Luo interrupted the Second Elder with the answer to the next riddle.


    The riddle was the same one that Feng Mei had to solve as her second riddle. Since Feng Mei and Zhao Luo had entered together so the Second Elder started with the same riddles that Feng Mei had to solve.


    "???"


    The Second Elder looked at Zhao Luo as if Zhao Luo was some genius of the century but the surprise had just begun.

 Chapter 41 - Demon

    Zhao Luo had already solved two riddles. That too right after they had appeared that is, in just a moment. He was 20 points already.


    It was like he could know the answer while reading the riddle.


    Usually, if a riddle was to be given to somebody, they would first read it then understand it and think for a moment to find the answer to the riddle this solving it but for Zhao Luo, it was just a joke.


    Seeing Zhao Luo solve two of his riddles so easily left the Second Elder in a shock. But he calmed down soon enough.


    ''What a young talent, he can seed my name.''


    Second Elder thought while looking at the confident-looking Zhao Luo.


    ''What are these second-grade riddles? Don''t tell me the old man made them personally.''


    Zhao Luo thought.


    The Second Elder didn''t read Zhao Luo''s thoughts this time as he was busy in his thoughts regarding Zhao Luo''s talent in solving riddles, otherwise, he would have smacked Zhao Luo.


    ''Hmm.''


    Zhao Luo looked at the paper as another riddle appeared on it.


    "Riddle: Why do Lions eat raw meat?"


    Zhao Luo looked read the riddle.


    ''This could be a problem.''


    He thought while making a frustrated face. He had only answered two of the toddler correctly but now he was already feeling the fear of getting a wrong answer for this third one.


    ''It could be a simple answer like the lion doesn''t know how to cook.''


    Zhao Luo thought as him all the riddles were a mix of words just to hide a simple answer.


    ''But what if?''


    He questioned himself as he looked at the Second Elder.


    ''Grin.''


    The Second Elder was grinning as even though the guy in front of him was good at solving riddles he can''t be invincible.


    "Show me what you got."


    Second Elder said to Zhao Luo in a challenging tone.


    After seeing the grin on the Second Elder''s face, Zhao Luo gave it more thought.


    ''What if I already know the right answer and this is just a way to disrupt my mind?''


    Zhao Luo questioned himself again as to how could such an easy riddle appear here.


    This was the Sect''s entrance test which on clearing would award them points that would help them in their training.


    But what were these riddle that he had to answer?


    It had already been 2 minutes since Zhao Luo had started solving the riddles. He solved the first two riddles instantly but the third riddle was a mountain of confusion for him.


    In the end, he went with his initial answer.


    "The lion doesn''t know how to - it doesn''t know how to COOK."


    Zhao Luo finally told the Second Elder of his answer to the third riddle.


    "What if the Lion is a Sand Lion?"


    Second Elder didn''t tell Zhao Luo if his answer was correct or not instead he replied to his answer with a question.


    ''What if it''s a sand lion?''


    Zhao Luo wondered for a moment but then he looked decisively at the Second Elder.


    "It will also eat raw meat as it will also be unaware of how to cook it."


    Zhao Luo told the Second Elder.


    "Good, good, you are doing amazingly good."


    Second Elder looked quite happy after hearing Zhao Luo''s answer.


    ''I added this to fool the examinees but he was able to see through it even though he took some time. Not bad.''


    Second elder thought while observing Zhao Luo with a smile on his face.


    "You have solved three riddles, each worth 10 points. So you are already at 30 points."


    The second elder told Zhao Luo.


    He didn''t know he would have this much fun while leading the exam otherwise he would have been the examiner of every exam.


    Half the time of the second test had already passed.


    With two and a half minutes remaining Zhao Luo looked forward to solving his 4th riddle.


    Till now he had it easy as none of the riddles were challenging for him.


    ''Let''s focus.''


    Zhao Luo thought as his third fiddle disappeared and in its ce, a new riddle appeared.


    "Riddle: The more you take, the more will you leave behind."


    Zhao Luo read the riddle from the paper.


    ''Hmmm.''


    He wondered what the answer could be.


    Zhao Luo didn''t notice that he was smiling while reading the riddle. He was also enjoying the riddles.


    He looked at the old man who was the brains behind these riddles and saw that the second elder was lost in his thoughts as he wasn''t focusing on him.


    ''This riddle. The past me who wandered without stopping. When the new Era hadn''t started when the world wasn''t like this.''


    The second elder remembered his past.


    He had made this riddle while looking back on the road he had traveled on.


    Soon he came out of his thoughts and looked at Zhao Luo who was smiling at the riddle.


    ''Looks like the young man is enjoying it.''


    The second elder thought while looking at Zhao Luo.


    ''Hmmm.''


    Second Elder wondered as information entered his mind.


    All the riddle papers were at the end connected to him so as someone would solve the riddle he would know and he would also know the number of tries one used while answering the riddle.


    What made him wonder was because of the paper of Su Shi.


    Even Su Shi who had cleared her 3rd riddle and was already at her 4th one. Even though she had used eight tries to solve three riddles but it was still an amazing feat.


    ''Two geniuses in one exam. Interesting. Very interesting.''


    The second elder rubbed his beard while thinking about Zhao Luo and Su Shi.


    "Footsteps. The more footsteps I take, the more footsteps will I leave behind."


    Zhao Luo solved yet another riddle.


    He knew that he was right even before the second elder told him the result.


    "Hahaha. Young man, I haven''t been this excited in years. You are correct. Again."


    The second elder replied telling Zhao Luo of the results.


    Zhao Luo had already umted 40 points till now.


    After that as soon as the riddle would appear in front of him, he would answer it and look at the Second Elder who would admit that Zhao Luo gave the right answer.


    "A house."


    "Spider."


    "Man."


    Zhao Luo kept on firing answers right after seeing the riddles.


    Till now all of the riddles were worth 10 points except thest one which was for 20 points.


    "Riddle 07: What walks on four legs in the morning, two in the afternoon, and three at night?"


    This was the riddle that was worth 20 points showing its difficulty but Zhao Luo had solved this one in an instant too.


    "You have acquired 80 points, young man."


    The second elder said. He wasn''t feeling excited anymore as his excitement had already changed to something else.


    Zhao Luo''s riddle-solving speed was so intense and without any mistakes that the second elder couldn''t evenpare himself to Zhao Luo.


    ''He is a demon.''


    The Second Elder thought as he started sweating. The reason behind this wasn''t because Zhao Luo was good at solving the riddles.


    Rather it was because Zhao Luo already had a lot of points.


    If Zhao Luo''s points were below the 50 marks then it wouldn''t have been that big of a problem.


    But someone who would just be joining the sect having 70 points and this wasn''t the end as one minute was still left, could cause some questions for even him.


    Others wouldn''t believe that such a genius exists who could solve the riddles from the ''Master of Riddles'' himself this easily.


    They would me the second elder for showing favoritism.


    Plus he had also brought Zhao Luo to the top floor so this could get problematic for both of them.


    As thest minute was left, another riddle appeared on Zhao Luo''s paper but before he could read it, the second elder waved his hand.


    As if the riddle ''glitched'' while appearing on the paper, it just vanished suddenly.


    This confused Zhao Luo who then looked at the second elder for some exnation.


    "Elder, the riddle just disappeared before I could even read it."


    Zhao Luoined as because of this, he was missing the free points that he could get.


    The elder looked at Zhao Luo as if he was confused and couldn''t understand what Zhao Luo was saying.


    "What do you mean?"


    The second elder said acting like he didn''t hear Zhao Luo the first time.


    "I mean how could the riddle just vanish before I could even answer it."


    Zhao Luo told the second elder again.


    ''It even looked short one.''


    Zhao Luo thought while feeling a little depressed as he was enjoying so much.


    He looked down and saw that the riddle was still on the paper.


    This shocked him so he looked up at the second elder.


    "This."


    Zhao Luo said.


    The second elder just shrugged acting like he didn''t know what Zhao Luo was talking about.


    This all happened when the 8th riddle appeared on Zhao Luo''s paper.


    It was an easy one so the elder knew that Zhao Luo would answer it right after looking at it so he switched it with a hard one and changed its points.


    Even though it was one of the most difficult riddles in his collection which was worth 50 points, he changed the points to 5.


    "This one."


    Zhao Luo said while looking at the riddle.


    ''I can swear that it didn''t look this long before. Hmmm.''


    Zhao Luo thought as the riddle looked more than what he had seen a few moments ago.


    ''If he solves this one too then he must have been a nemesis of riddles in his par life.''


    The second elder thought as only 30 seconds were left before the test would end.

 Chapter 42 - Result

    Zhao Luo looked confused.


    The reason behind this confusion was the riddle that he had to solve.


    ''It will give me 5 points. Only 5?''


    Zhao Luo thought as the difficulty of the riddle exceeded its worth.


    "What has four letters yet, asionally, it has 12 letters in it but, never, has five letters."


    Zhao Luo read it thinking that reading it may help him solve it. But even reading it, didn''t help him think of any answer.


    ''What if it''s rted to year and it''s months?''


    Zhao Luo wondered but soon gave up on this idea.


    There were months that had four letters in it like June, July but these months also had such months that consisted of five-letter words like March and April which contradicted the riddle.


    ''It can''t be the months. Hmmm.''


    Zhao Luo thought while feeling stupid about his idea.


    ''What if it''s rted to something that I don''t know yet?''


    Another idea popped up in his mind.


    This one was quite possible.


    As Zhao Luo was 10 years behind in terms of the knowledge of the current World that he could have known. So it was possible that there may be some word that could be so tricky. But even more than the tricky word, the mind behind the riddle was the one to be praised.


    Zhao Luo looked at Second Elder with praise in his eyes.


    ''Haha, he has been fooled.''


    The second elder thought as he could see that Zhao Luo was still unable to answer the question.


    The second elder was smiling in Zhao Luo''s struggle. That is when Zhao Luo looked at him and he could see the respect that Zhao Luo had for him in his eyes.


    "20 seconds are left."


    The elder told Zhao Luo. This caused Zhao Luo to focus on the riddle again.


    Zhao Luo was only starting at the riddle.


    He focused on it so much that a splitting image of the riddle, the lines appeared in his head as he closed his eyes.


    ''Hmm, what is he doing?''


    With only 10 seconds left, the second elder noticed that Zhao Luo had closed his eyes.


    ''Is he despaired because of bot being able to solve this riddle?''


    The elder was starting to get worried for Zhao Luo.


    This may just be a hurdle for Zhao Luo,ter on. The elder was thinking along such lines.


    ''Should I give him a hint?''


    The elder was considering helping him but if Zhao Luo got more points, it wouldn''t be good for him. Even if the amount is just 5 points, he couldn''t let it happen, at the point that he had to be unfair to Zhao Luo.


    ''I will just give him a hint right in thest seconds before the test ends.''


    The second elder had finally decided his way to help Zhao Luo.


    By doing this, Zhao Luo will be able to solve the riddle but he won''t get the points as the time will end by the time he answers it.


    With only thest 5 seconds left before the test would end, the elder opened his mouth to hint at Zhao Luo.


    "The answer may as well -"


    The second elder intended to tell the hint before the time would end but Zhao Lup interrupted him.


    "What, asionally, Never."


    Zhao Lup said three words so fast that theynded on the second elder''s ear in a beat.


    Zhao Luo was looking at the elder with half-closed eyes. But he didn''t look selfish or evil yet the second elder could see the bearing of a leader from him.


    ''The Persona of a King ''


    The elder thought about Zhao Luo''s attitude.


    "That''s the answer to this riddle and I believe the test still hasn''t ended."


    Zhao Luo said,pleting his previous sentence.


    Thispletely blew off the second elder as the test just ended right after Zhao Luo hadpleted his answer.


    ''Ting.''


    A sound was heard by everyone who was in the Xin Sect''s building as thest remaining sand passed through the neck of the upper bulb to fall on the lower bulb of the hourss showing the end of the 5 minutes test.


    As Zhao Luo heard that sound he knew the test had ended. The same goes for the examinees who were in the hall.


    "This riddle was the most challenging for me, even though it was only worth 5 points. So for the elder, it was one of the easier ones. Truly the Master of Riddles."


    Zhao Luopared himself to the second elder and praised the elder. He had to admit that the old man was more than what he had thought. But he didn''t know the truth.


    It wasn''t that the riddle was easy for the elder instead it was just that Zhao Luo had already too many points.


    The second elder felt ashamed but it wasn''t an extreme feeling that he would confess.


    "75 Points in the 2nd test. You have done amazingly well. I knew you would do good but you have surpassed my every expectation."


    The second elder looked normally at Zhao Luo while announcing the result as he praised Zhao Luo. Even though the elder was praising him, he looked lost.


    "Is something the matter?"


    Zhao Luo asked the elder as he didn''t look good.


    ''It''s just points, not a big deal. Plus this young man deserves more than what he got.''


    The second elder thought when he heard Zhao Luo''s question.


    "It''s nothing. Let''s go back."


    The second elder walked towards Zhao Luo and ced his hand on Zhao Luo''s shoulder.


    ''Wooosh.''


    They both disappeared from where they were and in the next instant, they appeared in the hall.


    The elder had brought Zhao Luo back.


    Zhao Luo looked around and noticed that everyone was already up and waiting for them.


    He joined back with Feng Mei and Yan.


    "Did you both do well?"


    Zhao Luo asked them wondering how many points they had.


    "Brother I am not sure but I think I did okay."


    Feng Mei wasn''t sure how well she did.


    In the end, she was able to answer two riddles eventually


    It took her more than 20 tries to solve the second riddle. But then again when the third riddle appeared, she was stuck and in the end, the time ended with her being unable to answer it.


    ''She solved just two?''


    Zhao Luo thought as that wasn''t even half of what he had solved. Still, he considered Feng Mei as his sister.


    "That is great. You did amazing."


    Zhao Luo patted Feng Mei''s head and praised her.


    "I also solved two."


    Yan showed a ''V'' sign to Zhao Luo while telling him about the riddles that he had solved.


    Yan came a little closer to Zhao Luo thinking that Zhao Luo would pat his head too and smiled at him.


    "Wow, Yan you did good too."


    Zhao Luo told him as he smiled back at Yan.


    "How many riddles did you solve big brother?"


    Feng Mei asked Zhao Luo while looking at him with shining eyes.


    Feng Mei looked so cute right now that Zhao Luo didn''t dare to tell her that he had solved 7 riddles without much effort.


    Zhao Luo just smiled after hearing Feng Mei''s question.


    While the three were talking, someone else was listening to their conversation.


    "Too shy to tell that you solved only one or maybe none."


    Su Shi interrupted with her insult direc5ed towards Zhao Luo.


    "Excuse Me."


    Zhao Luo said as he didn''t deserve ament from her for any reason. He barely knew her and he was impressed by her story and yet here they are.


    "Why would the second elder take you with him?"


    Su Shi questioned Zhao Luo.


    The reason behind her targetingment towards Zhao Luo was what happened as the test had started.


    The Second Elder has specifically taken Zhao Luo along with him.


    ''How special could he be?''


    Su Shi hated this thought. That, someone, was getting special treatment.


    Even before Zhao Luo could answer her she started talking again.


    "Just because you are a man doesn''t mean you should get special treatment."


    Su Shi said while nodding as if she was teaching Zhao Luo''s teacher.


    "How many riddles did you solve?"


    Zhao Luo abruptly asked Su Shi out of nowhere. He understood that the girl had some issues because of the problems she had to face in her house.


    "I solved 4. Why?"


    Su Shi answered Zhao Luo while waving her hand through her red hairs.


    "You did good too."


    Zhao Luo praised her while putting his hand on her hair and patting her as if she was his cat.


    "You"


    Su Shi blushed as she felt nice when Zhao Luo praised her and put his hand on her head but it was weird as this was the first time someone treated her this way.


    "Humph."


    Su Shi turned her head around to shake his hand off her head.


    Zhao Luo removed her hand and he was still smiling. As his reason for doing this wasn''t to make fun of her or ignore her, it was just to show her a simple truth.


    ''Not everyone is the same.''


    His message did reach her but in a different way as Su Shi was still staring at him as her cheeks were red like a rose.


    ''p, p.''


    The second elder pped twice to get the attention of everyone.


    As everyone looked at him he began.


    "Congrattions on joining the Xin Sect. This announcement had to be dyed as I wanted to present the 2nd test to you all. Now as for the result of the 2nd test."


    The elder said as he flicked his wrist to make a scroll appear out of thin air.


    He jerked the scroll as it opened up.


    The scroll started with the person with the lowest points.


    0 - Ruo Xing.


    0 - Lao Ba


    And so on to,


    20 - Feng Mei


    20 - Yan.


    Including Feng Mei and Yan there two others who were lucky enough to solve 2 riddles, they also had 20 points.


    Thus these were the eighteen names. Nine of them had 0 points. Five examinees had 10 points as they had only solved a single one.


    Then there were four who had 20 points. Feng Mei and Yan were in this group.


    Then thest two names as the scroll opened uppletely.


    40 - Su Shi.


    75 - Zhao Luo.


    "This is the result of the 2nd test."


    The Elder announced.

 Chapter 43 - Reunion

    Everyone was looking at Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo''s name was at the end of the ranking list in the scroll. He had scored the most in the 2nd test.


    ''75 points.''


    Some thought as their focus was on Zhao Luo now.


    Some of the examinees felt jealous of how good Zhao Luo did in the riddle-solving test as they were making excuses towards themselves for not performing as well as Zhao Luo.


    ''He must have helped him.''


    One of the students had this thought while looking at the second elder. He med the elder for this. But if he knew how Zhao Luo solved the riddles then he would be thanking the elder.


    ''How crushing would it be for these youngins if I hadn''t taken Zhao Luo away?''


    The second elder thought.


    It would break their spirit. Someone who is already Worlds apart from them in terms of looks was solving riddles left and right and not only just solving the riddles, it was like he was taking a walk in the park. These were the same riddles that took them countless tries to answer them right.


    This was just how some of them thought, the others didn''t look troubled at all.


    ''It''s just points. We have already passed to be the trainee disciples of the Sect.''


    They were thinking along such lines so they didn''t care about the result of the second test much.


    Feng Mei grabbed Zhao Luo''s robe to get his attention. Zhao Luo looked at the cute Feng Mei.


    "Wow, brother you got 75 points. That''s amazing."


    Feng Mei only had praises for Zhao Luo who stood in first ce with 75 points.


    Zhao Luo felt happy, not because he got 75 points but instead the way Feng Mei praised him.


    ''She is an angel.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he patted her head.


    "You will be smart as me too, one day."


    He said to Feng Mei without forgetting to call himself smart.


    "Your score is impressive."


    Yan said while having a smile on his face.


    ''I knew he wasn''t ordinary.''


    Yan thought while looking at Zhao Luo''s hand as if he wanted to be patted too.


    "I was just lucky."


    Zhao Luo replied to Yan with a smile. He was being modest cause the way he solved the riddles was nowhere close to him being lucky.


    ''Unbelievable.''


    Su Shi couldn''t believe that someone solved more riddles than her. Above that, it had to be him.


    ''I don''t know why but he looks charming.''


    A thought passed Su Shi''s head as she couldn''t control her lingering sight while she stared at Zhao Luo like a ko.


    "Hmmm."


    Zhao Luo looked at the staring Su Shi and raised his brows. Like asking her if something was wrong.


    Su Shi started blushing because of embarrassment. To her, it felt like Zhao Luo could read her thoughts when he raised his brows. So she looked away.


    ''Acting cute.''


    Zhao Luo wondered, because of how Su Shi was acting. He had a radiant smile on his face as he was surrounded by three beauties even though unfortunately one was a man.


    He first passed the first test without much effort and now he also got the top score in the 2nd test.


    ''What a lucky day.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he looked around to check the expressions of the other examinees.


    ''I love this.''


    He had to admit that the look on the faces of the others was giving him another level of enjoyment.


    "This is the score. From now on you will be disciples of the Xin Sect."


    The second elder announced as everyone looked at him.


    "But don''t forget that you will only be entering with the status of a trainee. As to how you all progress and the achievements you make will depend on three things."


    The second elder continued as he raised three fingers in front of them.


    "Your courage, your attitude, and the most important, the will to challenge."


    The second elder gave a powerful speech. This may also be what will help them in the future. He knew how to rile them up. The stronger their minds will be now, the stronger will their actions beter.


    "The will to challenge will keep your desires burning. Just keep on challenging till no one is left to challenge. Only then will you be able to challenge yourself."


    The second elder said proudly.


    ''so confusing.''


    Feng Mei thought while pondering.


    It wasn''t only her who was having a hard time understanding the second elder''s words, everyone else there was going through the predicament.


    The words of the second elder were so profound that they obviously weren''t able to understand it.


    Feng Mei nced towards Zhao Luo through the corner of her eyes.


    She wanted to see how her brother was faring against the second elder''splex philosophy regarding how they should conduct themselves after entering the Sect.


    ''indeed.''


    Zhao Luo was nodding at the second elder''s words.


    ''To achieve my goal, I will challenge myself as soon as possible.''


    Zhao Luo thought.


    ''But before that, I need to be the strongest in the world.''


    He already had a clear path. Just that to walk on this path of his, he had to work really hard.


    Zhao Luo clenched his fists.


    The second elder looked at all the new disciples of Xin Sec to see how prepared they were for their training life. After getting a thorough understanding of each one of them, he continued with his speech.


    "That will be it from me. Let me introduce myself again. I am the second elder of the elder''s hall of Xin Sect."


    The second elder started introducing me.


    "I am also known as the Master of Riddles. Though my name is Dousan and I am the leader of Dousan Pce."


    The elder continued. He was giving them a short introduction about himself. This may be helpful for themter on.


    "Maybe one day you will be training under me."


    The second elder shifted his eyes to Zhao Luo while grinning.


    ''I want him.''


    The elder thought while staring at Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo shuddered as if he could feel the elders thought through his eyes.


    "What about the points? How can we use them?"


    Su Shi asked the elder interrupting the elder from his possessing thoughts regarding the talented Zhao Luo. This was what everyone wanted to know more than elder duosan''s background.


    ''Tsk.''


    The elder clicked his tongue and exined to Su Shi.


    "The points can be used to exchange for things that you can only get from the Sect. As to what kind of things you will get depends on where you go to exchange your points."


    Elder Dousan ended his exnation. He knew that these newbies will start asking about the qualification exam if he kept on going so eventually he will be telling the starting history of the Xin Sect too.


    "This will be it. I will now be passing you your Sect badges. Keep them with you and tomorrow at 8 am, I will take you all to the Sect."


    The elder announced as he waved both of his hands diagonally.


    A badge appeared in front of everyone and thus they all grabbed it. Right after he gave everyone onest look, he disappeared.


    "Finally it''s over."


    Zhao Luo said lightly while looking at the ce where elder dousan was standing a while ago. He looked at the badge.


    ''It''s only missing the marks.''


    Zhao Luo thought while looking at the familiar-looking badges. This made him remember the faces of Si Chen and Rose.


    The new disciples started going back to the first floor.


    Zhao Luo was walking at the end of the group. Feng Mei, Su Shi, and Yan were walking right in front of Zhao Luo.


    As he stepped on the first stair going downwards, the space behind him warped.


    Zhao Luo could feel a presence behind him but he was thest of the ones who had passed. Right then someone called him.


    "Zhao Luo."


    A manly voice called his name out.


    He turned around to look who it was but he could already guess from the voice as it had only been a day since they had started ways.


    "Si Chen where did youe from?"


    Zhao Luo was shocked but also d to see Si Chen.


    ''Woooosh.''


    Rose also appeared next to Si Chen. It was like she had warped there.


    "It''s the second floor''s stairs. It will be invisible to one''s eyes until they are guided on the stairs."


    Rose exined with a grumpy face.


    "Oh, I see. Looks amazing."


    Zhao Luo looked hard at the warped space that was turning back to normal but he still couldn''t see the stairs leading up to the second floor.


    "It''s so nice to see you both. Even though it''s been a day I missed you a lot."


    Zhao Luo smiled while telling them how he was feeling. Zhao Luo stopped his eyes at the veiled Rose. The reunion finally happened.


    Rose blushed as she felt Zhao Luo''s eyes on her. But then she looked at the three people who were behind Zhao Luo.


    "It doesn''t look like you missed us."


    Rose taunted Zhao Luo as she looked at the three who were equally beautiful but in different ways standing behind Zhao Luo.

 Chapter 44 - The Shocked Brother Sang

    The three that Rose mentioned in her taunt, were obviously the redhead Su Shi from the Martial Su Family, the little Queen Feng Mei of the Royal Feng, and the beautiful girl look-alike Yan who was from the 2nd City.


    ''What is this luck?''


    Si Chen thought while looking at Zhao Luo and the three behind him.


    ''These three are beautiful but in a different sense. If it had to be described then Su Shi would belong to the exotic beauty group. With her red hair adding brightness to her persona, she looks hot. She is blinding my eyes.''


    Si Chen''s mind was working as an engine as he would pass nces between Su Shi and Feng Mei. He was dissecting them with his eyes.


    ''As for Feng Mei, she is little and developing still she isn''t any less than Su Shi. She has qualities that make her look so innocent that one would die protecting her. She is extraordinarily cute too. Thus making her an enchanting beauty.''


    Si Chen was rubbing his index finger on his lips and his hand at the chin while he differentiated between Feng Mei and Su Shi.


    Feng Mei felt weird as she grabbed Zhao Luo''s robe.


    "Who is he, big brother?"


    She asked Zhao Luo as the stares from Si Chen were getting annoying.


    "He is a XXX of the Chen''s."


    Su Shi replied instead of Zhao Luo as she added swear words while introducing Si Chen.


    "Little miss, have you still not forgiven me?"


    Si Chen asked Su Shi while smiling. As both of them belonged to martial families and were from the 3rd City so they obviously knew each other.


    ''Hmph.''


    Su Shi turned her face away. Even though she was ignoring Si Chen but she kept on looking at him from time to time as Rose was standing with him.


    ''Who is She? Such beautiful eyes.''


    Su Shi thought while looking at the veiled Rose.


    "These are my friends. We have traveled together before. I guess they are also our seniors from now on."


    Zhao Luo gave a small introduction of Si Chen and Rose to Feng Mei, Su Shi, and Yan.


    "I am Rose. I joined the sect after passing thest entrance test."


    Rose kept it short and introduced herself while nodding. Even though she had joined half a year earlier than them she was still their senior.


    They still didn''t know the real identity of Rose.


    "I am Si Chen. Don''t hide if you are interested in me. I am your senior and also on the third level at that."


    Si Chen took his turn to introduce himself and he couldn''t have done it any worse than this. He pointed at his ck badge which had three marks on it showing his seniority and his strength to the three beauties.


    "Heh, you are still the same. Is your wound okay?"


    Zhao Luo asked Si Chen as he was acting insane maybe because he had never seen so many beauties together before. So to get him back to his sane self Zhao Luo made him remember the wound he had gotten from the sand lion.


    "Ah yes, I am fine. Look."


    Si Chen stretched his back while showing his back muscles to Zhao Luo.


    ''p.''


    "Awoooo."


    Zhao Luo pped his back in a joking manner but the power behind the p was terrifying.


    "Yep, you look fine now."


    Zhao Luo said with a smirk while Si Chen nodded with a grin. He could feel the stinging got feeling from his back.


    After that Su Shi and Feng Mei took their turns to introduce themselves.


    "Oh my, forgive my rudeness from before. It''s my pleasure to meet the Little Queen of the Feng''s."


    Si Chen said to Feng Mei. He was sweating as he remembered his previous words.


    "Please don''t take my joke seriously. You can hide the fact if you ever like me."


    Si Chen continued with his talk.


    ''I guess the injury went to his head.''


    Zhao Luo thought.


    "Ahem."


    He then interrupted Si Chen''s nonsense and waved his hand at Yan as to tell him to introduce himself.


    Yan looked a little shy as everyone was focused on him.


    ''Hehe. What a shy girl.''


    Si Chen grinned while looking at the shy Yan.


    "I am 2nd City. I am from Yan."


    Yan mixed his words as he looked embarrassed while they were looking at him.


    "Haha."


    Feng Mei broke out with cuteughter.


    Zhao Luo and Su Shi were smiling too. Yan''s silly introduction caused Rose to chuckle too as a beautiful sound of smallughter was heard from behind her veil.


    "I mean I am Yan from the 2nd City."


    Yan quickly corrected himself.


    "It''s okay. No need to be embarrassed. We all understood you it the first time."


    Zhao Luo said while tapping Yan''s shoulder. This caused Yan to blush.


    Zhao Luo remembered his past as he would be feeling so awkward to introduce himself during interviews or when he would meet new people. So heforted Yan as nothing was wrong with making mistakes during an introduction.


    While everyone was enjoying the moment, only Si Chen had a different look on his face.


    He looked devastated with ck lines on his face.


    It looked like someone had broken him, destroyed his world right in front of his eyes.


    ''Her voice, why is her voice so manly?''


    Si Chen thought while others wereughing because of Yan''s introduction.


    "Are you sick? You sound like a man."


    Si Chen asked Yan looking all worried.


    ''Yes, she can''t be a man. She looks like the perfect girl. So enchanting. It must be some kind of sickness.''


    Si Chen had already confirmed in his mind that Yan wasn''t a man. As for how could a man be so enchanting with these girly features.


    "Mhmm."


    Yan was silent for some reason. It was as if he wanted to say something but it just wouldn''te out of his mouth.


    "I know what you are going through."


    Zhao Luo interrupted and ced his hand on Yan''s head while looking at him.


    "He looks so beautiful that it was hard for me too but Yan is a man."


    Zhao Luo told Si Chen. He still remembered when Yan had entered the building in the 2nd City before he joined them.


    Except for the girl-like appearance and the beauty of the kid, he was still a man.


    ''Yep.''


    Zhao Luo nodded as he told about Yan to Si Chen.


    ''My heart....''


    Si Chen looked disappointed. He wasn''t in the mood for talking anymore. So he just simply nodded at Yan.


    Zhao Luo looked at Si Chen and he could somewhat understand what Si Chen was going through.


    "Let''s get along guys."


    Zhao Luo said as he ced his arms over Si Chen''s and Yan''s shoulders as only they were the guys there. He brought their heads closer and they couldn''t go against Zhao Luo''s strength and they wouldn''t even try as it felt nice being dragged around by a handsome guy.


    ''So Close.''


    Yan thought as he blushed while his face was close to Zhao Luo.


    Si Chen didn''t look at Yan''s eyes and even though he knew that Yan was a guy, just being so close to him, face to face made him feel a little embarrassed.


    ''What''s wrong with me?''


    He thought.


    Zhao Luo was just smiling all this time. While doing this he nced at Rose.


    Rose was starting at only him too.


    So when Zhao Luo looked at her, their eyes met and they both turned away.


    "Let''s Go."


    Rose said as they didn''t have anything to do here anymore.


    "Yeah. Brother Sang may still be waiting for us."


    Zhao Luo agreed with Rose and remembered that he hade here with Brother Sang.


    So they started going down.


    Main Hall of the Sect building.


    "Where are they?"


    Brother Sag had been eating for quite some while.


    It had already been more than 10 minutes since the other examinees had already returned from the first floor.


    He didn''t ask about Zhao Luo from anyone as some looked sad while others looked normal.


    ''What if they failed?''


    It wouldn''t be fun for them to answer his questions as they may have failed this important entrance test.


    So he just waited and waited.


    People started leaving the Sect''s building.


    Only then did he saw a group of 6 peopleing down.


    "There they are. Hmm, little Chen and rose are with them too."


    Brother Sang saw Zhao Luo''s group and also found his juniors with him too.


    ''Hmm, who is the redhead?''


    Brother Sang noticed that there was one extra person with them. It was Su Shi.


    "Oh, he is still here. Let''s go."


    Zhao Luo looked at Brother Sang and told everyone as he hurried down the stairs.


    "We passed the exam."


    As he reached Brother Sang, he told him about the exam and the two tests that they all had to take.


    He also told him about how he scored the highest point in the second test.


    "What? The Master of riddles was the one leading the exam? And Brother Luo you scored the highest? Amazing. As expected from you."


    Brother Sang had it hard to believe that the second elder, himself, came here to take the entrance exam. He was shocked.


    Nevertheless, he knew that Zhao Luo would shine as Zhao Luo was someone that he was born to serve.


    "It''s nice that everyone passed."


    Brother Sang said while looking at them.


    After that the two subordinates of Feng Mei came to her and one of them whispered something in her ears.

 Chapter 45 - First ShopRobester

    As Feng Mei''s subordinate whispered something in her ear, she looked shocked as she opened her eyes abruptly.


    "What happened?"


    Zhao Luo asked as something didn''t sit right with him.


    Feng Mei was looking at Zhao Luo like she wanted to tell him everything.


    "Everything''s okay. It was nice meeting you all. Especially you big brother."


    Feng Mei said while looking at everyone then solely focused on Zhao Luo as she continued.


    "I will be going now. Let''s meet at the teleportation circle tomorrow before the departure time."


    Feng Mei said while smiling with her head bowing downward.


    Everyone agreed and bid their farewells with Feng Mei after which she went out with her subordinates.


    ''She looks lonely.''


    Zhao Luo thought even though there were two subordinates with her. He didn''t know why but he was feeling this heaviness in his heart as if a bone was stuck in his throat.


    It was a feeling called worry that Zhao Luo was experiencing for the second time in his life. But this time it wasn''t towards his private part instead it was for a person. A little girl who had connected with him so fast that he already considered her as his sister.


    "So what should we do now?"


    Zhao Luo asked brother sang as it wouldn''t be any use to worry about something he didn''t even know about.


    "We should go buy some things first."


    Brother Sang looked at Zhao Luo as of scanning him with his eyes.


    "Everything on you is a no-no."


    Brother Sangmented on Zhao Luo''s appearance. Even though he was so good-looking and tall but he was missing many things.


    Brother Sang looked at Zhao Luo starting from his head.


    ''His hair is okay but this robe of his. It looks so worn out and those shoes. I haven''t seen such a weird design before.''


    Brother Sang inspected Zhao Luo as if he was Zhao Luo''s mom. Zhao Luo was still wearing the same robe that Si Chen had given him. He had fought with Bambi in these robes so they were worn out already and the shoes were the same ones that he was wearing before.


    "What?"


    Zhao Luo asked as it was getting annoying to be stared at by someone for so long.


    "You are missing the storage ring. Some new robes and power shoes. Let''s go shopping."


    Brother Sang told Zhao Luo.


    "Do you guys wannae with us?"


    Zhao Luo asked the others.


    "Yes, I will be tagging along."


    Yan was the first to reply. He wanted to go shopping too. Also, it would let him be with Zhao Luo for a long time so it was a beneficial offer for him.


    Zhao Luo nodded while smiling lightly. Then he looked at Si Chan, Rose, and Su Shi who were standing with them.


    "I have to go back. Sorry."


    Su Shi said as she had to go back to the 3rd City and tell her father and mother that she had passed. It will be big news for the Su family.


    "I have to go back to sect so let''s meet at the sect tomorrow."


    Rose said as she looked at Zhao Luo.


    ''So she won''t being. Sigh.''


    Zhao Lup thought as it would have been a fin time if Rose had also joined.


    Si Chen still hadn''t answered so Zhao Luo looked at him and saw that he was being hesitant.


    "It''s okay if you can''t. You don''t have to force yourself."


    Zhao Luo told him.


    "I want toe with you but I have to go back to the Sect."


    Si Chen said while looking at Zhao Luo but he kept on peeking at Yan.


    "Heh, okay."


    Zhao Luo knew why Si Chen was so uncertain. It was because he was still in shock regarding Yan being a man.


    ''Understandable.''


    Zhao Luo thought over Si Chen''s action.


    Thus Si Chen, Rose, and Su Shi left the Sect building as they headed towards the building with the teleportation circle in it.


    Zhao Luo with Brother Sang and Yan also tagged along with them.


    The infrastructure of all the cities was somewhat simr.


    The buildings with the teleportation circle were in the middle of each city. Then if you moved towards the central mountain where the Sect was, from the TPC building the Inner Area of the City would start.


    But if you move in the opposite direction that will be the Outer Area.


    Inner Area was where families would be living. This area had buildings, hotels, and restaurants.


    While the outer City was like a business area. There were different kinds of markets here.


    For the 1st City, most of the inner city was covered by the three Royal Families.


    Feng, Mo, and the Qin family. Each of the Royal family had lots of members and there were also branch families of such thus they owned most of thend in the inner area of the first city.


    There was also the Sect building in the inner area of the first city.


    As Zhao Luo''s destination was the outer area thus his ''shopping group'' tagged with the ''going back'' group.


    The journey towards the TPC building was mostly quiet. They just walked towards the building without saying a word to each other.


    Zhao Luo and Brother Sang were talking to each other. They were walking right behind the group.


    Zhao Luo was telling him about his past.


    He was telling him about how he met Brother Sang''s great grandfather Takuma and how Takuma trapped him in the capsule for his research. But he also told him how he doesn''t me Takuma at all now. Instead, he regrets not thanking him and agreeing to participate in his research with his own free will.


    While they were walking, the building was in sight. Zhao Luo looked at his friends as he had grown close to every one of them even if it was by a little.


    Outside of the TPC building.


    "Take care guys. We will be meeting tomorrow for sure."


    Zhao Luo said while looking at Si Chen and Rose. Su Shi was looking at him and felt weird as he didn''t say anything to her.


    "You too."


    Zhao Luo said to Su Shi.


    "I don''t need you to worry about me. Hmph."


    After hearing what she wanted Su Shi felt happy but she couldn''t show it.


    "Take care."


    Rose said in a light tone but her voice sounded so mesmerizing that Zhao Luo started staring at her.


    "Thank you."


    Zhao Luo replied to her with an honest smile on his face.


    "I was saying that to Brother Sang and Yan."


    Rose rified and went inside the building leaving Zhao Luo with a nk face.


    "Hahaha guess there is someone you can''t win against."


    Brother Sang teased Zhao Luo.


    "I will be going now. See you at the Sect."


    Si Chen said as he turned around and went inside the building with Su Shi.


    "Let''s get you the things."


    Brother Sang told Zhao Luo as he walked in front and lead them towards the market in the outer area.


    They walked for a little while before reaching the marketce.


    Zhao Luo could see a big rock in front of him.


    "Shi Chang market."


    Zhao Luo read the words which were carved in that rock.


    "This is the biggest market of the Xin Range."


    Brother Sang told Zhao Luo.


    "If you can''t find something in the other eight cities, you will find it here."


    Brother Sang continued as they passed the big rock to enter the market area.


    "Wow, there are so many shops here."


    Zhao Luo eximed as he looked around. No matter where his sight went, there would be a shop there.


    "Let''s go there. He is famous for the quality robes he sells."


    Brother Sang pointed at a shop.


    The outer appearance of the shop was simply a dark-coated ss with a ss door as the entrance. It was what you would call an enemy of the window shoppingmunity.


    ''So I can''t see inside. Suspicious.''


    Zhao Luo couldn''t believe Brother Sang''s words.


    "How could he be famous for his robes if he doesn''t showcase them?" Zhao Luo asked Brother Sang.


    A seller would show others his valuable items even if the other party isn''t there to buy them. This will help in gaining reputation and poprity but this guy had a special ss so that others aren''t able to check his items from the outside.


    "Well brother, ''this'' is his selling n."


    Brother Sang tried to exin it to Zhao Luo as he waved both of his hands pointing towards the door telling Zhao Luo to enter the shop.


    Zhao Luo ced his hand on the door to push it open but instead of opening his hand got sucked in, gradually his whole body was sucked in the door.


    ''Wooop.''


    "What?"


    Yan was shocked after witnessing the scene of Zhao Lup being sucked in by the door of the shop.


    "Pat."


    Yan''s back felt hot as Brother Sang pped his back lightly but with power behind it, forcing him towards the door.


    ''''Wooop.''


    Yan was swallowed by the door too.


    Brother Sang followed behind him.


    Zhao Luo appeared on the other side that is inside the shop.


    "The Robester."


    Zhao Luo read the name that was written on the board that he saw as soon as he appeared there.


    "Hahaha."


    Zhao Luo couldn''t control hisughter as he let it go after reading the name of the shop. This was the first shop he was visiting in thest 100 years and it had such a weird name.

 Chapter 46 - Elder Bo, The Owner!

    ''Wooop, Wooop.''


    While Zhao Luo was still pondering on the name of the shop for some reason, Yan and Brother Sang appeared behind him after being pulled in by the door of the shop from outside.


    "It''s still the same."


    Brother Sang said as he looked towards the robes and the people who were here to buy them. The shop was overpacked already as they were filling this ce.


    Zhao Luo also looked where Brother Sang was looking and realized that the shop ''Robester'' was very crowded.


    Right after the signboard with the shop name on it, there were just rows and rows of robes.


    Zhao Luo was enchanted by the beautiful design of these dual robes.


    Each robe had two-piece of clothing thus the dual robe name.


    An inner robe that was thick and well designed to fit every size of a person''s limb. Only the inner cloth could function as a proper dress yet the outer cloth was something thatpleted the beauty of the robe.


    The outer robe was a piece of cloth that was quite simr to the inner robe.


    It was like a gown but light in color. It was like a see-through garment that enhanced the color of the inner robe.


    "This looks like a tracksuit."


    Zhao Luo said while looking at the robes in the starting rows of the shop.


    ''They are undoubtedly well designed.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he looked ahead and knew that he was just at the start and already very impressed.


    "Tracksuit?"


    Brother Sang said as he hadn''t heard such a word before. He had one of his eyebrows raised as he looked at Zhao Luo.


    "Tracksuits were like these robes too but without the dual nature. I miss my Nike tracksuit."


    Zhao Luo tried to exin though midway he remembered the tracksuit that he would be wearing all the time.


    "Let''s go look in the further rows."


    Yan said to them as he looked more excited than Zhao Luo.


    The three then moved towards the front rows.


    While passing the crowd they kept on looking at the robes as they passed them. Some were quite beautiful while others were just enchanting. The robes were well designed and they all had certain traits.


    Like the robes on thest rows were just normal dual robes but as they kept on moving towards the inner rows of the shop, the robes disyed here had certain traits like they were made cold resistant, heat resistant, wind-resistant, light as the wind, and the list goes on.


    "Oh, this one says that it can deflect basic attacks. What ''Holds a chance to reflect the damage of the attack''. Is this real..."


    Zhao Luo eximed while looking at the brown dual robe. This was the first time he was looking at clothing that would deflect attacks and may even reflect the attack damage on the attacker.


    "Yes, we must be in the Earth Zone."


    Brother Sang said as he looked at all the robes around him. Most of them had this brownish shade on them.


    This was the Zone where the robes were made from the hardest material found in the ground.


    It was next to impossible to sew them together. Yet the owner had his ways thus this was one of the reasons why his robes were famous for their quality.


    "All the robes here will have these deflection and resistance traits but there is a downside to these robes too. They reduce your speed and also the basic attacks mentioned here are from normal people. If any person from the sect attacks you the robes trait will only help you to some extent."


    Brother Sang exined to Zhao Luo.


    The traits were very enticing but what would be the benefit if they weren''t even helpfulter on.


    "Let''s go to the Sky Zone."


    He said to Zhao Luo and moved towards the next row.


    They had already forgotten about Yan who was still behind them looking at the robes around him with greedy eyes.


    Zhao Luo looked at the robes on the Sky Zone. Almost every robe here looked like someone had a slim piece of cloth made into a robe. Some robes in this Zone had a bluish shade. While others had grey shade on the outer robe.


    "Wear it but you won''t feel it."


    Zhao Luo read the tag on one of the robes.


    There was a one-line quote on the tag.


    "I won''t feel it?"


    Zhao Luo questioned himself so he grabbed the robe and as he had the robe in his hand, he couldn''t feel its weight.


    The robe was made from such materials that if someone had thrown the robe on a blind person who had lost his sense of touch, he wouldn''t even feel it as it was weightless.


    "Interesting."


    Zhao Luo was very impressed by this particr robe. The robe was somewhat between purple and blue too so it was a good choice for the new he should be getting.


    "There is still the Heaven Zone left. Let''s check that out first."


    Brother Sang told Zhao Luo as there was still another row of robes left.


    As they passed the Sky Zone, they could see five robes hanging in the next row.


    Yes, there were only five of them. Other rows in different Zones had robes in hundreds but the Heaven Zone only had five robes in a row.


    "New stock."


    Brother Sang said with a smile on his face as he looked at the dazzling robes. He was happy.


    He hade herest year too to buy a robe from the heaven zone but all of the robes had sold out.


    Every year the owner would make five special robes and ce them in the Heaven Zone.


    This time all five of the robes were yet to be sold.


    There were two guards especially guarding the row with the five robes.


    "Not everyone can get close to them."


    The guards stopped Brother Sang.


    Zhao Luo and Yan stopped behind him.


    ''Hmmm. Do they not recognize me?''


    Brother Sang wondered as he looked at the guards who looked to be quite eager while performing their duty of guarding the robes.


    "Even I may have to think twice before stopping that young man and yet you dare taunt him."


    An old man could be seen walking down the stairs.


    He took light steps. Each of his steps looked normal yet in an instant he appeared between the guards and Brother Sang.


    "Why is every old man this mysterious and powerful?"


    Zhao Luo said in a low voice as his thoughts leaked out.


    He was shocked as he saw the speed of the old man who took an instant to appear before them. He couldn''t help but remember the second elder and his master.


    The second elder was also a master who was more or less as powerful as this old owner of the shop ''Robester'' but his master was a monster in the old man category.


    An emperor of Gods, Zhao Luo was at a very very low level to even beginparing his master to someone.


    "Did you say something handsome young man?"


    The old man red at Zhao Luo. Even though Zhao Luo had said in a low voice, the elder still picked up on his words.


    He couldn''t deny the fact that this young man was among the most handsome men that he had seen in his life. Also among the most daring ones too.


    "It''s a lucky day for us. To meet the great Elder Bo."


    Brother Sang said in an eximing tone and gave a bow from the shoulders paying respect to the old owner in front of him.


    Zhao Luo smiled as if he was forcefully controlling hisugh.


    ''Bow To Bo.''


    Zhao Luo thought while looking at Brother Sang bowing in front of Elder Bo.


    ''Nod.''


    The elder nodded.


    "Elder Bo, this is my brother, Zhao Luo. We are here to buy a robe for him. He will be going to the sect tomorrow."


    Brother Sang introduced Zhao Luo to Elder Bo and also told him the reason for their visit.


    "Hmmm. So he is Zhao Luo. Haha. You are lucky that I am in the Xin Range. I had to meet the second elder as he hade to the city. That old dog never used to leave the Sect mountain."


    Elder Bo told them while cursing the second elder.


    Elder was like a national treasure of the North-East Zone. He was considered the best robe maker and also a genius when it came to crafting the robes with astonishing traits.


    Thus for their benefit, every mountain range would wee him. But he was originally from the Xin Range.


    This being the reason for him being close enough with the old man to call him a dog.


    "Young man, you are quite an impressive individual. Dousi couldn''t stop talking about you. My ears are filled with your praises."


    Elder Bo looked at Zhao Luo as he told him about his meeting with the second elder.


    ''Dousi...''


    Zhao Luo couldn''t even imagine anyone calling the Second elder with such a cute name.


    "Let''s go. I have a better robe that would suit you perfectly. It''s one of my best works. The robes in my heaven zone won''t evene close to it."


    Elder Bo was dissing his own robes whileparing them to the robe that he thought was perfect for Zhao Luo.


    After saying that he starting walking towards the stairs, leading them towards the second floor of the shop.

 Chapter 47 - Robe Of Hunger

    Zhao Luo followed behind Brother Sang as Elder Bo led the three to the upper floor.


    "In my countless shops all over the North-East Zone, only this shop has an upper floor."


    Elder Bo started telling them as they were going up the stairs.


    "And the number of times I have invited people to this floor, hmmm."


    Elder Bo stopped and thought for a second.


    "It can be counted on my hand alone. So you guys are pretty lucky to witness my workshop at such a young age."


    Elder Bo told them about the history of the second floor of his shop. It was also the ce where he used to craft his dual robes. Basically, it was the ce closest to Elder Bo''s heart.


    ''intriguing.''


    Zhao Luo thought it was fun to hear about it from the Elder.


    Finally, they had reached the first floor of the shop.


    Brother Sang, Zhao Luo, and Yan were behaving like Pandas. As they had their eyes opened like big circles they looked around. The ceiling looked like a night''s sky with thousands of brilliant stars shining in the sky.


    "Brilliant. How did you make it so realistic?"


    Zhao Luo asked the old man.


    The sky looked the same as the sky he remembered but the beauty had been uplifted even further. The stars that were drawn by carving them in the sky ceiling had just enough shine to not blind the eyes.


    ''Twinkle Twinkle Little Star....''


    Zhao Luo was lost in the beauty of the stars and unconsciously he started to sing a nursery rhyme in his mind.


    "One of my old friends is behind it. He was also my teacher in many ways."


    Elder Bo answered Zhao Luo as he looked at him and realized that he was lost in his thoughts as his face was tilted upwards cause he couldn''t stop staring at the stars in the ceiling.


    ''Pat.''


    "Young man I would suggest that you don''t stare at the ceiling again. These stars reflect a beauty that is ten times more than the one who is staring at them. So you should understand what will happen if a human''s eyes were to stare at something so beautiful. They would be enchanted by the beauty of the star carvings."


    Elder Bo tapped on Zhao Luo''s shoulder who was singing a nursery rhyme in his head and brought him back.


    ''Nod.''


    Zhao Luo agreed with what the elder had said.


    There was someone else who was going through something simr to what Zhao Luo had just suffered.


    It was Yan. He was also lost in his thoughts but no one noticed.


    "Elder Bo your ce is just extraordinary. I have never seen a ce like this in my life."


    Brother Sangplimented the Elder''s ce.


    ''Indeed.''


    Zhao Luo agreed with what Brother Sang had said just now.


    "Hmph, I wouldn''t have shown this to you, youngsters, if it wasn''t for all the praises of Zha Luo was fed into my ears by the old Dousi."


    Elder Bo said while feeling a little reluctant. He was talking about his meeting with the second elder.


    During their friendly meeting, the Second Elder kept on going on and on about how big of a genius an examinee named Zhao Luo was. Elder Bo could still hear the praises in his head.


    ''He could solve my riddles as easily as drinking water from a ss. His mental state may even be higher than mine at such a young age.''


    Elder Bo found it hard to believe Dousi''s words but he knew that his friend had never lied. He was known as an honest man even before their World merged with this World.


    Elder Bo was a very altruistic person when it came to his friend. So how could he not show favor to someone, who brought such a big smile to the face of his friend?


    This was the reason why Elder Bo took them to the upper floor of the shop. But it wasmon to not tell them everything so the elder just walked quietly.


    The upper floor was intense but at the same time, the design of the whole floor could be said to be simple too. The ceiling was already so amazing but the serene floor was even more of a wild view.


    In this shiny space, there was only a sewing machine which Zhao Luo couldn''t recognize as it was very different than the one he knew about.


    A throne-type seat for Elder Bo to sit on while working on making a robe.


    A giant shelf where there were countless materials.


    Zhao Luo could hardly match between the materials there and the ones he knew about.


    Then as Zhao Luo was still looking around, he found a forge.


    ''What? He is a cksmith too.''


    Zhao Luo was looking at the forge and the other equipment by a cksmith that was lying around.


    Elder Bo noticed Zhao Luo''s confused expression and knew what Zhao Luo was thinking.


    "Hahaha, young man, did you think that I became famous by ying around with a thread and a needle?"


    Elder Bo was making fun of Zhao Luo''s thinking. He could somewhat guess Zhao Luo''s thoughts.


    "Not at all. Just consider me as a kid who is still learning to walk."


    Zhao Luo told the elder as it had only been a few days since he had woken up and yet the things were going very fast for him.


    "Haha."


    The elderughed after hearing Zhao Lupparing himself to a kid. He was very impressed by the way Zhao Luo backed down.


    "Sang, young man your brother is a very interesting individual."


    Elder Bo said to Brother Sang who was mostly busy listening to their talks.


    "I agree with yourment, Elder."


    Brother Sang looked at Zhao Luo before looking at the Elder with a smile.


    While talking they reached thest thing that was on this floor.


    ''A closer.''


    Zhao Luo thought while looking at the closet.


    "Your robe is in it. Don''t be too surprised."


    Elder Bo told Zhao Luo. Zhao Luo wasn''t even sure if buying it yet but the Elder was already talking as if he had decided to give it to Zhao Luo no matter what.


    ''Cre~~~ak.''


    The elder opened the door. A wood screaming shallow sound came from the joints of the door and the closet showing the old age of the wooden closet.


    ''Shaaaa.''


    A shine filled the eyes of Brother Sang and Zhao Luo.


    There was indeed a robe inside the closet but it was very different than how Zhao Luo and Brother Sang had imagined it to be.


    "Simple yet what is this unexinable feeling?"


    Zhao Lup questioned as he looked at the robe which was very light blue but there was a sharp tinge of purple shade that wasing from it.


    The elder grabbed the robe and took it out of the closet.


    "Give it a try."


    The elder told Zhao Luo as he waved his hand and a square cover appeared.


    He passed the robe to Zhao Luo who then went inside the cover and changed into that robe.


    Zhao Luo came out of it after changing into the robe.


    "Beautiful!"


    An eximing sound came from a little far away as soon as Zhao Luo hade out of the cover. It was Yan who had finally been freed from the enchantment that he had fallen into when he started at the stars for too long.


    This just showed that how much of a jump, Zhao Luo''s beauty had gained that it caused Yan to be freed.


    "This is just one of the specialties of this robe."


    Elder robe said with a smirk on his face.


    "It''s weightless too like the robes on the Sky Zone."


    Zhao Luo said to Elder Bo.


    Elder Bo listened to Zhao Luoparing his robes in the Sky Zone to this one.


    Then he moved towards the forge and grabbed his iron hammer.


    ''Bam.''


    Zhao Luo felt a vibration on his back as Elder Bo used the iron hammer to hit Zhao Luo''s back.


    "That felt funny."


    Zhao Luo said with a breaking voice as he was shocked when the elder had hit him with the hammer out of nowhere.


    "Young man try hitting your brother with your full force."


    Elder Bo instructed Brother Sang who acted on his instruction after getting the ''Nod'' from Zhao Luo.


    ''If I don''t let him hit me then this elder will do it instead. I don''t know what this old man will use next.''


    So Zhao Luo had given the pass to Brother Sang.


    ''It wouldn''t be that bad. Hmmm. It would it?''


    Zhao Luo thought as Brother Sang was taking his position in front of Zhao Luo.


    He pushed his left leg back and his right leg ahead. Then he pulled his right fist backward and then forced his left leg downwards as if applying a pressure that would act as an elerator for his right fist increasing the power of his punch.


    "Bang."


    A sting sound of metals colliding echoed in the whole floor. That is how strong Brother Sang''s punch was.


    The punch came in contact with Zhao Luo''s stomach area.


    Zhao Luo had closed his eyes as a reflex before the punch came in contact with his stomach. Every second felt like an eternity but he never felt the punch even when the sound of metal colliding fell on his ears.


    "What?"


    Zhao Luo opened his eyes and saw the first of Brother Sang stopped at the robe. It was like that all the power of Brother Sang''s had been digested by the robe.


    Zhao Luo looked at Elder Bo so he could exin to them, what was going on.


    "This is one of my best creations. The Robe of Hunger."


    Elder Bo told them.

 Chapter 48 - I Love It!

    Zhao Luo looked down towards the robe. He ced his hand on the robe''s cloth and felt his stomach.


    ''I can feel the touch. But it''s a different kind of feeling.''


    Zhao Luo was trying to differentiate between how the sense of touch would feel to him when he was wearing something more ordinary than the Robe of Hunger.


    "There are like two walls between my hand and my body. On each side of the robe."


    Zhao Luo was trying to exin the feeling he had just felt but he could get it out of his mouth perfectly.


    "Hahaha."


    Elder Boughed savagely.


    He would always behave like this when someone would praise his work.


    This robe was so special that even his enemies would praise it but he didn''t expect that a young man would try to exin the hidden characteristic of this robe by just touching it.


    Elder Bo looked at Zhao Luo with his eyes squinted. He was trying to see how they matched together. After a while, Elder Bo started to nod.


    "The robe functions as a vacuum. When someone hits you, it will just melt away the power behind the force of the hit this neglecting the damagepletely. Even though there may be a time when that feature won''t help you."


    Elder Bo looked at him and started to exin the features of the Robe of Hunger in detail.


    "At your level, it will be hard to face someone who would be that powerful."


    Elder Bo said to Zhao Luo as he looked over to Brother Sang.


    "Young man you wanted to buy a robe from the heaven zone. Right?"


    Elder Bo asked Brother Sang.


    "Yes...if I can afford it."


    Brother Sang said with a mild smile. He only came to apany Zhao Luo and buy some average robe for him but things had escted quite quickly.


    "Young man."


    Elder Bo had his eyebrows dropped and he looked at Brother Sang with a disappointed expression. He didn''t like what Brother Sang had just said to him now.


    "Do you think I''m so pity that I would ask you for money for my robes? If I like you, then that''s already enough payment from your side. It''s not easy to be good enough to be liked by me."


    Elder Bo told him.


    "Just think of this from a gift from me to you two."


    Elder Bo gave them the good news.


    "Thank you Elder."


    Zhao Luo took the initiative to show his gratitude for Elder Bo''s generosity.


    Brother Sang followed Zhao Luo''s gesture and gave a light bow to Elder Bo.


    "Thank you Elder. I will not forget this gift from you even after I die."


    Brother Sang had a smile on his face as he told Elder Bo what he was thinking.


    "It''s okay. In the end, these are just two robes that I am giving you. No need to be so happy."


    Elder Bo said to Brother Sang.


    ''It''s just a robe from the Heaven Zone.''


    Elder Bo thought as if it wasn''t a big deal for him. He didn''t want them to owe him either.


    "Ahem."


    As the three were talking regarding the robes a sound came from behind them.


    "Umm, Can I get a robe too? As a gift."


    Yan said to Elder Bo. He was feeling down.


    It would have been okay if Elder Bo had forgotten about him but even hispanion forgot that he even existed. Elder Bo was giving them robes for free and they didn''t even ask one for him.


    ''Tsk, tsk, unreliable.''


    Yan thought while looking at Brother Sang and Zhao Luo.


    But then he took his words back as Zhao Luo was looking so handsome and enchanting that he started blushing.


    "No need to cry, little girl. You can get one too."


    Elder Bo thought that Yan was going to cry as his cheeks were getting red. That wasn''t the main issue though.


    ''Does the elder have a problem with hearing?''


    Zhao Luo thought as his sight started hovering between Elder Bo and Yan.


    "Elder you are mistaken. Yan is my.....junior sect brother."


    Brother Sang tried to exin so as he thought about how Yan had passed the entrance test and will be a junior brother to him and they were already acquainted.


    "Do you think this old man has gone senile? My eyes are per..."


    The old man was speaking as Yan rushed to the old man with amazing speed that shocked Zhao Luo and Brother Sang.


    Yan was so fast that even the Elder was shocked.


    Yan ced his white palm on the elder mouth this stopping him from speaking.


    ''This movement technique. Don''t tell me she is rted to him.''


    The elder thought of a person as he went over the move that Yan had just used.


    Bo was an elder for a reason. He understood what Yan wanted.


    He removed Yan''s hand from his mouth delicately. Elder Bo didn''t show a hint of aggressiveness as others would have taken this as disrespect.


    "Young man you don''t have to be aggressive just because of a robe. You can take two of them."


    Elder Bo told Yan.


    "Haha, Elder you are so kind. Thank you so much."


    Yan bowed and thanked the elder.


    They both were acting like their previous discussion never happened. As if elder had never called Yan a little girl in front of them.


    ''Whatever, it''s cleared now.''


    Brother Sang thought while looking at the smiling Yan and Leder Bo.


    ''Something''s fishy.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he looked at the awkward acting of the two.


    "Well, let''s go get you both the robes."


    Elder Bo said while looking between Yan and Brother Sang.


    Thus the three followed Elder Bo as he walked down the stairs towards the heaven zone.


    There were five robes in this zone.


    Brother Sang was looking at them with heart in his eyes. Then he looked at Yan.


    ''Lucky guy.''


    Brother Sang thought as Elder had told him that he could take two of the robes.


    If Brother Sang could he would buy or take all of them. But these were like ''Special Edition''. So a person could buy only one till the present stock ends.


    ''Tap, Tap, Tap.''


    Brother Sang walked over to the rack where the five robes were hanging.


    Yan was walking alongside him to get his two robes.


    "I will take this one."


    Brother Sang had already taken a dark purple robe out. He was holding it close so tightly that the elder couldn''t control himself.


    "Hahaha. Young man, it''s just a robe, not your wife."


    Elder Bo teased Brother Sang.


    Brother Sang felt embarrassed as he loosened his grip over the robe.


    "Do you want my help?"


    Zhao Luo asked Yan.


    Yan was looking troubled as he was starting at the four robes. He didn''t know which one to take as all of them were extraordinarily well made. This caused Yan''s greed to erupt thus he ended up making a troubled face.


    "Yes, I would love to."


    Yan answered as soon as Zhao Luo asked him. This was a chance for him as he started imagining different scenarios in his head.


    Zhao Luo went over to Yan and took out a robe one by one.


    He would take the robe and bring it closer to Yan and then touch Yan''s shoulder as heid the robe on him to check how Yan would look with the robe.


    ''p.''


    Elder Bo pped his head lightly as he looked at what Zhao Luo was doing.


    ''If he was here and saw this, he would shred this kid into pieces.''


    Elder Bo couldn''t help but shuddering as he remembered that face of a particr man.


    Every time Zhao Luo would touch Yan''s shoulder, it would cause him to blush.


    "This is robe has a pink shade and looks the best on you but I don''t think you will like the pink color outer robe."


    Zhao Luo knew that guys rarely liked pink clothes so he thought that Yan wouldn''t like it either.


    To his surprise, Yan suddenly grabbed Zhao Luo''s hand which was on his shoulder and opened his mouth.


    "I love it!"


    Yan said with a reddish face.


    This caused Zhao Luo to be shocked.


    The soft touch of Yan''s hand and his red girly face which was right in front of his eyes caused to legs to go weak.


    "Ahem."


    Brother Sang interrupted Yan''s moment.


    Even though Zhao Luo was only helping Yan so Yan could select two robes for himself without being troubled but the situation progressed somewhere else too fast.


    Zhao Luo and Yan we''re looking at each other.


    Zhao Luo was feeling weird as it was had to believe that Yan was a guy as he was going through something like this.


    Yan let go of Zhao Luo''s hand and said.


    "Well, this is one of them. That will be my second robe."


    Yan said while taking the robe from Zhao Luo''s hand and the other one from the three leftovers.


    Elder Bo was enjoying the show while feeling sad for Zhao Luo.


    ''Unlucky guy.''


    Elder Bo thought while turning his head.

 Chapter 49 - The Storage Space

    Zhao Luo had gotten one of the best robes that the owner of the shop ''Robester'', Elder Bo had ever made.


    ''The Robe of Hunger.''


    Brother Sang got one of the robes from the Heaven Zone''s five robes. Brother Sang was looking very satisfied. He couldn''t wait to change into that robe.


    Whereas Yan ended up getting two of the remaining four robes of the Heaven Zone from Elder Bo.


    Zhao Luo had helped him in picking one while Yan chose the other one himself rather quickly after the little interaction with Zhao Luo.


    ''Weird guy.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he was looking at the blushing Yan.


    "Thank you elder for your generosity."


    Brother Sang was showing the elder a palm over fist salute as he bowed with his shoulder.


    "Good kids."


    Elder Bo smiled as he looked at Brother Sang and the two behind him.


    Zhao Luo was still looking at Yan while Yan was busy as he was in bliss.


    The happiness of getting two robes from Elder Bo''s Heaven Zone was immeasurable. He couldn''t keep it within him.


    Yan had a smile engraved on his mouth with red cheeks.


    ''Hmph.''


    Zhao Luo was angry with himself.


    ''Why can''t I look away?''


    Zhao Luo thought as he kept on looking back at Yan who was busy staring at his new robes.


    Zhao Luo looked away from Yan and saw Brother Sang thanking the elder.


    Zhao Luo went close to Elder Bo and also gave him a salute.


    "Thank you Elder, you have been very kind to us."


    Zhao Luo said to Elder Bo.


    Since waking up everyone has been so good to him.


    The more people he kept on meeting, the more amazing they were.


    Especially the owner of the ''Robester'' shop, Elder Bo.


    "Kid, it''s not a big deal. I would never ask for returns from others. But whenever I look at you I can''t stop myself from saying this. You owe me for these robes so don''t forget itter."


    Elder Bo grinned while telling his thoughts to Zhao Luo. Before he was saying that it was a gift for them. But now he was telling a different story.


    ''So I owe for the robes that Brother Sang and Yan got too.''


    Zhao Luo pondered over what Elder Bo said as it wasn''t a big deal for Zhao Luo.


    "Elder you can start expecting a good return."


    Zhao Luo said with a big smile on his face.


    There was nothing wrong with expecting good things from others when you do good for them.


    "Elder Bo sorry to be impudent but how expensive are the robes in the heaven Zone?"


    Zhao Luo asked Elder Bo. He just wanted to know about the value of the gift he got.


    "The ones in the Heaven Zone''s usually sell for 300k xin coins."


    Elder Bo told him with a serious face but his tone was very light thus showing that 300k in coins weren''t a big sum for him.


    "Ha-Ha-Ha, is that a lot?"


    Zhao Luo asked while looking at Brother Sang. He couldn''t evenugh properly as Elder had thrown a big amount so simply that Zhao Luo had it hard just to stand straight.


    "Yes, brother it''s a big sum indeed. People would bet on these robes, and the bet starts from 300k."


    Brother Sang told Zhao Luo.


    After hearing it, Zhao Luo was shocked beyond reason.


    ''300k...I don''t even have a single xin coin for now.''


    Zhao Luo felt a little depressed over the thought of his current financial situation.


    "Young man, don''t dwell on stupid things. I don''t want the debt to be paid in coins. I may have a different kind of requestter on. Just do that."


    Elder Bo tried to cheer Zhao Luo as he was looking down.


    "I will remember your words Elder."


    Zhao Luo said with a smile emerging on his face again.


    "Thank you Elder."


    Yan also came with his two robes in his hand. He thanked the elder and tried to not look at Zhao Luo.


    "It''s okay. If you want, you can thest two too."


    Elder Bo gave Yan a very tempting offer.


    "Really?"


    Yan couldn''t believe it. So she confirmed with the Elder again.


    "Yes. Why would I mess with a junior??"


    Elder Bo said while raising his hands towards his chest with his palms turned upwards.


    Yan was lost in his thoughts.


    ''Should I take more? I want to. But I think these two are already enough. Hmm."


    Yan thought as he looked around.


    "Thank you for your offer but these two are already enough for me."


    Yan said while showing his white ruby-like teeth to Elder Bo.


    "Hahaha, Good kids indeed."


    Elder Bo said while looking at the three.


    "Elder Bo we shall take our leave now. We still need to buy a storage ring for Brother Luo."


    Brother Sang told the elder.


    ''NOD.''


    Zhao Luo nodded at Elser Bo, agreeing with what Brother Sang had said.


    Both Yan and Brother Sang put their robes in their storage rings.


    "There is no need to buy a storage ring for Zhao Luo."


    Elder Bo said suddenly causing Zhao Luo, Brother Sang, and Yan to look at him.


    "But elder brother Luo will be going to the sect tomorrow. You don''t mean to let Brother Zhao Luo carry his stuff around in his hands."


    Brother Sang asked Elder Bo.


    As what the elder had said didn''t make any sense.


    "Indeed. I can''t imagine how he lived till now without a storage ring."


    Yan also added as he looked at Zhao Luo.


    "Look how he is holding his old worn-out robe in his hands. It is ruining his persona."


    Yanining while puffing his cheeks.


    Theint of Yan waspletely justified.


    Elder Bo looked at Zhao Luo and also nodded as he moved his eyes downwards while looking at Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo was a very handsome man. But his handsomeness was at such an extent that it was hard to look away as he looked like a beauty too.


    Zhao Luo was looking confused as Brother Sang, Yan, and even Elder Bo were nodding while talking in their heads. They were wasting their time talking over how it was a waste that Zhao Luo was ruining his style because of his worn-out robe in his hands.


    "You kids didn''t get what I said."


    Elder Bo said to them.


    Brother Sang and Yan looked at Elder Bo as he was going to continue with what he was talking about.


    "The Robe of Hunger is one of my best works because it isn''t just a simple robe with some heaven-defying functions. There are many things that you still don''t know about."


    Elder Bo showed them a mysterious smile.


    "Zhao Luo, look at the robe with your sole focus in storing it. Just think that you want to push it in the Robe of...."


    Elder Bo was telling Zhao Luo as Zhao Luo had already acted upon his instructions before the elder could even finish.


    Zhao Luo''s robe had disappeared from his hand.


    "Wow, it disappeared. Huh, it''s here. I can take it out."


    Zhao Luo was saying some broken lines as he waved his hand.


    He had seen the Second Elder do the same gesture to bring out the table and paper.


    While waving his hand from right to left Zhao Luo thought about bringing the robe out.


    ''Woosh.''


    Zhao Luo grabbed the robe as it appeared in his hand again out of nowhere.


    "I merged the spatial maniption method of the storage ring in the Robe of Hunger. The amount you can store in that space is more than what you can imagine. With a 10 by 10 Li Square room, you won''t find it half-filled even if you are dying of old age."


    Elder Bo kept on shooting at them with the praises of the storage function of his Robe of Hunger.


    Zhao Luo had his eyebrows raised as he used his senses to check the storage space of his robe.


    He stored his robe in the space and started to see the space too.


    It was like a wooden square structure.


    ''It''s too big.''


    Zhao Luo thought while looking around the storage space inside his robe. If others had heard it, they would have misunderstood it.


    "Fascinating. Right?"


    Elder Bo said while looking at Zhao Luo who had his eyes closed as he was inspecting the storage space.


    This caused Zhao Luo''s senses to be pulled out from the storage space and he opened his eyes.


    "Elder you are a great person. It''s a great pleasure for me to wear this robe which has so many unbelievable features."


    Zhao Luo started praising Elder Bo because of how good the Robe of Hunger was.


    "Well, this should solve your need for a storage ring."


    Elder Bo nodded and said to them.


    "Yes indeed."


    Brother Sang replied.


    After talking for a little while more, they decided to say their farewell to Elder Bo.


    "We shall meet again."


    Elder Bo said to them as they were leaving the shop.


    "Goodbye Elder."


    Brother Sang said to him.


    "Take care of yourself."


    Yan added as he was also standing next to Brother Sang before the exit of the shop.


    Zhao Luo looked at Elder Bo and gave him a nod.

 Chapter 50 - GFC

    Zhao Luo was standing at the exit with Brother Sang and Yan.


    With nothing left to say to the elder they just nodded at him and then turned towards the exit which was the same ss door through which they had entered.


    ''The door that sucked me before!''


    Zhao Luo thought as he brought his hand close to the door slowly. He knew that the door will start pulling him in once hees in contact with the ss surface. He was trying to go slow as he didn''t want to be pulled in abruptly.


    ''Wooop.''


    Zhao Luo appeared outside of the shop.


    It all happened in an instance.


    Even though he was approaching the ss surface slowly, he was still sucked in suddenly. He expected the pull but it was indeed a weird process.


    ''Wooop, Wooop.''


    Brother Sang and Yan also appeared behind him.


    "Good Kids."


    Elder Bo said as the three had left his shop. He was quite impressed by them even though they hadn''t shown him much or anything from the start. It was just how experienced he was. At his age, just a single nce would be enough to see the worth of a person.


    Outside the Shop.


    Brother Sang tapped his robes.


    He stood straight and looked at Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo looked at Brother Sang and he noticed that Brother Sang couldn''t take his eyes off him.


    They were already on top of a mountain and with the way Brother Sang was looking at Zhao Luo with the shade of evening in the sky, there could be nothing weirder than this.


    "What is it, Brother Sang?"


    Zhao Luo asked Brother Sang.


    Even though Zhao Luo wasn''t annoyed by the stare from Brother Sang, the silence was getting to him.


    ''Say something already.''


    Zhao Luo didn''t like the quietude as Brother Sang was a guy who would rarely keep his mouth closed.


    "Brother Luo, looking at you gives me an eternal calmness. It''s like I can finally see the true form of nature. Theplete form."


    Brother Sang was actually in a shock.


    It all happened as he appeared outside of the shop.


    He was tapping his robe to straighten it and as he stood straight his eyes fell on Zhao Luo.


    It was at this moment he knew that he had seen something that he will never forget.


    ''Beautiful.''


    From Brother Sang''s view, he could see the mesmerizing handsome Zhao Luo standing in front of the evening sky as the sun was setting in the direction behind Zhao Luo.


    So the rays of the setting Sun and the Zhao Luo standing in between them while wearing the Robe of Hunger to multiply his beautiful persona, it was st a candy to his eyes.


    "I am just lucky to have such goodpanions."


    Zhao Luo didn''t have any other words to answer Brother Sang. He was just happy to have found such good people in a short amount of time.


    "Only a good person will attract goodpany. Rather we should thank you."


    Brother Sang said to Zhao Luo.


    Yan who was watching their weird exchange was on the verge of crying. His eyes were wet as the bromance between Zhao Luo and Brother Sang was getting intense with each passing minute. This he decided to intervene.


    "Indeed Brother Luo is an amazing person."


    Yan interrupted as he praised Zhao Luo. Now even Yan was calling Zhao Luo as Brother.


    "Thank you."


    Zhao Luo showed a palm-fist salute to Yan.


    "You aren''t any less amazing than me. Getting two of Elder Bo''s robes can''t be done by a regr person."


    Zhao Luo said with a smile as he could already sense that something was going on between Yan and Elder Bo.


    Yan first smiled as he heard what Zhao Luo was saying but then he remembered the strange exchange with Zhao Luo where he had unknowingly said something to Zhao Luo.


    ''I like it.''


    He remembered it and he felt embarrassed as redness enveloped his white cheeks.


    ''I didn''t know that his rtionship with the Elder was so serious that he would start blushing. Elder Bo can''t be.....No Way!''


    Zhao Luo thought as he could see the changes in Yan''s expression.


    He even brought Elder Bo''s preferences in question.


    ''Ouch.''


    Zhao Luo felt the robe tightened as if the robe could hear Zhao Luo''s thoughts against his master.


    ''He couldn''t be interested in girly guys.''


    Zhao Luo thought with a serious face and only then did his robe loosened thus giving him a chance to breathe again.


    "We should go back to the inner area. Let''s book a room in a hotel first."


    Brother Sang said to them.


    "Yes let''s go."


    The three started walking back towards the inner city.


    On the way, Zhao Luo, Brother Sang, and Yan kept on talking about different things.


    It started from food.


    "What is your favorite food?"


    Yan asked while looking at Zhao Luo.


    He wanted to know about this as he started imagining things like cooking for Zhao Luo and being alone with him.


    ''How nice it would be.''


    Yan was staring at Zhao Luo waiting for his answer while different scenarios were going this head of his.


    Brother Sang who was also interested in this question thought that maybe he knew what his brother liked the most.


    "It must be the ramen he ate in my house."


    Brother Sang said with a serious tone. It was like he couldn''t be wrong.


    Both were looking at Zhao Luo as if waiting for him to announce the decree on his favorite food.


    "The ramen was indeed the best ramen I have ever had."


    Zhao Luo said while holding himself back from drooling. He could still remember the texture and the taste of the ramen he had at Brother Sang''s ce which was a pce.


    "But my favorite food is something else."


    Zhao Luo said slowly as he remembered the feeling of eating it.


    "I can still remember the crunchiness of its surface and the tenderness of its insides." Zhao Luo looked emotional as he started exining to them.


    First, it sounded weird to them. As they both had never had something tender and crunchy at the same time. But Zhao Luo had only started.


    "The juices that would flow out once you would bite into it. The smell of the seasoning and the vor would just give you the best pleasure in the world. Mhmm."


    Zhao Luo had water filling his mouth as he could still remember it.


    Such a long time had passed sincest had it yet he could still remember it so clearly.


    Zhao Luo looked at the ones he was telling about it and they were in a worse condition than Zhao Luo.


    His exnation was so realistic that Brother Sang and Yan looked like they would even eat Zhao Luo.


    "Brother, what was the name of this food?"


    Brother Sang asked Zhao Luo as he wanted to know about it.


    ''How can I still say that I am living when I have never had such a thing to eat?''


    Brother Sang thought as his eyes were getting red.


    "Indeed, please enlighten us."


    Yea took it to another level as he asked Zhao Luo. He didn''t even realize that his voice had turned like a girl''s voice. His voice was the only thing that would let others differentiate between him and a girl and now because of his emotional state even it had changed.


    "Understandable."


    Zhao Luo didn''t ponder over it as he knew how amazing the thing he was talking about is.


    "It..."


    Zhao Luo was going to tell them the name.


    "MHMMM, Its GFC."


    Zhao Luo answered them as he remembered a fried chicken in front of him. He couldn''t keep himself from drooling.


    ''GFC'' were the best suppliers of fried chicken in his World. Their fried chicken was so good that just because of that they had expanded to the whole world.


    "GFC?"


    Brother Sang was the first to say as he couldn''t think of anything when he heard the name.


    "What''s that?"


    Even Yan questioned.


    "Its Godly Friend Chicken."


    Zhao Luo answered them as they both looked shocked.


    It was the ultimate food. Filled with protein and the richness of Nature. With everybite one would feel energy bursting in this body.


    Both Brother Sang and Yan looked confused.


    ''From shock to confusion, it can only mean one thing.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he continued to ask them a question.


    "What? You guys have never had a fried chicken."


    Zhao Luo asked them.


    They both nodded.


    ''Well, Yan never had it is still understandable but even Brother Sang never had it.''


    Zhao Luo thought as Brother Sang was a person like him. He had climbed the stairs with his father. He was actually from there but he never had GFC.


    ''How unlucky.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he felt sad for Brother Sang.


    As the question on food ended and both Brother Sang and Yan realized that they weren''t meant to cook Zhao Luo''s favorite food for him.


    This realization was like a boulder to their hearts. It crushed their expectations to cook for him and made them face the reality.


    ''Friend Chicken was a thing too??''


    Brother Sang thought.


    Yan was also thinking the same as he was looking down when he wondered that he will never be able to cook this ''GFC'' for Zhao Luo.


    ''Who would dip a chicken in oil?''


    Yan questioned as he shuddered when he thought of a chicken in his head.


    A cute chicken being dipped into a pot of oil.


    ''How painful the boiling oil would be for the cute chicken??''


    Yan had the dumbest thought anyone could ever have. But that was what further increased his enchanting beauty.


    ''I will definitely make it and let them try it.''


    Zhao Luo looked at them while walking.


    He could see how sad they looked and this he decided that he will bring back the GFC he used to had and let them taste it too.


    The topic of food ended with Zhao Luo''s ultimate decision. It moved to other things as Brother Sang and Yan had given up on their earlier thoughts.

 Chapter 51 - Good Friends

    After walking for half an hour, Zhao Luo, Brother Sang, and Yan had only reached the TPC Building.


    They passed the TPC building while talking about different stuff.


    ''Yan talks so much.''


    Zhao Luo thought while looking at the still talking Yan.


    It was because of how much Yan had to tell them or ask Zhao Luo. Zhao Luo didn''t mind it as it looked nice to see Yan being so enthusiastic about sharing personal things with him and Brother Sang or knowing them.


    The problem was that Brother Sang and Yan, both would almost every time had questions for Zhao Luo and not each other.


    ''Brother Luo What is your....''


    ''Brother Zhao Luo what do you think about...''


    ''Brother Luo when did you do...''


    ''Brother Zhao Luo what is your...''


    These lines were echoing in his mind as Brother Sang and Yan would always just single him out.


    ''It''s hard being so popr.''


    Zhao Luo thought.


    There was still some way left before they reach the hotel and it looked like the questions will continue, Zhao Luo had an idea.


    "Why don''t we each take a turn to ask a question? I will ask first then Yan, you will and thest one asking will be Brother Sang."


    Zhao Luo said to them.


    This way he will just ask them a question before they can ask him.


    Zhao Luo looked at Yan as he threw a question at him.


    "Why did you blush when I touched you before in the robe shop?"


    Zhao Luo still had this question in his mind.


    He couldn''t forget the feeling he got when he saw the blushing Yan say the three words that had put a curse on him.


    ''Well it wasn''t too bad but he should still clear things if he swings that way.''


    Zhao Luo nodded as he thought that Yan clearing things with them would be the best thing to do.


    "Brother Luo I don''t know why I blush but my heart starts beating rapidly whenever you are close. Like now."


    Yan grabbed Zhao Luo''s hands suddenly showing the truth in what he was telling Zhao Luo.


    "Just like now I feel like this is the happiest time of my life. I like it when you are looking at me. It feels nice."


    Yan was going fast and precise. If it was any other guy, they would have sent their straight self to doom without any debate.


    Zhao Luo felt his heart tingling as if Yan''s soft words and his enchanting beauty had cast a spell on him.


    Zhao Luo was looking straight into Yan''s eyes while listening to him.


    "I can''t help it. Sorry to break your heart, Yan."


    Zhao Luo refused Yan even before he asked him.


    Zhao Luo knew what Yan meant as what he was saying sounded more like a confession but he couldn''t go with it.


    ''Sleeping for 100 years after being a virgin and finally finding a girl that I like, I can''t just swing that way.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he remembered Rose.


    "Brother I have to hide my real self because of my Father. I can''t bring shame to his name."


    Yan started exining. Yan meant something else when he said this to Zhao Luo. But Zhao Luo misunderstood his word.


    Brother Sang who was being part of the conversation by being silent had a realization as he looked at Yan.


    "You fool. Being true to yourself and your feelings isn''t something to be ashamed about."


    Zhao Luo shouted at Yan.


    What was there to be feeling shame about?


    Zhao Luo tried to cheer Yan.


    "Don''t worry. You will find a way better guy than me."


    Zhao Luo patted Yan''s head as he told him.


    Instead of feeling happy, Yan pouted as he looked at the smiling Zhao Luo.


    "Brother you are STUPID."


    Yan said to Zhao Luo as he couldn''t understand what Yan meant.


    ''I will have to tell him if I want to get close to him.''


    Yan thought as Zhao Luo was quietly looking at Yan digesting the new title that Yan had given him.


    "Brother Zhao Luo."


    Yan said.


    "Can''t you still see that I am a GIRL?"


    Yan asked Zhao Luo. As Yan got closer to Zhao Luo.


    "I can see that too."


    Brother Sang interrupted.


    ''Yeah, it''s clear now.''


    Brother Sang thought while looking at Yan.


    ''WTF, Where am I supposed to see to tell that Yan is a girl.''


    Zhao Luo was looking at Brother Sang with inn his eyes as Yan was closing in on Zhao Luo.


    "But your voice....it is so manly."


    Zhao Luo said to Yan as he had never seen a girl with such a manly voice. But he forgot that he had never seen a guy who looked like a girl so much either.


    "Hahaha, brother you are simple and innocent. Have you never heard of voice-altering techniques?"


    Yan said as Yan proceeded to hit his neck at three ces with his index finger.


    ''Tap, tap, tap.''


    Yan waited for a moment before continuing what he was saying.


    "This is technique is called Bird Mouth. By pinning three points in the neck you can alter your voice to a heavy one."


    Yan exined as her voice had returned.


    ''So melodious.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he heard Yan''s real voice in which she was giving Zhao Luo a hard lesson as of she was his senior but Zhao Luo felt mesmerized instead of feeling weird or bad about it.


    "It is because I am so weak that I have to hide my real identity before joining the Xin Sect otherwise you wouldn''t have declined me. I can''t let my father down because of my weakness."


    Yan said with a confident tone. There was some sadness lingering in her voice.


    She knew that Zhao Luo would still have rejected her. For now, that is.


    "I understand. Let''s get stronger together."


    Zhao Luo grabbed her hands as he said to her.


    Zhao Luo had the same goal as he wanted to be strong too. If Yan was stronger then she wouldn''t have to hide her identity.


    "Brother don''t tell about this to anyone."


    Yan said to Zhao Luo as she proceeded to use the bird mouth technique again.


    ''Tap, tap, tap.''


    Yan hit the same three points in her neck with her index finger again and looked at Brother Sang.


    "You too, brother. It''s our little secret."


    Yan said in the manly voice she had before as it had returned while smiling at Brother Sang.


    Thus the question that Zhao Luo had asked Yan ended with a new secret they will be keeping for a while till Yan gets strong enough so she does not have to hide her identity.


    Now it was Yan''s turn to ask Zhao Luo.


    She was looking at Zhao Luo.


    "What should I ask you, brother? Mmm. Hmmm. Mhmmm."


    Yan said to Zhao Luo as if asking him to give her a question for him.


    "Nothing."


    Zhao Luo suddenly replied with a grin.


    "Well, that ends your chance."


    Zhao Luo told her as he startedughing.


    "Not fair Brother Zhao Luo. That doesn''t count as a question."


    Yan cried as Zhao Luo and Brother Sang wereughing as Zhao Luo teased him.


    "Okay go ahead and ask me."


    Zhao Luo told her as he couldn''t bear to tease Yan anymore.


    "Hmmm."


    Yan was still thinking about what her question should be. Thus she went with a one she could rte to.


    The person she loved the most was he father as her father''s image appeared in her head she looked at Zhao Luo and asked her question.


    "How is your family like?"


    Yan asked Zhao Luo.


    This question shocked Brother Sang more than Zhao Luo. He knew that Zhao Luo had been sleeping for thest century so he would have lost his family.


    Brother Sang looked at Zhao Luo feeling concerned about how Zhao Luo would answer such a devastating question. But to his surprise, Zhao Luo didn''t even look a little fazed.


    "I was sick as a kid. That sickness overwhelmed my childhood. My childhood memory are filled with days spent with my sickness at that time instead of memories of being together with my mother and father."


    Zhao Luo said as he looked a little sad when he remembered those days when he wasying on the ICU bed 24/7 of every month.


    Just living like a dead person. But then his condition stabilized somewhat.


    Yan and Brother Sang were also saddened as they listened to Zhao Luo.


    "Brother Zhao Luo."


    Yan and Brother Sang said together as of showing him that they were with him.


    Zhao Luo looked at them and showed them a radiant smile.


    "Look at me now. I ampletely fine and lucky enough to have such good friends who feel sad even when I am just telling them about my past."


    Zhao Luo felt grateful. Some of this was directed towards Takuma and the old man as he looked up in the evening sky and could see the faces of Takuma and his master.


    Brother Sang and Yan smiled as they listened to Zhao Luo who had ended his answer with a beautiful ending.

 Chapter 52 - Crouching Tiger

    Zhao Luo was someone who had lived a life of solitude before because of his sickness. As for now, he had nothing toin about. One after another everyone he met and made a connection with was nice and it was fun to be around them or when they were around him. So Zhao Luo had nothing toin about.


    "Brother we will be your family."


    Brother Sang said while looking at Zhao Luo. He knew that Zhao Luo already considered him and the others as good friends but he wanted to be his family.


    Zhao Luo who was walking alongside Brother Sang and Yan smiled when he heard Brother Sang''s statement. He felt touched and emotional.


    After he had started traveling, he never thought that he would one day have people who would care so much for him.


    Zhao Luo looked at Brother Sang.


    "You are already my family."


    Zhao Lup said to him.


    Brother Sang turned his face away.


    ''I can''t cry. A man doesn''t cry.''


    Brother Sang thought as tears were building up in his eyes but he controlled his crying urge by biting his lips.


    "Brother I want to be your family too."


    Yan told Zhao Luo about her wish as she also wanted to be someone who Zhao Luo would consider as his family.


    She didn''t want to fall behind Brother Sang in this sense.


    "Yes, yes, you too."


    Zhao Luo said to her. He agreed with her while patting her head. Now that he knew about her real identity he didn''t feel weird doing this.


    Yan published as she looked a Zhao Luo with big eyes.


    "Hehe, I will treat you nicely."


    The blushing Yan said to Zhao Luo while winking at him.


    Yan was feeling very delighted. Zhao Luo was feeling a little embarrassed as a young girl was making fun of him.


    "I hope so."


    Zhao Luo said.


    While Zhao Luo and Yan were talking, Brother Sang interrupted them.


    "We are here. Brother Luo and Yan, let''s go get you both rooms for your stay tonight."


    Brother Sang said as he halted right outside a hotel in the inner area.


    Zhao Luo looked at the building in front of him and he could easily say that it may be the shortest hotel building that he had ever seen in his life.


    The hotel building was just a single-story building on the ground floor. There were no upper floors. So Zhao Luo felt a little disappointed.


    "Hotel PinK CuBe."


    Zhao Luo read the name of the hotel from the rather stylish signboard. The name was written in golden color which had a pink shade. The name was extravagantpared to the size of the hotel.


    "Brother I know what you are thinking right now, but you will be surprised when you go inside."


    Brother Sang said to Zhao Luo with a grin.


    "This is the best hotel in Xin Range."


    Brother Sang continued.


    Zhao Luo looked confused.


    "If this is the back then other hotels will be even smaller than this one. Do dwarves stay there?"


    Zhao Luo questioned. It was hard to believe that such a small hotel could be the best in a range which had 10 cities.


    "You will know when you go inside."


    Brother Sang walked towards the entrance of PinK CuBe and the hotel''s entrance was through a door.


    This door functioned quite simr to the door of the Robester shop in the marketce of the outer area.


    Zhao Luo and Yan also followed Brother Sang towards the entrance of the Hotel.


    "Wooop, wooop, wooop."


    The three appeared on the other side of the door which was the hotel''s main hall. This was the third time Zhao Luo was going through this.


    The building looked different from the outside but waspletely something else when u would go inside it.


    It happened to him when he had entered the Sect Building and the shop from where he got his robe. But this time the building''s inner design was just at another level.


    "Never judge a building by its outer design."


    Zhao Luo said as he nodded. This saying was truly the best suitable quote that he could think of.


    He looked around and saw that the hall where they were was so ravishing that the whole floor was twinkling like stars. Zhao Luo was looking around just when two attendants approached them.


    "Wee to Hotel Pink Cube."


    They both said at the same time. Their voices ovepped on each other''s which was a very unique talent. But the thing which confused Zhao Luo was the refreshing feeling he was hit with when he heard their voice.


    ''Wow.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he felt like he had been resting for weeks when he had just been walking a long distance to reach here.


    "This is their special entry chant. They both must be bards."


    It was Yan who exined to Zhao Luo as Brother Sang was busy talking with them.


    ''Nod.''


    Zhao Luo nodded as that refreshing feeling was still coursing through his body.


    "Well Brother Luo and Yan, I will be going now."


    Brother Sang said to them.


    He was gonna leave them.


    "Where are you going?"


    Zhao Luo asked him as he thought that they were going to be staying at the hotel together. But now Brother Sang was saying that he was going to leave.


    "I have to go back to my ''Sang Sang Merchant'' group as I still have many things to check and do there. Tomorrow I will be going to the Sect too so I want to clear everything before I leave for the Sect."


    Brother Sang told Zhao Luo the reason for leaving them.


    "Okay. Let''s meet tomorrow then."


    Zhao Luo said as he understood Brother Sang''s situation.


    "They will lead you to your rooms. Let''s meet at the Sect tomorrow."


    Brother Sang said to Zhao Luo and Yan as he pointed his hands towards the attendants.


    "Well, I will go now. Bye."


    Brother Sang said his farewell as he turned to leave.


    "Wooop."


    Zhao Luo saw his back disappearing as he reached the door of the hotel.


    "Let''s go, Sirs."


    The attendees said to Zhao Luo and Yan as they starting walking towards the reception.


    After following them and being shown their rooms, Zhao Luo and Yan went to rest as tomorrow will be the day when they will be finally the day when they will be starting their life as Xin Sect disciple.


    Inside Zhao Lup''s room.


    Zhao Luo was on his bed. He was sitting in the lotus position. He had his eyes closed as he was going over the things he had learned from his old master.


    Zhao Luo appeared in his dark mind space.


    He wanted to go over Naoli as it felt weird for not being in his mind space when for thest year he was there.


    "Summon."


    Zhao Luo said as nine apparitions of his appeared in front of him.


    "Saluuuu~~~~uuuuut."


    They all said as they saluted Zhao Luo while bowing their shoulders.


    "Hehe."


    Zhao Luo smirked as he remembered the days when it was hard to control them after summoning. But now it was like a feeling engraved in his body.


    "I want to test my power soe at me. You. Come."


    Zhao Luo ordered his apparitions as he had his fists clenched tightly. He pointed at one of them who then moved towards Zhao Luo.


    "Waaahhh."


    The apparition rushed at him and Zhao Luo shed with him.


    All of Zhao Luo''s apparitions that he had summoned now were around Bimba''s level.


    If they all attacked him together then it would be like fighting ten Bimba''s at once.


    Zhao Luo exchanged some hits with his apparition that had rushed at him.


    The fighting style of Zhao Luo and his apparitions was still as barbaric as ever.


    The apparition punched Zhao Luo''s abdomen but Zhao Luo dodged or by grabbing the fist of the apparition.


    Zhao Luo pulled him closer and gave him a head butt.


    "Ahh."


    The apparition screamed as his nose started bleeding after Zhao Luo''s counter.


    The exchange of attacks continued as another apparition jumped in the scuffle.


    They both surrounded Zhao Luo and attacked him at once.


    Zhao Luo kept on dodging as he was maintaining a good distance from both of them.


    "Heh, you are my apparitions but I have to say it''s disappointing."


    Zhao Luo taunted his apparitions.


    These apparitions weren''t just simple puppets. They had feelings too. So they got aggravated and started attacking Zhao Luo more seriously.


    Zhao Luo was on the defensive when suddenly he smiled.


    It was the moment when one was in front of him and the other was behind him. They both had attacked him. One had thrown a kick at Zhao Luo''s face and the other one was rushing to bash his fist on Zhao Luo''s handsome face.


    As their attacks were gonna hit him, Zhao Luo went in a crouching position. As he lowered himself quickly, the apparitions couldn''t stop their attacks and hit each other.


    In the moment of confusion, Zhao Luo jumped up from his crouching position andnded his kicks on the chest of his apparitions at the same time.


    Zhao Luo himself was quite surprised at how the result came about. He was indeed nning it since he went on the defensive but he didn''t know it would turn out so well.


    "I feel like a crouching tiger."


    Zhao Luoughed as hepared himself to a martial master. Zhao Luo knew that he had grown stronger.

 Chapter 53 - The Night Training

    Zhao Luo was feeling pleased as he noticed his increase in strength. He was now able to implement his thoughts into action and n while fighting multiple enemies.


    nning each step in a fight is also important. Just increasing your strength isn''t the only way to get better at fighting.


    "You...join them."


    Zhao Luo pointed at another one of the apparitions and ordered him.


    The other two apparitions that were fighting him before were on the ground after being kicked by Zhao Luo on their chest.


    ''Cough.''


    The apparitions hardly got up but it didn''t take them long to recover back.


    This was also one of the perks of training inside this space.


    Zhao Luo''s apparitions were like zombies while Zhao Luo was invincible here.


    ''Hmmm.''


    Zhao Luo was standing in the middle of his three apparitions as his three apparitions were looking for an opening.


    "Hahaha."


    Zhao Luoughed as he liked how his apparitions were getting smarter.


    Before they would just rush at him thus letting him n.


    "Thud."


    Zhao Luo blocked a kick from one of the apparitions by moved up his arms but the other two had moved at the same time he was going to block the attack from the first apparition.


    Two punches were gonnand on him from his left and right.


    Zhao Luo couldn''t even duck their attacks like before.


    "Bam, bam."


    Zhao Luo blocked both of their hits by rotating his body.


    First, he pushed away from the first apparition with the repelling force of his arm and grabbed the fists of the other two.


    Zhao Luo used all the force he could muster through his hands and pulled the two apparitions inwards.


    They both struck each other and fell.


    Zhao Luo rushed at the third apparition and started hitting him with a barrage of attacks.


    It didn''t even take him a minute to destroy three of his apparitions.


    Zhao Luo smirked and he was feeling invincible.


    He thought that he could probably fight anyone now.


    In this moment of heat which was filled with Zhao Luo''s overflowing confidence, he looked at all of his apparitions and ordered them.


    "Attack me together."


    Zhao Luo said as he looked at the six apparitions who were enjoying the show.


    ''It''s time for them to receive their beatings from me.''


    Zhao Luo thought with a grin on his face.


    One after another the apparitions closed in on Zhao Luo. The three apparitions who were down also got up and joined the fight.


    In the Dark Space inside Zhao Luo''s mind.


    One man was surrounded by nine ghastly men.


    It wasn''t a coincidence that they all looked the same.


    A game of stare was going on as all of Zhao Luo''s apparitions had surrounded him.


    "Are you waiting for me to sleep?"


    Zhao Luo asked his apparitions as they were taking their time.


    He thought of attacking them first but he was outnumbered. So he couldn''t make a mistake.


    Zhao Luo wanted to know where he stood regarding his strength. He will be going to the Xin Sect soon so he didn''t want to embarrass himself.


    ''Step.''


    All of the apparitions took a step towards Zhao Luo.


    ''Gulp.''


    Zhao Luo felt nervous as he had already taken a life-threatening beating from his apparitions before.


    ''Here theye.''


    Zhao Luo thought as the apparitions rushed at him all at once.


    Zhao Luo instead of waiting at his position rushed at two of them. They both acted while reacting to Zhao Luo''s movement.


    One of them threw a low punch while the other came at Zhao Luo with a high kick.


    "Bang, Bang."


    Zhao Luo took them on his body without defending. He did fail the pain but it wasn''t enough to stop him.


    With the help of the high kicks force which was aimed at the left of his abdomen, Zhao Luo rotated to punch both of his apparitions.


    The force of his punch was multiplied as Zhao Luo kept on rotating like a spinning top.


    "Beyyd Punchi"


    Zhao Luo roared.


    The apparitions were hit with multiple punches as they couldn''t even fall.


    "Thud, Thud, Thud, Thud, Thud, Thud, Thud, Thud."


    Both of those apparitions fell after they were hit by more than ten punches.


    The spinning Zhao Luo was slowing down as he stopped spinning.


    Zhao Luo was smiling because he had just created a new attack. So it was a moment of celebration.


    Sadly his other apparitions weren''t willing to wait for that.


    As Zhao Luo stopped they all rushed to attack him. They already knew how their end will be like if they waited any more.


    Zhao Luo raised his fist to fight back.


    ''A good offense is the best defense.''


    He thought as he wanted to move to attack them before they could close on him but he couldn''t move his leg.


    Zhao Luo looked down and saw the two apparitions that he had smashed into a paste holding down on his legs.


    "Oh, Sh*t."


    Zhao Luo tried to kick them away but it was easy as he had to defend himself from theing attacks too.


    "Bam, Bam."


    A punchnded on Zhao Luo''s abdomen which caused him to bend his back because of the pain.


    As he had to stoop down another lunchnded on his face.


    "Thwack."


    Zhao Luo punched the two apparitions that were holding his leg as he had bent down and when the punch from the fourth apparitionnded on his face, he raised his leg to kick him back.


    This continued for a short while before the nine apparitions had subdued Zhao Luo and they started beating him viciously.


    For a while, only two kinds of sounds were heard in the dark space of Zhao Luo''s mind.


    "Thud, Thud, Thud."


    And,


    "Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah."


    These weren''t the moans of a girl neither were these the screams of pleasure.


    It was the sound of Zhao Luo being beaten to a pulp by his apparitions.


    Whenever Zhao Luo would try to fight back they would back off and then attack him again as his attack would fail.


    This continued for the whole night.


    The next day.


    Outside of Zhao Luo''s room.


    A beautiful maiden was standing at the door of Zhao Luo''s room.


    "Wake up already."


    "Brother Zhao Luo."


    "Bang, Bang."


    The maiden had a quite manly voice as she started banging at the door while calling out Zhao Luo.


    Inside the room.


    Zhao Luo was still sitting in a lotus position. The start of hisst night training but the end wasn''t worth mentioning. But during the whole night, the level of his apparition had gone up by a lot.


    While Zhao Luo''s resilience had gone up because of all the beating he had received.


    Zhao Luo was lying on the ground as his apparitions had stopped as different sounds kept on echoing in his mind space.


    ''It''s Yan.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he opened his mouth.


    "Assimte."


    Zhao Luo said as all of his apparitions turned into shadows and were absorbed by Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo could feel his powers rising once again as one by one all of his apparitions were absorbed by him. That is what the assimtion step of Naoli was.


    Beads of sweat were flowing down from his face. Zhao Luo''s hairs were a little wet.


    Even though Zhao Luo had fought his apparition the whole night, he still felt amazingly refreshed.


    "Bang, Bang."


    Yan was still knocking at Zhao Luo''s door.


    Zhao Luo opened his eyes. He got up and walked towards the door and opened it.


    Yan blushed as she saw Zhao Luo''s appearance.


    With his wet hairs dangling around his handsome face and his loose robes Zhao Luo looked mesmerizing to Yan with just a single nce.


    "What''s wrong?"


    Zhao Luo asked as he saw that Yan''s cheeks were turning red as she stared at him.


    "Mhm mhm."


    Yan just shook her head as she turned her eyes away from this lust trap Zhao Luo.


    "Let''s go. Otherwise, we will bete."


    Zhao Luo told Yan as he started walking past Yan.


    ''Look who is talking about beingte.''


    Yan thought as she had the idea that Zhao Luo was lost in some dream before she hade to wake him up.


    "Wait for me."


    Yan shouted as she picked up her speed and came to walk side by side with Zhao Luo.


    Outside the PinK CuBe Hotel.


    Zhao Luo and Yan left the hotel and now they were heading towards the Teleportation building to meet up with the other examinees who had passed the entrance exam of the Xin Sect held by the Second Elder.


    The journey to the building was mostly quiet as Yan would frequently steal nces at Zha Luo and Zhao Luo was busy going over hisst night''s training. He could feel that he had be even more powerful than before.


    After reaching the building, Zhao Luo and Yan stopped at the entrance.


    ''Breathe~''


    Zhao Luo took a deep breath.


    ''This is it. I will finally be going to the Xin Sect.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he pushed open the door and entered the TPC building.

 Chapter 54 - Its Time!

    Inside the Teleportation Circle Building aka the TPC building.


    There were many people gathered around the circle. They were the examinees who had passed the entrance exam and their families hade too.


    Their children would be going to the Sect for a long time now so how could they not see them off.


    Zhao Luo entered the building with Yan. The only thing in his mind was that he wanted to see the Sect. He had watched the Sect Mountain many times till now and finally, he was going there.


    "There are so many people here."


    Zhao Luo said as he could see a crowd gathered inside the building.


    "It''s because there are others like the friend and families of the examinees here too."


    Yan exined as she looked around and noticed some familiar faces.


    "Hmmm. I don''t see Feng Mei. Brother Sang isn''t here either."


    Zhao Luo told Yan after he scanned the crowd.


    They had nned to meet in the building but both of them weren''t even here yet.


    Zhao Luo walked towards the crowd and mixed in with them. After passing through so many people gradually he reached the ce where the Second Elder was standing.


    "Hope you are well Elder."


    Zhao Luo paid his respect to the Elder as he bowed in front of him.


    As Zhao Luo said that to the Second Elder everyone looked at him for a moment then they turned to what they were discussing.


    It was simple, so many people were already gathered here. Every one of them hade to pay his respect to Elder Dousan but except for a nod, nobody could get any other reaction from him.


    "Haha, Young man you are finally here. I have two new riddles for you."


    Elder Dousan startedughing as he saw Zhao Luo greeting him.


    The people around them were shocked.


    ''Who was Elder Dousan?''


    Except for being one of the smartest elders in the Xin Sect, he was also in the top 5 elder ranking in terms of raw strength and cultivation level. But now the same elder was looking genuinely happy and talking with this kid like he was a Junior of Elder. Others were quite shocked by this interaction between The Elder and Zhao Luo.


    "Haha, Elder please not today."


    Zhao Luo jokingly declined the offer of solving the Second Elders'' two brand new riddles.


    ''His riddles are easier than boiling an egg.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he was still maintaining a carefree smile.


    If he had easily solved the riddles of the Second Elder in front of so many people then wouldn''t the Elder''s title ''The Master Of Riddles'' turn out to be a scam.


    While Zhao Luo had refused the Elder, the Elder didn''t mind it even a single bit. But the same thing couldn''t be said for the people around them.


    Some were all looking at this interaction between Zhao Luo and the second elder with their mouth open. While others felt that this was very interesting.


    ''Where did this young mane from.''


    Some thought as who would dare to refuse the second elder''s offer.


    Most of these people were bbergasted by Zhao Luo''s attitude towards the elder and how elder dousan treated him.


    While this interaction between the elder and Zhao Luo was going on, three people had entered the building. Two were in the front while the third one was behind them.


    The one in the front was Feng Mei who was walking in front of her subordinates. The subordinates were like her guards.


    As she entered the building Zhao Luo noticed her but before he could move to her, the big teleportation circle next to him glowed.


    ''Whoosh.''


    Brother Sang and Su Shi appeared on it.


    Now all of Zhao Luo''spanions had appeared in the building. Yan came with him from the hotel. Feng Mei arrived with her subordinates from Feng''s Pce.


    Whereas Su Shi and Brother Sang appeared in the circle together.


    ''They are together. Huh.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he grinned while looking at Brother Sang.


    Brother Sang knew what Zhao Luo was thinking as he nodded at him before moving closer to Zhao Luo.


    As for why Su Shi and Brother Sang appeared in the circle is a different story.


    Yesterday night.


    Brother Sang had returned to the Second City just to find Su Shi at the gate of his ''Sang Sang Merchant''. But there was a reason behind her visit at such a time of night.


    There was an item that she had to receive from one of Brother Sang''s Merchant stores in the Second City. But she didn''t know where the store was thus she decided to visit him directly.


    The item was a gift to Su Shi prepared by her father but he didn''t give her directly instead choose a roundabout way.


    ''A tale forter.''


    A beautiful small sword with a mysterious name. It had a ruby carved on its hilt. It was a shorter replica of the sword that Su Shi''s father uses.


    Brother Sang passed the sword to her.


    He also gave the message of her father.


    "Good luck my daughter."


    After listening to the message Su Shi suddenly started crying. She had been showing a strong cover since she was little but now that she was going to the Sect she had finally epted the truth. But it didn''t mean she had given up her responsibilities.


    Brother Sang was confused as to how he shouldfort her and in the end, he hugged her.


    After her crying had stopped Brother Sang have her a room to stay the night so they ended uping here together.


    In TPC Building.


    Brother Sang approached Zhao Luo as he could see the grin on Zhao Luo''s face. This grin forced him to remember about the hug with Su Shi.


    Brother Sang was blushing slightly as he stood next to Zhao Luo now. Su Shi was with them there too. Yan who was standing behind Zhao Luo was looking at Zhao Luo and Brother Sang.


    One had a grin on his face while the other was looking at him with innocent eyes.


    "Absolutely nothing happened."


    Brother Sang suddenly said while looking at Zhao Luo and then changing his sight onto Su Shi. This caused Su Shi to blush too.


    She didn''t know why she was behaving like this. There wasn''t even any reason to feel embarrassed.


    ''These idiots.''


    Su Shi thought.


    Feng Mei had also approached the group.


    "I greet the Elder."


    Feng Mei gave a bowing salute to the Second Elder as the Elder nodded at her with a smile.


    She was a refreshment to his old eyes.


    ''Such a cute child.''


    Elder thought as he looked at Brother Sang and Su Shi who still hadn''t greeted him.


    "Ahem."


    The elder scuffed.


    "Sorry for my rudeness Elder."


    Brother Sang said as he and Su Shi gave a light bow with their shoulder while giving the elder a first palm salute.


    As the greeting with the Elder had finished Feng Mei turned to Zhao Luo and the others.


    "Brother I missed you."


    Feng Mei said as she hugged Zhao Luo while holding to his robe with her little hands.


    Her brother was looking even more handsome now with his killing beauty spreading through his persona.


    Zhao Luo patted Feng Mei''s head as little Feng Mei was looking cuter than ever. But right then a strange sensation started poking and he couldn''t get away from this eerie feeling.


    It felt like someone was trying to kill him with their gaze. Thus Zhao Luo looked around.


    ''Who is it?''


    Zhao Luo looked at the people around him but he couldn''t find the person who was directing so much killing intent at him.


    Even though Zhao Luo wanted to find the one who was directing such a murderous gaze at him but he couldn''t care much about it since they were in a ce where any mishap would be stopped even before it could happen.


    Zhao Luo turned his focus on Feng Mei.


    Feng Mei left Zhao Luo''s embrace and blushed a little. Even though she was so young but it felt nice hugging such a handsome guy.


    "Is everything okay now?"


    Zhao Luo asked while looking at Feng Mei.


    He still couldn''t forget about the look on the Little Queen''s face when one of her subordinates had whispered something in her ear.


    Zhao Luo still had a clear image of the sight of Feng Mei''s lonely back when she had left the Sect Building.


    "Brother, don''t worry. I am strong."


    Feng Mei said as she showed Zhao Luo a cute smile.


    ''How can I believe that?''


    Zhao Luo felt his heart shaking.


    Even though his little sister said that everything was fine but how could he ignore the despairing look in her eyes.


    "Feng Mei is the Strongest."


    Zhao Luo cheered her as he patted her head.


    He knew that she wasn''t ready to share her problems with anyone yet. So he decided to give Feng Mei the time she needs. He could only cheer and support her from the sidelines.


    While everyone had thinks they were still talking about with each other, the Second Elder went inside the teleportation circle.


    "p, p."


    A loud pping sound echoed in the building as everyone focused on the Second Elder.


    "Everyone bid farewell to your families and friends and be ready to look at your future. Gather around me. It''s time."


    The Second Elder announced. It was finally time to teleport to the Sect.


    Zhao Luo clenched his fists as he moved in the circle with his friends.

 Chapter 55 - Announcement

    Inside the building with the teleportation circle.


    Zhao Luo had entered the circle. Brother Sang, Feng Mei, Yan, and Su Shi we''re standing next to him in the circle.


    The other people who were going to the sect too were entering the circle one by one. They were the ones who had passed the first test of the entrance exam.


    After everyone had entered the circle, the Second Elder looked at the porter as the porter nodded at him.


    This was the elder''s signal to him which was meant to be the start of the teleportation to the sect.


    The porter waved his hand on the control rod of the teleportation circles which caused the carvings on the circle to start glowing.


    ''It''sing.''


    Zhao Lup thought as his eyes fell on the erupting shineing from the carvings of the TP circle.


    This was the third time Zhao Luo was going somewhere through this teleportation circle so he already knew that they would be teleported to the sect soon. Zhao Luo was eager to see the sect.


    ''What will it be like? Hmm.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he closed his eyes.


    Everyone around him had their eyes closed too except the Second Elder.


    "Whoo~oosh."


    They all disappeared from there and appeared somewhere else.


    The mountain in the middle of the Xin Range.


    Eleven mountains were surrounding it, while ten of them were making a circle that was gradually increasing. Then there was the entry mountain.


    Every mountain had a city at its summit. Zhao Luo had already seen three cities and now this was the moment of his life when he will get to see the fourth city which was most likely the Sect covering the whole summit of the middle mountain.


    "Whoo~oosh."


    Inside the TPC building of the Sect, the new batch of the trainee disciples had appeared. The Second Elder was leading them.


    "Wee back Elder Dousan."


    The porter said to the Second Elder as he greeted him right after they had teleported on the circle.


    "He is wearing a purple robe and also has a ck badge."


    Zhao Luo said to Brother Luo as he was looking at the porter.


    The porter was wearing the same type of robe that Si Chen had given him. But the shocking thing was his badge. It had three lines but they were different than the ones on Si Chen''s badge.


    ''|/''


    The second and third lines were making a V sign but Zhao Luo knew a little so he guessed that the porter was a level 4 ck badge.


    "This porter is a student from the Xin Sect''s Security Hall."


    Brother Sang told Zhao Luo so that Zhao Luo doesn''t get confused while thinking about it too deeply.


    "Hmm."


    Zhao Luo wondered about the different halls as he listened to Brother Sang.


    ''Let''s stay away from this one.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he looked at the disciple who was acting as a porter just because he belonged to the security hall.


    Zhao Luo had already cklisted the Security Hall.


    ''I can''t waste my time by bing a porter.''


    Zhao Luo had decided to take the Security Hall out of his mind.


    "Let''s go."


    The Second Elder said as he moved towards the exit of the Teleportation Circle Building.


    Everyone was following behind him. As the Elder left the building with everyone.


    Zhao Luo who was behind the elder looked around him right after exiting the building.


    "Wow."


    Zhao Luo eximed as he could only see halls and pces everywhere around him.


    There were countless of them in his sight.


    Some were majestic while others looked quite ordinary. They were like the two sides of a coin.


    "Wee to the Xin Sect."


    The Second Elder announced in a calm manner when everyone had gathered around outside of the TPC building.


    Zhao Luo felt as if a cold wind had passed through him when he had heard the elder''s announcement. The power in his voice was so soothing that his whole body had lost the eagerness he was feeling before.


    "Forget who you were beforeing to Xin Sect."


    The Second Elder''s tone had changed. The Second Elder spoke to them in amanding tone like he was ordering them to forget their identity.


    Zhao Luo listened to the elder very attentively.


    He didn''t have much attachment to his past anyway so it wasn''t hard for him.


    The same goes for the people around him.


    Zhao Luo looked around and he could see the clear eyes of the cute Feng Mei and the beauty Su Shi who were starting at the second elder. Yan was the same as them too. She was already hiding her identity so she was already a step ahead of everyone here.


    ''Where did Brother Sang go?''


    Zhao Luo thought as he looked around but he could find Brother Sang anywhere.


    "Everyone may have a different reason behind their wish to be in the Xin Sect but everyone has the same goal. That is to be the strongest among your peers or at least strong enough to protect your people."


    The Second Elder was giving a powerful speech while looking at the twenty examinees who had passed the entrance exam.


    Everyone was immersed in the momentary lecture of the second elder as the elder would give them time after every one of his statements.


    ''Why don''t they have any questions?''


    Elder Dousan thought as he had stopped after telling them a very powerful statement. This could just be the motivation behind their journey to strength. But the problem was he had stopped three times but thesezy newbies hadn''t even asked him a single question.


    The second elder was waiting while letting them digest what he had told them when he noticed that one of them was looking very serious.


    If it was someone else then the second elder wouldn''t even have taken notice of him but this was Zhao Luo.


    ''What could be troubling this young man?''


    The second elder thought.


    Zhao Luo went into this state of confusion after hearing the elder''sst line.


    ''I am not here to be the strongest among my peers. Neither am I trying to be ''just'' strong enough to protect my people.''


    Zhao Luo thought as his vision went over Feng Mei and the others.


    Zhao Luo looked at the second elder.


    "Elder is it possible to be the strongest in the whole Xin Sect?"


    Zhao Luo asked the elder.


    He decided that this would be his first step toward his goal. He wanted to know if he could achieve it while staying in the Xin Sect. He already had the mind of a Crimson God so how could he be happy by bing the Strongest only among his peers.


    "Hahaha."


    The Second Elder startedughing as he listened to Zhao Luo''s question.


    The other disciples around Zhao Luo startedughing too as they were mocking him.


    Zhao Luo had never been calmer in his life. He knew that elder wasn''t a person who would make fun of others but these people misunderstood the reason behind the mysteriousugh of the Second Elder.


    "Hmm."


    Feng Mei was looking angrily at the people who wereughing because of Zhao Luo''s, remembering their faces as she clenched her little fists.


    "Silence."


    The Second Elder shouted causing everyone to close their mouth.


    He looked at the lot who wereughing at Zhao Luo with a smirk on his old face.


    "Who allowed you tough? Huh."


    The Elder was very displeased by their behavior.


    Nobody had enough courage to answer the elder''s question.


    ''It''s my fault for going easy on them in the first test. Sigh.''


    The elder thought as he sighed and looked at Zhao Luo.


    "Young man do you know what life is?"


    The Second Elder asked Zhao Luo instead of answering his question.


    Zhao Luo had many answers to this question but he chose to remain quiet.


    "Life is a dream."


    The Elder said slowly.


    This confused many but some were still listening to the second elder.


    "This dream will onlyst till death decides to wake you up from it."


    The elder stopped as he solely focused on Zhao Luo.


    "If you can''t even dream about your goals in your life then how will you achieve them before death visits you?"


    The elder asked as he was looking at everyone now.


    This answer made them realize their mistakes as the ones who wereughing at Zhao Luo looked at him.


    ''He isn''t just dashingly handsome but also daring too. A perfect man.''


    A girl thought.


    She was from amongst the new disciples who were looking at Zhao Luo.


    "Young man, you already know my answer. Since you have already dreamed about it then you can just give your best to achieve it."


    The Second Elder said with a smile that he could shake off.


    Even he hadn''t be the strongest and he knew that he couldn''t achieve it now.


    ''If only I was like him before.''


    The Second Elder thought as he could see his shadow from Zhao Luo but Zhao Luo had everything that the Younger version of Dousan was missing.


    "Thank you Elder. I feel like nothing''s impossible now."


    Zhao Luo showed his gratitude to the elder.


    His mind was clear as spring water and he had his eyes on the first step towards his goal.


    "I will be the strongest in the Xin Sect."


    Zhao Luo announced to everyone there.


    The Second Elder looked shocked. He didn''t know that his answer would be such an effect on the young man.


    The other disciples were looking shocked as well.


    "Who is this mad man?"


    One of the new disciples said. In reality, the other also agreed with him that Zhao Luo was a mad man.


    While everyone was looking shocked.


    Three people had smiles on their faces.


    They were standing not very far away from the group which was outside the teleportation circle building.


    It was Brother Sang who was joined by Si Chen and Rose.

 Chapter 56 - Trashes

    "He is still the same."


    Si Chen said as he remembered the moment which had happened a few days ago. It was the time when Zhao Luo had fought with Bambi.


    The Si Chen from then couldn''t even have imagined that Zhao Luo would have such a goal but now Si Chen was happy to see that Zhao Luo''s goal was so extraordinary.


    "Indeed, Brother Zhao Luo is a remarkable guy."


    Brother Sang said as he looked at the tall standing Zhao Luo.


    ''As expected of the guy who I am destined to help.''


    Brother Sang thought the duty of taking care of Zhao Luo was his now after his father had passed away.


    While Brother Sang and Si Chen were giving their output after hearing Zhao Luo''s announcement, Rose was just looking at him.


    She had already taken a liking to Zhao Luo. The way he acted, the way he looked, and the way he made her feel. After hearing his announcement even she was a little shocked.


    Only after hearing Zhao Luo''s announcement did she found out something new about Zhao Luo.


    ''He is very ambitious too. Good guy.''


    Rose thought as some ideas were invading her mind.


    While Brother Sang, Si Chen, and Rose were having different thoughts regarding Zhao Luo, there was someone who had a smirk on his face.


    The Sect was really big even if someone just looked at it. There were many halls and pces in the Xin Sect.


    Then there was a ce in the Xin Sect where many pces were surrounding a majestic pce.


    Inside that majestic pce, there was a man. He was the same man who had the smirk on his face.


    He had his eyes closed as his smirk grew more and more till it turned into a smile.


    While his mouth kept on moving. Sometimes he would say words of insult while other times he would say praises.


    "Haha, the little puppy wants to be the strongest in my sect."


    The man said suddenly, even though he had his eyes closed, it was like he was still seeing the scenes from outside the TPC Building somehow.


    "How long has it been since I have seen someone like him?"


    The guy with the closed eyes said as he was spying on the new disciples.


    This guy was the Sect Leader of Xin Sect.


    The reason for watching the new disciples was because the Second Elder had gone out to be the examiner of this time''s entrance exam.


    During the previous exams every time the number of examinees passing would easily exceed the numbers in hundreds. But this time only 20 had passed so the Sect Leader wanted to know who these lucky 20 disciples were.


    While he was doing so his eyes caught the sight of someone who looked familiar.


    It was Yan but right then Zhao Luo had asked his question.


    As Zhao Luo started questioning the Second Elder, the Sect leader was solely focused on Zhao Luo till the announcement of his goal.


    "I like this young man. Hahaha."


    The Sect leader said as he startedughing.


    Bing the strongest in the Xin Sect meant there was no one stronger than you in the whole Xin Range.


    Outside the TPC Building.


    Zhao Luo had just told the Second Elder his first step towards his big goal. But he didn''t know that many other parties had heard it alongside the Second Elder.


    "Young man, you are one interesting fellow."


    The second elder told Zhao Luo.


    If it was someone else he wouldn''t have taken his seriously but it was Zhao Luo, who had solved his hardest riddles easily.


    "Thank you Elder. But I am still nowhere near you."


    Zhao Luo said to the Second Elder as he had to agree that this Elder Dousan was something else.


    As this ended, the Second Elder looked at everyone.


    "There is already someone who has such an intense goal for his future. Don''t fall behind him by too much."


    The Second Elder told the new disciples.


    The new disciples looked at Zhao Luo.


    Even though Zhao Luo had a big dream, it didn''t matter much. An unachievable dream would stay as a dream and will never be a reality.


    ''Who could be even stronger than the Sect Leader himself?''


    They thought as the idea seemed impossible to achieve.


    So the other new disciples didn''t feel threatened or challenged by Zhao Luo.


    "Fei will take over from now on."


    The Second Elder said before giving Zhao Luo ast look as he disappeared from his ce.


    ''Whoosh.''


    The ce where the Elder was standing was now empty.


    Many were confused.


    "Fei? Who is Fei?"


    Zhao Luo questioned as someone else was going to be leading them.


    Everyone appeared to be waiting for this Fei to appear. It wasn''t long before they could hear someone walking towards them.


    "Tap, Tap, Tap."


    From far away which looked like a hall someone was walking towards them.


    ''Is he Fei?''


    Zhao Luo thought as the silhouette of a tall man was getting visible more and more as he got close to them.


    In just a matter of seconds, a person was standing in the ce where Elder Dousan was.


    This new guy looked as if he was confused over something and was holding his anger inside him. His eyebrows were a little arched as his forehead would twitch once in a while.


    In terms of looks, he looked quite average. But the thing about him which stood out the most was something that was on his chest.


    It was the badge.


    While everyone including Zhao Luo was wearing a simple ck badge, this guy had a bronze badge on his chest.


    There was a single line on his bronze badge showing his level.


    ''|''


    Zhao Luo looked at his bronze badge with a shining straight line in the middle of it.


    He still wasn''t familiar with the strength and cultivation levels in the Xin Sect but he knew that this guy was way stronger than Si Chen and Rose or maybe even him.


    "So you are my younger brothers and sisters."


    The guy said as he looked at everyone with an eerie smile on his face.


    But then as if a realization had hit him. He turned around facing his back towards the new disciples.


    ''Thwack.''


    As he turned around, the man did something which caused everyone to hear a pping sound. Then he turned around again to look at the new disciple and Zhao Luo could a handprint on the guy''s face.


    ''Did he p himself?''


    Zhao Luo thought as he was looking at the new guy.


    "Let me introduce myself. I am Zi Fei. You guys can call me Brother Fei."


    Zi Fei said as he started the introduction.


    "I will be taking you to your hall. I will also be guiding you through the ranks of the disciples and the ways you can earn your bread in the Sect."


    Zip Fei told them. While talking there would be times when a smile would emerge on his face but he would quickly hide it.


    "He has problems."


    Zhao Luo said lightly as he saw the weird senior brother of his.


    "Follow me."


    Zi Fei said as he turned around and started walking towards the area where the Halls of the Sect were starting.


    The group of new disciples started following him. Zhao Luo was also amongst them. With Yan, Feng Mei, and Su Shi beside him, he could be said to be a person who has been blessed by the beauties.


    "Brother I don''t like this senior brother Fei."


    Feng Mei cried with her cute voice and told Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo smiled as he heard her and then focused back on Zi Fei.


    "Since you have only joined the Sect by passing the entrance exam, you are all trainee disciples."


    Zi Fei said as he started the exnation about how the disciples were ranked.


    "After you are strong enough to acquire the ''|'' mark on your ck badge, you will advance to an outer disciple of the Xin Sect. Obviously how you are treated depends on your status and how fast you improve."


    Zi Fei continued as the eerie smile was etched on his face. Nobody could see his smile as they were falling behind him while he was exining to them.


    "After you acquire the ''|X'' mark on your ck badge, you will be eligible to advance to inner disciple but the tests aren''t easy so don''t even dream about it half-heartedly."


    Zi Fei exined the method to advance to an inner disciple.


    Zhao Luo now knew about outer disciples, inner disciples, and trainee disciples which he was at the moment.


    ''It''s the same as the temples.''


    He remembered that the setting regarding the disciple ranking here was quite simr to the ones at the Shaolin temples during his time.


    "After inner disciples, there are core disciples and then the direct disciples. But let''s stop this here as too much knowledge can be fatal for people who aren''t even meant to act on it."


    Zi Fei said as he stopped his exnation.


    Zhao Luo could easily see through the taunt hidden in Zi Fei''s words.


    "For now you all will be staying in the trainee disciple hall. With a senior from the outer hall helping you out in your training."


    Zi Fei exined to them as they had reached a building.


    The namete outside the building said ''Trainee Hall''.


    Zhao Luo looked at it as even the ce where trainees were staying at, looked humongous.


    Zi Fei entered through the gates with everyone following behind him.


    As soon as everyone entered, a voice called out to them.


    "The trashes are here."


    A bulky man said in a harsh tone.

 Chapter 57 - Zi Fei

    The outer hall was the ce where the trainee disciples would be brought to after they had passed the entrance exam of the Sect.


    This was the ce where they would stay. Also, this was where they would train.


    Some trainee disciples had been here for more than 7 years already, unable to be strong enough to acquire the First ''|'' Mark on their badge.


    While every year more than two thousand people would join the sect after passing the examination. But only a handful from such a big number would gradually improve.


    The trainee hall already had around seven thousand disciples who were still trainees. With these twenty new disciples joining their rank.


    The Outer Hall had a ranking border where the top 100 Outer disciples would be ranked ording to their strengths and weaknesses.


    Every year one of the lower-ranking ''outer disciples'' from the ''Outer Hall'' would be guiding the trainees ording to their assigned mission.


    In the Xin Sect, disciples were assigned missions and the reward forpleting these missions would be Xin Coins depending on the difficulty of the mission.


    One of the easiest whilst also being the hardest mission for the outer disciples of the Outer hall was ''guiding the trainees''.


    The Sect would award 5 coins to the outer disciple after hepletes his shift to help


    the trainee disciples for a whole year.


    Training someone is never an easy job. But what if your trainer isn''t even willing to train you and just pretending or bullying you during that period.


    One of the hardest jobs will be the easiest if you just mess around instead of working on it.


    Most of the trainees were in the trainee hall right now for their training. During that time they heard their trainer, the outer disciple disrespecting the new trainees.


    Almost every disciple of the Xin Sect in the trainee hall was looking at the disciple who had just entered the hall after Zi Fei.


    With more than five thousand eyes on you because someone just threw sh*t at you wasn''t a fun experience for any of them including Zhao Luo.


    ''What?''


    Zhao Luo looked at the man who had insulted them.


    ''He sure is big.''


    Zhao Luo thought as the man looked like a bodybuilder. He wasn''t even that tall but he was too much on the muscle side.


    "Mite how many times have I told you to behave yourself when addressing the trainee disciples?"


    Zi Fei shouted as he looked at the big guy who was named mite.


    Even though it looked like Zi Fei was scolding mite but the expression on Zi Fei''s face showed otherwise.


    His lips were curled upwards and brows arching downwards and his eyes were squinted, he looked more like a clown telling a joke.


    "Brother Fei it was years ago, and if I address them as trashes it motivates these newbies."


    Mite exined to Zi Fei presenting the excuse for his rude attitude.


    Zi Fei who was trying to control his eerieugh looked at Mite with his serious face.


    Zi Fei''s serious face wasn''t something to be taken lightly as his face still had a smile on it. But the smile now looked way evil than the creepy ones that Zi Fei had been showing before.


    "Trash. Then why haven''t you been motivated yet? Why are you still one of the lower-ranking outer disciples?"


    Zi Fei said to Mite.


    He started by calling Mite trash in front of so many trainees. This caused Mite to look down in embarrassment. His cheeks felt hot as if Zi Fei had pped them.


    "This guy, he is weird but amazing."


    Zhao Luo said as he felt different, after seeing how Zi Fei dealt with Mite.


    "Mite your only job is to help them. Whether you do it properly or ck off in your duties, I couldn''t care less."


    Zi Fei said as he continued to approach Mite step by step.


    Mite didn''t show it but he was scared sh*tless seeing the smiling Zi Fei approaching him slowly. As Zi Fei came to stand in front of Mite, he ced his hand on Mite''s shoulder and looked at him with his squinted eyes.


    ''Thud.''


    Mites knees gave up as he bent down letting his knees touch on the floor. Zi Fei tilted his head downwards watching the bent Mite.


    "Nobody talks back to me."


    Zi Fei said to Mite. He said it so that only Mite could hear.


    Mite started nodding while looking at the ground as the hand of Zi Fei on his shoulder was already like a crushing weight for Mite.


    After dealing with Mite Zi Fei turned around.


    Zi Fei looked at the new trainee disciples.


    "This is where you will stay from now on. If you don''t try your best and keep on advancing then you will end up like that."


    Zi Fei gave a little speech to Zhao Luo and the other new disciples as he pointed at Mite who was looking devasted.


    ''That should be enough.''


    Zi Fei thought as he made his way out of the trainee hall leaving the new disciples in the hands of Mite.


    "Phew."


    Mite released a breath of relief as Zi Fei had finally left, leaving the trainee hall to him.


    "Well, now that he is gone. Let me tell you something."


    Mite stood up and brushed off the dirt from his robe.


    Before Zi Fei was standing between the new disciples and Mite but now there was no one blocking their view of Mite.


    Zhao Luo could see the badge on Mite''s chest.


    "There are four marks on his ck badge."


    The marks on Mite''s ck badge were something like this.


    ''/||''


    Zhao Luo who was familiar with what this mark meant knew that Mite was someone who was at the 7th level.


    "Why do you think there are so many trainees still here? In this hall, every one of them is stronger than you."


    Mite said to the new disciples as he pointed at other trainees who were here to spectate.


    "They can easily advance to an outer disciple but they wouldn''t. The reason is simple. Free amodation and food while they only have to train their bodies every day."


    Mite said as he exined the reason behind therge numbers of trainees in the trainee hall which had umted over the years.


    "While there are so many trainees here in the trainee hall, there are still those from the previous tests who have already advanced to the outer hall after bing the outer disciple."


    Mite exined. Surely his words held some power and reason.


    "But after you be an outer disciple you will have to do Sect mission. For every missionpleted sessfully the Sect will award you Xin coins. That''s the only way to earn Xin coins and pay for your amodation and food. So is having these things for free better or working for it every day?"


    Mite said to them as he smirked.


    People tend to look for the easy way out of everything so he expected many among these 20 disciples to just stay in the trainer hall.


    Outer disciples weren''t given free things like the trainee disciples.


    "How do I be an outer disciple?"


    Zhao Luo asked ignoring everything that Mite had said till now.


    He didn''t care about the pros and cons of the trainee status. His only mission was to improve.


    Mite looked at Zhao Luo as he had questioned Mite and startedughing as if Zhao Luo had told him a joke.


    "Hahaha. We have a devoted one here."


    Mite shouted instead of answering Zhao Luo''s question. After making fun of Zhao Luo he remembered senior brother Zi Fei''s warning.


    "Ahem, you all received the ck badge after passing the exam. The color of the badge represents the form of cultivation. ck represents the cultivation of the body''s strength. You can develop the strength of the body by training here but it has a limit. To exceed the limit you will have to be an outer disciple."


    Mite exined to Zhao Luo but he still hadn''tpleted his answer.


    The trainees before Zhao Luo''s group had passed different types of tests. But this group had directly passed the one-minute test of the Second Elder.


    So they were very confident in their physical abilities. While they were thinking they saw that Mite was going to continue.


    "To acquire the first mark on your ck badge, you need to show that your body is already at the limit before I allow you to take the qualifying test to be the outer disciple. To show that you will have to FIGHT me."


    Mite said to Zhao Luo as he pointed at himself.


    He was showing everyone that it wasn''t trivial to be an outer disciple.


    "Don''t worry I will go easy on you all."


    Mite smirked. Even though he would go easy on them and try to fight at their level, no one would dare to fight him right after entering the Sect.


    "So you will see if we are strong enough to take the outer disciple test."


    Zhao Luo said as he walked a step towards Mite with every word he spoke.

 Chapter 58 - The First Elder

    Zhao Luo was standing in front of Mite looking directly at him.


    ''Oh. What is this guy thinking?''


    Mite thought as he looked at Zhao Luo. He had to admit that this new guy was one of the most handsome guys in the Xin Sect but what was he ying at here.


    "Don''t tell me that you want to fight me?"


    Mite asked Zhao Luo as Zhao Luo had just simply stopped in front of him after saying the obvious.


    "Why do you think I am standing here? Let''s fight!"


    Zhao Luo said in an imposing manner.


    Zhao Luo wanted to know where he stood.


    ''I am sure that my strength isn''t any less than Si Chen or Rose.''


    Zhao Luo thought. They were the only ones he had seen fighting when Zhao Luo had fought alongside them against the sand lions.


    They both were outer disciples so as hepared himself to them he was sure that he already had enough strength to be an outer disciple.


    Zhao Luo raised both of his fists and was ready to attack anytime. But as he looked at Mite, Zhao Luo loosened his fists.


    Mite was shocked to hear the new kid. This was his second time taking this mission but he had never seen a guy like Zhao Luo who wanted to fight right on the first day.


    Mite''s eyes were like a Panda while he stared at Zhao Luo. Mite wondered if he shouldugh or cry while witnessing the arrogant attitude of this handsome new trainee disciple.


    "Tsk, Tsk. It''s not so simple. Why should I fight you when there are still so many of your seniors waiting to fight me before you?"


    Mite asked Zhao Luo causing Zhao Luo to back away for a moment.


    Zhao Luo looked around at the other trainees who were spectating this little show. The reason he was looking around was to find the people Mite was talking about.


    He was looking around to know who wanted to fight Mite as from what Mite was saying before, the other trainees who were here before him were a group of ckers. They were like parasites living off Sect''s goodwill.


    Zhao Luo couldn''t find anyone who looked like he wanted to fight Mite but he did realize two things.


    That most of them wereughing and smirking while watching him and Mite.


    The other thing was that some were looking at him with sad eyes.


    "Why would they look at me like that?"


    Zhao Luo asked himself wondering the reason behind such sorrowful gazes.


    He hadn''t said it loudly or anything just enough to be heard by him and someone who was standing close to him.


    Mite smiled as he clenched his fist.


    "Oh, that''s because...."


    Mite said as an evil smile crept on his face.


    Mite threw a punch at Zhao Luo suddenly. Zhao Luo was still looking at the trainees.


    Zhao Luo was turning his face to look at Mite. The moment Mite''s face came into his view, he felt a crushing blownding on his stomach which raised him 4 feet above the ground.


    ''Ahh.''


    Zhao Luo moaned in pain.


    Even though he had been lifted from the ground because of the force behind Mite''s sudden punch and even though he had cried in pain for a split second, it didn''t hurt him that much.


    ''Hmm.''


    His cry of pain was a reaction to a sudden hit by Mite. But to others, it looked like Zhao Luo had broken a rib or two.


    "Bro~~~~other Zhao Luo."


    Feng Mei cried as she looked at Zhao Luo who had fallen after taking Mite''s blow.


    While Yan had anger written all over her face. She could barely hold her urge to punch Mite''s face in the ground. Even if she tried, she wouldn''t be able to do it as she wasn''t strong enough for that.


    "Was that your best?"


    A sound came from the fallen Zhao Luo.


    ''What?''


    This was a little shocking for Mite.


    ''My prank punch didn''t work on him. Tsk.''


    Mite thought as his attack would usually cause the other party to lose consciousness.


    Prank Punch was the name of the attack.


    ''Sigh. I should have used more than 10th of my power."


    Mite thought as he had gone easy on Zhao Luo with the power behind his punch.


    Zhao Luo got up after asking Mite who was lost in his thoughts.


    ''Thup, Thup.''


    Zhao Luo brushed off the dust from his robe and felt his body.


    ''Hmm.''


    Even the little pain that was lingering around his stomach area had disappeared.


    "Will we fight seriously now? Or Do you want to try another sh*t like that?"


    Zhao Luo asked in anger. Even though he wasn''t hurt or feeling pain but he didn''t like those who would go for cheap tricks during their fight.


    Mite gulped even though he wasn''t using half his strength but something about the guy in front of him was scaring him.


    "What is your name?"


    Mite asked Zhao Luo instead of answering Zhao Luo''s question.


    "Zhao-"


    "Brother Zi Fei, you are back."


    Zhao Luo answered but before he could end his answer, Mite interrupted.


    Mite looked behind Zhao Luo towards the door of the Trainee Hall.


    Zhao Luo turned his face to look back but Senior Zi Fei was nowhere to be seen.


    ''Fooled Ya.''


    Mite threw another Prank Punch at Zhao Luo''s stomach.


    "Thud."


    The punchnded on Zhao Luo.


    Mite was grinning but this his grinning face came to a stop as he could feel as if something had grabbed his punch.


    "Are you a kid?"


    Zhao Luo''s angry voice could be heard as he was holding onto Mite''s fist as he had blocked Mite''s sneaky attack.


    "Hahaha."


    Mite startedughing as he pulled back his fist.


    "You are an interesting fellow."


    Mite said to Zhao Luo.


    ''I have never met such a weird guy.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he looked at Mite.


    ''Is he a clown?''


    He didn''t know how to deal with this idiotic guy.


    Even though Mite was supposed to be his senior ording to the marks on his badge but he acted like a junior.


    "Follow me, Zhao."


    Mite said as he turned around and started walking towards the inner area.


    The trainee hall was a very big ce. Even after holding more than seven thousand trainees it still looked very spacious.


    Apart from the houses in the hall where the trainees would stay and the dining area where they would eat, there was a training area which was the biggest ce in the trainee hall.


    It had over a hundred square-shaped training and fighting areas which were like rings.


    Then there were various weapons on the side while three square rings had equipment.


    Each of these three square rings had different equipment.


    Senior Mite lead Zhao Luo to the training area. Everyone followed behind them.


    ''Amazing.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he looked around the training area.


    He had never seen so many rings side by side in one ce. There were so many weapons around the rings that his eyes started glowing.


    ''A broadsword!''


    Zhao Luo looked at a big sword that was hanging on the weapon rack next to one of the rings.


    ''That''s a SPEAR. A REAL SPEAR.''


    Zhao Luo looked at the spear on the same weapon rack.


    He was like a kid who was entering a zoo for the first time in his life.


    He did have the chance to use a short sword during the fight against Bimba. But this time was different, there were so many weapons and he could choose whichever he wanted to use.


    "Nice right?"


    Mite said as he smiled while looking at the surprised Zhao Luo who was just showing intense anger a little while ago.


    "Hmph."


    Zhao Luo ignored Mite.


    "Brother this ce is so big."


    Feng Mei said to Zhao Luo as she was also surprised by how big the training area was in this trainee hall.


    "Yes it is and there are so many weapons here. Look, Is that a brick rod?"


    Zhao Luo said as he noticed a weird weapon.


    It was a long rod mad on top of it there was finely crafted brick, it was so well made that there was a red shine on it.


    "That-that isn''t for someone like you. The brick was used by a genius a long time ago. No one has been able to use it like how its use was described. That man on his first day becamea legend of our Xin Sect. With one brick in his hand, he defeated all challengers in the trainee hall."


    Mite started telling about the only weird weapon in the whole training area.


    "With just a brick?"


    Zhao Luo asked as he couldn''t believe it. For a second he did imagine cing himself on ''that'' guy''s ce.


    ''Will I be able to beat everyone by using that brick as a weapon?''


    Zhao Luo thought as he looked around him. There were so many trainees there that he could feel a headache by just trying to get a general idea of their numbers.


    "That was just the beginning."


    Mite continued as the story of ''that'' legend hadn''t ended yet


    "With that brick, after conquering the trainee hall, he went over to the outer hall. Even there in just an hour, everyone was lying on the ground. The brick was dripping with their blood on it and ''that'' guy hadn''t even broken a sweat."


    Mite finally stopped.


    Zhao Luo wanted to know about this guy who was strong enough to do so much with just a brick.


    "Where is ''that'' guy?"


    Zhao Luo asked Mite.


    It was purely because of the strength of this legend that Zhao Luo asked about him from Mite.


    "After conquering the Outer Sect, he became an inner disciple and after improving to the limits, he is now one of the ten ranked elders."


    Mite told him while he was only answering Zhao Luo but it was a chance for others too as they were listening to this legendary tale of their Elder.


    As Zhao Luo was listening to Mite, he remembered the face of the second elder. Elder Dousan was the only Elder he knew about.


    ''It couldn''t be.''


    Zhao Luo thought.


    "Ahem. ''That'' man is the First Elder."


    Mite finally spilled the beans.

 Chapter 59 - Drums Of Bellum

    For some reason, Zhao Luo felt disappointed. The legendary man who hadpletely turned the Sect upside down wasn''t the Second Elder. Instead, it was the First Elder.


    ''Another interesting old man.''


    Zhao Luo thought.


    ''How far can I go with this brick?''


    Zhao Luo wondered as he looked at the brick stick.


    "Let it be."


    Mite interrupted what Zhao Luo was doing.


    "That brick has already been a part of someone else''s rise."


    Mite said.


    "Indeed. Huh."


    Zhao Luo replied while listening to what Mite had said.


    This was the first time he felt that Mite was acting like a senior brother.


    "Let''s get on that ring."


    Mite instructed Zhao Luo as he jumped on one of the three square rings which had equipment.


    The ring that Mite had entered was really big.


    There were 5 rows with 5 drums per row lined one after another.


    "Will this be my debut performance?"


    Zhao Luo who was standing at the edges of the ring said while looking at the drums.


    He wasn''t particrly interested in this instrument as he had never even tried it but it looked like there was some secret behind these drums otherwise why would the trainee hall''s training area have so many drums.


    Zhao Luo looked at Mite who was standing in the middle with his hands behind his back. Mite looked like a judge who was there to give them points on their performance on this drum-like equipment.


    Mite brought one of his hands from his back and made a gesture at Zhao Luo. He was telling Zhao Luo to get on the ring.


    ''Let''s do it.''


    Zhao Luo encouraged himself as he went up to the ring stage.


    Mite who had already been up there went up to the first row of the drums.


    He equipped himself with the sticks that were next to the drum. The sticks looked like they were made of ss.


    With a drum stick in both of his hands, Mite looked ready to conquer the World.


    ''FWISH.''


    In just a moment he had pulled back his left leg with his back arched backward and his arms thrown up towards the sky with the drum sticks in his hands creating a distorting sound in the air around him.


    The drum sticks shined when they were raised as much as Mite could raise them.


    ''Shwaa.''


    The sound of air splitting was very audible as Mite brought down both of his arms with the drum sticks in his hands approaching the drumhead with an unimaginable speed.


    Then thest moment came when the drum sticks touched the drumhead.


    "Boooom."


    A loud sound reverberated in the whole practice area.


    ''Booom.''


    ''Boom.''


    ''Bom.''


    After the echoes died down, Zhao Luo was looking at Mite who was moving to the second drum of the first row.


    "I should close my ears just in case."


    As Zhao Luo ced his hands on his ears so he doesn''t end up with a headache, Mite proceeded to hit the second drum.


    The same thing happened as he took his form and thenshed out at the drumhead.


    Four sounds came from the second drum too. One was the sound of contact and the other three were the echoes.


    Mite proceeded to the third one and did the same thing.


    He kept on repeating it till he was already at thest drum of the third row.


    Again, he followed the same steps and made the drum beating sound echo three times around the practice area.


    Zhao Luo looked at Mite who was in a tired shape as he was dripping with sweat.


    There were still two rows of drums left ahead of Mite. But it looked like he was already done.


    "Is it that hard?"


    Zhao Luo questioned Mite as it only looked like, Mite weirdly beating the drum.


    "Heh."


    Mite just showed Zhao Luo q shortugh as he moved to the fourth row.


    The first drum in the fourth row.


    Mite was standing in front of him, readying himself.


    Once again he raised his arms, arched his back swung his arms from back to the frontnding the drum sticks on the drum head.


    "Boom."


    A sound was heard but this time there were no echoes.


    ''Did he not go all out?''


    Zhao Luo wondered as it looked like Mite hadn''t used his full power.


    ''Cough.''


    Mite spurted out blood as his legs were wobbling. It felt like he would fall anytime.


    Mite back away from the drum and came back to the start of the ring where Zhao Luo was standing.


    "Your turn."


    Mite said as he smiled which disgusted Zhao Luo.


    The blood was on his teeth and he was sticking them out as if they were some kind of award.


    Zhao Luo barely controlled himself from punching Mite.


    Zhao Luo moved towards the first row.


    He stood right in front of the first drum of this row.


    "It''s just a normal drum."


    Zhao Luo said as he looked at the drum trying to find something extraordinary about it.


    The only weird thing about this drum was the drum sticks which looked quitevish.


    Zhao Luo grabbed the drum sticks that were hanging on the side of the drum.


    ''Ah.''


    Zhao Luo cried as the sudden pressure on his hand made him felt like his hands were gonna fall off from his arms. The sticks were unusually very heavy.


    It took a few seconds for Zhao Luo to get used to them.


    ''So I just have to make it go Boom.''


    Zhao Luo had a funny thought.


    He had seen Mite''s move 16 times already so it wasn''t hard for Zhao Luo to copy Mite''s movements.


    Zhao Luo took a deep breath.


    Zhao Luo pulled back his left leg as he slid it backward. He then arched his back as he raised his arms over his head which were falling backward because of the weight of the drum sticks.


    ''BREATHE.''


    Zhao Luo took another breath.


    After which he jolted his body as if his body was like a water tide. With the momentum of his lower body as his left leg slid forwards and the eleration of his upper body as he jolted his back. His arms wereing like a jolted rope.


    The drum sticksnded on the drumhead and a sound so loud was produced that it was enough to burst the eardrums of the people who hade here to spectate.


    In this way, Zhao Luo had unconsciously aimed for two drums with one strike.


    The first sound produced was because of the drum stick and drumheading in contact with this amazing force.


    "BOOOOOM."


    Then the echoes started to be heard around by everyone.


    "BOOOOM."


    "BOOOM."


    "BOOM."


    The three echoes were heard clearly by everyone. Zhao Luo looked happy as he had matched with Mite.


    Mite was also smiling as this much was already given.


    "BOM."


    Right, when the 3 echoes died another echo was heard.


    Itsted for a short interval but it was heard by everyone in the training area.


    Zhao Luo scratched his head as he had put back the drum sticks in his hand.


    He looked confused.


    ''Wasn''t producing 3 echoes the best result?''


    Zhao Luo questioned himself.


    As every time Mite had hit the drum with the drumstick, it would only create 3 echoes so Zhao Luo thought that 3 echoes were the limit.


    ''p, p.''


    Zhao Luo hears the sound of ppinging from behind him so he turned around to look.


    Mite who was pretty shocked with the fourth echo started pping.


    He was already admitting that Zhao Luo was better than many new trainees that he had seen before.


    "You produced four echoes in your first try. That''s remarkable."


    Mite praised Zhao Luo.


    "Remember producing at least three echoes are required to pass every drum stage."


    Mite started exining.


    "Why am I even beating on these drums?"


    Zhao Luo asked the first question that he had in his mind.


    He had been going with the flow till now but it would be better to know what he was doing. In the first ce, Zhao Luo wanted to fight this senior of his to qualify for bing an outer disciple of the Sect.


    "You don''t wait, good. The total echoes that can be produced are ten. If the strike is even more powerful than that, the drumhead would just burst open."


    Mite ignored Zhao Luo''s question and continued his exnation.


    "Four isn''t bad but there are still six echoes that you could have produced."


    Mite mocked Zhao Luo.


    "What? But you only had three echoes on every drum stage."


    Zhao Luo fought back with his words. He knew that something was wrong behind Mite''s taunt.


    Mite just smiled mysteriously.


    "All the drums are connected. If you reach the 25th drum and produce 3 echoes on it then you will get an amazing boost in your powers."


    Mite exined the reason behind the beating of drums.


    ''A boost in my powers? So my strength can increase if I reach thest drum.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he looked at thest drum in the fifth row with his glowing eyes.


    "But it isn''t easy. You will know when you reach the fourth row."


    Mite also looked at the fourth row. That was where he had given up just now.


    Zhao Luo thought that Mite was just spewing out bullsh*t to scare him.


    "The Drums of the Bellum."


    Mite said.


    "You will know why these drums have that name soon."


    Mite told Zhao Luo as he started grinning.

 Chapter 60 - First Fall

    Bellum, a name that was very famous in the North East Zone.


    After the two worlds merged, there some mountains that were just present in different ces without a pair or without being part of a mountain range.


    These mountains were the burial grounds for people of ancient times.


    One of such mountains closest to Xin Mountain was the Bellum Mountain.


    A single mountain standing at the same height as the mountain on which the Xin Sect was. It was the mountain of Bellum.


    A man who had led countless wars was buried there. He had been the general of the army in so many wars that he became known as General Bellum. After winning all of them he went to the king of his time. Because of his unmatchable service, he was given the title Ballum. With time even he forgot his real name and this Bellum had been turned into his name, person, and personality.


    When he died, he was buried in a Pce that was carved into the mountain. All of his treasures were buried alongside him.


    One of the treasures that the Xin Sect leader was able to retrieve was these Drums of Bellum.


    Back in the training area of the trainee hall.


    Zhao Luo looked at the grin on the face of his senior, Mite, and didn''t ponder over the meaning behind it like some coward.


    Zhao Luo was at the Second Drum of the first row.


    Zhao Luo came to stand in front of him before grabbing its drum sticks.


    ''This one looks bigger.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he realized that the size of the drumhead was a little bigger than the drumhead of the first drum.


    ''Doesn''t matter.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he had the drum sticks in his hand.


    In his mind, he had only one job. To bang these drums like there was no tomorrow. He just wanted to reach thest drum on the fifth row.


    Zhao Luo again copied the moves of Mite.


    The only difference was that Mite was burly so when he arched his back backward, he couldn''t bend it too much. But Zhao Luo hadpact muscles, he was overloaded with them but he didn''t look that big.


    This gave him the flexibility that he could use to enhance his power by two times in this charade.


    Unlike before, Zhao Luo arched his back to the utmost limit with his arms falling backward like before. The drum sticks in Zhao Luo''s hands were almost touching the ground of the ring.


    In just a second Zhao Luo arched his back like that and with all that eleration came forward to hit the drumhead with the drumsticks.


    "Booooooooom."


    A loud sound was released from the drum when the drum sticks in Zhao Luo''s hands fell on its drumhead.


    "Boom."


    "Boom."


    "Boom."


    "Boom."


    "Boom."


    Five echoes, one after another went into everyone''s ears.


    All of them were silent.


    This was the first time that someone has beat the drum to get five echoes.


    Some of these trainees were shocked while others were looking happy.


    The others included the group Zhao Luo had entered with. Like Feng Mei, Yan, Su Shi, and the other new trainees. Except for them, there were some among the other trainees who felt something rising in their chest.


    This feeling didn''t ur to them when Mite was beating the drums before Zhao Luo.


    But now they felt this, the urge to follow Zhao Luo''s everymand and protect him like he was some important person to them. The feeling of being unstoppable.


    ''I will try it too.''


    One of them thought but this is how this group of trainees was thinking right now. They wanted to advance too.


    The strength that Zhao Luo disyed was like a motivation for them. This they could hear their innermost thoughts that were happening up.


    Even Zhao Luo was shocked but his reason was different.


    ''Only 5? That was my best.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he was feeling a little disappointed over the result from the second drum.


    "You are doing amazing. Keep on going just like that."


    Mite said with a creepy smile on his face while he looked at Zhao Luo with squinted eyes.


    "Humph."


    Zhao Luo ignored Mite and moved to the third drum.


    Zhao Luo grabbed the sticks on the drum and did the same movements as he had done with the two drums before this one.


    "Boooooom."


    The same sound was heard again as the sticks in Zhao Luo''s hand were brought down on the drum head of the third drum.


    This time the sting sound reverberated four times in the training area but it was still an achievement ording to everyone there.


    Just like that Zhao Luo moved onto the fourth and fifth drum one by one.


    He hit the next two drums so hard and in such a perfect way that the drum sound echoed five times.


    This way Zhao Luo cleared the first row of the Drums of Bellum.


    After doing so he looked directly at the second row of the drums as he made his way to the first drum of the second row.


    As Zhao Luo entered the second row, he could feel the pressure on him increasing. It felt like the weight acting on him had increased by two times. The force of gravity on him had changed when he came in front of the drums of the second row.


    But this didn''t stop him from doing what he had decided to do.


    Zhao Luo grabbed the drumsticks, which felt even heavier than before.


    Zhao Luo took his position, arched his back, raised his hand, and let them fall backward freely then pushing all his weight to the ground through his legs he brought the drum sticks in his hands so fast that all this action happened in less than a second.


    "Booooom."


    The sound came from the drum and the echoes followed after it.


    "Boom."


    "Boom."


    "Boom."


    "Boom."


    Again four echoes were heard.


    Sweat was running down Zhao Luo''s handsome face but he was lost in the momentum as he moved towards the second drum of the second row and did the same thing again.


    This continued till Zhao Luo cleared the second row of these drums.


    Zhao Luo entered the third row and the pressure on him increased even further.


    Zhao Luo''s knees bent a little but that was the only moment when he would tilt slightly because of the pressure.


    Zhao Luo stood straight again and moved to the drum as he held the drum sticks in his hand.


    ''What? Are these made of feathers?''


    Zhao Luo thought the drum sticks were as though weightless objects. This confused Zhao Luo.


    He turned to look at Mite who was still smiling weirdly as he spectated Zhao Luo''s performance.


    ''Hehehe soon.''


    Mite thought as he looked at the confused Zhao Luo.


    Nobody knew what Zhao Luo was going to suffer soon except Mite.


    Even Zhao Luo was unaware of it as he kept on beating the Drum one after another.


    As Zhao Luo did the same steps again at the first drum of the third row, he thought that he wouldn''t be able to make more than three echoes this time as the drum stick was so light.


    But it went against his expectations as the drum produced sic echoes. That was his highest record till now.


    In just 2 minutes Zhao Luo had cleared the third row of drums.


    Each time he would strike, the drum would produce four to five echoes.


    ''Hah.''


    Zhao Luo felt tired as he took a deep breath and moved towards the fourth row.


    His fingers were numb and his arms felt heavy.


    ''What''s wrong with my body?''


    Zhao Luo thought as his body had lost half of the energy while just beating fifteen drums.


    ''Drop.''


    ''Drop.''


    ''Drop.''


    ''Drop.''


    Drops of sweat would fall each time Zhao Luo would take a step towards the fourth row of drums.


    Like that Zhao Luo reached the fourth row and as a calm wind was blown over his body, he felt peace.


    As he entered the fourth row the pressure on him had disappeared, and his body felt light again.


    Zhao Luo went over to the first drum as he grabbed the drum sticks in his hand.


    Zhao Luo stopped where he was and remembered the scene that happened to Mite.


    He was throwing blood after beating this drum so Zhao Luo thought that he couldn''t be any careless here.


    ''It may be his trick to make me fail here.''


    If Zhao Luo would beat the drum while holding, then what if he couldn''t even get three echoes?


    He will fail and he couldn''t have that.


    Thus Zhao Luo tightened his grip over the drum sticks.


    He followed the movements that he had been using till now as he brought the drum sticks down on the drumhead of the drum.


    "Boooooooom."


    The sound exploded as Zhao Luo beat the drum.


    For a second he waited for the echoes.


    Four echoes reverberated and fell on the spectator''s ears one after another as they all burst out shouting as they started repeating Zhao Luo''s name.


    They all were focused on one person.


    ''Zhao Luo.''


    Everyone was looking at Zhao Luo as he, himself was unconscious and falling on his back towards the ground.


    "Broooootherrrr."


    Shouted Feng Mei as she ran towards Zhao Luo while jumping over the ring as she reached Zhao Luo to hold him up.


    "Hahaha."


    Mite who watched Zhao Luo''s fall startedughing evilly.

 Chapter 61 - A Pervert >.<?

    Blood was gushing out of Zhao Luo''s mouth as he was lying on the ground of the ring unconscious.


    It all happened when he had beat the first drum of the fourth row.


    As he was waiting for the echoes, his body was hit by several shocks.


    ''Wha.....''


    Zhao Luo experienced a powerful force striking his body 70 times.


    Every time the force of the drum would hit his body, his organs would tremble and he would experience an immeasurable pain.


    But he couldn''t even scream as before he could digest the shock from the first force attacking from the drum, another would hit his body.


    One after another, 70 different attacks fell on his body, while Zhao Luo had already lost consciousness at the 40th attacking from the drum.


    On the ring in the training area.


    Feng Mei, Yan, and Su Shi had rushed towards Zhao Luo.


    They picked him up and brought him away.


    The spectators were silent as nobody had any idea about what had transpired.


    ''He had such good momentum going on, but why did he have to fall there?''


    Many thoughts as they didn''t know the reason.


    ''Something''s wrong.''


    Some of the spectators who were on the smarter side knew that they were missing something.


    It was the same drum where Mite had given up as he threw up some blood.


    Everyone had their thoughts except their senior, Mite. He knew why Zhao Luo lost his consciousness and what happened to him after he had beaten the drum.


    As Zhao Luo was taken away by the girls, themotion died down soon.


    The trainees who were spectating started reaching the training area. They jumped on different rings with their preferred weapon in their hands and started sparring with their partners.


    They had to train too but they had to admit that it was an interesting day.


    There was a very interesting trainee disciple joining them that they wouldn''t be bored with for a while.


    "Zhao Luo."


    They would remember this name for a long time.


    Senior Mite was also very satisfied with the ending.


    "Hehehe that is why only a very few people in the Sect''s history were able to clear the ''Drums of Bellum''. If it was so simple then I wouldn''t be here."


    Mite said started talking even though no one was listening to him.


    Mite looked at the fourth and fifth row of drums on the ring and wondered if he will ever reach thest drum.


    ''Drums of Bellum.''


    First Row:Strength Control.


    The first row of drums is like an entry test. Each consecutive drum gets bigger than the previous one.


    There is a reason behind the increase in the drum size.


    To teach the person training on them, Control.


    As the size of the drum increases, it bes easier to produce three or more echoes.


    But if someone has a good level of control over his strength under normal conditions, he will be able to beat the drum hard enough that only three echoes are produced after the sound of the drum is heard.


    Second Row: Weapon Control.


    The pressure on the second row had increased while the drumsticks were heavier than before too.


    The goal was to control your strength through the weapon by reducing it just till to a point that would result in 3 echoes.


    No more, no less.


    There was a reason why only 3 echoes were needed to pass when the limit was ten echoes.


    Third row: Weapon Control.


    The third row was very simr to the second row but the difference was the pressure acting on the person would double and the drumsticks were light as a feather.


    The weapon now was way lighter than before but the pressure had increased thus upsetting the bnce of the strength in the body once again.


    The goal was to produce three echoes but in these conditions.


    Fourth row: Endurance Control.


    The fourth row was all about enduring.


    Enduring the force of your attacksing back at you. Every time the echoes produced on the drums of the first three rows exceed 2, the first drum in the fourth row saves up those echoes as attacks.


    So when the person reaches the first drum of the fourth, he will have to face all of the echoes of the previous rows.


    Thus preparing himself for his attacksing at him.


    After that, the next drums are to beat with as much strength as one can muster. The best would be getting ten echoes other for every echo less than ten, the person will have to face that as an attack of the drum.


    If the person beating the second drum of the fourth row gets 8 echoes, as he missed the ten echo mark by 2, he will be facing 2 of his attacks which will being in the form of shock from the drum.


    That is why the fourth row is a battle of endurance and controlling your strength while you defend against your pwn attacks.


    Fifth Row: Mental Control.


    Each drum on the fifth row is like a brain wave device. Every time a person strikes, the number of echoes produced will be the amount of time the drum will send brain waves to attack your mental world.


    So to easily proceed to thest drum would be to go by using just enough strength to produce three echoes.


    But the ''Drum of Bellum'' wasn''t so easy. Thest drum that would bestow power had some requirements.


    It could give you some simple power and increase your strength by a little or it could just give you some insane power that will increase your strength but to an immeasurable extent.


    So making ten echoes on the four drums of the fifth row was very important.


    This was how the ''Drums of Bellum'' worked.


    It was like a cheat code to increase your strength but not everyone could use this.


    Feng Mei and Yan had brought Zhao Luo to his room after asking about their lodging from Mite. They had lied him down on his bed as they sat on the two sides of unconscious Zhao Luo.


    Su Shi had left Zhao Luo to them as she found herself being there as an unnecessary hassle. The two girls were supporting Zhao Luo well.


    Su Shi returned to the training area and started training with other trainee disciples.


    Zhao Luo had been treated by Yan and Feng Mei but he was still unconscious.


    This time even the Dark World in his mind had closed its door.


    Zhao Luo who hadn''t slept like this for thest ten years was finally enjoying his peaceful sleep.


    As Zhao Luo slept peacefully, the two girls after being awake and watching over Zhao Luo for multiple hours couldn''t control their desire.


    The cute Feng Mei and the enchanting Yan who was pretending to be a boy right now slept while sitting on the bed that Zhao Luo was on.


    Zhao Luo who didn''t know the situation around him and how jealous the other disciples would be if they saw this scene, was in a dream.


    The dream was a very weird one. Zhao Luo was walking on a wastnd. He kept on walking and walking under the bright sun as the sunlight was bent on cooking him.


    Then a time came he was thirsty as the wastnd was dry as sand and hot as a volcano.


    Even the sweat from his clothes had evaporated because that is how hot his dream was.


    ''I need water.''


    Zhao Luo said while walking in the wastnd looking around the heat for water.


    Then at one point while walking in the wastnd he could see many barrels like boxes lined up one after another.


    There was no one around them, thus Zhao Luo rushed towards them with all the strength he could muster.


    Zhao Luo ran and ran but whenever he looked at those barrel-shaped boxes he would notice that the distance between them was still the same.


    This nightmare continued till Zhao Luo''s unyielding spirit broke his nightmare and he reached the barrels.


    ''Wha~~~~T...No way.''


    Zhao Luo said as the barrels turned out to be drums but there were no drumsticks around them.


    ''I am sad. I need WATER.''


    Zhao Lup screamed. Even though his desire for water was so much that he mumbled the word out loud while sleeping.


    "Ineedwata."


    Zhao Luo said.


    As Zhao Luo''s sound entered the ears of Feng Mei and Yan, they started to wake up from their sleep.


    Back in the Dream.


    Zhao Luo walked away from the drums to find water as he started going around the wastnd.


    But after walking for hours and hours in his dream, he would always end up at the ce where the drums were at.


    ''I don''t need drums I need water.''


    Zhao Luo said as he tapped the drumhead lightly.


    Outside of his dream, Zhao Luo had tapped the thigh of Yan while moving his mouth.


    "Ned Water."


    Zhao Luo said while sleeping. His urge to consume water was just that high.


    Yan who was blushing because Zhao Luo had tapped her thigh with his hand, got up to get him water.


    Back in the dream.


    Zhao Luo felt something as he tapped the drum as a traumatic and painful experience came into his mind and the face of a monkey named Mite was bing clear on the drumhead, Zhao Luo couldn''t hold himself back.


    Zhao Luo raised his hand and smacked the drum as hard as he could.


    Outside the dream.


    Right before Zhao Luo smacked the drum in his dream, Yan had who was standing turned, facing her back towards Zhao Luo, to look for water in the room.


    The next instant she could feel a hand on her butt.


    ''Smack.''


    Zhao Luo who was sleeping had pped Yan''s butt without even realizing it.


    Inside the dream.


    ''Die, die, die.''


    Zhao Luo said as he smacked Mite''s face again and again.


    Outside the dream, Zhao Luo''s hand ended up doing something unimaginable to Yan.


    Yan who was lost for words turned around and pped Zhao Luo.


    This p brought Zhao Lup back to reality, waking him up from his nightmare.


    "WHAT?"


    Zhao Luo who woke up with one of his hands on his cheek and the other one close to Yan''s ''cheek'' looked around to see the faces of Yan and Feng Mei as they both were staring at him.


    Feng Mei who had witnessed the whole scene was dumbfounded as everything happened so fast.


    "Brother is a pervert?"


    Feng Mei said feeling confused.

 Chapter 62 - Wu Yang

    Feng Mei backed a little bit away from Zhao Luo as she was freaked out.


    ''What kind of dream was Brother having, that he started asking for water while dreaming and pping Brother Yan''s mhmm...''


    Feng Mei was curious.


    She thought that Zhao Luo was a pure person but she was surprised.


    "Why did you touch my xxx?"


    Yan blurted out without realizing it.


    Even though she acted like this and even pped the innocent sleeping Zhao Luo, she had mixed feelings in her heart. She couldn''t dent that she enjoyed it, a bit.


    Zhao Luo who had just woken up with a burning cheek was faced with extreme reactions from Feng Mei and Yan.


    As he heard Yan''s question, his eyes fell on his hand that was reaching out towards Yan''s back.


    ''Shit, These hands.''


    Zhao Luo cursed and med his hands.


    Zhao Luo''s face started turning red as Yan''s face was already red. They weren''t alone in the room as Feng Mei who had witnessed the whole ''Ordeal'' was there too.


    Both felt embarrassed.


    Zhao Luo wanted to exin but he didn''t know where to start.


    He looked at Feng Mei and tried to do something as he started his exnation.


    "Feng Mei, I...."


    "Brother, are you gay?"


    Feng Mei interrupted with an abrupt question.


    Zhao Luo''s mouth was shut as he didn''t know how to answer her but he did know where her question wasing from.


    "Nooo, I am not."


    Zhao Luo answered the little Feng Mei who was smiling at her Brother mysteriously.


    Another person was enjoying this.


    It was Yan. Her secret was only known to Brother Sang and Zhao Luo.


    Yan had to admit that it felt nice to see Zhao Luo being messed around with like this.


    Yan looked at the embarrassed Zhao Luo.


    "So what happened?"


    She asked him wanting to know what kind of dream he was seeing that made him act like a beast.


    Zhao Luo didn''t even want to remember the hellish nightmare again. But he also wanted to clear up the misunderstanding between him and the two girls.


    So he began telling them from the start.


    ''How he appeared on a wastnd and while in search of water he ended up at drums.''


    ''How he could see the face of Senior Mite on the drumhead and that was the reason his hands moved in both realms.''


    That is the smacking part in his dream that was directed at the drumhead turned to something else outside his dream resulting in this situation.


    Yan and Feng Mei were going through self-reflection after listening to Zhao Luo.


    Yan med herself for acting rashly and Yan med herself for being suspicious of Zhao Luo.


    "Sorry Zhao Luo."


    "Sorry, Brother Zhao Luo."


    They both said while bowing to Zhao Luo with their eyes closed as they couldn''t meet Zhao Luo''s eyes after hearing his part.


    "Haha, it''s okay. I am sorry too for doing something so weird."


    Zhao Luo defused the situation while showing a radiant smile to them.


    As the earlier situation had already settled, memories of the past even entered Zhao Luo''s mind.


    Zhao Luo raised his hand to touch his head as he remembered them clearly now.


    "So I lost at the fourth row."


    Zhao Luo said as he felt a little bad about it.


    ''I thought I was doing well till the shock that entered my body through the drum.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he still didn''t know about the qualities of those drums.


    "Brother don''t worry. You already did amazingly well."


    Feng Mei tried encouraging Zhao Luo who was looking down thinking about his failure.


    "Indeed, I heard from the other trainees that they can''t even clear the five drums of the second row. So it was exciting to see a newbie reach the fourth row."


    Yan added as she remembered hearing such information when they brought Zhao Luo to his room.


    "Hmm."


    Zhao Luo wondered what would have happened if he had cleared the ''Drums of Bellum on his first day as a trainee disciple.


    "Life isn''t easy at all."


    Zhao Luo said.


    ''Nod.''


    Yan and Feng Mei agreed to Zhao Luo''s statement by nodding.


    "Indeed."


    Another disciple who was standing outside Zhao Luo''s room also showed gis agreement with what Zhao Luo had said.


    "Who is it?"


    Zhao Luo asked as the person entered his room even before getting his permission


    "You look very handsome, looking up close."


    The disciple said as he approached Zhao Luo''s bed.


    Zhao Luo who was now sitting on the bed as Feng Mei was seated next to him and Yan who was standing close to him, the three were looking at the uninvited guest.


    "We already know that. Brother is the most handsome man ever."


    Feng Mei said shutting down the disciple who was now standing in front of Zhao Luo''s bed.


    "I am Wu Wang. A trainee disciple like you three."


    Wu Yang said as he smiled to act friendly with them.


    Disciples of the same sect should get along even if their statuses are different and yet they all were trainees so he tried to act nice.


    "Brother, this guy looks creepy."


    Feng Mei whispered to Zhao Luo when she saw the smile on Wu Yang''s face.


    But she didn''t lower her voice as it was easily heard by Yan and Wu Yang himself.


    ''Ah.''


    Wu Yang suffered an imaginary arrow to his heart when he heard this beautiful little angel in front of him calling him creepy.


    "Indeed, he must have been eavesdropping on us, and then he enters without asking for permission, and NOW, he is smiling."


    Yan added agreeing with Feng Mei.


    ''Ah.''


    Another imaginary arrow stuck right at Wu Yang''s heart as this beautiful girly looking boy insulted him.


    "I just wanted to help you Zhao Luo but it looks like I am not weed here."


    Wu Yang said with teary eyes as for him there were two demons on each side of Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo looked at Wu Yang who was ready to leave anytime but still stayed there.


    ''Is he waiting for me to ask him?''


    Zhao Luo wondered as Wu Yang was still at his bed like a statue as waiting for Zhao Luo to do something.


    "Stop it, you two."


    Zhao Luo looked at Feng Mei and Yan.


    Then Zhao Luo turned to look at the teary-eyed Wu Yang.


    "How can you help me?"


    Zhao Luo asked Wu Yang.


    Wu Yang looked all smug as he brought his arms in front of his cheat making a pose before starting his talk.


    "I am one of the oldest trainee disciples in the trainee hall. I know many secrets of the trainee hall that even many outer disciples don''t know about. But you will have to let me join you guys."


    Wu Yang told Zhao Luo


    Yan and Feng Mei listened to Wu Yang.


    They didn''t believe Wu Yang''s words as they sounded like lies.


    ''How could a trainee disciple know more secrets about the trainee area than those the outer disciple who got strong enough to be outer disciples?''


    Yan thought as she looked at Wu Yang.


    "Hmm, what kind of secrets do you know about?"


    Zhao Luo tried to get more information out of Wu Yang before epting his help and letting him join them.


    "Okay for now I can tell you about two."


    Wu Yang said to Zhao Luo as he raised his fingers to make a V-sign with them.


    ''So he knows about more too. Interesting.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he pondered over his luck.


    ''Is this a chance that I have to grab?''


    Zhao Luo questioned the situation as he looked at Wu Yang.


    "What are the two secrets?"


    Zhao Luo wanted to know the two secrets first before deciding what to do with Wu Yang.


    "Did you know that there are missions set by one of the elders but only a disciple with trainee status can do them?"


    Wu Yang asked them fully knowing that the three in front of him had just joined the Sect a day ago. So obviously there was no way that they would know about it.


    Zhao Luo and Feng Mei both were shaking their head like saying,


    ''We didn''t know that there were such missions.''


    While Yan was just quiet.


    ''There was such a thing?''


    She thought as she never knew about these ''missions'' in trainee hall that only trainee disciples could aplish.


    "What is the other secret?"


    Zhao Luo asked Wu Yang.


    The secret regarding the mission was already enough for letting Wu Yang join them as a friend but still, Zhao Luo hoped that there could be a much better secret than just some mission for the trainee disciples.


    "Haha."


    Wu Yangughed.


    "It''s regarding the Drums in the training area. The Drums of Bellum."


    Wu Yang said as he looked at Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo who still didn''t know the reason behind the attacks by the first drum of the fourth row that came at him suddenly looked shocked.


    "Okay Brother Wu Yang, please sit."


    Zhao Luo respectfully said to Wu Yang as he tapped the empty spot on the bed he was sitting on.


    ''Hehehe.''


    Wu Yangughed as he proceeded to sit there.

 Chapter 63 - Secrets & The Top Scorer

    Zhao Luo and Wu Yang were looking at each other''s eyes, both were now sitting on the same level, that is on Zhao Luo''s bed after Zhao Luo offered Wu Yang the spot.


    "Zhao Luo, you don''t have to call me brother. Just think of this as a give and take. You are letting me join you guys and I will be guiding you on the secrets of the trainee hall."


    Wu Yang wholeheartedly said to Zhao Luo.


    He wasn''t here to get a higher standing on Zhao Luo just because of what he was providing. But if that standing was based on respect then he wouldn''t have minded it at all.


    Unfortunately, they had just met and respect between people doesn''t build instantly like this.


    "I guess it was just an illusion of mine that the trainees who had been here for a long time were ckers. It looks like you have a n in your mind, Wu Yang."


    Zhao Luo said to Wu Yang.


    Zhao Luo could see that the guy in front of him wasn''t here to y games.


    ''He was only waiting for the rightpanions and it looks like he has found them.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he smiled towards Wu Yang.


    "So what do you know about those drums?"


    Zhao Luo asked Wu Yang while Feng Mei and Yan also had their full attention on Wu Yang''s answer.


    Wu Yang looked at them and closed his eyes as he started to remember the drums in each row and their effects.


    "Strength, Weapon, Endurance, and Mental."


    Wu Yang said as he showed them his hand as he folded his thumb while showing them the ''four fingers'' of his hand.


    "What?"


    Zhao Luo asked as he couldn''t understand what Wu Yang was trying to tell with the words he had said.


    "The Drums of Bellum is a single artifact or consider them as a treasure that tests a person''s control over, his strength, the weapon being used which will be the drum stick, his endurance to face resistance which you failed at miserably, and the mental control..."


    Wu Yang pointed some things out and tried to exin them to Zhao Luo as simply as he could.


    Even Wu Yang didn''t know how the drums of thest row affected a person''s mind that is his mental state. So he couldn''t misguide them on this secret that only he knew about.


    Zhao Luo who had already faced the Drums of Bellum found Wu Yang''s words very reliable and sound.


    "What is the best way to pass each test?"


    Zhao Luo asked him because even if he knew what the Drums of Bellum was used to test, that wouldn''t help him much.


    Zhao Luo still didn''t know how to clear them without losing his consciousness because of the drum''s attack.


    Wu Yang looked at him and smiled before answering Zhao Luo''s question.


    "Remember right now in the whole trainee hall, only I can answer your question."


    Wu Yang told Zhao Luo.


    Wu Yang was showing him how much help he was providing Zhao Luo.


    "Indeed. So...."


    Zhao Luo agreed with what Wu Yang had said.


    He was getting eager to know the answer.


    "There are always two ways to solve everything. First to overpower thempletely with your towering strength. Or you can just solve them with your smartness."


    Wu Yang started talking. He looked like their elder as he began to taught them the ways which he knew about.


    "You can overpower them by either having a very strong body like unimaginably strong body or either having an unimaginable strength. If your body is really strong then you would be able to clear the fourth stage of Drums which tests your endurance and if you have amazing strength then you can keep on destroying the drums till you reach the fifth row or till the end."


    Wu Yang said to Zhao Luo as he raised both of his hands like showing Zhao Luo that the first way was possible for Zhao Luo no matter which method he chooses.


    "The second way is to have strength. That strength has to be controlled enough that you don''t exceed the 3 echo mark or fall behind it every time you beat the drum till the third row."


    Wu Yang said as he closed another finger of his.


    "3? I remember that the drums also produced three echoes whenever Mite beat them."


    Zhao Luo said as the memory of Mite''s turn on the Drums appeared in his mind.


    "Yes, it''s because of what happens on the fourth row''s first drum. All the echoes are umted in the form of a shock attack in that drum till they are released when the drum produces echoes."


    Wu Yang continued his exnation.


    "So to keep the power of that umted attack to the minimum power, it''s best to keep your strength controlled enough to not exceed the three echo mark. That way only 15 echoes will be umted in the first drum. But remember that weights of the drumstick and the pressure changes in the second and third row so you will have to take control of that too."


    Wu Yang said.


    Zhao Luo now knew the reason behind Mite, praising him whenever he would strike the drum so hard that the drum would make five or even six echoes.


    ''So he knew that I will be facing that absurd attack and was riling me up.''


    Zhao Luo looked angry as he had fallen into Mite''s trap so easily just because he wanted to challenge Mite''s strength which turned into him challenging the Drums of Bellum.


    "Well about the three echoes, it isn''t a big secret in the trainee hall. But to even get there isn''t possible for the trainees as these disciples don''t even have that much strength and even if some disciples have the strength their control is so bad that they fall on the third or fourth drum of the first row."


    Wu Yang rified that what he had told them now wasn''t a big secret regarding the First Three Rows of The Drums of Bellum.


    "Hmmm."


    Zhao Luo wondered as it was already enough for him. If he could just endure the attack of the drum then he would be fine after that.


    ''But what about the other drums in the fourth row?''


    Zhao Luo thought the other drums would have an attack simr to the first drum there.


    "The other drums function in the same way but the umtion of the echoes is different. From the fourth row''s first drum, you will have to hit the drum as hard as you can."


    Like Wu Yang could read Zhao Luo''s thought he said to him.


    "But why? Wouldn''t that mean, I will be facing that many echoes on the second drum?"


    Zhao Luo questioned Wu Yang.


    "Well no. That is the difference. The fourth row is enduring while giving out your utmost on every attack. The more you fall behind in your attack, the more you will have to endure. If you get ten echoes you will face no attack on the next drum. But if you get nine echoes on the First drum of the Fourth row, you will have to face just one attack on the next drum."


    Wu Yang said.


    This was one of the secrets that not even Mite knew about as Mite would always give up at the First Drum of the Fourth Row.


    Zhao Luo was silent. He was nning on how to raise his attack strength such that he could get the drums of the fourth row to produce ten echoes.


    ''I can just increase my body''s strength so high the body''s endurance will be able to take those shock attacks easily.''


    Zhao Luo thought.


    It was either he could raise his attack or be a defense beast and endure all the attacks like a beast.


    As Zhao Luo was thinking about what he should go with, Wu Yang who looked as if he had an idea popping up in his mind, pped his fist on his palm.


    "I heard that there were two tests in the exam this time. And the elder awarded points for the second test."


    Wu Yang said.


    A rumor about the ''Second Test'' was going around in the trainee hall.


    It all happened when Zhao Luo had fallen unconscious.


    The old disciples gathered around the new disciples and asked them to introduce themselves.


    While the introduction was going on, someone from among the new disciples told them about the second test and how the reward of clearing this test was Sect points.


    From there this spread like wildfire.


    In those many hours, almost everyone knew that the new disciples had points.


    Zhao Luo didn''t know how to react as he heard Wu Yang.


    "Yes, we did get points for clearing the riddles which was the second test."


    Zhao Luo told him.


    "Well, then you can go to the Sects Outer Hall''s library and get a manual to increase your strength. Just don''t take the outer disciple test after that and you can clear the Drums of Bellum."


    Wi Yang presented his idea to Zhao Luo.


    "Hah, I don''t think there is any need to get a manual, for now. I have other ways, don''t worry about it."


    Zhao Luo told Wu Yang.


    ''Why should I waste my points when I can just raise my strength while fighting my apparitions?''


    Zhao Luo thought as there was no reason to waste his points.


    "Hah, I get it. You didn''t pass the second test or you just didn''t get many points on it."


    Wu Yang spected as there was no better way to increase strength than through a manual from the library which would cost them points.


    "Hmph, Brother Zhao Luo scored 75 points in the second test."


    Feng Mei who had been silent till now corrected Wu Yang.


    ''What?''


    Wu Yang looked at Zhao Luo like his eyes would pop out of his eyes socket.


    "So you are the top scorer from the rumor."


    Wu Yang said while pointing his finger at Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo only shrugged his shoulder as he showed a calm smile.

 Chapter 64 - The Way To Increase Strength

    Being the top scorer didn''t even matter to Zhao Luo that much. But it was a big deal for others.


    For the time being, he just wanted to go into his Mental Word, the Dark Space that was in his mind. But it looked like that Zhao Luo will have to wait.


    Wu Yang looked at Zhao Luo as if he had many questions for Zhao Luo to answer but he didn''t ask them.


    Wu Yang continued to stare at him for a while before he got up from Zhao Luo''s bed.


    "Will you challenge the Drums of Bellum tomorrow?"


    Wu Yang asked Zhao Luo.


    He wanted to know if Zhao Luo would be ready by tomorrow


    "I am not sure. But the moment I am ready, you will see me at the ring. I will be standing in front of those drums."


    Zhao Luo said with confidence.


    ''I wasn''t readyst time but this time it will be different.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he remembered losing his consciousness and the fake praises by Mite.


    "I will show him what it feels like to be on the losing side."


    Zhao Luo said with anger in his voice.


    The angry expression on Zhao Luo''s face made him look even more handsome as Yan and Feng Mei were looking at him with likeness in their eyes.


    ''Gulp.''


    Wu Yang swallowed his saliva as he felt nervous while looking at the angry Zhao Luo.


    ''It''s over for Senior Mite.''


    Wu Yang thought.


    "Your method...Will it work?"


    Wu Yang asked Zhao Luo as he still wasn''t sure about it.


    "If you are unsure, we can go to the library and buy a strength manual with your points."


    Wu Yang tried to persuade Zhao Luo again.


    "Don''t worry. There is no need to waste my points."


    Zhao Luo had already calmed down and replied to Wu Yang.


    He didn''t mind, Wu Yang, telling him to go to the library. It wasn''t Wu Yang''s fault, nobody could have a way to increase their strength like the way Zhao Luo had.


    Zhao Luo rejected Wu Yang''s idea so there was now no need for Wu Yang to stay in Zhao Luo''s room anymore.


    It was all on Zhao Luo and how he increases his strength. Thus Wu Yang bid them farewell and left Zhao Luo''s room.


    "We should go now. Brother rest well."


    Feng Mei said to Zhao Luo as she was still worried about his health.


    It was already dark outside so Feng Mei and Yan had to leave before they fall asleep in Zhao Luo''s room again.


    "Okay. I will rest."


    Zhao Luo assured Feng Mei and smiled at the two girls who were taking their leave.


    ''Thud.''


    After the door of Zhao Luo''s room closed, he was left alone there.


    Zhao Luo looked down.


    He looked like he was lost in his thoughts. Zhao Luo was thinking about the whole ordeal that he had face after entering the training area.


    "I have to be the strongest. I have to clear thest drum as soon as I can."


    Zhao Luo said to himself. He knew what his priority was at the moment.


    Zhao Luo straightened his back as he pulled his leg across each other to sit in the lotus position. He then closed his eyes and started breathing deeply.


    The next moment Zhao Luo opened his eyes, he was in his Dark World.


    Zhao Luo who was surrounded by darkness summoned his apparitions.


    ''Fwoosh.''


    Nine apparitions appeared in front of Zhao Luo as they only looked at Zhao Luo with disdain in their eyes. As if they had a bone to pick with Zhao Luo.


    "What?"


    Zhao Luo shouted as he questioned them. He still hadn''t forgotten the beating they gave him after he fell to their numbers before.


    The apparitions noticed that Zhao Luo was already angry so they evaded their sight from him and looked around as if they had never seen him with the eyes that med him.


    The apparitions were the result of his thoughtsing into form in his mind space and because of how he got yed by Mite, all these nine apparitions were filled with a little hatred towards Mite and also disappointment towards Zhao Luo.


    While the apparitions were looking around, Zhao Luo was wondering about the way that he should use to get stronger. Strong enough to clear the five rows of Drums of Bellum


    "I can either keep on fighting them and increase my strength as I absorb them or should I try something else?"


    Zhao Luo questioned. He was still deciding the method he would be using to increase his strength.


    ''Only if there were drums here so I could practice on them.''


    Zhao Luo wished as practicing on drums like the Drums of Bellum would be better for him.


    So Zhao Luo gave it a try.


    This was his World so something like this should be possible.


    It only took a moment for Zhao Luo to think about the ring shape and drums lined up in rows.


    The next moment all of the things he had thought about appeared in his dark space.


    ''The Drums of Bellum.....''


    Zhao Luo thought while looking at the simr-shaped drums in front of him.


    There were even drumsticks with every drum.


    The apparition was quite surprised.


    Even though they were a materialization of Zhao Luo''s thoughts but these apparitions were quite advanced. So they had some emotions and decision-making abilities.


    ''Should I try beating them?''


    Zhao Luo thought as he was looking at the rows of drums as every row had five drums.


    The feelinging from them was quite simr to the feeling that Drums Of Bellum gave Zhao Luo.


    Before Zhao Luo could move towards the drum, the eight apparitions were already lined around the ring while the ninth one was in front of a drum as he held the drumstick in his hand.


    ''Hmm, that may even be better.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he rubbed his chin lightly with the fingers of his right hand.


    This was one of the benefits of the Naoli he had mastered.


    If these apparitions learned something useful or somehow got stronger, it would all be benefitting Zhao Luo.


    At the end of the day, they were a part of Zhao Luo so they would merge with him when he is done training.


    So Zhao Luo didn''t stop his apparition as it started beating the drum.


    The apparition already knew that he had to beat the drum with just enough strength such that the drum produces only three echoes.


    The apparition followed the same movement that Zhao Luo had used when he had beaten these drums. Just like that, the apparition struck the drumhead with the drumsticks in his hand.


    "Boom."


    "Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom."


    The sound produced by the drum when the apparition hit its drumhead, was so loud that it echoed around Zhao Luo''s space 8 times.


    Zhao Luo was shocked.


    "Why did you hit it that hard?"


    Zhao Luo questioned his apparition.


    Even though the drum wasn''t a perfect copy, his apparitions were still meant to control their strengths so that sound of the drum only echoes three times, no more and no less.


    The apparition smirked at Zhao Luo''s question and looked at the other eight apparitions.


    "I will be first. Hahaha."


    The apparition was taking this as a challenge to show his standing to the other apparitions.


    It was like Challenge.


    The reason was simple the apparition was confident enough to handle the attack by the First Drum of the Fourth Row and he wanted to be the first among the other apparitions.


    The apparition continued to beat the drums like this.


    The second row had more pressure and the weight of the drum sticks had increased. But the momentum of the apparition didn''t stop there. He cleared it while averaging 7 echoes.


    The third row, with 8 echoes again.


    Finally, he stood at the First Drum of the Fourth Row.


    Zhao Luo was also very interested to see what would happen to his apparition.


    His apparition was going to face an attack that had the power of more than a hundred echoes in it.


    ''Gulp.''


    The apparition was somewhat nervous.


    As it moved its hand towards the drum to hit the drumhead, the drum sticks slipped from his hands and fell on the surface of the drumhead.


    ''Bang.''


    A sound could be heard.


    "Hahaha. What was that?"


    Zhao Luoughed as he made fun of his apparition.


    But that wasn''t the end yet, the apparition looked at the drum in front of him.


    The attack of the drum came at him suddenly.


    He could feel a foreign power attacking his body.


    The next moment the apparition was sent flying away as blood gushed out of his mouth and nose.


    "Woah."


    Zhao Luo was surprised as he had found another secret of Naoli.


    The attack of this drum wasn''t truly the attack of the drum that Zhao Luo had faced. But it was quite simr to what Zhao Luo had thought of it ording to his memories and what Wu Yang had told him.


    While the first apparition had fallen, the other apparition was going to the drum.


    Zhao Luo had his arms folded while he spectated them.


    Somewhere in his dark world.


    "Hehe, I knew our sessor would be interesting since our first meeting."


    A female voice said.


    "Hmm, agreed. This is an interesting show that the young man has set for us."


    A manly voice answered.


    They were the egos of the ancient Emperas who were dwelling in the Heaven''s Tomb.

 Chapter 65 - The Hellish Performance

    The egos of the Empera''s were focused on watching the drum show that was taking ce in Zhao Luo''s mind.


    They were rather enjoying it as when will they get the chance to enjoy times like these anymore.


    In Zhao Luo''s dark space.


    The second apparition was standing in front of the first drum.


    He started beating it as hard as he could.


    This apparition had two goals in his mind.


    First, he wanted to beat the record of the other apparition.


    Second, he wanted to beat the drum hard enough such that it produces so many echoes that the other apparitions after him don''t beat his record.


    Thus he started beating the drum with all his might.


    Unfortunately for him, he couldn''t surpass the record of thest apparition as every time he beat the drum, the sound of the ''boom'' would echo as many times as it did when the apparition before him would beat the drum.


    ''Heh, good. Keep on doing your best.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he looked at his apparition who was beating the drums that were lined up one after another without stopping like he was an animal.


    Zhao Luo walked towards his apparition that had fallen after taking the attack that had the power of more than 100 echoes in it.


    That apparition was already standing as if he was never hit by such an attack.


    Looking at his master walking towards him made him a little nervous.


    ''Should I absorb him right away?''


    Zhao Luo thought as he looked at the nervous-looking apparition.


    This method that Zhao Lup was using was basically for doing two things.


    First, he would be mastering controlling his strength so when he beats the drums, only three echoes are produced.


    The other was to increase his endurance against the sudden impacts of the attack by the drum.


    But this first batch of apparitions started with the mindset of winning against each other by getting the most echoes to reverberate.


    This way he wouldn''t be able to achieve the first thing that was to control his strength in the three rows but his endurance would increase. It may even increase by a lot.


    So Zhao Luo without further ado ced his hand on his apparitions head and absorbed him.


    After the experience of this upgraded apparition was assimted into his body, Zhao Luo could feel a little bit stronger. But it was a very little increase so little that he could barely feel it.


    "Hmm, not bad. I have all the time now to increase my strength little by little like this."


    Zhao Luo said as he turned around to look at his second apparition who was finishing the third row.


    ''He will be finishing soon.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he looked at the second apparition who was bow standing in front of the first drum of the fourth row.


    This apparition looked very serious as he was here to equal the score or take revenge for some old grudge.


    ''Sad!''


    Zhao Luo noticed the look on his apparition who was ready to beat this drum and go to the second drum of the fourth row.


    It was sad because even though the ''base form'' of the summoned apparition was a ''different thought'' for every one of them but their power was equal. So if the first apparition fell at this drum then this second apparition will fall after facing the attack of the drum.


    Zhao Luo watched the apparition as the drumsticks in the apparition''s hand made contact with the drumhead.


    ''BOOM.''


    A loud sound was released as a result of their collision in the dark space as everyone looked at the apparition.


    ''Boom, Boom.'' The echoes started reverberating after the sound died down.


    While echoes were resounding in the dark space, the apparition came flying at Zhao Luo.


    It was the result of the attack from the drum which contained the power of more than 100 echoes.


    ''Thud.''


    The apparition was caught by Zhao Luo.


    As the second apparition was not on the ring anymore the third apparition climbed the ring as he marched towards the first drum.


    ''Let''s take this one too.''


    Zhao Luo said as he touched the chest of his apparition which soon turned into a dark shadow before being absorbed by Zhao Luo.


    After another assimtion, Zhao Luo could feel that something was swelling in his body.


    It was like a bowl that would fill up a little bit when he would assimte with his upgraded apparition.


    Thus Zhao Luo''s strength had increased once again but just by a little. Even if it was just by a little margin if this kept on going, he would eventually reach his target.


    "Everyone get on it."


    Zhao Luo said to his other six apparitions.


    The third one was at the second drum of the first row as the first drum was empty so Zhao Luo wanted them to end this fast.


    Thus telling them to beat the drum together.


    So the fourth apparition went up and beat the first drum as he moved to the second drum the fifth apparition moved to the first drum.


    Just like this, all the seven apparitions were beating the drums together.


    One apparition would move onto the next one, the other apparitions would follow behind him.


    "Boom, Bom, Booom, Boom, BOOM, BOOM


    M, bo-boOM,"


    The whole space was filled with drum noises.


    The rhythm was as Sh*t as it could, even Zhao Luo felt that.


    ''It''s training, not a show.''


    Zhao Luo thought as not caring about the rhythm.


    Sometimes the drum''s beat noise would ovep each other''s while other times it would be consecutive sound falling in his ear.


    While the apparitions were beating the drums, Zhao Luo thought of another idea.


    "Hmm, what if I can make another ring?"


    Zhao Luo thought.


    If he could do that then he could divide the apparitions into two teams.


    One would focus on beating the drum with their maximum force and face the most powerful attack of the drum directly.


    The second team would focus on controlling the strength in all three rows and try to get it hard enough to get only three echoes.


    ''This way I will achieve both endurance and strength.''


    Thus Zhao Luo thought of another ring with drums on it.


    The conditions on the rows of drums and characteristics of the drums were based on his memory of the Drums of Bellum, just like before.


    Everything happened in an instant as another square ring with rows of drums on it appeared in front of Zhao Luo.


    ''Hmm.''


    Zhao Luo wondered as he could feel a heavy pressure on his mind but it was still bearable.


    Zhao Luo didn''t sweat it as he summoned two new apparitions.


    His other seven which were on the other ring tform came flying after being hit by the attack of the drum on the fourth row.


    One by one they fell between Zhao Luo and the two new apparitions.


    After a short break, they started standing up as they looked at Zhao Luo who was ready to say something to them.


    All the apparitions were lined. Seven of them were upgraded apparitions and two of them were summoned by Zhao Luo just recently.


    The two ring tforms with the drums on them were on right and left of Zhao Luo as Zhao Luo stood in front of his apparitions.


    "Five of you will keep on repeating what you have been doing on that ring."


    Zhao Luo said as he pointed at the ring on the left which he had created first.


    The apparitions that Zhao Luo gave this to were the same five apparitions who had just been sent flying by the attack from the first drum of the fourth row.


    "We will be attacking it at full force?"


    One of the apparitions asked Zhao Luo as he was already over the idea of winning against the other apparitions.


    "Isn''t that what you all like?"


    Zhao Luo questioned that apparition with a smile but he was looking at all five of them.


    The five apparitions had no answer to that question as before they were overtaken by their instinct.


    "p, p. Let''s move now."


    Zhao Luo said to them as the five apparitions moved to that ring and started beating the drum as they were doing before.


    "You four will go to this ring. Remember to control your strength. Whoever gets less or more than three echoes on any drum will run a hundredps around the two rings."


    Zhao Luo told them as he had an evil smile on his face. They freaked out.


    Zhao Luo had finally divided the two tasks.


    This was a better way.


    The apparitions can keep ln doing their task again and again before he decides to assimte them rather than assimting the apparitions after it has done its task once.


    Thus the two groups of apparitions went over to their gove site and started doing as they were tasked.


    The sound of drum beating kept on resounding in the dark space without any break.


    ''Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom.....''


    One after another sounds kept on echoing in the dark space.


    If others could witness this then they would have surely named this the number one performance of the New Era.


    Sadly no one from the new world could watch this.


    ''I should try to train on controlling the strength too.''


    Zhao Luo who was now free also joined the four apparitions at the ring on the right.


    Just like that the hellish performance started.

 Chapter 66 - The Training

    Zhao Luo''s Mental World, The Dark Space.


    Zhao Luo and his nine apparitions were beating the drums.


    The group on the left ring.


    Their goal was to increase the endurance of the body by taking in the damage from the first drum of the fourth row again and again.


    For that, they would have to rack up the echoes from the first drum of the first row till the fifth drum of the third row. So they kept on doing that.


    These apparitions felt like a boomerang. Zhao Luo in a sense had thrown them inside the ring and the first drum of the fourth row would throw them out of the ring. There was no way that the apparitions could just adjust to this as they would be thrown out of the ring because of the intensity of the attack by the first drum of the fourth row. Then they would be going back up as Zhao Luo hadn''t told them to stop, well not yet.


    The first time they were sent flying by that drum, it was by a good distance from the ring.


    The second time they fell a step less than theirst fall.


    The third time the distance had lessened by another step.


    This continued.


    Zhao Luo hadn''t noticed but that distance was reduced but even after the distance had reduced it was still by a very little margin. Almost by 10 steps.


    That is the upgraded apparition would have their endurance increased every time they would take the drum''s attack. They were getting stronger than how they were when Zhao Luo had summoned them.


    If they were summoned with ''1 endurance point'' now they were at 10 endurance points.


    Every time their endurance increased, their strength would increase to just half of the increase in their insurance.


    So by now, these apparitions had already increased their strength and endurance which was very much rted to ''their stamina and the force which was the counting factor in their defensive ability.


    Whereas Zhao Luo and the other apparitions on the other ring were still going through the strength controlling training.


    They would hit the drums just hard enough to get only three echoes. No one had made a mistake yet.


    The attack these apparitions would face by the first drum of the fourth row was only half as powerful as the attack that the apparitions on the other ring were facing. But still, it was enough to send them flying.


    Zhao Luo who was already beating the third drum of the fourth row looked at his two apparitions that were sent flying one after another.


    ''Are they improving?''


    Zhao Luo questioned himself as this was already their eleventh try. And yet these apparitions were still stuck at the first drum of the fourth row.


    "Are you guys cking? Do you guys want to run around the rings instead?"


    Zhao Luo shouted at them.


    He had to admit that it wasn''t a fun feeling to shout at himself.


    As Zhao Luo shouted at the apparitions that were with him, the apparitions on the other ring started beating the drum even more wildly than before.


    While the apparition on the ring Zhao Luo was on, tried their best to take the attack of the drum without falling back.


    ''They have definitely improved.''


    Zhao Luo''s earlier questioned was answered as he smiled while looking at his hardworking apparitions.


    ''How strong will I be once I assimte them?''


    Zhao Luo pondered.


    As he may already be strong enough to clear the Drums of Bellum.


    Zhao Luo became quiet for a moment and then solely focused on beating the drum in front of him.


    He was trying to get the sound of the drum to echo ten times after he beats it.


    Zhao Luo was also on his eleventh try but he still hadn''t given up.


    The third drum of this row was like a cursed number for Zhao Luo. He would always end up getting 8 or 9 echoes on this drum. Always falling by a single or two echoes.


    Every time Zhao Luo failed at the third drum he would go back to the first drum of the first row and start it over. But this time, the eleventh turn, Zhao Luo could feel it.


    This was the moment that he gets ten echoes on all the five drums of the fourth row.


    ''AHH~.''


    Zhao Luo screamed as he hit the drum stick on the drumhead with all his might and with perfect form.


    "BO~OM."


    The sound produced by the drum was heard by everyone in the dark space. That sound dispersed in the surrounding.


    ''Mhmm.''


    Zhao Luo felt nervous as the echoes of that sound starteding back.


    ''Boom.''


    ''Boom.''


    .


    .


    .


    "That''s eight. Give me two more. Please."


    Zhao Luo thought as the eighth echo sounded out.


    He wished that he could get thest two too so he would finally move onto the fourth drum and clear it too.


    ''Boom.''


    Another Echo came back.


    Even the other abbreviations had stopped while they were looking at Zhao Luo, who had his eyes closed.


    ''That''s Nine.''


    Zhao Luo thought.


    Right after which another Echo resounded.


    "Hahaha, even the cursed drum couldn''t stop me."


    Zhao Luo said whileughing weirdly.


    There was no such thing as a curse. It was just Zhao Luo being bad at putting out his full power while hitting the drum.


    After that Zhao Luo cleared the fourth and fifth drum of row four quite easily. As he had already mastered the control over his strength.


    The real problem started in the fifth row.


    There were five drums in the fifth row too but the problem was that these drums were just regr.


    ''Hmm.''


    Zhao Luo wondered as to what he should do now. As he couldn''t create something without even experiencing it or knowing about it perfectly.


    ''How long has it been since I have been here?''


    Zhao Luo questioned himself.


    While training here he had lost the perception of time.


    ''Maybe an hour has passed already.''


    Zhao Luo spected as for him it felt like a short time since he had started.


    Unfortunately for Zhao Luo, he didn''t know that it was already the morning of the second day. That is, he had been training in his dark space for around 8 hours of the outer world.


    While thinking Zhao Luo got down from the ring and walked a little away as his face was filled with sweat. Even though he could have rested while his apparition did all the work but he didn''t.


    Instead, Zhao Luo worked harder than his apparitions.


    Zhao Luo looked at his apparitions which were split into two groups who were still beating the drums as they were told to.


    ''Now.''


    Zhao Luo thought.


    There came a time when Zhao Luo thought that it was time for him to let his apparitions stop the training.


    "Gather round."


    Zhao Luo announced as one after another the apparitions finished their set after getting thrown out of the ring by the drum''s attack.


    They all gathered in front of Zhao Luo.


    Looking at Zhao Luo with pride as they hadpleted their tasks multiple times.


    As Zhao Luo looked at them he couldn''t help but shed a single tear for all of their hard work.


    In the end, even though they were just apparitions, they were still a part of Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo smiled with teary eyes as he looked at the nine apparitions.


    "You all did well."


    Zhao Luoplimented them as he touched them one after another and absorbed them back into his body.


    Zhao Luo closed his eyes as he started assimting these multiple-upgraded apparitions in his body.


    After he started assimting them into his body, Zhao Luo could feel tremendous changes building up in his body.


    Zhao Luo could feel a building being built in his body. A brick after another brick was being added to the structure of this building. Zhao Luo just had to assimte these apparitions toplete this building.


    The bowl in his body was filling up continuously.


    As the assimtion process ended and Zhao Luo exhaled.


    ''Ha~.''


    Zhao Luo opened his eyes and stared into the dark space. Then he looked down towards himself.


    Zhao Luo raised his arms and brought them in his vision as he closed them to make a fist.


    Zhao Luo felt the changes in his body. After a few moments, Zhao Luo couldn''t control himself as he tilted his head upwards and ced half of his right hand on his forehead and half of it covering his eyes.


    "Hahahaha."


    Zhao Luo startedughing as if he had finally gone insane.


    In another space inside Zhao Luo''s body.


    The space inside Heaven''s Tomb had the egos of the Ancient Emperas.


    "Looks like the kid has gone mad, haha."


    One of the Emperas said while making fun of Zhao Luo.


    "We were all like that when we became a little powerful. I still remember the day when you ascended to Godhood."


    Another ego interrupted. This was the ego of the same Empera who had once made fun of Zhao Luo for talking to their Goddess.


    He was now taking Zhao Luo''s side.


    "You danced in the rain with yourpletely ripped clothes for five days and nights."


    The Empera didn''t leave any details behind.


    ''Haha.''


    The crimson eyes of the Empera in the middle started shining as her melodiousugh filled the space when she remembered that scene from the past.


    Coming back to Zhao Luo''s dark space.


    Zhao Luo shuddered as he felt someone watching over him.


    He already knew that it may be the Emperas but the reason behind his shuddering was the melodiousugh that entered his ears a moment ago.


    "Let''s return."


    Zhao Luo thought as he could already feel enough power to conquer the Drums of Bellum.

 Chapter 67 - The Dining Hall

    Zhao Luo was still in the dark space.


    ''This should be enough.''


    Zhao Lup thought as nothing else was remaining to do.


    The only thing left for Zhao Luo now was to test his increased strength.


    He could have trained more but he thought that the amount of training he had already done was enough to deal with the Drums of Bellum.


    Zhao Luo sat down on the floor of the dark space. The rings were still behind him. Zhao Luo didn''t think about storing them or anything like that. He only had one thing in his mind.


    ''I will go to the training area first.''


    Zhao Luo said as he closed his eyes while sitting on the floor of the dark space in his mind.


    The next instant, Zhao Luo opened his eyes physically as he got up from his bed.


    ''Thud, Thud.''


    Zhao Luo lightly brushed his robe with his palm as he tightened it around his waist.


    ''Tap, tap.''


    "Is brother still sleeping?"


    Zhao Luo who was walking towards the door of his room heard a girl questioning someone in a cute voice.


    He knew the girl meant him when she said ''brother'' as that voice belonged to Feng Mei.


    "If Brother Luo is still sleeping then we will let him rest. He may still be tired after what happened yesterday."


    The person who was questioned replied to Feng Mei. This person was Yan.


    Bother girls were waiting outside Zhao Luo''s room wondering if they should knock on the door to check if Zhao Luo was awake or sleeping.


    While they were discussing this, Feng Mei brought her fist close to the door as she looked at Yan.


    "Brother Yan, I am going to knock on the door."


    Feng Mei said to Yan as Yan nodded.


    Before Feng Mei could knock on the door, Zhao Luo opened it.


    Zhao Luo grabbed Feng Mei''s little fist gently.


    Zhao Luo put his hand on Feng Mei''s head and stroked it gently.


    "Brother are you fine now?"


    Feng Mei asked Zhao Luo as she looked up at him with her cute round eyes.


    "Yes, I am fine now. Don''t be surprisedter on. Hehe."


    Zhao Luo told Feng Mei as heughed weirdly while removing his hand from her head.


    He was already giving them notice.


    ''Hmm, was he able to increase his strength in just 8 hours?''


    Yan thought as she looked at the calm and happy face of Zhao Luo.


    Since he hade out of his room, he realized that there were other disciples too. That is the ce where Zhao Luo was in looked like a small hut.


    Even though the hut looked small from the outside, it was rather spacious on the inside.


    The hut was big enough as even when four people were in Zhao Luo''s room, he didn''t feel that it was crowded or anything.


    Zhao Luo looked around and noticed that there were countless small huts around him.


    Some students were stilling out of the huts. These students were all headed at the same ce. This confused Zhao Luo as they wouldn''t be heading towards the training area right after waking up.


    "Where are they going?"


    Zhao Luo asked Yan.


    "Probably, the dining hall. But they arete so they wouldn''t be getting anything special."


    Yan replied to Zhao Luo with her head straight as she looked right into Zhao Luo''s eyes.


    She wanted Zhao Luo to praise her as she had done her research to know about some specific things which were important while they were in the trainee hall.


    Instead of praising her, Zhao Luo who couldn''t read through Yan''s emotion turned his head and looked around.


    "So this is the ce of amodation. And where these trainees are headed must be the dining hall."


    Zhao Luo said lightly as he was checking around. First, he looked around him to see the Huts and then looked at where some of the trainees were headed at.


    The trainee hall had three ces.


    The ce where the trainees stayed, like Zhao Luo, ''The Huts''.


    The Second ce was where they would train, ''The Training Area''.


    Zhao Luo was already familiar with this ce as the first ce he went to after entering the trainee hall was the Training Area.


    The third ce was...


    "Let''s go to the dining hall first."


    Zhao Luo said to Feng Mei and Yan.


    Yes, the ''Dining Hall'' was the third ce.


    "Okay. Let''s follow them."


    Yan said as she pointed at a group of disciples who were going towards the left side after exiting the ce where the huts were.


    After saying that, Yan, Zhao Luo, and Feng Mei who was holding Zhao Luo''s hand started walking behind one group of the trainee disciple that was obviously heading towards the dining hall.


    There was an insane reason behind why Zhao Luo wanted to go to the Dining Hall first instead of the Training Area.


    It was this feeling that he had lost. As if his mind and body had obliterated this feeling from his senses.


    ''Why don''t I feel hungry anymore?''


    Zhao Luo questioned himself while walking.


    It was a long-time question that was bugging Zhao Luo.


    It had already been around a week since he had freed himself from the capsule. But from then it wasn''t easy for him to feel this feeling where he wanted to eat something. Except for the time when he had the special ramen at Brother Sang''s ce.


    Zhao Luo was unable to feel ''Hunger''.


    That uneasy feeling apanied by the growling noises where the consumption of food would be a necessity was missing in Zhao Luo. Thus Zhao Luo decided to go to the Dining Hall first.


    After walking for a while, the three, Zhao Luo, Feng Mei, and Yan arrived outside of the dining hall.


    ''It''s really big.''


    Zhao Luo thought while looking at the dining hall.


    The dining hall was indeed a massive ce.


    It could easily hold the current amount of disciples in the trainee hall with ease.


    Zhao Luo entered the dining hall with Feng Mei and Yan by his side.


    ''So many...''


    Zhao Luo looked around.


    There were at least around four thousand disciples eating their food calmly.


    Even though there were so many disciples here there wasn''t much noise.


    ''It''s nice that they are well disciplined.''


    Zhao Luo liked this kind of simple atmosphere more than noisy ones.


    Zhao Luo''s eyes fell on the area in the Dining Hall where the food was.


    He moved to that area and grabbed a tray from among the many trays which were ced right where the dishes started.


    "Hmm, crispy meat, tender meat, spicy meat, more meat, and ah, finally some vegetables...."


    Zhao Luo looked at the food disyed there.


    It was mostly big pieces of meat with different descriptions underneath the food te and then there was a portion where the boiled vegetables were ced.


    Zhao Luo took some meat from the different tes and put them on his tray.


    Feng Mei who was right beside Zhao Lup also copied the amount and added the same things that Zhao Luo was adding. Even though it was only meat dishes everywhere.


    Yan only had some vegetables on her te.


    Zhao Luo noticed a table in the Dining Hall which only had one big person sitting on it.


    There were free tables too but they were quite far away from where they were at.


    ''Let''s go sit there.''


    Zhao Luo said as he walked towards that table with Feng Mei and Yan.


    The other disciples noticed some people passing them, one after another these disciples started recognizing him as the person who was on the ring tform yesterday.


    ''The guy who had reached the fourth row.''


    They all had seen the moment when Zhao Luo had beaten the First Drum of the Fourth row.


    They still couldn''t forget the echoing of the sound of the drum and the scene of Zhao Luo falling.


    Zhao Luo had already be a legend in the Trainee Hall. The other disciples already had a deep respect for Zhao Luo growing in their hearts.


    Just like that whispers started. Everyone''s focus turned from their tes towards Zhao Luo.


    There was another eyecatching reason to look at Zhao Luo.


    The two angels that he was carrying around him.


    He already looked like an extraordinary individual with his handsome face and his unparalleled robe. Yet the two girls around Zhao Luo just added different vors to his persona.


    The disciples here were just specting as Yan had yet to talk so they thought that Yan was a girl which she was.


    As everyone started talking about Zhao Luo and the two girls around him, the Dining Hall turned into a Zoo right away.


    With so many disciples participating in talking and whispering at once in a closed space made the dining hall very noisy.


    ''Hmm.''


    Zhao Luo who had reached the table stopped behind the big man and took a nce around as everyone was talking about him.


    Before he could ask the big man if they could sit with him, the big man suddenly stretched his back to make it straight.


    "ahh, why are you all behaving like animals huh..."


    The big man said as he turned his face around and stopped midway.


    It was like seeing a ghost who had spawned right behind him.


    ''Ack.''


    The big man cried as he choked on hisst bite while looking at Zhao Luo.


    "Haha, ''Brother Mite'' so it was you."


    Zhao Luoughed as he sat at one of the free seats around the table where Mite was sitting alone.

 Chapter 68 - The Taunt And The Support

    ''Brother Mite?''


    Mite who was choking on his food looked even more shocked.


    "Thud, Thud."


    "Cough, Cough."


    Mite coughed as the food was still stuck in his throat.


    He smacked his chest with his fist. He did this so strong enough vibration would travel from his chest to his throat such that the food will be back on its track towards his stomach.


    ''Gulp.''


    Mite was finally free from the curse of ''Choking on Food''.


    "Hah."


    Mite took a breath as he looked at Zhao Luo angrily for just a moment.


    Zhao Luo was watching the suffering of Mite with a smile on his face.


    "Thank you, ''Brother Mite'', Hahaha."


    Zhao Luo thanked Mite while especially forcing the ''Brother Mite'' part.


    In the end, Zhao Luo startedughing like he was telling a joke. Or seeing one.


    "Why are you thanking me?"


    Mite asked Zhao Luo with a calm face.


    He was on the ranking board of the outer disciple for a reason. Even though he was just one of the lower-ranking disciples.


    "You see ''Brother'', there is nothing better than watching someone make a fool out of himself while you are enjoying your food."


    Zhao Luo told Mite the reason behind the word of gratitude.


    Zhao Luo was taking revenge for yesterday but in his special way. He was using his words but just for now. The time when he uses his action was near too.


    "Hahaha." , "Heh.", "Senior Mite is getting owned here.", "kehehe."


    Many whispers were reaching the table where Zhao Luo and Mite were.


    "Hmph."


    Mite didn''t get angry over Zhao Luo''s but he still cleared his throat with such a force that it reverberated in the whole Dining Hall.


    Everyone in the Dining Hall had to cover their ears as what Mite had used was a sound technique. It was bing unbearable for them and thus just like everyone had to shut their mouths.


    "I thought you would still be lying on the bed like a dead dog after taking the attack from the drum."


    Mite was trying to get back at Zhao Luo.


    But he didn''t know that it will be his biggest mistake.


    Zhao Luo nced at Mite and just showed him a mysterious smile as he went for the meat on his te with a fork in his hand.


    ''Nom, Nom, Nom.''


    Zhao Luo was enjoying the various type of meat pieces while messing around with this outer disciple who was their senior, Mite.


    ''Hmm. He thinks he can fool me.''


    Mite thought as he believed that Zhao Luo was just pretending to be strong.


    "Why don''t you try beating the drums today too? I don''t know but for some reason your yesterday''s ''performance'' was unforgettable."


    Mite added while smiling from ear to ear.


    Like a kid, Mite felt awesome as he hit Zhao Luo back with one of his word attacks.


    ''Tap.''


    Zhao Luo dropped his fork on the te and looked at Mite.


    ''He said it. Hah, the face pping couldn''t get any better.''


    Zhao Luo thought as Mite was unintentionally dancing on Zhao Luo''s palm.


    Zhao Luo got up from his seat.


    Yan and Feng Mei also left the table with Zhao Luo.


    ''Tap.''


    Zhao Luo walked towards Mite first as he tapped Mite''s shoulder with his hand.


    "Ah, ''Brother'' why don''t youe with me to watch my ''performance'' again?"


    Zhao Luo said with a cool demeanor as none of Mite''s words had affected his mental state.


    Zhao Luo''s silver long shiny hairs were dangling around his face making him look even cooler.


    ''Kyaa.''


    Sounds of female disciples crying out in awe after seeing this man, Zhao Luo, who was looking nothing less than some cold prince from a beautiful painting.


    Mite didn''t like the reaction of these female disciples fawning over Zhao Luo as he had never gotten a reaction from them before.


    ''NOT EVEN ONCE.''


    Mite thought as looked around. Then he looked at Zhao Luo.


    "I would love to see your ''performance'', it may help my stomach to digest all the food that I have eaten. HAHAHA."


    Mite yed along with Zhao Luo as he was sure that Zhao Luo was just bluffing and startedughing like a huge monkey as he got up from his seat.


    Mite was in the front as Zhao Luo, Feng Mei, and Yan were following behind him as the group of four left the Dining Hall. They were headed towards the Training Area.


    A ruckus was rising inside the Dining Hall.


    Every disciple inside the dining hall was rushing towards the exit of the hall. They were literally pushing each other just to follow the group of Zhao Luo who had left the Dining Hall just a second ago.


    Zhao Luo had be a star disciple of the trainee hall over just a single incident. Even above that, the rumors about him which kept on bing more and more unbelievable as they moved from one mouth to another.


    ''I can''t miss this.''


    One of the disciples thought as he was pushing the other disciples.


    "Let me leave first, I have to follow them. My handsome brother is going to challenge the Drums again."


    One of the female disciples cried while calling Zhao Luo ''My'' Brother.


    It was her good luck that Feng Mei had left with Zhao Luo otherwise the oue of her announcement would have been a life-threatening situation for her.


    Outside the ''Dining Hall''.


    Zhao Luo was looking forward to this as more and more disciples were gathering behind them


    The group kept on getting bigger as they walked towards the Training Area.


    The disciples who were in the Dining Hall had reached them as they also mixed in with the group that was following Zhao Luo and Mite.


    Soon they reached the Training Area.


    The group started to disperse as many went to the spectator stands around the square ring tforms.


    Everyone was trying to get the better seats so they could watch Zhao Luo closely.


    Even the male disciples weren''t falling behind inpeting for the seats.


    ''Thud.''


    After a moment, Zhao Luo jumped on the Ring tform which had let a trauma in his mind.


    Even though he was already strong enough to face the ''Drums of Bellum'' but he knew he would never forget them.


    ''My first setback, my first defeat was here. I want it to be myst.''


    Zhao Luo thought while looking at the five rows of Drums.


    Zhao Luo looked serious. This was the face of a dedicated man. He could have made excuses like he fell for Mite''s taunts or like he didn''t know about the Drum''s characteristics. But Zhao Luo didn''t do anything like that.


    He just didn''t want to have an ending like how he fell unconscious to the Drum''s attack yesterday.


    He was a ready person now. A person who didn''t want to fall against anything. A person who wouldn''t back away from any challenge.


    Zhao Luo was ready to conquer the Drums of Bellum.


    ''Look at this fool.''


    Mite thought while looking at Zhao Luo from the sidelines.


    ''There is a limit to bluff. Does this kid think he is here to clear the challenge of ''Drums Of Bellum?''


    Mite had a very questionable approach towards Zhao Luo''s attitude.


    He already hated this newbie who had challenged him right at the start.


    ''I only tried to show them the good side of staying as a trainee disciple.''


    That is how Mite remembered the situation. He had forgotten the insult he had thrown at them.


    Mite looked at Zhao Luo who was stretching his body and getting ready to beat the drums.


    At the Spectator Stand.


    There was a familiar face in one of the spectator''s seats.


    "Brother Yang, are you here to watch Zhao Luo as well?"


    A disciple asked this guy.


    It was Wu Yang who was being questioned.


    Wu Yang was pretty well respected by the other disciples as he was one of the oldest disciples. But he wasn''t just that, Wu Yang was also one of the smartest disciples in the Trainee Hall. The only thing hecked was strength but now he had a solution for that as well.


    Wu Yang got up from his seat and brought his hand close to his face making a circle with his hands around his mouth.


    "ZHAOOO~~ LUOO~~ YOU CAN DO IT!"


    Wu Yang shouted.


    Zhao Luo who was on the ring was initially freaked out because of this sudden call out from one of the spectators.


    He turned to look at who it was, Zhao Luo smiled.


    ''Kyaa~.''


    Another scream of awe could be heard from male and female disciples as Zhao Luo''s smile was unbearable for them.


    This smile caused a tsunami to rise as everyone started a chant.


    "Zhao Luo you can do it!" ¡Á XXX


    Almost all the disciples there started chanting.


    A wave was rising with Zhao Luo at its amidst.


    They matched their voices and their timing so Zhao Luo could hear their support.


    Even those disciples were chanting along with the others who hadn''t even seen Zhao Luo''s smile.


    Thus the whole Training Area was filled with one name.


    "Zhao Luo."


    Even Zhao Luo who was getting ready to beat the drums was confused but he had to admit that the support from thousands of disciples on just his second felt amazing.


    "Argh."


    Mite looked like he would explode any moment.


    Feng Mei and Yan were also shouting.


    "You can do it, Brother."


    Now Zhao Luo not only had the strength and confidence that he could conquer the Drums of Bellum. But he also had the support of so many disciples. Their expectations were with him, so he couldn''t let them down.


    Zhao Luo smiled and grabbed the drum stick.

 Chapter 69 - Drum To Dust

    With a smile on his face and the drumsticks in his hands, Zhao Luo was now standing in front of the first drum.


    ''Let''s do it.''


    Zhao Luo arched backward as he let his arms fall freely behind him so he could get that extra momentum when he would strike the drum.


    Mite who was watching Zhao Luo going all out had it hard to hide his smile.


    ''He is making the same mistake again. Hahaha yes just do it like that and fall again.''


    Mite screamed in his mind.


    He could Imagine seeing Zhao Luo vomiting out blood as he would be thrown away by the attack of the drum.


    Mite continued watching Zhao Luo who was gonna struck the drum.


    While Zhao Luo was taking his position.


    ''Haha.''


    Zhao Luo who was positioning himself was looking at Mite from the side of his eyes. It was like Zhao Luo had predicted this reaction from Mite.


    Zhao Luo did this to make Mite happy just so he could step on his happiness.


    Zhao Luo straightened his back with force as his arms that were backward now came elerating towards the drum.


    In less than a second, the drum sticks in Zhao Luo''s hands were going toe in contact with the drumhead, Zhao Luo did something shocking.


    ''Hup.''


    He raised his leg and stomped it back on the floor just to stop his body. This caused him to lose almost all the power behind his drumstick.


    The drumsticks finallynded on the drumhead. But the power behind Zhao Luo''s attack was now three times less than before.


    ''Boom.''


    A usual sound was produced by the drum. Zhao Luo and the crowd bow waited for the echoes. At least three echoes were needed to pass on to the next drum.


    ''Boom.''


    ''Boom.''


    ''Boom.''


    Zhao Luo smiled as the echoes died down after reverberating three times.


    The control that he had practiced so much for was being applied here.


    If Zhao Luo wanted he could easily get ten echoes now. That is how much stronger he had gotten after training in his dark space.


    Even though he had raised his endurance by a lot too but he still wasn''t sure of handling the attack of the first drum in the fourth row if he kept on going nine to ten echoes every drum.


    So a strike that had started like it would crush the drum resulted in only three echoes.


    Senior Mite was already grabbing his hair.


    ''Don''t tell me he knows about the strength behind the attack of that drum.''


    Mite thought while feeling angry as Zhao Luo had fooled him with his actions.


    "What? Is that all you got? Pssh, all talk no bite newbie."


    Mite tried taunting Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo just showed a smile in return and moved to the second drum.


    Zhao Luo only raised his arms just till he reached his head level before striking the drumhead with the drumsticks in his hand.


    ''Boom.''


    The drum sounded out. The sound was so identical to thest drum that even Mite was shocked.


    The spectating disciples felt like they were reying Zhao Luo''s attack on the first drum. But he was clearly standing on the second drum.


    ''That control...''


    Some disciples thought as the echoes started sounding out in the surrounding.


    ''Boom.''


    ''Boom.''


    ''Boom.''


    Zhao Luo went to the third drum and raised his arms just like he had done on the second drum to beat it.


    After a split moment.


    ''Boom.''


    The sound of the drum was again the same.


    ''Hah.''


    ''Is this real?''


    Many disciples started whispering thinking they were in a dream. It wasn''t just about getting three echoes. They could feel that Zhao Luo''s attack was very mysterious as the initial banging sound of the drum in terms of volume was exactly the same.


    ''Boom.''


    ''Boom.''


    ''Boom.''


    Three echoes reverberated around the Training Area as the disciples were shocked but also enjoying the show.


    Only Mite had the look of ughtered sheep on his face. He had his mouth opened as if he was looking at some hidden monster.


    Mite would train to clear the drums every time he woulde to the training hall to teach the new disciples and oversee them but he still couldn''t get such a mastery over the drums.


    Zhao Luo who was solely focused on the Drums of Bellum moved to the fourth drum.


    ''Fourth Drum.''


    The same thing happened as thest time.


    Just like that Zhao Luo cleared the first row after getting three echoes on the fifth drum.


    "The second row."


    Zhao Luo was in a nostalgia.


    How long had he trained in his mental world under the same condition again and again?


    The pressure was nothing for him but as much as he trained under these conditions, the increased gravity, and the heavy drum sticks, he felt like sh*tting his pants.


    But now wasn''t the time for such ridiculous wishes.


    "Huff."


    Zhao Luo took a deep breath and continued as he had been doing before.


    In less than a minute, he had cleared the second row of drums.


    The disciples spectating Zhao Luo were gasping.


    Even though his performance wasn''t eyecatching like before but it amazingly so consistent that they couldn''t take their eyes off this handsome younger brother of theirs.


    The three echoes reverberating every time Zhao Luo would beat the drum and the volume of the sound from the drum being exactly the same was indeed something that they were witnessing for the first time.


    Zhao Luo had only cleared the second row. He was only ''beating'' the drum yet the disciples felt as if they were in front of a general who had granted them many war victories.


    ''Incredible.''


    ''Amazing.''


    ''So hot.''


    The male and female disciples had thoughts about Zhao Luo popping up in their minds.


    Zhao Luo was now standing in front of the first drum of the third row.


    The nostalgia still hadn''t left him as now he just wanted to reach the fourth row so he could use all his strength.


    Zhao Luo grabbed the drum sticks which were way lighter than the previous drum sticks. Zhao Luo still looked calm and collected as if this was just a little walk in the park for him.


    Even under the double pressure than the second row, he didn''t bat an eye.


    Even though there was a nostalgic feeling about beating the drum he was still enjoying this.


    The only person who wasn''t enjoying the challenge was Mite.


    ''Boom.''


    The sound of the drum resounded out as Zhao Luo started to beat it followed by the three echoes.


    Again in less than a minute, Zhao Luo had cleared the third row.


    "Finally."


    Zhao Luo said as he was standing in front of the same drum that had caused his fallst time.


    Before Zhao Luo proceeded to clear the fourth row, he turned around to look at Mite looked sour from not being able to handle Zhao Luo''s advance.


    "I hope your food still hasn''t digested yet. Keep it there till I reach thest drum."


    Zhao Luo said to Mite as he pointed at Mite''s stomach and then at thest drum of the fifth row.


    "Hahahaha."


    Mite who looked like someone had thrown sh*t on him before finally regained his senses just in a bad way as he startedughing crazily.


    "Even if you have good control it would be useless without your strength backing it up."


    Mite said as he believed that Zhao Luo would definitely fail in the fourth row.


    He thought that Zhao Luo wasn''t strong enough to take the attack of the first drum head-on.


    Even Mite himself who was an outer disciple couldn''t do it, so how could a disciple who just came to the sect yesterday could do it?


    Zhao Luo who was scratching his right ear with his pinky looked at Mite with disdain in his eyes.


    "Are you done?"


    Zhao Luo said with anger.


    Mite was a person whose happiness lied in other''s misfortune and setbacks thus Zhao Luo knew there was no reason to act nicely with such a guy even if he is a senior.


    Mite was looking at Zhao Luo with his mouth shut as Zhao Luo moved to the first drum of the fourth row.


    Zhao Luo touched the drum head with his hand.


    "It''s time to conquer you."


    Zhao Luo said while looking at the drum seriously.


    It was time to test his endurance, his defense.


    Before Zhao Luo could remove his hand from the drum, he could hear a sound.


    ''Jungle~.''


    As if the drum hade to life after Zhao Luo''s touch.


    The drum sounded happy as finally, someone worthy had appeared to beat it again.


    ''This drum...''


    Zhao Luo who looked troubled after hearing the ''jingle'' sounding from the drum pulled back his hand while grabbing the drum sticks.


    In a matter of seconds, Zhao Luo took his position, arched his back, raised his hands, and struck the drum with all of his strength.


    "BOOOOM."


    As the sound of the drum beating sounded out, the drum couldn''t handle Zhao Luo''s sudden burst of power and turned to dust.


    But before the drum turned to dust it had already sent an attack towards Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo was facing an attack that had the power of 45 echoes behind it.


    Zhao Luo slid back because of the force of the attack, as his eyes were closed because he was trying to endure the attack.


    As Zhao Luo sessfully stood against the attack, he opened his eyes and looked at the dust that was the result of his attack.


    ''... is a pervert.''


    Zhao Luopleted his earlier sentence while listening to the echoes that had surrounded the ''Training Area''.


    "Easier than i thought."


    Zhao Luo said as he was aiming for nine to ten echoes but because of the sound that the drum had made which sounded perverted to Zhao Luo, this happened.


    Mite who was looking at the dust with shock had his eyes on Zhao Luo.


    ''This guy may just be the end of Drums of Bellum.''


    Mite thought while looking at the straight and broad back of Zhao Luo.

 Chapter 70 - Victory In Sight

    The spectating disciples were shocked after seeing the disy of Zhao Luo''s power.


    His endurance was enough to handle the attack of the drum but his power was even more than they could imagine.


    Some disciples started whispering about their future ns regarding Zhao Luo.


    ''We shouldn''t get on his bad side.''


    ''Indeed.''


    ''Look what he did to that poor drum.''


    These whispers continued as the person being discussed was solely focused on the second drum of the fourth row.


    "Hmm, let''s not touch the drumhead this time."


    Zhao Luo said with a light voice as he simply grabbed the drumsticks to beat the drum.


    Zhao Luo did the same stance as he was doing before and with his controlled strength, the drumsticks in his hand fell on the drumhead.


    ''Boom.''


    A loud sound was released from the drum as Zhao Luo was already walking towards the third drum.


    ''Boom.''


    ''Boom.''


    .


    .


    One after another ten echoes reverberated around the Training Area.


    This was no longer a challenge for Zhao Luo.


    The carefree and calm expression on Zhao Luo''s face showed how hard this ''Drum Of Bellum'' was for Zhao Luo.


    Just like that Zhao Luo cleared the other three drums in the fourth row. Every time he struck it hard enough to get ten echoes.


    This resulted in him walking to the next consecutive drum without facing a single attack by the drum.


    ''Only thest row is left.''


    Zhao Luo who had cleared the first four rows thought as he looked at the fifth row.


    These were thest five drums that he had to beat. This was where he will receive the reward of this whole ordeal when he strikes the fifth drum.


    ''What could be the effect of these drums?''


    Zhao Luo questioned as he walked towards the first drum.


    He didn''t know anything about the fifth row except that they would cause mental attacks on the person challenging it.


    ''Come at me with all you got.''


    Zhao Luo was determined with a serious expression, he grabbed the drumsticks of the first drum.


    ''How many echoes should I go for?''


    Another question appeared in his mind.


    Zhao Luo still didn''t know how hard he should be hitting the drum.


    ''How much power should I use?''


    Question after question appeared in his mind but in the end, he finally reached a conclusion.


    ''Let''s go all out.''


    Zhao Luo had finally decided as he pulled his arms back as much as he could and arched his back before bringing everything forward before striking the drum with the drumsticks in his hand.


    Zhao Luo''s hands were lifted back again after he had hit the drumhead but no sound was produced by the drum.


    This left the spectators silent. They were waiting for the result and not this silent show.


    How could a drum not produce a sound after being hit?


    ''Did he already use all his strength?''


    One of the disciples thought while looking at the still-standing Zhao Luo.


    ''So sad. Handsome brother....''


    A female trainee disciple thought while looking at Zhao Luo.


    She thought that Zhao Luo was in shock as no sound came from the drum.


    ''He failed!''


    Mite thought with a big smile on his face.


    Since the start, this was the only moment he felt a little happy because of Zhao Luo''s failure.


    Thesest five minutes felt like a hellish eternity to him, never-ending like Mite was trapped around burning drums and every time the sound of a drum would be heard, he would burn.


    Everyone thought that Zhao Luo had failed but nobody knew the reality.


    ''Brother.''


    Feng Mei thought while staring at Zhao Luo''s back.


    The reality was way different than what others could see.


    A reality that was only known by Zhao Luo and nobody else.


    Zhao Luo who was standing in front of the first drum of the fifth row had his eyes closed.


    It all happened at the exact moment when the drumsticks in Zhao Luo''s hand hade in contact with the drumhead.


    Zhao Luo had suffered a mind tearing attack by the Drum which had invaded his body in the form of vibrations.


    These vibrations in turnbined and exploded as sound when they reached his ears.


    A sound that could have resounded in the whole training area was now closed inside Zhao Luo''s head reverberating inside his mind in the form of echoes.


    ''Boom.''


    The first echo resounded causing Zhao Luo to clench his fist.


    The impact was great but he was handling it fairly well.


    ''Boom.''


    The second echo appeared as the first echo died down.


    Zhao Luo still endured it.


    This continued till the seventh.


    A vein had popped out on Zhao Luo''s forehead as he was now clenching his teeth too along with his fists just to help him direct all this pain towards other parts of his body.


    ''Boom.'' Eighth echo.


    ''Boom.'' Ninth echo.


    ''Boom.'' Tenth echo.


    After echoing ten times inside Zhao Luo''s head the sound finally disappeared.


    Zhao Luo was left in unimaginable pain.


    He wasn''t prepared for such kind of mental attack.


    ''Phew, my head.''


    Zhao Luo touched his head with his hand while feeling a headache that was tearing his head into pieces but he had to bear with it.


    ''So the best way to pass these drums is for the drum sound to echo out three times.''


    Zhao Luo had confirmed this fact by going through excruciating pain.


    ''Shwaa~''


    The drum in front of him glowed for a moment but the next moment its glow died down.


    This caused a wave of discussion to rise among the crowd of disciple that was watching Zhao Luo.


    They all thought that Zhao Luo had failed but what was this?


    ''Why did the drum glow?''


    The disciples thought.


    ''So he passed it?''


    Others wondered.


    While they were questioning the situation, Zhao Luo moved to the second drum of the fifth row.


    This time Zhao Luo didn''t hit it as hard as before instead he only raised his arms high enough to reach his head level before bringing the drumsticks in his hands to hit the drumhead.


    ''Boom.''


    Another sound attack appeared inside his head like a typhoon.


    Zhao Luo was now grabbing his head. Even though it was like hell inside his mind, Zhao Luo couldn''t give up aftering this close to the drums.


    ''Boom.''


    ''Boom.''


    ''Boom.''


    After the sound echoed three times, Zhao Luo''s handsome face was now red as a tomato.


    ''Shwaa~''


    The second drum glowed for a moment showing that Zhao Luo had passed the stage.


    ''It''s like someone was throwing grenades inside my head.''


    Zhao Luoined as he cried about the confrontation.


    The disciples could notice Zhao Luo''s predicament because of his actions after beating the drum and the color of his face.


    "Tip, Tip."


    Beads of sweat dropped on the ring floor as Zhao Luo walked towards the third drum.


    While looking at Zhao Luo, Feng Mei, and Yan looked hurt. They hadn''t seen Zhao Luo in such a state before.


    "Brother~."


    Feng Mei cried out with her cute voice.


    Whereas Yan was still silent with tears in her eyes.


    ''I am a man. I can''t cry right now.''


    Yan thought as she was actually ''Brother Yan'' right now.


    Zhao Luo moved to the third drum.


    Everything repeated the same way as thest time on the second drum.


    Then to the fourth drum.


    Zhao Luo went through the same painful experience again.


    The drums glowed for a moment showing that he had passed both times.


    ''Hah.''


    Zhao Luo was now like a walking sea of sweat as he moved towards the fifth drum.


    His shoulders were dropping because of being mentally tired after the sound attacks that reverberated in his head breaking his mind again and again.


    Zhao Luo stood against thest drum of the fifth row with his eyes half-closed.


    "Hahaha."


    Zhao Luoughed through his clenched teeth.


    He looked even more mesmerizing under these roughed-up conditions than before.


    Zhao Luoughed cause he could see his victory right before his eyes.


    He just had to strike the drum.


    To do that Zhao Luo grabbed the drumsticks once again and raised his arms to his head level which was already hard for him to do.


    With all the strength that Zhao Luo could muster, he hit thest drum with the drumsticks in his hand.


    ''Here ites.''


    Zhao Luo thought.


    ''Boom.''


    Zhao Luo could once again hear the sound of the drum in his head.


    ''What?''


    Zhao Luo was shocked because this time even though the sound was the same as thest four times, there was a melodious tone hidden in it.


    Like a rejuvenation spell taking over him, Zhao Luo felt as if all of his fatigue started disappearing.


    ''My body...''


    Zhao Luo''s body was being filled with strength as the sound started echoing again and again.


    It didn''t stop at just three echoes and kept on resounding till Zhao Luo started feeling so powerful that all of the tiredness that had umted inside his body sincest night had disappeared.


    ''Huff.''


    Zhao Luo took a deep breath as the drum started glowing.


    The glow didn''t vanish this time but instead absorbed Zhao Luo''s consciousness.


    "What..."


    The shocked Zhao Luo said as he appeared in a vast world with the azure sky as its roof, leaving his body outside on stand-by mode.

 Chapter 71 - Rewards Of Victory

    Zhao Luo looked around with confusion written all over his face.


    ''Drums of Bellum....so unbelievable.''


    Zhao Luo thought while looking around as just a while ago his consciousness had been pulled in some space inside thest drum.


    Zhao Luo rubbed his hands together while waiting for some kind of announcement.


    But one thing was sure.


    "Is this where I will get the reward?"


    Zhao Luo said as he knew that it was time to receive the reward for all the pain he had to go through.


    "Wee to My World."


    Zhao Luo heard a voiceing from the azure skies.


    He looked upwards just to be shocked.


    Zhao Luo could see a young man descending from within the Azure skies.


    That man soon appeared in front of Zhao Luo as he inspected Zhao Luo with a smile on his face.


    "You did well while clearing my War Cry Challenge."


    The man said to Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo was quiet for a while and looked as if he was in deep thought.


    "You mean the Drums of Bellum?"


    Zhao Luo said to the man as he couldn''t remember clearing this "War Cry Challenge".


    "Hahaha, King''s naming sense still hasn''t changed."


    That manughed while making fun of King''s naming sense. This King was the one who Bellum had served.


    The King was the one who had decided to take a mountain as Bellum''s resting ce.


    Also storing the things of Bellum in that mountain along with his tomb.


    "I am Bellum. The ''Drums of Bellum'' that you cleared is one of my top weapon sets."


    The man turned out to be Bellum and the owner of the drums.


    ''So he is Bellum.''


    Zhao Luo thought while looking at the man who was standing in front of him.


    Bellum had red hair. Long spike-shaped hair going down gis shoulder.


    Bellum was wearing golden armor with a lion designed on it which had a menacing look.


    Bellum''s features looked chiseled with eagle-like eyes which were staring right into Zhao Luo''s eyes.


    "Young man, are you done looking?"


    Bellum said to Zhao Luo as his smile grew even more.


    For some reason, Bellum couldn''t stop smiling.


    Zhao Luo shrugged as Bellum had caught Zhao Luo staring at him.


    "No need to be nervous. A dead person can''t do anything to a living one."


    Bellum said to Zhao Luo in a sad tone.


    "Senior..."


    Zhao Luo addressed Bellum as Senior after hearing Bellum''s words.


    "There is no need to be looking down. You should be happy. It''s time to reward you for clearing my War Cry Challenge."


    Bellum said to Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo looked excited.


    "Before I reward you, I will have to deduct some of your points for destroying my precious drum."


    Bellum said with a serious look.


    Zhao Luo remembered the first drum of the fourth row which had made a perverted sound when he had touched it.


    "But it made a..."


    Zhao Luo stopped as it was hard for him toplete his reason against such an amazing senior.


    "perverted sound."


    Zhao Luopleted his sentence barely with an embarrassed look on his face.


    "Hah, young man. What kind of things have you been going through that made you think of my weapon''s cute sound like a perverted one?"


    Bellum with one of his eyebrows raised questioned Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo noticed the disappointed look on Bellum''s face.


    ''Hah if only I didn''t click on it...''


    Zhao Luo thought.


    A glimpse of the past appeared in his head.


    A long time ago.


    It was when Zhao Luo hadn''t even traveled to Japan yet.


    At the time Zhao Luo had a cat who loved ying the sound of the bell.


    ''Jingle.''


    As a proud owner of his cat, there was a time when he was surfing the looking for a bell cor for his cat.


    Then suddenly a pop-up appeared on his screen.


    It was like Zhao Luo was reliving this moment of his past.


    ''You don''t wanna miss this. Your cat with a bell cor is waiting for you!''


    Zhao Luo read the video ad and decided to click on it.


    This was the time when the innocent Zhao Luo came face to face with some bad secrets.


    The video started as a girl who was wearing a bell cor appeared.


    Most of the sound in the video was that of the bell as the girl moved in all kinds of weird poses.


    Since then Zhao Luo''s mind unconsciously considered the sound ''jingle'' as perverted.


    While Zhao Luo''s face was getting red while remembering his dark past, Bellum''s sound pulled his reminiscing self back to the present.


    "Young man I was only messing around with you. Once you are rewarded the destroyed drum will go back to the way it was."


    Bellum cleared up the tension but he didn''t know what was going around in Zhao Luo''s mind.


    Zhao Luo''s glimpse of the past ended with an enchanting ''meow''.


    "Haha."


    Zhao Luoughed awkwardly as he looked down.


    "Your first reward will be...."


    Bellum spoke as Zhao Luo looked up at him.


    A scroll appeared in Zhao Luo''s hand.


    "Open it."


    Bellum instructed Zhao Luo.


    The scroll was emanating strange energy that Zhao Luo could feel even when he had yet to open the scroll.


    Zhao Luo opened the scroll and started reading the content of the scroll.


    "Technique of the War Sovereign."


    Zhao Luo looked at Bellum before returning his sight at the scroll.


    "Soul Shaking War Cry."


    ''What a powerful name.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he learned the technique of the name.


    "Gather your internal energy around your chest while closing your mouth from any outer interference. After the energy is close to exploding inside your chest, hit your right chest with your index finger then release the energy in the form of sound as you open your mouth."


    Zhao Luo read the instructions written on the scroll. But it didn''t end there.


    "The power of the technique will increase with the increase in the vassal storing the internal energy and the amount of internal energy used in the attack."


    The description of the technique ended.


    "So this is, Soul Shaking War Cry."


    Zhao Luo said as he clenched his fist.


    Zhao Luo tried doing exactly as it was written in the scroll.


    "Fuuuhhhhh."


    Zhao Luo inhaled and closed his mouth.


    He had never done this before.


    Zhao Luo tried to somehow focus all of his body''s energy around his chest but it wasn''t working. But Zhao Luo who was trying out a new technique didn''t stop yet.


    He didn''t exhale even when his face turned red.


    After a few minutes, keeping the air inside his body was bing hard for him.


    ''Is this it?''


    Zhao Luo questioned as he looked at Bellum who looking at Zhao Luo with squinted eyes.


    ''This must be the moment.''


    Zhao Luo could confirm while looking at the expression on Bellum''s face and the pain in his chest because of holding his breath.


    ''Aaa~~rrr.''


    Zhao Luo roared letting out all the air inside his body.


    Unexpectedly for Zhao Luo his roar came out like a lion cub''s roar.


    It was just a simple sound with nothing special about it unlike the name of the technique.


    ''No soul would shatter with this kind of roar.''


    Zhao Luo thought.


    "Hahahaha."


    Bellum who had been watching couldn''t take it anymore as he burst out inughter.


    Zhao Luo was dumbfounded.


    "Young man do you not know about the internal energy?"


    Bellum asked even though he already knew that Zhao Luo had no idea what internal energy was.


    Zhao Luo shook his head as he could already guess that his idea of internal energy was very different.


    "Then don''t be hasty. The technique is yours. Learn it after you master the internal energy."


    Bellum said with a smile.


    "Young man do you know I was like you too once? Naive but always confident in my abilities. Never forget who you are and what your goal is."


    Bellum said to Zhao Luo as he looked far ahead reminiscing about his past.


    ''Nod.''


    Zhao Luo bowed his head as he listened to Bellum''s advice.


    "It''s time to give you your second reward."


    Bellum said to Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo looked excited.


    ''Hope it''s a weapon.''


    Zhao Luo hoped.


    To Zhao Luo''s surprise, the reward was indeed a weapon.


    Bellum raised his arm pointing his hand towards the azure sky.


    Soon the sky split into two.


    A sword descended from the crack in the sky.


    It stopped in front of Bellum.


    Bellum waved his hand towards Zhao Luo which caused the sword to float in Zhao Luo''s direction.


    The sword came to stop in front of Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo could see the beautiful sword in front of his eyes.


    The sword was fiery red and had tiger markings in the middle of the de.


    The markings were so amazing that the tigers looked realistic enough that they would jump out of the sword.


    The hilt had a red dragon coiling around it.


    The sword was as big as Zhao Luo.


    ''What is this luck?''


    Zhao Luo questioned while looking at the tall sword.


    ''I know I wished for a weapon and a sword is fine but how am I supposed to swing this?''


    Zhao Luo thought while moving to grab the sword by the hilt.


    "Twing~."


    Just as Zhao Luo''s grabbed the sword by its hilt, a sound was released from the sword.


    "Ha, a resonance."


    Bellum said as he heard the sound released by the sword.


    "Give it a name."


    Bellum instructed Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo looked at the sword in his hand that he was barely keeping straight.


    ''The fiery color and the beasts.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he could see them like they were alive and moving inside the sword.


    "Ifrit. I will name it ifrit."


    Zhao Luo called out the name of the sword in his hand.

 Chapter 72 - Third Reward And The Next Challenge

    "Ting~"


    Ifrit made a sound as if the sword was excited after hearing its new name.


    Zhao Luo was still barely holding ifrit in his hand when ifrit started glowing.


    There was a red glow over the fiery de in Zhao Luo''s hand.


    "What?"


    Zhao Luo was shocked as ifrit was heating up rapidly.


    ''Is ifrit going to explode?''


    Zhao Luo named his sword ifrit following the demon of fire from hell because of the fiery temperament of the sword.


    But that didn''t mean that his sword could start cooking up his hand.


    "Don''t worry. It''s just getting ready to customize itself for you."


    Bellum interrupted before Zhao Luo could drop ifrit in confusion.


    ''Hmm.''


    Zhao Luo wondered about the change that will appear in his sword.


    After a moment ifrit started cooling down while also reducing its size following the best proportion which would help Zhao Luo in handling it.


    Ifrit was now just a little shorter than half of Zhao Luo''s height.


    The de had also shortened which looked even sharper than before.


    The color of the sword was even brighter as it had changed to crimson red from fiery color.


    While Zhao Luo held ifrit in his hand, he looked like a King.


    Zhao Luo''s handsome face and unparalleled persona equipped with the crimson sword ''ifrit'' looked like General of some Heavenly army.


    "Good match."


    Bellum said as he looked at the pair.


    His sword ended up in a very well ce.


    The sword was the sword of Bellum that had apanied Bellum in almost all of his battles.


    But his reign over it was now over so how could he not tell Zhao Luo to give it a new name?


    Bellum was very satisfied with Zhao Luo who hadpleted his challenge.


    The others from the Xin Sect who hadpleted this challenge were only rewarded with the Technique of the Sovereign. Yet Zhao Luo was given a weapon too.


    ''sh.''


    ''sh.''


    "Zhao Luo."


    Bellum said as Zhao Luo was swinging Ifrit around in the weirdest poses possible.


    Zhao Luo''s swordy was so hideous that even Bellum had never seen such bad shes before.


    It was because Zhao Luo was copying the moves of the best swordsman that he knew of, even though that swordsman wasn''t real. Zhao Luo was biting Ifrit between his teeth and jumping around.


    Bellum couldn''t stand watching his precious sword be abused in such a way thus Bellum decided to stop him by calling out his name.


    Zhao Luo took ''Ifrit'' in his hand again as he nced at Bellum.


    "Senior this is the first time you called me by my name."


    Zhao Luo said as such an amazing senior knew of his name. He thought that ''young man'' would be his name from now on but his thought process was wrong.


    "Yes, after watching your ''sword y'' i want to help you."


    Bellum told Zhao Luo with an awkward smile.


    Bellum had it hard to call that abomination of sword style disyed by Zhao Luo, a swordy.


    In the world of cultivation, if you learn something from a master then that master can be considered as your teacher.


    Bellum, as a partial teacher to Zhao Luo, couldn''t let Zhao Luo go just yet. That is why he decided to give another reward to Zhao Luo that would help him improve his swordy.


    "This scroll contains a Master ss sword style. ''The Random Sword'' is the name. It was used by one of the top sword masters of my era. But open the scroll only after you learn to use your internal energy."


    Bellum gave Zhao Luo the scroll and also advised him.


    Zhao Luo nodded as he stored the two scrolls and Ifrit in the storage space of his robe.


    "Thank you, Senior."


    Zhao Luo bowed his head in front of Bellum while sping his hands.


    As much as Zhao Luo had endured for the ''Drums of Bellum'', he got way more rewards than he was hoping for.


    ''A super sound technique.''


    ''A peerless sword.''


    ''And now even a sword manual.''


    Zhao Luo thought.


    Afterparing his rewards with the training he had to do for clearing the challenge, the bnce was already too much on the side of rewards thus he wanted to give his utmost gratitude to Bellum.


    "It''s not a big deal, young man. Don''t forget to work hard and one day you will be even stronger than me."


    Bellum said some encouraging words to Zhao Luo as he looked a little sad.


    "I''s time to send you back."


    Bellum said these words as he approached Zhao Luo and touched Zhao Luo''s chest with his palm.


    Zhao Luo could feel a burning pain as something entered his body from his chest through Bellum''s hand. But Zhao Luo didn''t try to fight back as he let Bellum do what he was doing.


    "Goodbye, Zhao Luo."


    Bellum said as he waved his hand which caused a blue whirlpool to appear behind Zhao Luo which sucked his consciousness.


    "Goodbye Senior~"


    Zhao Luo''sst words were left inside the World of Bellum as his consciousness disappeared after being sucked into the whirlpool.


    Bellum smiled as he ascended back to the azure sky.


    On the Ring tform with the Drums of Bellum.


    Zhao Luo had been standing straight without moving an inch for thest five minutes.


    Thest drum was still glowing.


    Nobody among the spectators could guess that only Zhao Luo''s body was there without a hint of his senses as his consciousness was inside the glowing Drum of Bellum.


    ''Fwoosh.''


    The glow dimmed and soon vanished as Zhao Luo blinked his eyes.


    Zhao Luo hurriedly looked around and realized that he back in his body. He couldn''t understand what had happened to him but he did know that the three rewards in his storage space were still there.


    The burning sensation was still present in his chest but it wasn''t an unpleasant feeling. Instead, it was making his body warm.


    "I am back."


    Zhao Luo said as he jumped down from the ring.


    Zhao Luo had cleared an impossible challenge for almost all the disciples in the trainee hall.


    "Zhao Luo~"


    "Zhao Luo~"


    "Zhao Luo~"


    Waves after waves of chants were now resounding around the training area as the disciples started their cheering.


    Zhao Luo raised his arms as he closed both of his hands tightly to make a fist which were directed towards the skies of the Xin Sect.


    ''I did it.''


    Zhao Luo thought.


    Everyone was enjoying the moment.


    Except for Mite.


    Mite looked as someone had thrown a dump on him and he couldn''t even fight back.


    Under the thundering ''Zhao Luo'' chants by the disciples, Mite felt suffocation and embarrassment that he had never felt before.


    Even the treatment by Zi Fei couldn''te close to this.


    Zhao Luo who was feeling happy right now was walking towards Feng Mei and Yan.


    Before he could reach them, Feng Mei rushed towards him and hugged Zhao Luo.


    "What''s wrong little sister?"


    Zhao Luo asked nicely with a smile on his face.


    "Brother I was scared for you."


    Feng Mei answered as she started crying.


    ''Sniff, Sniff.''


    Zhao Luo''s smile grew even bigger because now he had people who cared so much for him.


    Zhao Luo saw the cute Feng Mei crying like a silly girl. He patted Feng Mei.


    "Aren''t I fine now? Let''s go, I have so many things to tell you guys about."


    Zhao Luo told Feng Mei as he nced between her and Yan.


    But as someone famous once said,


    ''There are no joyous moments without someone trying to ruin them.''


    Mite approached Zhao Luo with his twisted face which under all the anger riding on his nose.


    "Zhao Luo."


    Mite shouted which caused all the disciples to go silent.


    "What do you want Mite?"


    Zhao Luo said to Mite without giving any face to Mite.


    Why should he even respect a person who wanted to see him fail?


    "You..."


    Mite got even angrier.


    "Ah, I meant to say Thank you, Senior Brother."


    Zhao Luo interrupted Mite before Mite could even say anything.


    Zhao Luo sped his fist and thanked Mite which was Zhao Luo taunting Mite.


    "Thanks to you I got some amazing ''things'' as the reward for clearing the Drums of Bellum."


    Zhao Luo said as his smile grew bigger while looking at the devastated face of Mite.


    "You...you wanted to fight me right. Let''s fight now."


    Mite aggressively said to Zhao Luo.


    Mite then jumped up on one of the empty training tforms.


    "Are you SCARED? Just tell me if you are SCARED."


    Mite said to Zhao Luo while emphasizing the word ''scared'' just to get everyone''s attention on him and Zhao Luo''s answer.


    "HAHAHAHA."


    Zhao Luo startedughing evilly even though he wasn''t such a person.


    ''He wants to fight then I will give him a fight.''


    Zhao Luo thought whileughing as everything was going even better than how he had nned.


    Zhao Luo jumped on the ring standing right in front of Mite.


    Beating Mite was already on his To-Do List.


    This was one of the challenges that Zhao Luo would have aimed for even if Mite didn''t challenge him first.


    "Don''t regret it."


    Zhao Luo smiled while standing with his back straight looking directly at Mite.

 Chapter 73 - VS Outer Disciple Mite

    "Regret?"


    Mite questionably looked at Zhao Luo.


    Mite was staring at Zhao Luo while shaking his head as if from the start there was nothing to regret at all.


    "I may have underestimated you, but how can you defeat me?"


    Mite asked Zhao Luo.


    Mite was an outer disciple. He may have been a cker in the Outer Hall but still, he was in the top 100 ranking board of the outer disciples.


    "You will know that soon."


    Zhao Luo answered Mite as a staredown was ongoing between the two.


    "You must think that life is easy after your luck helped you inpleting the challenge."


    Mite threw a taunt at Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo who had conquered the Drums of Bellum after training for it and enduring all the pain in the fifth row was now being told that it was his luck that helper him inpleting the Drums of Bellum.


    Zhao Luo got a little angry but then he shook his head.


    Zhao Luo got a little closer to Mite and as he stood there he raised one of his arms towards his chest as he made a fist with this hand.


    "Are you just going to talk now or will we fight?"


    Zhao Luo questioned Mite with a smirk on his face as Zhao Luo used the other hand by curling his fingers which were pointed towards Mite.


    Zhao Luo was challenging Mite.


    ''Come at Me.''


    Mite who understood Zhao Luo''s action knew that there was no better way to calm his anger except by bashing Zhao Luo''s face in.


    Mite ran at Zhao Luo like a bull as he threw a punch at Zhao Luo right when he closed in on him.


    ''Hah.''


    Zhao Luo breathed.


    Mite''s punch was aimed at Zhao Luo''s face which had a smirk on it.


    Zhao Luo wasn''t taking Mite seriously.


    "Swoosh."


    Zhao Luo tilted his neck just enough such that he dodged Mite''s attack easily as Mite''s punch passed Zhao Luo without even scratching him.


    Mite had rushed at Zhao Luo suddenly with exploding speed. He wanted to surprise Zhao Luo with his speed. But unfortunately for Mite, Zhao Luo was already aware of his tricks.


    Zhao Luo smiled in the face of Mite whose face was twisted right now. He didn''t expect Zhao Luo to dodge his speed burst attack.


    "Hah."


    Zhao Luo grinned.


    "Thud."


    Zhao Luo pulled his head back and hit Mite''s head with force.


    Mite who couldn''t stop himself and Zhao Luo who took advantage of the positioning seeded innding a headbutt on Mite''s head.


    ''Ahhh.''


    Mite groaned in pain as he grabbed his forehead.


    After this collision Mite had backed away and was in pain. But Zhao Luo wasn''t in any better state.


    Zhao Luo''s head was red because of thest contact between it and Mute''s head.


    ''Let''s not go for another headbutt.''


    Zhao Luo decided as he raised his fists and rushed at Mite.


    Thus the battle between Mite and Zhao Luo started officially.


    "Senior~"


    "Senior~"


    "Zhao Luo, Zhao Luo, Zhao Luo~"


    The chanting by the disciples who were supporting Zhao Luo and Mite had enveloped the whole training area.


    On the ring.


    Zhao Luo and Mite were exchanging blows fiercely.


    One after another punches and kicks were being thrown at each other.


    After they both had attacked the other around a hundred times in just a few minutes their speed had slowed down a little bit.


    This was the moment when one mistake could prove to be fatal.


    Mite threw his right fist at Zhao Luo''s abdomen which was dodged by Zhao Luo who rotated his body towards the left. Thus letting Mite''s punch fall in space unable toe in contact with the desired target.


    Now Mite''s chest was open and in reach of Zhao Luo''s range if he kicked Mite''s chest. So Zhao Luo took advantage of this posture.


    ''Opening.''


    Zhao Luo thought as his rising right kick was directed towards Mite''s chest.


    ''Thud.''


    "You fell for it."


    Mite grinned as he blocked Zhao Luo''s kick by grabbing it with his left hand which was a tree trunk.


    "You sure?"


    Zhao Luo questioned Mite.


    "????"


    Mite was confused as he had already trapped Zhao Luo''s motion by grabbing his right leg. ''So what is there to be unsure about?''


    Mite thought as he could feel Zhao Luo using force through his right leg which was locked between Mite''s thick hands.


    "Hah, you won''t get it free."


    Mite said as Zhao Luo had used the force on his right leg which was like stuck in some wall to lift his body.


    Zhao Luo used this force to kick Mite''s chin with his left leg.


    "sh Kick."


    Zhao Luo shouted as his left footnded on Mite''s chin with so much force that his grip on Zhao Luo''s right leg had loosened.


    Mite who had to bear the impact of Zhao Luo''s ''sh Kick'' on his chin fell on his back on the ring floor.


    Zhao Luo was quite satisfied with the oue of the fight so far.


    It looked nice to see Mite lying on his back eating the dust of the ring floor.


    ''Uff.''


    Mite who had lost hold of his senses for a split second after being kicked in the chin groaned.


    Mite tried to get up but his arms were wobbling but it wasn''t just his arms.


    His legs were shaking.


    "What....?"


    Mite was confused as this had never happened before.


    Even though he was pushed down before but he had enough resistance that he always got back up.


    So this was the first time Mite experiencing this. Experiencing his body not listening to him.


    ''Move dammit.''


    Mite screamed inside his head.


    He was in a crouching position which he was barely keeping up.


    Zhao Luo was looking at Mite who had it hard to even stand properly now.


    ''A concussion.''


    Zhao Luo thought.


    Yes, that was what Mite had experienced just now.


    "So '' Senior '' how did you like my sh Kick?"


    Zhao Luo said as he moved towards Mite slowly while cracking his knuckles.


    Zhao Luo had just named his simple summersault kick sh Kick and it sounded cooler.


    Just one kick was enough to bring Mite to his knees so Zhao Luo''s confidence had surpassed another level as he moved directly at Mite.


    Mite used all his willpower to stand somehow but the next thing he had to experience was a punch on his stomach.


    Zhao Luo had thrown a punch at Mite who had just gotten up.


    Without any strength to defend himself, Mite was thrown out of the ring tform.


    Zhao Luo raised his arms dering his victory.


    This was short but a barbaric fight without any aesthetics of martial arts involved in the bout.


    Both exchanged blows in the simplest ways possible. One attacked the other defended and so on till Zhao Luo used his sh kick which was the only highlight of their fight. That attack used the coordination and skills of Zhao Luo which ended up giving him victory over Mite.


    The crowd of disciples was excited after seeing Mite being thrown out of the ring.


    Those who were cheering for Mite were now tongue-tied over Zhao Luo''s victory.


    While those who were supporting Zhao Luo through their chants were very happy with the result.


    "Zhao Luo, Zhao Luo~"


    The whole Training Area had only one name that echoed around it and it was Zhao Luo''s name.


    While Zhao Luo was looking around the crowd Mite put his hand on the ring again.


    This time he climbed on top of the ring with a sword in his hand.


    "Mite you have already lost."


    Zhao Luo told him with disdain in his stare as he looked at Mite.


    "Shut up, now we fight for real. Go take a weapon if you want."


    Mite shouted angrily at Zhao Luo.


    He wasn''t ready to give up just yet.


    ''How can I lose to a ''trainee disciple'' when I am a ''/||'' level ck badge outer disciple?''


    Mite thought as he looked at his maks on the badge.


    To gain these marks he had to train like hell and had to suffer like death. But what had changed over the years? How did he end up like this? Why was he losing to a Trainee?


    Mote couldn''t ept this at all so he grabbed the sword from the weapon rack and was now standing in front of Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo was now facing Mite who was bent on not admitting his defeat. So Zhao Luo couldn''t back off now.


    Zhao Luo walked towards Mite as Mite took slow steps towards Zhao Luo.


    ''Tap.''


    ''Tap.''


    ''Tap.''


    ''Tap.''


    All the disciples were silent.


    They couldn''t understand why Zhao Luo was walking barehanded towards Mite who had a sword in his hand.


    ''Is he going to fight barehanded?''


    Many disciples were shocked including Mite.


    He knew that Zhao Luo was strong but fighting an outer disciple without a weapon was a crazy act.


    "I will kill you in one sh."


    Mite made a ruthless announcement while looking at Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo only shrugged his soldiers as he opened his mouth.


    "IFRIT."


    Zhao Luo called out the name of his sword.


    All the disciples could see Zhao Luo pulling out a crimson sword from a subspace which was his storage space.


    "What a beautiful sword."


    A disciple said.


    "It''s so enchanting."


    Another disciple admired the beauty of the sword in Zhao Luo''s hand.


    "Where did you get this?"


    Mite asked Zhao Luo in shock as he had already made up his mind that he would be fighting with his sword against Zhao Luo who wasn''t equipped with a weapon. But unfortunately for him, Zhao Luo pulled out a weapon suddenly.


    "Hmm."


    Zhao Luo didn''t answer Mite as he rushed with his sword clumsily.


    ''Straight sh.''


    Zhao Luo called out the name of his attack as his sword came straight at Mite''s head.


    Mite raised his sword to block the attack.


    "Ting~"


    "Ack."


    In the collision between them, Mite was pushed back.


    ''Pew.''


    Mite was spitting out blood as the earlier collision had rattled his internal organs.


    "Where is your one sh?"


    Zhao Luo asked with a smirk.


    The question caused Mite to spit another mouthful of blood.

 Chapter 74 - Silver Tier Technique Of Mite

    Zhao Luo stood in the middle of the ring with Ifrit in his hand. He was calm and collected even though this was the first time he was fighting against a fellow human with a weapon.


    Zhao Luo looked at Mite who was barely standing after blocking Zhao Luo''s ''straight sh''.


    ''How can this be? Why is he so strong?''


    Mite was baffled as he went through thest strike. Zhao Luo''s explosive strength had overpowered him so easily.


    ''And what ''straight sh''? He just randomly swung his sword.''


    Mite looked angry unable to ept the fact that he had already fallen back twice.


    ''I still haven''t used my techniques.''


    Mite thought as he took a step towards Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo smiled as he saw Miteing back at him.


    "You want more. Good. Good."


    Zhao Luo said as he raised Ifrit backward while moving towards Mite.


    Zhao Luo had his knee bent slightly with his back falling forward as he picked up speed.


    Mite was rushing at him from the other side.


    ''Ting.''


    Just a secondter, they shed again with their swords.


    Sparks flew as this continued.


    Every strike was proving to be advantageous for Zhao Luo as Mite would fall back a step after every strike.


    ''Ting.''


    ''Thud.''


    Mite jumped back after another collision to gain distance between them.


    "Looks like I will have to be serious now."


    Mite suddenly interrupted the fight by saying this.


    "Hahahaha."


    Zhao Luoughed loudly as he couldn''t believe how shameless this senior of his was.


    After losing twice and failing to match with Zhao Luo''s strength in the countless blows, Mite was saying that he was going to get serious.


    "The result will be the same even if you start joking around."


    Zhao Luo made fun of Mite who was going towards the weapon rack.


    Mite jumped back on the ring while holding two swords in his hand.


    One was a regr sword that he was using already and the new sword was a broad sword that would normally need a person''s both hands just to swing it. But Mite was big and he had a strong body above these two things he was a ''/||'' level outer disciple. So he could swing the broad sword with ease.


    With the different sword, Mite approached Zhao Luo.


    ''Two swords?''


    Zhao Luo thought.


    It wasn''t like Zhao Luo was scared of Mite and the two swords in his hands. Zhao Luo was just inexperienced in fighting with weapons and without them.


    He came from a time where swords and other kinds of simr weapons were outdated. That is why everything happening to him since he got out of the capsule was like a new experience for him.


    Zhao Luo tightened his grip over the hilt of Ifrit and got ready to face Mite again.


    "Uneven Sword Dance."


    Mite shouted as he started moving weirdly.


    It was more like a horrendous dance that Mite was showing Zhao Luo and the spectating disciples.


    ''Is he drunk?''


    Zhao Luo thought as he watched Mite who was dancing weirdly while slowly approaching Zhao Luo.


    ''argh.''


    Someone from amongst the disciples who were watching Zhao Luo''s fight couldn''t endure the sh*tty sword dance of Mite anymore as his stomach pushed all the food inside it towards his mouth causing him to vomit.


    "I can''t focus."


    Zhao Luo said as Mite was already in front of him.


    Mite raised his swords as he aimed them towards Zhao Luo''s head.


    ''Fwoosh.''


    Mite brought both of his swords with his maximum strength down towards Zhao Luo.


    "First Uneven Attack."


    Mite shouted the name of his sword attack.


    "Your sword dance is already so stupid yet your naming sense is even worse."


    Zhao Luo told Mite as he raised his sword to block his attack.


    Zhao Luo couldn''t believe that someone would put ''uneven'' in his attack name.


    "Horizontal Sword Block."


    Zhao Luo shouted as he was holding Ifrit horizontally.


    ''Ting.''


    Zhao Luo blocked Mite''s attack. But it was one of the swords that Zhao Luo had blocked.


    ''Tang.''


    The other sword fell on Ifrit and Zhao Luo''s arm started to lower under the mountain of the pressure of Mite''s dual swords.


    ''Hmph.''


    Zhao Luo used a downward force on his leg to jump back as he pushed Mite away.


    "That was just the first attack and you barely handled it."


    Mite taunted Zhao Luo.


    But he wasn''t lying.


    This was the specialty of the ''Uneven Sword Dance'' which was an authentic silver tier sword technique.


    It had a weird sword dance that was aimed to mess with the opponent''s head thus getting him to lower his guard.


    Then this technique included five sword attack patterns that would be followed alongside the sword dance.


    The only reason this weird technique was ''silver tier'' was because the condition to learn it included mastering the use of two swords that had different weights with a lot of load difference between them.


    Just like sword techniques were allocated to different colors, their mastery was also divided into different levels.


    Starting from,


    "Beginner, Intermediate and advanced which were further divided into three stages, Low, Mid and high whereas thest two levels had only a single-stage, they were Superior Mastery and thest was Distinguished Control."


    Mite who was using a silver tier technique, the ''Uneven Sword Dance'' only had Beginner mid-level mastery over the technique. He was already at the wall where his talent and skills couldn''t help him anymore.


    If he couldn''t take down Zhao Luo even with this then he would be defeatedpletely.


    Mite started the weird sword dance as he approached Zhao Luo again while dancing like a freak with two swords in his hands.


    "He is doing it again."


    "It''s weird but he was able to push Zhao Luo back."


    "Will Senior Mite win?"


    Many disciples startedmentating and questioning the oue as they watched Mite approaching Zhao Luo who was standing still after blocking Mite''sst attack.


    "Second attack, Uneven Curve sh."


    Mite shouted as his two swords wereing at Zhao Luo while being curved.


    Mite was changing the angle of his swords during the swing by changing the position of his wrist.


    The lighter sword was aimed at Zhao Luo''s chest while the broad sword was aimed at his abdomen.


    "Hmph."


    Zhao Luo simply jumped backward causing the swords to swing around empty air.


    "HAH ''Senior'' if I knew that you wanted to show me this ''amazing'' dance then I would have brought a chair with me."


    Zhao Luo said to Mite while forcing out the two words, Senior and Amazing.


    He was making fun of the Mite''s technique.


    This was a technique that Mite had devoted his whole time to after bing an outer disciple. And yet the handsome trainee in front of him had easily evaded his second attack.


    Mite got angry as he used the Uneven Sword Dance again. The dance which was already very horrendous became even more unwatchable. Since Mite had his focus decided because of his emotions after being made fun of by Zhao Luo.


    Many spectating disciples had to close their eyes as they couldn''t handle the wobbly moves of Mite.


    "Third attack: Uneven Rising sh."


    Mite said as he brought both of his swords towards Zhao Luo from downwards.


    "Ting, Ting~"


    Zhao Luo blocked both swords consecutively with his Ifrit.


    "Can you stop with the ''Uneven''?"


    Zhao Luo said angrily as he kicked Mite in the stomach which caused Mite to slide backward.


    "Hah."


    Mite breathed as he stopped after taking a kick straight on his body.


    "You haven''t won yet."


    Mite said while shaking with anger.


    "I still have two attacks left."


    Mite shouted as he started the ''Uneven Sword Dance'' again.


    ''Sigh.''


    Zhao Luo sighed on seeing the ''sore loser like behavior'' of Mite.


    Now Zhao Luo wanted nothing more than to end this fight against this senior of his who was acting like a child, as soon as he could.


    "Fourth attack."


    Mite shouted as he brought his swords from different sides.


    One of the swords from the left and the other broad sword from the right attacking Zhao Luo at two angles. Mite''s sword which wasing from the left was faster.


    Zhao Luo moved towards the left sword which wasing at him without caring for the broad sword which wasing from the other side.


    Instead of dodging, Zhao Luo decided to face this attack head-on.


    "ng."


    As Zhao Luo blocked the left attack with ifrit he rotated towards Mite.


    Zhao Luo had passed the sword range by going towards Mite instead of backing away.


    As the broad sword missed its target Mite''s front side was open.


    Zhao Luo thus used his back to hit Mite''s chest throwing him away after Zhao Luo had pulled his attack off.


    Mite had fallen once again.


    This time Mite couldn''t even get up to use thest move of his technique.


    "Blugh."


    Mite tried to sit as he splurted out a mouthful of blood.


    "Just give up. It''s like I am fighting against a stubborn child."


    Zhao Luo said to Mite who was sitting in front of him with a face of defeat.


    It wasn''t Zhao Luo''s goal to leave Mite with a trauma.

 Chapter 75 - The Hidden Reward, Drion

    Zhao Luo was the only one left standing on the ring tform.


    His victory was already visible to everyone.


    "Zhao Luo won against Senior Mite..."


    "Am I dreaming? Can someone hit me?..... Ouch."


    A disciple doubtingly said as he cried when another disciple had hit him just to confirm the situation.


    These disciples were sitting on the spectator''s seats closest to the ring where the fight was going on. So they could see everything.


    The spectating disciples started making a ruckus.


    Before it was just fun to watch the fight and everyone had their favorite between Mite and Zhao Luo.


    No matter how many times, Mite failed they still thought that the final winner will be Mite.


    It was because Zhao Luo was just a new disciple who had been in the Sect for only two days. While Mite was already a veteran disciple. An outer disciple who was here to test them and help them in advancing to an outer disciple.


    ''So how did an outer disciple who had been in the Sect for years lost to a trainee disciple who joined the Sect just two days ago? HOW?"


    One of the disciples questioned himself while looking towards the ring where Zhao Luo was standing in front of Mite who was not even able to stand.


    "Do you surrender?"


    Zhao Luo asked Mite as he could see that there was no point in taking this any further.


    They were already using weapons so what next?


    ''Would we be aiming towards ending each other''s life next?''


    Zhao Luo though as that oue would be quite possible if the fight didn''t end now.


    ''I will have to end it immediately.''


    Zhao Luo decided as he tightened his grip over the ifrit and started moving towards the quiet Mite.


    Zhao Luo wasn''t going to kill him but instead just knocking Mite out, for now, would be the best oue.


    "WAIT."


    Mite shouted. His shout caused Zhao Luo to stop right in his tracks.


    "I...give.....up. You win."


    Mite hardlypleted his sentence announcing the end of the fight as he had epted his defeat by surrendering to Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo''s hair ruffled as a sudden gust of air blew past him.


    It was his first real fight against a disciple of the Xin Sect. Also Zhao Luo''s first victory.


    ''I won.''


    Zhao Luo thought as the battle had finally ended. He had a smile on his face, unlike Mite who looked like someone had eaten Sh*t at breakfast.


    "Zhao Luo~"


    "Zhao Luo~"


    "Zhao Luo~"


    A wave rose as everyone started shouting Zhao Luo''s name again even those who had supported Mite during the fight were now cheering for the victorious Zhao Luo.


    The conquer, the challenge, the oue, and the support, everything had been a little overwhelming experience for Zhao Luo.


    "Let''s go back."


    Zhao Luo while looking down the ring towards Feng Mei and Yan.


    In the end, everything was still tiring for Zhao Luo. He just wanted to go back to his room.


    ''Nod.''


    "Yes, Brother."


    Feng Mei replied to Zhao Luo while looking at her brother in a caring manner.


    Feng Mei nodded as she waited for Zhao Luo to get down the ring.


    To her and Feng Mei''s surprise, Zhao Luo had stopped in his tracks.


    His back was facing Mite while he was facing Feng Mei and Yan.


    Zhao Luo grabbed his chest.


    ''This pain..''


    Zhao Luo was in agony as the burning sensation was getting hotter than he could handle.


    The same sensation which was giving him a sense offort before was now making him endure an unimaginable amount of pain.


    ''What did Senior do to me?''


    Zhao Luo wondered while handling the pain that was making him suffer as he fell on his knees.


    Zhao Luo questioned about thest interaction with Bellum.


    The burning sensation had started when Bellum had touched Zhao Luo''s chest with his palm before opening the exit of that World.


    But it had to act up now.


    ''Phew. Ahhh.''


    Zhao Luo felt relieved even though the pain was there.


    If this burning sensation had overwhelmed him when he was fighting Mite then he may have lost the fight.


    ''At least the timing isn''t bad.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he looked at Feng Mei and Yan jumping up the ring and running at him while screaming something.


    They were saying something but Zhao Luo couldn''t hear it.


    "Why are you.....crying?"


    Zhao Luo said lightly as he saw tears rolling down Feng Mei''s face.


    The ring was quite big and Zhao Luo''sst strike had caused Mite to fall on the other edge and he had walked towards him before Mite surrendered.


    Zhao Luo was now on his knees right around the middle of the ring tform way far from Feng Mei or Yan then Mite who was sitting around the edge of the ring behind Zhao Luo.


    A few seconds ago.


    It all happened the moment Zhao Luo fell while grabbing his chest.


    "What''s wrong with him?"


    Mite thought while looking at Zhao Luo.


    Mite was still angry over the fact that he had to surrender.


    After surrendering Mite had already decided about returning this humiliation to Zhao Luo sometime in the future.


    But he didn''t know that the opportunity would present itself so soon.


    With the leftover strength that Mite had remaining in his body, he got up and rushed towards Zhao Luo while holding the broadsword in his hand.


    Zhao Luo didn''t have eyes on his back so he couldn''t see Miteing at him but Feng Mei and Yan could. The other spectating disciples could see the situation going on in the ring too.


    "Brother Watch Out."


    Feng Mei said as tears rolled down her eyes.


    Zhao Luo who couldn''t even hear Feng Mei''s shouting was unaware of Mite who was attacking him sneakily.


    "Hahaha, now taste thest attack of my technique."


    Mite shouted as he jumped while swinging his sword towards Zhao Luo''s back.


    Zhao Luo waspletely unprotected and unaware of the catastrophic situation that he was in.


    "Nooooooo~"


    Feng Mei shouted while watching the broad sword falling on Zhao Luo.


    The moment before Mite''s sword coulde into contact with Zhao Luo''s back, it hit something else.


    "Bang."


    A loud sound resounded.


    Something had blocked the attack aimed at Zhao Luo''s back but nobody could see it.


    Not even Mite knew what happened.


    Everyone heard a drum beating sound that echoed three times in the Training Area right after Mite''s attacknded on Zhao Luo''s ''back''.


    Mite was standing behind Zhao Luo in a shocking state with the broadsword in his hand that was crumbling apart.


    A silhouette appeared between Zhao Luo and Mite.


    "Smack."


    Mite felt a p falling on his right cheek but the force behind that p was equivalent to being hit by a boulder.


    "Thud."


    Mite was thrown away by that single p as the silhouette was now getting more visible to everyone.


    It was Zi Fei who had rushed from the farthest stand in the spectator''s area.


    Zi Fei had the same creepy smile on his face. Nobody could tell if their senior was angry or happy.


    Even though they didn''t know about Zi Fei''s mood but they knew one thing for sure. It was that something bad was gonna happen to Mite.


    "Tap, Tap, Tap."


    Mite was trembling with fear as Zi Fei kept on moving towards him.


    "Brother Zi Fei, I can exin."


    Mite said with a trembling voice.


    "Hahaha, ''p, p'' good then EXPLAIN to me."


    Zi Fei startedughing with a crazy expression on his face as he pped his hands and approached Mite.


    "I was just teaching him a lesson."


    Mite said shamelessly trying to save his skin.


    But he could have fooled the others but he couldn''t fool Zi Fei.


    The reason was simple.


    "I could see that, from the START."


    Zi Fei said suddenly increasing his volume while ending his sentence.


    Zi Fei had been spectating the fight since the start. He had seen Zhao Luo clearing the Drums of Bellum and how Mite had been taunting him.


    Mite shuddered for a second before looking past Zi Fei as he could see Zhao Luo looking at them.


    ''He must have tricked me.''


    Mite med Zhao Luo for his current situation.


    While Zhao Luo was just knowing the situation that he was in just a few seconds ago.


    ''"If Senior Zi Fei hadn''t saved you then..."


    Yan was telling Zhao Luo about the event that had transpired just now.


    ''Senior Zi Fei rescued me...''


    Zhao Luo thought as his respect for the creepy senior rose.


    But they didn''t know the truth.


    It wasn''t Zi Fei who had saved him.


    They just thought it to be the case. As there was no other way to block Mite''s attack.


    If it wasn''t for Zi Fei who somehow blocked it then Zhao Luo would have been in a critical state or may have even died.


    That was what most of the disciple who saw the development of Zi Fei''s appearance believed including Mite and Zhao Luo''spanions.


    But the truth was very different.


    Inside Zhao Luo''s Mental World.


    The dark space had a shine that was emanating vibration.


    The cause of this shine was a big golden shield.


    The shield had an image of a Lion beating a drum.


    This was the parting gift that Bellum had bestowed upon Zhao Luo but without telling him of it.


    There was a single word carved under the image of the lion beating the drum.


    "Drion."


    The name of the shield.

 Chapter 76 - Origin & Cruelty

    ''DRION''.


    The shield that Bellum used.


    It acted more like a charm as it saved Zhao Luo by blocking Mite''s attack, without him knowing about it.


    Before sending Zhao Luo''s consciousness out of his World, Bellum had merged his shield with Zhao Luo''s body. But it wasn''t so easy to control a treasure that you don''t even know about.


    Overall a treasure like ''Drion'' wasn''t like instant noodles, it was like a luxury food that would take time to be prepared.


    A very long time ago, in the era of Bellum, someone who knew about the origin of Drion said.


    "Drion, a shield made by smelting the bones of Silver Lion with the shell of an Earth Turtle. Silver Lion was a breed of lions that had the thickest bones yet they had so much flexibility in those bones that it couldn''t bepared. The Earth Turtle was very scarce and their bodies were like war drums. Their shells were counted amongst the materials with the most strength. Combining the thickness of Silver Lion''s bones and the strength of the Earth Turtle''s shell resulted in a mystical treasure that was named Drion."


    That Man had told Bellum who had found the shield from one of the ruins.


    The name of the famous shield came from the shape of the earth turtle and thest letters of the silver lion.


    This was the story of ''Drion'' a msytical shield that was now merging to be one with Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo who had no idea just felt his body''s temperature rising which started with a warm feeling and slowly turned into controble pain that he had to endure.


    This was because of the merging process between the treasure inside him and his body.


    Originally the shield was supposed to merge with his body around his chest area but unconsciously Zhao Luo had pulled it into his Mental World, The Dark Space.


    Thus speeding up the process and while Mite attacked Zhao Luo sneakily, the merging had already ended and the aftereffects were subsiding.


    Zhao Luo who was still not aware of the shield felt some weird force controlling him as the shield ''Drion'' blocked Mite''s attack after spreading a silver barrier that covered only his back but the barrier was partially invisible. Thus nobody could see it and the credit for saving Zhao Luo went to Zi Fei who was now dealing with Mite.


    Zhao Luo''s body had already cooled down and he was feeling way better than before as though the earlier suffering wasn''t even real.


    Zhao Luo had his fist clenched as he looked at Zi Fei and Mite.


    ''I could have died.''


    Zhao Luo thought while feeling no emotions.


    ''I need to be stronger.''


    Zhao Luo repeated his top goal.


    Without strength, how could he be the ultimate ruler?


    ''How could he be a God of this Dystopia without strength?''


    Zhao Luo''s goal hadn''t changed.


    Zhao Luo''s speed was very slow but he could only do his best and hope for the best.


    "I guess it''s my turn to teach you a lesson."


    Zi Fei told Mite as he stood in front of Mite who was sitting on the floor of the ring.


    Mite started shivering. He felt a fear which he had never felt before.


    It wasn''t because of what Zi Fei had told him instead the expression on Zi Fei''s face was the reason why Mite was being overwhelmed with fear.


    ''This psychopath...Ahhhh''


    Mite cursed Zi Fei inside his mind.


    But before Mite could finish what he was thinking, Zi Fei crushed Mite''s right hand with his foot.


    "I hate when someone curses at me, hehe."


    Zi Feiughed while stepping on Mite''s hand using his force on it to destroy itpletely.


    Zi Fei acted like he could read Mite''s thoughts.


    ''Ahhhhhh.''


    Mite started screaming in pain. There was no way that he wouldn''t scream.


    After being endlessly tired while fighting Zhao Luo, getting punished by a creepy senior like Zi Fei was thest thing on his list.


    "Senior, please...Ahhhhh."


    Mite begged but Zi Fei was just looking at him with his creepy smile.


    Zi Fei crushed Mite''s other hand too by striking it with his foot.


    The whole training area was silent.


    Only Mite''s painful screams resounded again and again as Zi Fei slowly beat him into a pulp.


    Zhao Luo who was watching everything with squinted eyes thought that he was watching a demon.


    "Did this guy really save me?"


    Zhao Luo questioned but his sound didn''t reach Zi Fei''s ears.


    ''How could such a cruel person have the heart to save someone?''


    Zhao Luo questioned what Yan had told him before.


    Zi Fei had already crushed Mite''s appendages that are his feet and hands.


    Zi Fei looked like he was in a pool of pleasure.


    The scene of torture was so horrifying that most of the spectating disciples had closed their eyes while many others had already left the Training area as they could no longer handle the fearful cries of Mite.


    Yet this senior of his who was torturing hadn''t stopped smiling for even a second. Even worse had yet toe as Zi Fei wasn''t done with Mite just yet.


    "Hahaha, how I have waited for some junior to make such a crazy mistake."


    Zi Fei startedughing crazily while swinging left and right.


    Zi Fei was an inner disciple. He was allowed to discipline his juniors who were outer disciples and even the newbies, the trainee disciples.


    One of the harshest punishments was set for those who tried to kill fellow disciples under the guise of ''training'' or ''lesson''.


    ''Tried'' was only applicable till the disciple was still alive, otherwise, if the targeted disciple dies then the disciple who killed him would be given the death penalty.


    But even the harsh punishment that the Sect had decided was nowhere close to the cruelty of Zi Fei.


    Zi Fei who had his foot on Mite''s knee looked at him with the eyes of gratitude. If Mite didn''t try to kill Zhao Luo this would have never happened.


    Mite was shivering but he couldn''t even move his legs away because of the pressure Zi Fei was applying on him.


    "Junior, SIGH. Thanks for giving me this chance."


    Zi Fei said with a creepy smile as he couldn''t hide his white teeth because of the happiness he felt at the moment.


    "CRACK~ Ahh~"


    Zi Fei had crippled Mite by breaking his right knee but instead of stopping he put his foot on the left knee of Mite.


    Mite had his eyes closed while he moaned in pain.


    "Enough."


    Zhao Luo shouted before Zi Fei could show his cruel move again.


    Zi Fei removed his foot from Mite''s other knee and turned around to look at Zhao Luo.


    "Hmmm."


    Zi Fei was quiet for a second but this quietness was, even more, scarier than Zi Fei''s creepyughter.


    Zhao Luo shivered for a moment while looking at the angry expression on Zi Fei''s face.


    ''How could he smile while being angry?''


    Zhao Luo wondered as he calmed down.


    Zi Fei''s brows were dripping as anger consumed him but his creepy smiled remained in its ce.


    "He tried to kill you and you want me to stop, heh?"


    Zi Fei sped his hands behind his back as he asked Zhao Luo.


    "I am still alive and you have already done more than enough."


    Zhao Luo said to Zi Fei.


    Zhao Luo could already see that Zi Fei was doing what he enjoyed instead of just punishing Mite.


    Zhao Luo still believed in his principle of not leaving a trauma on his enemies.


    Mite finally breathed as he heard Zhao Luo''s voice trying to stop Zi Fei.


    ''He is trying to save me from this monster.''


    Mite trembled as he felt sad.


    Everything started from him being arrogant towards Zhao Luo.


    If the only Mite hadn''t tried to get the new trainees to follow the previous trainees just because Mite thought that they all were trash, the current situation would have never happened.


    Mite could have never imagined that the person he made fun of and tried to mess with even worse than that he tried to kill this person yet the same person was now stopping this senior who wasn''t any less than an evil demon.


    "Hahahaha."


    Zi Fei turned around and kicked Mite in his face, throwing him away once again.


    "How dare you rx when your punishment is going on?"


    Zi Fei shouted at the unconscious Mite.


    Mite was had already fallen in a sleep-like state because of the augmenting pain that kept on stacking over time. The kick was like the spell that put him out of his misery. Mite was still alive.


    "Uh, huh, you can''t sleep just yet, tsk."


    Zi Fei moved towards Mite to beat him enough so he wakes up. Only then Zi Fei would be able to continue with his fun.


    "I said you can STOP."


    Zhao Luo shouted as he started walking towards Zi Fei.


    Zi Fei stared at Zhao Luo who hade to stop in front of him.


    They both stared at each other.


    ''I am looking at a crazy guy. He is nothing more than a crazy senior.''


    Zhao Luo had already forsaken the fear he had felt for a moment.


    "Hahahaha."


    Instead of taking any action towards Zhao Luo, Zi Fei startedughing while holding his head.


    "We will meetter. When you reach the inner halls after bing an inner disciple."


    Zi Fei said while looking down on Zhao Luo.


    ''How can i devour him just now? Such a juicy junior.''


    Zi Fei thought while looking at Zhao Luo.

 Chapter 77 - The Other Missions

    ''Inner Hall.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he looked at the creepy smile of Zi Fei.


    ''How long will it take for me to be an inner disciple?''


    Zhao Luo silently questioned himself as he looked down.


    Zhao Luo was looking at his nk badge. It waspletely ck without any marks on it as it hung on his chest.


    Zi Fei looked at the contemting Zhao Luo as his smile grew even bigger.


    "Are you worried that you will end up like this ''trash'' here, kekeke?"


    Zi Feiughed like he was an insect who was making noise.


    Zi Fei was pointing at Mite so obviously from the word ''trash'' he meant Mite.


    "No, I am hoping that I don''t end up like you."


    Zhao Luo interrupted Zi Fei''s insect-likeugh.


    It was like a p on Zi Fei''s face.


    Zi Fei was now quiet.


    Zhao Luo had aimed to humiliate Zi Fei with this turnaround but when he looked at Zi Fei''s face he was confused.


    "Why are you blushing with that creepy smile?"


    Zhao Luo gathered his courage and asked Zi Fei whose cheeks were red for some reason.


    ''I love it when little kids curse me.''


    Zi Fei thought but he couldn''t tell Zhao Luo about it or the other remaining spectators.


    "Humiliate me more and you will regret it."


    Zi Fei said it like it was a challenge for Zhao Luo but it was his bait.


    Zi Fei was a masochist while being the epitome of cruelty. He was a person who loved to cause pain in the name of punishment. As it gave a cause to his fun.


    He wouldn''t do anything to Zhao Luo now as he thought that Zhao Luo had some potential after watching him against Mite.


    ''I will deal with him when he is ripe.''


    Zi Fei thought as he licked his lips while looking at Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo trembled as he looked at how Zi Fei was looking at him while doing a perverted gesture.


    Zhao Luo didn''t take Zi Fei''s bait as he chose to stay silent.


    ''I won''t deal with this crazy guy anymore.''


    Zhao Luo thought.


    While Zi Fei and Zhao Luo were having the weirdest conversation with each other, someone had approached the ring.


    It was Wu Yang.


    He was now looking at Zhao Luo who was standing with the two beauties while facing his and their senior, Zi Fei.


    He looked like he wanted to say something but he felt as if now wasn''t the right time, so Wu Yang stayed quiet.


    On the ring.


    Zi Fei turned around for a moment.


    ''THAP.''


    A pping voice rang out in the training area as Zi Fei turned again to look at Zhao Luo.


    This was the only way that Zi Fei would use to be calm once he finds himself lost in the surrounding excitement.


    Zhao Luo could barely hold hisughter. He had seen many crazy people with some screws loose before but this senior of his had 99 screws loose.


    There was a famous rumor which was started by a crazy person.


    Once upon a time, a crazy person had said,


    ''Crazy people measure their craziness through the number of ''loose screws'' in their head. There are a total of 100 screws so the craziness of a person can be determined on the number of loose screws he has.''


    Zhao Luo had heard of this rumor but there were two contradictions in this rumor.


    First, a person doesn''t have screws, second, even if they had, nobody could see those screws.


    Zhao Luo could have never guessed that he would be using the same method from the rumor to ssify Zi Fei as a full-on crazy disciple.


    ''Why would he p himself?''


    Zhao Luo questioned as he saw Zi Fei walking towards him.


    ''Pat.''


    Zi Fei tapped Zhao Luo''s shoulder.


    "Junior you cane to the outer hall and get your first mark to be an outer disciple. You are already capable enough to be in the top rankings of the outer disciples."


    Zi Fei told Zhao Luo while controlling his lips which were twitching.


    It was hard for Zi Fei to talk without showing his creepy smile.


    Zi Fei was talking about the top hundred disciples of the outer hall. It was the ranking where Mite was on. Mite was among the ones who were the lower-ranked outer disciples.


    After saying that, Zi Fei left the Training Area ultimately leaving the trainee hall.


    ''It was a fun trip.''


    Zi Fei thought right before he left the training area.


    He had never met someone so interesting. The future was going to be very fun for Zi Fei.


    Back to the Training Area.


    Zhao Luo moved towards the unconscious Mite and grabbed his arm to put him on his back. Then Zhao Luo carried Mite out of the ring tform while Mite was sleeping on his back.


    Mite could have never guessed that he tried to kill such apassionate and handsome junior in a rage of anger and jealousy.


    The show had ended so the other disciples had also dispersed.


    Zhao Luo with Feng Mei, Yan, and Wu Yang moved towards the exit of the Training Area.


    At the exit, some disciples stopped them as there was a disciple who was standing right in front of them while blocking the way for Zhao Luo''s group.


    Wu Yang moved ahead and looked at this disciple.


    "Kao Li, what do you want?"


    Wu Yang questioned the disciple who was leading theck of other trainee disciples.


    "Can you hand over Senior Mite? We will take him to his room and give him treatment."


    Kao Li asked Wu Yang but he was looking at Zhao Luo.


    He could guess that Zhao Luo was like a leader after seeing his battle with Mite.


    Wu Yang knew Kao Li as they were both trainees and were together in the trainee hall for quite some years.


    Kao Li was one of the followers of Mite in the Trainee hall so Wu Yang looked at Zhao Luo and nodded.


    After seeing Wu Yang''s gesture, Zhao Luo passed the sleeping Mite who was in a very bad state to Kao Li who then carried Senior Mite to his room in the ce where all the Huts were.


    Zhao Luo''s group was following behind them too as they were heading to Zhao Luo''s room in ''The Huts'' area.


    "Wu Yang, did you hear what that crazy senior told me in the end?"


    Zhao Luo asked Wu Yang as Wu Yang was standing near the ring Zhao Luo was on.


    "Yes, but I think you should postpone on the idea of bing an outer disciple for now."


    Wu Yang advised Zhao Luo.


    "Once you be an outer disciple, you won''t be able toplete the hidden tasks for the trainee disciples."


    Wu Yang continued.


    ''He told me about these hidden missions before too.''


    Zhao Luo thought as the time he talked with Wu Yang in his room appeared in his mind.


    "I could clear the War Cry Challenge thanks to you, so I will listen to you again."


    Zhao Luo smiled as he told Wu Yang his n.


    There was no harm if he could get stronger while staying in the trainee hall.


    Completing hidden trainee missions would result in the umtion of rewards and then those rewards will be like an addition to Zhao Luo''s strength.


    "So that''s the name of the Drum challenge. Indeed extraordinary like Bellum himself."


    Wi Yang said while he folded his arms in front of his chest.


    Zhao Luo looked at Wu Yang and felt that something was missing.


    "Wu Yang, do you know Senior Bellum?"


    Zhao Luo asked Wu Yang as Wu Yang was saying like he knew a lot about the great Bellum.


    It was indeed a questionable way of talking about Bellum as no matter how many secrets he knew, Wu Yang was still a trainee disciple.


    Wu Yang stopped as Zhao Luo had already stopped when he questioned Wu Yang.


    Feng Mei and Yan had also stopped and the three were looking at Wu Yang.


    Wu Yang turned around and smiled while looking at Zhao Luo.


    "Some senior told me a little about Bellum."


    Wu Yang exined shortly.


    Zhao Luo shook his head as he wasn''t in any position to doubt his benefactor.


    "I was just curious. Do introduce me to this seniorter as I also hold Vellum in awe."


    Zhao Luo said with gleaming eyes.


    Bellum was already a perfect person in his eyes.


    A war veteran, a general, a lion among men, a hero, Zhao Luo could keep on going and this was just the result of their short encounter.


    While talking Zhao Luo''s group was already in the area ''The Huts''.


    The huts which were the rooms of the female disciples had started thus Feng Mei decided to bid farewell here. This way Zhao Luo will be able to rest when he reaches his room.


    "I will go now. Brother take care of youself~"


    Feng Mei said cutely as she hugged Zhao Luo before leaving towards her Hut.


    Zhao Luo, Wu Yang, and Yan were the ones left as they walked past the other huts while going towards their room.


    "I will be going from here, don''t forget to rest Brother Zhao Luo."


    Yan said as she slightly bowed in front of Zhao Luo.


    Wu Yang was dumbfounded as both Yan and Feng Mei had ignored his presence. He felt like a ghost because of their cold treatment.


    Yan bid her farewell as the row of ''the huts'' for male disciples started.


    Yan was pretending to be a man so she had a room in this zone.


    Now Zhao Luo was left alone with Wu Yang.


    Wu Yang suddenly got close to Zhao Luo freaking out Zhao Luo for a moment but in the next instance, Zhao Luo was also leaning towards him.


    "There are still three trainee missions left."


    Wu Yang told Zhao Luo while keeping his voice low.


    Wu Yang kept on looking around surveying the surrounding for others. He couldn''t let others know about this.

 Chapter 78 - Rumor

    "Three more missions?"


    Zhao Luo said while leaning towards Wu Yang.


    "First tell me what I will get forpleting the ''War Cry Challenge'' from the Xin Sect?"


    Zhao Luo asked Wu Yang.


    The reason behind this question was because Zhao Luo wanted to calcte his ''earning''.


    ''I already got three rewards from Bellum.''


    Zhao Luo shrugged his shoulder while thinking about the rewards he had already gotten.


    ''The Crimson Sword: Ifrit.''


    ''Technique of the War Sovereign Bellum: Soul Shaking War Cry.''


    ''Master ss Sword Style: The Random Sword.''


    Zhao Luo looked at the three rewards which were chilling in the storage space of his robe.


    Even though Zhao Luo couldn''t hide his happiness while looking at the three items he wanted more.


    Thus he wanted to know about the reward that the Sect will give him forpleting the ''Drums of Bellum'' challenge.


    Wu Yang was looking at the big smile on Zhao Luo''s face.


    "That-"


    Wu Yang stopped before he could say another word and looked around.


    Then he got closer to Zhao Luo to whisper in his ear.


    "I don''t know about that."


    Wu Yang said while backing away. He didn''t want other disciples to think that he doesn''t swing straight.


    "Interesting."


    Zhao Luo said as his smile disappeared.


    His happiness was shattered because Wu Yang was busy messing around with him.


    "I should hit reward you too. Hmm, what should I reward you with?"


    Zhao Luo said while looking through his robe.


    Suddenly he brought out his fist and lightly hit it on Wu Yang''s head.


    "Ouch."


    "You..."


    Wu Yang had only told the truth as he didn''t know about the reward from the Sect for clearing the missions.


    "So that''s how you treat your benefactor."


    Wu Yang said to Zhao Luo while increasing his pace.


    "Wait, at least tell me about the other challenges."


    Zhao Luo shouted as Wu Yang was trying to run away while ignoring Zhao Luo.


    After a while of shouting and chasing Wu Yang, they were once again walking side by side.


    ''This is nice.''


    Zhao Luo thought while looking at Wu Yang.


    Wu Yang gave him a more friendly feeling than the others.


    Zhao Luo felt like he was walking alongside his best friend.


    "So, what are the other challenges that I have to clear?"


    Zhao Luo asked Wu Yang as thispleting the challenges was more important to him for now.


    "Two of them are in the Training Area. They are quite simr to the Drums of Bellum but they can''tpare to its difficulty."


    Wu Yang answered Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo went into deep thought as he did remember seeing two other rings with instruments on them. But as for how the instruments looked like, he couldn''t remember that part.


    This was because both times when Zhao Luo went to the Training Area, he was more focused on the drums thus he couldn''t examine the other two rings more seriously.


    ''Hmm.''


    Zhao Luo wondered for a while.


    "What about the third challenge?"


    Zhao Luo asked Wu Yang who had only told about the first two challenges and left the third one out.


    "The third is..."


    Wu Yang stopped as he looked around again.


    Zhao Luo and Wu Yang were already outside Zhao Luo''s hut.


    Wu Yang signaled Zhao Luo like telling him that he will talk when they are in his room.


    Thus Zhao Luo entered his hut while Wu Yang was behind.


    After entering the hut and taking their seats in Zhao Luo''s room, Wu Yang started talking.


    "Let''s start from the beginning."


    Wu Yang said as he looked at Zhao Luo.


    "There is a famous rumor in the trainee area. This rumor is directly rted to the third remaining challenge.


    Zhao Luo raised his eyebrow.


    "Then the third challenge may turn out to be a dud."


    Zhao Luo presented his idea.


    How could a challenge be real if it''s based on a rumor?


    "Indeed, it may not even be real."


    Wu Yang confirmed Zhao Luo''s statement.


    "But what if it is real?"


    Wu Yan continued.


    This caused Zhao Luo to give the fourth mission another thought.


    After a while, he looked at Wu Yang.


    "What''s the challenge?"


    Zhao Luo asked him.


    Even though the challenge may turn out to be a fake, it wouldn''t be a bad idea to learn about it. Thus Zhao Luo asked about it from Wu Yang.


    "The challenge is defeating a secret disciple. The secret disciple has been hidden here by the first elder for years and he is yet to be defeated."


    Wu Yang said with squinted eyes.


    "The rumor is also simr to the challenge that there is a core disciple who is watching over the trainee disciples."


    Wu Yang said with his index finger pointing upwards.


    "Interesting. How will we find this ''secret disciple'' from among the thousands of disciples in the trainee hall?"


    Zhao Luo found the challenge to be very interesting but the details of the challenge itself were quite hard to match.


    ''Where will we find this disciple?''


    Zhao Luo wondered as he looked at Wu Yang who was dying the answer.


    "Hmm, who said we have to find him?"


    Wu Yang said with a calm face. But this was shocking for Zhao Luo.


    "Don''t tell me you know who this disciple is?"


    Zhao Luo questioned Wu Yang in excitement.


    It would be really easy for Zhao Luo to clear this mission if he could just know the identity of this disciple.


    Wu Yang smiled as he got up and turned around.


    Zhao Luo was facing Wu Yang''s back.


    ''You don''t have to act so mysteriously. It''s not like you are the disciple.''


    Zhao Luo thought but he didn''t have enough courage to ruin Wu Yang''s moment.


    "No."


    Wu Yang said with a smile that Zhao Luo couldn''t see.


    "I don''t know his identity. BUT..."


    Wi Yang turned around and looked directly at Zhao Luo.


    "There is an even better way toplete the challenge."


    Wu Yang told Zhao Luo.


    "What could be better than directly challenging him?"


    Zhao Luo asked in disbelief.


    "You can just defeat all the disciples in the trainee hall one by one."


    Wu Yang said with a smile as if he had just solved their most important hurdle.


    Wu Yang closed his eyes and nodded showing that he was quite amused by his intelligence.


    "You are seriously saying that."


    Zhao Luo said while closing his hand to make a fist.


    Zhao Luo was barely stopping himself from punching the hell out of Wu Yang.


    "Yes. Are you surprised that I solved your crisis so easily?"


    Wu Yang said like he didn''t realize that he was just making the crisis bigger with his dumb idea.


    "I think you should go rest now. I will clear the other two challenges first then think about this challenge."


    Zhao Luo shared his decision with Wu Yang.


    Zhao Luo wanted to be an outer disciple as soon as possible.


    He couldn''t waste his time while challenging the thousands of disciples in the trainee hall one by one.


    Even if he defeated a hundred disciples every day, it will still take him around ten weeks just to challenge all of them.


    ''Can I even win again a hundred disciples in a day?''


    Zhao Luo thought as even this way sounded impossible for him.


    Zhao Luo shook his head as he stopped thinking about thest challenge and the secret disciple.


    He looked at Wu Yang who was getting ready to leave.


    "Well, I am going now."


    Wu Yang said as he left Zhao Luo''s room.


    Seeing Wu Yang leave his room, Zhao Luo took a deep breath.


    Then Zhao Luo lied down on his bed and closed his eyes.


    He removed all thoughts from his mind and just breathed calmly over and over again.


    Zhao Luo wasn''t going to sleep but he wanted to try something new.


    After a moment, Zhao Luo had entered his mental world, the dark space as he opened his eyes to look around.


    "So the old man had fooled me. Or did he?"


    Zhao Luo med the old man for something.


    It was the position that Zhao Luo would sit in before starting his meditation to enter the dark space.


    Finally, he knew that sitting in lotus position wasn''t even helping him in any way.


    "Tsk."


    Zhao Luo clicked his tongue as he really couldn''t member the old man telling him to sit in the lotus position to enter his Mental World.


    It was just his idea as he had been exposed to such baseless things before.


    Outside Zhao Luo''s hut.


    While Zhao Luo had entered his dark space, Wu Yang who had left Zhao Luo''s room had a smile on his face as he walked away from there.


    "He isn''t easy to fool."


    Wu Yang said to himself.


    "Hahahaha."


    Wu Yang started tough while remembering the discussion he had with Zhao Luo regarding the secret disciple.


    Back in the Dark Space.


    Zhao Luo who was cursing himself because he had to suffer a backache every time he woke up from his training and got up from the lotus position finally knew that he could enter this ce with just thought if he concentrated enough regardless of the position he was in.


    ''I could enter my dark space even while sh*tting.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he started looking around the darkness.


    There were two rings were still there that he had formed thest time to train on them.


    The drums were still there too.


    "Hmm, I must have forgotten to disperse them."


    Zhao Luo said as he waved his hand while thinking about clearing the stages and the drum instruments as he had no use for them anymore.


    ''FWOOSH.''


    As though the rings and the drums could hear Zhao Luo''s thoughts. They turned into shadows and disappeared the next moment.


    Zhao Luo looked around the calm and dark ce.


    Finally, his mental world looked clean again.


    "Wait, what''s this?"


    Zhao Luo''s sight stopped on a shiny shield as he stared at it while questioning its presence in the dark space.


    Zhao Luo walked towards the shield and stopped in front of it.


    "Hmm, Drion."


    Zhao Luo said while cing his hand over the name of the shield.

 Chapter 79 - Shield & Swords

    Zhao Luo had his hand on the shield as he felt the artistic carvings of the silver lion that was beating the golden drum with his palms.


    ''JINGLE~''


    Drion, the shield released an exciting sound like it could feel the touch of its master. The sound kept on echoing out of the shield while drion kept on vibrating.


    ''Smack.''


    Zhao Luo hurriedly pped the shield so it could stop making the ''jingle'' sound.


    This sound had left a deep mark of embarrassment in Zhao Luo''s mind thus he couldn''t bear to hear it anymore.


    ''JINGLE~, JINGLE~''


    As if Drion couldn''t understand Zhao Luo''s suffering, it started to vibrate at an even higher frequency.


    An image of a catdy appeared in his mind who was wearing a bell cor.


    Then another image of a Senior who was wearing armor appeared in his mind. The senior was Vellum who was looking weirdly at Zhao Luo like Zhao Luo was a culprit.


    ''Don''t look at me with those eyes. I didn''t watch it intentionally.''


    Zhao Luo thought unconsciously as he closed his eyes.


    ''Why are you doing this?''


    Zhao Luo questioned as he opened his eyes to look seriously at Drion.


    There was no hint of anger in Zhao Luo''s eyes.


    His eyes only had condemnation for himself as his image reflected in the shield.


    ''.....''


    Drion finally stopped making the ''jingle'' noises.


    Drion then emitted a shine that covered Zhao Luo.


    ''What?''


    ''Roar, Treaa, ROAR, TREAAAA.''


    Zhao Luo was shocked as the mysterious shine that covered him had two beasts that were looking at him.


    Zhao Luo could hear them as they tried to tell Zhao Luo something.


    The Silver Lion roared while the Earth Turtle snapped its mouth as it extended its neck out of its shell but for now, Zhao Luo wasn''t able to understand them.


    The shine soon started receding and eventually it hadpletely disappeared.


    ''I feel calm.''


    Zhao Luo was feeling refreshed.


    He then stared at the shield while thinking about Bellum.


    "Senior must have given me this."


    Zhao Luo said as Bellum was the only one he hade in contact with since his master had disappeared who could have given Zhao Luo such a precious item.


    Zhao Luo went around the shield but there was no strap or a handle from where he could hold the shield on his hand.


    "Maybe I have to throw it like a boomerang."


    Zhao Luo thought while looking at Drion which was as tall as him.


    It didn''t take long for Zhao Luo to act on his thought.


    ''Summon.''


    ''Fwoosh.''


    Zhao Luo thought as nine apparitions appeared in front of him.


    All of the apparitions of Zhao Luo looked even more solid than before.


    ''Interesting.''


    Zhao Luo thought while inspecting his apparitions.


    "Warriors!"


    Zhao Luo shouted as he called his apparition with a new name.


    The nine apparitions gathered around Zhao Luo.


    "You all can see a shield here, I assume. So, let''s wee it."


    Zhao Luo said while pointing his hands at the Drion.


    ''p, p.''


    Zhao Luo then started pping while looking at it.


    Even though it was a shield Zhao Luo knew that it had a conscious presence.


    ''p, p.''


    The apparitions also started pping awkwardly following Zhao Luo''s lead.


    "Okay, Stop."


    Zhao Luo ended the short weing party with that note as he squinted his eyes.


    "It''s time to train. But this time the training is a little different."


    Zhao Luo told his apparitions.


    "I will throw and you will catch."


    Zhao Luo instructed them while grabbing the big shield that was as big as him.


    The nine apparitions had also taken their positions as they waited for Zhao Luo to make his move.


    Zhao Luo was still going further increasing the distance between him and his apparitions.


    After going away for a little more, Zhao Luo finally stopped.


    With Drion in his hands, Zhao Luo arched his back.


    He Curved his body backward while rotating his arms towards his right.


    At the same time, he raised his arms at a slightly inclined angle.


    Then like a cannonball shooting out of a Canon or a bullet being fired from a gun, the shield ''drion'' was thrown by Zhao Luo which spun at an immeasurably fast speed while going towards his apparitions.


    The next moment the shield had sliced through all of his apparitions. The nine apparitions were passed by the shield at once as they were unable to stop it.


    Thus the nine apparitions fell at the same time turning into disappearing shadows.


    This was the first time Zhao Luo saw his shadows being destroyed so easily.


    ''The shield passed through them so easily but where did it go.''


    Drion never stopped even after slicing through his apparitions it just kept on moving forward as it went so far that Zhao Luo couldn''t even see it anymore.


    Zhao Luo''s dark space was vast so ''Drion'' could be anywhere which left Zhao Luo in confusion.


    But the solution to this confusion was simple.


    Soon the shield came back spinning from a far distance.


    Zhao Luo could see a doting towards him as time after time its size kept on increasing when finally the shield slowed down when it reached in front of Zhao Luo.


    ''Grab.''


    Zhao Luo held it with both of his hands.


    ''Powerful and Incredible.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he was nning something.


    "I can just throw it at the enemy frontline and destroy them. Haha, or slice all the trees in half with this shield."


    Zhao Luo startedughing thinking about how easy his battles could be if he just used the shield in the right way.


    Zhao Luo turned the shield to ce it back as it was before.


    "Summon."


    Zhao Luo said as his nine apparitions appeared again.


    Same semi-solid forms as before but this time there was a slight change in these apparitions.


    They all looked terrified.


    ''Getting sliced by a shield would have taken quite a toll on them.''


    Zhao Luo understood the reasoning behind their faces which were filled with fear.


    "Ifrit."


    Zhao Luo called out Ifrit as it appeared in his hands.


    Zhao Luo held the crimson sword which shined like Sun in his dark space brightening the surrounding.


    The eyes of his apparitions shined with greed as they stared at Ifrit. That is how enchanting his sword was.


    Zhao Luo smiled as he looked at his apparitions who had already forgotten the fear that they were feeling when Zhao Luo had summoned them.


    Ifrit''s shine finally dimmed a little as Zhao Luo opened his mouth.


    "Swords."


    The moment Zhao Luo said the word swords, nine swords were formed which were stuck in the dark ground between him and his apparitions.


    "Take your pick."


    Zhao Luo instructed them with a smile as he folded his arms in front of his chest.


    ''Even though they all look the same?''


    All the apparitions thought the same thing.


    It was true that all the swords were back and shiny and looked the same too as they were all just copies of each other.


    One by one the apparitions kept on pulling out the swords. Soon all of the apparitions had a sword in their hand as they stood facing Zhao Luo who had Ifrit in his hand.


    "Sword."


    Zhao Luo said again as he imagined two more swords that appeared on his left and right side of the ground.


    Zhao Luo held Ifrit between the jaws of his mouth as he grabbed the two swords by his hands and pulled them out of the ground.


    In the dark space where no wind factor was involved, Zhao Luo''s hair still swayed as if dancing on his head like a boss while he faced his apparitions.


    "Unfair."


    The apparitions shouted together.


    "We get one while you have three."


    They shouted again whileining about the unfair and unequal self-treatment shown by Zhao Luo.


    "Shup pup anch choke ad Mesh."


    Zhao Luo tried saying something but with Ifrit in his mouth he couldn''t say it correctly.


    "Trantion: Shut up ande at me."


    One of the apparitions repeated Zhao Luo''s sentence but in a clear tone.


    Then both sides rushed at each other.


    This could just as well be the New Era''s biggest sword fight.


    "Three sword style: Skewering Cut."


    Zhao Luo said as he ran towards his apparitions with his knees bent and his back facing the ground.


    He was running at them like a bull.


    "Run."


    The apparitions dodged Zhao Luo''s weird attack and countered him.


    ''sh, sh, sh, sh.''


    sh after sh all the apparitions attack Zhao Luo with their ck swords from all angles.


    "Three sword style: Sword wall."


    Zhao Luo shouted the name of the move as he started spinning with Ifrit in his mouth.


    Because of the position of his hands and his swords, the moment he started spinning a tornado was formed which had dark crimson color.


    "Ting, ting, ting, ting..."


    Zhao Luo blocked all the attacks thrown at him by his apparitions.


    Zhao Luo stopped his move thus breaking his spin after blocking the attacks and throwing his apparitions away in the collision.


    Zhao Luo looked prideful after pulling off a sessful defense.


    ''If only Senior was here... Sigh.''


    Zhao Luo felt sad as in this whole world only he knew how to pull off such crazy moves.


    The moves that Zhao Luo had showcased just now were like his hidden trump cards.


    They were the moves of the best ''fictional'' swordsman of his time from the ''two-piece daoist'' drama.


    Zhao Luo felt nostalgic while reminiscing the past as he dropped the swords in his hand and grabbed Ifrit in his hands.


    "Time to start for real."


    Zhao Luo rushed at his apparitions as they wereing at him in a line.


    *Dang*


    *Ting*


    *Thud*


    *sh*


    Zhao Luo fought them equally for a while even though he was outnumbered by them.


    The collisions of swords kept on echoing around the dark space of Zhao Luo''s Mental world.


    sh after sh, Zhao Luo''s body kept on taking damage by the swords of his apparitions as he never backed down.


    *sh*


    Zhao Luo shed one of his apparitions and smiled.


    After being shed by Ifrit the apparitions couldn''t recover. The immortality factor which made it invincible in this dark space had been countered by Ifrit.


    ''Woosh.''


    After not being able to recover the apparition disappeared.


    "Keke, eight more to go."


    Zhao Luo said as heughed like crazy.


    This was how being exposed to Zi Fei affected Zhao Luo.


    The intense sword fight continued. The nine versus one was already at eight versus one.


    After bourse and bourse of sword nging and shing sounds, only two remained in the vast dark space.


    Zhao Luo versus thest apparition.


    "I have improved."


    Zhao Luo said as he rushed past his apparition.


    The apparitions didn''t even notice when Zhao Luo had cut him in half. It could only see a crimson beam that passed its eyes in an instant.


    "Huff."


    Zhao Luo breathed as he unconsciously sat in the lotus position on the dark floor of his space.


    Soon he exited the dark space and opened his eyes as he stared at the roof of his hut.

 Chapter 80 - Second Challenge

    Zhao Luo got up and sat on his bed.


    After another night of training tirelessly in his Mental World with his apparitions, Zhao Luo had confirmed one thing.


    "Going into the Dark space while lying on my back is way better andfortable than going there while sitting in the lotus position."


    Zhao Luo said while rubbing his chin with his index finger and thumb.


    After which Zhao Luo got up and started getting ready.


    "I need toplete the three missions as soon as I can."


    Zhao Luo said as he tapped his robe like brushing away the night dew with his palm.


    "Only then will I advance to the outer hall."


    Zhao Luo already had a clear goal in front of him.


    These small goals will eventually lead him to the end of his journey but he didn''t want to burden himself by thinking of the far future. Just working for the near future was enough for him.


    Zhao Luo washed his face as he and swiped his face with his hand clearing away the remaining moisture with his hand.


    If the female disciples could see Zhao Luo who was a little wet, they would have lost their lives to the handsome looks of this devil. But fortunately for them, they weren''t lucky enough to see this work of art.


    Zhao Luo after getting ready got out of his room thus leaving his hut.


    The first thing he saw aftering out was a familiar face.


    "Wu Yang!"


    Zhao Luo called as he could see Wu Yang walking in a circle outside of his Hut.


    "What are you doing here?"


    Zhao Luo asked him as Zhao Luo was thinking of meeting Wu Yang and the others in the training area.


    "I was waiting for you. You sure sleep a lot."


    Wu Yang said jokingly.


    Zhao Luo didn''t mind Wu Yang''s attitude. Instead, he just smiled and walked towards Wu Yang.


    ''He will freak out if he knew that I was training the whole night.''


    Zhao Luo chuckled while thinking about Wu Yang''s reaction if he told him the truth.


    "Brother."


    Yan interrupted them as she grabbed Zhao Luo''s hands.


    As Zhao Luo''s cold hands came in contact with Yan''s warm hands, his face turned red.


    "Hahaha."


    Yanughed as she let go of his hand.


    The three started walking towards the exit of the ''Hut'' area.


    Most of the way, it was just Yan and Wu Yang bickering with each other.


    Zhao Luo felt as if he suddenly spawned with two wives.


    The reason behind this disastrous thought was because Yan and Wu Yang were arguing while the objective behind their arguing was Zhao Luo.


    Everything started when Wu Yang asked a question.


    "Yan, you like Zhao Luo. Tell me I''m right."


    Wi Yang said with a smirk. It was obvious with all the affection that Yan was showering towards Zhao Luo.


    Yan looked at Wu Yang with anger in her eyes.


    She was pretending to be a guy but she couldn''t just tell that to everyone.


    Only three people knew the secret and they were Zhao Luo, Brother Sang, and Elder Bo who had already deducted the identity of Yan when they had visited his shop.


    ''Even if I like Zhao Luo while being a guy what does that have to do with this guy?''


    Yan thought as she didn''t answer Wu Yang''s question.


    "Haha, so I am right."


    Wu Yang said as he smirked.


    "Two male disciples having a romantic feeling is a taboo in the Xin Sect as it will disrupt the natural order of Yin and Yang."


    Wu Yang told Yan as Yan became even angrier.


    It wasn''t because of the rule of the sect and the Yin and Yang stuff. She just didn''t like how Wu Yang was putting his nose between her and Zhao Luo who she liked.


    Wu Yang was just messing around with Yan put his arms over his chest while holding his shoulder with his hands acting like a tsundere.


    "That doesn''t mean you can just get a third male disciple to get around the Sect''s rule. Naughty Boy."


    Wu Yang was enjoying himself while teasing Yan who was like a beautiful younger brother type to him.


    "You vile creature..."


    Yan said as her anger exploded and they started arguing with each other.


    Zhao Luo who was in the middle of this verbal battle between Wu Yang and Yan felt like he was growing old at a rapid age.


    ''Please someone make them stop.''


    Zhao Luo wished.


    As though there was a God was watching over him and listening to his pleas.


    "Brother Zhao Luo."


    Feng Mei came outside of her hut with her hair loose as she was still getting ready but because of the ruckus caused by Yan and Wu Yang she rushed outside to see Zhao Luo.


    "Greetings Brothers."


    Feng Mei greeted them as she gently bowed her head in front of the three.


    Then she grabbed Zhao Luo''s hand cutely.


    Her presence was so bright and cute that Yan and Wu Yang forgot about what they were arguing over and had a smile on their faces.


    Just like this Zhao Luo with Yan, Feng Mei and Wu Yang went towards the Dining Hall.


    Even though Zhao Luo didn''t get to feel hunger and the annoying feeling of carving different kinds of foods along with it, he still couldn''t forget the various type of meats in the Dining Hall.


    ''Hmm.''


    Zhao Luo was already close to drooling.


    As Zhao Luo''s group reached the Dining Hall all of the disciples around it were rushing towards the training area while shouting.


    "What? The Moonstone Ring tform is open today?"


    One of the disciples that had just exited the Dining Hall with food in his mouth that he was chewing said with a questioning tone.


    "What''s the moonstone tform?"


    Zhao Luo asked Wu Yang.


    "It''s one of the three rings with the instruments. Also the challenge you will be facing today."


    Wu Yang said with a smile as if it wasn''t a big issue.


    It was the second challenge for Zhao Luo in the trainee hall that only trainee disciples couldplete.


    Also the first of the ''remaining three missions'' that Zhao Luo wanted toplete so he could get the reward from the sect.


    "Hah, why couldn''t you tell me earlier?"


    Zhao Luo had his palm on his forehead as he questioned Wu Yang''s intelligence.


    Zhao Luo then turned around and followed the disciple who had rushed out of the dining hall just a little earlier.


    Wu Yang, Feng Mei, and Yan also moved with Zhao Luo to the training area.

 Chapter 81 - Popular!

    Zhao Luo had finally reached the Training Area.


    "Hah, what? Why are there so many disciples surrounding that ring?"


    Zhao Luo questioned as he looked at a ring tform.


    This ring tform was around the inner rings that were in the middle of the Training Area.


    "I can swear that those pirs were not there before..."


    Zhao Luo said as a shocking look appeared on his face when he noticed that there were 15 pirs on the ring.


    It was the only ring tform that had around 15 disciples on it but Zhao Luo couldn''t see what they were doing as the ring was surrounded by other disciples but the pirs were easily visible even though Zhao Luo had just entered the Training Area.


    The surrounding disciples were waiting for their turn while some were just there watching how well their fellow disciples were doing.


    "They must be training inside the moonstones."


    Wu Yang told Zhao Luo.


    Feng Mei and Yan were also behind Zhao Luo as they watched the situation while they all closed in on that ring.


    "Unlike the Drums of Bellum, Moonstone Challenge is very different. There are a total of 15 moonstones on the ring so 15 disciples can train in the space inside the moonstone at a time."


    Wu Yang started exining the challenge to Zhao Luo.


    "Most of the disciples don''t even think of it as a serious challenge, they just try to train in the space inside the moonstone hoping to clear as many stages as they can. But everyone is aiming to get stronger as they train inside the stone."


    Wu Yang''s exnation was finally starting to make sense to Zhao Luo.


    "While moonstone challenge only opens once a year whenever the first badge of the new trainees join the sect, it is still a good experience for the new disciples while the old disciples stand at a higher ground as they have been preparing for a year or multiple years to clear the challenge or do well in it."


    Wu Yang told Zhao Luo as they walked towards the ring tform.


    There were two times every year when new disciples would be joining the sect like two batches of trainees and Zhao Luo''s group was from the first batch, the most recent disciples of the Xin Sect.


    "How many stages are there?"


    Zhao Luo asked as the only thing that mattered to him was clearing the challenge as a whole.


    If he knew about the number of stages he will be challenging then it will be easier for him to preserve his strength in each stage.


    "That.....even I don''t know about the exact number of the stages butst year the highest stage cleared was 72."


    Wu Yang answered as the four looked at the disciples who were on the stage.


    "72? That many and that still isn''t the end? Who could be the one to each such a high stage?"


    Zhao Luo had questions piling up but to him, the identity of the disciple who had reached the 72nd stage was more important.


    "That doesn''t matter now. You just need to try your best to clear the moonstone challenge otherwise either you will have to wait another year or advance to be an outer disciple while forgetting about this challenge. Also the REWARDS. HAHA."


    Wu Yang told Zhao Luo while rolling him up.


    As if Wu Yang''s words had ignited a fire in Zhao Luo''s eyes he looked eagerly at the ring tform.


    They were still behind quite many disciples.


    ''What''s this pir?''


    Zhao Luo questioned as the 15 disciples that were on the stage, each one was standing in front of a pir.


    There were 15 pirs on the ring tform. The pirs were 10 feet tall and took quite a space but the ring still had a lot of space.


    The space around the ring was crowded as only 15 disciples were able to go up the ring at a time while others waited.


    Each disciple was standing in front of a pir while his hand was ced over a round-shaped stone that was yellowish-white in color like the moon. This is how the ring came to be called the Moonstone ring tform.


    As the stone kept on glowing the disciple''s facial expression would keep on changing.


    Sometimes like he was having a hard time other times like he was in pain and then like he had achieved a victory as a smile would emerge on his face.


    All the disciples were like that.


    On top of the 10-foot tall pirs, numbers were being disyed which showed the number of stages the disciple was in.


    "Interesting."


    Zhao Luo eximed as the disciples had their eyes closed so he could already see that the ones participating in the challenge weren''t their physical bodies but their soul or more like their consciousness in solid form.


    Zhao Luo looked around and noticed there were still more than a thousand disciples that were in the line which was a very annoying situation for him.


    "Hmm."


    The one thing that he didn''t like was waiting so Zhao Luo wondered.


    ''Tap.''


    Zhao Luo patted the shoulder of the disciple in front of him once.


    But the disciple didn''t realize that someone had patted him.


    ''Tap, Tap''


    "Hey."


    Zhao Luo patted the shoulder of the disciple again and also called him out.


    "What do you want?"


    The disciple shouted as he was focused on the ring and how well the disciples were doing by looking at the number disyed on top of the pir.


    He didn''t like getting interrupted by someone so he started shouting at Zhao Luo without even looking at him.


    ''Kyaa~''


    ''Thud.''


    That disciple fell while screaming as he noticed that the person he was shouting at was none other than Zhao Luo, the rising star of the trainer hall.


    "I...I....a.."


    The disciple started stuttering as Zhao Luo brought his hand closer to him.


    The disciple thought that Zhao Luo was going to smack him thus he closed his eyes as a natural reaction to a known action.


    But instead of getting smacked, Zhao Luo had grabbed this disciple''s hand and helped him in getting up.


    While getting up the disciple opened his eyes just to see the radiant smile on Zhao Luo''s handsome face which made him calm instantly.


    "What can I do for you Brother Zhao Luo?"


    The disciple asked Zhao Luo as he started rubbing his hands.


    "I was wondering if you would let us swap positions with you?"


    Zhao Luo didn''t behave arrogantly instead he was very kind as he asked for the favor from the disciple.


    This was Zhao Luo''s ultimate n.


    ''i will keep on swapping positions with every student till I am at the front. Hahahaha.''


    Zhao Luo barely held hisughter as he waited for the disciple''s answer.


    "Sorry, Brother Zhao Luo. I can''t do that."


    The disciple apologized to Zhao Luo as he declined Zhao Luo''s request.


    Zhao Luo looked sad as he had failed to move up a position from the start.


    "It''s okay you don''t have to apologize."


    Zhao Luo told the disciple.


    "No I mean you don''t have to just swap position with me."


    That disciple said with an honest smile.


    "Ahem."


    The disciple cleared his throat.


    "Huh."


    Zhao Luo had never heard someone clear their throat so loudly.


    ''What is this guy doing?''


    Zhao Luo thought as he was already declined but this disciple still had more to do.


    After the guy cleared his throat, many disciples were looking at him.


    "Guys."


    Then he said as loudly as he could.


    The other disciples who were still watching the advance of the disciples on the ring also looked at this disciple.


    The disciple pointed his hands at Zhao Luo and started a speech.


    "There is no one who doesn''t know the prodigy who beat Senior Mite on the second day and stood against the great Senior Zi Fei of the inner hall on equal grounds."


    The disciple opened the speech as he praised Zhao Luo which left Zhao Luo baffled as shock took over his body.


    ''I am a prodigy? Hah.''


    Zhao Luo thought as every student surrounding the ring was looking at him.


    Zhao Luo went a step further to cover his face with his hand in a way that would make him look even more charismatic and more like a prodigy.


    "Who isn''t envious of him? Who doesn''t want to be like him? What we have never been able to do, the star of the trainee aplished in two days. Yes, two days my friends."


    The disciple continued as sometimes he questioned the other disciples while other times told about Zhao Luo''s impossible feats.


    ''It wasn''t a big deal. Well, standing against Senior Zi Fei was harder than clearing the Drums of Bellum.''


    Zhao Luo thought as nodded his head agreeing with what the disciple was saying.


    "He is apletion of our dream. A ray of hope for all of us. So I ask you all just a simple question."


    The disciple looked down before looking back at them again.


    "Shouldn''t we help someone who is doing so much for us?"


    The disciple asked the other disciples.


    ''What? What am I doing for them?''


    Zhao Luo was confused but contrary to his reaction the answer of the other disciples proved something else.


    "We SHOULD~"


    They answered together raising a wave that hit Zhao Luo''s heart.


    Unknowingly he had be an idol for them.


    "Cant we let him pass so he can surprise us again?"


    The disciple asked them again.


    The other disciples understood what this disciple was talking about.


    Nobody took time on thinking of their answer


    "We CAN."


    The disciples answered as they split apart into two columns making way for Zhao Luo and his group.


    "Brother you are famous."


    Feng Mei told Zhao Luo while looking in shock.


    "Haha."


    Zhao Luoughed. He didn''t know that yesterday''s events would increase his poprity so much.


    "Let''s go."


    He told them but when he looked around Wu Yang wasn''t there


    ''Where did he go?''


    Zhao Luo wondered about Wu Yang who had mysteriously slipped away from behind him.


    Without wasting any more time Zhao Luo walked to the front with Feng Mei and Yan.


    The disciples were back in line after Zhao Luo reached the front.


    "Ah, I forgot to thank that disciple."


    Zhao Luo said while looking at the ring in front of him.


    "Haha, you can thank me now Brother Zhao Luo."


    The disciple said as he had also taken advantage of Zhao Luo''s free pass to reach the front with him.

 Chapter 82 - Fighting The Puppets I

    Zhao Luo looked at the disciple with squinted eyes.


    "Haha, good. Fellow brother, you are very impressive."


    Zhao Luo didn''t mind how the disciple was acting boldly in front of him.


    ''He handled the situation way better than me.''


    Zhao Luo thought.


    Zhao Luo had to admit that without the help of this guy, he would still be asking the 900th something disciple if they were willing to give Zhao Luo their turn.


    "Brother Zhao Luo still how can Ipare to you?"


    That disciple modestly said to Zhao Luo.


    Even though he had sneakily tagged along with Zhao Luo to reach the front of the line, the things he said to the other disciples, there was nothing in the words he had said that he didn''t believe in.


    Zhao Luo smiled while looking at this disciple.


    "What is your name?"


    Zhao Luo asked the name of this helper who was smart as well as well behaved.


    "I am Mo Lee. Think of me as your number one fan."


    The disciple introduced himself as Mo Lee.


    ''My number one fan? Hah.''


    Zhao Luo thought as the family name of this disciple sounded familiar but he didn''t dwell on it any longer.


    "Since you already know me. Let''s be friends from now on."


    Zhao Luo said with a smile as he extended his hand, inviting a handshake from Mo Lee.


    Mo Lee was shocked as to how can a person be so popr and yet so kind at the same time.


    "Indeed. My sister always said that I am a very lucky person. Guess she was right."


    Mo Lee randomly mentioned her sister as he shook Zhao Luo''s hand.


    Zhao Luo and Mo Lee were having their moment just when the surrounding disciples started making noises.


    "Woah~"


    "He reached 20th stage."


    One trainee said as he pointed at one of the disciples on the ring who had just cleared the 19th stage.


    This disciple was third ording to the stages everyone had reached.


    "Look at Fu Zi, he is already at 35th stage."


    Another disciple added while calling the name of a certain disciple who was on the ring.


    Fu Zi who had started alongside the others had even exceeded the previous disciple who was on the 20th stage. Thus Fu Zi was 2nd among the 15 disciples on the ring.


    "They still can''tpare with Ruo Qing''s speed, she has already reached the 39th stage."


    A girl who was standing at the 8th pir with her hand on the moonstone had a drop of sweat going down her face towards her neck.


    All the disciples were around the ring were focused on her.


    She was the first among the other disciples on the stage. There was also her aura which was very different than other disciples.


    Her shiny ck hair that was dwindling around her back and her slim body with appropriate curves at the expected ces were quite eye-catching.


    "Brother Zhao Luo, what do you think about the curves?"


    Mo Lee teasingly asked Zhao Luo as he noticed that Zhao Luo was staring at her quite intensely.


    "Yes, they look beautiful."


    Zhao Luo unconsciously answered.


    "Haha, Brother I respect you even more."


    Mo Lee said as he sped his hands towards Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo who was busy looking at the moonstones of the different pirs turned to look at Mo Lee.


    Zhao Luo felt confused as he looked to notice that Mo Lee was bowing to him while Feng Mei and Yan were looking at Zhao Luo with fire in their eyes.


    ''Did I do something wrong?''


    Zhao Luo wondered.


    He turned back to face the ring stage as he couldn''t handle the pressure of the stare of these beautifuldies.


    "Look Ruo Qing has opened her eyes."


    A disciple from the crowd eximed.


    The pir Ruo Qing was standing in front of was disying number 41 that is she had cleared 40 stages and decided to quit at the 41st stage.


    This was already a big aplishment.


    The moonstone shined and four ck stars were imprinted on Ruo Qing''s palm.


    She then turned around and surrounded by everyone''s awe she got jumped off the ring just tond next to Zhao Luo.


    ''Hmm.''


    Zhao Luo was baffled by Ruo Qing''s action.


    ''Why did she have tond here?''


    Zhao Luo questioned as everyone was looking at them.


    Ruo Qing gave a light bow to Zhao Luo as she smiled at him before walking away with a flushed face.


    "Brother."


    Yan and Feng Mei looked at Zhao Luo in disbelief as if he had done something to the poor girl.


    Zhao Luo smiled awkwardly as he hurriedly jumped on the ring.


    Zhao Luo walked towards the vacant pir.


    ''Tap.''


    Zhao Luo ced his hand on the dull moonstone which looked like it had lost its beautiful luster.


    ''Fwoosh.''


    The moonstone shined.


    Zhao Luo felt a pulling force from the shining Moonstone as drowsiness took over him and his eyelids pped, falling.


    With the darkness covered by the lighting from the Zhao Luo felt calm and let his body be dragged wherever it was being taken by the pulling force.


    After a while, the pulling force had disappeared.


    ''Ahhhh.''


    Zhao Luo screamed in his mind while trying to open his eyes.


    Zhao Luo had finally opened his eyes.


    "So this is the space inside the Moonstone."


    Zhao Luo realized that he was in a big space.


    The whole surrounding was metallic grey.


    "Am I inside a silver box?"


    Zhao Luo questioned as he looked around to see what the challenge was.


    "All Weapons are Allowed"


    A sound was heard by Zhao Luo.


    "The challenge will start in 3."


    Another announcement went into Zhao Luo''s ears as the countdown started.


    ''1''


    ''2''


    ''3''


    <Stage 1>


    As the countdown ended, a bubble floated upwards that had the stage number.


    While Zhao Luo was looking at ''Stage 1'', he felt a punch that wasing at him from the right.


    ''Sh*t.''


    It was so fast that Zhao Luo couldn''t dodge it or block it.


    It struck Zhao Luo in his right cheek. Instead of feeling hurt something surprising happened.


    The punch dide in contact but to Zhao Luo, it felt as if a fly hadnded on his face.


    Unfortunately for the person who had punched, Zhao Luo didn''t even flinch.


    "Creak~"


    The thing that had punched Zhao Luo made a weird sound as it backed away.


    "A robot?"


    Zhao Luo questioned. There was a golden status floating over this robot.


    ''LvL 1.''


    "Crea~~ak. Mee Puppet."


    The puppet answered as it croaked its head.


    "Puppet. Hmm. Then you can die now."


    Zhao Luo was angry that something like a puppet was sessful innding a punch on his handsome face.


    ''Even though it doesn''t hurt but what if that punch left a mark?''


    Zhao Luo thought angrily.


    "Ifrit."


    Zhao Luo called out as a crimson fiery sword appeared in his hand.


    Zhao Luo rushed at the level 1 puppet.


    ''sh'', and sliced it in two halves with a single swing of ifrit.


    ''Intense pping.''


    Zhao Luo could hear pping sounds echoing around him like someone was spectating him as he cleared the first stage.


    Outside of the moonstone space, around the ring.


    It had only been ten seconds since Zhao Luo had ced his hand on the moonstone and the number on top of the pir was already 2.


    That is Zhao Luo had cleared the 1st stage in less than 10 seconds.


    ''Amazing.''


    Some disciples thought.


    The other pirs were getting free too as the ones who were in their training were quitting thus others started taking their turns.


    Feng Mei and Yan were on the left and right of Zhao Luo as they also ced their hands on the moonstone to start the challenge.


    Mo Lee was in front of thest pir towards the right side.


    He was also in the space inside the moonstone.


    ''Moonstone space where Zhao Luo was in.''


    <Stage 2>


    Zhao Luo started looking around before a puppet couldnd a sneak attack on him.


    "There you are....what...there are two this time?"


    Zhao Luo finally found the puppet. But to his surprise, there were two of them instead of one.


    "LVL 2."


    Both puppets had ''level 2'' floating above their heads.


    Zhao Luo rushed at them as they jumped at Zhao Luo.


    "Cling, sh"


    Zhao Luo''s Ifrit shed with both puppet''s metallic bodies. But their defense wasn''t high enough to stop Zhao Luo''s sword as they both fell apart in two pieces after being sliced in two pieces.


    ''Will thest stage have a hundred puppets?''


    Zhao Luo looked at the two puppets which were lying around his foot.


    ''Intense pping.''


    The pping returned as Zhao Luo had cleared another stage.


    <Stage 3>


    "Creak, Creak, Creak."


    Zhao Luo looked at the three puppets that wereing at him.


    "Swoosh."


    A punch passed his face as Zhao Luo dodged it by tilting his head.


    Even though the previous puppet''s attacks didn''t hurt him but how could he be sure that these puppet''s attacks won''t hurt him too.


    Also, the levels above these puppets had changed.


    "LVL 3"


    Zhao Luo was now sure of two things.


    First. Every stage will have puppets equal to the number of stages.


    Second. The level of the puppets will be the same as the number of the stage.


    While Zhao Luo was going over the information that he had gathered after clearing two stages, he was also dodging the attacks thrown at him by these level 3 puppets.

 Chapter 83 - Fighting The Puppets II

    Zhao Luo dodged the attacks of two of the puppets as a punch from the third one came at him from behind the second puppet.


    ''Woosh~''


    Zhao Luo tried to dodge it but couldn''t move his body in time as the punchnded on his abdomen.


    "Ah."


    Zhao Luo moaned in pain as he has to bent because of the force behind the puppet''s punch.


    "sh."


    While going down Zhao Luo brought Ifrit from behind his back.


    The puppet looked dazed as Ifrit passed through like lightning.


    "Thud."


    The puppet fell after being split in two pieces as it''s head fell first then it''s body.


    "Haaa."


    Zhao Luo rushed towards the wo puppets that he had dodged before and utterly destroyed them.


    As he had destroyed all of the puppets, ''p'', pping sound echoed around the silver space once again.


    <Stage 4>


    The 4th stage had started.


    "LVL 4"


    Four level four puppets appeared around Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo who was surrounded from all of side covered his face with his face.


    "Hah."


    "Hah."


    "Ahhh."


    Zhao Luo startedughing like a madman as he rushed at one of the puppet while the other three werending hits on his body.


    This was what Zhao Luo had decided.


    ''i will take them out one by one.''


    "sh."


    "Thud."


    One of the puppets fell to Zhao Pup''s sword instantly.


    While it was falling, another one perished at the hands of Zhao Luo.


    Just like that he had cleared another stage after taking care of the four puppets by sending them ''out of service''.


    Two minutester, outside the moonstone space where Zhao Luo was in.


    "Look, he has already passed the NINTH STAGE."


    One of the disciple ended his sentence while shouting.


    He thought that the other disciples couldn''t see Zhao Luo''s progress.


    "Shut up, We Are Not Blind."


    Another disciple replied to that disciple.


    This disciple was the one who had just gotten of the Ring. He had reached stage ten before he had to quit as he was heated ck and blue by the puppets.


    But the issue wasn''t this.


    ''Its weird, how did he clear nine stages in only three minutes?''


    That disciple thought.


    It was because Zhao Luo had cleared the nine stages in only three minutes.


    Just nine minutes for something that even their best, Ruo Qing couldn''tplete in any less than twenty minutes.


    While the disciples were looking at Zhao Luo in confusion, the guy and the girl around him weren''t that much slower than him.


    Yan was already at sixth as she had cleared the fifth stage while Feng Mei was at fifth stage, just a single stage behind Yan.


    There was another notable disciple whose stage clearing speed wasn''t any less than Feng Mei and Yan.


    It was Mo Lee who was at tie with Yan as he was also on stage six.


    *Back to the space inside the moonstone*


    Zhao Luo was breathing normally as he listened to the *pping* sound bursting around him.


    ''Who ever made this challenge mist love getting pped.''


    Zhao Luo thought with a smirk.


    <Stage 10>


    "LVL 10"


    Zhao Luo looked at the ten puppets that had appeared as the tenth stage started.


    "LVL 10"


    * Four Arms *


    Zhao Luo noticed that there was this one puppet that stood out among the other nine.


    Not only was it taller and looked more sturdier than the other puppets, there was an extra line under it level bar which was glowing with golden shade.


    ''Four Arms?''


    Zhao Luo thought as he looked at the two words which didn''t match the puppet at all.


    "Where are your other two arms?"


    Zhao Luo questioned the puppet who didn''t live up to it''s name as it only had two arms.


    "Crea~~~ak."


    The puppet roaredmanding the other puppets to attack Zhao Luo as it also jumped towards Zhao Luo.


    ''Fwip, Fwip....''


    Zhao Luo moved towards left to dodge the attack of the puppeting from his right.


    Then he jumped upwards while moving back towards right as he dodged the attack of the puppet which had attack him from left, while bringing down his sword on the third puppet.


    ''Crea~~.''


    The third puppet fell.


    Zhao Luonded as he another attack was aimed at his head.


    ''Woosh.''


    Zhao Luo bent his knee to dodge the attack by crouching instantly. Thus dodging the fourth puppets attack while moving towards the fifth puppet


    ''sh.''


    Zhao Luo''s sword ''ifrit'' sliced through the fifth puppet as Zhao Luo had taken advantage of his position as he leaped towards the fifth puppet.


    Another puppet fell.


    Zhao Pup didn''t stop here as he turned around and shed the three puppets that he had passed through while dodging their attacks.


    "One Swing To Split the Hea...PUPPETS."


    ''Swoosh.''


    Zhao Luo shouted while slicing through the three puppets behind him.


    Continuing on this amazing momentum Zhao Luo only had one puppet remaining.


    "CREAAAAK"


    The puppet screamed in it''s mechanical voice as something amazing happened.


    *PLOP*


    The leader of the puppets who had the * Four Arms * under it''s name finally showed his hidden arms that appeared out of his chest sides.


    "Hah."


    Zhao Luonwas frightened for a second as the puppet got two more arms by suddenly screaming.


    This was the first time Zhao Luo was experiencing something like this.


    "I had only seen people increasing their hair length as they screamed but this is new. I mustmend you for that."


    Zhao Luo had to reminiscend the past as he praised the puppet who couldn''t understand what this handsome human was talking about.


    "Creak"


    The puppet tapped it''s own head with his arms as it sounded confused.


    Zhao Luo could see a change under the level of this puppet.


    "LVL 10"


    *CONFUSED*


    * Four Arms *


    ''Hahaha.''


    Zhao Luoughed in his head as he rushed at the tall puppet.


    Zhao Luo swung his sword with almost half his power towards the confused puppet.


    "Die."


    Zhao Luo shouted as he brought down Ifrit on the puppets head.


    "Cling"


    Instead of going through its and spliting the puppet in half, Ifrit was stopped by the other two arms of the puppet.


    "Creaak."


    The puppet screamed as it opened it''s arms pushing Zhao Luo away as his confused state had ended and it has returned to being normal.


    Zhao Luo couldn''t see the *CONFUSED* under it''s level anymore.


    "Why are you so tall? Are you a tree?"


    Zhao Luo tried to confuse the puppet by throwing random lines at it.


    But his n backfired.


    "Crea~~~ak"


    The puppet screamed in anger like it was saying, "How dare youpare my sexy metallic body to a tree, to a wood?" as the puppet rushed at Zhao Pup and swung his four arms at Zhao Luo.


    It was like being attacked by four people as the arms wereing at Zhao Luo from four directions.


    "Three"


    Zhao Luo said calmly as a ''sh'' sound was heard by him and the puppet.


    Zhao Luo had severed one of the arms of the Puppet.


    "Two*


    Zhao Luo said again.


    The next instant another arm of the puppet fell.


    "One"


    Another arm of the puppet fell as Zhao Luo shed it with his Ifrit.


    "Zero"


    Zhao Luo said as lowered Ifrit after severing it''sst arm too.


    "Creaak."


    The puppet screamed as he swung his shoulder but his arms weren''t there so it looked like it was dancing for Zhao Luo.


    "Hah, Zero arms, sorry but I have to end your dance career."


    Zhao Luo looked reluctant as he killed thest puppet too who looked like the boss of the tenth stage.


    *p*


    Zhao Luo heard the pping sound while he stretched his body getting ready for the eleventh stage.


    <Stage 11>


    "LVL 11"


    *Sword apprentice*


    A puppet appeared with a broad sword in it''s hand.


    The puppet was holding the big sword up with both his hands.


    Zhao Luo was surprised as the characteristics of the puppet changed as soon as the eleventh stage started.


    The puppet was using a sword while Zhao Luo was expecting something with six arms or two heads.


    "Hahaha, you think the sword will help you?"


    Zhao Luoughed as he rushed at the puppet.


    "Swing."


    The puppet swung it''s broad sword at Zhao Luo but the speed of the puppet appeared very slow to Zhao Luo.


    "Swoosh."


    Zhao Luo dodged it by spining right while he swung his sword towards the puppets neck.


    "Neck sh"


    Zhao Luo shouted as his sword was cutting through the air with an intense speed.


    "Swoosh."


    Zhao Luo''s sword passed through the puppet''s neck as it fell to the ground.


    "Thud"


    The puppets head fell on the ground as it''s body fell a secondter.


    *p*


    The pping sound was even more frightening than before.


    Zhao Luo had to cover his ears because the pping sound after every stage was getting annoying.


    ''Ahh why can''t I clear all the stages together?''


    Zhao Luo thought because all the puppets till now were very easy to defeat.


    None had proved to be a challenge for Zhao Luo who wasn''t even using half his power.


    Zhao Luo looked at the bubble that had appeared in the silver space.


    <Stage 12>


    "LVL 12"


    *Sword Apprentice: Wood*


    A puppet appeared in front of Zhao Luo with a brown band around his head.


    "I like the naming sense."


    Zhao Luo made fun of the puppets name as the puppet in front of him had the word ''wood'' after it''s sword apprentics title.


    But Zhao Luo didn''t know that the thing which he was making fun of will turn to be an experience that will set him on the path of a real swordsman.

 Chapter 84 - Fighting The Puppets III

    "Ahhh."


    Zhao Luo rushed at the level 12 puppet whose name had the extra word "Wood".


    "Creak"


    From the other side, the puppet was also moving towards Zhao Luo but its speed was twice as less than Zhao Luo''s


    "ng"


    *Spark*


    When Zhao Luo''s sword came in contact with the puppet''s sword, the collision was so great that sparks started flying around their swords.


    ''What?''


    Zhao Luo was baffled for some reason.


    The previous puppets that he faced wouldn''t even be able to match his single swing.


    Even though Zhao Luo was using only half of his strength, this situation was indeed a new experience for him.


    Zhao Luo looked at the puppet as the puppet with his sword and Zhao Luo with his sword, Ifrit was still in a battle of persistence.


    *Spark*


    Zhao Luo used a little more force to push the puppet away but the puppet was still unscathed.


    The sword in the hand of the puppet was shorter than Ifrit but the way that puppet used its sword was better than how Zhao Luo used his sword.


    ''Hmm let me test that again.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he swung his sword towards the puppet again.


    With the same strength, Zhao Pup''s sword came down towards the puppet''s head who didn''t try to dodge it.


    Instead, the puppet blocked it with his sword again.


    ''Huh?''


    Zhao Luo wondered if what he saw was correct as the puppet blocked Ifrit twice in a single move.


    "You pulled back your sword after the first collision just to strike my sword again to dissipate the power behind the sword attack."


    Zhao Luo talked yet the puppet had only one thing to say.


    "Creak"


    "Hahahaha."


    Zhao Luoughed after hearing the metallic sound of the puppet as he struck the puppet''s sword with Ifrit again.


    "ng."


    "ng."


    "ng, ng."


    Zhao Luo struck the puppet''s sword again and again just to end up in a draw in each collision.


    Zhao Luo moved his wrist and jumped backward.


    ''Swoosh, Swoosh.''


    Zhao Luo tried to copy the moves of the puppet and he pulled it off sessfully.


    The sword style that the puppet used had a sturdy form.


    This was connected to the *Wood* after its ''Sword appreciate'' title.


    The puppet used the characteristics of wood in its defensive style.


    ''So first bending its sword as it woulde in contact with my Ifrit, then just like the elongation and suppression of wood, the puppet pulled back its sword with super speed by adding the force of the collision. Then using a counterpression force, it would strike back. Using two sword strikes in one move to block my attack and stopping my sword right there.''


    As Zhao Luo moved his index finger and hit it twice on the sharp edge of the crimson Ifrit while going over his theory behind the sword move that the puppet was using.


    Zhao Luo walked toward the puppet as it was time to test if he was right or not.


    Zhao Luo decided to wait for the puppet to attack.


    "Creaa~ak."


    The puppet ran at Zhao Luo and executed its sword move which looked rather normal whenpared to how it was defending Zhao Luo''s attack.


    "ng, ng."


    Zhao Luo did the same as the puppet.


    He first blocked the puppet''s attack then pulled back his sword and struck it at the puppet''s sword again but more fiercely.


    "Creak."


    The puppet fell back as it made a confused sound.


    "This human is using my technique."


    Zhao Luo said as he smiled. He was saying the things that could be going through the mind of this puppet.


    But unfortunately, the puppet didn''t have a free mind of its own.


    "Here Ie."


    Zhao Luo said as he rushed at the fallen puppet and shed his Ifrit at the puppet mercilessly.


    ''..Slice''


    The puppet tried to block Zhao Luo''s sword but it wasn''t in a position to use the move it was using before. Just like that Zhao Luo''s sword passed through the puppet''s necks splitting it into two.


    "p"


    The pping sound started ringing around the silver space once again.


    "So annoying."


    Zhao Luo cursed at the one who made this challenge. The puppets weren''t that bad but this stage clearing celebration was bullshit.


    "This sound is harder to beat than the puppets."


    Zhao Luo said in anger as the next stage started.


    <Stage 13>


    "LVL 13"


    *Sword Apprentice: Wood*


    Zhao Luo looked at the three puppets that had appeared in front of him as the 13th stage started.


    "Hmph jumped to three. Come at me."


    Zhao Luo said as the ground around him was somewhat filled by the lifeless metallic bodies of the puppets that he had destroyed in the earlier rounds.


    "Creak, Creak, Creak."


    The three puppets moved together at Zhao Luo.


    ''Swosh.''


    Three swords wereing at Zhao Luo while cutting through the surrounding air.


    "ng, ng."


    Zhao Luo used the same move that he had learned in thest stage to block their initial charge and then striking again to throw them off tempo.


    ''sh, sh, sh.''


    Zhao Luo brought down Ifrit on the pullets like a sword of judgment using a single sh to destroy three puppets.


    Just like that he used the new technique to his advantage as he cleared the next stages.


    "p."


    The pping sound exploded around him as he cleared the 19th stage.


    <Stage 20>


    "LVL 20"


    *Skilled Sword Apprentice: Wood*


    Another tall puppet appeared in front of Zhao Luo but this time it was alone.


    "As expected of a boss."


    Zhao Luo said just to get a ''Creak'' instead of a ''thank you'' from the puppet which was twice as tall as Zhao Luo.


    The puppet looked like a thick tree holding a sword by its branch.


    "Creaa~~~~ak."


    The puppet released a metallic roar making Zhao Luo''s robe to dance because of the pressure behind its roar.


    "ENOUGH."


    "Creak?"


    Zhao Luo shouted interrupting the damned puppets roar.


    The puppet looked confused after getting shouted at by this handsome human.


    The puppet leaped at Zhao Luo intending to slice him with his sword.


    Zhao Luo raised Ifrit while standing at his position.


    "Come."


    Zhao Luo said with a smile.


    "ng, ng."


    "ng, ng."


    Both swords, one used to attack and the other used to defend came in contact.


    *Spark*


    Both Zhao Luo and the puppet pulled their swords backs at the same time and struck each other''s swords again.


    This continued as Zhao Luo was using the technique that was originally the puppets method.


    Both Zhao Luo and the puppet came at each other like crazy beasts fighting for food.


    After shing nonstop for more than a minute Zhao Luo decided to end the fight as he brought down his sword and did something unbelievable.


    "ng, ng, ng."


    Zhao Luo''s single swing didn''t stop at striking the puppet''s sword twice instead Zhao Luo improved the technique to bring it a step further.


    The time it took for the puppet to pull back its sword, Zhao Luo had already hit the puppet''s sword three times resulting in the breaking of the puppet''s sword.


    "Hmph, ahhh."


    Zhao Luo smirked as he roared while bringing down his sword to defeat this opponent.


    "p"


    As the pping started inside the space of the moonstone. Somethingpletely opposite was taking ce outside the space.


    The disciples were quietly spectating Zhao Luo even though there was no fight going on.


    Just changing of the number on the pir where Zhao Luo was standing was so fast that in eight minutes this star disciple had already cleared the 20th stage.


    While Zhao Luo was already in the 21st stage, the others were very far from Zhao Luo.


    The top three were only at the 12th and the 13th stage. They were Feng Mei who was on the 12th stage while Yan and Mo Lee were on the 13th stage.


    Back in the silver space of Moonstone.


    The pping which had ended just a second ago was again echoing around Zhao Luo.


    <Stage 22>


    "LVL22"


    *Sword Apprentice: Fire*


    It wasn''t like Zhao Luo had skipped a stage instead the previous stage did end in just a second as the puppet was so weak that it couldn''t handle Zhao Luo''s ''Wood Drop''.


    "Wood Drop."


    This was what Zhao Luo had named the technique that he had learned from the earlier puppets.


    "It''s ''Fire'' now. Good."


    Zhao Luo was excited as he looked at the status of the puppet under its level.


    ''Wood drop strengthens the defense and the attack. What is fire supposed to do?''


    Zhao Luo wondered as he attacked the puppet.


    "Swoosh."


    Zhao Luo''s sword arrived over the head of the puppet.


    Zhao Luo smiled but soon that smile vanished as the puppet didn''t block his sword instead the puppet just took a single step back to dodge it.


    "Creak."


    The puppet grabbed its sword with his other hand too and brought it down on Zhao Luo like lightning.


    "Swoosh."


    Zhao Luo tried to block the puppet''s sword with Ifrit.


    ''ng.''


    ''ng.''


    Zhao Luo used the ''Wood Drop'' to survive the attack of the puppet which would have caused him to drop like a dead man.

 Chapter 85 - Fighting The Puppets IV

    Zhao Luo had pushed back the attack of the level 22 puppet with the newly learned technique ''Wood Drop'' even though he could force the puppet back if only Zhao Luo used more of his strength.


    Zhao Luo was preserving his strength because there were many stages ahead of him. If he went all out from the start then how will he be able to give his all in the end stages of this moonstone puppet challenge.


    "Hmph."


    Zhao Luo made a sound showing how much annoyed he was after the puppet''s attack.


    There was a burst of energy behind thest sword move that this level 22 sword apprentice puppet with the *Fire* status used.


    ''I should observe its technique first.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he looked a the puppet that wasing at him again.


    This was indeed the most efficient way. Zhao Luo went easy on the puppet just till he can grasp the technique that the puppet is using.


    ''Wood drop is indeed a great move. If I can just learn this fire puppets technique too....hehe.''


    Zhao Luo smirked as the puppet was bringing down its sword with its full force.


    It looked unstoppable as Zhao Luo focused on the puppet''s hand and its body.


    The puppet was simply bringing down the sword but its strike had immense power.


    As if something had been ignited midway like a spark had set the puppet''s sword on fire.


    "ng, ng."


    Zhao Luo again used ''Wood Drop'' to block the puppet''s sword and pushed it back.


    "Creak."


    The puppet created a metallic sound as it was pushed away by the force behind Zhao Luo''s Ifrit.


    "So that is it."


    Zhao Luo shouted as he brought his other hand to hold Ifrit''s hilt tightly.


    Zhao Luo raised Ifrit toward the ceiling of the silver space and brought ifrit down with an intense speed.


    Right when Ifrit had reached halfway, Zhao Luo pushed one of his legs back and bent the knee of the other leg.


    This helped him decrease the distance to the target while increasing the speed of his sword.


    "Woosh."


    A sound was heard by Zhao Luo and the puppet as Ifrit had shed through the air.


    Zhao Luo hadn''t copied the puppets technique perfectly yet but the power behind the technique was still amazing.


    "Sixty percent. I need more practice."


    Zhao Luo said as he nced at the confused puppet who was watching Zhao Luo through its lifeless eyes.


    "Hehehe."


    Zhao Luo startedughing creepily as he already had the perfect opponent who would help him master this technique.


    The puppet rushed at Zhao Luo.


    ''Swing.''


    "ng." *Spark*


    Zhao Luo and the puppet used the same techniques to sh with their swords. Sparks were produced as the Puppet was thrown back.


    ''Even though its technique is better, level 22 puppet can''t even match half of my strength.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he struck the puppet with Ifrit again and again.


    ''Wood Drop'' Zhao Luo shouted in his mind as he brought down his sword on the puppet.


    "ng"


    "ng"


    While the puppet had a powerful attack pattern, its defense was not evenparable to the puppets with *wood* in their name.


    "So the *Fire* puppets have explosive attacks but their defensive ability is almost null."


    Zhao Luo said as the puppet failed to block Ifrit and got sliced in half.


    "p."


    ''Sigh.''


    Another stage ended but this pping sound.


    "If only I could change it to something else...."


    Zhao Luo said as the next stage started.


    <Stage 23>


    Two "LVL 23" puppets appeared in front of theining Zhao Luo.


    *Sword Apprentice: Fire*


    "Good, good. Come at me."


    Zhao Luo said as he signaled the puppets with his hand.


    "Creak, Creak."


    The puppets slightly dropped before sprinting at Zhao Luo with their swords.


    As they reached Zhao Luo they used the same technique that is while bringing their swords down, they pushed their leg back and bent the knee of the other leg to get that bursting power behind their sword. But unfortunately for them, Zhao Luo didn''t wait for them to use the technique.


    "ng."


    Zhao Luo closed in on them as they had just pushed their leg backward and struck their swords with Ifrit breaking the technique.


    Then he pulled back the sword to use the ''wood drop'' technique to attack the puppets.


    "ng."


    Ifrit collided with the swords of both puppets.


    Zhao Luo pulled back Ifrit to stile them again thuspleting the ''wood drop''. But before he couldplete the technique, Zhao Luo was hit with an epiphany as he used his other to grab the sword too. Then he pushed his left leg back while bending the knee of the right leg, adding the fire attribute ''explosion'' to his ''wood drop''.


    "n~"


    Both the puppets were sent flying as Ifrit collided with their swords.


    ''Crack.''


    Their swords were on the brink of breaking into shards as cracks had formed all over their sword as a result of thest collision.


    "Heh, what did I do?"


    Zhao Luo wondered as he looked at his hand and Ifrit which was shining with its Crimson fiery color even more than before.


    Zhao Luo rushed at the puppets again and repeated the moves with the same movement to confirm he had done it.


    "Swoosh."


    The puppet''s swords broke as Ifrit passed through them. With one swing of his sword, Zhao Luo had not only destroyed their sword but also their bodies.


    Zhao Luo had indeedbined the two techniques.


    "Am I a genius? I can alreadybine ''Wood drop'' and ''Burst sh'' together."


    Zhao Luo said as he looked at destroyed puppets.


    Another good technique had fallen to Zhao Luo''s inhuman naming sense.


    "p"


    Zhao Luo grabbed his head as the hateful sounds echoed in the silver space again.


    Thus just like that stage after stage, Zhao Luo kept on fighting the puppets fiercely as their numbers kept on increasing till he finally cleared the 29th stage.


    <Stage 30>


    Zhao Luo saw the new number as the pping sound subsided.


    He had already mastered the ''Burst sh'' while Zhao Luo''s ''Wood Drop'' now was probably even better than the puppets.


    "LVL 30"


    The level was the same as the stage just like the previous times.


    A humanoid puppet that is a puppet with the same height as Zhao Luo appeared in front of him.


    *Skilled Sword Apprentice: Fire*


    ''Scratch.''


    Zhao Luo scratched his ears while looking at the puppet.


    "It''s getting boring."


    Zhao Luoined.


    it was because Zhao Luo could already predict what kind of puppet would be appearing at every stage as the challenge continued.


    "sh."


    The puppet who was the boss of this stage squinted its eyes as it moved towards Zhao Luo so fast that it was hard to see its movements.


    Zhao Luo who was taking it easy sensed a hint of danger looming around him as he raised Ifrit to block the attack of the iing puppet.


    "ng, ng."


    Zhao Luo used ''Wood drop'' to block the attack, but it didn''t end there as Zhao Luo twisted his body while jumping off the ground.


    From mid-air, he brought down his sword on the level 30 puppet boss.


    "ng, ng."


    Using the Wood drop to attack again Zhao Luo pushed away from the puppet as hended on the ground again while showing a smirk on his handsome face.


    ''Trying to scare me?''


    Zhao Luo thought as he rushed at the puppet.


    "ng, ng~"


    Using the Wood Dropbined with Burst sh, Zhao Luo defeated the puppet easily.


    The level 30 puppets destroyed body fell to the ground as the ''pping'' sound erupted again.


    It was there to show that Zhao Luo hadpleted stage 30.


    <Stage 31>


    "LVL 31"


    *Skilled Sword apprentice: Dual*


    Like before, a new word appeared in the status of the puppet.


    Its level had increased and its characteristics had changed too.


    The puppet attacked Zhao Luo.


    The strength behind its attack was still bearable but the movement of the puppet was like shocking news to Zhao Luo.


    "ng, ng, ng, ng."


    ''Huh?''


    "Why are you copying me?"


    Zhao Luo questioned the puppet in anger.


    "Creak."


    The puppet replied in a way that made Zhao Luo even angrier.


    It was because the pullet was using the same rhythm as Zhao Luo.


    The puppet was also using abination of ''Wood Drop'' and ''Burst sh''.


    Even though Zhao Luo had learned both of these techniques from the puppets, he was now using the puppet of stealing his ''original'' technique.


    ''ng''


    ''ng''


    ''ng''


    ''ng''


    The fight was fierce as both Zhao Luo and the puppet collided against each other multiple times in a single minute.


    Metal shing metal sounds kept on echoing around the silver space while sparks were flying around their swords because of the force behind the sh.


    After a continuous cycle of ''Wood Drop'' and ''Burst sh'', Zhao Luo finally destroyed the puppet.


    The cursed stage had finished.


    ''p.''


    "Hah, hah, hah."


    Zhao Luo felt relieved as the stage clearing pping enveloped him.


    <Stage 32>


    "Level 32"


    *Skilled Sword Apprentice: Wood*


    *Skilled Sword Apprentice: Fire*


    Two puppets spawned in front of him.


    Both of the puppets were level 32 while also being ''skilled'' sword apprentices.


    Zhao Luo was already able to feel the difference between a sword apprentice and the skilled sword apprentice.


    It was the difference between how they used their technique.


    The technique of a sword apprentice felt forced while the skilled sword apprentice used it more naturally as if their sword was an extension of their metallic bodies.


    ''Hahaha.''


    Zhao Laughed while the expression on his face showed otherwise.


    The cursed stage which had just ended was repeating itself in front of Zhao Luo but just in a different form.


    ''Sh*t, Here we go again.''


    Zhao Luo cursed as he attacked the puppet while the puppets shed their swords at him.

 Chapter 86 - Fighting The Puppets V

    Zhao Luo faced two "skilled sword apprentice" who were different.


    Even though Zhao Luo knew there were two puppets in front of him, he couldn''t believe it.


    Either the chemistry between them was insanely good, or Zhao Luo was just trapped in a dream.


    ''This is even harder than thest stage. Bring back the dual puppet.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he sweated while sidestepping the attacks of the two puppets.


    "Creak."


    The puppets, skilled sword apprentice ''Wood'' and the skilled sword apprentice ''Fire'' both swung their swords at Zhao Luo in a manner where Zhao Luo couldn''t block both of their swords together.


    Zhao Luo wasn''t even left with the option of counter-attacking their sword attacks with one of his own as he held Ifrit tightly.


    Zhao Luo just kept ln backing away and jumping left and right whenever they would attack him.


    ''Hmm.''


    Zhao Luo quietly studied the attack pattern of the puppets as he dodged their attacks.


    ''Swoosh.''


    A moment came where Zhao Luo dodged the sword of the ''Wood'' puppet and passed him to attack the ''Fire'' puppet.


    "Dual Burst Drop."


    Zhao Luo shouted as he brought down his sword on the ''Fire'' puppet.


    He had finally named his technique as Zhao Luo perfectly blended the ''Wood Drop'' in the ''Burst sh.''


    Pushing back his left leg and bending his knee of the other leg, Zhao Luo brought down his Ifrit on the sword of the ''Fire'' puppet.


    ''Creak''


    ''ng.''


    The puppet barely blocked the first attack as Zhao Luo''s ''Wood Drop'' powered by the ''Burst sh'' exploded on his sword.


    ''ng.''


    ''ng.''


    Zhao Luo hadunched a total of three strikes in one move at the ''Fire puppet'', but unfortunately, he couldn''t take it down.


    The second and third strike of his ''Dual Burst Drop'' was shared by the ''wood'' puppet''s sword.


    The wood puppet had used its own ''Wood Drop'' to decrease the impact of Zhao Luo''s technique too.


    It had turned back to block Zhao Luo''s sword before Zhao Luo could destroy the ''Fire'' puppet. That is how these puppets had been fighting since the start. One would attack, and the other would defend.


    "Hmph. That was a perfect chance. sh*t."


    Zhao Luo didn''t back down here even though he couldn''t destroy the ''fire'' puppet, but heined.


    ''Creak.''


    Zhao Luo saw the attack of the Fire puppeting at him. He could already see the motions of the ''Burst sh'' technique behind the puppet''s movements; thus, Zhao Luo hurried at him with his own ''Dual Burst Drop.''


    The ''wood'' pullet also attacked Zhao Luo with its ''Wood Drop'' as it jumped at him from behind the ''Fire'' puppet.


    ''ng''


    *Spark*


    ''ng, ng, ng, ng.''


    ZhaobLuo''s Ifrit fell on the ''Fire'' puppets sword like a boulder as it destroyed its sword and passed through its head before Zhao Luo pulled it back to block the iing sword swings of the ''Wood'' puppet.


    "Only you are left. Ahhhh."


    "Creak."


    Zhao Luo shouted as he continued to swing Ifrit at the ''Wood'' puppet as the ''Fire'' puppet had already fallen.


    ''Swoosh.''


    ''n~''


    Ifrit passed through the sword of the "Expert Sword Apprentice ''Wood'' puppet" and continued to pass through its body as the puppet was split in two.


    ''p.''


    Another stage clearing announcement was heard by Zhao Luo.


    "Ah, Shhhh."


    Zhao Luo ced his index finger on his lip and made a sound while looking upwards in the silver space.


    The pping sound ended following Zhao Luo''s gesture.


    Since the challenge had started, aside from naming the techniques he had learned while facing the puppets, this was the most achieving moment for Zhao Luo.


    "Finally, Peace."


    ''Hah~''


    Zhao Luo breath a sigh of relief as he looked around for the beginning of the next stage.


    The next moment shocked Zhao Luo so much that he almost choked on the air. He could have died before the stage even started. The reason behind this nearly fatal reaction was the stage number.


    <Stage 40>


    "LVL Error"


    *Skilled Sword Apprentice: Dual*


    *Skilled Sword Apprentice: Wood*


    *Skilled Sword Apprentice: Fire*


    ''What? Error?''


    Zhao Luo questioned as the level wasn''t fixed as the puppet''s level ranged from level 33 to level 40.


    Zhao Luo could see more than a dozen of these puppets with different natures. But there was something even more surprising than the number of these puppets and the jump of the stages from "stage 32" to "stage 40".


    It was thest puppet.


    Like there was another puppet that Zhao Luo couldn''t see well as it was behind the crowd of these puppets that were in front of Zhao Luo making their mechanical noises, "Creak, Creak, Creak."


    *First Sword Warrior: Dual*


    Zhao Luo could see thest puppet''s name.


    ''Sword Warrior? I hope he has some nice techniques that I could stea-- learn.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he corrected his actions in his mind while looking at the small army of puppets that were going to jump at him with their swords anytime now.


    He shrugged his shoulder while grasping Ifrit tightly in his hand.


    "Come."


    Zhao Luo said calmly as the earlier shock had already altered into excitement.


    Zhao Luo could feel his body burning with the rising excitement as Ifrit started glowing in his hand.


    "Creak"


    A short yet powerful noise came from behind the puppets.


    ''It''s obviously the boss of this stage.''


    Zhao Luo thought as the puppets rushed at him.


    ''ng, ng.''


    One of the puppets brought down its sword while using the ''wood drop'' as Zhao Luo simply blocked it.


    ''~ang.''


    ''ng.''


    The next puppet used its ''Burst sh'' on Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo blocked another swing without even taking a single step back and without using any technique; Zhao Luo stopped the attacks by simply redirecting their force around him with Ifrit, which was glowing more intensely.


    ''Is it gonna explode?''


    Zhao Luo wondered as he rushed towards the other puppets while dodging the iing sword attacks.


    It was simple.


    Even a toddler will learn to stand over time without being taught if he only sees others standing.


    Zhao Luo, who felt like he had been using the sword for eternity as he couldn''t feel the flow of time in the silver space, had already grasped the ''perfect counter'' technique.


    But he didn''t know as Zhao Luo was just doing it unconsciously.


    Just like that, Zhao Luo kept on countering them like some sword demon as a smile crept upon his face.


    Under the pressure of facing so many puppets who Zhao Luo considered to be the strongest sword users that he could face, the excitement he felt was increasing with every swing of his sword.


    His sweat dripped from his face to the floor of the silver space. Zhao Luo''s beautiful silver hair danced around his handsome face as a growing smile was spread across his mouth.


    ''ng, ng.''


    *Spark*


    "Thump"


    Every time Ifrit shed with the puppet''s sword, Zhao Luo could hear his heart beating loudly. Just like his heart with every collision, Zhao Luo could hear Ifrit''s excitement as they were connected now.


    ''ng.''


    Zhao Luo shed down a ''Dual'' puppet while smiling.


    ''I can take them down.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he lowered himself by needing his knees.


    Zhao Luo used his posture to elerate his body like a leopard and rushing towards the middle of the puppets again as he swung Ifrit left and right.


    Like a chef cutting through an onion on the cutting board, Zhao Luo sliced through eight of the puppets as if they were nothing more than some kind of vegetable.


    ''Hah, I feel unstoppable.''


    Zhao Luo eximed as his eyes shined, giving him the feeling of invincibility with Ifrit in his hand.


    ''Is this how the Swordmasters of ancient times felt?''


    Zhao Luo internally questioned himself as even though the timeframe of the World where he was from didn''t have a living swordmaster, he did know of some ''fictional ones while there were others who he had read about.


    ''Swoosh.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he tilted his head and then rotated his body to dodge the sword of a ''dual'' puppet.


    ''sh''


    "Cre~~"


    Zhao Luo brought down Ifrit on its head, slicing the puppet in two.


    The puppets, even though they had increased in number and all of them were ''Expert Sword apprentice,'' Zhao Luo wasn''t having a hard time.


    It was like Zhao Luo was going through ''Sword Puberty.''


    Like that with each swing, Zhao Luo destroyed the puppets one by one, till the floor of the silver space was mostly covered by the bodies of the destroyed puppets.


    "Only you are left."


    Zhao Luo said as he looked at the boss of this stage.


    The puppet looked shorter than the ones Zhao Luo had just destroyed.


    But for some reason, this puppet was giving Zhao Luo a feeling of uneasiness that he could not shake off.


    The smile on Zhao Luo''s disappeared as he looked at the title of the puppet.


    "Level 40."


    "First Sword Warrior Dual."


    Zhao Luo whispered the level and the status of the puppet as he grasped the hilt of Ifrit with his other hand too.


    ''Tremble.''


    Ifrit gave a slight tremor to Zhao Luo''s hand.


    ''Haha, good, let''s show this basta*d what we are made of.''


    Zhao Luo said as he felt the shiver of Ifrit, which ended his uneasy feeling.

 Chapter 87 - Fighting The Puppets VI

    The training Area inside the trainee hall was experiencing a silence that had never been seen or witnessed before.


    It had never been quieter than it was now.


    The disciples were still there, but since the news of ''Zhao Luo is challenging the moonstone'' started spreading in the trainee hall, all the disciples rushed to the training area like swamps.


    The disciples facing the moonstone challenge kept on hitting their limits. One by one, the fifteen disciples on the ring tform challenging the moonstone would experience a decrease in their numbers.


    Moonstone''s challenge worked this way. Even if fifteen disciples had gotten on the ring simultaneously and they had the same strength, the time they would hit their limit would be probably the same. But if the disciples were on different levels of power, then the weaker ones would take longer to quit.


    ''Why the stronger disciples have to quit early?''


    Some new disciple of the trainee hall may ask.


    It was simply a case of ''Rapid Action'' causes ''Force Ejection.''


    The stronger disciplesplete stages faster than the weaker ones, but they have to face stronger puppets too; thus, until they hit their limit, they may be ten stages ahead of the weaker disciples, but they would have to quit before the weaker disciples.


    This was what was going on the ring tform now. The disciples kept on getting off the ring after quitting the moonstone challenge.


    Yan had reached stage 27 before she had to quit, while Feng Mei was at stage 25, but they both got off the ring at the same time.


    The disciples who were there earlier than them were also getting off the ring.


    After a while, only Zhao Luo and Mo Lee were left on stage.


    While Mo Lee was on stage 27 too, he was in that stage for some minutes now, so there was a chance that he wouldplete it.


    Just like that, Mo Lee didplete stage 27 of the moonstone challenge and then had to quit it.


    Zhao Luo was thest remaining challenger on the ring. With his back straight and facing the crowd of disciples who couldn''t help but stare at Zhao Luo as if he was their father from some past life, Zhao Luo was in stage 32.


    Nobody from among the crowd of disciples dared to go up the stage to challenge the moonstones. They were so mesmerized just looking at Zhao Luo and how the number of stages on top of the pir was changing.


    ''What?''


    A disciple thought.


    "Look, it says he has reached stage 40."


    That disciple questioned.


    "How?"


    Other disciples also noticed and started to question if what they were seeing was true.


    "Unbelievable."


    Some disciples denied epting the truth even though they could see it clearly.


    Zhao Luo, who was on stage 32 just a moment ago, had already reached stage 40.


    The crowd couldn''t control their excitement as they saw the sudden leap in the stages.


    Even though they couldn''t see what Zhao Luo was doing inside the silver space, it was already an unachievable feat.


    None of the disciples could afford to close their eyes for even a second.


    Inside the silver space, Zhao Luo''s hair danced on his shoulder as he looked at the puppet with his squinted eyes.


    The puppet in front of him was the "First Sword Warrior" with Dual Nature.


    "How good is a sword warrior?"


    Zhao Luo questioned the puppet even though he knew that the puppets weren''t intelligent.


    "Creak, Kekekeke."


    The puppet croaked its head as itughed weirdly.


    ''What, Senior Zi Fei?''


    For a second, Zhao Luo was confused that he may be facing Zi Fei.


    Zhao Luo shook his head as he lowered his body and pushed off the ground towards the Sword Warrior Puppet.


    ''Let''s destroy it, Ifrit.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he nced at Ifrit for a second before bringing Ifrit down on the puppet, who still hadn''t taken out his sword.


    ''ng.''


    Zhao Luo''s swordnded on the puppet who was blocking Ifrit with his metallic arm.


    If it were some other puppet, their hand would have been shed off.


    "Hmph."


    Zhao Luo raised his eyebrow as he pushed his legs down. While bringing his sword down, Zhao Luo pushed his left leg backward, and by bending the knee of his right leg, he was pulling off the movements of ''Burst sh'' or potentially ''Dual Burst Drop.''


    ''ng.''


    ''ng.''


    ''ng.''


    Zhao Luo had indeedbined his ''Wood Drop'' with his ''Burst sh.''


    To his surprise, the puppet was only pushed back with a dent on its arm while Zhao Luo hoped to destroy it by his best sword technique.


    "Creak."


    The puppet looked at the dent on its arm and then looked at Zhao Luo before making a sound.


    ''Was this a deration of war?''


    Zhao Luo thought he couldn''t tell what the puppet was going through because there was no ounce of expression disyed on its metallic face.


    ''Ching.''


    The puppet''s arms turned sharper and sharper until they took the shape of a shiny ck sword.


    ''Hah. If only...''


    Zhao Luo wondered while looking at his arms.


    If only he could change his arms to the sword, too, then he would have three des to fight this puppet.


    "But Ifrit is enough to defeat you."


    Zhao Luo pointed Ifrit at the puppet as the glowing Ifrit started trembling with excitement again.


    This shiver of Ifrit caused a smile to emerge on Zhao Luo''s handsome face as he waited for the puppet''s attack.


    "Creak."


    The puppet was done waiting as it attacked Zhao Luo with its sword hands.


    ''ng.''


    ''ng.''


    ''ng.''


    .


    .


    .


    Intense sword shes were taking ce inside the silver space as Zhao Luo, and the ''First Sword Warrior'' puppet swung their swords at each other.


    Zhao Luo was pressured by the strength behind the swords of the puppet while fighting it.


    Since the puppet started attacking, Zhao Luo was the only one who was pushed back.


    ''So he uses one of the swords to use ''Wood Drop'' technique while using ''Burst sh'' with the other sword.''


    Zhao Luo, who was still looking at the puppet tricks, had finally concluded his information on the attack pattern of the puppet.


    ''Grab.''


    Zhao Luo bent down and grabbed the sword of one of the destroyed puppets in his other hand.


    "I can also do it."


    Zhao Luo said with a severe face, but inside his mind, there was no end to his happiness.


    ''Let''s go, Ifrit and ckey.''


    Zhao Luo said while looking at the two swords in his hands.


    Zhao Luo''s eyebrows arched inwards as he pounced towards the puppet, like a beast.


    ''Swoosh.''


    ''Swoosh.''


    Zhao Luo''s Ifrit and the ckey were brought down on the puppet with such an intense speed that the air below his swords was getting cut in half, and the sound echoed around them.


    ''ng.''


    ''ng.''


    ''ng.''


    The puppet blocked Zhao Luo''s swords with his sword-like arms.


    "Creak."


    The power behind Zhao Luo''s sword was too much for the puppet as its back was forced to bend under the pressure of his swords.


    "Creak"


    The puppet screamed, but that didn''t help him push back Zhao Luo''s charge as Zhao Luo pulled back both of his swords intentionally just to bring them back on the sword arms of the puppet.


    "Wood Drop."


    "Dual Burst Drop."


    Zhao Luo shouted as he used ''Wood Drop'' with ckey and used Ifrit to perform the ''Dual Burst Drop.''


    The puppet, who was already under unbearable pressure because of Zhao Luo''s earlier swings, had no way to block these attacks.


    "Crea~"


    The puppet screamed, but before it could evenplete it, Zhao Luo''s swords passed through it.


    ''p.''


    The moment Zhao Luo destroyed the ''First Sword Warrior'' puppet, the pping sound he hadn''t heard for a long time started echoing around the silver space.


    "Hehehe, I will let you make some sound."


    Zhao Luo said as if approving this sound polluting entity.


    <Stage 50>


    "LVL ERROR"


    *First Sword Warriors: Dual*


    Zhao Luo could see around twenty of the same puppets that he had destroyed just a stage ago.


    "Another ten stage jump. Great."


    Zhao Luo didn''tin as this was better for him.


    ''Why should I even challenge them one by one when I can just eradicate them all together?''


    Zhao Luo nodded his head while questioning the counter situation.


    He couldn''t see the boss of this stage as there were many puppets in front of him.


    ''I will reach him eventually.''


    Zhao Luo thought with a smirk.


    "CREAK."


    A loud sound came from behind the group of ''First Sword Warrior'' puppets.


    It was like an announcement that ordered the puppets to destroy the human in front of them.


    The puppets dived towards Zhao Luo, who was ready for them.


    With Ifrit and ckey in his hands, he didn''t fear even the hundred of these puppets.


    Zhao Luo also jumped at the puppets and fought them as they came at him simultaneously.


    ''ng, ng, ng, Cling.''


    Intense sparks were produced in mid-air as Zhao Luo blocked multiple attacks by the puppets.


    Zhao Luo still felt undefeatable until an unfortunate ident happened.

 Chapter 88 - Fighting The Puppets VII

    Life had never been easy.


    ''Who was the biggest backstabber?''


    Someone once asked a Godly being.


    The only answer that came from the heavenly realms was; "Life."


    Nothing went ording to one''s n. Something simr happened to Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo was single-handedly sword fighting against more than 20 puppets; he had never felt so amazing before.


    Even the earlier stages didn''t make him this excited.


    ''Swoosh, Swoosh, Swoosh, ng, ng.''


    The only sounds reverberating around the silver space were swords cutting through the air and metal hitting metal.


    Sometimes Zhao Luo would perfectly dodge the swords arms of the puppets by just the bare minimum movements, while other times he would block them with Ifrit and ckey by using multiple ''Wood Drops.''


    ''Hmph.''


    Zhao Luo didn''t sweat at all as he still had to start his attacks.


    For now, he was looking for the weakness in their coordination.


    It wasn''t easy to attack one or two ''First Sword Warriors'' who had a ''dual'' nature and were above level 40.


    "If I attack one of them, then I will have to take on neen of their swings. If I attack two, then I will have to block eighteen attacks somehow."


    Zhao Luo whispered as he calcted the best move he could use to break their formation, which was far from perfect since the start.


    The puppets wereing at him with instinct. It was a simple one after another from their side. Thus, Zhao Luo had to wait for the best time to initiate his attacks.


    "ng, ng."


    While jumping backward, Zhao Luo had been blocking the attacks of the First Sword Warrior puppets, which wereing at him from left, right, and center.


    One of the First Sword Warrior puppets, who was at level 49, had the fastest speed and was the closest to Zhao Luo.


    ''ng.''


    "Now."


    After blocking the attack from this puppet in mid-air, Zhao Luo used the force behind its attack to spin his body and brought down both of his swords on that puppet.


    "Spinning Wood Drop."


    Zhao Luo shouted as he forced Ifrit and ckey on that puppet.


    Bang!


    The puppet, who was under pressure of Zhao Luo''s sword, couldn''t block them and was thrown back to hit the other puppets behind him.


    While everyonended on the ground, Zhao Luo leaped at the disturbed puppets and attacked them fiercely.


    This was the best chance for Zhao Luo to take multiple puppets down at the same time.


    Zhao Luo brought his swords diagonally and shed at the puppets who were standing together after stopping the level 49 puppet.


    "Dual Burst Drop: Reverse."


    Zhao Luo said as this time he was bringing the sword from the opposite direction.


    The puppets tilted their sword arms and tried to block Zhao Luo''s attack with their strong arms.


    But instead of stopping, Ifrit and ckey passed through their arms like they were passing through butter.


    Like a whale attacking a fishing boat from under the sea, more than seven puppets were thrown upwards after being shed into two.


    Zhao Luo didn''t stop there as he moved towards the other remaining puppets.


    ''I have to destroy them before the boss decides to join.''


    Zhao Luo nced at the puppet that was watching Zhao Luo with its head tilted towards the left.


    ''ng.''


    ''ng.''


    Zhao Luo attacked the other puppets as they surrounded Zhao Luo in a circle.


    ''I have to get out of here.''


    Zhao Luo thought as it would be hard for him to defend from both sides.


    It wouldn''t have been a problem for him if he had eight arms, but unfortunately,


    "Why don''t I have eight arms?"


    Zhao Luo whispered as he looked upwards, like looking back at someone who was whatever him.


    Instead of dwelling over hisint, Zhao Luo rushed at the puppets in the front of the circle and attacked them before they attacked him from all sides.


    Zhao Luo tried to get out of their formation after throwing the ones at the front to the sides with the help of Ifrit and Balck-.


    "Crack."


    A crack appeared on the surface of ckey as the puppet had blocked the sh.


    Then the puppet counter-attacked Zhao Luo''s sh with one of its own.


    ''ng.''


    The attacknded on the already weak ckey as Zhao Luo''s second-named sword broke into pieces, and its shards fell to the ground.


    Zhao Luo jumped back towards the middle of the circle as he looked at the sword in his left hand that was already a broken sword.


    ''Why Life, WHY?''


    Zhao Luo shouted in his mind.


    "ckeyyyy."


    Zhao Luo couldn''t control his emotions as he felt like he had lost something important.


    "Ahhh~"


    Zhao Luo screamed as he saw a glimpse that started from the time Zhao Luo had randomly picked a ck sword from the floor of the silver space.


    Even though their journey was a short one, ckey had helped him in destroying many puppets. But, now it had parted away, leaving Zhao Luo filled with sadness and remorse.


    Zhao Luo loosened his grip over ckey''s hilt as it dropped to the ground.


    ''Tang.''


    The broken ckey made a metallic sound as it came in contact with the floor.


    The story of ''ckey the sword'' ended here, but the moonstone challenge was still going on.


    Zhao Luo didn''t have time to waste any more of his time on a random sword that had been destroyed.


    Zhao Luo calmed himself and bent down. The puppets were looking at him in confusion. They couldn''t understand what this human who they had surrounded and would be ripping into pieces was doing now.


    "Yes, this."


    Zhao Luo said as he grabbed the hilt of another sword that was on the ground.


    "The sessor of ckey, ckey 2.0."


    Zhao Luo said with a smile.


    The moment of a sword session ended as Zhao Luo went towards the puppet who was the one behind the end of ckey and swung both Ifrit and ckey 2.0 at it.


    The other puppets closed in on Zhao Luo while Zhao Luo attacked this puppet.


    "ng, ng, Creaaa-"


    But before they could reach Zhao Luo, under the metallic collision sounds, the puppet had already fallen mid-scream.


    Zhao Luo turned around and swung his swords at the other remaining puppets.


    "Wood Drop."


    ''ng, ng.''


    "Burst sh."


    ''ng, Creaaa~~.''


    "Dual Burst Drop."


    Thud!


    "Dual Burst Drop...Reverse."


    Bang!


    "Vertical sh."


    ''Swoosh.''


    Zhao Luo released all the sword techniques in his arsenal, destroying the First Sword Warrior puppets left and right.


    They tried to block Zhao Luo''s attacks with their sword arms and using the ''Wood Drop,'' but it was useless.


    Zhao Luo was like an unstoppable sword beast now.


    Maybe it was because of the loss of ckey or Zhao Luo that had changed after using the sword continuously for so long in the silver space.


    Something had awakened in him, but Zhao Luo hadn''t realized it as he kept on moving forward.


    "Come."


    Zhao Luo said as he looked at thest puppet left in this "Stage 50".


    "What?"


    Zhao Luo was shocked as thest standing puppet was a random noob of this stage.


    It was a level 45 ''First Sword Warrior: Dual.''


    Zhao Luo had destroyed puppets like this one left and right.


    ''Where is the boss?''


    Zhao Luo questioned as he looked around while ignoring thest remaining puppet.


    Among the countless destroyed bodies of the puppet that Zhao Luo had fought, he couldn''t find any instrument that looked as short as the puppet he had glimpsed at.


    ''Where is it?''


    While Zhao Luo was confused, thest puppet rushed at Zhao Luo.


    ''Swoosh.''


    It swung its sword arms at Zhao Luo.


    Even though Zhao Luo wasn''t focused on the puppet, it wasn''t like he was deaf.


    Zhao Luo turned around to block the sword arms of the puppet with ckey 2.0.


    ''ng, ng.''


    Both sword arms fell on Zhao Luo''s ckey 2.0.


    Thud!


    Zhao Luo was pushed back by the puppet''s attack.


    ''Huh.''


    Zhao Luo had it hard to believe that he was pushed back by a random level 45 when he was still using the same power, which was enough to deal with a level 49 ''First Sword Warrior'' Puppet.


    "Something''s wrong."


    Zhao Luo whispered while looking at the advancing puppet.


    The puppet leaped at Zhao Luo again and brought down its sword arms while using ''Wood Drop.''


    Zhao Luo blocked the puppet''s attack with his own ''wood drop.''


    He wanted to see what was so special about this level 45 puppet.


    ''ng, ng, ng, ng.''


    Zhao Luo was pushed back again as he squinted his eyes while staring at the puppet.


    ''Why is he so strong?''


    Zhao Luo questioned again as he bounced back at the puppet after being pushed back.


    "Spinning Wood Drop."


    Zhao Luo used ''Wood Drop'' after adding a spinning force by rotating his body mid-air beforending his attack on the puppet.


    ''ng''


    The puppet''s sword arms started trembling as Zhao Luo''s Ifrit and ckey 2.0 were at a deadlock with the sword arms.


    ''CREAK.''


    REEE!


    The puppet screamed as the tear formed in its abdomen, and another puppet came out of it while swinging its sword-like arms towards Zhao Luo.


    ''What?''


    Zhao Luo, who had his swords in a deadlock against the other puppet, was shocked, and for the first time, he felt fear.


    ''Swoosh.''


    Even though the distance between that puppet and Zhao Luo was short but the speed of this puppet''s sword arms was disgustingly fast.


    sh!


    Zhao Luo''s robe around his stomach was shed apart as Zhao Luo jumped backward hurriedly.


    ''I don''t feel pain.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he touched his stomach with his fist and couldn''t feel any tearing in his skin.


    The sneaky sword attack had failed to injure Zhao Luo.


    "Hahaha, nice try."


    Zhao Luoughed like a mad man after knowing that the attack of the puppet had failed.


    ''Thud''


    The level 45 puppet fell as the puppet who had attacked Zhao Luo came out of the level 45 puppet from the tear in its abdomen.


    [LVL 50]


    [Second Sword Warrior: Dual (Trickery)]


    Zhao Luo saw the level and the status of the puppet.


    "So you are the boss of this stage."


    Zhao Luo said to the puppet.


    He tightened his grip over Ifrit and ckey 2.0 and ran towards this level 50 puppet.

 Chapter 89 - Fighting The Last Boss: The Giant Puppet

    Zhao Luo swooped towards the level 50 puppet.


    "Show me what you got."


    Zhao Luo shouted as he closed in on the puppet while swinging Ifrit and ckey 2.0 in a cross form.


    "Cross Wood Drop."


    Zhao Luo shouted the name of his technique.


    Zhao Luo had thought of this method on the spot


    Instead of bringing both swords down on the puppet while using ''wood drop,'' Zhao Luo decided to empower Ifrit. He used ''Wood Drop'' of ckey 2.0 on Ifrit and then simultaneously used Ifrit to perform another ''Wood Drop.''


    ''ng, ng.''


    Zhao Luo''s Ifrit came in contact with the sword arms of the puppet.


    The collision caused sparks to fly around Ifrit and the sword arms of the level 50 ''Second Sword Warrior: Dual (Trickery).''


    The puppet was pushed away by Zhao Luo''s Ifrit, which was boosted by ''ckey 2.0''.


    Zhao Luo followed the puppet without giving it any space to reverse the momentum on him.


    ''ng, ng.''


    Zhao Luo kept on swinging his swords at the puppet. The level 50 puppet couldn''t do anything except block Zhao Luo''s attack.


    "Eat my Dual Burst Drop."


    Zhao Luo shouted as he brought down both Ifrit and ckey on the puppet''s shoulder.


    Surprisingly the puppet didn''t dodge it neither tried to block Zhao Luo''s swords.


    Instead, it just went ahead with pushing its sword arms towards Zhao Luo''s stomach.


    "I am not backing down."


    Zhao Luo screamed as he faced the puppet''s attack head on; and instead of just facing it, he sped up his sword swing.


    ''SWOOSH.''


    Zhao Luo''s swords sliced the puppet''s body from its shoulder to its abdomen as Zhao Luo''s swords stopped there.


    Bang!


    The puppet''s sword arms were stopped before evening in contact with Zhao Luo''s abdomen.


    It was a semi-visible shield. The shield had an image of a Lion beating a drum.


    "DRION!"


    Zhao Luo eximed as he could see and feel the shield covering him like a barrier.


    The recoil from hitting the shield struck back at the puppet, throwing it away from Zhao Luo.


    "Creak."


    The puppet screamed as it went flying in the silver space.


    Thud!


    The puppet dropped on the ground with a great impact causing the other destroyed bodies of the puppets to bounce up and fall on it.


    Zhao Luo had partially destroyed the puppet, and now it was buried under a pile of other puppets.


    "Is it over?"


    Zhao Luo questioned as he raised his eyebrow and looked around, waiting for the ''pping'' sound to enter his ears.


    He waited, but he couldn''t hear anyone pping.


    "This could only mean."


    Zhao Luo squinted his eyes as he looked at the pile of the destroyed puppets.


    "Where is it?"


    Zhao Luo tried to find the level 50 puppet, but he couldn''t see its status anywhere.


    Thus Zhao Luo moved towards the mountain of puppets to find and destroy thest boss once and for all.


    "Come out, you puppet."


    Zhao Luo insulted the level 50 puppet as there could be nothing worse than calling it a puppet.


    ''Cling, ng, Cling, ng.''


    Sounds of metal shing starteding out from under the pile of the puppets.


    The destroyed puppets whose names had turned gray after being destroyed by Zhao Luo glowed once again.


    ''Tap, Tap, Tap.''


    A puppet got out from under the pile of the puppet and stood on top of the puppet pile.


    "Creak."


    The puppet made a metallic sound as the puppets from the pile started attaching themselves to the level 50 puppet.


    Zhao Luo could see the other destroyed puppets being absorbed by this level 50 puppet.


    After a while, Zhao Luo felt shocked.


    ''Will it ever stop?''


    The size of the puppet kept on increasing as it was already covering half of the silver space.


    ''How am I supposed to defeat this?''


    Zhao Luo questioned himself as he felt despair while looking at the size of the puppet.


    This was the first time since getting out of the capsule that Zhao Luo felt a tinge of fear grasping his innocent heart.


    ''Ting.''


    Ifrit started shaking in Zhao Luo''s hand, making him calm as the trembling passed to Zhao Luo''s heart through his hand.


    ''Clench.''


    Zhao Luo grasped Ifrit even more tightly than before as a mysterious smile appeared on his face.


    The growth of the puppet had finally stopped as it looked at Zhao Luo from top of hundreds of puppets under it.


    "CREAK."


    The puppet roared with its metallic sound.


    Zhao Luo''s silver hair blew back because of the pressure from the puppet''s roar.


    The status on top of the puppetpletely changed as its transformation came to a stop.


    <LVL 100++>


    "Giant Sword Warrior: Dual (Trickery *Activated*)"


    Zhao Luo saw the status flowing over the puppet''s head and couldn''t control his urge to shout.


    "You forgot to add your hundreds of hands in there."


    Zhao Luo shouted while looking at the hundred de like limbsing out of the Giant puppet''s body.


    They were the sword arms of the destroyed puppets.


    The silver space was enveloped with silence as Zhao Luo stood in front of the Giant puppet whose level had already surpassed 100.


    Zhao Luo had Ifrit and ckey 2.0 in his hands as he looked at the giant puppet and took a deep breath.


    "Hah."


    Zhao Luo was preparing himself mentally to fight this enormous thing.


    Ifrit started shining as Zhao Luo leaped towards the top of the giant puppet.


    ''Swoosh.''


    ''Swoosh.''


    ''Swoosh.''


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    The countless swords on the body of the puppet shed towards Zhao Luo.


    ''Tap.''


    ''Tap.''


    ''Tap.''


    .


    .


    Zhao Luo dodged them and kept on stepping over the swords to push himself upwards.


    Zhao Lup continued this while dodging the sword arms and using some of them to propel himself up.


    ''Ahhhh.''


    Zhao Luo screamed as the giant puppet was blocking his sight with its thick sword.


    ''SWOOOOOSH.''


    Zhao Luo stepped on another sword to throw himself right towards the big sword of the Giant puppet that wasing towards him while cutting through the air itself of the silver space.


    "Fwoosh."


    Zhao Luo dodged the big sword by spinning around the sword as he advanced towards the head of the Giant puppet.


    "Multiple Wood Drops."


    Zhao Luo brought down his Ifrit, and ckey 2.0 on the Giant puppets head vigorously.


    He didn''t end just there.


    Zhao Luo threw ckey 2.0 towards the head of the giant puppet.


    In mid-air, Zhao Luo stepped on ckey 2.0 with tears filling his eyes to use the foot movement of his most powerful sword technique.


    "Miserable Dual Burst sh."


    Zhao Luo shouted as ckey 2.0 fell downwards.


    Zhao Luo brought down Ifrit on the head of the Giant puppets head.


    "Fwoosh."


    In a second, the glowing crimson sword passed through the giant puppet splitting it into two halves.


    Thud!


    Zhao Luonded next to the broken ckey 2.0 while biting his lips as he watched the two halves of the giant puppet slowly falling on the floor of the silver space.


    "Finally, itnded, but at what cause...."


    Zhao Lup felt dejected as he had lost both ckey and its brother against these trash puppets.


    ''Thud.''


    "p"


    Zhao Luo could hear the pping sound as the puppet fell to the ground.


    *Cough*


    Zhao Luo coughed a mouthful of blood as in this stage he had been using more than his full power. It was also his willpower to pull out his sword techniques again and again.


    "I can''t give up now."


    Zhao Luo said with a serious look on his face as he looked up at the bubble that was floating in the silver space.


    "Whaaa...."


    Zhao Luo almost passed out when he saw the stage information in the bubble.


    <Stages Cleared>


    "Did the moonstone challenge end already?"


    Zhao Luo whispered questioningly as he put Ifrit back in the storage of his space.


    Shwaa!


    Zhao Luo heard someone passing behind him, so he turned around while pulling Ifrit from the storage space.


    ''What?''


    Zhao Luo felt something, but there wasn''t anyone behind him.


    Shwaa!


    ''Again.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he turned back after hearing the same sound from behind him.


    ''Nobody''s here. Hmmm.''


    ''Swoosh.''


    ''ng.''


    Zhao Luo swung Ifrit while spinning even before he heard a sound this time, and it struck something.


    "A Puppet."


    Zhao Luo jumped back and got ready for another fight.


    "Hahaha."


    The puppet startedughing like a human.


    Zhao Luo scratched his head. He didn''t know that these metallic puppets couldugh like a human.


    ''Maybe this puppet will give me my reward.''


    Zhao Luo smiled creepily while storing Ifrit back in the storage space.


    "Hahaha."


    Zhao Luoughed as the puppet stoppedughing, which continued for a while.


    "Hahahaha."


    The puppet then took its turn as it startedughing again.


    After it stopped, Zhao Luo looked at it with squinted eyes.


    ''I want to have thestugh.''


    "Hahaha."


    Zhao Luo startedughing again as he didn''t want to lose to this puppet even though the battleground wasughing.


    "Enough."


    *Cough, Cough*


    The puppet suddenly shouted at Zhao Luo, causing him to cough like a guy with some number virus.


    "You were terrific."


    "Especially that sword of yours."


    "So you will seed that guy. Hah, Bellum."


    The puppet kept on rambling on and on while looking up and down at Zhao Luo.

 Chapter 90 - The Puppet Lord

    The awkwardughing challenge ended after which the puppet started rambling on mysteriously.


    Zhao Luo on the other hand could understand what the puppet was talking about.


    "My sword? That guy?"


    Zhao Luo wondered and his thoughts pointed him towards none other than Bellum.


    "I am the Puppet Lord. Bellum''s only rival."


    The puppet Lord said to him as Zhao Luo was already catching on.


    "But senior never mentioned about you. I don''t remember him talking about puppets."


    Zhao Luo let out about his meeting with Bellum in the space inside the drum.


    The expression on Zhao Luo''s face was one of disbelief that he didn''t believe what this puppet was saying.


    "Tsk, youngster these days. I wouldn''t have told you about Bellum too but the sword you are holding made me nostalgic. It was what Bellum always held close to him. It was like a part of his. He never went to war without his sword to his Drums of the War Sovereign."


    The puppet began by telling Zhao Luo about how he remembered Bellum.


    "Indeed. The only war sovereign I know of is Senior Bellum. Ifrit was what he gave me as one of the rewards."


    Zhao Luo tightened his grip over Ifrit as he looked at the puppet.


    The puppet moved closer to Zhao Luo.


    "One of the rewards? That miser gave you his sword and also other rewards? Can you tell me what else he gave you?"


    The puppet asked Zhao Luo with its eyes fully opened in shock.


    This was not how the puppet lord remembered Bellum.


    ''Nod.''


    Zhao Luo nodded.


    "Senior did give me other rewards but I can''t tell you about those."


    Zhao Luo didn''t want to show all his cards.


    ''Especially Drion. And what if he attacks me after I tell him what I got from Senior?''


    Zhao Luo was rmed.


    The rewards he had gotten from Bellum were not somemon treasures that you could acquire from a shop or sect market.


    They were the possessions of ''War Soveriegn'' so they were basically invaluable.


    It''s okay. I was having a hard time believing that Bellum would be so generous."


    The puppet said as it tilted its head to look above.


    It was like he was remembering some important period from his past.


    "Is this what happens to one''s personality after dying?"


    The puppet muttered.


    After which the puppet shook its head and focused on Zhao Luo.


    "It was interesting to watch you."


    The puppet said while bringing its metallic hands together.


    p!


    The puppet started pping and the sound was amazingly very familiar to Zhao Luo.


    "You...its..."


    Zhao Luo mumbled as the sound of the pping was the same that he would have to hear after clearing a stage.


    "Hahaha."


    The puppetughed heartily.


    "It was an enjoyable time. I haven''t had a challenger like you in a long time."


    The puppet startedplimenting Zhao Luo.


    "I feel like that too."


    Zhao Luo added without being modest at all.


    He was vouching for his strength.


    "Hahaha. Good, I can see why Bellum was so generous to you."


    The puppet said but it didn''t end there.


    "There have been others who havee far in this challenge but you havepleted it. Not only that, those who came before you already had a weapon style that apanied their main weapon but you... Are you even human?"


    The puppet questioned Zhao Luo.


    "How could you just learn the sword techniques of my puppets and not only that you also disyed your mastery over them by blending them in different forms."


    The puppet closed in on Zhao Luo''s face as if trying to peek through him.


    The puppet looked at Zhao Luo as hard as he could but he couldn''t find any secrets except an overload of handsomeness.


    "It was just what I felt."


    Zhao Luo answers the puppet lord''s question.


    For Zhao Luo, he was just enjoying fighting against the puppets, and the techniques these puppets used were quite fascinating to him so he picked them up.


    "Good. I don''t even want to imagine what will happen if you truly tried instead of just feeling it."


    The puppet lord said without any hint of offense in his voice.


    He was purely admiring Zhao Luo''s talent.


    "You havepleted the moonstone chall-"


    "Aren''t there supposed to be more than 72 stages?"


    Zhao Luo interrupted the puppet lord and asked him.


    Zhao Luo still remembered the knowledge that Wu Yang had informed him about.


    "There can be 72 stages or 100 stages. It''s up to me. The ''Second Sword Warrior'' puppet that you faced in stage 50, would normally appear on stage 80. While its nature ''trickery'' only activates when it reappears on stage 100. But there was no need to drag it till stage 100 when I can make any stage thest stage."


    The puppet lord told Zhao Luo.


    "I see so that level 50++ puppet was the what I would have to naturally face in stage 100?"


    Zhao Luo questioned as things still didn''t add up.


    From the start with every increasing stage, the level would increase ordingly but thatst boss that Zhao Luo had to face was too strong.


    "Hah, that was a little test." The puppet evaded the question as he looked around.


    Zhao Luo looked at the Puppet Lord with squinted eyes.


    "Hahaha."


    The puppet startedughing awkwardly.


    "I am not doing this with you again."


    Zhao Luo interrupted the Puppet Lord.


    He already had enough of theughing challenge.


    "Ah okay okay. Youngster these days are so suspicious of everything. I was appreciating how you fought against my puppets so I gave a you little more challenging puppet to face."


    The Pullet Lord finally came out telling the truth to Zhao Luo.


    "Don''t worry I will reward you while considering the true level of my puppet."


    The Puppet Lord assured Zhao Luo.


    "Hmm, Okay."


    Only after hearing the puppet''s words did Zhao Luo drop his act.


    ''Just what I was aiming for.''


    Zhao Luo thought as everything was going


    ording to his n.


    Zhao Luo schemed to get more valuable rewards by cornering the Puppet Lord which turned out better than he had expected.


    "You havepleted the moonstone challenge terrifically."


    The puppet praised Zhao Luo then waved his hand.


    The puppet lord''s gesture caused the two ck swords that Zhao Luo had used while fighting the puppets to float. It was the broken swords and their shards that had scattered around the silver space.


    "ckey."


    "ckey 2.0"


    Zhao Luo said with a sentimental face.


    The puppet lord then took out a ck metal that had a blinking shine. It was like there were stars trapped inside the ck metal.


    The scattered shards of the two swords and their broken bodies were brought together towards that ck metal.


    "This is your first reward."


    The Puppet Lord said while looking at the broken ckey and ckey 2.0 that were next to the metal.


    "Huh, is this what you meant when you said that I will be properly rewarded?"


    Zhao Luo looked angry. He couldn''t believe that he was getting broken swords as a reward but before he could stay angry any longer the Puppet Lord smiled and brought the materials in front of it together towards its body with its hands.


    p!


    With a single p the broken swords, their shards, and the ck metal started joining together.


    After a little while, a sword was floating in front of the Puppet Lord.


    "This is the ck Sword."


    The Puppet Lord waved its metallic hand at Zhao Luo causing the ck sword to float towards Zhao Luo.


    In the end, the swordnded on Zhao Luo''s left hand.


    "Can I call it ckey?"


    Zhao Luo asked the Puppet Lord before he could proceed to name his sword.


    "It''s yours. Name it as you wish."


    The puppet Lord said with a smile.


    "ckey it is then."


    Zhao Luo confirmed.


    ''Wee back.''


    Zhao Luo said in his mind while looking at ckey.


    The ckey now was in no way any less than Ifrit.


    The ck sword had enveloping darkness that would consume you if you kept on staring at the de. While the shape of the sword was simr to the Crimson Ifrit.


    The middle of ckey''s de had a vertical line that started from the hilt''s end to the de''s tip of the sword.


    There would be light twinkling from time to time when one stared at the de. It was like looking out at the space during the night.


    "Ifrit. ckey."


    Zhao Luo looked at his swords with a smile on his face.


    "Now you have swords of both Bellum and me. You should be an unstoppable force among your peers."


    The puppet lord said while looking at Zhao Luo.


    An already handsome man with two mesmerizing swords in his hand. One highlighted the hot nature while the other was the solidification of dark cold nature.


    "My goal was never to stand ahead of my peers. I have to reach the summit of this World."


    Zhao Luo stated with a serious tone.

 Chapter 91 - Others Experience

    The Puppet Lord stared at Zhao Luo.


    "p."


    The puppet lord couldn''t help but admire the young man in front of him.


    "There are myriad challengers out there who are not even sure of their ultimate goal. But you, young man you have a clear goal."


    The Puppet Lord said to Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo could feel a coldness taking over his body as he looked at the expressionless face of the Puppet Lord who was just admiring Zhao Luo a moment ago.


    "Do you think you qualify to stand at the summit of your World?"


    The Puppet Lord asked in a powerful voice.


    Zhao Luo was silent for a moment but then one after another, moments of the past kept on rising in his mind.


    The years that he spent in his mind. Then the years with the old man. Getting the Heaven Tomb from the old man. The meeting with owners of the Heaven Tomb. Mastering the Naoli.


    ''Mhmm.''


    Zhao Luo mumbled as memories passed through his eyes.


    Zhao Luo couldn''t help but smile when he remembered the old man and blush when he remembered the Goddess with crimson eyes.


    "Junior, did my question embarrass you that your face is red like a fresh tomato?"


    The Puppet Lord wasn''t aiming to discourage Zhao Luo but he couldn''t understand the reason behind the redness that was taking over Zhao Luo''s cheeks.


    He just wanted to see Zhao Luo''s determination but it may have backfired. Thus the puppet lord decided to take the appreciative way.


    First changing the way how he addressed Zhao Luo.


    "I may not qualify now but there will be a day when the summit will beg me to stand there."


    Zhao Luo replied to the puppet lord showing his utmost determination.


    "Haha, Good. For a moment I thought you were thinking otherwise."


    After seeing Zhao Luo''s conviction firsthand, the pullet lord started looking around before looking at Zhao Luo again.


    "Since the challenge has ended and you have gotten your reward, it''s time to send you back."


    The puppet lord said as the surrounding silver space was losing its color and the destroyed puppets started to vanish.


    "What about my second reward?" Zhao Luo asked hurriedly as the puppet lord grinned at his question.


    "I already gave you three rewards in the form of that ck sword."


    The puppet lord replied as though he had been very magnanimous while rewarding Zhao Luo.


    "I wish you luck. Don''t let Bellum down. Especially not me."


    Before sending him out of the silver space, the puppet lord gave Zhao Luo hisst words as an exit opened up in the space.


    Before walking out of the exit, Zhao Luo looked at the Puppet Lord with a painful face.


    "Sigh. Don''t worry, I won''t let you nor Senior Bellum down like you have let me down with your reward."


    Zhao Luo left a verbal attack as he stepped towards the door of the silver space''s exit.


    ''I hope so.''


    The puppet lord thought with a smile while gazing at Zhao Luo''s disappearing back.


    Zhao Luo still had this unhappy expression on his face.


    ''Woosh.''


    Zhao Luo''s body of consciousness was drifting in some sort of whirlpool and Zhao Luo could feel a pinching feeling in his head. After spinning in that whirlpool for a while he returned to his physical body that was standing in front of the pir.


    "Ah."


    Zhao Luo moaned as he opened his eyes.


    His hand was still on the moonstone but the shine of the moonstone was gone.


    Zhao Luo looked upwards to see the top of the pir and he realized that instead of a number there was a letter there.


    "C"


    Zhao Luo looked at the ''C'' and guessed that it was for ''Clear'' or ''Complete''.


    ''I did it.''


    With a tragic face, he nodded his head confirming that he had cleared the moonstone challenge.


    The reason behind the sad expression on Zhao Luo''s face was indeed an extraordinary one.


    ''Hmm, so I got ckey. The Puppet Lord didn''t give me anything else. He didn''t even sneak something inside my body.''


    Zhao Luo confirmed as he couldn''t feel any change in his body and peered inside his storage space.


    ''Who is the miser here?''


    Zhao Luo wondered as Bellum was indeed the more generous one among the two.


    "He is back."


    A disciple said while looking at Zhao Luo''s eyes.


    Unlike before when Zhao Luo was inside the silver space and his eyes were closed then, now they were wide open.


    "Zhao Luo."


    Some disciples shouted at him.


    This sudden shout was enough to give Zhao Luo a momentary heart attack.


    ''Who''s attacking?''


    Zhao Luo assumed as he turned around just to see thousands of disciples staring at him in awe.


    "Zhao Luo."


    "Zhao Luo."


    "Zhao Luo."


    .


    .


    These disciples starting cheering for him by repeating Zhao Luo''s name again and again.


    They kept on going till only Zhao Luo''s name reverberated in the whole training area.


    Zhao Luo looked stunned. He was there when Ruo Qing had reached stage 45 but there wasn''t such a reaction so why was everyone so excited.


    "Hmm."


    Zhao Luo wondered but the feeling of happiness was overwhelming him as he walked down the stage.


    He could see Feng Mei and Yan walking towards him.


    Mo Lee was also there with them.


    "Brother you are really the star of our trainee hall."


    Mo Lee rushed ahead of Yan and Feng Mei just to grab Zhao Luo''s hand and praise him.


    ''This guy.''


    Feng Mei and Yan cursed as they saw Mo Lee taking Zhao Luo for himself.


    By right it was their turn to congratte Zhao Luo but he had to break the order.


    Thud!


    They pushed Mo Lee to the right and grabbed Zhao Luo''s hands.


    "Brother you are so amazing."


    "Zhao Luo you are incredible."


    Feng Mei and Yan said as Zhao Luo couldn''t help but show them a sincere smile.


    "They are right. You are indeed an incredible individual. I was right to barge in your room that day."


    Zhao Luo heard a familiar voice as Wu Yang entered in his view from among the crowd.


    Wu Yang was talking about the day before Zhao Luo challenged the Drums of Bellum otherwise known as the War Cry Challenge.


    "Where were you?"


    Ignoring thepliment that Wu Yang had given him, Zhao Luo questioned Wu Yang about his disappearance.


    He wanted to know as Wu Yang had suddenly left them.


    "That...I had something important to do."


    Wu Yang said while scratching his head.


    ''He''s hiding something.''


    Zhao Lup could easily see through the way Wu Yang answered him.


    "Well, it''s good that you are back now."


    Zhao Luo didn''t dwell on the fact that Wu Yang was hiding something but instead weed him wholeheartedly.


    "How is it like clearing the stage 100?"


    Wu Yang asked Zhao Luo.


    "Hard. Hard enough to make me go at it in full-"


    ''Huh''


    Zhao Luo who was telling Wu Yang his experience suddenly stopped.


    "How did you know if I cleared stage 100 or not?"


    Zhao Luo inquired as for him he had only fought till 50th stage.


    Wu Yang looked at Zhao Luo and opened his mouth.


    "Brother it''s because the pir showed 100 before it turned to C."


    Before Wu Yang could answer Zhao Luo, Mo Lee interjected.


    "I see."


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he remembered the Puppet Lord.


    ''He must have changed the stage number.''


    Zhao Luo assumed.


    While Zhao Luo was talking with them, other disciples started going up the stage.


    A fierce fight broke out on the stage as the disciples aimed for the 7th pir which was in the middle of the ring.


    But that wasn''t the reason they were fighting to stand in front of the pir.


    It was solely because Zhao Luo, the star and hope of the Trainee Hall had taken the moonstone challenge in front of that pir.


    After a fierce fight, a disciple finally emerged sessfully and stood in front of the pir.


    Unfortunately, he couldn''t even pass stage 30.


    While the disciples were taking their turns, Zhao Luo was listening to how well the others did in the moonstone challenge.


    "Brother I had to face these puppets. They were good at fighting. Then I pulled out my spear but in the next stage, they started using spears too. I was fighting well but then three puppets came at me, I fought them and defeated them. But the puppets never stoppeding. I tried my best but defeating so many puppets is too much for me."


    First Feng Mei started telling her experience.


    Nobody interrupted her or made fun of her. And how could they anyway? It was like paying attention to a cute angel in human shape.


    Zhao Luo listened to her cute little sister attentively and patted her head when she ended telling them her challenging experience.


    "You did well."


    Zhao Luo told Feng Mei as she closed her eyes and giggled while feeling the gentle hand of Zhao Luo rubbing her head.


    "How about you?"


    Zhao Luo looked at Yan and asked.


    "I had the same experience. It was hard but I tried my best."


    Yan answered with confidence. She knew that she did as much as she could.


    ''Pat.''


    Zhao Luo brought his hand closer to her face and patted her head.


    "Good job."


    Zhao Luo encouraged her.


    While the affection continued as Zhao Luo''s hand was still on Yan''s head, Mo Lee jumped in between them surprising Zhao Luo and the embarrassed Yan who couldn''t hide her blushing face.


    ''Why is this guy blushing?''


    Mo Lee thought after taking a glimpse at Yan and then turning away to look at Zhao Luo.


    "Brother let me tell you my experience."


    Mo Lee announced to Zhao Luo.


    "Haha, go ahead."


    Zhao Luo said after seeing how excited Mo Lee was to share his story.


    "I was surrounded by multiple puppets. They all had fist knuckle in their hand. But I wasn''t scared instead I jumped at them."


    Mo Lee told them as he circled around Zhao Luo and the others.


    "Then ''Pow'', ''Pow'', ''Pow'', yeah just like that I destroyed them one after another."


    Mo Lee started punching in the air like showing them his technique. While making the sound effect of his punches which was funny to watch.


    Zhao Luo and Wu Yang were barely holding theirughter. While Yan and Feng Mei were shaking their heads at Mo Lee''s dumb acting.

 Chapter 92 - The Prodigy Of The Weis

    Mo Lee was still showing how his fights inside the moonstone''s silver space went.


    He would stop with a sad face in between his story of different stages as this realization was always there that he couldn''t even be in the top 10 from among all the disciples who had taken the challenge till now.


    ''Tap, Tap.''


    "You can do better next time. Don''t forget to train hard."


    Zhao Luo encouraged Mo Lee as he was feeling very satisfied after watching his moves.


    Others were also feeling appeased after watching what Mo Lee went through in the silver space.


    They had different reasons for being satisfied.


    Feng Mei and Yan took a sigh of relief while thinking that they didn''t fight the puppets with such ugly and embarrassing moves as the ones Mo Lee was disying.


    While on the other hand Zhao Luo and Wu Yang were enjoying this junior''s way of telling.


    Mo Lee''s story finished up as noises were rising around the ring tform. The disciples were excited thus the noise that Zhao Luo was hearing was because of their reaction to something that was happening on the stage.


    "Woah Look at that guy."


    Mo Lee said who had ended his story.


    He was pointing at a guy who was standing in front of the seventh pir where Zhao Luo had been standing when he challenged the Moonstone.


    ''Hmm, interesting.''


    Zhao Luo thought while looking at the number of the stage on top of the pir.


    "15."


    Zhao Luo mumbled.


    ''How long has it been? 10 minutes? Or 15?''


    Zhao Luo questioned as it hadn''t been that long since he came down the ring tform after clearing the moonstone challenge.


    In that short time, this guy had already reached stage 15.


    "No way."


    A disciple shouted as other disciples also eximed.


    "16."


    The number advanced on top of the pir where this guy was.


    As Zhao Luo looked at this disciples back that was advancing through the earlier stages with almost the same speed as his, he came to realize something.


    "He looks familiar."


    Zhao Luo said with a low voice.


    ''But where have I seen him?''


    Zhao Luo wondered.


    The guy had ck short hair. He was as tall as Feng Mei.


    ''Either he is just short or too young.''


    Zhao Luo thought while looking at the disciple.


    While the other disciples were advancing slowly this disciple was advancing at a high speed and steadily.


    Zhao Luo realized that this disciple''s speed slowed down a bit when he passed stage 20 but it was fun to watch as the other disciples would be shouting whenever he cleared a stage and advanced to the next.


    After a while, many disciples had to quit cause they couldn''t clear the stage they were on.


    The factor of ''strength'' wasn''t enough such that they had to quit and go down the ring.


    Most of these disciples who went down the stage were in the 10s stages while very few had crossed stage 20.


    While the disciple that Zhao Luo was still focused on was the one who had the highest speed and looked familiar to him.


    "38."


    Zhao Luo looked at the number on the pir.


    ''He must be good to reach 38 this fast.''


    Zhao Luo praised his speed.


    The other trainee disciple couldn''t evene close to this disciple''s speed when Zhao Luopared the two.


    While Zhao Luo was looking at the disciple, the disciple opened his eyes. This was a sign that he had finally hit a wall.


    "Good. He can reach stage 39 in such a short time."


    Zhao Luo let out apliment as it hadn''t even been an hour since this guy had gone up the stage.


    This guy was faster than Ruo Qing but not as strong as her.


    The disciple turned around and looked directly at Zhao Luo.


    ''He is...''


    Zhao Luo finally found out why this disciple looked so familiar.


    The ones who had passed the examination test along with Zhao Luo didn''t number a lot but everyone was quite good whenparing them to previous trainee disciples.


    This disciple who was looking directly at Zhao Luo was also one of the examinees who had taken the sect entrance examination along with Zhao Luo and one of the few who had passed it.


    The disciple jumped down the ring and walked towards Zhao Luo.


    The disciples around the ring made way for him as for some reason even with his short height, he looked tough.


    While these disciples weren''t even confident enough to surpass the number of stages that this short fellow disciple had cleared just now.


    "Hmm."


    Zhao Luo wondered as he looked at the angry expression of the kid that wasing at him.


    ''Is heing to challenge me?''


    Zhao Luo couldn''t help but smile when he looked at the furious expression on the short guy''s face again.


    Zhao Luo had to admit that the kid looked cute for some reason.


    "Brother Zhao Luo."


    The disciple said as soon as he came to stand in front of Zhao Luo.


    ''Calling me brother with that face which tells me that you are using some high-quality curses at me. Haha.''


    Zhao Luo jokingly thought as he smiled while looking at the expression of the disciple.


    "I, Wei Bin, want to apologize to you."


    The disciple who introduced himself as Wei Bin bowed in front of Zhao Luo to show his sincerity.


    "Why are you apologizing to me?"


    Zhao Luo who was confused by Wei Bin''s action asked him.


    He thought as hard as he could but couldn''t remember if there was an incident that happened to him involving this kid.


    In the Sect''s Building in the First City, Zhao Luo hadn''t even talked to Wei Bin. Zhao Luo could barely remember him.


    "After the second test ended on the examination day, and the Second Elder brought you back just to announce you as the top scorer, I couldn''t believe it. I thought that you had cheated. But now...."


    Wei Bin bowed even more as he felt embarrassed with his inferior thoughts regarding such an amazing and handsome person.


    "After seeing your shine, I feel stupid. So please forgive me for doubting you and your skills."


    Wei Bin begged Zhao Luo as he had finallyprehended the difference in their skills after losing out on stage 39.


    "Stand straight."


    Zhao Luo said in a stern voice.


    Wei Bin shrugged and looked up at Zhao Luo.


    Wei Bin was taken back for a moment as he looked at Zhao Luo''s cool expression.


    "Do you know what I was going through when I heard that I was the top scorer of the second test?"


    Zhao Luo asked Wei Bin who could only shake his head indicating that he couldn''t even guess the answer to Zhao Luo''s question.


    "I was doubting myself too."


    ''Tap''


    "So don''t worry about it."


    Zhao Luo patted Wei Bin''s shoulder and said with a smile.


    The young-looking Wei Bin couldn''t help but shed a tear after seeing Zhao Luo''s reaction to his confession.


    "How old are you Wei Bin?"


    Zhao Luo asked wanting to confirm if the guy in front of him was just short and looked young but wasn''t.


    "I am 15."


    Wei Bin answered Zhao Luo with a confused look on his face.


    ''He is a year younger than our Feng Mei.''


    Zhao Luo thought as Wei Bin was in reality just a kid.


    "You will be strong one day."


    Zhao Luo gave Wei Bin a positive review after thinking about the stages he had cleared while just being 16.


    "Wei Bin?"


    A female voice was heard as she had arrived at the spot where Zhao Luo and the others were.


    "Su Shi... Where were you?"


    Zhao Luo looked at the owner of the voice and said.


    Even though they had entered the Sect just 4 days ago, it had been around two days that he hadn''t seen Su Shi.


    "Hello everyone."


    Su Sho who had suddenly joined them greeted the others after which she again focused on Wei Bin.


    "Su Shi?"


    Zhao Luo could hear Wei Bin mumbling as he was also exchanging the stare with Su Shi.


    "Do you know each other?"


    Zhao Luo asked as he looked exchanged nces with Wei Bin and Su Shi.


    Wei Bin shook his small head. While Su Shi opened her mouth.


    "He is the prodigy of the Wei house, one of the martial families of the third city."


    Su Shi told Zhao Luo while others also listened to the true identity of Wei Bin.


    ''So he is from one of the martial families.''


    Zhao Luo had to admit that everyone he had met till now, would always reveal themselves to be from a very interesting background.


    Wei Bin smiled silently.


    "Don''t you want to take the moonstone challenge?"


    Zhao Luo asked Su Shi.


    "Hahaha."


    Su Shi chuckled after listening to Zhao Luo''s question.


    "I had already challenged it earlier and don''t be surprised okay...."


    Su Shi warned them beforepleting the hidden part.


    "I reached stage 36 on my first try."


    Su Shi said proudly.


    ''I guess she didn''t watch me or the others.''


    Zhao Lup thought while showing a smile as if he was impressed by her achievement.


    "You did well."


    Zhao Luo said with a half sincere smile.

 Chapter 93 - Meeting Mite Again

    Zhao Luo was feeling nonchnt while surrounded by the others.


    While Zhao Luo and the others with him all chattered and tried to catch on with each other, the disciples who were here to participate in the moonstone challenge were taking their turns.


    Every time ruckus would break out whenever the middle pir where Zhao Luo had stood while taking his turn would be empty. Everyone would be challenging each other for that spot which was the 7th pir.


    ''They have changed.''


    Zhao Luo would nce towards the disciple on the ring and the others who were surrounding the ring with eager faces.


    Even though they were able to participate in this challenge twice a year, the disciples that he had seen when he had joined the sect were ckers.


    Something had changed them, Zhao Luo could see from the enthusiasm they were showing just to take the spot where had once stood.


    "Who could have made them change this much in such a short time?"


    Zhao Luo mumbled unconsciously.


    It was a weird feeling to watch everyone trying hard when he was aiming for the top. It was like soon more challenges will pop up.


    Zhao Luo turned around to look towards hispanions but was shocked to see them staring at him.


    Feng Mei, Yan, Wu Yang, Mo Lee, Su Shi, and even Wei Bin were looking at him as if the answer to this whole change didn''t know that.


    "Hahaha."


    Zhao Luoughed awkwardly as he remembered Mo Lee''s speech when he had asked to swap ces with him.


    ''Guess I am creating trouble for myself...but it''s nice to see everyone working hard.''


    Zhao Luo thought but he didn''t mind.


    The more challenges that came up to him, the more powerful he would get.


    ''From challenges...."


    Zhao Luo wondered as he looked at Wu Yang.


    "Wu Yang, what''s the third mission?"


    Zhao Luo implored Wu Yang.


    It was time that he knew what the third mission was. He had already cleared the second mission and thest mission was a difficult one, so he should justplete the third mission while he is here.


    "Good timing. It will open tomorrow. As for what the test is..."


    Wu Yang answered Zhao Luo as he shifted his gaze to another ring.


    The others looked towards the ring too.


    The ring did have tools up there but nobody could confirm what those tools or instruments were as they were covered with a cloth. The ring was enveloped with that mysterious cloth.


    Zhao Luo felt a familiar feeling as he looked at that ring. He then looked back at the pirs of the moonstone challenge on the ring in front of him.


    ''That''s why I didn''t remember seeing these pirs. I never saw these pirs as they were covered with this same cloth yesterday. But why don''t they open all the challenges together?''


    Zhao Luo had a question arising in his mind but before he could put more thought into his question Wu Yang spoke.


    "The test is memorizing and understanding. As for what you will be doing the two things for will be clear tomorrow."


    Wu Yang told them.


    "Memorizing?"


    Zhao Luo questioned with a strange expression.


    "Yes."


    Wu Yang replied hardly as he closed his eyes for some reason.


    After watching his reaction, Zhao Luo already realized how hard this test was going to be when even Wu Yang had to make a sh*t eating expression.


    "Sigh"


    Zhao Luo let out a sigh that showed that he had been let down.


    But it wasn''t just him.


    The cute little girl from the Royal Feng''s was also looking confused.


    "Do I have to study even aftering to the sect too?"


    Feng Mei questioned with teary eyes.


    Her whole life, she just had to study. The more responsibilities that fell on her shoulder, the more knowledge she had to acquire to act as a person worthy of the title, Queen.


    Tap!


    "Don''t worry. We will be together."


    Zhao Luo patted and assured Feng Mei as he looked towards the others. She wasn''t alone anymore.


    "Mhmm."


    Feng Mei stopped thinking about the next challenge.


    ''How much did they make her study that she has a trauma of studying?''


    Zhao Luo thought with anger building up inside his mind.


    "Stop exaggerating. The test isn''t even about studying. It''s like memorizing chants and techniques. Depends on your luck."


    Wu Yang suddenly added after watching the small interaction between Zhao Luo and Feng Mei.


    "Then why did you have to show us that expression?"


    Zhao Luo questioned Wu Yang as he was the reason for their anxiety.


    "Ah, that, I was thinking about the fourth mission. I don''t think anyone else can even do it as you are the only one who is barely eligible to face this mission."


    Wu Yang changed the subject by raising the issue of thest mission.


    But it was a mistake to dodge Zhao Luo''s question as Wu Yang was just cornering himself.


    "How do you know, that I am barely eligible to fight the secret disciple? Do you know who the senior is or..."


    Zhao Luo looked at Wu Yang with a gaze of suspicion.


    "Ah, that is because I have heard of that senior''s strength but I don''t know who the secret disciple is."


    Wu Yang answered calmly with clear eyes.


    Zhao Luo didn''t have a reason to suspect him anymore as suspecting a friend would only riddle their bond.


    While they kept discussing, the moonstone challenge wasing to an end.


    "Let''s go to the dining hall."


    Zhao Luo instructed them.


    It was already night. Thus Zhao Luo and the others decided to leave the training area as Zhao Luo told them and headed to the dining hall.


    Zhao Luo couldn''t feel hungry because of the changes in his body, the others were still humans who had to cure their feeling of hunger by stuffing themselves.


    Even though Zhao Luo wasn''t hungry, he cared for the others. While the faces of Feng Mei, Yan, and Mo Lee were written off with hunger. They couldn''t hide it while Su Shi and Wei Bin hid their hunger perfectly.


    "He is so small and yet his patience has exceeded his age by a great margin."


    Zhao Luo mumbled while looking at Wei Bin who was very disciplined.


    While he was carefully looking at hispanions, they had reached the dining hall.


    Zhao Luo entered the dining hall with the others.


    After today''s incident where he was the only one who had cleared the moonstone challenge, Zhao Luo had be an absolute respected being in the eyes of other disciples.


    "Look that''s brother Zhao Luo."


    "The star is here."


    "He is the hope of trainee hall."


    The disciples started talking about Zhao Luo as the spotlight was on him and that same light was shared by the others who were with him too.


    ''I just wanted to let them eat in peace but why did I have to be so famous and handsome?''


    Zhao Luo ced his hand in front of his face in a cool manner covering it while praising himself in aining manner.


    ''Grab.''


    Feng Mei grabbed Zhao Luo''s hand as she felt weird with so many disciples watching them.


    That is when a noise echoed in the whole dining area.


    "Don''t annoy him. Stop pointing at them."


    A voice scolded the other disciple after which they stopped looking towards Zhao Luo and his group.


    Zhao Luo looked at the back of the disciple who had just shouted for his sake.


    ''It''s him.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he moved behind the others to get the food from the big dish tes.


    "Oh, it''s meat again."


    Zhao Luo couldn''t help but drool when he saw the various type of meat pieces waiting for him.


    ''Thump, Thump, Thump.''


    Meat over meat Zhao Luo fully stacked his te with meat pieces making a mountain out of them.


    Then he turned around to look for the ce where he could sit with the others.


    ''There.''


    Zhao Luo looked at a familiar ce and moved towards the table where the disciple who had helped them was sitting at.


    The disciple was sitting alone at the table so Zhao Luo decided to join him. Also, Zhao Luo looked like he had something to ask that disciple.


    With a humongous mountain of meat pieces on his te, Zhao Luo moved towards that table with others walking alongside him.


    ''Tap.''


    ''Tap.''


    ''Tap.''


    Zhao Luo''s footsteps were like a melody that flowed into the ears of the other disciples in the dining hall as Zhao Luo moved towards the table in question.


    "Look he is going towards that table."


    "Yes, I hope they don''t fight."


    "No, even if they fought, Brother Zhao Luo will win."


    Two disciples whispered to each other.


    While they were talking Zhao Luo had reached the table.


    ''Pat.''


    Zhao Luo ced his te on the table as he sat on the chair and the others also followed him.


    The table was full now as Zhao Luo looked at the disciple who had helped them before.


    "How are you Senior Mite?"


    Zhao Luo asked that disciple who still had bandages and stitches covering his face and body.


    "Alive. Thanks to you."


    Mite answered honestly with a dull expression.


    There was no hostility left in his voice as he looked at Zhao Luo.

 Chapter 94 - TuTu?

    "I did what I had to."


    Zhao Luo replied with a smile on his handsome as he looked at Mite whose eyes looked dead.


    Zhao Luo had stopped Zi Fei cause he didn''t want someone else to fight for his sake. Or be cruel to someone who is Zhao Luo''s target. Especially Zhao Luo would never let someone bully a person when the person can''t even fight back or defend.


    ''Nom, Nom.''


    Zhao Luo started digging in the meat after replying to Mite''s acknowledgment.


    "This is so good."


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he ate the food like he was inhaling air.


    "I heard you have cleared the moonstone challenge too."


    Mite interrupted Zhao Luo who was enjoying the meat on his te.


    "You are indeed a special person."


    Mite told Zhao Luo with a serious face but he was actually praising him.


    Mite had been an outer disciple for so many years yet now he was saying the newbie was ''special''.


    "Senior you are being very humble. Looks like Zi Fei beating messed up your head."


    Zhao Luo made a joke as the turnaround of Mite was too much for him to digest.


    Zhao Luo preferred the challenging Mite who had been against him since he joined the Trainee Hall.


    "No, I have just realized something."


    Mite confessed as he looked at Zhao Luo passionately.


    ''Don''t tell me he likes me.''


    Zhao Luo realized the look in Mite''s eyes as Mite focused on him.


    Zhao Luo felt weird so he tried to change the subject.


    "Do you want my meat?"


    Zhao Luo said while pointing at his te.


    It sounded fine to Zhao Luo and Mite but others who weren''t looking at Zhao Luo''s gesture were shocked.


    Especially Yan who was ring at Zhao Luo with her eyes wide open. She didn''t interrupt them but instead of dwelling on what Zhao Luo had asked Mite, she focused on her te.


    "No, I am full."


    Mite didn''t care what others thought.


    His reason to stare at Zhao Luo was way different than what Zhao Luo or the others may have thought.


    ''I was like him too then where did I go wrong?''


    Mite was confused. He still remembered the time he had joined and when he had advanced to an outer disciple. Mite was always working hard then why did he start cking.


    ''Whatever.''


    Mite who was done eating thought.


    "Outer hall will be experiencing many changes soon."


    Mite mumbled as he looked at Zhao Luo.


    It wasn''t only because of Zhao Luo. The others around him, each apanying him had good talent. They all had the ability and confidence that was needed to always progress in this Sect.


    After hearing what Mite said Zhao Luo looked at others. He didn''t want to leave alone to the outer disciple. But he didn''t want to force the others to advance to an outer disciple along with him. They could have a ten times easier life in trainee hall.


    Feng Mei, Yan, and Su Shi had all joined the trainee hall along with Zhao Luo while others on the table weren''t any less than them in terms of strength. Mo Lee was as strong as them while Wei Bin was even stronger than them. Wu Yang was very mysterious for now.


    ''They all are strong enough to advance with me but would they?''


    Zhao Luo doubted as maybe the others wanted to spend more time in the trainee hall and make their bodies stronger before advancing to an outer disciple.


    Bang!


    Mite pped the table to barely get up from his seat.


    "I will be going now."


    Mite said to Zhao Luo and the others on the table as Zhao Luo stopped thinking about what his friends will decide.


    "Take care Senior."


    Zhao Luo wished Mite well.


    Even though they had a bad start, it didn''t mean that they had to have a bad ending too.


    ''Mhmm.''


    Mite wanted to say but didn''t.


    He nodded to Zhao Luo and the others as he turned around to leave.


    After Mite left the table, the others were still eating while Zhao Luo was eating while his eyes were saying that he was focused somewhere else.


    ''If it was the previous me, I may have ended up like that too.''


    Zhao Luo wondered. If he hadn''t been trapped in the capsule and never got a chance to mistakenly stumble on Naoli, that increased his mental capability.


    ''What if I never met the old man?''


    Zhao Luo thought as he felt hurt because he shared a special bond with his master.


    Zhao Luo considered himself to be a lucky person.


    Zhao Luo looked around the table as he could see the faces of others. He had friends now. He was respected by many disciples in the trainee hall. He had already cleared two challenges. He could move to the outer sect anytime. But this still wasn''t enough.


    "Let''s do our best."


    Zhao Luo told the others.


    Just having a good time wasn''t sufficient.


    He had to struggle hard to reach his goal perfectly.


    ''Grab.''


    Feng Mei suddenly grabbed Zhao Luo''s hand out of nowhere.


    "Brother I will try my best and will never let you down."


    With her cold hand sping Zhao Luo''s hand, Feng Mei said with a cute smile on her face.


    "We will try our best too."


    Wei Bin said right after Feng Mei.


    After listening to the deration of the two youngest, the others also dered that they will try their best.


    Zhao Luo had a big smile on his smile.


    His goal had been modified a little bit.


    ''I will reach the summit but not alone.''


    Zhao Luo was now ascertained of the change in his n.


    After eating, Zhao Luo and the others left the dining hall.


    First Su Shi and Feng Mei separated from the group as their huts had arrived.


    One by one everyone kept on leaving to enter their room. While Zhao Luo still walked.


    "Is this also fate that my room is the furthest away?"


    Zhao Luoined as he med his fate.


    "You are wrong."


    Another voice entered the scene right after Zhao Luo had spoken.


    "My hutes way after yours."


    Wu Yang said from behind Zhao Luo.


    He had been walking a little behind Zhao Luo for a reason. He didn''t want to do any more slip-ups.


    The best for that to happen was the less he and Zhao Luo talked. Thus that being why Wu Yang was walking behind Zhao Luo instead of walking alongside him.


    "I forgot about you."


    Zhao Luo admitted as he slowed toe next to Wu Yang as they both moved towards Zhao Luo''s hut.


    "How do you think I will do in tomorrow''s challenge?"


    Zhao Luo asked Wu Yang.


    Wu Yang had been very helpful to him so he was already very much relying on his answers and ideas.


    "It shouldn''t be too hard for you."


    Wu Yang said as he looked at Zhao Luo with respect in his eyes.


    "Mister top scorer."


    He chuckled while calling out Zhao Luo by what Zhao Luo had done in the second test of the Second Elder.


    "That was just me being lucky."


    Zhao Luo brooded over what Wu Yang had said.


    Zhao Luo was saying that he was lucky because he still wanted to keep the Second Elder as the Master of Riddles. Otherwise, if people knew how Zhao Luo had solved Second Elder''s riddles the title would go over to Zhao Luo in merely a moment.


    "Leave that aside."


    Zhao Luo didn''t want to spend another second of his time on the thought of taking Second Elder''s title.


    "Can you guess who the secret disciple could be? The one that I have to defeat for my fourth challenge."


    *Crunch*


    Zhao Luo clenched his fist as he asked Wu Yang while ncing at him.


    Right when Zhao Luo asked this question Wu Yang had stopped in his ce.


    Wu Yang was looking down for some reason.


    Zhao Luo had brought up the question about the secret disciple again.


    This was the reason why Wu Yang was keeping his distance from Zhao Luo while the two walked towards their huts.


    "What happened? Why did you stop?"


    Zhao Luo questioned as he felt odd.


    Wu Yang had stopped right when Zhao Luo had asked him about that disciple.


    ''Does he indeed know?''


    Zhao Luo wondered otherwise it didn''t make sense for Wu Yang to suddenly stop.


    "I know who the secret disciple."


    Wu Yang said while looking down.


    It was dark so Zhao Luo couldn''t even see the expression on Wu Yang''s face.


    "Don''t be shocked when you will know who the secret disciple is."


    Wu Yang warned Zhao Luo.


    Wu Yang''s face was still tilted downwards.


    "Mhmm."


    Zhao Luo felt weird but he still wanted to know who he had to fight toplete thest challenge.


    "It''s...."


    Wu Yang said slowly.


    ''It''s.''


    Zhao Luo had clenched his fist. He barely stopped himself from punching Wu Yang.


    "It''s TUTU."


    Wu Yang finally spilled the beans.


    "Tutu?"


    Zhao Luo was confused now as Wu Yang was just saying anything.


    "How could someone have such a dumb name?"


    "I don''t believe you."


    Zhao Luo retaliated as he had it hard to believe what Wu Yang had told him.


    "Indeed."


    Wu Yang agreed with Zhao Luo.


    "It''s the name of my bird."


    Wu Yang was now burning the beans that he had spilled.


    Wu Yang had finally lifted his head as he was looking at Zhao Luo with a silly expression.


    "I hope you are ready for the consequences."


    Zhao Luo who was feeling like a big fool said to Wu Yang.

 Chapter 95 - Sword Training

    Zhao Luo who had warned Wu Yang threw his fist at Wu Yang''s face


    Zhao Luo wasn''t seriously trying to hurt him with his punch as there was almost no power behind his fist but the speed of that punch was fast. Way faster than what a disciple in the trainee hall could handle.


    Especially Wu Yang who had been in the trainee hall for a long time.


    "Eat this for fooling with me."


    Zhao Luo shouted with a grin on his face.


    But soon that grin vanished as Zhao Luo was surprised.


    ''Swoosh.''


    Wu Yang had dodged Zhao Luo''s punch by bending downwards faster than the speed of the punch itself.


    Zhao Luo pulled his arm back and looked at Wu Yang who was falling backward after dodging his punch with a questioning face.


    He was now suspecting Wu Yang even more than before.


    Thud!


    "Why did you throw a punch at me?"


    Wu Yang gave a slightlyte reaction as he fell hitting his back on the ground after dodging Zhao Luo''s punch.


    "Why did you dodge it?"


    Zhao Luo questioned Wu Yang as he walked towards him.


    It was like Zhao Luo wasining that Wu Yang didn''t get hit by his punch.


    As Zhao Luo reached Wu Yang, he extended his arm towards him which caused Wu Yang to close his eyes.


    Wu Yang was getting ready to get hit by Zhao Luo but he never felt anything hitting him.


    "What are you doing?"


    Zhao Luo asked Wu Yang who still had his eyes closed and teeth clenched.


    ''This guy.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he waited for Wu Yang to take his hand and get up from the ground.


    "I thought you were to throw a punch at me again."


    ''Pat.''


    Wu Yang grabbed Zhao Luo''s hand as he told Zhao Luo the reason why he had his eyes closed.


    "I will punch you but not now."


    Zhao Luo dered his intention while pulling Wu Yang up.


    There was a mysterious smile on his face which caused Wu Yang''s heart to drop.


    ''Did he finally found out?''


    Wu Yang was nervous but that nervousness daded away when Zhao Luo started walking again without asking anything from him.


    Soon the two had reached Zhao Luo''s hut.


    Zhao Luo turned around to look at Wu Yang and showed him a grind.


    This grin was enough to make Wu Yang go away.


    He sped his hands in front of Zhao Luo and said his farewell before running away from there.


    ''He knows.''


    Wu Yang''s mind was covered with only this thought as he was going towards his room.


    Zhao Luo watched Wu Yang''s back disappearing as he turned around to go inside his room.


    "Let''s train."


    Zhao Luo said to himself.


    He couldn''t wait to practice again against his apparitions.


    His hands were itching for some action as Zhao Luo had already started loving this current lifestyle of his.


    Even Zhao Luo himself didn''t know that he would be carving challenges with such intensity. This was indeed a new and fun feeling for him.


    Zhao Luo lied down on the bed.


    Before closing his eyes, Zhao Luo thought about his fights against the puppets.


    Their abilities which he had already learned.


    "I should call them, Three Style Sword Arts."


    Zhao Luo announced with a smile while lying on his bed.


    The three styles he was thinking about were rted to the nature of the puppets that he had to fight.


    "Wood arts: Wood Drop, Double Wood Drop"


    "Fire Arts: Burst sh, Cross Burst sh."


    "Dual Arts: Dual Burst Drop."


    Zhao Luo was putting his thoughts together as he categorized the techniques that he had learned from the puppets.


    After recollection of his techniques, Zhao Luo closed his eyes to fall into a calm and undisturbed state of meditation.


    The next moment.


    Zhao Luo opened his eyes inside his mental world, the dark space.


    "Let''s do this."


    Zhao Luo puffed up as he started stretching.


    After doing the basic things he looked ahead seriously.


    "Summon."


    Zhao Luo shouted.


    ''Poof.''


    Nine apparitions appeared at the same time, standing in front of Zhao Luo.


    ''They look better than before.''


    Zhao Luo thought while looking at his apparitions which looked even more realistic than even thest ones.


    "Swords."


    Zhao Luo shouted again as two ck swords appeared in the hands of each apparition.


    After his apparitions were ready to go, Zhao Luo brought out his swords simultaneously.


    The dark space of Zhao Luo was now shining with two different lights.


    In his right hand was ifrit which shined like a miniature sun in his hand. The crimson light of Ifrit was oozing out from its de.


    While ckey was in his left hand.


    There were times when the dark space would experience a white twinkling of stars. This wasing from ckey''s de.


    "Come at me."


    Zhao Luo ordered his apparitions as he tightened his grip on the swords.


    "Let''s get him, boys."


    One of the apparitions said to the others raising the excitement in the air.


    "Good. Show me what you all can do."


    Zhao Luo challenged them head-on.


    The apparitions pounced at Zhao Luo with their swords one after another.


    Even though the apparitions weren''t that intelligent enough but still they had the strength that resembled Zhao Luo''s so it would prove to be a difficult match for Zhao Luo to fight all of them at once.


    sh!


    The first apparition swung his swords at Zhao Luo.


    "Wood Drop."


    ''ng, ng.''


    Zhao Luo blocked the swords with Ifrit easily by using the technique from his wood art sword style.


    After blocking this apparition''s attack, Zhao Luo changed his form in less than a second.


    Zhao Luo raised his left arm and pushed back his right leg while bending the knee of his left leg to bring down ckey with an inhuman speed.


    "Dual Burst Drop."


    ''Swoosh''


    Zhao Luo shouted as ckey sliced through the apparition who couldn''t even leave a scream before falling.


    The other apparitions had stopped in their tracks as they could see Zhao Luo''s ck sword embedded in their fellow ghost right in front of their eyes.


    "If you won''te at me then I wille at you."


    Zhao Luo said with a delighted face feeling the increase in his strength.


    He threw his defeated apparition aside who was now recovering on the ground while Zhao Luo went after his other apparitions.


    "Burst sh, Burst sh, Burst sh."


    "Burst sh."


    "ng, ng, ng, ng."


    Zhao Luo who had leaped towards his apparitions was sent flying back.


    His apparitions had started using his techniques too.


    ''If they were puppets then it wouldn''t have been this challenging.''


    Zhao Luo felt troubled as now his apparitions were on the attack while he could only defend.


    Zhao Luo started jumping backward whenever one of his apparitions would swing at him.


    One after another they kept on swing their swords at him while Zhao Luo only dodged.


    He didn''t even block the attacks.


    "Double Burst sh."


    One of the apparitions brought both of his swords down on Zhao Luo while using the Fire arts.


    There was no time to dodge its swords so Zhao Luo decided to block it.


    "Wood Drop."


    Zhao Luo used his technique to block both of the apparition''s swords and pushed him away with the collision of their swords.


    Zhao Luo also moved back with a smooth sliding motion.


    ''I see.''


    Zhao Luo had learned something new in thest exchange.


    "Let''s try it again."


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he could see another apparition of hising at him while using the same technique that the previous apparition had used.


    "Double Burst SLASH."


    This apparition was louder than thest as it brought its swords on Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo didn''t lift his swords to block the iing swords of the apparition instead he waited for those swords to drop on his head.


    "Now."


    Zhao Luo waited as right when the swords of the apparition were a hair away from slicing his head like a watermelon, Zhao Luo dodged the attack.


    He dodged the apparitions attack by spinning his body with his arms wide open.


    "Counter Cut."


    Zhao Luo shouted as he brought his ifrit and ckey to sh through his apparition.


    Zhao Luo was evolving as a sword warrior.


    His eyes shined bright as his face looked clear after pulling off such a nice counter which would be hard to block for the others.


    Zhao Luo directly aimed for the weakness of the Burst Drop.


    ''If my speed is faster than the speed of enemy''s sword then I can do this.''


    Zhao Luo ascertained himself.


    After defeating another apparition, he moved towards the other apparitions.


    In this dark space, both Zhao Luo and his apparitions were somewhat invincible.


    Zhao Luo looked back at the two apparitions who were recuperating.


    "Train the techniques."


    And ordered them of their next tasks.


    The swordfight between Zhao Luo and his apparitions continued for the whole night.


    Without a single second of rest, Zhao Luo kept on fighting his apparitions.


    Whenever he would defeat an apparition, they would be given the task of practicing the sword techniques or train among themselves.


    So 6 of the apparitions were training the techniques while Zhao Luo fought with the other three continuously throughout the whole night.


    The dark space was filled with different noises. Most of them were swords colliding.


    "I can feel it."


    "Dual Burst Drop."


    Zhao Luo excitedly said as he pushed all three of his apparitions backward.


    He could feel the improvement in his sword skills.

 Chapter 96 - Relic From Earth

    "ng, ng."


    The sounds of metal colliding echoed in the dark space inside Zhao Luo''s mental World.


    Even after confirming the improvements inside his body Zhao Luo never stopped.


    He had his apparitions on rotation.


    The rotation was between two groups.


    The fighting group while the task group.


    When Zhao Luo would defeat the three apparitions he was fighting, the next three apparitions would take their ce while the defeated apparitions would be recuperating.


    The defeated apparitions will start doing the task while Zhao Luo would defeat the current apparitions.


    This way he would increase his fighting experience while honing his already learned skills.


    While fighting his apparitions Zhao Luo had increased his handling of the techniques from the three sword arts that he had learned while fighting the puppets.


    "Multiple Burst sh."


    Zhao Luo shouted the name of his technique as he started spinning.


    Zhao Luo hadbined two techniques toe up with this one.


    The ''judgment'' he had used while fighting the sand lions and the ''Burst sh'' that he had used uncountable times against the puppets.


    By spinning, he could indeed easily use the movements of the Burst sh again and again while eliminating the possible weaknesses in the two techniques.


    ''ng.''


    As Zhao Luo started using his multiple burst sh, the apparitions blocked it once.


    ''ng.''


    They blocked it twice but it wasn''t easy for them as they were pushed back.


    Zhao Luo looked like an evil ck and crimson tornado from hell.


    The third one.


    ''ng, sh.''


    The apparitions brought their swords in the way of Zhao Luo''s swords but that didn''t help them as big gashes were left in their bodies by Zhao Luo''s Ifrit and ckey.


    "That will be it for tonight."


    Zhao Luo said right after he stopped spinning.


    His head was spinning after using Multiple Burst shes.


    ''I guess every technique has a downside.''


    Zhao Luo thought with an unhappy look on his face.


    Zhao Luo also knew that these techniques of his were way better than what he thought swordsmanship was about.


    This way of using the swords was way satisfactory than sword styles where one would use his mouth to swing the sword.


    But this was just the start so Zhao Luo had to use these techniques for now as he couldn''t even call himself a real swordsman.


    "Come."


    Zhao Luo looked at his apparitions and ordered them.


    All the apparitions gathered around him.


    "It''s time to absorb them back in my body."


    Zhao Luo thought.


    Once the assimtion was over, Zhao Luo felt that he would be a real swordsman.


    His proficiency with the sword would have increased by a lot too while his techniques would be polished.


    "Assimte."


    Zhao Luo spoke a word as the apparitions turned into smoke and one after another got absorbed by Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo sat on the ck floor of the dark space as he assimted the improved apparitions inside his body.


    Before Zhao Luo had defeated the Second Sword Warrior puppet but he wasn''t as good as that puppet.


    He was just stronger than the puppet but not in the way of swords but now as the assimtion process ended Zhao Luo could say that he was not any less than a Second Sword Warrior puppet.


    Zhao Luo had closed his eyes as the assimtion process ended.


    The next instant he opened his eyes, he was looking at the ceiling of the hut.


    ''Chirp.''


    ''Chirp.''


    Zhao Luo could hear a bird noise from outside his room.


    "This is a new feeling. I like it."


    Zhao Luo said as he was feeling happy being so close to nature.


    Zhao Luo got ready and left his room just toe to a halt right when he opened the door of his hut.


    "You were waiting for me?"


    Zhao Luo questioned as his eyes fell on a familiar face.


    Just like the previous day, Wu Yang was once again standing outside of his hut.


    But this time he wasn''t alone.


    "Tutu?"


    Zhao Luo pointed at the bird that was chilling on Wu Yang''s shoulder and inquired.


    Wu Yang smiled and opened his mouth.


    "Chirp."


    The bird made its noise before Wu Yang could answer.


    It was like the bird could understand Zhao Luo and agreed with his guess.


    ''Cute.''


    Zhao Luo thought while looking at the bird.


    "The bird''s better than its master. Amazing."


    Zhao Luo made fun of Wu Yang as he was still trying to get back at Wu Yang for making a fool out of himst night.


    "And the master is better than his friend."


    Wu Yang continued Zhao Luo''s dialogue with a grin on his face.


    "Chirp."


    The bird added.


    "Hahaha."


    Both Zhao Luo and Wu Yangughed as Wu Yang''s bird had impable timing.


    After the small exchange between the three, Zhao Luo and Wu Yang turned to walk out of the Hut Zone.


    "Today is the day when I will have one less challenge left."


    Zhao Luo told Wu Yang as he was showing his confidence that he could easily clear the third challenge too.


    "Hopefully you can."


    Wu Yang prayed too.


    "Seniors."


    Mo Lee shouted as he was waiting for them with Yan and Wei Bin.


    Yan had a smile on her face as she looked at Zhao Luo.


    She sped her hands in front of Zhao Luo as she greeted him then nodded her head towards Wu Yang.


    Wei Bin also followed Yan''s lead.


    One wasn''t enough now two of the new trainee disciples were treating Wu Yang like this.


    "Why do I get the different treatment?"


    Wu Yang mumbled as he wanted toin.


    Even though Yan and Wei Bin didn''t hear it, Zhao Luo did.


    Zhao Luo barely held himself back fromughing at Wu Yang''s whimpering face.


    They continued and entered the area where the female disciples stayed at.


    After walking through there for a while, Feng Mei and Su Shi who was waiting for Zhao Luo were stunned after seeing everyone already walking with him.


    "Brother Zhao Luo."


    Feng Mei said as she grabbed Zhao Luo''s hand.


    While Zhao Luo was having a fun time, the other trainee disciples were rushing towards the training area.


    Zhao Luo and the others first left the hut zone and went to the dining hall.


    "Good day Senior."


    Zhao Luo said.


    At the dining hall, Zhao Luo was joined by none other than Mite.


    But it was Zhao Luo invading on Mite while Mite was enjoying his breakfast.


    "Mhmm."


    Mite hummed while feeling like he was keeping a personal choker with him.


    Zhao Luo smirked as though he could read Mite''s thoughts.


    He looked around and realized something.


    The dining hall looked empty whenpared to the previous times when Zhao Luo was here.


    ''They must be at the training area.''


    Zhao Luo thought about the disciples in the trainee hall.


    There weren''t even a hundred disciples in the dining hall.


    "Are you going to participate in today''s challenge too?"


    Mite asked Zhao Luo an obvious question.


    "Yes. I will not only challenge it but also clear it too."


    Zhao Luo announced with a confident tone.


    There was no other way for him.


    ''I have toplete today''s challenge too.''


    Zhao Luo thought as they were done eating.


    After spending someforting time in the dining hall, Zhao Luo left the dining hall with the others.


    Senior Mite also tagged along. He wanted to know the result of Zhao Luo''s confidence.


    A little whileter Zhao Luo and the others reached the training area just to find the training area somewhat empty.


    Around a few hundred disciples were standing in a line in front of a ring.


    "That''s the ring where thest challenge is?"


    Zhao Luo said while looking at that ring which was surrounded by the disciples.


    Zhao Luo, as he moved towards that ring tform, his steps slowed down till he finally came to a halt.


    The others didn''t notice that Zhao Luo had stopped as they came to stand in the line that was moving quite fast.


    "That is my capsule."


    Zhao Luo said as he looked at the single tool which was in the middle of the ring.


    The device looked way simr to the capsule that Zhao Luo was in for a century.


    "What is he going in it for?"


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he could see a disciple going in the capsule.


    The next moment the disciple who had gone in the capsule vanished.


    ''What''s going on?''


    Zhao Luo questioned.


    Wu Yang who had noticed that Zhao Luo was standing still in the back moved towards him.


    "What happened?"


    Wu Yang asked Zhao Luo who was just staring at the capsule on the ring.


    "Is that capsule the tool you were talking about?"


    Zhao Luo asked Wu Yang as this was an unbelievable situation for him.


    "Yes, it''s a relic from Earth."


    Wu Yang said with respect dropping from his eyes.


    "Relic from Earth?"


    Zhao Luo was lost in his thought.


    He never imagined that his third challenge would be including something simr to his past.


    Zhao Luo walked closer while focusing on the capsule.


    He realized that the capsule was indeed different than the one he was in.


    Also, the strange sorcery that was making the trainee disciple disappear wasn''t a thing from Earth.


    "Strange but interesting."


    Zhao Luomented as he also got in the line.

 Chapter 97 - Kong Fu Zi And The Dragon Road

    "It was given to the Sect by the famous Sang Sang Merchants. After which the first elder changed a few things. Before only a single person could use it but after First Elder''s enhancement, its capacity is close to infinite."


    Wu Yang exined to Zhao Luo who had ''confusion'' written all over his face.


    "But that''s the only change in the relic that the sect has made. The relic is around a hundred years old. The people of the Earth called it Fu Zi Time. While the challenge is based on memorizing and learning. Obviously, unlike the Drums of Bellum and the moonstones, the world inside the capsule is overlooked by one of the ranked elders."


    Wu Yang chattered away the details about the challenge as if he was one of the makers of the relic.


    Zhao Luo understood the capsule way better now.


    ''So it was a Virtual Reality game or Video capsule that Brother Sang''s father must have given to the sect. While Fu Zi is....hmmm.''


    Zhao Luo wondered if he was thinking correctly and straight.


    ''Is it correct for me to think that the Fu Zi here is that Fu Zi?''


    Zhao Luo couldn''t get it off his mind.


    If this Fu Zi was the Kong Fu Zi from his World then things would be getting interesting soon.


    "Well, everything will be cleared soon."


    Zhao Luo said as that was the truth.


    He only had to wait till he entered the capsule.


    He was still in the line as the line progressed quite faster than Zhao Luo had thought.


    Yan who was leading Zhao Luo''s group had already entered the capsule and disappeared into the World where the challenge would be taking ce.


    The other''s turn also came one by one as now Zhao Luo and Wu Yang were left from their group.


    "Go in fast."


    Zhao Luo said to Wu Yang who was standing in front of him and was just about to enter the capsule.


    "Do you want to go before me?"


    Wu Yang stopped and looked at Zha Luo nkly while questioning him.


    "No, but just hurry."


    Zhao Luo told him with an excited face.


    Wu Yang smirked and took even more time to enter the capsule.


    ''Woosh.''


    The moment he entered it, Wu Yang disappeared just like the ones before him.


    ''Is it like a teleportation mechanism?''


    Zhao Lio wondered as it was his turn to enter the capsule.


    He remembered the TP circles in the teleportation building in the cities of the Xin Range.


    While wandering about the mechanism that was making the disciples vanish when they entered it, Zhao Luo got in the capsule.


    The next instant he felt the space around him fluctuating.


    ''Woosh.''


    Zhao Luo disappeared from inside the capsule.


    The next instant he was in a lush green ce.


    "Wow."


    Zhao Luo eximed as he appeared in this ce.


    All the disciples who had entered before him were here.


    Wu Yang, Yan, Feng Mei, and others were also here as Zhao Luo joined them.


    He wasn''t thest to enter this ce.


    The other disciples were still entering this green area.


    "This is a bignd."


    Zhao Luo said as he looked around.


    No matter where he looked there was only grass and more grass. He was standing under an open and vast blue sky.


    ''Indeed it''s too unreal.''


    Zhao Luo thought with a confused expression.


    His mind had many questions such as ''how did they evene up with such a World?''


    ''Why did the Sect even ce this as a challenge in the training area?''


    But the question which Zhao Luo wanted to be answered was definitely about the name of this challenge.


    ''Why Fu Zi time? Is it really about the great Confucius? But why did Brother Sang''s father gave it to the Sect?''


    Zhao Luo had all these questions piled up in his head.


    While Zhao Luo was lost in his thought, more and more disciples kept on entering the World.


    After a short while, all the disciples in the trainee hall were inside the challenge.


    There was a presence that shocked Zhao Luo.


    Even Mite was here.


    "Senior, are you even fully healed?"


    Zhao Luo asked him as this was a challenge so what was an injured person doing here.


    "Don''t worry about me. I may just do better than you this challenge."


    Mite said with a grin on his face.


    ''I worry about him and he taunts me. Oh well.''


    Zhao Luo didn''t want to worry about this gori bastard anymore as he looked ahead.


    The disciples of the trainee hall were all gathered on the vast greennd waiting for the challenge to start.


    Bang!


    Right then a sound of an explosion echoed around the area.


    Some Old Man had fallen from the sky andnded in the middle of thousands of disciples gathered around him.


    Coincidently that is where Zhao Luo was standing with Wu Yang and the others.


    "Kong Fu Zi."


    Zhao Luo murmured as he looked at the old man.


    The old man had a sturdy body with a snow-like beard that was almost touching the grass tip.


    Eyes brighter than an eagle, so bright that they could pierce through anyone''s mind if he just nced at them. The old man''s facial features were so sharp that it could be said that they had been carved by someone.


    ''Indeed it''s Kong Fu Zi. They designed him pretty well.''


    Zhao Luo bowed towards Fu Zi to pay his respect to a legendary symbol of his past while praising whoever made this version of Fu Zi which was such a perfect replica.


    ''Is it an NPC?''


    Zhao Luo questioned in his mind since obviously, he couldn''t ask the old man in front of him.


    The personification of Confucius was looking around as he covered all the disciples around him in less than 5 nces.


    Nod!


    The old man nodded as he opened his mouth.


    Zhao Luo wondered what this character of Fu Zi will say to them.


    "There is only one way to get the appointment of heaven."


    Fu Zi said as all the disciples were listening to him.


    This could just be the start of their challenge.


    ''Is this what we will have to memorize and learn?''


    Zhao Luo thought as Fu Zi otherwise known as Master Kong had just begun.


    "That is to be a Superior Person."


    Fu Zi announced as his eyes were shining with bright rays of light.


    ''Superior person? How do I be a superior person?''


    Everyone who was listening to Fu Zi had the same question.


    The next moment their question was being answered.


    "Stay calm and quiet under pressure."


    "Be all-embracing."


    "Have the courage to act right."


    "Remember these three teachings. You will embark on the journey of the dragon."


    Fu Zi taught them the ways to be the superior person as he pped his robe backward.


    "Now You all shall embark on the Journey of Dragon. Follow the teaching and only then the suitable ones will get their appointment with the heavens at the end of this journey."


    Fu Zi announced as he waved his hand and a skeletal dragon body appeared.


    The skull of the dragon was in front of this crowd of thousand disciples.


    Zhao Luo looked at the skull and realized how the mouth of the dragon was open as an entrance to a road.


    ''There is no end.''


    Zhao Luo looked through the dragon''s mouth and saw a white road that just continued for who knows how long.


    "The challenge will start now. Till the dragon road ends remember the three teachings and set on the path of bing superior."


    Fu Zi delivered thest bids of his line and ended the speech with a st.


    Bang!


    Fu Zi again disappeared in the skies above them.


    All the disciples were excited. They didn''t even understand the teachings as much as they were focused on the word ''superior''.


    There were four groups of disciples now based on their actions and thoughts.


    ''I can be a superior person if I just see the end of this path?''


    Some disciples thought. This was the first group.


    While the others were in an even worse condition than this group of disciples.


    "What were the teachings? Can someone repeat them?"


    Shouts of such questions started rising from different ces.


    "I remember he said something about embracing. Do we have to hug it out?"


    The discussion between the disciples took weird turns as they couldn''t even remember the three teachings perfectly.


    Then there was this group who remembered the teaching but didn''t understand them well enough.


    They had already stepped inside the mouth of the dragon. Now the road, which was the dragon''s body, they were walking on it as they started advancing.


    They had an ahead start than the others. There were thousands of disciples already on the dragon road.


    The fourth group was Zhao Luo''s.


    They were standing there waiting for Zhao Luo to say something or give them the go-ahead.


    Zhao Luo waited as he looked at the three groups which covered all the disciples of the trainee hall.


    The other two groups started to get on the dragon road too after seeing the third group already advancing.


    Extra:Fu Zi time is abination of virtual World and space that the Sect hasbined with the World where the personification of Fu Zi appears that teaches the three important factors or teachings of Confucianism.


    There is a mission factor that ispleting the road like seeing the end of the road.


    There will be missions along the way till the end when the superior disciples will be announced

 Chapter 98 - Leading The Hundred Disciples

    Thousands of disciples were rushing on the endless road that was in front of them.


    They didn''t know who Kong Fu Zi was or how valuable his teachings were but they were still reward-driven. The end reward sounded nice. Everyone wanted to have an upper hand over the others and the end of the dragon road was such a case.


    Zhao Luo could see the crowd of disciples already on the dragon road while a continuous stream of trainee disciples was entering through the mouth of the Dragon skull.


    "Tsk."


    Wu Yang clicked his and looked at Zhao Luo.


    "Shouldn''t we go too?"


    Wu Yang asked Zhao Luo impatiently.


    Zhao Luo looked at Wu Yang who was acting unnaturally.


    "So you can get impatient too. Huh, just wait."


    Zhao Luo said to Wu Yang as he smiled while the disciples around them kept on entering the dragon road.


    As the crowd around them diminished more and more, the others around Zhao Luo also started getting impatient.


    "Brother what are you thinking?"


    The short Wei Bin came towards Zhao Luo and asked him with confused eyes.


    Zhao Luo smiled at the little boy who looked at him like a real brother.


    Zhao Luo pointed his finger towards the sky and dragged his leg on the grass while looking at everyone.


    "I think the test had already started soon after we entered this space."


    Zhao Luo told them shocking news.


    "The old man you just saw is like a puppet that we had to fight in the moonstone while the real person who is watching over us is an elder of the sect."


    Zhao Luo said as he looked at Wu Yang who had told him this bit of information.


    ''Nod.''


    Wu Yang nodded, confirming Zhao Luo''s announcement.


    "The test is still about the three teachings. But from when do we start acting on these teaching?"


    Zhao Luo asked them but no one answered as they were keen on listening to him.


    "The moment when that old man had told us the three teachings, the teat had started."


    Zhao Luo told them as he raised his index finger and brought it forward.


    "The first teaching. Stay calm and quiet under pressure."


    Zhao Luo repeated in the voice of the old man so they could understand.


    "Are they calm? No. But we are."


    Zhao Luo said as he nced at the disciples that were entering through the mouth of the dragon.


    "Look how they are pushing each other. Is that how one stays quiet under pressure? No matter when we get on the road, we just have to remember the three teachings and see the end of the road."


    Zhao Luo exined to them as he kept on pointing back and forth between the disciples that were on the white dragon road and himself meaning his group.


    "They won''t even behave and act on the first teaching just to get an ahead start. Fools."


    Zhao Luo felt bad for the disciples who were on the dragon road.


    ''Will they fail the challenge?''


    Zhao Luo wondered as they could start changing on the road. He wanted them to pass because most of the disciples in the trainee hall had supported him in all his challenges. They had been cheering for him so it wouldn''t sit right with him if they all failed because of their stupidity and eagerness.


    Zhao Luo looked at the others hoping they had calmed down for now.


    Wu Yang, Mite, Feng Mei, Yan, Su Shi, Mo Lee, and Wei Bin all understood Zhao Luo''s reasoning so they were nodding their heads while thinking over what Zhao Luo has said.


    "Wait."


    "Senior Mite you are here too? You will fall behind if you don''t hurry."


    Zhao Luo realized that Mite was still here and decided to mess around with him for a bit.


    "Hahaha, I am following the teaching. It has nothing to do with you."


    Mite tilted his head upwards as he shot down Zhao Luo''s taunt like a bird.


    Others looked at Mite who was standing in their circle and couldn''t help butugh at his simplicity.


    "Ah, huh, I see. So senior you already learned how to be calm. That''s good."


    Zhao Luo grinned as he looked at Mite who couldn''t hide his embarrassment.


    While Zhao Luo and his friends were waiting for their turn to get on the Dragon road, someone way up in the sky had a smile on his face as he looked down at them.


    "Interesting bunch. Is he the one leading them?"


    A man who looked like he was in his twenties said.


    He was looking at Zhao Luo''s group. But his main focus was on Zhao Luo.


    By seeing Zhao Luo''s hand gesture and hearing his words he was very surprised by the fact that they had such a talent hidden in the trainee hall.


    ''He may not be a trainee''


    The man in the sky had this questionable thought but it wasn''t reasonable. It was because there were already two familiar faces in the group.


    "That is the one who was assigned to help the disciples in the trainee hall while that other one was always following around the first elder."


    The man said while looking at Mite who was overseeing the disciples in the trainee hall as a part of his mission.


    While the man looked at Wu Yang for a brief moment too thus these two being in Zhao Luo''s group confirmed that Zhao Luo was indeed a trainee disciple.


    Back on the green grassy vastnd in the Fu Zi time.


    Zhao Luo had already told Wu Yang, Mite, and the others that they should start entering the mouth of the dragon thus they would be starting their journey on the dragon road.


    Zhao Luo looked around and unknowingly his group had increased by quite a lot of new faces as many disciples stood behind Feng Mei, Yan, and the others showing respect to them.


    "Guys."


    Zhao Luo looked at them and said. He didn''t know what he was supposed to tell them. Everyone had the same challenge so following him blindly wasn''t a good idea.


    "Don''t worry brother. We respect you and want to see the end of this challenge with you. Even if we fail because of this, we won''t me you."


    The disciples said together. There were around a hundred of them and all of them shared the same thought.


    ''Sigh.''


    Zhao Luo took a breath of relief as he closed his eyes.


    "Be all-embracing."


    Zhao Luo mumbled just to open his eyes and look at them brightly.


    "Then Let''s go."


    Zhao Luo said as his robes fluttered with the dragon road behind him, his handsomeness knew no bound.


    "Amazing."


    The disciples couldn''t help but praise Zhao Luo who looked like a living prince ready to go on a war.


    Zhao Luo turned around and stepped on the dragon road through the mouth of the dragon.


    "Let''s do this."


    Wu Yang told the others as they all followed Zhao Luo.


    "This road...."


    The dragon road felt weird.


    "It''s like sand. No, it''s more like wet cotton."


    Zhao Luo said as they started walking on the road.


    Every step was a hard one. They had to use force just to take each step and the road had just started.


    Zhao Luo walked with a fixed speed such that the footsteps of the other hundred disciples who were keeping up with him created a rhythm that would sound out with every step of hundred strong disciples.


    ''Pit-a-pat, Pit-a-pat, Pit-a-pat.''


    They walked and walked to no end.


    The dragon wasn''t just endless but also wide so wide that a hundred disciples were divided into only two rows which were behind him and the others.


    After hours of walking, everyone had gotten tired. Walking on wet cotton like a road for hours and hours was not an easy task.


    It was even harder than going up on a steep hill.


    This was where their intentions will truly be tested. The reality of the challenge that was following the teaching will start from now on.


    "Will we just be walking like this?"


    "Shouldn''t we pick up our speed to catch up with the earlier group?"


    "If we keep on walking like this, the dragon road will never end."


    This time it wasn''t Wu Yang but the other disciples who had joined them.


    Shouts of disciple started rising from behind them as exhaustion consumed their bodies and fatigue enveloped their minds.


    "Stay Calm and Quiet under pressure."


    Zhao Luo only said one sentence but with a loud enough voice that his voice entered everyone''s ear.


    There was an extraordinary power in Zhao Luo''s voice that helped them get rid of the fatigue that was covering their sanity and the exhaustion of their bodies.


    "What?"


    "I feel better."


    "I was so tired just a moment ago."


    The disciples who were suffering the most after hours of walking eximed as they felt the power behind Zhao Luo''s voice the most.


    But it wasn''t just because of Zhao Luo''s voice.


    This was how the Dragon Road in the Fu Zi Time was devised.


    The one who believed in the teaching and followed it wille to realize changes. Well the others around him will realize these changes in him before he does as he will be practically helping them with it.


    This was what Zhao Luo was doing.


    ''I hate these types of challenges.''


    Zhao Luo told them to stay calm and quiet while he, himself thought otherwise as he kept on walking while leading the other disciples.

 Chapter 99 - Zones

    The walking on the dragon''s road had turned into a pilgrimage as the disciples that Zhao Luo was leading, kept the first teaching, not only in their minds but also in their hearts.


    ''Nobody''sining.''


    Zhao Luo was happily leading them as it had been more than five hours since thest shoutings had started from among the disciples.


    While walking on the dragon road, Zhao Luo had always looked ahead. Never once did he look back.


    Their goal was to reach the end so how could he miss the end by losing his focus. But that was when Zhao Luo saw something weird.


    ''Hmm.''


    Zhao Luo felt something missing.


    The white endless road started to look like a polished one as he looked ahead. That was a surprising thing.


    Zhao Luo looked down just to see the marks of shoes that the disciples who had passed before them had left behind.


    "Other disciples must have walked over there too then why is it so shiny?"


    Zhao Luo mumbled with a confused look on his face.


    Wu Yang who was walking right alongside him also looked ahead after he heard Zhao Luo''s question.


    Then Wu Yang looked down and started raising his vision, dragging it further and further till he discovered the difference between the surfaces of the dragon road, where they were, and the part where the road looked clean and shiny.


    "Indeed. Something''s wrong."


    Wu Yang said while looking at Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo walked with his eyes squinted towards the area where the shiny road started.


    ''Gulp.''


    Zhao Luo felt nervous as he took his first step and entered the shiny area.


    Three stepster, all the disciples behind Zhao Luo had entered this clean zone of the dragon road too.


    That is when they heard an announcement in the voice of Kong Fu Zi.


    "The challenges are to be faced together. Once apanion, always apanion."


    The short announcement ended.


    "Is this part of the teaching? Or just a reminder?"


    Wu Yang asked Zhao Luo with a perplexed look.


    ''Mhmm.''


    Zhao Luo had to think for a moment before he looked at Wu Yang.


    "Let''s proceed first. But if you still want to know my opinion then I will take thetter option."


    Zhao Luo thought that it was a reminder.


    After Zhao Luo''s advice, they all started walking again.


    The temperature around them started rising by a degree. Every ten minutes the temperature would go up by a degree.


    When they had started walking on the dragon road it was around 24-degree Celsius but after entering the clean zone, it rose to 25.


    Zhao Luo and the others hadn''t felt the rising temperature just yet.


    "Let''s pick up our pace."


    Zhao Luo wanted to get out of this area as soon as possible.


    He was missing the footmarks left by the other disciples.


    Zhao Luo and the others with the hundred disciples following behind them stepped faster.


    An hourter on the clean zone of the dragon road.


    "Tap, huff, Tap, huff."


    There were heavy breathing sounds buried beneath the impressive sounds of everyone''s steps.


    "Huff, huff, huff."


    The girls around Zhao Luo and even Mo Lee with Wei Bin were breathing rapidly.


    Zhao Luo still hadn''t slowed down as he was still not challenged to a degree where he would focus on the changes that were simultaneously happening around him.


    "Brother, can we slow down?"


    Feng Mei who had tried her best till now asked Zhao Luo.


    Her only thought was not to burden her brother yet the rising temperature made it hard for her to walk so fast.


    "Let''s slow down a bit."


    Zhao Luo shouted as his voice carried his message to everyone.


    ''Thank God.''


    ''Finally.''


    Many disciples took deep breaths and a smile emerged on their faces.


    Zhao Luo rubbed Feng Mei on the head as they slowed down but still kept on walking.


    Another hourter on the dragon road.


    The temperature had already reached 37 degrees.


    The disciples felt like melting but they never gave up.


    On this damn hot dragon road the person leading them was Zhao Luo.


    His tall standing back was like a wall for them.


    A wall with a big sign that said;


    "Don''t give up."


    Zhao Luo was their hope and also their motivation for them.


    "It''s getting hotter in here."


    Zhao Luo told the others as he was also sweating profusely.


    "You just realized."


    Mite whispered to Zhao Luo.


    "The temperature has been rising for quite a while."


    Mite told Zhao Luo which helped Zhao Luo in realizing something.


    "We need to get out of here fast."


    Zhao Luo who had always been looking ahead ln the dragon road finally looked back.


    His eyes captured everything with just a nce from behind his silver hair.


    "The disciples already look so tired."


    Zhao Luo wondered about their next step.


    ''Do we speed up or continue to go at this pace?''


    It was a hard decision for Zhao Luo to take alone.


    ''Even if they raise their pace the end of this area isn''t anywhere near.''


    ''What if this continued till the end?''


    Zhao Luo felt disheartened for the first time.


    ''Will the disciples following me have to quit?''


    These questions covered Zhao Luo''s mind.


    ''I want to see the end with everyone.''


    Zhao Luo took a decision that he believed with all his might.


    "We continue at this pace."


    Zhao Luo looked ahead and announced.


    "Support each other."


    Zhao Luo couldn''t help them all but if they just helped each other then their burdens would eventually divide.


    After listening to Zhao Luo''s order, the two rows of disciples behind him supported each other and continued on the dragon road.


    After walking for another two hours the torturous temperature which had almost burned their feet and melted their lungs ended.


    "Finally."


    Zhao Luo looked down and he could see the footmarks left behind by the disciples who had gotten on the dragon road before them.


    ''Step.''


    Zhao Luo left the clean zone of the dragon road as he stepped on the footmark of some disciple.


    A momentter when the disciples following him also entered back on the dragon road, an announcement was made.


    "Leading the others rightfully is only the right of someone who is all-embracing."


    The voice of Kong Fu Zi fell on everyone''s ear.


    They all had the same reaction that is everyone was looking at Zhao Luo''s broad and straight back.


    ''So this was the second teaching.''


    "The first part has ended."


    "Companions for life!"


    "Points will be distributed in 3 seconds."


    The announcement continued as a horizontal bar gauge appeared above everyone.


    Zhao Luo looked above his head and looked at the horizontal bar.


    ''It is like a character''s health bar.''


    Zhao Luo thought. He felt like he was a game character.


    Finally, the relic from the Earth was giving him this feeling that he was indeed in a game but everything was too real to consider this all a fame.


    "1"


    "2"


    "3"


    ''Fwooo.''


    Everyone''s bar was a quarter filled with green light as they could feel their exhaustion fading away.


    Except for Zhao Luo''s bar which was already half-filled.


    "Interesting."


    Zhao Luo blurted out after seeing the bar being half-filled andparing it to other bars above the disciples around him.


    "Does this mean I have already mastered the two of the three teachings?"


    Zhao Luo questioned himself while looking at the bar.


    ''I have indeed been calm and quite passionate since the start.''


    Zhao Luo nodded and praised himself.


    If Fu Zi could hear him then he would have definitely returned Zhao Luo''s bar which was 50 percent filled to 0. But thankfully he didn''t.


    "Let''s continue, there is still a long way ahead of us."


    Zhao Luo dered openly as there was no end to the dragon road, for now.


    "Yes."


    "We will follow Brother Zhao Luo to the end."


    "Zhao Luo."


    "Zhao Luo."


    Many disciples started shouting Zhao Luo''s name, boosting him up.


    Some were even making ims about how they have fallen for Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo kept a poker face while hearing the disciples praise him and boost him while there was a party going on inside his mind.


    ''Hehehe, indeed being handsome and talented sure is hard and gruesome.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he started walking with Wu Yang, Feng Mei, and the others while the row of the disciples followed him.


    An hourter as they walked on the dragon road calmly and steadily, Zhao Luo and the disciples had entered another Zone.


    "Halt."


    Zhao Luo shouted with a focused face as he looked ahead.


    He was really acting like a general of an army that had a hundred strong warriors.


    While the disciples acted instantly and disyed better obedience than a well-disciplined army.


    Another announcement had started as everyone had stopped inside the second zone.


    "Show your choices, Sacrificepanions to save innocent people or leave the innocent people to keep yourpanions save."


    The announcement came from Kong Fu Zi.


    But this was just the first part to clear the zone.


    "Each life you save, a coin will be rewarded to you and a point will be added in the bar."


    The announcement ended suddenly as the end had reached.


    The fog descended on the dragon road.


    It was so thick that Zhao Luo couldn''t see ahead but he could see the disciples that were following him.


    "So it''s a game of abandonment."


    Zhao Luo said with a weary look.

 Chapter 100 - Defeating The Monwolf

    Zhao Luo walked through the thick fog as the other disciples followed behind him in two rows.


    The dragon road felt creepy and treacherous as the fog was sealing their sight.


    ''Rumble.''


    The dragon road started shaking as a sound of impact passed through the Dragon Road to Zhao Luo''s group.


    Zhao Luo raised his hand and stopped.


    "Somethingsing. Brace yourself."


    Zhao Luo ordered them as he squinted his eyes to look ahead.


    ''Thump.''


    ''Thump.''


    ''Thump.''


    ''What is it?''


    Zhao Luo questioned as he still couldn''t see anything that could have resulted in the earlier impact. His heart was beating rapidly.


    ''Juste already.''


    Zhao Luo wished before his nervousness would kill him.


    ''Ahhhh.''


    A shrill scream echoed through the dense fog. It was heard by Zhao Luo and the hundred disciples behind him.


    The next moment a female dwarf entered the area around them. Her face was covered with blood while her clothes had been ripped apart in many ces.


    Zhao Luo stared into the diluted eyes of that dwarf and felt uneasy after seeing her condition.


    The dwarf looked like she would lose her consciousness anytime.


    Zhao Luo was just four steps away.


    ''Tap, Tap.''


    the dwarf barely took the two steps from the four, towards Zhao Luo before she started falling.


    ''Grab.''


    Zhao Luo leaped at the female dwarf and held her in his hand.


    He helped her bnce herself and catch a breath.


    Zhao Luo then crouched down and patted her shoulder.


    "Are you okay?"


    Zhao Luo asked her as politely and calmly as he could.


    The dwarf who looked like she had already gone through a lot looked at Zhao Luo''s handsome face and couldn''t keep her tears inside.


    "Bwahaaaa."


    She started cried as she hugged Zhao Luo with all her strength.


    "You are so handsome. Bwahaha"


    The female dwarf said as her grip tightened so much that Zhao Luo''s face was turning red.


    It wasn''t because he was shy or embarrassed.


    Thanks to the dwarf''s hug lock around Zhao Luo''s neck, the oxygen in his body was denied ess to go through his neck and travel towards his mouth and brain.


    ''Is this still a game?''


    Zhao Luo wondered as he pulled away from the female dwarf finally letting some oxygen go through his neck.


    "It''s okay. I will help you. Tell me what happened to you?"


    Zhao Luo didn''t forget to follow the teachings of the Fu Zi as he assured this female dwarf before asking her some questions.


    "Th-there is a be-beast who k-killed my whole f-family and is ch-chasing after m-me too."


    The female dwarf hardly delivered her sentence as she couldn''t stop stuttering.


    ''She is cute.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he looked at the female dwarf who looked vulnerable right now and just wanted someone to help her.


    ''Did they make her like this so we would bepelled to help her?''


    Zhao Luo questioned the developer of the Fu Zi time who had arranged such intense interactions.


    "If I help you, I will be putting mypanions in danger too."


    Zhao Luo told the female dwarf.


    "But if they agree to it then we will help you together."


    Zhao Luo told her with a smile on his face.


    After which he turned around to look at his friends and the other disciples behind them.


    "You have already heard it. So tell me, will you help her even if it means putting your life on the line?"


    Zhao Luo announced as his gaze passed over everyone.


    Wu Yang and the others that were in Zhao Lup''s group didn''t even batter eyes as they would do whatever Zhao Luo will tell them.


    This question was delivered to the hundred disciples that were looking at Zhao Luo and the female dwarf.


    Most of these disciples were males leaving out the twenty female disciples.


    All the male disciples that are eighty disciples shouted together.


    "We will help her even if it means putting our lives on the line."


    They all shouted with all their might.


    With the majority of the hundred disciples supporting the disciples, the female disciples didn''t mind and also nodded together.


    ''Guess they found her cute too.''


    Zhao Luo thought and smiled as he turned around to look at the female dwarf.


    Zhao Luo raised his fist upwards.


    "Let''s go feast on the beast."


    Zhao Luo shouted as Wu Yang and Mite smiled while looking at the charisma that was oozing out of Zhao Luo.


    Feng Mei was also happy as she would be helping this dwarf. Only Yan looked a little soar.


    "Does he like her?"


    She murmured while looking at Zhao Luo who had started walking side by side with the female dwarf.


    ''Look at him smiling.''


    ''Hmph.''


    Yan saw the gleaming smile on Zhao Luo''s face and turned her face ahead.


    While Zhao Luo had different thoughts rampaging in his head.


    ''Woohooo, more points. If I save her with the others, will everyone get a coin?''


    Zhao Luo rubbed his chin while celebrating the points that he will be earning soon by helping this dwarf.


    "Aaaooogaaa."


    After walking through the dense fog for a while Zhao Luo and the others heard the weirdest howling sound ever.


    "A monkey? Or a wolf?"


    Zhao Luo mumbled as the sound was still echoing around them.


    The dense fog was sted away from around them as a beast appeared in their sight.


    It was indeed as Zhao Luo had predicted.


    "A wolf''s upper half with a monkey''s legs."


    Zhao Luo described the beast as rubbed his eyes.


    <Monwolf>


    The name of the beast was shining above its head and there was a red bar under its shining name.


    Zhao Luo was still quite shocked by this beast of someone''s imagination. If he could, he wanted to wash his eyes with a powerful detergent as the beast in front of them had exceeded the word ''ugly''.


    "This beast can kill us with just his looks."


    Zhao Luo unconsciously praised the beast''s look loudly as he looked over its grey fur and big body.


    "AOOOGAA."


    The beast was enraged because of Zhao Luo''splement and jumped towards them like a monkey.


    "Dodge towards the sides."


    Zhao Luo gave amand which the disciples acted on instantly.


    The distance of 50 feet was covered by this Monwolf in a merely short time of few seconds.


    ''Swoosh.''


    Zhao Luo pulled out his Ifrit and ckey from his storage space and waited to brace the impact of the beast''s attack.


    The disciples were watching Zhao Luo from the sides.


    Wu Yang and the others had also stepped away for this moment as Zhao Luo had told them.


    The beast''s sharp and big wsnded on Zhao Luo''s swords.


    "Wood Drop."


    Zhao Luo shouted as the beast ws came in contact with Ifrit and ckey.


    ''ng, ng.''


    Sparks flew out of the point of collision as Zhao Luo was dragged back on the Dragon road by the Monwolf.


    ''Screeeee.''


    A screeching sound followed them as Zhao Luo kept on stopping the ws of the beast reaching his head thanks to his swords.


    "Eat this."


    Zhao Luo pushed himself away from the ws of the beast before pulling back his swords.


    "Dual Burst Drop."


    Zhao Luo shouted as he stopped himself and pushed his legs back on the dragon road while bringing down both Ifrit and ckey down on its head.


    Bang!


    "Aoooogaaaa."


    The beast cried as he was thrown away by the impact of Zhao Luo''s swords.


    "Uff."


    Zhao Luo also moaned in pain as both of his hands were throbbing.


    "This beast...is sturdy."


    Zhao Luo realized that the beast didn''t only have his looks for the attack. It had the strength to push him so far and a good defense too.


    The beast who was licking the dirt on the dragon road got up and looked at Zhao Luo.


    "One attack to reduce his health bar by half. Guess the next attack will end him."


    Zhao Luo said to himself as he looked at the red bar above the Monwolf''s head.


    Zhao Luo tightened his grip around his swords and plunged at the beast.


    "Aoogaa."


    The beast howled as his fur changed to red.


    Zhao Luo looked at the red color of the beast and hardly controlled himself fromughing.


    "Screaming and changing hair color. What next? Will your hair start growing?"


    Zhao Luo shouted at it while closing the distance between them.


    To his shock, the beast looked at him as if Zhao Luo''s taunt was right.


    "Awooooogaaaaaaa."


    The Monwolf howled again as his fur hair started growing and glowing.


    "Are you a Saiyajin?"


    Zhao Luo questioned the beast while bringing down his swords.


    "Multiple shes."


    Zhao Luo shouted as the beast was still undergoing his transformation.


    ''This is real life. No one waits for their enemy to finish transforming.''


    Zhao Luo thought with a grin as Ifrit and ckey left multiple gashes on the beast''s body.


    Zhao Luo didn''t stop there.


    Right afternding on the ground, Zhao Lup started spinning with his swords.


    "Burst Judgement."


    Combining the fiery nature of the burst sh with the spinning technique of his favorite game character, Zhao Luo sliced through the beast mercilessly.


    ''Boom.''


    The tragic beast fell before he could evenplete his transformation.


    His red bar dropped to zero as it was empty now.


    "Easy."


    Zhao Luo said with a smirk disregarding his cheap blow.

 Chapter 101 - Distributing The Coins

    A while ago when Zhao Luo was fighting the beast, Monwolf alone, the disciples were spectating from a short distance.


    They stayed at their ce not willing to get closer to the beast while Zhao Luo was dealing with it.


    Then they saw a huge ck fiery tornado rising from where Zhao Luo was as he closed in on the giant Monwolf.


    They all started moving towards Zhao Luo as this was the most important characteristic of his technique, Burst Judgement.


    "Brother."


    Many screamed while watching Zhao Luo slice through the beast with his swords that looked sharper than the ws of the beast and faster than light itself.


    The beast was brought down by Zhao Luo''s shy technique which had attracted all the disciples around him.


    Wei Bin and Mo Lee who were quite enchanted by Zhao Luo''s technique ran up to him.


    "Brother Zhao Luo, you have to teach us this technique."


    They begged Zhao Luo while inspecting his mesmerizing words.


    Zhao Luo who was standing next to the chopped head of the beast, smiled while listening to their pleas.


    "I will teach you this technique once we return."


    Zhao Luo promised them as he ced his hands on their shoulder.


    Wei Bin and Mo Lee faced each other with a delightful look in their eyes.


    Zhao Luo slipped past them his two future students and walked towards the female dwarf who was looking at him with a stunned expression etched on her pretty face.


    "Handsome and Strong."


    The dwarf said as Zhao Luo came to sand in front of her.


    ''I saved her and..''


    Zhao Luo looked at the disciples who were all well and calm.


    ''...didn''t have to sacrifice any of them. This takes care of the second challenge.''


    Zhao Luo thought in his mind as he waited for the announcement.


    The beast which was supposed to be a challenging task for these disciples turned out to be a kindergarten task for Zhao Luo.


    "Thank you for defeating that beast. Thank you so much for avenging my dwarf tribe. Thank you for saving me."


    The female dwarf grabbed Zhao Luo''s hands and started thanking him repeatedly till he stopped her.


    "It''s okay. I would have to fight it anyway."


    Zhao Luo told her with a glow on his face.


    He didn''t look tired at all after defeating a beast that was four times his size.


    The female dwarf looked like she was over the moon while holding her prince charming''s hand.


    She took out a leather pouch from under her clothes and ced it on Zhao Luo''s hands.


    "I will go now. I will hope for your good luck and that, you can reach the end of this road."


    She whispered to Zhao Luo while bidding her farewell.


    After which she passed Zhao Luo and started walking on the dragon road towards the opposite direction, that is where Zhao Luo and the others had started their journey from.


    ''She is going towards the start of the dragon road.''


    Zhao Luo remembered the dragon''s mouth when he had stepped on the dragon road.


    "Has it already been 15 hours since we started walking?"


    Zhao Luo questioned as he couldn''t keep the track of time. He looked at his legs which couldn''t feel any better as he didn''t even a shred of fatigue present in his legs.


    Zhao Luo''s eyes moved back on the pouch as Wu Yang, Mite, Feng Mei, Yan, Su Shi, Wei Bin, and Mo Lee gathered around him while a hundred disciples had also moved back in their positions.


    Zhao Luo turned around to look at two rows of the disciples.


    Then he went towards the top of the leather pouch left behind by the female dwarf who had gone her way leaving them here on the dragon road.


    ''What if it''s a single coin? Who should I give it to? Or should I just take it myself?''


    Zhao Luo wondered as he pulled open the thread on top of the leather pouch.


    Zhao Luo looked inside the pouch just to find out an endless space inside it.


    Shine!


    There was an enormous shine where he was looking at.


    "A pile of gold coins."


    Zhao Luo said as he turned around the pouch and shook it which caused the gold coins to flow out of it.


    "Ting, Ting, Ting...."


    They fell one after another.


    After shaking the pouch a few times, the pouch was finally empty.


    Wu Yang had picked up a total of 107 gold coins.


    The number of gold coins was just one less than that of all the disciples in the foggy zone.


    "Distribute these gold coins."


    Zhao Luo told Wu Yang after taking out 7 of the gold coins which hade out of the pouch.


    "Everyone will get a single gold coin."


    Zhao Luo announced as Wu Yang started giving out a gold coin to each disciple.


    The 2 of the remaining 7 gold coins were given to Feng Mei and Wei Bin first as they were the youngest of the group.


    Then the other two to Yan and Su Shi.


    Zhao Luo had three coins left as he gave each of those three to Mo Lee, Mite, and Wu Yang who had returned after giving a coin to the other disciples.


    After getting a coin, everyone looked d but more than being satisfied after getting a coin they were impressed by the chivalrous nature of Zhao Luo.


    He had defeated the beast alone so even if he kept all the coins for himself they wouldn''t haveined at all but he didn''t do that.


    ''Instead, he gave all of us a coin.''


    All the disciples shared the same thought for the guy who was leading them on the dragon road.


    They looked at Zhao Luo who was standing in a closely packed circle with Wu Yang and the others. It looked like they were discussing something important.


    ''What could they be talking about?''


    Some disciples who noticed the circle and the faces of Wu Yang and Mite thought.


    "I told you, take these coins."


    Wu Yang said to Zhao Luo with an angry tone.


    "Yes, brother you defeated the beast solo and distributed all the coins from the pouch that the dwarf had given to you. I feel bad keeping this coin when you don''t have one."


    Wei Bin told Zhao Luo. He was being sincere.


    The others also voiced their opinions, telling Zhao Luo to take their coin.


    "Guys."


    Zhao Luo said while looking at them seriously.


    He felt touched by their reaction.


    ''It''s just a coin.''


    Zhao Luo thought while going through everyone''s reaction.


    "I don''t need a coin when I have you all."


    Zhao Luo told them as he raised his arms.


    He was smiling which caused the others around him to be even more touched with his statement.


    "Brother."


    Feng Mei hugged Zhao Luo.


    "You are the best."


    Feng Mei whispered while letting him go.


    Mite was also quite touched by Zhao Luo''s benevolent nature.


    He felt stupid that he had tried to kill such a guy before.


    "It''s okay everyone. Check your bars."


    Zhao Luo changed the topic by telling everyone to check their bar gauges which were floating above their heads.


    He was loud enough so that the other disciples could also hear him.


    The red quirk had increased to make the bar look half-filled.


    "Is it around 90%?"


    Zhao Luo murmured as his bar was almost close to reaching the limit.


    After the disciples were done inspecting their bars, Zhao Luo started walking ahead on the dragon road.


    "Let''s go. We have already cleared this zone."


    Zhao Luo said to them as they followed behind him.


    This time the female dwarf had given the rewards instead of an announcement from Fu Zi.


    "Three teachings, two challenges."


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he thought about the events that had happened to them since they had entered this world.


    Fu Zi had told them about the three teachings to be a superior person.


    It wasn''t that easy as they had to reach the end of the road while acting on those teachings. Only then will they be a ''superior person''.


    "The two challenges. Companions and Sacrifice."


    Zhao Luo wondered while walking on the dragon.


    ''What is the connection?''


    Zhao Luo had this question.


    There may be the teachings that he had to remember but in the second challenge, nobody was sacrificed. The other disciples had helped each other in clearing the first challenge.


    ''Am I even turning into a righteous person?''


    Zhao Luo was confused while a war was going on in his mind.


    Zhao Luo walked on the dragon road and soon they had left the zone which was covered by the fog.


    "Finally."


    The group eximed as their vision was finally cleared because there was no fog covering the dragon road anymore.


    Zhao Luo looked far ahead on the dragon road.


    "It''s gotten thicker there."


    Zhao Luo said in confusion as the road ahead was inclined upwards and the area of the dragon road looked twice as the area they were on.


    The size up there could easily hold five hundred disciples in a row.


    "That''s a change."


    Zhao Luo squinted his eyes while staring at that area and increased his speed.

 Chapter 102 - 200 Disciples

    ''Tap, Tap.''


    Zhao Luo was barely keeping himself calm while walking on the dragon road towards the expanded area right ahead of them.


    "What will be the next challenge?"


    Zhao Luo wondered as the dragon road kept on rising.


    "Huff, Huff."


    The disciples behind Zhao Luo were hardly keeping up with him


    It was like they were climbing a mountain. The dragon road was going up like a staircase that was missing its stairs.


    "Don''t give up now. We are almost there."


    Zhao Luo announced in a loud and mighty voice.


    After hearing Zhao Luo telling them to keep up with him, the disciples had found this conviction that gave them strength, thus they kept up with him.


    After an hour of walking while being exhausted, Zhao Luo was still calm but his eyes shined with confusion.


    "It''s still right ahead of us but why can''t we reach it?"


    Zhao Luo questioned the situation.


    The expanded area of the dragon road looked nothing more than a few hundred meters away from them.


    While Zhao Luo with the disciples had covered more than 10 kilometers in thest hour yet they still hadn''t reached it.


    ''Should we stop?''


    Zhao Luo had to make a choice.


    ''They need a break too.''


    Zhao Luo was worried for the disciples behind him.


    Zhao Luo stopped causing the small army marching behind him to stop too.


    "Let''s stop for now. Rest for some minutes. Then we will resume the journey."


    Zhao Luo turned around and told them the good news.


    The disciples looked happy as their legs gave out and they sat on the ground for the time being.


    Zhao Luo turned to look forward again. He stood straight while holding his hands behind his back. He was thinking about the situation.


    ''Why couldn''t we reach it?''


    Zhao Luo still wondered.


    During the time he was busy thinking about this matter, his bar had gone through another increase.


    It was just a single point away from bing full but Zhao Luo hadn''t noticed the change.


    He hadn''t realized that he hadpleted a hidden test on the dragon zone.


    After the ten minutes mark passed, the disciples got up on their own before Zhao Luo could even say anything to them.


    They didn''t want to be a burden on someone who was already leading them.


    ''They look better than before.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he turned around to look at the disciples. His decision was indeed the better one.


    "Let''s reach that ce."


    Zhao Luo shouted as he raised his arm and pointed his finger at the expanded area of the dragon road.


    "YES."


    The disciples shouted with their all.


    Zhao Luo smiled as he could feel their energy entering him too.


    ''Tap, Tap.''


    He started walking towards the area again.


    The steep road which would look like a vertical line to someone looked from afar was a hard road to walk on.


    But the disciples behind Zhao Lup followed him without question. That went for Wu Yang and the others too. Even Feng Mei never disturbed her brother.


    They were here toplete a challenge. So no one from among them treated this as a family trip.


    Thus everyone walked behind Zhao Lup while matching their speed with his.


    After a while.


    ''Finally.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he had reached the ce of the dragon road''s expansion.


    After walking forward, he realized the dragon road was still going on and passed through a cloud above which nothing was visible.


    ''There must be something behind it.''


    Zhao Luo could guess as he looked in the front and a little far away, the thousands of disciples were gathered there.


    "Everyone''s here."


    Zhao Luo said as the others behind him also entered this expanded zone of the dragon road.


    From here on the dragon zone was twice as bigger as before and the road ahead was quite long but at some point, it turned into a steep road again that went upwards towards the cloud.


    Zhao Luo walked towards the disciples who had gathered in this zone before him.


    "What took you so long?"


    The disciples sensing the arrival of Zhao Luo and his group said to them in an angry tone.


    "What?"


    Zhao Luo was stunned for a moment as he soon realized that the road ahead was blocked by two gates.


    "The World isn''t fair to everyone. Is it the World''s fault or the ones who are ruling it?"


    Fu Zi''s voice rang out as a melodious tone filled the area.


    The tone was tragic as if a story contained an unparalleled sadness.


    ''Another setting means another challenge.''


    Zhao Luo knew that another task wasing cause that is how the games were designed.


    "The fault lies with the Rulers but they will never ept such an answer. THUS, only the deserving one will pass through the gates so the undeserving will never cause unrest in the Heavens."


    Fu Zi''s announcement stopped for a while.


    Then a column appeared on the door.


    [ 7124/200 ]


    It was bright enough that caused everyone to focus on it as they could once again hear the announcement.


    The ''7124'' was the total number of disciples in this zone.


    "The eternity is a passing aspect of life. But a life without death is a mockery of the heavens. Yet only the superior person deserves to mock the heavens. Thus the remaining 200 disciples will get a chance at eternity."


    Kong Fu Zi''sst wordnded on their ears as everyone jumped away from the other.


    "It''s a battle royale now."


    Zhao Luo murmured as he realized what was happening. They had to bring the that huge number down to 200. Amazing turnaround.


    The old man kept on spouting out some top-ss ''BS'' and ended it with a ''kick others out to proceed''.


    ''Crack, Crank.''


    Zhao Luo tightened his fists as a brawl had already started in front of them.


    Zhao Luo may have been right for most of the part but there was one thing that he was wrong about.


    It was that nothing was bullshit and everything was connected to what thisst challenge was all about.


    "Ahhh."


    A disciple shouted as he was thrown off the dragon road by another disciple.


    A whileter.


    Multiple screams were echoing around the dragon road as the disciples were falling off the dragon road like crops falling in a basket.


    For some reason, Zhao Luo had yet to be attacked by anyone and he wasn''t cruel enough to attack someone first.


    ''Sigh.''


    Zhao Luo looked at his tightened fist and eximed.


    "Why is no one attacking me?"


    Zhao Luo mumbled with a displeasing look on his face.


    It isn''t like he wanted to bully the other disciples but just watching wasn''t fun.


    "Haha."


    Wu Yang and the others couldn''t help butugh while looking at Zhao Luo''s reaction.


    "It''s because of me and my muscles. That way they are bringing it on between just themselves."


    Mite told Zhao Luo with a cheeky look on his face.


    "Indeed, I will just wait here under the shadows of our great senior mite."


    Zhao Luo said as his group was also here with him.


    Mite couldn''t help but look away as he felt embarrassed. He intended to joke so Zhao Luo wouldn''t feel bad about not being attacked by anyone. He wasn''t bragging around but looks like his joke missed.


    In the trainee hall, who was stronger than Zhao Luo now?


    Nobody could defeat a senior like Mite yet he had.


    No one could stand up to an inner disciple especially not the psychopathic one, Zi Fei, yet Zhao Luo did.


    So the disciples sorted it out between themselves.


    Their bars weren''t even half full like the bars of the disciples in Zhao Luo''s group.


    Not even a single disciple in Zhao Luo''s group was attacked.


    Their 108 spots were already confirmed as Zhao Luo with Wu Yang, Mite, Feng Mei, Yan, Su Shi, Mo Lee, and Wei Bin were standing a little away from the door.


    Zhao Luo had his hands behind his back as he spectated the show.


    Then behind him were a hundred disciples standing in a disciplined manner.


    [ 208/200 ]


    The number showed their count above the door.


    "100 of them are left."


    Zhao Luo looked at the hundred disciples standing in the middle facing each other.


    They may even be stronger than the disciples who were standing behind him.


    But what could he do?


    The one behind him was hispanions while the one in front of him was angry at him for taking so long to reach this zone.


    [ 201/200 ]


    Thest ''extra'' disciple was left.


    "Ahhh."


    Another shout rang out causing the counter to drop by one more.


    [ 200/200 ]


    The next minute only 92 disciples were left from the thousands of disciples that had entered the dragon road.


    "Their journey ended while our continues once again."


    Zhao Luo said as he turned around and walked ahead of the hundred disciples who were standing behind him as they made way for him.


    The 92 disciples who were left also joined with the others.


    "Creak~"


    The doors opened slowly while making an old wood noise.


    "Let''s go."


    Zhao Luo said as he squinted his eyes.


    ''Tap, Tap.''


    Zhao Luo started walking as 199 disciples followed behind him.


    This may just be thest hurdle that they had to face on this journey, The Dragon Road.

 Chapter 103 - The Final Zone

    Zhao Luo passed the door with Wu Yang, Mite, and the others.


    There were 192 trainee disciples following behind him without a question in their minds.


    "What wille next?"


    Zhao Luo wondered as he looked ahead on the dragon road. Zhao Luo''s gaze went right towards the point where the Dragon Road was passing through the clouds.


    The point where the dragon road disappeared into the clouds looked close but at the same time, it wasn''t. It was an illusion. The distance between that area of the Dragon Road and Zhao Luo was unfathomable.


    After walking at a normal pace for five hours straight, the distance between Zhao Luo''s group and the area in question where Zhao Luo was looking remained the same.


    Zhao Luo closed his right hand to make a fist and tightened it as he was feeling a sense of frustration looming over him.


    "Phew, calm and quiet. Calm and Quiet."


    Zhao Luo repeated the teaching of Fu Zi as he was so close to what may just be the end of the Dragon road.


    Zhao Luo''s anger was visible to the others around him.


    ''Tap.''


    Feng Mei instinctively grabbed the left hand of Zhao Luo with her small right hand. Her action was fast as a sound was released when their palms came in contact.


    She couldn''t bear to see Zhao Luo''s frustrated face.


    "..."


    Zhao Luo looked at Feng Mei and saw the direction of her eyes. They were still set on thest visible area of the dragon road.


    The gentleness of Feng Mei''s soft hand calmed him down instantly as a smile emerged on his face.


    "Let''s speed up."


    Zhao Luo ordered loudly in a majestic tone. He was shouting at the disciples behind him but it was in a respectful manner.


    "Tap, Tap."


    "Tap, Tap, Tap, Tap."


    The disciples also matched with Zhao Luo''s speed as their steps became louder and more consecutive.


    All the disciples were walking behind Zhao Luo so perfectly and in such a disciplined manner that their footsteps would end in a single beat while matching with Zhao Luo''s.


    After a while.


    The scenery around the dragon road kept ln changing.


    ''It''s getting bigger.''


    Zhao Luo realized.


    The dragon road was expanding again. The road ahead was getting bigger slowly as he continued on it.


    Before the dragon road was continuously a long incline road so he knew before but now since they were walking straight, Zhao Luo never knew that there was another zone before the area which was not visible after passing through the clouds.


    "Tap, Tap."


    Zhao Luo slowed down as something appeared on the side of the road which had stunned him.


    "A tree."


    Zhao Luo said as a tree appeared on the right side of the dragon road.


    Soon there were trees everywhere on the road.


    "A forest."


    Zhao Luo understood what was going on as he walked past a tree.


    "Stay close to each other."


    Zhao Luo told the other disciples.


    There were so many trees that they had to go around them thus disrupting their charge.


    Thud!


    Thud!


    THUD!


    After entering the forest, they walked straight for some minutes passing many trees till that moment.


    Some disturbing noises were heard by Zhao Luo''s group which wasing from their surrounding.


    Zhao Luo stopped in his tracks while raising his arm and waving his hand gesturing to the others behind to stop too.


    Feng Mei who was behind Zhao Luo looked at his worried face.


    "Brother....''


    Feng Mei stopped because of Zhao Luo who had his index finger on her lips.


    ''Nod''


    Feng Mei nodded as she understood Zhao Luo''s action and looked at where Zhao Luo was looking at.


    ''Is someone fighting?''


    Zhao Luo wondered as he slipped towards the area where the noise of metals hitting the ground wasing out from.


    The other disciples also walked closer to the sounds as the sounds kept on getting louder.


    "Those beasts..."


    Zhao Luo came next to a tree and looked from behind it and saw what was happening.


    "Monwolf. Many at that."


    There were smaller versions of the monwolf that he had fought scattered everywhere around the forest.


    Zhao Luo saw those monwolves who were as tall as him and had a big metal club in their hand.


    But the beasts weren''t alone.


    There were so many of those mini monwolves chasing after dwarves who were just trying to run for their lives.


    "I have to save them."


    Zhao Luo said as he rushed towards them from behind the tree.


    Zhao Luo had leaped towards the mini monwolf closest to him.


    He came in between the dwarf who was running for his life and the monwolf while taking out his sword.


    "Ifrit."


    Zhao Luo shouted as he brought Ifrit out.


    ''ng.''


    A metal banging sound came out as he blocked the club of the mini monwolf with Ifrit.


    "Swoosh."


    Zhao Luo was pushed back a little as he wasn''t prepared.


    The size of the monwolf was smaller but its strength was almost simr to the giant monwolf that Zhao Luo had fought before.


    "Help him."


    Wu Yang announced as he also came forward to fight the mini monwolves.


    The other disciples followed Wu Yang''s track and jumped into the battle area too.


    Nobody had noticed that up in the sky right above them there was a line floating.


    [ Final Zone ]


    The garden area was theirst test which was rted to the third teaching.


    Above the skies, there was a bald man who stood straight and had his hands folded around his chest.


    "Have the courage to act right."


    The man who was spectating the remaining disciples said while his gaze would move along a certain individual.


    Back on the [ Zone 4 ].


    "Yaaa."


    Zhao Luo who was fighting a monwolf shed it in half with Ifrit.


    "Thank you, savior."


    The dwarf who was behind Zhao Luo said to him as he bowed down while looking at his back.


    Zhao Luo couldn''t hear the dwarf as he was solely focused on looking around as a big battle had broken out in the forest.


    The disciples who had followed him were fighting the monwolves.


    "They can take care of it."


    Zhao Luo believed in them as most of the disciples were fighting a two versus one battle.


    Two disciples on almost every monwolf.


    While lone disciples like Mite, Wu Yang, Wei Bin, Su Shi, Yan, and Mo Lee were handling a monwolf alone.


    Even Feng Mei was faring off well against a monwolf alone.


    "There."


    Zhao Luo focused deep in the forest as two dwarves were running from a monwolf who was well equipped with metal armor and his spikey club was bigger than the rest of the monwolves.


    "ckey."


    Zhao Luo pulled put ckey from his storage too as he fell forward while bending his knees.


    Zhao Luo lowered his center of gravity.


    Boom!


    Zhao Luo pushed his legs on the dragon road andunched himself towards that Monwolf. He was a foot above the ground as he shed towards the target.


    Two thick trees were blocking his way but he had no time to go past them as the Monwolf was closing in on the dwarves.


    "sh, sh."


    Thud!


    Zhao Luo shed the two trees in half and passed through them.


    The monwolf had already reached the dwarves as his lower half was that of a monkey while the dwarves had small legs.


    "Guuu~"


    The monwolf roared as he brought down his big club on the dwarves.


    If the monwolf that Zhao Luo had killed previously was a mini then this one was a boss.


    "Wood Drop."


    Zhao Luo shouted the name of his technique as he appeared between the Monwolf''s club and the two dwarves that were still running for their lives with their short legs.


    ''ng''


    ''ng''


    With the first collision, Zhao Luo stopped the club with ifrit.


    With the second collision of the wood drop, Zhao Luo pushed the club weapon of the monwolf back as his feet touched the dragon road.


    "Burst Judgement."


    Zhao Luo shouted as he started spinning with his swords.


    ''Ting, Ting.''


    *Spark*


    The swords shed with the thick armor which was protecting the body of this monwolf.


    But Zhao Luo wasn''t done.


    ''Ting, Ting, Ting.''


    Zhao Luo kept ln spinning like a tornado as both Ifrit and ckeynded on the armor of the Monwolf.


    ''Creeaaakk.''


    The monwolf was being pushed back continuously while Zhao Luo''s swords kept on leaving shes on his armor.


    Zhao Luo stopped as he pulled his arms back whilst his head was spinning like a Beyde.


    "Dual Burst Drop."


    Zhao Luo shouted as he brought down both Ifrit and ckey simultaneously while pushing his left leg on the dragon road and bending the knee of his right leg.


    "sh."


    The monwolf was shed in three as his swords sliced apart both his shoulders.


    ''Gush.''


    The blood of the monwolf came out like a tsunami and covered Zhao Luo''s purple robe and his handsome face.


    After killing the boss of the Monwolf, Zhao Luo turned around to look at the two dwarves who were also staring at him.


    Zhao Luo showed them a big grin.


    "Are you guys okay?"


    Zhao Luo asked them while showing them his teeth as the blood of the monwolf covered his face.


    He looked nothing less than a psychopathic killer with that bloody face and the handsome smile.


    "Ahhhh."


    One of the dwarfs couldn''t help it as he screamed with his all before he fainted because of the beauty of this human in front of him.


    "Th-Thank You, Sir."


    While the other trembled as he bowed.

 Chapter 104 - Clearing The Final Zone

    "It''s okay. I would have killed this beast anyways."


    Zhao Luo told the dwarf who was still shivering while looking down.


    ''Aw, he must still be in a shock because of this damned monwolf.''


    Zhao Luo cursed at the beast.


    The dwarf was shivering because of Zhao Luo but he hadn''t realized that yet.


    ''Tap, Tap.''


    Zhao Luo walked towards the dwarves and looked at the dwarf who had passed out earlier.


    The dwarves were small and ording to Zhao Luo they looked ''cute''.


    ''How dare these Monwolves attack them?''


    Zhao Luo was angrier than ever.


    He wanted to kill everyst one of these monwolves around the forest.


    Zhao Luo bent his body and pushed his legs.


    "Take care of your friend."


    Zhao Luo told the dwarf as he ran towards another monwolf.


    ''Woosh.''


    Zhao Luo passed the dwarves with such a huge burst that the dwarves got a free hairstyle blow because of him.


    Back where the battle was going on.


    When Zhao Luo had rushed deep into the forest, the disciples who were fighting the monwolves kept on pushing them back till they killed them.


    Wu Yang had also killed two already but nobody had seen him fight yet.


    While Mite, Mo Lee, Yan, Su Shi, and Yan had also killed a monwolf alone.


    ''Huff.''


    "I never asked for your help."


    Feng Mei angrily told Wei Bin.


    Wei Bin had tied his score with Wu Yang as he had killed a monwolf solo just to jump in Feng Mei''s fight who was being pushed around b the beast.


    "Sorry."


    Wei Bin didn''t argue with Feng Mei even though he had done the right thing.


    "Umm, Thank you."


    Feng Mei shyly thanked Wei Bin as her anger had faded already.


    ''...''


    Wei Bin couldn''t even keep looking at Feng Mei as she looked too cute for him to handle.


    "Let''s help others."


    Wei Bin changed the topic as there were many fights between the disciples and the monwolves which were still ongoing in the forest.


    On the other end of the forest where Zhao Luo had rushed of earlier.


    ''ng.''


    "Ahhh."


    A disciple cried out as the metal club of the monwolf smashed his left arm.


    "Bastard."


    ''Swoosh.''


    The disciple swung his sword from his right hand at the monwolf trying to kill it.


    Boom!


    Unfortunately, his sword passed through mid-air but didn''t hit the monwolf who had already jumped on a tree.


    The beast had used his monkey legs to evade the attack and jump on the tree.


    This monwolf was the trickiest among all the beasts in the forest.


    He was using his surrounding smartly while jumping and leaping at the disciples to attack them with its metal club.


    Since the start, there were around 150 monwolf in the forest.


    Many disciples were taking on monwolves in a group of two.


    There was not a single group who had lost to the monwolf as a group except this one.


    The two disciples who were fighting it had already been injured many times.


    "Come down, ahhhh."


    One of the disciples screamed again.


    He was the one whose arm had just been smashed by the monwolf.


    ''Creak.''


    The monwolf smirked at the disciple as he leaped at this disciple from the tree branch while swinging its club right at the disciple.


    This disciple was named ling, Hong Ling.


    Hong ling could move his left arm as he raised his sword which was only supported by his right arm to block the club of the monwolf.


    ''ng.''


    Bang!


    Hong Ling couldn''t bear the force of the beast club as he was thrown backward and fell on the ground.


    ''Hah.''


    ''Hah.''


    ''Wasnt this supposed to be a test? Then why do I feel like I am going to be killed by this stupid beast?''


    Hong Ling wondered.


    It was even hard for him to breathe as he looked at the disciple who he had grouped up with to fight this monwolf.


    ''He is gone....''


    That disciple''s body has already vanished when Hong Ling looked for him with his half-closed eyes.


    "G-guess this is it for me."


    ''Swoosh.''


    Hong Ling said as he threw his sword at the monwolf with thest of his strength.


    ''Die.''


    Hong Ling thought but it was obvious that such a powerless blow wouldn''t even deal a scratch on that monwolf''s body.


    ''ng.''


    The same thing happened as the monwolf blocked the sword with his club while walking towards Hong Ling with a smile on his face.


    The monwolf had a smirk on his face as he stood in front of the powerless body of Hong Ling who was lying on the ground.


    "Sigh~"


    The beast raised his club and brought it down while Hong Ling waited for his tragic end.


    He closed his eyes as the club wasing to smash his head into a pulp.


    ''Ahhhhhh.''


    While screaming in his mind he waited. And waited. But the club nevernded on his face.


    ''What?''


    Hong Ling opened his eyes slowly just to see a silhouette of a tall man standing in front of his face.


    The beast was lying on the ground further away from Hong Ling but it was still alive.


    A moment ago, after Zhao Luo had defeated the armored monwolf he had rushed to help this disciple, and finally, he was here.


    Right before the club of the monwolf could fall on Ling Hong, Zhao Luo''s footnded squarely on the beast''s wolf-like face and threw it away.


    This is how he had saved Ling Hong.


    "You okay?"


    Zhao Luo asked Ling Hong as he turned around to check on him first.


    Ling Hong was lost for word as he saw the red face of Zhao Luo and the front side of his robe which was also red with the blood of the beasts.


    "I can manage i-it."


    Hong Ling said while moaning in pain as he tried to get up.


    ''Tap.''


    Zhao Luo grabbed Hong Ling''s shoulder and helped him in getting up.


    "Thank you, Brother Zhao Luo. I owe you one."


    Hong Ling tried to bow but Zhao Luo stopped him.


    Hong Ling was one of the disciples who had fought for the 92 spots in front of the gate at thest zone.


    "You owe me nothing. I just did my duty."


    Zhao Luo told Hong Ling in a majestic voice as he moved past him and went towards the beast who was getting up.


    "Arghh."


    The monwolf rubbed his sharp face where Zhao Luo had kicked him and hissed at him.


    ''Boom.''


    The monwolf jumped on the tree again.


    There was a smile on its face that was saying, ''what will you do now homan?''.


    "You are challenging ME?"


    Zhao Luo shouted at the beast as he walked towards the tree the beast was on and pulled out Ifrit and ckey from his storage space.


    ''sh.''


    ''sh.''


    Zhao Luo swung his swords in an inclined manner cutting the tree truck in two halves.


    Bang!


    Zhao Luo kicked the trunk causing its split piece to fall backward and the upper part of the tree to fall towards him.


    The monwolf who was standing on the tree branch was falling towards Zhao Luo with dreadful eyes.


    "Awoooogaa."


    The monwolf howled as it used the falling tree to speed itself and leaped towards Zhao Luo with its club faced right at Zhao Luo.


    "Good."


    Zhao Luo said as it would have been a little troublesome if this beast had run away from him.


    ''Woosh.''


    The club that wasing at an insane speed at Zhao Luo was close to hitting him.


    "Wood Drop."


    ''ng.''


    ''ng.''


    Zhao Luo used his ck sword, ckey to use the wood drop technique as he blocked the club of the monwolf.


    Using the force of the monwolf and its club, Zhao Luo pushed his left leg back while bending his right knee.


    "REVERSE BURST SLASH."


    He instantly pulled Ifrit backward and swing it upwards from below.


    ''SWOOOOOSH.''


    A crimson shed was left in the sky above the dragon road as Zhao Luo''s Ifrit passed through the Monwolf splitting it into two halves.


    The sudden appearance of the crimson line in the sky caused the other disciple to look towards this fight which had already ended.


    The sh was so fast that the beast still hadn''t realized that it had been sliced into two.


    Thud!


    The monwolf fell to the ground.


    "Another one down."


    Zhao Luo calmly mumbled while turning around and looking at the stunned Hong Ling.


    "Are you still a human?"


    Hong Ling unconsciously asked.


    "Hahaha. Am I?"


    Zhao Luo smiled with his red face which caused Hong Ling to start coughing abruptly as the bloodied handsomeness was too much for him to take on with the shock.


    "Ahem, brother take this."


    Hong Ling brought out a piece of cloth and gave it to Zhao Luo while waving at Zhao Luo''s face.


    ''Sh, Sh.''


    "Thank you."


    Zhao Luo cleaned his face with the cloth as he returned it to Hong Ling.


    "Let''s go. There are still a few of these beasts left."


    Zhao Luo told Hong Ling as he helped him to go with him.


    Zhao Luo''s action of helping Hong Ling and Hong Ling''s action of showingpassion towards Zhao Luo activated the second and third teaching of Fu Zi causing Hong Ling''s injuries to be healed gradually while Zhao Luo could feel his exhaustion fading away.


    Zhao Luo and Hong Ling then started killing the monwolves from the other end deep in the forest as they helped all the disciples they could while saving the dwarves on their way towards the middle of the battlefield.


    After a while.


    "It''s over."


    Zhao Luo loudly announced as he stood in the middle of the forest''s battlefield.


    The whole area was filled with lifeless bodies of the monwolves. They had cleared the final zone.

 Chapter 105 - Divided For Reward

    Zhao Luo''s announcement fell on the disciple''s ears like thunder. Smiles started to merge on their exhausted faces.


    Wu Yang and the others gathered around Zhao Luo.


    The disciples were helping the dwarfs who had scattered around the battlefield and bringing them together as they slowly moved towards the middle.


    That is where Zhao Luo was.


    After a while, the disciples were standing behind Zhao Luo in three rows.


    "Are you all okay?"


    Zhao Luo asked the dwarves that were standing in front of him. There were around 300 or so dwarfs that Zhao Luo and the other disciples had saved from the monwolfs.


    ''tap, tap.''


    Instead of hearing the answer, Zhao Luo could hear light stepping sounds moving towards him.


    Two dwarves wereing to the front from among the 300 dwarfs.


    "Paying respect to the savior."


    The two dwarfs bowed to Zhao Luo.


    The moment they bowed, the three hundred dwarfs behind him also bowed.


    This showed that these two were the leaders of this group.


    "I couldn''t have done it alone without them."


    Zhao Luo said while showing a sincere smile.


    The dwarfs looked at Zhao Luo who was pointing his hands towards the disciples behind him.


    "Still, you lead them here and we will never forget this day. Thank you."


    The dwarfs insisted as they bowed again.


    After the little talk ended Zhao Luo was approached by one of the two dwarfs.


    Just like the female dwarf that he had saved before on the dragon road, this dwarf also brought out a thick leather pouch.


    "This is just a little show of our gratitude. Please ept it, savior."


    The dwarf insisted as it ced the pouch on Zhao Luo''s palm while showing a mysterious smile.


    "..."


    Zhao Luo wondered the meaning behind the dwarf''s smile while thinking about what the dwarf had just said.


    ''Why is he even talking like that? It''s not like I don''t want the reward.''


    Zhao Lup thought while tightening his grip over the leather pouch.


    After handing the pouch to Zhao Luo, the two dwarfs at the front bowed onest time while bidding their farewell to Zhao Luo and the other disciple.


    Zhao Luo looked at the dwarves as they started walking past him and the disciples as they disappeared behind the trees.


    "They must be going back."


    Zhao Luo mumbled as the scenario with the female dwarf repeated.


    "Let''s Go."


    Zhao Luo said as he started walking towards the deeper parts of the forest.


    The disciples followed behind him.


    Many were whispering something to each other.


    Zhao Luo didn''t know as he was in the front and his main priority was to leave the forest, that was where his focus lied too.


    Hispanions also didn''t notice the growing unrest as they were walking alongside Zhao Luo.


    From the third row, a statement was heard which was the reason for the current unrest among the two hundred or so disciples.


    "If we all helped him then why is he keeping the reward for himself."


    A disciple whispered just loud enough so that hisining voice could reach a few of the surrounding disciples.


    "Hmm."


    The others also picked up thisint which continued from one disciple to another till it reached the disciple in the first row which was walking behind Zhao Luo.


    Among the dissatisfied disciples, some had already gotten a coin for doing nothing previously.


    Yet these kinds of people were always greedy for more.


    Even though the world had changed during the time Zhao Luo was sleeping, but the mind of humans remained the same.


    Even if they were given a mountain of gold, they would still look around for another mountain of gold.


    Zhao Luo who was unaware of this walked around the trees while looking ahead.


    He was trying to find the exit of the forest which was still not anywhere in his reach.


    The unrest grew more and more as some of the disciples even went ahead to use Zhao Luo of hoarding all the rewards and being a miser when he was the one leading them on the dragon road.


    Just when these words reached a certain disciple he couldn''t keep himself in check.


    ''Boom.''


    His fistnded on the face of the disciple who was just passing what he had heard.


    This disciple was none other than Hong Ling who Zhao Luo had saved from a monwolf.


    "How dare you use the person who is leading you? Bastards!"


    Hong Ling shouted in anger after he turned around to look at the disciples behind him.


    Hong Ling was so loud that even Zhao Luo''s focus was broken as he turned around to look at the situation.


    "What''s going on?"


    Zhao Luo questioned the others with a confused look.


    ''How did a fight break out?''


    Zhao Luo wondered as he looked at Hong Ling and the disciple that Ling had punched.


    "Brother Zhao Luo they don''t deserve to walk behind you."


    Ling went close to Zhao Luo and said to him.


    After which he told him about the ruse that had been cooking for a while now.


    ''...''


    Zhao Luo was silent as he looked at the disciples.


    His eyes showed nothing, not even an ounce of disappointment that he should be feeling because of them.


    This triggered the disciples who believed in everything that they had been passing around, even more.


    They were so mad that they had separated from Zhao Luo''s group as stood on the left side.


    These disciples who had left the group were all from the third row as they were only twenty or so.


    But in a while, this group got bigger than the ones who were following Zhao Luo.


    More and more people left Zhao Luo''s side to stand with the new group on left.


    Soon there more than 120 disciples in the new group.


    One of the disciples came forward showing that he represented the disciples behind him and walked up to Zhao Luo.


    "Distribute the reward and we will go our own way. You don''t have to lead us."


    The disciple demanded with an arrogant voice.


    "So this is indeed the case."


    Zhao Luo had heard everything that Ling had to say but he still couldn''t believe it. But now after watching this disciple''s attitude and the ones who had dered their stand as they stood behind him, Zhao Luo finally realized that he had been too decent with them.


    "Hahaha."


    Zhao Luo couldn''t help butugh madly as he took out the leather pouch.


    ''Fwoosh.''


    Zhao Luo threw the pouch towards the disciple and looked at the ones behind him.


    "Last time I fought for you all, I gave you the rewards. At the gate, I stood in front of you and the other disciples didn''t even dare to bat an eye at you. But now for a reward which I would have given to you soon...no. I would have given it to you right after we had left the forest, you used me of being a greedy miser. So take it and I hope you all have a good journey."


    Zhao Luo was looking at the ones who were with him since the start. Those who were from the hundred disciples that he had led till here.


    ''It''s enough.''


    Zhao Luo decided as he turned around.


    "Those who want the reward can leave."


    Zhao Luo announced as he started walking past the trees that were blocking his path up ahead.


    The others who were still behind him exchanged nces between each other as they also started leaving towards the other group and walking towards the disciples who had the leather pouch which had the reward inside it.


    "Open it."


    "Yeah let''s share it now."


    "I hope there are many gold coins in it."


    "But Brother Zhao Luo is leaving."


    "Let him go. We can leave the forest after distributing the reward."


    The disciples started gathering around for the reward from the leather pouch.


    Zhao Luo didn''t care about these disciples.


    He knew he already had the best friends that he could hope for. Even though they haven''t been together for a long time but they already shared a deep bond.


    He was left with only those who had been with him from the start.


    Zhao Luo looked at his sides and found Wu Yang and Feng Mei closes to him.


    Su Shi and Yan were next to Feng Mei while Wei Bin and Mo Lee were next to Wu Yang.


    "Where is Mite?"


    Zhao Luo was stunned for a moment. He even stopped walking.


    ''I thought that guy had already changed.''


    Zhao Luo thought with a disappointed look on his face as he felt a hand on his shoulder.


    ''Tap.''


    "Are you looking for me?"


    Mite said with a grin. He was walking right behind Zhao Luo.


    "Haha."


    Zhao Luoughed mildly.


    There was another guy behind him who was walking behind Mite.


    "Hong Ling, you didn''t want the reward?"


    Zhao Luo asked Ling who was still with him.


    "Who needs a reward when I can follow you, my brother."


    Ling answered Zhao Luo with an intense gaze in his eyes and an expressionless face.


    "We got another cheesy one here."


    Wu Yang interrupted as Zhao Luo had said the same cheesy line before.


    "Hahaha."


    The others startedughing while Zhao Luo only smirked.


    "This is better."


    Zhao Luo mumbled as the ones who had remained with him were the real ones.

 Chapter 106 - Entering The Cloud

    Zhao Luo began walking again alongside Wu Yang and the other seven.


    This time he wasn''t in the lead as sometimes Feng Mei would be ahead of the group while other times Wei Bin would be leading them.


    Zhao Luo was just seeing trees in his way showing that they were still in the deep forest.


    After walking a while, Zhao Luo was once again leading them.


    ''That''s the exit.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he saw through the trees in their way and behind those trees, there was an empty path.


    ''Tap, tap.''


    Zhao Luo started walking faster as he with his friends soon left the forest.


    "Ah, This feeling."


    ''Huff.''


    Zhao Luo took a deep breath right after he left the forest.


    For others, the forest air was better but for Zhao Luo, the forest air and being surrounded by so many trees without clear sight on their path was suffocating.


    "We finally left the forest."


    Wu Yang said as he put his hand on Zhao Luo''s shoulder.


    ''Nod.''


    Zhao Luo nodded as Wu Yang was saying ''good job'' to Zhao Luo with his action.


    Now he looked ahead and his gaze went along with the continuing dragon road.


    The final zone was the second expansion of the dragon zone.


    "Let''s go. The end looks closer than ever."


    Zhao Luo told the others as to their surprise the dragon zone''s steep area was just a little ahead of them.


    Once they got to the steep road, it was just a few meters distance from the area where the dragon road was disappearing into the clouds.


    After a few minutes.


    Zhao Luo and his friends were already on the steep area and with each step, they were getting close to the thick grey cloud.


    "Amazing."


    Zhao Luo was the first one to say that as everyone had the same thought while looking at the thick cloud while they were approaching it.


    It looked big but there was a sinister feelinging from it.


    ''Something''s on the other aide.''


    Zhao Luo felt an eerie cold feeling as he got even closer to it.


    But this didn''t slow him down instead he picked up more speed.


    "We are here."


    Zhao Luo told the ones around him.


    The nine disciples including him were the first to reach this ce.


    Zhao Luo took another step to walk into the cloud.


    Bang!


    His leg stopped right when it touched the thick smokey part of the cloud but that wasn''t it.


    "One person shows his magnanimous nature to take another with him, other follow him behind but with a coin in hand."


    An announcement in Fu Zi''s voice rang out around them.


    Zhao Luo looked at the others.


    If he was right, then they only had 7 coins while there were 9 of them here.


    "The one showing magnanimous nature can take another one."


    Zhao Luo mumbled.


    Wu Yang was also catching on.


    "Take..."


    "Wu Yang take Hong Ling with you."


    Wu Yang tried to say something but Zhao Luo interrupted him.


    Zhao Luo was telling him with a serious face.


    "But then you will..."


    "It''s okay, I will find another way."


    Zhao Luo insisted as he pulled Hong Ling and Wu Yang together gently.


    He then waved his hand towards them, telling them to enter the cloud.


    Wu Yang looked unsure.


    ''I don''t want to leave you and go ahead.''


    He thought but couldn''t say it loudly.


    "Brother, why are you both looking sad?"


    Hong Ling asked while exchanging nces between Zhao Luo and Wu Yang.


    "Just go."


    Zhao Luo repeated.


    Wu Yang then took out his gold coin and grabbed Hong Ling''s arm. Then took a step inside the cloud with Hong Ling. On their second step, both Wu Yang and Hong Ling had disappeared into a thick cloud.


    ''Sigh.''


    Zhao Luo turned around to look at the others.


    "Ladies first."


    Zhao Luo gently patted Feng Mei''s head as he lightly pushed her towards the cloud.


    ''Brother.''


    Feng Mei looked back at Zhao Luo before taking out her gold coin and stepping inside the cloud.


    After her, Yan was walking towards the thick cloud.


    "Wait I saiddies first."


    Zhao Luo stopped her. Even though she was indeed a dy'' but others didn''t know that yet.


    "Ah."


    She smiled awkwardly whileing to stand next to Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo had his hands behind his back as he looked at the others.


    He would call out the names of the others and they would walk in the cloud.


    "Su Shi."


    Zhao Luo said who entered with her gold coin in her hand.


    "Wei Bin, Mo Lee, Mite."


    ''Tap, Tap, Tap.''


    The three also went inside the cloud.


    Only Zhao Luo and Yan were left outside the cloud on the dragon road.


    "They must have gathered around the other side already."


    Zhao Luo said while gazing towards the thick cloud.


    ''Pat.''


    Yan grabbed Zhao Luo''s hand with her hand.


    She tightened her grip as her soft fingers slid past Zhao Luo''s fingers and their hands were entangled with each other.


    "What?"


    Zhao Luo was taken aback by Yan''s sudden attack of skinship.


    "Brother Zhao Luo, take this. I don''t want you to sacrifice yourself for us."


    Yan said with sincere eyes.


    Zhao Luo was silent as they both stared at each other.


    With such an enchanting cold cloud surrounding them and the absence of sound around the dragon road.


    "Ba-dump."


    "Ba-dump."


    They were so close that they both could hear each other''s heartbeat.


    Zhao Luo shifted his gaze downwards while feeling a little embarrassed with how tight Yan''s grip was.


    "It''s okay. I have already decided."


    Zhao Luo told her slowly.


    "But don''t worry, I will still look for another way."


    Zhao Luo looked at Yan again while saying his part.


    To his surprise, Yan had tears in her eyes as her tight grip on Zhao Luo''s hand had also loosened.


    Yan''s hand left Zhao Luo''s hand as she turned around.


    ''Tap.''


    Zhao Luo grabbed her hand this time and pulled her closer.


    Yan turned back to look at Zhao Luo who had already embraced her.


    "Wh-what are you doing?"


    Yan stuttered as she asked Zhao Luo.


    "Why do you have such a sad expression on your face? Just believe in me."


    Zhao Luo told Yan as he pulled her away.


    They both stared at each other for the moment.


    ''It hurts.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he could feel a tingling pain in his heart as he looked at Yan.


    He had been saying that he will find a way but where will he get a coin on this giant dragon road?


    "I do."


    Yan replied to Zhao Luo as she leaned in closer towards him.


    ''I forgot.''


    Zhao Luo''s brain was firing up as he remembered that Yan had feelings for him.


    ''Is this happening?''


    Under the tragic mood and cold surroundings setting up the situation, Zhao Luo wondered something.


    ''Will she be my first k-kiss?''


    Yan''s beautiful face closed in as her big eyes were looking right into Zhao Luo''s eyes.


    Zhao Luo felt shy. This was his first time being so close to someone from the opposite gender, thus he closed his eyes.


    "Mo."


    Zhao Luo made a squeaky noise when he rolled his lips awkwardly as if showing his consent for the kiss.


    As he waited for Yan''s smooth lips to reach his lips, he heard a sound.


    "Wheeeeee."


    ''Sounds like somethings falling.''


    Zhao Luo wondered impatiently.


    "Thwack."


    "Ahhh."


    He cried out as the thing which was falling, crashnded right on his head, that too during such an important moment of his life.


    Zhao Luo fell butt first while the startled Yan turned around again.


    "A COIN."


    Zhao Luo was shocked as he picked up the coin from the dragon road.


    Yan was also shocked as she twirled around to look at it.


    ''Why would a coin fall from above?''


    Zhao Luo questioned as he looked above.


    He stood up and looked and the cloud and then at the red face of the Yan.


    Zhao Luo couldn''t help it as his gaze went down to Yan''s glistening lips as he felt like choking.


    "Cough."


    "Let''s go."


    Zhao Luo said as he grabbed Yan''s hand and gently walked her towards the thick grey cloud.


    "We both can enter together now."


    Zhao Luo told her with a calm voice.


    They both took a step to walk inside the cloud.


    ''Woosh.''


    Zhao Luo and Yan both disappeared as they also entered the cloud.


    Way above the dragon road.


    "This kid is quite bold."


    The young man who had been spectating the disciples since the start said.


    He was looking at the thick cloud. Even though others couldn''t see through it, the man''s vision passed right through theyers of the cloud andnded on Zhao Luo.


    "It would funny to see his expression when he finds out about this."


    He talked while staring at some distant ce with a grin on his face.


    "I have never been this surprised since i took the seat as third elder in the elder''s hall. Let''s see what you do now."


    The man said as he had his gaze fixed on Zhao Luo.

 Chapter 107 - End

    Zhao Luo had entered the grey cloud with Yan.


    ''They waited.''


    Zhao Luo thought with a pleasure filling in his eyes.


    The first thing he saw after entering the cloud was the stunned faces of hispanions.


    The most shocking view was the aghast look on Feng Mei''s face.


    "What happened?"


    Zhao Luo questioned as he looked at Feng Mei.


    He walked towards her after letting go of Yan''s hand.


    "Brother."


    Feng Mei raised her hand and pointed her finger towards the cloud from where they had just entered now.


    "What? Is something wrong?"


    Zhao Luo who couldn''t understand what Feng Mei was trying to tell him, turned around to look at the ce where she was pointing at.


    "There is nothing we-...."


    "Hik."


    Zhao Luo huped as he realized something.


    ''Why can I see through the cloud? Did the others saw me and Yan?"


    Zhao Luo was worrying that Yan''s secret may have been exposed because of their earlier interaction.


    ''Tap.''


    Wu Yang patted Zhao Luo''s left shoulder.


    ''Tap.''


    Mite''s hand stopped afternding on his right shoulder.


    "Don''t worry."


    "Love has no boundaries."


    "We will not tell anyone."


    "Indeed it''s a secret between us."


    Wu Yang and Mite took turns as they teased Zhao Luo as if they had found his secret.


    "But I don''t...."


    "It''s okay Brother Zhao Luo, I support you too."


    Mo Lee also added with a cheeky smile on his face.


    "No, you guys don''t understand."


    Zhao Luo tried to correct them but they had already witnessed a lot more than he thought.


    Zhao Luo and Yan hadn''t kissed outside.


    Unfortunately, that is not how the others saw it.


    To them, as they were looking at the questioning couple from the opposite direction, which was from inside the cloud, they could only see Zhao Luo''s back as he embraced Yan.


    His face moving closer to Yan''s face.


    Therefore they did not doubt that things had progressed a lot between Zhao Luo and Yan.


    Zhao Luo didn''t mind them misunderstanding the things which happened between him and Yan but he had another problem.


    ''How do I tell them that I don''t swing that way?''


    Zhao Luo was confused as the others weren''t even letting him speak.


    He couldn''t just tell them that Yan isn''t a guy. He had promised to keep her identity a secret.


    "Guys."


    While Zhao Luo was wondering Yan spoke with a troubled look.


    "I am a..."


    Yan paused as she looked at Zhao Luo and showed him an adorable smile.


    ''Is she going to tell them her secret? Because of me?''


    Zhao Luo wondered as he clenched his fist.


    "Ahahahaha."


    Zhao Luo startedughing suddenly.


    "Wu Yang, you could see us but could you hear us too?


    Zhao Luo took his chance and asked Wu Yang afterughing like a mad man.


    "No, we couldn''t. Why?"


    Wu Yang answered and the others also exchanged looks with each other.


    "Huff."


    Zhao Luo let out a sigh of relief.


    His nce had changed as he squinted his eyes while looking at hispanions. There was a very serious look on his face.


    The expression on Zhao Luo''s face showed that he was going to tell them about a big secret.


    "How many coins did we have?"


    Zhao Luo questioned them with a weird but understandable authority in his voice.


    "7."


    The others answered together.


    "ording to the conditions of the announcement, only 8 of us could have happened. But aren''t we all here now?"


    Zhao Luo told them slowly letting them digest what he was saying and then ending his little speech with a question.


    But Wu Yang and the others weren''t nipoops.


    "Didn''t the eighth gold coin fall from the sky? ON YOUR HEAD? When you were kissing Yan."


    Wu Yang said as he looked at Zhao Luo''s head. The shape had indeed been lifted a little bit because of the impact of the coin.


    "That must be hurting."


    Mite added as they both held theirughter.


    Both Wu Yang and Mite were messing with Zhao Luo without giving him a chance to finish what he was saying.


    "Didn''t know that you were best friends now."


    Zhao Luo said with a grin. He was still calm even when they taunted him.


    "The coin did fall from the sky, but you all didn''t hear the announcement before the coin fell."


    Zhao Luo added as he looked at them with sincere eyes.


    ''Since they didn''t hear the announcement, I can turn this situation around.''


    Zhao Luo decided as it was time to clear his name.


    "What was the announcement about?"


    Wu Yang asked him. He had bitten the bait that Zhao Luo was throwing.


    The others also looked at Zhao Luo who was going to tell them what they didn''t know.


    *cough*


    "Be all-embracing and keep yourpanion close even in the time of separation, only then will you end up staying together."


    Zhao Luo started talking after perfectly altering his voice with the voice of Kong Fu Zi.


    The announcement sounded simr too.


    The others had simr thoughts as they remembered the second teaching even though the meaning was changed by Zhao Luo.


    The second part of the announcement was also simr to their first mission on the dragon zone.


    Zhao Luo looked at them and discovered that everyone had somewhat believed his made-up story.


    "That was the announcement I heard and Yan was quick to act upon it. As for our faces being close we never kissed, it was because you couldn''t see our side profiles. That''s how I got the coin which allowed me to enter here both Yan."


    Zhao Luo exined with a smile as he took out his gold coin which had lost its shine.


    The coins in the hand of others were the same too. The coins lost the shine when they were used to enter the cloud.


    Nobody knew the truth except Zhao Luo and Yan.


    "What you guys saw and what you understood were two different truths. It was a misunderstanding."


    Zhao Luo used this small opening to hit thest nail to make his story the only truth.


    The others nodded, even Wu Yang and Mite were looking somewhat devastated. They were making fun of Zhao Luo without knowing the full story.


    "We are sorry."


    Both sped their hands and bowed their heads just to get a stunning reaction from Zhao Luo.


    ''Pat, Pat.''


    Zhao Luo dropped his hands like bricks on their shoulder and came closer to them slowly.


    "It''s okay. Haha."


    Zhao Luo whispered in their ears with a cold yet calm voice causing them both to shover for a moment.


    Zhao Luo had grown a lot during the short time since he had been freed from the capsule.


    "We still have a goal to achieve."


    Zhao Luo said to them but before he could turn around, something entered his vision.


    It was Yan''s face.


    Yan who was standing at thest, behind everyone, was looking at Zhao Luo with her wet eyes and blushing face.


    "Ahem."


    Zhao Luo lightly nodded at Yan before turning around.


    He had handled the situation pretty well.


    The sight of her glistening lips closing on him shed past his eyes causing him to feel a little awkward around her. So Zhao Lup walked ahead.


    "Let''s Go."


    Zhao Luo shouted awkwardly with a heavy voice as some images kept on shing in his mind.


    ''Tap, Tap.''


    The group started walking inside the cloud, they were still on the dragon road but the area in front of them looked short.


    While walking Zhao Luo and the others kept on looking upwards towards their bars.


    Everyone''s bar gauge was almost filled with the red quirk. While only Zhao Luo''s bar had a crimson quirk.


    The red line of his bar was still visible in his bar gauge but above it, the crimson quirk was also close to reaching the end of the bar.


    The crimson line was the secondyer of the bar that only Zhao Luo had.


    For a while, everyone walked till the road ahead ended at a door.


    Zhao Luo reached the door, and Wu Yang knocked it like a boar.


    ''Crea~k.''


    The door opened slowly and a garden appeared in their side.


    A man was standing in the middle of this mysterious garden in the cloud.


    "The dragon has ended."


    Zhao Luo said with a smile that he couldn''t hide.


    "Finally."


    Mite sighed as he looked at Hong Ling who had been staring at Zhao Luo since the moment they had entered the grey cloud.


    "p."


    While Feng Mei and Su Shi gave a loud high five, celebrating the end of the dragon road.


    "Congrattions on reaching the end of the Dragon Road."


    Fu Zi announcement rang out in the garden assuring the others that their celebration wasn''t a waste.


    Zhao Luo who was standing in the front of the group noticed something which bothered him.


    The announcement was in the voice of Fu Zi but the sound wasn''ting from the man in front of them who had his back facing Zhao Luo and the others.


    ''Who is he?''


    Zhao Luo wondered while looking at the straight back of the man in front of him.

 Chapter 108 - Bao Fei

    While looking at the man, Zhao Luo and his friends heard another announcement.


    "You lot, who followed my teaching and treaded on this long and unfathomable road. A road whose end could only be seen by people who had the heart of a saint and the qualities of a dragon."


    Wu Yang, Mite, Feng Mei, and the others had a shine in their eyes.


    Each of the lines was a calcted phrase that was like praise being showered on them. This gave them a newfound feeling of achieving an impossible feat.


    ''Heart of a saint?''


    ''Qualities of a dragon?''


    ''Bullshit!''


    ''Who are you mister, just turn around and introduce yourself?''


    Zhao Luo couldn''t give two cents about what the Fu Zi was going on about. It was just a setup, no matter who reached the end, the same announcement will be repeated.


    The only thing Zhao Luo wanted to know, was the identity of the man who had reached this ce before them.


    ''Is he one of the disciples too?''


    Zhao Luo wondered.


    It was quite a usible thought.


    While Zhao Luo was guessing the possible identities of the mysterious man in front of him, the announcement continued.


    "Since you have upheld my teachings, I will adhere to my promise."


    "You all have be superior."


    <CLAP>


    The announcement ended with a cheering sound.


    The red line in their bars which were infinitely close to the end finally hit the bar''s limit.


    But the nextyer, the crimsonyer didn''t ovep the red one, unlike Zhao Luo''s case whose crimson line had reached the end.


    Wu Yang and the others were very pleased.


    "We did it. Wepleted the challenge."


    Wu Yang eximed while looking at the others.


    The challenge was about memorizing and learning. They did memorize the teachings of Fu Zi and without understanding them they wouldn''t have acted upon them while also clearing the different missions on the dragon road.


    They stayed together and since the start, Zhao Luo had helped the other disciples too.


    They had done well but was the reward just a p.


    After a while, the echoes of the pping sound had died down.


    Nothing happened after that.


    ''He will give the reward.''


    Zhao Luo remembered what Wu Yang had told him before they had entered the capsule.


    (Image of Wu Yang shing through Zhao Luo''s eyes.)


    ''One of the ranked elders oversees this challenge.''


    (Back to the garden)


    ''So the man in front of me is either an elder or a disciple.''


    Zhao Luo stopped thinking as he started walking towards the man.


    ''Tap, Tap.''


    Zhao Luo was standing slightly behind the man''s left side.


    ''He is looking at the sunflowers.''


    Zhao Luo could see the sunflowers facing the man.


    Zhao Luo took a step towards the man and came to stop right behind him as he tapped his shoulder.


    "Kiddo, if it was someone else, they would have lost their hand."


    The man said in a cold voice.


    ''Bang.''


    Zhao Luo shuddered as he jumped back.


    The voice wasn''t just cold, Zhao Luo could feel a menacing aura from the man.


    The aura just confirmed what the man had said.


    The man turned around to face Zhao Luo and the others.


    ''Third Elder?''


    Wu Yang thought as he saw the face of the man. While the others were shocked for a reason.


    Zhao Luo was stunned too as he saw the front profile of the third elder.


    The man who was a little taller than Zhao Luo and had a handsome face was weird in more than one way.


    Even though he couldn''tpare to Zhao Luo''s beauty, his hairstyle was a thing that was a wonder.


    Zhao Luo had never seen such a ridiculous hairstyle on anyone''s head.


    The head of the third elder was a puzzle where the front half of the head was bald and the other half had long hair which was falling on the third elder''s shoulder.


    When the elder was facing them with his back, Zhao Luo could see the shiny hairs but now when the elder turned to look at them, Zhao Luo didn''t know if he should stab his eyes or pluck them out for seeing such an abomination of ahead.


    "Young man, do you like my style? I can give you one too if you want it.


    The third elder asked Zhao Luo with a smirk on his face.


    There was a reason behind the weird condition of his head that had something to do with his cultivation technique but he never exined it to others, instead just asked them if they wanted their heads to look like his.


    Zhao Luo hurriedly shook his head.


    He was the most stunned out of all the others.


    ''So even though there is no sunlight here, the shineing from this guy''s bald head was providing them the light.''


    Zhao Luo spected as he darted his eyes between the third elder''s head and at the sunflowers who were slowly facing down.


    "You are not a disciple. Are you?"


    Zhao Luo questioned the man as he looked at the third elder.


    "Oh-hoo show some respect, young man. I am the third elder of the great Xin Sect, Bao Fei."


    The third elder formally introduced himself.


    "I pay my respect to the third elder."


    Wu Yang walked up and stood next to Zhao Luo before bowing.


    The others also followed behind him.


    "We pay our respect to the third elder."


    "I p-pay my respect to the third elder."


    Zhao Luo was still not used to this greeting. Especially when the man who looked as young as him and had a weird head was the third elder.


    "Good kids."


    Bao Feiughed as he walked towards Zhao Luo and looked at him.


    Right after then he stared at Yan and showed a weird smile.


    His smile had a clear message behind it. Both Yan and Zhao Luo understood it.


    ''I know what you did.''


    They could read these words as they watched his smile.


    Zhao Luo stared at the third elder while Yan looked down in embarrassment.


    "Ahem."


    "You will reach great heights."


    The elder cleared his throat and nodded at Yan as he moved his sight onto Feng Mei.


    ''Nod.''


    "As expected of the little Queen. The Feng''s have a bright future."


    Feng Mei was confused while the elder talked about her.


    Then he looked at Su Shi.


    "Girl from the Su''s. Work hard like you have been doing always and you will achieve what your heart has set its aim on."


    The elder stopped to look at Su Shi for a moment and as his remark left his mouth his eyes were already looking at the next target of his judgment.


    "Toote but still working hard."


    The third elder said this about Mite.


    ''Just one nce and he can tell about the senior.''


    Zhao Luo thought while the elder was already looking at Mo Lee.


    "You don''t have to hide your background. Don''t let the pressure change your personality and keep on moving forward."


    The elder said while looking at Mo Lee.


    ''Nod.''


    Mo Lee was startled for a moment as he heard the elder''sment. After which, he nodded at the elder with an awkward smile.


    "So young yet not falling behind even the royalty. You will be the ones who will lead the sect in the future."


    The third elder let out some very responsible words as his eyes were on Wei Bin.


    The others looked at Wei Bin. They already knew how special the kid was when they had seen his performance in the moonstone challenge.


    The elder had very high expectations of Wei Bin.


    The elder looked at the back of Zhao Luo''s group as his gaze focused on Long Hing.


    "You think you don''t deserve to be here. You think you got lucky. But I don''t see a lucky person. I see a crouching cub. A cub who is definitely a tiger but has yet to realize his capabilities."


    Ling''s eyes were wide open. The elder had perfectly read his thoughts.


    ''Since the moment I had entered this cloud with Brother Wu Yang, no, even before that, I thought didn''t deserve to be treated as apanion of Brother Zhao Luo.''


    Ling thought.


    ''But he saw through my confusion and even cleared this frustration of mine with just a few sentences.''


    Ling bowed in front of the elder which caused a smile to emerge on his face.


    ''Woosh.''


    Bao Fei turned his head and looked at Wu Yang.


    "So you were the chosen one. Hahaha. Nobody knows what goes through his mind. Leaving such a responsibility on your shoulder. But why do I sense this feeling of relief from you?"


    Wu Yang stepped back while stumbling as the third elder grabbed his shoulder and brought his face closer to his.


    "Have you already found the sessor? Do you think, a trainee will be able to stand against the core disciples yet alone the direct disciples?"


    Bao Feo whispered in Wu Yang''s ear.


    Wu Yang tightened his fist as his eyes strayed over to Zhao Luo.


    A belief awakened in his eyes when he looked at Zhao Luo.


    Wu Yang went closer to the third elder''s ear.


    "He will destroy them."


    Wu Yang whispered with a voice that was filled to the brim brim with confidence.


    "Hahahaha."


    Bao Feiughed as he stepped back and walked towards Zhao Luo.

 Chapter 109 - Fault And Sunflowers

    "Hahaha..."


    ''Tap.''


    ''Tap.''


    Bao Fei came to stop right in front of Zhao Luo while Zhao Luo enjoyed the rhythmicughter of the third elder.


    ''The sound of his steps is intensifying the melody behind hisugh.''


    Zhao Luo deduced while hearing the third elder''sugh.


    But now the third elder was staring at him again.


    "Let me ''SEE'' what makes you special that even a disciple like him would consider you so great."


    The third elder said loudly with his eyes locked on Zhao Luo.


    "Hmm, You believe yourself. You want to achieve something big...."


    The third elder took another step closer to, Zhao Luo.


    "You led many disciples on the dragon road. You followed the teachings so perfectly that there was no error. You helped the dwarves and led the disciples who followed you in helping them."


    The others also listened to Zhao Luo''s evaluation by the third elder.


    For the others, Bao Fei only had a line to say. It wasn''t even about how they did on the dragon road. But for Zhao Luo, the elder started from a random self character of Zhao Luo to his performance on the dragon road.


    His decision and his action were all known by this half-bald man who was standing in front of them.


    The third elder continued.


    "But you have a big problem."


    The third elder looked devastated.


    He waved his hand and the cloud under their feet became invisible. The dragon road became invisible too.


    They were still standing on it but couldn''t see it anymore.


    ''What did he do?''


    Zhao Luo wondered as he looked at the third elder.


    Zhao Luo could see the elder looking somewhere through the invisible Dragon Road.


    He followed the sight and looked there too.


    Zhao Luo was sure that he was looking back at the way he came from.


    Then he saw a big green area, which was the forest where Zhao Luo had fought with the Monwolves.


    He could see many monwolves lying there in tragic forms. Some were missing their arms while some didn''t have their legs.


    Some beasts were even headless. Then among these hundreds of monwolf. There were three who were cut cleanly in two to three pieces.


    ''That was me.''


    Zhao Luo had a smile on his face when he saw this scene.


    But soon his smile disappeared and Zhao Luo had a devastated look on his face.


    "What? Why are they lying around there?"


    Zhao Luo stepped back as if he couldn''t believe it.


    Wu Yang and the others saw the scene too.


    "Did they fight among themselves?"


    Wu Yang said as they had killed all the monwolves.


    Zhao Luo was watching the disciples that he had left behind. They were still in the forest and were in awful shape.


    Everyone was just lying around the trees with bloodstains on their robes. Their limbs were turned in such a way that slowed a clear fracture in their bones.


    "Why would they fight?"


    Zhao Luo mumbled unconsciously.


    "It was because you underestimated the dragon road and gave them a responsibility that was too big for them."


    The elder answered Zhao Luo with a straight face.


    "The coins were never for everyone, thus they were tested and they failed. The disciple with the most greed is still running around the forest with the reward."


    The third elder pointed downwards and Zhao Luo could see a disciple who looked way better than others from his outer appearance.


    He had a pouch in his hands and was running around the trees inside the forest.


    After watching him for a while.


    ''He is trapped.''


    Zhao Luo believed as the disciples would always turn left or right whenever he woulde close to the exit of the forest.


    "Yes, he is."


    Bao Fei added like he could read Zhao Luo''s thoughts.


    "You could have helped them all."


    Zhao Luo took a step back as the elder took a step towards him while pointing out a fact.


    "You could have divided the reward too."


    The third elder took another step towards Zhao Luo while Zhao Luo took another step back.


    "You could have brought them all to the end."


    The elder dered.


    "It''s all my fault."


    Zhao Luo med himself. He looked drunk with the third elder''s words.


    Zhao Luo stumbled back and was going to fall.


    Wu Yang caught him so he looked back and saw the faces of others that were telling another story than the one the third elder was talking about.


    "They had chosen this fate for themselves. They left me, I didn''t. So how am I at fault here when they just got what they had opted for?"


    Zhao Luo retaliated against the Elder''s remarks.


    "I never said that you were at fault. I was talking about the possibilities. But your true fault lies somewhere else."


    The third elder told Zhao Luo.


    The third elder looked at the disciple who was lost in the forest and threw his hand towards him.


    The next moment, the third elder pulled his hand back with a pouch hanging down from his grip.


    "This is your fault. This reward was never for your followers, it was for you. Yet you never fought for it and gave it away without even fighting for it when you could easily have it. By force and by words."


    The elder threw the leather pouch towards Zhao Luo and Zhao Luo grabbed it.


    ''Thap.''


    Zhao Luo could feel the weight of the pouch unlike before when he had handed it over to the disciples in the forest.


    "The forest, the beasts, the dwarves, the missions are nothing more than an illusion.


    The only truth is in your hand, and above all of your heads."


    The third elder told them as Zhao Luo looked at the crimson bar above his head.


    The others also looked at their bars.


    The third elder patted Zhao Luo''s shoulder and brought his mouth closer to his ear.


    "What if someday, someone ims your goal and throws you off from it. Will you let him take it too like this pouch?"


    The third elder whispered in Zhao Luo''s ear and asked him. He wanted to show Zhao Luo the reality and the aftereffects of his choices.


    Zhao Luo shook his head as he looked at the third elder with bright eyes.


    The third elder stepped back and looked nced at Zhao Luo.


    "Bright personality, with unparalleled charisma. Hidden talents bound to gather around as flies gather around the light. But it''s not just the personality that makes you special. Hmm, you may just be the dragon many were waiting for."


    The third elder turned around as he left his final remarks on Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo had a wide smile etched on his face.


    "I will be that dragon."


    Zhao Luo murmured while looking at the back of the third elder.


    Zhao Luo was quite satisfied with what the elder had to say about him.


    He also got the pouch back.


    Zhao Luo had already put the leather pouch in his storage space.


    "Come."


    The third elder said loudly with amanding tone.


    Zhao Luo went towards the elder with the others right beside him.


    The third elder turned around and had eight sunflowers in his hand. All eight of them had the ''sun'' part of the sunflower dyed red.


    Wu Yang, Feng Mei, Yan, Mite, Su Shi, Mo Lee, Wei Bin, and Hong Ling, were all given one of the red sunflowers by the elder.


    While the elder pulled out a bigger and crimson sunflower which was given to Zhao Luo.


    "Close your eyes and concentrate on the sunflower in your hands. Imagine that you are bing one with it and it''s merging with your insides."


    The third elder guided them as they followed his advice.


    Zhao Luo had it easy as he could be called a mastered absorption for he had already absorbed his apparitions many times.


    The moment Zhao Luo closed his eyes, the sunflower started flowing include him in the form of crimson light.


    In less than three seconds that big crimson sunflower had died down as Zhao Luo had absorbed itpletely.


    "Huff."


    Zhao Luo took a deep breath and opened his eyes and realized that eight red lights were shining around him.


    ''They are still absorbing it.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he felt a pricking sensation and realized that the third elder was staring at him.


    "You should be more careful. Try to hide your abilities in front of others. The geniuses aren''t those who are strong but the ones who can truly be called a genius, are those who survive till the end."


    The elder advised Zhao Luo with sincere eyes.


    Zhao Luo already knew that the third elder had his own way of worrying. But his speed of absorption was still two times slower than how fast he could absorb his apparitions.


    "I will remember your advice."


    Zhao Luo bowed his head as he thanked the elder.


    After half an hour, everyone had finished absorbing the red sunflower inside them. They had perfectly assimted the red essence of the sunflower within their bodies.


    "Look at your arms."


    The third elder told them suddenly.


    Everyone looked at their right arm hurriedly as the elder had dered it so suddenly that they moved on impulse.


    "There is nothing..."


    Zhao Luo and the others said with a dull look.

 Chapter 110 - Power Of S Mark

    There was nothing on their right arm.


    "Tsk, you lot. Look at your left arm."


    The third elder shook his head and clicked his tongue before telling them about the arm they were supposed to see.


    "Ah."


    Wei Bin, the youngest of the group called out as he was the first to check the lower side of his left arm.


    There was a red S on his left arm. The others also looked at their arms and saw a red S ontheir arm.


    The symbol Son their arm wasn''t too big. They were just 3 inches long and 2 inches wide.


    ''Hmm. They look like tattoos.''


    Zhao Luo looked at the red S ontheir arms and wondered.


    Then he turned his arm around and gazed at his arm.


    "A crimson S."


    Zhao Luo said as thesymbol on his arm was 5 inches long and 3 inches wide. It looked like someone had used their calligraphy skills on Zhao Luo''s arm with their brush that had crimson ink on it.


    "Are these S forsunflower?"


    Wu Yang came forward as he held his left arm with his right hand and questioned the third elder. This wasn''t only Wu Yang''s guess but others had the same thought too.


    Except for Zhao Luo.


    ''No way.''


    Zhao Luo knew that this symbol meant something else.


    The sunflowers were just something that the elder had used to pass on the mark to them.


    Zhao Luo looked at the elder.


    ''Giving us the sunflower, telling us to absorb it, and merge with it, just for this symbol to appear on our arms....everything is a facade.''


    Zhao Luo mumbled as his sight hovered over the third elder.


    Zhao Luo was right as the elder was indeed taking the longer route for some reason. If he wanted he could have just given them this ''mark'' with a wave of his hand but he decided to take the longer route.


    The third elder, Bao Fei was famous by another name.


    Except for being the third elder, he was also known as the Drama freak.


    He loved to do things that didn''t make sense but were more fun to follow along.


    That was who the third elder was. The skill of acting was in his nature while improvising the things around him.


    "The S<strong></strong>on your arms is a symbol that proves something. It''s a mark that is carried by only Superior humans. Thus, this is your reward."


    The third elder had a lot to say about the mark on the arm of Zhao Luo and the others.


    "The mark on your arm is like storage. The red S allows you to store 30% more internal energy than a cultivator that is at the same cultivation stage as you. I know that you all are only trainees." The elder stopped as he nced between Mite and Wu Yang and thought (well almost all), "but when you start cultivating internal energy, you will understand the true importance of this S mark."


    Wu Yang and the others nodded as they listened to the third elder''s words.


    "While the crimson S<strong></strong>mark can store up to 70% more of your internal energy."


    The third elder was directly looking at Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo gazed at the crimson S<strong></strong>on his arm and felt d.


    ''I can''t wait to start learning about internal energy.''


    Zhao Luo was excited. He already a technique and a sword style that he could learn only when he would be able to use internal energy.


    Now, this crimson energy dam in his arm was like a battery just that he had to charge it.


    "This is the secondary reward. The main reward was already handed over to everyone when they had entered this world."


    The elder suddenly started talking again.


    Zhao Luo, Wu Yang, and the others looked at him while having the same questions rising in their minds.


    ''What? When did we get the reward in the start?''


    "The Sect Leader and all the elders of the sect believe that the teachings of senior Fu Zi are nothing less than a reward. But many disciples just aim to finish the road and normally forget about the teachings of the senior''s ego. Don''t be like the others and remember the three teachings as they are the main rewards of this Dragon Road."


    The third elder told them. It was more like the advice of a master to his students.


    The one who believed the most in the third elder''s words was Zhao Luo as he knew the truth behind the teachings and the "senior''s ego" that Bao Fei was talking about.


    "Those who werepetent enough to reach the end of the Dragon Road have reached it. The challenge has ended thus everyone will be returning to the training area."


    The third elder announced to them. It was like a farewell speech by the third elder.


    "Till we meet again."


    The third elder said with a boring look.


    The next moment his eyes had a shine in them.


    The nine disciples in front of him were bowing with their hands sped in front of them as Zhao Luo took the lead to start this action that showed their gratitude.


    The elder smiled and brought his hand up with his middle finger and thumb connected. The next moment, without giving anyone a chance to realize what was going to happen, he snapped his finger.


    ''Click.''


    Zhao Luo heard the elder snapping as he looked up to see the third elder''s face.


    ''Whooom.''


    But before he could look at him, Zhao Luo was already back in the training area.


    Wu Yang, Mite, Feng Mei, Yan, Wei Bin, Su Shi, Mo Lee, and Hong Ling, had also arrived in the training area.


    Zhao Luo looked around the ring and found out that everyone had returned. The ones who had failed were also here while the injured ones he had seen in the forest had also arrived along with them.


    ''Their injuries are gone.''


    Zhao Luoprehended as he nced over the hundreds of disciples around him.


    As the elder had said, everything was an illusion.


    Zhao Luo looked at the lower side of his left arm and checked if the S<strong></strong>mark was still there.


    "Phew, it''s still here." Zhao Luo said with a sigh of relief.


    "Did you clear it?"


    "No, what about you?"


    "Same. I had to quit in the first three hours."


    "What? I was out of the Dragon Road in the second hour. Some bastard had shoved me off of it."


    Disciples started asking each other about their achievements in the Dragon Road.


    Not one among these thousands of trainees imed to have reached the end.


    ''Boom, Boom."


    A group of around 200 disciples was approaching Zhao Luo.


    The one leading these disciples was the same guy who had incited these disciples in the Final Zone of the dragon zone.


    Wu Yang and Mite moved ahead and stood in front of Zhao Luo.


    If they had any nasty thoughts like attacking Zhao Luo, they were ready to respond.


    ''Tap.''


    "Hey, it''s okay."


    Zhao Luo said to Wu Yang and Mite as he patted their shoulder.


    "Brother Zhao Luo, we all are here for one thing and that is."


    The disciple said to Zhao Luo as the others behind him nodded.


    "Please punish us for being greedy. Forgive us for our mistakes."


    ''p.''


    All the disciples sped their hands and looked down while waiting for Zhao Luo to pass his judgment.


    Zhao Luo took out Ifrit and ckey from his storage space as he walked towards the disciple who was acting as the leader.


    This disciple had his face down but he could feel the heat and light from Ifrit and the coldnessing from ckey which was enshrouded in the darkness of the de.


    The disciple couldn''t help it as he started trembling with sweat running down his throat.


    "I was quite hurt when you had started the division just for a reward. But you all for what you deserved already."


    Zhao Lup remembered the images of these disciples lying in the forest especially the guy in front of Zhao Luo who was running around the whole forest like a mouse.


    Zhao Luo had already stored his swords back in the storage space as he looked at them with a single nce.


    "I have already forgiven you all. Your choices were already a punishment so there is no need for me to punish you myself."


    Zhao Luo announced in a loud voice which caused a smile to appear on their faces.


    Zhao Luo had already received the leather pouch which was the reward of the final zone so he didn''t want to behave like a petty person and remember this grudge forever.


    As for the swords that he had pulled out.


    "It''s fun to scare them."


    Zhao Luo had found a new hobby.


    "Brother Zhao Luo, the embracing one. We all thank you."


    Hundreds of disciples bowed to Zhao Luo which caused the focus of the thousands of disciples in the training area to be shifted on him.


    Just like that, the legend of a generous hero embracing the ones who had betrayed him will forever echo in the Trainee hall.

 Chapter 111 - 1300 Gold Coins In The Pocket

    Zhao Luo with a sincere smile on his face watched the disciples who were bowing to him as they showed him their gratitude.


    "Brother, have you forgiven me too?"


    Zhao Luo heard a disciple saying.


    ''Nod.''


    Zhao Luo nodded but the situation didn''t end there.


    After a moment, the disciples woulde up to him one by one and speak to him just to confirm if Zhao Luo didn''t hold anything against them.


    "Yes, yes, it''s okay."


    Zhao Luo kept on telling them but there was no end.


    Everyone wanted to confirm for themselves.


    After the 40th personing up to Zhao Luo just to confirm that Zhao Luo was annoyed to the brink of explosion.


    ''Shwaa.''


    Zhao Luo brought out his sword from his storage space.


    He had chosen ckey for this asion.


    "The next one who walks up to me will have his head fall to the ground.*Ting*. I already said I won''t hold any grudge against you so stop bugging me."


    Zhao Luo snapped his finger on the dark and shining de of ckey as he held it while facing it towards the disciples.


    "We are sorry."


    The disciples hurriedly sped their hands as they started leaving Zhao Luo.


    "So, Brother Zhao Luo can get mad too."


    "He is always mad at me. What are you talking about?"


    Hong Ling and Might startedmenting on the frowning Zhao Luo.


    ''Gulp.''


    Might who was talking about Zhao Luo being mad always felt coldness enveloping his body as he looked at Zhao Luo who was ring at him through the sides of his eyes.


    "Stop annoying him."


    Yan told while looking at Mite as Zhao Luo walked back to them.


    Zhao Luo looked around and found something amiss.


    "How many hours were we inside the capsule world for?"


    Zhao Luo asked his friends.


    "Around 30 hours."


    "No, it was for 25 hours."


    "No, we were on the Dragon Road for 32 hours."


    Wu Yang, Mite,and even Feng Mei had joined the argument.


    A simple question had turned into a discussion of life and death.


    ''Pat'', Zhao Luo had put his hand on Feng Mei''s head gently.


    "Stop it."


    Zhao Luo stopped them from arguing.


    "We may have been in here for around two days but look around, it''s still morning here."


    Zhao Luo said as the sun was still shining brightly on the training hall.


    "The Fu Zi world is indeed a mystical relic. Not more than thirty minutes have passed outside but in there we were in the Dragon Road for so long."


    Wu Yang exined to them as he also looked amazed.


    "We should go back."


    Zhao Luo suddenly said right after Wu Yang finished exining.


    Thus after Zhao Luo said that, along with the other disciples who were leaving the training area, they also went towards the exit of the training area.


    While walking Zhao Luo had Feng Mei on his right who was holding his hand and Wu Yang on the left side while others were walking three steps behind them.


    Everyone had gotten close whilepleting the Dragon Road so they were talking without focusing on Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo took this chance to question Wu Yang.


    "The three missions are done. I think we all can be outer disciples. Is thest mission that important?"


    Zhao Luo knew that even those around him were able to advance to outer disciple right away but he still had thest mission left.


    "You need toplete thest mission too for the greater good."


    Wu Yang answered him with a mysterious look on his face.


    Zhao Luo stared at Wu Yang for a moment but couldn''t make anything out of it as the word ''greater good'' kept on ringing out in his mind.


    ''I just have to find the secret disciples.''


    Zhao Luo wondered that just finding out the identity of the disciple that he had to defeat would be the hard part. Once he found out who the secret disciple was,


    "I will defeat him.", Zhao Luo mumbled as he clenched his fists.


    This would be thest mission that he had toplete before he could advance to an outer disciple.


    While these thoughts kept on popping up in his mind, Zhao Luo went towards the Hut Zone.


    The only thing he wanted to do now was to rest in his room.


    After a long day or to be precise, a day which felt long but wasn''t, there was nobody who wouldn''t want to chill alone.


    As they entered the Hut zone, Su Shi and Feng Mei were the first to leave the group.


    This continued till only Zhao Luo and Wu Yang were left alone.


    "Let''splete thest mission tomorrow."


    Zhao Luo told Wu Yang as the one who had been like a guide to him all this time was Wu Yang.


    "There won''t be any need toplete it tomorrow."


    Wu Yang whispered to himself as they walked towards Zhao Luo''s room as it was the Hut that came before Wu Yang''s.


    "Did you say something?"


    Zhao Luo had a feeling that Wu Yang was talking to him but he couldn''t quite get it.


    "No, I didn''t."


    Wu Yang lied straight out of his face while his expression remained the same.


    ''Hmmm.''


    Zhao Luo wondered as he didn''t dwell on the fact that Wu Yang was acting weird.


    After walking for a while.


    "My destination is here, mister driver. Thank you for dropping me off."


    Zhao Luo suddenly notified Wu Yang cutely who was walking behind him.


    "What?"


    Wu Yang was confused by Zhao Luo''s sudden attack which was filled with cuteness.


    "Ba-dump."


    Wu Yang''s heart started beating faster as he clenched his fist.


    "Did you fall for me just now? Hahaha."


    Zhao Luoughed as he messed around with Wu Yang more.


    But the truth was that Wu Yang hadn''t fallen for Zhao Luo but he felt that Zhao Luo''s acting was so cringing that Wu Yang felt his blood pressure rising and his heart throbbing while telling him to punch Zhao Luo. But Wu Yang barely stopped himself from doing so.


    "As if."


    Wu Yang added while looking away from Zhao Luo and loosening his fist.


    "I am going in now."


    Zhao Luo told him as he opened the door of his hut.


    "Zhao Luo."


    Wu Yang suddenly called him out.


    Zhao Luo turned around to look at him.


    "Yeah."


    Zhao Luo replied.


    Under the shining sky of the day, Wu Yang who was looking embarrassed for some reason and hesitant, Zhao Luo did not doubt that it was ''that''.


    ''He is going to confess.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he grinned.


    "Meet me at the training area at 12."


    Wu Yang told him before racing away from outside of his hut.


    Zhao Luo was left speechless by Wu Yang''s weird request which felt more like an order to him.


    ''It''s 2 now.''


    Zhao Luo felt relieved as he could still train for more than 9 hours.


    After a short while, Zhao Luo was already lying on his bed while looking at the ceiling of his room. Many things were going around in his mind.


    Before Zhao Luo would just enter his mental world, the dark space to train but not today.


    He had gone through a lot in thest hour that was equal to around some thirty hours in the Fu Zi World.


    The one image that kept on appearing in his head most frequently was the time when he and Yan were going to kiss each other.


    While the other one was the moment the third elder had turned around and he finally saw the half battlefield zone on the third elder''s head.


    The moment he got betrayed.


    The fight with the monwolf...


    The reward pouch...


    "The pouch."


    Zhao Luo instead of entering his mental took out the leather pouch from his storage.


    He opened the pouch and flipped it on his bed. The pouch having its open area facing the bed starting dropping the contents inside it.


    "Ting, Ting, Ting."


    Zhao Luo''s room was filled with the sound of coins hitting coins as the pouch kept on throwing out more and more coins.


    There were so many coins that came out of the pouch that Zhao Luo''s bed, now had a small pyramid made out of coins on it.


    "1.."


    "2.."


    "3.."


    "Huff, huff", Zhao Luo''s breathing hastened as he kept in counting the coins.


    He wasn''t a greedy man but there were just too many fucking gold coins in front of him.


    "18.."


    .


    .


    "78.."


    .


    "147.."


    .


    "300.."


    .


    "490.."


    .


    "<strong>1300</strong>.."


    "<strong>I am rich</strong>."


    Zhao Luo shouted as he threw the coins up while feeling pure bliss.


    "If there were so many coins in the pouch then why did the disciples fight?"


    Zhao Luo wondered as he couldn''t understand the reason behind the falling out with each other.


    But it didn''t take long for him to realize the truth as he looked at the shining gold coins that were scattered around his room.


    "There were just too many that''s why."


    Zhao Luo said as he fell backward to lie on his bed again.


    "Sigh."


    Instead of entering the dark space, Zhao Luo fell asleep.


    But before falling into a deep sleep, he did felt that he was forgetting something important.

 Chapter 112 - Secret Disciples Identity

    ''ZzZzZzZz.''


    Zhao Luo''s sleeping sound could be heard in the serenity of his room.


    He was ''just sleeping after a long time and even though he couldn''t rate his sleep. But if he could, he would have certainly gone with 9/10.


    He had gone to sleep during the daytime and the time Wu Yang had told him toe to the training area was at 12 of the night but Zhao Luo who was dozing off had no clue of the current time.


    In his sleep, he had a dream.


    A long and senseless dream.


    A dream which felt more real than his reality.


    (The dream)


    "Mister, wake up."


    A sound of a man went in his ears as Zhao Luo barely opened his eyes.


    ''Takuma.''


    Zhao Luo wondered as he looked at the face of the person who was calling him ''mister''.


    "Where am I?"


    Zhao Luo questioned him. He felt like he had a long dream.


    (While dreaming he thought he had a dream.)


    "I brought you to a hospital as you had fainted on the top floor of the haunted building."


    Takuma exined to Zhao Luo with a poker face.


    His face had no expressions at all except that his eyes looked devoid of life.


    ''Did I dream about all that?''


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he looked at Takuma who appeared different to the Takuma ''the great genius'', Zhao Luo knew of.


    "You are not some genius researcher right?"


    Zhao Luo pricked at Takuma whose expression suddenly changed as a grin appeared on his face.


    "I am..."


    He closed in on Zhao Luo and whispered something in his ear.


    "A PSYCHOPATH."


    ''SHWAA.''


    Zhao Luo could only look down at the knife which was prating his stomach as Takuma had stabbed him while grinning at him.


    ''Beep, Beep, Beep.''


    Zhao Luo could only see Takuma sneakily leaving the room as the noise of the heart monitoring machine next to him enshrouded the room.


    After a while of suffering.


    Zhao Luo was losing his consciousness as the feeling of death was creeping up over him.


    "NOOOOooo."


    He screamed while his voice kept on dying down.


    That was when Zhao Luo had woken up from the nightmare.


    "Ah."


    "Hah."


    "Ah."


    "Hah, what was that?"


    Zhao Luo while sitting on his bed rubbed his stomach on the ce where he had been stabbed by Takuma of his dream.


    "It was just a dream."


    "I am never sleeping again."


    Zhao Luo deciding after realizing that he saw was only a dream.


    "But what if in reality, he was never a researcher or if he had chosen someone else for the project...what would have happened to me?"


    Zhao Luo wondered about the possibility that there could be a future of his where he never met his friends or going back to the moment, he may have never met his master or gotten the heaven''s tomb from.


    He may have never stepped on the first stage of Godhood, Naoli, at all.


    Zhao Luo shook his head to get rid of all these depressing thoughts as just thisst week had been more amazing than his whole life.


    Zhao Luo got up and went left his room.


    Outside the hut, it was already dark.


    A full moon was shining brightly in the sky as Zhao Luo stood outside his hut bathing under it with his eyes closed.


    If others could see him, they would have awe stuck, or if they had a weak heart then even his death could result from this scene.


    ''<strong>TOO MUCH HANDSOMENESS IN ONE TAKE</strong>.''


    A disciple who was passing by Zhao Luo''s hut thought.


    Zhao Luo hadn''t noticed that disciple as he was enjoying the night breeze.


    "What are you doing?"


    Zhao Luo opened his eyes as a familiar voice entered his ears and looked at the person who had questioned him.


    "You can try it too."


    Zhao Luo told him as it was Wu Yang who was walking towards him.


    "Did you forget something?"


    Wu Yang askes him as he came to stand next to him.


    "Like what?"


    "Hmm, maybe think about it first before asking me."


    "Just tell me."


    Zhao Luo said as he couldn''t remember what he had forgotten.


    "I told you to meet me at the training area at 12."


    Wu Yang finally got to the point as Zhao Luo looked at him with wide eyes.


    "I remember that. Is it 12 already?"


    Zhao Luo asked him as for him he felt like he hadn''t slept more than a few hours.


    "No, it''s not 12...."


    "Then..."


    Wu Yang slowed down just to interrupt as Zhao Luo started talking.


    "It already 2 " {how wu yang looked<strong>(-_-)</strong>}


    Wu Yang looked at the beautiful moon as he tilted his head, looking away from Zhao Luo.


    "Heh, hehe, I was just about to go towards the training area."


    "Let''s go."


    Zhao Luoughed awkwardly as he started walking towards the exit of the hut zone along with Wu Yang.


    Zhao Luo walked two steps behind Wu Yang because of the earlier incident.


    ''I slept that long. Seriously never sleeping again.''


    Just like the sense of hunger had diminished, Zhao Luo didn''t have to sleep as training in the dark space would replenish him with energy and also wash away his exhaustion so he would always feel rested.


    In any case, just like eating whenever he felt like it, his sleep this time shared the same reason.


    He slept cause he just felt like it and that was what he was regretting now.


    Zhao Luo followed Wu Yang out of the hut zone and towards the training area.


    "Tsk."


    Zhao Luo clicked his tongue as he still couldn''t believe that he had overslept.


    "Don''t worry."


    Wu Yang realized that Zhao Luo was still bating himself over the fact.


    "You aren''t angry?"


    Zhao Luo jumped ahead a little toe alongside Wu Yang while asking about Wu Yang''s mood.


    Wu Yang smiled and stopped as they had already reached the training area.


    "I am not angry but..."


    "But?"


    "We are going to fight now."


    Wu Yang dered leaving Zhao Luo shocked for a moment.


    ''He is indeed angry that I left him stranded for two hours. This petty kid.''


    Zhao Luo said in his mind.


    "If you are not angry then why are we fighting? Why did you even bring me to the training area?"


    Zhao Luo questioned Wu Yang with a strange look.


    He wasn''t even worried about the time they had chosen toe here but there should be a reason for their fight.


    "How can I just fight with you?"


    Zhao Luo questioned Wu Yang as he stepped towards him.


    Wu Yang looked at Zhao Luo who wasing towards him and felt bad.


    ''I am not fooling him. This was going to happen anyways.''


    Wu Yang thought as he stepped back.


    He then started walking away from Zhao Luo as he jumped on the closest ring.


    "We have to fight cause I am yourst challenge. I am the <strong>secret</strong><strong>disciple</strong>."


    Wu Yang told him with a serious look in his eyes.


    "Are you kidding me? Why would you help me if you are the secret disciple?"


    Zhao Luo was right about that. If Wu Yang was the secret disciple and Zhao Luo had to defeat him then.


    ''Why would you help me get stronger?''


    Zhao Luo wondered as he looked at Wu Yang''s expression.


    "I helped you as that is part of my mission. This fight will end my mission, soe."


    Wu Yang told Zhao Luo in a challenging voice as he gestured at him by curling his fingers towards him.


    "I am already helping you bying forward myself so juste."


    Wu Yang urged Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo looked at the decisiveness in the eyes of his first friend that he had made after joining the sect.


    ''Boom.''


    Zhao Luo jumped on the side of the ring and looked directly at Wu Yang''s eyes.


    Without saying any more words, both understood that the fight would be a barehanded one thus both Zhao Luo and Wu Yang took their stance.


    Bang!


    Zhao Luo and Wu Yang lunged at each other.


    Their limbs being their weapon, Wu Yang was the first to throw his kick at Zhao Luo.


    ''Bang.''


    Zhao Luo blocked Wu Yang''s kick with his arm


    ''....''


    Zhao Luo could feel his arms throbbing.


    ''He is way stronger than senior.''


    Zhao Luo realized as he remembered his dight with Senior Mite.


    ''Bang.''


    Wi Yang kicked once more as his kicknded on Zhao Luo''s arm again.


    Without stopping Wu Yang threw his fist.


    An insanely fast punch wasing at Zhao Luo.


    "Aiming at my face? How cheap."


    Zhao Luo taunted Wu Yang as he brought his palm in the way of the attack to block Wu Yang''s attack.


    Shockingly for Zhao Luo, Wu Yang had curved his fist''s trajectory resulting in the next moment.


    ''Bang.''


    Zhao Luo was hit directly in his abdomen causing him to crouch as his knees hit the ground just on the third strike.


    ''What power?''


    Zhao Luo was shocked as he could feel his stomach rattling inside his body.


    Zhao Luo looked up and barely saw the cold expression of Wu Yang as the moonlight shined above them.

 Chapter 113 - VS Wu Yang

    Zhao Luo got up while looking at the anger on the face of Wu Yang whose eyes had this shine of seriousness gleaming inside them.


    "You think it''s just a spar?"


    Wu Yang asked Zhao Luo as he felt angrier while looking at the submissive Zhao Luo.


    His face was getting twisted because of his mood that was controlling his expression.


    "Do you intend to defeat me by only defeating?"


    Wu Yang, as he walked towards Zhao Luo while looking directly into his eyes, the ring tiles under his feet would deform before he even stepped on them.


    ''<strong>Crack</strong>.''


    Each of his steps would crush the deformed tiles into small pieces.


    "Attack or Lose!!!"


    Wu Yang stopped right in front of Zhao Luo.


    There was only an inch of air between them.


    Wu Yang was giving out a challenge to Zhao Luo.


    He also told the result, that is, if their fight continued like this, Zhao Luo will lose.


    "I thought you were fooling me and woulde around if I yed with you a bit. But I guess...''<strong>Crack</strong>''...I will he to fight back."


    Zhao Luo clenched his fists and didn''t dodge the stare down.


    The shining moon above them was being covered by a cloud.


    In a moment, the whole snow like the light of the moon was covered by that dark cloud which was a sign.


    A sign for Zhao Luo and Wu Yang to kick off.


    <strong>Boom</strong>!


    <strong>Bang</strong>!


    They both jumped back and right after they got the right footing, they leaped at each other like beasts.


    "<strong>Ahhh</strong>," Zhao Luo shouted as the challenge started even before their weapons, which were their limbs came in contact.


    Zhao Luo had leaped with almost all of his strength but Wu Yang had matched with him as the fight resumed 10 feet above the ring.


    In mid-air, Zhao Luo didn''t wait for Wu Yang to throw the first attack as he threw a left kick at his face.


    ''<strong>Bang</strong>.''


    Wu Yang blocked it with his right arm and tried to counter with his left hook but before his left hook could reach Zhao Luo''s face, another attack wasing at him from his right.


    ''<strong>Bang</strong>.''


    Zhao Luo without letting Wu Yang throw a decent attack at him kept on throwing his attacks at Wu Yang''s right side.


    Zhao Luo aimed for Wu Yang''s face just to get back at him for his hit on Zhao Luo''s abdomen.


    ''He will copy me.''


    Wu Yang right before Zhao Luo''s punch couldnd on his face, shifted his guard towards his abdomen.


    This all happened in less than five seconds as both were descending back on the ring.


    ''Bang.''


    ''Crack.''


    The moment Wu Yang moved his hands to block his abdomen, Zhao Luo''s punchnded directly on the right side of his face.


    Something had been broken in thest contact of Zhao Luo''s fist with Wu Yang''s face.


    The force behind Zhao Luo''s unblocked punch was so much that Wu Yang''s whole body elerated towards the ring floor.


    Thud!


    Wu Yang fell on his back leaving a dent on all the surrounding tiles.


    ''<strong>Tap</strong>.''


    Zhao Luonded next to him with a smile on his face. Even though he had gurt a friend but it felt nice getting back at Wu Yang.


    "Damn."


    Wu Yang cursed as he got up abruptly with a swollen cheek.


    The left side of his mouth was so big now that it looked like Wu Yang was hiding a candy there.


    "<strong>Hah</strong>."


    Wu Yang stillughed it off.


    "My parents always told me that I had a thick face and even a thicker skull."


    Wu Yang looked at Zhao Luo who had his left hand sped within his right hand.


    Zhao Luo looked in pain.


    "Your parents....never told me that."


    Zhao Luo fought back with something which didn''t make sense to Wu Yang and himself.


    ''Two fingers broke, while he only gets a swollen cheek. What a monster.''


    Zhao Luo looked at Wu Yang as his ain faded away in a short moment.


    Zhao Luo felt something waking up inside him.


    ''Yes, i.....I can feel it.''


    He thought as he looked down.


    No, it wasn''t his dragon neither were his feet running away from him.


    Zhao Luo closed his eyes for less than a second to feel this excitement that was waking up inside his body.


    While looking at Zhao Lup who had his face down for some reason, Wu Yang felt his back sweating excessively.


    No, it wasn''t like he was suffering from hyperhidrosis but this sweating was because of the immense talent of Zhao Luo that had hit Wu Yang like a boulder.


    ''He copied my moves so perfectly and calcted my reaction so timely that I went to guard my abdomen while leaving my face open.''


    Wu Yang went over thest sh between them as he slowly realized the truth.


    ''<strong>Tap</strong>, <strong>Tap</strong>.''


    Wu Yang lowered his body by stepping his legs far apart.


    "I will be serious from now on."


    Wu Yang warned Zhao Luo showing his sportsmanlike conduct by giving an initial warning to Zhao Luo.


    But as he looked at Zhao Luo''s a vein popped out on his forehead.


    Zhao Luo stood there grinning back at Wu Yang who had just dered that he would be fighting seriously now.


    "Why are you smiling? Because your fingers broke?"


    Wu Yang taunted him but before he could say another word, Zhao Luo was showing him the middle finger of his left hand.


    The finger that was supposed to be broken was being wriggled by Zhao Luo.


    "Are you talking about this?"


    Zhao Luo questioned him back as he had a smug look on his face.


    ''I am fine even after my apparitions break all of my bones so how could this hurt me.''


    Zhao Luo thought in his mind as a feeling of happiness contended with the excitement in his mind.


    He was excited cause his opponent was strong, stronger than anyone he had faced till now while he was happy because it wasn''t a fight that was driven by any negative emotions.


    ''I am having fun?''


    Zhao Luo realized as the happy feeling was reining over the excitement.


    ''<strong>Ta</strong>.''


    Another vein popped up on Wu Yang''s forehead.


    ''Why is he smiling?''


    Wu Yang was feeling annoyed as he misunderstood the reason behind Zhao Luo''s smile.


    ''Is he going to ake it easy now?''


    ''<strong>Crack</strong>.''


    The tiles with dent under his feet broke as he jumped towards Zhao Luo with a flying kick.


    The chest was the target as Wu Yang sped at Zhao Luo.


    <strong>Bang</strong>!


    Zhao Luo blocked the flying kick of Wu Yang by crossing his arms in front of his chest.


    Zhao Luo rotated and threw a spinning kick at Wu Yang''s face before his feet could touch the ground.


    <strong>Bang</strong>!


    Wu Yang blocked the kick with his other leg in mid-air andnded backward.


    Both faced each other with a tough attitude.


    ''<strong>Throb</strong>.''


    In reality, they were hiding their pain.


    Zhao Luo''s arms were throbbing while Wu Yang''s leg felt numb.


    Both slowly walked closer to each other, and their fight resumed again.


    ''I am stronger.''


    ''But he keeps pushing me back.''


    Wu Yang thought as he took two steps towards Zhao Luo who was getting better after every sh.


    <strong>Bang!</strong>


    <strong>Bang!</strong>


    <strong>Bang!</strong>


    Zhao Luo and Wu Yang both threw incredibly fast punches at each other.


    But it didn''t end there as the punches from both sides kept oning without a stop.


    The brawl went on to get bigger as the dust started to fly around them because of the broken tiles getting smashed even more.


    Each second, more than ten punches were being exchanged.


    After a while of this slugfest.


    "Huff."


    Both of them had heavy breathing as their speed had slowed down by a lot.


    "Eat this."


    Zhao Luo shouted as his left punchnded on Wu Yang''s already swollen right cheek.


    ''<strong>Boom</strong>.''


    Wu Yang turned his face towards his left to reduce the force behind Zhao Luo''s fist.


    With Zhao Luo''s fist on his right cheek, he hit Zhao Luo with a dragon punch.


    Dragon punch: When a person, brings his fist directly upwards from a low point and aims for the enemy''s chin, that is the fist is like a flying dragon aiming for the skies.


    Basically what Wu Yang had thrown at Zhao Luo was an uppercut.


    Just like Wu Yang, Zhao Luo couldn''t dodge it or block it, so he tilted his head upwards to reduce the impact behind Wu Yang''s dragon punch.


    ''<strong>Boom</strong>.''


    The dragon punch had barely scratched Zhao Luo but even that was enough to make him fall backward.


    But Zhao Luo was a stubborn person.


    Just like he went against the Drums of Bellum, he seized this opportunity as Wu Yang had his guard down.


    <strong>Bang</strong>!


    Zhao Luo used his right leg to kick Wu Yang''s chest.


    A clean strike finallynded on Wu Yang.


    Both were thrown away from each other and fell to the ground.


    ''<strong>Hah</strong>.''


    ''<strong>Hah</strong>.''


    Two panting moans remained on the ring.


    One was Zhao Luo''s while the other belonged to Wu Yang.


    ''<strong>Tap</strong>.''


    After a moment, only one of them stood back up while the other was only able to crouch back.


    "<strong>Cough</strong>."


    The crouching person coughed as he looked at the other who had blood gushing out of his mouth.

 Chapter 114 - In The Presence Of The Sect Leader

    "<strong>Wu Yang</strong>."


    Zhao Luo screamed while his knees were still touching the ring tform.


    In front of him, Wu Yang was standing as his purple robe was being colored red by his blood.


    ''<strong>Ba-dump</strong>.''


    Zhao Luo could feel a sting in his heart as he saw the condition of Wu Yang.


    ''<strong>Cough</strong>.''


    Wi Yang coughed as more blood came out of his mouth.


    "Are you okay?"


    Zhao Luo got up and rushed towards him as his condition looked more serious.


    ''<strong>Tap</strong>.''


    But before Zhao Luo could reach Wu Yang, he stopped mid-way as Wu Yang had his palm facing Zhao Luo, gesturing him to note any closer.


    ''<strong>ZzzzeeE</strong>.''


    Wu Yang rubbed his face with the arm of his robe to wipe away the bloodstains around his mouth.


    "I am okay."


    "Come."


    Wu Yang told Zhao Luo as he turned his palm towards himself and curled his fingers inward, actioning at Zhao Luo toe at him.


    ''Too stubborn.''


    Zhao Luo shook his head as he advanced towards Wu Yang.


    The fight continued but Zhao Luo wasn''t giving his all.


    ''He isn''t even able to fight at half of his strength.''


    Zhao Luo realized as each of Wu Yang''s strikes wasn''t even worth blocking.


    The earlier strength that he had shown had decreased devastatingly in just four shes.


    But that didn''t mean Zhao Luo was in his best condition.


    He was exhausted too but his exhaustion came from controlling his strength.


    ''Bang.''


    ''Dab.''


    Wu Yang didn''t even have enough strength to close his hand into a fist as his attack pattern only had palm strikes now.


    Just a simple straight palm strike.


    ''Bang.''


    Zhao Luo copied him and only used palm strikes as well.


    Each collision of their palms ended in a draw.


    p!


    p!


    p!


    Every time their palms would meet a sound would emerge, which was like some giant was pping.


    After a while of pping sounds going around in the training area.


    The fight was close to ending as Wu Yang couldn''t even control his weight and slipped many times.


    Every time he would slip, Zhao Luo would catch him by his waist and then jump backward.


    If someone else was spectating their fight they would have been disappointed.


    The fight which started with a ''Bang'' had turned into a hugging form of rumba dance.


    But Wu Yang didn''t give up till he had fallen unconscious and Zhao Luo had to catch him in his arms again.


    "I won."


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he looked at the blood marks that were still left around the mouth of Wu Yang.


    "But instead of feeling happy, I feel sad."


    He couldn''t even smile when Wu Yang was in that shape.


    Wu Yang was his first friend (male) that he had made after entering the sect.


    p!


    "Good."


    "Amazing."


    "Marvelous."


    "The lover holds his loved one in his arms after beating the shit out of him."


    "Fascinating."


    p! p!


    A sound entered Zhao Luo''s ears. The taunt thrown by whoever spoke just now was so strong that Zhao Luo had unconsciously dropped Wu Yang.


    His arms had gone numb as his lips trembled.


    "I d-didn''t beat the s-shit out of him. It wasn''t me. He had challenged me. It was a CHALLENGE."


    Zhao Luo started without making sense but then he got ahold of himself.


    Just for a moment, for a few seconds, he had fallen in the voice''s taunt.


    "Hahaha."


    A man jumped on the ring but there wasn''t any sound of himnding except hisughing around.


    <strong>"FACE ME."</strong>


    Zhao Luo shouted as theughing man had his back facing Zhao Luo and the unconscious Wu Yang.


    The dark cloud covering the moon slowly moved on as the shine of the moon partially covered the man.


    The man stoppedughing and started turning around but very slowly.


    The man was now facing Zhao Luo, but he looked stunned as if the person in front of him had a shocking identity.


    "That ugly hairstyle."


    ''Third elder, you.''


    Zhao Luo had mixed his thoughts with what he was going to say.


    Crack!!!


    The square tile under the third elder''s right foot broke and a crack went forward towards Zhao Luo.


    The force from the elder''s foot had passed under the tiles.


    The tiles on the ring kept on popping out as the force of the elder continued towards Zhao Luo.


    Boom!


    Boom!


    Boom!


    Zhao Luo grabbed Wu Yang and dodged towards the right.


    When he looked back the ring on his left side was missing all the tiles of the column where the third elder had kicked earlier.


    ''Moster.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he turned his face to look at the elder.


    In a matter of a few seconds, the moonshine had brightened the whole trainee hall.


    "You havepleted the fourth mission."


    The third elder announced with a grumpy look.


    "Why did you dodge all the tiles? You should have let at least a few hit you."


    The third elderined while walking towards Zhao Luo and Wu Yang.


    <strong>Tap!</strong>


    He took a step, just a single step to cover a distance of 15 feet.


    <strong>Pop</strong>!


    The third elder was standing next to Zhao Luo as he squatted down and took out a gourd and pulled the cork that was sealing it.


    The third elder turned the gourd around and tapped it on his palm.


    Only a single pill came out of it.


    "A pill?"


    Zhao Luo questioned as he saw the red pill that hade out of the gourd.


    Steam wasing out of it as the elder hurriedly pushed it into Wu Yang''s mouth.


    "Just watch."


    The third elder told Zhao Luo with a mysterious smile on his face.


    ''<strong>Nod</strong>'', Zhao Luo who was holding Wu Yang looked at him.


    ''<strong>Hmm</strong>.''


    <strong>Gulp</strong>!


    Wu Yang made a sound while Zhao Luo could see the red shine of the pill even though it was going down Wu Yang''s throat.


    After the pill had settled in Wu Yang''s stomach, he released a groan from his mouth.


    "Ah."


    "Let him go, fast."


    The third elder warned Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo didn''t know why the third elder was telling him to let go of Wu Yang who was still unconscious.


    "Ah."


    Wu Yang let out a moan in pain again.


    "Why should I let him go?"


    Instead of letting Wu Yang go and removing his hands off him, Zhao Luo tightened his grip around Wu Yang''s shoulder.


    ''<strong>ZZZZZZ</strong>.''


    But soon a burning sensation started spreading over his hands and Zhao Luo had to let Wu Yang go.


    "I have fed him a 3rd grade regeneration pill. Obviously, his body will be heating up so much that if you touch him with your hand now, you will just be burning it."


    The third elder exined to Zhao Luo with an all-knowing look.


    "3rd grade pill?"


    "Obviously?"


    Zhao Luo murmured as how could he know such things.


    From the looks of Wu Yang''s earlier injuries, he had broken half of his ribs and some of them may have even stabbed his other organs.


    But now theplexion of his face which had gone dull before was returning.


    "Miraculous."


    Zhao Luo said in excitement.


    "He did well. He saw the challenge till the end. He fought till he passed out. Good kid."


    The third eldermented on Wu Yang who had started snoring now.


    Wu Yang''s injuries had healed and the pain had subsided but he was still not awake.


    "Do you know what you have done?"


    The third elder asked Zhao Luo with a curious look.


    "I defeated him??"


    "<strong>Hahahaha</strong>."


    Zhao Luo replied with the only possible answer that he coulde up with but he didn''t know why the third elder had startedughing.


    Let''s go", the elder whose bald head shined brighter than ever under the full moon said to Zhao Luo as he grabbed Wu Yang and Zhao Luo.


    ''<strong>Tap</strong>.''


    A step forward by the third elder took them from the training area to the hut zone.


    The three were outside Wu Yang''s hut.


    "Put him down on the bed."


    The third elder advised Zhao Luo as he passed Wu Yang to him.


    Like a knight carrying his princess, Zhao Lio carried his sleeping friend and ced him on the bed before leaving the hut.


    "Let''s go."


    The elder grabbed Zhao Luo''s hand and took another step forward.


    ''Again.''


    Zhao Luo screamed in his mind as the scenery changed around him and now he was standing inside..." a golden hall" Zhao Luo said as he looked around.


    "I pay my respect to the Sect Leader."


    The third elder after turning around went on his knees as he bowed to the person behind Zhao Luo.


    An aura burst out from behind Zhao Luo while he was looking around the golden hall.


    The moment the third elder''s voice entered his ears and the aura of the person who was behind him covered him, sweat started flowing down his neck.


    ''The sect elder? Behind me?''


    Zhao Luo was shocked.


    ''Why would the third elder bring me to meet the sect leader?''


    Zhao Luo couldn''t think straight as the aura that had enveloped him was overwhelming him in every way.


    "This is the presence of a sect leader."


    Zhao Luo mumbled while wondering about turning around to see him.

 Chapter 115 - Badge Of The Successor

    Inside the Xin Sect which was on the summit of the central mountain.


    A pce stood taller and more magnificent than all the other pces.


    It was the pce of the Sect Leader of the Xin Sect.


    With a dragon sculpted from a jade, curling outside the roof of this golden pce, it was a sign that a dragon resided inside it.


    ----- ----- ----- ----- -----


    Inside it.


    Zho Luo was still afraid to turn around and face the sect leader with his gaze.


    But what was the reason for this fear?


    ''Mhmm.''


    Zhao Luo trembled again as he could feel someone surveying him from his head to toe.


    It was the aura of the sect leader, that was giving Zhao Luo a certain feeling.


    Zhao Luo felt naked as if he couldn''t hide anything from the person who was looking at him.


    "I have to behave otherwise I may just die if I turn around."


    Zhao Luo had just made up his mind when a voice resounded in the golden hall.


    "I had smiled after a long time a few days ago. It was because I saw a lion cub trying to roar like a lion when the sound leaving its mouth was only a cub''s squeaking sounds."


    The sect leader spoke with a thundering voice.


    ''Is he trying to tell me something?''


    Zhao Luo hurriedly thought about anything that could have happened which matched the description that the sect leader had just said.


    "Turn around young man, and let me see how the cub looks like."


    The sect leader ordered Zhao Luo.


    ''I am the cub?''


    While marveling at the fact that the lion cub, the sect leader was talking about was him, Zhao Luo turned around to finally face the sect leader.


    The moment Zhao Luo turned around, the sect leader had pulled back his aura, letting the pressure on Zhao Luo calm down.


    "I greet the Sect Leader."


    Zhao Luo bowed down his head before looking at the Sect leader.


    Bao Fei smiled from the sideline as he looked at this scene.


    He was only supposed to give Zhao Luo the result and the reward for clearing the four challenges but at thest moment, the sect leader had ordered him to bring Zhao Luo to him.


    ''It looks like they have some catching on to do.''


    Bao Fei thought.


    "Raise your head ande close."


    The sect leader ordered Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo listened to him. While raising his head, he moved two steps closer and saw the face of the person who ruled over a hundred thousand warriors, disciples and elders included, of the Xin Sect.


    "I, Xin Wang, wee you to my pce."


    The sect leader introduced himself in a manner but the shocking thing was, that he acted generously by weing Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo saw a handsome man. The man''splexion was a little dark but his facial features were sharp. His eyes were ck while during the short moment that Zhao Luo was looking at the Sect Leader, the ck eyes had given away a lustrous golden shine three times. His long ck hairs were tied behind his head which made him look even sharper.


    To top it off, the sect leader was sitting on a normal chair.


    Yes, a four-legged piece of garbage.


    ''I was hoping for an amazing throne. He looks like a Mongol emperor ready to take a kindergarten ss.''


    Zhao Luo was let down when hepared the person to his sitting.


    ''He resembles someone but why the sudden change in his speech?''


    Zhao Luo questioned in his mind as this was the same person who was probing through his body just a second ago.


    "I am Zhao Luo. A trainee disciple of the trainee hall."


    Zhao Luo pointed at his ck badge while introducing himself.


    "I know."


    Xin Wang said as he nodded.


    The sect leader, Xin Wang''s, calm demeanor had warmed the golden space around Zhao Luo. Thus allowing him to speak more freely


    "Sect Leader, what did you mean by me being a lion cub?"


    This question had been bugging Zhao Luo since the sect leader had spoken mysteriously about the cub acting like a grown lion.


    "Young man, have you forgotten your bold announcement outside the teleportation building of my Sect?"


    Xin Wang told Zhao Luo which caused certain memory shbacks to invade Zhao Luo''s head.


    (Memory shback)


    "I will be the strongest in the Xin Sect."


    (Memory shback ended)


    ''Mhmm, why did I shout out my n?''


    Zhao Luo cursed himself as he awkwardly smiled at the sect leader who was looking at him closely.


    "I was too excited then."


    Zhao Luo scratched the back of his head while telling the sect leader with an awkward smile on his face.


    "No need to make excuses. It is good to have an excited person like you who can live up to his goals. The reason I told ''little third'' to bring you here is...."


    The sect leader looked confused for a second as he had his index finger pointed upwards like he was going to tell the reason.


    ''Little third?''


    Zhao Luo nced at the third elder and could barely hold hisugh.


    Other than that his only wish was that the sect leader could stop adding these suspenseful stops.


    "There are two reasons and not one."


    Xin Wang opened his middle finger and pointed it upwards along with his index finger.


    "First I wanted to see how the disciple who hadpleted the missions to be one of my sessors would look like."


    ''Sessor?''


    Zhao Luo was shocked as the sect leader continued.


    "You have indeed grown but don''t be conceited over just this much. All of the other sessor disciples are stronger than you."


    The sect leader told him while waving his hand at Bao Fei.


    "Little third, give him the reward."


    Xin Wang ordered Bao Fei.


    ''Nod'', Bao Fei nodded and took out a badge from his storage ring.


    Bao Fei gave Zhao Luo a golden pentagon badge that was as big as Zhao Luo''s hand.


    With an ''<strong>S</strong>'' jade dragon carved on the badge, it looked very valuable.


    "That is your reward for clearing all the four missions in the right order."


    The sect leader told Zhao Luo with a smile which was a short-lived one.


    "Just this?"


    Zho Luo questioned as he inspected the badge after taking the badge from the third elder.


    "Sigh, kids these days. That thing is more valuable than any other reward in this sect. Some disciple even considers it more valuable than their own life."


    Bao Fei was the one to answer Zhao Luo as the Sect leader had a displeased look on his face as he watched Zhao Luo.


    "It''s the sessor badge. Once the stage is set, all the disciples who own a sessor badge will be eligible to fight for the leadership disregarding their ranks and standing in the sect. But put it away for now."


    The third elder whispered to Zhao Luo before moving back to the sideline.


    "Remember to advance tomorrow. A king of trainees will only be a trainee."


    The sect leader advised Zhao Luo.


    "I will remember your guidance."


    Zhao Luo bowed deeply to show his gratitude and also for the reward, the golden badge with the jade dragon, aka, the sessor''s badge.


    "Good."


    Xin Wang nodded as he praised Zhao Luo''s behavior.


    Zhao Luo also smiled. It was nice getting praised for once.


    But soon his smile disappeared as the Sect leader looked at him with squinted eyes.


    The expression of the sect leader had taken a 180¡ã hit in just an instant.


    Zhao Luo could feel ice shards pricking at his skin just by the chilly stare of the Sect Leader.


    ''But Why?''


    Zhao Luo was confused as to why the sect leader would show him such an angry expression.


    "Little third told me something peculiar. That there is a kid who is trying to swoon over my daughter. My baby girl. My gem. My TREASURE. MY ANGEL."


    Xin Wang was getting louder and louder to the point where he started shouting as he talked about his daughter.


    Zhao Luo could feel his mind shake because the sound of the sect leader carried his powerful aura which would pressure Zhao Luo''s ear.


    The world in front of Zhao Luo''s eyes started spinning and fear started taking over him as he saw the sect leader getting up from his stic seat.


    <strong>Boom</strong>!


    The seat broke down as Xin Wang got up from it and took a step towards Zhao Luo.


    "Coincidentally, the disciple swooning over my daughter is you, Zhao Luo."


    Xin Wang whispered in Zhao Luo''s ear. Just a single step and he was standing close to Zhao Luo.


    ''I almost pissed my pants.''


    Zhao Luo was shocked by the Sect leader''s foot technique which was simr to the third elder''s.


    "S-sect leader, I d-don''t know your d-daughter."


    Zhao Luo replied while stuttering as he didn''t dare to meet Xin Wang''s eyes.


    "Hahaha."


    The sect leaderughed frantically.


    That was when Bak Fei intervened.


    "Leader, that seems to be the case. The youngdy has been wandering around while hiding her identity."


    The third elder told the sect leader while Zhao Luo carefully listened to the truth spoken by the third elder.


    ''Youngdy? I am close to her? Hiding her identity?''


    Zhao Luo matched everything in his mind and only a single image appeared in his head.


    "Yan."


    Zhao Luo unconsciously shouted her name as the Sect Leader and Bao Fei looked at him.


    "You said she was hiding her identity then how does he know her name?"


    The sect leader questioned Bao Fei as the end of his brows arched up.


    "Oh no, Yan isn''t a boy?"


    Zhao Luo feigned ignorance as he went against the flow.


    It was a do-or-die situation for him so to live he would even sell his soul.


    ''Huh?''


    The Sect leader and Bao Fei both looked at Zhao Luo in a questioning way.


    "I mean, I was close to Yan because I thought he was a boy."


    Zhao Luo told them as he looked innocently in their eyes.


    "Is that the truth?"


    The sect leader looked at Bao Fei.


    "Yes, the youngdy is indeed pretending to be a boy."


    Bao Fei bowed and told him.


    "So you will not like her from now on because she is ady and not a man?"


    The sect leader asked Zhao Luo with a menacing look in his eyes.


    It was more like he was setting Zhao Luo''s future interaction with Yan by clearly telling him that Zhao can''t like her.


    Zhao Luo wondered how he should answer this when the wrong answer could just cost him his life.


    ''Gulp.''


    Zhao Luo swallowed his saliva under the sharp gazes of the Sect Leader and the one with the weird hairstyle, the third elder.

 Chapter 116 - Scroll

    Zhao Luo closed his eyes.


    ''I can''t bear the res of the Sect Leader who is demanding an answer from me and the third elder, who has already witnessed something that he shouldn''t have seen.''


    Zhao Luo clearly understood the situation.


    With his eyes closed, he unknowingly remembered the time when he and Yan were outside the thick cloud on the dragon road.


    (Image shing in Zhao Luo''s mind)


    An image of him and Yan almost kissing popped up in his mind.


    (Image ended) with Zhao Luo shaking his head as his face turned a little red.


    ''Tap.''


    He opened his eyes and looked at his shoulder just to find out that the Sect Leader was grabbing his shoulder.


    But Zhao Luo couldn''t feel any pressure except the sound that he had heard when Xin Wang had ced his hand on Zhao Luo''s shoulder.


    "Your ANSWER."


    Xin Wang said while giving Zhao Luo a threatening look.


    ''He looks scarier than the psychopaths of my time.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he finally had an answer ready that will surely calm down the leader.


    Zhao Luo hurriedly kneeled and looked at the leader with wet eyes.


    Escaping the leader''s grip was his first action, then the innocent look was to melt the leader''s heart.


    The final strike was ready and Zhao Luo was going to deliver it.


    "I am not interested in girls", Zhao Luo shouted with a hardened yet partially hurt look.


    ''<strong>CLAP</strong>.''


    Imaginary thunder fell, in the ears of the sect leader and the third elder.


    They looked at Zhao Luo whose expressions showed that it was a secret that had caused him many troubles but he had to say it now because of the pressure from Xin Wang.


    "<strong>WHAT</strong>?"


    Both Sect Leader and Bao Fei believed that painfully expression and were stunned.


    The truth had hit them so hard that the Sect Leader, the number one entity living on the Xin Range, the leader of the Xin Sect had taken two steps back and another step towards the right.


    Zhao Luo''s truth had forced the leader of the Sect to move like a horse (chess knight).


    Xin Wang looked at Bao Fei and blinked forcefully.


    Xin Wang was telling Bao Fei to take responsibility for this situation.


    ''If it wasn''t because of his misinformation that I caused this brilliant kid to be saddened.....<strong>TSK</strong>.''


    The Sect Leader thought as he moved back to the broken chair and waved his hand to take out another stic chair.


    ''<strong>Bam</strong>.''


    Xin Wang sat on the new chair as he looked at Zhao Luo with a deep and regretful expression.


    ''I just wanted to scare him, not scar him.''


    He thought as Bao Fei went over to Zhao Luo to help him get up from his kneeling position.


    "Zhao Luo."


    The sect leader called out.


    ''What now?''


    Zhao Luo looked at Xin Wang and saw the leader throwing a scroll at him.


    <strong>Grab</strong>!


    Zhao Luo grabbed the scroll and looked at the leader with confusion in his eyes.


    The leader was scratching his nose with his index finger while looking away from Zhao Luo.


    "I realized that you were quite amazed by my foot technique. I call it FLASH STEP. This scroll has the first stage of my <strong>sh Step</strong>."


    The sect leader told Zhao Luo and turned his face to look at him.


    "First Walk."


    The sect elder announced the name of the first stage of the ''<strong>sh step</strong>'' technique.


    "Thank you."


    Zhao Luo sped his hands and bowed to the Sect Leader.


    The sect leader looked at Bao Fei.


    "Little third take him back."


    "Don''t forget what I told you. I will wait for you", then said his final words to Zhao Luo.


    The third elder grabbed Zhao Luo''s arm and took a step towards the exit of the pce.


    ''<strong>TAP</strong>''


    "<strong>AHHH</strong>."


    Zho Luo cried out to keep up the ''my feelings are hurt'' act.


    The space around him changed and Bao Fei had brought Zhao Luo back to the Trainee hall as Zhao Luo''s hut appeared in front of his eyes.


    Bao Fei had already released Zhao Luo''s arm and while looking at him, he opened his mouth.


    "Zhao Luo, don''t mind the sect leader''s reaction. He treasures Lady Yan so he was just trying to scare you."


    Elder Bao Fei told Zhao Luo while gently patting his shoulder.


    ''My n worked. Haha.''


    Zhao Luo felt d that even the third elder had fallen for his amazing acting skills.


    ''I didn''t know I could act so well.''


    Zhao Luo felt quite good after praising himself.


    Zhao Luo looked at the elder then he tilted his head downwards.


    ''I guess he needs more time to get over what happened.''


    Bao Fei mumbled.


    "I will be going now. Take care kiddo."


    Bao Fei let out the news of his departure with a smile.


    He thought that Zhao Luo would be sad thus he even added the word kiddo when Zhao Luo was already a fully grown adult.


    ''<strong>Woosh</strong>.''


    The moment Bao Fei disappeared from that ce, Zhao Luo hurriedly turned around to enter the hut.


    After entering his room.


    Zhao Luoid down on his bed as his legs dangled downwards from the other end of the bed.


    "Haaaa~"


    Zhao Luo released a deep sigh but there was no bitterness in his eyes.


    He didn''t look awful instead there was a victorious grin hidden under his mysterious and deep ''sigh''.


    "Finally."


    Zhao Luo said as he felt relieved that he was back in his room.


    The moon was still shining brightly outside his hut.


    The morning was far away as the night''s darkness covered the trainee hall.


    Zhao Luo thought about how he should act around Yan from now on.


    "Wahhh, why should I stay away from her?"


    Zhao Luo shouted as he remembered the moment that he had experienced.


    The exploding and powerful aura of the Sect Leader.


    His build.


    His presence.


    "Why am I so weak?"


    ''<strong>Bang</strong>.''


    Zhao Luoined and punched his bed.


    Yan was the second girl that had caused Zhao Luo to experience the special feeling of being loved romantically.


    Even though it was a short-lived experience, Zhao Luo didn''t mind it but, it was different now, as Yan was the daughter of the Sect leader, Xin Wang.


    "I should just focus on bing stronger."


    "No, no. I WILL ONLY FOCUS ON BECOMING STRONG FROM NOW ON."


    Zhao Luo made a promise to himself.


    While being enveloped by different emotions, he repeated his goal in a convincing and unwavering voice.


    ''Hmm.''


    Zhao Luo looked at his hands. He was still holding the two rewards that the Sect Leader had given him.


    "The sessor badge."


    Zhao Luo looked at the badge which was in his right hand.


    The jade dragon though was small, that is, around 4-5 inch but the artistry was so realistic that it looked more ferocious than Zhao Luo''s Bimba, the sand lion.


    The golden background gave it a more fierce touch.


    "So this is my ticket to join the other disciples'' who are training to seed the sect leader''s seat?"


    Zhao Luo said while turning around the badge and looking at the jade dragon.


    After a while of staring at the golden badge, Zhao Luo stored it in his robe''s storage space.


    "Let''s open this."


    Zhao Luo held the foot technique scroll with both of his hands.


    ''FrFrFr.''


    He opened the scroll slowly.


    "<strong>Technique created by Xin Wang, The leader of the Xin Sect</strong>."


    "Once a cultivator reaches the bronze stage and starts gathering the energy inside his core, that is, he can store internal energy forter use. Only then will the cultivator learn the first stage of the sh Step, Firs Walk."


    Zhao Luo read the title of the scroll.


    Each stroke of the characters in the title was amazing just like the technique itself.


    The title was followed by the condition to use the first step of the technique.


    "Internal energy again. Core?"


    Zhao Luo didn''t meet the condition required to learn the technique.


    He didn''t even know what the core was and where it was, so how could he store energy in his core.


    ''It''s a puzzle.''


    Zhao Luo was just a ck stage trainee disciple ording to his ck badge. There was still a long way to be a bronze stage disciple.


    "I will have to be an internal disciple. Just like senior Zi Fei."


    Zhao Luo remembered the creepy psychopathic senior of his.


    Zi Fei was a bronze stage disciple ( cultivator ) as he had a bronze badge, that is, he was an inner disciple.


    Zhao Luo felt confused as everything he had to do was all over the ce but he didn''t stop reading the scroll.


    "Ten steps, taken in a single breath, cover a distance of 100-meters."


    The line told what the technique was all about but in short breaking sentences.


    "100 meters in ten steps?", Zhao Luo was amazed but the thing that excited him, even more, was, "I will be able to cover 100 meters in a SINGLE breath."


    Zhao Luo said with rising passion.


    The content of the scroll had just started.


    "The <strong>F</strong><strong>irst Walk</strong> is divided into five different levels


    ?Beginner: One step, One breath, 10 meters.


    ?Advanced Beginner: Two steps, One breath, 20 meters


    ?Intermediate: Four steps, One breath, 40 meters


    ?Adnanced Intermediate: Eight steps, One breath, 80 meters


    ?Expert: Ten steps, One breath, 100 meters (Limit)


    Only after reaching the expert level of the First Walk, can you break to the second stage of the sh Step."


    The eyes of Zhao Luo were shining with enthusiasm as he learned how powerful just this ''<strong>first walk</strong>'' was.


    "Let''s continue."


    Zhao Luo started moving his gaze downwards.


    "It''s here."


    Zhao Luo was already on the part which he wanted to read the most.


    "Learning the First Walk of the sh Step."


    Zhao Luo read from the scroll with a smile on his face and excitement filling his eyes.

 Chapter 117 - Half Walk

    Zhao Luo was eager to know how he could use such an overpowering technique and it was right in front of his eyes.


    So without wasting any more time, Zhao Luo started going over it.


    "Direct the energy from your core to your six-leg meridians. The six meridians are divided into three Yin Meridians and the three Yang meridians. Thus the energy will be carried by these Yin and Yang meridians to your forefoot."


    Zhao Luo went over the starting point and was quite intrigued by the description.


    The sentence ended at the forefoot.


    "So the energy will enter my toes."


    Zhao Luo said as he looked at his dangling feet and raised gem towards the ceiling.


    He couldn''t see his toes but he already knew how these little bastards looked like.


    "Finger Dwarves."


    Zhao Luo cracked a joke before continuing to learn the technique from the scroll.


    "Break the energy at your ankle and raise your heel. So the energy in your forefoot doesn''t return afterpleting its cycle."


    The content of the scroll was divided to make it easier for others to learn the technique.


    This gave Zhao Luo the stops he needed to digest the knowledge.


    "So I have to keep the energy in my TOES."


    Zhao Luo said while keeping his attention on the main part. Then he continued further into the technique.


    "Force the energy into the phnges of your toes. The first walk has five levels.


    ? The beginner level is achieved when you can force your internal energy in the two phnges of both hallux (first toe) of your feet simultaneously. By directing this force out of the halluxes of both of your feet and passing it into the ''medium'' under your feet, you can cover 10 meters in a single breath with a single step.


    ? The advanced beginner level can be achieved if you can direct your internal energy outward through the hallux and second toe of both feet concurrently. That is, the internal energy was stored in the five phnges of each foot. Thus allowing you to cover the distance of twenty meters in a single breath with only a single step.


    ? The intermediate level...


    ? The advanced inter...


    ? The expert level will be attained when all the fourteen phnges will be used by you to store your energy and then directing out the stored energy through all the five toes of each foot onto the medium. Thus allowing you to cover a distance of 100 meters in a single breath by only taking a single step."


    Zhao Luo had reached the end of the scroll.


    "So each foot has fourteen bones in the toes. If I can control and direct my energy on the ground through these bones, I will be able to cover 100 meters in a single step."


    Zhao Luo could now recite the First Walk with his heart. That is how amazingly, the leader of the Xin Sect, Xin Wang had prepared the content of this technique.


    Even though it was just the first stage of the sh Step, Zhao Luo had already memorized it and understood it perfectly.


    ''Sigh.''


    While letting out a heavy sigh Zhao Luo stored the scroll in his storage space.


    "The exnation makes it so much easier. If only I could use internal energy then I could have already attained the beginner level of First Walk."


    Zhao Luoined about how he had no idea about the use of internal energy.


    ''I should ask Wu Yang to take me to the Outer Hall in the morning.''


    Zhao Luo thought of his next n.


    He had alreadypleted the four hidden missions and the rewards of these missions were also resting in peace in the storage space.


    ''?Sessor Golden Badge


    ?Scroll: First Walk


    ?Sword manual: The Random sword


    ?Two swords: Ifrit and ckey


    ?Scroll: War Cry


    ?Drion


    ?Crimson S mark (allows to store more energy)''


    Zhao Luo went over the rewards he had already umted from different challenges in the training hall and the sect leader. All the rewards were in his storage space except for Drion.


    The unfortunate thing was that except for the swords, Ifrit and ckey the other techniques, and the mark needed internal energy.


    While Drion, the shield acted on its own.


    ''I can''t even control it except practicing with it in the dark space'', remembering the time when he practiced with it against his apparitions, Zhao Luo mumbled.


    Zhao Luo was depressed when he realized that he couldn''t even use most of hisforts.


    "Still it isn''t such a bad thing. I only have to learn to use internal energy."


    Zhao Luo had his priorities straight.


    His eyes went on the golden badge again.


    ''That is a thing forter.''


    Zhao Luo had to get stronger first to think about its use.


    After going over his achievements, Zhao Luo pulled his consciousness out of the storage space.


    "It''s been a long time."


    Zhao Luo said in a low voice as he closed his eyes.


    "Dark Ssssspace."


    Zhao Luo shouted in his mind.


    Even though there was no need to do this but just to get the feel of it, Zhao Luo rolled the ''S'' of space for quite a few seconds.


    The next instant when Zhao Luo opened his eyes, he had already entered his mental world, the dark space.


    With darkness enshrouding him like always, there was a certain glimmering object resting on its ce a little away from him.


    "I missed you drion."


    Zhao Luo looked at the shield and pointed his finger at it while talking with it.


    After which, Zhao Luo looked in the vast surrounding of his dark space with a straight face.


    "SUMMON."


    Zhao Luo said loudly.


    Nine apparitions appeared from thin air in front of him.


    "I missed you guys."


    Zhao Luo told them even though he had only missed a day of training aftering out of the Fu Zi World, the time inside it felt like more than two days.


    "...."


    The apparitions nodded but their expressionless faces remained the same.


    ''They are smart.''


    Zhao Luo thought with a grin.


    The thing he missed was beating them in the start and getting crushed by them at the end of his training.


    ''Hmm'', An idea passed through his mind, "I should try it."


    Zhao Luo said while grinning at his apparitions.


    "Swords."


    Zhao Luo shouted as ck swords appeared in the hands of his apparitions.


    "IFRIT"


    "BLACKEY"


    Zhao Luo''s swords also appeared in his hands.


    "Three of youe."


    Zhao Luo pointed at the closest apparitions and ordered them.


    "Yes."


    The three apparitions replied as they started advancing towards Zhao Luo while pointing their ck sharp swords at him.


    "Huff."


    Before they could reach him, Zhao Luo took a deep breath and closed his eyes for less than a second.


    In that moment of the second he pushed most of his strength through his ankles, raised his heel, and pushed back the dark space under his feet with his toes.


    ''Boom.''


    Zhao Luo released his static position and attacked his three apparitions.


    He passed by his apparition before they could even blink.


    ''sh.''


    They heard the slicing sound of swords but their swords were unmoved.


    The apparitions who were half as strong as Zhao Luo couldn''t even lift their swords.


    Just a crimson red light and a ghastly dark line were left in front of their sights as Zhao Luo was already standing behind them.


    The next moment X shaped shes appeared on their shadow bodies.


    "If I only use the power of my muscles, I can cover 5 meters in just a step."


    Zhao Luo spoke to himself as he turned around to look at his apparitions.


    That was half of what a disciple who had learned the beginner level First Walk could do.


    "Keep on doing this."


    Zhao Luo told all of his nine apparitions.


    He didn''t even have to exin it to them as his apparitions already knew what their master had just pulled off.


    "If they all fight while repeating this movent, I may just be able to achieve beginner level without even knowing about internal energy."


    Zhao Luo murmured as he rubbed his chin.


    The three apparitions behind him had already recovered so Zhao Luo started fighting with them.


    ''Boom''


    ''sh.''


    ''Boom''


    ''SLASH.''


    The whole dark space was filled with the sound of small explosions and sword shes that were even slicing through the air.


    After a while, the sound of metal collision started echoing around the space.


    ''ng.''


    ''ng.''


    Half Walk!


    Burst sh!


    Zhao Luo was shouting while using his zero internal energy version of the First walk technique while adding the fire technique ''burst sh'' at the end of his movements.


    ''ng.''


    ''Dual Wood Drop.''


    The three apparitions used their six swords to block Zhao Luo''s Ifrit and ckey as the explosive dual continued between them.


    The apparitions were also using the techniques as they kept on improving very slowly throughout the night training session inside this dark space.


    ---- ---- ----


    Inside heaven''s tomb.


    "Our disciple never ceases to amaze us. Right?"


    One of the eyes said to his other godlypanions while looking at Zhao Luo''s battle against his three apparitions.

 Chapter 118 - The Letter

    The one who had talked were the crimson eyes.


    "Yes indeed, the boy is always ying around with his apparitions."


    One of the six pairs of eyes in the circle around the crimson pairs said in his yful way.


    The egos of the seven emperas didn''t have faces so they couldn''t express their emotions through expressions. They only had eyes and their voice, so they would use them to express their emotions regarding whatever Zhao Luo did.


    The training that he would do, the new sword techniques that he would learn from others, the shield that he had gotten from a senior, and now the foot technique that Zhao Luo was using.


    "At least he has pulled us out of our boredom."


    Other eyes also spoke as everything that Zhao Luo did was being enjoyed by then.


    "But he is still very far from continuing the path of heavens way."


    "Yes, I have realized that the cultivation of this World is 80 times slower than ours while I have found, not a single person till now who had cultivated their minds separately as the second main source of their power."


    "Even the sect leader of this sect is the same."


    The egos were discussing what they had seen through Zhao Luo''s eyes and felt through his skin.


    "Let''s just watch. Cause that is our job. We have already tested him and he is capable enough, for the day he cultivates his body to the required level, the PAGES WILL TURN."


    One of the eyes ended the debate.


    These brownish-yellow eyes belonged to the same empera who had once down talked Zhao Luo but then after experiencing Zhao Luo''s erupting potential as a Crimson Mind God, he had be closer to Zhao Luo, way more than the other egos.


    All the egos held great expectations from Zhao Luo, which was also one of the reasons that they had never intervened in his challenges after the stairpetition that was partially a joke between Zhao Luo and Mo Anna.


    "Let''s continue."


    The ego of the crimson eyes told the other egos.


    ---- ---- ----


    In the dark space.


    Zhao Luo was still training with his nine apparitions.


    Just like he had done in the previous training sessions, he would keep on changing his three partners.


    The apparitions who would need time to recover will be swapped with those who were just calmly practicing on their own.


    Thus by continuously practicing with his apparitions, Zhao Luo had been slowly improving his ''Half Walk''.


    "Nothing is impossible."


    Zhao Luo said as he pushed down his toes after raising his heel.


    Zhao Luo held ckey and Ifrit in his hands while keeping his arms wide apart. The swords made a cross over each other because of the horizontal motion of Zhao Luo''s arms.


    "Half Walk."


    "Cross sh."


    Zhao Luo said with a straight face as he took a step towards his apparitions.


    The distance between Zhao Luo and his three apparitions that were slightly more than 5 meters was covered with a single step.


    The swords in Zhao Luo''s hands left a big crimson and ck cross "X" afterimage on the path that Zhao Luo had just moved along.


    While before Zhao Luo passed his apparitions they could only see a shadow of Zhao Luoing at them with the two mesmerizing swords in his hands.


    "sh."


    A shing sound wave epassed them as the improved half walk was carried out.


    "Hmm, this should do."


    Zhao Luo said as the three apparitions behind him fell.


    "I think that was the thousandth try."


    Zhao Luo was wondering if he was able to keep up the correct count of the amount of time he had tried ''Half Walk'' after failing to use the beginner level of ''The first Walk'' perfectly without any internal energy.


    While Zhao Luo had tried his half walk about a thousand times, the other six apparitions had been freely using ''half walk'' again and again as Zhao Luo hadmanded them.


    "stop."


    Zhao Luo shouted as the apparitions were still training.


    "Gather."


    Zhao Luo told them and they followed hismand.


    The nine improved apparitions were standing in front of him with their heads up.


    The apparitions felt proud that they had worked super hard.


    "Good Job everyone."


    Finally, a smile emerged on the face of Zhao Luo which also led a smile to bloom on the faces of the nine apparitions.


    "Come."


    Zhao Luo knew that it was time to absorb them.


    ''How much will my Half Walk improve? Will I be able to match the First Walk without using internal energy?''


    Zhao Luo questioned in his mind while looking at the apparitions that were being absorbed by him one after another.


    After which, he sat on the floor of the dark space, closed his eyes, and started assimting his absorbed apparitions.


    ''Mhmm.''


    ''Hmm.''


    After a short moment, Zhao Luo was done assimting them into his body thus he opened his eyes and got up.


    "Summon."


    Zhao Luomanded.


    Thud!


    Thud!


    But this time instead of apparitions, he had summoned two square boxes.


    One of the square boxes was five meters away while the other was ten meters away.


    ''Hmph.''


    Zhao Luo took a deep breath as he raised the back of his feet, that is, the heels and used more force on his toes as his body was still stationary.


    He had taken the position to use the ''First Walk'' in an instant.


    The next moment, he took a step forward. Zhao Luo released himself like a bullet leaving the barrel of a gun.


    Zhao Luo disappeared from his previous position and appeared between the two square boxes.


    This took ce in less than a second, in a single breath.


    Zhao Luo looked ahead and then looked back.


    He was closer to the square box that was ced at the 5-meter mark.


    "7 meters is also good."


    Zhao Luo nodded his head as his eyes shined with the current state of his ''Half Walk''.


    "If I train like this once more I may be able to achieve the beginner level of the First walk."


    Zhao Luo realized that the beginner level was already in his grasp as the current results had shown him a new possibility.


    The square boxes disappeared while Zhao Luo closed his eyes.


    The night''s training was over so it was time to leave the dark space.


    ''Fwoosh.''


    The next moment he disappeared from the dark space.


    Zhao Luo opened his eyes and a familiar scene weed his eyes.


    ''The ceiling of his room.''


    Zhao Luo got up from his bed and got ready to leave his hut.


    "It''s time to advance."


    Zhao Luo told himself as today he would be leaving the trainee hall and moving towards the outer hall to be an outer disciple.


    After a while, Zhao Luo opened the door and left the hut.


    "He isn''t here."


    Zhao Luo was disappointed that Wu Yang wasn''t outside.


    ''TsTsTrTr.''


    The morning breeze passed him as Zhao Luo''s silver hair danced over his shoulder.


    With uneasiness in his eyes, Zhao Luo looked towards the direction where Wu Yang''s hut was.


    "I will go to him."


    Zhao Luo started moving towards the Hut that was designated to Wu Yang.


    Aftering outside his hut, Zhao Luo waited for quite a while but there was no sign of Wu Yanging out of his room.


    ''He must be seeping.''


    Zhao Luo remembered their fight and how badly Wu Yang had gotten hurt as a result of it. That is why he thought that Wu Yang was still recuperating from his wounds.


    "Did the healing pill not work?"


    Zhao Luo wondered as he started feeling worried for Wu Yang.


    As Zhao Luo waited more, he felt weird.


    "I should just check on him."


    Zhao Luo had already made his decision as he walked towards the door of Wu Yang''s room.


    Creak!


    Zhao Luo opened the door and entered the room which was devoid of light.


    The only light wasing from behind Zhao Luo.


    "He isn''t here."


    Zhao Luo was stunned after realizing that Wu Yang wasn''t in his room.


    "Sigh."


    Zhao Luo who was going to leave the room stopped in his tracks as something caught his eyes.


    ''Tap, Tap.''


    Zhao Luo took two steps towards the bed in the room and grabbed the paper that was on the bed.


    "Did he left this here?"


    Zhao Luo wondered while looking at the nk side of the page.


    Without thinking any further and as Wu Yang was absent Zhao Luo turned the page around and found more than just something written there.


    [Are you reading this?]


    The start of the page was a question.


    "Hell yeah, I am."


    Zhao Luo replied with a grin thinking that it was left for somebody else.


    [After so many years, the mission finally ended.]


    [I knew that you will be able to defeat me, the moment I saw you confidently facing Mite right after joining the sect.]


    [It was a great time with you, my friend.]


    [As you have been suddenly bestowed with a big future responsibility, I too have many things to do.]


    [Till we meet again, Be Ready To Taste Defeat by my Hands.]


    [To Zhao Luo, The Future Sect Leader (lol) of the Xin Sect]


    "This bastard."


    Zhao Luo was feeling multiple emotions as the page which was a letter came to an end.


    "So he has already left the trainee hall."


    Zhao Luo understood the situation with tears building up in his eyes as he remembered the time he had spent with Wu Yang.


    ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----


    Short author note:


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    = COMING BACK THE NEXT DAY FOR SOME MORE

 Chapter 119 - Token

    The tears didn''t flow out while Zhao Luo cursed Wu Yang but it was because he missed his presence.


    ''He could have at least said a proper goodbye.''


    Zhao Luo felt dejected as his eyes went over the letter again.


    "His writing is good."


    Zhao Luo praised Wu Yang but unfortunately, Wu Yang will never know.


    "WTF?"


    Zhao Luo suddenly shouted as reading the letter again with a clear mind, he saw something that had shocked him.


    ''Why would he write (lol) here?''


    Zhao Luo wondered and sook his head.


    ''I may have seen it wrong'', with such thought spouting in his mind, Zhao Luo read the end again.


    [To Zhao Luo, the future Sect leader (lol)....]


    "This bastard....does he even know what ''lol'' means?"


    Zhao Luo cursed again but this time he had a smile on his face while his eyes were directly focused on the letter in his hands.


    "He is challenging me. I will show you when we meet again."


    Zhao Luo replied to Wu Yang''s taunt that he had left in his letter.


    Zhao Luo already had the sessor badge, he just needed the strength to face the other sessor.


    "The Sect Leader position isn''t even my goal but I guess I will have to stop by there for a while."


    Zhao Luo grinned as he looked at the letter onest time.


    Even though Wu Yang was strong and also the secret disciple but a question still popped up in Zhao Luo''s mind.


    "Is he strong enough to be a core disciple?"


    Zhao Luo wondered as that is what Wu Yang had told him when he was telling Zhao Luo about thest mission.


    "Can I be a core disciple too?"


    Zhao Luo wondered as he folded Wu Yang''s letter and stored it in his storage space.


    Leaving the empty room, Zhao Luo walked towards the direction of the exit of this hut area.


    On the way, others joined him.


    Everyone was there except Wu Yang.


    Zhao Luo didn''t dwell on Wu Yang''s presence for too long.


    The letter was enough for him to get over this as he already had a new stop on the path to his goal.


    The others, including Feng Mei, Yan, and Mo Lee had asked about Wu Yang but Zhao Luo didn''t tell them much except.


    "He went with the third elder but they didn''t tell me anything."


    Zhao Luo kept up with this story as he didn''t want to talk about a person who was already gone.


    He would have if Wu Yang had told him in the letter or left something to tell the others but since there was no such thing mentioned in Wu Yang''s letter thus Zhao Luo decided to keep it low.


    "Let''s go to the dining area first."


    Zhao Luo told them as he could feel that the others would be feeling hungry.


    ''Senior will be there too.''


    Zhao Luo guessed as this was the other reason why he wanted to go to the dining area.


    While Zhao Luo was lost in his thought, Yan had her eyes in him.


    ''He is acting differently.''


    Yan mumbled as she nced at Zhao Luo.


    After a while.


    Zhao Luo with Feng Mei and others entered the dining hall.


    Like always it was filled to the brim.


    Zhao Luo looked around and again found the only table where just a single disciple was sitting.


    ''There he is.'' Zhao Luo said in his mind.


    Mite was sitting alone at the table in the middle of the humongous dining hall, stuffing his face as his head kept on moving towards his te.


    Zhao Luo''s guess was right, and senior mite was indeed in the dining hall.


    "You guys get the food. I will be there."


    Zhao Luo patted Feng Mei''s head gently while telling the others.


    ''Nod.''


    Feng Mei nodded.


    Mo Lee, Yan, Feng Mei, Su Shi, Wei Bin, and Hong Ling went towards the area where the food dishes were while Zhao Luo went towards Mite.


    ---- ---- ----


    "Good morning Senior."


    Zhao Luo said to Mite as he grabbed a chair to sit on it.


    "Mhmm Yah ''Nom Nom'' Hmm."


    Mite who had meat blocking his mouth from letting out any intelligible words tried his best to say something.


    Bang!


    Bang!


    ''Gulp.''


    Mite used his fist to hit his chest to force the meat in his mouth to go down his throat.


    "You too."


    Senior Mite replied as he looked at Zhao Luo who was barely controlling hisughter while looking at the eating Mite.


    "You can stop calling me Senior. I already lost."


    Mite suddenly told Zhao Luo as he wiped his face.


    "I did win but didn''t you join the sect before me?"


    Zhao Luo questioned Mite.


    He hade from a world where age mattered a lot. If someone was older than you, you were supposed to respect him.


    "Do you think age matters? In this world, only strength matters. You will be able to enter the inner hall soon after bing an inner disciple so I will be the one calling you senior then."


    Mite was on point.


    The old ways that Zhao Luo knew off had already changed.


    "I dide to you to talk about just that."


    After listening to Senior Mite talking about the inner hall, Zhao Luo remembered the reason he was here.


    "How do I be an outer disciple?"


    Zhao Luo asked Mite.


    To Zhao Luo, Mite was the only one who could tell him about how he could advance to be an outer disciple. As among all the other disciples of the trainee hall, Mite was the only outer disciple here.


    ''Tap, Tap.''''


    "We want to be an outer disciple too."


    The others had also joined Zhao Luo and Mite at the table.


    "To be an outer disciple..."


    Senior Mite brought out a square token and showed it to Zhao Luo.


    "I will give you this and once you enter the outer hall with this token, meet the senior who is taking care of the outer disciples and pass the token to him."


    Mite told Zhao Luo as he passed the white token to him.


    "Okay."


    Zhao Luo looked at the token and stored it in his robe''s storage.


    "As for you all, you can advance to be an outer disciple too but I would suggest that you wait a year while training yourselves in the trainee hall. Otherwise, you will just end up being a burden on him."


    Senior folded his arms in front of his chest as he knocked the others away with the reality hidden in his advice.


    "But what would a year in this ce do?"


    Wei Bin was the first to ask this question while the others also had the same thought.


    "We would rather stay with Brother Zhao Luo."


    Hong Ling added as staying in the trainee hall for half a year didn''t make any sense to him.


    "In half a year, the new trainees will be entering. When another half-year passes by that time, the training area challenges will begin again. Are you all satisfied by your performance in the challenges?"


    Senior Mite imposed a question as he exined to them the idea behind gis advice.


    "That is why you should aim to do better in the challenges next year and then advance to be an outer disciple."


    Mite ended his exnation there as he looked at Zhao Luo.


    ''If he waits for them then he would fall behind.''


    Mite thought about Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo was already strong enough to beat him, a /|| (7th) level outer disciple so he would be able to advance to an inner disciple soon.


    "He is right. Not the burden part, but for you all, bing strongest should be your goal. Take those steps that will help you in your goal."


    Zhao Luo also added his thought and told the others.


    "Brother..."


    Feng Mei said as she looked down.


    ''I don''t want to stay here without a brother.''


    Feng Mei thought as she didn''t like this idea.


    ''Pat.''


    "Don''t worry...I will wait for you just a little ahead."


    Zhao Luo smiled at her as she gently rubbed her head.


    "Mhmm."


    "We will stay here for another year but don''t think you can ck off in the outer hall."


    Yan told Zhao Luo realizing that this was indeed the best thing for everyone.


    "Good that you all understand."


    Senior Mite told them.


    After everyone had finished their food, they left the dining hall.


    "You are going to the outer hall?"


    Mite questioned Zhao Luo right after they had left the dining hall.


    "Yes, it''s time for me to enter the outer hall."


    Zhao Luo said as he had his eyes looking upwards and far away.


    "Hmm, good. I will meet you in a year then."


    Mite was on a mission to look over the trainee disciples and the trainee disciples for a year.


    "Brother take care."


    Feng Mei grabbed Zhao Luo''s hand and told him.


    "You took little sister", Zhao Luo showed her a gentle smile.


    The others also wished Zhao Luo well while Yan remained silent.


    "Mhmm."


    Yan went up to Zhao Luo and felt nervous while staring into his eyes.


    "He is leaving."


    She mumbled but didn''t know what she should be saying.


    After a moment of looking at each other passionately, Zhao Luo remembered the face of Sect Leader zooming in front of his eyes.


    The others were getting confused too as their little brother Yan was acting strange.


    "I will be going now."


    Zhao Luo told them while he scratched the back of his head.


    "Don''...."


    "Don''t forget me."


    Yan said as she ran away from the ce as Wei Bin and Mo Lee followed her.


    ''I won''t.''


    Zhao Luo shook his head as he left the dining area.

 Chapter 120 - Over 9000

    ''Good Bye.''


    Zhao Luo had a saddened look on his face as he left the trainee hall while leaving ast fleeting farewell lingering in the air of trainee hall.


    At the exit of the trainee hall.


    ''5 days.''


    ''A week maybe.''


    Zhao Luo thought of his time in the trainee hall as he left it.


    He had to count the time in the Fu Zi World too. But in reality, the time he had spent in that World was more than ten times less than the time that had passed in reality.


    He was already leaving for the outer hall in a week.


    "If only I can advance to the inner hall in a week too. That would be crazy."


    Leaving his gloomy feelings aside, Zhao Luo hoped for better improvement in the future.


    As he stood at the gates of the trainee hall, Zhao Luo shook his head.


    He wasn''t trying to get rid of the flies around his head, instead, he was looking for the way to the outer hall, which was his next destination.


    "The outer hall should be there."


    Zhao Luo looked at the right road while standing outside the trainee hall.


    ''Go right then right again, that is where all the other pces and halls are."


    Zhao Luo remembered the time when he had arrived at the TPC building and looked at the Sect from that position.


    "The trainee hall was the first pce. Then the one behind it must be the outer hall."


    Zhao Luo relying on his memory starting heading towards the direction in his mind.


    After a while of walking, he had passed the trainee hall.


    Unsurprisingly, the outer hall was indeed behind the big trainee hall.


    "It''s even bigger than the trainee hall."


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he looked at the outer hall in front of him.


    A big signboard was right above the gates of the gates.


    "OUTER HALL"


    Zhao Luo read the sign and then at the outer hall building.


    The outer hall looked humongous whenpared to the previous hall Zhao Luo was in.


    "Here we go."


    Zhao Luo who was standing outside the gates of the outer hall, pushed opened the gates.


    He felt a little nervous as memories of him entering the trainee hall shed in his mind.


    ("The trashes are here", Mite said.)


    Zhao Luo remembered his first encounter with the Senior Mite while the gates of the outer hall opened.


    ''How many people will be there?''


    Zhao Luo thought as he stepped inside as he passed through the building gates.


    "Stop."


    A high voice entered his ears.


    ''Tap.''


    "A woman."


    Zhao Luo looked around as the voice that had entered his ear sounded like a young maiden was talking.


    "Here."


    The sound entered his ears again but this time, Zhao Luo knew where the sound wasing from.


    After passing the gates, Zhao Luo followed the sound of the voice and reached a well-lit ce.


    "State your business."


    The voice came from behind him.


    Zhao Luo turned around and was shocked to see a bald man standing there.


    "I am here to take the test. I want to advance to an outer disciple", Zhao Luo told the baldy as his ck badge shine under the light of the ce they were in.


    Zhao Luo looked at the bald guy in front of him.


    ''What is the?''


    Zhao Luo wondered as he inspected him.


    The bald guy had a band of beads around his arm, just like a monk except his robe was purple showing that he was a disciple.


    Zhao Luo looked at the chest area of his robe but couldn''t find a badge on the baldy.


    The most shocking thing was, "what is up with his voice?"


    Zhao Luo mumbled.


    "So you are here to take that test."


    The baldy said as he got close to Zhao Luo.


    ''Quite handsome.''


    The baldy thought as a mysterious smile emerged on his face.


    ''Creepy.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he looked at the bald guy''s smile suddenly out of nowhere.


    "Come with me."


    The baldy told Zhao Luo in his enchanting voice.


    Zhao Luo followed the guy.


    "You can just call me Senior Cutie."


    The baldy told Zhao Luo without looking at him.


    "More like Senior baldy."


    Zhao Luo said with a low voice with a dejected look on his face.


    "Did you say something?"


    Senior Cutie turned around at looked at Zhao Luo with one of his eyes brows arched upwards.


    "I didn''t."


    Zhao Luo replied with a serious face without even ncing at Senior cutie.


    Senior Cutie started walking again as Zhao Luo also picked up his pace.


    "Hmmm. Well, you are so handsome *WINK* so there is no easy to doubt you."


    Zhao Luo felt even sick as the baldy had winked at him.


    "Doubt me. As if I..."


    "Your hair is so nice. So shiny."


    Senior cutie suddenly interrupted Zhao Luo while praising him.


    ''My hair...''


    Zhao Luo thought as he could see his silver hairing in his sight whenever he would walk and they were indeed a nice view for him.


    "Your hair looks nice too."


    Zhao Luo said unconsciously.


    To Zhao Luo, who wasn''t even focused on Senior Cutie, could only hear someone with a high-pitched voice praising his hairs.


    ''Swoosh.''


    Senior Cutie turned his head at such an insane speed that his bald curves were cutting through the air itself leaving behind a slicing sound.


    ''Twitch.''


    Zhao Luo felt his skin covering for a second as Senior Cutie looked at him with his squinted eyes.


    Thud!


    Zhao Luo jumped backward and raised his arms with his palms facing the senior.


    "Hahaha."


    Seeing Zhao Luo taking his defensive position, the baldy startedughing loudly and continued to walk ahead.


    Zhao Luo once again followed him but kept a safe distance between them.


    ''He is dangerous.''


    Zhao Luo was looking sharply at the fake monk walking ahead of him.


    ---- ---- ---- ----


    Baldy and Zhao Luo had arrived at a door.


    Baldy opened the door and entered a big hall.


    "We are here."


    Senior Cutie said as he stopped in front of a big pir that had around a thick round te attached to it.


    "This is where my test will be."


    Zhao Luo asked with a curious look in his eyes.


    "Yes, the test is simple. Since you are already here, that means you were deemed worthy. Now you just have to hit this."


    Senior Cutie told Zhao Luo as he pointed his hands towards the round te.


    ''I have to hit it.''


    Zhao Luo shook his shoulders as he took his steps towards the pir.


    "Before you try it, there is one simple rule while you have only a single try."


    "You have to get a score which is more tha 1000."


    "If your score is less than 1000 or even of its 1000, you will be returning to the trainee hall."


    Senior Cutie told Zhao Luo with an evil smile on his face.


    Zhao Luo ignored the expression on the face of baldy as he walked past him and stood before the pir.


    ''More than 1000.''


    Zhao Luo could see his reflection on the round te that was in front of him.


    ''Tap, Tap.''


    Zhao Luo stepped back while looking at the te.


    ''Huff.''


    Zhao Luo took a deep breath and followed it by taking a clear posture.


    He took a step forward with his right leg while bending the knee of his left leg.


    The power of a punch came from the support the punching arm could get from the posture of the person who is throwing his fist.


    Zhao Luo knew this fact better than anyone. He who had readied himself after facing his apparitions countless times in each training session didn''t think of this situation as a big deal.


    ''I just have to throw my best punch.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he pulled his right arm back and tightened his fist.


    "Haaa."


    Zhao Luo exhaled the breath as his right fist flew towards the round thick te with an unseen speed.


    BANG!


    Zhao Luo''s punch collided with the te while the collision left a mind trembling sound.


    Baldy who was standing at the other side was shocked and took a step back.


    Numbers started appearing on the top of the pir.


    Zhao Luo looked upwards while the baldy, senior cutie also tilted his shaved head to see Zhao Luo''s score.


    "500, 550, 600...."


    "1000"


    "1100, 1200...1900...."


    The number kept on increasing without showing any signs of stopping


    Zhao Luo smiled as he had alreadysses the requirement while senior cutie didn''t know what to say.


    "I even raised the score requirement to 1000 when it was supposed to be 500 but he still... This monster", Senior Cutie said while looking at the score which kept on increasing showing that his scheme had failed.


    "2000"


    "2500"


    "3000"


    "4000"


    "5000"


    "6000"


    "7000"


    "8000"


    "9000"


    "9069"


    The score finally stopped as the result was visible to both Zhao Luo and Senior Cutie.


    "I-its over 9-9000"


    Senior Cutie shouted while stuttering. It was hard for him to believe that a guy who was a trainee could get such a high score.


    ''A real monster is here.''


    Baldy was losing his remaining hairs too as he had started to freak out.


    "Hehehe."


    Zhao Luo''s beautiful whistlingugh echoed in the hall.

 Chapter 121 - /||| Mark

    Zhao Luo''s score was indeed a shocking matter for Senior Cutie but his charmingugh had melted away the heart of this shocked baldy.


    ''How lovely.''


    Senior Cutie thought as the melodiousugh entered his ears.


    "Not only are you strong...but."


    ''Well built too. Mhmm.''


    Senior Cutie couldn''t help himself as he praised Zhao Luo while filtering the creepy words out of hisment.


    "Hah."


    Zhao Luo stoppedughing and looked at the baldy who was praising him.


    "So did I pass?"


    Zhao Luo asked Senior Cutie with a taunting smile.


    "Yes."


    "You passed the strength test but not only that."


    Senior Cutie told Zhao Luo as he walked towards him.


    "The score ''1000'' shows that a disciple has the strength of a second ''||'' level, outer disciple."


    Senior Cutie told Zhao Luo while taking nces at his superb score, which was superb in more than one way.


    ''9069.''


    Zhao Luo nodded as he listened to the baldy trying to exin things to him.


    "Every increase of 1000 score shows that the strength of a person has increased by a ton. With your score being more than 9000 you have already surpassed a second ''||'' level disciple in terms of strength by 8 tons."


    Senior Cutie continued but this time he was touching his fingers like he was using them to count something.


    Zhao Luo who was confused for a second looked at the bald senior in front of him and saw a palm raised, right in front of him.


    Senior Cutie brought down his palm and showed his five fingers.


    "In terms of strength, you are already close to the top five disciples in our trainee hall."


    "While all of them are way above you in their status as all five of them are ninth ''?'' level, outer disciples, while you are just a tr...."


    Senior Cutie stopped talking as his mouth was opened in shock.


    ''Did he just realize everything?''


    Zhao Luo wondered as he looked at senior cutie whose face was a perfect match of someone opening an egg from the middle.


    "You...did the outer disciple ruling over the trainee hall give you something?"


    Senior Cutie questioned Zhao Luo with sharpness in his eyes.


    ''I should have just brought him to the senior first.''


    While shaking his head, senior cutie thought that bringing Zhao Luo here for his test was a mistake.


    For him, Zhao Luo was just some handsome trainee aiming to advance to an outer disciple but who knew that he would turn out to be a monster.


    ''This bald egg...''


    While listening to senior cutie, Zhao Luo had already made up some new nicknames for him.


    "What taking over? Senior Mite isn''t like that anymore."


    Zhao Luo told senior cutie in a loud voice like he was reprimanding him.


    "Ah, so Mite was the one handling the job."


    Senior cutie nodded while remembering Mite''s thick and sturdy body as his mouth looked filled for some reason.


    "So did he give you something or not?"


    Shaking his head to throw away the malicious thoughts rising in his head, he asked Zhao Luo again.


    ''Hmmm.''


    "Ah, yes. This."


    Zhao Luo brought out a white badge from his robe and passed it to the baldy.


    ''Grab''


    "This...He gave you the white badge.", Senior Cutie stuttered as another shocking thing was happening.


    ''It''s a shocking day.''


    He thought while looking at the white badge in his hand.


    "Well yeah, he did. That is why I passed it to you."


    Zhao Luo raised his shoulder for an instant.


    ''Why would I lie?''


    Zhao Luo didn''t even know the value white badge except that it was a token of approval from Mite.


    "This badge means, he has already lost to you."


    Senior Cutie looked at Zhao Luo with suspicion filling his eyes.


    Zhao Luo had nothing else to say as he gave a short nod.


    "So he lost to you. A level seven ''/||'' disciple losing to a trainee. But I guess you are quite capable."


    Senior Cutie had already seen Zhao Luo''s strength so he could understand the reason why Mite gave Zhao Luo a white badge.


    White Badge: When a hall overseer loses to a lower level disciple, then this white badge is given to the disciple when he leaves that particr hall.


    "So what will happen to me? Will I be advancing to an outer disciple or not?"


    Zhao Luo just wanted to know a simple question asked the baldy who was acting like Wedlock Homes, that is, as a detective.


    "Ah yes. You will be promoted to an outer disciple but not only that, I will give you five marks."


    Senior Cutie told Zhao Luo as he started walking deeper into the hall.


    "Come."


    Senior Cutie waved at Zhao Luo and gestures at him, to follow him.


    "Okay."


    Zhao Luo replied as he followed behind the shining head.


    ''I will be an outer disciple now.''


    Zhao Luo confirmed the reality in his mind as he looked around.


    There was no one in the big hall.


    This hall was big enough to contend the training area of the trainee hall.


    ''But no one''s here.''


    Zhao Luo looked around more but couldn''t find anyone in such a big hall.


    "What are those doors for?"


    Zhao Luo asked the senior as he could see two doors in the hall.


    But both of them were closed so it was quite a surprise that the hall was so big and had two big doors yet no one was there or in the hall.


    "One is for the ranking tests, that will start next week."


    Senior Cutie answered Zhao Luo but stopped there.


    "We are here. Give me your badge."


    Senior Cutie told Zhao Luo as they stopped outside another closed door.


    ''Bang!''


    ''Bang!''


    While Zhao Luo was removing his ck badge, the baldy smacked the door twice.


    Stunned by the sudden smacking Zhao Luo ripped the badge away from his chest side of the robe, slightly ruining his robe.


    ''Are you okay?''


    Zhao Luo wondered while looking at baldy.


    He didn''t dare to ask this question out loud fearing the consequences of this weirdo jumping over him.


    ''Creak~''


    The door slowly opened and Senior Cutie entered the room while Zhao Luo entered the room two steps after the senior.


    "Badge."


    Baldy said to Zhao Luo while leaving his hand in front of Zhao Luo.


    ''Tap.''


    Zhao Luo ced his ck badge on Senior Cutie''s hand.


    ''Tap, Tap.''


    The baldy moved ahead.


    Zhao Luo looked inside the room and found nine different holes in the front wall.


    Each hole had a different type of mark above it showing a level.


    From Left to Right, Zhao Luo''s gaze lingered on every one of the marks.


    The first one the left one was.


    ''|''


    Then the others kept oning in his sight as he moved his eyes towards the right.


    ||, |||, |/, /, /|, /||, /|||, ?


    Zhao Luo could see his senior, an outer disciple, senior cutie, standing there in front of the wall, staring in the halls.


    He had Zhao Luo''s badge in his right hand.


    Zhao Luo could see baldy''s right hand going towards ''/'' hole, that is the fifth level.


    But then the baldy moved it to the right.


    "/||"


    Zhao Luo mumbled but before he could have finished saying what he was seeing the senior cutie already had his arm in front of /||| mark.


    "What are you..."


    "Shhh."


    Zhao Luo tried to question the dumb actions of senior cutie but before he couldplete his dialogue, senior cutie interrupted him with his ''Shh~'' sound.


    Zhao Luo raised his brows as he felt annoyed but still he tried his best to stay calm.


    The baldy kept on moving his hand between the marks ''/'' fifth level and ''?'' ninth level.


    He did that the second time and Zhao Luo kept quiet.


    The third time, Zhao Luo didn''t say anything.


    The fourth time, Zhao Luo didn''t say anything and just watched his senior.


    The fifth time... The sixth time... The seventh time, this same action was repeated by the senior many times till Zhao Luo already had his fists tightened and his teeth clenched.


    "Can you stop already? Are you trying to perform ''Monk doing a Shit Robotic Dance''? Huh?"


    Zhao Luo broke down and suddenly shouted at the senior cutie.


    That is what Zhao Luo was looking at.


    A room where he was the only member of the audience and the senior cutie was the performer.


    He was handling such insane torture.


    ''I want to wash my eyes after this, Sigh.''


    Zhao Luo couldn''t control his anger anymore but he stopped shouting as he realized that the senior was putting his hand in one of the halls.


    "/|||"


    Zhao Luo saw Senior Cutie''s hand going in the eighth-level hole.


    Senior Cutie took his hand out but it was empty. Zhao Luo''s badge was still in the hole.


    After a moment, the badge was thrown out of the hole and it went straight towards Zhao Luo.


    Grab!


    ''Tap.''


    Zhao Luo caught his badge which lied upside-down on his hand.


    Zhao Luo switched its side and saw that his badge had marks now.


    "It''s.."


    Zhao Luo could see five marks on his badge.


    "I am a level eight outer disciple?"


    Zhao Luo asked with a shaking tone while his eyes were fixed on his badge which had ''/|||'' glowing on it.

 Chapter 122 - Library Zone

    Zhao Luo attached his ''VIII'' badge back on his robe.


    "Yes. Your strength already exceeds the eighth ''VIII'' level disciples but only strength doesn''t measure one''s ability. That is why your level of the badge is that. Once you prove your skills too and umte enough skill score, you can easily advance to the ninth ''?'' level."


    Senior Cutie exined to Zhao Luo as they both left the room.


    Zhao Luo was quiet. He was in a frenzy.


    For Zhao Luo, advancing to an outer disciple was already an improvement.


    But he had already advanced to the eighth level.


    For him, this was like skipping multiple stages of a hardly yable game.


    ''This feels nice.''


    With such a thought lingering in his mind like a parasite, a smile emerged on Zhao Luo''s face.


    While he was happy, Zhao Luo wasn''t a person who would forget his goal let alone his ultimate end thus he was already considering his next step.


    Without waiting any further, Zhao Luo threw a question at the senior cutie who was walking ahead of him, while projecting a presence of mighty egg on Zhao Luo.


    "How do I prove my skills and get those skill scores?"


    Zhao Luo''s biggest issue was this.


    He had learned so few techniques that they could be counted on the fingers of his right hand.


    ''Except a few techniques, I don''t have anything else that I could call my skills, even though my strength score is already on the level of top outer disciples.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he waited for an answer to leave the senior''s mouth.


    Senior Cutie who was walking in front of Zhao Luo turned around to nce at Zhao Luo and then continued walking ahead of him again.


    ''Hmm.''


    ''Hmm.''


    Zhao Luo could hear a sounding from Senior Cutie. It was like he was giving Zhao Luo''s question a deep thought.


    "Your skill score will be measured on the day when the ranking match begins. What we measured was your attack strength which is the most important factor when a disciple is ranked. Everything else, that is, your defense, techniques, mastery with swords, martial arts, and stamina are the other factors that ultimately add up to make your skill score."


    "I see. So even if I don''t have many techniques, it won''t affect my skill score much."


    Zhao Luo added right after Senior Cutie stopped.


    "Yes, it is like that. But don''t worry, from just your strength it will be hard for others to defend your attacks."


    Senior Cutie told Zhao Luo.


    "As for your techniques, you have a week to learn a technique. Try going to the outer hall''s library zone. If you have points, you can exchange a technique for your points from the library."


    "I can do that?"


    Zhao Luo could remember Wu Yang telling him to use his points to learn a technique too but this was the time when he needed to do what Wu Yang had told him.


    "Yes. Since you are already an outer disciple., I will tell you some rules."


    Senior Cutie stopped and Zhao Luo could see the bald head of Senior turning as baldy''s eyes soon appeared in his sight.


    "The outer hall is the fifth biggest ce in our Xin Sect. With five secondary halls also known as zones. One of those zones is the entrance hall, it can take up to 10 days if you try to cover every zone by simply walking. As for where we are, this is the entrance..."


    "What?"


    Zhao Luo was stunned.


    Senior was right though as Zhao Luo looked around and realized that he was still walking in the same hall where the multiple rooms were.


    "Hehe. I was shocked too when I had advanced as an outer disciple."


    Senior Cutie giggled like a girl and pointed at the closed room around the hall.


    The doors of these rooms were also ridiculously big.


    "These four doors are also the path to other four zones. Except for the room we went in. It was a part of the entrance zone where any outer disciple can get a higher rank if he is apanied by me. Getting back on the zones, the first door on your left which we have passed already is the Living Zone."


    Zhao Luo found Senior Cutie pointing at the toom on his left.


    The door was closed so he could only see the green door.


    "You can also keep the door of the living zone in your mind by its green color. The living zone is where your house will be and your meals will also take ce in that zone. The door we left behind, on your right is the Training Zone. I don''t think I have to exin what the training zone is for."


    Senior Cutie stopped to look at Zhao Luo and saw him nodding.


    Zhao Luo looked at the door on his right and realized that the door was red.


    ''So green for the living zone and red for the training zone.''


    Zhao Luo confirmed in his mind as he looked back a the senior who had already started talking again.


    "All the disciples of the outer hall are probably training in the training zone. That leaves the other two zones that are up ahead. The door on your left is the entrance to the library, that is where we are going. You can see the yellow door right?"


    Senior Cutie asked Zhao Luo while Zhao Luo had his eyes squinted as he focused on the yellow square that didn''t even look quarter of the other two doors behind them.


    "Yes. Then what is thest zone for? The zone behind thatst door."


    Zhao Luo asked the baldy as his gaze drifted to the right andnded on a ck door.


    "That ck door is the most important ce in the outer hall. The Mission Zone. It is where you can get missions assigned by the Sect for the outer disciples. Every mission has a reward ranging from Xin Coins, techniques, and points. Though the mission that award points are extremely hard and a group is required toplete those missions."


    Senior Cutie exined to Zhao Luo as this covered all the zones and the respective distribution of these ces.


    "I see. Thank you for exining everything to me."


    Zhao Luo bowed his head and thanked the Senior Cutie.


    It wasn''t like Zhao Luo didn''t find this senior weird anymore. But, even though one was weird it didn''t make them bad. This was the case of this particr senior who had been exining all the important things to Zhao Luo.


    "Don''t worry. It''s my job and I am just doing it to the best of my ability."


    Senior Cutie waved his hand and picked up his steps as the yellow door was still quite far from them.


    Zhao Luo was once again impressed by this bald senior''s character.


    ''Even though he doesn''t have anything on his head, he still doesn''t hold anything back.''


    Zhao Luo looked at the shining head of the senior whileplimenting Senior Cutie''s generosity in a bold way.


    Zhao Luo while following behind Senior Cutie kept on looking at the yellow square that still looked the same small size as before.


    "Are we even getting closer?"


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he couldn''t help but remember the dragon road.


    ''Hmm.''


    Zhao Luo wondered about what he should ask the senior while they reached the yellow door where the library zone was.


    ''Ahhh.''


    Something popped up in Zhao Luo''s mind.


    "Senior C-cutie, since you are a disciple of the outer hall, you should be an outer disciple BUT I haven''t seen your badge. So what is your level?"


    Zhao Luo asked as he caught up to Senior Cutie and while walking alongside him, he was looking at his face.


    Zhao Luo could see a momentary change in the expression of the baldy.


    "My badge... I forgot to bring it today. It''s in my room. As for my level, it''s not worth mentioning."


    Senior Cutie acted polite for the first time as he answered Zhao Luo.


    ''He forgot...''


    Zhao Luo couldn''t believe that such a character could forget his badge.


    ''He is hiding his level too.''


    Zhao Luo got more suspicious but he dropped the matter as it didn''t look like Senior Cutie wanted to answer him.


    ''Hmm.''


    While looking at the door, Zhao Luo realized that the door had gotten closer as the yellow light got bigger.


    But there was still a long way to reach the door so he thought of something else.


    "So how can a level ''?'' nine outer disciples be an inner disciple?"


    Zhao Luo questioned.


    There was still another creepy senior that he had to meet soon.


    ''Senior Zi Fei.''


    Zhao Luo remembered the creepyugh of Zi Fei as he shuddered.


    "First you need toplete five A-rank missions. The A-rank missions are mostly killing beasts around our Xin Mountain Range. The other requirement will be your scores of strength and skill."


    "Mhmm."


    Senior Cutie answered Zhao Luo while Zhao Luo remembered the requirements in the answer by heart.


    ''So I need toplete five A-rank missions.''


    Zhao Luo thought while walking beside Senior Cutie.


    After a few minutes of walking at a fast pace.


    "Here we are."


    Senior Cutie said as he opened the yellow door and entered it.


    Zhao Luo who was still outside also took a step to enter through the yellow door.


    "Wee to the library zone."


    Senior Cutie''s voice entered Zhao Luo''s ears who was entering the zone.


    "What..."


    A bright light blinded Zhao Luo as a big tower entered his eyes.

 Chapter 123 - Junior Elder

    "Why is the tower leaning towards us?"


    Zhao Luo asked Senior Cutie as he stood behind him.


    Zhao Luo who had to deal with the sh of blinding light that had darkened his vision could only see a blurry tower but after his vision adjusted, he was stunned.


    The tower was leaning towards them like it would fall on them anytime.


    Zhao Luo who was a traveler remembered the leaning tower of Pisa in Italy.


    ''Even the shape is the same. I can''t believe that I am getting this chance.''


    Zhao Luo happily thought with a wide smile covering his face.


    Before being put to sleep by Takuma in Takuma''s Project, G.O.D, Zhao Luo wanted to visit this leaning tower at least once but he wasn''t fated to. But he would have never thought that the library in the library zone would be in a leaning tower.


    "Let''s Go."


    Senior Cutie told Zhao Luo as he moved towards the entrance of the tower.


    Zhao Luo followed along with the bald senior.


    The entrance was after a normal setup of round stairs.


    After climbing the stairs, Zhao Luo who had entered a bright hall with Senior Cutie saw a cirction desk on the corner of the hall.


    Both Zhao Luo and Senior Cutie could see a person dozing off with a scroll spread across his face and his legs spread over the desk as though he was showing them his professional dozing position.


    "Knock, knock."


    Senior Cutie went over to the desk and tapped the desk twice with his fist.


    "Mhmm"


    Thud!


    The person who was sleeping woke up awkwardly and fell, head first from his chair. The scroll also fell from his face.


    "Which bastard is it?"


    The person got up while rubbing his head and Zhao Luo finally saw the face of this interesting character.


    It was an old man with a giant beard almost reaching his stomach.


    "Greeting Junior Elder."


    Senior Cutie bowed his head as he greeted the old man in front of them.


    "Greetings elder."


    Zhao Luo also bowed.


    "Oh, it''s you, baldy."


    The elder said as he nodded while looking at Senior Cutie while calling him baldy.


    Zhao Luo stared at the elder''s robe and saw a gold badge on his robe. But the beard of the elder covered the front of the badge so Zhao Luo couldn''t see the level of the elder.


    "Who is this youngd?"


    The junior elder asked baldy as he looked at Zhao Luo while inspecting Zhao Luo from head to toe.


    "Ah, this little brother just advanced to an outer disciple. He wanted to participate in the next week''s ranking tournament so I brought him here first since he was worried about his limited technique."


    Senior Cutie gave a brief detail to the junior elder who was rubbing his chin.


    "I see. A new outer disciple."


    The elder squinted his eyes at Zhao Luo and saw something that made him angry.


    Thap!


    The Junior Elder''s palmnded on Senior Cutie''s baldnd as a smacking sound echoed in the hall.


    "Do you think this old man is a fool?"


    The junior elder asked Senior cutie while smacking his bald field multiple times.


    "No elder. I could dare to fool you."


    Senior Cutie answered as confusion enveloped his mind.


    "Then how do you exin the eighth level ''VIII'' badge on his chest?"


    The Junior elder asked Senior Cutie while looking at Zhao Luo.


    Since he had started questioning the senior, the junior elder had never removed his eyes from Zhao Luo.


    "He was indeed a trainee disciple just half an hour ago. This little brother had over 9000 strength scores and a white badge along with it so that is the reason behind his badge."


    Senior Cutie exined to the junior elder as a satisfactory expression appeared on the elder''s wrinkled face.


    "Ah, so you are one of those trainee disciples who perfected their base strength over years of training in the trainee hall."


    The junior elder spected while looking at Zhao Luo.


    "Hah." Zhao Luo went along with the flow and nodded.


    Suddenly the elder held Zhao Luo''s hand.


    "This old man respects people like you who perfect their strengths and deal with their weaknesses before advancing. So how many years did you train to get this much strength?"


    The junior elder asked Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo was slightly embarrassed as he heard the question.


    He saw the glowing expression on the old man''s face and knew that the old man was impressed with his score.


    ''But how should answer him?''


    Zhao Luo wondered as he couldn''t think of a lie that could persuade such an old man.


    ''His grip...''


    Zhao Luo looked down at his hand that was trapped in the old man''s hand.


    Just the grip of this old man on Zhao Luo''s hand was enough to show that this old man was also a monstrous oldie.


    "Why are you not answering? Don''t be shy. I already told you, I like hard-working disciples like you. Especially those who work with a conviction for even more years just to get this kind of amazing results. It shows how hard they worked without ever giving up over multiple years. So don''t..."


    The junior elder kept on talking to Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo realized how hard the junior elder was trying to tell him that it was not an embarrassing matter to be at the trainee level for multiple years.


    ''I will just say the truth.''


    "I recently joined the trainee hall as a trainee disciple so around a week. It took me a week to get this strong."


    Zhao Luo replied to the elder''s primary question.


    Hearing Zhao Luo''s answer led the elder to a world of shocks.


    "Is that the truth?"


    The elder looked at Zhao Luo with wide eyes which were filled with disbelief and questioned Zhao Luo.


    "Yes, it''s the truth."


    Zhao Luo nodded as there was no shrewdness in his eyes.


    The elder looked at Zhao Luo''s eyes then shifted his gaze at Zhao Luo''s free hand and finally felt the palm of Zhao Luo''s hand which he was holding.


    ''Clear eyes, opened hand, and his trapped hand isn''t sweaty either so he is not lying.''


    "How could a new disciple get such a score with his strength...unbelievable."


    The elder mumbled as a slightly awkward smile emerged on his face.


    The junior elder hurriedly let go of Zhao Luo''s hand and sat back on his seat while looking at both Senior Cutie and Zhao Luo.


    "I assume you are here to learn techniques. Since you are a new outer disciple I will exin to you how you can get a technique. The books and scrolls are kept on the first floor, second floor, third floor, and so on.


    The techniques are divided into two categories, their Colour, and the Category. From the lowest that is ck, Bronze, Silver, and gold which ks the highest, you can find all the techniques of such colors up there."


    The junior elder pointed upwards.


    "But remember every Coloured technique is further divided into Ranks, lowest being a D rank technique while the highest being an A-rank technique. While every ranked color technique has different levels of mastery, that will depend on yourtent talent."


    The junior elder slowly exined to Zhao Luo.


    "There was such a division of techniques too?"


    Zhao Luo asked him, the junior elder.


    He only knew that the techniques were decided ording to the color but there were ranks to every technique too.


    "Yes. You will know once you climb to the first floor and further."


    ''Hmmm''


    "I would rmend that you both should go to the second floor. There are some silver techniques on that floor that are ranging from B Grade to D Grade. They will suit you well."


    The second elder advised them.


    "As for the exchange, you both have an hour to choose your techniques, after that hour passes, every ten minutes, ten of your Xin Points will be used. As for the techniques, the content can be seen for 1 point while depending on the rank and color of the book, the points needed to obtain that technique will vary."


    "Huff"


    The junior elder took a deep breath as he had finally exined everything to Zhao Luo.


    He waved at them gesturing them to go.


    "Your hour has started."


    Zhao Luo and Senior Cutie rushed towards the stairs that would be taking them to the first floor.


    "Thank you, elder."


    Zhao Luo stopped at the start of the stairs and gave bowed deeply in the direction of the junior elder.


    "Haha."


    The junior elderughed it off and waved at Zhao Luo to go away.


    ''What a kind man.''


    The junior elder thought while looking at the disappearing back of Zhao Luo.


    "This is the first time someone thanked me for this."


    The junior elder said with a sorrowful voice and tears started rolling down his eyes while drenching his beard.


    Zhao Luo while reaching the first floor of the library didn''t have a single clue that he had forced a junior elder to cry with just two words.


    ---------- -----


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 Chapter 124 - Bullet Fist

    First Floor of the Outer Hall''s Library.


    Zhao Luo walked towards the first shelf on the first floor instead of going straight to the second floor.


    "Hmm, I have one hour, so let''s look around here first."


    Zhao Luo said to himself while Senior Cutie had already advanced to the upper floor of the leaning tower.


    Zhao Luo who was looking around found many books here, especially the number of scrolls that exceeded that of books.


    At the first shelf detailed open scroll was hanging like a ''must-read'' sign.


    Zhao Luo stopped and read the scroll which was an instruction scroll.


    "Scroll: Iplete Technique


    Book: Complete Technique"


    Two lines were written on it to exin the difference between a rolled Scroll and a Square shaped thick book on the shelves of the first floor.


    "Hmm, I guess I will just look for the books for now."


    The first floor had the ck and the bronze colored technique but only the ranks (A fo D) of ck techniques were covered on the first floor while (B to D) ranks of bronze techniques could be found on some shelves.


    Zhao Luo nced at the books.


    Each book''s cover showed three things.


    The techniques name.


    It''s Color.


    It''s Grade.


    The first shelf had foot techniques so after reading a few Zhao Luo lost his interest in them.


    ''Why should I look at them?''


    Zhao Luo questioned.


    His doubt in these techniques wasn''t irrelevant at all.


    From the start of the shelf, the names of the techniques were quite enchanting and powerful drawing Zhao Luo towards them.


    The first technique that caught Zhao Luo''s eyes was a ck book.


    "Lightning Speed, (B)."


    The color of the book showed that it was the lowest category foot technique but its grade wasn''t the lowest.


    "Shh."


    Zhao Luo pulled it out from its resting ce on the shelf and without waiting any further, he opened it.


    The moment Zhao Luo opened the book his points which were 75 went down by 1, that is, now he had 74 remaining points.


    ''Fwoo~''


    [ This foot technique is a B Grade ck Technique which is perfect for a Level two ''II'' outer disciple who is suffering from Turtle feet.]


    "Turtle feet?"


    Zhao Luo wondered if he had picked up aic book instead of a foot technique book.


    [Using this technique, you can move 1.25 faster than before. The sound of eachplete movement will be like thunder. Continuous use can strain the muscles.]


    [ To Learn: 10 points ]


    Zhao Luo read the use of this lightning speed technique.


    "Wow, this technique turned out to be..."


    Zhao Luo closed the book while talking about the book.


    "Quite a joke."


    ''Why would I use 10 points just to increase my speed by 1.25 times and a background lightning sound? Sigh, even my Half Walk is a hundred times better than this, not to mention first walk.''


    Zhao Luopared the technique that he had received from the sect leader and shook his head while moving ahead.


    Another ck book appeared in his eyes with a shocking name.


    "Murder Walk, (A)"


    Zhao Luo stopped at this book.


    His hand shivered as it stopped right before the book.


    ''Do I read it or not?''


    Zhao Luo''s mind was filled with a battle of two words, Yes or No.


    In the end, the Word Yes came out as the victor.


    The name was so attractive to Zhao Luo that he could hold his desire to open this book back.


    ''It''s just 1 point.''


    Zhao Luo pulled out this ck book.


    "Murder walk."


    ''Maybe this technique will allow me to kill my enemies while taking a super fast step.''


    Zhao Luo had many ideas going on in his head rted to what the technique was about.


    ''Fwoo~''


    Zhao Luo opened the book and read the details.


    [An ability that will cure a disciple who is unable to walk backward. This technique will help you to reverse walk]


    [The murder walk, this foot technique that maximizes the mesmerizing nature of a reverse walk is solely used to stun the enemy and use the gap when they are not able to defend themselves to strike them cold.]


    [ To Learn: 15 points ]


    Zhao Luo who had already finished reading what the technique eas about and its uses, had his mouth closed.


    He was out of words.


    ''What is this BullShit?''


    Zhao Luo questioned in his mind.


    [73 points remaining]


    ''Another point wasted, Tsk.''


    Zhao Luo felt bitter as he put the book back on the shelf.


    "Isn''t this moonwalk? If I knew that this technique was a moonwalk I would have never picked it up."


    Zhao Luo said while questioning how using a moonwalk would be helpful for him in a Battle.


    ''If it was a dance battle then it would make sense.''


    Zhao Luo could hear a stupid thought rising in his head.


    But this was the Xin Sect, not some Talent Show Sect focused around their disciples having good dancing techniques.


    Zhao Luo went to the next shelf but the collection was just ordinary.


    "Bullet Fist, (C)"


    A bronze book entered his eyes.


    This shelf had the first technique and this was the highest level of the book that he could see on the whole shelf.


    "The name sounds nice."


    "BULLET FIST."


    ''WHEWWW~''


    Zhao Luo looked at his left and threw a fast punch while shouting the name of the ability.


    Zhao Luo grabbed the book and pulled it out of the shelf.


    "Bullet Fist."


    One more nce at its name was enough to force Zhao Luo to open it.


    ''Fwoo~''


    [A millennium ago, what did the martial arts practitioners used when they had no weapons?]


    Zhao Luo stopped there and gave it a thought for a moment. This was the third technique he had opened but the first one which had started with a question.


    "Their Limbs."


    Zhao Luo looked at his hand and his feet.


    For Zhao Luo, he was indeed on point thus with a smile Zhao Luo continued reading the book.


    [Yes, Disciple. Your thought is right. It was indeed the Fists. But fists alone don''t amount to much. Thus this technique will teach you how to use your fists in the strongest way to achieve the bullet fist]


    [ To Learn: 20 points ]


    Zhao Luo who was now at 72 points gave it a thought.


    While reading the technique Zhao Luo had realized that the founder of this technique and he, didn''t share the same thoughts as the founder of this technique was favoring fists while a human is born with both arms and both feet so if a person is not missing his lower limbs he will use his legs as a weapon too.


    Leaving this aside, Zhao Luo decided to learn the technique.


    He flipped to the main page of the book while using his 20 points on this technique.


    [ Learn: When each part of your upper limb, the phnges and the tendons of your hand, the joints of your arm and shoulder act as one, only then a fist can match a modern weapon.]


    [Once you master this technique then no normal sword or any other weapon practitioner will be able to stop your fist with his weapon. Just like a dragon''s ascend can not be stopped by the heavenly skies, your fist will rise]


    "Interesting."


    Zhao Luo was quite impressed by the content of this bronze (C) grade technique, Bullet Fist.


    The details of the page ended there. Unfortunately, Zhao Luo couldn''t learn it right away as he didn''t turn to the next page.


    ''Ah, I don''t have much time.''


    While saying this Zhao Luo stored this book in his storage.


    Hurrying his steps, he looked around different shelves on the first floor.


    Many Bronze Techniques entered his sight.


    Ranging from the B rank to D rank, different techniques for movement followed by attacking techniques which used fist and kick as the attacking weapon then other Weapon technique, andstly defense techniques, not one these techniques on the different shelves riled Zhao Luo so much that he would pick them.


    "Barging Wave Kick, (D)"


    "Flying spear, (B)"


    "Wonderous Fist, (C)"


    "Hairless Defense, (B)"


    Zhao Luo remembered a few of them as they all had very addicting names.


    He didn''t use a spear as he had two weapons which were his swords, Ifrit and ckey.


    But if there was a flying sword technique among these techniques then Zhao Luo would have taken it.


    Zhao Luo wanted the kick technique but he had already selected a fist technique so he dropped that idea too.


    The same went for the ''Wonderous Fist''.


    "Hairless Defense."


    Zhao Luo repeated this name of a B rank defense technique.


    "From the name, I think it will suit Brot- Senior Cutie more than me."


    Zhao Luo couldn''t call the bald guy ''brother'' just cause Senior never acted like one.


    As for the defense technique, it indeed suited Senior Cutie more as both had hairless qualities.


    With a grin on his face, Zhao Luo went towards the stairs and advanced to the second floor.


    [Remaining points: 52 points


    Remaining Time: 33 minutes]


    ''Tap''


    Zhao Luo climbed the stairs to the second floor of the library in the leaning tower.


    "Hopefully there are some good silver techniques for me to learn."


    Zhao Luo wished as a bad memory surfaced in his mind.

 Chapter 125 - Bullet Fist II

    With every step, an image would appear in Zhao Luo''s mind. Unfortunately, Zhao Luo couldn''t even stop these images to pop up in his mind.


    They were like a stalker creeping on the one being stalked.


    ''Aghh.''


    The images included him and Mite.


    It was the time when they had fought with their swords.


    Mite had two uneven swords in his hands while Zhao Luo held Ifrit and ckey in his hands like some genius swordsman.


    "He used a silver tier technique too."


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he reached the second floor.


    When Zhao Luo had defeated Mite, Mite was using a silver tier technique but it didn''t amount to much.


    Even though it was a perfect technique for a big guy like Mite.


    "I need to decide carefully."


    Zhao Luo felt the need to heighten his senses so he wouldn''t simply fall for the name of a technique by misunderstanding the color (tier) and grade of the technique.


    This was indeed a bad memory for him.


    Having a Fight to the death with your current friend was indeed not a good thing to be remembering.


    ''Tsk.''


    Zhao Luo clicked his tongue and shook his head.


    He didn''t even have much time left.


    ''31 minutes and 52 points.''


    Zhao Luo knew how much time he had left.


    While thinking of his remaining time and points, Zhao Luo went towards the first shelf of the second floor.


    "Let''s see what we have here."


    Zhao Luo stopped at the shelf and his eyes went over the books and the scrolls like he was scanning them some invisible raysing out of his eyes.


    Many bronze books and bronze scrolls, ranging from grade D to A were present on the shelf but the A Grade Bronze technique was in abundance.


    While Zhao Luo could also see silver techniques but their grades were C and D.


    "They are all foot technique."


    Zhao Luo realized that the structural setting of the shelves was the same as it was on the first floor.


    [The First Shelf - Foot Technique Shelf]


    Zhao Luo already had a great foot technique so he just went over the names and didn''t waste any point on any foot technique.


    "The names are again like a big..."


    Zhao Luo couldn''t justplete his sentence cause it would be like he was using the founder of this technique to be con artists.


    ''..Bait.''


    Zhao Luo thought with a grin.


    His gaze went over some books and scrolls that could be said to be some unparallel foot technique just by their name.


    "Tiger''s Walk, (C)"


    The first that came grabbed Zhao Luo''s attention would be a book that was a Grade-C silver technique with a very dominating name.


    ''Hmm.''


    Hardly controlling his urge to take this book, Zhao Luo pulled his gaze back and looked ahead.


    "Speed of the Deity, (A)"


    ''What?''


    Zhao Luo was stunned. After reading this name from a book that had a bronze cover showing that it was even lower than the ''Tiger walk'', Zhao Luo certainly felt lost.


    But the next books had even more baiting names.


    Even though he already had a foot technique, ''First Walk'', Zhao Luo still wanted to get these techniques too but he knew he couldn''t.


    Two silver techniques that were the next techniques to catch his attention were.


    "Vanished Foot, (D)"


    "Dream Run, (C)"


    ''Sigh.''


    Zhao Luo felt awful.


    ''Am I a beggar?''


    Zhao Luopared himself to a beggar as whenever he would bring his hand close to these books, his remaining points would pop up in his mind.


    "I thought 75 points were a lot. Shit."


    Zhao Luo cursed his points but unfortunately, his points would never know.


    There was no rule that a person could only learn one technique of a certain category thus it was hard for Zhao Luo to control his desire to read these books.


    He felt like ady who was shopping for clothes but forgot her credit card and purse at home.


    ''Sigh.''


    With another sigh which was filled with sadness, Zhao Luo moved to the next shelf.


    Another shelf with many books and scrolls of fist techniques.


    "I already have a fist technique. Let''s just move on."


    Zhao Luo calmed himself down.


    Unlike ''Half Walk'' which was a cheap rip-off of the First Walk that was just the first stage of a technique named, sh Step, Zhao Luo''s Bullet Fist (C) was aplete technique so it was easy for him to keep himself calm.


    "Tap, Tap"


    Zhao Luo calmly walked around the shelf.


    Just like he had nned to but something appeared in his sight that made him stop in his tracks.


    Zhao Luo''s mind shook looking at this scene.


    "WTF."


    Zhao Luo cursed out loud.


    "Fwoo~"


    He pulled out the book that had surprised him.


    "Bullet Fist II, (D)"


    Zhao Luo read the name.


    The name of this technique was the same as the technique that was chilling in his storage space except for the two marks at the end of the technique name but that wasn''t the only issue.


    The grade was less. His bullet fist was a C grade while this one was a D grade fist technique.


    "No, No, No"


    Zhao Luo still couldn''t believe it as the grades being different wasn''t the only issue here.


    This "Bullet Fist II, (D)" in his hands was a silver colored technique while the one in Zhao Luo''s storage, was a bronze technique.


    To confirm his suspicions Zhao Luo opened the book.


    "It''s the same."


    Zhao Luo read the whole page and it was indeed the same, just that the training part was missing.


    "The main difference is this ending."


    Zhao Luo said as his gaze moved down and he read theter parts of the technique.


    [ When your Fist bes one with the Body, only then will you be able to master this Improved Version Of Bullet Fist ]


    [ To Learn: 20 points/Master the Bullet Fist First ]


    Zhao Luo read the conditions of the ''Bullet Fist II'' and fell into a state of confusion.


    He couldn''t decide who he should be ming right now.


    The writer of these books who didn''t give a single hint that this technique, ''Bullet Fist'' was a technique that could be improved further into ''Bullet Fist II'' or himself, who prematurely decided on this technique and stored it in his storage.


    "I have only 51 points left."


    Zhao Luo looked at the book and thought about how many points he would be left with if he got this book.


    "Ah."


    Zhao Luo felt like screaming as he bit his lip and flipped the page that is using his points on this book.


    ''31 points left.''


    Zhao Luo thought and looked at the introduction page of this ''Bullet Fist II'' in his hand.


    [ I mastered the art of fists. The road had already ended for me. My fists were perfect. Many swords had fallen before my fists. Many spears had been busted apart by these godly fists. But then I met him. A man who carried a wood stick, who used a wood stick like a part of his body, like a weapon. He didn''t differentiate if it was a weapon or his body part, he used his four limbs while his body was the core to leave a mark on my fist and pushing me back]


    "Interesting."


    Zhao Luo could imagine the scenario of the author while reading the description.


    The start was indeed weird and a sign that the one who wrote this improved version of Bullet Fist had thought that his Bullet Fist was already perfect but after facing a setback he found the weaknesses in his technique.


    Zhao Luo could see the image of a sturdy man whose back looked like the peak of a mountain. And another man who had a small stick in his hand and a smile on his face.


    With such an image Zhao Luo continued reading.


    [The road that had already ended for me opened up once again. I could see a path to perfect my fist technique. I started improving under that man''s guidance. I dropped my pride, threw away my stubbornness, and only then was I able to connect all my limbs and the core. That is when I performed thest form of the improved bullet fist. The Bullet Fist of Yin and Yang]


    The page ended here.


    Obviously, if Zhao Luo wanted he could turn the page and learn about the technique further but he stopped here.


    "Bullet Fist of Yin and Yang."


    Zhao Luo repeated thest form of the improved Bullet Fist and stored the book in his storage space.


    Zhao Luo started moving once again.


    This time he never slowed down no matter how heavenly the title of a technique was, Zhao Luo couldn''t care anymore.


    ''I only have 10 minutes left with 31 points to spare.''


    Zhao Luo knew that he could only get one more technique out of so many techniques while he didn''t even have that much time left.


    ''Hmm.''


    Many silver colored techniques entered his eyes.


    "Matchless Vision, (D)"


    "Unwavering Body, (C)"


    "Metallic Defense, (C)"


    "What the Rock is cooking, (C)"


    Zhao Luo was close to grabbing his hairs and pulling them out as the names were getting more and more absurd as he kept on reading them.


    "What the hell is this even? What the Rock is Cooking? Some kind of wrestling move?"


    Zhao Luo shouted as he had reached thest book on thest shelf without deciding which one to pick.

 Chapter 126 - Extraordinary Breath & The Betrayal

    Zhao Luo who was unable to decide which technique to pick out of these hundreds of techniques felt like he was in a pickle.


    ''This is even harder than the challenges of the training area and the fights against Mite and Wu Yang.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he looked around the shelves.


    "Which book should I get?"


    Zhao Luo wondered as the remaining time was only 9 minutes.


    Every book had an attractive name. Except that he wanted to try learning all of these techniquester on but he couldn''t even take the books right now because of his limited points.


    "Should I just go for "what the rock is cooking", maybe it could turn out to be a hidden gem?"


    Zhao Luo who was hoping for getting the best technique looked at the C rank silver book.


    There were two reasons why Zhao Luo was still holding onto this technique name.


    Firstly, the name of this technique by some heavenly coincidence sounded very simr (same) to the slogan of his favorite wrestler.


    Secondly, Zhao Luo was feeling very biased towards the ''rock'' part of the technique.


    But still, it was hard for him to choose this technique.


    p!


    Zhao Luo lightly pped his face causing a pping sound to echo around.


    "Let''s just take it."


    Zhao Luo said with his eyes fixed on the silver ''What the Rock is Cooking'' technique.


    His hand moved closer and closer to the book.


    Then right before the moment, his hand could touch the book, Zhao Luo stopped.


    "WAIT."


    A shouting shrill voice entered his ears, causing Zhao Luo to stumble back and look towards the direction where it hade from.


    A bald head entered his sight, making it entrance from behind another shelf.


    "Senior, you.."


    Zhao Luo knew who this bald and shiny head belonged to.


    After a few seconds, Senior Cutie was standing before Zhao Luo.


    "This technique won''t suit you."


    Senior Cutie told Zhao Luo, causing him to take back his hand.


    "Then which one should I choose?"


    Zhao Luo took a step forward and asked for the senior''s advice.


    [Remaining time: 8 minutes]


    "How many points do you have?"


    Senior Cutie started looking around while questioning Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo also followed behind him hoping that this senior cutie would rmend Zhao Luo a good technique that would suit him.


    "I have 31 points."


    Zhao Luo answered him.


    His eyes moved along wherever and whichever part of the shelf Senior Cutie would look at.


    With 5 minutes remaining and 31 points, it was getting hard for Zhao Luo to wait any longer.


    "How did you even get so many points?"


    Listening to Zhao Luo''s answer, Senior Cutie''s focus was diverted.


    "I got them by excelling in the Sect Entrance Exam."


    Zhao Luo said proudly with a mighty voice.


    Indeed it was a thing that he could boast about to others. But the truth was 31 points were the leftover points that Zhao Luo had.


    His total points were more than double to this, that is, 75.


    "I see. Well, I think this will be perfect for you", Senior Cutie nodded, and Zhao Luo could see the baldy''s hand going towards a corner of the shelf.


    ''Did he already find it?''


    Zhao Luo wondered as he saw Senior Cutie grabbing a scroll and taking it out of the shelf.


    "Here this will suit you well", Senior Cutie told Zhao Luo while looking at him with a smile.


    ''Hmm.''


    Zhao Luo took the scroll from Senior Cutie''s hand and looked at it.


    "Why didn''t I notice this one before?"


    Zhao Luo said with obviously stunned eyes.


    "Don''t worry. I was like you too."


    Senior Cutie patted Zhao Luo''s shoulder.


    They both were talking about the scroll.


    The scroll in Zhao Luo''s hand was a D rank but the shocking part was that it was a golden scroll.


    That is a gold-tier technique.


    Irrelevant of its grade, this was the first golden technique he was holding in his hand.


    "Extraordinary Breath, (D)"


    Zhao Luo read the name and was blown away by it.


    "How extraordinary a technique with ''Extraordinary'' in its name would be?"


    Zhao Luo mumbled with questioning eyes.


    "It is a very extraordinary technique."


    Senior Cutie answered Zhao Luo''s question without even blinking his eyes and showing an honest expression.


    "I see, so ''very'' was the answer."


    Zhao Luo replied and looked back at the scroll in his hand.


    If the junior elder could hear Zhao Luo''s and Senior Cutie''s discussion he would have bled to death.


    Moving away from their outrageous conversation Zhao Luo found himself holding back from opening the scroll.


    Unlike books, the scrolls didn''t have pages that he could turn or flip.


    Once a scroll was opened his points will be deducted which Zhao Luo wasn''t sure about and he could only trust his Senior''s words.


    "You won''t be disappointed."


    Senior added interrupting the confused state of Zhao Luo.


    ''Nod.''


    Zhao Luo nodded his head and opened the scroll which contained the technique ''Extraordinary Breath''.


    ''Fwoo~''


    The scroll rolled open in a split second.


    Zhao Luo''s points dropped down to 0.


    His remaining 31 points were deducted instantly.


    "Ahem", without waiting for any further Zhao Luo started reading from the scroll.


    [A warrior spends his whole life trying to get that unmatched strength by various means.]


    [Grabs a sword and calls himself a swordsman]


    [Grabs a pen and calls himself a schrly warrior]


    [Grabs a wooden stick after shaving his head and calls himself a monk]


    Zhao Luo who was reading the short parts of the technique from the scroll stopped at this part and looked at Senior Cutie''s head.


    Senior Cutie who was standing in front of Zhao Luo didn''t know that Zhao Luo wasparing him to a monk.


    "Ahem"


    Zhao Luo cleared his throat again and shook his head before continuing the scroll.


    [Grabs martial arts and masters it, to be a martial warrior]


    [No matter what he grabs, the end is still death]


    [His road will always have a confirmed end till he grabs the forbidden]


    Zhao Luo stopped here and was quite confused. He looked at Senior Cutie and showed him this part. He wanted to know what type of meaning this part with ''forbidden'' had.


    "Hmm, this is simply another way to express about a warrior aiming to go against the heavens. Whenever a person is born into this world, he starts racing towards his death. No one is exempt from the fateful end of their life. This is how heavens work. But this scroll will teach you how to go against the heavens. Thus the word ''forbidden'' was used here. After the other parts were used to build a whole world of warriors just to end it at their deaths."


    Senior Cutie''s exnation was so detailed and on the point that Zhao Luo understood well what the meaning behind thest part was, that he had read.


    But before Zhao Luo could say something in return or continue reading the scroll, the baldy opened his mouth once again.


    "This technique is hard as no one has seen the result of this technique thus dropping out from learning this but I believe you can do it!"


    Senior Cutie said with a mysterious smile and sharp eyes.


    Zhao Luo could barely read the meaning behind the smile on the face of this senior.


    Zhao Luo folded the scroll as a feeling of being betrayed crept over him.


    ''No, he didn''t'', Zhao Luo tried to calm himself down as the smile on the face of baldy kept on growing into a mischievous grin.


    "Why?"


    Zhao Luo asked Senior Cutie while storing the scroll in his storage space.


    The time left was only one minute.


    "I believe in you, that''s why."


    Senior Cutie answered Zhao Luo''s question with an unwavering voice.


    This made Zhao Luo even angrier and he med himself for being a fool.


    "Then why are you making such a disgusting expression?"


    Zhao Luo further questioned the baldy.


    "hahahahaha....looks like I got caught. Ahhh, I have always been weak when it came to keeping a poker face."


    The baldyughed with an evil grin on his face and told Zhao Luo who was shaking his head while hearing this bullshiting out of his senior''s mouth.


    "You still haven''t answered me. Why?"


    Zhao Luo asked again hoping to know the reason for being fooled by a person who had been helping him since he had entered the outer hall.


    "It''s simple. Why would I help my enemy?"


    Senior Cutie asked as the grin on his face disappeared.


    "I would never help my enemy either", Zhao Luo said while looking down.


    "See. That''s how the world works...", Senior Cutie nodded as he felt that Zhao Luo was being true to himself.


    "But I would never betray someone''s trust like this."


    Zhao Luo interrupted the baldy.


    ''Just for 31 points, he showed me his true self. Hah''


    Zhao Luo scoffed at the baldy and moved towards the stairs to return to the junior elder.


    Senior Cutie felt a sharp punchnding on his face when Zhao Luo interrupted him.


    "..."


    He could only watch Zhao Luo moving away from him.


    Zhao Luo''s back disappeared from Senior Cutie''s sight as the shelves blocked his view of Zhao Luo.

 Chapter 127 - Scroll Of Greed

    Zhao Luo felt saddened by the way the baldy fooled him.


    "Sigh~"


    Letting out a long sigh, Zhao Luo was already in front of the desk where the Junior Elder was sitting.


    "Mhmm, ZzzzZ"


    Zhao Luo looked at the elder and found the elder''s face to be covered with the scroll once again.


    "He is sleeping. Again."


    ''Tap, Tap''


    Zhao Luo said while hearing the sound of Senior Cutieing down the stairs.


    "Knock, Knock."


    Zhao Luo strongly knocked on the desk causing the elder to wake up slowly.


    "Ah, you are back. But why the long face? Did you not find any useful technique on the second floor?"


    Junior Elder looked at Zhao Luo and found the expression on his face confusing.


    Junior Elder had already removed the scroll from his face and that scroll was lying right on the desk.


    "It''s that but it''s also not that."


    Zhao Luo murmured but he didn''t know what he should tell the elder.


    ''The bullet fist is good but books were supposed to holdplete techniques yet there was a continuation so just that technique cost me 47 points. While the extraordinary breath shows unlimited potential, it''s a scroll so it will be iplete. Overall nobody has yet to learn it so even if I too, am not even able to learn it, let alone, master it, then it will be aplete waste.''


    Zhao Luo weighed the result of using 75 points here and found himself in apredicament.


    He couldn''t even me Senior Cutie anymore as it was his short-sightedness that he fell for baldy''s words.


    "Well, don''t worry too much about it. Points are easy to get. You can easily earn 50 points bypleting 10 missions. Since you are new here, try going to the mission hall otherwise known as, The ck Zone."


    Junior Elder advised Zhao Luo.


    He was using these words to cheer Zhao Luo but he didn''t know that his words were posing the opposite effect on Zhao Luo''s mental.


    ''What? I have to do ten missions for just 50 points. That is like 5 points each.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he looked down.


    "Should just leave the sect and take the sect entrance exam again?"


    Zhao Luo said in a low voice.


    "Hmm, what did you say?"


    Junior Elder asked Zhao Luo as he could barely hear what Zhao Luo had said.


    "Oh, nothing."


    Zhao Luo replied as he bowed his head.


    Just then Senior Cutie had also reached the desk thus causing Zhao Luo to look away.


    "Little Brother, are you still mad? This is how everyone acts. It was just a small joke since we will bepeting against each other soon."


    ''Tap.''


    Senior Cutie told Zhao Luo as he patted Zhao Luo''s shoulder.


    Zhao Luo gave him a sharp nce resulting in Senior Cutie taking a step back from him.


    "What happened? What did he do?"


    Junior Elder asked Zhao Luo while pointing at Senior Cutie''s bald head.


    "Hmph."


    Zhao Luo scoffed as he stopped giving Senior Cutie the sharp push.


    p!


    "How many times do I have to tell you that you should stop messing around with new disciples?"


    The Junior elder pped Senior Cutie''s head while berating him.


    The pping sound was so clear that even if both palms were used, a sound like this wouldn''t is possible to make.


    It was because of the zero friction surface of Senior Cutie''s head.


    "Ouch."


    Senior Cutie cried and looked like he would start crying anytime.


    "That should do it."


    Junior Elder looked at Zhao Luo and found him looking down at the scroll that was on the table.


    Zhao Luo who was standing next to them had his eyes fixed on the golden scroll that was on the table.


    "I wouldn''t do that if I was you. As for him, forgive him for my sake. He has gotten older but his nature is still worse than a kid''s."


    Junior Elder told Zhao Luo and nced at Senior Cutie while vouching for the baldy.


    ''Mhmm.''


    Zhao Luo nodded and moved his stare away from the scroll.


    Zhao Luo calmly looked at Senior Cutie and found senior''s eyes looking in his direction.


    "It''s okay but doesn''t do it again."


    Zhao Luo told Senior Cutie, giving face to Junior Elder.


    After which Zhao Luo looked at the Junior Elder.


    "Elder, why is the scroll empty? And why did you stop me from looking at it?"


    Zhao Luo looked at the scroll in Junior Elder''s hand and asked him.


    "What?"


    This!


    The Junior Elder jumped over the desk and moved closer to Zhao Luo.


    ''Did I ask a strange question?''


    Zhao Luo thought as he found Junior Elder staring right into his eyes.


    It was indeed strange for someone to have a scroll without content, opened and instead of reading it, the elder had it on his face as he slept. But the elder was acting weird.


    The junior elder moved near Zhao Luo''s ear.


    "Did you say that the scroll was empty?"


    The Junior Elder whispered his question in Zhao Luo''s ear.


    "Yes, it was. I saw the scroll and there was not even a single word on it."


    Zhao Luo answered it slowly and just loud enough that only the elder could hear his voice.


    "..."


    Senior Cutie looked at the two in confusion.


    ''What are they whispering to each other?''


    He thought as he looked at the elder who rushed at him.


    ''Fwoo~''


    The elder opened the scroll and shoved it in front of Senior Cutie''s face.


    "What do you see?"


    "It''s the scroll of greed. The first tells about the test contained in the scroll of greed. The test is named ''The Free Mind'' which measures a person''s ability to control their desires. The next part i-"


    "That would be enough."


    The junior elder interrupted Senior Cutie and turned around to do the same thing to Zhao Luo.


    "Are you certain that it''s an empty scroll?"


    The Junior Elder squinted his eyes and questioned Zhao Luo.


    A pressure enveloped Zhao Luo.


    He could feel a threat as he looked at the elder''s eyes. It was like a single lie would be the reason for his head leaving his neck, that is, his life leaving his body.


    ''When did I ever lie?''


    Zhao Luo with such an honest thought in his mind closed his eyes.


    The next instant as he opened his eyes.


    "Yes, as I have said before, the scroll is indeed missing any word. I can''t see a single word on it."


    Zhao Luo told him while looking straight into the junior elder''s eyes.


    "Who wouldn''t believe someone with such intense eyes?"


    The elder took back the pressure that was falling on Zhao Luo and smiled at him.


    ''Pap, Pap''


    "You. I have great hopes for you."


    The junior elder folded the scroll and told Zhao Luo while patting his shoulder.


    "T-thank You."


    Zhao Luo didn''t know why the elder said that but he could only take it as apliment thus bowing his head.


    This whole situation confused Senior Cutie beyond reason.


    ''How could the scroll be empty?''


    He thought as he looked at the elder''s smile directed at Zhao Luo.


    "Now go. I have spent too much time on you two. Look at the other disciples, they all are training hard for the uing ranking match. I can''t me Zhao Luo but you, bald head, why are you still here?"


    The elder angrily looked at Senior Cutie while calling him, a bald head.


    ''Hahaha.''


    Zhao Luoughed lightly while Senior Cutie felt embarrassed as the junior elder wasn''t someone he could talk back to.


    "I am here as little brother''s guide."


    Senior Cutie told the elder.


    "He isn''t a kid. He won''t get lost if you don''t guide him."


    "No. I should still stay with him till he gets familiar with the secondary halls of the outer hall."


    Senior Cutie argued with the junior elder but the points he had stated were quite valid.


    Zhao Luo found the elder looking at him thus nodded to show that he didn''t mind Senior Cutie guiding him.


    ''I will just trust you, once again.''


    Zhao Luo reckoned as he looked at Senior Cutie.


    "Okay then leave. Both of you."


    The junior elder looked in a hurry while telling Zhao Luo and Senior Cutie to leave the library.


    ''Nod.''


    Both understood what the elder was telling them.


    ''He must have been holding it in for quite some time.''


    Zhao Luo felt worried for the elder''s stomach as he looked at the expression of elder which looked like he was in quite the urgency.


    ---- ---- ---- ---- ----


    After a while, Zhao Luo with Senior Cutie stood outside the inclined tower of the library zone.


    "So I hope you won''t try to fool me again."


    Zhao Luo said to Senior Cutie as the light of Sun fell on them.


    The green surrounding with Zhao Luo''s statement gave a new feeling to Senior Cutie who was looking at Zhao Luo''s handsome face.


    "I will try my best."


    Senior Cutie stated as he was being honest.


    This caused a grin to emerge on the face of Zhao Luo.


    ''At least he didn''t lie.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he looked towards the exit of the library zone.


    (The secondary halls were different than each other.


    Only the entrance hall was a closed space while all the other zones were open spaces, that is, the roof was the sky.)


    Zhao Luo and Senior Cutie left the library zone through the yellow door and returned to the entrance zone.


    "Where are we going now?"


    Zhao Luo asked as he looked at the ck door that was opposite the yellow door.


    "There."


    Senior Cutie pointed at a door and Zhao Luo looked at it.


    "I see. Let''s go then."


    Zhao Luo said as both of them walked towards the door in question.

 Chapter 128 - Living Zone

    Zhao Luo with Senior Cutie moved towards the green door, which looked like a short box as they were very far from it.


    This just showed how big the entrance zone of the outer hall was.


    "So where is your badge?"


    Zhao Luo asked Senior Cutie while giving him a suspicious look.


    Senior Cutie could understand the meaning behind Zhao Luo''s look.


    ''He is giving me a chance to test me. How cute!''


    While having this thought in his head, senior cutie raised his hand, and a silver ring could be found on his index finger.


    ''Shwaa~''


    Zhao Luo could see his senior taking out a ck badge from the silver ring and cing it on his chest.


    ''?''


    The ck badge on Senior Cutie''s chest clearly showed that he was a ninth-level outer disciple.


    "You..."


    Zhao Luo looked stunned but that onlysted for a moment as a smile crept on his face and a yful look could be found in his bright eyes.


    "Didn''t you say that you had forgotten to bring your badge today?"


    Zhao Luo questioned Cutie with a serious tone. Not letting him know that he was just getting back at him.


    But Senior Cutie was a shameless weirdo nheless someone who would be taken back by such a simple crosscheck question.


    "Did I?"


    Instead of answering Zhao Luo, he replied with a simple question and sped up his steps.


    Zhao Luo couldn''t help but shake his head while watching the shiny head of Senior Cutie who was tantly acting like someone with amnesia.


    Just like that both Zhao Luo and Senior Cutie tried getting at each other''s throats with simple taunts that not even a middle schooler would use.


    "Baldy", Zhao Luo said while grinning.


    "Ugly", Senior Cutie replied without even blinking his eyes after listening to Zhao Luo''s remark.


    Zhao Luo sped up and caught up to him and as they walked together, Zhao Luo looked at dy with a funny gaze.


    "You don''t believe that right?"


    Zhao Luo lightly tapped Senior Cutie with his elbow while waiting for his answer.


    ''How could I, Zhao Luo, be ugly?''


    Zhao Luo thought as baldy''s remark didn''t make sense but Zhao Luo did feel hurt.


    "Hehe. What if I do?"


    Senior Cutie replied to Zhao Luo while looking at him amusingly.


    "Well, then you look like a female monk."


    Zhao Luo told him with a smirk.


    "You."


    Senior Cutie stopped whatever he was going to say and kept his sight up ahead on the green door.


    "Practice silence. It will give you a better temperament."


    Senior Cutie advised Zhao Luo as he didn''t seem to have a bettereback.


    "Indeed."


    Zhao Luo, who still had the smirk hanging around his mouth nodded as he agreed with the advice of Senior Cutie.


    ---- ---- ----


    After a while of walking at a rapid pace, they had reached the green door.


    Standing outside the big green door, Zhao Luo was amazed by the intensity of the color.


    "It''s giving me the same feeling as the yellow door but just in a different way."


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he felt a calming energy gathering around him and soothing his body.


    When he was standing outside the yellow door, he couldn''t feel it much as he was lost in his thoughts while talking to Senior Cutie but this time his sole focus was on the door so he could feel the strange aura of the door.


    Zhao Luo closed his eyes and went to the exact moment when he had reached the yellow door.


    ''The yellow door rxed my mind, it was like I was looking at a field of sunflowers.''


    ''While this green door is giving me the feeling of being surrounded by lush trees in a garden.''


    "What are you waiting for? Let''s go in."


    While Zhao Luo wasparing the difference in the sensation that he had felt at both doors, Senior Cutie suddenly interrupted him.


    Zhao Luo''s eyelids moved up and his eyes which looked clearer than ever fell straight on Senior Cutie.


    "What?"


    This look caused the baldy to shiver who questioned Zhao Luo.


    "Do you feel this calming sensation when you look at the door?"


    Zhao Luo asked him as he could still feel his body being relieved of all the tension that had stored over the past few days.


    "Feel what? This green color is so hideous. I have already asked the Junior Elder to paint the door with some other color."


    Senior Cutie replied with an angry tone and walked past Zhao Luo while opening the green door and entering the living zone.


    "Guess he can''t feel it", Zhao Luo shrugged his shoulders as he followed Senior Cutie inside the living zone.


    "I have already told you before. This is the living zone."


    Senior Cutie pointed his hands towards the front.


    Zhao Luo had once again entered an open zone.


    The clear sky and shining sun were easily visible.


    Unlike the huts in the trainee hall, the living zone of the outer hall had many buildings.


    But these buildings were quite big whenpared to the single-room huts.


    "Are those pces?"


    Zhao Luo asked as he pointed towards the backward buildings.


    Two rows of pces were behind the front buildings.


    The ones in the back looked bigger than the pces in front of them.


    It could be said that the living zone had a total of three rows with many houses in each row.


    "Yes, thest row has the pces of the top 100 outer disciples. While the row in front of that has 900 small pces which belong to the next 900 outer disciples. The row of building in front of you is just where the new outer disciples and the ones with low talent stay at."


    Senior Cutie exined to Zhao Luo as he looked at one of the pces in thest row.


    It wasn''t like each row was back to back.


    Each row was separated by a distance of 5 km.


    "So where will I stay at?"


    Zhao Luo asked Senior Cutie with a confused look.


    "Even though you are an eighth-level outer disciple now and could easily be counted in the top 100 outer disciples ranking. But the pces are already taken. So if you don''t want someone to sleep outside of their pce, you will have to stay in one of the buildings you see in front of you."


    Senior Cutie said in a slightly partial tone.


    It was like he didn''t even give it a thought before replying to Zhao Luo.


    "I wouldn''t want that to happen to someone because of me. So where is your pce?"


    Zhao Luo asked Senior Cutie with a devilish look. It was like he was going to wage war outside his pce.


    "I won''t tell you."


    Senior Cutie replied as a drop of sweat could be seen at the top of his bald patch.


    ''Even the sweat drop is confused on which path it should take to reach the ground.''


    Zhao Luo could barely hold hisughter back while looking at the perfectly bnced sweat drop on top of Senior Cutie''s head.


    "Amazing."


    Zhao Luo praised his senior who looked at him in confusion.


    ''What is he smiling about?''


    Senior Cutie thought while looking at the weird timing of Zhao Luo''s smile.


    "Whatever. When you return to the living zone, just go to thest building, that is, the fifth building. There should be a room still vacant there for you. Except that, don''t challenge anyone as the ranking matches will start fromst week."


    Zhao Luo looked at the building of the first row and there were indeed five buildings but each one was amazingly big,pared to his small single-room hut from before.


    Unlike the small pces of the second and third-row which amodated a single disciple, these front row buildings had hundreds to thousands of disciples.


    "I will remember your advice. But why can''t I enter the building now?"


    Zhao Luo asked Senior Cutie as he realized that the baldy had mentioned going into


    the building when Zhao Luo returns.


    "There is still one more ce that we need to go."


    Senior Cutie told Zhao Luo while he turned his body and moved towards the green door through which they had entered a few minutes ago.


    "Let me take you to the training zone?"


    Senior Cuties shaky voice entered Zhao Luo''s ears and he couldn''t help but shake to his core.


    "Ah."


    Zhao Luo who was freaked out by his bald senior''s singing followed behind him.


    Soon they left the living zone and were headed to the red door which was opposite the green door where they were just at.


    "Past the red door is where the training zone is at."


    Zhao Luo said to Senior Cutie.


    He already knew as his senior had already told him once before but just to confirm the fact, Zhao Luo was repeating it.


    "Indeed. That is where you will find the other disciples too. As I have already warned you before, do not try to start a fight. In case someone challenges you, do not agree to it. Understand?"


    "Why would someone fight me when they don''t even know who I am? Also, why do you think I would start a fight with anyone?"


    Zhao Luo had his arms slightly raised as he couldn''t understand the reason behind Senior Cutie''s worries.


    "You will know soon."


    Senior Cutie said in a serious tone as the red door which looked small a while ago was getting bigger and bigger, a sign that they were getting close to it.

 Chapter 129 - Training Zone

    After a few minutes of intense yet irrelevant conversation with Senior Cutie, Zhao Luo found himself outside the red door.


    ''ahh, a heating sensation is passing through my body.''


    Like the yellow and green door which calmed his mind and body respectively, the red door caused the opposite effect without messing up the calmed temperament of a person.


    Zhao Luo felt excited and energized.


    He could hardly wait to enter through the door and see what he could do in the training zone.


    "Hopefully there are some good challenges for me to take."


    Zhao Luo mumbled his wish.


    Contrary to what he was going through, Zhao Luo noticed that just like before Senior Cutie couldn''t feel anything at all while standing in front of the door.


    ''Is there some requirement to feel these sensations?''


    Zhao Luo couldn''t help but question this thought as he rubbed his chin.


    Zhao Luo focused on the red door and found himself standing in the middle of three bright red Suns, that were pouring all their scorching heat and light on him.


    But this feelingsted only for a moment.


    "Let''s go in."


    Senior Cutie interrupted Zhao Luo''s concentration, bringing him out of his focused mood.


    "Ah, Yes."


    Zhao Luo nodded and looked at the door again but that imaginary field was no more.


    Senior Cutie opened the door and the path to the Training Zone was in front of Zhao Luo.


    ''Tap, Tap.''


    Both entered the training zone side by side.


    ''Woosh''


    ''Wooosh''


    ''Wooooosh''


    Gust after gust of sharp wind would pass by Zhao Luo right after he passed the red door and entered the zone.


    This went on for a while before Zhao Luo was able to open his eyes and adjusted to the sudden blows of winding at not only him but Senior Cutie too.


    "This is where you can train the physical aspects of your body to its maximum potential."


    Senior Cutie told Zhao Luo but that wasn''t the end.


    "Each gust of wind is strong enough to knock down an average sand lion. While training here you will meet multiple challenges which will never end. Thus while enduring the pressure of these challenges, your body will slowly reach the point which is the LIMIT."


    While walking towards the inner part of the training zone, Senior Cutie exined about the air blows that wereing at them from time to time.


    "I understand."


    Zhao Luo only found it annoying if anything.


    "This isn''t even a challenge."


    Zhao Luo said while looking around the training zone.


    The training zone of the outer hall could be said to be a mystical ce.


    Under the open sky, where the clouds could be reached with just a jump, high-pressure wind blowing at them trying to knock them away, this could be said to be the optimal ce for training one''s body.


    "MurMur."


    "..."


    Zhao Luo could see a crowd of disciples ahead while hearing the mixed voices of these disciples.


    Zhao Luo had reached the start of the main area of the training zone thus he could see many disciples here.


    "Ha."


    "No, you don''t."


    "Eat my Fist."


    "As if, check my rising dragon kick."


    Multiple noises entered Zhao Luo''s ear


    "They are sparring."


    Zhao Luo said as he watched the multiple, one versus one ''1v1'' fights going on ahead.


    "Yes, as I have told you before, everyone''s busy while training for the uing ranking match."


    Senior Cutie told Zhao Luo.


    "Are they studying?"


    Zhao Luo could see a group of disciples sitting around in a circle scribbling something on the scrolls in front of them.


    It was like they were writing an assignment.


    "They must be improving their techniques."


    Senior Cutie replied as he watched the battles ahead of him while ncing at this group of disciples.


    "Everyone is lost in their own world."


    Zhao Luo realized that the training zone of the outer hall was very different whenpared to the training area of the trainee hall.


    Unlike the training area where many disciples opted to spectate, the training zone was a ce where everyone was busy trying to improve their strength in any way that could help them be stronger.


    Zhao Luo looked at the fights ahead of him.


    This was just the start of the main area, and yet there were around fifty stages (square rings) in front of them with each ring having two disciples.


    One of the stages caught Zhao Luo''s attention. It was the stage where the disciples who were having an exchange were making the most noise.


    They were so noisy that the disciples on the stages around them were also spectating their fight.


    "Wow."


    "No way, he blocked that."


    The disciples started gathering around the stage as the ones on the stage didn''t seem just normal disciples the way they were shouting and the way the disciples spectating them hyping their fight.


    Zhao Luo moved past many stages to reach that stage.


    "Hmm, interesting."


    Zhao Luo looked at the disciples. One had a brown wine sk in his hand and moved like a drunkard. His hairs covered his forehead and somewhat blocking his sight too. The badge on his chest showed that he was a level seven ''VII'' outer disciple, a level below Zhao Luo.


    While the one he was fighting, had a robust body but a short frame and a spiky head.


    Unlike the other disciple, this short one had a blood ax in each of his hands. The badge on this shorty''s chest showed that he was a level eight ''VIII'' outer disciple.


    "They are moving", Zhao Luo said as the short one moved toward the other disciples while swinging his red axes at him.


    ''What will he do?''


    Zhao Luo wondered how the other disciple will dodge this attack from a disciple who was a level ahead of him.


    ---- ---- ----


    On The Stage.


    The ax holder was disciple Si Mo While the drunk guy was Feng Ma.


    Feng Ma watched his short senior jumping at him while swinging his red axes at his head.


    ''Hmph as if I will fall for these lousy attacks.''


    Feng Ma thought while waiting for Si Mo to close on him.


    "Drunken...DROP."


    Feng Ma shouted, the moment the axes were supposed to slice through his neck, Feng Ma dodged them by dropping his body to the ground like a dead man.


    For Si Mo and his axes who had lost their target in a single instant, it was a shocking moment as he was above Feng Ma and felt like Feng Ma''s body had lost its soul.


    ''I didn''t even hit him...''


    Si Mo thought while looking at the lifeless body of Feng Ma, opening its mouth.


    "Drunken...FLASK."


    Dodging the axes that passed above him, Feng Ma raised his wine sk with an incredible speed and hit Si Mo''s stomach with it.


    Si Mo who was caught off guard couldn''t dodge in time and was hit right in the stomach.


    Before Si Mo could evene down, this collision threw him upwards once again.


    Feng Ma watched his short senior with squinted eyes.


    He took a step forward and jumped upwards with a wobbly posture.


    "Drunken...", A word left his mouth slowly as he reached for Si Mo in mid-air.


    "KICK"


    Feng Ma shouted as he dropped his kick on Si Mo''s stomach.


    BANG!


    The sound of his kicking in contact with Si Mo''s body echoed around their stage.


    Thud!


    Si Mo was thrown outside the stage.


    ''Tap.''


    Feng Manded back on the stage and looked around.


    ---- ---- ----


    Zhao Luo who was spectating the fight was too excited as the drunk disciple shouted the name of his finishing move defeating the short disciple.


    ''p.''


    Unconsciously he started pping his hands.


    This caused everyone in the surroundings to look at Zhao Luo weirdly.


    Multiple staresnded on Zhao Luo who was just showing his amazement at the fight that had just transpired.


    Si Mo got up from the ground and frowned at Zhao Luo''s action.


    He looked at Feng Ma, "Junior, I lost this one but the ranking match will be a different story."


    Si Mo said to Feng Ma with a proud face even though he had just lost.


    "I will wait for that."


    Feng Ma calmly replied to Si Mo who was leaving from that area.


    ''Hmph.''


    Si Mo made a dissatisfied noise as he mixed into the crowd of disciples and went away.


    "Brother."


    Feng Ma said.


    Zhao Luo who was looking at Si Mo suddenly heard and realized that the winner was talking to someone.


    "Is the drunk guy going to challenge someone else too?"


    Zhao Luo mumbled with excitement as he turned around to look at Feng Ma.


    To his surprise, he could see the eyes of Feng Ma staring right at Zhao Luo.


    ''Those eyes even though hidden behind his hair which is acting as a curtain, see everything.''


    Zhao Luo nodded as he praised Feng Ma''s sharp gaze just to realize that the one Feng Ma was addressing as ''brother'' was him.


    Zhao Luo pointed his index finger at his chest, "Me?", and questioned.


    "Brother, why are you acting? Didn''t you p just now? If you have already pped thene up and fight me?"


    Feng Ma told Zhao Luo in a powerful tone but his body contrary to his tone looked weak and shaky.


    Zhao Luo was confused as a hand fell on his shoulder.


    "There is a rule in the training zone."


    "If a disciple ps after a fight then that means he is challenging the winner of that fight."


    It was Senior Cutie, whispering in Zhao Luo''s ears.


    "What?"


    "Shouldn''t you have told me this beforehand?


    Zhao Luoined as he looked at Feng Ma.


    "Oh, Brother. I get it. You are scared. RIGHT?


    Feng Ma taunted Zhao Luo while moving at him with wobbly movements.


    "I am scared?"


    Zhao Luo replied while using the taunt as a question.


    Zhao Luo covered his handsome with his right hand and closed his eyes, leaving confusion in the eyes of the drunk Feng Ma.

 Chapter 130 - Attainable Desire

    A while ago, after Zhao Luo and Senior Cutie had left the library zone through the yellow door, the Junior Elder who looked in a bit of hurry also followed them.


    But both Zhao Luo and Senior Cutie never realized that.


    Unlike them, Junior Elder had left the Outer Hall and was making his way towards somewhere else.


    By the time Zhao Luo had reached the training zone, the Junior Elder was standing inside the hall of a golden pce.


    ---- ---- ----


    Inside the golden pce.


    "What brings you here?"


    A voice questioned.


    The Junior Elder who was bowing down, raised himself properly and while stroking his snow-white beard, ced his sight on the throne, that is, the stic chair where the voice wasing from. But there was no one on it.


    "Greetings, Sect Leader."


    "I have something important to tell you."


    Junior Elder said in a very respectful tone.


    "How important can it be that you are willing toe here yourself?"


    Xin Wang asked with anger in his voice that shook the Junior Elder to his core.


    There was a rule among the elders.


    [Only the ten numbered elders were allowed toe or bring others inside the Pce of the Sect Leader]


    That is, solely, they were allowed toe whenever there was something important that could have escaped their leader''s eyes or something that needed to be discussed with him.


    Just like how the third elder had brought Zhao Luo after he hadpleted the Sessor mission sessfully.


    "I-Indeed this was something that you needed to know as soon as possible so I came here directly. Please forgive my audacity."


    The Junior Elder bowed his head while looking down.


    ''Tap.''


    Xin Wang appeared next to his seat in a sh.


    "Ah, It''s okay."


    He told the Junior Elder while waving his hand at him.


    "Let''s hear it."


    He said to the Junior Elder.


    "The matter is rted to this."


    The Junior Elder brought out a scroll and passed it to Xin Wang.


    "The Scroll of Greed...What happened?"


    Xin Wang asked while being silent for a while.


    ''I have indeed been shortsighted.''


    Xin Wang thought while looking at the Scroll and ncing at the Junior Elder.


    ''What could have happened that he brought me this Scroll?''


    Xin Wang wondered while waiting for Junior Elder''s answer.


    "Leader, there is finally someone who can''t see the content of Scroll of Greed."


    The Junior Elder told Xin Wang with confidence brimming in his voice.


    ''What?''


    Xin Wang was shocked but he didn''t show it.


    Zhao Luo''s face appeared in his mind but, ''Is it him?''


    Xin Wang thought.


    "A level eight outer disciple just visited the library a while ago and he was the one."


    ''So it wasn''t the little guy.''


    "Are you sure?"


    Xin Wang asked after what he had assumed proved to be wrong.


    "Yes, I observed him twice and he couldn''t have known the truth of the Scroll of Greed beforehand."


    The Junior Elder replied while sping his hands and truthful eyes.


    "I see, But what is the name of this outer disciple?"


    Xin Wang question the Junior Elder and opened the Scroll of Greed.


    ''Frr~''


    The Scroll rolled as it opened slowly and the Junior Elder saw the Sect Leader looking at it with his mouth covered by one of his hands and eyes dted.


    ''He is nervous.''


    Junior Elder spected the condition Xin Wang was in.


    "Sigh~"


    A loud sound filled with resentment escaped Xin Wang''s mouth when the whole Scroll was opened.


    He was clearly angry with himself as his eyebrows were lowered to the point that they looked like they were knitted together.


    This could just have been the beginning of the unibrow Sect leader but Xin Wang suddenly calmed down.


    "Even I can see half the content of the Scroll. WHO IS THIS OUTER DISCIPLE?"


    The expressions on Xin Wang were on a rollercoaster ride.


    From nervousness to anger to excitement as he asked about the one who was able to see the clear version of the Scroll.


    "Leader, he is a very interesting young man. His name is..."


    The Junior Elder slowed down raising the attention of Xin Wang.


    "Yes, his name is?"


    Xin Wang repeated after Junior Elder with excited eyes.


    The instant of suspense was enough for ck clouds to cover the whole Xin Range and coincidentally the darkest cloud appeared above the Xin Sect which was already on the peak of the tallest mountain.


    "Leader, his name is...*Thunder* ZHAO LUO."


    A loud sound of lightning fell on his ear as the name of the outer disciple proved to be an even bigger shock.


    Even though he had primarily suspected Zhao Luo to be the one but he couldn''t even imagine the trainee disciple that he had met yesterday would be a level eight ''VIII'' outer disciple today.


    "Hahahaha. Finally a sessor candidate with unparalleled character."


    Xin Wang said with a big smile on his face.


    ''S-sessor candidate?''


    Junior Elder couldn''t believe that the man he had seen a while ago was a potential sect leader.


    "In this World, only the strong rule. Everyone is chasing after strength. They desire it and attain that strength. But then the stronger they be, the desire for strength keeps on increasing. But when this desire bes undeserved that is when a person''s mind falls to his Greed."


    Xin Wang started talking while rolling the scroll backward.


    Junior Elder listened to the sect leader calmly.


    He also knew about the truth of the scroll in Xin Wang''s hand.


    "This scroll helps such a person to eliminate his greed for the unattainable strength and lets him stay on that path of strength which he can achieve in the future. LIKE ME. I still have greed for the ultimate strength yet that is something that I know I will never achieve."


    Xin Wang looked saddened as he talked about the truth and Junior Elder was here to witness it all.


    "Does that mean, Zhao Luo doesn''t have any wish to attain that strength?"


    Mustering his courage, Junior Elder asked Xin Wang.


    "Maybe. But that young man isn''t of such a kind. His desire is pure and attainable that is why the scroll of greed appeared nk to him.


    The strength he seeks is something that he will have one day. That is how much he believes in his goal."


    The Sect Leader, Xin Wang was impressed beyond words while talking about Zhao Luo.


    As the discussion of this important matter ended, he returned the scroll to Junior Elder and dismissed him.


    ---- ---- ----


    Training Zone of the Outer Hall.


    "Hahahaha."


    Zhao Luoughed as he had just been mocked by a disciple who was extremely strong but his posture showed that he couldn''t even bnce himself properly.


    While Zhao Luoughed, theugh alone looked sinister as the dark clouds above the sect and around the Xin Range, increased the pressure behind this simpleugh.


    He removed his hand from his face and opened his eyes to look straight into the eyes of Feng Ma which were hidden behind the hundreds of hair strands.


    "I will fight you."


    Zhao Luo replied while jumping on the stage.


    "Shwaa~"


    "Shwaa~"


    The dark clouds opened their huge doors and heavy rain started pouring on the training zone.


    Around the stage, Zhao Luo and Feng Ma were on, no one tried to escape the rain or tried not to get wet, instead, everyone just stood straight with their eyes on the two.


    Rumble!


    A lightning strand fell right in the middle of the stage, following it was a thundering sound that simted the start of their fight.


    "You were brave enough toe on stage but are you strong enough to challenge me?"


    Feng Ma questioned Zhao Luo while leaping at him with his fist towards Zhao Luo''s face.


    "Worry for yourself."


    Zhao Luo replied while slightly moving his head.


    "Fwoosh"


    With just the minimum movement he had dodged Feng Ma''s punch.


    Zhao Luo jumped back and sneered at Feng Ma.


    He was impressed by Feng Ma''s drunken fighting style but now he was just using simple attacks.


    "You can go all out. You won''t be disappointed."


    Zhao Luo said as he was soaked with the rain.


    "Gulp"


    "Brother your confidence is good but do you have the strength to back it up?"


    Feng Ma grinned at Zhao Luo while taking a sip from his wine sk.


    "That is for you to find out!"


    Zhao Luo shook his head and gestures at Feng Ma toe at him.


    "Then I will take your offer."


    Feng Ma smiled while slowly advancing towards Zhao Luo.


    "Come."


    Zhao Luo also moved towards him.


    Under the thundering rain and the pressure from an unseen gust of wind, they both slowly came at each other.


    "Gulp."


    Feng Ma took another sip and threw his sk right at Zhao Luo''s face.


    ''What?''


    Zhao Luo''s vision of Feng Ma was blocked by the wine sk.


    He tried to dodge it again by the minimum movement but to his surprise, Feng Ma was right behind the sk.


    ''Woosh.''


    Both threw a punch at each other while Feng Ma with wobbling movements grabbed his wine sk and swung it back towards Zhao Luo.


    ''Bang''


    ''Thud''


    Both fists collided while Zhao Luo blocked the sk with his other arm.


    "Tsk"


    "Click"


    Zhao Luo and Feng Ma both backed away at the same instant and the next moment they both leaped at each other.

 Chapter 131 - Fighting The Drunk Disciple I

    Everyone close to the stage Zhao Luo and Feng Ma was on had their eyes fixed on the two.


    Rumble~


    The thundering sound kept on acting as the background SFX of their fight.


    Every time they would be drenched by the rain, the momentary gust of wind would somewhat dry them.


    That is, their bodies were now as cold as an ice cube. But this stopped neither Zhao Luo nor Feng Ma.


    In mid-air, they both attacked each other.


    "Simple Punch."


    Zhao Luo shouted as he threw his left fist at Feng Ma while they both reached each other.


    While Feng Ma raised his right leg.


    "Sober Kick."


    Two shouts echoed around under the heavy sound of rain.


    Thud!


    Thud!


    Zhao Luo''s punchnded on the right arm of Feng Ma while he blocked Feng Ma''s Sober Kick by raising his right knee.


    Both stared at each other.


    ''His strength is simr to mine or even greater.''


    Zhao Luo spected as both pushed each other away once again.


    ''Should I take out my sword?''


    Zhao Luo had theplete ''Bullet Fist'' in his storage but he had yet to learn it. While all of his advanced fights were when he had used either Ifrit or both Ifrit and ckey.


    Yet now he had to fight someone who was barehanded.


    Well, notpletely but a wine sk wasn''t considered to be a weapon by Zhao Luo.


    ''But he isn''t even using his drunken style martial arts anymore.''


    Zhao Luo while thinking of his next step lost theplete concentration he should have while facing someone of Feng Ma''s caliber.


    Bang!


    Feng Ma lowered his posture. He threw his wine sk upwards and ran towards Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo couldn''te to a decision and when he realized that Feng Ma was just three meters away from him, it was already toote to bring out his sword/s.


    Feng Ma jumped and pointed both of his legs at Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo who had to stop the uing attack of Feng Ma, brought his arms in front of his chest forming an X-shaped defense with his arms.


    ''THUD.''


    Feng Ma''s legs collided with Zhao Luo''s arms, pushing them towards his chest.


    Zhao Luo who wasn''t a master of defense felt the bones of his arms cracking and curving inside as they were now touching his chest.


    Zhao Luo used his feet to leap backward to lower the pressure of Feng Ma''s attack but it was already toote.


    Even though the full force of the attack was neglected but more than 80% had reached Zhao Luo.


    Feng Ma jumped to the side and grabbed his falling wine sk as he watched Zhao Luo hopping backward while sliding on the stage.


    After his sessful attack, Feng Ma had stopped for a moment instead of attacking Zhao Luo to increase the pressure on him.


    The reason he had stopped wasn''t that he was showing his sportsmanship, chivalry, or respect for Zhao Luo who was one level ahead of him in level. But instead, it was hisplete confidence in his Victory.


    "You are not at the level where you could beat me."


    Feng Ma arrogantly told Zhao Luo while shaking his head.


    Zhao Luo who was on the edge of the stage just a step away from falling had his face looking down.


    His mouth was swollen as though he was holding something.


    ''Mhmm.''


    Zhao Luo who was being ridiculed by Feng Ma didn''t give a hat for what Feng Ma was saying, instead, he was enjoying the metallic taste that had enveloped the inside of his mouth.


    It was the blood that hade up after thest attack by Feng Ma and Zhao Luo was just a moment away from throwing it out.


    ''Cough.''


    Zhao Luo spat a mouthful of blood on the stage but the next instant it was washed away by the rain.


    ''Woosh.''


    The forceful gust of wind blew the rain which had Zhao Luo''s blood mixed in it. This caused the area around the stage to have a metallic whiff.


    "See?"


    Feng Ma said to Zhao Luo.


    While slowly raising his head, Zhao Luo showed a bloody smile to Feng Ma.


    "See what?"


    "I am still on the stage and standing. Aren I?"


    "So what right do you to be so overly proud of yourself?"


    Zhao Luo threw multiple questions at Feng Ma who had a calm look on his face.


    ''Why is he so handsome?''


    Ignoring the questions by Zhao Luo Feng Ma wondered as even though Zhao Luo had a bloody mouth, his handsomeness hadn''t taken a single hit.


    Rather than his handsome face taking a hit, the blood that was covering his mouth and sliding down his lips, gave an enchanting bonus to Zhao Luo''s handsome looks.


    "Awe"


    "Who is he?"


    "When did our hall get a sexy disciple who had silver hair?"


    Many female disciples couldn''t control themselves and stopped silently watching the fight as they had fallen to their impulses.


    One by one such questioning sounds entered Feng Ma''s ears which made him angry.


    "I am the one winning."


    "..."


    ''Where did thate from?''


    Zhao Luo who had just spat a mouthful of blood was baffled by his suddenment by Feng Ma.


    "Then why are all the girls focused on you?"


    Feng Ma looked angrily at Zhao Luo.


    "Hmm."


    Zhao Luo shrugged his shoulder.


    ''Obviously, it''s because I am too handsome.''


    Zhao Luo thought in his mind.


    It was a belief that was based on truth.


    A deep smile emerged on his face as Zhao Luo listened to the girls around the stage whispering about him.


    "Little Brother, I Love you."


    "Kyaa."


    "He is gay."


    "Kyaa"


    Zhao Luo threw out another mouthful of blood as a confession by a familiar voice entered his ears and the reactions of the female disciples after hearing this confession.


    It was Senior Cutie.


    "You bastard, baldy."


    Zhao Luo murmured and saw Feng Ma having a smirk on his face, while mischief filled his eyes he looked at Zhao Luo.


    "I am not."


    Zhao Luo said to Feng Ma.


    Declining the usation by one of the female disciples after Senior Cutie''s messing around from the side of the stage.


    "Haha, Brother, it doesn''t look like you are telling the truth."


    Feng Ma mads fun of the situation.


    ''Shwaa.''


    Ignoring what Feng Ma had said to Zhao Luo, Zhao Luo brought out Ifrit and ckey.


    The rain droplets falling on Ifrit''s crimson body were evaporated instantly while the drops that felt on ckey brightened the shine from the starry light contained in it.


    Zhao Luo looked like an injured general who was going to fight for his life.


    "I hope you don''t mind me using my swords."


    Zhao Luo said with a worried face but inside his mind, he couldn''t wait to smack the smirk off of Feng Ma''s face.


    "Two swords?"


    Feng Ma''s smirk got even bigger.


    "Don''t say, that you are a three sword user after I beat you with my wine sk."


    Feng Ma replied and brought his wine sk close to his mouth.


    "Gulp, Gulp."


    Feng Ma took two sips of wine from the sk and started wobbling around while moving towards Zhao Luo.


    "Good."


    Zhao Luo nodded and advanced at Feng Ma.


    The moment they both got close to each other, Zhao Luo pushed his left leg backward while lowering the knee of his right leg and bringing down both of his swords after raising them towards the dark cloud.


    "Double Burst sh."


    Zhao Luo brought both Ifrit and ckey down on Feng Ma with an explosive speed.


    Feng Ma''s eyes opened widely as the power behind Zhao Luo''s swords wasn''t ordinary but then he squinted his eyes.


    "Drunken Dodge."


    Like a slime, he moved around the swords with his wobbly feet.


    Raising the wine sk in his hand he struck Zhao Luo''s stomach with it.


    In that short time which was even less than a second that Feng Ma took to swing his wine sk towards Zhao Luo''s stomach, Zhao Luo''s knee hadnded on Feng Ma''s face.


    ''THUD!''


    Two smacking sounds had converged into one as both Feng Ma and Zhao Luo slid backward.


    "Didn''t know fighting a drunk guy could be this hard"


    Zhao Luo said while touching his stomach.


    Zhao Luo could feel a dent in his thick stomach muscles.


    "And I thought you were just showing off your swords but what was that attack? Burst sh? I thought you wereing for my neck. Hehe."


    Feng Maughed as if he couldn''t feel the impact of Zhao Luo''s knee.


    "At least wipe the blood off your nose."


    Zhao Luo advised Feng Ma with a smile.


    "Huh?"


    Feng Ma looked stupefied as he rubbed his palm on his nose and could see blood from his nose staining his hand.


    The blood was washed away by the rain as both Zhao Luo and Feng Ma stared at each other.


    "HAA."


    Feng Ma shouted as he advanced towards Zhao Luo.


    Multiple kicks and punches came at Zhao Luo.


    "Hidden Drunken Attacks."


    Feng Ma said as heunched a barrage of attacks at Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo blocked most of them easily with the dull side of his swords except some which wereing at his face or neck with a weird trajectory.


    He had to use his self-learned defensive sword technique.


    "Multiple Wood Drops", Zhao Luo shouted.


    Thud!


    Thud!


    Cling!


    ng!


    Zhao Luo blocked more than a hundred of Feng Ma''s attacks containing his fists, kicks and sometimes he would use the wine sk as a lethal weapon, in under three minutes.


    Not a single attack made by the drunk Feng Ma passed Zhao Luo swords.


    ''Tap.''


    Feng Ma jumped backward and took another mouthful of the wine.


    ''Gulp.''


    "Not bad."


    Feng Maplimented Zhao Luo.

 Chapter 132 - Fighting The Drunk Disciple II

    The fight had entered a stalemate.


    After Feng Ma had praised Zhao Luo, they had shed five times in total.


    In those five shes, more than a thousand exchanges were made between Feng Ma who used his limbs or wine, and Zhao Luo''s swords, that is, Ifrit and ckey.


    After the five shes, both looked a little tired but they weren''t out of breath.


    The sweat was hidden by the rain with which their robes were drenched.


    "Brother, I must admit you have a lot of stamina."


    Feng Ma said to Zhao Luo with a grin on his face and even though it was supposed to be apliment to Zhao Luo, it felt even worse than an insult.


    ''Kya~''


    Multiple female disciples and some weird male disciple (cu-?) screamed in pleasure as they followed the gaze of Feng Ma.


    "Where are you looking at?"


    Zhao Luo shouted as he realized what was going on.


    Feng Ma was staring at the ce where Zhao Luo''s third leg was hiding.


    Realizing that he was being teased for something that he had never even tried, Zhao Luo was lost for words.


    ''I never even got to do it.''


    Zhao Luo felt extremely saddened.


    Only he knew what kind of suffering he had to endure (before being put to sleep in the capsule) whenever he was excited so how could he check his stamina while living the life of a sick traveler.


    Because of his conditions, he could be said to have a master''s degree in pureness and if the world hadn''t changed like this, he would probably be known as Virgin Zhao Luo by now.


    Shaking his head anding back to the present, the embarrassed Zhao Luo decided to return this favor.


    Zhao Luo smiled and used a verbal attack.


    "As a drunkard with these wobbly feet, you mustst even less than a second, but your disy of stamina while fighting is quite good."


    Zhao Luo nodded as the moments his words settled down,ughs and discussions started rising from among the spectating disciples.


    ''What?''


    ''That sounds quite usible.''


    ''Girls we need to stay away from this brother.''


    ''But sister he fights so well...''


    ''Sigh. Little sister, just fighting isn''t enough.''


    ''HaHaHahAhAhAhA''


    The noise being generated here was so loud that the disciples on the stages towards the inner area of the training zone were also looking towards this ce with interest in their eyes.


    There were a few familiar faces among those disciples.


    Many started making their way towards the noisy stage.


    The noisy stage in question was the stage, Zhao Luo was on.


    Hearing the disciples in the surrounding crowd talk about him amongst each other and even more, some were going out of their way to tell about him to the neers, was a big blow to his mind.


    One of them was the happy Si Mo who Feng Ma had just defeated recently.


    Dark lines appeared on Feng Ma''s face while he looked at Zhao Luo.


    ''Tsk.''


    Clicking his tongues Feng Ma wondered.


    ''If I knew I would be feeling this much shamed then I wouldn''t have messed with him like this.''


    Feng Ma regretted it.


    But what could he do? He was fighting with his full power, even using the techniques that he had been saving for the ranking tournament, yet this handsome brother in front of him blocked everything.


    Zhao Luo looked at Feng Ma with a smile.


    He had won the verbal war and the enemy looked lost in his thoughts.


    "I just need to defeat him now.''


    Zhao Luo decided as he clenched his fist.


    "Hey focus here."


    Zhao Luo grabbed Feng Ma''s attention.


    "What ''focus here''? It''s a draw. I can''t seem to pass your defense and your attacks aren''t able tond on me."


    Feng Ma said to Zhao Luo in a loud and confident tone.


    In his mind, there was no way that Zhao Luo could defeat him.


    "Draw?"


    "Hahahaha."


    Zhao Luo couldn''t help butugh at Feng Ma''s naiveness.


    ''If I had a day, just a day to learn the bullet fist, then just with it, I would have defeated this guy.''


    Zhao Luo reckoned but he didn''t say it out loud as there was no reason to talk about all of his future arsenals here.


    During the time, Zhao Luo and Feng Ma talked to each other, the crowd of spectating disciples around them had increased by twofold.


    "Was thatugh, yourst attack?"


    Feng Ma questioned Zhao Luo and proceeded tough.


    "Hahaha-" *Cough*


    Feng Ma wheezed and looked at Zhao Luo.


    "I can do it too."


    Feng Ma looked around and continued.


    "If you are done, let''s get off the stage together."


    Telling this to Zhao Luo, Feng Ma looked quite nervous and was eager to leave the stage as more disciples surrounded the stage.


    "I am not done, but if you can survive this attack then I will admit that you are my equal."


    Zhao Luo confidently answered Feng Ma.


    Hearing Zhao Luo''s confident tone had piqued Feng Ma''s interest.


    "Okay. Deal!"


    Feng Ma nodded and took a sip from his wine sk.


    ''Gulp.''


    "Ahhh, being drunk and drinking more in that condition is the best feeling ever. COME AT ME BROTHER."


    Feng Ma was intoxicated to such an extent that the wobbly action of his feet had reached the limit.


    His legs looked like they were on vibration.


    Zhao Luo closed his eyes and remembered a technique.


    A movent technique.


    "sh Step, First Walk."


    Zhao Luo murmured.


    Following the sequence of First Walk, Zhao Luo was going to use Half Walk.


    Zhao Luo used as much force he could gather, on his legs.


    He then raised his ankle while lifting his heels from the stage.


    ''What?''


    This action confused even the wobbling drunkard, Feng Ma.


    Zhao Luo pushed down his toes and gathered all the force on the phnges of his toes.


    "Half Walk."


    Zhao Luo mumbled.


    The next instant he disappeared from his spot.


    The distance between Zhao Luo and Feng Ma was around 4 steps, which is even less than five meters.


    SCREE~


    THUD!


    Feng Ma could only see a shadow of Zhao Luoing at him.


    Zhao Luo who had used Half Step grabbed Feng Ma with his arm then dragged him back to the edge of the stage.


    While letting him hang on the edge, Zhao Luo grabbed the cor of Feng Ma''s robe in his hand.


    "So, is this a draw?"


    Zhao Luo asked Feng Ma with a smile on his face as a sweat bead ran down his face.


    "I-i...i-i"


    Feng Ma stuttered while being unable to grasp the situation.


    "H-how did you do that?"


    Feng Ma was shocked by Zhao Luo''s speed.


    "It''s a...."


    Zhao Luo stopped as he looked at the excited eyes of Feng Ma.


    ''Is he really asking me that while being a step away from his loss?''


    Zhao Luo realized that the drunkard was actually even more excited than Zhao Luo, himself.


    "It''s a secret."


    Thud!


    Zhao Luo whispered in Feng Ma''s ear and loosened the grip of his hand on the cor of Feng Ma''s robe, dropping him out of the stage.


    Surrounded by hundreds of disciples and feeling their gazes in this silent moment as the rain fell on him, Zhao Luo couldn''t help but feel as if he was standing on top of a summit.


    Rumble~


    Another thundering sound enveloped the training zone, letting the disciples break away from the awed state they were in, after witnessing Zhao Luo''s speed.


    "p!"


    "p!"


    Multiple ''ps'' sounded around the stage Zhao Luo was on.


    Standing there, on the stage alone, Zhao Luo absorbed all the cheers of the spectators.


    ''Tap.''


    ''Thud!''


    Zhao Luo jumped down from the stage andnded next to Feng Ma whose face was absorbing the essence of the earth.


    The crowd around the stage was gradually dispersing as the disciples couldn''t hold the boiling excitement inside them.


    In groups of two, the disciples jumped on the empty stages all around the training zone.


    "Are you okay?"


    Zhao Luo asked Feng Ma as he extended his hand towards him.


    Feng Ma had his covering on the side of his head while he digested the result of the fight.


    ''I was too arrogant.''


    Feng Ma thought as he moved aside his arms from his head and looked at Zhao Luo''s hand.


    ''p.''


    Zhao Luo smiled as Feng Ma grabbed his hand and allowed Zhao Luo to pull him up.


    "Here we go."


    Zhao Luo helped him up and found Feng Ma''s eyes to be avoiding him.


    "What''s wrong?"


    Zhao Luo questioned him.


    "I am sorry, brother. I joked about your..."


    Feng Ma nced at Zhao Luo''s third leg leaving him speechless.


    "Obviously, I knew you were joking. Haha."


    Zhao Luoughed as he patted Feng Ma''s shoulder.


    ''Can''t tell him that even I don''t know my limit.''


    Zhao Luo nodded his head uponing over this decision.


    "So brother, what was thatst technique that you had used?"


    Feng Ma asked while rubbing his hand.


    "That..."


    Zhao Luo smiled while moving closer to him.

 Chapter 133 - Brother Suo

    "Yes, that..."


    Feng Ma replied while grabbing Zhao Luo''s arm.


    He was looking straight at Zhao Luo with passion in his eyes.


    The female disciples who were still looking at the two, couldn''t help but fall to the ground as their noses started bleeding because of the hot scene going on in front of their eyes.


    [A guy with shiny silver hair who was extremely handsome and tall, with broad shoulders, his arm, was being gripped by another guy whose height was simr but his ck hairs were covering his eyes yet the intense stare of that drunken guy''s hidden eyes could be imagined easily]


    Zhao Luo had a smile on his face as he looked at the aggressive expression on Feng Ma''s face.


    Zhao Luo brought his handsome face closer to Feng Ma''s ear.


    "That''s a secret, hehe."


    Zhao Luo''s chuckle entered Feng Ma''s ear and he stumbled backward while letting go of his grip.


    "Ah, I get it, brother."


    Feng Ma understood that it wouldn''t be easy to get this movement technique out of Zhao Luo.


    ''Why would I tell you about my Half Walk?''


    Zhao Luo wondered as he looked at the stumbling Feng Ma and grinned.


    A disciple approaches the two.


    For some weird reason, this disciple was smile from ear to ear.


    A level seven ''VII'' ck badge could be seen on his chest as he closed in on Zhao Luo from behind.


    "Brother."


    Feng Ma pointed his finger towards Zhao Luo''s cheat, motioning it to tell something.


    Zhao Luo looked at Feng Ma''s finger which Feng Ma was flicking and immediately understood that he was telling him to turn around.


    ''Someone''s approaching.''


    Even before Zhao Luo turned around, he could hear footsteps approaching them, and to see who these steps belonged to, Zhao Luo turned around.


    "It''s you."


    Zhao Luo was bemused but the next instant he walked towards the disciple who wasing at him.


    "Si Chen."


    Zhao Luo said when he came face to face with the disciple.


    Then he proceeded to give Si Chen a bear hug.


    "Agh."


    Si Chen cried out as the grip of Zhao Luo was crushing his insides.


    "Brother, if you keep on hugging me like this, some disciples will not like this. Haha."


    Si Chen told Zhao Luo with an awkward smile and even more embarrassingugh.


    "Haha, okay."


    Zhao Luo loosened his grip and let Si Chen free.


    Then he inspected Si Chen and found some growth in Si Chen.


    Whether it was his temperament or his facial details, there was quite a big difference from when Zhao Luo had seen him more than two weeks ago.


    The biggest difference from then was that now Si Chen was at the same level as Feng Ma.


    "Brother you have be so strong that even I am in awe of your strength."


    Si Chen praised Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo rubbed his index finger on his nose and nodded his head.


    Suddenly, Zhao Luo''s squinted his eyes and then opened them wide.


    He was looking behind Si Chen.


    Another familiar person wasing towards them.


    Feng Ma hurriedly walked towards Zhao Luo.


    "Brother, that''s one of the three royal beauties of the Xin Range and one of the three top beauties of our Xin Sect, Rose."


    He whispered to Zhao as Rose with her veiled face was making her way towards them.


    After Mo Anna had returned to Sect after carrying out the expedition mission, some part of her identity had be known by many disciples. Like she was from one of the royal families.


    "I know!"


    Zhao Luo replied while his eyes were wavering for some reason.


    They never had anything going on but there was this obvious attachment from both sides.


    Zhao Luo and Mo Anna had something called ''an unspoken promise'' bonding them.


    Looking at hering towards him, Zhao Luo couldn''t stop his heart from beating loudly.


    Ba-Dump.


    Ba-Dump.


    Ba-Dump.


    "Rose, look he is already ahead of us."


    Si Chen suddenly said as Rose reached them.


    The three were looking at Zhao Luo but each one''s stare had a different reason behind it.


    Feng Ma stared at Zhao Luo with skeptical eyes.


    ''They know each other?''


    He took a step back while looking at the intense stare going on between Zhao Luo and Rose.


    Si Chen was still busy praising Zhao Luo, his stare contained reverence for Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo was his savior and also the one, whose actions had helped Si Chen kill the evil in his heart.


    While Rose''s stare was very different than the one''s Feng Ma and Si Che were projecting on Zhao Luo.


    Just her enchanting eyes were enough to force any normal male disciple to bow his head, in front of her. But Zhao Luo wasn''t someone average, he equally stared back at her.


    Rose''s eyes had a deep sense of yearning while Zhao Luo was looking at her with open desire in his eyes.


    "How have you been?"


    Rose asked in a light voice.


    Someone had to break the silence and rose took the lead.


    She couldn''t handle the hot gaze of Zhao Luo and asked embarrassingly.


    "I have been good and getting stronger."


    Zhao Luo told her proudly.


    ''What? Is he talking to his mom?''


    Gulp!


    Feng Ma thought while looking at their awkward interaction and took a sip out of his wine sk.


    "Same here."


    Rose said and looked away.


    Just then a group of disciples approached them.


    More than thirty disciples wereing at Zhao Luo and the others.


    The other disciples around the stage emptied the area to let this group approach Zhao Luo more easily.


    Thus in just a few minutes, this group which was being led by a slim disciple with golden hair reached them.


    "Rose, what are you doing with this pleb?"


    "Pleb?"


    Zhao Luo snickered as he heard the leader of the group calling him a ''pleb''.


    Rose stayed quiet while Zhao Luo tried to see through her veil but couldn''t find out about the terrifying expression she was making.


    He could see her beautiful eyes shaking.


    ''Is she scared? Of this guy?''


    Zhao Luo wondered as he didn''t like how rude this guy was.


    ''Just like how senior mite was in the start.''


    Zho Luo remembered how his senior was when they had met for the first time at the entrance of the trainee hall.


    "Should I give this guy a whacking too?"


    Zhao Luo mumbled in a barely audible voice.


    The ones who heard this were Rose, Feng Ma, and Si Chen.


    "Haha."


    "Haha."


    Chuckle!


    The two guysughed while Rose closed her terrified eyes and giggled.


    "Rose,e here."


    That disciple didn''t ask anymore and said in amanding tone.


    His voice contained a mysterious pressure that even Zhao Luo could feel.


    Zhao Luo noticed the badge on the chest of this disciple.


    ''A level nine''


    Zhao Luo could see a level nine ''?'' mark on the ck badge of the disciple with golden hair.


    Rose stepped towards this disciple.


    ''Tap.''


    Zhao Luo grabbed her arm just to find Rose removing his hand from her arm.


    "What?"


    "It''s okay."


    Rose said with a fake smile on her face but Zhao Luo couldn''t see it as it was hidden behind her veil.


    "Brother, what''s wrong?"


    Rose asked the man while calling her ''brother.


    Except for Brother Sang, Zhao Luo had never heard her call, anyone else as ''brother''.


    "Just stay behind me. How many times have I told you, to not let the image of Royalty down? Stop mixing with the lower ss!"


    Her brother said while pointing at Zhao Luo.


    This insult was directed at ''ONLY'' him.


    Zhao Luo clenched his fist.


    This was the first time he was being shouted at like this.


    ''He is her brother.''


    Zhao Luo controlled his rage and showed a calm smile.


    He opened his mouth to say something but before he could speak, Feng Ma and Si Chen walked ahead.


    Like a knight protecting their King, they acted as Zhao Luo''s knight right now and guarded him.


    "Who is this little bastard?"


    Feng Ma was the one to talk as his feet were wobbling.


    He brought the wine sk close to his mouth and took a sip from it.


    "Thuuu~"


    Spitting the wine in front of the man with the golden hair, Feng Ma arrogantly stared at him.


    "Even my exquisite wine tastes like shit."


    Feng Ma said as he stored his wine sk in his storage ring and looked proud after getting back at this guy for Zhao Luo.


    Looking back with a grin, he winked at Zhao Luo causing Zhao Luo to feel bliss.


    "Haha, this guy."


    Zhao Luoughed as the loser Feng Ma looked quite cool right now.


    "I see."


    The man said.


    "Brother Suo, please leave them alone."


    Rose cried lightly but this brother of hers pushed her back.


    "The Feng''s have fallen by a lot. Is that why your father betrayed the Feng''s. You drunk dog."


    Brother Suo grinned evilly as he mentioned something about Feng Ma''s father.


    Zhao Luo looked stunned and stared at Feng Ma''s back.


    "Feng?"


    Zhao Luo questioned.


    He had fought with Feng Ma and they were already on good terms as fellow disciples but he didn''t know of his identity.


    "H-he. I never had a father."


    Feng Ma shouted at Brother Suo while clenching his fist.

 Chapter 134 - The King Of Outer Hall

    Hearing the shout of Feng Ma which was filled with sadness and anger, Zhao Luo was shaken to his core.


    Zhao Luo had already heard the tragic story of how after Feng Mei''s parents had died, her uncle went after Feng Mei.


    By the looks of it, Feng Ma was the son of the guy who had tried to kill the little Feng Mei, Queen of the Royal Feng Family.


    Even though Zhao Luo didn''t know about Feng Ma before, but in their fight, the words and the attacks that they had exchanged were enough for Zhao Luo toe to an understanding of the person who was standing in front of him.


    ''He is shaking.''


    Zhao Luo realized as he looked at the back of the Feng Ma.


    ''His back looks better when he is drunk.''


    Zhao Luo nodded while imagining the person he had fought with.


    A smile popped up on his face and his hand went towards Feng Ma.


    ''TAP''


    Zhao Luo patted Feng Ma''s shoulder and came to stand in front of him


    "Are you her brother?"


    Zhao Luo asked Brother Suo.


    Looking at Zhao Luo''s calm demeanor, Brother Suo was disturbed.


    He was here to mess with Zhao Luo, a random disciple who had dared to talk with his sister.


    Yet what was going on here.


    The guy, Brother Suo was supposed to mess around with, looked the brightest.


    "When did I need to answer amoner?"


    Brother Suo questioned Zhao Luo in return.


    "I see."


    Zhao Luo epted what Brother Suo had said.


    Thud!


    Zhao Luo proceeded to jump on the stage next to them.


    He walked to the middle while the group of thirty outer disciples watched him.


    Rose, Feng Ma, and, Si Chen were also staring at Zhao Luo with worry in their eyes.


    Zhao Luo turned around to look at them.


    ''Ahem''


    Clearing his throat, Zhao Luo''s stare changed from calm to challenging.


    "You cane up and try thismoner. If I win, you can go back with your side chicks."


    Zhao Luo pointed at the outer disciples behind Suo who were all male disciples.


    "If I lose, hmph, that would never happen."


    Zhao Luo told Brother Suo with an arrogant tone.


    The outer disciples who had gone away after Zhao Luo''s earlier fight had finished, were gathering around to see this drama.


    There was one disciple who had never left this area and never removed his sight from Zhao Luo.


    "What is little brother thinking there?"


    Senior Cutie wondered as the things were taking an unforeseen turn.


    Back on the stage.


    Zhao Luo waited for Suo toe up.


    Below the stage...disciple after disciple came in front of Suo and bowed their heads.


    "Brother Mo Suo, let me go and teach this dog a lesson."


    "No. I came in front first. Brother, you need to let me teach this bastard who can''t recognize his father."


    Mo Suo calmly heard them as they all wanted a chance.


    "Brother..."


    The biggest guy from his group came forward and kneeled.


    After kneeling he raised his head and this was the first disciple from Mo Suo''s group who dared to look straight into his eyes while the other only demanded the right to fight Zhao Luo with bowing heads.


    They both stared at each other while Zhao Luo looked at his scene quietly.


    The big guy opened his mouth just to say two words.


    "I UNDERSTAND!"


    The big guy said as he backed away.


    Mo Suo then looked at the others and picked a random disciple from among them.


    He jumped on the stage andnded in front of Zhao Luo.


    "Look carefully!"


    Zhao Luo was still looking at Mo Suo as he said those words.


    Ignoring the outer disciple in front of him.


    The outer disciple who was facing Zhao Luo was a level seven VII disciple.


    Being ignored in front of the person he served was not a fun feeling for him.


    "Arrogant bitch."


    He cursed at Zhao Luo.


    But even after that Zhao Luo never nced at him.


    The moment Zhao Luo looked at him.


    ''Half Walk.''


    Zhao Luo tightened his fist and used his version of the beginner stage of the First Walk.


    Bang!


    At that same moment, Zhao Luo disappeared from his ce and appeared at the spot where the challenger was.


    While the challenger could be seen flying away as he was thrown out of the stage.


    His teeth were leaving a trail of his trajectory.


    Only the teeth could be seen leaving the challenging disciple''s body.


    No sound, no scream, or no moans could be heard which showed that the disciple was already unconscious.


    ''Thud.''


    The outer disciple''s lifeless bodynded next to Mo Suo''s feet.


    "Will youe and fight me like a man? Or do you prefer hiding behind your side chicks?"


    Zhao Luo was showing his anger through his words.


    Even Si Chen could feel sweat building up in his palm.


    He felt like the kind and caring Zhao Luo had vanished and some evil handsome devil had taken over his body.


    Mo Suo looked at the disciples who were knocked out and raised his feet.


    Bang!


    He threw a kick at the unconscious disciple whichned on his defenseless waist.


    "Shit."


    "Go. Whoever beats him will be rewarded by me personally."


    Mo Suo announced to the disciples of his group.


    Another disciple started moving towards the stage.


    That was when a shout halted everything.


    "STOP!"


    Senior Cutie shouted from amongst the crowd of spectating disciples and came to stand in front of Mo Suo.


    "You know, it''s forbidden to send disciples after another disciple. Do you think you have grown powerful enough to not obey the rules?"


    Senior Cutie asked Mo Suo.


    The dark clouds were dispersing and the sunlight shined directly on the bald head of Cutie.


    ''Senior Buddha...''


    Zhao Luo murmured as he looked at the back of this shining creature.


    "Who says I am sending disciples after him?"


    Mo Suo stepped towards Senior Cutie and questioned him.


    "He challenged me, but if I fought with everyone who challenged me then there would have been thousands of you all following me the whole day."


    Mo Suo said to Senior Cutie while ncing at Zhao Luo from time to time.


    "Who am I?"


    Mo Suo asked.


    The question wasn''t directed at anyone specific.


    But many disciples answered it together.


    "King of the Outer Hall."


    A loud answer came at everyone like an announcement.


    The ones answering included the disciples of his group and also many of the spectators.


    No one challenged this announcement, not even Senior Cutie.


    "You have taken this ''being the number one game too far. The Sect doesn''t such arrogant behavior."


    Senior Cutie told Mo Suo while shaking his head and calling Mo Suo''s title an arrogant thing.


    "Then why did you have this title before?"


    Mo Suo pushed his face in front of Senior Cuties'' face and looked directly into his eyes.


    "The tournament is next week. That will be yourst chance to take my position as I will be advancing to an inner disciple after winning the ranking tournament."


    Mo Sup spoke of the future as it was already l own to him.


    "Or you can try me now."


    He challenged Senior Cutie and stopped talking.


    ''I will lose if I fought him now.''


    Senior Cutie thought as he looked away.


    "WHAT THE HECK?"


    Zhao Luo who had been ignored for a while suddenly erupted like a volcano.


    The disciples looked at him.


    He was the only focus of hundreds of disciples who were around the stage.


    "Just send them all. After I defeat them, it''s your turn."


    Zhao Luo announced while pointing at Mo Suo who only showed a meekugh in response.


    "Go."


    Mo Suo ordered the disciple who was on his way to beat Zhao Luo.


    Hended on the stage just like thest disciple and looked at Zhao Luo arrogantly.


    "I can use a weapon?"


    Zhao Luo asked this second disciple.


    "You can."


    While nodding to Zhao Luo''s question, he also brought put his 6 foot long and 3 feet wide sword.


    "What?"


    Zhao Luo was shocked as this was the first time he was seeing a guy holding a sword as tall as him.


    "Whatever."


    ''Sheeeng.''


    Zhao Luo brought out his Ifrit from his storage space.


    A fiery crimson sword appeared in his hand and Zhao Luo''s handsomeness was increased by five folds.


    Zhao Luo moved towards the disciple while waving Ifrit at him.


    "ng"


    "Ching"


    Zhao Luo swung his sword at this disciple who brought his crazy broad sword in the way.


    The two strikes of Zhao Luo vanished in such a way that he was shocked.


    ''His sword feels like a sea and my attacks as stones drowning in that sea.''


    Zhao Luo wondered how hard he would have to hit to get past this humongous sword of this disciple.


    ''I can use half walk to go behind him and then...''


    Zhao Luo jumped back and nned just to shake his head while smiling at the situation.


    "I will take you down with brute force!"


    Zhao Luo told the second challenger.


    Zhao Luo ran towards the disciple who was somewhat managing to swing his big sword and as he got close to Ifrit''s range, Zhao Luo momentarily stopped.


    "Burst sh."


    Zhao Luo used his fiery sword technique and brought Ifrit at the big sword.


    CHANG~


    The two swords collided and the shing light with a loud sound was released as an aftereffect of the collision of the two swords.


    The onlookers were blinded for an instance as they looked at Zhao Luo continuing his attacks.


    "Multiple Burst shes."


    Zhao Luo shouted the name of his technique and after that, the only thing that echoed was the sound of metals colliding.


    ****


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 Chapter 135 - Fighting The Giant

    Zhao Luo''s sword kept on falling on the challenging disciple''s sword, like rain drops.


    The space around the stage itself was enveloped by the sounds of Zhao Luo ramming his sword, Ifrit on the broad sword.


    The disciple who was fighting Zhao Luo was stunned as the only thing he could do now was to keep holding his broad sword and pray that Zhao Luo would tire himself out and stop these continuous barrages of sword attacks.


    ''What''s going on?''


    The disciple thought as with each strike of Zhao Luo, this disciple was pushed back by an inch or two.


    It didn''t make any difference even when he used all of his lower body''s strength to keep his ground.


    ''ng~''


    ''ng~''


    ''ng~''


    Strike after strike, Zhao Luo never stopped for even a second.


    In less than five minutes, more than five hundred strikes had alreadynded on the challenging disciple''s sword.


    That was a sword strike and another one which was already halfway in, every second.


    The second challenger was already on the edge of the stage and his widened eyes looked at the Zhao Luo.


    "Now you Go."


    Zhao Luo said as he brought down his sword.


    "CLANG"


    THUD!


    The disciple was pushed outside the stage with his broad sword falling on him.


    "Next."


    Zhao Luo looked at Mo Suo and said from under his teeth.


    "Bastard."


    Bang!


    Mo Suo cursed and lifted his leg just to hit the ground.


    The disciples who were around him shivered as the anger of Mo Suo was something that they feared even more than losing to Zhao Luo.


    Mo Suo looked at his followers and finally, his eyes stopped on one of them.


    Mo Suo pointed at him.


    "You...Go."


    He then sent this disciple to fight Zhao Luo.


    "Heh."


    Zhao Luo shook his head as he weed this new challenger with open arms.


    The third challenger jumped on the stage.


    Zhao Luo looked at him and found him with a nervous expression on his face.


    "Are you scared?"


    Zhao Luo questioned him with a condescending look.


    This was one of the disciples who had just boasted about beating Zhao Luo to such an extent that even his parents wouldn''t recognize him.


    ''He didn''t know that my parents are long gone.''


    Zhao Luo wondered as this thought made him angrier than usual.


    ''Gulp.''


    Looking at the rage on Zhao Luo''s face, the third disciple found it hard to swallow his saliva.


    He bowed his head and sped his hand in front of Zhao Luo.


    "Let''s have a fair fight, Senior."


    The third disciple who himself was a level eight ''VIII'' outer disciple called Zhao Luo a senior.


    ''Showing respect to me after seeing my strength.''


    Zhao Luo understood what was happening.


    "If I was weaker than you, would you have addressed me while showing me such respect, even then?"


    Zhao Luo questioned him.


    The disciple lifted his head and looked at Zhao Luo''s questioning stare.


    "I-i...."


    The third disciple couldn''t say anything further and closed his mouth while moving his eyes downwards.


    If he had said yes, then it would have meant that he was lying, cause he didn''t believe in showing respect to someone who was weaker then him.


    "As I thought."


    Zhao Luo told him and stored his Ifrit.


    ''He is going to go easy on me?''


    The third disciple thought as chances of winning sprouted in his mind when he realized that Zhao Luo had stored his weapon.


    Contrary to his optimistic thoughts, that was when his chances hadpletely vanished.


    "Half Walk."


    A voice more silent than silence itself was heard by this disciple.


    Zhao Luo had disappeared from his spot and the next moment he appeared, the third challenger was already pushed outside the stage causing him to fall on the ground.


    Zhao Luo gave a challenging look to Mo Suo who was clenching his jaws as he looked at his third follower losing in an instant.


    One after another, the disciples following him would go up and the next instant they would be thrown out.


    ---- ---- ---- ----


    In less than fifteen minutes, Zhao Luo had defeated all the disciples that Mo Suo had sent on stage to face him.


    That is, only two disciples were left.


    One was the big guy who was standing silently behind Mo Suo.


    The other one was Mo Suo himself.


    "Go, Big Bean."


    Mo Suo said to the big disciple.


    ''So the big guy''s name is actually big bean.''


    Zhao Luo realized that the disciple named big bean indeed looked like a bean shaped monster.


    thud!


    thud!


    thud!


    Each of his steps were enough to rock the whole stage.


    "A giant."


    "He is so big."


    "That handsome brother....will he be alright?"


    Such shouts started rising from amongst the spectators.


    "This is going to be interesting."


    Some disciples were excited for this match while others were worried for Zhao Luo.


    On the stage.


    Zhao Luo realized that the disciple he was facing was not only at the same level as him but also twice as bigger than him.


    "This will be hard."


    Zhao Luo murmured as he looked tense after realizing the size difference between him and Big Bean.


    ''Shwaa~''


    Zhao Luo brought out both Ifrit and ckey at the same time and pointed them at Big Bean.


    "Yo bean head. Don''t expect me to go easy on you."


    Zhao Luo said as he waved his swords in a cross.


    Big Beanughed as he looked down at Zhao Luo.


    "Arrogant pleb."


    Big Bean brought out a big and thick ax from his storage ring and pointed it at Zhao Luo.


    "Come at me Little one."


    Big Bean challenged Zhao Luo while calling him little.


    "This giant..."


    Zhao Luo pushed his feet down with greater force than ever before.


    All of his weight was distributed equally between his toes while Ifrit and ckey werepped over each other making an X shape.


    "Half Walk: Cross sh."


    Zhao Luo who had just found a new name for his random technique disappeared from the ce he was on.


    ''sh.''


    ''sh.''


    At the same moment, Zhao Luo appeared right beside Big Bean with blood on his swords.


    It took a whole second for Big Bean to realize that Zhao Luo was standing next to him.


    And another second was to realize that his robe had been torn open by Zhao Luo''s swords leaving an X shape sword sh that followed from his chest to his lower abdomen.


    "Akh."


    Big Bean vomited a mouthful of blood while moaning in pain but that wasn''t enough to bring him down.


    "AHHHH."


    Big Bean screamed as he waved his ax at Zhao Luo trying to split him into two.


    ''Woah.''


    Zhao Luo was stunned as he found it hard to dodge the swings of Big Bean.


    "You are not only big. Your speed is also quite good contrary to your size."


    Zhao Luoplimented Big Bean because he felt impressed by his speed.


    But this mid-fightpliment wasn''t something that Big Bean appreciated.


    "SHUT"


    "UP"


    BANG!


    Big Bean brought down his ax with all his strength, splitting the stage into two.


    "Agh."


    The shockwaves that had transmitted from Big Bean''s ax to the stage were enough to make Zhao Luo lose his footing.


    While Zhao Luo had lost his bnce, Big Bean kicked him right in his stomach.


    The foot which covered Zhao Luo''s whole stomachnded squarely throwing Zhao Luo away.


    "Agh."


    Zhao Luo cried out as he could feel his stomach being crushed when Big Bean''s kick hadnded.


    Zhao Luo who was crouching on his fours while being on the edge of the stage vomited two mouthfuls of blood.


    "Zhao Luo."


    That was when he could hear, Feng Ma and Si Chen crying out his name.


    Zhao Luo looked at them and then moved his sight over to Rose.


    "Why are you looking at me s sadly?"


    Zhao Luo mumbled but just moving his lips was enough for Rose to understand what Zhao Luo was saying.


    She shook her head expressing that she still believed in him no matter what he did.


    That is, she didn''t mind if Zhao Luo epted his loss.


    Zhao Luo could also understand why Rose was shaking her head.


    ''But I am not doing this for only you.''


    Zhao Luo showed a bloody smile to Rose and got up to face the giant Big Bean.


    Giving a nce at Feng Ma and Si Chen, Zhao Luo nodded as he focused back on his fight.


    Big Bean who had never fallen even after having the bloody ''X'' wound on his body, wasn''t in any better situation than Zhao Luo.


    But he couldn''t give up either.


    "Give up or I will have to kill you."


    Big Bean warned Zhao Luo.


    He knew how much power he had and how much force his single kick, which could obliterate trees and rocks could do to an outer disciple.


    Yet Zhao Luo, who he had never seen before in the outer hall was able to keep standing after such a hit.


    Seeing this and being the disciples of the same sect a sense of fellowship had awakened in Big Bean''s heart thus the turnaround of him Zhao Luo a chance.


    "Kill me if you can but I will never surrender."


    Zhao Luo announced loudly.


    He wasn''t looking at Big Bean but instead, his eyes fell on the one who had orchestrated this whole situation.


    "Haha, Good."


    Big Bean couldn''t help butugh at Zhao Luo''s stubbornness.


    ''GRRRR.''


    He pulled out his ax which was stuck in the crack of the stage and pointed it at Zhao Luo.


    "Come."


    Big Bean told Zhao Luo who was already ready to attack anytime.


    Zhao Luo stored Ifrit.


    With both of his hands around ckey, Zhao Luo tightened his grip on its hilt while looking at Big Bean.

 Chapter 136 - Slave & Master

    Zhao Luo moved his hand to the right while stopping ckey right around the level of his waist.


    It was like he was holding a bat and getting ready to blow away a pitch.


    Pointing the sharp end of ckey towards Big Bean, Zhao Luo continued to stare at him.


    This moment was a crucial one for him so he couldn''t just rush at Big Bean and swing his sword like a madman.


    Unexpectedly, Big Bean who had warned Zhao Luo was also scared to hurry at him.


    Thus the things folded slowly as both were barely holding themselves up while ignoring the pain of their injuries.


    Big Bean raised his ax backward while Zhao Luo brought his sword downwards.


    ''Tap.''


    ''Tap.''


    Zhao Luo took a step towards Big Bean while he also moved a step towards them.


    If they repeated this same movement thrice, Zhao Luo and Big Bean would both be in the range of each other''s weapons.


    ''Huffff Haaaa.''


    Zhao Luo took a deep breath and exhaled while taking another step towards the giant disciple.


    Two steps were left but the tension between the two had surpassed the skies above them.


    Even the spectating disciples were silent.


    Mo Suo, Si Chen, Feng Ma, and Rose weren''t an exception as they also looked at Zhao Luo and Big Bean''s fight quietly.


    On the stage.


    Zhao Luo knew that this was probably his final exchange but something scared him.


    "Will I be able to take him down?"


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he took another step towards Big Bean who also moved towards Zhao Luo.


    With thest step remaining, Zhao Luo''s question was answered by his mind.


    In that second, Zhao Luo remembered those who had ced their expectations on him.


    From Senior Ballum to Pullet Lord. From Mite to Wu Yang. The third elder to the Sect Leader.


    He had already met many unfathomable figures.


    ''Taking out Mite and Wu Yang.''


    Zhao Luo thought as they were very far from being unfathomable, but even they had acknowledged him.


    "What am I even scared of?"


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he shook his head and without any more thoughts shaking up his mind, Zhao Luo felt his mind getting clearer.


    The fear of losing was gone.


    ''Hah, I feel calm.''


    Zhao Luo took thest step towards Big Bean.


    They both started the movement of their attack as their weapons were being swung at each other.


    Zhao Luo''s left leg was pushing him forward while the knee of his right leg was lowered as he brought ckey upwards with lightning speed.


    "Burst sh: Reverse."


    At the same moment, Big Bean who had been carelessly swinging his ax before brought it down in a perfectly straight position.


    "Mountain Cut."


    Big Bean shouted as his ax looked even bigger than a mountain while being dropped on Zhao Luo.


    ''CLANG~''


    Their weapons collided and the power behind both attacks was the same.


    Zhao Luo lifted his left leg and took a step towards Big Bean while ckey was holding back Big Bean''s ax.


    At the same time, Big Bean also stepped towards Zhao Luo.


    ''CHINGGG~''


    Sparks could be seen flying out of the point of contact but neither Zhao Luo nor Big Bean backed down.


    ''Burst Wood Drop.''


    Zhao Luo pulled down his sword halfway and then pushed it up again, tapping Big Bean''s ax twice.


    Even though the movements were simple but the Dual nature of this sword art wasn''t.


    The moment Zhao Luo''s sword touched Big Bean''s ax the second time, Big Bean was pushed back.


    "What?"


    Mo Suo let out a sound. His face had "I don''t believe this" written all over it as he saw Zhao Luo pushing back Big Bean.


    Big Bean''s arms were lifted upwards as the result of Zhao Luo''s Burst Wood Drop.


    Zhao Luo jumped up and waved his sword towards Big Bean''s defenseless body.


    Zhao Luo aimed towards Big Bean''s neck but at thest moment, he moved his sword towards the left.


    "Wood Drop."


    Zhao Luo said as he tightened his grasp over ckey''s hilt and brought it down on Big Bean''s right shoulder.


    ''sh.''


    "Agh"


    A small gash was left on Big Bean''s shoulder but then Zhao Luo''s sword sliced at the same ce again.


    ''SLASH.''


    "AGHH."


    Following the action of Zhao Luo''s Wood Drop, a small gash following a deep gash was left on Big Bean''s right shoulder.


    Big Bean screamed as he could feel the blood flowing out of this sword wound.


    Zhao Luonded backward while Big Bean fell on his knees.


    "Kill Me! Please."


    Big Bean begged Zhao Luo in a certain tone as his giant body wobbled.


    "No."


    Zhao Luo declined right away.


    "I have won, so just get lost and let your mastere up."


    Zhao Luo told Big Bean to get off the stage as this wasn''t a ughter party.


    Zhao Luo was just helping himself by teaching Mo Sup and his followers a lesson.


    While Zhao Luo had declined Big Bean''s wish, a voice entered everyone''s ear.


    "Kill Yourself."


    Mo Suo ordered Big Bean with a cold voice.


    ''What?''


    Zhao Luo was stunned after hearing the ruthlessmand of Mo Suo.


    Contrary to Zhao Luo''s reaction, Big Bean nodded and with closed eyes, he raised the ax that was still in his hand and brought its sharp end down, towards his stomach.


    But before he could stab himself with his ax.


    "Half Step."


    Zhao Luo used Half Walk towards Big Bean and waved ckey at the ax, blowing it away from Big Bean''s hand.


    Zhao Luo who was standing and Big Bean who was on his knees were on the same vision level.


    Big Bean opened his eyes and found Zhao Luo standing eight before him with a ferocious look on his face.


    "Are you a fool?"


    Zhao Luo shouted at Big Bean while grabbing the cor of Big Bean''s purple robe.


    Big Bean was silent, unable to answer Zhao Luo''s question, he looked down and saw his blood dyeing the stage red.


    Zhao Luo pulled back his arm after storing ckey and threw a punch at Big Bean.


    Bang!


    The punchnded squarely on Big Bean''s face forcing his focus to converge solely on Zhao Luo.


    "I asked you something. Are you a fool?"


    Zhao Luo repeated his question.


    His anger was already getting out of control.


    Big Bean who didn''t fear death felt scared while facing Zhao Luo''s devilish gaze.


    He hurriedly shook his head, expressing his answer which was a simple NO.


    "Then why would you kill yourself for someone else?"


    Zhao Luo asked Big Bean as he pulled back his fist again.


    Seeing that the wrong answer could prove fatal for his facial features, Big Bean answered truthfully.


    "I am a ve. He is my master. I have to obey his every word. That is My Life."


    Big Bean told Zhao Luo while ncing at Mo Suo multiple times.


    Mo Suo nodded and looked back at Big Bean and opened his mouth.


    "Indeed. As your master, Imand you to kill yourself."


    Mo Suo repeated his order with a calm face.


    Zhao Luo''s ferociousness erupted even more as he clenched his fist tightly.


    "What ve and what master? You want to die. Then why don''t you give me your life?"


    Zhao Luo asked Big Bean while letting go of his cor.


    ''Dying by his hand may prove to be less painful.''


    Big Bean thought and then looked at Mo Suo.


    Mo Sup was the one who controlled Big Bean''s decision.


    Zhao Luo followed Big Bean''s gaze and also stared at Mo Suo.


    ''Ah, I See.''


    Zhao Luo murmured as though he had understood something.


    "Yo, let me take his life."


    Zhao Luo said as he wondered if Mo Suo would agree with it.


    But Zhao Luo didn''t know that a fallen follower was nothing more than a piece of trash of Mo Suo.


    Mo Suo looked at Zhao Luo, who he had considered a peasant was asking him something.


    ''Hmm.''


    Then Mo Suo looked at Big Bean who was a loser and nodded.


    "You can take his life."


    Mo Suo agreed to Zhao Luo''s request.


    "Don''t turn back on your words."


    Zhao Luo told Mo Suo as he looked back at Big Bean and pulled out his sword again.


    A crimson sword appeared in his hand.


    Zhao Luo held Ifrit towards Big Bean and found Big Bean''s eyes closed.


    "What an actor."


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he looked down and noticed that Big Bean''s hands which were curled up into a fist, were trembling.


    Big Bean waited for Zhao Luo''s sword to give him a painless parting but this wait continued.


    After a few moments.


    ''I am still breathing.''


    Big Bean thought as he felt light-headed but it was certain that he was still alive.


    "Open your eyes."


    Zhao Luo''s voice which was full of authority entered Big Bean''s ears.


    Right then Big Bean opened his eyes and found the sharp de of Ifrit on his shoulder.


    Zhao Luo turned his sword and tapped Big Bean''s shoulder with the broad side of Ifrit.


    "Is this how they free someone from very here?"


    Zhao Luo raised his sword and with it, he patted Big Bean''s other shoulder too.


    "Okay, you should be free now."


    Zhao Luo told Big Bean.


    It may have looked like he was ying around but that wasn''t the case when they noticed the expression on Zhao Luo''s face.


    Big Bean looked at Zhao Luo with bright eyes.


    While looking at this scene, someone was getting annoyed to an extreme level.


    "What are you doing?"


    Mo Suo shouted at Zhao Luo with a nasty look.


    **** **** **** ****


    Author''s note:


    We go slowly, slowly towards that promised godhood and then even beyond!


    So vote andment!

 Chapter 137 - The Effects

    Zhao Luo looked at Mo Suo with calm eyes while pulling back Ifrit and storing it in his storage space.


    "I asked, What are you doing with my ve?"


    Mo Suo inquired angrily as he looked at the calm demeanor of Zhao Luo.


    A moment ago Zhao Luo''s ferociousness was over the roof and it seemed like he was ready to y Big Bean but now he looked somewhat delighted behind his calm expression.


    "What do you think? I am taking his life as you have already told me."


    Zhao Luo told Mo Suo as he ced his hand on Big Bean''s shoulder.


    ''Nobody''s a ve. No matter what their status at birth is, no circumstances can decide one''s freedom.''


    Zhao Luo whispered this to Big Bean whose eyes shined and such a big fellow could be seen tearing up.


    "You..."


    Looking at this Mo Suo clenched his jaws.


    ''I was fooled.''


    ''By amoner.''


    ''I, the king of this hall, fell for a pleasant''s words.''


    Mo Suo was digesting while realizing what Zhao Luo had done to him.


    Even though ''taking life'', sounded like killing someone, but there was no such rity in what Zhao Luo had spoken in front of all these spectators.


    "Hahaha, I messed up."


    Mo Suoughed.


    Hearing his awkwardugh, the outer disciples there shuddered while thinking that Mo Suo had gone mad.


    "You, forget about your sister."


    Mo Suo threatened Big Bean and then turned to look at Zhao Luo.


    While Zhao Luo was further detested at Mo Suo''s threat towards Big Bean.


    He looked at Big Bean whose tears were silently rolling down his cheeks.


    ''So Big Bean''s very had something to do with his sister.''


    Zhao Luo wondered but that is when Mo Suo shouted at him.


    "As for you, Zhao Luo right? I will teach you what it''s like to mess with me, soon."


    Mo Suo announced to Zhao Luo as if he already knew the oue of their fight.


    Zhao Luo looked at Mo Suo with a loathsome gaze but stopped himself from talking back.


    ''I would love to beat the crap out of him now...''


    Zhao Luo looked down and closed his eyes for a second.


    ''But I don''t think I can keep on standing for too long.''


    Zhao Luo noted that more tha his stomach which had been shocked because of Big Ben''s kick, his legs were hurting like hell. Using multiple Half Walks physically was different than using them in the dark world, where Zhao Luo could train infinitely if he wanted to.


    "Let''s go."


    Mo Sup told Rose and then looked around.


    "How long do you n to disgrace me by lying around like that?"


    He shouted at the ones who were still on the ground after being thrown out by Zhao Luo.


    Slowly, one by one they all got up and gathered behind him.


    They made way for Mo Suo who was dragging Rose along with him.


    "So he leaves like this."


    Feng Ma said who still felt bitter for not getting back at Mo Suo.


    Zhao Luo looked at the departing back of Mo Suo and Rose and felt his heartache.


    Saying what he wanted to say, Mo Suo was towards the inner areas of the training zone with Rose and Zhao Luo could do nothing but stare at them helplessly.


    "If only I was a little stronger..."


    Zhao Luo muttered silently as a dejected look covered his face while his legs were going numb.


    ''What?''


    He was losing strength in them as they started wobbling.


    Zhao Luo who had been continuing with his adrenaline rush, felt all the unbearable pain surging from his legs.


    "Ahhhh."


    Zhao Luo moaned in pain as his legs finally gave up under the unfathomable pain.


    While falling to the ground he was supported by a big hand that easily covered his whole back.


    "Big Bean!"


    Zhao Luo said while Feng Ma and Si Chen jumped on the stage to help Zhao Luo.


    Senior Cutie alsonded next to them and grabbed Zhao Luo''s legs.


    "WHAT?"


    With a troubled look, he cried out and loosened his grip over Zhao Luo''s leg.


    Zhao Luo''s legs looked scrawny as though the sturdy muscles in his legs had been dried down.


    ''Half walk.''


    Zhao Luo mumbled as though he had really underestimated the technique.


    A technique that used internal energy peruse, was somewhat used without any internal energy.


    Zhao Luo had was already able to move past 7 meters with his half walk. But the toll it took on his legs was devastating.


    "How bad is it?"


    Zhao Luo asked Senior Cutie with a tragic look on his face.


    ''Sigh~''


    ''Thankfully, this happened after Rose left.''


    Zhao Luo sighed in relief but the pain caused his face to have a twisted look.


    "You may end up missing the ranking tournament."


    Senior Cutie told Zhao Luo with a hardened look as a sweat bead fell from his bald head and dropped on Zhao Luo''s dried-up leg.


    ''Ack.''


    A painful sensation passed through his leg but still, Zhao Luo smiled.


    "Take him to the Living Zone. I will be back with the Junior Elder."


    Senior Cutie appointed them with this task.


    Zhao Luo who was smiling felt his consciousness fading away while a ringing sound erupted in his mind.


    The next instant he fell unconscious leaving the other three worried for him.


    "ZHAO LUO"


    "Brother."


    "Brother Zhao Luo."


    Big Bean, Si Chen, and Feng Ma shouted together as they saw Zhao Luo''s closed eyes.


    Senior Cutie was the only one who looked calm.


    "Don''t worry, he has just passed out momentarily because of the pain."


    Senior Cutie told them as he nced at Zhao Luo''s face which still had a smile on it.


    "Now do as I have said."


    Senior Cutie told them hurriedly.


    Big Bean with the help of Si Chen ced Zhao Luo on his back. Then Si Chen and Big Bean went away with Zhao Luo.


    Looking at their back Senior Cutie whose eyes were still on Zhao Luo, looked like he was in his own world of thoughts.


    "I even advised you, do not pick a fight with anyone, and here you are, taking out around thirty disciples."


    Senior Cutie mumbled while Feng Ma looked at him.


    "Senior Cutie, it sounds like you brought him here. Who is this brother?"


    Feng Ma asked out of curiosity as he wondered about Zhao Luo''s identity.


    "He is Zhao Luo. He was promoted to outer disciple today. Except that I don''t know anything more about him."


    Hearing Senior Cutie talk about Zhao Luo, Feng Ma was shocked to the core.


    "Then he must have been a trainee disciple just a day ago."


    Feng Ma realized the situation.


    He, himself was a genius of a royal family but never in his life, had he seen a disciple, getting to level eight VIII right aftering to the outer hall.


    "Which family does he belongs to?"


    Feng Ma raised a question as he couldn''t connect Zhao Luo with any family that he knew of.


    "No idea. But there is one thing clear about him."


    "What''s that?"


    "He is exceptionally strong. Imagine taking down more than thirty disciples who are at the same level as you and had been in the outer hall for years. Nobody would believe that such a feat would be possible for someone who was a trainee disciple just a while ago."


    Senior Cutie answered Feng Ma while shaking his shiny head.


    "Senior what about you?"


    Feng Ma inquired as he looked at Senior Cutie with desire filling his drunken eyes.


    "Even I can''t say with full confidence that I would have been able to take them all on like him."


    Senior Cutie tightened his fist.


    The date of the ranking match was just a week away and a disciple like Zhao Luo had joined them.


    "Let''s hurry. We need to meet the Junior Elder."


    Senior Cutie told Feng Ma as they had an urgent matter on their hand.


    Feng Ma nodded as it really wasn''t the time to think about testing this Senior of his.


    "Yeah Let''s go."


    Feng Ma replied and followed Senior Cutie who had started moving.


    ---- ---- ----


    The unconscious Zhao Luo was being carried to the living zone by Big Bean and Si Chen who were apanying them.


    This time Zhao Luo didn''t enter the dark space but instead, he was currently in a dream.


    ---- ---- ----


    ''Mhmm.''


    "Where am I?"


    Zhao Luo questioned as he forced himself to wake up and found himself on a big bed.


    The first thing he did was to look at his legs.


    "They are fine but they haven''t toned anymore."


    Zhao Luo said as he inspected his legs.


    Zhao Luo realized the shape of his legs that looked fatter than one''s which were shaped sharper with muscles.


    "A dream."


    Zhao Luo said as he got up from the bed.


    "All that was a dream."


    Zhao Luo mumbled when he looked at himself in the mirror.


    The hairs were back to ck. His body shale wasn''t anything spectacr either.


    "Ifrit."


    Zhao Luo called out but nothing appeared in his hand.

 Chapter 138 - Dream And Treatment

    "ckey"


    Zhao Luo called out the name of his other sword.


    ''No Response.''


    Zhao Luo looked dejected.


    ''Was all that indeed a dream?''


    Zhao Luo questioned with the answer was in front of him but just that wasn''t enough.


    He wasn''t willing to ept this kind of reality.


    Zhao Luo looked around the room and found it is the same as the one he had booked.


    That is, the one Zhao Luo had when he had traveled to Japan.


    Zhao Luo hurriedly left the room.


    After a moment, as he left the hotel, he found the same guard out there to whom he had told his legendary tale.


    "No way."


    Zhao Luo was still shaking his head.


    In his mind, he wasn''t ready to ept this truth.


    Zhao Luo wanted to know how much of his memory was a dream thus he rushed towards the ce where the haunted building was.


    A few minutester.


    "Huff."


    "Huff."


    Zhao Luo found it hard to breathe as he stood outside a building.


    "It''s the same."


    Except for the banner outside, the building looked almost the same, with the only difference being the men going in and out of the entrance.


    "It''s lively here."


    While saying that, Zhao Luo walked towards the entrance and found it quite bright inside.


    The inside was of the building had red lights and many rooms.


    Zhao Luo walked in and followed the many men who were walking past him.


    As he walked he realized something.


    Some of the rooms had closed doors while the ones which had an open entrance, beautiful girls were standing outside it.


    "Don''t tell me, this is a..."


    Zhao Luo said but he was interrupted by one of the girls who had pulled his arm suddenly.


    "Onii san, look how rough your arm is. Would you like a massage by Misaki chan?"


    The girl pointed at herself.


    Zhao Luo who was depressed by everything he had been through turning out to be a dream was suddenly flushed when the girl named Misaki shoved her assets towards him.


    "Cough."


    "No. Please let me go."


    Zhao Luo told her.


    He was sure of it now that everything was a dream and just wanted to leave this building before he would lose his V card.


    "Onii-san, it won''t even cost much. There are also other services, you know."


    *Wink*


    The girl named Misaki after winking at Zhao Luo just dragged him towards a room and before the door of the room closed.


    Zhao Luo who was trying to escape her grasp couldn''t believe that a girl smaller than him was pulling her so easily.


    "Girls,e."


    She shouted leaving Zhao Luo baffled.


    ''This girl is too strong.''


    Zhao Luo who was now inside the room with Misaki found other girls entering the room.


    More than 10 girls soon surrounded Zhao Luo.


    "I surrender."


    With his jaws opened and eyes wide, Zhao Luo just surrendered his fate to the beauties in front of him.


    ---- ---- ----


    At the outer hall''s, living zone.


    Big Bean had already brought Zhao Luo to his room, an hour ago.


    While Big Bean and Si Chen looked over Zhao Luo, they couldn''t help but cry for help as they waited for Senior Cutie to bring the Junior Elder.


    Thud!


    Thud!


    Zhao Luo''s unconscious body moved weirdly in the bed, shocking Big Bean and Si Chen equally.


    They were further worried as they realized what was happening to Zhao Luo.


    "He is having seizures."


    Si Chen said as he looked at Zhao Luo with tears in his eyes.


    "We need to hold him back otherwise his legs may snap."


    Si Chen told Big Bean while watching the trembling Zhao Luo whose legs looked like some twigs.


    As they tried to stabilize Zhao Luo, Junior Elder entered the room, with Feng Ma and Senior Cutie behind him.


    "Leave the room."


    Junior Elder told the others as he moved closer to the bed.


    Looking at the rapidly growing smile on Zhao Luo''s face with drooling out of it, Junior Elder could only wonder the amount of pain Zhao Luo was in. That even his brain had been fried to such an extent.


    "Young Man..."


    Junior Elder touched Zhao Luo''s legs while Zhao Luo''s upper body was still squirming around.


    "He looks like in pleasure...Sigh, why pish yourself to such an extent?"


    Junior Elder shook his head as he ced his hand on Zhao Luo''s stomach.


    *BLABLEERARARTARA*


    While reading out an iprehensible chant he pressed his hand on Zhao Luo''s belly.


    Just how a person can feel his blood rushing through a part of his body when he is excited, a yellow light could be seen traveling down from Zhao Luo''s stomach area towards the end of his legs.


    As the yellow light reached his toes, they turned around and went towards his belly again,pleting a circle.


    After a few more times, Junior Elder removed his hand from Zhao Luo''s stomach and looked at the yellow light which was going traveling in a loop motion.


    "Now my energy will rejuvenate your legs, but since you are an exceptional talent, consider this a gift."


    Junior Elder told Zhao Luo who was unconscious.


    Junior Elder took out a golden pill from his storage space and pushed it inside Zhao Luo''s mouth which had drool all over it.


    "Get better. Don''t let my ''pill of blossom'' go to waste."


    Junior Elder said as he looked at Zhao Luo who was still having seizures for some ''unknown'' reasons.


    After a few minutes, Zhao Luo had calmed down.


    Junior Elder had already left the room while Si Chen, Big Bean, and Senior Cutie were sitting around the bed.


    "When will he wake up?"


    Si Chen asked Senior Cutie with a worried look.


    "I don''t know. But looking at his legs, they seemed to be getting better."


    Senior Cutie replied as he inspected Zhao Luo''s legs.


    The elder''s treatment must have been extraordinary.


    "Yes, but why is he having these short seizures?"


    Feng Ma added another question while looking at Zhao Luo who had shuddered multiple times in these few minutes.

 Chapter 139 - Waking Up & Favors

    While the three were worried as they watched Zhao Luo getting minute seizures every once in a short while, Zhao Luo, himself was having a rapturous party with some cuties in his dream.


    ---- ---- ---- ----


    "Mhmm."


    Zhao Luo could only cry in delight as the girls around him never left him alone.


    Not even for a moment.


    ''My fantasies areing true.''


    He thought as he drowned in the pleasure.


    "This feels more like a dream!"


    Zhao Luo admitted while nodding his head which was buried under some soft mountains.


    He pulled his head out and looked around just to find out that the girls who were surrounding him were fading.


    "What?"


    Zhao Luo was frightened.


    The warmth that he felt was vanishing along with the girls, leaving Zhao Luo in a confused state.


    That was when he heard a few voices.


    (Brother, wake up)


    (Brother Zhao Luo...)


    (Savior...wake up)


    Each voice was more manlier than the previous one.


    But all three voices he heard sounded concerned for him.


    (Wake up little brother, otherwise, I will kiss you like CHUU~)


    "AHH"


    Zhao Luo felt pain in his heart as he heard these sounds again and again.


    Especially thest one, which sounded horrifying to him.


    ''Which bastard is trying to kiss me?''


    He got up from the bed where he was lying naked and closely listened to the echoes of these worried voices as he shifted his gaze around the room while spinning around slowly.


    Thud!


    Just then he started wobbling around like a ballet dancer and fell back on the bed.


    "Not again."


    Slowly losing his consciousness, Zhao Luo cried.


    ---- ---- ---- ----


    In the room, Zhao Luo was in.


    Big Bean, Si Chen, and Feng Ma called Zhao Luo with worry while Senior Cutie would get close to him to whisper some disturbing things to him.


    Every time he would do that, the others would raise a red g and Big Bean would gently push Senior Cutie away from Zhao Luo.


    Gradually they felt Zhao Luo''s seizures dying down.


    In a few moments, the seizures stopped for good and the blissful expression disappeared from Zhao Luo''s face.


    ''Mhmm.''


    Zhao Luo made a sound as his eyes shuddered and this caused his eyshes to move hastily.


    "Look he is waking up!"


    Si Chen shouted for no reason as the other three were already focused on their fellow ''brother'' Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo opened his eyes and found four faces zooming on his face.


    Especially an egg-like face was the closest which caused him to get a jump scare that not even the most terrifying horrors could.


    "AGHHH."


    Zhao Luo screamed and tried to push Senior Cutie''s face away from him.


    "What?"


    Zhao Luo realized that he couldn''t even move his arms.


    He looked down and found his arms and legs being bound by a thick brown cloth that was tied around the bed''s edges.


    "What are you all doing?"


    Zhao Luo questioned them.


    ''I fell unconscious with a smile as they were around me, but here they have my limbs bonded.''


    Zhao Luo thought and gave them an angry look.


    "Sorry brother."


    Si Chen said with a sorry look on his face.


    "It''s your fault. If only you weren''t having convulsions and thumping yourself up and down, we wouldn''t have taken this measure."


    Feng Ma calmly shifted the me on Zhao Luo while rubbing his ear with his pinky.


    "I was....what?"


    Zhao Luo muttered as he remembered his passionate dream.


    Zhao Luo''s face flushed red under the stares of others.


    Senior Cutie was sharp to notice this small change in Zhao Luo''splexion which was turning red.


    "OHO, did my little brother dream of me?"


    Senior Cutie asked Zhao Luo while winking at him.


    Zhao Luo closed his eyes as he could take this torture anymore.


    ''His advances are getting ridiculous.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he looked at hisst hope.


    "Brother, free me."


    Zhao Luo urged Big Bean.


    Listening to Zhao Luo''s word, Big Bean acted on it right away.


    In a few seconds, Zhao Luo was freed from the Brown cloth.


    "Aghhh."


    While crying out in pain, he was helped up by Si Chen.


    ''I can move my legs.''


    Zhao Luk muttered as his legs, which looked like a dried log before, had regained some of their thickness.


    "Thank you, guys."


    "But what did you do?"


    Zhao Luo thanked them and inquired while pointing at his legs.


    He remembered Senior Cutie''s diagnosis.


    ''It looks like they will be back in shape in a few days.''


    Zhao Luo looked d as he curled his toes.


    He was supposed to be missing the ranking tournament next week but now things looked bright.


    "So..."


    Zhao Luo looked at the others again and finally, Senior Cutie stepped forward.


    "It was all thanks to Junior Elder."


    "He must have treated you well, seeing that it only took you six hours to regain your consciousness back."


    Zhao Luo nodded as Senior Cutie told him about how Junior Elder must have treated him.


    "The old man looked really frightened when j told him about your legs."


    "Yeah, the elder literally flew here. Even we had it hard catching up to him."


    Senior cutie and Feng Ma further added.


    "I will remember his aid."


    Zhao Luo said with a confirmed tone as though he was making sure that he never forgets that he owes the Junior Elder.


    "Can you help me stand?"


    Zhao Luo asked them as Si Chen was again the first to grab his arms.


    ''Tap.''


    Zhao Luo got off the bed with the help of Si Chen while Feng Ma was standing right behind him in case Zhao Luo loses his footing.


    Zhao Lul slowly walked towards the window of the room.


    ''I am probably in one of the buildings.''


    Zhao Luo assumed while remembering the many buildings that Senior Cutie had shown him in the Living Zone.


    "It''s already night out there."


    Looking out of the window, Zhao Luo realized as he watched the dark skies covering his sight.


    He nced at the others for a moment with thankful eyes.


    "Six Hours..."


    Zhao Luo mumbled while realizing that Junior Elder wasn''t the only one he owed his life to.


    ''They stayed with me for so long.''


    Zhao Luo could only imagine the many times these follow brothers would have called his name with worry.


    "How will I repay your favors? Sigh~"


    Zhao Luo said calmly.

 Chapter 140 - Brotherhood & Little Beans Situation

    The others shook their heads as though they didn''t do anything special.


    "It was only Junior Elder who treated you, so you don''t owe us anything."


    Senior Cutie dered his thoughts on this, and the otherspletely agreed with him.


    Zhao Luo only smiled at them and then turned to look out of the window of his room.


    ''They watched over me with worry, while, I was having that kind of dream.''


    Zhao Luo felt ashamed but didn''t me himself any further as dreams weren''t something that a person could control.


    Zhao Luo gaped in the darkness for quite some time while Feng Ma, Si Chen, Big Bean, and Senior Cutie quietly looked at this handsome yet burdened face, enjoying the night breeze.


    The serene atmosphere in the room continued for ten minutes or so, after which Zhao Luo turned around and Si Chen helped him to get back to his bed.


    Zhao Luo sat on his bed and gave Big Bean an intense look. Big Bean who was sitting next to the bed on a chair couldn''t help but twitch.


    Zhao Luo was still unsure on how he should be addressing this giant fellow brother of his.


    ''Big Bean?''


    ''Giant?''


    Zhao Luo rubbed his chin while Big Bean was confused by Zhao Luo''s stare.


    ''He is the one who defeated me?''


    Big Bean couldn''t help but think as there was a stupid look on Zhao Luo''s handsome face which waspletely opposite to the ferociousness he had disyed during their fight.


    "Savior..."


    Big Bean mumbled as he couldn''t take Zhao Luo''s intense stare anymore.


    Zhao Luo who was staring at Big Bean with wide eyes shook his head.


    "Don''t call me, savior. You already know my view. I only returned to you what was yours from the start. That is, your freedom belonged to you, and I just happen to be the one returning it."


    Zhao Luo ced his palm on Big Bean''s chest.


    It was a moment when Big Bean felt a strong connection with this handsome man who was telling him about his beliefs.


    "Brother."


    Unconsciously the word rolled out of big bean''s mouth.


    Zhao Luo removed his hand from Big Bean''s chest and showed a bright smile.


    "Brother Bean."


    Zhao Luo said as the bonds of brotherhood between these outer disciples were getting stronger.


    Senior Cutie looked jealous as he watched Zhao Luo smiling at Big Bean.


    After this touching moment, Zhao Luo asked Big Bean something that he had been wanting to know even before falling into an unconscious state.


    "What about your sister?"


    Zhao Luo asked Big Bean with a curious look.


    "My sister..."


    Big Bean suddenly furrowed his brows and sadness covered his face.


    "After our parents died when I was 7, I had to take care of my 2 years old sister. Coincidentally the King of Mo Family had taken us in so we could serve his son, Master Mo Suo."


    Big Bean told Zhao Luo from the start.


    ''What a tragedy.''


    Zhao Luo understood that Big Bean had skipped many parts which would be the time after he had lost his parent and till he was picked up by the King of Mo family.


    "At 18, I followed Master Mo Suo to the Sect while my sister was left behind at Master''s mansion."


    Big Bean''s eyes quivered as he remembered his sister''s cute round face.


    "It''s been two years since then, and I have yet to see her. I don''t know what hardships Master will make her go through when he returns."


    Big Bean told his worries to Zhao Luo while the others also listened to them.


    ''He is 20?''


    Zhao Luo couldn''t believe while watching Big Bean''s size.


    Big Bean''s sister who was 15 was still working as a ve at Mo Suo''s mansion while Zhao Luo''s focus was on Big Bean''s (body) size.


    "Don''t worry, I will get her freed."


    Zhao Luo promised Big Bean after understanding the whole situation.


    A hopeful look appeared on Big Bean''s face.


    If it was someone else, even if he was royalty, Big Bean wouldn''t have been hopeful, but Zhao Luo was different.


    ''Not only is he strong but he is also cunningly smart. He will definitely be able to find a way.''


    Big Bean was assured of her sister''s safety.


    "What''s your sister''s name?"


    Zhao Luo asked Big Bean out of curiosity.


    It was normal as if he had to free his sister from the shackles of Mo Suo''s very, he had to make an exchange with Mo Suo and for that, he had to know her name.


    "Ah, her name is Little Bean."


    Big Bean told with a wide smile as he loved his sister.


    "Little bean..."


    Zhao Luo was shocked by the naming sense.


    Big Bean was still not a stretched-out name as Big Bean indeed looked like a bean just a muscr version of it but now his sister also had ''bean'' in her name.


    "Does she look like a bean too?"


    Feng Ma mumbled in a soft voice.


    Even though his voice wasn''t loud but in this quiet room, he was heard by everyone.


    "What did you SAY?"


    Big Bean shouted angrily causing Feng Ma to shiver on his spot.


    ''He looks angrier than the time when he fought me.''


    Zhao Luo felt happy for Big Bean''s sister who cared for her sister so much that he was ready to crush Feng Ma just because he said that Big Bean''s sister looks like a bean.


    But Zhao Luo didn''t know that it wasn''t the case.


    "What do you mean, ''too''. Do you think I look like a bean? Dare say it again?"


    Big Bean questioned Feng Ma who was taking out his wine sk.


    Only a sip of wine could help him stand against this giant cmity.


    "Okay, Okay. Calm down, guys. We are all brothers, so it''s okay to joke around a bit."


    Zhao Luo patted Big Bean''s shoulder who only got angry because Feng Ma wasparing him to a bean.


    "Yes, little brother is right."


    Senior Cutie finally broke his silence and moved closer to Zhao Luo.


    "What are you doing?"


    Zhao Luo questioned with a frightened look.

 Chapter 141 - Discussing Mo Suo & Feng Mas Eyes!

    Zhao Luo could never get used to Senior Cutie''s untimely advances at him.


    Thus getting frightened this time was quite normal for him.


    "What is wrong?"


    Senior Cutie asked as his face was only a few inches away from Zhao Luo''s.


    "Didn''t you say that it''s okay to joke around as we are brothers?"


    He continued while bringing his face closer to Zhao Luo''s.


    ''But I never told you to terrify me like this.''


    Zhao Luo thought while slowly moving his face backward as he showed a terrible smile.


    Feng Ma couldn''t watch this anymore and took two mouthfuls of wine.


    Gulp!


    Gulp!


    "Senior, we should let brother rest now."


    "Tsk."


    Si Chen interrupted Senior Cutie who could only click his tongue in response.


    "Yeah. We should."


    "Little Brother, I will stop here."


    "Sorry to disappoint you."


    Wink!


    Zhao Luoughed awkwardly as Senior Cutie winked at him after saying that.


    "It''s okay Senior. I am not disappointed at all."


    Zhao Luo waved his hand at Senior Cutie after which he looked at Si Chen.


    ''Nod.''


    The terrible smile on Zhao Luo''s face changed into an honest one as he nodded at Si Chen who had helped him out.


    ''Thank you!''


    ''Haha.''


    It was like Zhao Luo and Si Chen were exchanging words through their nces and expressions.


    "Ahem."


    Senior Cutie realized what was going on and loudly cleared his throat as though he was going to make an announcement.


    "Next week...the Ranking Tournament will start in the training zone."


    Senior Cutie who had moved a few steps away from Zhao Luo told him and the others who were in the room.


    Except for Feng Ma and Zhao Luo, the other three had already participated in the ranking tournament at least once since they had joined the Xin Sect.


    "Currently Mo Suo, a ninth level level ''?'' disciple, holds the title, King Of The Outer Hall. It''s a title made by the disciples for the strongest, but Mo Suo took it to heart."


    Senior Cutie talked about Mo Suo while shaking his head. Then he turned towards Zhao Luo only and said.


    "You already know him. He is extremely arrogant and treats everyone as beings of lower status than him."


    Senior Cutie started spitting facts about the current number one among the thousands of outer hall disciples.


    ''Rose''s brother.''


    Zhao Luo could see the image of Rose popping up in his mind.


    He already knew that Mo Suo''s arrogance was off the charts.


    "Master treats others, who will follow him till he, himself abandons them, as his subordinates. To those who go against him, they are considered as pieces of trash and plebs."


    Big Bean added as his eyes shook.


    He remembered a time when Mo Suo had beaten him to the point of death just because Big Bean had talked longer than a minute.


    After which Big Bean had gotten used to being silent or keeping it short to the point of being considered as a mute by others.


    "I have heard about Mo Suo too even beforeing to this sect. The third son of the Royal Mo family. Also known as the infamous spoiled fifth of Mo''s. He is the fifth child of King Mo and two years older than the youngest child which was Sister Rose."


    Si Chen told everyone as they were getting new insight into this devilish character.


    "But Mo Suo''s importance in the Mo Family far exceeds that of Sister Rose''s. Only the first prince and princess can challenge Mo Suo''s authority in the Royal Family."


    Si Chen who was from one of the five great martial families opened up about what he knew about Mo Suo and the Royal Mo Family.


    "That means if we take a personal fight against Mo Suo, we will have to face some grave consequences. Like dealing with the elders of the Mo family or even King Mo himself."


    Senior Cutie said with a grim look on his face.


    "Ttuttuuttuu."


    Feng Ma took a big sip from his wine sk.


    "Gulp, gulp, gulp."


    As the wine went down his throat, Feng Ma passed his hand over his forehead and styled his hair back with his fingers.


    Everyone could see a wide forehead that was hidden by the drooping hair before.


    ''His eyes.''


    Zhao Luo noticed something.


    The other four in the room could see a pair of deep ck eyes, that is, Feng Ma''s pupils were bigger than normal pupils.


    They looked quite deep. Like a ck shiny rock had been dropped in a river with crystal clear water as the round iris around his dark pupils had a light bluish color.


    Zhao Luo waspletely shocked as he had never seen eyes with such a ridiculously remarkablebination.


    ''Not even the Emperas had such mysterious yet beautiful eyes.''


    Zhao Luo wholeheartedly agreed with theparison he was making in his mind.


    Realizing that everyone was staring at his eyes Feng Ma felt ufortable thus he ruffled his hair and let his hair drop back to cover his forehead and eyes.


    Only then he opened his mouth.


    "Who cares what happens? Let''s just teach that guy a lesson."


    Feng Ma said with extreme conviction and anger in his voice.


    It wasn''t known whether Feng Ma, who was also from a Royal family, was angry with Mo Suo because of his arrogance or just because Mo Suo had made fun of him by making fun of his father who had betrayed the family.


    "Brother, after fighting with you and seeing you take on all of Mo Suo''s side pieces, I have realized that you are a person who doesn''t think of the future troubles when doing the right thing."


    Feng Ma said to Zhao Luo.


    ''Nod.''


    Zhao Luo moved his head down agreeing with Feng Ma.


    "Plus we will be taking him on fairly ording to the rules of the Sect. And as far as his Mo Family is concerned, even if the king himselfes here, the rules of the sect are to be followed."


    Feng Ma continued and the others agreed with his statement.


    "Yes, the sect doesn''t allow people to unt their statuses here. Only the strength of the individual matters."


    Senior Cutie said while raising his arms towards his chest and waving his hands as he talked.

 Chapter 142 - Rules & Status

    "And what are the rules of the Sect that even the King of Mo Family will have to follow?"


    Zhao Luo who didn''t know about such things asked Senior Cutie.


    "Good question."


    Senior Cutie nodded as heplimented Zhao Luo.


    ''What? Good question?''


    Feng Ma thought while even Big Bean stared at Zhao Luo with confusion.


    ''Brother doesn''t even know about the rules?''


    Big Bean found it hard to believe that a smart person like Zhao Luo didn''t know such basic stuff as the rules of the Xin Sect.


    But the most incoherent part of this exchange between Zhao Luo and Senior Cutie was that Senior Cutie was smiling at Zhao Luo while telling him that his inquiry was a good question.


    "How does this make any sense? I have to keep Brother Zhao Luo safe from this senior."


    Even Si Chen mumbled while staring at Senior Cutie who was looking at Zhao Luo with a mischievous gaze.


    Both Feng Ma and Big Bean also stared at Senior Cutie who didn''t seem to care about their stares at all.


    "There are many rules that the disciples have to follow once they arrive in the outer hall and so on."


    Senior Cutie brought out his closed fist in front of them and opened his index finger.


    "The most important rule is for everyone, that is, all the disciples, elders, visitors ( in some cases ), and even the two protectors, have to follow this rule."


    Senior Cutie first told them the importance of the rule and then continued to tell the rule which everyone had to follow without an exception.


    "Once you step foot inside the Sect area, you will have to follow the will of the ultimate authority holder, that is, the Sect Leader."


    Senior Cutie told Zhao Luo while the others nodded.


    "Us, outer disciples have no chance to meet him, but the top disciples of the inner hall sometimes get lucky with that, and also, one meeting with the Sect Leader means their fame rising exponentially among their peers. That is how Godly of a presence the Sect Leader has in everyone''s heart."


    ''And I have already met such an extraordinary individual already.''


    Zhao Luo felt proud and special as he listened to Senior Cutie talk about the Sect leader.


    Senior Cutie closed his index finger and opened his arm just to show them his palm.


    "Going back to the King of Mo Family. Two kings reside in the First City. While there are three Great Royal Families."


    Senior Cutie slowly told Zhao Luo.


    Even though most of the people from the first three cities knew this but some disciples weren''t from these three cities and also weren''t aware of such information.


    So Senior Cutie guessed that Zhao Luo could be from one of thetter eight cities.


    But he didn''t know that Zhao Luo was already acquainted with one of them, the Queen of Feng''s, Feng Mei.


    Zhao Luo didn''t tell this to them and stared at Senior Cutie.


    "Okay, so they lead a family, but still no matter how great their families are, they shouldn''t be called Kings. Right?"


    Zhao Luo questioned Senior Cutie as this was something he wasn''t able toprehend.


    "Why be called royalty just by leading a family?"


    Zhao Luo further added.


    "I don''t know about that, but from what I have heard, the Mo Family rules over the 4th, 6th, 8th, and the 10th city while the Feng Family rules the 5th, 7th, 9th, and the entry city. But the family which holds the most power is still thest royal family, the Xin Family."


    Senior Cutie exined to Zhao Luo.


    "Yes, Senior is indeed right."


    Feng Ma agreed with what Senio Cutie was telling Zhao Luo.


    He was from the Feng Family


    "So the Feng and Mo family rule multiple cities..."


    Zhao Luo rubbed his chin as he looked at Feng Ma and sped his hand.


    "Brother Feng."


    Zhao Luo said with a sly smile on his face.


    He was in presence of a prince figure so how could he not show his goodwill here.


    "Haha, no need brother."


    Feng Ma smiled awkwardly after seeing Zhao Luo''s actions.


    Zhao Luo still smiled but that''s when a question arose in his mind like aunching rocket.


    "Why is the Xin Family the most powerful? Even when they don''t rule a city?"


    Zhao Luo asked in confusion.


    ''What could the Xin family have that makes them more powerful than the other two royal families?''


    Zhao Luo wondered while Senior Cutie opened his mouth to answer this question.


    Feng Ma took a sip of wine from his wine sk. He knew the answer to this question but then again Zhao Luo was asking Senior Cutie and not him.


    "That''s because the Xin Family''s King is our Sect Leader!"


    Senior Cutie told Zhao Luo while biting his lip and giving him a dirty look.


    Zhao Luo cried out.


    "WTF!"


    Zhao Luo didn''t know what was more shocking, the truth behind the Xin Family''s most powerful status or Senior Cutie''s abrupt yet disgusting expression.


    "Thew!"


    "Ew!"


    "Ew!"


    The wine in Feng Ma''s mouth gushed out in shock while Big Bean and Si Chen looked like, they were having strokes.


    "Cough."


    Senior Cutie cleared his throat as he bowed his head after the terrible expression that he had made.


    ''I was just trying to be cute...tsk.''


    He thought as he felt bad for shocking these little brothers of his.


    "Blinding."


    Zhao Luo and the others said while seeing the sharp bald head of Senior Cutie.


    Senior Cutie raised his head and with a pathetic look on his face, he looked at Zhao Luo.


    "So any more questions?"


    He asked.


    "Why are there only three Royal families?"


    "Also you only told me the first rule...what about the others?"


    Zhao Luo imposed two questions that he wanted to know for now.


    Listening to these questions, Senior Cutie nced at Feng Ma, who was from one of the Royal families, gesturing at him to answer the first question.


    Feng Ma nodded.


    ''"It''s because..."


    He stopped to raise everyone''s focus in his answer.

 Chapter 143 - Ancient Battle & The Other Rules

    "It''s because...of the battle that took ce in the ancient times. It was a battle between humans and the beast kins. The ancestors of the two families, Mo and Feng, fought alongside the ancestors of the Xin Family. The three ancestors and the martial cultivators under them pushed back the beast kin and defended this Range till theirst breath. Thus the three Royal families came to being."


    Feng Ma told everyone an ancient story that was kept in pieces in the deep vaults of these Royal Families.


    Zhao Luo was hearing this story with wide eyes.


    "Such a battle had taken ce here."


    Zhao Luo spoke with a wavering tone.


    "Indeed, nobody has seen it. But now the World has changed and we don''t know where the beast kins are hiding and when such a catastrophic event will repeat itself."


    Feng Ma said with a troubled look.


    "Don''t worry, aren''t we all training with everything we got? Let the beastse, we will annihte them."


    Si Chen was the one to show such confidence.


    After his battles with the Sand Lions in the Sara Desert, his mental capability has increased by many notches.


    "Yes. Well, moving to the rules, I will let Senior continue them."


    Feng Ma pointed his hand at Senior Cutie who had been marveling at Zhao Luo''s handsome face.


    Feeling interrupted, he red at Feng Ma and then started to tell about the rules.


    "There may be many rules, but none of them stops a disciple from getting stronger. While the inner disciple looking over our Sect is on a secondary mission, the Junior Elder and I will be taking care of things. As for the reason I told you the first rule, it''s to assure you that even if the King of the Mo familyes here, you don''t have to be worried."


    Senior Cutie first exined about the ones who were looking over the Outer Hall in the absence of the inner disciple who had taken this mission of overseeing the Outer Disciples.


    "Except that, the rules you need to remember are, [Don''t take anyone''s life unless both parties have previously agreed to a ''dead end''], [Disrespecting the elders is not allowed as they are the main pirs of the Sect], [All the fights are to take ce in the Training areas and zones], [Outer Disciples are not allowed to leave the Outer Hall unless it''s for a mission or a call from the Elder''s hall], that will be it. There are other rules too, but they aren''t important. But if you break any of these rules, you can get expelled or in extreme cases, get killed."


    "Why killed?"


    Zhao Luo asked Senior Cutie cause getting killed for simply disrespecting an elder was too much.


    ''Did I solve those riddles too easily?''


    Zhao Luo wondered what he would do if Elder Dousan, the second elder who was also known as the Master of Riddles, came back for revenge.


    ''He isn''t like that.''


    ''But what if...''


    Zhao Luo thought anxiously.


    "Leaving the outer hall won''t get you killed, but something like disrespecting the elder to a no redemption point may end up in a death sentence. Since the elders are not only elders in name, they teach the inner disciples and also tag along with the inner disciples on many missions that they are unable toplete on their own, basically giving protection to their disciples while also guiding the untalented ones, personally, so they don''t fall behind their peers. Each Elder is very respected by disciples so if you are disrespectful to one then you are just making enemies with hundreds of disciples so before the Sect punishes you, the wrath of the disciples will be worse of a punishment."


    Senior Cutie exined with a darkened look.


    "You don''t have to go to that extreme just to exin as I am not a person who would disrespect my elders."


    Zhao Luo shook his hand while telling about his respectful character.


    ''There is no way I would ever do that.''


    Zhao Luo nodded as he made himself remember so that he never disrespects any elder.


    "I know. Little Brother is kind just like a flower. He would never be rude to anyone without a purpose."


    Senior Cutie added while making Zhao Luo feel ufortable.


    "Yes, yes. Well, I think you should go."


    Zhao Luo told Senior Cutie as it was getting harder to take on these clever advances by Senior Cutie.


    "Not yet. There is still onest thing that you need to know."


    Senior Cutie shook his index finger as there was still more, that Zhao Luo needed to know.


    "What is that?"


    Zhao Luo asked curiously.


    ''What could be left that I still need to know?''


    Zhao Luo couldn''t help but think while waiting for Senior Cutie''s answer.


    "It''s that the ranking tournament of the outer disciples will be open to the general public. Since it''s an event that only happens once in two years, and every outer disciple, no matter which family they are from participates in it, thus it makes a good show for the audience, that is, their families."


    "Then, the people of the Mo family will be there too?"


    "Yes, they will be. Are you scared?"


    Senior Cutie asked Zhao Luo who had just questioned him.


    "No. This will be a chance for me to show them my strength."


    Zhao Luo looked confident as he clenched his fist and thought of his n.


    "Yes, there will be some senior eldersing to the tournament too so it''s a good chance to catch their eyes."


    Senior Cutie nodded as the ranking tournament of the outer disciples was always a big event that attracted the big names of the sect.


    "What about the ten elders?"


    Zhao Luo asked as he wondered if the Second Elder and the third elder will being to this tournament.


    "No way, they have never attended the outer disciples ranking tournament. The big names I was talking about were the high-level Junior and Senior Elders of the inner hall. Also some of our amazing Seniors."


    Senior Cutie shook his head as he rejected Zhao Luo''s hopes of seeing the Second Elder again.


    "I see."


    Zhao Luo said dejectedly.

 Chapter 144 - Parts Of Tournament & The Preparation

    Senior Cutie looked at the hopeless face of Zhao Luo and understood that Zhao Luo was hoping for someone to join.


    "Ah, Don''t worry. I think one of the ten elders maye to spectate since it''s the second time Mo Suo is participating in this tournament."


    Senior Cutie told Zhao Luo causing the hope of seeing some old faces, to rise again in his mind.


    "As for how the tournament will go, there are three parts."


    "The first part belongs to the top 100 ranked outer disciples. [The lower rankers challenge the high ranking disciples to take their ranks.]


    Each disciple gets 3 chances while the high-ranking disciple who defends his rank will get points (if he wins). The chances will stay at three if the challenger wins but if he loses then it will drop to 2. You already know what these points can be exchanged for."


    Senior Cutie took a breath after exining to Zhao Luo about the first part of the tournament.


    Zhao Luo wasn''t the only one benefitting from this knowledge.


    In this room only, Big Bean and Senior Cutie had participated in the previous tournament.


    Si Chen and Feng Ma hadn''t.


    Before thest tournament had started Si Chen had just advanced to outer disciple while for Feng Ma, he hadn''t even attended it.


    Thus Zhao Luo, Feng Ma, and Si Chen all listened closely to Senior Cutie''s exnation.


    "The second part of the tournament is for the other 900 ranked outer disciples, who will get 5 chances to challenge anyone they want just that the one being challenged should be of higher ranking than them. Again the chances to challenge only drop when the challenging disciple loses otherwise they can keep on challenging till they have lost 5 times, that is, running out of chances."


    Senior Cutie exined the second part of the tournament which was based on more changes and battles between the outer disciples.


    "The third part is the most important part of the tournament. [The Open Battle & Unlimited Combat]. The Open battles are where all the participating outer disciples whoe after the top thousand disciples that is all the unranked participants will be in ''Battle Royale'' and only when 100 disciples are left, will the tournament ''Open Battle'' end. Then these 100 disciples will go on to fight in the Unlimited Combat, which is the most entertaining portion of this tournament. The unlimitedbat is a 1v1 exchange between the winners of the open battle and the top 1000 disciples. It''s a showcase of the strength of these new 100 disciples just to announce that the strength of the Xin Sect is ever-growing. The new disciples will get unlimited chances that is they can stop whenever they want and fight as much as they want. The third part of the tournament is solely for them."


    "That will be everything you need to know."


    Senior Cutie ended his exnation with thest part of the tournament.


    Zhao Luo''s eyes had an unexinable shine as he absorbed all the information of the uing tournament.


    "Ba-dump."


    "Ba-dump."


    "Ba-dump."


    Zhao Luo could hear the beating of his excited heart.


    ''I can''t wait.''


    Zhao Luo tightened his fist and thought in his mind.


    "Since I have already told you everything, we will leave. You should rest for a few days. I can return two days before the tournament starts, so we can train together..."


    Senior Cutie told Zhao Luo.


    Listening to this Si Chen, Feng Ma, and Big Bean also got up from their ces.


    "No, Senior. Can you visit me on the day of the Tournament?"


    Zhao Luo rejected Senior Cutie''s offer to train together for the ranking tournament.


    "On the day of the tournament? Are you sure?"


    Senior Cutie was baffled.


    "Do you still have some other cards that you are hiding from us? We are brothers, right? You can tell us."


    Senior Cutie told Zhao Luo as he got closer to him while questioning him.


    Even Feng Ma and Big Bean were a little shocked.


    Zhao Luo declining to train with Senior Cutie showed only one thing.


    [He was already capable enough that two days of training won''t change anything.]


    ''So he was holding back while fighting me and even Big Bean.''


    Feng Ma thought as he brought his wine sk closer to his mouth while his eyes were filled with motivation.


    But they didn''t know that their assumptions couldn''t be any wrong and they were just misunderstanding Zhao Luo''s nature.


    "It''s not like that. I would like to rest for this week and fight as much as I can in the tournament. There is nothing else."


    Zhao Luo told them with an honest face.


    ''I can''t tell them about the dark space.''


    Zhao Luo thought while thinking about the World in his mind.


    Even if he told them about the dark space, who would believe such a thing. That Zhao Luo can fight with nine shadows of his, which were somewhat indestructible apparitions and basically, each one being half as strong as him.


    The others nodded, believing what Zhao Luo had said.


    "Okay, I will return on the day of the tournament."


    Senior Cutie agreed ording to Zhao Luo''s wishes.


    After a while, the four left the room, leaving Zhao Luo alone in the room.


    Sitting on the bed, Zhao Luo went over what Senior Cutie had told him.


    ''The rules.''


    ''The ancient battle.''


    ''The parts of the tournament. The third one is where I will be able to start.''


    Zhao Luo understood everything quite well and knew that this will be his chance to show his strength to everyone.


    Unlike others, who hid their abilities, Zhao Luo didn''t have time for that.


    "The more I show my strength, the stronger will be the onesing after me."


    Zhao Luo mumbled.


    This was his idea to filter out the weaker disciples with the stronger ones.


    Thinking of this, Zhao Luo brought out the techniques and weapons he had in his storage space.


    "Let''s begin my preparation."


    Zhao Luo said while looking at the things he could use in the tournament.

 Chapter 145 - Three Stages Of The Bullet Fist

    Zhao Luo was looking at his resources which only had one purpose, that is, to make him stronger.


    "These won''t do."


    Zhao Luo mumbled as his gaze passed over the scrolls that Senior Ballum had given him.


    [Technique of the War Sovereign: War Cry]


    [Sword Style: Random Sword]


    Then he looked at the lower side of his left arm and stared at the lustrous crimson tattoo of S that was 5 inches big.


    "I guess it''s an ordinary tattoo, for now."


    Zhao Luo already knew that he will only be benefitting from these three things only when he starts using internal energy.


    Till then using the two techniques would be too much for his body just like how the Half Step had dried his legs.


    Even if he opened these scrolls and learned them while going against Senior Ballum''s advice, he wouldn''t be able to bring out even the techniques, beginner level to its maximum potential.


    Without learning to use internal energy, it would be a waste of time if he tried learning these techniques in almost the week he had.


    Storing these two scrolls and his swords, Zhao Luo looked at the two books and the scroll that was left outside resting on hisp.


    [Bullet Fist]


    [Bullet Fist-II]


    [Extraordinary Breath]


    Zhao Luo looked at the two books with the same name, while the second was the continuation of the first which was supposed to be aplete technique on its own.


    The overall ranking of the technique ''Bullet Fist'' was ''D'' rank while being a silver-colored fist technique.


    ''Extraordinary Breath.''


    Zhao Luo looked at the golden scroll and called out the name of the technique contained within it.


    ''A technique which is impossible to learn...great.''


    Zhao Luoined while remembering getting sabotaged by Senior Cutie in the library.


    "These two should be enough."


    Zhao Luo said as he stored the scroll.


    Zhao Luo could already be called a swordsman. He had swung his sword no less than a hundred thousand times while practicing the "self-learned" arts that he had copied from the puppets so he was confident in his swordsmanship.


    He knew that he sucked at unarmedbat, so he wanted something that could help cover this weakness of his and this fist technique was the answer to all his problems.


    If he could achieve even the intermediate level in bullet fist then his only weakness will also be covered.


    Zhao Luo grabbed the fist technique books and closed his eyes.


    ---- ---- ---- ----


    ''Shrrr~''


    A momentter, Zhao Luo opened his eyes and found himself inside the dark space.


    The two books were in his hand.


    "I should learn these techniques first, then summon my apparitions."


    Zhao Luo mumbled before he proceeded to open the first book of Bullet Fist.


    This route was better for him as if he understood the technique first before summoning his apparitions, then they will also know the technique.


    Zhao Luo had already nned on how he would be proceeding after summoning his apparitions.


    He had more than six days to get ready for the ranking tournament and Zhao Luo had decided to spend all his time here, in the dark space.


    "What better way to train than to fight nine of my apparitions who can keep on fighting back?"


    Zhao Luo who was talking to himself shrugged, he was finally realizing how overwhelming his ability was.


    Zhao Luo opened the C grade bronze book ''Bullet Fist''.


    He couldn''t advance to the second book till he mastered the first one as there was such a condition included in the ''Bullet Fist II''.


    ''SSUSSURUS''


    Zhao Luo looked at the first page.


    [Bullet Fist]


    Just like before the name of the technique was there with the short introduction of the technique.


    Zhao Luo nced at the intro and kept on jumping his nces at different parts of the page as he already knew what the author of this technique had tried here.


    [A millennium ago, what did the martial arts practitioners used when...]


    [Yes, Disciple. Your thought is right. It was indeed the Fists. But fists alone don''t...]


    Zhao Luo skimmed through everything just to find an instruction missing from the first page.


    That was the [To Learn: 20 points] part, that wasn''t on the first page anymore.


    Zhao Luo had already used his points on it before thus causing this part to disappear from the first page.


    ''SSUSSURUS''


    Zhao Luo flipped the paper and went on to the second page.


    This was the main page, again something, Zhao Luo had already gone over. But at that time he was only curious about what the technique could help him achieve.


    ''I am going to master it this time!''


    Zhao Luo said withplete focus on the content of the page in front of him.


    [ Learn: When each part of your upper limbs, the phnges, and the tendons of your hand, the joints of your arm and shoulder act as one, only then a fist can match a modern weapon.]


    Zhao Luo looked up and stared into the darkness of his dark space.


    "So only the upper part of the body, starting from my shoulder and ending at my fingertips, is to be focused at the same time on a single point."


    Zhao Luo tried to understand the essence of the technique but it didn''t seem that easy as he had yet to try it.


    [Once you master this technique then no normal sword or any other weapon practitioner at the same level as you will be able to stop your fist with his weapon. Just like how a dragon''s ascent can not be stopped by the heavenly skies, your fist will rise without equals]


    "Sounds overpowering, but even such a powerful technique can be improved further."


    Zhao Luo gazed at the second book.


    Without waiting any further, he flipped to the next page.


    [The technique is divided into three nes.]


    [ Explosive Fist ne ]


    [ Calming Fist ne ]


    [ Bullet Fist ne ]


    Zhao Luo read the three nes of the Bullet Fist. These were the stages in which the Bullet Fist was divided.


    "I can''t wait to learn thest stage."


    Zhao Luo said with excited eyes while looking at the third ne which was the ultimate form of the technique.

 Chapter 146 - Explosive Fist Plane

    Zhao Luo lowered his gaze to look at the part which exined the first stage of the Bullet Fist.


    [ Explosive Fist ne ]


    ''Hmm.''


    Zhao Luo humphed as the first stage already had the ''blowing


    [ Learning the WAYS to use Fist as a weapon may be important, but the POWER behind your Fist is the most criticalponent ]


    [ The POWER of a fist can decide the oue of an exchange. But what if it''s a losing fight? ]


    Zhao Luo looked at the question and was baffled.


    ''Why fight a losing battle in the first ce?''


    With this thought invading his mind Zhao Luo underestimated this part.


    ''No''


    ''Nothing''s decided till the fight ends.''


    [ Even a losing battle/exchange/fight can be won with just a single fist which contains an explosive power behind it ]


    [ To get that explosive power in your fists, there is only one way ]


    [ Train your fists to that point where they start crumbling ]


    [ Best way to train your fist to the extreme point would be continuously punching your fist on a small mountain to the point of exhaustion, but a big rock would be sufficient too, on the condition that it''s shattered before or when the fists reach the extreme point that is the crumbled state ]


    [ After you do this, a thousand times, then you will be in the Explosive Fist ne without knowing ]


    ''Hah''


    Zhao Luo scoffed as he finished reading the whole text on this page.


    "So I just have to keep on destroying my fists by punching the shit out of a mountain or a rock?"


    "Great."


    Zhao Luo felt more excited than ever.


    Putting the book aside on the dark floor, he got up.


    "SUMMONNN~"


    Zhao Luo said with a cold voice.


    Puff!


    Nine of his apparitions ghat looked thicker than before, formed in front of him.


    Their thoughts were already aligned with Zhao Luo''s.


    "I just need a mountain now..."


    Zhao Luo said as he was thinking of a mountain he and his apparitions could throw their fists on.


    "A big one should do."


    Zhao Luo said as he looked at his nine apparitions waiting excitedly to begin.


    Just like he had formed the stages with drums on them, it only took an instant for a big mountain to appear in front of him.


    "It looks like the mountain which has the Xin Sect on its summit."


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he looked at the mountain in front of him.


    Zhao Luo tilted his head upward and found the dark brown mountain kept on going and going till he couldn''tprehend its size anymore. The form was so simr that he also found clouds circling the Mountain as he squinted his eyes while looking up.


    ''Amazing.''


    Zhao Luo praised but this wasn''t directed towards the mountain, instead, it was for the dark space, his mental world, that could hold such a humongous mountain and still looked ever going.


    Zhao Luo shook his head as he had been sidetracked with the mountain he had summoned.


    "Let''s punch."


    Zhao Luo said to his apparitions as this was the reason he had a mountain in front of him in the first ce.


    ''Tap, Tap.''


    Zhao Luo walked towards the mountain while clenching his fists tightly.


    The explosive fist ne was free of one particr thing, and that was the form to throw a fist.


    While he didn''t believe that a punch could be better without a WAY (form) but for the time being he was the learner and he had to learn it perfectly. Only then the result intended by the one who had written the book ''bullet fist'' would be achieved.


    ''Since there was no special ''way'' mentioned, I will be freely throwing my punches.''


    Zhao Luo said as he pulled back his arm while his right fist was pointed straight at the mountain''s surface in front of him.


    The apparitions were concentrating on Zhao Luo while moving towards the mountain too.


    "Eat My Fist!"


    Zhao Luo shouted as he threw the fully pulled back punch at the mountain.


    His arm went forward like a loose string, while his punch came to hit the surface with an unmeasurable speed.


    BANG!


    A huge explosive noise erupted from the point of collision.


    Zhao Luo looked at his arm, half of which was buried in the mountain.


    He couldn''t see his fist which had prated deep into the mountain. But he could feel the roughness of the mountain scratching over the skin of his hand.


    ''Clench''


    Thud!


    Zhao Luo further tightened his fist and pulled it out of the hole with a swift motion.


    ''CRACK!''


    ''CRACK!''


    ''Rumble''


    "What?"


    Zhao Luo could see a line going upwards and spreading into more lines which climbed the mountain with an abrupt speed and before he could even understand the situation, the cracks appearing on the mountain''s exterior caused it to fall apart.


    "GREAT."


    Zhao Luo said angrily while looking at the rocks falling on him.


    Just like how the rain falls in the shape of water droplets, the mountain fell on Zhao Luo and his apparitions in countless pieces of rocks.


    Seeing the big rocks falling on him, Zhao Luo and his apparitions lowered their postures and while raising their ankles, they started using "Half Walk" to dodge the falling rocks.


    After a while, the falling rocks of the shattered mountain settled down.


    Zhao Luo looked devastated.


    ''If the mountain that I have formed can''t even take a single punch then how will I train my fists?''


    Zhao Luo wondered but that is when his questioning thought was interrupted by a voice.


    [ HAHAHA ]


    [ Child, why don''t you aim to be aedian in some God''s pceter on ]


    [ Indeed that would suit him better ]


    [ Stop making fun of our sessor ]


    Multiple loud voices resounded in the dark space.


    Each of them had nothing good to say about Zhao Luo as theyughed at him for some reason just to get shut down by the voice of the female empera with the crimson eyes.


    [...]


    [...]


    [...]


    "Haha, Why were the seniorsughing?"


    Zhao Luo asked as he kept on looking around left and right as the disappearingughs didn''t have a certain direction.


    He knew that the emperas were talking to him.


    ''They have this habit of lurking around from time to time.''


    Zhao Luo mumbled to himself while trying to know the reason behind their sudden manifestation.


    [ You are quite mistaken if you think that a normal mountain, no matter how big, can take your punch without breaking apart ]


    Another Empera spoke to Zhao Luo.


    "Then what should I do?"


    Zhao Luo asked him. From the voice, he knew this was the empera who had left the biggest impression on Zhao Luo.

 Chapter 147 - The Strongest Mountain

    [ The answer is very simple ]


    Another Empera spoke out of his turn just to attract the irk of the previous empera.


    [ TSK. Don''t Interrupt me! ]


    The empera who was going to guide Zhao Luo scolded his fellow Empera''s ego into silence.


    The voice of this empera was so loud and powerful that Zhao Luo couldn''t stop himself from shaking.


    [ So where were we? ]


    The empera said in a confused tone.


    Zhao Luo felt baffled for a moment.


    Zhao Luo''s first impression of this empera''s behavior was that ''he was extremely toxic and arrogant'' for just an ego but then after seeing Zhao Luo''s potential as a crimson God the attitude of this Empera had taken a turn of 180¡ã.


    The change was so much that he hadn''t talked down to Zhao Luo since then.


    ''And now he is guiding me. How the times have changed...''


    [ Yes, the mountain ]


    The voice of the Empera which sounded excited echoed in the dark space.


    It was the feeling of bliss that the ego was feeling as his voice marched on to give guidance to his disciple.


    Zhao Luo nodded while the Empera continued with what he was saying.


    [ Your master had already taught you the stages of Naoli perfectly. But that ''perfection'' is only limited to those who are better than average. Unlike you, whose mind is at the extreme level. If you follow my advice, you can summon a mountain so strong that even if you are destroyed, that mountain will live on ]


    The Empera gave a drastic example to impress Zhao Luo.


    "Why would I be destroyed?"


    Zhao Luo who was listening to the example was feeling frustrated.


    "Why don''t you teach me something that will make me so strong that I will be invincible??"


    Zhao Luo smirked while talking to the Empera in a screaming manner.


    [ NO ]


    [ This is your path. Only you alone shall stride on it alone. The only things we can help you with are those which won''t affect you directly. So are you ready? Or should I go? ]


    ''Tsk. Bastard.''


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he cursed at the empera silently.


    "Yes, I am ready."


    Zhao Luo answered back.


    [ Good. Next time you summon a mountain, don''t simply imagine its shape ]


    "Then, what?"


    Zhao Luo who had simply been summoning his apparitions and a few other things with just a simple thought was facing a new challenge.


    [ Yea. A shape is just a shape with the simplest ofponents. Your apparitions are different since they are the embodiment of what you know and your strength. But if it''s just a lifeless thing, no matter how big it is, if you focus on it from a different angle then it could turn out into something impossible. ]


    The Empera told Zhao Luo an interesting fact.


    This caused Zhao Luo to think quietly for a moment before questioning the Empera again.


    "And what should this ''different angle'' be?"


    Zhao Luo asked with an excited tone.


    [ Think of the mountain as a giant whose body is made out of the strongest metals that you know of. Leave it to your imagination. Only then an unbreakable mountain will appear before you. ]


    The Empera''s presence dissipated along with the egos of others.


    The advice had ended, now it was all on Zhao Luo''s and how he would proceed from here.


    "I understand. Thank you."


    Zhao Luo slightly bowed his head while saying the words of gratitude as he stood in the darkness of his world while being surrounded by his restless apparitions.


    Zhao Luo closed his eyes and started thinking of the kind of mountain he wanted.


    "Something that will be strong as iron."


    Zhao Luo mumbled and a light greyish mountain emerged in his mind, ready to be summoned anytime. But then he shook his head causing it to disappear.


    Zhao Luo could be called a knowledgeable existence of the 21st Century if not a genius like Takuma.


    He knew that an iron mountain wouldn''t be the answer that he was looking for. He needed something stronger.


    Zhao Luo tried to remember other metals he could think of that were stronger than iron.


    "What about a mountain of steel?"


    Zhao Luo wondered as a big grey mountain with a pinkish shade emerged in his mind.


    Soon a mountain started rising in front of him slowly as Zhao Luo was quite fixed on this one as the pink shade was making Zhao Luo biased towards it.


    ''No''


    Rumble!


    Zhao Luo shook his head and the rising mountain fell apart.


    But after the current rejection, Zhao Luo suddenly opened his eyes.


    Zhao Luo finally found his answer as a memory popped up in his mind.


    A memory that could be said to be 120 years old.


    It was the time when he was a mytube freak, spending more than 18 hours on it, watching countless videos.


    That is where he had seen a documentary on the strongest metal known to humanity.


    A grey metal but it could be said that the metal''s grey color had an unexinable deep lustrous depth.


    "Tungsten"


    Zhao Luo remembered the metal which was known as the strongest as closed his eyes yet again.


    Zhao Luo took only a single instant to think of it in his mind and then it happened.


    ''TsStstSs''


    A dark grey mountain rose from the ground and reached the same height as the first mountain that Zhao Luo had summoned.


    "What a lustrous shine!"


    Zhao Luo said as he focused on the mountain in front of him that radiated a mysterious pressure.


    This could be the World''s strongest mountain if Zhao Luo could move it outside.


    "It''s like I am being pulled in towards it."


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he looked up towards the summit of the mountain.


    ''Pop''


    ''Pop''


    The next moment, while cracking knuckles Zhao Luo moved towards the tungsten mountain.


    "I can finally learn the Explosive Fist ne."


    Zhao Luo said with an awkward smile.


    Then he proceeded to pull his arm back to the extreme and thenunched his fist towards the surface of the mountain.


    A fist with more than 9069 strength struck the mountain''s dark grey surface.


    "BANG!"


    A loud sound rose.


    "Bang"


    "bang"


    "ban."


    It echoed around three times.


    "Agh."


    Zhao Luo pulled back his fist while listening to the echoes and found a stinging pain haunting his fist.


    ''What about the surface?''


    Zhao Luo hurriedly looked at thece where his fist hadnded.

 Chapter 148 - Torturous Training

    The surface where Zhao Luo had punched wasn''t even scratched even a little.


    Even though Zhao Luo was impressed by the unyielding nature of the metal but then he sulked as he felt disappointed with his strength.


    Sigh~


    "Not even a scratch...", Zhao Luo gazed at his apparitions while mumbling out his dissatisfaction.


    "Go."


    Hemanded them with a single word which was enough for them to understand their task.


    The nine apparitions moved towards the mountain and as they got close to it. They started punching the shit out of it.


    "NO HOLDING BACK GUYS."


    Zhao Luo shouted while looking at his apparitions throwing their fists rapidly at the mountain.


    The dark space erupted with a single repetitive sound of banging that had even enveloped the farthest parts of the dark space.


    Zhao Luo also pulled back both of his elbows towards the sides of his stomach.


    "Huff~"


    Zhao Luo calmly breathed in with closed eyes.


    In the same second, he had already punched the mountain with his right fist.


    Bang!


    Pulling his right fist back, before the sound of the earlier collision could die down.


    Bang!


    His left fist had alreadynded on the mountain.


    The bullet fist wasn''t a technique that was limited to a single hand, thus Zhao Luo kept on throwing punches at the mountain left and right without stopping.


    The same went for his apparitions.


    This was his first try, while the goal waspleting 1000 tries.


    ording to the author of the Bullet Fist, each try would end when the practitioner''s fist would reach the crumpling point, that is,plete exhaustion.


    "AHHHHH."


    Zhao Luo let out a mighty roar as his arms had disappeared, his fists remained unseen, and only the sound of his fists crashing on the mountain''s surface remained.


    Bang! After, Bang! After, Bang!


    Without stopping for even a tenth of a second, Zhao Luo with his apparitions kept on punching the mountain.


    A minute passed.


    Zhao Luo alone had thrown around 1450 punches or so.


    That was around 24 punches per second.


    This speed was four times faster than what a professional boxer from his time could bring out. Not to mention the strength behind each of those punches.


    Just like that, 10 minutes passed.


    Bang!


    Bang!


    Zhao Luo''s body could easily be seen through his purple robe as the sweat had drenched it.


    But the more Zhao Luo sweated, the more smoke could be seen rising from his body as the speed of punches never slowed down.


    Till now he had thrown around 15000 punches.


    "Agh."


    While silently moaning in pain, he still continued throwing his fist at the mountain without letting his speed be affected by the pain.


    The stinging pain had climbed up towards his elbows.


    Zhao Luo felt like being pricked by a sharp needle every time his punch woulde in contact with the insanely hard surface of the mountain.


    Each punch would leave a red mark on the dark grey surface of the mountain.


    ''Cr~''


    ''Crack~


    After two more minutes of explosively punching the mountain, Zhao Luo could feel his fist cracking.


    "Gayyyaaah."


    While screaming, Zhao Luo kept on punching with his cracked fists for another minute.


    "Ahhh."


    "Huff"


    "Ahh"


    Zhao Luo while trying to catch his breath had a painful expression on his face.


    Even though he had gotten beaten many times by his devilish apparitions but self-harm like his, was a new feeling for him.


    ''I don''t enjoy it, not even a bit.''


    Zhao Luo cried out while his eyes hovered over his bloodied fists.


    ''Crea~~K''


    Zhao Luo opened his fist and his hand looked like someone had stabbed a knife in his palm countless times.


    "Is this really my hand?"


    Zhao Luo couldn''t believe how badly the phnges in his fingers were tangled inwards as though someone hadpressed his fingers.


    Shaking off the painful feeling, he looked at his apparitions who were already getting up.


    "Are they already going for round two?"


    Zhao Luo realized that there was a slight change in the fists of his apparitions.


    "They look bigger than before."


    Zhao Luo found the area of the fist to be bigger than before.


    "Or is it my imagination?"


    While wondering about it, he sat down, and while being drowned by the explosive noises of his apparitions punching the mountain, he started to rehabilitate, which was a mysterious ability that he would gain in the dark space.


    In a few minutes, his hands were looking perfect again.


    Without wasting any more time, Zhao Luo had joined his apparitions, to punch the mountain.


    The cycle of punching the shit of the tungsten mountain continued for hours.


    Each turn, Zhao Luo''s speed would increase slightly.


    ---- ---- ---- ----


    On the 60th turn, Zhao Luo had only punched the mountain for 8 minutes straight and that was enough for him to reach the crumbling point.


    Each minute, he was able to put out more than 2000 punches, which was a big leap over the number of punches he could throw in a minute when he had started this training.


    Coincidentally as he grew faster, his explosive power was also increasing.


    As for his apparitions, they were also improving while being in the same turn as Zhao Luo.


    "Forty more to go."


    Zhao Luo who was resting said with excited eyes.


    ''I have improved but this can''t be only what Explosive Fist ne offers.''


    Zhao Luo murmured about the increase in his fist strength and his arm speed.


    Even though it was going up by a good margin, it still couldn''t bepared to what the author of the book ''Bullet Fist'' was talking about.


    "I can''t even leave a single dent in the bloody wall."


    Zhao Luo cursed as he got up to hit the mountain for the 61st time.


    The only change that had urred on the surface of the mountain was because of Zhao Luo''s blood that would be left there while Zhao Luo was punching it.


    Walking up and standing 3 feet away from the mountain, Zhao Luo and his apparitions continued their torturous training to achieve the explosive fist ne.


    "Let''s get it, guys."


    Zhao Luo shouted at his apparitions before he started throwing punches at the mountain.

 Chapter 149 - 99 TURNS

    Bang!


    Bang!


    The sound of Zhao Luo''s fist falling on the greyish surface of the tungsten mountain sounded out like the noise of a big explosion.


    Just the echo of each punch was enough to make a regr person''s ear bleed.


    But in the dark space, where Zhao Luo alone would be throwing more than thirty punches, which werending straight on the mountain every second even before the sound of the previous punches would die down.


    This caused the ovepping sound to keep on increasing the impact of the echoes thus turning the dark space into a chaotic battlefield.


    Drowned in such sting sound, Zhao Luo and his apparitions had red eyes as they kept on pushing themselves to the extreme.


    Zhao Luo and his apparitions were punching the mountain left and right without stopping.


    Each punch carried the whole essence of their strength to thest drop. No one had cked in even a single punch.


    Zhao Luo the one who was throwing most of these punches since he was the strongest, had a fixed output of around 15000 punches each turn. Around 15000 punches, his fist would have multiple cracked bones and smashed skin. Thus he would know, that he had reached the crumbling point.


    The 61st turn wasing to an end, and Zhao Luo who had been focused on counting the numbers of his punches felt enclosed by an extremely painful feeling of being stabbed, every time his fist woulde in contact with the surface of the mountain.


    Bang!


    "14972."


    Zhao Luo counted the number of punches he had thrown currently.


    A secondter.


    Bang!


    Zhao Luo''s left fistnded on the mountain and as the sound came out, Zhao Luo stopped his fist and slowly pulled it back towards himself.


    ''Shwaa.''


    Blood flowed out of his fist as though someone had opened the doors of an enormous blood dam.


    15000!


    Zhao Luo said with excited eyes.


    "This turn took me eight minutes."


    Zhao Luo said with a meticulous look.


    Slowly walking away from the mountain while his bloodied fist dangled without strength, he was going to rest till his fist recovered back to full strength.


    "It''s really amazing, how I can damage myself to this point and still look forward to the next turn."


    Zhao Luo shivered as he realized that some perverted self-harming needs were awakening inside him and, he couldn''t help it, but see them through.


    Thud!


    Zhao Luo sat down and before closing his eyes, he thought of the one who had written the bullet fist.


    "Just how long did it take for him to reach the Explosive Fist ne by training like this?"


    Zhao Luo mumbled.


    Zhao Luo was overtaken by the curiosity of measuring his speed of training with the owner of the bullet fist.


    It was in human nature topare themselves to others.


    Zhao Luo wasn''t an exception to this.


    ''He must have done all the thousand turns alone. Sigh~''


    Just thinking about destroying your fist a thousand times sent shivers down Zhao Luo''s spine.


    "How many days or weeks did it take him to achieve the Explosive Fist ne?"


    Zhao Luo wondered about the founder of the Bullet Fist.


    The method to learn this technique was so extreme that Zhao Luo was thinking along the wrong path.


    He had alreadypleted the 61st turn in 12 hours because of how fast his recovery was because of the properties of his mind space.


    But the founder of this first technique ''Bullet Fist'' didn''t have a dark space or nine other selves who he could rely on to help him with his training speed.


    It must have taken the founder, months, if not years.


    Zhao Luo didn''t dwell on thinking about the founder of the book anymore except he just focused on recovering.


    His apparitions were also sitting in a circle alongside him.


    In a few minutes, they were done resting as everyone''s condition was back to the top.


    "Let''s Do It!"


    Zhao Luo said to his apparitions trying to encourage them with his few words.


    These words were delivered to his apparitions in the form of amand which fired them up even more than Zhao Luo had intended.


    "YEASSSS BOSS!"


    The apparitions shouted in unity.


    Zhao Luo found his apparitions rushing at the mountain and an instantter.


    Bang!


    Bang!


    Bang!


    "Haha, Good Good."


    Zhao Luoughed brightly.


    To him, it was like a father watching his kids going at studying with enthusiasm.


    Just that, here the father was Zhao Luo and kids were his apparitions who were punching as much as they could with their full strength.


    "I can''t fall back."


    Zhao Luo felt challenged as the noises of the punches kept on entering his ear.


    Zhao Luo tightened his fist and lowered his body as he faced the mountain from a few meters away.


    Every time he ended his turn, to get away from the metallic smell of the blood that wasing from the wall, Zhao Luo would move to this distance.


    Thus looking at the wall from this distance, Zhao Luo raised his heel and while pushing his toes backward, Zhao Luo uttered two words.


    "Half Walk."


    In the blink of an eye, Zhao Luo disappeared from his spot.


    Boom!


    BANG!


    With a loud sound of crashing, Zhao Luo appeared 2 feet away from the mountain with his fist already touching the mountain.


    ''Hmph.''


    Zhao Luo shrugged as even this punch didn''t leave a dent on the lustrous shining dark grey surface of the mountain.


    Zhao Luo pulled back his right fist and threw a left punch at the mountain.


    Bang!


    Just like the 62nd turn started.


    ---- ---- ---- ----


    The wheels of time kept on rolling as Zhao Luo and his apparitions kept on training their fists, turn after turn.


    After a few hours, to be exact around 6 hourster.


    Zhao Luo could be seen moving away from the mountain.


    Before sitting on the dark floor, his red arms could be seen swinging in front of him, like dried wood branches.


    "99th turn is done. Only thest remains now."


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he sat down on the dark floor.

 Chapter 150 - 100th, The Last Turn

    Zhao Luo who instantly closed the windows to his soul, had his hands sped in front of him.


    The back of Zhao Luo''s hands looked swollen and had a fiery glow while the part where his knuckles were looked thicker but had a mysterious sharpness embodied in them.


    Zhao Luo hadn''t realized such changes as he waspletely focused on recovering for thest round.


    His apparitions had alsopleted their 99th turn and were recovering along with Zhao Luo.


    It was like the chaotic battlefield that had been continuing in the dark space for more than 18 hours had ended abruptly.


    With thest turn remaining, Zhao Luo who should have been eager to finish it looked calmer than usual.


    ''No need to hurry.''


    Zhao Luo thought oppressively.


    The force of his thought was signaled to all of his apparations who were also recovering.


    After a few minutes, Zhao Luo who had been silently breathing opened his eyes and started pulling in air.


    "Huffffff"


    After inhaling to the limit, Zhao Luo released all the captured breath.


    "Ahhh."


    As he exhaled, Zhao Luo got up.


    Even though he tried his best to keep himself calm as he closed in on the end of the Explosive Fist ne, but Zhao Luo couldn''t as he felt his heart thumping loudly.


    Zhao Luo clenched his fist and stepped towards the dark grey mountain.


    "Mini Walk!"


    Zhao Luo said two words lightly and slightly lowered his body.


    ''Tap, Tap.''


    in a few steps, he blinked from his earlier spot and appeared in front of the mountain.


    "I have gotten better."


    Zhao Luo praised himself.


    Mini Step was an efficient version of half walk.


    An upgrade of his Half Walk.


    Before Zhao Luo was able to move a distance of around 8 meters but that was his limit.


    Another limitation of Half Walk was that Zhao Luo could use his Half Walk in a linear position but now the ''Mini Walk'' which was an improvement of the straight technique, allowed Zhao Luo to appear in a radius of 3 meters, wherever he intended.


    He could use it multiple times while keeping the distance short.


    This control started increasing after the 70th turn when Zhao Luo realized that he could freely shorten the distance that he was covering with Half Walk by lowering the number of toes he was using for this technique.


    Then he realized another thing which proved to him that this Mini Walk was indeed an improved version of Half Walk.


    "There is no strain on my legs."


    Zhao Luo said as he started shaking his head to focus on the task at hand.


    Bang!


    Bang!


    Zhao Luo''s apparitions had already started throwing their fists at the mountain.


    Zhao Luo nced at them and then looked back at the mountain with his palm brushing over the ''dark grey with a red shade'' surface of the mountain.


    ''This is where I have thrown more than a million punches."


    Zhao Luo said with calm eyes.


    A fire could be seen rising in his eyes.


    The fire was the embodiment of his desire to achieve the Explosive Fist ne.


    Seeing the still fine surface of the mountain, Zhao Luo''s desire to enter the explosive fist ne grew even more.


    He couldn''t wait to destroy this mountain.


    Zhao Luo pulled his hand back and closed it to make a fist.


    Doing the same to his other hand, Zhao Luo was ready to start hisst turn.


    "Huff."


    Taking a breather, he pulled his right fist further back.


    Then.


    ''Whoosh.''


    Following a space cutting sound, Zhao Luo''s fist moved towards the mountain.


    BANG!


    BANG!


    Two sounds echoed out in the tenth part of the second, but Zhao Luo had thrown his fists four times in that tiny split of a second.


    Zhao Luo with a sharp look in his eyes gazed straight at the contact point on the surface of the mountain while throwing these explosive punches.


    After four minutes, Zhao Luo''s demeanor had changed from calm and partially eager to that of an angry person.


    "AHHH!"


    BANG!


    BANG!


    Zhao Luo would shout after hundreds or so punches to keep the momentum going.


    With a loud shout and hundreds of punchesing after it, the 100th turn was truly an extremely torturous round for him.


    There were two reasons behind this.


    First, his speed and power had exceeded even what he was expecting and that of any practitioner even if they were above Zhao Luo''s level.


    Zhao Luo was throwing around 40 punches a second.


    That was 20 punches with each arm in a second.


    Secondly, his endurance had increased to an absurd level after punching like a mad dog for 99 turns straight.


    Just thest turn, he had been punching almost like this turn and still had to go on for 9 minutes or so while bearing a pain that was next to unbearable even for him.


    Only then he was able to finish his 99th turn.


    "AHHHHH~"


    Zhao Luo shouted again as he threw his fists at the mountain.


    BANG!


    BANG!


    The whole dark space was once again reversed back to a chaotic battlefield.


    ---- ---- ---- ----


    Three minutester, Zhao Luo''s apparitions moved back from the mountain.


    Their ck fists were swollen like melons.


    The bones in their hands had already been shattered to countless pieces.


    Thus showing the sign of their 100th turn ending.


    They all sat down and started recovering.


    A minuteter after a hundred or so, punching sounds which echoed loudly like a ''BANG!'', Zhao Luo had alsopleted thest round.


    He looked back, and started moving away from the mountain.


    Zhao Luo didn''t try to recover, even though he was exhausted to the point of copsing but he still forcefully held himself up and walked towards his apparitions.


    "Ab-absorb!"


    Zhao Luo mumbled.


    Just onemand caused all of his apparitions to mix, creating a dark gigantic shadow that seeped inside Zhao Luo, through his mouth.


    These apparitions had definitely improved by leaps and bounds but they hadn''t recovered yet.


    Without caring about their recovery, Zhao Luo had already absorbed them.


    "Assimte."


    Zhao Luo thought while standing on his spot.


    ''This is it. I did it.''


    Zhao Luo congratted himself as the assimtion process was still ongoing, that is, a process simr to digestion was taking ce inside him.


    The apparitions were the food source here.


    During assimtion, Zhao Luo felt strange.


    His eyes rolled up and he started shivering.


    "Gahhh, Whattt?"


    Zhao Luo cried out as his body shivered even more intensely.

 Chapter 151 - Stepping In The Explosive Fist Plane

    Zhao Luo slowly fell on his spot while shivering.


    "Ghaaa."


    He moaned in pain while sweating like a wild beast.


    An extremely boundless pain swarmed his body like a tsunami.


    Mostly it was his upper body that felt like it was being torn apart by some internal force.


    In the dark space, it was only him and the pain that resided inside his body.


    "AHHHH."


    And his screams.


    Zhao Luo looked as if he was seeing his death.


    "H-help."


    Zhao Luo hardly cried out while squirming as he rolled on the dark floor.


    The ones he was asking ''help'' from, were none other than the emperas.


    ''Only they can save me from this pain.''


    Zhao Luo felt his dark space shake along with his trembling.


    ''Everything''s falling apart.''


    Zhao Luo closed his eyes tightly, while strongly clenching his shoulders with his hands as his arms folded over one another and his nails etched into the skin of his shoulder as they almost reached his corbone.


    Zhao Luo had made a mistake.


    This pain was caused by the mistake.


    Zhao Luo was already in an extremely painful state afterpleting hisst turn.


    But then he absorbed his nine apparitions who were still recovering from the same pain.


    All the pain of his apparitions added on to him as the assimtion started and now it was causing Zhao Luo to go through this excruciating pain.


    "Agh."


    "AHH."


    Zhao Luo''s painful screams rattled the whole dark space.


    ---- ---- ---- ----


    Inside the Heaven''s Tomb.


    [ Can''t we help him? ]


    The Empera who had guided Zhao Luo said to the other emperas while his brown eyes radiated with a sharp light.


    [ We can''t ]


    [ Yes, we can''t ]


    [ I want to help him too, seeing how much pain he is in, but if we help him now then we won''t be able to help him in ''THAT'' moment ]


    [ Yes, Our egos have a limit too. We may disappear if we meddle directly ]


    [ Indeed. Let''s just wait and let him recover. He will be fine no matter how badly he is injured here. Until he is inside his dark space, nothing can kill him ]


    The other five emperas gave their opinion one by one.


    The Empera who had asked couldn''t help but click his tongue.


    [ TSK ]


    Then he looked at the middle and gazed at the beautiful crimson eyes.


    [ Goddess... ]


    The female Empera with crimson eyes closed her eyes.


    Just this gesture was enough to show that even she won''t be able to out rule the decision of others just to help Zhao Luo.


    [ Sigh~ ]


    ---- ---- ---- ----


    Almost an hourter.


    Zhao Luo looked unconscious as the side of his face was touching the dark floor while his drool continuously flowed out of his mouth.


    He was fully awake, but because of the severe pain that had tortured him to death over this hour, hadpletely slowed down his other senses, for now.


    The unbearable pain he was in was something simr to what a person goes through after eating extremely hot chilis.


    The burning sensation that envelops one''s mouth which is impossible to get rid of, Zhao Luo''s pain was something simr to that.


    Zhao Luo had already recovered but for some reason, he could still feel that lingering painful sensation in the muscles of his arm.


    Zhao Luo suddenly closed his mouth.


    Pushing on the dark floor, he got up and stared in the darkness of the empty dark space.


    "Bastards."


    "Heartless."


    Zhao Luo mumbled out curses without targeting them towards someone.


    "Ahhhhh."


    A loud shout left his mouth.


    It was so loud that the whole dark space trembled.


    "I need to be careful from now on."


    "I really need to be careful."


    Zhao Luo repeated the same dialogue twice with squinted eyes.


    "But this never happened to me before."


    Zhao Luo wondered as he had absorbed his apparitions before too.


    He couldn''t remember a time when he had allowed his apparitions to recover before absorbing them.


    ''So why now?''


    For a moment Zhao Luo felt very confused.


    ''Hmm.''


    Then he tried to remember the previous training sessions.


    ''Ah.''


    Zhao Luo realized something.


    "Maybe because they were still fine after the training."


    Zhao Luo remembered that every training ended with him being the most injured one.


    "Sigh~"


    Shaking off this ugly feeling, Zhao Luo calmed himself down.


    It had already been 20 hours since he had started his training.


    "I should be in the Explosive Fist ne."


    Zhao Luo told himself as he clenched his fist and enjoyed feeling the indescribable strength that was flowing towards his fist.


    "Is this the power that can change the oue of the losing battle with just a single attack?"


    Zhao Luo felt excited and then moved his gaze towards the dark gray mountain that stood taller than anything else in the dark space ''(Since it was the only thing there)''.


    Zhao Luo chuckled as he slowly moved towards the mountain with a fiery look in his eyes.


    Zhao Luo warmed up by moving his shoulder up and down in a funny way and raising his arms just to spin them like a rope.


    If others saw this scene, they would have undoubtedlyughed at Zhao Luo for his crapy moves.


    But if those who were watching him, focused on his arms they would be able to see the shadows of a whiping forward and then disappearing at the same instant.


    Zhao Luo wasn''t simply spinning his arms, instead, he was throwing free-motion punches without any angle or any particr direction.


    These punches would be impossible to dodge but Zhao Luo hadn''t realized what kind of extraordinary punches he was pulling off in the name of a silly warm up.


    THAP!


    Zhao Luo pped his face causing a pping sound to resound around him.


    "It''s time."


    Zhao Luo said as he felt that he had already warmed up enough to adjust to the improvement in his strength.


    Zhao Luo now stood three feet away from the mountain which was made with the strongest metal known to humanity of his time.


    "Huff~"


    Zhao Luo breathed in and pulled his right arm back.


    "Explosive Fist"


    Shouting the name of the Bullet Fist''s first stage, Zhao Luo threw his fist which contained all his strength, pain, and the endured torture.


    ''BANG!"


    "RUMBLEE~~"


    The mountain, not only trembled but a dent was left on it.


    The dent was wayrger than Zhao Luo and so deep that a big African elephant could easily fit in it.


    "wow!"


    Zhao Luo was shocked beyond words.


    If his single punch could do this much to the World''s strongest metal then what would the outer disciple do when he punches them with full force.


    "With this..."


    Zhao Luo grinned while looking at the humongous dent in the mountain.


    "...I have officially stepped into the Explosive Fist ne."


    Zhao Luo sped his hand and felt like saluting to himself.

 Chapter 152 - Two Steps

    Zhao Luo, who had recently entered the Explosive Fist ne wasn''t over the fact just yet. His fists were still itching for more.


    So without wasting any time, he jumped towards the mountain.


    One after another he showered the mountain with his punches.


    Each punch containing all the strength he could muster in his fists fell on the dark grey surface of the mountain.


    ''BANG!''


    ''BANG!''


    ''BANG!''


    His punchesnded explosively on the mountain and sting sounds were released one after another.


    Each of Zhao Luo''s punches left exactly the same dent on the mountain''s surface as the first punch.


    The size and shape were identical to the first one, showing that Zhao Luo''s strength hadn''t dwindled, not even by a bit.


    "Hmm, since I have mastered this stage, then I can start training the other stage."


    Zhao Luo said to himself with excited eyes.


    Even though the journey to enter the Explosive Fist ne was torturous and filled with pain and suffering but the result was worth all the pain he had gone through.


    Zhao Luo couldn''t have felt any better as he looked at the deformed parts of the mountain.


    "More than a million punches couldn''t put a single scratch on this bastard, but now just a single punch with this fist of mine..."


    Zhao Luo praised himself while looking at his fist which was emitting a bloody smell.


    "Hmm."


    Zhao Luo made a sound as he took out the book which contained the Bullet Fist.


    "The next part was Calming Fist ne."


    Zhao Luo said as he opened the book and got to the page which ended with the exnation of the Explosive Fist ne.


    He flipped the paper and arrived at the next page.


    Zhao Luo looked at the start and was shocked.


    "What?"


    Instead of starting with the [ Calming Fist ne ], the start of the text was in a self answering tone.


    Zhao Luo started reading from the top.


    [So you have already entered the Explosive Fist ne. Good Job.]


    Zhao Luo smiled as he felt thepliment of the founder, warming his heart.


    "What a meticulous guy!"


    Zhao Luo was quite impressed by the foresight of the founder of this Bullet Fist.


    He had already foreseen such events where Zhao Luo would only get to this page after entering the Explosive First ne.


    "Let''s continue."


    [ But if you haven''t entered the Explosive Fist ne, then I suggest you close this book. ]


    [This technique is only for those who have disciplined themselves to the extreme. Not for a skipper like you. ]


    "Calling me a skipper? When you are the one throwing your guesses in the page where the technique should be!"


    Zhao Luo was angry but he still had to continue reading.


    [ If you are continuing, then I assume you have indeed mastered it. ]


    Zhao Luo nodded as he got to this part.


    [ Explosive Fist is the best trump card to change the oue with one move. Being in the Explosive Fist ne changes the temperament of the person to the fire nature. Anger will be your second nature while arrogance wille naturally to you. ]


    [ That is just how much an explosive power changes a person. ]


    [ The answer to this is achieving the Calming Fist ne. ]


    [ While the calming fist ne is a counter. Not only will it allow you to pertain your sanity but it will also allow you to counter the attacks of others with your fist. ]


    [ Both explosive and calming fist nes aren''t just simple fist techniques, but instead, they are the way of my life. ]


    [ If you had thought of Calming Fist ne as simply a stage thates after Explosive Fist ne, then you wrong my disciple! ]


    "Your disciple? Who is your disciple?"


    Zhao Luo who had been trying to read the technique without losing focus suddenly cried out.


    He had used points to take this book so why had he gained a teacher so suddenly?


    Zhao Luo shook his head to get rid of these "extra" thoughts and focused on the book.


    [All three nes are parallel, neither precedes the other, thus my ''bullet fist technique'' is actually an alignment of three nes that will allow you to learn three different ''ways of the fist'' ]


    [ Coming back to the Calming Fist.


    To use it, you will have to enter its ne.


    To enter the Calming Fist ne, you have to master two steps. ]


    [ First throw your fist at a strong target, just like before, a mountain will be the best training partner. ]


    Zhao Luo nced at the grey mountain and shrugged with a grin.


    "Looks like the founder of this technique didn''t have any friends..."


    Zhao Luoughed it off and proceeded to read further.


    [ The only difference this time will be at the ''moment of contact''. ]


    [ Throw a punch with your full force but before it hits the mountain''s surface, dissipate your strength instantly such that when your fist which wasunched with all your strength touches the surface, there is no sound of the collision. ]


    "Wouldn''t that break my arm?"


    Zhao Luo questioned in a confused manner.


    ''Why throw a punch with full force in the first ce when I have to dissipate all of my strength before it hits the surface?''


    Zhao Luo couldn''t understand the reason behind it except that it was another masterful way to harm one''s self.


    "The founder must be a masochistic pervert."


    Zhao Luo smirked after which his gazended back on the page.


    [ Sounds hard right? It may be hard but it isn''t impossible. Since I can achieve it so can you. Once you can continuously punch with full force and get the above mentioned result then you can move to the second step ]


    [ Now you will punch a water body. A silent pond would be best. Throw your fist at it, remember the technique. Once you can throw a calm fist that will neither produce a single sound nor a ripple in the water body, then consider yourself close to the Calming Fist ne. ]


    [ Once you can do the second step sessfully a thousand times in a single sequence, only then will you be able to enter the Calming Fist ne. ]


    Thud!


    Zhao Luo closed the book in a swift motion and got up from his spot.


    He had his eyes closed as his lips started moving.


    "So I have to punch the mountain a thousand times and not a sound should be produced while breaking my arm, who knows how many times and then punch any water body another thousand times without causing any disturbance to its flow."


    Zhao Luo mumbled all that in a single breath.


    A smile emerged on his face as he opened his eyes.


    "Sounds easy!"


    Zhao Luo''s natural smile grew into an awkward one while he walked towards the mountain.

 Chapter 153 - Training The First Step To Enter The Calming Fist Plane

    Zhao Luo stored the book in his storage space.


    The awkward smile on his face was still there.


    "Is it even possible?"


    Zhao Luo questioned himself.


    "Even though it sounded easy, but is it really easy?"


    Zhao Luo mumbled with worry but didn''t stop walking towards the mountain.


    "I should try it, and then summon my apparitions."


    Zhao Luo decided on what actions he would be taking.


    Even though the instruction to each step was to do a thousand punches in a sequence but it didn''t matter to Zhao Luo.


    Since his apparitions would just be a part of him, so he could distribute the 1000 punches with them.


    "Each of us would only need to do 100 of these punches and step one will bepleted."


    Zhao Luo said as he stood straight in front of the mountain.


    The smile from earlier had disappeared and now he had a calm expression on his face.


    His mind held no more confusions or doubts as he clenched his fist.


    "This is just a warm-up."


    Zhao Luo pulled his arm back and threw a fist at the mountain with all of his strength.


    ''...''


    The only thing that had changed now was that Zhao Luo''s speed was 20 times slower.


    After a second, Zhao Luo''s knuckles were infinitely close to the mountain.


    They were so close, that not even an ant could fit in the space between his fist and the mountain.


    ''Now.''


    Zhao Luo realized that this was the time when he had to diminish his strength and make his full strength punch, a powerless jab.


    Zhao Luo''s arm muscles tightened and a bulge appeared on his shoulder.


    It looked like he was holding something back from reaching his hand.


    The next instant a vein popped up on his forehead.


    If others could see him, they would definitely say the same thing.


    ("Oh look, that guy is barely holding his shit.")


    But in the dark space, there was no one except Zhao Luo.


    His powerless jab fell on the mountain and two sounds rang out instantly.


    ''Ting!''


    "AHHH."


    A very light sound of his fist colliding with the surface of the mountain came out, which was followed by Zhao Luo''s shrill scream.


    The cause of the scream was so unexpected that Zhao Luo unconsciously screamed like a teen girl.


    Jumping backward, Zhao Luo hurriedly looked at his arm.


    "My bones..."


    Zhao Luo said with a tragic voice while he stared at his arm which looked thicker than ever and sturdier like a tree trunk.


    "..are fine."


    Zhao Luo who felt like the bones in his arm had been crushed, felt them with his other hand and realized that he was wrong.


    "Why is my arm swelling?"


    Zhao Luo wondered without a conclusion.


    He took out the book which contained the Bullet Fist out of his storage and hurriedly flipped the papers to arrive at the page where the Calming Fist ne was exined.


    Zhao Luo''s gaze went from the start of the page to the end in a matter of few seconds then his eyes trembled.


    "There is nothing about this pain mentioned here."


    Zhao Luo mumbled as unlike the exnation of Explosive Fist ne where it was specifically mentioned that he had to train till his fists crumbled apart, here there was no such thing.


    "Hmm."


    Zhao Luo''s index finger was on the tip of the page, a single movement away from turning the page.


    Zhao Luo''s gaze hovered on the top part of the page, where the founder had used the predictive speech and depreciated him, in case Zhao Luo was on this page without entering the Explosive Fist ne.


    "There may be the same thing on the next page without an answer."


    Zhao Luo wondered while thinking a step ahead for his problem at hand.


    After wondering for a minute.


    ''Thud!''


    He closed the book and stored it.


    Zhao Luo got up and checked his right arm again and found it back to normal.


    "It''s recovered."


    He had understood the training process, now he just had toplete it 100 times without making a mistake.


    "SUMMON!"


    Zhao Luo said and his apparitions formed in front of him.


    ''Nod.''


    ''Nod.''


    Zhao Luo nodded at them and they nodded back at him.


    There was already a mutual understanding between him and his apparitions who knew what their task was.


    Zhao Luo walked towards the mountain and his apparitions did the same.


    "Won''t it take me less than a minute toplete this?"


    Zhao Luo scratched his head.


    Even though the process could prove to be extremely painful and ufortable but it didn''tst for long.


    "Whatever."


    Zhao Luo said as he pulled his arm back and started punching the mountain.


    Turning his strong punches to light jabs, so light that even a feather wouldn''t be disturbed by it.


    ''...''


    ''...''


    ''...''


    No sound was produced as Zhao Luo and his apparitions punched the mountain.


    A few seconds passed and the silence continued.


    But then, "BANG!"


    Someone had made a mistake.


    Being unable to dissipate all his power beforeing in contact with the surface of the mountain caused this sound to echo around the dark space while disturbing the others.


    Zhao Luo looked down as he was the one who had made this mistake right after 39 punches.


    "Bang!


    Bang!


    Bang!.."


    One after another the apparitions also failed, joining Zhao Luo in his grumpy moment.


    "Again!"


    Zhao Luo said angrily without caring about his throbbing arm.


    "It''s just 100 punches..."


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he started punching the surface again.


    ''...''


    ''...''


    ''...''


    Again soundless and light collisions started taking ce on the mountain''s surface.


    After a few more seconds, Zhao Luo failed again.


    "Tsk."


    He clicked his tongue as this time he had failed even earlier, that is, at the 15th punch of his left fist.


    "AGAIN."


    Zhao Luo started punching the mountain again right away.


    The cycle of failing and resuming continued for hours without any break.


    Two sounds could be heard every minute at least once.


    "Bang!"


    Someone not being able to control their strength, mostly Zhao Luo.


    "Again!"


    Zhao Luo voice ordering himself and his apparitions to continue.


    But will he be able to achieve the calming fist ne?


    While such doubts filled his mind, a whole day had already passed.

 Chapter 154 - Training The Second Step To Enter The Calming Fist Plane

    Even though doubts were spreading in his mind like parasites, Zhao Luo still never gave up.


    "Bang!"


    Another failure.


    "ERROR 404!"


    Zhao Luo shouted with arms pointing upwards in the dark space.


    This was his 404th time failing in punching the surface of the mountain without resulting in a sound.


    That is, he fell short while dissipating his strength at thest second.


    "I have failed hundreds of times but I will keep on going at it again and again. Even if I fail a thousand times, I will NOT GIVE UP!"


    Zhao Luo said with a resolute tone and focused eyes.


    ''There is no way, I drop out of this.''


    He wanted nothing more than to curse at the one who hade up with this weird-ass method but Zhao Luo didn''t know who the founder was.


    "Again."


    While telling himself that he canplete the first step, Zhao Luo went on to punch the mountain again.


    Even after this turn, Zhao Luo kept on trying hundreds of times which soon turned to thousands and the thousands went on to tens of thousands turns of FAILURE.


    ---- ---- ---- ----


    Turn Number 33333.


    ''Last punch.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he threw his left fist at the surface hoping to achieve his 100th punch wlessly.


    His 100th punch came close to the surface and touched it.


    ''...''


    A deep smile appeared on his face.


    That bright smile on his handsome face showed how much this sess meant to him.


    This sess which came after tens of thousands of failures.


    ''Thud!''


    Zhao Luo fell right on the spot and started to recover.


    His arms looked swollen like a pair of balloons.


    With bloated arms, Zhao Luo could feel intense pain rising from them.


    Before he had been stressed as the thought of failure, again and again, kept him anxious which caused an intense adrenaline rush in his brain over the 33333 turns.


    Thispletely kept his pain sensors shut but now as the adrenaline levels dropped down back to normal Zhao Luo was flooded with this pain.


    "Gah."


    Even while groaning as he felt the pain, Zhao Luo still smiled widely.


    The nine apparitions came towards him and looked at him with thoughtless eyes.


    "They have already recovered."


    Zhao Luo said as he inspected them.


    His apparitions hadpleted their 100 punches perfectly a few turns earlier than Zhao Luo and were already brimming with energy.


    "I can absorb them and then continue to the second step or absorb them after the second step is finished."


    Zhao Luo wondered but then shook his head.


    "If I don''t assimte them, then the first step of the calming fist ne won''t be trulypleted."


    Thus Zhao Luo knew how he will be proceeding.


    "ABSORB!"


    Zhao Luo said and then all the apparitions were absorbed by him as they seeped inside him through his mouth.


    "Assimte!"


    The assimtion process went along side by side with Zhao Luo''s recovery.


    After a few minutes, Zhao Luo breathed out.


    "Huff."


    "Crack."


    "Crack."


    Zhao Luo tightened his fists and felt some minuscule changes that he couldn''t exin.


    "It''s like my arms aren''t here."


    Zhao Luo said as even though his hands were clearly in his vision, they felt so light that Zhao Luo was having doubts.


    Getting up from his position, Zhao Luo took a boxing stance and threw hundreds of punches in the empty space.


    ''Shoo.''


    ''Shwaa.''


    ''Woosh.''


    ''Fwoosh.''


    Each time he would dissipate the strength of his fists exactly at the moment before he would reach the maximum range of his punch.


    Only the sound of his fists cutting through the space would be left.


    After doing the same thing more than a million times, he could do this as easily as eating his apparitions.


    "Good!"


    Zhao Luo felt amazing.


    "It''s time for the second step."


    Zhao Luo closed his eyes and thought of ten stages.


    Each stage was a 100 feet big pool with water filling it.


    ''Sursursur.''


    The ten pool stages appeared in front of him and Zhao Luo opened his eyes to look at them.


    "This would do."


    Saying this Zhao Luo jumped towards the edge of the stage and looked at the water in the pool.


    "Let''s try with a slow punch first."


    Zhao Luo raised his arm and then lowered his body while pulling his elbow inwards.


    "Fuh."


    Exhaling and calming his mind, Zhao Luo released his slow fist to strike the water surface.


    Right before his fist could touch the water surface, Zhao Luo had dissipated all of his strength since he was already a master of this little trick.


    ''Thap.''


    Ripple~


    As the sound came out of the point of contact a ripple was also formed where Zhao Luo''s punch hadnded and then the ripple traveled to the other end of the 100 feet long pool.


    ''Ripple~''


    Traveling to the other end, and hitting the end of the stage''s boundaries, the ripple traveled back.


    The ripplepleted this cycle 99 times.


    "Hmm."


    Zhao Luo scratched his head.


    He went over the feeling that he could sense through his fist right when it had touched the water surface.


    "It''s like the water sucks in my fist right when my strength vanishes. If only I can cushion it before touching it then there won''t be any ripples producing there."


    Zhao Luo mumbled.


    "Summon."


    Zhao Luo''s apparitions formed around him.


    "Try it."


    Zhao Luo told them and each of the apparitions jumped on a different pool stage.


    Zhao Luo already knew how he had to produce.


    Unknowingly he had mastered a particr Dao.


    "Dao of Control."


    But Zhao Luo didn''t know this.


    He proceeded to hit the water in the pool.


    ''Thap.''


    The first punch which was even perfectly executed, caused yet another light sshing sound.


    Following it, the ripple started traveling from there to the other end.


    .


    .


    "73."


    Zhao Luo mumbled the number of times the ripples hadpleted a loop this time before dying down.


    "I see. 10 more punches should be enough for me to adjust myself to this."


    Zhao Luo said to himself as he continued to punch the water surface.

 Chapter 155 - Entering The Calming Fist Plane

    Trying eight more times, Zhao Luo raised his fist and punched the water surface the ninth time.


    After punching it Zhao Luo stood up, with his back straight and his eyes focused on the water, he looked forward to seeing the results.


    His gaze followed something.


    The ripple.


    He watched it patiently as itpleted a loop but it didn''t stop there.


    The ripple was dying down but it stillpleted half of the cycle.


    "Hmph."


    Zhao Luo snickered at the ripple as though it was his enemy.


    "My biggest enemy."


    Zhao Luo groaned at it and proceeded to throw another punch at the water surface.


    Following the teaching of the founder, he used all his force, and then right before the contact, ''woosh'', the strength diminished and Zhao Luo''s fist touched the water.


    ''REEEEE.''


    A screeching sound covered the pool stage.


    "What?"


    Zhao Luo was shocked for a moment and realized that there was no ripple on the surface of the water.


    "That wasn''t the sshing sound either."


    Zhao Luo said as he sent both of his fists one after another towards the water.


    ''REEEeeREEeee.''


    A screeching sound was heard again and before it died down another started while Zhao Luo felt like he was hitting a cushion.


    Zhao Luo touched his knuckles with his fingertips and realized that they were wet.


    "I have seeded."


    Zhao Luo shouted with excitement.


    ''nce>''


    ''<nce.''


    He looked around to check how his apparitions were faring with their tasks.


    "WoW."


    To his surprise, they were already throwing fists left and right, and not even a single ripple was popping up.


    "Is it because they are apparitions who are solely focused on one task?"


    Zhao Luo wondered.


    "Meh."


    He didn''t have time to think about how the brain of his apparitions worked while they were carrying out their tasks.


    ''Woosh.''


    ''Woosh.''


    ''ReeeeReee.''


    Zhao Luo also started throwing multiple punches at the water in the pool.


    After a few minutes.


    Since Zhao Luo had already gotten the hang of it, he easilypleted his part of thousand punches.


    Thud!


    Zhao Luo jumped down the stage and went towards his apparitions who were waiting for Zhao Luo while standing in a row showing their discipline.


    "I am not even hurt, neither are they."


    Zhao Luo was in his optimum condition just like his apparitions.


    "The second step was way easier than the first one."


    Zhao Luo mumbled while waving his hand at the apparitions.


    In a split second all the apparitions were absorbed by him.


    "Assimtee~"


    Zhao Luo said in a cold voice.


    All the strength of the upgraded apparitions was entering Zhao Luo.


    The 100 punches of his apparitions added on to his, reached the required mark of 1000 punches of step two as the assimtion ended.


    "Huff."


    Zhao Luo breathed out a thick fog.


    His eyes were shining brighter than ever.


    Zhao Luo went over to the mountain.


    Standing three feet away from the mountain, he threw a punch at its surface.


    His fistnded on the surface, but neither a noise came out from the ce of contact nor a dent had appeared there.


    "As expected..."


    But a momentter.


    BANG!


    Zhao Luo heard a sting sound.


    "Did a bomb drop?"


    Zhao Luo ran around the mountain and reached the backside of the mountain.


    "What?"


    Zhao Luo shouted as there was a big crack on the mountain and the rocks were still popping out of this ce.


    "Its exactly opposite to where I had punched "


    Zhao Luo spected and he was right.


    "So this is what Calming fist is capable of. The surface wasn''t even scratched but the backside of this mountain is getting demolished."


    Zhao Luo rubbed his chin with surprise written all over his face and enthusiastic eyes.


    ''Just how powerful have my fists gotten?''


    Zhao Luo pondered while looking at his finely shaped fists which looked filled, filled with muscles. Even the shapes of different muscles could be easily distinguished.


    "WTF....six-packs on my hand."


    Zhao Luo said funnily as he tightened his fists to flex those muscles.


    "Is the bullet fist really a bronze technique?"


    Zhao Luo questioned.


    Even though he wasn''t quite familiar with the difference in the strength of these techniques based on their color ranking but one thing that he was sure of was that this bullet fist was way more powerful than other techniques even those which had a higher rank.


    "Like Senior Mite''s uneven sword technique."


    Zhao Luopared his fist technique to Mite''s sword technique which was, one whole stage above his fist technique in rank.


    "Whatever!"


    Zhao Luo shook his head and took out the Bullet Fist Book.


    "Let''s see."


    Zhao Luo opened the book and flipped to thest page.


    ''Ahem.''


    Zhao Luo cleared his throat before started reading the book.


    [ WARNING: Do Not start your training to enter your fist for the calming fist ne right after entering the explosive fist ne. Rest for a month or two is needed otherwise extreme pain and swelling will haunt your arms during the training. ]


    "Gah, I should have flipped the page back then. But why is the warning after the whole training method was exined on thest page?"


    Zhao Luo sighed but even if he had read this warning, the limited time he had didn''t allow him to rest for so long.


    Zhao Luo proceeded to read further of the founder''s writing.


    [ If you are here, then I expect that you have already trained your fists to the extreme and have entered the calming fist ne that is parallel to the explosive fist ne. ]


    "I have."


    Zhao Luo answered to the writing of the founder.


    [ Good job, my DISCIPLE. ]


    "Thank you."


    ''But I still haven''t epted you as my master.''


    Zhao Luo paid his gratitude to the founder.


    Even though he wasn''t here, it didn''t matter. All that mattered was Zhao Luo had been able to train his fists to an extreme level.


    [ You must have already realized how great the calming fist is. ]


    [ Once you hit the target with your calming fist, he will drop his guard seeing the powerless attack, and then the next moment his back will be crushed. ]


    [ The power that is vanished before the fist hits the enemy is transferred to the enemy''s body but it travels in a straight path. That may be its only weakness ]


    [ Before I tell you about the bullet fist, you need to know something. ]


    "..."


    [ The explosive fist ne and calming fist ne are like oil and water. They can''t mix. One destroys the enemy in a single attack at the point of contact while the other destroys the enemy''s inside. But the bullet fist DOES both in a single attack from a fist. ]


    "What?"


    Zhao Luo was shocked after learning how capable bullet fist was.

 Chapter 156 - Mastering Bullet Fist

    Shaking off his shocked expression, Zhao Luo read ahead.


    The training for bullet fist had yet to be exined but there wasn''t much left to read


    [ There is a fine line between Explosive and Calming Fist nes, that line is where Bullet Fist ne lies ]


    [ To enter the Bullet Fist ne, you need to use an explosive punch and then a calming punch. Keep on switching the nes with each fist thrown at the mountain. After 30 million punches, you will know what the bullet fist ne is. ]


    [ Remember the bullet fist is a name of two techniquesbined by the meticulous and torturous process. So you are actually learning three techniques and not one. ]


    [ I will leave my ultimate technique in your hands that took me 78 years to master ]


    [ Goodbye my disciple ]


    The book had ended.


    "It wasn''t only a good technique but also a good read."


    "Goodbye senior."


    Zhao Luo bowed his head towards the book in the empty dark space.


    There were two things that Zhao Luo found hard to believe.


    "78 years?"


    "Did the founder really train his fist for 78 years to achieve this?"


    Zhao Luo mumbled while thinking about how he had already entered the second stage that was the calming fist ne in almost two days.


    "If this is the ultimate technique then why did you write a book II?"


    Zhao Luo already knew the answer to this question of his.


    It was at the stat of the other book.


    While getting rid of such useless thoughts off his mind, Zhao Luo moved towards the mountain.


    "I just need to hit the mountain while switching up the fist."


    "30 million times..."


    Zhao Luo said as he closed his eyes for a second.


    "SUMMON!"


    ''POOF.''


    Zhao Luo''s nine apparitions formed around him.


    They all also moved towards the mountain.


    "The goal is to hit the mountain 3 million times this time."


    Zhao Luo slowly said.


    "How long will it take me?"


    He could easily throw these mixed punches 20 times in a second. That was 1200 punches in a minute.


    ''It will take me around two days to reach my target.''


    Zhao Luo mumbled and started throwing his fists at the mountain.


    "Bang!"


    ".."


    "Bang!"


    "..."


    "Bang!"


    "..."


    "Bang!"


    The fist fury continued in the dark space as Zhao Luo and his apparitions continued with their training to enter the bullet fist ne.


    ---- ---- ---- ----


    Two Days Later.


    Zhao Luo now had two and a half days left before the tournament day would start.


    But where was Zhao Luo?


    In the dark space.


    Zhao Luo sat on the dark floor, he had already absorbed his apparitions


    Zhao Luo was almost done with the assimtion too.


    ''Fhuuu~.''


    Zhao Luo breathed out for a few seconds and got up from his spot.


    ''Tap.''


    ''Tap.''


    ''Tap.''


    Three steps and Zhao Luo was in front of the dark grey mountain that looked a thousand times smaller now because of the attacks from Zhao Luo and his apparitions.


    Since its size had decreased but its weight was still the same, this just showed how much sturdier it had be now.


    Zhao Luo with a cold face, pulled back his arms while his elbow was adjacent to his sides.


    ''Bullet Fist.''


    Zhao Luo said and threw his fist like an arrow leaving a bow.


    ''...''


    Zhao Luo''s fist touched the surface of the mountain but there was no sound because of this collision.


    After the tiniest moment.


    Boom!


    Boom!


    Two bombing sounds resounded in the dark space and for the first time, a hole twice as bigger as 12 feet was left in the mountain.


    "..."


    Zhao Luo silently watched the power of his fist unfold its destruction on the strongest mountain.


    "It took me 4 days to master this technique, while the senior who wrote it took 78 years."


    Zhao Luo mumbled but he didn''t look down on the founder of this technique.


    First, the founder didn''t have a guide. Second, he didn''t have nine selves that could share his burden. Third, the recovery in the dark space was unmatched.


    Zhao Luo while thinking about the hole left in the mountain that perfectly matched his fist, couldn''t help but a question.


    "Who is the founder? What kind of Senior cane up with such a technique? How strong must he have been in his prime? And how can such a strong person lose to someone who is using a stick?"


    Zhao Luo while having such questions took out the second book.


    The silver D grade Bullet Fist''s continuation.


    "Bullet Fist of Yin and Yang."


    Zhao Luo opened it and the first page was missing the requirement now.


    Zhao Luo had already achieved the requirement to learn it.


    [ When your Fist bes one with the Body, only then will you be able to master this Improved Version Of Bullet Fist ]


    Zhao Luo nced at his fist and realized something.


    "So, this was what it meant to be one with the fist."


    Zhao Luo''s hands left the book for an instant but before the book could fall the book''s edges were already being held by his hands again.


    ''Shu, Shu, Shu, Shu.''


    Four wails were heard showing that Zhao Luo had thrown his fist fur times in that infinitely small part of a second.


    Each attack moved along with his eyes, his body tightened, his back straight and his feet were insanely sturdy during the four punches, giving him a bnce like that of a fortress.


    After confirming it, Zhao Luo continued reading the page.


    [ I mastered the art of fists. The road had already ended for me. My fists were perfect. Many swords had fallen before my fists. Many spears had been busted apart by these godly fists. But then I met him. A man who carried a wood stick, who used a wood stick like a part of his body, like a weapon. He didn''t differentiate if it was a weapon or his body part, he used his four limbs while his body was the core to leave a mark on my fist and pushing me back ]


    "The other senior must have trained with a stick to the extreme."


    Zhao Luo thought of something that made sense to him.


    But that wasn''t the case.


    This was something that Zhao Luo had already read before but before it was just out of curiosity.


    Now he was giving his ideas cause he would be learning this so he could further improve his bullet fist.


    "So the senior was met with an equal genius."


    Zhao Luo further expressed his thoughts on what the founder had written here.


    Since Zhao Luo had mastered bullet fists after throwing millions of punches, Zhao Luo''s body already acted as a core without him focusing on it.


    His other limbs also simply moved along with the fist he was throwing, so how did the founder of this technique lost to another senior who used a stick but in the same way.


    ''This is a mystery."


    Zhao Luo mumbled but the answer to this mystery was in his hands.

 Chapter 157 - Tang Zi

    [The road that had already ended for me, opened up once again. I could see a path to perfect my fist technique. I started improving under that man''s guidance. I dropped my pride, threw away my stubbornness, and only then was I able to ''connect'' all my limbs and the core. That is when I performed thest form of the improved bullet fist. The Bullet Fist of Yin and Yang. ]


    "Hmm."


    "So I have to connect my limbs to my core in a certain sense that will allow me to reach this level."


    Zhao Luo said but, "what was this method that allowed the senior to do it?"


    ''Sutususus''


    Zhao Luo flipped the paper to arrive at the next page which was also thest one. That is, everything that he needed to know was on this page.


    The method to connect all the limbs to the core at the moment of punching was written here by the senior.


    [ As he bestowed me with his vast knowledge, I started to understand the working of heavens and thus mastering The Bullet Fist of Yin And Yang ]


    The founder was talking about the stick user who he had lost to.


    [Just throwing my bullet fist that contained the essence of explosion and calmness, wasn''t enough. My fists went on to crush my enemies but that wasn''t enough when I faced a real genius. ]


    [ Then I found out that the body of a man has unlimited potential but such potential has to be unlocked step by step. Sometimes unlocking it maye easy while other times, guidance and hard work are needed. Only if one doesn''t hit his Limit and I knew that this wasn''t my limit. ]


    ''Nod.''


    Zhao Luo nodded as, he, himself was being guided by the writings in the book.


    ''The founder thinks just like me. But even if I ever hit a limit, I will still give it my all to break through those limits.''


    Zhao Luo mumbled with a decisive and confident look in his eyes.


    Then he continued reading from where he had interrupted himself with his wandering thoughts.


    [ This time I was guided by the senior who told me the way to connect the energy of my limbs to my core. This energy was slightly different than internal energy. ]


    [ This way was so powerful that it allowed me to merge my burning yang energy with the cold yin energy, that was sleeping in my body. Once the two opposites came ''together, which rarely happened, only then was I able to unlock the true potential of the Bullet Fist. ]


    [ The way was indeed something that I had never tried. Since it was something that never crossed my mind. Thus my bullet Fistcked only one thing, and, that was the ''extreme harmony'' between explosiveness and calmness. ]


    [ Even though Bullet Fist is achieved by entering the fine line between Explosive and Calming Fist ne but by following this path your body will be internally divided into two and you will be in both nes simultaneously when using this technique but externally your strength wille out as ONE and that will be through your fists. ]


    "I can enter both nes at the same time?"


    Zhao Luo''s eyes widened and he looked back at the hole.


    The shape of the hole was 50 times bigger than the size of his fist and the hole continued towards the other end of the mountain without ever losing the shape of Zhao Luo''s fist.


    "Just how strong is this technique?"


    Zhao Luo wondered as he looked back at the book in his hand.


    He was already in a state where his single fist held the power of both explosion and calmness but the fist of yin and yang would be taking it even further.


    Zhao Luo hurriedly looked at the next part.


    [ As I have said, to achieve this level, you will need to enter the explosive fist ne and the calming fist ne at the same time. ]


    ''Gulp.''


    Zhao Luo found it hard to swallow his saliva as the nervousness took over him.


    The spicy part wasing and Zhao Luo felt more than ready for it.


    [ On one fist, the <strong>explosiveness</strong> which can turn the tides will ''act'' as your Yang energy, a <strong>light</strong> that can <strong>destroy</strong> everything, and on the other fist, the <strong>calmness</strong> of the fist will ''act'' as yin energy, a <strong>darkness</strong> that will <strong>envelop</strong> everything thates in its path.]


    "Explosive fist and the calm fist."


    "Light and darkness."


    "Destroying and Enveloping everything thates in my path."


    Zhao Luo looked excited.


    [ When both of your fists fall on your enemy, then your enemy will fall on his knees. ]


    "I will be unstoppable, even by those who are way above my level."


    Zhao Luo realized this while reading the text written by the founder.


    "It''s ending..."


    Zhao Luo said while feeling sad as the content was ending and there were three more parts left on this page which was the end.


    [ The training will be hard. It may damage your body. The skin on your arms will start tearing like it''s shedding off. Your bones will shatter to pieces. Your elbows will be mangled and your shoulders will be disfigured during the torturous training to reach the point where you can throw an explosive and calming fist at the same time with your right and left fist respectively. ]


    [ But till you breathe, no matter what, you have to achieve this level. Otherwise don''t dare to call yourself my student. ]


    [ I, Tang Zi have never given up neither will any of my disciples and those who do, haha. Then remember the heavens will punish you in the most torturous ways. Now go and train. ]


    ''Smirk.''


    Zhao Luo couldn''t help but grin as thest three parts that the founder had left were a warning, a dare, and a curse.


    "What an interesting man. Founder Tang Zi, I may have not epted you as my master but I will always respect you as my senior."


    Zhao Luo said as he stored the book and got up from his spot.


    "Let''s reach the ultimate level."


    Zhao Luo confidently announced in a world where his voice echoed multiple times.

 Chapter 158 - Uncontrollable Emotions

    Already knowing what he had to aplish and how to achieve the level of yin and yang mastery in his bullet fist, Zhao Luo, summoned his apparitions.


    "Summon!"


    The nine apparitions formed in the dark space in front of Zhao Luo and waited for hismand.


    Zhao Luo was silent as he rubbed his chin which he would only do when he was lost in deep and worrying thoughts.


    "Just how dangerous will it be, if I throw both of my fists at the same time when each of my fists will be in a different ne?"


    ZhaobLuo couldn''t help but wonder about the warning left by Senior Tang Zi.


    More than that what ate away Zhao Luo''s mind was when he wondered how this old man Tang Zi mastered this technique if the process of learning it caused such intense injuries like bone-shattering and deformed shoulders.


    Just then an image popped up in Zhao Luo''s mind where his shoulders looked deformed and his arms were down like a leather whip, after losing the straight shape of the bones.


    "Ack."


    Zhao Luo couldn''t help but feel like throwing up as the image was horrifyingly vomit-inducing.


    "Let''s just start the training."


    Zhao Luo told himself and his apparitions as worrying about the process wasn''t going to help in reach the level of yin and yang.


    Zhao Luo closed his eyes and thought of tungsten mountain.


    ''Big ones.''


    An enormously big dark grey mountain appeared in front of his eyes.


    ''Heavier than anything that could be called the "heaviest" by others.''


    He added weight to it. A weight that not even a million elephants could outweigh.


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he was shaping the perfect punching bag for this training.


    ''Yes,press it.''


    Zhao Luo mumbled again and the mountain which was made with the strongest metal started getting smaller and smaller.


    After a few seconds.


    The size stopped reducing as it reached the size of the mountain that Zhao Luo had initially summoned.


    "Good."


    Zhao Luo had reached the capability of his forming and summoning a lifeless object through mental prowess.


    "THIS IS IT."


    He shouted with a big smile.


    Then he summoned another nine of such mountains for his apparitions.


    "Even though I have to personally step into this level of this harmony between yin and yang..."


    Zhao Luo was talking about facts here.


    This time he didn''t need his apparitions but as they say,


    "The more the merrier."


    Zhao Luo said with a slimy look.


    Even though this wasn''t a pic but no other phrase could have been more perfect for this situation.


    He used the right one since the more his apparitions trained the more his strength will increase so why not let them have a go at it too.


    In the end, if he gets too strong then the end will indeed be a PICNIC for him.


    "Let Do IT!"


    Zhao Luo told his apparition after jumping towards the mountain and throwing both his fists at it.


    "Bang."


    "Bang."


    ''What?''


    Zhao Luo was confused.


    ''I am sure I used the calming fist with my left hand then why did it cause a sound too?''


    Zhao Luo questioned as he didn''t know what caused him to fail.


    Zhao Luo touched the mountain''s surface with his palm.


    "I will do it slowly this time."


    Zhao Luo said while touching the mountain.


    If others heard him, then they would think that Zhao Luo was going to do some naughty stuff with the mountain like leaving some deep round holes in it.


    Realizing what hade out of his mouth, Zhao Luo removed his hand from the mountain, "I mean, I will punch slowly to find the cause of my failure. Why wasn''t I able to perform the calming fist when I have already mastered it."


    Zhao Luo mumbled trying to correct his easily misunderstandable wording.


    But he didn''t have to do all this since, except the emperas, no one else could hear about what he was saying in the dark space.


    ''Huff.''


    Zhao Luo pulled his arms back and his elbows inwards.


    His fists looked like a cannonball that was ready to be fired.


    ''Whoosh.''


    ''Whoosh.''


    Two space splitting sounds were heard even though Zhao Luo was going way slower than his maximum punching speed


    Right before his fists could hit the mountain, Zhao Luo''s right fist was unwavering while his left fist shook when Zhao Luo tried to dissipate the strength in his left fist.


    Bang!


    Bang!


    Two loud sounds resounded around his space and two small dents were left on the mountain where his fists hadnded.


    "Again."


    With furrowed brows, Zhao Luo pulled back his fists again and made another attempt to get it right.


    ''Woosh.''


    The sounds of both fists had merged but the moment when Zhao Luo''s fists came in contact with the surface of the mountain, no sound came out.


    ''...''


    ''...''


    ''Rattle.''


    A secondter, a rumbling sound came from the backside of the mountain.


    "Why the heck would both of my fists entered the calming ne?"


    Zhao Luo questioned in an anxious tone.


    "Is the yin and yang level of bullet fist even possible?"


    "Tang Zi, that old man must have met someone in his dream and came up with this bullshit."


    "Did he even achieve this level?"


    "I should stop wasting my time-"


    Uncontrobly Zhao Luo cursed Tang Zi, the founder of Bullet Fist, and started having doubts about the authenticity of this certain level that he was trying to achieve.


    "No, No, No."


    Zhao Luo felt shocked as he found it hard to believe that he was momentarily unable to control what he was saying and negative emotions like anxiety and doubts were spreading in his mind.


    ''What was that?''


    He looked at his fist and thought about how he had said that he wasn''t going to give up no matter what, but now the emotions and words that were seeping out of him were that of a person who was ready to throw his training away.


    Unknowingly, the yin energy was taking over his mind, which was the first unmentioned hurdle that he had to face for trying to use the bullet fist of yin and yang.


    Zhao Luo hurriedly three both of his fists at the mountain again.


    "Bang!"


    "Bang!"


    This time, he couldn''t dissipate his strength at all, and both of his fists were in the bullet fist ne.


    "What the hell?"


    Now his defeated tone had changed into an angry one.


    Zhao Luo felt like he was trapped in a swamp of uncontroble emotions

 Chapter 159 - Mastering The Bullet Fist Of Yin And Yang

    Zhao Luo felt overwhelmed by the difficulty of entering both nes at the same time.


    "Even the bullet fist wasn''t this hard."


    Heined while remembering his four days of training.


    Back then Zhao Luo could only feel the physical pain but now, whenever he failed to enter the calming or explosive fist ne on either one of his fists, it would affect his mind.


    "But I won''t give up!"


    Zhao Luo said to himself.


    No matter how depressingly difficult it got, he would still keep on trying.


    Zhao Luo looked at his apparitions and realized that they were faring way better than him.


    "I see. So the failure doesn''t affect them at all."


    Zhao Luo mumbled while watching his apparitions with a growing smile on his sweaty face.


    His apparitions were like puppets once the task was given to them.


    They would see the task to the end, no matter how many times they had to try for it.


    Zhao Luo looked straight at the dark grey mountain.


    "Huff, Fuh."


    Zhao Luo started with slowing his breathing and calming his mind which helped a little in adjusting his mindset.


    Everything happened in an instant as Zhao Luo was already someone who had the mental capability at the level of a Crimson God.


    "Again."


    "Bang!"


    "Bang!"


    "...."


    "...."


    Zhao Luo started punching the mountain again.


    He punched twice, that is, his fist had connected to the mountain four times.


    ''I failed again.''


    Zhao Luo mumbled as the first time he was only in the explosive fist ne and the second time he couldn''t stop his right fist from entering the calming fist ne.


    ''No, I didn''t fail. I am just slowly getting towards ''it''. And this is just the start.''


    Zhao Luo changed how he was thinking of his failure.


    After that, Zhao Luo continued punching the mountain while trying to enter both nes simultaneously.


    ---- ---- ---- ----


    Hourster!


    Zhao Luo could still be seen punching the mountain.


    His fists looked rough but there were no cuts or anything on it.


    Zhao Luo was looking down after suddenly stopping.


    "It took me nine hours to achieve the lowest sess...hahaha. I did it."


    Zhao Luo said to himself as he pulled back his fists.


    "Fuuu."


    Slowly breathing out, Zhao Luo attacked the mountain with both of his fists at the mountain at the same.


    The moment both of his fists touched the mountain surface.


    "...""BANG!"


    Zhao Luo''s left fist was in the calming ne and his right fist was in the explosive fist ne.


    Confirming his sess was indeed true and he had indeed learned it, Zhao Luo opened his mouth.


    "Hahaha."


    Zhao Luoughed and couldn''t hide his happiness.


    He watched the mountain, but there was not a big change on it.


    "Hmm, the color of the surface is different."


    Zhao Luo mumbled as the spots where his fists hadnded could easily be differentiated from the dark grey color mountain.


    The dark grey spot where his explosive fist hadnded was a little lighter now as though the color was fading off with the full strength of his fist that woulde out at the moment of contact


    While the ce where his calming fist hadnded was darker than before. It was transversing towards ck from dark grey.


    "A yin-yang sigil."


    Zhao Luo identified that the changed color was actually making an image but it was barely defined.


    Zhao Luo felt the changes in his body.


    "I have definitely felt my energies fighting each other."


    In the past nine hours of punching with both fists at the same time, Zhao Luo had gotten better at sensing the bnce of his yin and yang.


    "Explosive fists from both hands increase my explosive nature."


    "While the calming fist does the opposite.


    But both energies are bnced at a point and that is when I can barely perform the bullet fist of yin and yang."


    "I need to train more."


    Zhao Luo said while overgoing his growth.


    Looking back at the mountain which looked twice as smaller than before after being punched at, for a quarter of a day, Zhao Luo pulled back his fists.


    He threw both of his fists at the mountain multiple times.


    More than twenty times. But he was only able to perform the yin and yang fist ten times.


    "So I am on fifty percent sess rate."


    Zhao Luo rubbed his chin.


    "I just need to train more."


    Getting back to his stance, Zhao Luo started hitting the mountain like there was no tomorrow for them.


    ---- ---- ---- ----


    15 more hourster.


    Zhao Luo was still going at the mountain with his punches.


    Both of his fists were bleeding.


    Now each time his fists would fall on the mountain three things would happen.


    ''Crack.''


    His knuckles would leave a cracking sound.


    ''Bang!''


    ''....''


    His right fist would leave a sound and his left fist was soundless.


    Thest thing was a shining image of a round sigil that would appear on the mountain right after his fist would connect with it.


    The half part of the round sigil would be white with a ck dot in it while the other half would be ck with a white dot.


    "The image of yin and yang is clear now."


    Zhao Luo said as he noticed the difference while having an exhausted look on his face.


    Zhao Luo stopped his training and looked at his apparitions.


    "They still can''t do it."


    Zhao Luo mumbled without being able to understand for his apparitions failing at this.


    "It doesn''t matter since I have already achieved the bullet fist if yin and yang."


    "And all of their training will just strengthen my nes."


    Zhao Luo walked towards his apparitions and absorbed them with swift action.


    "Thud!"


    Sitting on the dark floor with hard movements, Zhao Luo closed his eyes and recovered while the assimtion was happening inside his body.


    ----


    After a few minutes, Zhao Luo slowly opened his eyes.


    The look in his eyes was so strong and held a mysterious pressure that this look would even crush the spirit of his enemies.


    "Let''s give it a try."


    Zhao Luo got up and walked towards the mountain.

 Chapter 160 - Ghost

    Zhao Luo threw his fists at the mountain.


    The infinitely small moment before his fist touched the mountain, a three feet round sigil of yin and yang appeared in between his fist and the mountain.


    The next moment his fist pushed the sigil towards the mountain and the instant his fists touched the mountain.


    "BOOM!"


    In less than the tenth of a second, the mountain was pulverized and dust started rising as the mountain fell on its ce.


    "Cough."


    Zhao Luo waved his hand in front of him as the dust wasing towards his face.


    "My strength has more than doubled."


    Zhao Luo guessed while looking at the demolished version of his ''strongest mountain''.


    Another day had passed and Zhao Luo had progressed a lot.


    "I have now mastered the Bullet Fistpletely."


    Zhao Luo sat down and closed his eyes.


    He was checking his progress.


    ''My hands feel heavy and light at the same time.''


    ''My body feels stronger than before.''


    "It''s like nothing is impossible for me!"


    Zhao Luo abruptly opened his eyes and took out a golden scroll from his storage space.


    [ Extraordinary Breath, Gold, D Rank ]


    ''Hmm.''


    "A technique that is impossible to master."


    Zhao Luo said as he jerked his hand and scroll rolled while opening till the end.


    A thing to remember was that mostly the scrolls contained iplete techniques.


    That was the case for Extraordinary breath too.


    Looking at the content written with ck on the golden scroll, Zhao Luo started reading it.


    [ A warrior spends his whole life trying to get that unmatched strength by various means. ]


    "Indeed. I am doing so too."


    Zhao Luo couldn''t stop himself andmented on the writing.


    [ Grabs a sword and calls himself a swordsman ]


    "Just like me."


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he could already face off a second sword warrior easily.


    [ Grabs a pen and calls himself a schrly warrior ]


    "That will be never me."


    Just what a man, who wasn''t a fan of schrly work, like Zhao Luo would say.


    [ Grabs a wooden stick after shaving his head and calls himself a monk ]


    "Hah."


    Zhao Luo grinned.


    He couldn''t imagine himself shaving his lowly hair and be bald for life while beating a wooden box and chanting out Amitabha or buddha everywhere.


    [ Grabs martial arts and masters it, to be a martial warrior ]


    ''Nod.''


    Zhao Luo liked this part as it struck evenly with him.


    [ No matter what he grabs, the end is still death ]


    "Sigh~"


    [ His road will always have a confirmed end till he grabs the forbidden ]


    "I remember stopping here as Senior Cutie started telling me about the forbidden."


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he read till here.


    The next writing would be the knowledge on how to grab the forbidden and Zhao Luo couldn''t wait any further.


    "Let''s see."


    Moving his gaze down Zhao Luo continued reading from the scroll.


    [ If you are still reading it then that only shows your courage for the forbidden. ]


    [ Do you want to grab the forbidden? ]


    Zhao Luo was shocked.


    "It''s like the writer is talking to me....yea I do."


    Zhao Luo unconsciously answered the scroll before reading the next part.


    [ To grab the Forbidden... ]


    [ You will have to GRAB DEEZ NUTZ. ]


    Thud!


    Zhao Luo smacked the scroll on the floor with rage filling his eyes.


    "What kind of a stupid person thinks that this shit is a gold-colored technique?"


    Zhao Luo shouted in anger as he got up and went over to the scroll.


    "Thud!"


    "Thud!"


    "Thud!"


    Zhao Luo smacked the scroll with his feet three times before finally calming his anger.


    "Haaaa."


    "Haaaa."


    Picking up the scroll once again cause he had to learn this technique since it was the only one that he could go for right now.


    Zhao Luo''s gaze lowered and he passed the Nuts part to continue reading further.


    "I swear I will burn this scroll if there is another trap like that in there."


    Zhao Luo made an oath and as though the scroll was alive.


    The part with nuts turned out to be thest humorous attack used by the writer of this scroll.


    [ Hah, my sessor. It seems that I have strayed from the right path while talking about the forbidden ]


    "Yes, you DID."


    Zhao Luo added.


    [ Remember the forbidden isn''t easily grabbed. ]


    [ To reach the point of forbidden, meticulous training of the mind is needed. ]


    [ You need to close your eyes and meditate for weeks and months. ]


    [ Get rid of all these earthly desires. This is how I achieved a realm that I call the forbidden state. ]


    [ Each time you meditate, you need to imagine yourself from the beginning ]


    [ Imagine your outer body, leave the small parts just like how they are. You already know what I am talking about. ]


    "Heh, I don''t have any small parts."


    Zhao Luo replied to what he was reading.


    [ Following your outer body, imagine your organs, the meridians following through them, the ones which carry yin, and the others which carry your yang. The vessels which pass through your meridians and the veins which carry your blood. ]


    [ First Recreate yourself in your mind. Then imagine the recreated self waking up and taking its first breath. ]


    [ It will be like you are looking at a mirror inside your mind. ]


    [ That is what extraordinary breath is. Once your recreated self starts moving you can train with it to achieve an unprecedented level of strength. ]


    [ But remember the recreated self should be an exact copy of yourself. If you modify your ''short details'' then you will be doing another kind of ''forbidden'' deed but not grabbing the forbidden. ]


    [ The ''you'' created by the Extraordinary breath is an immortal being called Ghost. A Ghost will never be tired. No matter how many times you damage your ghost, it will never be destroyed, till you live. ]


    [ Thus training with your ghost can go on for eternity. ]


    Zhao Luo read with nk eyes till now.


    He had already realized what the technique was.


    "I see. So extraordinary breath is like Naoli."


    Zhao Luo said while shaking his head.


    He wasn''t impressed by the technique at all.


    He already had nine apparitions which were his nine ghastly selves who also served as his training partner while increasing his strength once assimted at the end of training.

 Chapter 161 - Ghost Vs Apparitions

    Even though Extraordinary breath was like Naoli, it only provided just a single image, that is, only one ghost could be formed.


    "Let''s finish this."


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he continued reading from the scroll.


    [ The immortal ghost will have the same strength as you! ]


    "What?"


    Zhao Luo was shocked but the writing ahead continued even more shocking information.


    [ This is just half of what, my technique, extraordinary breath can do. Till I, Tang Zi, master the other half, be content with this much. Adios~ my disciple. ]


    The scroll ended there.


    "Adios, my foot. Who is this senior?"


    Zhao Luo wanted to meet this senior.


    It was like how a fan would act while reading his favorite author''s book.


    "But this technique should be easy."


    Zhao Luo mumbled while gazing over it once more.


    "So basically my ghost will be as powerful as me, but it''s only able to help me with training. As for its other uses, the scroll is iplete, tsk."


    Zhao Luo went over the use of summoning a ghost.


    He had already mastered Naoli so thinking that this technique is somewhat simr Zhao Luo wondered, "What if I can absorb my ghost?"


    Zhao Luo couldn''t wait to try it as he stored his scroll in his storage space and closed his eyes.


    ''Mhmmm.''


    ''mhmm~''


    Zhao Luo started meditating.


    Behind his closed eyes, Zhao Luo imagined an exact copy of himself without making anything bigger.


    The skeletal shape, shape of the body, the muscles, the little brother of his, the color of his skin, and his handsome face, everything looked the same to him.


    After the image that he created in his mind matched with him perfectly, Zhao Luo was ready to summon him.


    To remember something was that, Zhao Luo was already in the dark space, which was, a mental world inside his mind.


    Thus the moment, Zhao Luo tried to summon his image, another Zhao Luo had appeared in front of him.


    ''Fsh.''


    Zhao Luo opened his eyes as he felt another presence inside his dark space and found himself sitting in front of him.


    "So this is my Ghost."


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he got on his all fours and went towards his ghost to inspect it.


    The ghost was sitting in the exact posture of Zhao Luo and couldn''t help but stare at Zhao Luo who was circling him.


    "Interesting. He looks quite different than my apparitions."


    Zhao Luo startedparing this ghost to his other apparitions.


    "But what if I imagine another one?"


    Zhao Luo closed his eyes and created another perfect image of himself.


    As he summoned it, he opened his eyes.


    His ghost perished but then the same ghost formed in front of him again. So Zhao Luo realized why the Senior Tang Zi had used the word immortal for Ghost.


    "Let''s try absorbing it."


    Zhao Luo mumbled before reaching out to his ghost with his hand.


    "Absorb!"


    Zhao Luomanded just to watch his ghost tilting its face and looking at Zhao Luo as if he was watching a clown.


    "Damn so that doesn''t work. But what is with this look...huh..."


    Zhao Luo pushed his face towards the face of his ghost.


    But then as he stared at its face and the ghost looked down, Zhao Luo instantly moved away while cursing at his ghost.


    "Damn, handsome bastard."


    Zhao Luo said in an angry tone.


    "Hmm, so I can only use it for training."


    Zhao Luo rubbed his chin as he started wondering about his next course of action.


    "What if i-"


    A brilliant idea popped up in his mind.


    "Summon."


    The word rolled away from his tongue and nine apparitions appeared in front of him.


    "Defeat him."


    Zhao Luomanded his apparitions while pointing at his ghost.


    "Hehe, let''s see if you have copied my skill just like my face."


    Just having a handsome face like Zhao Luo''s wasn''t enough.


    Zhao Luo wanted to see if this ghost of his was really on par with him.


    ''Tap''


    "Let''s see how you fare against them."


    Zhao Luo patted the shoulder of his ghost and told it.


    ''Nod.''


    The ghost nodded showing that it could understand what Zhao Luo was telling it.


    Zhao Luo sat down and got ready to observe the battle between his ghost and his apparitions that will be starting anytime now.


    In the middle of the dark space.


    A hundred feet away from Zhao Luo.


    -


    Zhao Luo''s ghost and Zhao Luo''s apparitions looked at each other.


    Zhao Luo looked at this scene and wondered about who will win this fight.


    "Someone who is supposed to be as powerful as me or nine of my ghastly selves who can use almost fifty percent of my power...hehe, let''s see."


    He mumbled and that''s when one of his apparitions, rushed at his ghost while the other apparitions followed him.


    The fight had started.


    -


    ''Grrr.''


    The ghost suddenly roared like a beast, something that was never done by Zhao Luo.


    But the next thing he did, shocked Zhao Luo.


    All the apparitions wereing at the ghost while throwing their fists at him as for the ghost he had both of his fists pulled back.


    ''Whee~''


    A sound of space tearing was left in the way of his fists as the ghost perfectly replicated the fist of yin and yang.


    The moment the nine apparitions who were using the bullet fist came in contact with the sigil of yin and yang that had been created in front of the ghost''s fists,


    "BOOOM"


    A st resounded in the dark space and a shockwave escaped from the collision of those two techniques.


    The shockwave was so big that even Zhao Luo who was 100 feet away could feel its pressure.


    The ce of collision was covered with a big mountain of dust as if someone threw a nuke at that spot.


    From within the dust, the nine apparitions could be seen flying away with their eyes closed.


    ''What?''


    Zhao Luo looked at this scene with squinted eyes and realized that the silhouette of his apparitions was flickering.


    "If the ghost is as powerful as me, then this should be the real power of the bullet fist of yin and yang."


    Zhao Luo said as till now he had only been using the tungsten mountain as his sparring tool.

 Chapter 162 - Answers

    Zhao Luo looked back at the dust cloud after feeling marveled at the strength of the bullet fist of yin and yang, and the fact that his ghost was indeed able to pull it off.


    This showed Zhao Luo that his ghost was indeed as powerful as him.


    ''Where is he?''


    He questioned as his ghost still hadn''t shown himself.


    But soon, when the dust settled, the ghost was standing right at the ce, from where he had attacked the apparitions.


    Zhao Luo stared at his ghost.


    "Not even a scratch."


    Zhao Luomented after thoroughly inspecting his ghost.


    "But as for them....they will need some time to recover."


    Zhao Luo looked back at his apparitions who were now sitting on the floor with closed eyes and wounded bodies.


    "If they were able to use the fist of yin and yang too, then things would have been different."


    "But why can''t they use it?"


    Zhao Luo still hadn''t found a reason for this issue.


    But right when his question escaped his mouth, someone else''s sound entered his ear.


    [ It''s because the technique is tooplicated and needs the perfect bnce of one''s yin and yang. ]


    "Senior Empera..."


    Zhao Luo heard the answer but even such an answer didn''t make sense.


    "Then how can they execute the bullet fist? How can they use the explosive fist and the calming fist?"


    Zhao Luo presented another question but the empera was already prepared for it.


    [ Entering the two nes separately and standing in between them is different from entering both nes equally. Each apparition is a solidification of your yin energy. Think of the ck side in the yin-yang sigil. Even though it represents the yin of nature but there is still some yang found in it, in the shape of a dot. Thus your apparitions will be better at entering calming fist ne but that doesn''t mean they can''t enter the explosive fist ne. The same goes for them using the bullet fist. ]


    "I see, so that''s why they can''t use the bullet fist of yin and yang. Since the yang is only being dominated by the yin."


    Zhao Luo finally understood why his apparitions couldn''t perform the fist of yin and yang.


    "Thank you, Senior Empera."


    ZhaobLuo bowed his head to show his gratitude.


    His mind felt elevated as his question had been answered.


    "It looks like he is gone."


    Zhao Luo said as there was no reply from the empera.


    But then,


    [ Hmmm~ ]


    The empera''s sound resounded in the dark space again.


    But it wasn''t just him.


    [ What is that? ]


    [ Looks interesting ]


    [ Do we have two sessors now? ]


    [ Just what I was thinking, haha. ]


    [ Who do you think will win? ]


    The other emperas also jumped in, breaking their silence from within the heaven''s tomb.


    "What''s going on?"


    Zhao Luo questioned.


    He could tell that these emperas voices were directed towards his ghost but Why?


    [ Obviously, the original body should, otherw- ]


    Another empera spoke but his voice was interrupted by the First Empera.


    [ Stop embarrassing yourselves! LET HIM TRAIN IN PEACE ]


    [ Kid, don''t listen to them, and continue your training. ]


    "Kid?"


    "Senior, do you know something about this ghost?"


    Zhao Luo felt weird being addressed as a kid by this empera but that wasn''t the main issue here.


    [ Yes! ]


    "Then can you guide me on its uses as I only know of one?"


    Zhao Luo sneakily asked.


    ''If this works, then my strength will increase by either leap.''


    Zhao Luo''s hopes were on a rocket to the moon.


    But with the answer from the emperas, it was shot down instantly.


    [ NO ]


    All the emperas replied together, their sounds added on to each other and pushed back Zhao Luo.


    ''Kek.''


    Zhao Luo let out a sound.


    [ We won''t do anything that will affect your growth directly. So if you have anything else to ask, then go ahead. ]


    The first empera replied to Zhao Luo as the voices of other emperas died down, while the crimson empera had never made her entry.


    "No, there is nothing else that is bothering me."


    Zhao Luo shook his head as nothing else bothered him anymore.


    [ Then Continue as you have been doing. ]


    Zhao Luo nodded as the voice of this empera disappeared too, leaving Zhao Luo back with his ghost and apparitions.


    Zhao Luo calmed down once again.


    "It was easy."


    Zhao Luo said while thinking about the technique within the golden scroll.


    He had mastered in mere moments while the other two books of bullet fist took him slightly more than five days.


    "I should still have a day left to spare."


    "Should I stop training here?"


    Zhao Luo wondered about what he should do.


    But then his sight went over his apparitions and his ghost.


    "Haha, with such sparring buddies ready to shit on me, how can I leave here?"


    Zhao Luo grinned as his ghost was walking towards him and the apparitions followed behind the ghost.


    With one more day left to the start of the outer disciple ranking tournament, Zhao Luo had decided to spend his remaining time sparring with his ghost and his apparitions.


    "First I should observe them a little more."


    Zhao Luo folded his arms in front of his chest and watched his apparitions attack his ghost.


    As soon as Zhao Luo thought that he would observe them, they attacked the ghost from behind him.


    ''Wow, he dodged.''


    Zhao Luo mumbled as the ghost had already sensed the attack and dodged it cleanly.


    "Good good."


    First Zhao Luo cheered from the side. But then his eyes widened.


    "Stop."


    He shouted stopping the battle that would have kicked off the next instant.


    "You... Can you summon them too?"


    Zhao Luo asked his ghost while pointing at his apparitions.


    ''...''


    The ghost shook his head showing that he wasn''t capable of such a thing.


    "I see."


    ''What was I even hoping for?''


    Zhao Luo also shook his head as his fantasies were getting out of hand.


    He was thinking of making an army of apparitions in his mind lead by the general ghost.


    "Hah."


    Zhao Luo felt like a fool as he looked at his ghost.


    "Don''t use the fist of yin and yang."


    Zhao Luo told his ghost, restricting his biggest move.


    ''Nod.''


    The ghost nodded at Zhao Luo''smand and walked towards the apparitions.


    ''Thud!''


    Zhao Luo sat back.


    "I am ready to enjo- observe them."


    Zhao Luo said while correcting himself halfway.

 Chapter 163 - Enjoying

    "They should be able to fight back now."


    Zhao Luomented while showing his expectations for the apparitions.


    In the dark space, a little away from Zhao Luo.


    The ghost suddenly raised his arm and pointed his hand towards the apparitions.


    "COME~"


    Zhao Luo''s ghost spoke in a heavy tone while curling the fingers of his hand towards his palm, which is transmitting his words with a gesture.


    ''Hmph.''


    The apparitions shrugged together as they were not just simple mindless puppets.


    Even though they held limited intelligence, they knew what their task was.


    "We need to beat this man."


    With such a task, seeing the arrogant action of the one who they needed to defeat, the apparitions felt something simr to grumpiness and initiated the attack.


    "Ahhh"


    The apparitions circled the ghost.


    ''Hmm''


    The ghost gazed around and tightened his fist in response as his eyes covered all the apparitions.


    "Crack~"


    The sound of his knuckle cracking escaped his fist which acted as the start of the battle.


    The ghost was attacked by all sides simultaneously.


    A kicking at his head.


    An explosive fist at his stomach.


    Two different apparitionsing from the right and the left as they attacked the ghost with their fists.


    While five apparitions were acting as a backup with just three steps behind the first four who were currently attacking the ghost.


    ''Thud!''


    Looking at the apparitionsing at him so ruthlessly, the ghost didn''t hesitate at all and fell on the spot instantly.


    "What?"


    Zhao Luo felt shocked as this was the same technique that Feng Ma had used.


    ''It''s the drunken drop!''


    Zhao Luo said as he still remembered it clearly.


    In the battle of Zhao Luo''s ghost and apparitions.


    The ghost''s action of dropping his body was so sudden that the momentum of apparitions was all messed up.


    Bang!


    The kick of the first apparitionnded on the face of another.


    Bang!


    While the other apparition''s explosive fistnded on these apparitions chest.


    "Boom, Boom."


    The third and fourth apparitions who wereing from the two sides, left and right, had alsonded their attacks perfectly but on each other.


    ''Ahhh.''


    "Bullet Fist", A cold voice escaped from the mouth of the ghost who was lying on the dark floor like a dead log.


    The ghost used this chance of disarray and threw his right fist at the confused apparitions while raising his body.


    ''Boom.''


    His one fist which had struck the center of themotion led by the four apparitions, sent all of them flying.


    With four apparitions being thrown out of the circle and ghost still standing without a scratch, the first attack wave by the apparitions had ended.


    ''p, p.''


    "Amazing."


    Zhao Luo praised the ghost which further led the apparition to feel a sense of anger and jealousy towards this lookalike of their master.


    Thu without waiting any further, the remaining five apparitions went after the ghost.


    They all had lowered their bodies in case this ghost in front of them used the same trick again.


    "Ha~"


    The ghost while realizing that his same technique won''t work again, let out a deep breath and jumped from the encirclement of these apparitions.


    The ghost was able to put up a distance of seven meters between the five apparitions and itself with a single jump.


    But the apparitions also followed them with swift action.


    "Oh, they are using half walk!"


    Zhao Luomentated as he realized the foot technique his ghost and apparitions were using.


    Back in the fight.


    Zhao Luo''s apparitions tried their best but neither they nor their attacks could reach the ghost who was always one step ahead of them.


    This chase continued for a while like a weird cat and mouse race.


    But then,


    *BOOM*


    A ghastly shadow could be seen flying upwards.


    It was the apparition that was closest to the ghost.


    This apparition had thrown a bullet fist at him.


    But a calming fist of the ghost destroyed the apparitions bullet fist,pletely and caused the apparition to be blown away by the impact.


    That is how strong the counter of the ghost was.


    "I see."


    "So he used the calming fist to not only block the bullet fist but alsopletely eradicate the power behind the fist of my apparition."


    Zhao Luo was taking notes while learning the limits of his ghost''s power which also showed how powerful he, himself, had gotten


    Looking back at the ghost, Zhao Luo realized that the ghost was running away from the apparitions in a calcted way.


    ''Letting them close in, one by one,


    Dwindling them, till there are none.''


    Zhao Luo said poetically while raising his arm and showing a rock sign.


    The feeling of cool was visible on his handsome face.


    Indeed Zhao Luo was having fun, watching this fight.


    ''I am learning a lot.''


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he put his chin on his arm while lying on the floor like a lizard.


    -


    One by one the ghost kept on letting the remaining four apparitions close on him.


    He would dodge every attack thrown at him by the apparitions yet sometimes it was easy to dodge while the other times, he was barely able to dodge such consistent attacks.


    But as soon as any of them made a mistake in their attack,


    ''Bang!''


    That apparition would be blown away by the countering fist of the ghost.


    The fight continued but now the pressure was on the apparitions as the continued fight had reduced their number to three while the ghost was still without a single scratch.


    The ghost rushed at the apparitions and threw a left fist at one of them with his full force.


    ''Explosive Fist.''


    He mumbled and the moment his fist connected with the apparitions body,


    ''Bang!''


    Another apparition was thrown back like a ripped cushion, with a dark hole left in its stomach.


    With two apparitions left undefeated,


    "Heh."


    The ghost smirked but that smirk didn''tst long as it turned out to be a momentarily one.


    ''Tap, Tap.''


    The ghost heard steps from behind him and looked back instantly.

 Chapter 164 - Fighting The Ghost

    The ghost turned around and found the first four apparitionsing at him.


    He had already defeated them before but they were semi-immortal too, that is, they had already recovered.


    For a moment the ghost had assumed that his master, Zhao Luo was the owner of those steps and felt excited but this excitement was crushed the moment he found out that it was just his master''s apparitions.


    "AHHH."


    Letting out a loud shout, he pushed his toes on the dark floor and pulled back his fists.


    ''Whooosh.''


    Launching, like a rock from a catapult, the ghost had used the speed of ''half walk'' to enhance the explosive power of its punches and came towards the four apparitions in a blink of an eye.


    "BOOM!"


    The four apparitions who were returning to avenge their defeat with pride were blown away once more.


    The two apparitions who were left alone stopped in their tracks.


    Their faces turned towards theirid-back master who was watching them getting tortured, and their eyes showed a sign of plea.


    "I guess, I should start."


    Zhao Luo slowly got up from his spot and started walking towards his ghost.


    ''He isn''t just a copy. He can feel and think almost on the level of humans. While his fighting techniquees from me and what I have seen but never tried.''


    Zhao Luo had finally realized the true potential of his ghost but there was no fear in his eyes nor his confident steps.


    "I can defeat him."


    Zhao Luo decided but bringing down the ghost who was an equally powerful image of himself was next to impossible.


    With only onest day remaining before the tournament started, Zhao Luo stood in front of the ghost facing him like he was his biggest adversary till now.


    "Come at me."


    Zhao Luomanded the ghost.


    ''Nod.''


    The ghost nodded and used the half walk to rush at Zhao Luo.


    The moment he appeared, an image of yin and yang was expanding at his fists as the ghost''s fists wereing at Zhao Luo.


    "Hmph."


    Zhao Luo smirked and instinctively raised his heel while pushing down his toes.


    ''Mini walk.''


    Zhao Luo mumbled while blinking from his spot and appearing two steps away from his ghost who was in the midst of releasing a big move.


    Zhao Luo''s fist touched on the ghost''s stomach, but right before his fistnded on its stomach, the strength of the fist dissipated instantly.


    "Calming Fist."


    Zhao Luo bellowed as the ghost turned his face towards Zhao Luo while looking down at its stomach.


    ''Boom.''


    His stomach exploded inwards but before he could be thrown away from the impact, Zhao Luounched another fist at its chest.


    "Bullet fist."


    Zhao Luo said in the coldest tone possible.


    A hole was left on the chest of the ghost as he was finally sent flying away.


    THUD!


    After a few seconds, the ghost finally fell on the dark surface causing a loud crash.


    "Checkmate!"


    Zhao Luo smiled.


    Indeed, it was a checkmate as a fight at this level was all about who counters who first.


    And countering always depends on who''s thinking a step ahead of the other.


    In this fight, it was Zhao Luo who could be seen looking at the ce where his ghost had dropped.


    "Hahahaha."


    Ghost got up whileughing like an edgy teen.


    "Did he hit puberty after my fist mangled him?"


    Zhao Luo scratched his head while the ghost came at him again with full speed.


    "Again!"


    Zhao Luo also smiled as this was the kind of training that he was always expecting.


    Both Zhao Luo and his ghost started with using mini walks, continuously.


    Zhao Luo was still a step ahead of his ghost.


    Even though their strength was the same, Zhao Luo realized that his tactics were better than his image.


    Appearing right behind his ghost, Zhao Luo lowered his body while pulling back both of his fists at the same time.


    "Bullet Fist of Yin and Yang."


    A yin-yang sigil grew out of Zhao Luo''s fist and as his fist struck the back of his ghost, a gate of destruction was opened.


    "Whooom."


    The ghost waspletely destroyed.


    "..."


    "What?"


    "Don''t tell me, Senior Tang Zi had never pushed his ghost to such a limit."


    Zhao Luo wondered if his ghost had vanishedpletely after taking on his fist of yin and yang ''back'' on.


    Zhao Luo hurriedly sat down on the ce he was standing on and closed his eyes.


    "Mhmmmmmm."


    "Hmmmmm.''


    Zhao Luo started meditating while humming like a bee.


    He definitely needed some guidance on this part.


    Zhao Luo made a perfect image of himself in his mind and right after the image was done, the ghost had appeared in Zhao Luo''s dark space again.


    "Good."


    Zhao Luo felt relieved as his ghost looked better tha ever and ready to fight.


    "But..."


    Zhao Luo mumbled and to his left and right.


    "Where are they?"


    Zhao Luo questioned as he couldn''t find his apparitions.


    The moment Zhao Luo turned around he was shocked to his core.


    ''Thesezy bastards.''


    The apparitions were lying on their bellies while enjoying Zhao Luo''s fight with his ghost.


    All the apparitions were rooting for Zhao Luo as they had been bullied by their master''s image.


    Thus seeing the ghost being blown to obliteration gave them a sense of satisfaction.


    But now they were being stared at by Zhao Luo while the ghost was back.


    ".x.x."


    Zhao Luo gave them a weird look while walking towards them.


    The apparitions got up from their chilling positions


    ''Gulp.''


    And felt nervous as they could feel that something bad was going to happen to them.


    "Switch with me."


    Zhao Luo tapped on the shoulder of two of them and sat at their spot.


    The nine apparitions were tasked again.


    Their task was once again, taking down their master''s lookalike.


    "Fight him as one."


    Zhao Luo shouted at his apparitions.


    Then he looked at his ghost who was already looking this way.


    "And you...you can''t use that attack again."


    Zhao Luo instructed the ghost.


    From ''that'' attack he was obviously signaling at the bullet fist of yin and yang.


    Thus all the apparitions moved towards the ghost in unison.


    "Let''s start the game again."


    Zhao Luo waved his hand the second fight between the ghost and his apparitions had started.


    While 20 hours were left before the outer disciple ranking tournament starts.

 Chapter 165 - Last Preparation

    Zhao Luo''s ghost and his apparition started brawling again.


    ''Boom.''


    ''Bang!''


    .


    .


    sting sounds which shook the dark space were falling on Zhao Luo''s ears as the fight started.


    Right from the start, both parties came at each other with intense attacks.


    An hour passed and the fight continued.


    In thest hour, the apparitions weren''t able to even put a scratch on the ghost but as the fight continued the growth of apparitions was more than the ghost itself.


    Since the ghost was fighting enemies weaker than himself so he was only pressured by the apparitions'' numbers, while the apparitions who couldn''t even take down a single enemy wanted nothing more than to be strong enough to take the ghost down.


    Thus the pressure on the ghost increased.


    -


    A few more hourster.


    Things were going differently from when the fight had started.


    The ghost looked messy.


    Nine apparitions had been working with perfect synergy against the ghost.


    "Mini walk."


    The ghost said as the nine apparitions each with a different fist attack were aiming for his head, chest, abdomen, back, and so on.


    ''Mini walk.''


    ''Mini walk.''


    .


    .


    The apparitions followed after the ghost who was trying to break their momentum by shing away from their attacks.


    ''It didn''t work.''


    Zhao Luomented as the apparitions were moving ording to the perfectly countering rhythm that had covered all kinds of future steps that the ghost could take.


    "Have they evolved further? To a stage where they can use predictive moves against a powerful enemy?"


    Zhao Luo mumbled as the chemistry between his apparitions was off the roof.


    Just like his strength which was ''over 9000'' when he had taken the outer disciple qualification test.


    ''Hmm.''


    Zhao Luo wondered what his ghost would do now with a smile on his face.


    This was hisst preparation for the tournament and it was going unbelievably well while he, himself, enjoyed his time as a spectator.


    -


    The ghost who was once again surrounded by the apparitions dropped his fists and pulled his arms back.


    "Bullet fists."


    One after another from his right and then his left fist, the ghost started throwing punches at the maximum speed.


    "CALMING FIST."


    Six apparitions used calming fists to counter the bullet fists of the ghost.


    "Bullet Fist."


    While the remaining three apparitions threw their fists full of strength and calmness at the ghost.


    "BOOM."


    Being countered by the apparitions, the ghost fists blew backward with the pressure of the twelve fistsing at him.


    The remaining six fists of the three apparitions carrying a bullet fist in each of their hands, fell on the ghost''s body one after another.


    ''Bang, Bang, Bang, Bang, Bang, Bang.''


    Six consecutive sting sounds arose from the apparition''s fists falling on the ghost''s body as the ghost rattled under the explosive power of those fists which were damaging his body from the outside and the inside.


    It was like someone had loaded a machine gun and was now having fun shooting down some birds.


    -


    "He lost!"


    Zhao Luo was amused as this was something that he had never expected.


    This was the moment when Zhao Luo had learned a big lesson.


    "I understand."


    [ Even if numbers on one side are weak, they can still bring down the stronger side, only when they use themselves to the maximum ]


    Zhao Luo calmly let out every word as if he was giving a lecture and while he said those words a little shine could be seening out of his wrist of the right arm.


    Zhao Luo instinctively turned his gaze away from the fight and looked at his wrist.


    "The Heaven''s Tomb is shining!"


    Zhao Luo said as he looked at the shine which was outlining the shape of heaven''s tomb.


    Soon, that shine died down.


    ''What could have caused it to shine?''


    Zhao Luo didn''t know now but one day he will know that he was the reason behind this mysterious shineing out of heaven''s tomb.


    Zhao Luo looked back at his apparitions who were surrounding the defeated ghost and looked at the ghost who was literally rubbing his face on the dark floor.


    The apparitions had victorious grins on their faces.


    The grin onlysted for a few moments.


    "Blink."


    The ghost blinked his eyes and at the same moment, he pushed himself forwards with his hands while giving his body a rotation.


    The ghost while spinning mid-air was going towards five of the apparitions.


    It may have been because the apparitions had just won for the first time that they were defenselessly grinning.


    Seeing the sudden action of the ghost they couldn''t protect themselves and like a drill going through a wall, multiple punches of the ghostnded on their bodies.


    ''Bang, bang, bang, bang.''


    Each of the four apparitions was thrown away in a different direction, by the impact behind the fist of the ghost.


    -


    "Oh, he got up."


    Seeing the sudden retaliation of the defeated ghost, Zhao Luo jumped up in excitement.


    -


    The five apparitions who were left standing rushed after the ghost while the ghost crouched.


    Thud!


    He jumped backward and appeared above the apparitions.


    Both of his arms were pulled back as his elbows were pointing inwards.


    ''Reee.''


    The five apparitions stopped altogether and looked upwards at the ghost who was going to attack them.


    "Bullet Fist...of Yin and Yang."


    The ghost mumbled as his fist came right towards the heads of the apparitions who were lowering their bodies.


    The ck and white sigil kept ln getting bigger and bigger as it almost fell on the apparitions.


    ''Blink~''


    The five apparitions hurriedly used their mini walk as they tried to dodge the ghost''s attack by shing away to a random spot.


    The ghost fists fell on the dark floor.


    Even though the apparitions had escaped the range of the attack but they were caught in the impact of the shockwave left by its attack.


    Getting hit by that shock, they were thrown away like rag dolls.


    ''Fwoosh.''


    The next instant, the ghost could be seen slowlynding on the crater created by the aftermath of his attack, on the dark floor.


    "Thud!"


    "Bang!"


    The moment his feet touched the floor, Zhao Luo''s fist which contained his full strength sted away the ghost''s head.

 Chapter 166 - Auto Training

    "Thewk."


    Zhao Luo spat on the right and looked at the falling body of his ghost and then looked at its falling head which rolled while descending.


    Zhao Luo''s face had an angry expression that could not be exined.


    But it wasn''t just anger, it was more of a surprise reaction from his side.


    "Thud!"


    "Why did you use the fist of Yin and Yang?"


    Zhao Luo questioned the ghost whose body had just hit the surface.


    Zhao Luo closed his eyes for a moment and then started meditating.


    ''Extraordinary Breath.''


    He calmed down instantly.


    Then he imagined a perfect image of himself, that is, resulting in the formation of the ghost.


    The destroyed ghost was vanishing and a new ghost was forming at the exact spot.


    All the injuries had disappeared and this time the ghost''s head was intact.


    The ghost was once again in optimum condition, unlike the one who had disappeared, and the apparitions who were still recovering.


    "Answer Me."


    Zhao Luo questioned the ghost with furrowed brows.


    Since both the ghost and apparitions were his creations, so how could any of them go against hismands.


    ''Does it mean that the ghost has a will of its own too?''


    Zhao Luo wondered while he waited for the ghost to answer.


    "Master I only used the attack once I was defeated by your shadows. That is, the first fight was over, and in the second fight, you hadn''t restricted any of my moves."


    The ghost spoke well, slowly yet without any excuse.


    His answer sank deep in Zhao Luo''s mind.


    "Y-You are right."


    Zhao Luo understood that it was indeed the case.


    As the ghost had said, it had been defeated by the apparitions and Zhao Luo had restricted the use of the ultimate fist for that fight only.


    "But why do you call them shadows?"


    Zhao Luo questioned the ghost.


    His apparitions were ck, but they weren''t just simply shadows.


    "Cause they have ghastly forms."


    The ghost answered back with ament that was facts but didn''t have much reason behind it except for the fact that apparitions and a shadow looked the same.


    Shaking his head, Zhao Luo didn''t question the ghost anymore.


    "Well..."


    Looking around, he found all his apparitionsing from different directions.


    With furious looks on their faces and ferocious steps, they walked towards Zhao Luo and the ghost.


    All of their gazes were directed towards the ghost who had defeated them recently.


    "Okay calm down guys."


    Zhao Luo told them while waving his hands.


    Since the ghost had appeared the apparitions had started changing in many ways, that Zhao Luo could have never expected.


    ''They have a feeling of inferiority and just to break it, they want to win over him.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he looked at his apparitions.


    Slowly opening his mouth,


    "Absorb!"


    Zhao Luo said coldly and the apparitions mixed to form a giant ck smoke.


    Zhao Luo looked at the massive cloud above him and was slightly shocked.


    ''Woooosh.''


    Then the ck cloud seeped inside him through his mouth and gave Zhao Luo a feeling of being full to the brim.


    ''Thud!''


    He sat down on the same spot with swift action.


    Zhao Luo sped his hands and slowly opened his mouth again.


    "Assimte."


    He said while closing his eyes.


    ''Flick.''


    The ghost who had been standing in front of Zhao Luo disappeared as it wasn''t needed anymore.


    -


    After a long while,


    ''Mhmm.''


    A groaning sound escaped Zhao Luo''s mouth.


    This time new knowledge was going inside his mind.


    Not only his strength increased, but his knowledge regarding the use of numbers in a fight also increased.


    ''Thwack, Thwack...''


    Hammering sounds escaped his body as the assimtion process continued.


    Zhao Luo kept his eyes closed while the assimtion process was going on.


    -


    After a while.


    Zhao Luo opened his eyes.


    He was sitting alone in the dark space.


    "How much time has passed?"


    Zhao Luo looked down and wondered, as this assimtionsted longer than usual and now Zhao Luo wasn''t aware of the remaining time that he had.


    ''The assimtion process felt like a good sleep this time.''


    Zhao Luo mumbled as a smile emerged on his face.


    Just when he was wondering.


    *KnocK, KnocK*


    A knocking sound echoed in his dark space.


    Zhao Luo raised his head and straight away knew that it was Senior Cutie.


    "It must be Brother Cutie."


    Zhao Luo said as he got up to leave the dark space.


    [ Wait ]


    An enchanting voice washed over Zhao Luo.


    ''It''s the Empera with the crimson eyes.''


    Zhao Luo froze instantly. The Empera with the crimson eyes was calling out to him after a while so Zhao Luo who wasn''t ready froze and even forgot to answer while acting like a dummy.


    [ Before You Go ]


    The Empera stopped again waiting for Zhao Luo''s response.


    "Yes, Senior Empera."


    Zhao Luo bowed his head and replied.


    [ Why don''t you summon your apparitions and your ghost so that they can train here while you are away ]


    The Empera told Zhao Luo.


    "But don''t I have to be here personally for the dark space to work?"


    Zhao Luo raised his brows and asked the Empera.


    [ Before you had to be here, thus I never mentioned such a possibility to you...]


    The empera answered as her voice died down.


    "Yes, that''s what I am saying."


    ''Wait, she said "before""


    Zhao Luo stopped and looked towards the direction of the sound.


    That is, upwards.


    [ But now, don''t you have your ghost? You can leave it here so the dark space will stay open and your apparitions can keep on training ]


    "I se-"


    *Knock, Knock*


    The knocking sound echoed in the dark space again while this time interrupting Zhao Luo.


    Without waiting any further, Zhao Luo closed his eyes and started meditating.


    He made a perfect copy of himself again thus summoning the ghost.


    ''Puff.''


    The ghost appeared right in front of him.


    Then he opened his mouth.


    "Summon~"


    "Puff, Puff, Puff...."


    The nine apparitions appeared together behind the ghost.


    ''Tap, Tap...''


    They rushed past the ghost after realizing that they were standing behind him.


    Looking at them reacting so hazardously, Zhao Luo could only shake his head.


    "Don''t wreak havoc here."


    ''No, wait.''


    "Wreak havoc if it means you are training to your limits."


    "Train well!"


    Zhao Luo instructed them.


    "Thank you, Senior Empera."


    Zhao Luo bowed as he showed his gratitude to the Empera for guiding him.


    ''Who knows how much I will be able to improve when I absorb them next time...''


    Zhao Luo thought as he realized that this was something simr to what some games had.


    "Auto farming."


    "Or here..."


    Zhao Luo looked at his ghost and apparitions.


    "Auto Training!"


    Zhao Luo mumbled while drool left his mouth. He was too excited after learning that he could use his dark space like this too.


    [ HaHaHa...], sweetughter was left in his dark space as the Empera''s presence vanished.


    Zhao Luo started enjoying the cute giggles left by the Empera but before he could get his fill,


    *Knock, Knock*


    The knocking sound erupted again in his dark space.


    "I need to go."


    Zhao Luo said as he closed his eyes and a momentter, in his room, he opened his eyes.


    "Knock, Knock, Knock.."


    "Brother Zhao Luo, Wake Up."


    "Zhao Luo~"


    Zhao Luo heard two people shouting at him from outside his room.


    "Ah, Coming,ing."


    Zhao Luo replied as he got off his bed hurriedly and tightened the belt of his purple robe before making his way to the door.


    ''ck.''


    Zhao Luo opened the door.


    "What? Why are you guys here?"


    He questioned as it wasn''t Senior Cutie who hade.

 Chapter 167 - Senior Cuties Fall

    Feng Ma and Si Chen were the ones knocking on the door.


    "HAAAH~"


    The moment Zhao Luo opened the door, they couldn''t help but let out a sigh of relief.


    "Brother, What took you so long to open this door? Now tell me, all the things, you who was alone and as handsome as me did in this room for the past week?"


    Feng Ma asked Zhao Luo and Si Chen shook his head in embarrassment.


    "What is this clown saying?"


    Si Chen wondered as he looked at Feng Ma who was inspecting the room like a dog.


    "Where are you hiding the girls?"


    Feng Ma questioned Zhao Luo again with a smirk as he brought his drunk face close to Zhao Luo.


    "Huh.."


    Zhao Luo was hit with the strong smell of wineing out of Feng Ma''s mouth and had to cover his nose.


    ''The jokes of this drunk brother are getting too heavy for me.''


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he smiled back at Feng Ma and didn''t mind him.


    Zhao Luo looked at Si Chen who was slowly opening his mouth to say something.


    "The tournament is already on the second part, that''s why we were knocking on your door so furiously."


    "The second part."


    Zhao Luo murmured while remembering what Senior Cutie had told him.


    "Isn''t the second part of the tournament where the 900 disciples challenge each other for ranking?"


    Zhao Luo questioned Si Chen while Feng Ma was taking out a wine sk from his storage ring.


    "Yes, it may be going on for now but it will end soon so we should hurry to the training zone. We can''t miss thest part of the tournament."


    Si Chen advised Zhao Luo while informing him of the fact that they would bete for thest part of the tournament.


    "Yes, we can''t."


    ''Fwoosh.''


    While saying so Zhao Luo snatched away the wine sk from Feng Ma.


    "Stay sober now so you can get drunkter."


    Zhao Luo told Feng Ma with a grin.


    ''HIC.''


    Feng Ma while huping nodded.


    He knew what Zhao Luo was telling him.


    "I will let myself loose..."


    Feng Ma said as he stood back straight.


    "I am just a little nervous, hehe."


    Feng Ma told Zhao Luo while giving a creepyugh.


    "No need to be nervous. I will be there with you."


    ''Tap.''


    Zhao Luo assured Feng Ma while patting his shoulder.


    "Let''s go."


    Zhao Luo said to them and thus he made his way to the training zone, with Si Chen and Feng Ma.


    -


    In a few minutes, Zhao Luo and the others had left the living zone and they were in the hall making their way towards the red door.


    Since they had left Zhao Luo''s room, Si Chen had been informing Zhao Luo of many incidents regarding the first part of the tournament.


    The first thing that Zhao Luo had learned was still stuck in his brain.


    "So Senior Cutie lost to Mo Suo."


    Zhao Luo mumbled again for the fourth time.


    "Not only him, but seven other seniors were also barely able to defeat him."


    Feng Ma added as he could hear Zhao Luo''s mumbling.


    "But wasn''t Senior Cutie the previous King of the Outer Hall?"


    Zhao Luo couldn''t help but ask.


    This defeat of Senior Cutie only meant that he had been surpassed by seven fellow disciples after reigning at the top just once.


    "No, the seven actually yed it smart."


    Feng Ma replied while fiery anger was blowing in his eyes.


    "How so?"


    Zhao Luo couldn''t believe that his senior could have been yed.


    "When the first part of the tournament was ending, the top ten outer disciples were silent. None of them had used their chances as they waited for one of them to start the challenges between them."


    Si Chen started recalling the tournament.


    "But then Senior Cutie got up and challenged Mo Suo for the number one rank which started everything between these ten outer disciples."


    "He was defeated by Mo Suo and had surrendered but since Senior Cutie was acquainted with you, Mo Suo intentionally used a life-threatening move to injure Senior Cutie."


    Si Chen''s tone turned heavy and dark as he told Zhao Luo, the start of Senior Cutie''s fall.


    "That bastard."


    Zhao Luo clenched his fist while running along with Si Chen and Feng Ma.


    "Right after he had left the ring to recuperate from his injuries, he was challenged by the third-ranked outer disciple."


    "What? Did senior decline?"


    Zhao Luo questioned.


    Since he knew that Senior Cutie had lost against seven disciples leaving out Mo Suo, that alone showed how Senior Cutie had either admitted defeat without fighting or had fought to the bitter end.


    "No, he fought the disciple till the end. But those cunning bastards kept oning after him one by one."


    Si Chen told Zhao Luo through clenched jaws as he remembered the bloodied sight of Senior Cutie.


    "But even after losing eight times, the senior Cutie still holds the ninth rank through sheet will."


    Feng Ma told the bright side of Senior Cutie''s fall in this tournament.


    "What a guy."


    Zhao Luo couldn''t find the right words to praise the bald senior of his.


    "What about Big Bean?"


    Zhao Luo asked Feng Ma who was on his right.


    "His turn hade when the second part of the tournament had started. Big Bean had sessfully advanced to the 48th rank. But All three of his chances ended at the hands of the disciple who holds the rank 13 in the outer disciple ranking."


    "I see. He must have stubbornly tried to beat his enemy."


    Zhao Luo replied as he knew how Big Bean was.


    Images of Senior Cutie and Big Bean popped up in his head.


    And then the red door appeared in front of his eyes.


    It was the opposite of that.


    Zhao Luo with Feng Ma and Si Chen had reached the door of the Training Zone.


    "My excitement is going off the roof."


    Feng Ma told Si Chen while pulling his robe.


    "Hey.."


    Si Chen said loudly as he pulled back the part of his robe that was in Feng Ma''s hand.


    "Hahaha."


    Zhao Luo chuckled while looking at his disciple brother''s acting like little kids when such a big stage was waiting for them.


    "Let''s enter."


    Zhao Luo said to them after which he moved inside the training zone after going past the red door.


    ---- ---- ---- ----


    Inside the training zone, the crowd had already exceeded well beyond the limit of the zone''s capacity.


    Many of the inner disciples were here to study the disciples who would be joining them in the future.


    Zhao Luo, Feng Ma, and Si Chen passed through such a crowd and went towards the middle area of the training zone.


    Passing the square rings one after another, they reached an insanely humongous colosseum.


    ''"Woah."


    "WOW."


    "GO."


    "Ahhhh."


    Standing outside the colosseum, Zhao Luo could hear everything, from screams to cheers to groans, and just to confirm, he looked at Si Chen.


    "Is the tournament happening in there?"


    He asked Si Chen with furrowed brows.


    "Yes."


    "I need wine."


    Feng Ma interrupted as even though he looked like a guy who had no care of the World but going to fight in front of such a crowd was frightening for him.


    "Hehe, you just need this..."


    ''p.''


    Zhao Luo pped his back with less than a quarter of his power as right when Zhao Luo''s palm touched his back, Feng Ma''s eyes widened.


    "Brother, a-are you trying to kill me before the fight?"


    Feng Ma asked Zhao Luo as he rubbed his back with his left hand.


    "It feels like someone had thrown a burning metal on my back."


    Feng Ma told Si Chen.


    "But my nervousness is gone and neither am I frightened anymore, heh."


    He continued while waving his head at Zhao Luo, that is, telling him to give a ''Zhao Luo''s p'' to Si Chen too.


    Zhao Luo proceeded at Si Chen with a grin on his face.


    "No brother, I am ok-"


    ''SLAP.''


    Before Si Chen couldplete what he was saying, Zhao Luo''s handnded on his back.


    "Aghh."


    Si Chen groaned as his whole body was shaken to the core.


    But the burning painsted less than a minute as he clenched his fists and felt a strange power coursing through his body.


    "I feel good?"


    Si Chen questioningly told Zhao Luo and Feng Ma.


    "That is why I told you to take brother''s p."


    Feng Ma replied as he saw somethinging at him.


    ''Thud!''


    He grabbed it and it was his wine sk that Zhao Luo had thrown just now.


    "Thank you!"


    Feng Ma slightly bowed his head towards Zhao Luo.


    "Where do we go in from?"


    Zhao Luo nodded and asked a question.


    There were two doors in front of them.


    Each one of the doors was 200 feet tall but still looked ten times smaller than the colosseum itself.


    "The left is for the spectators while the right is for the participants."


    Si Chen answered and found Zhao Luo moving towards the right.


    "The sound of cheers has died down so we should hurry."


    "The second part of the tournament must have ended."


    Zhao Luo said and Feng Ma added.


    The three then passed through the big door on the right.

 Chapter 168 - Registering For The Open Battle

    "When will this hall end?"


    Zhao Luo questioned Si Chen as they had been walking in this tight hall for the past few minutes.


    The hall was built circrly, its exit was on the opposite side of the colosseum entry but it gave Zhao Luo the feeling that he had been walking in the right direction since the start.


    "We will reach the registration desk soon."


    Si Chen told Zhao Luo, while not answering his question in a definite way.


    "Okay."


    Zhao Luo nodded and kept quiet.


    ''They dide to take me after Big Bean''s fight. Hmmm, Big Bean must have been among the first outer disciples to fight in the second part of the tournament.''


    Zhao Luo spected in his mind and then turned to look at Si Chen again.


    "Why didn''t youe to me before the tournament had started?"


    Zhao Luo asked both of them.


    They would be making a close call if they reached the registration desk in time.


    ''So why take such a risk?''


    Zhao Luo wondered as he waited for their answer.


    "It''s because Senior Cutie had told us."


    "His exact words were..."He must have his own reasons to not tell us what kind of secrets he has, but we should let him train till thest moment.""


    Si Chen answered Zhao Luo and Feng Ma added Senior Cutie''s words in the end while imitating Senior Cutie''s weird way of speaking.


    "I think you should start getting drunk."


    Zhao Luo couldn''t help but tremble slightly after seeing Feng Ma''s talent.


    "Hahaha-"


    "Brother that''s the registration desk. Right next to it is the entrance that will take us to the stage."


    Feng Ma replied with a smile on his face.


    Zhao Luo looked ahead and just a few steps away was a desk behind which an elder was sitting.


    As the three reached the desk they found an old man who was snoozing off without a care in the world.


    ''Are all the elders like this?''


    Zhao Luo couldn''t help but remember the junior elder.


    "Thud!"


    While Zhao Luo was remembering the junior elder, Si Chen and Feng Ma smacked the table right when they had reached the desk.


    "Elder, please register us for the third part of the tournament, The Open Battle!"


    Si Chen urged the elder who was slowly opening his eyes.


    "Haww~"


    The elder yawned and raised his face.


    ''His looks are the same as the junior elder too.''


    Zhao Luo found the elder even more simr to the junior elder that he had met in the library, just that the elder in front of them had a shorter beard.


    "Even my wife doesn''t wake me up in such a ferocious way."


    The elder let out a humorous line as he opened his eyes but couldn''t evenugh at his own joke.


    Since the two of the three faces in front of him looked like they would strangle him if he didn''t register them.


    "Tsk, youngsters these days."


    "What are your names? And levels?"


    The elder asked the three disciples while putting his hand in his robe as he clicked his tongue in disappointment.


    ''He can just look at our badges...''


    Zhao Luo thought as the elder was busy with something.


    "Zhao Luo, Level Eight ''VIII'' disciple."


    "Hm, so you are Zhao Luo?"


    "Yes."


    Zhao Luo replied calmly and found the elder staring at him for a few seconds before turning his gaze over to Feng Ma.


    "Feng Ma, Level Seven ''VII'' disciple."


    "Hm."


    "Si Chen, Level Seven ''VII'' disciple."


    "Hm, okay you three have been registered but let me tell you something."


    The elder raised his hand and pointed a finger at Zhao Luo.


    "Except you, Zhao Luo, your friends don''t have a chance."


    The elder nced at Feng Ma and Si Chen andmented with a serious tone while still searching for something.


    "Why would you say that?"


    Zhao Luo questioned as he felt worried for some reason.


    ''Is this old man trying to demotivate them by aiming at their confidence?''


    Zhao Luo thought as he waited for the elder''s answer.


    Before the elder answered him, he took out three tokens from his robe and pushed his palm on each of these tokens.


    "These are your tokens."


    He then threw each of the tokens perfectly in Zhao Luo''s, Si Chen''s, and Feng Ma''s direction.


    "3069."


    Zhao Luo checked the number on his token and looked around.


    Feng Ma had 3070 and Si Chen''s token had 3068. Both of them were next to each other.


    "These numbers represent two things."


    The elder suddenly said while Zhao Luo was looking at their tokens.


    "I can guess one of them, hehe."


    Feng Ma looked at Zhao Luo''s token and gave a sneakyugh.


    "This fool."


    Zhao Luo shook his head but he couldn''t hide the awkward smile that was creeping u on his face.


    ''Ahem~''


    The elder made a noise and the three looked at him.


    "First, it will be your identity in the open battle and the second thing is how many outer disciples are participating in the Open Battle. Since you three are thest ones to register, that means there are already more than 3000 disciples waiting for you inside."


    The elder told them while inspecting Zhao Luo''s attitude.


    "So what? Even if we were the first to registers, we would still have to face all of them."


    Zhao Luo said as their current situation didn''t matter.


    "Not truly."


    The elder replied while shaking his head.


    "How SO?"


    Zhao Luo couldn''t follow along with what the elder was trying to tell him.


    "The highest level outer disciples participating in this "Open Battle" are on level eight ''VIII'' just like you."


    "Each of them has hundreds of followers. Not only that but they are also acquainted with each other to such an extent where a disciple like you who is new will be outcasted and focused by everyone. But since you are also at their level, you ''may be'' able to handle them but what about your friends?"


    The elder exined the situation to Zhao Luo leaving a new impression on him.

 Chapter 169 - Spectators

    ''Oh, so he was worried about them.''


    Zhao Luo understood what the elder was pointing at.


    "Thank you Elder. I had misunderstood your intent before but now I have realized that I was wrong."


    CLAP!


    Zhao Luo sped his hands and slightly bowed in front of the elder.


    The elder nodded as it wasn''t a big deal.


    Then Zhao Luo raised his head and arms.


    "As for them..."


    Zhao Luo bent his elbows and pointed his thumbs at Si Chen and Feng Ma, who were on his left and right.


    "They are a lot more than what meets the eye."


    Zhao Luo said, showing his confidence in his fellow disciple brothers while not revealing anything about their capabilities.


    Si Chen and Feng Ma nodded at the elder together.


    ''Tap.''


    "Hah, guess the rumors going about you aren''t just rumors."


    The elder said as he smiled at Zhao Luo and patted his shoulder.


    "Rumors about me?"


    Zhao Luo said with widened eyes.


    "Hahaha."


    The elderughed as the one whose rumors were the talk of the disciples of both outer and inner hall, and also the elders of the inner hall, himself had no idea.


    "You will know soon."


    The elder said as he came behind them.


    "Now go."


    The elder gave them a gentle push towards the curtain that was next to the desk.


    -


    "Whooom"


    A light fell on the faces of the four.


    The elder had not only pushed the three but also followed them out.


    Zhao Luo with the others passed the curtain and appeared on the other side.


    "This is the middle of the colosseum."


    Zhao Luo mumbled as the first thing he saw was a giant stage.


    "Are those all the participants?"


    Zhao Luo questioned as his eyes were widened with shock.


    There were thousands of disciples on the giant stage.


    "Yes, they are the ones, from which a hundred challengers will advance."


    Si Chen answered nervously as he looked around.


    The spectating crowd was silent like a sea without any waves.


    He didn''t dare to stare at any part of the crowd.


    "Just how big is the stage?"


    Zhao Luo mumbled as the disciples that he could see were standing 20 to 30 feet away from each other.


    While some were grouped around a single disciple.


    From behind Zhao Luo, the voice of the elder entered his ear.


    "Go up."


    He told them.


    "Yes, elder."


    They replied.


    Zhao Luo with Si Chen and Feng Ma jumped up the stage and joined the other 3067 disciples.


    "Thud!"


    The Elder jumped on a podium next to the giant stage.


    [ Everyone, Before I start th-...]


    The elder turned once but slowly while giving the spectators the feeling that he was addressing everyone and had acknowledged everyone''s presence.


    He kept on talking while on the stage,


    Feng Ma looked around the spectator''s seat while noticing many familiar faces and couldn''t wait to tell Zhao Luo about them.


    Closing in on Zhao Luo, Feng Ma whispered in Zhao Luo''s ear while pointing at the directions.


    "Brother, the spectator seats from the closest ones on the right, left, and straight ahead, are upied by the Royal Mo Family, the Royal Feng Family, and the Royal Xin Family."


    He stopped as Zhao Luo looked at the ces that Feng Ma had mentioned.


    He realized that the three royalties and the inner disciples who belonged to these families were seated in such a way that the closest seats were upied by the leader of the family along with the elders who had high status and then behind them as the Colosseums seats ascended, the inner disciples and the outer disciples of such families were seated there.


    He could tell ording to the color of the robes that the disciples were wearing.


    ''Nod.''


    Zhao Luo nodded and Feng Ma continued.


    "The notable presences from the Xin family here are the three great elders of the Xin Family."


    Feng Ma pointed straight ahead at the three seats where three old elders with closed eyes were sitting.


    "While the leader of the Xin Family isn''t present who is also the Sect leader of our Xin Sect."


    Feng Ma told Zhao Luo about the Sect Leader but Zhao Luo could already tell.


    Pointing at the right Feng Ma continued the tales through his art of whispering.


    "From the Mo family, almost all the elders are present, especially the leader of the Mo family, Mo Rong is here too since it is a big day for his most favored son."


    Zhao Luo looked at the right side and squinted his eyes.


    He could see a smug-faced middle-aged man sitting on a throne-like seat.


    "What is wrong with his mustache?''


    Zhao Luo questioned Feng Ma.


    "Brother he had kept that box of a mustache since his young days."


    "But he looks like Charlie Chaplin."


    Zhao Luo mumbled.


    "Charlie, who?"


    Feng Ma was caught off guard as Zhao Luo mentioned someone that he was not familiar with.


    "Oh nothing, please continue."


    "Since he prefers Senior Mo Suo, thus he has brought all of his top family members to show how much he treasures this arrogant son of his."


    Feng Ma clenched his fist tightly as he remembered what Mo Suo had said about himst time at the ring of the training zone.


    Shaking his head he continued.


    "As for two seats on his right and left are upied by his wives. The seat on the right is ced perfectly with his seat, and the woman on this seat is Mo Rong''s first wife while the woman on the left seat which is afoot behind Mo Rong''s seat, is the second wife, the mother of Sister Rose."


    Feng Ma pointed towards Mo Anna''s mother and Zhao Luo directed his gaze at her.


    ''Her face which is covered by a veil and her dark red eyes are so simr to Rose but in a colder sense.''


    Zhao Luopared Rose''s mother to her.


    Zhao Luo had seen such eyes before.


    It was the time when he was young and had to spend all his time in the hospital because of his sickness.


    ''At that time, I had the same eyes. The eyes which are devoid of life.''


    Zhao Luo couldn''t help but be saddened slightly. He knew nothing about Rose except that she was royalty and he harbored mutual feelings towards her.


    Feng Ma looked at the lost Zhao Luo and gently tugged the cuff of his robe.


    Zhao Luo looked at him and then looked at the left which was where Feng Ma was pointing.


    "She..."


    Zhao Luo''s eyes widened and from shock to a bitter, a feeling of harmonic love could be seen in his eyes.


    "That''s the Feng Family''s leader, Feng Mei. Even though she is now an outer disciple, she still enjoys the status of the Little Queen of the Feng''s. She is tagged along with her grandfather, Feng Xiaoya, and some of the elders of the Family."


    Feng Ma looked at Zhao Luo and found him lost for words.


    ''Is he staring at little sister?''


    Feng Ma thought but he didn''t mind Zhao Luo''s action of staring at Feng Mei since Feng Mei wasn''t simply someone who enjoyed the highest status but also regarding her looks she was unrivaled in the Feng Family while just being a teen.


    "Brother, even though you are someone I respect but let me tell you, my sister is out of your reach. Haha, if you want I can introduce you to some other beautiful maidens from my Feng Family."


    Feng Ma sneakily whispered in Zhao Luo''s ear.


    "Keh."


    Zhao Luo couldn''t help but smile in return.


    ''How can I exin to you?''


    Zhao Luo thought about his rtionship with Feng Mei.


    "You Fool, do you Brother Zhao Luo is like you?"


    "Hmph, you are the fool for not understanding my humor."


    Si Chen interrupted Feng Ma and got close to Zhao Luo''s other ear while Feng Ma tried to fight back with a low voice.


    "Brother, except the three royal families, two of the five martial families are present here too."


    Si Chen pointed towards the right with his tilted finger which was aimed around the ascending 7th row.


    ''Hmm.''


    Zhao Luo had just nced and could already tell that two different groups were sitting there.


    The leader of one of the groups looked exactly like Si Chen while all the members of the other group had red hair which resembled someone who was Zhao Luo''s friend.


    Zhao Luo looked at Si Chen with strange eyes and an expression that was screaming out,


    ''Am I right?''


    "Yes, that is my father, Lee Chen and the guy next to him is the leader of the Su Family, Su Goi."


    "SuGoi?"


    "Yes, Su Goi. He is the father of Su Shi. The ones around and behind them are the elders and members of the Chen and Su family."


    "I see."


    Zhao Luo was shocked after knowing that someone could be named Sugoi too.


    In just a minute or two, Feng Ma and Si Chen had told Zhao Luo about the many characters present in the spectator''s seats.


    Zhao Luo turned around and found only eleven seats in the first row.


    "Why are there only eleven seats there and all of them are empty too?"


    Zhao Luo asked Si Chen, wondering if he knew the reason.


    "Ah, I don''t know about that."


    Si Chen answered.

 Chapter 170 - The Appearance

    It wasn''t only Si Chen, who didn''t know about who those seats belonged to but also most of the others, present in the colosseum had no idea, and they could only wonder about the eleven empty seats.


    "Each of those eleven seats looks nothing less extraordinary than the throne of Mo Rong."


    ''Is the FC Barcelona teaming to sit there?''


    Zhao Luomented while censoring his wishful yet inappropriate thoughts as he looked at Feng Ma who was slowly opening his mouth.


    "They may belong to the ten elders and the sect leader."


    Feng Ma threw out a wild guess but since all of them were empty and it was already thest part of the tournament that was going to initiate so his guess didn''t sound convincing.


    "No way."


    Zhao Luo replied while thinking that his joke had more chances to be true than Feng Ma''s guess.


    While the three talked about the spectators and the seats, the elder who was notifying the spectators from the podium had almost finished his speech.


    He was introducing all the level eight disciples participating in this Open Battle, which was the first round of thest part of this Outer Disciple Ranking Tournament.


    The elder had already announced 68 token numbers.


    All of these 68 tokens were held by disciples who were level eight ''VIII''.


    Telling about this was to make it easy for the spectators to know about which disciples they should be focusing on.


    Zhao Luo looked at the elder and found that the elder was still not finished.


    "When will it start?"


    Zhao Luo said in aining voice.


    [ The next level eight ''VIII'' disciple is the holder of token number 3069. He is the 69th outer disciple on this level and also thest one. Watch out for him as he is the rumored one. ]


    As the elder finished his announcement, the giant stage let out a momentary glow and everyone''s token vanished from within their hands while leaving a floating number above their head.


    The number was identical to the one in their tokens.


    All the disciples looked up in surprise.


    Zhao Luo also tried to look up to see if his number was floating like a halo too, but at that moment, Zhao Luo felt a mountain of pressure crushing down on him.


    "Agh."


    He couldn''t stop his body from lowering while he tried to stand against the pressure.


    Zhao Luo being under an insane amount of pressure realized where it wasing from as he felt a piercing gaze aimed at his back.


    "Mo Rong..."


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he turned around to look at the spectator seats where the Royal Mo Family was seated.


    Mo Rong had his eyes closed while his upper lips twitched causing his square mustache to bounce.


    ''Thud!''


    Zhao Luo''s knees touched the ground under the mysterious pressure applied on him by Mo Rong while no one had realized what Zhao Luo was going through.


    "Brother, why are you stretching like this?"


    "We should do this too."


    Si Chen questioned while Feng Ma had other ideas.


    ''Thud!''


    Feng Ma copied Zhao Luo and fell on his knees.


    Soon a few spectators noticed that Mo Rong, the King of Mo''s, was bullying a junior.


    While the disciples on the stage who were around Zhao Luo and Feng Ma could only think of them as some Weirdos.


    ''Hmm.''


    The elder on the podium looked at Zhao Luo and then nced at Mo Rong.


    ''I should intervene.''


    He mumbled right away as he realized what was going on but before he could do anything.


    "BOOM!"


    "BOOM!"


    "RUMBLE!"


    Two sting sounds were heard in the clouds above the Colosseum followed by a thundering sound.


    Following these sounds, two silhouettes that were fast as lightning could barely be seen going towards the eleven seats.


    The moment the sounds died down, three of the eleven seats were upied.


    The middle one of the eleven seats already had someone seated on it while two of the eleven seats had someone standing in front of it while facing the crowd of spectators.


    Along with the majestic appearance of the three individuals came the noises and shouts from the crowds.


    The first ones came from the three grand elders of the Xin Family.


    "We greet our king."


    They all bowed towards the direction of the man who was seated in the middle of these eleven seats.


    ''Sect Leader...''


    Zhao Luo also got up and looked at the Sect Leader.


    The pressure on him had disappeared the instant Xin Wang appeared on his seat.


    "Disciples, show your respect to the Sect Leader."


    The elder on the podium announced with widened eyes before he bowed in front of Xin Wang.


    He couldn''t believe that the Sect leader himself was here.


    Zhao Luo looked at the other two individuals and recognized them right away.


    "Second Elder, Third Elder."


    Zhao Luo said with a smile as both of them had treated him well.


    ''I would have never imagined that all three of them would make an appearance.''


    Zhao Luo mumbled while ncing in between the three.


    Right after the elder''s announcement, all the spectators, that is, tens of thousands of people got up from their seats and paid their respect to Xin Wang.


    More than 3000 disciples on the giant stage were also bowing towards the Sect Leader.


    Everyone looked down, no one was an exception except one disciple who was drowning in amazement.


    The Sect Leader, Xin Wang, looked directly at Zhao Luo and their eyes met for a split second.


    ''Nod.''


    The Sect Leader who was being showered with respect by everyone present in the Colosseum was nodding towards an outer disciple of his sect.


    Only Elder Dousan and Elder Bao Fei could see such a marvelous scene with smiles on their faces.


    ''They expect great things from me.''


    Zhao Luo realized the meaning behind the nod and the smiles of the Sect Leader and the elders.


    As everyone raised their heads, Second Elder, Elder Dousan was the first to speak.


    "Oh, King of the Mo Family, Mo Rong, you have indeed lived up to your name. Wrong till the end."


    Second Elder who was famous as the Master of Riddles taunted Mo Rong in a twisted way such that only Mo Rong, Zhao Luo, and a few others could understand what he meant by that.

 Chapter 171 - Leave Them All To Me

    ''Tsk.''


    Mo Rong clicked his tongue as he sped his fist towards the Second Elder.


    "Old man Dousan, you are still the same. Speaking in a manner unbefitting of an elder."


    Mo Rong replied to Second elder''s taunt and then closed his eyes.


    Second Elder grinned but that grin soon turned into a gentle smile as he looked at Zhao Luo.


    "Looks like it''s just us."


    The third elder said who was sitting on the right while leaving a seat empty between him and the Sect Leader.


    The empty seat on the Sect Leader''s right was for the First Elder.


    "I invited the others too. I understand why the ''First'' didn''te but the others too...Sigh~"


    The Second Elder who was seated on the left seat of the Sect Leader said while showing his disappointment.


    -


    A day before the tournament, Second Elder, Elder Dousan had invited the Sect Leader and the nine elders while promising that a surprise would be waiting for them.


    -


    "Dousan, it''s okay."


    Xin Wang told the Second Elder as he nced at his left.


    "But leader, I told everyone that this disciple I want you all to see is a true genius."


    Elder Dousan bowed his head and replied to Xin Wang.


    "They will know about him when the time''s right. Now order the start of this Open Battle.''


    Xin Wang calmly told Elder Dousan as his eyes hovered over Zhao Luo who was also looking at them.


    ''Let''s see how much you have improved.''


    Xin Wang thought while looking at Zhao Luo.


    Elder Dousan looked at the elder on the podium and nodded at him.


    ''Nod.''


    The elder on the podium nodded and turned to look at the giant stage.


    [ The Open Battle will End when only 100 of you are left on the stage. ]


    [ ? START ]


    The elder loudly shouted a single word which started a battle between 3070 disciples.


    "Boom."


    Zhao Luo heard a loud sound from the other side of the stage as a few disciples were knocked up and could be seen high above the stage.


    "Thud!"


    Seven disciples fell outside the stage thus failing the Open Battle.


    Seven disciples were disqualified because of one attack from a disciple, who Zhao Luo couldn''t even see as the distance between them was a lot.


    "WOOOOAHHHHH~"


    The crowd cheered so loudly that their voice echoed twice in the whole training zone.


    -


    Back on stage at one of the four ends, where Zhao Luo was standing with Si Chen and Feng Ma.


    "Where are you looking at?"


    A disciple questioned while looking at the group of three.


    Zhao Luo turned towards his right and looked at the disciple who was talking to him.


    ''A level eight ''VIII'' disciple.''


    Zhao Luo''s eyes widened.


    The disciple who had questioned him was leading a big group of more than fifty disciples.


    Most of the disciples in the group were level seven ''VII'' disciples while a few were on level six ''VI''.


    "I don''t think I need to tell you. It''s my eyes so I will look wherever I want to!"


    Zhao Luo replied with a heavy voice, showing not even an ounce of fear.


    "Hah, what a fool. Do you think you can go against Brother Mo Suo with your tongue?"


    The disciple shouted at Zhao Luo without hiding the fact he was Mo Suo''s underling.


    "Hmph. Fight or Get Lost."


    Zhao Luo said as coldness grew in his eyes.


    ''Why are you talking about my tongue when you are using it too?''


    Zhao Luoined as he raised his hand and gestured at the disciple toe at him.


    "You will answer me when I destroy you."


    The disciple gave thest shout before rushing at Zhao Luo.


    "Attack him."


    He signaled the other disciples behind him.


    All the disciples moved towards Zhao Luo.


    But Zhao Luo wasn''t alone as Si Chen and Feng Ma stepped up and stood right beside him, one on Zhao Luo''s right while the other on Zhao Luo''s left.


    "Brother I will take the ones on the right."


    Si Chen said with an excited tone as finally the moment he had patiently waited for had arrived.


    Thest time they had fought on one side was against the sand lions that they had met in the Sara Desert.


    ''Tap.''


    Looking at this Feng Ma took a step towards the coning enemies and brought out his wine sk.


    ''Gulp, Gulp.''


    Taking two sips from it, he looked at Zhao Luo.


    "Brother leave the ones on the left to me."


    He said to Zhao Luo with a drunk voice that was brimming with confidence.


    "Haha, then leave them all to me."


    Zhao Luo felt a reassuring feeling as both of his disciple brothers hadn''t backed away since even if they did he wouldn''t have minded it.


    "What?"


    "Why?"


    They questioned Zhao Luo but only found him lowering his body.


    "It''s just a few of them."


    Zhao Luo told them as he raised his heel and pulled his right fist back.


    ''A few?''


    Both Si Chen and Feng Ma were shocked as to them it looked like Zhao Luo wasn''t joking.


    "Half Walk!"


    Zhao Luo shed from his spot and the next instant he appeared 7 meters away, that is right in front of the leader of the disciples who wasing at them.


    "What?"


    The leader shouted in shock since to him, he could only see Zhao Luo disappearing from his spot and covering the distance between them in an instant.


    "Surprise!"


    Zhao Luo said as he threw his full-strength fist at this level eight ''VIII'' disciple.


    The speed of Zhao Luo''s fist was so fast jat the disciple couldn''t even see it thus there was no way that he could block it or dodge it.


    ''Tap.''


    The moment Zhao Luo''s fist touched the chest of this disciple, the disciple looked down with shock written all over his face.


    "What was that? A sissy punch?"


    "Hah, Ha."


    Heughed slowly but found Zhao Luo looking at him with a scowl.


    "That''s my calming Fist."


    "BOOM."


    The disciple''s face distorted as his stomach went inwards and his spine looked like it would pop out of his body while ripping apart his back any time.


    "CRACK~"


    "AHHHHH."


    A loud cracking sound erupted from this disciple''s body while his screams came along with mouthfuls of blood.


    ''Thud!''


    The disciple fell on his knees and t momentter his face hit the stage as he had lost his consciousness because of the unbearable pain.


    Zhao Luo looked at the other level seven ''VII'' disciples.


    "Who is NEXT?"


    He said with a smile on his face while the bloodied face of the level eight disciple was right next to his feet.

 Chapter 172 - Action

    ''Tap, Tap.''


    Hurriedly stepping back, the level seven ''VII'' disciples had a horrified expression on their faces as they looked at the smile on the handsome face of Zhao Luo.


    The one leading them had fallen already.


    Everything had happened in an instant.


    Zhao Luo''s action of taking down the level eight ''VIII'' disciple was so fast that even the crowd hadn''t reacted to it yet.


    "HAHAHA."


    Zhao Luo let out a boisterousugh as he looked at the scared faces of the disciples.


    To the disciples, Zhao Luo looked like the silver-haired devil who would bring their inevitable end.


    *Loud cheering*


    The crowd that was sitting on this side of the giant stage suddenly erupted as they looked at this one of the many ''one vs many'' fights going on the stage.


    ''Whoosh.''


    ''Whoosh.''


    Si Chen and Feng Ma passed Zhao Luo with incredible speed.


    Feng Ma had his wine sk in his hand while Si Chen was holding a blue sword.


    "Hey, guys..."


    Zhao Luo mumbled with a smile as his brothers were more eager than him to show off.


    "We know you can take them but-"


    "Let us have some fun too, brother."


    Si Chen and Feng Ma''s voice was left behind as they reached the disciples.


    "Drunk Man''s sk."


    "Chen Family''s First Sword Style: Wave."


    Both Feng Ma and Si Chen struck with the enemy disciples with their moderate attacks but the other side wasn''t a group full of dummies and puppets.


    "BOOM."


    ''CLANG.''


    ''TING.''


    A big fight erupted as both Feng Ma and Si Chen entered the fray.


    "Mini Walk."


    Zhao Luo shed from his ce and rushed behind his brothers to support them.


    This was a big fight on Zhao Luo''s side but it wasn''t only him who was facing such a big resistance.


    -


    The giant stage was filled with action and drowned with the spectator''s cheers.


    On some other part of the stage.


    "Little Miss."


    Five disciples surrounded a veiled maiden.


    The badge on her robe showed that she was a level seven VII disciple too.


    Till now the disciples surrounding her were persuading her calmly without showing any other intention except helping her, but then one of them stepped towards her.


    "Why don''t you join us? We will protect you well...hehe."


    One of them brought his hand towards her shoulder.


    Rose squinted her eyes.


    ''sh.''


    A pink line was left in front of the disciple as she swung her sword upwards.


    The next moment the disciple''s eyes widened as he slowly fell and a line of blood started spilling out from his stomach and reaching his chin.


    "Agh~"


    A cold and painful scream left his mouth.


    "Little miss don''t me uster."


    The four disciples who were watching their subordinate crying out in pain said and started closing in on her.


    "Humph."


    Rose grumped and raised her azure sword.


    There was no fear in her clear red eyes.


    "I am more than enough to protect myself."


    She coldly said as she jumped towards them.


    -


    Crazy battles erupted all around the giant stage while the number of disciples started falling rapidly.


    -


    "I knew it."


    "Hahahaha."


    "He has improved to an unfathomable extent."


    Second Elder, Elder Dousanughed heartily as his eyes were fixed on Zhao Luo.


    Elder Dousan''s eyes glimmered with excitement as he held his snow-white beard.


    "The two disciples next to Zhao Luo are in no way inferior to him."


    Third Elder, Elder Bao Fei added as he was focused on the whole stage instead of only Zhao Luo.


    "But if that''s all he can do..."


    Xin Wang spoke calmly as he looked at different parts of the stage before bringing his sight back on Zhao Luo.


    "then just surviving the Open Battle will be his limit."


    Xin Wang was happy with Zhao Luo''s growth but it wasn''t something that could force him to be on the edge of his seat.


    "Sect Leader, no, Little Wang, do trust these old eyes."


    Second Elder told Xin Wang.


    In the whole Xin Sect and the Xin Range, only Elder Dousan held the privilege to address the Sect Leader like this.


    ''Nod.''


    Xin Wang nodded and kept ln watching.


    ''He can''t see a word on the scroll of greed, thus just this much shouldn''t be what he is capable of.''


    Xin Wang thought while looking at Zhao Luo shing with the disciples.


    -


    ''Hah.''


    ''Hah.''


    Feng Ma and Si Chen were adjusting their breath while Zhao Luo stood in front of them.


    "You can rest and leave everything on your brother."


    Zhao Luo told them with a collected smile on his face.


    "Hah, brother, how can we be tired already?"


    "Yes, till the end, we will fight beside you."


    Feng Ma and Si Chen replied to Zhao Luo.


    The three had already taken care of the fifty disciples.


    Feng Ma and Si Chen took a step and stood next to Zhao Luo.


    "Brother I think another group ising."


    Feng Ma told Zhao Luo.


    Till now it had only been ten minutes since the Open Battle hadmenced yet around a thousand disciples were already been disqualified by being knocked out of the stage.


    Zhao Luo didn''t know of such details as he could only wee the disciples who wereing for him.


    "Ahhh."


    "BOOM."


    "AHHH."


    Zhao Luo looked ahead where Feng Ma had pointed earlier and could only hear screams as disciples that looked like they wereing at him, were instead running away from someone.


    Disciples were being sent flying left and right as a disciple rushed towards Zhao Luo''s direction from the middle of the stage.


    "BULL CHARGE~"


    "Oraaaaa~"


    A loud shout was heard as someone was being so loud that everyone on the stage could hear his shouts.


    Not only was he loud but he was knocking everyone around him, without giving a heck if it was a friend, foe, or someone he was acquainted with.


    ''All that just to reach me?''


    Zhao Luo mumbled with surprise as whoever this disciple was, he was just making things hard for himself.

 Chapter 173 - Pretty Boy Vs The Loud Mouth

    The crashing show continued for some minutes and gave Zhao Luo the feeling of soon being hit by a truck.


    After that, in ten more seconds of watching this show, that disciple who had been charging in Zhao Luo''s direction was standing twenty feet away from Zhao Luo.


    The disciple intensely stared at Zhao Luo.


    ''Does he intend to set me on fire?''


    Zhao Luo thought with a smirk as he looked at the disciple''s badge.


    ''He is also a level eight ''VIII''


    Zhao Luo confirmed the level of the disciple and wondered about the look in the eyes of this disciple.


    Even he didn''t know what kind of rumor had spread about him that could cause the disciple in front of him to have such an intense hatred in his eyes as he looked at Zhao Luo.


    "What?"


    Zhao Luo questioned him whilst he tightened his fist.


    "Handsome. Silver Hair. Broad Shoulders. Clear Eyes with unmeasurable depth. You''re the one."


    The disciple started spouting nonsense while inspecting Zhao Luo.


    "What?"


    Zhao Luo couldn''t help but repeat the same question.


    ''What is he going on about? But he is only speaking facts.''


    Zhao Luo nodded as a smile crept upon his face when the words spoken by the disciple had spoken sank in.


    "Looks ARROGANT when he smiles."


    The disciple said as smoke came out of his nose.


    Zhao Luo froze while his smile slowly vanished.


    "You Bastard. I don''t care if you shit on Mo Suo or the ground BUT how dare you hit on my lovely Senior."


    The disciple shouted at Zhao Luo.


    The disciples who were fighting in the area around Zhao Luo backed off causing a ceasefire.


    They focused on the abrupt confession by a disciple.


    ''Is this going to be a fight motivated by love?''


    The disciples thought but they weren''t the only ones with such thoughts.


    "WOOOOO~"


    The spectating crowd in the Colosseum was going crazy.


    There was no one who didn''t like a hot topic where two men fought bravely for a woman.


    Much better, the scene happening on the stage in front of them was literally such a fight.


    Zhao Luo on the other hand was confused.


    ''Does he like Rose too?''


    He wondered as that could be the only case matching to what the disciple in front of him was shouting about.


    "How is she ''your'' lovely senior? Even she likes me, so who are you to interfere in my business."


    Zhao Luo shouted back at the disciple.


    He didn''t hold back his voice so that the who had hears the ims of the disciple would be able to hear his words too.


    The disciple in front of Zhao Luo shook and his eyes, which held hatred towards Zhao Luo, showed deep jealousying forth through them.


    "What? My Lovely Senior...Senior Cutie like you?"


    The disciple covered his chest area, behind where his heart was supposed to be and held it tightly.


    His face was filled with pain and sadness.


    "WTF!"


    Zhao Luo shouted but he couldn''t continue as he found the disciple in front of him falling to his knees.


    ''Thud!''


    The disciple fell on his knees and looked up towards the sky which was filled with white clouds.


    "Heavens...why?"


    "Why did you let my precious Senior Fall in Love with a PRETTY GUY? WAS I NOT ENOUGH?"


    The disciple kept on shouting while looking towards the cloud as though he was directlyining to some heavenly deity.


    Coincidentally the clouds joined together, and in a split second, it started raining.


    ''Did someone switched ON the rain?''


    Zhao Luo was shocked and couldn''t believe what he was watching.


    ''A disciple acting like a dumb Drama Queen and the nature which was trying its best to amplify this disciple''s bullshit...''


    ''Why is this happening to mee~''


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he stared at the disciple who was still not finished with his vomit-inducing performance.


    "I, Pi Hao have never been so disheartened before and NEVER WILL BE."


    "Pee How?"


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he watched Pi Hao getting up from his position.


    "I, Pi Hao, challenge you for Senior Cutie''s Sake."


    Pi Hao said as the index finger of his stretched-out arm was pointing at Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo pped his head as he realized what was going on.


    "I think you are misunderstanding something."


    Zhao Luo said to Pi Hao.


    "Don''t try to lie. Or are you just afraid of getting beaten by me?"


    "If that''s the case then just jump off the stage and I will leave you be. Also, stay clear of Senior Cutie."


    Pi Hao announced his conditions in a heavy tone, showing Zhao Luo that he had no other choice.


    The blood of the young spectators boiled while some female disciples in the spectator seats and in the ring who could see the verbal exchange between Zhao Luo and Pi Hao, couldn''t help but let a streak of blood escape their nostrils.


    The situation had turned from "Two Men fighting for a Woman" to "A man fighting a Pretty Boy for a Cute Man".


    "Go Pi Haoooo~"


    "Zhao Luo Don''t Give UP~"


    Two different cheers were rising from within the spectator seats of the Colosseum.


    One supported Pi Hao who was openly challenging for the love of his senior while the other supported Zhao Luo who, in the eyes of the spectators, was now a shy pretty boy.


    "Unwilling to admit, but willing to fight for his senior...Kyaaa~"


    A female spectator wearing a purple robe and a bronze badge apuded Zhao Luo''s courage.


    ''Twitch~''


    Zhao Luo''s forehead squirmed as he felt anger erupting inside him.


    ''I have never met such a stupid man in my life.''


    Zhao Luomented on Pi Hao''s ignoring attitude and slowly raised his feet while looking at Pi Hao who was enjoying the crowd''s reaction.


    "BOOM!"


    Zhao Luo stomped his feet on the stage and the square tiles around his feet started cracking.


    The pressure from his feet continued in the form of a shockwave and reached under Pi Hao''s feet.


    "BOOM"


    Pi Hao jumped back as the stage under him exploded.


    The spectators went silent as they were on the edge of their seats.


    "Who will win?"


    "I think the pretty boy has more chances."


    "No the loud mouth looks stronger."


    "Have you forgotten how that pretty boy took down thest disciple in one punch?"


    "Hmm~"


    A discussion broke out between the two sides of the crowd on this side.


    They had forsaken Zhao Luo and Pi Hao''s names and calling them other names.


    ''Twitch.''


    A vein popped out on Zhao Luo''s forehead.


    "It''s all your fault."


    Zhao Luo mumbled while looking at Pi Hao.

 Chapter 174 - Pretty Boy Vs The Loud Mouth I

    "My fault?"


    Pi Hao didn''t only have a loud mouth but his hearing was amazingly good too.


    "You are the one who tried to take advantage of Senior Cutie with your looks, so how is it my fault?"


    Pi Hao questioned Zhao Luo.


    A story had been fixed in his mind after Zhao Luo had mistaken Pi Hao''s lovely senior to be Rose.


    ''There is only one way to end this bullshit.''


    Zhao Luo thought and forsake the thought of exining anything to Pi Hao.


    "Once I defeat you, you will listen to me without butting in. Okay?"


    Zhao Luo told a condition to Pi Hao with a calm face.


    "Do you think you can beat me? How ARROGANT of you."


    Pi Hao was fired as ording to Zhao Luo''s words, there was no other result to their fight except Pi Hao''s loss.


    Zhao Luo was still silent and his silence was more than an answer to Pi Hao''s questions.


    Zhao Luo''s confidence in himself was just that much that he had never considered himself losing against anyone.


    "Okay!"


    Pi Hao agreed to Zhao Luo''s term.


    ''Just listening to him won''t be that bad.''


    Pi Hao thought as he looked at the calm demeanor of Zhao Luo.


    ''But if he tells me about how much he loves Senior, then I will just cut my ears.''


    Pi Hao who had taken his fantasies about the BL between Zhao Luo and Senior Cutie, decided the future of his ears if a certain situation developed after his loss but that wasn''t the end.


    "Then, Promise me that if I win, You will stay away from Senior."


    Pi Hao told Zhao Luo.


    ''Nod.''


    Zhao Luo nodded just so the fight between them could start.


    The onlookers backed away enough that a circle of 50 feet radius was created with Zhao Luo being the center.


    A little away from him was Pi Hao.


    "Brother Don''t lose."


    Feng Ma told Zhao Luo and Si Chen couldn''t agree more.


    "Hah."


    Zhao Luo scoffed it off when he imagined himself losing this and not getting a chance to set things straight.


    He would be an eternal lover of Senior Cutie in the spectator''s eyes and in the eyes of everyone who was watching this unfold.


    Si Chen and Feng Ma also backed away and joined the disciples outside of the circle.


    This side of the stage was like a cold graveyard.


    A silence had descended in this area with everyone''s eyes focused on Zhao Luo and Pu Hao.


    ''Who will win, the pretty boy or the loudmouth?''


    Manh disciples couldn''t help but think as a gust of wind blew across them.


    Zhao Luo looked at Pi Hao and inspected him.


    ''He is as tall as me. But on the bulky side.''


    Zhao Luo mumbled and stepped forward towards Pi Hao, while his robe fluttered because of the wind.


    Looking at Zhao Luo advancing toward him with his fluttering robe, Pi Hao slowly opened his mouth.


    "This brother is quite cool..."


    Pi Hao said as he also stepped towards Zhao Luo.


    ''A calming fist should be enough for him.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he lowered his body and clenched his fist.


    "Half Walk."


    Zhao Luo disappeared from his ce and appeared before Pi Hao shocking him with his shing technique.


    Zhao Luo pulled back his clenched fist and then aimed it at Pi Hao''s stomach.


    With widened eyes, Pi Hao saw Zhao Luo''s fisting at him and smirked.


    "Hmmm."


    ''Whoosh.''


    Zhao Luo''s punchnded perfectly on an empty space.


    ''What?''


    Pi Hao had evaded his attack by turning left in thest instant shocking Zhao Luo in return.


    Zhao Luo rotated his body and threw multiple explosive fists at Pi Hao.


    "Brother you are overly confident on your fists."


    Before Zhao Luo''s fist could hit Pi Hao, he spoke in a cold tone.


    "We will see if that is the case or not."


    Zhao Luo replied and found Pi Hao pulling back his fist too.


    ''Is he going to match my fists?''


    Zhao Luo wondered but his question didn''t remain unanswered.


    ''Boom.''


    The moment Zhao Luo''s punches, which were in the explosive fist ne, were going to hit Pi Hao''s body, his punches were stopped time after time again.


    ''BANG!''


    ''BANG!''


    ''BANG!''


    Pi Hao perfectly blocked each one of Zhao Luo''s punches with his fist.


    "Oh My GAWD, are they still outer disciples and not some inner disciples in disguise?"


    One of the disciples on the giant stage who was spectating this fight spoke out loudly.


    "Indeed, the speed of their fists and the power of each fist is unmeasurable. But the fact that both the pretty boy and the loudmouth are equally matched every time their fists collides is more mind-blowing than their power and speed."


    A smarter disciple added as he stared at the barrages of fists exchanged between Zhao Luo and Pi Hao.


    "How many fists are there?"


    A disciple questioned in shock.


    Even though his question didn''t make sense as both Zhao Luo and Pi Hao had two fists each but if a person was looking at them throwing them then he would ask the same question as this disciple.


    "BOOM, BOOM."


    Zhao Luo and Pi Hao kept on shing with their fists but both hadn''t taken a single hit on their bodies till now.


    Their fists were so fast that to others it looked like they were throwing twenty fists, each second as the surrounding disciples could clearly see all of these twenty fists.


    ''Even though I am holding back fifty percent of my strength, but he isn''t bad.''


    Zhao Luo praised Pi Hao in his mind and clenched his fist even more tightly than before.


    "Explosive Fists."


    Zhao Luo shouted as he increased the speed of his fist and the power of his fist had increased by a little too.


    "Water Metal Fist."


    Pi Hao shouted the name of his fist technique as he once again countered each one of Zhao Luo''s punches without backing down or letting a punch escape and hit his body.

 Chapter 175 - Pretty Boy Vs The Loud Mouth II

    Zhao Luo was slightly shocked as there was someone else who could face his fist which had seventy percent of his strength and block them without a sweat.


    "BOOM! BANG!"


    Their fists kept on colliding with neither Zhao Luo backing down with his fierce attacks nor Pi Hao stopping his ultimate defense.


    "WOOOOOO~"


    "MOOOOREEE~"


    The crowd seated on the colosseum behind the giant stage where Zhao Luo and Pi Hao were fighting, erupted with shouts and cheers as this powerful exchange of fists was more than enough to make their blood boil and take their excitement to Mars.


    ''Bang!''


    ''Screech~''


    ''Bang!''


    ''Screech~''


    Zhao Luo was using his full strength behind each of his fists and Pi Hao was being pushed back by a very little margin every time he blocked them.


    To Pi Hao, it was like he was shooting down fast and powerful crows that were entering his garden.


    ''I don''t think I cant take more.''


    Pi Hao''s eyes looked tragic as even though he had been matching well with Zhao Luo''s powerful fist with his Metal Water fists, but there was a limit to what these fists of his could take.


    Metal Water Technique was a C rank gold-colored fist technique.


    It was one of the most powerful fist techniques in the Outer Hall''s library yet it was considered the best defensive technique that the library of Outer Hall could offer.


    Even though you had to punch which was an offensive attack but this technique showed its true potential when the thrown punches were blocking something.


    Just like in this case, where Zhao Luo was using his explosive fist and the whole power behind his fists was being nulled right when they came in contact with Pi Hao''s fist.


    But there was a limit to how many times Pi Hao could block Zhao Luo''s super-powerful fists with his fist technique.


    Zhao Luo kept on throwing his fist as though he was a machine gun and not a human who got tired.


    ''I got you.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he looked at the shaking in Pi Hao''s arms.


    "Explosive Fists~"


    Zhao Luo shouted as his fists rained down on Pi Hao.


    Pi Hao tried to block Zhao Luo''s fist with his fists.


    ''Bang!''


    He blocked once and had to take a step back.


    ''Bang!''


    He blocked another and moved two steps back.


    ''Bang.''


    He blocked Zhao Luo''s fist the third time and almost fell losing his bnce.


    But he didn''t give up as Zhao Luo''s fists were continuouslying at him without knowing what the word ''stop'' meant.


    Without a bnced body, Pi Hao still tried to block this fist.


    ''Bang!''


    "Agh."


    Letting out a moan, Pi Hao jumped back evading Zhao Luo''s oing ferocious barrage of fists.


    Zhao Luo rushed at him without letting him go.


    Even though he evaded Zhao Luo''s fist but internally he had already given up on this fight.


    Pi Hao slowly closed his eyes while his brain forced him to realize the truth.


    ''I have lost. My fists have lost.''


    Pi Hao thought as he realized that he lost to Zhao Luo in the thing he treasured the most.


    A fistfight.


    It had been three years since he had advanced to an outer disciple.


    Afterpleting many missions, he umted enough points to get a C grade book on the fist technique, gold-colored technique at that and he had already mastered it to the intermediate level which was a very proud achievement for him,


    ''But now I am a step away from losing to a new disciple. Do I really have to give up on Senior like this? The senior who was always there to help me?''


    Pi Hao thought as the expression on his face changed.


    He had given up but when he remembered about the three years of his time in the outer hall when he trained so much that he couldn''t even participate in the previous outer disciple ranking tournaments,


    ''I can''t give up like this.''


    Something awakened in Pi Hao as he clenched his fist and opened his eyes.


    "Explosive Fist."


    Zhao Luo threw his right fist at Pi Hao.


    The fist was aimed directly at his chest and Pi Hao had just opened his eyes.


    Right after opening his eyes, he threw his right fist at Zhao Luo''s fist.


    "BOOOM."


    Not only did he block Zhao Luo''s explosive fist that had his full strength in it but he also pushed Zhao Luo back by three steps.


    "Ha...Hahaha."


    Pi Hao erupted withughter.


    It wasn''t a condescendingugh but instead augh that showed his happiness over achieving something great.


    "What happened?"


    Looking at Pi Haoughing in bliss, Zhao Luo questioned while being pushed back.


    ''I was clearly overpowering him but then he pushed me back.''


    Zhao Luo went over the situation and felt stupefied.


    Zhao Luo who hadn''t even fought anyone in all his life as a traveler wouldn''t know what was going on.


    -


    "That kid isn''t bad. Achieving a breakthrough to reach the expert level in a technique during a fight isn''tmon. Rather it''s almost close to impossible."


    The third elder, Bao Fei, who was seated next to the empty seat on the left side of Xin Wang said.


    "Indeed. But just what kind of emotions and pressure did my Zhao Luo put him through so that disciple could achieve such a breakthrough?"


    The Second Elder, Dousan, added while he held his beard within his fist.


    "No, Zhao Luo may have pressured him but you can''t give all the credit to him even though we already know you favor him a lot."


    Elder Bao Fei told Elder Dousan in a scolding manner.


    It was like a kid was scolding his father.


    "Hah, a little monkey, do you think you can observe better than me?"


    "Old baboon, I may not have wrinkled eyes like you, but I am not blinded by a single disciple."


    "BANG!"


    As Elder Dousan and Elder Bao Fei had just started arguing, the Sect leader, Xin Wang stomped his feet to cause a st.


    "That should be enough. You both have been squandering over the disciples for too long already."


    Xin Wang said to them in a majestic yet angry tone.


    Indeed since the Open Battle had started both Bao Fei and Dousan kept on going against each other whenever they would judge a disciple.


    They had stooped to such a point where they were calling each other monkeys and whatnot.


    Xin Wang after scolding his two elders focused back on the giant stage while more than half of his focus was on Zhao Luo''s fight.


    -


    "I must thank you, Brother."


    Pi Hao sped his fist and bowed his head towards Zhao Luo, mid-fight.

 Chapter 176 - Pretty Boy Vs The Loud Mouth III

    Zhao Luo looked at the smiling Pi Hao.


    ''Why is he thanking me?''


    He wondered as he found Pi Hao staring down looking at his hands.


    The number of times Zhao Luo had fought could be counted on the fingers of his hands.


    All the fights he had shared a simrity.


    And that simrity was his opponent being weaker than him and even if they were close to Zhao Luo''s level, they were only able to push him to his limits.


    Thus he had never surpassed his limits in any of his few fights.


    Contrary to Zhao Luo, Pi Hao had already lost the battle of fists in both power and tenacity, yet the moment he gave up, his burning emotions that declined his defeat, helped him in breaking through his limits, leaving Zhao Luo in confusion.


    Pi Hao knew that he had reached the expert level in Metal Fist Technique.


    As he focused on his arms, a shade of grey and blue was visible on his hands.


    ''Before I could only use the Water Metal Fist but now I can easily switch between the metal core and water core before my fist touches the target while also using the ''hardened water palm'' without any restrictions.''


    Pi Hao understood the new limits of his abilities.


    The Metal Water technique was based on the principle of the characteristic of two different coresbined as one.


    A hard reflecting metallic core and a soft absorbing water core.


    [ Water Metal Fist ]


    The fist attack that Pi Hao had been using before helped him in not only absorbing the power of Zhao Luo''s fists but also deflecting that power before it reached his wrist, thus letting Pi Hao block a fist that could put giant dents on a tungsten mountain.


    Now Pi Hao was at the expert level of Metal Water technique that is gaining deep insight into his technique and new limits.


    -


    Zhao Luo looked at Pi Hao who had been staring at his fists for a few seconds after thanking him and was baffled while he wondered if this fight would resume or not.


    ''Should I give him a surprise attack?''


    Zhao Luo thought but shook his head right after that.


    It wasn''t like Zhao Luo was a person who didn''t like fighting in a sneaky manner but instead, this fight with Pi Hao was a fight that had started because of a misunderstanding on Pi Hao''s side thus Zhao Luo slowly opened his mouth rather than going at Pi Hao who was lost in his thoughts.


    "Hey. Are you going to keep on standing there like a statue? Or Have you given up since you are thankful to me?"


    ''For some reason!''


    Zhao Luo questioned Pi Hao. There was no trembling in his tone showing that he wasn''t joking when he asked Pi Hao if Pi Hao had given up on the fight.


    "No, since I have thanked you for something then I should show you what that gratitude was all about!"


    Pi Hao said with a grin on his face.


    His confidence had shot by a mile after reaching the expert level of Metal Water Technique.


    ''If I don''t try against a guy like you then it would be meaningless.''


    Pi Hao had decided on continuing the fight otherwise where else would he find a disciple simr to his level whose expertise is also simr to him that is the fist technique.


    "Then Come."


    Zhao Luo told Pi Hao as he was getting tired while waiting for him.


    "AHHHHHH~"


    Pi Hao jumped at Zhao Luo while releasing a heavy roar.


    "Good."


    Zhao Luoplimented Pi Hao''s spirit which showed that Pi Hao was just getting started.


    "But that goes for me too."


    Zhao Luo mumbled.


    He pulled back his right fist.


    Right at the moment, when Pi Hao''s fist reached Zhao Luo,


    ''Whoooosh.''


    Zhao Luo threw his fist at Pi Hao''s oing attack using his tactic on him.


    "Metal Water Fist."


    Pi Hao shouted once again right before his fist touched Zhao Luo''s fist.


    This attack of Pi Hao was different than his previous attack which was the Water Metal Fist.


    Since the cores were changed thus the power of the fist changed along with it making it an extremely offensive attack like Zhao Luo''s explosive fist.


    "Bang!"


    "BOOM."


    The moment both fists touched, a sound was released on their collision and another sting sound from Pi Hao''s fist followed the ''Bang!'' caused by the collision.


    Both fists were stopped as if announcing a draw of this momentary collision.


    Pi Hao who was hoping to overpower Zhao Luo''s fist was slightly shocked by the result that he couldn''t push back Zhao Luo''s fist not even by an inch while also realizing that this attack of Zhao Luo was quite different than all of his previous ones.


    The next instant Pi Hao felt his arm tremble while he was looking at Zhao Luo''s handsome face.


    Zhao Luo slowly opened his mouth.


    "Calming Fist."


    Zhao Luo''s sound entered Pi Hao''s ear as he heard a cracking sound from the bones in his arm.


    "Even if you can block the power of my fist head-on, there is no way you can block the destructive energy of my calming fist that lied dormant in you for an instant."


    Zhao Luo told Pi Hai who was backing as he held his right arm with his left hand.


    "Agh."


    Pi Hao let out a tragic groan showing how much pain he was in.


    ''Drip, Drip.''


    His blood fell to the stage drop after drop as there was a tear around his elbow clearly showing that his joint was more or less fuc-wrecked.


    "If you had such an attack, why didn''t you use it before?"


    Pi Haoined while shouting at Zhao Luo.


    ''Tap, Tap.''


    "Hah, why would I show all of my cards to my opponent?"


    Zhao Luo shrugged as he walked towards Pi Hao whose eyes shook.


    "I can''t feel it."


    Pi Hao mumbled while Zhao Luo closed in on him.


    He was talking about his right arm as it went numb because the amount of blood loss had already exceeded the limit that Pi Hao could be careless about.


    "Just admit defeat."


    ''Tap, Tap.''


    Zhao Luo who stopped three feet away from Pi Hao said to him.


    "Admit Defeat?"


    Pi Hao''s sight shook again.

 Chapter 177 - Interruption

    Pi Hao''s sudden gain in momentum after advancing to the expert level in his technique was shot down by a single fist attack of Zhao Luo.


    The spectators watching this fight were silent, the disciples around the circle were silent except the only sound that they could hear, were the exciting beats of their hearts.


    Zhao Luo under the silence surrounding this area of the giant stage looked straight at Pi Hao.


    ''Once he admits defeat, I will exin to him that there is nothing, going on between me and Senior C-Cutie.''


    Zhao Lul nodded his head but when he realized the expression on Pi Hao''s face, he clenched his fist.


    Pi Hao was biting on his lip while his eyes were shining with the light of defiance in them that is, Pi Hao still hadn''t given up.


    "So you will continue fighting?"


    Zhao Luo questioned Pi Hao with an angry tone.


    "Even if I tell you that nothing is going on between me and senior cutie?"


    "No, you are lying."


    Zhao Luo tried to exin his side to Pi Hao but was shot down instantly.


    Pi Hao removed the grip of his left hand from his right arm and hovered his palm between himself and Zhao Luo.


    "Till I stand in this stage, I will fight. For myself and Senior Cutie."


    Pi Hao announced in a loud voice.


    His announcement caused the male spectators to fall off their seats while the female spectators were imagining future scenarios between Pi Hao, Zhao Luo, and Senior Cutie.


    "Go Loud Mouth!"


    "Loud Mouth, you can do it!"


    "Just Do It."


    Three different kinds of cheers were rising from the mouths of spectators yet all of them were directed towards Pi Hao.


    "Ahhh~"


    Pi Hao once again rushed at Zhao Luo while letting out a war cry.


    But this time his roar was tragic as it contained the pain he was bearing and the pressure of going against an expected defeat.


    "Hardened Water Palm."


    Pi Hao threw his left hand at Zhao Luo as he aimed for his head.


    Zhao Luo slowly saw Pi Hao''s palm reaching his face as it grew bigger and bigger.


    Zhao Luo instantly lowered his body while raising his heel and pushing his toes backward.


    "Mini Walk."


    Zhao Luo said and flickered from his ce just to appear behind Pi Hao.


    "You haven''t even realized yet."


    ''Tap.''


    Zhao Luo ced his hand on Pi Hao''s shoulder while Pi Hao''s palm passednded in the spot where Zhao Luo was a moment ago.


    "What?"


    Pi Hao said in shock.


    ''Ba-Dump.''


    ''Ba-Dump.''


    To Pi Hao, Zhao Luo''s hand on his shoulder felt like a Reaper''s Scythe that would slice off his neck instantly.


    "Your speed has dropped. The fire in your eyes is burning so brightly that you are only focused on your phantasmal victory while losing sight of your dwindling speed."


    Zhao Luo shook his head as he pulled back his other hand and clenched his finger to make a fist.


    Zhao Luo''s hand on Pi Hao''s shoulder was enough to keep him from not moving.


    Pi Hao understood what Zhao Luo was telling him but he couldn''t give up. Thus he closed his eyes and waited for his demise.


    "Just sleep for a while."


    Zhao Luo said before using his attack.


    ''I will exin to you once you wake up while the tournament would have ended till then.''


    ''Crack.''


    A sound came from Zhao Luo''s knuckle as he threw his fist at Pi Hao''s back.


    "Explosive..."


    "Fis-"


    "STOP~"


    Zhao Luo''s attack was interrupted by a familiar shout from the spectator''s area.


    ''...''


    Pi Hao opened his eyes and turned his head to look at the owner of the voice that had just dyed his bitter end.


    "Senior..."


    Pi Hao trembled as he looked at Senior Cutie.


    Senior Cutie had appeared on one of the upper rows for the spectators.


    Zhao Luo looked at the bandaged baldy who was looking back at him from the edge of the fourth row instead of sitting on the spectator''s seats like everybody else in the colosseum.


    "Little Hao, it''s enough."


    "Little brother, let my friend go."


    Senior Cutie''s voice trembled as he slowly ryed his wishes to Pi Hao and Zhao Luo.


    ''Is he telling me to stop trying to fight against Zhao Luo? Does that mean he likes him that much?''


    Pi Hao felt saddened but that is when he heard Zhao Luo talking.


    "Senior Cutie, please tell him that we are just disciple brothers and nothing more."


    Zhao Luo told Senior Cutie in a loud voice.


    Obviously, if he wasn''t loud his voice would never reach the fourth row.


    A mischievous look appeared on Senior Cutie''s face and Zhao Luo knew damn well what that look was all about.


    Thest time Zhao Luo had seen that look on baldy''s face was when Senior Cutie had stopped pretending to help Zhao Luo after fooling him into wasting his points on Extraordinary Breath.


    "Don''t you dare..."


    Zhao Luo mumbled as his lips moved and a smile appeared on Senior Cutie''s face.


    ''Ah looks like now is not the time to y with you.''


    "Little Hao you are misunderstanding the situation. Nothing is going on between me and Little Brother."


    ''Haaaa~''


    Zhao Luo released a sigh of relief as Senior Cutie told the truth to Pi Hao.


    "Thank you."


    Zhao Luo nodded at Senior Cutie who was looking at him from a high ce.


    The truth was out but Senior Cutie wasn''t done.


    He was already in a bad shape but he couldn''t stop himself from messing around with Zhao Luo as this gave him a different kind of pleasure.


    "Instead, Little Brother likes the princess of the Mo Family. I heard that even she, who is known as a top beauty of our sect, favors him. So I hope that you can let go of your hatred against him."


    Listening to Senior Cutie speak, Pi Hao felt bad.


    Zhao Luo had definitely tried to tell him this but he was ignoring Zhao Luo''s words while thinking of them as lies.


    ''But what now? I am really a fool.''


    Pi Hao cursed himself as he tried to turn to face Zhao Luo but before he could turn back.


    "You BASTARD."


    Zhao Luo shouted at the top of his lungs.

 Chapter 178 - Arrow User

    Pi Hao shuddered and literally froze in his ce.


    ''What? Why is he angry?''


    Pi Hao thought as Zhao Luo ced his hand on Pi Hao''s shoulder again.


    Feeling the pressure of Zhao Luo''s hand, Pi Hao couldn''t help but close his eyes.


    ''Ah, I deserve it.''


    He was ready to ept anything to everything that Zhao Luo would be throwing at him.


    While behind him,


    ''This bald bastard.''


    Zhao Luo cursed in his mind while looking at Senior Cutie who was standing at the edge of the fourth row of the colosseum.


    Zhao Luo wasn''t mad because everyone else heard it.


    "I wanted to be the one to announce that..."


    Zhao Luo shouted at Senior Cutie who only chuckled in response and turned around.


    Behind him on one of the seats, a female disciple was spectating the exchange between Zhao Luo, Pi Hao, and Senior Cutie.


    Their eyes met and Senior Cutie smirked at her.


    "Please, Senior."


    She got up from her seat and waved her hand there while addressing the bandaged Senior Cutie politely to take her seat.


    "Thank you, little sister."


    Senior Cutieughed and took her seat without a second thought.


    After Senior Cutie''s appearance, more and more outer disciples arrived who had participated in the first and second part of the tournament.


    The Colosseum was finally filled to the brim.


    -


    On the giant stage.


    Zhao Luo released Pi Hao slowly who turned to look at him.


    "Brother I am sorry."


    Pi Hao sped his hands and bowed his head many times, after giving a verbal deration.


    "It''s okay. It''s not even your fault."


    Zhao Luo told Pi Hao.


    ''I hate rumors.''


    Zhao Luo shook his head.


    "They do get extremely twisted."


    Zhao Luo said leaving Pi Hao in confusion.


    "Brother, what gets twisted?"


    Pi Hao asked Zhao Luo.


    While the two were talking, the disciple of this area had stopped spectating and the fights which had stopped were resuming once again.


    This kind of situation was something that only happened on this part of the giant stage, while on the other parts, most of the disciples were already thrown off stage, thus getting them disqualified from the tournament.


    -


    The elder on the podium squinted while looking at the giant stage and right at the moment another disciple fell off the stage, he opened his mouth.


    [ ?: With only thatst thousand disciples left on the giant stage, the fights will intensify. The groups will have to break and the disciples will strive for their survival. The winners will be thest hundred remaining on the stage. ]


    The elder stopped talking as his announcement echoed in the ears of the spectators in the colosseum.


    -


    Zhao Luo was looking at the elder with one his brows raised.


    ''Only a thousand disciples are left.''


    He mumbled while looking around him.


    "Brother..."


    Si Chen and Feng Ma joined Zhao Luo and stood next to him.


    Pi Hao was still here, but neither Zhao Luo nor the other two minded his presence at all.


    "From now on, be on your guard."


    Zhao Luo advised them as he was ncing around.


    After turning once, Zhao Luo had already realized what was going on.


    While fighting the first group of disciples and Pi Hao, Zhao Luo had ended up somewhere around the middle of the giant stage.


    And after thest fight, his abilities had not only been noticed by the spectators but also the disciples around this area of the stage.


    These disciples were focusing on their own fights while avoiding Zhao Luo by moving away as they fought with their opponent/s.


    But many still had no idea about Zhao Luo''s capabilities.


    From all four directions, small groups and solo level eight ''VIII'' disciples were advancing towards Zhao Luo.


    Each of them had their eyes fixed on the number that hovered over his head.


    ''3069.''


    -


    ''PHI~NG''


    Zhao Luo heard something and turned towards Pi Hao who was standing behind him.


    "Watch out."


    Zhao Luo grabbed Pi Hao''s cor and threw him aside in a hurry.


    An arrow was headed their way and it would have assuredly hit Pi Hao if Zhao Luo hadn''t pushed him to the side.


    In an instant, Zhao Luo pulled back his left fist andunched it towards the arrowhead.


    ''Bullet Fist.''


    Zhao Luo mumbled as his fist touched the arrowhead.


    ''Ting!''


    A sound of metals colliding was heard as Zhao Luo''s knuckles deflected the arrowhead.


    Not only that, the arrow as it touched the ground, its arrowhead looked t, which showed how much overpowering Zhao Luo''s fist was.


    A group of disciples approached Zhao Luo from where he was looking at.


    From within the group, a sound reached Zhao Luo.


    "Oh, you blocked my Eagle Arrow."


    A disciple spoke to him but since he was surrounded by more than twenty disciples, Zhao Luo couldn''t get a clear sight of him.


    "Who is this arrow user?''


    Zhao Luo wondered and focused on the disciples but he still couldn''t look past the first line of disciples as they stood so close to one another that Zhao Luo felt weird.


    ''They are like a purple wall.''


    ''PHi~NG.''


    ''PHi~NG.''


    ''PHi~NG.''


    ''Phi~NG.''


    While Zhao Luo tried to find out about the one who was talking to him andmented on the disciples covering the speaker, a small crack opened in this wall of disciples and three arrows came flying at Zhao Luo.


    "BULLET FIST."


    Zhao Luo pulled back his fists and sent three punches in right-left-right order, straight at the arrows that weren''t any slower than Zhao Luo''s fists.


    "Phantom Arrow."


    A cold voice reached Zhao Luo''s ear and he shuddered for a moment which was followed by a sound of air being torn by a sharp object.


    ''Wheeeee~''


    The disciple who was protected by a wall of level seven ''VII'' disciples had shot four arrows.


    Three were frontal while thest one was a hidden arrow that wasing at Zhao Luo from above.


    "Hardened Water Palm."


    Pi Hao jumped over Zhao Luo and pushed his palm towards the arrow.


    A momentter, a hit between the arrow of the mysterious disciple and Pi Hao''s palm took ce.


    "Agh."


    A scream resounded in the area.

 Chapter 179 - Taking On A Group Of Swordsman

    Pi Hao had clearly deflected the arrow with his palm attack and Zhao Luo had also seen him do that but right when he watched ahead, he hears the same scream that had shocked everyone.


    This sudden painful sound shocked the disciples around the area.


    Pi Hao and Zhao Luo were also shocked.


    Zhao Luo looked to his right to look at the one who was had screamed.


    "Feng Ma, What happened? Why are you screaming?"


    Zhao Luo asked Feng Ma in a worried tone as Feng Ma was biting his lips and a tragic expression was written all over his face.


    "B-brother..."


    Si Chen called out Zhao Luo while stuttering and pointing his finger in Feng Ma''s direction.


    Zhao Luo''s gaze followed where Si Chen was pointing and as he went around Feng Ma,


    "No~"


    Zhao Luo couldn''t help but refuse to ept the unchangeable reality in a sad manner.


    The deflected arrow had indeed fallen but not on the ground of the stage instead it was rooted in Feng Ma''s straight ground.


    "P-pull it out!"


    Feng Ma said with a twisted voice as his right hand twitched whilst he reached for the arrow whose arrowhead couldn''t be seen anymore.


    "Don''t worry I will pull it out right now."


    Zhao Luo grabbed the arrow but didn''t pull it out right away.


    "At least it didn''t hit your bullseye."


    Pi Haomented while pointing towards a ce between Feng Ma''s legs.


    ''Hssss.''


    Feng Ma looked at Pi Hao with boiling anger in his eyes but before he could open his mouth, Zhao Luo spoke.


    "3"


    "Brother pull it out swiftly."


    Si Chen advised Zhao Luo who was doing a count to make Feng Ma ready for the painful tribtion.


    ''Nod.''


    "2"


    Zhao Luo nodded and continued the counting.


    Feng Ma took out his wine sk and brought it closer to his mouth.


    "Gulp, Gulp."


    He took two sips and closed his eyes.


    Zhao Luo tightened his grip around the arrow stick and slowly opened his mouth.


    "1"


    ''Phushhh.''


    Zhao Luo pulled out the arrow with an abrupt speed.


    ''Agh.''


    Feng Ma cried out before turning around to watch the arrow that had inflicted a deep wound to his body and his heart.


    Zhao Luo, Pi Hao, and Si Chen were already looking at the bloodied arrowhead while Feng Ma snatched the arrow from Zhao Luo and brought it down on his knees along the length of the arrow,


    ''Crack.''


    thus breaking it into two.


    "You Damn Bastard!"


    Feng Ma turned around and cursed while looking at the wall of disciples.


    His verbal attack was pointed towards the arrow user and not these disciples who were being used as a shield by that disciple.


    Feng Ma nced at Pi Hao and wanted to smack him too but now wasn''t the time.


    "Ahhh."


    He shouted and rushed at the disciples in front of him.


    "Wai-"


    Zhao Luo was going to stop him but seeing Si Chen and Pi Hao following Feng Ma''s charge, he shook his head.


    "We will be surrounded like this."


    He nced around and found more than four parties advancing towards him.


    ''I am worried for them. Tsk.''


    Zhao Luo thought and clicked his tongue.


    He could handle the pressure of facing many disciples at once but his disciple brothers wouldn''t be able to.


    "There is only one way."


    Zhao Luo hurriedly decided on a way out.


    While Feng Ma, Si Chen, and Pi Hao rushed towards the wall of disciples, Zhao Luo turned to his right.


    He squinted his eyes and locked his sight on a small group that was directing their swords at him while rushing to his position.


    Zhao Luo lowered his body and raised his heel.


    ''The distance between them and me is around 20 meters.''


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he pushed the toes of his feet backward.


    "Half Walk."


    Zhao Luo muttered as he flicked from his spot.


    His half walk which initially held half of the potential of what ''First Walk'' could do, was already closing in on the full potential of First Walk.


    Everything started from 5 meters which was indeed half of what the real beginner stage of the First Walk could do, was already at 8 meters.


    Zhao Luo appeared in the middle of the ce between his previous position and the group that was advancing towards him.


    "Half Walk."


    Zhao Luo used his foot technique right away after appearing at his new spot.


    In two breaths, Zhao Luo had reached this group.


    "Huh"


    "What?"


    "It''s the target!"


    "Kill him."


    "FIGHT!"


    The group which had eight disciples, while each of them held a ck sword shouted one after another.


    ''Swish.''


    ''sh."


    They started swinging their swords at Zhao Luo brutally without hiding their intentions.


    Zhao Luo dodged all of their iing attacks by ducking and backing off.


    "Another group by Mo Suo?"


    He asked in a questioning tone that was directed towards these swordsmen after making some distance between them and himself.


    "Hmph."


    "As if a dead man needs to know."


    One of them shrugged while the other was already dreaming about Zhao Luo''s defeat.


    "I see!"


    "So you want to kill me."


    Zhao Luo said with a mysterious smirk on his face.


    He, who was already strong enough to beat many Second Level Sword Warriors puppets, at once was being challenged by only eight disciples who were just so so at swordsmanship.


    Zhao Luo lowered his body again but used Mini Walk instead of Half Walk.


    ''Whoosh.''


    In a breath, Zhao Luo appeared behind the one who looked the strongest of the groups while being a level eight ''VIII'' disciple and pulled back his fist.


    While holding back some of his strength, Zhao Luo, threw an ''explosive fist'' at this disciple.


    "Boom!"


    A sting sound rose from the collision and was followed by a cracking sound which wasing from inside this disciple body.


    ''Thud!''


    The level eight ''VIII'' disciple fell to his knees as his eyes rolled up showing that he was already unconscious.


    ''Thud!''


    The disciple''s face hit the ground and his body didn''t move again.


    "One Down, Seven to Go."


    ''Mini Walk.''


    Zhao Luo said as on his next breath he disappeared from his position again.

 Chapter 180 - Ax Chain Formation

    After one of them was taken out by Zhao Luo in an unexpected manner, the others were on their guard.


    Seeing Zhao Luo shing from his current spot, they backed away and the seven came together in such a way that their back was moved together.


    Each of them was covering for the other, while these disciples held their swords tightly.


    "Where is he?"


    One of them questioned as Zhao Luo had yet to appear.


    "I don''t see him either."


    Another one replied.


    The seven had their backs touching each other as they held their breath.


    A shadow covered them as Zhao Luo appeared above them.


    While falling towards them, Zhao Luo pulled back his fist.


    "He ising down, point your swords upwards and we shall skewer him."


    One of the disciples shouted with an evilugh on his face.


    He couldn''t wait for his sword to slice through Zhao Luo''s body.


    "Hmph, you think your swords can pierce through my fists?"


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he threw his right fist at them.


    His fist was perfectly in between the explosive and the calming fist ne.


    "Bullet Fist."


    Zhao Luo shouted as the strength of his whole body was focused on his fist.


    A momentter, sharp ends of the swords held by the disciples in purple robes came in touch with Zhao Luo''s Bullet Fist.


    "BOOOM!"


    A loud sound of a st was released from the collision of Zhao Luo''s fist and the seven swords.


    "Thud, Thud..."


    The disciples who were proud swordsmen of the Xin Sect were blown away by the pressure of the shockwave left by Zhao Luo''s fist while,


    "Tap, Tap."


    Zhao Luo calmlynded on his right foot followed by his left in a cool manner.


    "Woahh~"


    The crowd stood up as the collision ended and Zhao Luonded after knocking out the seven disciples while the first of the group who was the eighth oneid unconscious on the giant stage.


    Zhao Luo turned his head to look in the opposite direction.


    On one side, Si Chen and Pi Hao were being led by Feng Ma who was dodging every arrow with his drunken moves.


    On the other side, two more groups wereing for Zhao Luo.


    One group was equipped with axes while the other group had long chains tied to their wrists which they were dragging along with them.


    "There are more than 30 of them."


    Zhao Luo said with furrowed brows as he felt like drowning under the rain of cheers from the spectators.


    ''Keh.''


    ''Crack.''


    Zhao Luo grinned as he clenched his fist and his knuckles shone with bright light.


    Zhao Luo lowered his body and squinted his eyes as he locked his view on his preys who were targeting him.


    ''Crack.''


    Zhao Luo pushed down his toes and the tiles under his feet cracked leaving a big dent on the stage as Zhao Luo left his spot.


    A breathter, he appeared between the group who were equipped with axes.


    "Kill him."


    They shouted furiously after watching Zhao Luo enter their numbers so easily.


    "You aren''t the first to say these words."


    Zhao Luo told them while feeling weird.


    "Is it because you guys weren''t raised like me? Why does ''kill'' has to be the first word whenever you open your mouths?"


    Zhao Luo questioned the disciples around him who were left dumbfounded by his sudden query.


    "What is he saying?"


    They wondered if Zhao Luo was a fool.


    "Since only a hundred disciples will be able to pass the Open Battle, everyone will fight for thosest positions with their life on the line. If we don''t kill then losing now will not be any better than getting killed."


    A disciple who was the calmest looking one from the group of ax users replied to Zhao Luo.


    "So you are saying you would rather die than lose?"


    Zhao Luo raised his brow as he couldn''t understand the devotion of this disciple.


    ''The other may just be going with the flow but this guy....he is different.''


    Zhao Luo nced at the others and then back at the one who had answered him.


    "You are all level seven ''VII'' disciples, so do you think I will lose to you?"


    Zhao Luo questioned them but this question of his didn''t make them angry, instead, they all showed him an evil smile.


    "Use the Formation!"


    The group of chain users shouted as they rushed in while jumping towards Zhao Luo.


    The two groups, the one which used Chains and the other group which was using axes, had been going around the arena taking down level eight ''VIII'' disciples one after another using this formation of theirs.


    There were two goals that these two groups wanted to achieve with their joint y.


    First, the two groups would ensure each other victory in Open Batlle.


    Second, if they take down all the top disciples in the battle, then their fame will rise, and also no one will be left to challenge them, thus achieving their first goal.


    Now Zhao Luo had to fight these two groups since he was the rumored one and also the crowd from all over the colosseum was focusing on him.


    "Formation?"


    Zhao Luo mumbled with questioning eyes.


    ''What are they going to do?''


    Zhao Luo wondered as he found one of the chain users shaking his arm in a motion that went backward and then pointing it upwards while ending the motion by bringing his arm forwards towards Zhao Luo.


    ''Whiishh.''


    The thick iron chain that was sliding on the ground came towards Zhao Luo''s face with incredible speed.


    ''Whoosh.''


    Zhao Luo used the slightest motion as he tilted his head to dodge the chain that then passed him without even grazing his face.


    Zhao Luo smiled as he had easily dodged the chain but as the chain reached the disciple behind him who was an ax user, he used the blunt part of his ax to hit the chain''s end thus deflecting it back at Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo had no idea as the collision of the ax''s blunt part and the chain was soundless.


    "Agh, WHAT???"


    The thick iron chain which had returned, struck Zhao Luo''s back forcing him to be pushed towards another disciple who was swinging his ax at him.


    "Our Ax Chain formation is impable. We have eliminated all the ws just like how you will be eliminated."


    The disciple who had answered Zhao Luo earlier spoke to him.


    ''Whoosh.''


    The ax came towards Zhao Luo''s head who was falling towards this disciple.

 Chapter 181 - Screaming To Melt The Anger

    Zhao Luo who had been caught off guard by the chain attack was looking at the de of the ax that would be slicing through his head any moment now.


    ''Why does it look like everything is ying slow-motion?''


    Zhao Luo questioned in his mind as his eyes quickly moved around.


    To him, the hand of the disciple with the ax that wasing at him was as slow as a turtle.


    The slowly changing expressions on the faces of the disciples surrounding him also shocked him.


    "It''s like the video has been slowed by 2x."


    Zhao Luo said as he pulled back his fist while he was falling towards the ground and an ax wasing at him from above.


    It wasn''t the others who had slowed down but it was Zhao Luo''s brain that was working at an unfathomable speed after sensing the death that was a second away.


    Zhao Luo forced one of his feet sideways thus allowing his falling body to rotate.


    ''Swish.''


    Zhao Luo rotated in such a way that now the shadow of the ax was falling on his face while the ax itself was infinitely close to his nose.


    "Bullet Fist."


    Zhao Luo said in a low voice and his fist traveled towards the ax.


    Zhao Luo''s fist was so fast that the disciples around him couldn''t even get a glimpse of his fist.


    The next thing they saw was something they had never expected.


    These disciples who were waiting for Zhao Luo''s demise were shocked as the ax which was extremely close to Zhao Luo''s nose and was supposed to slice Zhao Luo''s head like a melon, was now disintegrating.


    The remains of the ax were scattered away by the gust of air that passed along with the pressure of Zhao Luo''s fist and a sound of a st was left behind.


    ''BOOM!''


    The disciple who was holding that ax was also thrown away by the remaining pressure.


    ''Thud.''


    Zhao Luo''s back touched the ground but right after that, he straightened up and brought his hand close to his face.


    ''Blood...''


    A little scratch was left on Zhao Luo''s nose by the de of the ax and the thing Zhao Luo was calling blood, was hardly a single red blood cell that had escaped the scratch when Zhao Luo had touched it.


    "You..."


    Zhao Luo clenched his jaws and looked around with anger.


    "ALL SHALL PAY FOR THIS."


    "AHHHHHHH..."


    Zhao Luo started a scream which went on with no end.


    Even Feng Ma, Si Chen, and Pi Hao were interrupted by Zhao Luo''s loud and ongoing shout.


    "Did something happen to brother?"


    Feng Ma thought worriedly as he looked in the direction of the ongoing shout.


    The disciple standing opposite to Feng Ma pulled back an arrow as he held a bow in his hand.


    "Whiiin~"


    He released the arrow and said,


    "Preposterous, looking away while fighting me?"


    "Drunken Body Drop."


    Feng Ma said as he realized the arrowing at his chest.


    His body dropped like a wood log, allowing Feng Ma to escape the arrow.


    ''I will never let an arrow hit me again.''


    He thought in his mind as he scratched his butt while getting up.


    While Feng Ma fought this disciple, Si Chen and Pi Hao dealt with the wall of disciples.


    -


    Back on where Zhao Luo was.


    "AHHHH~"


    He was still screaming while the disciples surrounding him didn''t dare to throw another attack at him.


    If someone from the old Earth could have seen him do this crazy shout, they would have taken Zhao Luo for a damn otaku who was cosying as one of the most famous anime characters named, Koku.


    But sadly not many from the old Earth had survived and even if they did, the customs of that World would have been lost over the hundred years of tragic changes.


    *Cough*


    Zhao Luo stopped screaming but he wouldn''t have if his throat hadn''t given up.


    "That feels better!"


    Zhao Luo announced further shocking the disciples who were already looking at Zhao Luo like a madman.


    Zhao Luo didn''t look angry anymore, instead, there was a chill atmosphere around him.


    Chill but not cold as the disciples around him felt like they were standing in a garden and surrounding a big flower.


    "Will you kill us?"


    The disciple who was boasting about their Ax Chain Formation being impable asking in a shaky voice.


    "Why would I kill you when all of my anger has already melted away?"


    Zhao Luo responded to him and closed his fist multiple times.


    ''Fhuh''


    The disciple let out a breath of relief as he sighed and looked at Zhao Luo who was no longer standing there.


    "Mini Walk."


    They all heard Zhao Luo''s voice who wasn''t there anymore.


    "Whoosh."


    Zhao Luo appeared in front of the one who had questioned him earlier.


    "Explosive Fist."


    Zhao Luo threw a left at his stomach, blowing him off the stage with just a single fist.


    "Ahhhh."


    The disciple was sent flying along with his scream.


    "Fool. Trying to copy me."


    Zhao Luo smirked and lowered his body again.


    In less than a minute, Zhao Luo had taken care of these two groups.


    Zhao Luo stood tall around a pile of disciples who were either crying in pain or sleeping after being knocked out.


    While most of them had already been thrown out of the giant stage.


    "How are they doing?"


    Zhao Luo looked around to check out the situation of his two brothers, but then he heard a shout.


    "Don''t leave me out!"


    Pi Hao shouted giving Zhao Luo a feeling that he was talking to him.


    "Half Walk."


    But that wasn''t the case as Zhao Luo moved towards them in a breath.


    "What happened?"


    Zhao Luo asked the three who were standing next to a single opponent.


    "Brother Si Chen said that he took care of the other disciples when I was the one who took out more than him!"


    Pi Haoined to Zhao Luo.


    "Ah."


    Zhao Luo couldn''t help but shake his head at Pi Hao''s innocence.


    "Si Chen, you bad boy."


    Zhao Luo reprimanded Si Chen in a weird manner which made Pi Hao smile.


    But also encouraged being assumed as fools by the opponent with a bow.


    "What are you, Clowns?"


    The disciple shouted at the four.

 Chapter 182 - The Trapped Disciple

    "Clowns?"


    Feng Ma who was already up in the clouds with his uncontroble anger shouted disdainfully.


    "Yeah, you are a Clown. All of you are."


    The disciple with the bow replied angrily.


    He was also fed up by how the fourteen disciples who were supposed to protect him were already thrown off the stage by the three musketeers in front of him.


    While he was unable to deal with just a single drunk disciple.


    ''Gulp.''


    Feng Ma took a mouthful of his favorite wine from his wine sk and scoffed at the disciple''s word as he pointed his hand and wine sk at Si Chen and Pi Hao, respectively.


    "You can call them clowns, fools, or whatever you want but don''t you dare call me or my Brother, Brother Zhao Luo with such ridiculous names, Gulp, Gulp."


    Feng Ma yelled at the disciple as his feet quivered continuously throughout his amazing speech.


    ''Tap.''


    Si Chen and Pi Hao tapped Feng Ma''s shoulders from the left and the right.


    "What?"


    Feng Ma raised his brows as he grinned at them knowing full well about what he had just said.


    ''Nod.''


    Si Chen and Pi Hao looked at each other and gave a nod at the same time.


    ''Thud!''


    ''agh~''


    Pi Hao''s light punchnded on Feng Ma''s nose and Si Chen used both of his hands to push Feng Ma back to Zhao Luo.


    "Brother I think he needs to sober up."


    Si Chen told Zhao Luo as he looked back at the disciple who was pulling back the bowstring.


    ''Tap.''


    Zhao Luo grabbed Feng Ma by his arms and their eyes met.


    "Brother..."


    Feng Ma felt wronged as first his butt had been invaded by the deflected arrow and now the disciples who were his brothers, hisrades, were pushing him around.


    Thus he looked at Zhao Luo withining eyes.


    "They let you off easy. Go join them."


    Zhao Luo gently tapped on his back with his palm and pushed Feng Ma towards Si Chen and Pi Hao.


    "My disciple brothers are very special."


    Zhao Luo had a deep smile etched on his face while he looking over them from his spot as they fought with the bow user one move at a time.


    "All the threats have been eliminated. Now they just need to take him down."


    Zhao Luo mumbled to himself as he nced around and found no one approaching them, but then,


    ''What?''


    Zhao Luo''s eyes stopped somewhere far away on the giant stage.


    "Why are they gathering around?"


    Zhao Luo murmured as he found a single disciple being surrounded by many disciples and many others were joining the fray too.


    Through the space between the disciples who were making a circle to trap that disciple, Zhao Luo was able to get a few more details as the blurry vision of a veil on the face of the disciple entered his sight.


    It was probably a female disciple who looked like she was in a middle of a storm.


    ''A lion surrounded by hyenas.''


    Zhao Luo thought as even though Zhao Luo could not see her properly, he praised her in his heart when the female disciple swung her sword, showing her quality of not backing down even when she was badly outnumbered.


    An unexinable feeling was taking over him that he had no idea of as his heart ached, while his mind on the other hand was only on a single track of thought.


    ''I need to help her.''


    Zhao Luo hurriedly lowered his body as he was going in the position of using his foot technique.


    ''Crack.''


    The stage under his feet literally rattled as Zhao Luo pushed his feet an inch deep in the tiles of the giant stage and soon a big circr dent was left under his feet when he raised his heel upwards and at the same time, Zhao Luo vanished from his spot, leaving behind two words floating there.


    "Half Walk."


    Zhao Luo moved 8 meters away from his earlier position and appeared in the direction of the disciples who were surrounding the veiled disciple.


    Zhao Luo continuously used Half Walk more than a dozen times to get close to the big group ahead of him.


    After moving more than a hundred meters in 14 breaths, Zhao Luo used, Half Walk, once again to appear next to the veileddy.


    "Are you okay?"


    Zhao Luo''s back was touching the disciple''s back.


    Till he was moving towards this ce, he had not onceid his eyes on the female disciple again as his intentions were simply that of helping out a disciple who was being outnumbered.


    Feeling the warmth of Zhao Luo''s back entering her body, the female disciple slowly opened her mouth from behind the veil.


    "I could have taken care of them b-but thank you!"


    The disciple answered and as her voice entered Zhao Luo''s ears, a big smile appeared on his face.


    He turned around and grabbed her shoulder to turn her towards himself.


    "Mo Anna."


    Zhao Luo called her by her real name as he stared deeply into her eyes.


    How could he not recognize the voice of one of the two people he had heard after leaving the capsule.


    "That exins the ache in my heart and the feeling I had."


    Zhao Luo mumbled leaving Rose confused and red in embarrassment.


    But even though Zhao Luo couldn''t see her expression through her veil, her happiness was easily visible through her red eyes.


    "Look at these shameless disciples acting like a couple in broad daylight."


    "Indeed, the royalty has fallen."


    "We need to protect Brother Mo Suo''s dignity."


    The disciple''s surrounding them shouted one after another.


    They were stomping their feet and taking out their swords, axes, chains, and whatnot.


    But all of their anger was directed at Zhao Luo and not Mo Anna.


    Cursing at Mo Anna was just one of their excuse.


    The same went for them trying to guard the dignity of the shameless King of the Outer Hall, Mo Suo.


    These disciples just needed such excuses to carry out their motive.


    Mo Anna stared at the faces of the disciples who were in the crowd surrounding her and Zhao Luo.


    "They were all my pursuers."


    Mo Anna said in a slightly disgusted tone.

 Chapter 183 - Xiao Yu

    While Mo Anna was inspecting these disciples who were acting no less than hungry wolves, she remembered how they had once hovered around her while showering her with praises and umon ttery, just to win her heart.


    But now things had changed.


    Everything started with Senior Cutie''s announcement, about Zhao Luo and her.


    Now, many of these disciples looked at her without hiding the evil intentions in their eyes.


    While the others looked at Zhao Luo with hatred in their eyes which caused the expression of disgust on Mo Anna''s face to change into that of a hostile one.


    She would never let anyone hurt Zhao Luo because of her anymore.


    ''I am worried.''


    She thought as she looked back at Zhao Luo while the disciple closed in on them.


    Zhao Luo didn''t care about these disciples and their barking, instead, he was solely focused on Rose.


    "Your robe is torn and there are so many injuries on your body..."


    Zhao Luo mumbled as his voice shook with bitterness, for he was not there when she was facing her opponents.


    But even if Zhao Luo med himself for not being with her, it didn''t matter, since, unlike avatar, Zhao Luo had appeared when Mo Anna needed him the most, even if it meant appearing in the middle of so many disciples who were no less than brainless and cowardly beasts.


    Zhao Luo released his grip over Mo Anna''s arms and turned around to look at the disciples.


    A storm of wrath was building up in Zhao Luo''s fists as he clenched them tightly while ncing at the many disciples with hatred, causing them to stop on their tracks.


    He slowly opened his mouth.


    "Why?"


    In an extremely cold voice, Zhao Luo uttered a single word that made some of the disciples around them shudder.


    These quivering disciples couldn''t help but remember the scoldings they would get from their fathers when they were young.


    While some of the extremely arrogant disciples smirked and raised their hands in a way that their palms were directed upwards.


    "What do you mean, why?"


    One of the disciples at the eighth level ''VIII'', replied to Zhao Luo.


    He turned around and looked at the other disciples and addressed them.


    "Who ''Among Us'' isn''t from a big family?"


    "NONE."


    "Who Among Us isn''t a genius of Xin Sect?"


    "NONE."


    "THEN I ASK YOU ALL, WHY DOES THIS NO-NAME GETS HER WHEN WE ALL HAVE BEEN COURTING HER FOR A YEAR?"


    "UNFAIR."


    The disciples acted like brainwashed followers of a cult while the disciple who was throwing questions at them was indeed a genius at leading fools towards a single goal.


    "BOOM."


    "Unfair, my foot."


    Zhao Luo interrupted them by stomping his feet on the stage.


    This caused a big crack to appear on the giant stage in the form of a circle with an area of a 20-meter radius while Zhao Luo being the center of thismotion.


    This caused the spirits of the disciples to fall, as they had gotten a glimpse of Zhao Luo''s strength and now they looked at him with widened eyes.


    Zhao Luo with all eyes on him raised his hand.


    "From now on, you all will be paying the price for courting her when I wasn''t here."


    Zhao Luo started with an unreasonable announcement but this was just the start.


    "Those who have hurt her will be beaten ck and blue before they are given a chance to crawl out of the stage."


    Zhao Luo continued with a menacingly loud voice causing some of the disciples to shake and take a step back.


    Some disciples were already cursing themselves for even getting involved in this drama of chasing the princess of Mo Family.


    "Don''t back off. Those who try to run away without taking their punishment...I will see you all once this tournament ends."


    Zhao Luo spoke in an overbearing manner while ending his announcement with a ''crack'' of his knuckle as he sped his fist.


    Mo Anna was looking at Zhao Luo with shock.


    ''Was he always this overwhelming?''


    "Ba-Dump."


    "Ba-Dump."


    Her heartbeat hastened as she thought of the reason behind Zhao Luo''s change.


    ''Is it only because of me?''


    Mo Anna wondered with a blushing face as she also got ready to fight side by side with Zhao Luo.


    Mo Anna was lost in her thoughts, while on the other hand, Zhao Luo had remembered something which caused a small grin to appear on his face.


    ''Going against these disciples is a million times easier than the sect leader himself.''


    Zhao Luo remembered the pressure that the sect leader had applied to him when he was present in Xin Wang''s pce.


    ''I even had to lie about the way I swing...''


    Zhao Luo felt ashamed as he looked at Mo Anna who looked feisty at the moment and decided that his earlier incident should be kept buried forever.


    Zhao Luo raised his fist and focused on the disciples in front of him.


    He found one of the disciples walking towards him from the other end of the circle. It looked like that this disciple had just arrived.


    There was no hesitation in his steps as he broke out of the circle while pushing around the surrounding disciples and came to stand in front of Zhao Luo.


    "A level eight disciple...hmm, I have beaten many of such disciples already."


    Zhao Luo said as he looked at the badge of the disciple who had appeared to face him.


    "I am Xiao Yu."


    The disciple said to Zhao Luo while sping his hands.


    "I am not one of these bastards, but"


    The disciple named Xiao Yu pointed his thumb backward, clearly differentiating himself from the group, but he wasn''t finished.


    "But after seeing your power, I want to challenge you!"


    Xiao Yu told Zhao Luo and raised his fist to stomp it back on the ground.


    Zhao Luo looked at this big guy stomping with his leg which was as thick as that of a bear and was dumbfounded for a moment.


    ''What is he trying to do?''


    Zhao Luo wondered but then,


    ''CRACK~''


    The already broken stage was destroyed even further and the rumbling was a level more intense than when Zhao Luo had done the same action.


    Zhao Luo''s eyes broadened.


    "Interesting!"


    Zhao Luo said as he pped at the marvelous show put up by Xiao Yu.

 Chapter 184 - Punishment

    Zhao Luo stopped pping at Xiao Yu''s action and decided to respect his challenging spirit.


    "If you want a fight then I will give you one."


    Zhao Luo said to him while looking straight into his eyes with a calm demeanor


    ''Nod.''


    Xiao Yu slightly lowered his knees and brought his palms in front of his chest while directing them towards Zhao Luo.


    "This is my 8 palm fighting stance. I hope you won''t hold anything back. Otherwise, it will be your Doom."


    Xiao Yu told Zhao Luo with an arrogant tone showing confidence in his technique and also rying the oue of the fight if Zhao Luo held back his strength.


    "I think I will decide that!"


    Zhao Luo said as he looked around and smiled.


    He didn''t take Xiao Yu''s words seriously as till now no one was able to force him to use his full strength and neither was there a use to from the start.


    While Zhao Luo''s primary objective was punishing these disciples who were here to gang up on Mo Anna, thus he looked back at Xiao Yu.


    "And to find out if I have to use my full strength against you, you will have to wait."


    He had taken off his sight from Xiao Yu instead he was looking at the disciples who had backed off after his and Xiao Yu''s disy of strength.


    "Where..."


    Zhao lowered his body and spoke in a cold voice.


    "Are..."


    He raised his heel.


    "You..."


    Pushed his toes down abruptly.


    "Going?"


    ''Half Walk.''


    ''Flick.''


    Zhao Luo vanished from his spot.


    Xiao Yu''s hair blew backward as a gust of wind passed through him while his eyes moved along with the cause of that sudden wind pressure.


    Zhao Luo who was the reason for that gust of wind, nced at Xiao Yu and found him clearly looking at his eyes as both of them stared at each other for an infinitely short time.


    ''No Way.''


    Zhao Luo didn''t believe that any disciple from the outer hall could be able to see his movements in such a perfect manner since his foot technique''s main concept was to cover a distance in a single breath.


    While shaking his head Zhao Luo dived towards the disciples who were backing in a sense that they were strategically running away till Zhao Luo''s fight ended with Xiao Yu.


    The disciples who were initially running away, couldn''t help but tremble as they heard the cold voice of Zhao Luo.


    They froze on their spots and turned around while taking out their weapons.


    A big battle had broken out.


    On one side Zhao Luo was attacking these disciples as they fought back and on the other side, the disciples had stopped backing off as they took this chance to jump on Mo Anna.


    Xiao Yu looked around with furrowed brows while thinking about the stance he should take.


    He had nothing to do with the disciples who had surrounded Zhao Luo and Mo Anna, neither did he had anything to do with Zhao Luo except for the fact that Zhao Luo could prove to be his best opponent.


    ''He is arrogant.''


    Xiao Yu thought as he looked towards Zhao Luo and moved in the opposite direction to help Mo Anna.


    Xiao Yu had chosen to stand with Zhao Luo.


    "I am only helping you so our fight can start faster!"


    A shout entered Zhao Luo''s ear as he looked back and found Xiao Yu fighting with the disciples who were moving towards Mo Anna.


    Zhao Luo smiled and turned back towards his enemies.


    "Come."


    He said to them as it was the perfect time to punish them.


    "Ahhhh."


    The disciples screamed as they ran towards Zhao Luo with bloodshot eyes while swinging their fists and swords.


    "Hmph."


    Zhao Luo shrugged as he dodged the attacks that wereing at him from left and right.


    He pulled back his fists and set them free like there was no tomorrow.


    ''Calming Fists.''


    ''Thud!''


    ''Thud!''


    Zhao Luo''s fist hit a few disciples who just took a step back.


    With disgusting grins on their faces and shocked eyes, they opened their mouths.


    "His fists are weak so don''t worry."


    They said to the disciples who wereing forward.


    The disciples from those who were on their way to attack Zhao Luo smiled while seeing Zhao Luo use his fist.


    "Just being fast won''t help you."


    "Eat my sword."


    "Die, you handsome bastard!"


    Many of them shouted as their sword shes rained down on Zhao Luo''s head.


    "GAHHHH~"


    Even before their swords could hit him.


    The disciples who had taken a hit from Zhao Luo''s "powerless" fists started screaming in agony.


    Some were holding their broken arms while others were vomiting mouthfuls of blood as they fell to their knees.


    Hearing these painful screams, the disciples who were in the middle of their attack shuddered.


    Zhao Luo looked up and saw four swordsing at him while the ones holding the swords were looking at him as if they were looking at a demon.


    They wanted nothing more to do than to slice apart Zhao Luo''s fist with the de of their swords but before that could happen only two words entered their ears.


    "Bullet Fist."


    Zhao Luo released his left fist at the four swords and the moment theing four swords touched his counter, bullet fist the swords exploded, and the bones in the arms of these disciples started breaking while they were blown away by the pressure of the Bullet Fist.


    ''AGHHH.''


    More screams erupted from outside of the giant stage as Zhao Luo blew away his enemies without giving them any leeway.


    While on the other side, Xiao Yu who was covering a side for Mo Anna had his palm directed in different directions.


    One palm up while the other palm down.


    Around him, more than more twenty disciples were lying on the ground.


    Some were unconscious while some had eyes open wide like an ostrich, shocked by the prowess of Xiao Yu.


    "p."


    Xiao Yu brought his palms together afterpleting a half circle with both of his hands.


    "WOAHHHHH."


    The crowd erupted as their eyes were locked on Zhao Luo, Xiao Yu, and Mo Anna who were in the middle of the giant stage.

 Chapter 185 - 8 Palm Fighting Stance

    At one side Zhao Luo stood whose attack had left something broken on the disciples as he handled him.


    While on the other hand, Xiao Yu had taken down the same number of enemies but in a different manner.


    The disciples defeated by Xiao Yu were looking at him with admiration.


    They gathered up the ones who had fallen and while carrying them, they left the stage knowingly getting eliminated from the Open Battle.


    ''Drip, Drip.''


    Blood dripped on the stage from Zhao Luo''s fists but it wasn''t his instead it belonged to the fifty disciples that were hardly breathing.


    It wasn''t because these disciples were suffering from asthma attacks but they were busy groaning in pain and spitting out blood because of their broken ribs and ruptured organs.


    Zhao Luo had taken over the role of a janitor after beating the disciples ck and blue.


    ''Thud!''


    Zhao Luo kicked them out one by one as he cleared the stage.


    "Anymore left?"


    Zhao Luo said as he turned around to look for the disciples that he may have missed but none were left.


    "He took down so many."


    Zhao Luo said as he looked at Xiao Yu.


    Xiao Yu, who was walking towards Zhao Luo, heard a voice and stopped in his tracks.


    "Thank you."


    Mo Anna slightly bowed her head as she thanked Xiao Yu for helping her.


    It was something that Zhao Luo and she had to deal with but Xiao Yu still helped them.


    "No need to thank me. You may be hating me soon once I kick him out."


    Xiao Yu said with a deep and dark mood as if he was going to kill Zhao Luo.


    Hering Xiao Yu speak like this forced some earlier images to pop up in Mo Anna''s head.


    She couldn''t help but remember how softly Xiao Yu had dealt with the disciples who were attacking him.


    "hahaha."


    Mo Anna giggled at Xiao Yu''s acting and Xiao Yu blushed after hearing herugh as he had been caught off guard.


    -


    Zhao Luo who was a little far away from them looked displeased.


    ''Is he hitting on her?''


    Zhao Luo thought with worry as he could see Mo Anna''s eyes being curving as the melodious sound of her giggle traveled to his ear.


    But he didn''t know that they were talking about him.


    Mo Anna stopped and looked at Zhao Luo who was staring at Xiao Yu intensely from afar.


    "He won''t lose to you nor anyone."


    She said to Xiao Yu as he smiled at Mo Anna''s deration.


    "Is this your confidence in him or your belief which has been blinded by love?"


    Xiao Yu questioned her but didn''t wait for her answer as he jumped towards Zhao Luo.


    He knew the things going on the stage as his eyes had been on Zhao Luo since Zhao Luo''s first fight with the disciple who hade to teach him a lesson in Mo Suo''s stead.


    So basically he knew that something was going on between Zhao Luo and Mo Anna.


    He also knew how many disciples were in Zhao Luo''s party that he considered as brothers.


    ''Nothing to do with me.''


    Thud!


    Xiao Yu thought as hended in front of Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo looked at Xiao Yu with a slightly angry face.


    "You want me to fight you seriously right?"


    Zhao Luo asked him as he also wanted to give his all so he could give Xiao Yu a beating.


    "No, I WILL make you fight seriously."


    Xiao Yu replied with a calm face.


    He moved his hands upwards in such an odd fashion that his palm looked like they were sliding on the air.


    "Come."


    Xiao Yu said to Zhao Luo while pointing his palms towards him.


    "Hmph."


    Zhao Luo''s muscles twitched as he didn''t like how Xiao Yu was acting.


    Zhao Luo didn''t like arrogant people but he didn''t know that to others, he also looked like a person who had extreme arrogance.


    Otherwise, no matter how good-looking one was, he wouldn''t have gone for the princess of Mo Family right after entering the outer hall.


    Zhao Luo shook his head as he dropped all the irrelevant thoughts and focused on Xiao Yu.


    Zhao Luo lowered his body and pulled his arms backward.


    While pulling them back he bent his elbows inwards and clenched his fist while Xiao Yu who was opposite to Zhao Luo, looked calm and collected.


    His hands hadn''t moved not even by a subtle motion. If others looked at him, they would mistake him for a statue.


    "We will see..."


    ''How long you can keep up your cool act.''


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he raised his ankle and pushed his toes on backward.


    Boom!


    With a loud explosion, the tiles which were beneath Zhao Luo''s feet flew in all directions as he had already vanished from his spot like a flickering light.


    Zhao Luo appeared in front of Xiao Yu and threw a right fist at him.


    "Explosive Fist."


    Zhao Luo mumbled as his fist was closing in on Xiao Yu at a ridiculous speed.


    The moment it was going to hit Xiao Yu, his left palm moved from its stationary position and intercepted Zhao Luo''s fist.


    "BANG!"


    A single shrill sound escaped from the point of contact between Zhao Luo''s knuckle and Xiao Yu''s palm.


    From the disciples on the stage to almost all the spectators on the Colosseum seats had to cover their ears.


    ''Whooosh.''


    Zhao Luo had been pushed back instantly and he couldn''t even fight back against the mysterious force behind Xiao Yu''s palm.


    ''Cough.''


    As Zhao Luo stopped he coughed uncontrobly as his organs had been rattled by the shockwave of the pressure from Xiao Yu''s palm but it was not to an extreme level.


    Zhao Luo looked up and Xiao Yu was bringing back his palms to their primary setting.


    "How did you do that?"


    Zhao Luo questioned Xiao Yu as his punch had been blocked before but not like this.


    ''He blocked my fist and deflected my own strength back to me.''


    "How?"


    Xiao Yu scoffed as he dropped his arms and slowly raised them up again.


    Taking his stance again he looked at Zhao Luo.


    "This is my 8 palm fighting stance."


    Xiao Yu answered Zhao Luo''s question while jerking his palms.

 Chapter 186 - Direct Disciple

    "8 palm what?"


    Zhao Luo scoffed at the name of Xiao Yu''s technique.


    "Bullet Fist versus 8 palms, hahaha."


    Zhao Luo mumbled and startedughing as he couldn''t help but make fun of the palm technique whileparing the name of Xiao Yu''s technique with his.


    Xiao Yu still looked calm as he watched Zhao Luoughing wildly at his technique.


    "You think you can beat me byughing?"


    Xiao Yu asked Zhao Luo in a condescending tone.


    He thought that Zhao Luo would be his best opponent but this opponent of him wasughing like a crackhead.


    "If this won''t work then my fists will."


    Zhao Luo said as he smirked at Xiao Yu who was asking the questions that Zhao Luo should be asking.


    Both Zhao Luo and Xiao Yu considered themselves the winners of this fight even before it had started truly in a meaningful sense.


    -


    At the area of the colosseum where the Sect Leader and the two Elders were sitting, a discussion was going on.


    The third elder was talking to the second elder with his head slightly down.


    "Old second, I will admit that you were right."


    He was talking about his earlier statement.


    "But it''s not my fault that I was going against your words. It''s just that, this guy, Zhao Luo did improve by a leap in a very short time."


    Third Elder Bao Fei told the Second Elder Dousan as the Elder Dousan only nodded with a smile in return.


    After setting it straight with Elder Dousan, Elder Bao Fei remembered a moment from slightly more than a week ago when Zhao Luo was fighting Wu Yang.


    "He was just an average-level genius back then but what happened?"


    Elder Bao Fei mumbled as he stared at Zhao Luo who wasughing at the moment.


    There was no doubt that the Zhao Luo he had seen before who was leading the disciples on the dragon road and the one who had defeated Wu Yang was no doubt a genius but there was still a factor of time that these geniuses needed to bloom. But Zhao Luo had proven Elder Bao Fei wrong.


    In just a week of entering the outer hall after advancing to the outer disciple rank, he was not only going toe to toe with the other disciples but also overpowering them in speed, power, and tactics.


    Elder Dousan shook his head and looked at Elder Bao Fei.


    "It''s not your fault. From the moment Zhao Luo answered my riddles as simply as one eats his food, I knew that he was going to surprise me like this."


    The Second Elder finished while he had his hand, closed into a fist around his snow-white beard as he moved his fist down towards the end of his beard and repeated this action.


    "He has indeed surprised us well. But the one he is facing right now, what do you know about that disciple? I don''t remember seeing that face before."


    Xin Wang stepped in the elder''s conversation with a question of his own.


    He was more worried about the identity of Xiao Yu who had perfectly countered a punch from Zhao Luo.


    That punch which had already taken down many disciples with just a single blow except someone like Pi Hao whose technique perfectly countered Zhao Luo''s Explosive Fist had not only been countered but Zhao Luo had lost that trade.


    "He may just be better than the one from before. But why does his technique seems familiar?"


    Xin Wang wasparing Xiao Yu with Pi Hao whilst seeing some simrities in the palm technique of Xiao Yu.


    Xin Wang who knew almost everything going on in the Sect wasn''t aware of this disciple''s identity thus his worried nature surfaced.


    "Leader, it''s because he is Wu Yang''s elder disciple brother."


    In the Xin Sect, the ''disciple brother'' was only used when the disciples served under the same master or they were already bonded with the ties of brotherhood.


    "A direct disciple under the First?"


    Elder Bao Fei asked with a shock as Elder Dousan finished with the revtion of Xiao Yu''s identity.


    Wu Yang had been taken in by the First Elder thus his elder disciple brother could only be another direct disciple of the First Elder.


    "I see so he is the one."


    Xin Wangmented as he remembered a man who looked even younger than the ones on the stage, yet this man was the First Elder of the Xin Sect.


    The First Elder was an unparalleled genius of the Xin Sect so how could one of his direct disciples lose to their peers.


    While the reason Wu Yang lost to Zhao Luo was that he had yet to receive any teaching directly from the First Elder.


    ''But that doesn''t look like the case with Xiao Yu.''


    Third Elder thought in his head as he finally understood how powerful Xiao Yu could be.


    ''If you can''t even defeat him then there''s no way you will be able to beat the other sessor candidate.''


    Xin Wang though as his eyes were solely focused on Zhao Luo and Xiao Yu.


    -


    Back on the stage, Zhao Luo was walking close to Xiao Yu with slow steps.


    ''Tap, Tap.''


    Xiao Yu hadn''t moved a single inch after taking his stance.


    He only waited for Zhao Luo to reach him.


    "Will you only defend?"


    Zhao Luo questioned him as he wondered about this palm technique of Xiao Yu.


    "If you want to lose like that, then yes."


    Xiao Yu answered back arrogantly not giving any face to Zhao Luo.


    Since Zhao Luo hadughed at his technique, Xiao Yu had already started considering him as an enemy of his.


    "Then try your best."


    Zhao Luo shouted as he rushed at Xiao Yu with all his force.


    Reaching Xiao Yu, Zhao Luo nced at his straight tight palms and pulled back his own arms tounch a barrage of his fists.


    "Explosive Fists."


    ''Whoosh, Whoosh....''


    Zhao Luo threw multiple fists which were in the explosive fist ne while targeting the unguarded areas of Xiao Yu''s body.

 Chapter 187 - The Hundred

    Each of Zhao Luo''s fists ripped apart the space but the moment they closed in on Xiao Yu''s body, all of them were blocked and deflected by his palm, and the force of those fists was sent back at Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo pushed down his legs and kept on throwing his fists at Xiao Yu without giving up.


    Each second, more than twenty fists were being blocked by Xiao Yu.


    The spectator around the Colosseum was silent as they moved forward on their seats so they could just a closer look at this fight.


    To them, it looked like two people who had more than 20 arms were fighting.


    As the speed of Zhao Luo''s fist was just that fast but the palms of Xiao Yu came at the same speed thus an illusion was created for those who couldn''t differentiate between each fist and palm.


    Zhao Luo who was still throwing fists at Xiao Yu looked amazed.


    ''He is only defending. Can he go even faster?''


    Zhao Luo realized that Xiao Yu hadn''t thrown a single attack at him since they had shed thus giving Zhao Luo the idea that Xiao Yu was going easy on him.


    ''No way.''


    Zhao Luo didn''t believe it and intentionally slowed down his fists.


    ''Bang!''


    ''Bang!''


    All of his fists were still being deflected no matter where he threw them.


    ''His palms have slowed down.''


    "Hmph."


    Understanding that Xiao Yu was ying with him, Zhao Luo changed the nes his fists were in.


    "Calming Fist."


    The moments his fists were going to reach Xiao Yu''s body, he knew that Xiao Yu would bring his palm in the way of his fists suddenly, thus Zhao Luo dissipated all the strength.


    ''Tap.''


    Xiao Yu had tapped his right palm on Zhao Luo''s fist but the moment he felt Zhao Luo''s fist he jerked his palm thus pulling his arm back.


    "Did it work?"


    Zhao Luo took three steps back and looked at Xiao Yu.


    "Interesting."


    Xiao Yu said with a smile as he did indeed block Zhao Luo''s attack but couldn''t deflect the force behind it.


    "Nothing happened."


    Zhao Luo felt confused while looking at Xiao Yu''s face.


    "Others would be screaming by now yet you are smiling."


    "Weirdo."


    Zhao Luomented on Xiao Yu''s actions.


    This forced Xiao Yu to look at Zhao Luo with anger.


    "I have only used two palm styles of my 8 palm technique but if you keep on making me ang-"


    "Ah, so what?"


    Zhao Luo interrupted Xiao Yu while giving a light shrug thus showing him about how much he cared for his technique and his anger.


    "I have not even gotten started yet."


    Zhao Luo told Xiao Yi with a confident voice.


    ''I still haven''t used my bullet fist and this guy dares to be arrogant.''


    Zhao Luo thought in his head and shook his head at Xiao Yu''s acting.


    "Hmph then let me show you those palm styles. Come!"


    Xiao Yu said to Zhao Luo in a loud voice while curving his right palm inwards.


    "Haha."


    Zhao Luo unconsciously let out a littleugh.


    He hadn''t even imagined that a fight that had started with him being angry at the other disciple''s arrogant behavior was giving him an unknown feeling of enjoyment.


    Zhao Luo lowered his body, as he pulled back his arms.


    ''Clench.''


    Zhao Luo tightened his fists and raised his heels.


    "Half walk."


    ''WOOSH.''


    Zhao Luo disappeared from his ce.


    Most of the disciples were standing in front of their seats as they focused on this fight.


    Other fights were going on the stage too but only this one was something different.


    Zhao Luo blinked from his previous spot and appeared right in front of Xiao Yu who had his palms sped together.


    "BULLET-"


    Right when Zhao Luo was bringing his right fist towards Xiao Yu, he saw Xiao Yu''s left palm breaking away from his right palm anding towards his neck.


    "Life Palm."


    "- Fist."


    "BOOOM!"


    A loud resounding st happened in the middle of the stage where both Zhao Luo and Xiao Yu were.


    The reason was their attacks and a cloud of dust had been raised.


    -


    Before they had attacked, on the side of Feng Ma, Si Chen, and Pi Hao, the three had finally eliminated the level eight ''VIII'' bow user with joint effort.


    The three were rejoicing when they saw the elder who was on the podium vanishing from his ce.


    -


    As the dust settled.


    The spectators saw an old man sandwiched in the middle of Xiao Yu and Zhao Luo''s attack.


    The elder had stopped Zhao Luo and Xiao Yu''s attack before either of their attacks could hit each other.


    In his right hand, Xiao Yu''s palm was trapped while in his left hand, Zhao Luo''s bullet fist was stuck.


    "He stopped my attack."


    Both said at the same time as their respect for this elder increased.


    But as they looked ahead of the elder''s hands and arms, they found his robe ripped from different areas and couldn''t help but let their eyes rot as their sight had fallen on something that they shouldn''t be seeing.


    The elder released their hands and vanished from there again.


    He appeared on the podium with a brand new robe that hid all of his weary parts.


    The elder looked at the Sect Leader, the Second Elder, and the Third Elder.


    [ These disciples are yourst hundred ]


    The elder said in a loud voice after he shifted his gaze at the crowd sitting in the spectator''s area of the Colosseum.


    [ PLEASE WELCOME THE HUNDRED CHALLENGERS WHO HAVE SURVIVED THE OPEN BATTLE ]


    The elder waved his hands at the hundred disciples who were left on the giant stage.


    This caused them to raise their fists towards the sky as their arms wobbled because of the tiring and painful experience on the stage.


    "Woah~"


    "WOW"


    "GOO~~~"


    The crowd erupted with cheers while some people had a sour look on their faces as they looked at Zhao Luo surviving this Open Battle while showing his top-ss abilities.


    Zhao Luo didn''t care about anything else as his eyes were only fixed on Xiao Yu.


    "You are very lucky."


    Zhao Luo said to him in all seriousness.


    "Your neck is the lucky one here."


    Xiao Yu replied with the same tone.

 Chapter 188 - The One

    With the Open Battleing to an end, thest hundred were being showered with cheers from all the spectators.


    Then they were told to leave the giant stage as there were some things that the elders had to do before the second half of thest part of the tournament could start.


    "The Unlimited Combat"


    Something that was even more awaited than the Open Battle itself.


    [ Disciples Please Leave the Stage! ]


    The Elder on the podium announced again.


    This announcement was for the sake of just thest few disciples who were still standing in the middle of the giant stage.


    Right in the middle,


    "You should leave first and we all will go down after you."


    Zhao Luo told Xiao Yu in amanding tone.


    "The sole winner of this Open Battle is me, so I will be thest to leave."


    Xiao Yu replied with his face tilted upwards.


    "Are you a fool? Didn''t you hear what the old man said? Thest hundred are the winners, there is no such thing as the sole winner."


    "Then why do you want me to go down first? You Fool!"


    Zhao Luo questioned him but Xiao Yu''s immediate answer left him baffled.


    He wanted nothing more than to pull away all of Xiao Yu''s hair.


    That is how much Zhao Luo was frustrated by Xiao Yu''s actions.


    ''It''s like, I have suddenly gotten an annoying little brother.''


    Zhao Luo thought as a smile appeared on his face.


    "Look brother is smiling. I told you that he is enjoying that guy''s rudeness."


    Pi Hao said to Feng Ma and Si Chen who were looking with slightly mad eyes at Xiao Yu.


    "Even if he is enjoying it a loser shouldn''t be talking so much."


    Feng Ma said loudly as he brought his wine sk close to his lips.


    Hearing Feng Ma''s words, not only Pi Hao looked at him angrily but Xiao Yu was also looking in his direction.


    ''Whoosh.''


    Zhao Luo took two steps and came in front of Xiao Yu''s gaze.


    "Little tiger you are right. You should stay here and we shall leave."


    Zhao Luo told him with an awkward smile.


    Zhao Luo turned around and looked at his subordinates, Si Chen was there.


    Pi Hao and Feng Ma were there arguing with each other.


    "She is here too."


    Zhao Luo stepped towards Mo Anna''s direction with a smile on his face.


    [ Leave the Giant Stage Right Away ]


    The elder on the podium shouted at them with heated eyes.


    "These twerps..."


    He mumbled while watching Zhao Luo and Xiao Yu running out of the giant stage along with a few others following behind them.


    ''Finally.''


    The elder released a sigh of relief and looked at the crowd as he raised his arm with his fist pointing towards the clouds.


    [ The Unlimited Battle Shall Commence In 30 Minutes ]


    The Elder announced to everyone present in the Colosseum.


    From the most upper rows, many disciples were getting up.


    All of them had ck badges on their chest, with the lowest level being at eight ''VIII'' and many were at levels nine ''?''.


    From all four sides, these disciples started descending the Colosseum and were reaching towards the ground where the Giant stage was.


    "Why are theying down?"


    Zhao Luo questioned as he looked at so many disciplesing down suddenly while he was standing on one side of the ground.


    The hundred disciples who had won the Open Battle all stood at this side.


    Zhao Luo also had walked towards this area after getting off the stage with his friends.


    Coincidentally Xiao Yu had also followed them.


    "Brother they are the thousand disciples who are at the top of the Xin Sect."


    Si Chen told Zhao Luo with a nervous tone.


    "Ah, I see."


    Zhao Luo looked around and found the disciplesing down from all four sides.


    He looked calm without a tinge of fear or nervousness covering him.


    Cause he wasn''t worried about the uing fight instead his mind was focused somewhere else.


    Si Chen was on his right while from his left a sweet fragrance of roses traveled to his nose.


    ''Mo Anna.''


    Zhao Luo nced at his left and found her taking nces at her.


    ''Sheesh.''


    A sound was heard as their eyes met each other.


    Feng Ma was the culprit behind such a sound.


    Between their eyes, Feng Ma suddenly appeared between them.


    ''Gah.''


    Zhao Luo cried out as his momentary happiness was eradicated in a split second by his disciple brother.


    "What are you doing?"


    Zhao Luo questioned Feng Ma as Rose had already turned her head and was now looking straight.


    Feng Ma turned his head and gave Zhao Luo a mischievous smile.


    "Brother is sister the one who is making your heartbeat so loud?"


    Feng Ma said after he brought one of his ears close to Zhao Luo''s chest.


    He wasn''t even lying.


    ''Ba-Dump''


    ''Ba-Dump''


    ''Ba-Dump''


    After getting caught red-handed Zhao Luo''s heart started beating even more loudly than before.


    His eyes went towards Mo Anna who was looking towards somewhere particrly far from their ce.


    "Cough."


    Zhao Luo coughed loudly causing Feng Ma to back away but there was no reaction from Mo Anna.


    "Where is she looking at?"


    Zhao Luo mumbled while wondering.


    He also moved his eyes along the direction of her gaze.


    ''The Mo Family.''


    Zhao Luo looked towards the ce where Mo Anna was looking and it was where Royal Mo''s were sitting.


    "What is he doing?"


    Zhao Luo murmured as he looked at Mo Ron who was the leader of the Mo family.


    Mo Rong had his head turned forward as he looked directly at Mo Anna while one of his hands was on the other side of his wife''s neck, the mother of Mo Anna.


    Seeing such a scene caused Mo Anna to quiver.


    ''Mother.''


    She was visibly trembling but tried to hide it.


    Her hands were shaking more so especially her right hand which she tried to stop but couldn''t.

 Chapter 189 - Stealing Prey

    Zhao Luo looked at her right hand as she stood to his left.


    ''Tap.''


    Zhao Luo without waiting for even a second grabbed her right hand with his left hand.


    "I am here. Don''t worry."


    Zhao Luo''s majestic voice entered Mo Anna''s ear causing her shivering to stop.


    Mo Anna looked at Zhao Luo and didn''t try to shake off his hand.


    Instead, she opened her hand to lock her fingers with his.


    Zhao Luo was delighted as she was finally giving him a chance.


    Right then he turned his face to look back in Mo Rong''s direction.


    ''Wheesh.''


    As if a needle had traveled through Mo Rong''s gaze, the moment Zhao Luo looked at him and found Mo Rong directly staring at him, he felt like something had pricked his eyes.


    ''Agh~''


    Zhao Luo closed his eyes instantly and grunted as he felt scorching pain in his eyes.


    "BOOM!"


    A sound of the st came from the area where the Sect Leader, the Second Elder, and the Third Elder were sitting.


    It was caused by the third elder who had stomped his foot while the second elder''s foot was also raised but he couldn''t get a chance.


    "That was supposed to be me."


    The Second Elder mumbled with a displeased face.


    Elder Bao Fei was looking directly at Mo Rong whose attention had already been grabbed by him.


    Bao Fei moved his lips.


    "You bastard. Stop bullying our disciples. The next warning will be given by the Sect Leader."


    Mo Rong said as though he was reading the subtitles from a TV.


    "Hahaha."


    Mo Rong onlyughed in return as he released the grip of his hand from the neck of his wife.


    Back where Zhao Luo was,


    He had already opened his eyes, which had a tinge of red in them.


    "Are you okay?"


    Mo Anna asked him with a worried voice as she brought her face closer to his.


    "I may stay hurt if you behave like this."


    Zhao Luo answered her in a squeaky tone.


    "Bad."


    She hurriedly backed off while saying only a single word to Zhao Luo.


    "Bad?"


    Zhao Luo''s eyes widened with shock.


    ''Just saying that was being bad. Then what about all the things I want to do?''


    Zhao Luo felt troubled after seeing Mo Anna''s reaction.


    ''If it was her, she would have already kissed me.''


    Zhao Luo unconsciously remembered Yan.


    At the same time, his eyes went towards the Sect leader who was already looking at him.


    ''Heh.''


    The sect leader smiled at Zhao Luo showing how much he was proud of Zhao Luo for disying his high skills at the Open Battle.


    Zhao Luo also smiled back because the technique scroll that the Sect Leader had bestowed him had been very helpful to Zhao Luo.


    While all this happened the Elder on the podium was joined by the junior elder who looked over the library of the outer hall.


    It was like two twins who had seen the passing of time were standing together.


    They had been splitting the giant stage into 99 different stages.


    That is just how big the giant stage was.


    It only took them around twenty or so minutes toplete this task.


    After half an hour.


    [ There are 100 stages in front of you ]


    The junior elder had left the senior elder alone right as he was before on the podium.


    The elder was looking at the hundred disciples who had passed the Open Battle.


    [ Each stage belongs to you. If you want to challenge any of the 900 disciples that are on the right, you can! ]


    The elder pointed his hand towards the right where theter nine hundred disciples from among the thousand disciples of the outer hall were standing.


    "Woohoo."


    The crowd of spectators started cheering.


    They were hyping the battles that wereing.


    [ On your left are the top 100 disciples of the outer hall. I can assure you each one is a genius. If you want to challenge them, you will have to defeat the first disciples on the right ]


    The elder finished his announcement.


    After which all the disciples started getting on the stage.


    Their faces had nervousness written all over their faces.


    Zhao Luo got on one of the stages in the middle.


    He looked up towards the elder before slowly opening his mouth.


    "Umm, Elder once I defeat the first of the nine hundred disciples, can I challenge anyone from the top hundred disciples?"


    Zhao Luo asked in a loud voice.


    It was loud enough to echo around the colosseum at least once.


    [ Yes. That is the privilege everyone who has won the Open Battle gets, unconditionally. ]


    The elder wasn''t only replying to Zhao Luo but his eyes covered all the other disciples too.


    Zhao Luo after listening to the elder''s answer turned his eyes towards the right.


    As the elder''s left was his right and there on his right, stood the top hundred disciples of the outer hall.


    ''Why are they making a triangle?''


    Zhao Luo wondered as the one at the lead was none other than Mo Suo.


    "Senior cutie..."


    Zhao Luo mumbled as right next to the outer disciple''s formation, stood his bald senior.


    Even though he was bandaged from head to toe, he still looked calm and proud.


    Zhao Luo found Senior Cutie with closed eyes as though he felt embarrassed because of the triangle formation of the other fools.


    [ You can start challenging now ]


    [ Remember One lose and you will leave the stage ]


    [ The rankings of the thousand disciples will remain unchanged till thest of you remains standing and undefeated ]


    Thus with the elder''sst bit of announcement, the Unlimited Combat''s start was set into motion.


    Everyone started challenging different disciples from their left.


    Obviously, Zhao Luo was looking at the first of these nine hundred disciples.


    "Once I defeat him, I will take down all of them."


    Zhao Luo mumbled while gazing between his left and right.


    He pointed his finger at the first disciple but before he could challenge him.


    "I challenge him."


    From right next to Zhao Luo a challenging voice was heard.


    "Xiao Yu, you bastard~"


    Zhao Luo shouted at Xiao Yu as he had stolen his prey.

 Chapter 190 - Arrogant?

    Seeing that Xiao Yu was smirking, Zhao Luo knew that Xiao Yu had done this intentionally.


    "He didn''t only steal my target, but also waited for the moment when I was going to challenge him. What a smooth bastard."


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he red at Xiao Yu.


    [ Everyone has already announced who they are challenging except you. Please choose the one you want to challenge ]


    The Elder from on top of the podium spoke to Zhao Luo.


    He was urging Zhao Luo to announce the one he wanted to challenge to keep the audience attracted to the fight since Zhao Luo and Xiao Yu were the best of the hundred disciples.


    ''Nod.''


    Zhao Luo nodded to the elder''s concern by quickly pointing at the disciple who ranked second amongst these nine hundred disciples.


    Both Zhao Luo and Xiao Yu were challenging the second and first of the nine hundred disciples.


    This made the spectators extremely intrigued as they would have never imagined such a thing to happen.


    Many disciples who were from the inner hall were also very intrigued by the prowess of Zhao Luo and Xiao Yu.


    The upper rows of the Colosseum area where the Sect Leader and the two elders were seated, was also full as the inner disciples of the Xin Sect were seated here.


    Many of the disciples had a bronze badge over their chest while the badges only showed that they were at the first ''I'', second ''II'', and third ''III'' levels. Leaving them aside some disciples weren''t equipped with their badges.


    On the fifth row of this side, four disciples, three of them being in the ''III'' level, while one didn''t have a badge, were discussing something.


    One of them said while looking at the stage.


    "Directly challenging the top disciples when you are just newbies? Arrogant."


    The other squinted his eyes and nced at the right side and the left.


    "They are the top disciples but not the top hundred. Does it even matter who they challenge?"


    This inner disciple was talking about Zhao Luo and Xiao Yu.


    "They may be newbies but they don''t stand behind the top 100 disciples in any way. Especially that Xiao Yu, he could easily be in the top 50."


    The second inner disciple continued.


    The guy next to him also opened his mouth.


    "Indeed. That Zhao Luo could also reach the rank of fifty''s along with Xiao Yu."


    The third guy gave his statement.


    Thest one who was looking at the giant stage suddenly erupted with evilughter.


    "HaHaHaHaHa."


    ''p.''


    Then suddenly whileughing, he pped himself and hid his face behind his hands.


    "Brother Zi Fei, are you alright?"


    The second inner disciple asked the one who wasughing.


    "They both will enter the top ten."


    Zi Fei said in a confident tone.


    It shocked the three disciples as they heard Brother Zi Fei''s cold voice passing out of his hands aftering out of his mouth.


    Zi Fei removed his hands and his eyes were curved as though he was in an unmeasurable bliss while he looked at Zhao Luo.


    His mouth had a creepy smile on his face as his body trembled.


    ''I can''t wait.''


    Zi Fei thought as he continued staring at Zhao Luo.


    -


    Back on the stage, Zhao Luo looked at the disciple who had walked on the stage.


    While he also couldn''t help but nce at the stage next to him.


    ''I hope he loses.''


    Zhao Luo wished as he nced at Xiao Yu, but that is when a voice entered his ear.


    "Zhao Luo, right?"


    The disciples in front of him spoke slowly yet perfectly.


    ''Nod.''


    Zhao Luo nodded at the disciple as he was indeed Zhao Luo.


    "I am Ti An. Let me tell you something, you may have defeated some level eight ''VIII'' disciples but how long do you they have been in the Outer Hall? Just one year."


    Ti An introduced himself but right after that, he questioned Zhao Luo without letting him answer.


    Zhao Luo shook his head and slowly opened his mouth.


    "Who asked?"


    He said to Ti An while looking with cold eyes.


    "Ah, Arrogant One."


    Ti An tried to belittle Zhao Luo but suddenly he widened his eyes as Zhao Luo wasn''t in his spot anymore and just a low sound was left behind.


    "Mini Walk."


    Ti An looked ahead but couldn''t find Zhao Luo but then,


    ''Tap.''


    "Am I arrogant?"


    Zhao Luo''s question entered through Ti An''s left ear.


    ''Mini Walk.''


    Zhao Luo used his mini walk again at the same time Ti An had a jump scare as he looked at his left just to see that Zhao Luo wasn''t there anymore.


    Zhao Luo was right in front of Ti An.


    He pulled his left fist back to the extreme and then released it towards Ti An''s stomach.


    "Explosive Fist."


    Zhao Luo mumbled as the next instant Ti An could only see Zhao Luo''s fist sinking in his body.


    "Boom."


    Ti An was sent flying as his eyes remained opened and wide.


    ''What?''


    With just a single question in his mind which was flooded with the sensation of pain that Ti An could feel from his stomach, he was thrown out of the stage.


    ''Thud!''


    Ti An fell headfirst on the ground and immediately lost consciousness.


    "Hmph. Who is the arrogant one now?"


    Zhao Luo said to him but Ti An wasn''t awake to answer Zhao Luo''s question anymore.


    ''Woooh.''


    The spectators erupted with loud noise as they were looking at his fight with full focus.


    Zhao Luo turned his head to look at how Xiao Yu was faring.


    "As expected."


    Zhao Luo said as he found the disciple, who was the first among the nine hundred, sleeping on the stage.


    Zhao Luo squinted his eyes and found that on the neck of the defeated disciple, there was a big red mark as though someone had whipped his neck.


    "He must have hit him with that palm strike."


    Zhao Luo thought of thest palm of Xiao Yu that was blocked by the elder on the podium.


    Xiao Yu nced towards Zhao Luo and their eyes met.


    Zhao Luo and Xiao Yu squinted their eyes as though they were shooting invisiblesers at each other.

 Chapter 191 - Qualified

    Zhao Luo turned towards the elder and politely addressed him.


    "Elder!"


    The elder looked at Zhao Luo and found Zhao Luo giving him a short bow.


    After which Zhao Luo opened his mouth. "Elder, since the first disciple is unconscious, will I automatically qualify to fight the top hundred disciples?"


    Zhao Luo''s question was on point since ording to the rules that the elder had mentioned earlier, one was supposed to defeat the first disciple before he could go on to challenge the top hundred outer disciples who were standing in the left direction of the elder.


    "YES!"


    The elder replied to Zhao Luo after which he looked towards the other disciples.


    "But those who couldn''t even win the first fight will directly be eliminated as for those who have won their fights... They will have to fight the second disciple."


    The elder told the others just to find the second disciple to be unconscious too.


    "J-just challenge the third one and if you win, you will be qualified for the next battles."


    The elder said while looking a little confused.


    ''The battles ended pretty quickly.''


    The elder thought as before Zhao Luo and Xiao Yu started, he was more focused on the other disciples since it was obvious that they will win fast but they had even exceeded his calction.


    Both fights ended in a few seconds thus the elder wasn''t ready.


    [ Those who qualify can gather on this side while the one''s who are eliminated from further battles can join the spectator''s seats ]


    The elder first pointed far in the direction in front of him and then moved his sight to the seats in the colosseum.


    [ After all those, who qualify are gathered there, then the qualifiers can start challenging the top hundred disciples to... ]


    [ Take the spot of the ones they defeat! ]


    The elder announced as the heart of the disciples in the spectator''s seat and the other spectators started jumping around.


    They couldn''t wait to see who qualifies and who the qualifiers will challenge.


    Zhao Luo got off the stage to walk towards the back where the elder had pointed earlier just to find Xiao Yu walking ahead of him.


    "Hey."


    Zhao Luo said to get Xiao Yu''s attention.


    "What?"


    Xiao Yu replied in a crisp tone as though he was ready to fight a verbal battle.


    "Good job."


    Zhao Luo showed him a thumbs up with a wide smile on his face.


    After exchanging a few blows with Xiao Yu, Zhao Luo already felt that he had gotten close to Xiao Yu, thus he didn''t mindplimenting Xiao Yu for qualifying.


    "You too."


    Xiao Yu replied.


    His voice had lowered a little and his tone had softened after seeing Zhao Luo''s smile radiating in front of him.


    ''Hmm.''


    Turning back around he rushed towards the side of the ground where the elder had pointed earlier.


    Zhao Luo followed behind him.


    Reaching the side where the qualifiers were meant to gather, Zhao Luo started spectating the other fights.


    Zhao Luo quickly nced around and found the ones he was looking for.


    "Hmm, they are doing good."


    His eyesnded on Feng Ma, Si Chen, Pi Hao, and Mo Anna.


    Feng Ma looked more like someone who was fooling around with his enemy.


    Zhao Luo couldn''t help but keep on spectating his fight.


    -


    On the stage, Feng Ma was on, there was a disciple who was standing in front of him.


    He looked like the person who was having a really bad day.


    "Senior are you already tired?"


    Feng Ma questioned the disciple he was fighting.


    He had chosen a disciple who was around the 200s, to get a general idea of the strength that these nine hundred disciples had.


    ''What a disappointment.''


    Feng Ma thought as he didn''t feel challenged at all by the disciple who was limping over to one side while looking down.


    "You rat."


    Even though the disciple was hardly standing, he still had the will to curse Feng Ma.


    "If y-you didn''t use those weird moves of yours, I would have e-easily defeated you."


    "Hah, you aren''t even able to say the word easy on your first try, so how would you be able to defeat my drunken moves?"


    Feng Ma scoffed at the disciple''s statement as he brought his wine sk near his mouth.


    ''Gulp.''


    "Hah."


    "Nothing tastes better than drinking wine in front of a frustrated enemy."


    Feng Ma loudly said after he took a sip from his wine sk.


    ''Grrrr.''


    The disciple in front of him was so angry that he collected all the strength he had left in his body and rushed at Feng Ma while swinging his fist.


    ''Thud!''


    Feng Ma quickly closed in too, from the other side.


    The disciple who only had enough strength to release onest attack wasn''t ready to defend himself against Feng Ma''s strike.


    Feng Ma dodged the disciple''s fist by wobbling to the left side as he brought his wine sk towards the disciple''s face.


    BAAM!


    The wine sknded squarely on the face of his target.


    The power behind his hit was enough to send this disciple on a return trip to hell''s gate.


    ''Thud!''


    The disciple fell to his knees as he was knocked out instantly on the spot.


    ''p.''


    Feng Ma turned his head around as he heard the faint sound of someone pping right after his fight had ended.


    "Brother..."


    On the end of the other side, Zhao Luo was standing with his hands sped together.


    ''Nod.''


    Both nodded at each other while Feng Ma went on to fight another disciple who stood at the seventh rank among these nine hundred disciples.


    -


    Zhao Luo looked brightly at the others as he believed in Feng Ma''s abilities.


    ''There is no way that his next opponent would be able to defeat him.''


    Zhao Luo had such blind confidence in Feng Ma''s abilities.


    Moving on to the others, Si Chen and Pi Hao was also fighting their second opponents.


    They aimed to qualify, so the ones they were fighting were obviously the leftover top disciples.


    ''Tap, Tap.''


    Zhao Luo heard food steps approaching him and looked ahead.


    "You already qualified?"


    Zhao Luo questioned the owner of those footsteps.

 Chapter 192 - You Are, I Am

    "Yes."


    Mo Anna as always a woman of few words replied with a simple yes but even that was enough to make Zhao Luo smile unconditionally.


    As she came to stand next to him, Zhao Luo nced at his left where she was and lowered his gaze slowly.


    ''Grab.''


    Zhao Luo sneakily grabbed her right hand causing Mo Anna to be embarrassed since his action was so sudden.


    "Ahem."


    Zhao Luo cleared his throat.


    This sound was in no way, a call of desperation instead it was Zhao Luo showing his victory.


    Mo Anna only blushed as she focused on the fight happening on the stages in front of them.


    "SHAMELESS~"


    Zhao Luo heard Xiao Yu''s voice, from his right.


    ''Who is he cursing at?''


    Zhao Luo wondered before turning his head to look at him.


    Xiao Yu was looking at Zhao Luo with his head crooked towards him and Mo Anna.


    "Do they think they are on a date?"


    Xiao Yu mumbled just loud enough so that Zhao Luo could hear it.


    "Loser and Jealous... Wow, Si Chen is doing pretty good."


    Zhao Luo said while looking at Xiao Yu for a moment and then turned his head towards the stage, where Si Chen was fighting the seventh-ranked disciple of the nine hundred.


    Coincidentally following the same line of sight where he was looking, far away, on the other side of the Colosseum, Zhao Luo found two big eyes staring at him.


    ''Why is the sect leader smirking at me?''


    Zhao Luo thought for a second before realizing what was happening.


    -


    A few minutes earlier.


    Xin Wang was calmly watching the hundred disciples who had passed the Open Battle, challenging the disciple from the nine hundred rankings without backing down at all.


    ''Good to see how eager they are.''


    Xin Wang thought but right when he had such a thought something happened that caused him to lose his calm demeanor.


    "oho as expected. They both are good seeds."


    Xin Wang said loudly with an excited face while exchanging nces with his two elders.


    The reason behind the sudden change in his expression was because both Zhao Luo and Xiao Yu had qualified.


    ''Sigh, he is a good kid. If only he can win against the other sessor candidates too, then I would marry off my little angel to him...''


    Xin Wang started imagining the uing future. The future he was thinking of was something that he considered as his ideal n. But then a realization hit him and blew his momentary imagination away.


    ''If only he wasn''t gay.''


    Xin Wang sighed as he started sulking.


    Still, his eyes were on Zhao Luo looking forward to his performance.


    While many suspicious things rted to Zhao Luo hade out but Xin Wang didn''t give it a second thought.


    ? From Senior Cutie''s announcement regarding Zhao Luo and Mo Anna to,


    ? Zhao Luo fighting for her but Xin Wang still didn''t doubt him.


    [He couldn''t have lied to me ]


    Xin Wang had this thought in his mind.


    Then right after the Open Battle had ended, there was another suspicious activity as,


    ? he had seen a small interaction of Zhao Luo and Mo Anna, the Sect Leader had only smiled at Zhao Luo since at that time he was only thinking about Zhao Luo''s earlier performance.


    ''But what is this rascal doing now?''


    Xin Wang cursed at Zhao Luo as he red at him but Zhao Luo was busy while trying to grab Mo Anna''s hand.


    From some corner of his mind, three different scenarios which he had been absolutely declining, came forward.


    Xin Wang connected all the dots and for the first time in his life, he felt something that he had never experienced before.


    The feeling of getting fooled.


    ''Should Imend him or punish him?''


    Xin Wang thought as he red at Zhao Luo more intensely.


    -


    Zhao Luo could see the Sect Leader ring at him while moving his lips slowly.


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he moved his lips ording to how Xin Wang was moving them.


    "I am gay!"


    Zhao Luo was confused even after realizing that the Sect leader was ring at him.


    ''He is gay?''


    ''Then how did he have Yan?''


    For a moment, Zhao Luo was sidetracked and thought,


    ''Is he confessing to me?''


    ''Maybe he was so impressed by me that he wanted to open up to me.''


    Zhao Luo nodded at the Sect Leader and slowly raised his fist.


    On the other side, the Sect Leader was raising one of his eyebrows.


    ''What is this fool doing?''


    Xin Wang wondered but only found Zhao Luo opening up his thumb, that is, showing Xin Wang a thumbs up.


    "Everything''s okay. Leader, I won''t tell anyone."


    Zhao Luo ryed his stand to the leader while winking at him.


    ''That should be okay.''


    Zhao Luo wondered but still found Xin Wang staring at him.


    If before he was ring at him for some reason, then now there was a murderous look in his eyes.


    Xin Wang again slowly opened his mouth.


    "You Are GAY!"


    "You are gay?"


    Zhao Luo and Xin Wang kept on sending soundless messages to each other.


    Obviously, Zhao Luo was on the replying end and Xin Wang was being driven to insanity by Zhao Luo''s answer.


    But then Xin Wang shifted his gaze towards Zhao Luo''s left hand, with which he was holding Mo Anna''s hand.


    ''Ahh.''


    Zhao Luo trembled for an instant.


    His grip around Mo Anna''s hand loosened and he gaped with wide eyes while looking in the Sect Leader''s direction.


    Zhao Luo hadpletely forgotten about what he had blurted out in the jade dragon, golden pce of the Sect Leader.


    ''I called him gay. Also, while my cover was blown away by myself.''


    Zhao Luo looked down thought while wondering about the consequences.


    He looked back up and found a deep mysterious smile on the face of the Sect Leader.


    Before his hand could part away from Mo Anna''s hand, Mo Anna locked her fingers with his while looking away like the shy type she was.


    ''Now is not the time...''


    Zhao Luo thought but couldn''t bear to push her away.


    Zhao Luo felt nothing more than to cry for now.

 Chapter 193 - My Luck

    Hurriedly looking away from the mysterious smile of the Sect Leader, Zhao Luo again brought his focus on the battles going on in front of him.


    "Phew, at least something good is happening here."


    Zhao Luomented as both Feng Ma and Si Chen were taking on the third and fourth disciple.


    While Pi Hao was fighting the fifth disciple.


    Even with an injured arm, Pi Hao was faring better against the fifth disciple than how the third disciple and fourth disciple were faring against Feng Ma and Si Chen.


    Their fightsted no more than five minutes.


    All three had qualified for the next stage of challenges.


    "Brother, hohohahaha."


    Feng Ma with Si Chen and Pi Hao approached Zhao Luo with his drunkughter.


    "Good job guys."


    Zhao Luo said to them as they stopped in front of him before joining him on his side.


    Feng Ma looked at Zhao Luo''s left and right and stared at Xiao Yu who was standing on Zhao Luo''s right.


    "Hey, you. Leave some space for us."


    Feng Ma said with an arrogant tone as he pointed at Xiao Yu with his wine sk.


    "Hmph."


    Xiao Yu grumbled as hepletely ignored Feng Ma and looked at the stages.


    ''Grrr.''


    Feng Ma tried to swing his wine sk at Xiao Yu but Zhao Luo interrupted him with an awkward smile.


    "Hey stand here."


    Zhao Luo moved six steps to the left with Mo Anna as he made some space for Feng Ma, Si Chen, and Pi Hao.


    Till the end, Xiao Yu didn''t move a single step from his ce.


    The six stood there, waiting for the other winners of the Open Battle to qualify or be eliminated.


    Pi Hao who was now standing next to Xiao Yu, kept on sneaking nces at Xiao Yu.


    "What?"


    Xiao Yu asked him in a stern voice.


    "Brother are you always like that?"


    "Like what?"


    "Like this."


    Pi Hao showed Xiao Yu his angry face with his eyebrows looking like they were knitted together and his mouth pouting.


    "Hah."


    Xiao Yu scoffed at Pi Hao and again turned towards the fights.


    ''Do I really look like that?''


    Xiao Yu wondered after which his forehead started twitching as he started adjusting his expression.


    After half an hour, 23 disciples joined the qualified disciple''s side.


    In total, 29 disciples had been qualified to challenge the top hundred disciples of the Outer Hall.


    [ Twenty Nine Disciples have QUALIFIED ]


    The elder announced while addressing the audience who were spectating the fights while getting excited at different moments in the fights of particr disciples.


    The elder looked at the group of 29 qualified disciples.


    "You guys can start challenging the top disciples but remember one lose and there won''t be another try."


    "But remember, do not bite more than you can chew!"


    The elder told the disciples.


    He was looking at the disciples who may be aiming for a rank that may be too high for them.


    Zhao Luo and Xiao Yu weren''t in them.


    But the elder did nce at least once at the other disciples while advising them.


    "The fights will start from thest one to qualify, the 29th disciple, Zu Pan."


    The elder said as he pointed at the disciple who was standing at thest.


    "Rest for a few minutes."


    [ The fights will continue in five minutes ]


    The Elder from on top of the podium announced in a loud voice.


    The spectating audience could barely hold their eagerness to know how these qualified disciples will fight against the top disciples


    "Tsk."


    Xiao Yu clicked his tongue as he realized that he would be waiting till the end to fight the top disciples.


    Zhao Luo nced at the angry-looking Xiao Yu and waved at him.


    "If you want, you can go before me, since we pretty much ended at the same time."


    Zhao Luo told him and Xiao Yu nodded at Zhao Luo''s offer.


    With Zhao Luo''s offer being epted by Xiao Yu, Zhao Luo would be thest to fight.


    Zhao Luo looked at his left, that is, at the right of the elder''s podium.


    He squinted his eyes to stare at the top-ranked outer disciples and found them in a state ofughing and enjoying their mysterious discussion.


    ''So they aren''t worried at all.''


    Zhao Luo was slightly disgusted by their arrogant attitude.


    Not only were they worried but they also showed no respect for the qualified disciples who would be challenging them.


    In the next five minutes, the elder with the help of the junior elder joined all the 100 stages back to one.


    The giant stage was back for the 29 disciples to shine as they challenged the top hundred outer disciples.


    "You can start."


    The elder told Zhao Luo and the other qualified disciples.


    ''Mhmm.''


    Zu Pan hurriedly jumped on the stage without wasting even a second.


    "You can challenge anyone you want but do keep my advice in your head."


    The elder told Zu Pan once again.


    ''Nod.''


    Zu Pan nodded as he looked at all the disciples and then his eyes went on thest thirty disciples.


    "I challenge you."


    Zu Pan pointed at a big outer disciple.


    Not only was the disciple big in size but he was quite sturdy too but still Zu Pan had chosen him for some reason.


    ''He looks big and powerful but I guess it''s just his body.''


    Zu Pan thought as the disciple approached the stage.


    [ The 29th disciple, Zu Pan has challenged the 88th disciple, Mite ]


    Mite walked on stage while moving his mouth.


    It looked like he was cursing at something.


    ''Sigh~ my luck sucks.''


    "If only I hadn''t arrived after the first stage of the tournament had ended I wouldn''t have fallen to the 88th ranking."


    Miteined about beingte to the tournament as he got on stage and came to stand in front of Zu Pan


    "This kid wouldn''t be underestimating me then."


    Mite shook his head as he looked at Zu Pan.


    "What are you waiting for?"


    "Don''t you want my ranking?"


    "Come."


    Mite questioned the disciple while rubbing his ear.

 Chapter 194 - Mites Blow

    "Humph."


    "Senior, aren''t you being too arrogant?"


    Zu Pan asked Mite but he found Mite looking somewhere else.


    Mite wasn''t listening to Zu Pan, instead, his eyes were focused on the side where the disciples who had qualified were standing.


    Mite waved his hands towards them which caused them to be confused except one of them.


    ''Nod.''


    Zhao Luo nodded with a smile on his face as he looked at Mite who was waving his hand at him.


    "Good luck."


    Zhao Luo said in just a loud enough voice that it reached both Zu Pan and Mite.


    Both smiled and looked at each other.


    "That genius is cheering for me. Hoho."


    Zu Pan mumbled while thinking that Zhao Luo had addressed him while that was for Mite.


    Zu Pan moved towards Mite with a smirk on his face as he brought out his long sword.


    On the other hand, Mite also took out his sword, ready to show his moves to everyone.


    Mite nced at Zhao Luo with a look tha said,


    "Watch Me", before turning his focus on Zu Pan.


    ''I hope others are doing well too.''


    Zhao Luo thought of the others as their image popped up in his mind when he was leaving the trainee hall.


    ''All of them were there.''


    He remembered Yan, Mo lee, Su Shi, Hong Ling, and Wei Bin.


    ''Except him.''


    Zhao Luo remembered Wu Yang at the end while wondering when he would get the chance to meet him.


    Then his eyes turned towards the spectator''s seats where the Royal Feng family was seated.


    Zhao Luo''s eyesnded on Feng Mei.


    He couldn''t hide the likeness that he had towards the little queen as his eyes looked like they were shining and coincidentally Feng Mei was also looking at Zhao Luo.


    ''Brother.''


    Feng Mei slowly opened her mouth but her voice didn''te out as her lips moved toplete the word.


    ''He is too far.''


    She thought while looking at Zhao Luo.


    But to her surprise, Zhao Luo reacted with a big smile showing that he could read what she was saying, by reading the movements of her lips.


    ''I missed you brother.''


    Feng Meipleted her message and Zhao Luo nodded twice.


    The first nod was to show that the feeling was mutual.


    The second nod was to tell her that he wille to her soon.


    While the two shared their thoughts through action, Feng Mei''s grandfather who was sitting beside her was a little disturbed.


    ''He knows my little doll too.''


    Her grandfather, Feng Xiaoya couldn''t help but think so.


    He had already seen his grandson, Feng Ma interacting with Zhao Luo throughout the Open Battle, so it was obvious that they both were already rted somehow, but now seeing Zhao Luo exchanging gestures with his granddaughter who was also the family leader, confused him a little.


    ''How does a level eight ''VIII'' outer disciple knows little doll?''


    Feng Xiaoya questioned in his mind but he didn''t disturb Feng Mei as it was a matter of junior generation.


    ''Whatever.''


    He thought as he turned his eyes towards the disciples who were going to collide.


    ''ng~''


    Senior Mite blocked the sword of Zi Pan with his big sword.


    Zhao Luo''s attention was quickly drawn to the fight as the metalling ring entered his ears.


    "Oh, he is using that sword."


    Zhao Luo said as he recalled the sword in Mite''s hands.


    The sword was one of the swords that Mite had used in his fight against Zhao Luo.


    ''ng.''


    ''ng....''


    With the broad sword in his hand, Mite kept on blocking Zu Pan''s sword.


    "My turn. Take one of mine too."


    Mite said right after Zu Pan had finished with hisst move.


    Now it was his turn to go on the offensive.


    Mite did a full movement of his arm as he pulled it back while dragging his broad sword on the stage.


    Right after dragging it back in a swift manner, he lifted it straight up with the thick tip of his sword pointing at the clouds, and then in an instant, he brought it down on Zu Pan.


    Zu Pan moved the blunt side of the sword and brought it in the way of Mite''s giant sword.


    Crack!


    ''sh.''


    "Agh."


    Without any resistance, Zu Pan''s sword was destroyed as it couldn''t even slow down Mite''s sword at all, not even by a bit and a short yet painful scream left his mouth.


    The tip of Mite''s sword slightly grazed past Zu Pan''s body, causing his robe to be ripped apart from that area.


    But even that short contact of his insanely fast and heavy sword move was enough for Zu Pan to get a big sword wound there as his skin was separated and a straight bloody line appeared there, that went down from his chest towards the end of his abdomen.


    ''Phshhhh.''


    Blood gushed out from his wound and he jumped back.


    "Just give up."


    Mite''s voice entered his ears and his sword trembled along with his arm.


    ''I lost in one blow?''


    Zu Pan still couldn''t believe what had happened an instant ago.


    But looking down at his blood that was slowly dying his robe red he did not doubt that it was indeed real.


    "I ept my defeat!"


    Zu Pan slowly raised his arms after storing his sword and dered his loss.


    "Good guy."


    Mite praised him as he had seen many tenacious dogs who would have kept on fighting even after losing against an attack collision so badly.


    ''Not everyone can be like him.''


    Mite nced at Zhao Luo for an instant while thinking about the stubborn nature of Zhao Luo.


    "Impressive."


    Zhao Luo praised Mite''s blow as it showed how much he had improved in just a week or two.


    Just like that, the first challenge had ended as a failure as Mite had won while showing a devastating difference thus the pressure on some of the qualified disciples was doubled.


    "He was just the 88th disciple and yet so powerful."


    Most of the disciples who were standing behind Zhao Luo thought while looking at ncing at Mite''s receding back and the tragic look Zu Pan''s face who was being treated by the junior elder.

 Chapter 195 - Instructions

    The first battle had ended.


    [ 28th disciple, Chu Ming, it''s your turn ]


    The Elder announced from the podium, letting everyone know who wasing to challenge.


    Chu Ming, a female disciple walked out of the group.


    ''Uff, who do I choose...''


    She was dressed in a glittering purple robe and her looks weren''t in any way inferior to any beautifuldy that Zhao Luo had seen while being a traveler.


    But she looked nervous as hell after seeing Zu Pan losing that badly which caused her to lose all the confidence that she had gained after surviving the Open Battle.


    While passing Zhao Luo, she unconsciously nced at him with eyes that were asking for help but they were in no way directed at Zhao Luo.


    ''Hmm.''


    Looking at her expression, Zhao Luo hurriedly moved his eyes at the disciples who were standing around Mite as Chu Ming walked away.


    They were thest of the top hundred disciples.


    For some reason, he wanted to help her, maybe it was because of the ufortable look in her eyes or the fact that she was a challenger like him, Zhao Luo had already decided that he would help her.


    ''If she can survive the Open Battle, she should be able to win against someone around there.''


    Zhao Luo looked at one of the weaker-looking female disciples and then looked back at Chu Ming who was walking towards the stage.


    "Hey!"


    Chu Ming who was just one step away from jumping on the stage suddenly stopped in her tracks.


    She looked towards Zhao Luo as he was also looking at her.


    "Challenge that disciple. The 87th."


    Zhao Luo instructed her with a confident face.


    ''What? Brother Zu Pan couldn''t even win against that monster who was even lower than the one this guy is telling me to challenge.''


    Chu Ming thought as some of her mind was against following Zhao Luo''s instruction.


    ''But then again, no one from the Chu family is here so either I win or lose this, no one will react.''


    She pondered over Zhao Luo''s words further and decided to challenge the disciple who Zhao Luo had instructed her on.


    Chu Ming hadn''t even nced at the 87th disciple till now.


    "Hmmm."


    Mo Anna made a sound as she released her grip on Zhao Luo''s hand.


    ''Why is he helping her?''


    Mo Anna thought while looking at Chu Ming who was blessed with curves that were luscious to the male disciple''s eyes.


    "Brother, are you acquainted with the Chu family or Chu Ming?"


    Si Chen''s voice reached Zhao Luo and he turned around towards his right to look at him.


    ''Why whisper?''


    Zhao Luo wondered as Si Chen was speaking to him in a very low volume.


    "Chu Family?"


    Zhao Luo wasn''t acquainted with anyone from the Chu Family.


    He didn''t even know a single thing about the Chu family and neither did he knew about who Chu Ming was, as for helping her, it was without a cause or a demand.


    "Chu Family is one of the five martial families of the third city. You already know that I am from one of the martial families as well. You must know that only the Royal families are higher than the martial families in terms of status."


    Si Chen exined about the Chu Family to Zhao Luo.


    "Ah, so she is also from a martial family."


    "Not only that but she is the family leader''s daughter."


    "What?"


    Zhao Luo and Si Chem exchanged words with Si Chen being on the answering side, while, on the stage, Chu Ming was ready to challenge.


    The elder looked at Chu Ming from high above his podium and asked her, "Who do you want to challenge?"


    Chu Ming looked at the right side of the elder and from amongst the hundred disciples, her eyesnded on the disciple she was supposed to challenge.


    ''It''s her.''


    Chu Ming thought while looking at this disciple.


    Then she pointed at that disciple, the one who held the 87th ranked of the top hundred disciples.


    "I will challenge Ai Na."


    Chu Ming said loudly.


    ''Whooosh.''


    The one who was challenged jumped out of the crowd andnded on the stage in front of Chu Ming.


    Zhao Luo looked closely at Ai Na who had an equal level of beauty, like that of Chu Ming.


    ''What a beautiful day.''


    He thought as both Chu Ming and Ai Na looked mature and desirable to the other disciples.


    Zhao Luo looked at Mo Anna who was ring at him as though she could read his thoughts.


    "Umm..."


    Zhao Luo mumbled but Mo Anna turned her face towards the stage.


    [ The 28th disciple, Chu Ming has challenged the 87th disciple, Ai Na ]


    The elder announced to let the crowd know of the challenger and the defender.


    "I never would have thought you would choose me."


    Ai Na who was wearing a slightly revealing robe said to Chu Ming who looked somewhat out of shape.


    "Elder sister..."


    Chu Ming said showing that she was close to Ai Na, but before she couldplete what she was saying, the elder continued his announcement.


    [ One is from the 3rd martial Family, the Ai Family, while the other is from the 4th martial family, Chu Family ]


    [ Let the Battle Begin ]


    The elder hyped the crowd so much that they had gotten up from their seats.


    This created an awkward situation for Chu Ming who had no choice but to give it her all.


    "Come little sister. Let''s y like how we used to."


    Ai Na said with a calm smile.


    "She hasn''t changed..."


    Chu Ming mumbled as a smile blossomed on her face.


    Outside of the stage, Zhao Luo felt weird as he had just picked out a good match for Chu Ming.


    ''But they turned out to be acquaintances and even more, they are friends. Sigh~''


    Zhao Luo realized how he may just have yed a big hand in creating differences between two friends.


    Thinking about that, a smile suddenly crept up to his face.


    Obviously, no matter how bad he felt, in the end, he was a man just like the male disciples around him and in the spectator''s seat.


    "Nothing''s better than watching two hot girls fight!"


    A creepy sound of a drunk man entered his ears as Feng Ma opened his mouth.

 Chapter 196 - Pi Haos Turn

    Zhao Luo was startled for a moment.


    Feng Ma looked more drunk than usual, as he stared at Chu Ming and Ai Na, who were fighting on the stage.


    Looking at him right now, Zhao Luo felt it hard to differentiate between his friend and a drunk pervert.


    ''It''s understandable since he could be a solo, unlike me!''


    Zhao Luo nodded at his thought.


    ''I already have Mo Anna.''


    Zhao Luo nced to his left and looking at the focused red eyes of Mo Anna, caused him to bloom with a calm smile.


    ''Boom.''


    A sound of st echoed out from the middle of the stage as Chu Ming and Ai Na.


    Zhao Luo also looked at the stage and found Ai Na backing away after theirst collision.


    "She is winning."


    Zhao Luo mumbled as his eyes were already good enough to know which disciple would be a good match for some other disciple.


    On the stage.


    Chu Ming closed in on Ai Na and suddenly rotated her body while jumping up.


    "Ha."


    A sound left her mouth as her spinning kicknded on Ai Na''s two peaks, causing Ai Na to be pushed back.


    Zhao Luo squinted his eyes.


    ''Isn''t that a taekwondo move? The spin kick?''


    He looked at Chu Ming who had used a kicking move while spinning with an enchanting style.


    The fight continued.


    Chu Ming was using high kicks which were as fast as lightning.


    Chu Ming used her legs like a whip as she attacked Ai Na from different angles.


    While Ai Na had responded somewhat well while she did defend against almost all of Chu Ming''s strikes, she couldn''t keep all of them in check.


    Their battle was a battle of wits after Chu Ming''s spinning kick had passed through Ai Na''s defense and struck her chest.


    The winner would obviously be someone who had a better defense as their offense was almost equal.


    "The damage is building up."


    Zhao Luo said as he looked at Ai Na who was breathing heavily. The tired look on her face showed that she was close to losing while Chu Ming, on the other hand, was looking fresh and unbattered.


    "You have improved, little sister."


    Ai Na praised Chu Ming while Chu Min tried her best to show a smile but couldn''t.


    "Thank you."


    Chu Ming bowed her head and felt a little saddened that she had to fight her.


    While her head was down, a voice entered her ears.


    "I admit defeat!"


    Ai Na announced to the Elder bringing the fight to an end.


    ''Nod.''


    [ Chu Ming Advances to the 87th Rank! ]


    "p."


    A pping sound that started slowly had turned into a thundering p as the spectators showered her with their awe.


    [ Will you continue to Battle? ]


    After announcing the result, the elder asked her if she wanted to resume or end her run at this rank.


    [ If you lose the next battle, you will still keep this rank unless someone challenges you from amongst them ]


    The Elder exined to her as he pointed in Zhao Luo''s direction.


    Chu Ming shook her head and opened her mouth.


    "I want to challenge the 80th disciple."


    She dered the next disciple she would be challenging.


    The elder announced the fight and the 80th disciple was notified.


    The 80th disciple came up on the stage and their battle started.


    But it didn''t take long for this disciple to defeat Chu Ming.


    Even though she lost, she had already be part of the top hundred outer disciples while Ai Na''s ranking moved to 88th.


    The only real loser of this fight was Mite.


    "Shit! Now I am 89th."


    Mite let out a cry from the side where he was standing.


    After Chu Ming''s one win and then the defeat, the other disciples were hopeful as they knew that they had a chance of winning too.


    One after another from the 27th disciple to the 7th disciple, all lost miserably.


    They had forgotten the reason behind Chu Ming''s win.


    Zhao Luo''s instruction.


    Zhao Luo who had been spectating all the fights was realizing many things.


    "The disciples from 80s till 100 are good but there is a big difference in their strength and the ones in the 70s. They are as good as you Si Chen."


    Zhao Luo told the others who were left namely, to his right were the four, that is, Feng Ma, Si Chen, Pi Hao, and Xiao Yu. While to his left was Mo Anna.


    They were the only challengers left and it was already Pi Hao''s turn.


    Since it would be Si Chen''s turn following Pi Hao''s who was going on stage, Zhao Luo had been exining to them about what they should remember while challenging one of the top 100 disciples.


    "So if you challenge someone who is ranked between 60 and 70, you will have to give it your all and more. That will be the real challenge."


    Zhao Luo finished speaking as Si Chen already understood what Zhao Luo meant by his words.


    "Brother, I won''t let you down."


    Si Chen said to Zhao Luo as he little tapped his chest.


    Si Chen decided that he would be going for someone who was in the 60s ranking.


    "I know you won''t."


    Zhao Luo smiled and patted Si Chen''s shoulder as he showed his confidence in Si Chen''s abilities.


    After Zhao Luo''s short prep talk was over, they focused on Pi Hao''s fight.


    Pi Hao had challenged the disciple who was number 71 within the ranking of top hundred disciples.


    The 71st disciple was using a sword.


    ''His sword is fast but also calm at the same time. He must have been swinging it since a very young age.''


    Zhao Luo thought while watching the disciple swinging his sword at Pi Hao.


    The disciple was using the sword like one would use his arm, showing his mastery in the sword.


    ''But obviously, Pi Hao is not that easy.''


    Zhao Luo focused on Pi Hao as the fight on stage was entering an intense state.

 Chapter 197 - Wei Ban

    "Hahaha."


    Pi Haoughed like a maniac as the disciple in front of him got angrier and agitated.


    He swung his sword at Pi Hao with killing intent.


    ''Swoosh.''


    ''ng''


    "Why?"


    ''Swoosh''


    ''ng''


    "Why?"


    The disciple cried out as every time he felt like he would slice off Pi Hao''s hand in half, his sword would stop as though it was trapped.


    "No matter how much force I apply on my sword, it won''t pass through...but, WHY?"


    He couldn''t understand the palm technique that Pi Hao was using.


    "It''s my hardened water palm."


    Pi Hao showed the disciple his palm, half of which was light blue while the other half was dark grey.


    This was thest defensive method of the ''Water Metal Technique''. Even though it had failed against Zhao Luo, now was the time that Pi Hao''s ''Hardened Water Palm'' would shine.


    While Pi Hal was showing his palm, the opponent in question, the disciple with the sword swung her sword at Pi Hao.


    "Even this won''t work."


    Pi Hao smirked at the sneaky attack of the disciple.


    ''ng.''


    Then he blocked the sword with the upper part of his palm, the grey area.


    The disciple applied pressure on his sword as he tried to lower it on Pi Hao.


    "Hmph."


    Pi Hao slightly turned his palm as the blue part of his palm came in contact with the sword.


    ''Ssh.''


    Following a sound as though something had dropped in a pond, the sword of the disciple was trapped in Pi Hao''s palm.


    The disciple was shocked and felt helpless.


    "I told you, it won''t work."


    Pi Hao''s sound entered his ear as he looked at Pi Hao''s face which was closing in on his face.


    The disciple thought that the madman Pi Hao was going to kiss him.


    "What are you tryi-"


    ''Bang!''


    Right then Pi Hao''s thick forehead mmed right into the disciple''s head.


    "Agh."


    The disciple backed away while his feet wobbled as he couldn''t even stand straight.


    "I give up."


    He shouted in despair and this ended the battle with Pi Hao''s victory.


    In the while fight, Pi Hao had been only using one of his hands. Since his right arm was still numb.


    ''Woosh.''


    Pi Hao raised his left fist showing that he had won the fight and was swarmed with apud from the spectators.


    "Will you continue?"


    The elder asked him but Pi Hao shook his head.


    "Your new rank will be 71. Go get your arm treated and then you can join the others."


    The elder told Pi Hao.


    ''Nod.''


    Pi Hao nodded and got off the stage.


    Before making his way to the Junior Elder, he nced towards Zhao Luo''s direction.


    "Brother I won!"


    Pi Hao shouted with a big smile on his face.


    It was Zhao Luo who had told him to challenge the 71st disciple and he had done so.


    "Good."


    Zhao Luo replied while watching Pi Hao walk away.


    [ Thest five challengers are left ]


    The elders announced in a loud voice and his sound echoed around in the whole Colosseum.


    This was to let them know that around five more matches would take ce before the whole tournament ends.


    ''I am eager to see, how they will do in their challenge.''


    The elder looked down after he had finished his announcement.


    His eyes were set on Zhao Luo and Xiao Yu.


    ''And who will they be challenging.''


    The elder couldn''t help but get excited as he had seen Zhao Luo and Xiao Yu''s fight and experienced their strength when he had to interrupt their battle.


    On the side where Zhao Luo and the other four were.


    "Good Luck."


    Zhao Luo said to Si Chen who was ready to get on with his turn.


    ''Nod.''


    Si Chen nodded his head and looked towards the stage as he started moving his steps toward it.


    "Hey, don''t lose too fast."


    Feng Ma said to Si Chen who was walking away from there.


    Listening to Feng Ma, Si Chen smirked and gave him a look before jumping on the stage.


    Back at the side, Zhao Luo was speaking to Feng Ma.


    "You could have worded that better. You shy fellow."


    Zhao Luo said to Feng Ma as he was aiming to tease him for that.


    Feng Ma looked down with embarrassment and brought his wine sk close to his mouth and started drinking his wine.


    ''Gulp.''


    Even though he was drinking his wine, he was still ncing at Si Chen.


    On the stage, Si Chen had already announced the disciple he wanted to challenge.


    The elder had informed the disciple and was going to announce the match.


    [ The fifth disciple, Si Chen has challenged the 60th disciple, Wei Ban ]


    Right after Elder''s announcement, a disciple with a headband jumped on the stage and stood in front of Si Chen.


    "Hey, isn''t he the young master of the Wei family?"


    Someone from one of the spectator''s seats said as he pointed at Wei Ban.


    "Indeed he is. The family who is the master at spear arts."


    "I heard his younger brother is a prodigy."


    "I have heard of that too. The family head of the Wei Family has been giving special attention to his youngest son. But that doesn''t change the fact that Wei Ban is also a prodigy."


    People started discussing Wei Bin more than the two on the stage.


    On the stage, Si Chen looked at Wei Ban with rebelling eyes.


    "How long has it been?"


    Suddenly, Wei Ban spoke with a calm tone.


    "A year."


    Si Chen slowly replied to Wei Ban.


    He wanted to challenge someone in the ranking of 60s but as soon as Si Chen got on the stage and found Wei Ban standing there, Si Chen challenged him.


    It had happened a year ago when Si Chen was badly defeated by Wei Ban so this fight was an important one for him.


    "Did you really want this rank that much that you challenged me even though I defeated you so badlyst time?"


    Wei Ban questioned Si Chen with a cold voice as he looked at him with a condescending gaze.


    "Interesting."


    Zhao Luomented as he listened to their exchanges.

 Chapter 198 - Si Chen Vs Wei Ban

    Si Chen''s eyes shook, since this time his reason to challenge Wei Ban wasn''t only because he wanted to prove himself to his brothers and get the 60th rank but also because he wanted to get revenge for his previous loss to Wei Ban a year ago.


    "I have changed."


    Si Chen said while not answering Wei Ban''s question and mockery.


    "Changed?", Wei Ban looked at Si Chen in confusion.


    "Hahahahaha."


    He startedughing to show that he didn''t give a single fuck about Si Chen''s change.


    Si Chen closed his eyes and slowly backed to the point where this change started.


    A time, on the Sara Desert, when Si Chen was on a mission with Rose, even though he was at the third level, Si Chen found out that there was a person who was stronger than him when he hadn''t even joined a Sect.


    It was like going to a school and then get outsmarted by a street thug.


    But due to the turns of the event, that person and he shared a lot of memories and now that person was his big brother.


    Thepse of images of the recent paststed only for a moment, and then Si Chen opened his eyes to look at Wei Ban.


    "Have youughed enough?"


    ''Fwish.''


    Si Chen questioned him as he brought out his golden sword, Chen''s family treasured sword.


    ''Thuh.''


    Wei Ban turned his face and spitted on the side on the side of the stage.


    "I will continue it after defeating you."


    ''Fwish.''


    Wei Ban also took out a dark blue spear as he lowered his body.


    Noticing that both fighters had brought out their weapons, the elder opened his mouth.


    [ Start ]


    He instructed as both Si Chen and Wei Ban jumped at each other.


    ''ng.''


    In mid-air, they struck each other with their weapons.


    Si Chen blocked the spear tip with the sharp side of his and deflected it around him as he and Wei Ban moved past each other.


    ''Thud.''


    The both of themnded on the stage at the exact time with their backs turned towards each other.


    "You have gotten better."


    Wei Ban said with a smile that was not seen by Si Chen and then swiftly turned around to use a sneak attack on Si Chen.


    He twisted his hand which held the spear as he turned around to struck Si Chen with the tip of his spear but Si Chen was, a move ahead of Wei Ban.


    "Ahhhh."


    With a shout, he had already jumped back at Wei Ban.


    Si Chen was bringing his sword down on Wei Ban as he descended on him with full force.


    ''Shit.''


    Wei Ban internally cursed as his aim was on an empty spot since Si Chen had already jumped at him, thus he stopped his movements and brought the metallic length of his spear in the way of Si Chen''s sword.


    On the side, Zhao Luo waspletely focused on the fight of his disciple brother.


    "He won''t be able to block my brother''s sword."


    Zhao Luo mumbled as this could be Si Chen''s opportunity to be the pressing side in this fight.


    ''ng.''


    While Zhao Luo wasmenting on the sh, Si Chen''s sword fell on Wei Ban''s spear.


    ''Shwaaa.''


    Wei Ban was dragged along backward as he tried to stop Si Chen''s sword.


    In the end, he did stop the sword from falling on him and jerked his spear to push Si Chen back.


    ''He stopped my attack...''


    "You haven''t changed at all. Trying to use sneaky attacks even though you are stronger. Shameless."


    Si Chen said to Wei Ban with a disgusted look on his face when he was the one who was two steps ahead of Wei Ban.


    ''Tap.''


    "Haha, your skills have indeed changed but not as much as your tongue."


    Wei Ban replied after slowly touching the t end of his spear on the stage.


    "It''s all thanks to my drunk friend."


    Si Chen didn''t even give it a thought as the short week he had to spend with Feng Ma had definitely changed his turned into one of the sharpest swords anyone could get.


    From the side, Feng Ma looked at Si Chen with wide eyes, since Si Chen was talking in a loud voice.


    Even though others didn''t know who his drunk friend was, Feng Ma knew since he was that "drunk friend".


    "Is he talking bad about me?"


    Feng Ma mumbled while raising his brows.


    "No. He isplimenting you!"


    Zhao Luo answered Feng Ma''s wondering.


    ''Nod.''


    "GO SI CHEN. DEFEAT THAT HEADBAND FOOL."


    Feng Ma shouted at the top of his lungs.


    ''How can I not cheer for my friend when he is praising me???''


    Feng Ma shook his head and kept on repeating his cheerful chants.


    On the stage, Si Chen and Wei Ban who had stopped momentarily were in an awkward situation.


    Si Chen felt a little embarrassed since Feng Ma started shouting while dancing like a monkey.


    On the other hand, Wei Ban was infinitely close to blowing up.


    Wei Ban whose face was turning a little red after being called a headband fool looked at Feng Ma, the source of this offending cheer.


    "Hey, little bastard. I will kill you after I defeat this little brother."


    Wei Ban shouted at him while pointing his spear towards Feng Ma, which caused him to shut up.


    ''Whoosh.''


    "And how will you defeat me?"


    Si Chen shouted at Wei Ban as he ran at him.


    Si Chen pulled his sword backward at his chest height and then brought his sword forward at a lower angle while slicing through the space around it.


    "Chen Family Sword Style, Third Sword: Horizontal sh."


    Si Chen''s sword which was in his right hand wasing from his left to right as it moved towards Wei Ban.


    ''Hmph.''


    Wei Ban also pulled his spear back instantly and lowered his body by bending his knees.


    After lowing his center of gravity, he shoved his spear upwards as he aimed it towards Si Chen''s sword.


    "Wei Family Spear Technique, Spear Heart: Rising Dragon."

 Chapter 199 - Badass

    Both the weapons were extremely close to colliding with each other.


    The crowd was on the edge of their seats.


    The disciple around the stage had their fists closed as the tension kept on rising.


    And then,


    Si Chen''s horizontal sh shed with Wei Ban''s Rising dragon.


    Young Masters of two martial families, one who used a spear technique and the other who used a swords style, shed with their moves.


    ''CLANG.''


    The spear tip, that is the Rising Dragon of Wei Ban had stopped the sharp end, which was the Horizontal sh of Si Chen.


    "hooof, hoo."


    Both breathed out as the strength of their moves was equal thus ending their sh in a draw.


    Even though it was a draw the collision was very impactful.


    ''Whoosh, Whoosh.''


    Both jumped backward to neutralize away the residual force of their blows.


    ''Thud.''


    The moment theynded, both Si Chen and Wei Ban moved at each other again.


    They both targeted the same ce on each other''s body, the throat.


    Wei Ban brought his spear straight forward, at Si Chen''s throat while using the Wei Family''s Spear technique


    "Spear Heart: Swift Dragon."


    A move in which the spear user, focused the spear on a point even before starting its motion.


    It was like a sniper waiting for his enemy to pass a single point to pull the trigger.


    Seeing the spearing at him, and since his sword had a shorter range than the spear, Si Chen responded by bringing his sword diagonally at Wei Ban''s spear.


    "Chen Family Sword Style, Second Sword: Diagonal sh."


    Si Chen''s sword came at the spear and the moment both the spear and the sword shed for the third time,


    ''CLANG, Boom.''


    Wei Ban''s spear was blown away but he still kept a hold on it while his arm moved upwards uncontrobly.


    As for Si Chen, he moved inwards and brought his sword towards Wei Ban''s neck.


    "Admit Defeat!"


    ''shss.''


    Si Chen told Wei Ban in a cold voice while slowly pushing his sword towards the skin of Wei Ban''s neck causing a streak of blood to flow out of it very slowly.


    ''Ting~''


    Wei Ban dropped his spear instantly.


    [ 5th disciple, Si Chen has won the fight against the 60th disciple, Wei Ban! ]


    "Wow, his sword won."


    "What an amazing fight!"


    "They both were remarkable."


    The elder listened to thements and exmationing from the crowd''s reaction as the winner was announced.


    From on top of the podium, he had the best view of the fight so he totally agreed with thesements as the elder could be seen nodding his head.


    On the stage, Wei Ban had already gotten off but before he could rejoin with the other disciples a drunk voice entered his ears.


    "Hik. S-SERVERS YOU RIGHT."


    Feng Ma shouted at Wei Ban who had previously announced that he would be killing Feng Ma after defeating Si Chen.


    ''Hmph.''


    Wei Ban just nced at Feng Ma and moved away without giving any reply.


    "Si Chen, will you continue? Or will you stop?"


    The elder looked at Si Chen and asked if he wanted to continue or not.


    "I will stop here."


    Si Chen shook his head.


    ''I barely won this one after using my best attacks.''


    Si Chen thought as to him it was a close fight.


    ''Hmm.''


    The Elder pondered over Si Chen''s reply as it looked like he could still go on.


    ''Whatever.''


    [ Si Chen has sessfully acquired the rank, 60. Now the next challenger will go on stage ]


    Another announcement was made after which Si Chen walked off the stage and from the other side, Feng Ma started moving towards it.


    "Good Luck."


    Zhao Luo said to Feng Ma while Feng Ma only raised his hand and showed Zhao Luo his fist without even turning towards him.


    After going on the stage, Feng Ma didn''t wait for the elder to ask him about who he wanted to challenge.


    ''Gulp, Gulp.''


    Taking two sips of wine from his hard wine sk, Feng Ma rubbed his mouth with his robe.


    Then he turned to look at the top hundred disciples.


    "You wanted to kill me, huh."


    "GET YOUR ASS UP HERE, WEI BAN!"


    Feng Ma shouted at the top of his lungs while looking straight at Wei Ban who had just been in a fight.


    [ 4th disciple, Feng Ma has challenged the 61st disciple, Wei Ban ]


    Wei Ban who had lost his rank to Si Chen was already on the 61st rank and now the 4th of the qualified disciple was challenging him.


    Weird discussions broke out around the Colosseum after Feng Ma''s announcement as they saw Wei Ban walking back on stage.


    "What a badass."


    "Badass? He is just a sneaky bastard!"


    "Since when did being smart be a trait of a sneaky fellow?"


    The crowd was split into two factions, one supported Feng Ma''s decision while the other group was worried about Wei Ban as they considered Feng Ma to be using lowly tactics.


    "Didn''t he say that he will kill Feng Ma? So why can''t Feng Ma challenge someone who wanted to kill him?"


    Another disciple spoke in a loud voice disrupting the going arguments.


    While on the stage, Feng Ma and Wei Ban were staring at each other.


    "Look, I gave you a chance."


    Feng Ma said to Wei Ban with an evil smirk on his face.


    Wei Ban took out his spear from his storage ring and moved it like a whip.


    ''Whoosh.''


    A whipping sound broke out from Wei Ban''s surroundings.


    "I will wipe that smile off your face."


    Wei Ban said in a cold tone as he jumped at Feng Ma who was still smiling at Wei Ban.


    [ START ]


    The elder fumbled while looking at the eager Wei Ban, who was already moving towards Feng Ma and hurriedly announced the start of their battle.


    "We will see about that."


    Feng Ma brought his wine sk upwards as he waited for Wei Ban to approach him.


    Feng Ma still looked calm but that evil smile showed that he was cooking something.

 Chapter 200 - Feng Ma Vs Wei Ban

    "This guy...kekeke."


    Zhao Luo covered his mouth as heughed at Feng Ma''s action.


    ''He has gotten better...at making a fool out of others.''


    Zhao Luo mumbled while ncing between Feng Ma who was bringing his sk in the direction of Wei Ban, who was going to strike him with his spear.


    "Kang~"


    Wei Ban''s eyes widened as his spear was deflected as soon as it struck Feng Ma''s Wine sk.


    "Hmm, is that a shield?"


    Wei Ban backed away a few steps while questioning Feng Ma about his wine sk.


    "Yes. But I have got to say that you have good eyes for someone who is going to lose."


    Feng Ma replied as he gave his wine sk a quick hurl.


    "I can''t believe that the royal family would give away such a treasure to a drunk bastard like you. Howughable."


    ''Wahaha...''


    Wei Ban startedughing while rubbing Feng Ma''s truth on his face.


    "Laughable indeed when you lose to the same drunk bastard."


    Feng Ma replied to Wei Ban as he felt sober after listening to Wei Ban talk shit about him right in front of his face.


    Feng Ma brought his wine sk close to his mouth and started indulging himself in it, right in front of his enemy.


    "This crazy f-"


    Wei Ban pped his spear on the stage and as the tip of the spear was stuck in the stage, he lunged himself towards Feng Ma with both of his feet aimed towards Feng Ma''s face.


    The moment his feet were almost going to strike Feng Ma, Feng Ma slowly opened his mouth right after moving his wine sk away.


    "Drunken Drop."


    ''Whoosh.''


    He suddenly fell right on the spot, where he was standing a moment ago, and Wei Ban passed over him since he couldn''t stop his own momentum.


    ''Thud!''


    The moment Wei Bannded on the stage again, his spear was on the other side and his back was turned towards Feng Ma.


    That was when he heard Feng Ma''s voice.


    "Drunken Kick."


    ''Bang.''


    Feng Ma''s feetnded squarely on his back and this caused Wei Ban to be pushed forward that is even more away from his spear than he was before.


    ''Agh.''


    "I shouldn''t have left my spear stuck in the ground there."


    Wei Ban moaned in pain and turned around while regretting his decision as he looked at his spear.


    ''Whoosh.''


    Feng Ma appeared in between Wei Ban''s sight which was projected on the spear while wobbling.


    "You want that?"


    Feng Ma questioned Wei Ban with a sincere expression.


    ''Is he being chivalrous towards his enemy?''


    Wei Ban thought but only for a second.


    He nodded his head as he thought that Feng Ma would give him a chance to get his spear back thus continuing the fair fight they were having.


    "You will have to defeat me first."


    An evil smile crept on Feng Ma''s face as he shook his wine sk.


    Wei Ban thought shattered.


    "You dare fool me...ahhhh."


    Wei Ban shouted as he jumped at Feng Ma.


    "Hmm,e."


    Feng Ma didn''t even bat an eye.


    This was what he was good at.


    "You think I can''t fight without my spear?"


    "I Believe it."


    Feng Ma and Wei Ban had a quick exchange of words before Wei Ban threw a right at Feng Ma.


    "Ahhh."


    His shouting increased just like his offense.


    A left, a right jab, an uppercut, a high head kick, and ending it with a spin kick.


    Wei Ban kept on throwing his attacks at Feng Ma but the other guy looked like he was possessed by ten different homeless drunkards. He would dodge every attack in the weirdest possible direction and with the strangest movements.


    The crowd had their eyes narrowed as they watched Feng Ma dodge all these attacks.


    A few seconds earlier.


    Feng Ma dodged the left punch of Wei Ban by falling towards him and using a ''shoulder roll'' to let Wei Ban''s punch slide by his shoulder without damaging him.


    Then the right jab came at him and lowered his body further letting it pass over his head, just to see an uppercut reaching towards his eyes.


    "Oh, Shit."


    Feng Ma cursed,


    ''Hik.''


    He moved both of his feet towards the right while keeping the other joints of his body strictly stationary, thus as his legs moved to the right, so does his whole body, that is, he was able to dodge the uppercut by moving his face out of its trajectory in the strangest way possible.


    Feng Ma rolled his body and then stood straight up with a mysterious smile on his face shouting silently that,


    "IS THAT ALL YOU''VE GOT?"


    Wei Ban felt shocked after seeing Feng Ma''s movement and his expression but he hadn''t given up just yet.


    He threw a high kick towards Feng Ma''s head.


    It wasn''t a move that he had ever learned before.


    Wei Ban was just copying Ai Na''s move, who had used it before against Chu Ming.


    But before his kick couldnd on Feng Ma''s face, Feng Ma slouched backward instantly to dodge it.


    Seeing that his attack had been dodged, Wei Ban spun directly without letting his high kicke down.


    He spun and used the same leg as he aimed it towards Feng Ma''s abdomen.


    "Whoopsie."


    Feng Ma cried out and jumped like a frog.


    The kick that was supposed tond on his stomach had just grazed pat by his crotch.


    "Hah, Hah."


    Feng Manded back on the stage while rubbing his part.


    ''Close one, hehe.''


    He thought as soon his eyes were overwhelmed by the cheers of the crowd.


    ''Whoosh.''


    Feng Ma raised his sk towards the sky as he had already won in the eyes of the spectators, after pulling off such a maneuver.


    He had forgotten that Wei Ban was still in front of him, even though his eyes were filled with disbelief and shock.


    Wei Ban looked at Feng Ma who was not focusing on him because of the apuds from the crowd and took this chance to run at him.


    "Dragon Rising Kick."


    Wei Ban came at Feng Ma with one of his knees tucked backward while his other leg was aimed at Feng Ma''s had.


    "Drunken Drop."


    Feng Ma with a smile on his face dropped instantly again to dodge Wei Ban''s move.


    "Just what I wanted."


    Wei Ban said as, with hatred in his eyes, Wei Ban stared at Feng Ma while passing over him.


    "What?"


    Feng Ma turned around as his eyes followed Wei Ban.


    ''Oh shit.''

 Chapter 201 - The Victor

    Wei Ban was aiming to get his spear back and he had already achieved his aim.


    While Feng Ma stared at him, he slowly grabbed his spear tail with his hand.


    ''Kachang.''


    He pulled out his spear from the ground of the stage and pointed it in Feng Ma''s direction.


    "I am going to at least give you two more holes before sending you off the stage. You monkey."


    Wei Ban said with a threatening gaze as he started spinning his spear on his fingertips, showing his control over his weapon.


    "This isn''t a circus. Come at me."


    Feng Ma also looked serious.


    ''If only I wasn''t fooling around. I should have countered his offense earlier.''


    Feng Ma shook his head as this fight would be getting harder for him now.


    ''Gulp, Gulp.''


    Feng Ma''s seriousness disappeared as he took a sip of his wine.


    Wei Ban starting moving towards Feng Ma, step by step


    "I won''t fall for your trickery this time."


    "Trickery? This is my Technique. Not some low-level tricks that you use with your spear."


    Feng Ma refuted Wei Ban''s words as he also tried to hit back at his spear technique.


    "What? You dare call the Wei Family Spear Technique, a Trick. I will kill you."


    Wei Ban changed his decision of letting off Feng Ma with a few extra holes as his rage exploded.


    "Keke."


    Feng Maughed as his n to make Wei Ban agitated had seeded.


    Wei Ban rushed at Feng Ma while pulling back his spear.


    The moment he pulled back his spear he aimed directly at Feng Ma''s heart, even before continuing the motion of his spear forward.


    ''Even if you move like a drunkard, it won''t be stopped.''


    Feng Ma was staring at Wei Ban''s eyes as he read the direction Wei Ban was looking at.


    ''Hmm, going to aim for my heart. Let me give you a good medicine instead.''


    Feng Ma mumbled as he held his wine sk tightly in his right hand and slightly lifted his left arm, opening up some space between his arm and his chest.


    Wei Ban didn''t care for Feng Ma''s tricks.


    He pushed his spear forward with lightning speed as soon as he reached Feng Ma.


    Looking at the spearing at him, Feng Ma moved both of his feet only by a single step towards the right. He kept his upper body straight thus not letting the charging Wei Ban know that he had slightly shifted to the right.


    ''Phshh.''


    The moment Wei Ban''s spear reached Feng Ma, it passed through him and a smile appeared on Wei Ban''s face.


    "It didn''t want to do this but you brought this upon yourself."


    Wei Ban started talking as he was only focused on the expression that Feng Ma would be making.


    Wei Ban hadn''t even realized that his spear had only passed through the robe and was stuck close to Feng Ma''s armpit since Feng Ma was falling towards Wei Ban with his face down.


    ''Did he die already?''


    Wei Ban thought as he looked closely at Feng Ma whose face was drooping.


    "Y-you idiot."


    ''BANG!''


    Feng Ma''s hand which he had raised with a swift action came down on Wei Ban''s head and the wine sk in Feng Ma''s head was smacked on the Wei Ban''s skull.


    ''Ring~''


    Wei Ban''s head started ringing as darkness started covering his sight.


    Wei Ban''s grip over his spear was loosened and he slowly fell on the spot.


    "Hmph", Feng Ma wanted to stomp his feet on Wei Ban''s unconscious face but he didn''t.


    The elder who knew what was going on turned towards the crowd.


    [ The victor of the battle his Feng Ma. Not only, did he disy Incredible moves while fighting with an unorthodox style but he also showed that no technique is perfect ]


    The elder was this impressed after a long time after watching Zhao Luo and Xiao Yu.


    " Feng Ma. "


    " Feng Ma. "


    " Feng Ma. "


    The crowd started cheering for Feng Ma while Feng Ma''s eyes only went towards his cousin and his grandfather.


    Both Feng Mei and Feng Xiaoya were already full of smiles as they were also looking at him.


    Feng Xiaoya felt a great deal of achievement seeing his grandson show such abilities.


    "I thought that he will live like a drunkard for the rest of his life after my son betrayed the family. But who could have seen that our Feng Ma would grow up like this?"


    Feng Xiaoya was close to crying as even he had given up on Feng Ma since the child was young when his father''s plot came to light.


    "I always knew brother would never let us down."


    Feng Mei spoke while shaking her cute face.


    -


    "Feng Ma, will you continue fighting?"


    The elder asked Feng Ma while Feng Ma was pulling out the spear.


    Even though he had made the spear miss his heart, the side of his chest and the opposite side of his arm were still damaged, by the sharp de of the spearhead.


    ''Phshh.''


    He pulled out the spear and his blood started flowing out from the sides.


    Feng Ma looked at the elder with eyes that said, ''I still want to continue'', but Feng Ma shook his head.


    "Elder I will stop here."


    He bowed his head as he replied to the elder.


    [ Feng Ma, the 4th qualified disciple has secured the 61st spot among the top hundred ranked disciples ]


    "You can get treated first then move to that spot."


    Elder instructed Feng Ma and that was also when Wei Ban was getting up.


    "Mhmm."


    While rubbing his head, Wei Ban stood up and looked around.


    "Aiming for a disciple''s life during a tournament''s battle is strictly prohibited."


    The elder''s voicended in Wei Ban''s ears.


    He turned around to look at the elder who was ring at Wei Ban.


    "Yet you still tried to kill him. Get treated first and meet me after the tournament ends."


    The elder ryed his instructions to Wei Ban who looked like he was just a step away from crying.


    ''I lost and now I will be punished too.''


    Wei Ban looked down as he moved to get off the stage.


    "Hey, senior."


    Feng Ma suddenly shouted and got Wei Ban''s attention directed towards him.

 Chapter 202 - My Fight!

    Wei Ban turned around and looked at Feng Ma, who was still on his spot.


    "It was a good fight."


    Feng Ma said while raising his wine sk towards Wei Ban.


    There was no mockery in his voice.


    Feng Ma''s expression was clear, he said what he believed.


    ''I could have lost if he hadn''t been tricked.''


    Feng Ma thought after saying what he wanted to.


    "I will win the next time."


    Wei Ban said while being a little angsty and then turned around to walk off stage.


    Nobody could see the small smile on Wei Ban''s face as his head was down.


    This was how the outer disciples were.


    Even if they lost, the winner still acknowledged the loser.


    Thus the battle had truly ended.


    Feng Ma also followed Wei Ban, as they were both in need of medical treatment.


    On the stage, the emptiness felt weird, even though it was just for a short time.


    [ The Last Three Matches are left ]


    The Elder announced to the crowd.


    His voice echoed in the Colosseum and it went so far that even those who were in the training zone, could hear this announcement.


    Zhao Luo nced at the excited crowd before looking towards Mo Anna and locking his sight on her.


    Mo Anna also stared back at Zhao Luo.


    "Don''t be worried."


    Mo Anna said as she saw through the worry in Zhao Luo''s eyes.


    ''I shouldn''t have told him.''


    She thought before slowly opening her mouth but before she could say another word, Zhao Luo spoke.


    "How can I not be, when you are going to challenge him."


    Zhao Luo responded with a troubled voice as he thought Mo Anna wasn''t ready for the challenge she was going for.


    Mo Anna bit her lips but Zhao Luo couldn''t see that as her mouth was covered by her veil.


    "I have been training for this day for as long as I can remember."


    Mo Anna said as her eyes moved towards the ce where the Royal Mo Family was seated.


    Mo Rong had his eyes closed while both of his arms were stretched over the seats of his wives.


    The first wife had a smile on his face while the second wife, who was the mother of Mo Anna, looked like she was in pain.


    Mo Anna looked at her mother''s shoulder and found her father''s hand grabbing it tightly.


    Looking at the eyes of her mother which showed how much pain she was in, Mo Anna tightened her fists.


    "I have to do this! For my mother! And for myself! This is my Fight!"


    Mo Anna said after looking back at Zhao Luo as she moved her eyes away from the wretched sight.


    ''Tap.''


    Zhao Luo patted her shoulder and continued persuading her, to no reason.


    ''Can I only wish for her victory even though it seems impossible?''


    Zhao Luo thought as he could only wait for the match to start and see how it goes.


    While Mo Anna and Zhao Luo were exchanging words as Zhao Luo tried to change her mind, the elder made another announcement.


    [ The third qualified disciple, Mo Anna will fight now ]


    Mo Anna gave Zhao Luo thest look which showed how calm she was and then walked towards the stage with heavy steps.


    "Good Luck."


    Zhao Luo shouted from behind as he saw the receding back of Mo Anna.


    Now only Zhao Luo and Xiao Yu were left behind and Mo Anna had already reached the stage.


    "Who is she going to challenge that you are reacting like a worried father?"


    Xiao Yi suddenly said causing Zhao Luo to shake with anger.


    "Calm down."


    "..."


    Zhao Luo said to himself as his turn had yet toe.


    "You will know soon."


    Zhao Luo finally replied to Xiao Yu who then turned towards the stage.


    "Who do you want to challenge?"


    The elder asked Mo Anna politely.


    She wasn''t only a princess of the Mo Family but also a genius of their sect.


    That wasn''t the end, since she was already considered a matchless beauty without even showing her face to anyone.


    Mo Anna looked at the hundred top-ranked disciples of the outer hall.


    Her eyes lingered at the front.


    The front was where the top ten disciples stood. Senior Cutie was there too.


    "Is she going to challenge me? Because of Zhao Luo?"


    "How cute."


    Senior Cutie felt bliss as the mind inside his bald head started exploding with fantasies regarding him, Zhao Luo, and Mo Anna.


    But before he could step up a notch, Mo Anna who was on the stage pointed towards the disciple who was standing at the foremost position.


    "No Way."


    Senior Cutie eximed.


    "I challenge the first disciple, Mo Suo."


    Mo Anna''s loud, enchanting voice fell on everyone''s ears and the crowd erupted withmotion.


    "Why are they fighting?"


    "The siblings are going to fight now?"


    "Is Mo Family having an internal struggle?"


    "But Can Mo Anna even take a single hit of Mo Suo, who is the number one of the outer hall?"


    Different questions mixed within shouts kept on raising the interest of the spectators.


    Some were here just to watch the fights, but this turn of events turned out to be extremely delightful for them.


    The area where the Royal Mo Family was seated.


    "OHO."


    Mo Rong opened his eyes and looked at the stage where his little daughter was standing with a proud look on her face.


    He removed his hand from his second wife''s shoulder.


    ''This bitch. She dares to aim for my son. I should teach her a lesson.''


    "Honey, why don''t you tell the grand elders of the sect that this will be a family matter so they can''t interfere."


    The first wife of Mo Rong hurriedly yed her cards with a grin that she could hardly hide.


    From the grand elders, she was pointing towards the Second Elder Dousan and Third Elder Bao Fei.


    "Don''t worry. No one dares to interfere in my family''s business."


    "Not even you or her."


    Mo Rong red at his first wife following which he nced at his second wife.


    The mother of Mo Anna looked shocked. She couldn''t believe that her daughter would do such a thing as challenging Mo Suo.


    ''Why would she do that?''


    She thought, while back on stage, from the side of the top disciples'' Mo Suo, was walking towards the stage.


    It only took him a second to end up in front of Mo Anna.


    Mo Suo looked so angry right now, that he could even rip his sister to shreds.


    The elder on the podium looked at the two and slowly opened his mouth to announce the battle.

 Chapter 203 - Mo Anna Vs Mo Suo

    [ The 3rd qualified disciple Mo Anna vs The 1st ranked disciple Mo Suo ]


    The elder announced and looked back on stage.


    Before he could let the fight start, he had to wait as this wasn''t amon battle.


    Siblings of the same families would never fight, even the ones from the branch family would rarely fight. Yet this was a royal family matter.


    Before he could start this battle, the elder looked towards the Sect Leader.


    To his surprise, the Sect Leader''s mouth was already moving.


    {What?}


    The elder read what the Sect Leader was saying.


    He turned around to check who was the one this word was directed at.


    ''He is talking to Mo Rong..''


    With another shock, he stared at Mo Rong.


    While Mo Rong was also talking back to the Sect Leader.


    {Xin Wang, I have always treated you like an older brother. So, as I have already said, do not let any of your elders interfere in this fight, no matter what.}


    The elder read through the lip-syncing technique that he knew of.


    But in the end, he was just doing something simr to eavesdropping.


    The elder hurriedly turned his head to look at Xin Wang and to see what his reply would be.


    {Hmm, even though they both are my Sect''s disciple but if you are saying so, I will let you off but only this once. None of the elders will interfere in the fight.}


    The elder was shocked as he knew what the answer of the sect leader was.


    Right then the Sect Leader looked at the elder with a profound gaze and opened his mouth.


    No sound had left his mouth but the elder knew what Xin Wang was telling him.


    ''Nod.''


    "I will not interfere."


    The elder mumbled as his only job now was to start the fight.


    Over to the side of the Colosseum where the Sect Lader and the two elders were, Xin Wang addressed them and gave them a single order.


    "Both of you won''t interfere."


    ''Nod.''


    ''Nod.''


    Elder Dousan and Elder Bao Fei nodded their heads, as a majestic force that they couldn''t go against was flowing in Xin Wang''s voice.


    ''Since it''s a Mo Family matter, they should as well deal with it now.''


    Xin Wang thought while looking at Mo Suo and Mo Anna.


    ''The most they could do is punch each other.''


    He smiled as even he used to fight his disciple brothers all the time so seeing Mo Anna aiming for her brother, Mo Suo wasn''t a bad thing.


    But Xin Wang had misunderstood something.


    The elder raised his hand and brought it down while shouting,


    [ START ]


    "So you will go for your brother''s head just for that little bastard lover of yours?"


    Mo Suo asked Mo Anna in a cold voice as he approached her with slow steps.


    "I''m not here because of him."


    Mo Anna said to Mo Suo while shaking her head.


    "Only once I defeat you, I can go against that man and free my mother from his tortures."


    Mo Anna slowly spoke just enough loud that it wouldn''t reach anyone except Mo Suo.


    "So you want to overthrow the Mo Family Leader?"


    Mo Suo questioned Mo Anna with a calm look but he didn''t wait for her answer as the confident look in her eyes was already enough.


    "Let me help you."


    Mo Sup suddenly lowered his head and spoke in a very warm tone.


    His expression had taken aplete reversal.


    Mo Anna who was ready to fight suddenly staggered.


    ''What is he trying to say? Why would he help me?''


    Mo Anna couldn''t believe what she had heard just now.


    "I will help you..."


    Mo Suo raised his head as though he was making a deration. His eyes looked innocent and his expression said that he was ready to do anything for his sister.


    "...you just have to kill him and then be my woman."


    Mo Suo said to her while licking her lips.


    Hering her brother''s bullshit, caused her to tremble.


    "Not only is he a creep but this family is creepier."


    Mo Anna mumbled with furrowed brows.


    ''Why did I fall for it again?''


    She already knew how the people of the Mo Family were but still, she was listening to her brother.


    Since the moment she was born, her fate had been decided.


    Just like the fate of her mother was.


    Her mother who had to marry her own brother that is Mo Rong had only been suffering since Mo Anna''s birth.


    Now, it was Mo Anna''s turn.


    Mo Anna had to marry her eldest brother. This was the fate that the women of the great Royal Mo Family shared. They had been shackled by the decided fate that they couldn''t go against.


    To keep the blood of the Mo Family strictly pure, the elders would get them betrothed to their brothers or first cousins. While the leader of the family was allowed to take as many women as he wanted.


    "I will kill you and him too."


    Mo Anna was angered to the extreme.


    "Only then will I be free. That is the only time when I will be with the one who I choose."


    She said to Mo Suo.


    "Hahahaha."


    Mo Suoughed evilly as he couldn''t control it while listening to Mo Anna''s hopeful future which was based on a sheer sophisticated dream of a little girl who didn''t know of the World.


    ''Whoosh.''


    Mo Anna took out her crimson sword and jumped towards Mo Suo who wasughing at Mo Anna''s aim.


    "Yes,e at me."


    Mo Suo said as he slid back his left leg and raised his right arm in front of his chest.


    While from the other side, Mo Anna closed in on him while she swung her crimson sword at him.


    "You will fall."


    Mo Anna said loudly as she brought her sword down at Mo Suo at an amazing speed leaving behind a light red streak hanging in the air.


    ''Kang~''


    Mo Anna''s eyes widened as her sword was stuck.


    Stuck right in between the thumb and index finger of Mo Suo.


    "As I expected."


    Zhao Luo who had been listening to their talk, squinted his eyes as Mo Suo stopped the sword.

 Chapter 204 - Lust And Desire

    Mo Suo had a carefree look on his face as he had easily stopped Mo Anna''s sword.


    ''Kachang.''


    Mo Suo pushed the sword away with a jerk of his hand causing Mo Anna to be shoved away too.


    "She is still too weak to face him."


    Zhao Luo who was silently watching from the side mumbled as what he had been worrying for, was happening right now.


    "Indeed your girlfriend isn''t a match for that guy."


    Xiao Yu rubbed his hands together whilementing on Zhao Luo''s thoughts.


    "But I don''t think even you can handle him."


    He continued but this time he was looking straight at Zhao Luo.


    "You think I will lose to him? Why do you think so?"


    Zhao Luo wanted to know the reasoning behind what Xiao Yu was saying.


    "Yes. You may lose, just like you lost to me! He is as strong as me, so you will lose if you lose your focus."


    Xiao Yu told Zhao Luo but Zhao Luo could only look at Xiao Yu with widened eyes.


    ''What is this bastard saying?''


    "When did I lose to you?"


    Zhao Luo questioned Xiao Yu as their fight hadn''t even concluded since the elder had intervened.


    "You would have lost if the elder hadn''t saved you."


    Xiao Yu said with a deep confident voice, as he believed in his palm strike.


    After which he turned his face to look back at the fight going on between the siblings on the stage.


    "Yeah, I would have lost. How will I ever repay the elders favor for saving me from your wrath, oh great lord."


    Zhao Luo slowly spoke while his focus had also moved away from the random shit that Xian Yu was spouting.


    ''Plop.''


    A vein popped up on Xiao Yu''s forehead while he also tried to ignore what Zhao Luo had just right now.


    Back on the stage, Mo Anna kept on attacking Mo Suo from every possible angle.


    Mo Suo bever dodged any sword sh that Mo Anna threw at him instead he would show his own expertise in swordsmanship, by simply catching her sword between his fingers.


    ''Kachang.''


    ''He stopped it again.''


    Mo Anna pulled her sword back from within the fingers of Mo Suo.


    Mo Anna stepped back and looked at Mo Suo with boiling anger in her eyes.


    "You will regret taking me lightly "


    Mo Anna shouted at Mo Suo before she lowered her left in which she held her crimson sword.


    Mo Anna then proceeded to take out another sword from her storage ring.


    Unlike the light crimson sword in her left hand, the new sword that she took out was bright red.


    The color was simr to a rose shining under a night''s moonlight.


    She held the two swords in her hand and then raised her right hand while pointing the red sword towards Mo Suo.


    "Elder Brother, you better be prepared."


    Mo Anna said while she raised her left hand too, bringing both swords falling over each other.


    "Mo Family Sword Style: Flower Sword."


    Mo Anna rushed at Mo Suo with elegant steps.


    It was like she was taking a stroll in a park while her deep ck hair jumped as the waves produced along the ends of her hair were mesmerizing for many sectators.


    But this wasn''t a time to be in awe of her beauty as she was fighting her older brother, who was no less of a monster, also known as the King of The Outer Hall.


    Mo Anna rotated as she reached Mo Suo, her swords shed towards him without halting for a single second.


    Mo Suo squinted his eyes as he looked at Mo Anna who looked like a real rose at the moment and jumped back to dodge the swords.


    Mo Annanded on the stage and without waiting any further she aimed at Mo Suo again.


    "Tell me what happens to a rose whose thorns are aiming for a person''s hand?"


    Mo Suo mumbled like he was demanding an answer from Mo Anna as he stared at his sister who looked beautiful than ever.


    Her attacks were making him feel a lust that he had never gone through before.


    Mo Suo knew that he was a freak for being like this even though Mo Anna was already decided to be betrothed to their older brother but he couldn''t control his desires.


    That was also one of the reasons, Mo Suo stayed at the outer hall even though he had already conquered it a year ago.


    ''If only you had aimed this attack at him instead of me.''


    Mo Suo thought while ncing at Zhao Luo for a moment before looking back at Mo Anna who was using her Flower Sword technique.


    ''Whoosh.''


    Taking out a big golden sword from his storage space, Mo Suo held it with both of his hands.


    He looked determined. She was always on the end of his desires so how could she let her do as she pleases when it meant that she will be moving away from him and the Mo family.


    ''If I can''t get this rose, then nobody will.''


    "The rose gets squashed."


    He answered his own question as he brought down his sword on Mo Anna.


    The swords in Mo Anna''s hands struck Mo Suo''s golden sword but they couldn''t stop the advancing golden sword.


    Mo Anna''s technique slowed down as she stopped spinning like a top, and still tried to stop Mo Suo''s sword.


    ''It''s like a mountain is falling on me.''


    Mo Anna said with widened eyes as her snow-white arms trembled under the pressure of Mo Suo''s golden sword.


    She had held the crimson sword in her left hand and the red sword in her right while ovepping their broadsides on each other, she tried to stop Mo Suo''s sword sh.


    ''Crack~''


    Cracks started appearing on the crimson sword as another secondter it broke down.


    ''Thud.''


    Mo Anna fell to her knees as her legs gave out.


    ''Ting.''


    She dropped the broken crimson sword and supported the other sword with her left hand too.


    The red sword shook while Mo Suo looked determined to keep on going forward.


    His sword was just an inch away from reaching Mo Anna''s head.


    ''Goodbye, little sister.''


    Mo Suo had even bid her farewell in his head as the expression on his face darkened and he pushed his sword down.

 Chapter 205 - She Is Mine

    Right before the golden sword reached infinitely close to Mo Anna''s head that is, the de was already touching her hair, a voice entered everyone''s ear.


    "ENOUGH!"


    Along with the voice, came a young man flying with his left leg aimed towards Mo Suo''s face.


    That heroic young man was none other than Zhao Luo, who found it hard to control himself when the woman he loved, was extremely close to dying.


    "Bang!"


    Zhao Luo''s footnded squarely on Mo Suo''s face.


    Mo Suo was sent flying outside the stage along with his golden sword.


    The reaction was indeed as Zhao Luo had predicted.


    ''I used Half Walk to close the gap. His jaw should pretty much be done by now.''


    Zhao Luo thought while looking at Mo Suo who had just fallen outside the stage.


    Zhao Luo knew that this attack of his may be considered, a cheap shot, by others but he didn''t care about that at all.


    Zhao Luo lowered his gaze and found Mo Anna with closed eyes as a tear rolled down causing the veil on her face to get a dark line on it.


    "Are you okay?"


    Zhao Luo asked as he brought his hand in front of her.


    ''p.''


    Mo Anna grabbed his hand and got up.


    "Thank you."


    She replied with a tragic voice.


    ''I lost. But I didn''t know that he would even go as far as to throw me away.''


    She knew what had transpired.


    ''If Zhao Luo hadn''t saved me, I would have died. The elder never moved from his spot.''


    Mo Anna thought while she looked at the elder who was looking at them with a grim look too.


    Zhao Luo who was looking at Mo Anna earlier turned around and looked at the Elder.


    "Why didn''t you atop the fight?"


    Zhao Luo questioned in a loud voice as his anger was overwhelming him.


    While around the Colosseum someone else was also angry but his voice couldn''t be heard.


    Mo Rong was staring at Xin Wang while moving his mouth and his eyebrows were furrowed as though they had been connected together.


    { What is this? I thought we had a deal. }


    Mo Rong stopped moving his mouth as he had ryed this to Xin Wang and waited for Xin Wang''s answer.


    { And? }


    Xin Wang only replied with a single word.


    ''Bang!''


    { You didn''t stay true to your words. }


    Mo Rong smacked his leg with his fist and squinted his eyes at Xin Wang.


    { Little Brother, look at the one who interfered. Is he an elder? Has age blinded your eyes or is it because of your weird mustache? }


    Xin wang slowly answered back after which he stopped looking at Mo Rong.


    ''If I knew that Mo Rong wouldn''t stop his son from killing his own daughter, then I would have never agreed to this.''


    Xin Wang mumbled as regret filled his eyes while on the other side Mo Rong looked shocked.


    He had indeed been firing at the wrong person since he, himself had said that no elder was to intervene but he had never imagined that a disciple would be so bold enough to interfere in the matters of the Mo Family.


    Mo Rong shifted his eyes towards Zhao Luo who was standing in front of Mo Anna.


    He tightened his fist as ideas of killing Zhao Luo started popping up in his head.


    On the stage, Zhao Luo was still looking at the elder while waiting for an answer but since the elder''s expressions were clearly shouting that he couldn''t help it, Zhao Luo didn''t continue pestering him.


    Zhao Luo turned his gaze towards the spectator''s seats.


    His eyes met the re of Mo Rong who was already looking at Zhao Luo and Mo Anna.


    Zhao Luo didn''t back down as this was the Xin Sect, not Mo Family''s court.


    "If you can''t protect her..."


    Zhao Luo shouted after he pointed his finger towards the area where the Royal Mo Family was sitting.


    "Then I will."


    Zhao Luopleted his sentence.


    The crowd went into an uproar.


    Not only had Zhao Luo interfered in a battle, which was overlooked since things could have gotten a little uglier but now, he was also saying that he will protect one of the three beauties of the sect himself.


    "We are not dead yet."


    "Yes, I shall protect Rose."


    "No, I will."


    The male disciples in the crowd started arguing as they deemed themselves fit for the position of protecting Rose.


    The drama had shifted to something else as different spectators shared a different idea.


    Some thought that things were getting interesting while the others waited for Mo Rong''s reaction.


    Mo Rong''s face was red while his Family was bing a joke as the people started discussing the Royal Mo Family with utter ridicule.


    ''Who is he to protect her? What background does he have, that he thinks he can go against my Family like this.''


    "Why would you protect her?"


    Mo Rong asked in a heavy yet loud voice while ring at Zhao Luo.


    Everyone in the Colosseum was silent as they waited for Zhao Luo''s answer.


    A pressure descended on Zhao Luo which caused his legs to be so heavy that he felt like he was drowning in a sea an elephant was tied to each of his legs.


    ''Tsk.''


    Zhao Luo clicked his tongue.


    ''This old rip-off with that shitty mustache is trying to scare me?''


    Zhao Luo couldn''t help butugh as he moved his hand.


    ''Grab.''


    Zhao Luo grabbed Mo Anna''s hand and looked straight at Mo Rong.


    "I will protect her cause she is mine."


    Zhao Luo replied to Mo Rong''s questioned under everyone''s stare and gazes that were beaming at him.


    "What?"


    Mo Rong acted as if he couldn''t hear what Zhao Luo had said and questioned again.


    "I said..."


    Zhao Luo raised the hand with which he was holding Mo Anna''s hand and opened his mouth again.


    "SHE IS MINE."


    Zhao Luo said in the loudest voice possible.

 Chapter 206 - Mo Rongs Anger

    "Boom."


    Pressure erupted from Mo Rong.


    It became hard for his wives to breathe that''s just how much pressure was seeping out of him.


    Mo Rong was like a leaking cylinder, just a step away from blowing up. The only thing left was some kind of fire, that would set everything aze.


    Everyone in the crowd was silent. They knew that butting in such a situation would be a suicide attempt.


    The guy who had kicked away Mo Rong''s son away was now holding his daughter''s hand and announcing that she belonged to her.


    "Brother sure is a beast. Announcing his rtionship with Mo Anna in such a way."


    Si Chen mumbled as his eyes were shining.


    Feng Ma''s mouth was open and his wine flowed out of it, he was shocked to the core, by Zhao Luo''s announcement.


    ''He would even go against a royal family for his love.''


    Feng Ma realized what Zhao Luo was doing.


    These were just what Zhao Luo''s disciple brothers thought about him, not to mention the thousands of people that were looming at him right now, each group with a different expression and thought.


    Some were jealous, some held awe for him, others were angry as Zhao Luo had ruined a tournament by interfering, while some were even cursing him for taking the hand of Mo Anna.


    On the stage, Zhao Luo and Mo Anna stood side by side while Mo Rong looked prepared to crush them but held himself back.


    "Zhao Luo..."


    Mo Anna''s worried voice entered Zhao Luo''s ears as he wasn''t backing down from the pressureing from Mo Rong.


    She knew how strong her father was, there was no way Zhao Luo could even handle her father''s pressure if Mo Rong was serious.


    But before Mo Rong could even do anything, an old yet powerful voice was heard.


    "Stop."


    ''Bang!''


    Second Elder Dousan shouted and smacked the handle of his chair causing almost everyone to nk out for a second.


    Just a second of distraction was enough to get everyone to stop causing a ruckus over Zhao Luo''s action.


    ''Hmm.''


    Zhao Luo looked at the second elder and nodded his head.


    The crushing pressure that Zhao Luo was under had disappeared after the sting sound caused by the second elder''s.


    The Second Elder wasn''t done.


    He looked at the elder and ryed a soundless message to him.


    ''Nod.''


    The senior elder on the podium understood the message and slowly opened his mouth to announce something.


    [ The third qualified disciple failed her challenge ]


    The elder announced and sent Mo Anna towards the spectator''s seat which was on the upper rows, behind the area where the Sect Leader and the two elders were seated.


    Zhao Luo didn''t stop Mo Anna as in the end, it was the training zone of the Xin Sect so there was no way that the Mo Family would be unruly in the presence of the Sect Leader himself.


    ''This may just be the safest ce for her.''


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he looked at Mo Anna''s departure from his side.


    After which Zhao Luo turned towards the elder on the podium who was already looking at him with unexinable emotions.


    "Why don''t you go back to the side for now?"


    The elder asked Zhao Luo so he could resume the tournament.


    "Elder, there is no need for me to go back. I am the second qualified disciple so it''s my turn anyway."


    Zhao Luo said to the elder without looking back at Xiao Yu.


    ''You said that you would let me go before you.''


    Xiao Yu looked at Zhao Luo with anger in his eyes.


    Zhao Luo had no idea what Xiao Yu was thinking instead, he had even forgotten what he has told Xiao Yu earlier.


    As for Xiao Yu, he didn''t care about what Zhao Luo was facing.


    Xiao Yu just knew one thing and that was, "Zhao Luo...you went on your words. I hate people like you."


    Xiao Yu mumbled while no one heard what he was saying.


    Even if someone heard what Xiao Yu was talking about, nobody would know the reason behind his hate towards such kinds of people.


    Back on the stage, after hearing Zhao Luo''s words, the elder tried to get things going.


    "Who do you want to challenge?"


    The elder asked Zhao Luo as he waited patiently for his answer.


    ''Once he decides his opponent, I can finally rest and this awkward situation would end too.''


    The elder thought but before he could hear Zhao Luo''s answer, an interruption had gotten on stage.


    "What''s the hurry?"


    Mo Suo''s shouted as he slowly got up from the ground.


    With bloodshot eyes, he jumped on the stage and started walking towards Zhao Luo.


    "You think a sneak attack will help you to get rid of me."


    "That bitch must have nned this with you."


    Mo Suo looked at Zhao Luo and pointed his sword at Mo Anna.


    Mo Suo wasn''t hurt by Zhao Luo''s attack at all but his face was covered with a dirty mark of Zhao Luo''s shoe.


    He came to stand in front of Zhao Luo while holding the golden sword in his hand.


    "Challenge me."


    Mo Suomanded Zhao Luo in a vicious tone.


    "No!"


    Zhao Luo declined right away and then turned towards the Elder.


    "Elder I would like to challenge the 8th disciple."


    "..."


    Mo Suo was confused by Zhao Luo''s challenge deration but he stayed silent.


    "Scared bastard."


    Mo Suo cursed at Zhao Luo as he moved towards the end of the stage.


    "We will see."


    Zhao Luo said lightly as his eyes still burned with madness.


    ''I can''t wait to beat the shit out of him. But there are others too who need to be taken care of.''


    Zhao Luo thought while looking at the other top disciples.


    Even though he had already forgotten about what he had told Xiao Yu, but he hadn''t forgotten about what these seven disciples had done to Senior Cutie.


    Zhao Luo''s eyes went towards the wrapped-up Senior Cutie, who was still standing at his spot of the 9th ranked disciple.


    ''Senior Cutie...''


    Zhao Luo stared at this bald senior brother of his.

 Chapter 207 - Avenging Senior Cutie

    "I will avenge you."


    Zhao Luo said in a loud voice while looking at Senior Cutie.


    A smile appeared on the tsundere Senior Cutie who had been more of a spectator since the beginning of the third part of the tournament.


    [ 2nd qualified disciple, Zhao Luo vs 8th ranked disciple, Fu Tian. ]


    The elder announced before the tournament could be dyed even more.


    The 8th ranked disciple jumped on the stage as he came to answer Zhao Luo''s challenge.


    But before the fight could start he turned around while waving his hand at the spectators.


    Fu Tian was handsome, even more than Zhao Luo who was already close to perfecting the word ''handsome'' itself.


    Thus Fu Tian had many cheerers and he did this to let them know how much he appreciated them.


    Just after Fu Tian waved his hands at the crowd, many spectators started cheering for him.


    "Fu Tian."


    "Fu Tian."


    "Fu Tian."


    With this most of the crowd was already with Fu Tian but that wasn''t the end.


    "I have already got more people supporting me... So why don''t you hand over the princess to me too once you lose?"


    Fu Tian said to Zhao Luo while looking confident as though he had already won the fight.


    "Do you think she is a belonging that I can pass to anyone who defeats me?"


    Zhao Luo questioned in return as he couldn''t help but argue with Fu Tian''s hatefulment.


    Fu Tian looked a little shocked as he didn''t know that Zhao Luo would react like this.


    ''I am not even interested in your girl.''


    Fu Tian thought as his question was just to mess up with Zhao Luo''s mind before their fight started.


    ''This tactic had worked on the injured Senior Cutie too but I guess this guy is a little better.''


    He wondered while looking at Zhao Luo with wide eyes and then answered Zhao Luo''s question.


    "Even if she isn''t a belonging yet, she will be, once you lose to me."


    Fu Tian said coldly from under his breath so that only Zhao Luo could hear such low blows.


    "You will regret it."


    Zhao Luo told Fu Tian and that is also when the elder gave them the signal.


    [ Start ]


    Right when the elder announced the start of the battle, Zhao Luo lowered his body and raised his heel.


    Fu Tian was on his guard. He raised his hands as he noticed the change in Zhao Luo''s movements and squinted his eyes to keep a track of any other change in Zhao Luo.


    "Half Walk."


    Zhao Luo took a step forward and disappeared from his spot.


    ''What?''


    Fu Tian was shocked as he couldn''t follow up with Zhao Luo''s movement even though his eyes were hovering over him just a moment ago.


    "Where did he go?"


    Fh Tian muttered while looking at the sides and at the same instant a hand grabbed his neck.


    Zhao Luo had appeared on Fu Tian''s right side and had already grabbed him by the neck.


    "Looking for me..."


    Zhao Luo whispered into Fu Tian''s ear and pulled back his fist.


    While Zhao Luo''s fist wasing at his face, Fu Tian squirmed around like a lizard as he tried to escape Zhao Luo''s hand lock on his neck but to no use.


    ''Boom''


    Zhao Luo''s fistnded on Fu Tian''s face clearly without any resistance from the trembling Fu Tian.


    "1"


    ''Boom.''


    "2."


    Zhao Luo''s fistnded again on Fu Tian''s face right at the same spot as before and along with it, Zhao Luo''s voice entered his ears.


    ''Agh.''


    A painful moaning sound came out of Fu Tian''s mouth but then another fistnded on his face.


    "3."


    Zhao Luo counted again.


    His fist hadn''t missed the mark.


    Just like the earlier fists, this one alsonded below the eyes of Fu Tian and ended at his lower lip thus Zhao Luo''s fist covered the nose and the mouth of Fu Tian.


    In just three fists, Fu Tian''s face was bashed in.


    This was the eighth-ranked disciple mong the top hundred disciples of the Outer Hall and he was being treated like absolute trash by Zhao Luo.


    While Zhao Luo looked like he wasn''t even trying.


    Fu Tian slowly opened his eyes as blood flowed out from his nose and mouth.


    He couldn''t feel his jaw not his teeth as his tongue had gone numb by the shockwave produced by each of the punches thrown at him by Zhao Luo.


    "One was for bullying Senior Brother Cutie."


    "Second was for talking trash about little sister Mo Anna."


    "Third was for acting all smug in front of me."


    Zhao Luo pulled back his fist for the fourth time as he continued telling Fu Tian his mistake.


    "Fourth is...because I am still not done with you."


    Zhao Luo told Fu Tian with a smile on his face as though he was bringing justice on him for all the stupid things he had done.


    Looking at Zhao Luo''s fist zooming in on his face for the fourth time, Fu Tian felt something hot and wet leaking between his legs as he hurriedly shouted.


    "I GIVE UP."


    "Stop."


    The elder alsomanded causing Zhao Luo to stop his fist right before Fu Tian''s eyes.


    Staring at the fist which looked as big as a mountain caused Fu Tian to fall senseless after Zhao Luo released his grab on Fu Tian''s neck.


    ''Drop.''


    ''Drop.''


    "Hmph."


    Zhao Luo felt disgusted by Fu Tian who couldn''t even fight back at all, not to mentions going as far as putting up a decent fight.


    "All talk, no bite."


    Zhao Luo said hisst words before walking away from Fu Tian and his piss which was dropping out of the robe.


    [ The winner of the battle is Zhao Luo and he has advanced to the 8th rank ]


    The Elder announced snapping everyone out of their stunned state.


    Everything had happened in thirty seconds.


    Zhao Luo had easily smashed the face of one of the top ten disciples in half of a minute.


    The crowd started going mad after seeing Zhao Luo''s strength which had overwhelmed his opponent.


    The elder looked at the reaction of the crowd and he, himself was also shocked just like them, otherwise, he would have stopped the fight at Zhao Luo''s second punch.


    Looking back at Zhao Luo, the elder questioned him.


    "Will you continue the challenge?"

 Chapter 208 - Why Can You Use It

    "Yes."


    Zhao Luo''s answer was the same as many of the spectators had expected.


    There was no question of him stopping here, just at the 8th rank.


    Looking at the confidence in Zhao Luo''s voice, the elder didn''t falter in asking him about his next opponent.


    "Who do you want to challenge?"


    The elder asked as Zhao Luo looked at the other six on the side of the top disciple.


    The six who stood at the most front of the group, obviously the disciple at the top, Mo Suo wasn''t there.


    ''His turn wille too, once I am finished with them.''


    Zhao Luo muttered after which he pointed at the seventh disciple.


    "I want to fight the seventh disciple."


    Zhao Luo shouted as he looked at a little guy who stood among the other top disciple.


    While he was short but he held the rank of the 7th strongest disciple in the outer hall.


    The elder looked at the disciple who was challenged and was ready to announce it to the spectators but before he could even open his mouth, the disciple who was challenged suddenly spoke.


    "I give UP."


    The short disciple said as he turned his back and walked to the 8th rank.


    ''I would be a fool to fight this madman, after what he did to that idiot, Fu Tian.''


    The short disciple mumbled just loud enough that the other top disciples around him, could hear his words.


    "Giving up on battle without even trying...Disappointing!"


    The elder said to that disciple and then turned to Zhao Luo.


    "Who do you want to challenge next?"


    The senior elder asked Zhao Luo again as the disciple he wanted to fight had given up on the fight before it had even started.


    And if the elder had dered the results like this, even the spectators of other families would be disappointed.


    "The 6th one."


    Zhao Luo answered and looked at the fat guy who was the 6th disciple.


    "I give up."


    He also gave up on the fight right away just when Zhao Luo targeted him.


    "CHICKENS."


    Zhao Luo shouted at the cowards who were evading him by giving up one after another.


    But this wasn''t the end, Zhao Luo kept on challenging the next in the line and they also did the same.


    "I give up."


    "I give up too."


    "Yeah, me too."


    The third disciple had also given up without even epting the challenge, not to mention, putting up any fight.


    Now only the second disciple and the first disciple, Mo Suo, were left.


    It had already been two minutes after Zhao Luo''s fight.


    During that time the spectators waited for the next fight''s announcement while they watched Zhao Luo pointing at different disciples.


    This had already happened five times but no announcement has been made by the elder.


    As their eagerness grew, Zhao Luo''s loud voice calmed them down.


    "I challenge you. Do you dare fight me or are you also a pussy like them?"


    Zhao Luo shouted while looking at the second disciple who had his eyes closed.


    The second disciple opened his eyes and red at Zhao Luo.


    The biggest impact of Zhao Luo''s shout was on the spectating disciples and the elders of the other families that were present in the colosseum.


    "What?"


    One of the elders looked deeply at Zhao Luo and the other disciples.


    "It looks like they all refused to fight him."


    Another elder told him as he understood the situation going on the stage.


    On the side of the colosseum where the Sect Leader and the two elders were seated.


    "Let''s see, what the second disciple of the outer hall has to offer."


    Bao Fei said with a bleak look on his face.


    He was extremely dissatisfied by the fact that the top disciples of the outer hall would be sockluster in their drive to face challenges.


    "So what if one of them got their face bashed in like a mashed potato."


    Bao Fei smacked his foot to show his disappointment.


    "Who is the second one?"


    Xin Wang asked as this was the first time he was seeing this disciple.


    "He will fight. Look at his re. He is a different type of beast than the other disciples."


    Xin Wang continued before the two elders could even answer the Sect Leader''s question.


    "He will indeed be a challenge for Zhao Luo."


    The Second Eldermented while looking at the disciple who Zhao Luo had challenged.


    Before the Second Elder could mention anything more about this disciple, the second disciple jumped on the stage.


    "I ept your challenge."


    The disciple said to Zhao Luo as hended in front of him.


    The elder smiled.


    ''Finally, someone who is brave enough toe forward.''


    The elder thought and turned around as he started his announcement.


    [ The Second Qualified Disciple Zhao Luo vs The Second Rank Disciple, Tang Chan ]


    [ Start ]


    The elder didn''t give Zhao Luo and Tang Chan anytime to get to know each other or trade some toxic exchanges.


    Right after the battle announcement, he signaled the fight to start.


    "I will beat you."


    Tang Chan told Zhao Luo as he lowered his body and dashed at Zhao Luo.


    ''What?''


    Zhao Luo was a little shocked while looking at his movements before Tang Chan had dashed at him.


    ''Is that first walk?''


    Zhao Luo wondered but the ''first walk'' needed the control on internal energy to be used properly.


    While Zhao Luo''s mind questioned Tang Chan''s movements, Tang Chan had already reached him.


    Tang Chan sent a right fist at Zhao Luo while the speed of his fist was in no way slower than Zhao Luo''s regr fist.


    ''Whoosh.''


    Looking at a big fisting at him, Zhao Luo was shaken to the core.


    ''Why?''


    Zhao Luo also sent a fist to match Tang Chan''s fist with an unsettling thought.


    "Explosive Fist."


    Zhao Luo mumbled as his fist came in contact with Tang Chan''s fist and a big sound of explosion escaped as their fists collided.


    Both Zhao Luo and Tang Chan were pushed back by the pressure of their collision.


    ''That''s my explosive fist but why?''


    Zhao Luo wondered and opened his mouth.


    "Why can you use it?"


    "Why can you use it?"


    Zhao Luo and Tang Chan were staring at each other as the same question was let out by both of them at the same time.

 Chapter 209 - I Am Tang Zi

    "You don''t need to know."


    Tang Chan was the first to answer as he rushed at Zhao Luo once again.


    Not only was the ne of his fist technique, the same as Zhao Luo''s but his movement were simr too, that is, the movement technique Tang Chan was using was a simplified version of First Walk''s beginner stage.


    ''Wait, his name is tang too.''


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he remembered the moment when the elder had announced the disciple''s name.


    Zhao Luo looked at Tang Chan while blocking his attacks.


    ''Tang Chan, a level nine ? disciple, using the same fist technique as me.''


    "Are you somehow rted to old man Tang?"


    Zhao Luo questioned whilst he blocked Tang Chan''s rapid offense with his fists thatpletely countered every move of Tang Chan simr manner.


    Listening to Zhao Luo''s question, Tang Chan''s eyes widened but this change onlysted for a second.


    "Explosive Fists."


    From Zhao Luo''s left and right, Tang Chan''s fists came raining down on Zhao Luo.


    "Guess, I hit the mark."


    Zhao Luo smirked as he also pulled back both of his arms and tightened his fists beforeunching them like bullets at Tang Chan.


    "Boom."


    "Boom."


    Zhao Luo''s fists were like an arrow as they smashed into Tang Chan''s fist.


    Tang Chan jumped backward as his hands throbbed and his arms trembled.


    A force that was destroying his arm from the inside was thrashing his bones and his blood vessels.


    This caused Tang Chan''s arms to swell.


    Tang Chan pulled back his fists and then lowered his body, as heunched his fists towards the stage.


    Just before the fist came in contact with the stage''s floor, hepletely diminished his strength as there was already another force trapped inside his arm while damaging it.


    ''Bang!''


    Tang Chan''s fist touched the stage and a sting sound resounded out.


    "Was that the calming fist?"


    Zhao Luo questioned Tang Chan who was getting up.


    Tang Chan gave Zhao Luo a heavy look while his swollen arms were turning back to normal.


    "So used the calming fist to eradicate the explosive power of my bullet fist..."


    Zhao Luo was excited as this was the first time he was fighting someone like his clone that was in his dark space.


    "But what about the destruction of the calming force of the bullet fist that is still residing in your arms?"


    Zhao Luo questioned as Tang Chan''s arms started swelling again.


    "How did you master the bullet fist?"


    Only one question escaped Tang Chan''s mouth as he pulled back his fist and brought them forward to strike his left fist with his right one.


    ''Boom.''


    The sound of his knucklesing together sounded out like a big rumble again.


    "Interesting."


    Zhao Luo said as Tang Chan had nullified the Bullet''s fist power but it wasn''t like there was no damage done to his arms.


    Blood dripped from the fingertips of Tang Chan''s hands as he stared at Zhao Luo, while still waiting for the answer to his question.


    "I will ask again."


    "How did you master the bullet fist?"


    Tang Chan asked Zhao Luo in a cold voice.


    "I will show you how since I already know that you are rted to Senio Tang Zi."


    Zhao Luo said to Tang Chan as he lowered his body and pulled his fists back.


    "Huff."


    Zhao Luo sucked in the air around him till his lungs couldn''t take in anymore and then he started throwing his fist in the direction of Tang Chan.


    "Explosive Fist."


    ''Bom.''


    "Calming Fist."


    ''...''


    "Bullet Fist."


    "Boom."


    The space around Zhao Luo''s fists shook as he showed his perfection in Senior Tang Zi''s Bullet Fist Technique.


    "How?"


    Tang Chan fell to his knees as three gusts of wind struck him, one after another.


    "So this is where my technique ended up."


    Tang Chan blurted out while looking at Zhao Luo.


    He got up and walked towards Zhao Luo with slow steps.


    Zhao Luo noticed the calm look in Tang Chan''s eyes and didn''t guard against Tang Chan''s advance.


    The moment Zhao Luo watched Tang Chan get close to him, he was shocked by the expression on the face of this adversary.


    ''Why is he smiling?''


    Zhao Luo wondered as he looked at Tang Chan who was bringing his mouth close to Zhao Luo''s left ear.


    "Have you mastered the Fist of Yin and Yang too?"


    A cold voice entered Zhao Luo''s ear.


    ''I am sure of it now. He is indeed rted to Senior Tang Zi.''


    Zhao Luo didn''t know how or what Tang Chan''s rtion to Tang Zi was but it looked like the situation has changed.


    ''He won''t be an enemy.''


    Zhao Luo decided and answered Tang Chan''s question.


    "Yes, I have mastered the Bullet Fist of Yin and Yang."


    Zhao Luo replied with a confident voice as he closed his eyes.


    ''Tap.''


    Tang Chan patted Zhao Luo''s shoulder and opened his mouth.


    "Good boy. Then let me tell you something too."


    Tang Chan whispered in Zhao Luo''s ear again.


    ''Why is he talking like an old man?''


    Zhao Luo wondered as he was ready to listen to what this Tang Chan had to say.


    "I am..."


    Tang Chan mumbled slowly.


    "...Tang Zi."


    Zhao Luo''s eyes widened as he heard what Tang Chan had said and suddenly he pushed Tang Chan back.


    "You think you can fool me?"


    Zhao Luo questioned Tang Chan as he couldn''t believe what Tang Chan was spouting out.


    "It''s up to you if you want to believe it or not."


    Tang Chan said as he raised his hands and rushed at Zhao Luo.


    "Bullet Fist."


    Tang Chan shouted as he suddenly threw a fist at Zhao Luo''s chest but Zhao Luo was already prepared to counter any attack that Tang Chan would throw at him.


    "Bullet Fist."


    Zhao Luo matched Tang Chan''s fist with his own and both were pushed back.


    ''What?''


    Zhao Luo was rmed.


    ''Even though his fist is bleeding he matched my bullet fist perfectly.''


    "How can an old man look like a young man in his twenties?"


    Zhao Luo questioned Tang Chan as he started getting suspicious.

 Chapter 210 - Holding Back

    Zhao Luo noticed that there was a change in Tang Chan''s expression as he heard Zhao Luo''s question.


    ''What will your answer be?''


    Even though Zhao Luo''s suspicion grew but he didn''tpletely believe Tang Chan''s words.


    "Why would I tell you that?"


    Contrary to what Zhao Luo was thinking, Tang Chan, shook his head as he pointed his fist at Zhao Luo.


    "Figure it out on your own."


    "Ahhh."


    Tang Chan continued as he speedily made his way towards Zhao Luo.


    "So that''s how it''s going to be."


    Zhao Luo lowered his body while watching the advancement of Tang Chan towards him and got ready to counter Tang Chan''s offense.


    ''He wille for my chest again.''


    Even though the movement technique of Tang Chan was good but Zhao Luo''s eyes were more focused on Tang Chan''s shoulder.


    ''That''s the basic rule. If I can keep my eyes on his shoulder, I will know where his fists willnd.''


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he squinted his eyes while raising his ankle.


    It wasn''t a basic rule, it was just basic for Zhao Luo who had already used his fist more than millions of times.


    Thus he already knew the part of his body that could be said to be the starting motion of each and every one of his fist attacks.


    His Shoulder!


    Zhao Luo with his eyes on Tang Chan''s shoulder looked like a cheetah, who was ready to jump on his prey.


    The prey being, Tang Chan, who was iming to be Tang Zi himself.


    The moment Tang Chan closed in on Zhao Luo, that is, Zhao Luo, being in the range of his arm, Tang Chan threw a left fist at Zhao Luo.


    ''Whoosh.''


    Tang Chan''s bloody left fist wasing at Zhao Luo''s chest just like how he had predicted.


    Zhao Luo easily recognized the fist since it was a bullet fist which was in the line between the two nes, explosive and calming.


    ''Mini Walk''


    Zhao Luo vanished from his spot whilepletely dodging Tang Chan''s bullet fist and appearing on his left side.


    Tang Chan whose left arm waspletely in motion, had no way to bring it back so suddenly to protect himself from Zhao Luo who was standing on his left.


    Zhao Luo''s body was still lowered while his right hand was clutched into the shape of a fist as it advanced towards Tang Chan.


    Zhao Luo red at Tang Chan and threw his fist at his sides.


    ''Explosive fist.''


    The fistnded perfectly on Tang Chan.


    Or that is how Zhao Luo had thought.


    "Is that the best you can do?"


    Tang Chan muttered in a cold voice while his right hand was grabbing Zhao Luo''s right fist.


    Zhao Luo used his feet to push himself backward as he made some space between himself and Tang Chan.


    Zhao Luo looked at Tang Chan and slowly opened his mouth as though he felt reluctant to what he was going to say.


    "Yes, that''s the best I can do against someone who is fighting while holding back."


    Zhao Luo said to Tang Chan just to see a barely visible smile appear on his face.


    ''As I thought.''


    Zhao Luo wondered since Tang Chan had easily blocked his explosive fist which was followed by his mini walk.


    Mini Walk which was the ''meter version'' of his Half walk and it was almost impossible to follow Zhao Luo''s movement, at least for the outer disciples yet,


    ''He easily blocked it.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he looked at his right fist which was throbbing intensely.


    The technique used by Tang Chan was something that Zhao Luo had yet to see from anyone else so he was quite interested.


    Zhao Luo looked at Tang Chan with eyes that were shouting the piqued interest that Zhao Luo had towards Tang Chan''s technique.


    "I wanted to see your fist of yin and yang but it looks like you are saving it forter."


    Tang Chan replied to Zhao Luo thus also indirectly telling him on why he was holding back.


    "Well, I have already tested you enough."


    Tang Chan said to Zhao Luo while turning around towards the elder on the podium.


    "I would like to forfeit."


    Tang Chan said while showing his bloodied hands to the elder.


    His palms and the fingers were all red with his blood but the expression on Tang Chan''s face showed no hint of pain at all.


    The elder was confused yet he had to follow as the disciple Tang Chan had said.


    [ Zhao Luo wins the match as Tang Chan has forfeited the fight. ]


    The elder announced the result as Tang Chan could be seen leaving the stage.


    "We shall meet again."


    Tang Chan said to Zhao Luo without looking at him.


    "We will."


    Zhao Luo replied hurriedly as he really couldn''t wait for that to happen.


    As Tang Chan was still walking off the stage, the crowd was busy cheering for Zhao Luo, even though the fight was short, it made them very excited.


    The excitement of these spectating disciples was over the roof, even more, when Zhao Luo won the battle.


    It was because Zhao Luo''s first expression was just that deeply etched in their minds.


    Since his entry had been nothing less than that of a prince saving his princess in distress, continuing with the face bashing of a rude senior, to this.


    The crowd was focused on Zhao Luo while he was focused on Tang Chan.


    ''Hmmm.''


    "Who is he? Is he really Tang Zi or maybe some descendant of his?"


    Zhao Luo wondered while looking at Tang Chan''s back.


    Hister thought made more sense as the first one was very hard to believe.


    ''If he is Tang Zi, then did he eat some legendary shit or something to get younger? Or did he get reincarnated as Tang Chan?''


    Zhao Luo felt like his mind would explode as different ideas about Tang Chan''s origin kept on flowing inside his mind as if a dam had been opened.


    Obviously, Tang Zi was an old man in Zhao Luo''s mind since it took him 83 years just to master the bullet fist, and even if Tang Zi started at 10 years of age, "which was next to impossible", he would still be a 93-year-old man so that''s why Zhao Luo thought about the legendary shit.


    From shit, he meant some kind of flower, fruit, or pill, which could induce miraculous changes to the body like returning once youth back to the owner.


    Shaking his head, Zhao Luo stopped himself from thinking any more about Tang Chan''s origin.


    "I will find outter."


    Zhao Luo mumbled as his current objective was to take down someone.


    "Will you stop here? OR..."


    The elder asked while looking at Zhao Luo who already had a smirk on his face and his eyes were already fixated on someone else.

 Chapter 211 - Taking Out The Swords

    ''Thud!''


    The one who Zhao Luo was staring at jumped on the stage.


    "Getting hasty for your defeat?"


    Zhao Luo questioned with the smirk that he couldn''t get rid of, for some reason.


    Mo Suo was the one who had jumped on the stage as he was like thest boss of the outer hall.


    He had his sword in his left hand while his right hand was closed tightly and Zhao Luo could see it trembling.


    Mo Suo waved his golden sword at Zhao Luo as it was the obvious reaction that he could show to someone who he wanted to kill so badly that he didn''t notice that the nails of his fingers were ruining his palm.


    "Not hasty for my defeat but for your neck which will feel my sword soon."


    Mo Suo sounded out harshly as he opened his right hand and brought it on the hilt of his golden sword.


    Zhao Luo looked calm while listening to Mo Suo''s rubbish.


    Zhao Luo didn''t flinch instead he pointed his finger at his shoes.


    "Looks like you need another shoe mark on your cheeks since you got rid of the earlier one."


    Zhao Luo taunted Mo Suo in a loud voice.


    Both of them looked ready to start but they still waited for the elder to give the signal since only after the signal will their real fight start.


    The elder didn''t let them wait anymore and raised his hand after which he brought it down with an intense speed.


    [ Start ]


    The elder said in a heavy voice without even introducing the two since both were already very well known to everyone in the colosseum.


    There was no one who didn''t know the prince of the Royal Mo Family while Zhao Luo had already shown his strength throughout the Open Battle and the Unlimited Combat.


    The battle had started as the elder''s hand stopped in mid-air right in front of his chest.


    Mo Suo slowly backed away from Zhao Luo and then stopped at a particr spot.


    Looking at the passive Mo Suo, Zhao Luo was a bit intrigued but didn''t give it much thought except,


    ''He must be scared.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he hurriedly acted on the movements of the ''Half Walk'' as he closed his hand into a fist and pulled his arm back.


    "It''s time to show you the reality."


    Zhao Luo muttered in a very low voice and then pushed his toes backward with an amazing force thus propelling himself towards Mo Suo while disappearing from his current position.


    In Zhao Luo''s mind, he was supposed to appear in front of Mo Suo with an explosive fist in Mo Suo''s stomach but as Zhao Luo appeared and threw his fist at Mo Suo, he was shocked.


    Mo Suo was still standing in his ce and Zhao Luo''s fist had stopped just an inch away from him.


    "So your limit is indeed 8 meters."


    Mo Suo told Zhao Luo through the golden hair that was covering his cold and murderous eyes.


    Then he brought down his golden sword at Zhao Luo.


    ''Whoosh.''


    Zhao Luo tightened his left fist while looking at the sword descending towards him and the coldness being projected towards him through Mo Suo''s eyes.


    ''So what if you can counter my half walk?''


    "You think you can kill me with just that?"


    Zhao Luo shouted while throwing his left fist at the golden sword that was in Mo Suo''s hand.


    Even though it was an uppercut and not a straight fist, it didn''t matter since Zhao Luo''s fist technique was already at perfection.


    "Bullet Fist."


    Zhao Luo shouted as his fist was in the merging line between the two nes of explosiveness and calmness.


    ''sh.''


    "Boom."


    Mo Suo''s sword and Zhao Luo''s fist came in contact and after a short sound of sword shing, a sting noise escaped from the collision.


    VROOOM!


    Mo Suo backed away from Zhao Luo in a squeaky manner.


    He swung his sword towards the right.


    ''Drip, Drip...''


    A streak of blood drops was simply washed away from the golden sword and dropped on the stage.


    On the other side, Zhao Luo still stood calmly with furrowed brows.


    ''Even though I have mastered it, my strength is still less than his.''


    Zhao Luo realized as he looked at his fist and found a big sword sh that went from the middle of his knuckle toward the end of his middle finger.


    The size of the sh was big but the deepness wasn''t something that Zhao Luo would be worried about.


    "Only if that was his full strength."


    Zhao Luo wondered if Mo Suo''s sword attack was a little stronger than his fist would have been sliced in half but if it was just that, then it would be a matter of their resilience and who can resist for long.


    "But what if?"


    Zhao Luo was confused for a moment.


    Mo Suo was also looking at Zhao Luo after moving a little more than eight meters away from him.


    ''Did he lose his mind after my earlier attack?''


    Mo Suo thought but he waited patiently since the counter he had prepared was already enough to take down Zhao Luo.


    ''There is no need to show my hands yet.''


    Mu Suo could barely hold hisughter inside while on the other side,


    ''I have be so used to hitting with my fists that I almost forgot about them, but this could be a nice chance for me to train my swordsmanship.''


    Zhao Luo thought in his mind as he proceeded to take out his swords from his storage space.


    In his right hand was the crimson sword which was emitting extreme heat while in his left hand was a deep dark ck sword that was emitting an unexinable coldness.


    "Ifrit!"


    "ckey!"


    Zhao Luo said out their names and the sword trembled in his hands.


    Zhao Luo felt the excitement of his swords just like how he was excited.


    Holding his two amazing swords, Zhao Luo couldn''t wait to sh with Mo Suo with his swordsmanship which was also on par with a Second Sword Warrior puppet.


    Zhao Luo didn''t rush at Mo Suo but instead raised Ifrit, which was held in his right hand, and pointed it towards Mo Suo as he opened his mouth.


    "Come."

 Chapter 212 - Time To Surrender Is Already Up

    "Hah."


    Mo Suo grunted and closed the distance between him and Zhao Luo in three breaths.


    He pulled back his golden sword and swung it towards Zhao Luo while bringing both of his from his right side.


    Zhao Luo looked at the big golden swording at him and raised ckey towards his left side to block Mo Suo''s sword swing.


    ''ng.''


    The two swords collided in mid-motion.


    "Wood Drop."


    Zhao Luo pulled ckey back but instantly brought it towards the golden sword again.


    ''ng.''


    Zhao Luo hurriedly raised his right wrist while using Ifrit which was in his right hand.


    Zhao Luo brought down Ifrit towards Mo Suo''s head who pulled his golden sword away from Zhao Luo''s left side and ckey while trying to defend Zhao Luo''s attack.


    Zhao Luo lowered his knee while pushing his other leg, which in turn increased the speed of Ifrit thus raising the power behind Zhao Luo''s sword.


    ''Swoosh.''


    "Burst sh."


    ''ng.''


    Ifrit fell on Mo Suo''s golden sword, causing Mo Suo''s hand to start trembling under the pressure of Zhao Luo''s swords burst sh.


    Zhao Luo raised both of his swords backward while Mo Suo was pushed back by a step.


    Zhao Luo''s body was falling towards Mo Suo, while his knees were bent thus lowering his height as he swung both Ifrit and ckey towards Mo Suo at the same time.


    "Dual Burst Drop."


    Zhao Luo shouted explosively just like his sword attack which was close to falling on Mo Suo who was retaliated by bringing the thick side of his sword in the way of Zhao Luo''s swords.


    ''Ting~''


    Mo Suo barely stopped Zhao Luo''s attack with his sword but right then Zhao Luo pulled back his swords one after another just to drop them on Mo Suo''s golden sword right after that.


    ''ng.''


    ''ng.''


    After Zhao Luo dropped Ifrit and ckey, one after another on the golden sword, Mo Suo who was on the other end couldn''t withhold the pressure of Zhao Luo''s attack anymore.


    "Boom."


    He fell to the ground on his knees causing a loud st while his legs and knees were an inch deep in the stage.


    Even though he had fallen his hands still held the golden sword tightly while blocking both of Zhao Luo''s swords.


    "Hmph."


    Zhao Luo instantly raised his swords again and brought them down on Mo Suo''s sword.


    "Burst sh."


    Zhao Luo''s sword struck the broad end of the sword again.


    "Boom."


    It was a one-sided beating as Mo Suo wasn''t even allowed to get up.


    "ng~"


    Zhao Luo kept on going and looked like a devil whose right half was covered with crimson light and the left half was covered with darkness.


    That''s just how fast Zhao Luo was swinging his swords at Mo Suo.


    Slowly in a matter of a minute, Mo Suo''s golden sword was lowered as his arms gave out.


    His palms were bleeding as he had used his whole strength just to keep his golden sword in the path between his head and Zhao Luo''s sword ck and crimson sword.


    ''Will I fall here?''


    Mo Suo wondered as he looked at the blood that was spilling out of his hand while the hilt of his sword was dyed red.


    Each time Zhao Luo''s swords would fall, some of the blood from his palm would be sshed on his face.


    This woke something inside him.


    "Fear."


    "Is this fear?"


    Mo Suo mumbled as he looked at Zhao Luo who looked like a madman with ferocious eyes.


    "He will kill me."


    Mo Suo was scared as he looked at Zhao Luo''s eyes which showed a deep hatred towards Mo Suo.


    While Zhao Luo himself was just annoyed.


    ''What is this? I feel like I am beating the drums of Bellum again.''


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he tightened his grip around the hilts of his swords and brought them down furiously on the golden sword.


    "ng, ng."


    Once again, a crimson and a ck light were left behind as afterimages while Zhao Luo struck Mo Suo''s sword with Ifrit and ckey.


    "Boom."


    Mo Suo was being etched into the giant stage, slowly yet surely, as the result of each collision.


    The crowd was struck silent as the battle continued.


    The moment Zhao Luo took out his swords, everything had changed.


    The battle had turned into a solo show of Mo Suo getting squashed by the pressure of Zhao Luo''s swords.


    The trembling hands of Mo Suo loosened.


    That was also the moment when his golden sword fell from his hand,


    "Bang!"


    A short sound escaped as the dust was raised when the golden sword dropped on the stage.


    "Admit defeat..."


    "Or..."


    "DIE!"


    Zhao Luo coldly said through his breath as he looked at the golden-haired Mo Suo.


    Mo Suo was on his knees with his sword lying in front of him.


    He could see his reflection.


    ''What a wretched sight.''


    Mo Suo thought as he looked at his own eyes in the reflection.


    The eyes of a sore loser like the ones, a dead fish leaves behind.


    Zhao Luo realized that Mo Suo was reaching something.


    ''Is he acknowledging his defeat?''


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he raised ckey slowly while Mo Suo was lost in his thoughts.


    Mo Suo looked at his bloody hands and finally realized how badly he had lost against a peer.


    Someone who was a level lower than him.


    While he was going over his utter defeat at the hands of Zhao Luo, a screeching sound entered his ear.


    ''Swoosh.''


    He looked up and found Zhao Luo''s ck swording diagonally at him towards his neck.


    "I giv-"


    Mo Suo tried to give up but the darkness of the approaching ckey enveloped him, increasing his fear to an unmeasurable level.


    Mo Suo closed his eyes and waited for Zhao Luo''s sword.


    Zhao Luo didn''t care if Mo Suo wanted to give up or not as the time to surrender was already up.


    ''Even I can''t stop my sword now.''


    Zhao Luo thought as his sword flowed like a resisting wave of a river while the de of his sword, ckey almost reached Mo Suo''s neck right in front of everyone''s eyes.

 Chapter 213 - Who Is He?

    "Tang~"


    Zhao Luo''s eyes widened as his sword was stopped by an invisible force.


    "What?"


    Zhao Luo shouted but his knees were forced to bend under the mysterious pressure that had suddenly appeared on him.


    "It''s like this pressure is shouting, ''bend your knees''."


    Zhao Luo''s knees bent but he pushed himself back instead of falling.


    ''Skwish.''


    Zhao Luo stepped back while wobbling and skewered the stage with his swords.


    His hands stayed on the t end of the hilt as Zhao Luo used the t end like his support.


    ''Tap.''


    The Senior Elder jumped down towards Zhao Luo and tapped his shoulder.


    ''The pressure disappeared.''


    The moment Zhao Luo felt the elder''s hand on his shoulder, the pressure on him had disappeared.


    Zhao Luo turned around and looked at Mo Rong.


    ''This bastard.''


    Zhao Luo cursed at Mo Rong as his hands were in Zhao Luo''s direction but as Zhao Luo focused on Mo Rong''s face, he realized that Mo Rong''s eyes were directed towards the Sect Leader.


    The three were staring at Mo Rong while Mo Rong looked at them with the same re that he wanted to direct towards Zhao Luo.


    "MO RONG."


    Elder Dousan made a noise louder than what his old body could let out.


    His shout quickly gained the attention ofeveryone in the colosseum and they all shared nces between the Second Elder and the Leader of The Mo Family.


    Most of the disciples in the spectator''s seat could only see Zhao Luo suddenly falling right before his sword could behead Mo Suo.


    While some of the inner disciples knew what could have happened.


    "Some master from the Mo Family must have interrupted."


    The inner disciples shared this thought.


    This kind of spection was only made by the disciples.


    Great Elders and Elders of the family knew that Mo Rong had personally made an interruption.


    They knew why the Second Elder had shouted at Mo Rong.


    "It''s going to be bad for Mo Rong."


    Feng Xiaoya told Feng Ma as he looked at the angered Dousan.


    "Even I can''t handle him once he loses his temper. That''s just how powerful the ''Master of Riddles'' is."


    Feng Ma heard his grandfather talking about the Second Elder.


    ''But what does his title has to do with his strength?''


    Feng Ma was confused by her grandfather''s words and her confusion was easily visible on her face but she didn''t interrupt.


    "I know what you are thinking."


    Feng Xiaoya said while looking at his granddaughter.


    "His power works in a very mysterious way, just like his riddles."


    Feng Xiaoya told Feng Ma and then they both turned their gazes at the Second Elder.


    "You are shouting at me? My son was the one who was going to die."


    Mo Rong shouted back at the Second Elder but that wasn''t the end.


    "You want me to just watch my son''s head being sliced off by a nobody?"


    "My son will be the future leader of the Mo Family, the one who will seed me and you still think that I shouldn''t have stopped that little rat?"


    Mo Rong continued throwing questions at the Second Elder but his sight was directed towards Xin Wang.


    Mo Rong showed the value of Mo Suo without holding anything back while not forgetting to demonstrate Zhao Luo, his ss.


    "He is a nobody."


    Mo Rong continued throwing mud shots at Zhao Luo.


    While listening to Mo Rong''s crazy shouting, Zhao Luo rubbed his left ear and looked at the Sect Leader who had a smile hanging on his face.


    ''Is he enjoying the ridicule being thrown at me?''


    Zhao Luo wondered while waiting for Elder Dousan''s reply.


    "Now ANSWER ME.''


    A pressure descended on everyone present in the colosseum.


    Mo Rong was standing next to his seat as he looked at Xin Wang.


    ''Why is he silent?''


    Mo Rong wondered but that is when he heard an old voice.


    "Who told you that Zhao Luo was going to kill Mo Suo?"


    Elder Dousan questioned Mo Rong with a smirk on his face


    "What?"


    Mo Rong didn''t know how to answer the old man''s question as he wasn''t expecting such an outrageous question from the second elder.


    Since it was an ongoing act so who could anyone know the result when Zhao Luo was stopped midway.


    "Did his sword even touch your son''s neck?"


    Elder Dousan continued as it was now his time to question Mo Rong who was lost for words.


    A pressure released from the Second Elder, Elder Dousan, and ate away Mo Rong''s pressure.


    If before, everyone had it hard to breathe because of the suffocating pressure from Mo Rong then now the pressure from the Elder was a soft one.


    Everyone felt as if they had been bombarded with thick fluffy clouds and the pressure of Mo Rong had been squeezed into them.


    ''Thud!''


    Mo Rong stepped back and fell on his seat while staring at Elder Dousan.


    "As for him being a nobody...."


    "Hahahahahaha."


    Second Elderughed as he looked at Mo Rong like he was a fool who didn''t know the difference between left and right.


    "He is not only the friend of Master of Riddles, me, but also a sessor candidate of the Xin Sect."


    A gust blew, starting from Elder Dousan and hitting against Mo Rong along with the words of the Second Elder.


    ''...''


    Mo Rong was shocked and lost for words.


    ''Who is he?''


    Mo Rong shouted in his mind.


    ''How could someone who was recently unknown be a sessor candidate while also being held in such a high regard by the Second Elder?''


    Mo Rong was deeply troubled as he listened to Elder Dousan''s words.


    "Are you shocked?"


    Elder Dousan asked Mo Rong.


    "Tell them if what I have said is true or not."


    Elder Dousan addressed Zhao Luo while looking at him.


    Everyone turned their gaze towards Zhao Luo while he was staring at the second elder.


    ''Wink.''


    The Second Elder winked at Zhao Luo and waved at him.


    Zhao Luo turned to look at everyone and then took out something from his storage space.


    Zhao Luo raised his hand towards the skies as he held a badge in his hand.


    "It is the Truth."


    Zhao Luo said while the golden badge with the jade dragon rested on his palm.

 Chapter 214 - The Seal Of Acknowledgement

    The pentagon-shaped badge shone brightly under everyone''s gaze and the jade dragon carved on it, looked like it wasing to life.


    "He is a real sessor candidate."


    A disciple shouted crazily as his spit flew everywhere.


    This was what the other disciples were going through too since from the Elder''s words, it looked like a baffle without proof.


    "But he indeed has that majestic badge."


    Another disciple shouted.


    "Doesn''t that mean, Brother Zhao Luo can be the sect leader?"


    The disciple started murmuring as the discussions between them intensified.


    Nobody was left behind as Zhao Luo being a candidate for the Sect Leader''s sessors position was a very big thing for these disciples.


    They had to leave an impression on Zhao Luo just in case he really ended up taking the Sect Leader''s position after taking down the other candidates.


    ''Sect leader''s position is a big thing!''


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he looked at the intense reaction from the thousands of disciples in the colosseum.


    The disciple started looking at Zhao Luo with respect in their eyes.


    Just then a few voices were heard.


    "He is the Future Sect Leader."


    Senior Cutie screamed as he pointed at Zhao Luo and people reacted to his shout which served as a stimulus.


    A stimulus that fastened the birth of Zhao Luo''s new identity.


    "Future Sect Leader Zhao Luo!"


    "Future Sect Leader Zhao Luo!"


    Feng Ma and Si Chen shouted but that was just the start.


    "Brother Zhao Luo, the future Leader!"


    Big Bean''s voice sounded out loudly.


    ''Even the giant brother is speaking up for me...sniff''


    Zhao Luo felt like crying.


    He wanted nothing more than to lower his arm right now.


    ''I want to lower my arm but looks like I can''t for now.''


    Zhao Luo looked at the Second Elder who waved his palm at Zhao Luo, gesturing him to stay like this for a little longer.


    ''Guess I will be the statue of liberty for the Xin Sect.''


    Zhao Luo closed his eyes and remembered the statue he had seen in New York.


    ''Ah, Good times.''


    Like the average travelers who would reminiscent about the things they had seen in their travels, Zhao Luo was doing the same thing whileparing his position to the statue of liberty.


    While his eyes were closed, after the noises from Zhao Luo''s brothers, the others also shouted the same thing.


    It was like a chant of Zhao Luo bing the next Sect Leader was stuck on their tongues.


    "Zhao Luo, Our Leader."


    "Zhao Luo, Our Leader."


    Since Zhao Luo had obviously won the battle against Mo Suo who was the king of the outer hall, the spectators saw Zhao Luo as someone unstoppable.


    They started calling him the future sect leader.


    An image of the jade dragon''s shadow slowly rose from the carvings on the golden badge.


    "It''s waking up."


    The Sect Leader who was looking at the situation with a smile slowly mumbled.


    Bao Fei looked at the badge with widened eyes.


    With an excited face, he started speaking.


    "The pentagon badge has five seals, one of them being the Seal of Acknowledgement."


    "When the existence of a candidate is recognized by his ''peers'', only then the seal of acknowledgment will be broken thus showing the disciples advance."


    As the third elder stopped talking, a red light appeared on one end of the badge in Zhao Luo''s hand and the shadow of the dragon flew away from the badge while rising towards the sky in front of everyone''s eyes.


    "ROAR~"


    A deep and prolonged cry of the jade dragon sounded out and everyone was stupified.


    ''What?''


    Zhao Luo slowly opened his eyes and lowered his arm as he found a red light blinking on one of the five ends of the badge.


    Zhao Luo had sadly missed the take-off of the jade dragon while being lost in his memories from one of his travels.


    Zhao Luo looked at the Second Elder and found him moving his mouth.


    { CONTINUE }


    ''Nod.''


    The Second Elder said silently and Zhao Luo nodded.


    Zhao Luo stored his badge then proceeded to grab the hilts of ckey and Ifrit.


    ''Swoosh.''


    Zhao Luo pulled his swords out of the stage.


    ''Whoosh.''


    Putting his swords back in his storage space after swinging them once, Zhao Luo continued talking.


    "If I wanted to kill Mo Suo, only a single attack would have been enough."


    Zhao Luo turned his head towards Mo Anna.


    "I only went lenient on him because of someone else."


    Zhao Luo mixed the truths with lies and announced his actions to everyone.


    ''Since the elder is covering for me, I should wrap this up nicely.''


    Zhao Luo thought and continued.


    "It was extremely disappointing for the Mo Family Leader to interrupt in our battle..."


    Zhao Luo red at Mo Rong but the expression on his face was telling another story.


    ''Thank you for interfering.''


    Zhao Luo thought as a grin appeared on his face.


    He continued addressing Mo Rong.


    "But, I can understand that Mo Suo is a daddy''s boy so you had to interfere while being worried for his neck."


    Zhao Luo raised his hand while shaking his head.


    ''Daddy''s boy.''


    "Pfft."


    A prince was being called a daddy''s boy right in front of thousands of people.


    "Blurgh."


    Mo Suo vomited out another mouthful of blood while listening to Zhao Luo''s voice.


    "Since my friend has already spoken, I will not pursue it anymore either."


    Elder Dousan interrupted before Zhao Luo could continue to mess with the Mo family.


    "Th-thank you."


    Mo Rong got up and sped his hands at the Sect Leader.


    Xin Wang only gave him a condescending look in return.


    "Tsk, these bastards."


    Mo Rong felt wronged but this was not his turf and especially it was not the time to mess with someone like Zhao Luo.


    ''I need to find about his background.''


    ''He couldn''t have popped up out of anywhere.''


    Mo Rong thought as he nced at Zhao Luo.


    Then he looked at the elders behind him.


    "Take him back."


    Mo Rong ordered them and the elders quickly jumped on the stage.

 Chapter 215 - Last Fight Of The Tournament

    The elders of the Mo Family looked at Zhao Luo with hatred.


    "Hurry Up."


    Mo Rong''s voice rang out again as he couldn''t bear to stay here anymore.


    "He is useless, everyone''s useless."


    Mo Rong mumbled as he had never been so embarrassed because of his family before.


    ''If only that kid wasn''t here, if only Mo Suo had been stronger than him...what will I tell my father?''


    Mo Rong was worried as he looked at the smiling Zhao Luo who was waving his hand at the elders from the Mo Family.


    The Mo family elders cried out silently and two of them grabbed Mo Suo from the right and left as they had jumped on the stage to take Mo Suo back.


    "Sect Leader, the Mo Family will return now."


    Mo Rong told Xin Wang coldly and brushed off his robe as he turned around.


    Without leaving another word or waiting for any reply, Mo Rong left the colosseum with the other members of the Mo Family.


    "Bye~"


    Zhao Luo said loudly as he gave ast look to Mo Suo.


    After which he turned around to look at Mo Anna, who was still standing around the stage while waiting for Zhao Luo''s fight to end.


    [ Cough ]


    The senior elder on the podium cleared his throat so loud that everyone''s attention was pulled towards him.


    [ Since Zhao Luo has won, he has advanced to the First Rank! ]


    The elder finally dered the announcement which had been on hold, for long enough already because of Mo Rong''s interim.


    "Zhao Luo, since you don''t need any urgent treatment, join them."


    The elder told Zhao Luo as he pointed him towards the location of the top hundred outer disciples.


    "Yes."


    Zhao Luo jumped off the stage and reached the other top disciples.


    The faces of the ones who had given up against Zhao Luo were twisted with fear and pressure that they were feeling with every step that Zhao Luo took towards them.


    "Chill. I already got what I wanted."


    Zhao Luo said to them while showing them a calm smile.


    "And let the other disciplese up too."


    Zhao Luo told them while raising his neck and looking at Feng Ma, Si Chen, Pi Hao, and Big Bean.


    The one he was not looking for was already there.


    "Little Brotherrr~"


    Zhao Luk heard a creepy voice as someone whispered right into his ear.


    "Gah."


    Zhao Luo trembled and turned around just to find a bald man with an evil smile standing behind him.


    "Senior Cutie."


    Zhao Luo looked at his bald senior and even though there were many moments when Senior Cutie tried to make his life hard, he did what he had set out to.


    "I beat all of them."


    Zhao Luo said with heartyughter.


    "Thank you, little brother. I must give you a big rewardter on."


    Senior Cutie said to Zhao Luo while rubbing his bald head with his right palm.


    "No. I don''t need any reward."


    Zhao Luo declined the reward on the spot.


    ''He will definitely bring out something crazy.''


    Zhao Luo thought about the reward and fell creeped out.


    Zhao Luo looked around as he remembered that he had to do something else too.


    "Tang Chan."


    Zhao Luo mumbled and moved past Senior Cutie as he searched for Tang Chan.


    "Do you know where Tang Chan is?"


    Zhao Luo asked Senior Cutie.


    "Hmm, he left after giving up against you."


    Senior Cutie told Zhao Luo while remembering Tang Chan going towards the exit of the colosseum whileughing mysteriously.


    "I see."


    ''Where could he have gone to?''


    Zhao Luo wondered as he remembered Tang Chan''s words.


    Right then, the elder made another announcement.


    [ The first qualified disciple will be going on the stage now ]


    The elder announced and Zhao Luo looked at Xiao Yu who had suddenly appeared on the stage with lightning speed.


    Zhao Luo looked at the elder who was asking Xiao Yu something.


    "He must be asking him about the disciple he wants to challenge."


    Zhao Luo mumbled while nodding his head.


    "It''s definitely going to be me."


    Zhao Luo brought his arms in front of his cheat as he realized the situation.


    [ Xiao Yu, the first qualified disciple vs Zhao Luo, the new first ranked disciple ]


    The Senior Elder announced after which he shifted his gaze towards Zhao Luo.


    "Oh shit, here we go again."


    Zhao Luo said with a dried face and walked towards the stage.


    ''I want to rest.''


    Zhao Luo cried out in his mind and got on the stage.


    "Let''s decide once and for all."


    Xiao Yu told Zhao Luo excitedly.


    "I have never been this excited before. You are a worthy challenger."


    He continued while grabbing his left side of the chest.


    "A fire has been ignited in my chest, and it will only settle with your defeat."


    Xiao Yu told Zhao Luo with a strict face and a deep smile.


    "Hahaha, good I wanted to end this too."


    Zhao Luoughed with calm eyes as he couldn''t deny the excitement that he was feeling too.


    "But..."


    Suddenly the look in Zhao Luo''s eyes changed as he forced Xiao Yu to take a step back with just a look.


    "You are the challenger, not me."


    "As for being a worthy challenger, I will decide that."


    Zhao Luo slowly told Xiao Yu with the hardened look that he was giving him.


    Xiao Yu took a step forward.


    "Hmph."


    Xiao Yu grunted as he raised both of his palms from the two ends and brought them together while making a perfect circle through the movement of his left and right palm.


    ''p.''


    His palm touched each other and a sound escaped them.


    "Are you done? Cause I want to see more."


    Zhao Luo who was closely watching Xiao Yu''s movements was intrigued even though it wasn''t his first time seeing Xiao Yu doing this.


    "Then you will have toe at me."


    Xiao Yu replied coldly as his palms faced Zhao Luo.


    Looking at the two excited disciples on the stage, the elder on the podium raised his arm and brought his hand down in a swift motion.


    [ START ]


    With Elder''s announcement, thest fight of the tournament, between Zhao Luo and Xiao Yu, started.

 Chapter 216 - Break My Wall

    Xiao Yu had closed his palms once again while spreading his legs wide to get a better foothold on the stage.


    ''It seems he is ready.''


    Zhao Luo mumbled while lowering his body.


    "I should surprise you."


    Zhao Luo told Xiao Yu as he raised his ankle and pushed his toes backward.


    "Mini Walk."


    ''Woosh.''


    Zhao Luo shed from his space and appeared between his earlier position and Xiao Yu.


    "Mini Walk."


    Zhao Luo used his own shorter version of Half Walk and appeared behind Xiao Yu.


    "Behind you."


    Zhao Luo said coldly as he threw a lightning-fast punch towards Xiao Yu''s back.


    Xiao Yu wasn''t surprised at all instead he moved his legs on the stage as though he was sliding on it.


    "I already know."


    Xiao Yu''s slowly said and broke away his left palm from his right hand.


    "Bullet Fist."


    Zhao Luo shouted as his punch was extremely close to hitting Xiao Yu''s sides as he was turning around.


    But then a palm came at his fist with an amazing speed.


    "Eight Palm Stance, Eighth Palm: Wall."


    Xiao Yu mumbled as his palm and Zhao Luo''s fist struck each other.


    "Boom."


    Both Zhao Luo and Xiao Yu were pushed back by three steps.


    Neither of them waited for the other as Zhao Luo took a step forwards and released a barrage of fists at Xiao Yu who had been facing both of his palms at Zhao Luo.


    ''It''s like my fists arending on some unbreakable wall.''


    Zhao Luo looked annoyed as each of his fists was perfectly blocked by Xiao Yu, whose palms would appear in the way of Zhao Luo''s fists every time.


    ''This isn''t working.''


    Zhao Luo tried to back off as his n of going all out was not working.


    While Zhao Luo tried to move back, Xiao Yu closed in thus not giving him any space to breathe.


    "Third palm: Life."


    Xiao Yu aimed the edge of his right palm towards the left side of Zhao Luo''s neck.


    Even though Zhao Luo was backing off, his arms were already in motion and his eyes were focused on Xiao Yu''s movement.


    Before Xiao Yu''s palm could reach his neck, Zhao Luo reversed his movement.


    Instead of going backward, he pushed himself towards Xiao Yu while raising his left arm to block Xiao Yu''s palm.


    "Thud!"


    Xiao Yu''s palmnded on Zhao Luo''s arm while Zhao Luo threw his right fist at Xiao Yu.


    "Bullet Fist."


    Xiao Yu reactedte by just the tenth of a second and his left palm could only slow down Zhao Luo''s fist but not block it.


    "Eat my fist."


    "BOOM!"


    Zhao Luo shouted as his fistnded squarely on Xiao Yu''s stomach.


    In front of everyone''s eyes, Xiao Yu eas raised two feet above the stage with just the force of Zhao Luo''s bullet fist.


    ''Thud.''


    Hended back on the stage on his knees and Zhao Luo had also backed off since his right arm felt numb after blocking the life palm.


    "Agh."


    Xiao Yu got up and looked down as a streak of blood leaked from his mouth.


    His robe had been ripped around his stomach and his back.


    "I-it''s not over."


    Xiao Yu slowly said to Zhao Luo as beads of sweat fell from his forehead and his blood dripped from his mouth.


    ''I fell for his movements.''


    Xiao Yu thought as he had left his positions to attack Zhao Luo thus leaving himself open for a surprise attack.


    "Hmm."


    Zhao Luo lowered his body as he realized the decisive look on Xiao Yu''s face.


    He rushed at Xiao Yu with his arms pulled back and his hands tightened into a fist.


    Zhao Luo was ready tounch his fists at Xiao Yu.


    Xiao Yu calmly waited for Zhao Luo to reach him but even though he looked calm, painful energy from Zhao Luo''s earlier attack was rampaging through his body.


    Zhao Luo released his fists at Xiao Yu with an explosive speed.


    ''Bang!''


    ''Bang, Bang!''


    Bullet Fist after bullet fist was blocked by Xiao Yu but with each fist, the pressure on him continued to umte.


    "Bullet Fist."


    "Wall."


    Zhao Luo used his left fist to attack while Xiao Yu brought his right palm to defend.


    The battle continued for more than ten minutes.


    "Your movements have slowed down."


    Zhao Luo said to Xiao Yu as he frowned at him.


    "Same for you. If you keep on using your right arm, you will destroy it."


    Xiao Yu replied while pointing at Zhao Luo''s right arm.


    ''It''s as he said.''


    Zhao Luo knew that Xiao Yu wasn''t bluffing.


    ''It was numb before but now I can feel the pieces of my bones stabbing my skin while trying to appear out of my arm.''


    "I can easilyst longer than you, so admit defeat."


    Zhao Luo told Xiao Yu as their fight had stopped momentarily.


    For Zhao Luo, his win was just a few moments away but from the look on Xiao Yu''s face, even if Zhao Luo won he wouldn''t be satisfied.


    "I will admit defeat..."


    Xiao Yu muttered out coldly.


    ''Ah, I can finally rest.''


    Zhao Luo smiled as his time to rest wasn''t far off now.


    Just then Xiao Yu continued.


    "That is if you can break my wall."


    The condition was presented to Zhao Lup whose head was drooping as he felt betrayed after rejoicing his win.


    "If you want to die, I will break your wall."


    Zhao Luo said to Xiao Yu as he red at him.


    "Thene and kill me, if you can."


    Xiao Yu brought his palms in front of Zhao Luo as he waited for Zhao Luo''s offense.


    ''I will use it.''


    Zhao Luo stepped towards Xiao Yu who patiently waited for his move.


    ''I can only defend a few more times.''


    Xiao Yu thought while feeling extremely nervous for the first time in his life.


    ''This is a first for me.''


    While controlling his nervousness, Xiao Yu didn''t know if he should feel happy or be worried.


    Looking at the nervous expression on Xiao Yu''s face, Zhao Luo halted for a moment.


    ''No!''


    ''I need to end this.''


    Zhao Luo pulled back both of his fists at the same time.


    With his arms resting right next to his sides waiting to beunched back at his enemy, Zhao Luo slowly opened his mouth.


    "Fist..."


    Zhao Luo clenched his fists with his whole strength.


    ''Ack.''


    A surging pain erupted from Zhao Luo''s right arm but he couldn''t back down now.


    "Of..."


    Zhao Luo fist moved towards Xiao Yu.


    "Yin and Yang."


    Both fists closed in on Xiao Yu who brought his palms to stop Zhao Luo''s fists.


    The moment Zhao Luo''s arms werepletely opened over his arm span, Xiao Yu''s palms touched his fists.


    With widened eyes, a small yet hallow ck and white sigil entered his sight which was enveloping his palms, after initiating from Zhao Luo''s fists.


    The moment the yin and yang sigil covered his palms, the energy of the fist of yin and yang exploded.


    The mysterious powers of the explosive fist and the calming fist swarmed Xiao Yu''s body and he was blown away by the resulting force of Zhao Luo''s technique.


    "BOOOM."


    ''Whoosh.''


    "Bang!"


    Xiao Yu flew straight towards the spectator''s seat as he crashed into the space of the colosseum.


    [ Z-Zhao...]


    [ Zhao Luo wins the fight, thus defending his rank, SUCCESSFULLY ]


    The elder who was shocked by Zhao Luo''s strength hurriedly announced.


    Listening to the announcement and looking back at Xiao Yu thrown away from the stage like an ant, the spectators could barely wait to wake up from their shock, and the moment they did,


    "Woah~"


    "What was that in the end?"


    "What amazing strength."


    "That''s our future Leader!"


    "Extraordinary."


    Everyone started pping while shouting out different types of praises as they were awed by Zhao Luo''s prowess.


    The disciples started chanting Zhao Luo''s name while praising him.


    "Zhao Luo~"


    "Zhao Luo~"


    Zhao Luo looked around with an exhausted face and a smile which showed how satisfied he was.


    "Zhao Luo, MARRY ME~"


    Female disciples could barely hold themselves back from rushing towards Zhao Luo but then a single loud noise silenced them all.


    "Zhao Luo, I love you."


    A confession in a manly voice caught everyone''s attention and all the female disciples directed their gaze towards the owner of that voice with hatred.


    "Haha, Senior Cutie. That damn baldy."


    Zhao Luoughed while ring at his bald senior.


    [ The tournament has ended and the final rankings will be updated ording to the current ranks ]


    [ Everyone is free to leave ]


    The elder announced as this was thest announcement of the tournament.


    Since it was just a tournament between the outer disciples, there weren''t any particr rewards except the fame and the respect that one received with his rank.


    "Finally."


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he looked around.


    His first gaze went towards the curtain through which he had entered the stage area.


    The tournament which ended in less than a few hours felt like an eternity to him.


    Zhao Luo couldn''t help but grin while looking at Mo Anna, Feng Ma, Si Chen, Pi Hao, Big Bean, and Senior Cutie who had jumped on the stage and were making their way towards him.


    "Zhao Luo."


    They all said.

 Chapter 217 - First Meeting With Feng Xiaoya

    "You guys..."


    Zhao Luo smiled as his brothers rushed at him.


    Si Chen and Feng Ma were jumping towards him as they sandwiched him whileing from opposite sides.


    ''I feel like I have scored a goal.''


    Zhao Luo mumbled with an awkward smile.


    Even though there wasn''t any ser match going on around the training zone, but he had indeed scored a goal, in life, by getting such good friends.


    Zhao Luo looked around and found Mo Anna stopped a few steps away and nced at her before taking slow steps towards her.


    Zhao Luo reached her and looked at her eyes, which were burdened by a saddened look.


    ''It must be because of her mom.''


    Zhao Luo thought while his hands reached for Mo Anna.


    ''Swoosh.''


    Zhao Luo gently grabbed Mo Anna''s shoulder as he brought his face closer to hers.


    "Nobody will dare to decide your fate now, not even me."


    Zhao Luo told her with a sharp tone.


    ''Who am I or anyone else to decide her fate?''


    Zhao Luo nodded as he looked up but then Mo Anna''s arms suddenly circled his back as she hugged Zhao Luo tightly.


    Listening to Zhao Luo''s words broke a wall inside her mind.


    Tears started rolling down her face but no one could see them as she had burrowed her face in Zhao Luo''s chest.


    A wall that had kept her emotional side trapped behind it. Mo Anna''s tragic self was behind that wall. A self that no one had witnessed before.


    ''What? She is quite ferocious.''


    Zhao Luo could hardly hold his grin.


    Even though he could feel a bitter pain in his heart while watching the trembling Mo Anna, he barely hold his innocent virgin grin back.


    ''Pat.''


    Zhao Luo patted her head while the others behind him were making weird noises as they stared at this power couple.


    "Wow."


    Big Bean eximed while looking at Zhao Luo''s back and Mo Anna''s white hands.


    Big Bean could only scratch his head with a blushed face.


    "Brother sure is lucky. The princess of the Mo Family likes him and even Senior Cutie loves him."


    Pi Hao mumbled as he took nces at Senior Cutie who was already looking at him with squinted eyes and a smile.


    "Brother Zhao Luo sure knows how to y around."


    Feng Mained as he looked around and found himself surrounded by only guys.


    ''Tsk.''


    He clicked his tongue and kicked the rubble on the stage.


    "These idiots."


    Zhao Luo smirked as he couldn''t understand the thought process of a human being who was single, anymore.


    "I have evolved."


    Zhao Luo muttered with a grin, oblivious to the fact that Mo Anna was staring at him with wet eyes while listening to his bullshit.


    "Are you that happy?"


    She questioned him with cute widened eyes while Zhao Luo looked at her.


    ''They can''t see where her face is since my back is facing them. This could be my chance.''


    Zhao Luo lowered his head to look at Mo Anna whose head was tilted upwards.


    "Yes, a lot."


    Zhao Luo answered her and brought his face closer to hers as he awkwardly twisted his lips.


    ''There.''


    Even though a veil covered Mo Anna''s face, Zhao Luo was an expert at finding hidden things.


    While the others were busy making fun of each other being a single dude, Zhao Luo took giant leaps while treading on the path of a lover and a romanticist.


    Before Zhao Luo''s lips could even reach her face, Mo Anna pouted but Zhao Luo couldn''t see it.


    ''Twitch.''


    She pinched Zhao Luo''s back causing Zhao Luo to be stunned like a rock.


    Zhao Luo felt the pain and his twisted lips which were thirsty for a kiss drifted apart and a noise filled with pain escaped his mouth.


    "Aaagh."


    Zhao Luo nced at Mo Anna while she released Zhao Luo''s back and pulled back her arms.


    ''Cough.''


    Zhao Luo cleared his throat as the others were focused on Zhao Luo after his sudden scream had given them a jump scare.


    "Brother, what happened?"


    Si Chen walked towards Zhao Luo with his neck extended.


    While the others were busy making fun of each other, his eyes were stuck on his brother Zhao Luo and his advances.


    ''Did he weirdly twist his lips?''


    Si Chen wondered as he approached them.


    "It''s nothing."


    Rose''s voice rang out making Si Chen halt in his ce and Zhao Luo gently pushed her away.


    "Yeah. It''s nothing! Nothing at all!"


    Zhao Luo muttered under his breath as he looked up while hiding the emerging tears from everyone else.


    Right then a cute voice addressed Zhao Luo.


    "Brother~"


    Feng Mei and her grandfather, Feng Xiaoya were approaching Zhao Luo.


    The other grand elders and elders of the Feng family had also tagged along with them as they were walking behind the two in order and with discipline.


    ''Wow perfectly synced steps.''


    Zhao Luo eximed as he realized the footsteps of more than 20 elders behind Feng Mei were sounding out as one.


    "How are you?"


    Zhao Luo questioned Feng Mei as she finally reached him.


    "I am fine. But brother you have grown so strong, that Wei Bin would start asking you to be his master."


    Feng Mei giggled as she talked about Wei Bin causing Zhao Luo to remember the first time when he had met Wei Bin, the young guy at the moonstone challenge.


    "I would love to teach him. If he can bear the pain."


    Zhao Luoughed in response as he replied to the little Queen.


    While his talk with Feng Mei had started abruptly Zhao Luo was never a rude fellow thus he turned his head and gave a deep bow to her grandfather.


    This was his first meeting with Feng Xiaoya but Zhao Luo didn''t try to be ignorant and quickly followed up to show his respect.


    "This is my grandfather, Grandpa Xiaoya."


    Feng Ma said while the old man only nodded his head at Zhao Luo.


    ''Interesting.''


    Feng Xiaoya thought as he lightly touched his long beard.


    "It''s an honor to meet you, elder."


    Zhao Luo said loudly and with a cheerful tone.


    ''He is the same as the Sect Leader and the elders.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he sped his hand while facing them towards the elder.

 Chapter 218 - Second Elders Friend

    Zhao Luo could feel this pressure that Feng Xiaoya could hardly hide inside him.


    But Zhao Luo didn''t know the reason behind his sense being so heightened.


    Before Zhao Luo could continue his sneaky inspection of the old man, Fen Xiaoya opened his mouth.


    "What a cheerful guy. Not even a single drop of arrogance. Interesting."


    Feng Xiaoya walked closer to Zhao Luo as he continued talking.


    "Even though this isn''t my first time meeting a sessor candidate, it still is a first meeting someone like you."


    Zhao Luo felt d as he listened to Feng Xiaoya deep praises for him.


    "Someone who can flirt like this in front of everyone without even batting an eye. Amazing."


    Feng Xiaoya said causing Zhao Luo to be embarrassed as he scratched his head.


    ''What is this old man talking about?''


    Zhao Luo nced at Fen Xiaoya just to find him smiling with a bright look on his old face.


    "It was exhrating to watch that stubborn Mo Rong eat dirt like this. Nothing less than getting rolled by the actions of a junior."


    Feng Xiaoya told Zhao Luo while the others were also listening to him.


    ''Tap, Tap.''


    Feng Xiaoya patted Zhao Luo''s shoulder.


    "Good job."


    "Haha."


    Zhao Luoughed as he heard the ''good job''ing out of the old man''s mouth.


    "Thank you."


    Zhao Luo then replied with a bow of his head.


    Feng Xiaoya moved towards Feng Ma and hugged him.


    Feng Ma didn''t resist.


    ''Hmm.''


    Zhao Luo silently watched them.


    He already knew the rtionship between them.


    ''But what''s up with that extreme reaction?''


    Zhao Luo wondered as he looked at Feng Xiaoya pulling Feng Ma away from his embrace.


    "You fool. Does it feel nice to torture an old man?"


    Feng Xiaoya scoldingly asked Feng Ma.


    Feng Ma shook his head.


    "I need to do this."


    Feng Ma replied with a hardened voice as though he was holding himself back.


    "Just return home soon."


    "I will."


    Feng Xiaoya moved away while telling Feng Ma about what he wanted and Feng Ma hurriedly replied.


    "Guess he hasn''t returned to Feng family in a long time."


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he didn''t find their exchange strange anymore.


    ''Feng Xiaoya who had lost one of his sons and daughter-inw by the hand of his other son wanted nothing more than to be together with his grandchildren.


    But because of his son, the father of Feng Ma, his wish was falling apart.''


    Zhao Luo nodded as his spections ran wild in his head.


    While Zhao Luo was thinking about the matters of the Feng Family, the elder was meeting up with the others.


    "It was good to meet you, young man. You are stronger than your peers by a big margin and who knows you may soon surpass the old ones too. But before you surpass our old ones, be careful."


    Feng Xiaoya advised Zhao Luo as he gave him a deep look.


    ''He must be talking about the Mo Family.''


    "I will remember your advice."


    Zhao Luo replied to the elder as he already realized where the elder was pointing with his advice.


    "Good."


    "Let''s go back."


    Feng Xiaoya ordered as he turned around and looked at the other elders.


    "Bye, brother."


    Feng Mei said while looking at Feng Ma then she turned at Zhao Luo and smiled cutely.


    "Bye, Brother Zhao Luo. Don''t worry I won''t tell Brother Yan."


    Feng Ma giggled as she told Zhao Luo.


    ''What? Does she already know Yan''s identity?''


    Zhao Luo was shocked for a moment.


    His cute sister looked like an evil schemer even though it was for a very short moment but Zhao Luo got cold shivers.


    Zhao Luo quickly waved his hand at her as Elder Xiaoya took the Feng Family away.


    Then a cold voice entered Zhao Luo''s ear.


    "Who is this brother Yan?"


    Mo Anna coldly asked Zhao Luo with a disappointed tone.


    "Umm, you know the brother who was with me at the Sect''s entrance exam. That Brother Yan."


    Zhao Luo exined and helped Mo Anna remember Yan as the beautiful Brother Yan.


    Mo Anna smiled and Zhao Luo knew it instantly as her eyes curved like a beautiful half-moon.


    ''Huff.''


    Zhao Luo took a relieved breath.


    While he was standing next to Mo Anna, he couldn''t stop himself from remembering Yan, who was none other than Xin Wang''s daughter, Xin Yan.


    "Ah, we should return now."


    Zhao Luo said to the others as he assembled them.


    "Yeah, everyone''s leaving and the Colosseum will be empty soon."


    Si Chen added as he looked around.


    The Colosseum was indeed half empty already as most of the spectators had already left.


    The ones remaining were either the family of the participating disciples or elders of some particr families who were here to inspect the new batch of outer disciples.


    Thetter was very surprised by not only Zhao Luo but others too.


    As everyone remaining in the Colosseum was busy with something, the Sect Leader Xin Wang along with the Second and third elder, Elder Dousan and Elder Bao Fei appeared on the stage, right in front of Zhao Luo.


    "Bow to the Sect Leader and the elders."


    "We bow to the Sect Leader and the elders."


    Zhao Luo shouted as he sped his hands and lowered his head while the others followed his actions.


    "It''s okay. No need to be so formal."


    Elder Dousan stepped forwards while shaking his hand.


    "I would be damned if I let my friend show me so much respect."


    He approached Zhao Luo while blurting out words that shocked the others to the core.


    Sect Leader Xin Wang and Third Elder Bao Fei weren''t left behind as they also had stunned faces.


    Before they thought that Elder Dousan had called Zhao Luo his friend, to pressure Mo Rong but who knew that he will keep up with the act for this long unless he really considered Zhao Luo as an equal and a friend.


    "Hahaha, look at their faces."


    Elder Dousan told Zhao Luo while making fun of the Sect Leader and the Third Elder.


    "Hah."


    Zhao Luo hardly let out an awkwardugh.


    ''Does he want me to be punished?''


    He wondered as he looked at the weird expressions on the faces of Feng Ma, Si Chen, and the others.


    ''Even she is looking at me as if I am a monster.''


    Zhao Luo cried out in his mind as he evaded Mo Anna''s eyes after looking at her expression.


    "Zhao Luo I have some new riddles for you. Do you want to solve them?"


    Elder Dousan asked Zhao Luo with a squeaky voice.


    "No way!"


    Just to be turned down by Zhao Luo in less than a second.


    "Sad."


    Elder Dousan mumbled but didn''t feel bad or anything along the line since he already considered Zhao Luo his friend.


    "Zhao Luo, you did well."


    The Sect Leader suddenly interrupted.

 Chapter 219 - Xiao Yu, What A Tsundere!

    "I just tried my best."


    Zhao Luo replied to the Sect Leader, Xin Wang''s praise for him.


    ''It was a great experience for me.''


    Zhao Luo realized as he went over all of his fights today.


    While Zhao Luo was thinking about his fights, Xin Wang looked at the others.


    "You all were very promising too."


    "Thank you, Sect Leader."


    Xin Wang looked at the others and told them in a calming tone while they were flustered after beingplimented by the Sect Leader himself.


    "Zhao Luo."


    Xin Wang suddenly addressed Zhao Luo.


    "Yes."


    Zhao Luo was baffled.


    ''Is there something else, that he wants to say?''


    Zhao Luo thought as he looked at the hesitant expression on Xin Wang''s face.


    ''What could the Sect Leader be hesitant about?''


    Zhao Luo wondered as he furrowed his brows.


    If even the Sect Leader was so hesitant to talk about something then it would be something extraordinary and troubling.


    Right then, Zhao Luo found the Sect Leader opening his mouth.


    "Would you like to take me as your master?"


    The Sect Leader''s tone changed.


    It was filled with confidence as he asked Zhao Luo to be his disciple right in front of everyone.


    But the reason for his confident tone wasn''t simply this.


    ''There can be no better master for you in the whole Xin Range.''


    Xin Wang gave Zhao Luo such a look.


    "I..."


    Zhao Luo was shocked by the offer but he couldn''t.


    "I already have a master."


    Zhao Luo told Xin Wang while looking right into his eyes with eyes which were full of pride.


    "I see."


    For a second, Xin Wang felt saddened as if he had lost a great treasure that was right in his grasp.


    "Who is your master?"


    "Is it Dousan?"


    "Bao Fei?"


    Xin Wang started questioning Zhao Luo while ncing at the second elder and the third elder.


    Elder Dousan and Elder Bao Fei started shaking their head as they wouldn''t have done something like taking a direct disciple without telling Xin Wang.


    "Which sneaky bastard is it then?"


    The Sect Leader was getting hysterical, as he looked at Zhao Luo wildly.


    "What the..*COUGH*...I mean Sect Leader, please calm down!"


    Zhao Luo replied while waving his hand at Xin Wang.


    ''I almost cursed him.''


    Zhao Luo trembled as he almost blurted out something that would have brought forward a terrible situation for him.


    "Ahem."


    Xin Wang cleared his throat and realized that the disciples of his Sect were staring at him with a stupified look.


    "Zhao Luo, who is your master?"


    Xin Wang asked Zhao Luo with a majestic tone.


    It was more of amand that Zhao Luo had to follow instead of simply answering the Sect Leader''s question.


    "My master is..."


    Zhao Luo hurriedly answered Xin Wang.


    ''Old man forgive me.''


    He couldn''t help but close his eyes and remember the old man who had received Zhao Luo''s bows.


    Looking at Zhao Luo''s expression, Xin Wang looked confused and asked again.


    "Don''t worry, I just want to know what kind of master could bring up such a genius."


    Xin Wang assured Zhao Luo that his question was only to feed his curiosity and nothing more.


    Zhao Luo opened his eyes and nodded his head.


    ''It isn''t like he will want to meet my master.''


    "My master is..."


    Zhao Luo stopped as if he was going to tell something that should have been kept a secret, no matter what.


    "He is..."


    Xin Wang, the elders, and the others around the stage looked at Zhao Luo with their interest piqued to the extreme.


    "He is an old chef in thewless city."


    Zhao Luo told them as he looked down.


    ''Lawless City...even the slums had such a master.''


    Xin Wang was the one who was most bewildered by Zhao Luo''s words.


    "I see. Since you already have a master, don''t let him down."


    Xin Wang told Zhao Luo and then walked up to him to pat his shoulders.


    "Let''s go."


    Xin Wang said to the two elders.


    "Train hard."


    Hiding his disappointment of losing the chance to be Zhao Luo''s master, he encouraged Zhao Luo and took his leave with the other elders.


    Looking at the vanishing back of the Sect Leader and the two elders, Zhao Luo slowly opened his mouth.


    ''That''s what I n to do anyways.''


    Zhao Luo mumbled with burning eyes.


    Training hard was the only thing he enjoyed and his dark space was the best ce for that.


    "Brother, let''s go."


    Feng Ma approached Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo turned his head and looked at the others who wanted nothing more than to leave the training zone.


    ''Did he leave?''


    Zhao Luo wondered as Big Bean wasn''t with them anymore.


    ''He must have left too.''


    Zhao Luo realized that Big Bean may have been more tired than them thus he left without telling anyone.


    "Yeah, let''s return to the living zone."


    Zhao Luo nodded to Feng Ma after which he and the others, moved towards the exit of the colosseum.


    Just when the group reached the exit of the colosseum,


    "WAIT!"


    A shout stopped them in their tracks.


    Zhao Luo and the others turned around and found Xiao Yu looking at them.


    "What?"


    Zhao Luo squinted his eyes and asked Xiao Yu.


    ''Is heing to fight again? I expected him to be better than that.''


    Zhao Luo wondered if Xiao Yu wanted revenge for his earlier loss.


    ''If that is indeed the case then it would be very disappointing.''


    Zhao Luo continued while looking at Xiao Yu whose stomach area was covered with a white cloth that covered his back too.


    Xiao Yu looked at Zhao Luo and the others.


    ''I didn''t mean to scare them.''


    He felt awkward as he hadn''t intended to shout so loudly.


    "I am going to the living zone too..."


    Xiao Yu stopped there and didn''tplete his sentence.


    Zhao Luo smiled as he looked at the gullible expression on Xiao Yu''s face who was evading their stares.


    ''Xiao Yu, What a tsundere.''


    Zhao Luo grinned as he would have never expected Xiao Yu to show such a friendly side of him so soon. He turned around while smiling.


    "Come with us."


    Zhao Luo told Xiao Yu as he led the others out of the colosseum.


    "OKAY!"


    Xiao Yu shouted again and his quiet look returned to his face again.

 Chapter 220 - Discussing The Future Plans

    The group had already left the red door, that is, they were in the humongous hall as Zhao Luo and the others made their way towards the living zone.


    Mo Anna walked side by side with Zhao Luo while frequently ncing at him.


    She obviously wanted to say something but couldn''t find the right timing for it.


    While behind her, the others were busy talking and getting familiar with each other.


    Zhao Luo who was at the front had a smile on his face as he listened to his brothers talking about how they smashed the other disciples single-handedly while overpowering the top disciples with just a finger.


    ''They could be the leaders of bluffing.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he kept his focus on their discussion and never realized that Mo Anna was looking at him.


    Just then, Senior Cutie suddenly walked up to them and joined the two.


    "Little Brother, you are really stupid."


    Senior Cutie said to Zhao Luo while looking at Mo Anna.


    It was like he was scolding Zhao Luo for not paying attention to the more important matter.


    "What?"


    Zhao Luo was confused as he looked at the baldy who was acting up again.


    "If you stay like this, you will end up like them too."


    Senior Cutie pointed at the others while grinning.


    "Ah."


    Zhao Luo understood what he was saying and looked at Mo Anna.


    While Mo Anna already had her face directed towards their destination.


    Zhao Luo sulked but Senior Cutie didn''t leave them just yet.


    "What is your n now?"


    He asked Zhao Luo in a serious tone.


    "Hmm, I want to get stronger, so I need to train harder. Also, I have yet to take missions, so I want to do missions."


    Zhao Luo told Senior Cutie while thinking of his ns in a considerable manner.


    He had yet toplete any mission since it had only been a week since Zhao Luo had advanced to an outer disciple.


    The five lines ''/|||'' on his badge shined as he spoke to his senior.


    "The best way to get stronger will be by bing an inner disciple."


    Senior Cutie told Zhao Luo as though he could only hear the first part of Zhao Luo''s answer.


    "But don''t I have toplete missions before I can advance to an inner disciple?"


    Zhao Luo questioned in return.


    He still remembered how he had toplete a specific number of missions before he could be eligible to advance.


    "Generally yes. The condition ofpeting missions is there to make the disciples stronger. Going on missions allows the disciples toe face to face with the hardships of the outside territories and unknown ces. Thus improving their senses and conditioning their physical bodies to the extreme."


    Senior Cutie started exining to Zhao Luo.


    The others who were following behind them were also listening to this conversation.


    "But what about the top disciples of the outer hall?"


    Senior Cutie asked Zhao Luo and the others.


    "From the top disciples, I mean the top hundred or the top thousand, the ones who have alreadypleted many missions and area already at the ninth level ''?'' but they are still far away from the first rank and instead of being the first they are at different rank."


    Senior Cutie exined his question to them and everyone started pondering over it.


    The disciples he was talking about included himself too.


    Zhao Luo realized where Senio Cutie''s question was pointing at.


    "These disciples have already reached the limits of their physical abilities."


    Zhao Luo told the others as he understood the question perfectly and reached a very ideal answer.


    "Indeed."


    "They have already done more missions than anybody else to earn points. Using those points on strengthening techniques thus increasing their strength to the point where they could reach the ninth level ''?''. But they still couldn''t reach the first rank thus their only option is advancing to inner disciples."


    "But what do you think about a person who is at the top?"


    Senior Cutie stopped causing everyone to halt.


    He then touched Zhao Luo''s chest with his index finger but didn''t remove it and instead moved it on his chest in a circle causing Zhao Luo to faint from getting creeped out.


    ''Tap.''


    Zhao Luo stepped back and opened his mouth.


    "I don''t know."


    Zhao Luo said.


    "How would I know what happens to the top disciple?"


    "I didn''t even get any reward for getting the first rank!"


    Zhao Luo let out his answer in a brief manner.


    "The rewards of being the first disciple is that the one with the first rank in the outer hall can advance to the inner hall and be an inner disciple without advancing to the ninth level orpleting any missions. Even though it''s impossible but such a rule does exist since someone had already done so."


    Senior Cutie couldn''t hide the growing respect in his eyes as he mentioned about the reward of the first disciple and the origin of such a rule which served as the reward.


    "Could it be the first elder?"


    Zhao Luo asked since he still remembered the tale of the First Elder from Mite.


    "Yes. But that is not the reason why I am telling you this."


    "I know. You want me to advance to an inner disciple, right?"


    Zhao Luo could guess as, since the start of Senior Cutie''s exnation, he already knew there was a reason like this behind it.


    "Yes, but not only you, the others too. I think everybody here haspleted many missions. They just need to advance to the ninth level ''?'' after taking the strength test. Then they can all proceed to the inner hall to take the advancing test too."


    Senior Cutie looked at the others as he exined to Zhao Luo.


    ''Well, I didn''t know that such a privilege was granted to the King of the Outer Hall.''


    Zhao Luo mumbled and nodded as he gave it a serious thought.


    ''I can also learn about the inner energy if I be an inner disciple.''


    Zhao Luo mysteriously smiled as he stopped pondering over his decision.


    "I will advance to an inner disciple."


    Zhao Luo announced with confidence.

 Chapter 221 - Its Just Five Missions

    Listening to Zhao Luo''s announcement after carefully going over Senior Cutie''s exnation, the others also started giving out their ns.


    "I will go with you too."


    ''Tap.''


    "To the inner hall."


    Si Chen walked forward while telling Zhao Luo his decision.


    ''I want to walk alongside Brother Zhao Luo from now on.''


    Si Chen was already very determined to be with Zhao Luo in his journey as he advances to an inner disciple.


    "Good."


    Zhao Luo felt ted as he looked at Si Chening forward like this.


    ''It''s like I am moving to an upper grade with a friend.''


    Zhao Luo smiled as such an innocent popped up in his head.


    He looked at the others and nobody was hesitant, at least there was no expression of hesitation on their face and their steps.


    The others also looked determined like Si Chen.


    "I want to advance too."


    Feng Ma said to Zhao Luo and Senior Cutie, even though he had recently advanced to the eighth level.


    "These recent battles have improved me so much that I need to test myself again."


    Feng Ma said while looking at Zhao Luo but this was something that he was telling himself.


    Zhao Luo calmly looked at Si Chen and Feng Ma.


    "Don''t worry. I will wait for you two."


    Zhao Luo showed them a smile while bringing his hands up and cing them on their shoulders.


    "Brother.."


    Both Si Chen and Feng Ma felt d.


    Now they just had to reach level nine ''?'' by surpassing the threshold of strength.


    "I have alreadypleted eleven missions so I just need to take the test."


    "What? Only eleven? I have 12 on me."


    Si Chen and Feng Ma started discussing with each other.


    Zhao Luo smiled deeply as he looked at his brothers talking with each other, just then, a hot breath entered his ear, giving him an exciting feeling.


    "Wait for me too!"


    Mo Anna whispered in Zhao Luo''s ear with her pleasing voice.


    ''Nod, Nod.''


    Zhao Luo who had been enchanted by her charming voice hurriedly nodded his head.


    "Little Brother, will you wait for me too?"


    "Fhoo~"


    Senior Cutie closed in on Zhao Luo''s other ear and whispered after which he blew a gentle breath causing Zhao Luo to shiver as though he was having seizures.


    "You..."


    "Senior, you are already a level nine ''?'', so you should advance already."


    Zhao Luo coldly said to Senior Cutie.


    "Ah, how hurtful. You treat the little princess so gently and yet you don''t even look at your gentle brother. How Hurtful!"


    Senior Cutie cried out with an evil grin on his face.


    Zhao Luo was dumbfounded by the shamefulness of his bald senior.


    *giggle*


    Mo Anna giggle while a sense of relief loomed over her.


    ''He has good friends.''


    She thought as she nced at the others and found Zhao Luo in the middle of all their decisions and ns.


    Zhao Luo calmed down as he heard Mo Anna''s delightfulughter.


    "Zhao Luo."


    Xiao Yu said loudly.


    "Xiao Yu."


    A sh passed Zhao Luo''s eyes as Xiao Yu walked towards him.


    "I will meet you in the inner hall."


    Xiao Yu said to Zhao Luo with a serious look in his eyes.


    "Well, and?"


    ''There is no way you just wanted to say this.''


    Zhao Luo already knew how Xiao Yu was like.


    He was a person who hardlypleted what he wanted to say.


    Showing a cold demeanor while having a gentle nature.


    "A-And I need toplete the missions, so it will take some tim-"


    "So you are a cker."


    Zhao Luo unconsciously interrupted Xiao Yu while listening to what he wanted to say.


    "You basta-"


    "Oh, I mean it''s okay. I can wait."


    Zhao Luo patted Xiao Yu''s shoulder while cutting off him again.


    ''Ah, I want to beat this guy.''


    Xiao Yu thought but he couldn''t help but nod his head.


    "I..."


    Pi Hao was left behind while the others were telling their n and how they wanted to tag along with Zhao Luo and advance as an inner disciple.


    "I need toplete missions too."


    Pi Hao who had been in the outer hall for more than two years was also in the same boat as Xiao Yu.


    "So you were ck- tsk."


    Zhao Luo clicked his tongue as his tongue kept on spewing words that would piss anyone if these words were directed towards them.


    "What were you busy with?"


    Zhao Luo took a different path than before as he asked for the reason.


    "I was trying to master my Water-Metal Technique."


    "I spent two years honing my fist technique and yet you broke it so easily, with a single punch."


    Pi Hao''s eyes were filled with respect as he looked at Zhao Luo like he had been reunited with his long-lost father.


    "Ah, I just trained more."


    Zhao Luo didn''t want to undermine Pi Hao''s technique thus he went with the words that would give Pi Hao hope that no other words could.


    ''So I just need to train harder.''


    Pi Hao clenched his fist while looking at Zhao Luo.


    "Since everyone wants to advance to the inner hall..."


    Zhao Luo looked at them.


    None of the six disciples around him wanted to wait another year to participate in the outer hall tournament.


    "Then let''s advance together."


    Zhao Luo didn''t leave behind Xiao Yu and Pi Hao.


    "Let''splete the missions."


    Zhao Luo looked at Xiao Yu and Pi Hao as he told them.


    "Hmm."


    Senior Cutie stepped forward and made some space as he jumped up between them causing all of them to take a step back.


    "Do you know how many mission points you need? 100!"


    Senior Cutie suddenly told Zhao Luo while ncing between Pi Hao and Xiao Yu.


    "So?"


    Zhao Luo rubbed his ear as he asked Senior Cutie.


    ''Why is he overreacting now?''


    Zhao Luo thought but Senior Cutie kept going on about it.


    "You will need toplete five A rank missions to get that many points. And each A-rank mission is -"


    "Hard."


    Zhao Luo interrupted him as he also knew that since he had heard it from Senior Cutie before too.


    "It''s just five missions.


    Zhao Luo nonchntly said as he folded his hands in front of his chest.

 Chapter 222 - They Are My Brothers

    "It''s not that easy."


    "All of those A grade missions include subjugation of a horde of monsters."


    Senior Cutie continued with a cold voice as he red at Zhao Luo.


    "If you want to wait, then wait without getting them in trouble."


    Senior Cutie told Zhao Luo after which he turned around to look at Xiao Yu and Pi Hao.


    "You canplete B rank missions and climb up slowly."


    He advised them but then Zhao Luo also stepped up.


    "It will be okay. Since the grade A missions are done in a group, I will be with them."


    Zhao Luo said to him and the other two.


    "It will be easy with Brother Zhao Luo."


    Si Chen added as he remembered the time when Zhao Luo had fought with them to fend off the sand lion, in the end killing them and taking their leader as a pet.


    "Indeed."


    Mo Anna alsomented slowly.


    "See."


    Zhao Luo told Senior Cutie while finding it weird, as Senior Cutie wasn''t someone who acted like this.


    "You don''t understand. Even if they are taking A rank missions, someone else can go with them. Why are you going out of your way to help them?"


    Senior Cutie continued to persuade Zhao Luo.


    ''I knew it.''


    Zhao Luo realized that Senior Cutie was indeed worried for him and not, Pi Hao and Xiao Yu.


    ''But why?''


    Zhao Luo couldn''t understand the reason behind this worrisome side of Senior Cutie.


    Zhao Luo shook his head and proceeded to answer him.


    "They are my brothers."


    Zhao Luo said with a majestic look as tears build up in Pi Hao''s eyes.


    "Hmph, who is your brother?"


    Xiao Yu had a way different reaction than Pi Hao.


    "I see. Since you won''t listen, I will also go on the missions."


    Senior Cutie dered causing Pi Hao''s tears to start rolling as he moved forward to hug Senior Cutie.


    "Thud!"


    Senior Cutie gently stopped Pi Hao as he was out of character for the time being and was in no mood for such a tearful embrace.


    "The more the merrier!"


    Zhao Luo didn''t mind Senior Cutie joining his decision of helping Xiao Yu and Pi Hao in their missions.


    "Good, then let''s go to the mission zone tomorrow."


    Senior Cutie told Zhao Luo, Xiao Yu, and Pi Hao.


    ''Nod.''


    They nodded and then Senior Cutie moved towards the front of the group as they made their way to the living zone.


    "Is he angry?"


    Zhao Luo mumbled while looking at the back of Senior Cutie.


    ''Why is he concerned for my safety?''


    The question hunted Zhao Luo''s mind but he hesitated to ask it directly.


    Soon, the seven had reached the green door.


    ''Ah, this warm feeling.''


    Zhao Luo could feel a warmth entering his body andpletely killing off the tiredness that he was feeling.


    "Let''s go."


    Senior Cutie said as the others followed him.


    ''Whoosh.''


    All of them entered the living zone, one after another.


    After entering the zone, the living hall with the numerous buildings entered Zhao Luo''s eyes once again.


    Behind those buildings were the 900 pces.


    And a row behind them belonged to slightly bigger pces.


    These pces were hundred but only 99 of these pces were in a straight row, leaving out one which was in the middle but built slightly away from the row.


    This pce was the biggest among all others showing that the hallow position of the outer disciple living in it.


    "Little Brother, that''s your ce now."


    Senior Cutie pointed at the middle.


    His finger was aimed at the biggest pce which was just a little behind thest row of 99 pces.


    ''Ah.''


    Zhao Luo felt awed as he looked at it once again.


    "Sad, that I will be living in it for just a short while."


    Zhao Luo''s decision wavered as he walked towards the luxury in front of him.


    "The ones in the inner hall are even more amazing than these and..."


    Senior Cutie closed in as he told Zhao Luo about the pces in the inner hall.


    "There are also many female disciples who take on the missions to be the maids of the pces of top inner disciples."


    "What?"


    Zhao Luo shouted with shining eyes as he let the enticing whisper of Senior Cutie, sink in.


    "Haha."


    Senior Cutie moved away andughed while the others looked at the two with suspicious eyes.


    "Calm down, little brother. Little princess is still right beside you."


    Senior Cutie grinned as he nced at Mo Anna.


    Zhao Luo turned his head and looked at the anger in the eyes of Mo Anna.


    ''Did she hear about the maids too?''


    Zhao Luo wondered as he found Mo Anna walking up.


    "I will be leaving now."


    She said and nodded at the others before giving Zhao Luo a mysterious look.


    Mo Anna had lost her first battle thus she still had to stay in one of the buildings of the first row.


    It didn''t take her long to leave the group as she entered one of the buildings.


    "Guess that''s where she staying at."


    Zhao Luo mumbled while looking at her disappearing back.


    "If I had met her a hundred years ago, maybe she would have invited me in."


    Zhao Luo mumbled while fantasies of being a normal couple with Mo Anna ran wild in his head. But he forgot one thing, that Mo Anna didn''t even exist then.


    "Little Brother, your taste is definitely old."


    Senior Cutiemented as he heard what Zhao Luo was talking about.


    ''He wants to wait hundred years to make a move on her, Hah.''


    Senior Cutie smirked while controlling his urge to tease his brother.


    Senior Cutie didn''t know that he had misunderstood Zhao Luo''s words.


    Zhao Luo only smiled in return as before they could continue moving, Xiao Yu also bade his farewell here.


    "I will be going too."


    Xiao Yu said and went towards the building he was staying in.


    Since both Mo Anna and Xiao Yu left, the ones left with Zhao Luo made their way towards the pces that belonged to them.


    In the end, Zhao Luo reached the pce in the middle.


    ''They all already entered their ces.''


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he looked around while standing alone.


    "So this is my ce."


    Zhao Luo said as he looked at the big white pce in front of him.


    [First Pce- Zhao Luo]


    Zhao Luo looked up and read the board on the right of the gates of the pce.


    "My name is already there."


    ''The sect works really fast.''


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he started walking towards the entrance of the pce.

 Chapter 223 - Storing The Stuff

    Zhao Luo entered the white pce like a boss.


    ''I guess nothing''s better than entering in your ce unannounced.''


    Zhao Luo thought while grinning as this was a new feeling that he was experiencing.


    Before when Zhao Luo used to travel and stay at different hotels, he would even inform the bellboy of those hotels, before going into his hotel room.


    After entering the pce, Zhao Luo looked around and found the floor sparkling.


    He continued to look around while walking forward in the entrance hall.


    ''That must be Mo Suo''s stuff.''


    A few things were packed around at a corner in the hall, even though the space was cleaned but this corner was the only ce that ruined the serene beauty of his new ce.


    With just a single nce Zhao Luo knew that these things belonged to Mo Suo since he was the previous upant of this pce.


    "Let me clean that up."


    Zhao Luo mumbled with a sneaky grin.


    He approached the corner and sat down next to the things.


    "Let''s see what we have here."


    Zhao Luo grabbed a ck cloth that was covering some stuff while a purple disciple robe was next to it.


    Zhao Luo grabbed the robe and brought it closer as he was looking at it.


    A pungent smell haunted his nose, obviouslying from Mo Suo''s robe.


    "Dirty Bastard."


    Zhao Luo threw it away and shook his head to knock off that smell.


    ''What azy prince.''


    Zhao Luo thought while his eyes went back on the ck cloth.


    ''What is hidden here.''


    Then he removed the ck cloth revealing 2 brown pouches of different sizes.


    "Hmm."


    Zhao Luo picked them up but both were as light as a feather.


    "Are they empty?"


    Zhao Luo questioned the situation as he went on to open the bigger pouch.


    "Shwaa~"


    The moment Zhao Luo opened the bag, a golden shine invaded his sight.


    A shine, so bright that Zhao Luo was forced to close his eyes for a moment.


    With closed eyes, Zhao Luo opened his mouth.


    "It''s gold coins."


    Zhao Luo mumbled with twitching lips


    Zhao Luo stored ''his'' gold coins in his storage space and went for the second pouch which was smaller in size but the weight was nonexistent just like the first pouch.


    Zhao Luo opened the pouch and found 3 light blue pills in there.


    "Hmm. Well, thanks for the gold."


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he had no idea what these pills were for, but the free gold that he had found in his pce was a reward on its own.


    Zhao Luo got up from his ce and looked around the hall.


    Even though the pce wasn''t that big, it was the biggest ce to live in for Zhao Luo.


    "A single room in such a big pce."


    Zhao Luomented as he found a door and spected that another room existed behind it.


    Moving towards the door and opening to enter the door, Zhao Luo found himself in the bedroom of the pce.


    ''From a hut to here.''


    Zhao Luo smiled as he jumped on the bed and closed his eyes.


    The moment he closed his eyes, his mouth moved.


    "Dark Space."


    Zhao Luo called out and opened his eyes in his mental world, the Dark Space.


    "Boom."


    "Get him."


    "You Bastard."


    "Bullet Fist."


    As he opened his eyes, his ears were swarmed with the shouts of curses and his fist techniques.


    "What''s going on?"


    Zhao Luo turned around to look at the situation and found his apparitions looking like tattered ck clothes and his ghost smeared with blood traces all around his body.


    "Just how much did they train?"


    Zhao Luo wondered as he raised his hand.


    ''Whoosh.''


    Zhao Luo brought it down with an impable speed and shouted.


    "STOP!"


    The moment Zhao Luo''smand escaped his mouth, all the apparitions did the inconceivable.


    "What? Why aren''t are they stopping?"


    Zhao Luo was baffled.


    "Was I away for too long? Or did he bully them too much?"


    "No, maybe my sound didn''t reach them."


    Realizing that his own apparitions had ignored his call, Zhao Luo tried to humor himself while bringing out excuses on their behalf.


    "Gather!"


    Zhao Luo shouted again but again the ghost and the apparitions were busy ying tag battle.


    Zhao Luo squinted his eyes and found his apparitions chasing his ghost with Mini Walk while the ghost would always retreat slightly, just to take one of the apparitions down each time he retreated.


    "Hmm."


    Even though the battle was interesting, Zhao Luo wasn''t eager to watch it instead his irritation was increasing slowly.


    Zhao Luo pulled back his arms at the same time and clenched his fists tightly.


    After punching more than millions of times, Zhao Luo''s arms had developed into an extreme weapon.


    Zhao Luo threw both of his fists forward in the direction of his apparitions and the ghost.


    "Bullet Fist of Yin and Yang."


    Zhao Luo mumbled as a ck and white round sigil formed right in front of his fists.


    And soon it died down.


    "Boom."


    The space trembled slightly but the sudden tremor was enough to get the attention of his apparitions and the ghost.


    The ten looked at Zhao Luo with widened eyes while being stopped in the middle of their tracks.


    "GATHER!"


    Zhao Luo ordered again and this time, all the apparitions instantly came to stand in front of Zhao Luo.


    The ghost was right behind them as they all stood withplete obedience.


    "Absorb!"


    Zhao Luo mumbled as all of the apparitions turned into a big dark cloud and rushed inside his body.


    Zhao Luo nced at his ghost and he disappeared too, leaving only Zhao Luo in his dark space.


    Zhao Luo looked down as his body became heavy to such an extent that his legs trembled like a leaf in a windstorm.


    "Thud!"


    Zhao Luo sat down in a lotus position and closed his eyes.


    ''They must have improved by a lot.''


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he realized that hours of battling against someone stronger than you, was way more benefitting than simply mastering a technique.


    "Assimte."


    Zhao Luo mumbled as his body started heating up.

 Chapter 224 - I Need To Stay Careful

    The assimtion took a lot more time than the ones Zhao Luo had done in the past.


    Zhao Luo opened his eyes and felt a new strength rising inside him.


    ''How much did I improve?''


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he clenched his fists and got up.


    While thinking about his improvement, Zhao Luo who had lost his sense of time had no idea that it took him three hours to assimte.


    It was already the new day outside.


    The disciples of the outer hall were excited for all the new changes that would ur since the first spot had a new owner.


    They all waited for Zhao Luo''s appearance while some fanatics were even waiting outside Zhao Luo''s pce.


    Zhao Luo who had just finished assimting his upgraded apparitions had no idea about such things.


    "Form."


    Zhao Luo summoned thepact and strengthened tungsten mountain in front of him.


    He pulled back his right fist and thenunched it at the mountain.


    "Explosive Fist."


    ''Bang!''


    His fist which was in the explosive ne struck the hard and metallic wall of the mountain.


    A deep dent which was small in size but had the exact shape of Zhao Luo''s fist was left on the mountain.


    Following the dent, line marks started rising from the dent and reached the ends of the mountain.


    ''Crack.''


    Zhao Luo heard a crackling sound as he noticed the cracks that had covered the whole mountain.


    "The power of my explosive fist has increased."


    Zhao Luo realized while hepared the power of this explosive fist to the one which he had pre-assimting these apparitions.


    Zhao Luo pulled back his left fist and instantly threw it back at the mountain.


    ''...''


    ''Calming Fist.''


    Zhao Luo mumbled and a dent popped up outwards on the other side of the mountain.


    The same thing happened as deep cracks started rising from the other side and covered the mountain.


    "Good."


    Zhao Luo felt excited as he hadn''t imagined his growth to be this much when he wasn''t even here.


    "This is way better."


    "Auto training really is a cheat."


    Zhao Luo said loudly with a smile while forgetting about his other abilities.


    ''Rumble''


    The mountain in front of him was just a single touch away from crumbling.


    "Bullet Fist."


    Zhao Luo pulled back his fist again and used a fast and urate jab.


    "BOOM."


    The mountain crumbled down to the dark floor, the moment Zhao Luo''s bullet fist touched its surface.


    The small bits of it were blown away to the farthest corners of the dark space.


    "Hah."


    Zhao Luo turned around and slowly opened his mouth.


    "Summon!"


    The nine apparitions were summoned by him again.


    Zhao Luo closed his eyes and formed his ghost again.


    "Thud!"


    The ghost also appeared in front of him.


    "Train well guys."


    Zhao Luo said to them without hiding his happiness.


    Even though he was a little irritated by them earlier, but now he waspletely satisfied after testing his new strength.


    "I should leave them here."


    Zhao Luo closed his eyes and exited the dark space.


    ''There is no need to stay there since they can train all they want, anyways and I don''t even have a technique to learn.''


    ''Whoosh.''


    Zhao Luo thought while opening his eyes.


    "It would have been nice if they could learn them too."


    Zhao Luo mumbled like azy person.


    While turning his back on the bed, a feeling of sleepiness enveloped him.


    ''This is a first.''


    Zhao Luo thought while slowly indulging this rare sensation.


    "Let''s sleep."


    Zhao Luo mumbledzily and closed his eyes.


    A momentter Zhao Luo slipped into his sleep state and had left behind all of his worries, as a calm expression appeared on his handsome face.


    "Bang, Bang, Bang!"


    "What the..."


    Zhao Luo got up as the moment he had closed his eyes to sleep someone had started knocking on the main door.


    ''If it''s something stupid, I am going to kill whoever it is.''


    Zhao Luo made an oath with ring eyes as he left his room and went towards the main door of the pce.


    "Little Brother~"


    Zhao Luo who was going towards the door with a look of ''a soon to be a killer'' and hastened steps suddenly stopped in his tracks.


    He realized the owner of the voice.


    ''Only he... Senior Cutie calls me that.''


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he slowly went towards the door.


    ''For some reason, I don''t want to open this.''


    Zhao Luo had a creepy feeling and felt reluctant to open the door.


    "Brother Zhao Luo."


    Zhao Luo heard another voice.


    A voice that was so sweet that Zhao Luo felt his soul escape his body.


    "Mo Anna."


    Zhao Luo mumbled as this voice obviously belonged to the girl he liked.


    Zhao Luo hurriedly opened the door and looked excited.


    "What?"


    Zhao Luo stumbled as only Senior Cutie was outside and Mo Anna was nowhere to be found.


    "Little Brother, what are you looking for?"


    Senior Cutie asked Zhao Luo with a grin.


    "Ah, Where is she?"


    Zhao Luo asked Senior Cutie with a suspicious look.


    "Oh, you mean...Little Princess."


    ''Tap, Tap.''


    Zhao Luo fumbled backward as the words ''Little Princess'' came out of Senior Cutie''s mouth while his sound suddenly changed.


    "Y-your voice..."


    Zhao Luo stuttered as he looked at Senior Cutie who looked like an evil demon in Zhao Luo''s eyes.


    "How could a bald man use such a cute and enchanting voice? No!"


    Zhao Luo muttered through his breath as the shock of listening to Mo Anna''s voice through Senior Cutie''s mouth was a horror for him.


    "Haha, Little Brother it''s a very simple technique of mine."


    "If you miss her, tell me."


    "Zhao Luo~"


    Senior Cutie said to Zhao Luo while changing his voice to Mo Anna''s again as he ended the dialogue.


    Zhao Luo''s eyes shook as he tried to stand straight.


    "I need to stay careful of him."


    Zhao Luo decided while Senior Cutie moved inside.


    "Wow."


    Senior Cutie looked around while pretending to be amazed by the magnificent-looking hall of this pce.

 Chapter 225 - Joe Ma, The Bullied!

    "Bam!"


    "What are you here for?"


    Zhao Luo asked Senior Cutie after closing the main door.


    He also followed behind him as Senior Cutie turned around to look at him.


    "Didn''t you want to help Little Pi Hao and that Xiao Yu in their missions?"


    Senior Cutie questioned Zhao Luo in return.


    "I want to but what does it have to do with you being here?"


    ''Even though I know he would be joining us, there is no reason toe here so early.''


    Zhao Luo thought but as he looked at the smirk on Senior Cutie''s face.


    ''Unless...''


    "Are we going to go to the mission zone? Now?"


    Zhao Luo stared at Senior Cutie and continued to ask him.


    ''If he is talking about the missions then we may be going to the mission zone now.''


    Zhao Luo guessed but wasn''t sure of the details himself.


    "Yeah, we are. Since it''s already morning, we will have a better chance to get a good mission. And if there are many options, we can select all five at the same time."


    Senior Cutie exined to Zhao Luo as he waited for Pi Hao and Xiao Yu to arrive at Zhao Luo''s ce.


    "We can select many at the same time?"


    "Yes. Even though all A-rank missions are worth 20 points, their difficulty varies. Not only that, every day there is a flock of such missions and without a limit, you can choose any number you want. Since we will be taking the A-rank missions and both, Xiao Yu and Little Pi Hao, need toplete five of them, we can select the five missions that would be easy for us to deal with."


    Senior Cutie told Zhao Luo about how the missions of the mission hall worked.


    "But remember, taking on the missions is just the start. Even though there is no limit, nobody has ever taken two A-rank missions at the same time. Not even a group of disciples has done that. That is just how hard and tiring the A-Rank missions are."


    "I see. Well, there is always a first for everything, and we four shall be the first ones to do this."


    Zhao Luo replied with a confident tone.


    ''This way, I will be able to go all out too.''


    He realized how big of a chance these missions would be providing him.


    A chance to give it his all against different kinds of hurdles.


    "Knock, Knock."


    While Zhao Luo was going over the details the main door was knocked on twice by someone.


    Zhao Luo turned around and opened his mouth.


    "Who''s there?"


    "Joe."


    "Joe, who?"


    A series of exchanges were made between Zhao Luo and the one who had knocked on the door.


    "It must be Joe Ma, one of the disciples who always run errands for Mo Suo."


    Senior Cutie told Zhao Luo as Zhao Luo proceeded to open the door.


    "What do you want?"


    Zhao Luo questioned the short guy who had knocked on the door a while ago.


    Joe Ma was a little tanned and had brown hair with an average structure, he was a foot shorter than Zhao Luo.


    "B-brother Zhao Luo, I am here to take Master Mo Suo''s stuff back."


    The disciple named Joe Ma stuttered as he evaded Zhao Luo''s eyes while speaking to him.


    Zhao Luo looked at the disciple and found a level six ck badge on his chest.


    ''So he has been bullying these disciples.''


    Zhao Luo wondered as he looked at the scared disciple in front of him.


    "Listen, Joe."


    Zhao Luo patted his shoulder and took out a gold coin from his storage space.


    ''Fwish.''


    ''p.''


    Zhao Luo tossed the coin to Joe Ma who awkwardly grabbed it while making a pping sound.


    "You don''t have to run errands for him. If he asks you for his stuff, just tell him that I burned his stuff. Okay?"


    Zhao Luo told Joe Ma as he patted his shoulder again.


    Joe Ma looked stupefied. He wasn''t worried about what Mo Suo would do to him as all of his concentration was on the gold coin in his hand.


    ''He used to give me ten silver coins once a month after pushing me around like a ve. While Brother Zhao Luo gave me a gold coin for doing nothing.''


    Joe Ma looked up as he gazed at Zhao Luo with respect and worship in his eyes.


    His mind was calcting the rewards he had just gotten.


    ''1 gold coin is equal to 100 silver coins. I just got paid for ten months.''


    ''Thud!''


    Joe Ma''s kneesnded on the ground as he looked at Zhao Luo with tears rolling down his bright eyes.


    "..."


    "Thank you, brother."


    Zhao Luo who was confused for a moment hurriedly helped Joe Ma up.


    "It''s okay. Now go and train since only strength will help you when it counts."


    Zhao Luo told him as he strongly held the side of his shoulder.


    ''Hopefully, he can increase his strength.''


    Zhao Luo hoped the best for this short disciple brother of his.


    Joe Ma nodded while feeling the warmth of this generous handsome senior of his.


    With tears of joy rolling down his face Joe Ma departed from the main door of Zhao Luo''s ce.


    Zhao Luo felt relieved.


    ''It would have been bad if he insisted on getting my (Mo Suo''s) items.''


    Zhao Luo shook his head and slowly raised his hand to close the door.


    "Wait."


    Senior Cutie who had been looking at the charitable side of Zhao Luo walked towards him.


    "We should leave too."


    Senior Cutie told Zhao Luo as he moved past him and exited the pce.


    Zhao Luo also followed along with his senior while wondering.


    ''What''s the hurry.''


    Just when Zhao Luo had such a thought, he looked ahead and found Xiao Yu and Pi Haoing towards him from the direction where Joe Ma had gone.


    "Oh, they are here."


    Zhao Luo mumbled.


    "Zhao Luo, you bastard."


    Xiao Yu cursed Zhao Luo as he reached them.


    "What?"


    Zhao Luo furrowed his brows as he red at Xiao Yu.

 Chapter 226 - Mission Hall Building

    A moment ago.


    Xiao Yu and Pi Hao were making their way towards the white pce. Right then a crying disciple was running in their direction from Zhao Luo''s ce.


    The crying disciple was none other than Joe Ma.


    When Xiao Yu stopped Joe Ma and asked him the reason for his weeping state.


    Joe Ma only replied with one name.


    "Zhao Luo."


    Xiao Yu who was busy watching the tears roll down his face didn''t realize that there was a smile on Joe Ma''s face.


    Thus Xiao Yu was infuriated and now the misunderstanding had developed into a situation where both Xiao Yu and Zhao Luo were angered.


    Zhao Luo who had no idea about why he was getting cursed by a loser, stepped towards Xiao Yu.


    But before anything could go on, Senior Cutie looked in the direction from where the two hade.


    "It''s a misunderstanding."


    Zhao Luo and Xiao Yu looked at their bald senior.


    "So, it''s like this..."


    He exined to them and told Xiao Yu that he was the one who was in the wrong.


    "See, you idiot."


    Zhao Luomented right after Senior Cutie.


    Xiao Yu clenched his fist and bowed his head.


    "My bad."


    He said to Zhao Luo but Zhao Luo wasn''t someone who would even need such a reaction to forgive someone.


    "It''s alright."


    "Let''s go to the mission zone."


    Zhao Luo told them as he moved past them.


    Xiao Yu and Pi Hao looked at each other since Zhao Luo looked like he was in more of a hurry toplete those missions than them.


    "He has his reasons."


    Senior Cutie told them as he was like Zhao Luo too.


    The four then set out to the mission hall/zone which was past the ck door.


    In a few minutes, Zhao Luo had left the living zone and was currently walking towards the ck door with Senior Cutie, Xiao Yu, and Pi Hao.


    "Brother, how many missions have youpleted?"


    Pi Hao asked Senior Cutie before staring at Zhao Luo''s back.


    ''I can''t believe brother Zhao Luo became an outer disciple just a week ago.''


    Pi Hao couldn''t even start wondering about Zhao Luo, since he already knew bits of information about Zhao Luo.


    "I havepleted 18 missions. 1 being A-Rank, 11 B-rank, and 6 C-Rank missions."


    Senior Cutie replied in a carefree tone.


    It was like he was telling Pi Hao about somethingmon.


    Pi Hao''s eyes widened as he heard the number and ranks of missions that Senior Cutie hadpleted.


    It was already incredible for an outer disciple toplete, five B-rank missions but Senior Cutie hadpleted 11 B-rank missions while he also had an A-Rank mission to boost about.


    Not to mention the C rank missions that most of the outer disciples try to stack since the C-rank missions are the easiest while awarding 5 points per mission sess.


    "That''s amazing."


    Pi Hao who had been dumbstruck suddenly praised Senior Cutie causing him to smile as he tilted his head upwards.


    "We are here."


    Zhao Luo said while his mind was fixed on the five A-Rank missions that they will be going for.


    "I need to pick the toughest missions."


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he stared into the darkness of the ck door.


    A pressure enveloped him and Zhao Luo felt like he was being pulled inside the door.


    Zhao Luo forced his legs downwards as he clenched his fist and tried to stand his ground.


    ''Grrr.''


    He groaned as the pressure from the door strengthened and Zhao Luo was barely able to resist it.


    Beads of sweat covered his forehead.


    ''I can''t.''


    Just a moment before Zhao Luo could give up and be pulled in the door, Xiao Yu and Senior Cutie ced their hands on his shoulder.


    "You okay?"


    They asked Zhao Luo who had a confused look on his face.


    "What was that?"


    Zhao Luo asked them with shaky eyes.


    "What?"


    "You guys didn''t feel the devouring force from the door?"


    Zhao Luo asked them but they all shook their heads.


    "It''s okay. I know the color sucks."


    Senior Cutie suddenly replied as though he could understand what Zhao Luo had gone through just an instant ago.


    "Hah."


    Zhao Luo shook his head.


    ''Why can I feel these sensations from all the doors?''


    Zhao Luo wondered as he looked around ncing at the red, yellow, and green doors quickly.


    "Let''s go."


    Senior Cutie entered the mission zone.


    Xiao Yu and Pi Hao followed behind him, and Zhao Luo was thest to enter the zone.


    The moment Zhao Luo entered the mission zone, he was rushed by a familiar feeling.


    ''Quite simr to my dark space.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he walked ahead along with the others.


    The mission zone was dark.


    Even the floor was dark since ck tiles made of ss were used.


    "entric."


    Zhao Luomented as he looked and found the ce to be very irregr from the norm.


    Zhao Luo looked ahead and found quite a building with a que hanging on top of the front entrance of the building.


    "Mission Hall."


    Even though the building was a single-story, the area it covered was unfathomable.


    "Why is this zone bigger than the library zone?"


    Zhao Luo wondered as he found just the building of the mission zone to be more than ten times spacious than the library tower.


    "You will know once we enter the hall."


    Senior Cutie said to Zhao Luo.


    The four then entered the mission hall.


    Right after entering Zhao Luo found hundreds of round tables with seats around them.


    Even though it was an early hour, hundreds of disciples were already here.


    Some were chatting, while others were just having a drink.


    ''It''s like a bar.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he looked at the drunk disciple.


    ''Indulging in alcohol right from the beginning. Wow.''


    Zhao Luo couldn''t help but feel awed by the resilience of these drunkards who were no less wine connoisseurs whenpared to his brother Feng Ma.

 Chapter 227 - The Pill Making Elder

    "Isn''t that the King?"


    A disciple''s twisted shout caught the attention of everyone.


    They all focused on the disciple who had shouted and noticed that his eyes were wide open as he stared at the exit of the mission hall.


    Everyone followed his gaze and an uproar hadmenced as they realized that Zhao Luo had entered the mission hall.


    "Thud!"


    Chairs fell and the tables were flipped as a group of disciples rushed at him.


    "What?"


    Zhao Luo was shocked as he almost fumbled backward looking at the fanaticsing at him.


    "Brother, please ept me as your disciple."


    "Brother Zhao Luo, let me be your right hand."


    "Brother, please ept me as your ve."


    Different confessions were flying towards Zhao Luo who couldn''t even look at them because of the awkward attention he was getting.


    "Someone''s pretty popr."


    Xiao Yu said in a cold tone.


    ''If I had won, then they all...''


    Xiao Yu wondered if he could have been in Zhao Luo''s ce.


    "Brother..."


    Just then he felt someone tugging the side of his robe.


    "Who dar-"


    Xiao Yu turned around while shouting but as he saw the culprit, the cold expression on his face changed into a warm one.


    "Yes, little sister."


    Xiao Yu said to the female disciple who had pulled his robe a moment ago.


    Looking at her, he had calmed down as she was the only female disciple who hade up to them along with the others and was talking to him instead of Zhao Luo.


    "C-can.."


    "Oh, don''t worry. Treat me as your older brother."


    Xiao Yu said to her in a low voice.


    Listening to Xiao Yu, the female disciple smiled as she took out a paper and tried to pass it to him.


    "What?"


    ''A confession!''


    Xiao Yu blushed and found the disciple saying something.


    "Can you get me brother Zhao Luo''s autograph?"


    She asked Xiao Yu gently while flickering her charm at him.


    "Bastard Zhao Luo."


    Xiao Yu cursed Zhao Luo under his breath and looked at the girl.


    "No!"


    He outright declined her request.


    ''If he is the heartthrob then I will be the heartbreak.''


    Xiao Yu made a decision and raised his foot.


    "Boom."


    He stomped his feet causing the ground to tremble.


    Everyone moved away as Xiao Yu moved forward.


    "What are you doing?"


    Zhao Luo asked Xiao Yu who looked enraged for some reason.


    "Let me handle it."


    Xiao Yu nced at Zhao Luo and then looked at the other disciple.


    "We are here to do something important that will decide your brother''s future."


    Xiao Yu pointed his hands at Zhao Luo as his eyes looked sharp.


    "So go away and stop disturbing us."


    Xiao Yupleted what he wanted to say causing the crowd to disperse.


    "See."


    Xiao Yu looked at Zhao Luo and the others with a grin.


    Zhao Luo moved up as he patted his shoulder.


    "Didn''t know you were so talkative."


    Zhao Luo whispered to Xiao Yu with a grin.


    Zhao Luo looked ahead and in the middle of the building, he found a ck wall that was separating the other half of the building.


    Zhao Luo squinted his eyes as he walked towards the wall.


    "Are those?"


    Zhao Luo pointed at the thousands of posters that were pinned on the wall.


    "Yes, those are the missions."


    Senior Cutie told him as this was a shock for Zhao Luo.


    "But why is the wall in the middle?"


    Zhao Luo questioned again.


    ''It makes no sense to erect a wall in the middle of the building.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he looked along the length of the wall and found it ongoing till the far end of the building.


    "The other side is where the inner disciples take their mission from. Since the mission zone of outer and inner halls are connected thus this mission hall building is shared by both disciples."


    "So there would be inner disciples taking missions on the other side."


    Zhao Luo said as he looked roughly towards the wall but no matter how he had he looked at it, he couldn''t see through.


    "Haha."


    Senior Cutieughed while looking at Zhao Luo.


    "Even though the wall is made of ck ss, the material used is directly from the ck salt rocks surrounding the dividend sea."


    Senior Cutie exined to Zhao Luo while Pi Hao went forward as he tried to lick the wall.


    ''Smack.''


    Xiao Yu smacked his head lightly.


    "What are you doing?"


    The embarrassed Xiao Yu asked Pi Hao who couldn''t help but look away.


    "Hmph."


    Xiao Yu moved away from them as started checking out the mission posters.


    Zhao Luo was also looking at them.


    "Hmm."


    His eyes fell on a D Rank mission, which was the lowest grade here.


    [ D Rank


    A Senior Elder, Elder Gay needs a healthy disciple to taste his pill.


    Mission: Eat two Earth Worm pills for ten days.


    Reward: 1 point or 1 Xin Coin.


    Bonus: If the pill seeds, Elder Gay has promised to give away two of his pills.]


    "So basically this elder gay needs a guinea pig to test out his pills."


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he inspected the poster.


    At the start was the grade of the mission, followed by a little bit of missions description. Then the mission itself and its rewards.


    "So there can be bonuses too."


    Zhao Luo said as he looked around at the other mission posters.


    "The bonuses are greater if the mission''s difficulty is unbnced irrelevant to its rank and no matter the difficulty, the mission is still not qualified to be of a higher rank."


    Senior Cutie told Zhao Luo while pointing back the D rank mission''s poster.


    "Like here."


    "The pills of this Elder Gay is pretty famous for causing stomach irritations, and sometimes they can even cause extreme diarrhea. Thus he always uses these bonuses as traps to snare the foolish disciples."


    Senior Cutie said with an evil grin but Zhao Luo could clearly see a hurtful expression hidden behind that grin.


    "Did he do that to you too?"


    Zhao Luo asked causing Senior Cutie to tremble as he unconsciously raised his hand and grabbed his stomach.


    ''What?''


    Zhao Luo looked at Senior Cutie weirdly like one of his senior''s hands was on his bald head and the other one, on his stomach.


    "That elder is the cause of my bald head."


    Senior Cutie confessed causing Zhao Luo to be shocked.


    "Just what kind of pill did he feed to that your hairs vanished."


    Zhao Luo questioned causing Senior Cutie''s eyes to get wet.


    "A vitality pill."


    Senior Cutie said while biting his lip.


    "A vitality pill, caused you to go bald."


    Zhao Luo mumbled with disbelief.


    ''If my understanding of vitality is same as his, then this shouldn''t have happened.''


    Zhao Luo thought while trembling in fear of this mysterious Elder Gay and his pills.

 Chapter 228 - The First Mission

    Zhao Luo looked at Senior Cutie with a tragic look.


    "I was fooled. That time, Elder Gay had also put a bonus on top of the reward."


    Looking at Zhao Luo who was sympathizing with his loss, Senior Cutie started telling about what had transpired, when he had taken on the mission for Elder Gay.


    "I had just advanced to level five ''V'' and at that time I was eager to a do a mission just like you. That is when I found a particr D-Rank mission by Elder Gay. With 3 days as the timeline of the mission and the mission itself being so easy, that is, simply eating vitality pills three times a day for three days straight, I thought that it would be a walk in the park."


    Senior Cutie''s eyes trembled as images of the past popped up in his mind.


    He could see his own past self who had a head full of hair and couldn''t help but barely hold back the tears that had long umted in his eyes.


    Zhao Luo patted his shoulder as he could somewhat understand the pain of his bald senior.


    Losing one''s hair wasn''t small torture. It came with the ridicule of others and the ps of one''s friends on the shiny surface of your head.


    "It''s okay."


    Senior Cutie shook his head and his eyes cleared as he continued his story.


    "The rewards were still one point or a xin coin but the bonuses were 5 times greater than the ones you see in front of you."


    Zhao Luo looked at the D-rank mission poster again.


    "Yes, the bonus of simply participating in that mission was 10 vitality pills of Elder Gay. Each vitality pill is supposed to pump your energy and stamina back to 100% but Elder Gay''s vitality pills were something else."


    "They not only pumped my energy to the peak but each of the pills caused a small amount of blood pressure to umte in the hair follicles of my head. The moment I took the ninth pill on the third day, all of my head hair popped out of my head leaving behind a clean surface."


    Senior Cutie told Zhao Luo his past with hardened eyes.


    "But you know what was more shocking."


    "What?"


    Zhao Luo replied following along with Senior Cutie''s remembrance of his past.


    "The moment my head lost all of its inhabitants, Elder Gay screamed."


    "It''s a sess. It''s a sess."


    "Listening to his shouts about his vitality pills being a sess, I barely held myself back from trying my utmost to kill him. Thus remember don''t fall for his scams or you may end up bald."


    Senior Cutie warned Zhao Luo while he could only nod as the atmosphere around Senior Cutie was extremely gloomy.


    ''I could have never guessed that he had such a tragic story.''


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he looked at Senior Cutie who was acting like he was ncing at the other posters but in reality, he was just hiding the tears in his eyes.


    "Hey,e here."


    Xiao Yu shouted breaking away the atmosphere around Zhao Luo and Senior Cutie.


    Zhao Luo moved towards Xiao Yu along with Senior Cutie and from the other side Pi Hao was also making his way towards Xiao Yu.


    "Look at this. This should be a good mission."


    Xiao Yu directed his hand towards a poster in front of him.


    "Hmm., let''s see what you got here."


    Zhao Luo looked at the mission poster and started browsing it.


    [ A-Rank


    17 residents of the entry city had abandoned their homes as they left the Xin Range yesterday but instead of leaving at day, they fled secretly at night.


    Turns out they were spies from Qi Range.


    Further investigation showed that the leader of these spies is expected to be at least a level nine ''?'' disciple of the ck tier from the Qi Sect, while the others are either trainee disciples or justmoners of the Qi Range.


    Mission: Bring them back to the Xin Sect, Dead or Alive!


    Reward: 20 points and 20 xin coins or gold coins.


    Bonus: If the inner disciple of the Qi Sect is brought back alive, an additional 20 coins will be awarded to the group.


    Disciples: 0/4]


    Since the end was thest thing Zhao Luo had seen, his first question was rted to it too.


    "Can there be a group bigger than 4 too?"


    "No, but the number of disciples in a group for an A-rank mission range from 2-4. But since this mission has a bonus thus four disciples will be needed before the group could ept this mission."


    Senior Cutie replied to Zhao Luo.


    "Just good for us."


    Xiao Yu replied while ring at the word Qi which was the Sect where these spies were from.


    Looking through the fiery gaze of Xiao Yu, Zhao Luo opened his mouth again.


    "Are we on bad terms with the Qi Sect?"


    Zhao Luo questioned them and the three looked at him with confusion as a result.


    "What do you mean? Isn''t it obvious? Everyone knows how evil the people of the Qi Range not to mention the devilish disciples of the Qi Sect."


    Pi Hao was the first tosh out.


    Zhao Luo could perceive the loathing that Pi Hao had towards the people of Qi Range.


    "Indeed. Who knows what kind of atrocities they have carried out in the entry mountain before fleeing after their work was done."


    Xiao Yu clenched his fist tightly.


    Zhao Luo couldn''t even begin to imagine the evil and the atrocities that Pi Hao and Xiao Yu were talking about.


    ''If they left at night, then that means it was during the tournament. How far could they reached already?''


    "But will we be able to catch up to them if we ept the mission now?"


    Zhao Luo questioned as he inspected the mission closely.


    "Easily. Since it would have taken them hours just to climb down the stairs without alerting anyone."


    Senior Cutie responded as he ripped the poster away from the wall.


    "If the leader is indeed just at level nine of the ck tier then we could easily overpower him and the other spies."


    Senior Cutie looked at them as their group also had a ck tier level nine ''?'' disciple too while Zhao Luo was the strongest even though he was a level eight ''VIII'' disciple.


    "Well, this is just one of the five. We need four more."


    Zhao Luo told them as they started looking around the ck wall.

 Chapter 229 - Beast Subjugation Missions

    Since it was still an early time and disciples inside the missions were only in a few hundred, Zhao Luo and the others were easily able to get an A-rank mission, each.


    For the first one, Xiao Yu had called others since it looked like a super hard mission, but the second one he found was simply "a subjugation of Giant Sand Rats" around a certain location of the Sara Desert.


    ''A group of sand rats should have around forty of them. While each sand rat can only have the strength of a level six ck tier disciple at most. We should be able to handle this easily.''


    Xiao Yu mumbled as he took the mission poster right after finding it.


    Both Senior Cutie and Pi Hao had also taken A-Rank beast subjugation missions just like Xiao Yu.


    These types of missions, that is the beast subjugations, were in a substantial amount while surrounded by other low-rank missions as these posters were spread all over the ck wall.


    But for lower ranks of such a mission, the rewards were less since the strength of the monster wouldn''t be that much, and the groups will have low numbers.


    Thus Xiao Yu, Senior Cutie, and Pi Hao, all had selected the same type of mission.


    Somewhat far away, Zhao Luo was looking through the mission posters but till now he hadn''t selected any.


    It wasn''t like he couldn''t find any A-rank missions but instead many a-rank had passed.


    ''Not one of them is worth doing.''


    Zhao Luo mumbled as his eyes kept on hovering on three things.


    "A-Rank."


    "Beast Subjugation."


    "Reward."


    "It''s all the same."


    "Why is there no bonus?"


    Zhao Luo looked around anxiously as he kept on going along the length of the wall.


    As he kept on leaving these missions behind, a moment came when the mission on the poster caught his eye.


    [ A-Rank


    An elder who had visited the dread forest two days ago had found a certain group of trees that are white and have golden leaves. These trees are on the far end of the forest.


    Not only are the trees different from the rest of the trees in the forest but the fruits from these trees are filled with extremely pure internal energy.


    The main issue with these fruits is that they can not be stored in the storage spaces and have to be carried physically. Thus the elder had to leave behind the 200 fruits which are filled with internal energy.


    Mission: Bring the 200 fruits back.


    Reward: 20 gold coins, 20 xin points.


    Bonus: 1 fruit will be awarded to every disciple of the group ( only if all the 200 fruits are in perfect condition )


    Disciples: 0/10 ]


    Zhao Luo looked at the A-rank mission poster with wide eyes.


    "I just have to pluck some fruits to get 40 points."


    Zhao Luo mumbled with a grin on his face.


    ''Shwaa.''


    Zhao Luo swiftly took the poster without waiting for even a second.


    "Even though the mission isn''t hard, there is a bonus too."


    Zhao Luo said to himself as the others gathered around him.


    "Little Brother, did you find a good mission?"


    Senior Cutie asked Zhao Luo as he looked at the grin on his face.


    "Come closer."


    Zhao Luo slowly told them while waving his hand.


    ''Hmm.''


    They all moved a step close as they followed Zhao Luo''s instruction.


    The four had their heads locked together while Zhao Luo showed them the mission with an unusual fruit-gathering request.


    "How is it?"


    Zhao Luo asked them while quickly ncing at their changing expressions.


    "Fruits have Internal energy?"


    "We only have to gather 200 of them toplete the mission."


    Pi Hao could hardly control himself as he read the information of the mission.


    "Thwack!"


    Senior Cutie''s knucklynded on his head while Zhao Luo''s voice reached him.


    "Hey, don''t get too excited."


    Zhao Luo said with a smile.


    He understood why Pi Hao was so excited.


    "We will be getting a fruit too."


    Zhao Luo told them the obvious.


    "It may be easy but it actually is a very hard mission."


    Senior Cutiemented and attracted the attention of Zhao Luo and Pi Hao.


    "He is right. Look, the limit of the group is ten disciples."


    Xiao Yu added.


    He was still gazing at the mission poster.


    "It''s okay. We need toplete this mission."


    Zhao Luo urged them as he had his own ns.


    ''I will be able to retrieve my capsule too.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he waited for their agreement.


    "If little brother says so then..."


    "Okay!"


    Senior Cutie agreed with Zhao Luo, right after listening to his yearning.


    Looking at Senior Cutie''s response, Pi Hao all started shaking his head up and down.


    "Yeah. Let''s go with it."


    He also agreed with it.


    The three then looked at Xiao Yu who was thest toment.


    "As if I fear challenges. Bring it on!"


    Xiao Yu mumbled while Zhao Luo smiled brightly.


    Just then Pi Hao showed the mission that he had taken from the wall.


    "Brothers, this is the mission that I have picked."


    He said to them while bringing it forward.


    "What? A group of Drift Worms?"


    Barely controlling hisughter, Zhao Luo read the mission.


    "Why? What''s wrong?"


    Pi Hao asked awkwardly.


    ''Did I pick a very easy mission?''


    "Brother Zhao Luo is something wrong with this mission?"


    He questioned Zhao Luo again while feeling a little embarrassed.


    "No, it''s not because of that."


    Zhao Luo shook his hand as he ced his finger on the monster''s name.


    "I just found its name a little bit weird."


    Zhao Luo told Pi Hao.


    "But the name isn''t weird at all. These worms have weird movements and they never dwell in the sand, instead, they move with rapid speed on the surface of the desert with their mouths open."


    Senior Cutie exined to Zhao Luo while taking out his poster.


    Xiao Yu was also bringing forward the mission he had in his hand.


    "I see. Then the other beasts of the desert may just be Flying monkeys and giant rats."


    Zhao Luo said whileughing it off.


    But as he looked at the expression of the stunning Senior Cutie and Xiao Yu, Zhao Luo snatched away the mission posters in their hands.


    "No Way."


    Zhao Luo mumbled as the mission was indeed the subjugating the groups of such beasts.

 Chapter 230 - Meeting With Elder Gay

    "Brother, are you a seer?"


    Pi Hao asked Zhao Luo with shining eyes.


    Pi Hao had his palms turned towards Zhao Luo as he looked at him with respect.


    ''Does he want me to read his palms?''


    "I am not a seer. But I can read your palm."


    Zhao Luo could easily see through, what Pi Hao was trying to ask him through his expression.


    A smile slowly appeared on his face.


    "p."


    Zhao Luo grabbed his palm while Senior Cutie and Xiao Yu moved a few steps away as they were also very interested in seeing what Zhao Luo would tell about Pi Hao''s future.


    ''Hmm.''


    Zhao Luo made a deep sound as he tightened his grip around Pi Hao''s palm.


    "Ack, so what does it say brother?"


    Pi Hao asked Zhao Luo who was staring at the lines of his with a very hard gaze.


    "I didn''t know, palm gazing was a thing here too."


    Zhao Luo first said as he let go of Pi Hao''s hand.


    ''Pi Hao''s action was indeed a surprise.''


    "I have read your future."


    Zhao Luo told him and an excited look appeared on his face.


    Senior Cutie and Xiao Yu were more excited than Pi Hao.


    "But I can only tell the uing events, but not too far in the future."


    Zhao Luo warned him as he said coldly.


    "It''s okay."


    Pi Hao hurriedly replied as he waited to know his future.


    "You willplete five missions and umte a good amount of points and coins as rewards. Overall I can see you holding an unusual fruit in your hands."


    Zhao Luo said to him slowly.


    Pi Hao''s excited eyes died down as he had been fooled and there was no way that he could not tell that.


    "Hahaha."


    Senior Cutie on the other handughed at Zhao Luo''s craftiness.


    "So you are a scammer."


    Xiao Yimented on Zhao Luo''s action and turned around just to hide his abrupt smile.


    Zhao Luo smiled and patted the shoulder of Pi Hao.


    "What will you do after knowing the future? The present is what decides your future. The current moment and your decisions in such moments matter."


    Zhao Luo gave his piece to Pi Hao who had been fooled by him.


    But as Pi Hao listened to Zhao Luo his eyes widened once again and the little bit of frustration that he had felt was washed by these words of Zhao Luo.


    ''I feel encouraged.''


    Pi Hao realized and nodded at Zhao Luo.


    "Brothers, let''s go before we waste any more time."


    Senior Cutie suddenly voiced out as he started moving toward the right of the wall.


    If the wall was on the opposite side of the exit, then a closed office was on one of the ends, that is, on the right end of the wall.


    That office had a junior elder, who was either sleeping or picking his nose while waiting for the disciples to annoy them as they brought him the mission which they wanted to embark on, and when theypleted their mission.


    Reaching the office, Zhao Luo looked through the ss window and found the elder, whose seat was turned around, while he was busy scratching his back.


    "Knock, knock."


    Senior Cutie knocked on the ss window and got the attention of the elder.


    "Which rascal is it?"


    "Can''t you see I am bus-"


    "Oh~."


    The elder chased as he turned around but the moment he saw Zhao Luo, he stopped talking and a long ''oh'' escaped his mouth.


    "If it isn''t the friend of Second Elder "


    The elder said as he got up from his seat.


    "Or should I call you a sessor candidate? Hmm."


    He mumbled to himself while Zhao Luo remembered how the Second Elder had announced being his friend in front of everyone.


    While Zhao Luo remembered the Second Elder, the junior elder came out of his office and reached them.


    "Quite handsome too."


    "Unlike this baldy."


    The junior elder smiled at Zhao Luo which soon disappeared when he looked at Senior Cutie.


    "Elder you haven''t changed."


    Senior Cutie awkwardly smiled after the junior elder had put him on the spot.


    "I haven''t changed but you certainly have. Because of the rumor, you have spread about me, no disciple has been willing to help me out or ept my missions."


    Junior Elderined as he almost smacked Senior Cutie a couple of times.


    "Haha, elder I was young back then and it was a joke. Just consider me as my immature self messing around."


    Senior Cutie raised his finger as he med his past self.


    "But why did you have to me my vitality pills for your natural baldness?"


    The junior elder bit his lips as he asked Senior Cutie coldly.


    He still couldn''t believe how he still rewarded this bald disciple with 10 pills as a mission bonus at that time.


    "Hah, I wonder."


    Senior Cutie embarrassingly said.


    ''tap''


    "Hope you are not spreading those rumors still!"


    The junior elder said to Senior Cutie with a cold grin as he nced at him from the corner of his eyes.


    "Only a fool would believe such a story."


    Senior Cutie said as he nced at Zhao Luo.


    "What about the pressure that hadunched all your hair from your head?"


    Zhao Luo whispered in Senior cutie after moving close to him.


    ''Calling me a fool like this. This baldy.''


    Zhao Luo mumbled while ring at Senior cutie.


    "Elder you must be, Elder Gay."


    Zhao Luo bowed his head as he looked at the junior elder.


    "Oh wow. It''s my pleasure to be known by the future star of our sect. I can''t believe that even a genius like you knows me?"


    Junior Elder Gay told Zhao Luo with disbelief written all over his face.


    "Oh, it''s because my senior had a lot of praises for your pills."


    Zhao Luo pointed his hands at Senior Cutie, leaving him in a bind.


    The Junior Elder hurriedly red at Senior Cutie.


    "What did this little bastard had to say about me?"


    He asked Zhao Luo with a worried smile.


    "Haha."


    "What are you talking about Little Brother?"


    "Elder Gay, I only told him about how amazing your pills are and how big of a blessing you are for the disciples of the Xin Sect."


    Senior Cutie added as fastly as the fall of lightning in a thunderstorm.

 Chapter 231 - Registering The Names For The Missions

    "Haha, good, good. That''s definitely how remarkable the pills I make are."


    Elder Gay praised his pills as he stroked his beard with one hand while patting the side of Senior Cutie''s arm with the other.


    "I remember the time when even the Sect Leader praised me for my vitality pill. His urate words were, ''my stomach has never trembled so much, ah, what a wonderful remark from him."


    Elder Gay told them as he continued singing praises of his pill-making skills, that is, alchemy.


    Senior Cutie smiled while sighing as he had just avoided a big tragedy that could have fallen on him but now he had to hear the boasting of this elder.


    Senior Cutie moved closer to Zhao Luo.


    ''The stomachache was real and more intense than anything you can imagine.''


    He whispered to Zhao Luo causing him to be stunned.


    "Then from trembling..."


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he imagined an awkward image of Xin Wang who was holding his stomach and clenching his muscles of the abyss.


    "Hah."


    Zhao Luoughed it off and presented the posters to the Elder.


    "Elder, these are the missions we want to embark on."


    Zhao Luo informed him but he didn''t know what was going to happen.


    ''Will he do something?''


    Zhao Luo wondered while Elder Gay took the mission posters from him and went inside his office.


    "You four."


    He addressed them while ncing at everyone.


    "I know how strong all of you are. Especially you, young man."


    Elder Gay pointed his finger ar, Zhao Luo.


    "But I will rmend you four to take things slow."


    "Five missions at the same time will mean that you will have toplete all of them in a single trip."


    "Will you be able to do this, without resting while going through the outrageous conditions of the Sara desert?"


    Elder Gay asked them since the only thing he could do was to test their resolve.


    "As for your decision, I will respect it."


    He told them while inspecting any minute change that could appear on their faces.


    But, Zhao Luo was calm.


    Not only him, Xiao Yu, Pi Hao, and Senior Cutie weren''t worried in the least.


    The two of them were already in the top ten as Zhao Luo stood at the summit of the outer hall.


    While Xiao Yu even after losing to Zhao Luo, considered him his equal thus that only left Pi Hao as the odd one. But even being the weakest of the group didn''t affect him.


    "We canplete them."


    "No."


    "We willplete them!"


    Pi Hao stepped forward as his voice was shaking with overflowing confidence.


    "I see."


    Elder Gay mumbled while looking at the deep expression on Pi Hao''s face.


    Then he nced at the others and found them looking at Pi Hao with a smile on their face.


    "Good!"


    ''Not only they are strong but their bond is strong too.''


    Elder Gay deduced as he brought his hand out of the ss window.


    "Give me your badges."


    Elder Gay told them and they followed his instruction.


    After passing their badge to the elder, Zhao Luo turned to Senior Cutie while the elder was busy putting the four badges on the mission posters one by one.


    "What is he doing?"


    Zhao Luo asked Senior Cutie while peeking at the Elder''s hand in between his question.


    "He is registering us. The badges not only show our level but each badge has a name embedded in it. The name of the person to which it belongs too. As the elder ced our badge on the poster, the mission poster has registered our names."


    Senior Cutie exined to Zhao Luo since he couldn''t get a chance to tell him this before.


    "Interesting. I didn''t know that before."


    Zhao Luomented as he indeed had no idea that the small badge which was always on his chest had such a function too.


    "Here you go."


    The elder returned the posters to Zhao Luo after registering their names on these missions.


    Zhao Luo inspected the five posters one after another.


    ''I can''t find my name or theirs here.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he hadn''t realized the change yet.


    "Look here."


    Senior Cutie ced his finger at the end of the poster.


    The poster in Zhao Luo''s hand had the fruit-gathering mission in the dread forest, and Senior Cutie''s finger was just beneath the ''disciple'' part.


    [ Disciple: 4/10 ]


    "Hmm."


    Zhao Luo realized the change and stored the posters in his storage space.


    "Thank you, Elder Gay."


    Zhao Luo and the other bowed their heads while the Elder nodded as he looked at their respectful manner.


    Looking at them, he slowly opened his mouth.


    "I already told you, that you don''t need to be so respectful to me. Just consider me as your friend too."


    Elder Gay told Zhao Luo while his words were soft showing that he wasn''t kidding around.


    Zhao Luo raised his head and looked at the smile on the Elder''s face.


    "It will be my pleasure."


    Zhao Luo told him but then Senior Cutie moved forward.


    "Gay, can I treat you as a friend too?"


    Senior Cutie generously asked while already treating the Elder as a friend.


    "Haha, let me tell you my answer after I leave this office."


    The elder got up from his seat and as soon, as he tried to leave the office, Senior Cutie started shaking his hands.


    "Elder, it was just a joke. I wouldn''t dare to speak casually to you."


    Senior Cutie turned his friendly tone to a respectful one.


    "Good. Now go."


    Elder waved him off as he told the others to set out for their journey.


    "Yes!"


    Senior Cutie, Xiao Yu, and Pi Hao replied as they turned towards the direction of the exit.


    "We will be back soon."


    Zhao Luo let out hisment before turning towards the exit too.


    In a while, Zhao Luo and the others had left the mission hall and ultimately leaving the mission zone.


    "First we will get to the TPC building then to the 12th City, thewless city."


    Senior Cutie told them the n while moving towards the exit of the outer hall.

 Chapter 232 - Back At The Lawless City

    "Let''s hurry."


    Senior Cutie said right after telling them the n.


    He picked up his speed, and instead of walking out of the outer hall, he ran towards the exit with a steady rhythm. This allowed Zhao Luo and the others to be right behind him.


    Fifteen minutester, the four were already at the exit of the outer hall and exited the outer hall without wasting any time but they didn''t stop even after exiting the outer hall as Senior Cutie was the one who was adjusting their pace.


    They proceeded towards the TPC building at a speed that even Pi Hao could manage.


    Since the moment they had left the mission hall building, it had been 20 minutes since then and now Zhao Luo was once again back at the TPC building.


    Standing outside the ck TPC building, nostalgia hit him hard, harder than a truck.


    "Ah, this brings back memories."


    ''Even though it hasn''t been that long, but it definitely felt like a lot of time.''


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he remembered the time when he was telling the Second Elder that he will be the strongest in the Xin Sect.


    ''I have already achieved a step.''


    Zhao Luo said in his mind as he was already the top disciple of the outer hall.


    "Let''s go in."


    Senior Cutie said to them and proceeded inside the building.


    Zhao Luo and the others followed behind him.


    Right after entering the building, Zhao Luo looked around.


    "The circle is the same."


    "Oh, even he is here too."


    Zhao Luo looked at the disciple who was the one on porter duty today.


    It was the same disciple that Zhao Luo had seen when he arrived at the Sect''s TPC building.


    "Where do you want to go seniors?"


    The porter asked them as Zhao Luo and the others entered the circle.


    "Thewless city!"


    Senior Cutie replied to the porter gently with a smile on his face.


    ''Nod.''


    The porter nodded as he activated the teleportation circle.


    "Don''t we have to pay?"


    Looking at the glowing light emerging from beneath his feet, Zhao Luo asked.


    "Why would we? Disciples don''t have to pay when they are leaving the sect and that only happens when they are on a mission."


    Senior Cutie exined to Zhao Luo as the light enveloped them.


    "Whoosh."


    The four disappeared from the circle.


    A momentter, the disciple on porter duty mumbled.


    "That handsome brother looked familiar."


    He tried to remember where he had seen Zhao Luo before but to no result.


    Since even in his wildest imagination, he wouldn''t dare to think that a current level eight "VIII" outer disciple was a trainee about a month ago.


    -


    At the entry city, the city was still as crowded as ever.


    With trash polluting every one of the streets and bloodied bodies dropped around the corners, the city lived up to its name.


    ''Thewless City.''


    In the middle of such a city, inside a ck building, a group of four disciples in purple robes suddenly appeared in a circle.


    "Wee Senior Brothers."


    The disciple at the TPC building hurriedly bowed to them.


    ''I am back.''


    Zhao Luo thought but then realized that he had sudden nausea.


    "But I can''t get used to it."


    Zhao Luoined while stepping out of the circle with wobbling feet as he greeted the disciple.


    "Hah, what a kid."


    Xiao Yumented right after listening to Zhao Luo.


    "Look at your feet. Who is the kid now?"


    Zhao Luo pointed at Xiao Yu''s which looked like tree branches swinging in a storm and shouted back at him.


    "Well, this is because I am leaving the Sect for the first time."


    Xiao Yu scratched his head and tried toe back with an excuse.


    "It''s the same for me."


    Zhao Luo replied as they both felt the aftereffects of not being able to handle the spatial transfer.


    "It will be fine. Let''s go."


    Senior Cutie said in a serious tone as he passed them.


    "Are you guys okay?"


    Pi Hao asked while ncing at them.


    "I am fine but I think Brother Xiao Yu needs us to carry him."


    Zhao Luo replied to Pi Hao''s question as he had already regted his bnce.


    "Who needs help? I am fine too."


    Xiao Yu said coldly as he followed behind Senior Cutie.


    "Sigh. This tsundere nature of his."


    Zhao Luo smirked as he and Pi Hao licked up their pace.


    As they exited the TPC building, the people around the building and those who were far away from it, all stared at Zhao Luo and the others in horror.


    "Run. It''s the disciples from the Xin Sect."


    People shouted as they tried to enter the secluded roads between the building around them.


    "What? Why are they running away?"


    Zhao Luo was shocked by the reaction of these people who were looking at him and his brothers as if they were some kind of monster.


    "I remember that even a kid walked up to mest time when I was here with Brother Si Chen and Sister Mo Anna."


    Zhao Luo remembered the kid who was even strange enough to stab him even though at that time he was with two disciples.


    "This must be their doing."


    Senior Cutie who had been looking pretty seriously squinted his eyes as he told them through his breath.


    "Their?"


    Pi Hao mumbled as he couldn''t understand Senior Cutie''s words.


    "The spies from Qi Sect."


    Xiao Yu added and Zhao Luo nodded as he heard Xiao Yu''sment.


    "There are people of both ranges here but most are outcast, unlike the ones who had fled at night."


    Senior Cutie started talking as he started walking away from the TPC building along with Zhao Luo and the other two.


    "Some of the ruined families of Xin Sect are here too but they all live in fear here. The conditions are the same in the other seven cities too. Except for the first city where the royal families and the ck city is, the second city where the merchants live, and the third city where the Five Martial Arts Families are. The other cities are corrupted just like this one."


    Senior Cutie was telling them in a low voice as though letting such words fall on the ears of others could cause trouble for him.


    "Then do you mean?"


    Zhao Luo understood what Senior Cutie was trying to tell them as the 8 cities were divided under the two royal families.

 Chapter 233 - Down The Stairs, We Go

    "So you have already guessed the meaning behind my words."


    Senior Cutie nced at Zhao Luo as they made their way towards the exit of the entry mountain.


    "Then the Mo and Feng families are corrupted."


    Zhao Luo mumbled with an unusual look on his face.


    Zhao Luo''s brows were furrowed and looked like they had joined.


    "But the elder and Feng Ma aren''t like that."


    Zhao Luo said to Senior Cutie.


    "That may be the case but in the end, the person from those families who have been appointed to see over the city only care about their wealth. Not the people of the cities they are ruling over."


    Senior Cutie exined to Zhao Luo with a hard look.


    ''How does he know that?''


    Zhao Luo realized the hardened look on his Senior''s face and tried to find the reason behind this expression.


    "Senior Cutie, which city are you from?"


    Zhao Luo asked Senior Cutie while feeling a little reluctant since he could already presume what the answer of Senior Cutie will be.


    "I am from the Fourth City but...."


    Senior Cutie stopped talking as the group had reached a big gate.


    "Let''s talk about thatter."


    Senior Cutie said to Zhao Luo as his previous saddened expression vanished and a forced smile appeared on his face.


    ''Nod.''


    Zhao Luo nodded his head and looked ahead.


    ''I need to focus on the missions for now. Knowing the situation of the cities willeter.''


    ''I should ask Brother Sang since he is the leader of the number one merchant group of the Xin Sect.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he focused his sight on what had to be done at the moment.


    "Open the gates."


    Senior Cutie instructed the guards who were at the gate.


    "Yes, Sir."


    They both shouted at the exact time and pulled the gate by the round hook that was attached as the gates knob.


    ''Booom.''


    The gates were pulled open and Zhao Luo with the others followed behind Senior Cutie who had rushed out of it.


    ''Is he going to stay silent now?''


    Zhao Luo wondered as he looked at the back of Senior Cutie who was leading them down the stairs.


    Looking around while going down Zhao Luo remembered the race he had with Si Chen and Mo Anna.


    "Ah, memories."


    He couldn''t help but exim aloud.


    "Maybe I will be able to meet him."


    Zhao Luo squinted his eyes as he tried to look for someone at the base of the entry mountain but the only thing he could see was the forever ongoing stairs.


    Ten minutester.


    "Down the stairs, we go."


    ''But there is no end to them.''


    Zhao Luoined but till now they had already crossed more than 100,000 stairs.


    "Let''s hurry!"


    Senior Cutie told them an instant before he started leaping downwards.


    With each step, Zhao Luo would pass more than 50 stairs beforending on the next one.


    This much was still bearable for even Pi Hao who was keeping up with them.


    In a second, Zhao Luo and the others would repeat this step five times thus passing 250 stairs every second.


    Around an hourter.


    "Jump."


    Senior Cutie shouted as he leaped forward instead of downwards, jumping from the remaining stairs.


    Zhao Luo, Xiao Yu, and Pi Hao also followed his movements instantly.


    ''BAM~''


    ''BAM~''


    Zhao Luo watched Senior Cutiend on the group and then he with the other two alsonded behind him.


    "What''s the n now?"


    Xiao Yu asked Senior Cutie as he could barely hold back his excitement.


    "First we will need to move in that direction. Only this path can take us towards the Qi Sect and at the fastest speed."


    "We need to get the spies before they enter the area around the Qi Mountain Range."


    Senior Cutie pointed his hand diagonally towards the right.


    ''That is away from the dread forest.''


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he looked towards the direction where Senior Cutie was pointing at.


    As he was lost in his thought, Zhao Luo didn''t realize that arge beast was approaching them.


    With swift motions, only a dark shade of its movement was left behind as it moved towards them.


    "Get ready. An enemy is approaching us."


    Senior Cutie advised them as he squinted his eyes but didn''t know what wasing at them.


    ''Who would dare to attack us, Xin Sect''s disciple at the base of the Xin Mountain''s entry city?''


    Even though he was wondering about the identity of the enemy or the enemies approaching them, it didn''t distract him or the others who got ready to face the enemy.


    ''Shwaa.''


    From their far left, a shadow passed behind the objects that were blocking their view.


    "Who could it be?"


    Pi Hao asked nervously even though he was the most confident one in the group but that was still when he was in hisfort zone, that is, in the Sect.


    ''So this is the pressure of a real situation.''


    He thought as he looked around trying to find the enemy which had vanished suddenly.


    "They couldn''t be the spies of the Qi Sect. Right?"


    Xiao Yu asked as he slightly moved his leg apart and slowly brought his palms together.


    Pi Hao tightened his fist and Senior Cutie brought out a long bronze rod from his storage ring.


    "I don''t know who it is but if it''s the spies, kill them on the spot."


    Senior Cutie said to them coldly as even he felt pressured facing a sudden enemy at the weirdest ce.


    Senior Cutie, Xiao Yu, and Pi Hao had their back against each other while they looked around.


    "It''s okay."


    Zhao Luo''s soft voicended on their ears and they were stunned as they realized the carefree attitude of Zhao Luo who was walking towards a big rock, presumably where the enemy was hiding behind.


    "Little Brother, what are you doing?"


    Zhao Luo heard Senior Cutie''s worried voice as he walked away from them.


    Listening to the question of his Senior, Zhao Luo turned his face to look at them.


    "It''s okay since it''s my friend."


    While Zhao Luo was looking back to answer Senior Cutie, a big sand lion leaped at him from behind the rock.

 Chapter 234 - The Tamed Beast

    Senior Cutie looked in Zhao Luo''s direction with widened eyes.


    "Little Brother, behind you."


    He shouted as the beast closed in on Zhao Luo.


    Xiao Yu and Pi Hao tried to move towards him but their steps slowed down as even they realized that the beast was way faster than them.


    ''Noo.''


    Pi Hao closed his eyes as thest scene he saw was the beast''s head right behind Zhao Luo while Zhao Luo was looking at them with a smile.


    Zhao Luo giggled as he looked at their reaction.


    The beast being a sand lion, had a giant and sturdy body showing that it was not just your usual lion from any pack.


    It stopped right behind Zhao Luo''s back and opened its mouth.


    A roar was expected or the sand lion may just be trying to rip off the head of the person in front of him.


    That was also the moment Zhao Luo turned around to look at the sand lion.


    The sand lion''s mouth slowly closed and a sound escaped his mouth.


    "Meow~"


    Right after the sound of a cat was released by it, the sand lion closed its mouth.


    "Was that its roar?"


    Xiao Yi was shocked and said as he looked at Zhao Luo raising his hand towards the sand lion''s head.


    "Good boy. Bimba did you miss me?"


    Zhao Luo asked the sand lion who started wagging its tail.


    "I knew you wouldn''t leave me."


    Zhao Luo told Bimba while rubbing its head.


    Indeed Bimba had never left the Xin Range''s 10-km radius.


    It wasn''t like he didn''t want to leave it but after trying numerous times and somehow returning at the stairs even when he went straight, Bimba had ultimately given up.


    Instead of escaping the mountain range, Bimba chose to wait for Zhao Luo who had be its master after defeating it.


    "Roar~"


    A loud cry left Bimba''s mouth and Zhao Lip proceeded to hop on Bimba''s back.


    "Let''s go."


    He patted Bimba and Bimba started making its way towards the three brothers of Zhao Luo who were looking at Zhao Luo as though he was a monster himself.


    "What are you waiting for?"


    Zhao Luo questioned as he looked at Senior Cutie, Xiao Yu, and Pi Hao.


    "Get on."


    Zhao Luo patted on the big back of Bimba as he said them to get on its back.


    "Wow."


    Senior Cutie was the first to jump on Bimba''s back.


    Following his awe and action, Xiao Yu and Pi Hao also joined Zhao Luo and Senior Cutie.


    "Brother, you never mentioned you were keeping a sand lion as a pet. When did you even tame it?"


    Xiao Yu who had been calling ''Zhao Luo'' by simply his name, was using a respectful title to address Zhao Luo.


    ''I want a sand lion too.''


    Xiao Yu thought as he waited for Zhao Luo''s answer.


    Since he hadn''t even seen Bimba fight so Xiao Yu could only imagine how strong the beast was.


    Zhao Luo smiled and looked at Xiao Yu.


    "You never asked."


    He said whileughing at Xiao Yu''s respectful tone.


    "Hmph, don''t tell me then."


    ''Fool.''


    Xiao Yu turned his head away from Zhao Luo and pouted while Zhao Luo also looked ahead in the direction Bimba was taking them.


    "We will be able to reach them earlier than I thought."


    Senior Cutie said slowly while looking down at Bimba.


    ''I can feel the hot wind passing through my hair.''


    "Oh wait, I don''t have any."


    Because of the shock, he had after learning about Zhao Luo''s Bimba, Senior Cutie even forgot about his barren head.


    "Brother, what are you mumbling about?"


    Zhao Luo asked Senior Cutie who was sitting next to him


    "I am just happy to have a little brother like you."


    Senior Cutie told Zhao Luo as being all serious wasn''t his thing and now he could just sit back and chill on the back of Bimba as he catches up to them.


    "I am not falling for that."


    Zhao Luo smiled in response and said the words he believed through his smile.


    "Hah, I guess I can''t fool you anymore."


    "Yes, and since Bimba is my beast, I hope you understand."


    Zhao Luo replied to Senior Cutie the moment he knew he was caught.


    "Then let''s do this, I will give you a part of my rewards after we return. Okay?"


    Senior Cutie tried to bargain with Zhao Luo who startedughing.


    "Hahahaha."


    Zhao Luo''s innocentugh was loud yet not annoying in any manner.


    "I never asked for anything but if you want to give something to me, then it will be my pleasure."


    Zhao Luo acted dumb but he had indeed forced Senior Cutie to say those words unconsciously by leading him on.


    "Little Brother, you are bing very good at duping others."


    Senior Cutieined as he looked at Xiao Yu and Pi Hao who wereughing at his sad situation.


    "I am just learning from the best."


    Zhao Luo smirked and stared at Senior Cutie as he was the one who was always fooling him yet now Zhao Luo was just giving his senior a taste of his own medicine.


    "Sigh. I lose."


    Senior Cutie gave up and looked ahead towards the direction of the Qi Range which was thousands of kilometers away from the Xin Range.


    Zhao Luo also followed his gaze as this was just the start of their journey as they hoped to reach the spies of the Qi range led by the outer disciple of the Qi Sect before the spies reached the Qi Mountain Range.


    An hour passed and Zhao Luo was still looking around as the scenery around him stayed the same while Bimba moved swiftly towards the direction of the Qi Sect.


    He and the others looked ahead hoping to catch the sight of their targets but till now there was no such luck.


    "Do you think, they are already at the Qi Range?"


    Pi Hao questioned as the burning sun and the hot desert was making him sweat so hard that he was losing his rationality.


    Under such intense and unbearable conditions, everyone would be the same.


    "No chance."


    Senior Cutie replied with confidence.

 Chapter 235 - Leader Of The Spies

    "Why so?"


    Zhao Luo was the one who questioned Senior Cutie''s confidence.


    "How are you so sure that there is no chance of them reaching the Qi Range already?", Zhao Luo continued but this wasn''t the end, "What if they already had beast to travel on too?"


    Zhao Luo looked at Senior Cutie while presenting his thoughts on the matter.


    "Do you think this sand lion stayed back for you? A beast waiting for a human?"


    Senior Cutie replied with a question.


    A question that seemed to be irrelevant to the situation but was an important one.


    Zhao Luo nced at Bimba.


    Even though he already felt attached to Bimba, Zhao Luo still knew that there was some other reason behind Bimba staying back at the base of the entry mountain for over a month.


    "Well, I don''t know. He may have missed me."


    Zhao Luo slowly mumbled back while rolling his eyes.


    "Hah, then exin the shameless look on your face. Even you don''t believe what you have just said, Little Brother."


    Senior Cutie smiled as hemented on Zhao Luo who was looking away at the moment.


    "This beast of yours was like a rat trapped in a box. That is how devious the formation is, which is set around the 10-km radius of the Range."


    Senior Cutie started telling Zhao Luo about the formation.


    They had already left the formation an hour ago.


    "Other ranges are the same too. They also have their own formations around their ranges for protections.", Senior continued while the three listened to him.


    "Protection from what?"


    Zhao Luo wondered as he couldn''t think of anything that could endanger the top elders and the Sect leader of the Xin Sect.


    "The hidden beasts! Many threats are still lurking in the Sara desert without letting anyone know of their existence this formation is just a safety factor."


    "If these formations weren''t around the ranges, then who knows what kind of beast army from the Sara Desert would be rushing at these ranges. The main point is that since a beast was trapped for so long inside the formation that it had to give up, even the spies of the Qi Sect would have wasted a lot of time finding their way out."


    Senior Cutie exined the reason behind hisment of the spies having no chance of reaching their mountain range just yet.


    Zhao Luo''s deep eyes looked like they were shining under the bright sun as he listened to Senior Cutie''s exnation.


    ''So there are some hidden beasts in the Sara Desert.''


    Zhao Luo learned something new.


    He could have never imagined that there could be such a threat lying just next to the Xin Mountain Range.


    ''But for now...''


    Zhao Luo looked ahead and squinted his eyes as the vision of sand kept on going on and on without an end.


    It was just ayer of scorching sand decorated with giant rocks which would appear from time to time, in his sight.


    "Then we will catch up to them soon."


    Zhao Luo said to Senior Cutie who was also looking around trying to look for the spies from the Sect as Bimba continued to race towards the direction in which the Qi Mountain Range was.


    "They may just be resting under the shade of some rock. So keep scouting."


    Senior Cutie told them as Xiao Yu and Pi Hao were already on the lookout.


    -


    Another hour passed, and Zhao Luo and others were already very far from the Xin Range.


    Yet, there was no sign of the spies. But as Bimba continued with his rapid speed, they happened upon the mutted corpses of sand lions which were more than a disturbance that simply had to appear in their way.


    ''ROAR~''


    Bimba let out a loud cry as it stopped a few steps away from the carcasses of his fellow sand lion.


    ''Tap, tap.''


    Zhao Luo patted his back as he got down from it and moved towards the first sand lion which was split apart in a horrified manner.


    "The beast still has its eyes open."


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he crouched between the two halves of the sand lion and ced his hands right on the eyes of the beast, one of them was on his right and the other on his left while slowly bringing his hands down.


    The sand lion''s eyes were covered thanks to Zhao Luo.


    "Wait."


    Senior Cutie reached him and touched the open half of the sand lion.


    "The blood is fresh. They must have passed this area not too long ago."


    Senior Cutie told Zhao Luo as he turned back and jumped back on Bimba.


    Zhao Luo looked ahead and eleven more sand lions were lying on the sand without breath since they were all killed but all of them were different to just this one.


    The eleven had their bodies intact while halves of the one Zhao Luo was sitting in between, looked like it was ripped apart in an instant.


    Zhao Luo turned around to look at Bimba and then nced back at this sand lion.


    "Bimba is half of this one''s size. This may turn out to be a little dangerous."


    Zhao Luo spected but then a voice reached him.


    "Little Brother, let''s go. We need to hunt them down."


    Senior Cutie said to Zhao Luo.


    ''Nod.''


    Zhao Luo nodded his head and jumped in a squatting position as hended on Bimba''s back.


    "ROAR~"


    Bimba let out a furious howl so loud that even Zhao Lul had to cover his ears.


    ''Pat.''


    Zhao Luoforted it as he sat back.


    "It''s okay. I will avenge these sand lions."


    Zhao Luo assured Bimba as it leaped towards the direction of the Qi Range.


    -


    More than ten kilometers away from them, a group of people in ck clothing from head to toe, were sitting in a circle.


    They were surrounded by three rocks, the shadows of which provided a resting spot for this group, in this scorching desert.


    Only one person from this group was sitting outside of the circle and had his eyes closed.


    These were the spies of the Qi Sect and the one who was sitting outside of the circle was the leader of the group.


    "roar~"


    Just then a low sound of a lion''s roar entered their ears as the leader of the spies opened his eyes.

 Chapter 236 - Clashing With The Spies

    "Boss, are more sand lionsing our way?"


    The one in the middle who was sitting next to a fire with a big piece of meat in his hand said while munching on the meat in his mouth.


    "Hmm.", the leader didn''t reply instead answered with just a sound.


    Since all of them were wearing ck clothes while only some parts of their faces were visible, it was hard to know who was who.


    While the leader only had his visible which had a murderous fire in them.


    Thus the one who had questioned the leader didn''t dare to stare into his eyes for more than a few seconds.


    The leader looked back as he turned his head and squinted his cold eyes.


    ''Thud!''


    The next moment he got up and looked at the one in the middle.


    "Extinguish it."


    A cold voice emerged from his mouth which was covered by a ck cloth.


    Nobody could know if the voice belonged to a man or a woman but they all could feel a dangerous and heavy pressure from it.


    "Yes!"


    "FHSHHH~ FHSHH~"


    The one in the middle started throwing the sand on the fire.


    "My meal."


    Even though he was extinguishing it, he felt reluctant to do it.


    "It was my first decent meal in such a long time. I want to eat more meat."


    Theining of the one in middle gave rise to the voices of others too.


    "Shut up and move that ass. We are leaving."


    The leader spoke once again while ordering them in a cold voice.


    "Yes, Lord."


    They all responded in a perfectly synced manner.


    A momentter, the seventeen spies of the Qi Range who have here left the ce in such a way that there was no evidence of them being here was left behind.


    -


    Ten minutester.


    Zhao Luo arrived at the ce between the three rocks on Bimba, with his three brothers.


    "Wait."


    Zhao Luo patted Bimba''s back as hemanded it to stop.


    Zhao Luo looked around as even though there was nothing there except the shadow formed by the three rocks, he could still feel something amiss.


    Zhao Luo jumped down and slowly walked exactly towards the spot where one of the spies was sitting.


    "Sniff."


    Zhao Luo made a sound as he pulled the air towards his nose.


    "Sniff."


    He did the same thing again with every step he took towards a certain spot.


    "Has he gone mad because of the hear?"


    Xiao Yu questioned while looking at Zhao Luo''s action.


    "Why is Brother, pretending to be a dog?"


    Pi Hao also added as they looked at Zhao Luo going by the nose.


    That was when Zhao Luo crouched at a position and started digging.


    "Got it."


    Zhao Luo shouted as he brought out a piece of meat that was buried in the sand.


    "Burned skin!?"


    Zhao Lul took out a hard structure that was next to the meat.


    And opened the charred surface of the structure which turned out to be the skin of the sand lion wrapped around its bone.


    "Their skin burns well, even better than wood."


    Senior Cutie''s voice entered his ear while Zhao Luo was inspecting it.


    Turning around as Zhao Luo looked at the terrified expression on Bimba''s face, he hurriedly threw the bone away.


    "Let''s go. They must be close as the scent of the cooked meat is still lingering around there."


    Zhao Luo jumped on Bimba''s back while telling them about his finding.


    "Zhao Luo, were you a dog in your past life?"


    Xiao Yu questioned him as Bimba started speeding in the obvious direction.


    "Why? Want me to bite you?"


    Zhao Luo questioned Xiao Yu while revealing the perfectly sharp ends of his teeth.


    With an evil gaze and the silver hair that danced around his face, Zhao Luo looked serious enough to give shivers to the cold Xiao Yu.


    "Hmph."


    Xiao Yu trembled and looked away after biting his lip over Zhao Luo''s question.


    But then a handnded on Zhao Luo''s shoulder and Senior Cutie closed in on him.


    "What?"


    Zhao Luo questioned the action of Senior Cutie as he was caught off guard out of nowhere by his bald senior.


    Senior Cutie moved his mouth closer to Zhao Luo''s ear as Zhao Luo nced at him through the side of his eyes.


    "Little Brother, you can bite me if you ever have such an urge."


    He whispered in Zhao Luo''s ear before blowing a gentle breath of air in them.


    Zhao Luo pushed him away as sweat covered his body and his hair stood up on their edge.


    ''I can never get used to his weird advances.''


    "Don''t you know that the sand lions also love biting? What do you say Bimba, how about a fresh bald human?"


    "Roar~"


    Zhao Luo said to Senior Cutie and Bimba followed up with a cute cry as though he would be more than pleased if he could get a bite of that shiny head.


    "Hah, what are you saying, little brother? Don''t you know we have to face the spies? What will you do without me?", Senior Cutie shook his finger as he turned down Zhao Luo''s offer while presenting all the excuses he coulde up with.


    "hah if you say s-"


    "ATTACK THEM!"


    Out of nowhere, a cold undistinguishable voice interrupted Zhao Luo.


    From under the sand, 16 ck shadows jumped at Bimba, with the weapons in their hands pointed at Zhao Luo, Senior Cutie, Xiao Yu, and Pi Hao.


    "Watch Out."


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he took out Ifrit and ckey from his storage space instantly.


    Pi Hao clenched his fist and pulled his arms back.


    "Metal Water technique."


    A bluish metallic color covered his fists and a serious expression appeared in his eyes.


    ''p.''


    Xiao Yu brought his palms together and lowered his stance.


    "sh."


    Senior Cutie waved his bronze rod and started spinning it.


    "Fwoosh."


    ''ng''


    A sword fell on his rod while a spear wasing at his hairless head.


    "Aiming for my head from the start? As expected of the people from the Qi Sect."


    Senior Cuties blocked the sword and deflected the spy by lowering his rod for a moment just to push the spy away with the swing of his rod.


    After which he pointed the other end of his rod at the other spy whose spear wasing at his head.


    "Eat this."


    Senior Cutie pulled his arms back thus bringing the bronze rod backward and then instantly fired it at the spy multiple times in a split second.


    "Multiple Shots."


    "Crack."


    The spear in the hands of the spy broke apart while he could see more than five images of the bronze roding at him.


    "No way, ahh-"


    The spy cried out as one after another those images of rodnded on his body causing a sharp painful moan to escape from his mouth.


    "Get lost."


    Senior Cutie shouted as thest hitnded on the spy''s body causing him to be thrown far away from Bimba.

 Chapter 237 - First Kill!

    Zhao Luo felt astonished looking at how quickly Senior Cutie was able to deal with the two spies of the Qi Sect.


    The two spies were pushed back but they were still alive as they moved towards the leader''s side.


    These two were the first ones to reach them as the others followed behind them.


    Zhao Luo looked around and found five of the spies who were d in all ck,ing at him since he was standing at the front of the group on Bimba''s back.


    The five spies were like leaves falling one after another as they closed in on Zhao Luo from above.


    ''They are all...''


    Looking closely at them, Zhao Luo found a sword with a red de in their right hand and a red band tied right above their left elbow.


    "Hmm."


    Zhao Luo looked down and before he could think of doing anything else, he was worried about Bimba.


    ''This could be bad for Bimba.''


    Thinking of how blocking the attacks of five of them, one after another in a row could cause harmful aftereffects which could be bad for Bimba, Zhao Luo jumped up from his back, and went for the offense, instead of simply defending.


    With Ifrit in his right hand and ckey in his left hand, Zhao Luo shed with the first of the five spies in mid-air.


    The spy swung his red sword towards Zhao Luo''s head.


    Since he was already falling towards him, he had the advantage or he thought so.


    Zhao Luo suddenly twirled around as he swung both Ifrit and ckey at the red sword in the hand of the first spy.


    With widened eyes, the first spy stared at the crimson and ck glowing at him but continued his attack.


    "Crack!"


    sh~


    A crimson light passed through the red sword breaking it into half and not only that, a big sh was left on the chest of the spy who wasing down.


    "Thwack."


    As the first spy fell, Zhao Luo''s continued his attack, and even though his Ifrit had struck down the sword of the spy, that didn''t slow down Zhao Luo who was still rolling like a hedgehog.


    "Ahhh."


    The second spy swordsman squinted his eyes as he brought down his sword on Zhao Luo just for the same thing to repeat.


    sh.


    A ck-light sliced apart his sword without being hindered for even a second.


    ''His sword destroyed my sword as though it''s butter.''


    "Break the formation."


    The spy dodged theing attack of Zhao Luo while shouting to his allies and hardly turned his body to the left to dodge Zhao Luo''s sword.


    From the three spies behind him, two followed him to the left, and one of them moved towards the right.


    "Trying to run?"


    Zhao Luo''s cold voice enveloped them and the four spies shuddered.


    They, who hadn''t evennded on the ground, looked back at Zhao Luo who was alsoing down.


    ''Thud.''


    Zhao Luonded on the ground and leaped towards the right without batting an eye.


    "Thud."


    The one spy who hadnded towards the right looked horrified as he watched Zhao Luoing at him like lightning.


    "Hey, watch out."


    Another spy shouted at him who was shock struck as Zhao Luo moved towards him


    "Ah."


    He raised his sword to fight back,


    "Too Late."


    Zhao Luo said coldly from under his breath as he raised both of his swords right before reaching the spy who had barely brought his red sword up to stop Zhao Luo''s offense.


    "Dual Burst Drop."


    With Zhao Luo''s armsunching forward like a string, the spy couldn''t even see Ifrit and ckey as a crimson and ck light swarmed him.


    "Crack."


    "sh."


    The sword in his hand was cut in two and both of Zhao Luo''s swords passed through him without stopping for a moment.


    "Phwa~"


    As blood gushing out from his mouth, the spy fell towards Zhao Luo who was standing with a rough look in his eyes.


    The spy slowly fell with his life seeping through his body while his blood surged out from his wounds.


    "Ba-Dump."


    Everyone had stopped.


    Xiao Yu who was facing three spies, Pi Hao who was barely holding back two of the spies, and Senior Cutie who was running after the other while waving his bronze rod at them, all stopped in their tracks as they looked at the spy lying on the floor.


    "Ba-Dump."


    Their hearts were beating so loud that they all had to hold their chests.


    But the one with the loudest heartbeat was,


    "I killed him."


    Zhao Luo mumbled while looking at the blood of the spy that was sshed on his robe and the blood that was dripping from the tip of his swords.


    "Ba-Dump."


    ''What is this feeling?''


    Zhao Luo was overtaken by a blood rush as he turned around to look at the three spies who were standing there with stunned faces.


    "Get Back, Fools."


    A cold shout came from the leader of the spies that brought them out of their shock.


    The three spies backed away while Zhao Luo squinted his eyes as he lowered his body.


    "Mini Walk."


    Disappearing from the spot he was, Zhao Luo appeared behind one of the two spies who were surrounding Pi Hao.


    "Burst sh."


    Zhao Luo swung Ifrit horizontally with full force.


    "sh."


    The crimson sword passed through the neck of the spy severing his head from his body.


    Zhao Luo sealed the spy''s life by sealing it away with a single swing of his sword.


    ''Thud!''


    The head of the spy rolled down as it made its way towards the foot and the other one, spooking him out of his wits.


    "Agh."


    The next instant, Pi Hao''s bluish fistnded on the chest of the spy, causing his ribs to carve in while destroying his chest.


    Two spies were killed in a moment by Zhao Luo and Pi Hao.


    On the other side, the battle resumed as Xiao Yu, slowly moved towards the three spies as though he was sliding on the sand.


    "Ahhh."


    The spies brought down their swords Xiao Yu while screaming in rage as he began his movements towards them.


    "Brother, we should help him."


    Pi Hao said to Zhao Luo as he lowered his body before rushing towards Xiao Yu''s aid.


    Zhao Luo grabbed Pi Hao''s arm while stopping him from going anywhere.


    "He can handle them."


    Zhao Luo said with a heavy voice as he looked at Xiao Yu with a confident gaze.


    As Zhao Luo had the first kill on the spies, he could guess their strength, thus that was the base of his confidence that Xiao Yu could handle three spies at once.

 Chapter 238 - I Enjoy Killing

    Zhao Luo watched Xiao Yu while moving towards Senior Cutie who was chasing after four spies like a mad monkey.


    Senior Cutie closed in on one of them and brought down his bronze rod on his head.


    "Skull Smash."


    The rod smacked right on the head of the spy causing it to break open like a melon.


    A melon indeed as blood sshed out of the skull as his rod without stopping brought down the spy on the desert surface.


    "Boom."


    The sand grains were blown away as a sand crater was formed where the spy had been smashed.


    ''Rustle.''


    Slowly the sand gathered back on the body of the spy burying him under it.


    "Do you think I will need your help, Little Brother?"


    Senior Cutie shouted at Zhao Luo without looking at him.


    "Hah, this baldy."


    Zhao Luo who hadn''t seen Senior Cutie fight before was seeing a new sight of his senior.


    Zhao Luo stopped and brought his arms around his chest as he spectated with a carefree manner.


    The three swordsmen and the two spies who were whacked away by Senior Cutie before were standing behind their so-called leader who was looking at Zhao Luo with a smile in his eyes.


    He had just lost four of his men. If it was a sane leader, then he would have a tragic look over the loss of his henchmen but his eyes said otherwise.


    ''Pleasure.''


    ''I feel it.''


    ''He looks familiar.''


    ''No way.''


    The leader stared at Zhao Luo who was unconscious of the leader''s eyes that were preying on him.


    "Senior Cutie is too much."


    Zhao Luo spectated another head get smashed by Senior Cutie without any protest.


    It was a one-sided fight of babies going against a gori.


    "He fights like Sun Wukong of the legends."


    Zhao Luo mumbled while looking at the movements of his senior.


    Zhao Luo enjoyed the show while remembering an ancient character that he had only read stories about.


    "Brother, who is sun wukong?"


    Pi Hao looked back at Zhao Luo and questioned.


    ''Hah.''


    Zhao Luo scoffed at Pi Hao''s question as he had no idea where to even begin his answer from.


    "Life Palm."


    "Crack~"


    A sound of bone cracking entered his ears and Zhao Luo turned his head to look in the direction of Xiao Yu.


    ''Thud.''


    The spy was on his knees with a broken neck and lifeless eyes.


    The other two spies were already lying on the desert with open eyes.


    Zhao Luo couldn''t help but feel awed as he looked at Xiao Yu who stood there without a scratch.


    "He is strong."


    Zhao Luomented as Xiao Yu was moving towards them.


    A momentter Xiao Yu joined them and Senior Cutie smashed the chest of the fourth spy with his bronze rod.


    "Why hasn''t he joined?"


    Xiao Yu who was ncing at Senior Cutie after joining Zhao Luo and Pi Hao looked at the leader of the spies and asked.


    The leader was standing in front of the other spies, noticed Xiao Yu looking at him, and turned his cold eyes towards him.


    "Blegh"


    A dirty pressure fell on Xiao Yu causing him to take a step back.


    "He is just afraid."


    Zhao Luomented while not giving any face to the spy leader.


    Soon, Senior Cutie also joined them.


    "Little Brother, why are you smiling?"


    Senior Cutie asked Zhao Luo with an awkward look.


    ''I am smiling?''


    Zhao Luo wondered as he did feel a change in him after killing the spies.


    Zhao Luo hadn''t noticed but killing the two enemies gave birth to agreed in him that he himself wasn''t aware of.


    ''It''s like I want more.''


    Zhao Luo thought in his mind as he turned around to look at the leftovers.


    "You."


    "Come!"


    Zhao Luo pointed ckey at the leader of the spies and ordered him.


    Looking at Zhao Luo''s cold demeanor the leader startedughing.


    "Hahaha."


    "I remember stabbing you but you weren''t even half as strong as you are now."


    "I wonder what happened?"


    A cold murderous voice hit them as the leader recollected his interaction with Zhao Luo.


    "You stabbed me?"


    Zhao Luo was stupefied as he heard the leader''s words.


    "Did you lose your mind after losing your subordinates?"


    Zhao Luo stepped up and shouted at the leader.


    ''What bullshit is this bastard spouting?''


    Zhao Luo thought while not believing his words as he moved towards the leader just to stop the next moment.


    "Subordinates?"


    "These pieces of trash?"


    The leaderughed off Zhao Luo''s words as he turned around.


    ''Thud, Thud, Thud...''


    The five remaining spies went on their knees while shoving their heads in the sand as they started begging for their lives.


    "Forgive us, Lord."


    "I will."


    The leader coldly said which gave the spies some hope.


    The leader moved his right arm and his hand could be seen equipped with a dark w, the tips of which were red.


    With hope in their eyes, the spies raised their heads just to find a dark bloody wing at them.


    "sh."


    With one swing of his right arm, the w of the leader ripped apart his five subordinates.


    With wide eyes, the spies dropped one by one.


    The leader slowly turned around and looked at Zhao Luo.


    ''Tremble.''


    A cold feeling enveloped him.


    A feeling that Zhao Luo was familiar with.


    "It''s just like that time."


    Zhao Luo remembered his first meeting with the Sect Leader.


    "And that time."


    Then time Mo Rong was coldly gazing at him.


    A dark, murderous pressure fell on the four and they all stepped back except Zhao Luo.


    "You are different."


    The leader said loudly in a cold tone and with curved eyes as he could hardly hide his smile that was hidden by the dark cloth.


    "Look at how terrified they are."


    Zhao Luo turned around and found Xiao Yu and Senior Cutie looking smoked while Pi Hao was even trembling in fear.


    Zhao Luo turned towards the leader and stared back at him.


    Zhao Luo mumbled as even though his brothers were scared by this mad act of the leader, he couldn''t care less except being a little shocked.


    ''The pressure from him is the same but the strength is different.''


    Zhao Luo differentiated between the feeling he was getting from the leader and the ones he hade to face before.


    ''But why did he call me different? Is it because I am not scared by his actions?''


    Zhao Luo wondered as he waited for the leader to say something.


    "The happy look on your face as you killed your enemies and the twisted look of pleasure that you have now...You are just like me."


    The leader told Zhao Luo.


    "I am the same as you?"


    Zhao Luo stumbled backward in confusion.


    "You are someone who enjoys killing people."


    The leader announced as he startedughing.


    "I enjoy killing?"


    Zhao Luo looked down at his swords and found a reflection of his smiling face on ckey.

 Chapter 239 - Level Two Of Bronze Rank

    ''I am enjoying this situation. So what?''


    ''Is killing my enemies with a smile on my face, such a big deal?''


    ''I am just getting rid of them before they get rid of me. Is that wrong of me?''


    Multiple emotions swarmed his head causing Zhao Luo to question if what he was doing was right.


    If it was the time period where Zhao Luo was from, then things would have been different.


    Zhao Luo looked confused as he was ovee by a distinct emotion that was whispering to him that the murders hemitted were justifiable.


    ''Tap, Tap.''


    Right then Senior Cutie and Pi Hao ced their hands on Zhao Luo''s shoulder.


    Senior Cutie red at the leader who had trapped Zhao Luo with just his words.


    "Little Brother, did you really fall for some frantic wordsing out from the dirty mouth of that bastard?"


    Zhao Luo was pulled out from his confused state as Senior Cutie''s voice entered his ears.


    "Snap out of it."


    Senior Cutie shouted and finally, Zhao Luo felt a calmness returning to his mind.


    ''I am just excited to fight strong enemies.''


    Zhao Luo changed the whole point of the discussion.


    "Maybe the feeling I am going through is just my excitement that is rushing out as I face my enemies without holding back, without anyone judging me, and without any rules. That doesn''t mean I am killing blindly."


    Zhao Luo answered slowly while the others listened.


    He remembered the tournament period where he could only throw the disciples that he fought with or cut a limb of theirs at most but even in the training zone, the elders were ready to treat such injuries.


    Unlike the present moment where it was an all-out fight, with their lives on the line.


    Senior Cutie smiled as Zhao Luo was back to normal.


    ''I feel ashamed.''


    Pi Hao removed his hand as he didn''t have the time to console Zhao Luo any more than that.


    He was facing his inner shame as he couldn''t believe that he had backed off with fear of an enemy.


    Xiao Yu had also stepped forward but it didn''t mean he wasn''t cautious of the leader.


    Xiao Yi already had his palms connected as his body''s posture looked tough and ready for any surprise attack that coulde his way.


    Zhao Luo looked back and gazed at the breathless bodies of the spies, two of which had faced their end by his swords.


    Zhao Luo turned at the leader with resolute eyes.


    "If I keep on walking this path, there will be more killing."


    "And..."


    "I AM READY FOR IT."


    Zhao Luo finally sorted out his inner irritation and dered his decision.


    ", , ."


    The leader slowly raised his ws while taunting Zhao Luo and the others


    "Are you four done with your bullshit?"


    "And what? Path? Killing? Don''t make meugh. Just because I praised you by saying you are like me, I guess you took it to heart."


    "If you want to kill thene at me and try it. So I can rip you all apart."


    The leader spoke like a madman as he swung his left w at them, inviting them toe at him.


    "Let''s go."


    Zhao Luo told them in a confident voice as he started moving towards the leader of the spies.


    "We will cover for you."


    Senior Cutie told Zhao Luo and looked towards Pi Hao and Xiao Yu who nodded at him.


    On his second step, Zhao Luo lowered his body and pushed his toes backward to push himself towards the leader.


    "Half Walk."


    In Pi Hao''s eyes, Zhao Luo had disappeared from in front of him but Senior Cutie and Xiao Yu could barely keep up with his speed.


    The next moment, and was blown away where the leader was standing.


    "Dual Burst sh."


    Zhao Luo appeared right in front of the leader while bringing down his swords on his head.


    "Hmph."


    The leader simply swung his arm at Zhao Luo without batting an eye.


    The leader had a cold look in his eyes as though he had been rejected without even confessing first.


    ''ng, ng.''


    An instantter, Zhao Luo''s Ifrit fell on the w as he followed up with the dark de of ckey.


    As the swords fell on the w, Zhao Luo was shocked since the explosive force behind his swords was nullified without any effort.


    "Is that all you got?"


    The leader said coldly as he moved up his w with a jerk, throwing Zhao Luo ten feet back.


    ''Thud.''


    Senior Cutie who wasing behind Zhao Luo grabbed him and supported him.


    "You okay?"


    Xiao Yu asked Zhao Luo as he stepped in front of Zhao Luo.


    "I am okay. But that guy isn''t normal."


    Zhao Luo slowly spoke out as he stared at his trembling hand.


    The leader who was in front of them loosened his ck cloth.


    A tight gray robe that looked as if it was tightly wrapped around the leader''s body was revealed.


    "A woman."


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he stared at the ck shiny hair of the leader, whose face was still covered with a small piece of the same cloth that had fallen just now.


    The leader was indeed a girl as her curves were easily perceivable through the grey tight robe that she was wearing.


    "Little Brother, you are focused on the wrong thing."


    Senior Cutie whispered to Zhao Luo whose eyes were ncing over the peaks.


    *Cough*


    "What do you mean?"


    Zhao Luo replied just to hear the stuttering voice of Pi Hao.


    "Her badge."


    Listening to his voice, Zhao Luo stared at the upper part of the leader''s chest.


    "A level one ''II'' bronze badge."


    Zhao Luo realized that the leader in front of them was as strong as the inner disciple of their sect.


    "Does it mean she can use internal energy?"


    Zhao Luo questioned Senior Cutie.


    "Indeed. That''s why she was able to push you back so easily."


    Senior Cutie hurriedly replied as the leader was doing her undressing of the upper cloth.

 Chapter 240 - Taking Down The Leader

    The leader looked at them while stretching her arms as she weirdly moved her ws.


    Zhao Luo and the others were on their edge while staring at her with wide eyes.


    "What are you ugly bastards staring at?"


    The leader jumped in the middle of Zhao Luo''s group while shouting at them.


    She had lightened her body and her movements were fast, so fast that even Zhao Luo could barely react in time.


    Zhao Luo pushed Xiao Yu and Pi Hao away by hitting them with the hilt of his swords while letting Senior Cutie stay at his side.


    Senior Cutie was holding his bronze rod tightly as he stepped back to match his position with Zhao Luo.


    "Senior Brother, let''s see what you can do."


    Zhao Luo said with a worried grin as he pulled back his swords while lowering them diagonally.


    "I must say your growth has impressed me the most."


    The leader whose voice was undistinguishable before sounded sweet yet the murderous look in her eyes destroyed the innocent image caused by her sweet voice.


    "Stop barking."


    Zhao Luo didn''t care about what she had to say about his growth.


    While pushing back his left leg and lowering the knees of his front right leg, Zhao Luo brought up his swords in an explosive manner.


    "Reverse Burst sh."


    A dark and crimson light went towards one of the ws.


    While the leader brought down her ws on Zhao Luo and Senior Cutie.


    Senior Cutie pushed his bronze rod in the direction of the w that wasing towards his bald head, numerous times.


    "Multiple Shots."


    "Boom."


    Zhao Luo''s swords were blocking the left w of the leader while the multiple shots of Senior Cutie''s bronze rod slowed down her right w and thest shot had barely stopped her w in its track.


    "Grrr."


    The leader roared like a beast as she forced her ws down on them.


    "Ahhhhh."


    While Zhao Luo and Senior Cutie pushed with all of their strength to hold her ws back.


    "Life Palm."


    "Water-Metal Fist."


    From her two sides, Pi Hao and Xiao Yu closed in with a fist and a palm respectively.


    The leader pulled her ws back while dodging the swords and the rod and brought them down to struck the sand under her.


    ''Boom.''


    Before their attacks couldnd on her, sand scampered around her, covering Pi Hao and Xiao Yu''s sight.


    "I missed."


    They both thought as they couldn''t feel the impact of hitting her with their attacks.


    Zhao Luo squinted his eyes and rushed at the leader who was backing off.


    Following behind him was Senior Cutie who had raised his bronze sword back.


    "Get her."


    He shouted and Xiao Yu with Pi Hao followed behind them.


    "Insects."


    The leader shouted while looking at theming at her like roaches.


    "X w."


    She stopped and moved both of her ws towards Zhao Luo who was at the front.


    "Shit."


    Zhao Luo cursed as he was caught off guard.


    He swung his swords at the ws.


    "ng."


    Both of the ws struck his swords and pushed them back.


    But Zhao Luo pulled back his swords faster than the ws and brought them down on his ws again and again.


    "Dual Wood Drop."


    A defensive technique that he had self-learned while watching the wood art sword puppet was being used to counter the attack of the leader of spies from the Qi Sect.


    "ng, ng."


    Zhao Luo blocked the ws while hindering her movements.


    "Now."


    He shouted and from behind him, the leader could see a shining egging up.


    It was Senior Cutie who had jumped from behind Zhao Luo while bringing down his bronze rod swiftly at the head of the leader.


    "You dare?"


    She shouted while pushing back Zhao Luo whose swords were stuck to her ws like a parasite.


    Pulling one of her arms up, she brought her w in the way of Senior Cutie''s bronze rod.


    ''Boom.''


    Right then, a punchnded on her left side just below her chest.


    ''Metal-Water Fist.''


    Pi Hao went at her with the strength of the metal instead of the soft water punch.


    ''Argh.''


    She moaned in pain but that wasn''t the end, as she kicked Pi Hao in his stomach forcing him to fall on his knees.


    Right then, she felt pressure falling over her.


    ''One of them is missing.''


    The leader mumbled while looking around recklessly.


    Just then,


    ''Thud!''


    A palmnded on the back of her neck forcing her neck to bend slightly.


    "Life Palm."


    Xiao Yu has struck her while she was looking for him.


    ''It wouldn''t have worked if Pi Hao hadn''t gotten her attention letting me sneak up on her like this.''


    Xiao Yu thought with an embarrassing look.


    The leader''s eyes rolled as she slowly fell towards Zhao Luo''s embrace.


    Realizing that she had finally fainted, Zhao Luo dropped his swords and tried to catch her with his hands.


    ''Squish.''


    He unconsciously grabbed something soft with his hands while trying to catch the falling leader.


    "Ah, this..."


    Zhao Luo looked around and found his brothers looking at him with a disgusted look.


    "Little Brother, killing an enemy who ising for your life is still justifiable but taking advantage of their bodies... I didn''t take you for such a perverted beast."


    Senior Cutie spoke about Zhao Luo without telling him off directly as he stored his bronze rod and brought out a few silver chains from his storage.


    "Indeed, Brother Zhao Luo, you already have someone, and yet..."


    "Tsk, Tsk."


    Pi Hao followed up with Senior Cutie''s brief lecture and Xiao Yu only clicked his tongue.


    Zhao Luo instantly moved his hands away from the soft peaks and the leader fell on the scorching sand of the desert.


    "I-it wasn''t intentional."


    "Oh, but you looked more than ready as you even dropped your swords."


    Right after Zhao Luo told his side of the story, Senior Cutie threw a bomb at him.


    In reality, the three were just messing with Zhao Luo.


    "Sigh."


    Zhao Luo simply shook his head and scratched his head while Senior Cutie crouched down and tied the leader of the spies after removing her ws.


    "Take them."


    He threw the metallic ws towards Zhao Luo who without inspecting them, stored the ws right away.


    "That was a little shameful."


    Zhao Luo suddenly said but no one retaliated to hisment.


    They all had the same thought.


    Four of them had to gang up on one level ''II'' Bronze rank disciple of the Qi Sect to take her down.


    ''Even though I didn''t use my fist art, this victory felt trash.''


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he looked at the neutralized leader of the spies.


    "With this, we havepleted our first mission."


    Senior Cutie told them with a smile as he threw the tied leader of the spies on Bimba''s back.

 Chapter 241 - Drift Worms Of The Sara Desert

    "Indeed. Let''s get the bodies of the spies."


    Zhao Luo said to Xiao Yu and Pi Hao after replying to Senior Cutie.


    "Since she is still alive, we will get the bonus too."


    Zhao Luo looked at the leader who was unconscious and tied.


    "But why did you tie her like that?"


    He asked Senior Cutie with a weird look in his eyes and an embarrassed face.


    Senior Cutie had tied the silver chain around her chest while giving it a spin twice which gave her robe a more seductive look.


    "What are you staring at? She is just an enemy. It doesn''t matter how I tie her if it seals her movement."


    Senior Cutie told Zhao Luo and Zhao Luo nodded since the first spin of the chain was tied above her elbow and the second one was below it so she wouldn''t be able to move her arms.


    While Zhao Luo was talking to Senior Cutie, Xiao Yu and Pi Hao were already gathering the bodies of the spies.


    They had already gathered 15 of them while one was buried under the sand.


    Zhao Luo took that one out and stacked them over the leader of the spies.


    She was now buried under the bodies of her subordinates.


    "We have collected the bodies and the leader has been captured alive too."


    Pi Hao happily told Xiao Yu and Zhao Luo as they made their way towards Bimba.


    Senior Cutie was already on it and the others were making their way towards Bimba and him.


    "We should go to the dread forest first. The beast subjugation missions can wait."


    Looking at them getting on Bimba, Senior Cutie told them the n.


    While listening to him, Xiao Yu was the first to jump on Bimba, sitting next to the corpses of the spies. Pi Hao followed and sat next to Senior Cutie.


    Zhao Luo got on Bimba atst and opened his mouth.


    "Or we may face those beasts while going towards the forest."


    Zhao Luo wondered since there could be a chance of encountering those beasts as they made their way towards the forest.


    "That could happen too. Just be ready to face anything thates your way."


    Senior Cutie advised them since he was the oldest here.


    ''I need to be ready like before.''


    He thought since the desert was so vast with unknown variables that could be eyeing them.


    Zhao Luo lowered his body and patted on Bimba''s head.


    "Let''s go, Bimba."


    He told Bimba while pointing towards the left.


    "ROAR."


    Bimba let out a cry and started running towards the direction, Zhao Luo had pointed at.


    Even though his speed had decreased by three times, it still made the traveling effortless for Zhao Luo and the others, since they could just rest on Bimba''s back.


    -


    In an hour, the four were halfway towards the dread forest.


    Because of all the weight on Bimba and the continuous running, made his speed drop by another step than before.


    "Oh, I can see the forest."


    Zhao Luo squinted his eyes as he stared into the far distance to catch the size of a small gree dot.


    That was how far the forest was but now their journey was only an hour long.


    Zhao Lup touched Bimba''s back.


    "Once we reach the forest, you can rest for a while."


    He told the beast as though he could feel his exhaustion.


    "roar~"


    Bimba let out a happy cry since he had just been promised a reward by his master.


    "Haha, what a cute cat."


    Zhao Luoughed while hearing the soft roar of Bimba.


    Zhao Luo who was calling Bimba, a cute cat, had no idea that Senior Cutie was staring at him.


    "Little Brother, you sure are weird. From which angle is he cute. You shouldn''t act blind even if he is your tamed beast."


    Senior Cutie jokingly said to Zhao Luo as Zhao Luo stopped patting Bimba''s back.


    "Is that a rule?"


    Zhao Luo replied without looking back.


    His eyes were still fixed on the dread forest.


    "It''s my beast. If I want to, I can call it baldy too."


    Zhao Luo said while scoffing at Senior Cutie''s joke.


    ''Who is joking with who here?''


    Pi Hao thought as he looked at them exchanging silly taunts with each other.


    "Childish."


    Xiao Yu said without caring about them hearing hisment and closed his eyes.


    Zhao Luo who picked up on Xiao Yu''sment smiled as he remembered how Xiao Yu was always acting hard on the outside but carried a gentle heart inside him.


    "What a tsund- oh shit."


    While saying something about Xiao Yu, Zhao Luo slowly turned back just to be shocked.


    Arge number of beasts with their mouths open and bodies barely visible were following them without making any noise.


    Listening to Zhao Luo''s curse and his wide-open eyes, they all followed his gaze to look back too.


    "Drift Worms."


    Senior Cutie mumbled with cold eyes.


    The worms were 7 meters tall with their mouths opened.


    Their bodies were covered by a dust cloud formed by their strange movement on the sand.


    "There are thirty of them."


    Zhao Luo said as he closely looked at their number.


    The giant worms wereing at them with a fast yet silent approach but it didn''t matter anymore since Zhao Luo had already seen them.


    ''There is still a lot of distance between us.''


    The worms were still a hundred or so meters away from them.


    "Bimba stop."


    Zhao Luo ordered the beast as he stood on its back.


    Xiao Yu and Pi Hao also got up as they looked ready to fight the drift worms.


    "Ah, I wanted to rest till we reached the dread forest."


    Senior Cutie unwillingly got up whileining.


    "Just take it out on the worms."


    Zhao Luo told him as he got down from Bimba after the beast had stopped on the side.


    It was like parking a car and getting out of it to face some random mobs.


    Zhao Luo took out his swords and rushed towards the drift worms who were making their way towards him rapidly.

 Chapter 242 - Worm Massacre

    "Little Brother got no chill."


    Senior Cutie shook his head while following behind him after taking out his bronze rod.


    "Ah, wait for me brothers."


    Pi Hao shouted as he followed after Senior Cutie.


    ''Hmmm.''


    Xiao Yu stood next to Bimba while staring at their departing backs.


    40 meters away from him, Zhao Luo had already shed with the drift worm in the middle.


    "Burst Drop."


    Zhao Luo brought down ifrit right at the moment he reached the drift worm who was leading the others.


    Right, when his sword sliced through the upper part of its mouth, Zhao Luo pulled it back and brought it down again with an even more explosive force.


    ''sh.''


    The worm''s mouth was shed in half and opened up but that didn''t stop it.


    "Watch out little brother."


    Senior Cutie couldn''t reach Zhao Luo, thus used his bronze rod as he hit Zhao Luo with it to move him away from the drift worms way.


    The cut drift worm squirmed madly as it leaped a few meters before falling towards the sand mouth first at the spot where Zhao Luo was.


    "Ouch. Baldy maybe hold back a little?"


    Zhao Luo shouted at Senior Cutie angrily while feeling a throbbing pain in his sides.


    "Ah, so I get shouted at after saving you. What a waste...tsk."


    Senior Cutie said with a disappointed look.


    He rolled his bronze rod in his hand and jumped towards the beasts.


    ''Rumble.''


    The sand floor under Zhao Luo''s feet shook as he felt like standing in a swamp.


    The sand was pulling him inwards thus Zhao Luo jumped up with all of his strength.


    "Wooo~"


    With a wrenching cry, the worm came out from under the ce where Zhao Luo was standing a moment ago.


    "Bastard, trying to eat me."


    Zhao Luo raised both of his swords towards the sky and then brought them down on the worm with all his strength.


    "Dual Burst sh."


    The worm crazilying at him was shed into three with Zhao Luo''s swords.


    "Multiple Shots."


    On the other hand, Senior Cutie was madly swinging his rod at the beast smashing them into a pull as if he was drying out the water from wet clothes.


    Zhao Luonded back on the sand and was surrounded by more than ten drift worms.


    One of the drift worms felt someonending right below its mouth.


    "Water Metal Fist."


    Pi Hao buried his fist multiple times in the drift worm''s body.


    ''Thud.''


    The drift worm fell right next to Zhao Luo''s feet.


    "I am here Brother."


    Pi Hao said while one of his fists was buried in the corpse of the dead worm.


    Zhao Luo smiled as he rushed past Pi Hao while swinging Ifrit and ckey at the drift worms behind him.


    While Pi Hao went in the opposite direction.


    "Wood Drop."


    "Burst sh."


    One after another the drift worms kept on falling like cut trees as Zhao Luo passed them.


    As their numbers decreased the worms got more furious.


    Five of them rapidly leaped at Zhao Luo.


    Looking at the wormsing at him from all sides, Zhao Luo raised both of his swords while opening his arms over their total span.


    "Divine Judgement."


    Zhao Luo started spinning with an abrupt speed and looked like a mini-tornado with a dark crimson shade.


    ''sh, sh, sh, sh.''


    The wormsing at him were sliced and diced as they had already themselves at Zhao Luo in hopes of eating him.


    Killing all five of them in a matter of moments, Zhao Luo stopped and moved towards Pi Hao.


    "Duck."


    Zhao Luo shouted as he made his way towards Pi Hao.


    Without looking back Pi Hao reacted instantly to Zhao Luo''s call and squatted while Zhao Luo passed over him with a smile.


    While swinging his swords Zhao Luo shed the worm who wasing towards them.


    Ifrit looked darker than before while the shine of ckey was bloody.


    Zhao Luo looked like a drift worm destroyer.


    The worms that Senior Cutie was dealing with sensed something.


    As if an order was issued, all of the drift worms moved towards Zhao Luo while striding like a snake.


    Zhao Luo raised his swords but before they could reach him.


    "Where are you worms going?"


    A cold voice was heard as a falling baldy with a rod in his hand dropped on the worm which was at the front.


    "BOOM!"


    The worm''s mouth burst apart in an instant and it fell on the spot.


    Senior Cutie stopped in front of them, and all the worms changed their target from Zhao Luo to him.


    While Senior Cutie dealt with them, Pi Hao was taking out the drift worms on the other side with Zhao Luo.


    ''WOOOO~''


    Another louder cry was heard as a gigantic Drift Worm came towards them.


    "It''s twice as bigger than them."


    Zhao Luo mumbled while from the other side Senior Cutie shouted.


    "Take the small one out quickly. That one must be the leader of the drift worms."


    Senior Cutie said while smashing the worms with his rod.


    ''Nod.''


    Zhao Luo lowered his body and raised his swords.


    The next moment he pushed his feet back while raising his ankles.


    ''Mini walk.''


    ''Whoosh.''


    "Burst sh."


    ''Swoosh.''


    Zhao Luo split apart a drift worm after appearing right behind it andnded on its falling body.


    He used his movement technique again to move to the next drift worm and continued the massacre of these worms.


    In the next few seconds, only the leader of the drift worm was left who was more than 10 meters tall.


    Senior Cutie joined Zhao Luo and Pi Hao.


    "We should attack from its three sides. I will bait it and you two should spread around."


    Zhao Luo told them as they followed his n right away.


    ''WOOO!''


    The worm came at Zhao Luo who jumped right towards its mouth while Senior Cutie had turned around towards it right after going left and Pi Hao wasing at it from the right.


    "Reverse Burst sh."


    Zhao Luo brought both of his swords while swinging them from below.


    "Multiple shots."


    Senior Cutie brought down his rod on the left side of the drift worm.


    "Metal Water Fist."


    And Pi Hao threw a fist at it.


    "Booom!"

 Chapter 243 - Beast Corpse Holder

    The giant drift warm squirmed as the attacksnded, and a few scratches were left on its body.


    ''WOOOO''


    ''Boom!''


    Leaving behind a screeching cry, the worm jerked its big body to push away Zhao Luo, Pi Hao, and Senior Cutie at the same time.


    A massive dust cloud was raised around the worm that covered all three of them.


    "Ah."


    Zhao Luo stumbled back and looked around to see if Senior Cutie and Pi Hao were doing okay too.


    ''They are standing.''


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he could only see their straight shadows because of the dust.


    "Little Brother."


    Senior Cutie''s voice entered Zhao Luo as he moved towards Zhao Luo.


    "Switch with me. Let me defend against it and you with Pi Hao can be on the offensive."


    Senior Cutie reached him and told him the n.


    Zhao Luo nodded and moved to surround the drift worm instantly.


    ''My sword technique stillcks power.''


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he could only leave some marks on the worm''s body with his swords.


    That much damage meant nothing thus Zhao Luo stored his swords and stopped at the spot where Senior Cutie was before.


    The worm was still moving around as it raised its front body to fall on Senior Cutie''s mouth first.


    "Pi Hao, use your strongest attack."


    Zhao Luo shouted as he instructed Pi Hao who was on the opposite side.


    The worm beast was going to sh with Senior Cutie in the hopes of devouring him whole but Senior Cutie was ready too.


    "Brothers now!"


    He shouted at Zhao Luo and Pi Hao while pulling back his bronze rod and moving a few steps closer to the worm.


    Zhao Luo pulled back both of his arms and clenched his hands to make a fist.


    The next instant both of his fists moved towards the body of the worm with a ridiculous speed.


    ''Boom.''


    From the other side, Pi Hao''s Metal Water fistnded on the worm''s body while at the front Senior Cutie had stabbed his bronze rod towards the lower body of the worm just right under its mouth and was barely holding it back.


    ''Wooo.''


    The worm cried and right then it felt a surge of destructive power entering its body from the other side.


    Two fists were lodged inside the body of the worm while Zhao Luo, the owner of those fists stood there with a cold expression.


    "Bullet Fist of Yin and Yang."


    Zhao Luo closed his mouth and the destruction of the worm''s body started.


    A ten-meter hole was left in its body and Zhao Luo could see the Pi Hao on the other side.


    ''WOOooo~''


    The worm cried out for a long time and slowly its sound slowed down and it fell to the ground.


    "Good job, Brothers."


    Senior Cutie''s voice entered their ears.


    Zhao Luo and Pi Hao looked towards the mouth of the worm where Senior Cutie was standing before but they couldn''t find him.


    "Where are you?"


    Zhao Luo asked loudly as he moved to the front.


    "Little Broth-"


    Senior Cutie who was addressing Zhao Luo with a heavy voice stopped suddenly, that too, right when Zhao Luo jumped on the body of the drift worm.


    "What? I can''t hear you. Senior."


    Zhao Luo shouted again while jumping down on the desert floor.


    "Idiots. I am under it."


    Senior Cutie shouted as he lied under the body of the drift worm unable to lift it.


    "Oh."


    Zhao Luo smacked his fist on his palm while Pi Hao tried to lift the worm from around its mouth.


    ''Ah.''


    "Brother, it''s too heavy."


    Pi Haoined so Zhao Luo joined in to help him.


    A momentter, they had rescued Senior Cutie who had a red face after going through the experience of being crushed under a dead beast.


    "Thank you."


    Senior Cutie closed his hands at Zhao Luo and Pi Hao before turning around to move towards the drift worm.


    "What are you doing?"


    Zhao Luo asked curiously.


    ''Why is he moving towards the beast?''


    Zhao Luo could see him taking out a purple bag from his storage space.


    "Store."


    Senior Cutie mumbled and the bodies of the drift worms were slowly sucked in the bag.


    In less than a minute the whole area in front of them was left empty without any sign of drift beast being there.


    But it didn''t mean that nobody could tell if a fight had taken ce at this ce since the sand had turned red because of the worm''s blood.


    "Wow."


    Looking at the cleaned-up ce Zhao Luo eximed while moving towards Senior Cutie.


    "A storage bag?"


    Zhao Luo asked Senior Cutie with a questioning face.


    "Yes. To be urate, it''s a beast corpse holder. Only the carcasses of the beast can be stored in it and the storage is quite big."


    Senior Cutie replied as he tied the bag and stored the bag back in his storage space.


    "Let''s go."


    He said to them before they could start making their way towards Bimba.


    "That guy."


    Zhao Luo stumbled as he couldn''t find any words to describe what he was watching.


    The three were looking towards Bimba.


    More specifically towards their brother who was dozing off while his back was resting against Bimba''s body.


    Zhao Luo fastened his steps and moved sneakily towards Xiao Yu.


    Right after reaching him, Zhao Luo opened his mouth to shout with his all.


    "Wa-"


    "Don''t."


    Before Zhao Luo could evenplete a word, Xiao Yu opened his eyes and stopped him.


    Senior Cutie chuckled as he jumped on Bimba to sit at the front this time.


    Zhao Luo, Xiao Yu, and Pi Hao also followed his lead and sat down on Bimba''s back.


    "Let''s go."


    Senior Cutie patted Bimba''s head while pointing his other hand towards the direction of the dread forest.


    "..."


    ''What is this beast doing?''


    Senior Cutie thought with an embarrassing face.


    Senior Cutie brought his face closer to Bimba''s left eye and opened his mouth.


    "Bimba, my boy, if you don''t start running then we, you and me, will be ying in the desert whole night."


    Senior Cutie told Bimba with an evil grin on his face.

 Chapter 244 - The Pink Peach Like Fruit

    "Roar."


    Bimba hurriedly leaped towards the direction of the dread forest while crying out.


    "Good boy."


    Senior Cutie patted its back while looking at the tears that were rolling down from Bimba''s eyes.


    Behind him, Zhao Luo was staring at Xiao Yu.


    "Why didn''t you help us?"


    Zhao Luo asked Xiao Yu without any meaning behind his question.


    "You guys would have handled them easily without me."


    Xiao Yu replied while evading Zhao Luo''s gaze.


    "That''s right but if you had helped we could have cleared the worms faster."


    Zhao Luo continued but Xiao Yu still looked around.


    ''Why is he sweating?''


    Zhao Luo wondered as he looked at the sweat beads covering Xiao Yu''s head.


    ''Maybe...No Way...Let''s give it a shot.''


    Zhao Luo thought while a grin slowly appeared on his face.


    "Xiao Yu."


    Zhao Luo addressed him so Xiao Yu looked at Zhao Luo.


    "You are afraid of worms?"


    Zhao Luo questioned even though he thought that couldn''t be the case but seeing Xiao Yu shudder, Zhao Luo knew that he had hit the bullseye.


    "So what?"


    Xiao Yu suddenly fought back as he got aggressive showing that he didn''t like the fact that Zhao Luo now knew that he couldn''t fight against the worms as he feared the squirmy beast.


    "Hehe, nothing."


    Zhao Luoughed it off and looked ahead at the green dot that was bing bigger slowly as Bimba moved towards the dread forest.


    Zhao Luo closed his eyes and silence befell the group.


    Nobody disturbed the other while the trip was going on.


    The next half hour, went by in a sh and Zhao Luo opened his eyes to find themselves at the start of the forest.


    "We are here."


    Senior Cutiemented while Bimba moved inside the forest.


    Zhao Luo looked around and realized that the forest had more trees than before. The trees looked note thicker than before and the space between the two trees differed as they moved on.


    "Let''s get off here. It will be hard for Bimba to run here."


    Zhao Luo told the others while tapping Bimba''s back, that is, telling it to stop.


    "Roar."


    Bimba stopped there and the four jumped down.


    Senior Cutie was in the lead while Zhao Luo was at the end while Bimba followed behind him.


    "We have probably entered from the right side of the forest since we were going towards the Qi Range to chase the spies. So the area with the white trees shoulde if we keep on going straight."


    Senior Cutie told them while they all nodded.


    The four continued their walk inside the gigantic forest with thick trees that blocked the sky itself.


    As they kept on moving towards the direction where the white trees were, the temperature of the surrounding kept on dropping.


    "It''s getting cold."


    Zhao Luo said while feeling a tinge of coldness striking his skin.


    "Brother, it''s too cold for me."


    Pi Hao who walked in front of him was already rubbing his arms.


    ''Hmmm.''


    Zhao Luo wondered if it was indeed that cold already and looked at Xiao Yu''s back.


    Xiao Yu was walking with heavy steps as though he was focused on something else.


    Over time, Zhao Luo who was staring at Xiao Yu''s back realized something.


    ''Oh, he is trembling.''


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he found Xiao Yu''s shoulder shuddering from time to time but since Xiao Yu was doing his best to control it, Zhao Luo didn''t say anything.


    ''Hmm.''


    ''Where could my capsule be?''


    Zhao Luo looked around while remembering the real reason behind him epting the fruit-gathering mission.


    ''I need to separate from them.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he still wasn''t ready to tell them about his truth and since he had already told the Sect Leader that his master was a chef in thewless city,


    ''It would be a hassle to go over everything again.''


    He thought while unconsciously moving behind them.


    "There I can see them."


    Senior Cutie shouted while pointing his finger towards a tree that was hundreds of meters away from them.


    After announcing his findings, Senior Cutie rushed towards the tree, while Zhao Luo and the others followed behind him.


    While they were running after Senior Cutie, another well-armed group and equipped with armor was entering the forest from some other side too.


    But this wasn''t the only group except for Zhao Luo''s which was inside the forest.


    On the other side, three people who looked rtively young were entering the forest too.


    Two of them being male and thest one was female.


    The two males were wearing red robes with a level one bronze badge on their chest while the third one was wearing a white beautiful robe and was equipped with a level nine ck badge.


    Without having information about the two parties that were making their way towards the middle of the forest, Zhao Luo and the others were in awe as they looked around the white trees and stood above the snow.


    This ce was at one of the northern parts of the forest where the trees that were mentioned in the mission were at.


    Zhao Luo looked around with amazement in his eyes.


    "It''s so beautiful."


    He said with his hands opened in front of him while snow fell on his palm.


    ''Sniff.''


    "Let''s collect the fruits."


    Senior Cutie who was standing at the front said to them after turning around.


    His nose was bright red and his bald head had lost its shine under the settling snow.


    "Haha."


    Xiao Yu and Zhao Luoughed while Pi Hao didn''t have time to worry about others since he couldn''t even stop himself from shivering.


    Senior Cutie angrily passed a big bag to everyone and with one of them in his hands, he started moving towards the trees with fruit hanging on the branches.


    The three also moved towards the trees, Xiao Yu moved to the right while Pi Hao followed behind Senior Cutie.


    ''I guess I will be collecting the fruit on the left side.''


    Zhao Luo moved towards the left side.


    Reaching the first tree, he looked up and 40 meters above him, he could see pink, peach-like fruit hanging on one of the branches.


    "Now, how do I get it?"


    Zhao Luo wondered as he stared at the fruit.

 Chapter 245 - Gathering The Fruits

    Zhao Luo looked towards his right.


    Zhao Luo stopped his sight on Senior Cutie and Pi Hao who had already started working on the fruit gathering mission.


    "Boom."


    Senior Cutie smacked the thick white tree with his bronze rod without holding back.


    The bark of the tree was unfazed but the ce where the rod had struck, was like the center point of the resulting shockwave which traveled to the top of the tree.


    "Hmm, so he is using force."


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he stared at the branches of the tree, Senior Cutie had just struck with his rod.


    The shock traveled into the multiple branches that were at the top.


    Shrrr!


    The branches trembled furiously when the divided shock entered them, causing the fruits to swing around along with the trembling, and a momentter the fruit that was hanging at the tip of the branch broke free.


    "Hey, catch it."


    Senior Cutie said as the fruit suddenly dropped towards the ground.


    The speed of its drop was faster than what he could have imagined.


    But, even though Pi Hao was ready for it, he barely caught it with both of his hands.


    ''It''s heavier than 10 apples.''


    Pi Hao thought as the fruit was big enough to cover both of his hands and had a pink cover that gave it a garnishing look instead of something that was to be consumed.


    ''What is this strong scent?''


    Pi Hao mumbled as he could feel an abrupt wet feeling in his dry cold mouth.


    ''Gulp.''


    The alluring scent that was originating from the fruit in his hands was making him drool.


    "Don''t eat it, or else we will not only fail the mission and miss the reward, but we will also lose our bonus, and above all, we will be punished too."


    Senior Cutie advised Pi Hao whose eyes looked like the eyes of a man who had been starving for weeks.


    "Thank you, senior brother."


    Pi Hao bowed his head while feeling ashamed.


    The next moment he threw the fruit in the bag he had.


    "There is no need to be ashamed. That fruit is like an enchanted weapon that one who wants to get stronger will yearn for, no matter the hardship he has to face to get it. So just hold yourself back for now. You will get yours when we reach the Sect."


    Senior Cutie told him with a calm tone.


    He wasn''t aggressive instead he exined to Pi Hao without ming him for his sudden greedy attitude.


    ''Nod.''


    Pi Hao nodded and moved towards another tree to start collecting the trees.


    It was better for eight hands to work instead of six.


    "Good."


    Senior Cutie looked at Pi Hao who moved to one of the trees that were in front of the tree he was at and started throwing his fists at it.


    "So, senior brother has a nice side too."


    Zhao Luo who had always called Cutie as Senior addressed him as a helpful senior brother who had treated Pi Hao in a very passive way.


    "Did he change or is it just me who he loves to mess around with?"


    Zhao Luo grinned while turning his head towards Xiao Yu who was at his far right.


    "Oh, his bag already looks thick."


    Zhao Luo stared at Xiao Yu''s bag.


    The base of the bag already looked filled.


    "He must have collected five of them already."


    Zhao Luo calcted after which he starting looking at Xiao Yu who was lowering his body, most likely getting ready to use a movement technique.


    "Oh!"


    Zhao Luo was interested in what Xiao Yu''s next step will be.


    The next moment under Zhao Luo''s gaze, Xiao Yu jumped between two trees.


    Using one of them as a stepping stone he kept on going left and right while making his way to the top of the trees.


    "So he is using his control instead of wasting his force."


    Zhao Luo mumbled while Xiao Yu stood above a branch and slowly lowered himself to grab off the fruit hanging on it.


    Just like that, he had collected five of the fruits in under two minutes.


    "I should start too. Otherwise, I will be left with nothing. Or do I even need to?"


    Zhao Luo believed after looking at Xiao Yu''s gathering speed.


    "If he kept on going then in twenty minutes, he will have collected 100 fruits while Senior Cutie and Pi Hao will have the other hundred."


    Zhao Luo said to himself but then shook his head since with him contributing to the mission, their gathering speed will increase by two times.


    "Let''s start with this one."


    Zhao Luo looked at the tree in front of him and as he had already learned how sturdy it was after watching Senior Cutie ramming his rod at the trees, Zhao Luo was ready to go all out.


    Zhao Luo pulled back his arms and clenched his hands into a fist.


    "Boom."


    The next instant his fist that was in the explosive nended on the thick bark of the tree''s trunk.


    ''Hmm.''


    Zhao Luo who had mastered his fist art, bullet fist, by hitting the extremelypact and strong tungsten mountain felt miserable as there was not even a slight change in the tree.


    ''Rustle~''


    A momentter the sounds of leaves rustling started rising when there was not even a subtle trace of wind in the area, the cold atmosphere being the exception.


    Zhao Luo looked up and found the branches trembling as if they were going through a seizure.


    "Good. Now fall already."


    Zhao Luo loudly said.


    If others had seen him, then they would have definitely thought that Zhao Luo had lost his mind.


    The fruits started falling one after another.


    Zhao Luo who was already ready opened his bag and rushed to the spots where the fruits were falling towards.


    ''Thuzz, Thuzz, Thuzz.''


    The tree that Zhao Luo had punched held three fruits and Zhao Luo had collected all three in ten seconds.


    With a smile on his face, Zhao Luo moved to th next tree.

 Chapter 246 - Closing Danger

    Ten minutester.


    Zhao Luo''s bag was more than full.


    "I could have been faster if all the trees had at least two fruits."


    Zhao Luoined as most of the trees had only a single fruit on one of the branches at the top of the tree.


    His luckiest encounter with the most fruits on a tree was the first tree, the one Zhao Luo had started his gathering hustle from.


    That was the only tree with three fruits.


    "What about the others?"


    Zhao Luo wondered since he had been too focused on gathering.


    Looking around, he found out that Senior Cutie and Pi Hao were already done with collecting fruits.


    To be more urate, even though their bags weren''t close to being full, they couldn''t collect anymore since there was no fruit left hanging.


    "You two are monsters at collecting fruits."


    Senior Cutie shouted while exchanging nces between Zhao Luo and Xiao Yu.


    "It is what it is."


    Zhao Luo said while smiling from ear to ear.


    Xiao Yu didn''t have any emotional disy like Zhao Luo but his eyes were slightly curved as he barely hid his delight.


    Soon the four gathered at the middle and filled the four bags equally to adjust the weight.


    "We will have to carry them since we can''t store these bags because of the fruits. They contain pure internal energy so the spaces of the storage rings won''t work."


    Senior Cutie exined to them as Elder Gay had already told them.


    "We can carry them on our back for now."


    Zhao Luo told them and tied the bag around his back with a rope that he whirled around his chest and waist.


    The others did the same too, after which they started walking towards the way that took them outside of this cold region of the dread forest.


    The moment Zhao Luo, Senior Cutie, Xiao Yu, and Pi Hao left that ce, three disciples entered the cold region from the other side.


    "Princess, this is the area where the fruits are."


    One of them spoke while sneakily eyeing the girl he was addressing as a princess.


    The princess in question was thick to the extreme so thick that even the thick white trees paled inparison.


    Her beauty was no joke, with pale snowy skin, she stood out from the two male disciples that had apanied her.


    The two male disciples looked like they were her subordinates which was indeed the case.


    The princess with the level nine ck badge looked around.


    Soon a murderous look appeared in the eyes of her other subordinate.


    "Is this really the location? I can''t seem to find a single fruit?"


    The one addressed as princess asked the subordinate who had the cold murderous look in his eyes.


    "This inferior subject of yours is ashamed that your time had to be wasted like this. Let me check the situation while you wait here."


    The subordinate instantly bent his knee as he bowed in front of the girl while looking down.


    "Brother Lee, when will you stop overreacting like this?"


    The princessined to her subordinate who was kneeling in front of her while being on the bronze tier.


    "I-its my d-"


    Brother Lee tried to say something but he couldn''t evenplete it before the other guy who had a dirty look in his eyes walked towards him.


    He grabbed Brother Lee from his shoulder and helped him up, forcefully.


    "Audacious."


    Brother Lee shouted at him but before he could do anything else the princess stepped up.


    "Stop acting like a stuck-up ve. Just go and find what happened to the fruits."


    She told him while also looking at the other subordinate.


    They both disappeared from there and dived towards the middle of this area.


    A few minutester, both of them returned, and ''Brother Lee'' moved up respectfully and gave a detailed report to the one he called princess.


    "There are footprints around the left area and the middle area, which is leading from one tree to another and can be connected to almost every tree."


    Brother Lee told the princess with an embarrassed look on his face.


    "So someone must have collected the fruits before us."


    The princess understood the situation and sighed.


    The other subordinate waited for this moment and moved up to give his piece of reason.


    "I think it''s too early to give up."


    "What do you mean?"


    "From the footprints, it''s clear that there were three people here."


    "So?"


    "Since the footprints are still fresh, they could still be somewhere in the dread forest."


    The subordinate grinned evilly.


    He was indeed right as the footprints did show that three people had been gathering in this area.


    But he was wrong.


    Since Xiao Yu had been jumping from tree to tree like a monkey which these subordinates could have never guessed.


    The other subordinate, Brother Lee, suddenly opened his mouth while the princess was lost in her thoughts.


    "It could be too dangerous to continue anymore. Just collecting the fruits under these conditions would have already been hard for us three, but now do we have to fight with others to snatch them away?"


    Brother Lee looked around to feel the coldness that was surrounding the area and showed his reluctance to the other subordinates'' viewpoint.


    "Hmm."


    The princess looked torn between the two subordinates while thinking hard about her two choices.


    Yet a few secondster, she looked away from Brother Lee.


    "We will follow the footprints out of this area and if we find them, we shall wait and inspect them."


    The princess told them and stopped here.


    "Princess we must turn back if they seem even a little bit dangerous."


    Brother Lee added his condition before the three started making their way out of the cold region while following the footprint left behind by Zhao Luo and the others.


    -


    Just a little bit away from the middle region of the dread forest, Zhao Luo could be seen carrying a bag of fruits while walking in front of Bimba.


    Bimba''s footsteps were heavy as was carrying the corpses of the spies and the unconscious leader.


    In front of him were Xiao Yu, Pi Hao, and Senior Cutie.


    The four had no idea of the closing danger that they will be facing soon.


    "I feel strange."


    Zhao Luo mumbled while looking at their backs.


    He didn''t say to them since it was just a gut feeling.


    ''Whatever.''


    Zhao Luo shook it off and walked along the way.

 Chapter 247 - Meeting Of The Two Groups

    Around the middle region of the forest.


    Zhao Luo and the others could be seen walking at a gradually slower speed since they were carrying the fruit bag which weighed more than enough to slow them down.


    While just a hundred meters beside them, a group of three was watching them closely.


    They were the three disciples, the princess, and the two subordinates of hers, who were also on the mission to gather the internal energy fruits.


    They had not only caught up to Zhao Luo''s group but had also moved a hundred meters to their right, thus observing the group in a better way.


    "Brother Lee, only one of them is as strong as the princess, while the other three are a level lower than her. Not to mention the whole rank difference between them and us."


    The other subordinate of the princess said to Brother Lee while staring at Zhao Luo''s group.


    This was right after the weird sensation that Zhao Luo had shaken off.


    The subordinate, Brother Lee, squinted his eyes at the four and slowly opened his mouth.


    "But they still have a beast with them. So one of them is already a beast tamer. He must be hiding his ability since I have never seen a ck rank disciple being a tamer in our Shen Sect."


    Brother Lee rambled on while being a little worried.


    "Do you think our Shen Range is inferior to the Qi or Xin Range?"


    The princess suddenly spoke as though the words of Brother Lee had struck her pride.


    The three were the disciples of the third range which was surrounding the Sara Desert along with Xin and Qi Range.


    "No, I didn''t mean to say that."


    Looking at the triggered princess, Brother Lee shook his hand and denied the usation.


    "I am just saying that we should be careful."


    He continued while advising them.


    "Well, then let me say something too."


    The other subordinate interrupted with a hardened look in his eyes.


    "I, Ro Tang have never been afraid of anyone who could be my peer. I can take all of them alone."


    The other subordinate announced his name as though he was making a vow of some sort and confidently boasted about himself.


    ''You have never been able to defeat me. WTF ARE YOU SAYING?''


    Brother Lee thought as he heard Ro Tang''s announcement which was supposedly his way of impressing the princess.


    But Brother Lee didn''t say his thoughts out loud, instead, he tried to stay calm.


    "Princess, I will leave the decision on you."


    Brother Lee said to her and looked back at the group that was just a few meters away from entering the middle of the forest.


    The princess pondered over it for a while before she could reach a decision.


    With a cold expression looming over her face, she opened her red luscious lips.


    "Let''s make deal with them."


    The princess said to Brother Lee and Ro Tang.


    "What?"


    "Why would we need to make deals with those who ate lower than us?"


    Ro Tang was confused as he listened to the decision made by the princess.


    As for ''lower'', he was talking about the level of Zhao Luo and the others.


    The princess ignored Ro Tang''s words and continued.


    "They will exchange all the fruits for their lives."


    She ended her decision with that and since the three were already moving towards the middle region too but just a hundred meters away from Zhao Luo''s group, they could have aimed for Zhao Luo anytime.


    The three were looking towards their left, that is right at Zhao Luo and others but suddenly they all stopped.


    "He knows that we are following them."


    Brother Lee mumbled with a trembling voice.


    "Move in."


    While the princess ordered them.


    ''I need to take them down quickly if they refuse to make the deal. This will be my only chance to leave a cool impression on her.''


    Ro Tang had other aims as the three turned towards the left.


    -


    "I knew it."


    Zhao Luo loudly said.


    "Little Brother, how did you know they were following for thest ten minutes?"


    Senior Cutie asked Zhao Luo with a confused face as the four were slowing down.


    Eventually, Zhao Luo stopped with the others and looked at the three people approaching them.


    "First I simply felt a disturbance but then I realized someone was following us. Slowly turning around I realized that it was indeed that case. So I was ready and told you, brothers. But as we all noticed them going towards our right instead of attacking us right away, it seems they are after something else."


    Zhao Luo told the three while standing in front of Bimba.


    It was indeed as Zhao Luo had just said.


    Ten minutes ago, he had only told Senior Cutie, Xiao Yi, and Pi Hao to brace themselves as a potential enemy could be approaching them. But instead of approaching them, they went away and were nowing back.


    "They may be simply recording the regions and the changes in the forest. But let''s be careful."


    Senior Cutie told them as he stared at the two subordinates who were leading the charge.


    They were only 25 meters away from them so Zhao Luo, Xiao Yu, and Pi Hao were already on their edge.


    Soon the two groups came face to face.


    "Are you three the disciples of the Shen Sect?"


    Senior Cutie questioned them as their appearances piqued his interest.


    ''I may just be able to end this peacefully.''


    He thought while looking hard at the three people.


    He could barely see the princess who was blocked by the two male disciples who were standing in front of her.


    ''Are they guarding her?''


    Zhao Luo thought as he looked at the two disciples in front of the princess. The two groups had finally met and things may just go out of hands so Zhao Luo wanted to see the girl too.


    One of them moved up towards Zhao Luo''s group.


    It was Brother Lee who wasing up to them.


    "It''s nice to meet the disciples of Xin Sect, if I may presume."


    Till now Brother Lee was hardly keeping his nce on Senior Cutie when he only wanted to look at Zhao Luo for some reason.

 Chapter 248 - Sit Down Dog

    Even though Brother Lee already knew that the disciples in front of him were from the Xin Sect, but he didn''t show it. Just like Senior Cutie who had asked them something, Brother Lee also replied with a question.


    Looking closely at this Brother Lee who was obviously from the Shen Sect, Senior Cutie nodded.


    "Yes, I am from the Xin Sect''s outer hall and they are my brothers."


    Senior Cutie answered him without hiding the fact that they were from the outer hall since it was already a fact that could be known by just looking at the ck badges on their chests.


    ''Who could have known that our Senior Brother also had a polite side to him.''


    Zhao Luo whispered to Xiao Yu and Pi Hao whileughing at the way Senior Cutie was answering the disciple from the Shen Sect.


    ''Pop.''


    A vein popped up on Senior Cutie''s forehead as he cursed at Zhao Luo.


    ''I am doing this for your safety, you little bastards.''


    Senior Cutie gave them a cold nce from the side of his eyes.


    "These savages."


    Ro Tang''s loud voice entered everyone''s ear as hemented on the light behavior of Zhao Luo and the others.


    He thought that they wereughing at them but it was just a misinterpretation from his side.


    "Did a dog just bark?"


    Zhao Luo coldly replied as he stared at Ro Tang.


    Even though there were two, level one ''I'' bronze rank disciples, Zhao Luo wasn''t worried since they had the advantage in number.


    "Hmph."


    Ro Tang growled as he took a step forward.


    Anger could be seen burning in his eyes as he looked at Zhao Luo.


    ''They may be more than three but we can take care of them.''


    Ro Tang thought as before he and Brother Lee believed there to be three of them but now looking at the bags, Zhao Luo and the others carried he guessed that there were four and the fruits they had collected would be a lot too.


    But before he could move forward towards them,


    "Who ordered you to move?"


    The princess spoke. She was obviously angered by the aggressiveness that Ro Tang was disying.


    "It isn''t yet the time to do this."


    The princess slowly said to him but she didn''t try to hide herment since it was loud enough to be heard by Zhao Luo''s group.


    ''So they are willing to attack us. What do they even want?''


    Zhao Luo squinted his eyes as he tried to look at the princess, but then,


    "Please forgive my Brother''s rude behavior."


    Brother Lee sped his hands since he was going to deal with them, it was better to start without any problems.


    ''He just had to ruin it for me.''


    Brother Lee looked at Ro Tang angrily.


    Ro Tang shrugged in response since he couldn''t care less about the deal.


    "Same here."


    Senior Cutie also sped his hands while giving a short bow.


    "We are indeed from the Shen Sect."


    Brother Lee told them and looked up just to find Zhao Luo walking up.


    ''A level eight dares to butt in our conversation.''


    Brother Lee looked at the handsome Zhao Luo who was standing right next to Senior Cutie now.


    "I see. We are from the Xin Sect and you three are from the Shen Sect."


    Zhao Luo repeated the two main pieces of information that had been exchanged between the two groups till now.


    ''Nod.''


    Brother Lee nodded while Zhao Luo continued.


    "Since we have introduced our sects and our ways to the ranges are in opposite directions, we will be saying our byes now."


    Zhao Luo said without a drop of respect for the three since they were nothing more than a group who had been following them with who-knows-what kind of n in their head.


    ''These stalkers.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he nced at the two one by one.


    Brother Lee was caught off guard and he didn''t know how to proceed.


    ''Is a battle our only choice now?''


    He couldn''t bring himself to propose the deal since it was so one-sided and looking at Zhao Luo''s confidence while dealing with them, he was worried for the safety of the princess.


    "Sigh."


    A reluctant sound of someone''s disappointment was heard by everyone.


    From behind Ro Tang, the princess slowly stepped towards them.


    "Wow."


    Pi Hao eximed loudly while being awed by her beauty.


    ''Thud!''


    Xiao Yu gently stuck Pi Hao''s chest with his elbow to bring him out of it since it wasn''t the time to be enchanted by a soon-to-be enemy.


    "Sorry."


    Pi Hao embarrassingly scratched the back of his head while looking at Xiao Yu.


    The princess moved in front of Brother Lee and looked at Zhao Luo.


    ''He is handsome.''


    ''She is beautiful.''


    The princess thoughts while Zhao Luo was also finished checking her out.


    ''I mean, a level nine ''?'' ck rank disciple.''


    Zhao Luo wanted to smack himself for praising another woman when he already had a princess back at the Sect.


    "You four only have one choice."


    "Give us all the fruits you have gathered."


    The princess calmly told them but her eyes were only on Zhao Luo.


    "Otherwise?"


    Zhao Luo asked with an evil grin as though he couldn''t care less about what she would be saying next.


    "You four will die. Even though it may cause a problem with the Xin Sect,ter on, but..."


    The princess coldly presented her threat and Ro Tang who was moving up opened his mouth while interrupting the princess.


    "But dead man tell no tales. Nobody will find your corpses."


    Ro Tang suddenlypleted her sentence as he left her in shock.


    ''I was going to ease the deal by letting them keep half of the fruits but why did this dimwit have to ruin it?''


    The princess was angered but she didn''t bicker with Ro Tang, instead looked at Zhao Luo and looking forward to his reply.


    "So if we decline, we will be killed. And nobody will find our corpses."


    Zhao Luo looked down while following the words of the princess and Ro Tang.


    ''Is he scared?''


    Looking at the handsome face of Zhao Luo going down as though he was sulking, the princess felt bad and opened her mouth.


    Zhao Luo''s handsomeness had captured a tiny portion of her heart.


    "You don''t have to worry, we can eas-"


    "Hahahaha."


    Zhao Luoughed while interrupting the words of the princess.


    "Indeed. Neither I nor my brothers have anything to worry about."


    Zhao Luo coldly said to the princess as he moved up to them.


    "Do you think we will oblige to tour deal?"


    Zhao Luo shouted at her.


    "Do you think you can take us down? Not to mention all of us?"


    Zhao Luo red at Ro Tang.


    His steps were heavy and swift.


    Brother Lee couldn''t even move as he watched Zhao Luo making his way towards the princess.


    "You are the shot caller, right?"


    Zhao Luo who was standing in front of the princess questioned her even though it was clear that the two people tagging along with her may have been higher in rank but they were following her lead.


    "You are quite bold."


    The princess replied with an enchanting smile.


    ''Shwaa.''


    "You..."


    "Bastard..."


    Ro Tang leaped at Zhao Luo with a sword in his hand.


    "I will cripple you."


    Ro Tang shouted as he swung his sword at Zhao Luo''s left shoulder.


    In an instant, Ifrit appeared in Zhao Luo as he took the crimson sword out of his storage.


    "Reverse Burst sh."


    Bring his sword upwards from the upward motion of his lowered hand, Zhao Luo shed with Ro Tang''s sword without looking at him.


    "ng."


    "Boom."


    For some reason, under everyone''s eyes, the one who was supposed to be pushed back, that is Zhao Luo stayed there without even looking at Ro Tang for a moment.


    His eyes were still on the princess who was staring at Ro Tang who had fallen after being pushed back by four steps.


    "Sit down Dog!"


    Zhao Luo said to him without sparing him a nce.

 Chapter 249 - Defeat Him And We Will Go Away

    Looking at the disy of strength that Zhao Luo had put forward, the princess was taken back but more tha that, her likeness for this handsome individual ''Zhao Luo'' increased.


    ''Ba-Dump.''


    While feeling the palpitation of her excited heart, the princess looked at Zhao Luo''s deep eyes staring right at her after he had overpowered Ro Tang in a single move.


    ''He is good.''


    Her first thought was so, after which she turned to look at Ro Tang with disappointment in her eyes.


    "You B-bastard."


    Ro Tang shouted at Zhao Luo as stumbled a step back while trying to get up.


    Zhao Luo once again continued ignoring Ro Tang.


    ''So what if you are at the Bronze Rank?''


    Zhao Luo couldn''t be more easygoing about his enemy''s rank than this.


    After fighting the spy leader of the Qi Sect, he already knew the difference between the two ranks.


    Even though the disciples at the bronze rank were able to use internal energy, it wasn''t like their strength was unstoppable.


    ''It''s just a slight boost in your strength. A little increase in attack and defense isn''t anything to worry about.''


    Zhao Luo smiled while still gaping at the princess.


    Even though his eyes were on her, but his mind waspletely somewhere else


    "Is Little Brother hitting on that cute disciple from the Shen Sect?"


    Senior Cutie questioned as he could see the side of Zhao Luo''s curved lips as he smiled.


    "It looks like so."


    Pi Hao also joined Senior Cutie and dropped his thought on Zhao Luo''s actions.


    Xiao Yu was looking at them with furrowed eyebrows.


    "So, what do you want?"


    The princess took a step forward towards Zhao Luo.


    ''Is she teasing me?''


    Zhao Luo was slightly shocked as the princess came at him while disying her bold behavior.


    There was simply a hair thread difference between Zhao Luo''s chest and the twin peaks of the princess.


    Zhao Luo tried his best to keep his sight on her eyes as he opened his mouth to answer her question.


    "Simply, go back. We only collected enough fruits toplete our mission. If we give even a single one of those fruits to you, we will fail the mission."


    Zhao Luo told the princess his answer after which he took a step back with an embarrassed look on his face.


    ''Shit. I peeked at them.''


    He was unable to control the movement of his eyes while giving his answer to the princess and had looked down.


    Looking at the embarrassed look on his face, the princess grinned.


    ''He is innocent too.''


    She took a step towards Zhao Luo and brought her face close to his.


    "What if I agree and turn back? What will I get?"


    The princess asked Zhao Luo while her sight lingered on his lips.


    ''Where is she looking at?''


    Zhao Luo covered his mouth, and from behind his hand, a robust voice reached out.


    "Nothing. Even if you fight us, you will get nothing."


    Zhao Luo told her as sweat covered his head.


    The princess was for some reason hard for him to deal with.


    ''He is confident too. Or is it just arrogance?''


    She thought but instead of getting angry at Zhao Luo''s answer, her mesmerizing smile widened.


    "We will turn back if you can beat my subordinate in a spar."


    The princess presented a new deal while pressing her hand on Zhao Luo''s chest.


    "I-i..."


    Zhao Luo''s eyes trembled as he had never been approached by any girl like this.


    He didn''t know how he was supposed to push her away when she was giving them another option which included just a small fight instead of an all-out fight.


    "Little Brother, are you flirting? Do you want me to tell little sister after going back?"


    Senior Cutie suddenly interrupted causing Zhao Luo to step back.


    Except for Senior Cutie, the others were only watching Zhao Luo and the princess with wide eyes.


    ''Baldy...xx..''


    Zhao Luo who hadn''t even tried anything was being used of flirting with an enemy.


    "I will defeat your subordinate. Don''t turn on your word after I win."


    Zhao Luo continued as he moved back towards Senior Cutie and joined the others.


    Ro Tang moved towards the princess while looking at Zhao Luo with eyes that looked filled with extreme anger.


    "Thank you, princess. I will show that Xin Sect rat on who''s the dog here."


    Ro Tang said viciously as he red at Zhao Luo who was busy talking with Senior Cutie.


    "Brother Lee, it''s up to you."


    The princess looked at her other subordinate and told him.


    ''Nod.''


    Brother Lee while Ro Tang looked confused.


    "Princess..."


    He thought that he was getting a chance to avenge his earlier loss after his attack was brutally countered by Zhao Luo but the princess was giving this chance to Brother Lee.


    "You can''t win against him."


    The princessmented coldly causing Ro Tang to freeze on the spot.


    He clenched the hilt of his sword tightly.


    ''This bitch.''


    He was extremely mad but he couldn''t take it out on her.


    Brother Lee on the other hand stood in the middle of the two groups.


    "Come."


    He said to Zhao Luo while wearing ck gloves with sharp knuckles.


    ''Thud.''


    Zhao Luo dropped the bag from his back as he handed it over to Pi Hao.


    "Make it fast."


    Xiao Yu said as though he was ordering Zhao Luo.


    "I will do my best master."


    Zhao Luo replied with a grin. He was ready to defeat his opponent as fast as he could, even if Xiao Yu didn''t tell him to.


    "Brother Yu is being shy. Good luck Brother."


    Pi Hao said to Zhao Luo who was walking away from the group.


    "Little Brother, you will win right?"


    Senior Cutie asked worriedly resulting in Zhao Luo''s sudden stop.


    "What do you mean? Senior, did you miss my counter on the other guy?"


    Zhao Luo asked Senior Cutie while pointing at Ro Tang.


    ''This bastard.''


    Looking at Zhao Luo bringing him up so suddenly, Ro Tang was angered even more than before.


    "What if you let him win because of that girl?"


    Senior Cutie slowly mumbled to keep his question just between them four.

 Chapter 250 - Cry Of A Flying Monkey

    "Nice. I may just do that."


    Zhao Luo answered Senior Cutie with an annoyed look on his face.


    The three from the Shen Sect had no idea what Senior Cutie had asked but Zhao Luo''s annoyance was visible to them.


    ''Internal Struggle?''


    The princess thought while the fight between Zhao Luo and Brother Lee was going to start.


    "Before youe at me, let me introduce myself."


    Brother Lee said to Zhao Luo.


    The two groups had moved away from the two to give them the appropriate space needed for their battle.


    "I am Lee, a disciple of the great Shen Sect."


    Brother Lee shortly introduced himself while emphasizing the word ''great'' as he sped his hand.


    "Zhao Luo."


    Speaking out just two words, Zhao Luo also sped his hands after which their fight started.


    Zhao Luo went on the offensive and rushed at Brother Lee with his movement technique.


    "Mini Walk."


    Appearing right beside Brother Lee, Zhao Luo bent his right knee and pushed back his left leg as he swung his sword towards Brother Lee.


    "Burst sh."


    He brought down his ifrit on Brother Lee with a rapid speed just to watch his attack being stopped by Brother Lee.


    ''Bang.''


    Brother Lee turned towards Zhao Luo and sent his right fist at the de of Ifrit, stopping it right before the motion of Zhao Luo''s attack couldplete.


    That wasn''t the end as through Zhao Luo''s shock,


    "Divine Fist."


    Brother Lee threw another fist at Zhao Luo.


    ''Hmph.''


    ''Shwaa~''


    Zhao Luo instantly took out ckey and brought the dark ck sword in front of the sharp knuckles on Brother Lee''s gloves.


    ''Bang.''


    Brother Lee was taken aback by Zhao Luo''s quick reaction.


    He pushed his fist at ckey while trying to pressure Zhao Luo.


    ''He is stronger than that idiot.''


    Zhao Luopared Brother Lee to Ro Tang while feeling him out.


    Zhao Luo pulled back his sword and brought it down on Brother Lee''s fist.


    "Wood Drop."


    ''ng, ng.''


    He hit Brother Lee''s fist with his ckey twice but even after that, they both were still an equal match.


    "Your gloves?"


    Zhao Luo stared at the ck gloves in Brother Lee''s hands and said.


    Brother Lee smiled since his gloves weren''t some simple gloves.


    ''I can use my internal energy through my gloves but he is evenly matching me with these swords of his. I can''t even feel any internal energy in his attacks. It''s just his raw power and his swords.''


    Brother Lee thought as he jumped back to make some distance between them.


    "Your swords aren''t normal too."


    Brother Lee answered Zhao Luo while bringing up his swords.


    Zhao Luo turned his eyes as he looked at Ifrit and ckey.


    "I got them from some very incredible seniors."


    Zhao Luo smiled as he remembered Senior Ballum and Senior Puppet Lord.


    "I see. My gloves were a gift from my master."


    Brother Lee also told the history of the ck gloves that he was equipped with.


    Suddenly, during their battle, Zhao Luo and Brother Lee were smiling, which caused the others who were spectating their battle to be confused.


    "What is he doing?"


    Ro Tang wanted to enter the battle himself but the presence of the princess held him back.


    On the other side, Senior Cutie and the others also looked at Zhao Luo weirdly since he had started smiling suddenly.


    "Little Brother you can talk to your new friendter."


    "Can you finish him off, Brother Lee?"


    Senior Cutie and Ro Tang simultaneously shouted at Zhao Luo and Brother Lee.


    "Let''s end this."


    Zhao Luo stopped smiling and told Brother Lee before raising both of his swords.


    "Yes."


    Brother Lee nodded while running at Zhao Luo.


    "Divine Fist Barrage."


    Multiple fists were coning at Zhao Luo as Brother Lee reached him and threw his fists at Zhao Luo in a mad manner.


    "Dual Burst Drop."


    Zhao Luo brought down both of his swords.


    "Bang."


    The swords diverted the sharp fists of Brother Lee and Zhao Luo pulled them back for an instant and brought them down again.


    Brother Lee raised his arms and tried to bring his fists in front of his chest to block Zhao Luo''s attack.


    "Boom."


    The moment Ifrit and ckey fell on his fist, Brother Lee was thrown back by the force of Zhao Luo''s attack.


    "Agh."


    He moaned while stopping himself from falling.


    Zhao Luo stored his swords as he looked at Brother Lee while waiting for him to stabilize his stand.


    "I lost."


    Brother Lee said loudly while ncing back at the princess, ready to face her wrath.


    But to his surprise, the princess was smiling while looking at Zhao Luo.


    "It was a good fight."


    Right then, Zhao Luo''s voice entered his ears.


    "Indeed."


    Brother Lee said with a smile after which both turned around.


    Zhao Luo then made his way towards Senior Cutie and the others.


    "Good job."


    Senior Cutie patted his shoulder while moving closer to him.


    "I may not tell the princess about you flirting with that sister."


    Senior Cutie whispered in his ear.


    "W-What?"


    Zhao Luo shook him off while stuttering to get a word out of his mouth.


    ''When did I even do that?''


    Zhao Luo screamed in his mind.


    ''Tap, Tap, Tap.''


    Listening to the approaching footsteps Zhao Luo turned around.


    "We will leave."


    The Princess started speaking with a weird beginning.


    "But we will meet soon."


    The princess told Zhao Luo.


    ''She doesn''t even know my name but knows that we will meet again?''


    Zhao Luo nodded while not believing her words.


    Right then, as if a sudden gust of wind had passed them, the sound of leaves rustling started rising.


    "What?"


    Zhao Luo looked around since the sound was rising instead of dying down.


    "UGA BUGAA."


    An inhumane cry almost deafened them.


    "What the f..."


    Pi Hao was holding his ears while shaking as the sudden scream was more painful than getting stabbed by a needle.


    "It''s the cry of an adult Flying Monkey."


    The princess said with a dark look on her face.

 Chapter 251 - The Leader Of The Flying Monkeys

    Zhao Luo looked troubled as he heard the im of the princess.


    ''I have seen my fair share of monkeys too.''


    Zhao Luo thought and how could he not, since he was someone who had been enlightened by the imagination of ''monkey fanatics'' through their creations that appeared on the screen of cinemas.


    ''Even King Kong doesn''t have such a loud and shitty cry.''


    He continued while remembering the king of monkeys and looked around to find the cause of this brain-shattering cry.


    ''Ug, Ug, Ug...''


    Multiple noises swarmed the region of the dread forest where the two groups were.


    "A whole group ising."


    Senior Cutie stepped up while taking out his bronze rod from his storage space.


    "Get Ready. It''s a good chance toplete our fourth mission!"


    He told while giving a shortsting nce to Zhao Luo, Xiao Yu, and Pi Hao.


    Zhao Luo nodded and raised his swords. He looked more than ready after listening to the cries of these flying monkeys that were more than annoying.


    "Let theme."


    Zhao Luo coldly murmured through his breath. His cold look showed that he wasn''t a big fan of monkeys but nobody could have guessed that.


    ''p.''


    Xiao Yu joined his palms and closed his eyes.


    Even though he looked the calmestpared to others, his heart was beating really fast after hearing the weird cry of the adult flying monkey.


    On the other side, Ro Tang went up to the Princess and Brother Lee.


    "You heard them, right?", He whispered to them, obviously pointing towards Senior Cutie''s recentment. "They have a mission of ying these beasts. We don''t have to help them for no reason."


    He ryed his thoughts to the princess since she was the decision-maker of their group.


    "I don''t think they will even need our help", Brother Lee interjected as he had an idea of his own.


    "Princess, if I may.."


    He looked at the Princess with bright eyes as though the words he was going to deliver next would be beneficial for them.


    "Go on."


    She said to Brother Lee while nodding at him and turning her gaze towards Zhao Luo.


    "If we help them we will be able to owe them and that brother looks like someone who will honor this debt, no matter what."


    Brother Lee presented his idea to the princess.


    He had exchanged attacks with Zhao Luo so he knew how strong Zhao Luo was and as they say the best way to know someone is through the way of ''Action'' instead of words, so Brother Lee believed what he had said about Zhao Luo.


    Listening to Brother Lee''s idea, her decision of helping them now had a cause, since even if Brother Lee was against the idea of helping them along with Ro Tang, she would still have helped them, for various reasons.


    "We will help them."


    The princess told them and a smile appeared on Brother Lee''s face while the expression of Ro Tang sulked even more.


    Soon the region of the dread forest where the two groups were, was swarmed with monkeys that were flying above them like bats, that is, fast as hell.


    "So, this is how these flying monkeys look like."


    Zhao Luo realized that these beasts were physically bigger than an average gori while the only difference being the extra feathery wings attached to their backs.


    A normal flying monkey in its early ages is two meters tall with its wingspan being four meters or more, thus their dive speed was not only fast but the way these beastly monkeys maneuvered their bodies was very tricky too.


    But these were just the young ones of these beast types. The leader was an adult since his cry was way different than their broken ''ug, ug, ug''.


    "There are too many."


    Zhao Luo said to his brothers while staring at the monkeys gathering around as theynded on the branches of the trees.


    "They are only more than forty of them. What are you worried about, Little Brother?"


    Senior Cutie said with a worrisome look and his face was covered with an awkward smile.


    ''I wasn''t expecting such a big group. This kind of mission shouldn''t have been left in the outer hall''s mission building.''


    He thought but didn''t dare to say his thoughts out loud since it could have lead others to be discouraged even before the fight could start.


    ''They must be easy to deal with.''


    Zhao Luo, Xiao Yu, and Pi Hao all had the same thought simultaneously as they listened to their confident Senior.


    ''Is he stronger than the handsome guy?''


    The Princess thought while she listened to Senior Cutie taking such a big number of beasts lightly.


    A few moments passed, but the monkeys who were looking down at Zhao Luo and the others had yet to move.


    Since they were quite high up and gathered together as a group so Zhao Luo and the others had yet to attack,


    "What are they waiting for?"


    Zhao Luo questioned while looking around, but no one had an answer to his question, except;


    "They must be waiting for their leader."


    The Princess moved next to Zhao Luo and answered him.


    Zhao Luo was shocked. Not once but twice.


    "Why are you moving close to me? There is another one of them?"


    Zhao Luo who was initially baffled by the sudden approach of the princess found it hard to believe, ''So, there is another monkey that will be joining the rank of these gori-like bastards.''


    He cursed at the beasts in his head, right then another flying monkeynded on the highest branch of one of the tallest trees in the region Zhao Luo and the others were at.


    The beast looked around while Zhao Luo stared at it while being stunned.


    "Why is it shorter than the others?"


    Zhao Luo wondered as this beast had a slender frame, which resembled a human way more than the other.


    "That''s the adult Flying Monkey."


    The princess coldly said as she clenched her teeth.


    ''Hmmm.''


    Zhao Luo could guess how dangerous this beast was by the look on her face.


    The adult flying monkey looked around for a while as though it was searching for something.


    Soon the eyes of the beastnded on the bags that were lying next to Bimba.


    The beast pointed at the bags which looked full since they were the ones where Zhao Luo, Senior Cutie, Xiao Yu, and Pi Hao had stored the fruits.


    The wings behind the adult flying monkey opened to their fullest, and it slowly opened its mouth.


    "UGAAA BUGAAA."


    The Humanoid flying beast let out a ground-shattering cry while pointing his finger at the four bags.


    The Flying Monkeys started diving towards the bags.


    Senior Cutie and Pi Hao leaped towards the beasts that wereing down while Xiao Yu moved towards the middle of the bags from the start.


    "Protect the fruits!"


    Senior Cutie shouted while swinging his bronze rod at the flying monkeys.


    Zhao Luo lowered his body as his sight was fixed on the leader of these beasts.


    He held his swords in a cross manner and raised his ankle from the ground.


    The next instant, Zhao Luo pushed his toes backward.


    ''What is he doing?''


    The princess thought while looking at Zhao Luo.


    <strong>"Half Walk."</strong>

 Chapter 252 - Pushed Away By A Monkey

    Zhao Luo vanished from his spot as he went towards the direction of the leaders of these flying monkeys.


    "He is fast."


    The princess mumbled with a slightly surprised look on her face as she barely kept up with his movements with her eyes.


    The next moment, she took out a sword.


    A white sword that looked like it was d in some kind of holy light. While holding the sword in her hand, the princess looked even more mesmerizing than before.


    Her beauty had exceeded the boundary that would only affect humans as some of the flying monkeys turned around and dived towards her with their wings fully controlling the stability of their dive.


    "Get ready."


    The princess said to her subordinates.


    Brother Lee was already equipped with his gloves with sharp knuckles while Ro Tang took out a bigger and broader sword than the one he had used to attack Zhao Luo before.


    The two groups were ready as the next instant the battle against these flying monkeys broke out.


    "Protect the princess."


    ''Boom.''


    Brother Lee told Ro Tang while he punched one of the monkeys in its abdomen.


    "Protect the bags."


    Senior Cutie shouted on the other side while swinging his bronze rod at the iing monkeys furiously.


    ''Bang, Bang, Bang.''


    He struck three of the Monkeys on their head but instead of their head being destroyed or falling, they just stumbled back before advancing towards him again.


    Pi Hao was barely able to stop one of the flying monkeys back as he started fighting it.


    Xiao Yu who was standing in the middle had to face more than two of these beasts at the same time since he was in the middle of the four bags.


    "Life Palm."


    The bodies of the monkeys that were diving at the bags from above felt a stinging pain in their necks as Xiao Yu''s palmnded on the side of their throats.


    "Ug~~"


    The monkeys cried out while flying away from the bags, to be exact, they were running away from Xiao Yu for some reason.


    "Come at me you bloody monkeys."


    Xiao Yu looked at them coldly and shouted at the beasts who were scratching their necks.


    While the fight broke out on the ground as everyone was busy dealing with something, Zhao Luo had appeared on one of the branches of the tallest tree.


    "I will need to use it once more."


    Zhao Luo was aiming for the leader of the flying monkeys, the adult flying monkey, who was still looking down as though Zhao Luo and the others were ants in its eyes.


    Zhao Luo lowered his body and squatted halfway before pushing his toes down with all the force he could muster in his legs.


    ''Crack.''


    The branch broke while Zhao Luo jumped at the leader with his abrupt movements.


    "Hey, ugaa bugaa bastard."


    Zhao Luo shouted as he reached for the humanoid monkey.


    "Uga Buga."


    The leader looked angry like he could understand that Zhao Luo was cursing him.


    The next instant a creepy smile appeared on its face and the wings behind him opened instantly.


    ''p, p.''


    He hovered above the branch while looking at the human who wasing at him confidently.


    ''Why is he smiling?''


    Zhao Luo who had his swords held as they made a cross reached the beast while questioning the look on its face.


    "Dual Cross sh."


    Zhao Luo swung his swords as he reached the leader of the flying monkeys.


    A dark and crimson light intervened each other while making a cross ''X'' as both ckey and Ifrit made their way towards the monkey.


    The moment Zhao Luo''s swords were going to hit the monkey who was staring at the swords, it was covered by the wings on its back.


    "ng."


    Zhao Luo''s advance was stopped as sparks flew everywhere the moment his swordsnded on the thicks wings of the monkey.


    ''What?''


    Zhao Luo was shocked as his attacks werepletely neutralized and he couldn''t even follow up with another attack since this crash happened in mid-air.


    The monkey suddenly opened its wings which were harder than the strongest metal itself.


    Zhao Luo was throw away instantly by the pressure generated by the wings.


    ''Shit.''


    Zhao Luo cursed as he started falling back after being countered by the flying monkey.


    ''Thud!''


    ''Thud!''


    ''Thud!''


    "BOOM."


    After hitting multiple branches and rolling downwards, Zhao Luo finally crashed on the ground causing a small storm of dust to rise from the ce where he had fallen.


    "Agh."


    Everyone heard a loud and painful scream obviously from Zhao Luo.


    "Brother Zhao Luo."


    "Little Brother."


    The others directed their gaze towards the ce where Zhao Luo had fallen and even though they weren''t able to see him because of the dust, the outline of his shadow was clearly visible.


    ''Did he lose?''


    The princess wondered with a worried face as she gaped at the lying shadow that could be seen through the dust storm.


    Zhao Luo who had crashed on the ground a moment ago was looking up with furrowed brows.


    He was staring at the monkey who was staring back at Zhao Luo from high above.


    ''I was pushed back by a monkey?''


    Zhao Luo couldn''t believe how he was thrown away like a ball by a bloody monkey.


    ''He is a little tricky.''


    Zhao Luo slowly got up under the shouts of his brothers while slowly epting the embarrassing reality.


    ''Tap, Tap.''


    A smile appeared on his handsome face as he patted away the dust from his robe.


    "This could be my chance."


    Zhao Luo mumbled to himself as he remembered the thing he was here for.


    "I need it to follow me."


    Turning his head away from the leader of the monkeys, Zhao Luo looked around, and even though the dust hat had yet to settle, he could somewhat see the situation around him.


    "Why are they crowding there?"


    Zhao Luo wondered as his eyes went over the group of the princess and the monkeys that were surrounding her.


    For some reason, more flying monkeys were attacking their group instead of his, and for Zhao Luo''s n to work he had to get the attention of the humanoid flying monkey solely on him.


    "Let''s do it."


    Zhao Luo smiled and lowered his body while opening his arms thus raising his swords opposite to each other.

 Chapter 253 - Fooling The Beast

    "Half Walk."


    From under the cloud of dust, Zhao Luo shed out of it and appeared behind the monkeys that were surrounding the disciples of the Shen Sect, especially the princess.


    "Burst sh."


    "Burst sh."


    One after another, Zhao Luo''s swords fell on the backs of these beastly monkeys and shed away one of their wings while leaving a big wound on their back.


    Zhao Luo continued this for a while and damaged more than ten of these monkeys in less than five seconds.


    He turned his face towards the leader of these monkeys and grinned while sticking out his tongue.


    The creepy smile on the face of the adult flying monkey disappeared and a coldness enveloped its eyes as it dived down towards Zhao Luo who was fooling around like a monkey.


    ''Shit, he ising.''


    Zhao Luo hurriedly looked around as though he was finding the correct path.


    While looking back, Zhao Luo slowly opened his mouth.


    ''If that''s the cold region of the forest then...''


    Zhao Luo turned towards the other way and starting racing away in the direction opposite to the cold region.


    "Half Walk."


    ''This should be the middle of the forest.''


    Zhao Luo thought while leaving the battlefield as he used his Half Walk to make some distance between him and the others.


    Zhao Luo looked back while tilting his head up and found the leader of the flying monkeys following him with a mad expression.


    "Good. Follow me."


    A momentter, the beast reached Zhao Luo and threw his furry fist at his back.


    ''Not yet.''


    "Mini Walk."


    Zhao Luo lowered his body and pushed himself forward in a random direction.


    ''Uga???''


    The monkey was baffled as Zhao Luo appeared at a different location which was a meter away, in an instant.


    "Heh."


    Zhao Luo continued his escape while the adult flying monkey followed behind him.


    "He left us."


    Pi Hao said tragically as he was looking at Zhao Luo while also dealing with two monkeys to no end.


    "He didn''t. He just took the leader away with him for now so we can take down these minions without any fear."


    Xiao Yu came to his defense as he replied to Pi Hao while striking the monkeys that wereing at the bags, multiple times with the side of his palm.


    "Seventh Palm Strike: Blow Job."


    Xiao Yu looked at the fallen bodies of the beasts around him.


    There were six of them all taken out with this palm strike of his.


    ''Blow Job is indeed the best offensive move of my eight-palm technique.''


    Xiao Yu nodded as the sides of his palm looked swollen.


    The seventh palm was the use of multiple strikes of the side of the palm to get the job done, thus the birth of the name, Blow Job.


    After taking down thest monkey, he looked in the direction where Zhao Luo had gone and slowly opened his mouth.


    "Good luck, Brother."


    Xiao Yu looked away after saying what he wanted to and pped his palms together once more.


    Senior Cutie was still fighting with the monkeys and the beasts that were unlucky enough to be chased by him were the ones that had fallen after being reanimated into a mashed potato.


    Senior Cutie had changed his views, one of them being, "If one strike doesn''t take them down, then I will use two. If two strikes don''t take them down then I will use ten."


    This was the rule that he had set up for himself while facing these flying monkeys.


    It was unlucky for the gori-like beasts that Senior Cutie was quite weak in the calctions department otherwise bo sane person would skip 3,4,5, and so on.


    The things had gotten so bad for the monkeys that even if they pretended to be dead after being hit three times by the bronze rod in Senior Cutie''s hands, the bald human kept on smashing them seven more times for some ridiculous reason.


    Ultimately the beasts lost their lives after being turned into something unrecognizable.


    Around fifteen of these flying monkeys had already been killed while ten were injured by Zhao Luo, leaving behind the twenty flying monkeys that were still going hard at the two groups with their beastly strength.


    The battle continued between the two groups and the beasts while Zhao Luo was still being chased by the leader of the flying monkeys.


    "Where is it?"


    Zhao Luo wondered as he nced around while looking for something.


    "I remember that shiny tree, it must be somewhere here, that is, inside the middle region."


    Zhao Luo kept on talking to himself while anxiously trying to find the tree that had the most mysterious shine.


    This same tree was also next to the patch where Zhao Luo had exited the underground from.


    While Zhao Luo was lost in his thoughts, the annoyed flying monkey kept on chasing him.


    The moment it reached closed to Zhao Luo, Zhao Luo turned around and brought down his swords on the monkey.


    Seeing the swords falling on it, the monkey smiled creepily once again as the wings covered it in an instant.


    Zhao Luo also smiled as the monkey couldn''t see him as he was busy blocking his attack.


    ''Blocking my attack that will never fall on you?''


    Before Zhao Luo could strike the wings of the monkey with his swords, he stopped his attack voluntarily and turned around to continue his search for his capsule.


    "I will kill you soon, monkey boy. Uga buga."


    Zhao Luo''s taunting sound entered its ear and the beast abruptly opened its wings.


    "UGAAA BUGAA."


    The monkey shouted with a scream so loud that even the leaves on the giant trees started rattling.


    A simple trantion of his beastly cry came out to be extreme curses aimed at Zhao Luo and his ancestors.


    The beast was fooled many times by Zhao Luo and for some reason, he kept on falling for the same trick again and again.


    An even more annoying reason was that Zhao Luo would deliberately tell it right after moving away so that the monkey would follow him.


    "Uga Buga."


    The leader of the flying beasts dejectedly let out a tragic sound as even though he knew that the human wanted it to follow him and if he followed the human, he would falling into the human''s trap, the monkey still followed after Zhao Luo.


    "Good. Keep oning after me."


    Zhao Luo nced backward with an evil grin while the leader of the flying monkeys followed after him for the 13th time.

 Chapter 254 - Collecting The Capsule

    In the depth of the dread forest, two shadows could be seen, while one of them was being chased by the other furiously.


    The one in the front belonged to Zhao Luo while the one behind him was obviously the leader of the flying monkeys.


    The leader had a mad twisted look on its hairy face as if he was forcing himself to chase after Zhao Luo and couldn''t wait to rip him apart.


    On the other hand, Zhao Luo had a smirk hanging on his face like he was enjoying a pic.


    "Monkey, do you like me?"


    Zhao Luo shouted while the monkey closed in on him once again just to be fooled by Zhao Luo''s repeated tactic.


    Zhao Luo moved away from the flying monkey, and


    *Whistle*


    The chase continued while a melodious sound escaped the curved lips of Zhao Luo.


    The sound was set as the background music of this chase by Zhao Luo while the flying monkey was so mad at Zhao Luo that he was just a step away from his ripping off his own hair of his head.


    ''That''s...''


    Zhao Luo squinted his eyes while looking ahead.


    An extraordinary shine that he had witnessed once before, but didn''t give it much thought as at that time he was weed to the surface by the sight of an extremely beautiful girl.


    ''That''s the tree.''


    Zhao Luo realized that he had finally found the ce where his capsule is buried.


    Zhao Luo stepped up and ran even faster than before towards the direction of the tree.


    The moment he was around twenty meters away from it, Zhao Luo lowered his body.


    "Half Walk."


    He leaped towards the direction of the tree and found the hole ''where he hade out from''.


    ''It''s there.''


    Zhao Luo mumbled as it was indeed right next to the tree.


    Looking around the hole on the ground, Zhao Luo found it to be surrounded by golden bushes which weren''t present before.


    ''They must have grown recently.''


    He mumbled whilending back on the ground approximately 11 meters away from the tree and 10 meters away from the ground hole where his capsule was.


    Not only the hole in the ground but even the tree next to it was surrounded by these one-meter tall golden bushes that would be blocking the sight of others from falling on the ground hole.


    ''It was nice that I jumped.''


    Zhao Luo didn''t forget topliment himself right after realizing that he had reached the ce which had changed slightly but the mysterious shine was something that he could never forget.


    Zhao Luo looked back at the humanoid monkey and showed him a deep smile while bringing out his tongue slowly.


    ''This much should be enough.''


    Zhao Luo stopped making faces at him as even he was getting tired of messing around with a beast who was a monkey no less.


    Zhao Luo tried his best to offend it before turning back towards the tree and passing through the bushes to jump in the hole.


    "Monkey boy, follow me~"


    Zhao Luo''s voice echoed out from inside the hole as he disappeared from the sight of the monkey.


    "Ugaaa Bugaaa~"


    The leader of the flying monkeys screamed in agony.


    He had been ''unknowingly'' mentally abused by a human who was an ant in his eyes.


    The on the spot trantion of the monkey''s cry was, "imma rip you apart".


    The next moment, the beast also leaped towards the hole to follow Zhao Luo.


    "So you really followed me."


    Zhao Luo said with a cold voice as he brought his face forward and looked at the head of the monkey which had just entered through the hole.


    ''...''


    To the monkey''s surprise, as he looked around after hearing the voice, he found Zhao Luo on his right, standing on a big root of the tree.


    With nowhere to go, it tried to open its wings but because half of his body was still passing through the hole, that didn''t happen.


    Without being able to defend himself with the wings, the leader saw two fistsing at his face with lightning-fast speed and struggled.


    Zhao Luo''s fist aimed for its face while the leader of the flying monkeys was bringing its arm in front of its face after failing to open its wings.


    The moment Zhao Luo''s fist touched the arms of the flying monkey, a swarming ck and white light covered its sight.


    "Fist of Yin and Yang."


    ''Crack.''


    Zhao Luo''s fist pushed ahead and the arms of the monkey cracked inwards but this was just the tip of the power of Zhao Luo''s fists.


    The arms of the monkey caved in towards its face while crushing its skull as a momentter Zhao Luo''s fists had blown off its face.


    "Rest in peace monkey boy."


    Zhao Luo mumbled while looking at the rest of the body of the headless leader which kept on falling after passing through the hole.


    Zhao Luo also turned around and jumped off the thick root andnded on the mountain of rubble.


    ''Shizzzz.''


    While sliding on the slope of this underground pyramid, Zhao Luo reached its base and looked around.


    The first thing that entered his sight was the headless body of the leader of the flying monkeys.


    A few steps away from it was an open capsule where Zhao Luo had sleptfortably for more than a century.


    "There it is."


    Zhao Luo hurried towards the capsule and the moment he reached it, he could see his handsome reflection on the ss of the capsule''s door.


    "Still as handsome as ever."


    There were changes in his body and his looks but the one thing that remained the same was his handsomeness so Zhao Luo couldn''t help but appreciate it.


    He slid his fingers through his silver hairs and closed the door of the capsule with his other hand before storing it in the storage space of his robe.


    "I should leave with the corpse since they could be looking for me while worrying for my safety."


    Zhao Luo looked at the headless beast and even though he felt reluctant while going for it, he picked it up since the others would probably be searching for him, by now.

 Chapter 255 - The Golden Hilt

    A few minutes before Zhao Luo had entered the ground hole after teasing the leader of the monkeys.


    A third group was walking towards the middle region of the forest.


    A group in which all the members were armed while their faces were masked with a purple cloth, as they followed the direction from where the ground shattering and mind tearing shrieks of a beast wereing from.


    The sounds were the cries of the Flying Monkey that was chasing after Zhao Luo, but this group had no idea about that as they continued their search for their target.


    There were 19 people in the group while their weapons were the same, a normal sword in all of their hands while a red scabbard which was engraved with two characters, ''M and O'' was tied around their waist.


    One of the two people who were leading this group asked the other guy.


    "Butler Mo, are you sure that this Zhao Luo will be in the forest?"


    The guy asked this person who looked fat, so fat that for the first time in history, someone would have felt the pain of cloth, that is, the robe the butler was wearing.


    Butler Mo was someone from one of the branch families of the Royal Mo Family. Not only that, he was also the butler of the Mo Suo, thus his status was that of one of those people who could enjoy themselves from sunrise till sunset without giving a heck for anyone or anything. After indulging in a massive quantity of meat and wine, he himself was now a massive piece of meat with the softness of the meat.


    But that was just a cover. His strength exceeded what the eyes of others could see as Butler Mo was somewhat equal to a level one '' I '' Bronze Rank disciple, while also being well versed in the art of the sword.


    After hearing the question of the other guy, Butler Mo raised his eyebrow causing his fourth chin to tremble as he tried to disy his anger, over the trivial question of hispanion.


    "Listen, this is thest time you will question me!"


    Butler Mo said this to the guy who had questioned him leaving him in shock.


    ''This pig.''


    "But this is the first time I even asked you about him."


    The guy continued as he was very displeased.


    They both were equally strong but Butler Mo''s status was elevated just by the fact that he was a direct servant under Mo Suo.


    Mo Suo''s closest aid was Butler Mo while there were two team leaders that served under him with the goal of protecting him all the times when he wasn''t in the Xin Sect.


    One of the team leaders was the guy who had just been reprimanded by Butler Mo for questioning him. While the 17 people behind them were the guards of the Mo Family, specifically working under this team leader.


    Looking at the guy who was still talking even Butler Mo who considered all of hispanions lower than him started talking since he could see the others eyeing him. Thus the pressure got to him and he opened his mouth after a thought passed through his head,


    ''Are they trying to stab me with their vision?''


    "Don''t worry. It''s confirmed intel by one of Master Suo''s subordinates."


    Butler Mo told him while following the direction where the screaming of beasts wasing from.


    The beastly cries got louder and louder as they moved towards the part of the middle region where the tree which was emanating a mysterious shine was, while from the other side Zhao Luo led the beast to it too.


    The moment Zhao Luo went into the hole, was also when this group had reached a ce from where they could see the tree.


    While barely missing Zhao Luo, they still saw the leader of the flying monkey squirming with his legs facing towards the sky and a momentter its body vanished from their sight.


    "Did you all see that too?" Butler Mo questioned the other 18 people in his group.


    "Yes, Butler Mo. What just happened?"


    The same guy who was warned by Butler Mo before for questioning him asked another question in bewilderment.


    But Butler Mo was also in a state of shock, while slowly moving towards the tree. The other behind him looked somewhat scared after the sight they had witnessed.


    "What kind of beast was that? Why was its leg pointing upwards? Where did it go? Is it hiding in the golden bushes? Why are there even so many golden bushes at this ce?"


    Such questions swarmed their minds and their fear started increasing.


    As the first stage of fear is questioning the unexinable situation so the people behind him were very close to the stage where it could be said that they were afraid to walk towards the ce.


    Even though they had just arrived at the location, and obviously the sight was something that had freaked them out. But because of the mysterious yet enchanting shine that wasing from the tree right next to the spot where the beast had disappeared, they all decided to follow Butler Mo.


    Butler Mo passed the hole in the ground without looking at it. The same went for the team leader and the other of the group since the bushes were thick and long and they were keeping a straight view as they walked towards the tree which was illuminating this space with a golden shine of low intensity.


    Butler Mo stood next to the tree and closely inspected it.


    "The shine isn''ting from the tree. But from inside it."


    He started talking as the realization of the origin of this mysterious shine hit him.


    "Hmm. That is indeed the case but it''s like a separate root of the tree is covering the shine."


    The team leader told Butler Mo as he looked at a specific part of the tree.


    "Thud!"


    The next instant Butler Mo threw his sweaty palm towards the part of the tree that they were looking at and broke off the thick wooden cover that looked like a root with dirt on it.


    "A Golden Hilt?"


    The stunned team leader said while looking at the shape of the object which was the reason for the shine.


    Underground.


    At this moment Zhao Luo had just ced the headless flying monkey beast on his right shoulder.


    "Let''s Go!"


    Zhao Luo mumbled to himself while holding his nose with his left hand because of the stench that wasing out of the sliced neck of the beast.

 Chapter 256 - What Do You Call A Person Who Calls His Eternal Master, A Bastard

    At the tree, Butler Mo was standing with the team leader as both of them were staring hard at the golden hilt.


    "How umon."


    The team leader spoke while marveling at the artistic beauty that was emanating from the hilt''s gold color while there was no sign of any art carved on the hilt. That''s how mysterious just the hilt that was stuck at the center of the lower part of the tree, was.


    "Umon indeed. If it was a fruit, then that would have still been understandable since the birth of fruit is part of a fruit tree''s life."


    Butler Mo started talking like a philosopher while the team leader looked at him with wide eyes.


    "A fruit in the middle of a tree''s trunk...."


    ''What a stupid pig.''


    He cursed at Butler Mo and moved backward.


    While staring at it, Butler Mo also stepped back.


    After his palm strike, there was quite enough space above the hilt so if they wanted to pull it out, they could have, but the two didn''t even try pulling it out themselves instead.


    "Hey, You! Grab the Hilt and Pull it."


    Butler Mo told the guard to do it instead.


    "Yes."


    The next moment, the guard was giving it his all while grabbing the hilt.


    "Ahhhhh."


    No matter how much he screamed, his hair didn''t grow neither did the hilt moved from its ce.


    The team leader sent another guard to help the first one.


    But the result was the same. Both of them had red faces as they pulled it towards themselves with all their strength. Looking at the failure of the two guards.


    Butler Mo sent another guard while opening his mouth to say something,


    "Three is always better than two."


    ''As if others don''t know that.''


    Th team leader stopped himself from cursing the fatty as Butler Mo kept on dropping facts as though he was the only one with such knowledge.


    While the third guard also moved towards the hilt and grabbed it, someone was approaching them.


    -


    Zhao Luo was moving up by stepping on the rubble that was making a mountain, the peak of which was a few meters away from the hole.


    With the headless corpse hanging on his shoulder, he jumped from the top of the rubble towards the root that was next to the hole. Using the thick root as the stepping stone Zhao Luo exited the hole.


    "Fresh air."


    The few minutes he had spent underground were suffocating especially with the stench of the monkey boy.


    The moment Zhao Luo rushed out of the hole and shouted, every one of the guards, the team leader, and Butler Mo was staring at him as if they had seen a ghost.


    "A-a h-headless hairy b-beast."


    "And a m-man."


    A few guards had even fallen on their butts as they witnessed Zhao Luonding on the ground with the headless corpse of the flying monkey hanging on his shoulder.


    ''There were others here too? Did they just arrive?''


    Zhao Luo thought but he had no reason to worry as his capsule was already in his storage while the body of the beast leader was in his possession too.


    Zhao Luo looked at the fattest of them all, Butler Mo, and spoke.


    "I am just passing by, Don''t mind me."


    The guards started nodding as they had yet to realize that the person in front of them was their target.


    Butler Mo was also silent since the shock of seeing an adult flying monkey on the back of a disciple was too much for him.


    Looking at the silent faces of these people whose aces were covered with a purple mask, Zhao Luo didn''t wait for their reply and turned around as he started moving away from the hole and the tree.


    The three guards continued pulling the sword while the team leader turned towards Zhao Luo and stared at his departing back before raising his step in his direction.


    ''p''


    Butler Mo grabbed the team leader''s arm and stopped him from going after Zhao Luo.


    "Let him depart. It doesn''t look like he is in a hurry so we will circle around him and then close in on him to strike the killing blow in a swift manner."


    Butler Mo told the team leader and the team leader was, for the first time, impressed by the Butler.


    While the Butler Mo turned around to look at the three guards who were trying to pull the sword, Zhao Luo had already stopped in his tracks.


    ''HAHAHA''


    "What?"


    Aughing sound erupted in his mind and Zhao Luo questioned it.


    ''Little Rascal.''


    The voice cursed at Zhao Luo and even though he felt like he had heard this voice before, Zhao Luo was enraged.


    "Which bastard is cursing me?"


    Zhao Luo cursed back at the voice but the next dialogue of the voice left him with trembling legs, drooping face, and sulking eyes.


    ''What do you call a person who calls his eternal master, a bastard?''


    The voice which was energetic a moment ago sounded old yet extremely powerful. So powerful that his mind was overwhelmed and the trembling legs of Zhao Luo stopped trembling and he fell down on his knees.


    "thud!"


    "I missed you old man."


    Zhao Luo mumbled slowly as he bit his lips and barely controlled the tears in his eyes which were ready to roll down his cheeks.


    He finally remembered who the voice belonged to. But instead of focusing on the old man''s question, he was already trying to forget about it.


    ''We will catch upter, but first get these imbeciles away from me.''


    Old man''s angry voice echoed out in his mind and Zhao Luo felt lost by his master''s words.


    ''Who''s stupid enough to put his hands on the old man?''


    Just when he thought he had somewhat reunited with the old man, the old man was alreadyining about something in his mind.


    "Where are you master?"


    Zhao Luo asked him while getting up from the ground.


    ''Behind you. Just get these people away from me.''


    The old man shouted at Zhao Luo as though he couldn''t wait anymore.

 Chapter 257 - Seven Colors, One Blade

    Zhao Luo turned around and looked at the guards that were surrounding the tree.


    ''These people are the only group of people here.''


    ''The old man is trapped in the tree?''


    Zhao Luo wondered as he stared at the team leader and Butler Mo who were standing just behind the other guards.


    ''What are they up to?''


    Zhao Luo squinted his eyes at the three guards who had their hands on something which was the hilt but Zhao Luo couldn''t know that yet.


    Zhao Luo started moving towards the guards.


    "On second thoughts, I would like you all to move away from that tree."


    Zhao Luo said coldly, and this caused the instant attention of everyone to fall on him.


    As they looked at Zhao Luo and realized the cold look in his eyes, the slow and powerful steps that he was taking whileing at them, all of the guards took a step back.


    Even Butler Mo and the Team Leader were silent as they knew from the look on Zhao Luo''s face that there was no chance or if''s and but''s.


    Zhao Luo smiled as he looked in the front while feeling amused. This was the first time others had followed his words without retaliating.


    "Is it because of this headless corpse on my shoulder?"


    Zhao Luo muttered from under his breath as he looked at the neck of the monkey.


    "Thank you, monkey boy."


    Zhao Luo said and startedughing genuinely.


    He had killed the beast, gotten back his capsule, he was going to be reunited with his master andstly, people were listening to him without arguing back. So many good things were happening to him that even he was baffled and thus the reason behind hisughter.


    But thisugh was shotsting one as right in front of his eyes, a fat man moved towards him slowly.


    "Fatty get out of the way."


    Zhao Luo said to Butler Mo as he was the one who wasing in his way.


    "He is the TARGET."


    Butler Mo shouted as there was no reason to continue with his n anymore.


    The guards looked aggressive but before they could move or Butler Mo could give out his order to attack Zhao Luo, the Team Leader raised his hand and stopped everything.


    "Target?"


    Zhao Luo tilted his head and questioned them.


    "Oh!"


    Zhao Luo palmed his fist into his other hand as though he had been hit by a sudden realization.


    "Are you out on a beast subjugation mission too?"


    Zhao Luo asked them while grabbing the back of the headless beast and slowly moving its corpse towards them.


    "To kill the flying monkeys."


    Zhao Luopleted his sentence while some of the guards looked disturbed by the hideous corpse.


    "Ah, yes, yes. We are indeed on a beast subjugation mission."


    The team leader answered Zhao Luo in a convincing tone while smiling under his mask.


    ''What are you doing?"


    Butler Mo whispered in the ears of the Team Leader.


    ''Just wait.''


    The team leader told him as he kept on looking at Zhao Luo.


    "I see. As I could already guess. But..."


    Zhao Luo said to him while reaching the tree.


    As he stood between the tree and the guards, Zhao Luo looked at them.


    "I would like you guys to leave this ce."


    Zhao Luo who had never been overbearing before had to act like this to quell the anger of his old man.


    ''Are you happy now, master?''


    Zhao Luo gently said in his mind while waiting for the reply of the old man and the answer of these people in front of him.


    "We will leave this ce right away."


    The team leader said he slightly bowed his head and sped his hands.


    The other guards also followed his actions and sped their hands as if saluting Zhao Luo before departing from this ce.


    "Haha."


    Butler Mo awkwardlyughed as he looked between Zhao Luo and the Team Leader.


    "Are you fucking with me?"


    He slowly said to the team leader who only replied with three words.


    instead of the three infamous words, "I love you", the words were different in this case.


    "Just believe me", said the team leader while keeping his head low and then turning around to move out of there.


    The moment all of them turned around, the Team Leader spoke to Butler Mo.


    "The moment he grabs the golden hilt, we will ump him."


    Butler Mo showed an evil smirk and the n was passed to all of the guards as they kept on ncing back at Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo had also turned around towards the tree and right then the old man''s voice echoed out in Zhao Luo''s head.


    ''You have changed.''


    The old man said to Zhao Luo as he couldn''t have imagined that his disciple would be able to just order others to leave like this as the guards hadn''t even given Zhao Luo a chance to persuade them into leaving this ce.


    "Thank You."


    Zhao Luo felt d as the old man''s voice had calmed down and his eyesnded on the golden hilt.


    "A hilt?"


    ''Yes, grab it and squeeze it tightly before pulling it out with your full force.''


    Right when Zhao Luo was going to question the thing he had seen, the old man passed some instructions to Zhao Luo with a tired tone.


    Instructions that sounded weird because of the tired tone that the old man was using.


    Without questioning his master, Zhao Luo grabbed the hilt with both of his hands and used the strength of his arms to pull, whatever was attached to the guard of the hilt, out of the tree trunk.


    Zhao Luo could feel the deing out of the center of the tree trunk slowly as if it was sliding upwards as he pulled it out.


    "ATTACK."


    A shout came from behind him as a shadow was falling over him and the guards led by the team leader wereing at him from behind him.


    ''Don''t worry and just pull it out.''


    Old man''s voice echoed in his head once more and Zhao Luo followed it without questioning it even slightly.


    The shadow over him got bigger and bigger as Butler Mo was falling on him with hopes of crushing Zhao Luo under his 600 kg mass.


    "Amazing."


    Zhao Luo kept on pulling the sword and a meter-long de was already visible and it looked like half of it was still stuck in the ground.


    Just from what looked like the half of the de, a light of seven colors was shining and pressure stronger than that of the Sect Leader escaped from it and struck the falling Butler.


    "BOOM."


    The Butler was blown to bits just by the sudden pressure that had hit him while the guards and the team leader who wereing at Zhao Luo had stopped at their spots after being blinded by the lighting out of the de.


    ''NOW PULL IT ALL OUT.''


    The old man shouted cheerfully in his mind.


    ''The hell are you saying, old man.''


    Zhao Luo thought that the old man had gone crazy and even he wasn''t thinking straight since he could feel a burning sensation in his palms as the blood in his hands flowed over the hilt and was slowly dying the de red while covering its own colorful radiance.

 Chapter 258 - The Game And Its Participants

    With horrified looks on their faces, the guards and the team leader looked at the bloody pieces of meat falling down. These were the remains of Butler Mo who had departed them after being blown to bits by a mysterious force.


    ''Trr~''


    An eyeball that had started rolling after falling on the ground came to a stop at the team leader''s foot.


    "Huup"


    He had a sudden urge to throw up as he looked at the horrifying state of the Butler Mo''s remains.


    The golden bushes around the tree were rained with Butler Mo''s blood, while Zhao Luo was pulling out the sword.


    "Here goes nothing."


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he gave it thest pull while jumping backward and the part of the de that was stuck in the tree''s base was pulled out slowly.


    "Thud."


    Zhao Luo fell on his back while holding the hilt which was on his chest and the rest of the de followed up, which was more than 3 meters long.


    Zhao Luo hardly got up while pulling the sword before he slowly started raising the sword.


    "Ahhhhhhhhh"


    He shouted like a mad man which scared off the guards as some of them stumbled backward while some were frozen on the spot as they watched Zhao Luo raising the sword which looked twice his size.


    "Why is it so big?"


    Zhao Luoined but that wasn''t the only issue as his body was trembling under the weight of the humongous sword.


    Zhao Luo''s vision fell on the hilt and slowly went towards the tip.


    The golden hilt was now covered with his blood while some parts of the de also had these blood streaks that were making a line. But the most fascinating thing was that the multi-color shine was still there and the radiance from the sword was something that would grab the attention of anyone that would look at Zhao Luo, not to mention its crazy size.


    ''This could be a problem.''


    The old man''s tired voice was heard by Zhao Luo and the de shortened once.


    Even though the de had shortened, it was still a little bigger than Zhao Luo, but then, the de shortened again and its new size was that of half his height.


    The seven-color shine of the de started dimming and in a few seconds, itpletely settled down while revealing a ss-like de.


    ''D-don''t lose the s-sword, my disciple. Protect it a-all cos-''


    The old man''s voice died down as though he had fallen to his sleep while leaving behind amand.


    ''Who do I need to protect the sword from?''


    Zhao Luo turned around and looked at the horrified faces of the scared guards who weren''t even in a normal state, except the team leader who was biting his lips.


    ''They won''t even attack me.''


    Zhao Luo understood the look of fear on their faces.


    "Master?"


    Zhao Luo mumbled but there was no response. So,


    "Master, are you there?"


    He spoke again but only silence remained.


    ''Did he really fall asleep?''


    Zhao Luo shook the sword vigorously as if trying to wake up the old man but there was no response from his master.


    "OLD MAN ARE YOU DEAD?"


    Zhao Luo shouted internally just then a mysterious pressure from the sword enveloped him.


    ''Ungrateful Bastard! Let me rest.''


    The old man shouted back at Zhao Luo causing a sharp pain to pass through his head.


    ''Okay, Okay.''


    Zhao Luo said with a grin as his intention of annoying the old man was sessful.


    ''I guess, the old man is really trapped in the sword.''


    Zhao Luo looked at the sword while mumbling and brought it down in one swift motion.


    "Who sent you?"


    Zhao Luo suddenly said while swinging the sword up and down in a perfect rhythm.


    ''So it has finallye to this.''


    The team leader thought as his eyes shook while listening to Zhao Luo''s question.


    He had many chances to attack Zhao Luo but after seeing Butler Mo''s end, the team leader stayed at his spot. He didn''t attack Zhao Luo and neither did he retreat since retreating would mean being chased by this monster in front of him. He waited for this moment.


    ''I can do it. He is still a kid in front of me.''


    The team leader thought as he took a step forwards and opened his mouth.


    "We were all forced by the Butler, oh the fat man who was killed by you a moment ago."


    Team Leader spoke politely as if he had nothing to do with the attack on Zhao Luo while pinning all the me on the dead Butler Mo.


    ''A butler? Whose butler could he have been?''


    Zhao Luo had such questions popping up in his head as he could clearly see through the lies of the team leader who had cleverly evaded his question.


    ''So you want to y me like that.''


    Zhao Luo grinned after hearing the answer of the team leader and he looked at the leader and the 17 guards with a cold gaze which was enough to make them shudder.


    "We will y a game! Sadly, you all will be the participants."


    Zhao Luo said to them while pointing at them with his sword.


    "All of you will have to answer a question as I count to three."


    "You all shall answer at the same time."


    "If one of you kept quiet, he will be killed on the spot."


    "If any of you, tried to run away, he will be killed on the spot."


    "If any one of you answers after the others have answered, he will be killed on the spot."


    He told the rules of the game which sounded more like a death sentence than rules since breaking them meant instant death and from the look in Zhao Luo''s eyes, it was obvious that he was more than serious. Not one of the guards fought back or tried nheless.. The team leader was the same as he had his fist clenched while ncing back at the guards.

 Chapter 259 - Right Or Left, I Will Find The Serpent Myself

    "And this is thest time, I will repeat my question."


    Without giving them any time, Zhao Luo continued.


    "Who sent you?"


    The questionnded on everyone''s ears which was followed by the promised countdown.


    "One."


    Zhao Luo lowered his body and held the ss sword tightly by grabbing it with his other hand too.


    "Two."


    He pushed his toes while raising his ankle. He was more than ready to attack them.


    "Ther-"


    "It was Master Mo Suo."


    All of the guards collectively said in a loud voice, with their eyes tightly closed and their jaws clenched as they shut their mouths after answering Zhao Luo''s question.


    The team leader turned around and red at them.


    "You foolish bastard."


    ''Phsshh~''


    He shouted at them but just a momentter, a cold feeling enveloped him and an unbearable pain spread to all of his sides from the center of his body.


    The team leader looked down and found an enchanting ss de that wasing out of his stomach and as he slowly turned his head he found Zhao Luo standing behind him.


    "You broke the rule."


    Zhao Luo told the team leader who had a tragic look in his eyes as his life seeped out through his body.


    "Phshh"


    "Tap, Tap...."


    Zhao Luo pulled back the de of his ss sword in a swift manner while the drops of team leader''s blood that were on the de fell to the ground.


    The other guards who had answered at thest moment were staring at the deep hole which was left behind in the team leader''s stomach. Their mouths were open and their eyes trembled as right before them, their leader was falling.


    "Thud, Thud."


    The team leader dropped to his knees and took hisst breath before his head struck the ground in the next second.


    "You."


    Zhao Luo pointed his sword at one of the guards and addressed him.


    "The answer. Exin to me."


    Zhao Luo said to the guard but before the guard could say anything, Zhao Luo continued.


    "Take his body and go back to the bastard who had sent you."


    Zhao Luo ordered the other guards.


    Two of the guards, with hurried steps, jumped towards the corpse of their leader and pulled him up.


    The other guards had a shaky smile on their faces as they were bewildered by Zhao Luo''s order.


    "He spared us."


    They bowed their heads slightly before turning around and leaving with the body of the team leader.


    Neen people hade, with the mission of assassinating Zhao Luo. Seventeen had left, one of them being dead.


    Two were left behind, while one was blown to bits and the other,


    ''Am I going to die?''


    The remaining guard mumbled with a tragic look on his face.


    ''I even answered truthfully. I didn''t even get a chance to attack him. And now I will be killed? Like this?''


    The guard was going through a self-questioning phase while Zhao Luo came to stand in front of him. He looked at the shadow of Zhao Luo while looking down and tightened the grip over his sword.


    ''If I am going to die anyway, I would rather fight back.''


    The guard had such a thought as his shoulder twitched slightly but such a small action wasn''t left unnoticed by Zhao Luo.


    "Go on, if you don''t want to live."


    Zhao Luo said to him with a powerful tone as though he was telling the future which had been decided already for the guard.


    "W-will you let me live if I answer your question?"


    Listening to the question of the guard whose voice was breaking with fear of losing his life anytime, Zhao Luo took two steps forwards and pulled the guard closer to him.


    With his arm over the guard''s shoulder, Zhao Luo opened his mouth.


    "Why would I kill someone who hasn''t harmed me? So, don''t worry and tell me what you know about."


    Zhao Luo smiled at the guard while using the power of his handsomeness to calm down the guard''s fear.


    The guard looked at Zhao Luo with shocked eyes and even though he knew that Zhao Luo''s words weren''t the truth since the team leader had been killed when he hadn''t even hurt Zhao Luo, the guard still nodded since he still had hope that he will be spared like the rest of the guards.


    "So why did Mo Suo order you to kill me?"


    Zhao Luo straight away asked what he wanted to know the most.


    ''Was the defeat too much for him or was it because she likes me?''


    Zhao Luo wondered about the reason but he couldn''t decide without listening to the guard''s answer.


    ''Maybe it''s because of the leftover stuff at the pce. What a cheap stake.''


    Zhao Luo remembered the two bags that he had stored which were left behind by Mo Suo.


    Before Zhao Luo could jump on to more conclusions the guard started talking.


    "I don''t know the reason since Lord Mo Suo didn''t order us directly."


    The guard slowly answered Zhao Luo''s question but this also meant that he couldn''t go back to serving Mo Suo.


    "Then who was it?"


    Zhao Luo continued his investigation while nodding his head.


    ''So it wasn''t him. As I had guessed. It''s just been a day, so there is no way that he would have nned something like this.''


    Zhao Luo who was thinking about the reason behind Mo Suo''s decision a moment ago was now looking at the situation differently.


    "It was the Right Serpent."


    The guard told Zhao Luo while looking away from him.


    ''It must have been hard to answer this.''


    Zhao Luo thought while looking at the back of his head.


    ''But...''


    "Who is he?"


    Zhao Luo was confused as he had never heard of such a name or a person.


    The guard was still looking in the opposite direction while his body started trembling.


    "Hey, it''s okay if you don''t want to answer me, you don''t have to act like this. Right or Left, I will find the serpent myself."


    Zhao Luo said to the guard with a weird look in his eyes as the guard looked like a person who had just taken his first dance ss.


    The information he had received till now was enough for Zhao Luo so he didn''t want to force an underling to the extremes.


    ''But what kind of absurd steps are these?''


    Zhao Luo wondered while taking his arm off the guard who was literally having seizures while standing.


    ''Hmmm.''


    Right then the old man''s sighing sound echoed in Zhao Luo''s head and on the other hand the guard fell on his back, the moment Zhao Luo had removed his arm.


    "What?"


    Zhao Luo was rmed as he didn''t know what the guard was up to but when Zhao Luo''s eyesnded on the guard''s face, he stumbled back.


    The eyes and mouth of the guard were open while blood was seeping out of his eyes, nose and his mouth slowly.


    ''He will die if this continued.''


    The old man said to Zhao Luo who was in a state of shock.


    "Master, I know that too."


    Zhao Luo unconsciously replied to the old man while staring at the strange condition of the guard.


    ''Stab him.''


    The old man instructed Zhao Luo.


    "But where?"


    While raising his sword and a reluctant look in his eyes, Zhao Luo asked his master.


    ''Just do it!''


    The old man shouted and at the same time, the amount of blooding out of the guard''s mouth doubled as his body started shaking more viciously than before.


    Zhao Luo closed pulled back his arm with which he held the sword and pointed the tip of the ss sword at the chest of the guard as he trusted it forward.


    ''Whoosh.''


    The sword moved towards the chest of the guard.


    ''Hahaha, there you are little rat.''


    Old man''sughter sounded out in Zhao Luo''s head while the sword''s trajectory shifted.


    Before Zhao Luo was controlling the sword but now it felt like, the sword was controlling him, as his arm was forced along with the sword changing its direction.


    ''sh.''


    The next moment, the ss sword passed through the guard''s left leg.


    The position of the sword was right beside the guard''s little brother which could have been sliced off if the sword was just a few centimeters off, and this scared off Zhao Luo the most.


    ''As a man, I could have destroyed another man''s future.''


    Zhao Luo realized the mistake that he could have made by believing in the old man''s words but before he could take this up to the old man a high-pitched scream was heard.


    "RRREEEEEEEEEEEEE."


    Zhao Luo released the hilt of the ss sword and covered his ears as he looked in the direction where the scream wasing from which was obviously where he had sliced past with the ss sword, that is, at the guard''s leg.


    The guard had stopped convulsing and the scream slowly died down.


    ''Pull the sword out. He has already lost so much blood that he will die if he loses any more. Do you even have any conscience? Ruthless disciple.''


    "Tsk, Why are you ming me, master? You were the one who told me to stab him."


    Zhao Luoined but also pulled the sword out of the guard''s leg hurriedly.

 Chapter 260 - Message Of The Princess

    ''Shwack.''


    "REEE~"


    The same scream with a high pitch was heard again, the moment Zhao Luo pulled out his ss word.


    At the tip of the ss sword, a dark slimy bug was wriggling in pain.


    Zhao Luo stared at the bug and with his eyes, he followed the blue blood of the bug which had a ck smoke rising from it.


    "What is this creature?"


    Zhao Luo questioned with a disgusting look as he swung his sword to throw it away.


    ''It''s a low-level insect known as Blood Ree. Its weird namees from its unusual scream and its ability to travel inside the host''s body while staying hidden in his blood.''


    The old man answered Zhao Luo while his tone had changed once again.


    Zhao Luo nodded while listening to the sleepy voice of his master and moved towards the insect''s body.


    "Blood Ree."


    Zhao Luo mumbled while raising his foot and bringing it down to smash it under his foot.


    ''Phshh~''


    Like the bursting of a smoke bomb, the Bleed Ree released a big amount of ck smoke which had a pungent smell.


    Zhao Luo moved back and turned towards the guard who was bleeding excessively a moment ago. The guard looked calm, and his eyes were closed at the same time, his breathing looked normal too.


    "But, why was the guard suddenly affected by it?''


    Zhao Luo wondered while waiting for the old man to answer his question.


    ''Did he fall asleep again?''


    With no answer from his master, Zhao Luo closed his eyes as he sat next to the guard''s leg which was the only part of his body that was bleeding.


    ''Cut the beast''s wing into a patch and wrap it around the deep gash in his leg.''


    The old man slowly instructed Zhao Luo who instantly followed upon his master''s orders.


    Zhao Luo got up again and moved back to rip a small part of the monkey''s wing and then returned to wrap it around the guard''s leg.


    "Will this even work?"


    Zhao Luo wondered as he covered the injury by folding the wing around it.


    ''Hmph, you dare question your master?''


    The old man asked with an angry tone as he answered the doubt Zhao Luo had.


    Zhao Luo shook his head, "I was just wondering if the wings of the beast contained something that could heal the wounds."


    Zhao Luo borated his thoughts as he replied to his master.


    ''The beast wings contain a lot of vital energy. Sometimes beast wings are even better than recovery pills but unlike the pills, the wings have to be used as a herb mixture, that is, externally.''


    This was the first time Zhao Luo was learning about the uses of the beast wings and his eyes were wide opened as he turned to look at the wings of the flying monkey.


    "Should I roll up some for myself too?"


    Zhao Luo''s eyes sparkled as he almost went towards the flying monkey.


    ''You won''t need them, Zhao Luo.''


    The old man spoke but didn''t tell the reason behind hisment.


    ''As for the Blood Ree, it must have started harming its host when a forbidden word was used by him.''


    "A Forbidden word?"


    ''A word that signals the insect to destroy its host from the inside. That''s the forbidden word.''


    The more Zhao Luo listened to his master, the more things made sense to him.


    "So the insect, Blood Ree is like a bomb waiting to explode, while the word is the key that starts the countdown. But...."


    Zhao Luo understood everything and stopped here as he thought of the word which was the trigger.


    "The Left Serpent."


    Zhao Luo eximed in excitement as he was over the moon, after solving a ''mystery''.


    ''If this guy can control these parasitic insects then he couldn''t be a normal individual.''


    The old man''s sound echoed in Zhao Luo''s head.


    "At least hide your interest in him."


    Zhao Luo mumbled as the old man sounded more excited than the time when Zhao Luo had epted him as his teacher.


    ''Hah, I am going back to sleep. Don''t wake me up.''


    With this as his farewell, the old man''s voicepletely vanished from Zhao Luo''s mind.


    "I should go too."


    Zhao Luo got up while putting the unconscious guard on his right shoulder.


    "The beast."


    Zhao Luo turned around after which he walked to the beasts and ced it on his left shoulder.


    ''I should hurry.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he followed it by lowering his body.


    "Half walk."


    Zhao Luo vanished from his spot as he used his movement technique to leave that ce.


    While carrying the corpse of the beast and the unconscious guard, Zhao Luo made his way towards the north of the forest, where he had left the others.


    A few minutester, Zhao Luo could see a group walking in his direction.


    "Hah, there they are."


    Zhao Luo said with a smile as he could clearly see Bimba at the front while Senior Cutie was walking beside it.


    "Little Brother."


    Senior Cutie shouted as he had also realized that Zhao Luo was finally back.


    Zhao Luo reached Senior Cutie and stopped next to him as he looked around.


    Xiao Yu and Pi Hao were also behind Senior Cutie but they lookedpletely exhausted.


    "Where were you? Do you know how worried we were? And what are you carrying?"


    He asked Zhao Luo while ncing at the bodies hanging on Zhao Luo''s shoulders.


    Not only Senior Cutie and Pi Hao but Xiao Yu was also worried for Zhao Luo''s safety.


    "I was trying to separate this leader from the other beasts just to escape its chaseter on, but this monkey boy was quite aggressive. No matter how many times I fooled it, it wouldn''t leave me alone."


    Zhao Luo told about his situation with a smile as though he had a fun time running around while being chased by a monkey.


    "As for this guy, he''s a friend I saved."


    Zhao Luo dropped the corpse of the monkey and followed it by cing the guard on Bimba''s back.


    The guard''s face was still masked so they had no other choice but to look at Zhao Luo weirdly.


    "What about that?"


    Xiao Yu pointed to the sword in Zhao Luo''s hand.


    Zhao Luo raised the ss sword and stared at it for a while.


    "I just stumbled upon a tree and this was stuck in it."


    With all seriousness, Zhao Luo told them the truth


    "A sword stuck on a tree?"


    Pu Hao mumbled while Xiao Yu also had a look of disbelief on his face.


    "Little brother, it''s okay if you don''t want to tell us. You don''t have to lie."


    "But I am telling the truth."


    Zhao Luo said to them but Senior Cutie proceeded to pat his shoulder.


    ''Is he telling me, not to try so hard?''


    Zhao Luo felt like screaming as he didn''t know what to say anymore and thus proceeded to store the ss sword in his storage space.


    Senior Cutie started walking again as he stored the corpse of the beast in his storage space.


    Zhao Luo also followed behind him as the four with their beast which carried a pile of corpses and four bags continued their way towards the exit of the forest.


    "Where are the disciples from the Shen Sect?"


    Zhao Luo asked them while missing the feisty girl who had stayed back with her subordinates to help them.


    "Ah them."


    Pi Hao looked saddened as he remembered the beauty from earlier.


    Xiao Yu looked at Pi Hap and smirked at his innocence.


    "They left after helping us in subjugating the beasts."


    He told Zhao Luo with a smile on his face that was directed towards Zhao Luo.


    "Little Brother, you are indeed a bad boy. I like bad boys."


    Senior Cutie suddenly started talking as he turned his head around to look at Zhao Luo and winked at him.


    "The youngdy had a message for you."


    Senior Cutie stopped and recalled the message that the beauty had left for Zhao Luo.


    ''Obviously, I will have to be the one to deliver it.''


    Senior Cutie walked towards Zhao Luo as he was already shuddering after thest wink attack by Senior Cutie.


    "W-what was the message?"


    Zhao Luo asked him as even though he was creeped out, his curiosity got the better of him.


    "It was a..."


    Senior Cutie moved closer to Zhao Luo while curving his lips.


    ''What the hell is he trying to do?''


    Zhao Luo stumbled backward while Senior Cutie looked at him with a mischievous look.


    "Kiss."


    Hepleted his sentence while smacking his lips together to make the word around heavier.


    "Y-you."


    Zhao Luo mumbled and looked furious.


    ''I fell for it again.''


    He thought as Pi Hao and Xiao Yu had already erupted withughter and Senior Cutie was grinning.


    "This is what you get for leaving the team and going off on your own."


    Senior Cutie said with a smile as he was only teasing Zhao Luo for leaving before.


    "I am sorry."


    Zhao Luo didn''t mind showing them his humble side since he had things to take care of.


    "There was indeed a message from the youngdy."


    Senior Cutie nodded at Zhao Luo''s reaction and told him the truth.


    ''What could be the message?''


    Zhao Luo wondered while looking at Senior Cutie who was going to tell him the truth.


    "Hey, handsome. I will meet you again."


    Senior Cutie said to Zhao Luo while changing his voice to exactly that of the princess.


    "That is what she said."


    "Is that it?"


    Zhao Luo felt shocked after witnessing Senior Cutie''s voice changing technique for the second time but also felt a little disappointed by the message.

 Chapter 261 - The Coldness Of The Sara Desert

    The others could clearly see the disappointment which was dropping from Zhao Luo''s face just like how the water drops fall after someone sshes it on their face.


    "Little Brother, are you disappointed?"


    Senior Cutie questioned Zhao Luo with a mysterious smile on his face as though he had juste up with a sinister n to use against Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo who was aware of the meaning behind Senior Cutie''s smile was already on guard.


    "What else should she have said?"


    Senior Cutie continued asking Zhao Luo.


    "I was just saying because she didn''t leave her name behind."


    Zhao Luo looked away while answering Senior Cutie.


    ''Why am I feeling disappointed?''


    Zhao Luo thought as he remembered the beauty of the Shen Sect.


    "If that''s the reason for your disappointment then don''t worry. I know her name."


    Senor Cutie told Zhao Luo while turning around and continuing on the way.


    Zhao Luo followed behind Senior Cutie but wasn''t able to see the smile on his face.


    "So?"


    Zhao Luo said to him as he walked beside him.


    "So, what?"


    Senior Cutie pretended to not know what Zhao Luo was asking him and fastened his pace.


    ''I get it.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he realized that he may be getting fooled by Senior Cutie.


    ''He may not even know her name.''


    Zhao Luo wondered as he stopped asking about the princess''s name from Senior Cutie who himself had no idea about her identity.


    The four continued on their way towards the exit of the Dread Forest as the journey till then continued with silence.


    Both Pi Hao and Xiao Yu were on the back of Bimba with their eyes closed as they were already tired to the limit, while Zhao Luo walked side by side with Senior Cutie.


    "Are you sure you don''t want to know her name?"


    "NO, I DON''T."


    Zhao Luo replied to the whisper of the Senior Cutie as though he was only here to torture Zhao Luo.


    ''This guy.''


    Zhao Luo almost smacked Senior Cutie''s shiny rooftop but controlled his urges to do that as he had more important things to look on.


    "We havepleted four missions, right?"


    Zhao Luo questioned them and Xiao Yu and Pi Hao also opened their eyes as they looked at Zhao Luo.


    "We cleared the horde of Drift worms."


    Xiao Yu said to them while Pi Hao patted the mountain of corpses behind him.


    "The spies too."


    "The leader is buried in there too."


    Pi Hao pointed at the end of the corpses, that is, right above the back of Bimba.


    "We also have the two hundred fruits."


    Senior Cutie added right after Pi Hao, and Zhao Luo blinked as he was the one to strike down the leader of the flying monkeys.


    "That means only the subjugation of Giant Rats is left."


    Zhao Luo said to them.


    While talking about the missions the exit of the forest was clearly in front of their eyes.


    ''It''s already night out there.''


    Zhao Luo realized the darkness that was spread out as far as he could see over the Sara Desert.


    "The journey back to the sect will be hard."


    Senior Cutie said with a cold tone.


    "Why? It won''t be as scorching hot as before."


    Pi Hao said as he still remembered the hotness of the desert.


    "No, Senior is right."


    Zhao Luo said as he jumped out of the forest andnded on the sand.


    "It''s..."


    Zhao Luo lowered his body and moved his hand past the sand.


    "Too cold."


    Zhao Luo said to them while getting up and looking ahead.


    Under the moonlight, the vast desert looked like a horrifying sight and the chills that they would feel from time to time as the wind gust blew against them, would make their journey harder than in the daytime.


    "Even though the journey will be hard, we need to reach the Sect before morning."


    Senior Cutie told them as he also got on Bimba.


    Since two of them were already exhausted to their limit and it was only Zhao Luo and Senior Cutie who were still able to face any danger that maye their way, so Senior Cutie''sment was understood by the other three.


    "Nod."


    Zhao Luo nodded and jumped on the sand lion as they continued towards the direction of the Xin Range.


    Ten minutester, somewhere in the middle of Sara Desert, Bimba could be seen running on the desert.


    Even though it was carrying more than a dozen corpses, four bags, and, Zhao Luo and his brothers, its speed hadn''t slowed down by much.


    "TrTrTr."


    While its speed remained unchanged, the same couldn''t be said for Zhao Luo and the others as they were already trying their best to control themselves from shivering in the unbearable cold.


    ''It''s too cold.''


    Even Zhao Luo was rubbing his arms with his hands while trying to keep himself warm.


    "We should sit closer to each other."


    Even within the unbearable cold, Senior Cutie had a smile on his face as he gave them a bit of advice that could help them in keeping them warm.


    "Yes. Senior Brother, you are truly a genius."


    Pi Hao said to Senior Cutie as he could have never thought of such an idea.


    "Genius?"


    Zhao Luo looked at the baldy and thought otherwise and the four moved closer to each other as they sat back to back on top of Bimba.


    A few momentster.


    "Stop poking me."


    Zhao Luoined as he had been quiet for a while, as someone''s finger had been hitting his back again and again.


    "It wasn''t me."


    Since Zhao Luo hadn''t said where he was getting poked from, Pi Hao and Xiao Yu both said together.


    "It''s Xiao Yu."


    Senior Cutie whispered into Zhao Luo''s ear since he was the one behind the act.


    From the start, Senior Cutie just wanted to relieve his boredom, and sitting closer was just an excuse for him to go crazy.


    ''hmm.''


    Zhao Luo couldn''t believe Senior Cutie''s words and slightly moved away from Xiao Yu and Pi Hao.

 Chapter 262 - The Giant Sand Rats

    ''Let''s see who the culprit is.''


    Zhao Luo thought with a smile. Even though he suspected Senior Cutie,


    ''It would be a bliss to catch him in the act.''


    Zhao Luo smiled as he waited for the obvious suspect to continue with the act.


    Since he had moved away from Xiao Yu and Pi Hao, if it was them, they would have to make bigger movements but if it was Senior Cutie as Zhao Luo had expected then his movements will be short.


    A momentter, Zhao Luo was already ncing at the other two from the side of his eyes when a finger struck his back.


    Zhao Luo instantly responded by grabbing the finger but for some reason, the finger felt softer and longer than what a man''s finger would feel like.


    The four were sitting right next to the corpses while the mountain of corpses was on Zhao Luo''s right.


    Zhao Luo turned around and looked at the finger as he followed along the length of the finger to the hand, and then the arm which was stretched out from under the corpse mountain.


    "I think the leader of the spies is awake."


    Zhao Luo informed the others as the bony hand was squirming as if the owner of the hand was short of breath.


    Senior Cutie who was facing forward towards the direction they were going didn''t see the hand.


    "Ignore the leader."


    "But she had already freed her arm."


    Zhao Luo said to Senior Cutie who then turned around and looked at the hand as he hurriedly removed the pile of corpses by cing them to the side.


    "How did you ree yourself?"


    Senior Cutie questioned the masked Leader whose chest with the two peaks was going up and down as she kept on breathing in and out furiously.


    The chain with which Senior Cutie had tied her, was still there yet she had freed one of her arms.


    "Haha."


    The leader of the spiesughed instead of answering Senior Cutie''s question but a momentter she started shivering as the feeling of cold struck her bloodied body.


    As she was buried under the other spies and her ck robe had absorbed most of the blood,, thus her robe was as wet as it could be which made it hard for her not to shiver under the coldness of the desert while Bimba was moving towards the Xin Range''s direction at his full speed,


    "You will die of frostbite if we don''t throw these corpses on you. So, what do you want?"


    Zhao Luo questioned her with sad eyes, even though they were enemies, Zhao Luo wasn''t a fan of torturing someone like this, especially not ady.


    "Just kill me."


    The leader of the spies replied to Zhao Luo from under her masked mouth.


    ''As if I would take your pity.''


    She thought while looking at Zhao Luo''s eyes which were filled with only worry for her and nothing else.


    "Suit yourself."


    "Little Brother, you are still too inexperienced to deal with the people of Qi Sect."


    Senior Cutie who had faced the spies o the Qi Sect for the first time in his life, said to Zhao Luo while shaking his head.


    Without talking to the spy leader, he brought out another chain and tied her hands with it after which he threw all the corpses on her, burying her under them once again.


    "That''s how you d-"


    SQQUEAAAAAAK~


    A sharp scream interrupted Senior Cutie who was telling Zhao Luo and the other about the proper way of dealing with the enemy.


    "It''s definitely a giant sand rat."


    Senior Cutie looked towards the right while Bimba kept on moving ahead.


    "That''s the target of the remaining mission."


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he patted Bimba''s back and pointed towards their right.


    "There."


    Zhao Luo said to the beast as Bimba instantly leaped towards his right before running in that direction.


    Soon, they could see a big group of thest target of their beast subjugation missions.


    "There they are."


    Pi Hao shouted as he pointed his hand towards a giant rat.


    ''They look cute though.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he stared at the giant rats that were still far from them.


    There were only a few of them unlike the forty mentioned in the mission detail and the appearance looked nothing like that of a beast except the giant size that each of the rats was around 2 meters tall, that is half the size of Bimba''s current size.


    The giant sand rat had big round eyes and a furry body with white hair that looked beautiful in the dark desert.


    "They are like harmless pet hamsters."


    Zhao Luo thought of the cute hamsters that were run around in a loop, cutely, to pass their time.


    "Hah, they are one of the most aggressive beasts in the desert."


    Senior Cutie told Zhao Luo as the distance between them and the rats shortened.


    The moment the giant rats realized a sand lion running towards them, the few of them looked at Bimba with their big red eyes.


    Zhao Luo felt nervous after listening to Senior Cutie but the next scene scared him a little as more than sixty big red eyes opened in front of them.


    ''Gulp.''


    "Hah, what if we disturb their sleep?"


    Zhao Luo questioned Senior Cutie as his saliva hardly moved down his throat.


    "Then they wille for your life."


    Senior Cutie replied with an equally nervous tone.


    "Get ready."


    Zhao Luo shouted as he took out his ss sword and wielded it with both of his hands.


    ''Roar.''


    Bimba suddenly stopped and cried out as even the beast knew that he couldn''t fight a giant sand rat with the corpses and the fruit-filled bags on its bag.


    "It''s okay, we can take care of them ourselves. Just protect the bags."


    Zhao Luo patted Bimba''s back while jumping off.


    Senior Cutie was already swinging his bronze rod while warming himself up.


    Xiao Yu and Pi Hao also joined them.


    "We can handle them, just stay back."


    Zhao Luo told them as he was confident in himself and Senior Cutie.


    "It''s okay. Give me a sword."


    Xiao Yu moved up and stood next to Zhao Luo while asking for a sword.

 Chapter 263 - Slaughtering The Giant Rats

    "Sword?"


    With a surprised look, Zhao Luo looked at Xiao Yu.


    While Zhao Luo was busy with Xiao Yu''s sudden request, Senior Cutie had already leaped towards the iing horde of giant sand rats.


    "You can use a sword too?"


    Zhao Luo asked again as though he couldn''t believe that Xiao Yu was asking for a sword.


    Xiao Yu was someone whose palm technique was at a level that Zhao Luo had never seen before, and yet he could also use a sword.


    "Do you think you are the only one who can use both sword and fists while being equally good in both arts?"


    Xiao Yu asked in an annoyed manner while turning around to ask for a sword from Pi Hao.


    "You have a point."


    Zhao Luo nodded since he felt like he was getting too ahead of himself.


    "Here you go."


    Before Pi Hao could answer Xiao Yu''s request, Zhao Lup took out ckey and passed it to Xiao Yu.


    ''Tap.''


    Xiao Yu grabbed it and while swinging it in the air, he started moving towards the giant rats.


    "Do you need a sword too?"


    Zhao Luo asked Pi Hao with an expecting look but sadly Pi Hao shook his head.


    "I have only trained my fists."


    Pi Hao said to Zhao Luo as he didn''t feel down even though he was surrounded by talented individuals.


    "Let''s go then."


    Zhao Luo said as he shed his ss sword in which the old man''s soul was trapped and for now, the old man was spending his time sleeping.


    Both Zhao Luo and Pi Hao followed behind Xiao Yi and a momentter, they shed with the small army of giant rats.


    Contrary to their ferocious nature the rats not only looked cute but also most of the area of their feet was covered with pink-looking paws.


    ''They look cute.''


    Zhao Luo thought as to when he closed in on one of the 2-meter tall beasts it attacked Zhao Luo by swinging both of its paws at him.


    But the moment those paws reached Zhao Luo, five sharp ws popped up at the top of the paws as they were brought down on Zhao Luo by the giant sand rat.


    "Shit."


    Zhao Luo was taken back as he hurriedly swung his ss sword at the sharp ws.


    ''Swish.''


    Without any resistance, the ss sword passed through the sharp ws of the rat as though they were butter.


    ''Wow.''


    Zhao Luo eximed and then raised his ankles while pushing his toes with all of his strength to push his body forward.


    "Half Walk."


    Zhao Luo shed from his space and appeared right on top of the giant rat as he brought down the ss sword on its head.


    "Burst sh."


    ''Swoosh.''


    The sword passed through the rat''s body in abrupt motion, while Zhao Luo slowlynded on the sandy ground.


    Looking at their fallenrade, the giant rats turned aggressive as they attacked Zhao Luo in a group.


    Four different battles were going on as Zhao Luo, Xiao Yu, Senior Cutie, and Pi Hao all fought away from each other as this divided the number of the giant rats.


    "Mini Walk."


    ''Woosh.''


    Zhao Luo left the rising dust on the spot where he was, as he used Mini Walk to close in on the iing wave of beasts.


    "sh, sh..."


    With every swing of his sword, a rat would fall as its purple blood would be sttered on the sand.


    A little away from him, Senior Cutie was on a rampage.


    "Ha."


    "Boom."


    "Ssh."


    He brought down his heavy rod on the giant sand rat and under the pressure, the rat kept on going down and down, and soon its body exploded like a balloon.


    In every few swings followed by his weird and horrifying yells, he would smash a giant rat.


    Soon the beasts realized, that the baldy was even crazier than a beast like themselves so they decided to flee but for some reason, Senior Cutie kept on chasing them.


    In less than five minutes, Zhao Luo had already killed fifteen giant rats and there were none of them left on his side.


    Since the group of rats had forty rats, the beasts were unevenly distributed, among the four. Most of them had leaped at Zhao Luo and had already perished.


    ''Hmm.''


    Zhao Luo looked around with the thought of helping his disciple brothers but to his surprise, Pi Hao was faring pretty well against many rats at the same time, even though he was fighting while being extremely exhausted.


    With only two of the giant rats left on his side, he was close to finishing them off.


    Zhao Luo turned to look at Senior Cutie and grinned.


    "Who is the beast here?"


    There was only a single rat left that was squeaking for its life while Senior Cutie brought down his bronze rod on its body.


    "Ruthless."


    Zhao Luo couldn''t watch it anymore and shifted his gaze towards Xiao Yu who was standing with his arms down in the middle of eleven giant rats.


    All of them were struggling as there was a big gash left at each of the joints of their four limbs.


    Not one of the eleven rats was spared. They were alive but incapacitated.


    While swinging ckey in the space, Xiao Yu rotated his body eleven times and each time, a giant rat who had already been impaired would lose its life.


    Zhao Luo was looking at Xiao Yu with wide-opened eyes.


    At the same time, Xiao Yu smirked while ncing at Zhao Luo as though he was waiting for Zhao Luo to look towards him as he finishes the beasts off.


    "So he waited to show off."


    Zhao Luo mumbled but he couldn''t refute Xiao Yu''s sword skills which he had only gotten a glimpse of as he had only looked at him when he was going to deliver the finishing blow.


    ''I guess the rat ughtering mission is done.''


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he nced around and the whole area of the desert was covered by the giant corpses of rats that have been chopped off, smashed in, and sliced apart by them.

 Chapter 264 - The Exclusive Teleportation Circle

    "They were the easiest target."


    Zhao Luo said through his cold breath, as the giant rats proved to be the least challenging beasts that they had faced.


    A few minutester, Senior Cutie was done collecting all of the corpses of the giant rats in the beast storage space and moved towards Bimba where Zhao Luo and the others had already gathered.


    "With this, we havepleted all of the missions."


    Senior Cutie said with a joyful expression on his face.


    But his joy couldn''t bepared to the one on the faces of Zhao Luo and Pi Hao.


    This was their first journey outside the sect. And unlike Senior Cutie, they were doing the missions for the first time so the bliss they felt couldn''t bepared.


    Even Xiao Yu''s mouth was twitching as he tried his best to hold back his slowly rising smirk.


    "Now the only thing left for us is to, return to the sect."


    Senior Cutie said while hopping Bimba back.


    The others also jumped on Bimba''s back.


    Bimba was already running towards the direction of the Xin Range since he could understand Senior Cutie''s words while Zhao Luo was staring at Xiao Yu.


    "Are you that impressed?"


    As always, Xiao Yu kept it short while feeling a step above Zhao Luo as he stared back at him.


    "No."


    ''It was impressive but not the extent that I would be staring at you.''


    Zhao Luo shook his head at Xiao Yu''s question while filtering out some thoughts that could lead to unnecessary arguments.


    "Then?"


    Xiao Yu was taken back as there was no other reason for Zhao Luo to stare at him.


    "You haven''t returned my sword."


    Zhao Luo mumbled slowly as he felt a sense of being a cheap stake while asking for ckey.


    "Oh."


    Xiao Yu replied with a simple ''oh'' while raising his hands in front of his chest.


    "I lost it."


    With all seriousness, Xiao Yu said to Zhao Luo.


    It was already cold around them and with the cold expression on Xiao Yu''s face as he spoke coldly about losing ckey, Zhao Luo felt stupified.


    ''What?''


    "BLACKEY!"


    Zhao Luk shouted out his sword''s name while ring at Xiao Yu.


    "I was using a sword after a long time, so-"


    "How could you forget it there?"


    Zhao Luo interrupted Xiao Yu while questioning him after which he patted Bimba''s back.


    With one of his fists clenched tightly, Zhao Luo was more than ready to smack Xiao Yu for losing ckey.


    But before he could tell Bimba to turn around,


    ''Shwaa.''


    "Here it is."


    Xiao Yu brought out a shiny ck sword that had deep darkness.


    The sword was obviously Zhao Luo''s ckey.


    "It was a joke."


    Xiao Yu said while grinning as he looked at the shocked faces of the others.


    ''Was it not funny?''


    Xiao Yu wondered but didn''t give it much thought as he slowly closed his eyes.


    But except him, nobody else couldugh.


    Even Senior Cutie felt a sense of fear as he looked at the grin on Xiao Yu''s face and then the fist that Zhao Luo could have thrown any moment.


    ''I almost punched him.''


    Zhao Luo thought as calmed down and stored ckey in the space of his robe.


    After Xiao Yu''s extremely unreasonable sense of humor, the rest of the journey was a silent one, under the cold night and the shining moon.


    Since they had to take the longer route after exiting the dread forest and Bimba was carrying a lot of weight, it took them three hours to reach the Xin Range.


    As the formation worked, Bimba stood at the entry mountain''s base while Zhao Luo looked at the stairs that looked endless.


    "We are here, but how do we go up?"


    Zhao Luo questioned even though the stairs were in front of him.


    But his question was rted to them carrying the corpses of spies and the bags which were filled with internal energy fruits while climbing these 999,999 stairs.


    "There is no need to climb the stairs. Even though just like anyone else, to leave the Xin Range, the Xin Sect disciples have to Teleport to the entry city, and then go down the stairs but it isn''t the same case when they are returning."


    Senior Cutie told Zhao Luo as he looked around the base of the entry mountain.


    "Ah. Is there a teleportation circle here?"


    Zhao Luo asked Senior Cutie with a curious look on his face.


    "There is indeed a teleportation circle here."


    Senior Cutie replied to Zhao Luo as he pointed directly at the stairs.


    "Where?"


    Even Xiao Yu and Pi Hao were looking hard at the stairs as they tried to find the stairs.


    "Behind the mountain."


    Zhao Luo guessed the answer and as he had expected,


    "Bingo!"


    Senior Cutie suddenly announced to them as he withdrew his arm.


    Senior Cutie looked at Zhao Luo.


    "Little Brother is indeed smart."


    *Wink*


    As he attempted to wink, Zhao Luo had already closed his eyes beforehand.


    "Is it over?"


    Zhao Luo questioned about the end of Senior Cutie''s signature disturbing move.


    "It is."


    Xiao Yu replied while making a sick face as he had seen the bald senior trying his best to reward Zhao Luo with an iparably ugly wink.


    "Hah."


    Zhao Luoughed it off as he opened his eyes and looked at the tragic face of Senior Cutie who had failed to surprise Zhao Luo.


    "Ah, let''s just go."


    "Bimba, go around the mountain."


    Senior Cutie slouched on Bimba''s back while Zhao Luo instructed it to go around the entry mountain.


    A few minutester, they had moved around the mountain, and the next mountain was visible to them.


    ''The tenth city is on top of this mountain.''


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he tilted his head to look at the top of the mountains which he couldn''t do since the summit was covered by the clouds.


    "There is the circle."


    Senior Cutie said to them and the others followed his gaze.


    There was indeed a big teleportation circle on the ground a few meters away from the base of the tenth City mountain.


    "If it wasn''t for our Outer Disciples badges, we couldn''t have been able to move past the entry mountains stairs. Thus this is an exclusive teleportation circle just for the disciples."


    Senior Cutie told them while they nodded at the information that he was giving them.


    Zhao Luo looked around and found no porter who was on standby around the TPC.


    "We just need to enter the circle and the teleportation will go off in ten seconds after thest person enters it."


    Senior Cutie had already realized who Zhao Luo was looking for and answered adequately after which he took a bag of fruits and ced it inside the circle.

 Chapter 265 - All Attention On Me

    Zhao Luo understood the process and threw two of the remaining three bags of fruits inside the circle.


    Xiao Yu and Pi Hao were cing the corpses inside the circle, one after the other.


    Soon all the sixteen corpses of the spies from the Qi Range had been thrown in the Teleportation Circle.


    "Let me help you down."


    Zhao Luo said to the leader of the spies whose eyes looked pale and her condition looked haggard as though after being buried under sixteen dead bodies for hours was already enough to cause her death.


    ''Thud!''


    Zhao Luo who was standing next to the Bimba''s back slowly pulled the soft hand of the spy leader and she, who had no energy to get up, fell towards Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo who was only trying to get her down was bbergasted as the leader''s face was buried in his chest and the three disciple brothers of his were staring at him.


    "Little Brother, why are you hugging her?"


    "No, I didn''t mean to."


    Zhao Luo was caught off guard by Senior Cutie''s question and gently pushed the leader away from him before bringing her inside the circle.


    "Don''t forget him."


    Senior Cutie said to Zhao Luo while pointing at the guard who was still sleeping on the back of Bimba.


    Zhao Luo pulled him down as he gently ced the guard on his back.


    Senior Cutie smiled while holding thest bag of internal energy fruits.


    After the four had ced everything inside the TP circle, Zhao Luo looked at Bimba with tragic eyes.


    "Can I take him along with us to the Sect?"


    Zhao Luo asked Senior Cutie who was also saddened as he looked at the beast who had made their journey five times easier.


    "We can''t take him to the Sect since the Teleportation building of the sect won''t be able to handle his size."


    Senior Cutie said to Zhao Luo who was patting Bimba''s head.


    "It''s a goodbye then Bimba."


    Zhao Luo said to his cat who understood their conversation perfectly.


    "Meow."


    Bimba left out a sulking cry which sounded nothing like the roar of a sand lion, as it expressed its sadness of splitting up with its master.


    "It''s okay. We will meet again, soon."


    Zhao Luo told Bimba after which he turned around and entered the circle along with Xiao Yu and Pi Hao.


    Senior Cutie was already standing inside it and after thest one, Zhao Luo entered it, the ten seconds started.


    After ten seconds, the six of them, along with the bags and the corpses were teleported to the Sect''s Teleportation Circle building.


    ''Whoosh.''


    "Wee."


    The moment Zhao Luo returned to the circle, the disciple''s voice sounded in his ears as he weed them back.


    ''Nod.''


    Zhao Luo and the others nodded at the disciple who was on porter''s duty and looked around the circle to see if everything had arrived with them.


    "I will tie the corpses, Pi Hao and Xiao Yu, you both can carry the fruit bags."


    Senior Cutie instructed them while taking out a big chain from his storage space.


    "As for her, I will leave her to you Little Brother. You can carry her."


    Senior Cutie said to Zhao Luo with a grin while pointing at the leader of the spies with his other hand.


    "Ah."


    Zhao Luo knew that Senior Cutie was up to something but still he had helped the leader to stand up and carried her out of the building while also carrying the guard on his back.


    Xiao Yu and Pi Hao were behind him with the bags.


    Zhao Luo had a smile on his face as he looked at the trainee hall that was in the direction in front of him and felt pleased since he was finally back at the Sect after a long and exhausting day.


    ''Are they doing well?''


    Zhao Luo remembered the ones he had met in the trainee hall, more importantly, his question was directed towards Feng Mei and Yan.


    "Are you enjoying it?"


    Xiao Yu looked at Zhao Luo''s smile and then stared at the leader who looked semi-conscious while being carried by Zhao Luo.


    "I was just remembering my friends."


    "Unlike you who doesn''t have many."


    Zhao Luo replied to Xiao Yu who didn''t refute his ims since to him,


    "Friends are a useless burden."


    Xiao Yu replied to Zhao Luo.


    ''Is he calling me a ''useless burden''''


    "You-"


    "Argueter you two. Let''s hand these in first."


    Right then Senior Cutie exited the building from behind them and interrupted them.


    "So, we are going to the mission hall''s building first."


    Senior Cutie said to them as he came out with the tied corpses on his shoulder which looked like wood logs.


    "Tsk,"


    Zhao Luo and Xiao Yu both clicked their tongues together as they looked away from each other.


    After telling them off, Senior Cutie started running as he made his way towards the outer hall while Zhao Luo, Xiao Yu, and Pi Hao followed behind him.


    Ten minutester.


    Zhao Luo was once again standing in front of the ck door, which was the entrance gate of the mission zone with the leader in his arms and the guard who was hanging on his back.


    Senior Cutie moved past the door and Zhao Luo followed behind him along with the others.


    They readily entered the mission hall''s building and went towards the counter (square office) where Elder Gay was at.


    The mission hall was even less packed than yesterday when Zhao Luo hade to take on the missions with others.


    ''Is it because we are here too early?''


    Zhao Luo wondered while looking around at the disciples who were standing next to the wall as they searched for the mission that they wanted to take.


    "You guys are back already."


    Elder Gay''s surprised voice suddenly echoed in the building as he looked at them.


    The disciples around the building also stared at Zhao Luo and the others who were carrying the bags and the bloodied corpses.


    "They must have had a tragic battle."


    Many disciples thought as they looked at the corpses on Senior Cutie''s shoulder.


    With most of the attention on him for the first time, Senior Cutie couldn''t help but let out a bigugh.


    ''All of them are looking at me.''


    Senior Cutie nced around whileughing and suddenly stopped.


    "Obviously we are back early since these FIVE missions were not even a challenge for me."


    Senior Cutie boasted about how easy these missions were for him while emphasizing the number of missions.

 Chapter 266 - Rewards Of The Missions

    "What?"


    "That seniorpleted five missions at the same time."


    None of the few disciples who were inside the building were left out as Senior Cutie''s voice reached all of them.


    But his announcement sounded unreal to them, yet as they looked around him and found the thick bags on Pi Hao and Xiao Yu''s back, they thought that Senior Cutie was indeed telling the truth.


    "Shameless Baldy."


    With all eyes on them, Elder Gay suddenly shouted as he got up from his seat.


    All of the disciples were taken back since the only bald one inside the building was Senior Cutie who had just made a big announcement aboutpleting five missions easily.


    "The others must have done most of the work, and here you are taking credit for their hardwood when they are right next to you."


    Elder Gay reprimanded Senior Cutie who was giving out an awkward smile.


    Zhao Luo was grinning as he looked at the troubled expression on Senior Cutie''s face.


    They were standing a little far away from the counter and Elder Gay had already joined them.


    Senior Cutie passed all of the posters to Elder Gay and handed him the four fruit bags and the corpses of spies.


    Zhao Luo looked at the masked face of the woman who was currently sleeping in his embrace.


    He ced her next to her deadrades while wondering about her future.


    "Where are the beast corpses?"


    Elder Gay asked them as he looked around for something.


    "Here."


    Senior Cutie brought out a purple bag from his storage space.


    ''The beast corpse holder.''


    Zhao Luo mumbled since the purple bag was where all the beasts they had killed were stored in.


    Elder Gay took the purple bag from Senior Cutie and opened it as he looked into the bag with his eyes.


    It was like the Elder could see the contents inside the small bag by just staring inside it.


    "Good."


    A momentter, Elder Gay looked like he was done with his inspection and looked up as he slowly nced at everyone and stopped his eyes on Zhao Luo.


    "Incredible."


    "You all did an incredible job. Especially with the spies."


    Elder Gay praised them while shifting his gaze at the unconscious leader of the spies.


    "She is indeed an inner disciple of the Qi Sect. This will be very advantageous for us."


    Elder Gay said to them but they had no idea how having a disciple of the Qi Sect here could benefit the Sin Sect, for now.


    After inspecting the beasts, Elder Gay counted the fruits.


    "Good. Nothing''s missing."


    Elder Gay was all smile as he counted the fruits after which he went behind the counter and Zhao Luo with the others stood at the ss window as they waited for him to hand out the rewards.


    "Give me your badges."


    Elder Gay said to them while taking out four small brown bags.


    Zhao Luo, Senior Cutie, Xiao Yu, and Pi Hao, gathered their badges and Zhao Luo passed over the badges to Elder Gay who had the four bags in front of him on the desk along with the mission posters.


    As he passed the four ck badges over the mission posters, five letters appeared on the posters simultaneously.


    "CLEAR"


    "The reward for ''Killing/Capturing the Spies'' mission, was 20 points, which have been added to your badges. The other reward for this mission was 20 coins. Which coins do you want? Gold or Xin?"


    Elder Gay asked them as he looked up.


    "Gold."


    Senior Cutie answered for all of them and nobody wasining.


    ''Gold coins will be better since they can be used anywhere.''


    Zhao Luo thought while looking at Elder gay who had brought out a bigger bag and was taking out a string of gold coins from inside it.


    He added 20 gold coins to each o the four bags that was in front of him. Then he continued adding 5 more of the coins into them.


    "This is your bonus."


    He said with a smile since they had captured the leader alive who was the inner disciple of the Qi Sect.


    "But remember, gold coins may have their perks but Xin Coins have more uses. Since most of the techniques can only be bought by Xin points and once you enter the inner hall the Xin points needed to get a technique''s book or scroll will be more than it is in the outer hall''s library, so you will need a lot of Xin Points ''XP'' and only Xin Coins ''XC'' can be used to buy Xin Points."


    "I know that you four had taken on these missions to gather enough points to enter the inner hall but once you enter the inner hall and be an inner disciple, your hundred Xin points will be used up. So if you have Xin coins, you can exchange them for Xin points."


    Elder Gay advised them as he already knew the reason behind the five missions that Zhao Luo and the others had taken.


    "We will keep that in mind."


    Zhao Luo gave a palm fist salute to Elder Gay for his advice while the elder nodded in return as he calcted their reward for the other missions.


    "Each of the three beast subjugation missions was worth 20 xin points and 20 coins. Gold coins or Xin coins?"


    The Elder looked at the three posters while taking out another string of coins.


    The coins were purple in color with three characters etched on one of their sides.


    ''xin''


    "We will take Xin Coins."


    Pi Hao and Xiao Yu said together.


    Senior Cutie also made the same decision.


    "And you, my friend?"


    Elder Gay asked Zhao Luo who looked confused.


    "I will take the gold coins."


    Elder Gay didn''t mind their choices as he added 60 xin coins in three bags while 60 gold coins were added in the bag which would obviously go to Zhao Luo.


    ''Are you sure old man?''


    Zhao Luo mumbled in his mind.


    "Don''t question your master''s decision."


    The old man''s voice echoed out in Zhao Luo''s head as he was the one who had told Zhao Luo to take the gold coin during the time Elder Gay was telling them about the Xin coins.

 Chapter 267 - The Extra Reward From Elder Gay

    "Why did you take gold coins instead of Xin coins?"


    Xiao Yu asked Zhao Luo.


    The reason behind his question was simple.


    He considered himself, Zhao Luo''s equal thus either he could take the same choice that Zhao Luo would take or question his decision.


    "Ah, that..."


    Zhao Luo had nothing to answer Xiao Yu so he started looking around.


    Elder Gay was checking on the fruits in the bag. Before he had only counted them, and now he was just checking their condition.


    ''Master, can you tell me the reason now?''


    Zhao Luo asked the old man but there was no reply. Thus he looked at Xiao Yu who was staring back with a questioning gaze, Zhao Luo was ready to make an excuse but before he could say something else,


    "Don''t forget that Little Brother is the ultimate winner of the outer disciple ranking tournament."


    Senior Cutie answered Xiao Yu''s question instead of letting Zhao Luo say anything.


    "Brother Zhao Luo doesn''t need points to advance as an inner disciple."


    Pi Hao added right after Senior Cutie''s dialogue.


    ''They answered it better than me. But how could I forget that I don''t need points to enter the inner hall??''


    Zhao Luo couldn''t believe that he had forgotten the fact that he was the current king of the outer hall.


    Xiao Yu had also calmed down after Senior Cutie and Pi Hao''sments.


    They looked at Elder Gay who had already finished inspecting the condition of the fruits.


    "I don''t know how four disciples canplete five A-rank missions in less than a day. How did you even carry all of ''these'' back in such a short time?"


    Elder Gay asked them while bringing the bags behind the counter.


    "It''s all thanks to Bimba."


    Senior Cutie unconsciously remembered the sand lion who had taken them on their mission trip without a stop.


    "Bimba?"


    Elder Gay was confused but didn''t continue asking them since thepletion of missions mattered the most.


    "This is your reward for the ''fruit gathering mission''. 20 points have been added to your badges. Here you go."


    Elder Gay threw their badges back to them through the ss window.


    "This is the second reward forpleting this mission."


    ''Ching, Ching....''


    Elder Gay added 20 gold coins in each of the four bags since this was the fixed reward of this mission. They weren''t given the choice of selecting between the xin or gold coin.


    After distributing the coins and points which were the rewards of the five missions Zhao Luo and the others hadpleted, Elder Gay walked towards them and gave them the brown bags.


    "And these shall be awarded to you too, for doing a great job."


    Elder Gay had taken eight internal energy fruits to Zhao Luo.


    "I believe you will distribute them fairly."


    Elder Gay looked at Zhao Luo who was tilting his head towards the right while the others also looked confused instead of screaming in the bliss that they should be feeling right now.


    ''I just gave them four extra fruit, but what is with their dull expressions?''


    "But wasn''t the bonus just one fruit for each of the disciples in the group?"


    Senior Cutie was the one to raise the question that was in everyone''s mind, as the others nodded when he questioned the elder.


    "I gave you two since the group limit for this mission was 10 disciples but..."


    Elder Gay answered their curiosity.


    "But, who knew that even our disciples couldplete it perfectly."


    Elder Gay felt a little disappointed since he couldn''t award them with more fruits. But right then he nodded his head instead of shaking it in the disappointment that he was feeling.


    ''I can give them my special vitality pills.''


    He said to himself and brought out a corked sk that had brown pills inside it.


    "Here take this too. These are my vitality pill. Even if you are exhausted to the extreme, just taking one of them will bring you to your best state."


    Elder Gay passed it into Senior Cutie''s hand.


    "Maybe your hair may return after taking this."


    Elder Gay said to Senior Cutie with a grin since he was the one who had been tarnishing the reputation of these vitality pills.


    "Haha, I will definitely try them then."


    Senior Cutieughed heartily, not minding Elder Gay''s taunt.


    "Let''s go."


    Senior Cutie looked at the others and told them since he could see how exhausted his brothers were.


    ''Except for little brother.''


    Senior Cutie noticed that even though Zhao Luo was a little tired, he still looked fresh.


    "You all can wait for him outside. I need to talk to him."


    Elder Gay said to Senior Cutie, Xiao Yu, and Pi Hao.


    Xiao Yu and Pi Hao turned around as they made their way towards the exit of the building while Senior Cutie who was walking beside them, turned his head to look at Zhao Luo who was talking to Elder Gay.


    ''I was worried for now reason.''


    Senior Cutie wondered as he turned back and left the building with Xiao Yu and Pi Hao.


    "Yes, Elder."


    Zhao Luo waited patiently for Elder Gay to say something.


    "Friend, you don''t have to call me elder when no one''s around."


    Elder Gayughed it off as his eyes turned serious.


    "First off, you will be able to store the fruits after a day of breaking them off from the tree. That is, you will be able to store them in a few hours."


    Elder Gay informed Zhao Luo about the fruits.


    "But why aren''t we able to store them before the one-day wait?"


    Zhao Luo asked the elder since it didn''t make sense to be able to do something that was impossible a day before.


    "Because of the white tree''s energy keep on lingering on the fruit for at least a day. So there may be a chance that it could take more than a day before you are able to store it in your storage space. And..."


    Zhao Luo looked at the eyes of Elder Gay which had turned even more serious.


    ''What is he going to say?''

 Chapter 268 - Identity Of The Friend

    While Zhao Luo wondered about what Elder Gay would be saying with such a serious expression, Elder Gay brought his hands together.


    He made a w shape with both of his hands, one of which was more open than the other.


    "Don''t even try washing them. That doesn''t remove the lingering energy of the tree from the fruits."


    Elder Gay said to Zhao Luo while showing him his words in action as he rotated both of his hands'' side by side.


    "pfft."


    Zhao Luo barely controlled hisughter while trying to speak.


    "So the reason why the fruits can''t be stored after we pluck them from the tree is because of the lingering energy of the tree is on it?"


    Zhao Luo repeated what Elder Gay had told him but still, that didn''t exin the situation.


    "The tree''s energy ruins the formation that keeps up the cubic space in the storage rings and other storage essories. Thus the formation doesn''t allow it to be stored."


    Elder Gay rified what he had just said in a more exinable way for Zhao Luo to understand.


    ''So, it was like that.''


    Zhao Luo pped his hands together like a dolphin who had made a new friend and was trying to express its happiness.


    "I will remember it Elder."


    After saying that Zhao Luo was ready to leave the mission hall''s building since Senior Cutie was waiting outside for him with Xiao Yu and Pi Hao.


    But before he could move away, Elder Gay stopped him once again.


    "I have been wanting to ask you this, but I was holding myself back. Who is this on your back?"


    Elder Gay asked Zhao Luo as he pointed at the guard who was still unconscious while being carried on Zhao Luo''s back.


    "He is a gua- friend."


    "Ah, a friend of yours is also a friend of mine."


    Elder Gay nodded as he was only curious about the identity of the man who had been present here since the beginning but didn''t have much of a presence at all.


    ''A friend huh.''


    Elder Gay thought and looked at Zhao Luo.


    "Your disciple brothers must be waiting for you. Good Luck."


    Elder Gay sped his hands as he wished Zhao Luo well, just like someone would do for his friend.


    "Thank you."


    Zhao Luo bowed his head to the Elder and turned around to leave the building.


    The moment Zhao Luo left the building, Senior Cutie, Xiao Yu, and Pi Hao got around Zhao Luo and gazed at him with burning eyes but didn''t say a word.


    They all wanted to know what the Elder had talked about but didn''t want to ask about it either.


    Zhao Luo understood the concerns of his disciple brothers and told them about the things that Elder Gay had informed him about.


    "And he asked me about this guy."


    Zhao Luo pointed at the face of the guard which was resting on Zhao Luo''s left shoulder.


    "Isn''t he the friend you made in the forest?"


    Xiao Yu said to Zhao Luo since, in the forest, they had never continued asking about the ''friend'' after Zhao Luo''s initial answer.


    "Hah, it''splicated."


    Zhao Luo said to them carefully after looking around the mission hall.


    The space was getting crowded with the disciples that were entering through the ck door.


    Their group stood out too much so Zhao Luo waved them to get closer.


    "Let''s return to the living zone first. I will tell you everything when we return."


    Zhao Luo slowly said to them after which the four left the mission hall and made their way to the green door.


    Senior Cutie who was following behind Zhao Luo on the way back felt disturbed as he looked at the back of the sleeping guard.


    ''He can''t be...''


    His eyes trembled as the thing he feared may have been true.


    ''But if they really sent assassins after him, then how did Little Brother survive?''


    Senior Cutie thought without giving a voice to his thoughts as he silently waited to reach the living zone.


    Soon the four had reached the green door and Zhao Luo was the only person to enjoy the refreshing feeling that was emanating from the weing color of the door but his enjoyment didn''tst long as the others looked to be in hurry.


    Xiao Yu and Pi Hao looked eager to know the identity of this friend that Zhao Luo had suddenly brought back after being chased by the leader of the flying monkeys so they hurriedly passed through the green door.


    Zhao Luo was smiling after watching the backs of Xiao Yu and Pi Hao disappearing as they entered the living zone but then his eyesnded on the bald senior who looked like he was lost in his thoughts.


    ''He is behaving weirdly.''


    Zhao Luo wondered but then again Senior Cutie who was always ready to mess with Zhao Luo so he wasn''t worried too much about it.


    "What are you waiting for?"


    Zhao Luo asked Senior Cutie who was gazing at the green door with expressionless eyes.


    "Ah, nothing. Let''s go."


    Senior Cutie shook his head as whatever he was thinking was interrupted by Zhao Luo after which he entered the living zone.


    ''Nod.''


    Zhao Luo followed behind him and entered the living zone.


    "Let''s go to my ce."


    Zhao Luo said to them as he kept on running while making his way towards his ce.


    A few minutester the four stopped at the white pce which was in the middle of thest row of pces.


    Zhao Luo entered the pce and the other followed behind him.


    ''This is the first time I have invited someone to my house in thest century.''


    Zhao Luo smiled as he ce the guard down and sat down next to him.


    The others also sat down around the guard. With the four around the guard, it looked like the guard was trapped in a four-point circle.


    "So..."


    Senior Cutie said as he and the others waited for Zhao Luo to give them the plicated'' exnation.


    "He is not my friend instead..."


    Zhao Luo suddenly started talking since it was better for them to know.


    ''If the other guards have already returned then the ''Right Serpent'' must know that I was the one who had taken down the guard leader and the fatty. So they may be in trouble since we were on the mission as a group.''


    While thinking about their safety, Zhao Luo continued.


    "..a guard under Mo Suo. Specifically under someone called the Right Serpent."


    Zhao Luo exposed the identity of the so-called friend while Senior Cutie, Xiao Yu, and Pi Hao looked at the guard with murderous gazes.

 Chapter 269 - Worse Than A Dog

    Zhao Luo raised his hand and shook it.


    "It''s okay. He never attacked me and even told me about the person who ordered them to kill me."


    Zhao Luo told them after which he got up and took the guard inside to ce him on his bed before returning to the hall.


    "Little Brother, you should have told us about that before."


    Senior Cutie said in aining tone.


    "It''s okay. I was able to fend them off so there was no need to worry you all."


    Zhao Luo replied to Senior Cutie who had a worried look on his face.


    ''Even he can make a face like that.''


    Zhao Luo smiled while Senior Cutie looked troubled after listening to Zhao Luo.


    ''Just what I had feared.''


    Senior Cutie thought while clenching his jaws so hard that a vein popped up on the shiny surface of his head.


    "Did he tell anything about this Right Serpent?"


    Xiao Yu asked Zhao Luo since that was the only clue rted to the one who had orchestrated this attack on Zhao Luo.


    "No. He suddenly lost his consciousness after telling me the name and since then, he has yet to wake up."


    Zhao Luo recalled the bloodied guard but didn''t tell them that.


    Since it could lead to more questions like how he was still alive if he was bleeding from all of his eyes, nose, and mouth.


    "Just stay clear from the people of the Royal Mo Family."


    Senior Cutie advised Zhao Luo.


    ''Nod.''


    Zhao Luo nodded but it looked like Senior Cutie had more things to say.


    He had already guessed the reason behind Zhao Luo telling them this now.


    "Don''t worry about us. First, no matter who this Right Serpent is, he won''t be able to do as he, please while we are inside the sect. Secondly, even if some disciples from the Mo Family attack us, they have to be stronger than us if they n to beat us otherwise, it will be hell for them. And I will make sure to let them feel the burning of hell."


    Senior Cutie told Zhao Luo with a serious tone while Pi Hao nodded his head multiple times.


    "Hopefully, they don''t attack us."


    Zhao Luo was worried about whoever would be attacking them in the future since who knows what, Senior Cutie would do to them.


    Listening to Zhao Luo worrying about the future enemies, Senior Cutie smiled and opened his mouth but before he could say anything, Zhao Luo continued.


    "Now, we can advance to be an inner disciple."


    Zhao Luo said to Pi Hao and Xiao Yu.


    He and Senior Cutie already had the points to be an inner disciple but now Xiao Yu and Pi Hao were also ready.


    "We can go to the inner hall in the evening."


    Senior Cutie added since it would be a waste to stay in the outer hall for any longer.


    Senior Cutie took out the sk which had the vitality pills and took out all of them.


    "One, two, three....nine."


    "Hmm, there are nine so someone will get three."


    After counting the pills, he looked up and said to Zhao Luo and the other two.


    "I don''t need them, you can distribute between yourself."


    Zhao Luo said to Senior Cutie which was a shocking rejection for others but bot for Senior Cutie.


    "Good so you have chosen your hair over these pills."


    Senior Cutie said to Zhao Luo while bringing up his made-up story topare Zhao Luo''s choice.


    "Hah."


    Zhao Luo scoffed at him while both Xiao Yu and Pi Hao got three vitality pills.


    "I earned 105 gold in a day."


    Zhao Luo mumbled while passing over the fruits to the others.


    "They are like snack bars too."


    He said while looking at the two pink fruits that were his.


    The internal energy fruits were only able to replenish the internal energy which may be useful to Zhao Luoter on once he can gather internal energy.


    "Store."


    Zhao Luo brought one of the fruits close to his robe but it still wasn''t stored.


    ''I guess, I need to wait for the tree''s lingering energy topletely dissipate.''


    Zhao Luo smiled while thinking about the words of Elder Gay.


    ''I would have washed them if he hadn''t told me not to.''


    While Zhao Luo was busy in his thoughts Pi Hao and Xiao Yu already had their eyes closed with their fruits ced in front of them.


    ''Did they fall asleep?''


    Zhao Luo wondered and looked at Senior Cutie who also had his eyes closed.


    ''I guess they were too tired but still came with me.''


    Zhao Luo murmured while closing his eyes too.


    -


    In a dark space, the sound of destructions and explosions which had been rising continuously for more than a day because of the fight between Zhao Luo''s ghost and his apparitions, finally came to a stop as Zhao Luo appeared right in between of the battlefield.


    Zhao Luo opened his eyes andughed as he looked at the haggard appearances of the ghost and the apparitions.


    "Good."


    "Come."


    Zhao Luo couldn''t wait to assimte his apparitions as he had already ordered them to gather around him.


    The next moment, the nine apparitions were standing in front of Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo opened his mouth and all of them seeped inside him through the entry of his mouth.


    Zhao Luo sat down and closed his eyes as he directed all of his focus into assimting his upgraded apparitions who had been working hard for more than a day with the extremely cruel instructor, the ghost, who was a mirror image of Zhao Luo.


    The ghost slowly disappeared, since Zhao Luo''s power had started increasing.


    An hour passed, and Zhao Luo''s eyes were still closed.


    He had no idea that someone was looking at him with smiling eyes


    "He has gotten better at this."


    The old man said while looking at the twitching face of Zhao Luo.


    He couldn''t help but remember the time when his student was foolish enough to think that he had to bite his apparitions to absorb them.


    "Even though he is still a foolish one and dumber than anyone I have ever met in the godly world...."


    Old Man stroked his beard while talking shit about Zhao Luo as hepared Zhao Luo to the people of his world.


    "He js persistent than most of them."


    Something which could be considered as apliment came out of the old man''s mouth as he looked at the handsome face of Zhao Luo which had calmed down.


    "I should reward him."


    The old man thought but then shook his head.


    "He already has me. That''s his best reward."


    In an extremely serious tone, the old man said as he felt jealous of Zhao Luo.


    Only if Zhao Luo wasn''t busy assimting his apparitions, he would have definitely cursed his master.


    A few hourster, Zhao Luo suddenly opened his eyes.


    ''I can''t stop it.''


    Just like an urge a person gets when he has to pee, Zhao Luo was also going through something simr.


    Like a guy who had been building up his muscles for years can''t help show them off, Zhao Luo couldn''t stop himself from letting out a warcry.


    "Ahhhhhhhh."


    Zhao Luo screamed in a manly manner which continued for more than two minutes.


    "I felt like my hair would grow out and turn blonde if I hadn''t screamed like this."


    Zhao Luo said with a smile while clenching his fist multiple times.


    He could feel the changes in his body. Not only he felt mote stronger than before but it felt like his sword and fist techniques had been polished to perfection.


    "I can''t wait to try them."


    Zhao Luo said while opening his mouth to summon his apparitions.


    "Sigh~"


    Zhao Luo stopped as the sound of someone feeling disappointed entered his ear.


    "Stop making a fool of yourself and get up."


    The old man said to Zhao Luo.


    "Yes, master."


    Zhao Luo hurriedly got up and turned towards the old man.


    He had a smile on his face as he could have never imagined that he would be able to see his master in his dark space so soon.


    "You have trained well in the time I wasn''t with you."


    The old man said which instantly brought a deeper smile to Zhao Luo''s face.


    Zhao Luo bowed his head and spoke.


    "Thank y-"


    "Did you think I would say that? When you have cked off like this? Even a dog would have be stronger than you in this much time after receiving my direct teachings."


    Zhao Luo stumbled back as the old man suddenly exploded with words that were like bullets aimed at Zhao Luo''s pride.


    But instead of refuting his master''s im, Zhao Luo who hadpleted the dragon''s road stayed calm.


    "I even became the king of the outer hall with my strength and it still isn''t enough. Just how strong and talented are the people of master''s world that even a dog would have improved more than me? Am I worse than even a dog?"


    Zhao Luo shouted crazily as though the old man''s words had struck a chord in his heart. The old man believed Zhao Luo''s reaction since it wasn''t like there were only gods and emperas in his world.


    There must be their descendants who would be training just like him to reach the level of a god. Just like there were descendants of gods, there were smaller beasts who also aimed to be strong but just in a different way.


    Looking at the disappointed expression on Zhao Luo''s face, the old man found it hard to hide his blooming smile as his long snow-like beard dance along with the twitching of his mouth.


    ''He has changed.''


    The old man thought while feeling proud of his student.

 Chapter 270 - Attacking The Old Man

    Zhao Luo looked up with a distorted look. He was quite satisfied with how much he had improved since arriving at the Xin Sect.


    But now the old man had crumbled that satisfaction into pieces.


    Zhao Luo had a begging look on his face.


    "What should I do?"


    ZhaobLuo asked the old man while obviously pointing towards increasing his strength.


    "No."


    Zhao Luo shook his head and went down on his knees.


    "Master, please help me get stronger."


    Zhao Luo sincerely urged the old man.


    In the dark space where only Zhao Luo and the old man were, the old man had a wide look on his face while staring at Zhao Luo who was kneeling in front of him.


    ''What do I do now?''


    The old man thought while keeping up a poker face as Zhao Luo was already looking at him while waiting for gis answer.


    ''I just wanted to motivate him and return to my sleep but who knew that he would ask for my help.''


    The old man looked around while thinking of a way to reason with Zhao Luo.


    "Master!"


    Zhao Luo said with a loud voice.


    ''What is this old man waiting for?''


    He thought since for the first time, his master, the Emperor of Gods, was taking quite a long to answer a simple request of his.


    With a baffled look on his face, he found the old man raising his hand.


    "You."


    The old man closed his fist while pointing it at Zhao Luo.


    "I have a method that will make you strong while also increasing the speed of your improvement by a step."


    Like a master who had mastered the art of opening the fingers of a tightened fist, the old man opened up his index and middle finger.


    ''So he did have a way.''


    Zhao Luo smiled as he bowed his head in front of the old man and while looking down he slowly opened his mouth.


    "Sess."


    With a sneaky smile on his face, Zhao Luo mumbled.


    All of his acting and self-ming had finally paid off.


    ''Does he think I am a fool?''


    Zhao Luo thought in his head and grinned since, from the start, he had never believed his master''s words.


    ''How could a dog be more powerful than me when I can blow the head off of an adult flying monkey''s body with a single technique?''


    "Now get up."


    The old man''s voice sounded out and Zhao Luo got up while slowly shaking off his irrelevant thoughts.


    "Master, what is the reward?"


    Zhao Luo asked the old man who had his arms raised at Zhao Luo.


    "Attack me."


    The old man said in amanding tone.


    "Me? Attack you?"


    Zhao Luo trembled with excitement. Somewhere in his heart, he had this desire to go against the emperor of gods.


    Nevertheless, his excitement couldn''t outweigh the fear of facing a godly entity.


    "Don''t worry."


    The old man closed his fists and opened up the fifth digit, that is, his pinky finger of both hands was directed at Zhao Luo.


    "I will only use them in this fight."


    The old man reassured Zhao Luo while moving his left foot forward and rotating once to leave a white circle within which he stood straight.


    The circle was so well drawn by the old man, that even if he moved a single inch, his foot would be outside the circle.


    "And I will not leave this circle."


    The old man had a mysterious smile on his face.


    With a baffled look Zhao Luo who had been shocked by his master''s ''transformation'', Zhao Luo got up and took out the ss sword.


    "Will this method really work?"


    Zhao Luo questioned the old man before throwing himself at him.


    ''Or do you just want to beat the shit out of me?''


    Some words which couldn''t be said out loud were cleansed as they passed through his head.


    "Do you think, I restricted my movements and told you that I will hold back, just so you can attack me and I can beat the shit out of you? Is that it? You unfilial mistake."


    The old man looked angered over Zhao Luo''s worry.


    ''Did he just read my mind?''


    Zhao Luo staggered while moving forward.


    "I will attack you but don''t me me for chopping off your fingers."


    Zhao Luo said to the old man while raising his sword.


    The worried look in his eyes changed. Zhao Luo''s eyes looked sharp as he leaped towards the old man who looked calmer than ever and was even smiling while seeing the ss swording down on his head.


    "Vertical sh."


    Zhao Luo brought down his sword which he was holding with both of his hands.


    ''Swoosh.''


    While tearing apart the space around the sword, Zhao Luo was thinking of the bloody scene that he will witness once the swordnds on the old man''s finger.


    But to his surprise the moment his sword touched the right hand''s pinky of old man, it started trembling.


    ''Ching~''


    Zhao Luo was thrown ten feet away by the fierce vibration of the ss sword which had been blocked by the smallest finger of the old man.


    Not only did he effortlessly block Zhao Luo''s sword which had all of his strength behind it, but also deflected it back with the twitch of his finger.


    Zhao Luo had ''WTF'' written all over his face. His mouth was wide opened and looked like it will drop to the floor soon.


    This was when he finally realized that his master was indeed a supreme being.


    "Master. Please guide me."


    Zhao Luo looked excited as he sped his hands in front of the old man.


    ''Even if it doesn''t make me strong, it will be a good experience.''


    Zhao Luo realized that this was a rare chance and looked down for a moment.


    "Ifrit."


    A crimson sword appeared in his other hand while Zhao Luo raised his towards his master who was just a single step away from falling to his sleep.


    -----


    Author''s note: guys leave a review andment


    since this book doesn''t have many fans, so even the smallest things like votes,ments, and reviews matter, also the golden tickets but looking at the top 200 golden rankingdder, it seems like it will be impossible to get in there for a few months.

 Chapter 271 - Attacking The Old Man II

    "I shouldn''t have drawn this circle."


    The old manined while squinting his eyes at Zhao Luo.


    The old man yawned and from his almost closed eyes a drop of tear rolled down his face.


    "Attack me already."


    The old man urged Zhao Luo who had just taken out Ifrit and was looking more than excited as he moved towards his master.


    "Master don''t be surprised."


    Zhao Luo warned the old man while feeling impatient to go all out as he rushed towards him.


    ''I don''t care even if his fingers get chopped.''


    Zhao Luo went all out as he stopped right in front of the old man, and lowered his body as he pushed one of his legs backward and bent the knee of the other leg, while also raising both of his swords simultaneously.


    "Dual Burst sh."


    Zhao Luo brought down both of his swords on the old man while the old man still looked unaffected.


    The two swords came down in less than a single heartbeat andnded on the old man''s shoulder.


    "Hmm, good technique. But you arecking power."


    The old man said with a profound look on his face as he judged Zhao Luo''s attack while not even blocking them with his finger.


    "At least pretend to block them."


    Zhao Luoined but remained unfettered as he pulled back his sword.


    "Oh, you want me to use them."


    The old man smirked while raising his arms and swinging them gently towards Zhao Luo.


    ''Let''s see.''


    Zhao Luo swung his swords in reverse motion while aiming to defend against the two fingers of the old man that were falling on him.


    "Reverse Burst sh."


    A crimson light and an enchanting shine were left behind while Zhao Luo''s swords moved upwards.


    Even though Zhao Luo was confident in his sword technique, his confidence was ovee by the pressure of the two small fingers that wereing down on him.


    Each of the fingers was like an unmeasurable mountain and Zhao Luo couldn''t help but stare at them.


    He could already feel an enormous weight falling on his sword even before his swords and the old man''s fingers collided.


    ''Boom.''


    And the next moment when both of their attacks collided, Zhao Luo was buried in the ground of the dark space.


    With his swords dropped towards his right and left, he only had shock written on his face along with utter defeat that came as the result of going against the old man''s pinky finger.


    "Giving up?"


    The old man looked down and stared at Zhao Luo who was shaking his head.


    "Then get up."


    He said with a smile but at the same time, he slowly crouched while pointing his finger at Zhao Luo''s face.


    Zhao Luo who was looking up felt like the finger of the old man was getting bigger and bigger.


    ''My handsome face will be crushed if I don''t move.''


    Zhao Luo rushed on his all fours while his body looked like a walking bridge.


    "As expected of my disciple. Even your movement techniques are something that even I have never seen before."


    The old manughed at Zhao Luo who had made a quick escape to dodge his finger.


    The old man had intentionally slowed his movement so his Zhao Luo could respond to his attack and fight back.


    ''but even I hadn''t expected such a ridiculous escape by him. Hoho.''


    The old ma covered his mouth while looking at Zhao Luo with smiling eyes.


    "Master, there is something wrong with your finger."


    Zhao Luo didn''t mind what the old man was saying but instead pointed at his finger.


    "If your finger can indeed grow big, then how is that even an advantage for me?"


    Zhao Luo was pointing at his other fingers which were closed as he said with a tragic voice while rubbing off the imaginary debris from his robe.


    "It''s not my finger that had expanded, it''s your mind that is too small."


    "But my mind has the potential to match a crimson god."


    Zhao Luo said replied to the old man who was calling his mind small.


    "Just having potential is enough?"


    The old man questioned with building anger in his tone.


    "Why do you think people polish a diamond. It''s already a diamond, it''s not like it will change if they polish it. So why?"


    The old man asked again while shaking his fingers up and down at Zhao Luo.


    "To give it a perfect shape."


    Zhao Luo replied slowly while not being sure of his answer.


    ''Ah, why did he get it right on the first try!''


    "Tsk, not everything is simple as that but let''s say that is one of the answers."


    The old man reprimanded Zhao Luo but also continued with his answer.


    "Just like a rough diamond, the potential of your mind is at least at the level of a crimson god (thanks to me) but if you don''t work on it, then it will stay as your potential and nothing else."


    "But haven''t I mastered Naoli already?"


    Zhao Luo rebutted while feeling confused about the old man''s words.


    "I will answer that if you can make me step out of this circle."


    The old man pointed downwards towards the white circle.


    ''What have I missed?''


    Zhao Luo thought but he didn''t have time to continue pondering over it.


    Till now he had only mastered Naoli which was the first step to godhood.


    Because of his mental strength, ''Naoli'', his potential was already par with a crimson god but now there was a way to cultivate this potential.


    Zhao Luo raised his ankle and pushed his toes backward.


    "Mini Walk."


    Leaving behind a shing image Zhao Luo had already appeared behind the old man.


    With his arms pulled back to the extreme and his hand clenched tightly as a fist, Zhao Luo threw his fist at the old man.


    "Explosive Fist."


    The moment Zhao Luo''s fist was going tond on the old man''s back Zhao Luo''s fist was stopped in its ce.


    The old man mumbled without turning around.


    "Sneaking up behind me?"

 Chapter 272 - The Weird Trick

    ''What?''


    Zhao Luo forced his ist forward but his arm only trembled in the same ce as the strength in his fist which was in the explosive ne dissipated.


    In front of his fist was the little finger of the old man while the other one was being used by him to scratch his ear.


    "Master."


    Zhao Luo jumped back and while looking at the old man''s back he addressed him.


    "What? Are you giving up already?"


    While slowly turning around and blowing on the top of the finger, the old man questioned Zhao Luo.


    "Maybe I went too hard on you."


    The old man kept on rambling on while Zhao Luo looked disturbed.


    ''How can I push him back?''


    Zhao Luo had many things to try but looking at how easily his master had stopped his explosive fist with just a single finger of his, crushed his hopes.


    "Master, can you go easy on me?"


    Zhao Luo slowly requested but instead of answering his request, the old man was shocked.


    "sigh~"


    The old man emitted a long breath that expressed his disappointment.


    "How shameless."


    The old man shook his head.


    "I am already on thest of my fingers and you want me to go easy on you?"


    "No, I don''t mean it like that."


    "Then?"


    The old man was left confused by Zhao Luo''s reply.


    "Just don''t use your fingers to block my attacks. Instead, you should attack me with them."


    Zhao Luo exined to the old man but the thing he was talking about left the old man in more confusion.


    "Don''t cry,ter on, young man."


    The old man looked angered as he felt challenged by Zhao Luo.


    ''Does he think that me going on offense will be easier than simply defending?''


    The old man wondered.


    Looking at his ace which was filled with questions, Zhao Luo vanished from his spot.


    "Mini Walk."


    "Calming Fist."


    Zhao Luo threw his fist with all his strength while following it by throwing his other fist at the old man''s face.


    ''Now move.''


    Zhao Luo shouted in his mind since there was no way that his proud master would let Zhao Luo''s fists fall on his face.


    ''I see. So that''s why he didn''t want me to use my fingers to defend.''


    The old man smiled as he looked at Zhao Luo''s fist and realized that both fists were a microsecond apart from each other as they aimed for his head.


    "Do you think these slow fists can touch me?"


    The old man slowly tilted his body and even the action which slows to him was faster than Zhao Luo''s fists.


    ''Whoosh.''


    A sound entered Zhao Luo''s ear who was watching the old man dodging his fists while throwing his arm towards him.


    Right at the front was the weapon of mass destruction, the small finger of the old man was like the spearhead of a spear as it moved towards Zhao Luo''s chest.


    "You fell for it, master. SUMMON!"


    Zhao Luo''s apparition instantly appeared around him and one of them was right between Zhao Luo and the old man.


    ''I fell for it?''


    The old man''s finger passed through the chest of the apparitions, at the same time, Zhao Luo who was behind his apparition pulled back both of his fists.


    The old man pulled back his arm and tried to use his other finger to throw the apparition away but the other apparitions grabbed onto him.


    Some were stuck to his leg, some were grabbing onto his arms, while one was even hanging on his back while waiting for the old man to give him a piggyback ride.


    But this wasn''t even the most annoying part.


    "Grrrr."


    The old man groaned as one of the apparitions was pulling his snow-white beard.


    Right, when the old man was burdened with the eight apparitions who were messing around while getting popped open by the old man''s pinky, the ninth one was blocking his view of Zhao Luo.


    A sound entered the old man''s ear as he turned his head towards the apparition whose chest was left with a hole after being hit by his finger.


    Zhao Luo''s fistsnded on the ninth apparition and kept on going forward.


    "Fist of Yin and Yang."


    The apparition was stuck to the old man, while a ck and white sigil was erging.


    "HAHAAHA."


    ''Sacrificing others to achieve his goal. GOOD. GOOD.''


    The old manughed while the apparition between him and Zhao Luo''s fist was slowly crumbling as Zhao Luo''s fist which had the yin and yang sigil in front of them reached the old man.


    "BOOM."


    All the apparitions turned into ck smoke and scattered while making a dark cloud that covered the old man.


    Zhao Luo stood in front of the old man as he opened his mouth and the ck cloud seeped back inside him through his mouth.


    "Shit."


    Zhao Luo cursed as the old man was yawning while looking even calmer than before.


    "This is too much."


    Zhao Luoined and thought of trying something else.


    "Just give up. I can guess that this was your best attack."


    The old man was talking about the bullet fist of yin and yang.


    "I-i..."


    Zhao Luo opened his mouth but no words came out as he looked down.


    ''Ghost.''


    A little far away, an exact image of Zhao Luo appeared and started moving sneakily behind the old man.


    The ghost stood exactly ten meters away from his back but the old man who was an Empera had no idea since he was too focused on enjoying the disappointed look that was hanging on his disciple''s face.


    "So are you giving up? Even if you do, I have decided to reward you with the knowledge. Hah, where will you find a master like me?"


    The old man smiled as he assured Zhao Luo while Zhao Luo nodded while slowly opening his mouth.


    "Master, I think I will...."


    "Yes?"


    The old man waited for Zhao Luo to drop thest two words that he wanted to hear.


    He had already achieved his goal of disciplining Zhao Luo since all of this had started from Zhao Luo being too happy with his improvement regarding his measly strength and slowly turned into a battle between the master and disciple.


    The old man simply wanted to do his job as a master and simply guide his disciple but the thought of challenging had ignited a fire inside both of them.


    "I will... Sssssummmmonnnnn~"


    Zhao Luo mumbled while rolling the word out of his tongue as he prolonged it and his apparitions appeared again.


    The old manughed again, as his disciple was even more pretentious than anyone he had ever met.


    Zhao Luo slowly moved forward, while each of his apparitions moved behind him.


    Zhao Luo lowered his body, and all the apparitions followed his actions without being told.


    With their actions synced, they all lowered their bodies. Each apparition was behind the other one while Zhao Luo was in the lead. Thest apparition was holding the right hand of the apparition in front of him with his left hand. The same goes for the one in front of him and it continued towards the apparition who was standing behind Zhao Luo. Except for the one behind Zhao Luo who had his right hand held by the one behind him while his own left hand looked like it was ready to grab Zhao Luo''s hand.


    "Do you think you can push me out of this circle? By weird tricks?"


    The old man questioned as he looked at Zhao Luo and his apparitions who were advancing towards him slowly while holding each other''s hand.


    "Are you going on a pic with your apparitions? Silly disciple of mine."


    The old man kept on joking around while Zhao Luo stopped right when he was a meter away from the old man with each of his apparitions a step behind him.


    "Mini Walk."


    Zhao Luo vanished from his spot, and all the apparitions who were behind him shed behind him while making their way towards the old man.


    At the same time, the ghost who had been waiting eight meters away used ''half walk'' and closed in on the old man''s back.


    "HAHAHA."


    The old manughed and a serious look appeared in his eyes.


    Zhao Luo knew that things were about to go down as the old man wasughing with a glint of seriousness in his deep profound eyes.


    He knew that the old man had already realized that he was getting attacked from both sides, but Zhao Luo was the first to throw both of his fists at him.


    Two fists flew towards the old man as Zhao Luo appeared in front of him. While the ghost had appeared behind him an instantter than Zhao Luo.


    "The same attack again?"


    Looking at Zhao Luo''s fisting at him, the old man thought of the earlier attack and advanced with his finger directed at the space between Zhao Luo''s fist, while turning his head around towards the ghost.


    "Fist of Yin and Yang."


    The fists of the ghost came towards the old man but instead of stopping it, he was shocked as he felt a pulling force from the other side.


    He instantly turned around and found Zhao Luo''s hand left hand grabbing his beard as Zhao Luo pulled the old man''s beard towards himself.


    "Pull!"


    Zhao Luo shouted and the apparition behind him grabbed Zhao Luo''s right hand and all the apparitions suddenly pulled each other backward.


    All the force gathered on a single point, that is, the old man''s snowy beard that looked more precious to him than his disciple.


    The moment the pulling force affected him, the fists of the ghostnded on his back.


    Even though the fist of yin and yang wasn''t able to damage him, it did give him a gentle push which was added to the pulling force that Zhao Luo was applying on the old man''s beard.

 Chapter 273 - The Mysterious Method

    ''Argh.''


    The old man cried out and with the fear of his beard being pulled out, he hadn''t realized that one of his feet was already out of the circle.


    Zhao Luo who was looking down while pulling the old man''s beard while giving it his all noticed that he already forced the old man''s foot out of the circle and smiled.


    "I did it."


    Zhao Luo shouted and rejoiced while anger was burning in his master''s eyes.


    "Let it go."


    The old man order Zhao Luo with a shaky tone which showed how much he cared for his beard.


    "Yes, master."


    Zhao Luo looked at the old man and shivered while looking at his eyes.


    He released his grip over his beard and fell on his back.


    ''Hah, hah.''


    Zhao Luo was breathing heavily while the old man was looking down.


    "Hah, your method was despicable..."


    He cried out with anger.


    "But a win is a win."


    Just like how the light turns on with a flick of the switch, the look on the old man''s face changed suddenly.


    A smile covered his face as he let out his words.


    "At least you are better than me in tricking others."


    For the first time in his life, the old man was calling someone better and on top of that, it was his student.


    "I am better than you."


    Zhao Luo whose mind had filtered the word trickery was feeling bliss as he was being praised by his master.


    But that didn''tst long as Zhao Luo remembered what he was trying so hard for.


    "Master, the reward...."


    Zhao Luo slowly spoke after all his apparitions had seeped back into his body.


    The ghost had disappeared too.


    Now it was only the old man and him in the dark space.


    "Hmph."


    The old man acted as though he wasn''t going to give his knowledge to Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo looked worried as he bowed his head to the old man.


    "Master, I am sorry for pulling your beard."


    Zhao Luo sped his hands as he looked at the old man.


    "Hahaha."


    The old manughed boisterously.


    "Did you think, I, an Empera would go back on his words? Just because you pulled my beard? Just because you tried your best to rip it off? I would love to do that if you weren''t disciple."


    With a serious expression, he told Zhao Luo.


    The old man was going through the biggest mood swings of his life.


    If the old manughed at a moment then Zhao Luo had no idea what would being at him after the old man finished hisugh.


    Zhao Luo who had used the most extreme measure to achieve his goal was left in a very tense situation.


    The old man moved towards Zhao Luo and soon passed him.


    "Follow me!"


    The old man as said as he walked in the dark space with slow steps.


    Zhao Luo nodded and followed him while keeping himself three steps behind the old man.


    "Summoning nine apparitions at the same time shows that you have already mastered the first stage to Godhood."


    Zhao Luo listened to the old man talking about Naoli and nodded his head.


    "The apparitions you summon are always half as strong as you."


    "But that is just because you have yet to unlock the true potential of your apparitions."


    The old man turned around and told Zhao Luo.


    "Summon one of them."


    "Summon."


    Zhao Luo mumbled and an apparition appeared next to him.


    With its ghastly shape, the apparition stood there looking all confused while the old man and Zhao Luo stared at it.


    "Right now this apparition holds half of your strength. But if he keeps on training, he will keep on getting stronger that is closing in on to your level."


    The old man exined to Zhao Luo which caused Zhao Luo to remember all the times he had trained with his apparitions.


    ''Whenever I fought them, they would slowly overpower me.''


    Zhao Luo stopped here as thinking of how they smashed him after outnumbering him made him tremble in pain.


    "There has never been a time when your apparition has surpassed you before you absorb him."


    The old man guessed but the stunned look on Zhao Luo''s face confirmed it for him.


    "Once the apparition surpasses you for the first time, a red dot will appear between its be."


    The old man touched the middle area between the eyebrows of the apparition.


    "The second time the same apparition passes you, another small red dot will appear a finger above the first one."


    The old man pointed in the middle of the apparitions forehead.


    "The third time will be thest time, the same apparition will need to surpass you."


    The old man pointed his finger right below the hair of the apparition.


    "What will happen after that?"


    Zhao Luo asked the old man while feeling curious about how his apparition surpassing him three times would help him in getting stronger.


    "I can''t even absorb one of my apparitions so what''s the use?"


    "After the three dots appear, the next time you summon, one of your apparitions will be as strong as you. If you can achieve this with all nine of your apparitions, then all nine of them will be as strong as you from the moment they are summoned."


    The old man told Zhao Luo which left him shocked.


    ''If all of them are as strong as me from the moment they are summoned, I will get stronger faster than before if I fight an equal.''


    Zhao Luo realized that both his strength and his speed of training would increase if he could achieve this with all nine of his apparitions.


    "So, master, how can my apparition surpass me?"


    Zhao Luo asked while rubbing his hand greedily.


    He could hardly wait to know the method to do that.


    "Don''t absorb your apparitions for a while. Let them train to their best. While you will need toze around as they get stronger. There will definitelye a moment when a red dot will appear on their be."


    "Hmm, interesting."


    Zhao Luo mumbled while looking at the only apparition he had summoned.


    ''Summon~''


    The other eight apparitions appeared right around them as Zhao Luo summoned them with just a thought.


    Zhao Luo closed his eyes and imagined a mirror image himself.


    Soon, a new ghost formed in front of him.


    ''After all of them surpass me three times, they all would be equal to the ghost.''


    Zhao Luo was already looking at the result that he would try his best to achieve.


    "Go and train."


    Zhao Luo told them and all the apparitions started going towards the ghost.


    A fight broke out in the dark space while the old man and Zhao Luo spectated it.


    "Only a few Emperas know this. So consider yourself lucky."


    The old man said to Zhao Luo in case he would be thinking that even if the old man didn''t tell him this knowledge he would have stumbled upon it one day.


    "Even the luckiest Gods never witnessed a red dot on their apparitions when they were aiming to be a God."


    "They never had an amazing master like you, master."


    Zhao Luo turned around and respectfully sped his hands.


    "Good."


    The old man looked relieved that his student was indeed someone who knew the value of his master''s knowledge.


    "I will return to my deep slumber. Don''t wake me up otherwise..."


    The old man warned Zhao Luo without telling him the punishment as though telling him that, "if you want to find out then try waking me up".


    Zhao Luo looked at his master who was fading and soon the old manpletely disappeared.


    "Good riddance."


    ZhaobLuo said shamelessly while sighing after the old man''s disappearance.


    "Ifrit."


    "ckey."


    Zhao Luo''s swords appeared in his hands and just like old times, he jumped in the fray.


    "Come at me."


    While reaching the middle, Zhao Luo shouted at his apparitions and the ghost.


    They all looked at Zhao Luo and turned towards him right after his order.


    An unfathomable ss broke out after even Zhao Luo had joined them.


    The dark space rumbled for hours and hours and yet the fighting continued without a break.


    Sever hourster.


    "Fist of Yin and Yang."


    Both Zhao Luo and his ghost shed with the same technique while the apparitions watched them as they healed.


    "Boom."


    A sting sound was followed by Zhao Luo and his ghost''s fists striking each other.


    Both of them were blown away as the aftereffect of their collision.


    Zhao Luo stared at his ghost who was falling apart from many ces.


    ''He is still able to push me back.''


    Zhao Luo looked disturbed as his ghost was stilling at him strong even after hours had passed.


    "Ah, I just want to rest now."


    Zhao Luoined and right then,


    "Little Brother, wake up."


    A sound entered his head and Zhao Luo already knew that the voice belonged to Senior Cutie.


    Senior Cutie on the other hand was grinning while looking at Zhao Luo who in others'' eyes, was sleeping while being in a sitting position.

 Chapter 274 - Worried About Big Bean

    Listening to Senior Cutie''s voice reverberating inside his dark space, Zhao Luo instantly closed his eyes and left his mental world.


    -


    The moment Zhao Luo opened his eyes, he was shocked as Senior Cutie''s face was infinitely close to his own.


    "AH!"


    Zhao Luo hurriedly backed off while ring at Senior Cutie but funnily, Xiao Yu and Pi Hao were there too, with their eyes fixed on Zhao Luo who had been startled.


    "Little Brother, did you sleep well?"


    Senior Cutie asked Zhao Luo with a mysterious smile on his face.


    "Ahem, I did."


    Zhao Luo nodded his head since this sleep could be said to be his best one as he not only discovered the method which could make his apparitions stronger but he also received his first victory over his master, the old man.


    "But why were you smiling in your sleep?"


    Xiao Yu asked as he looked eager to know the reason behind Zhao Luo''s smile.


    "I was smiling?"


    ''I must have smiled when the old man was badly pushed out of the circle.''


    Zhao Luo wondered while distorting his memory since the foot of his master was slightly out of the circle.


    "Mhmm."


    Zhao Luo nodded instead of giving an answer to Xiao Yu''s question.


    "I know. He must be having dirty thoughts abo-"


    Senior Cutie bumped his fist on his hand and released his wild imagination, but before he couldplete it, his mouth suddenly twitched and he stopped talking as he looked at Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo was already holding onto ckey as it shined coldly and enhanced the cold look on Zhao Luo''s face.


    "Go on."


    Zhao Luo said to senior cutie with a grin on his face while raising his sword.


    "Ha, Ha. What was I saying? Oh, yes the fruits."


    Senior Cutieughed awkwardly while backing away a step and bringing up the fruits.


    "We were able to store them an hour ago. Try to store yours too."


    Zhao Luo instantly acted upon Senior Cutie''s instructions and tried to store the two internal energy fruits that he had.


    "Store."


    As he held the fruits, Zhao Luo mumbled and the fruits were indeed stored in the space of his robe.


    After storing the fruits, the first thing that entered his mind was the guard.


    "Where is the guard?"


    Zhao Luo asked while looking around the room as he looked for him.


    "He already left."


    Pi Hao answered as he was the first to wake up and he was the only one who had talked with the guard before the guard left Zhao Luo''s mansion.


    "So he already left."


    Zhao Luo mumbled while Pi Hao had more to say.


    "Brother Zhao Luo, the guard left a message for you."


    "What did he say?"


    Zhao Luo asked while being curious about the message that the guard had left behind for him.


    "Thank you for saving my life. I am sorry but if I stayed with you, it would only be a matter of time before that ''man'' sends assassins after me, and that would put you in trouble too. So I have decided to leave you. May we meet again, one day. To my savior."


    Pi Hao said slowly while tears rolled down his face.


    "T-That''s the message he left for you, Brother Zhao Luo."


    Pi Hao wiped the tears off his face and looked at Zhao Luo whose brows were furrowed as he looked deeply worried.


    "That man..."


    Zhao Luo mumbled while remembering the time when he had stopped this guard from returning along with the others.


    "He must be talking about the ''Right Serpant''"


    Senior Cutie told Zhao Luo.


    While talking to Senior Cutie and the others, Zhao Luo left the pce along with them and went towards the exit of the Living Zone.


    Around the exit, a few familiar faces were already waiting for him.


    Si Chen was kicking the rock while Feng Ma was wobbling around while the head of his wine sk looked as if it was stuck to his lips.


    "Ah, Brother!"


    Si Chen noticed Zhao Luo from afar and shouted.


    "You guys are already here."


    Zhao Luo joined them and found Si Chen greeting them.


    "How were your missions?"


    Si Chen curiously asked Zhao Luo.


    "They were fun."


    Zhao Luo replied with a carefree manner before turning his head to look at Feng Ma.


    He grabbed the wine sk before pulling it off of Feng Ma''s mouth.


    "You okay?"


    Zhao Luo questioned Feng Ma while smiling.


    "Hic, yes."


    Feng Ma stepped backward as he answered Zhao Luo and his back touched two big hands.


    "I prefer the front but this back is okay too."


    Senior Cutie smirked while whispering his words into the drunk Feng Ma''s ear.


    Instantly as if a lightning bolt had struck his mind, Feng Ma had sobered up and nodded while jumping forward like a stunned cat.


    Feng Ma''s reaction caused everyone tough at him while many disciples passed by them while eyeing Zhao Luo and the others.


    "So many disciples are leaving the living zone."


    Zhao Luo said as he watched many disciples and even groups of disciples leaving through the green door in a hurry.


    "They are all making their way towards the inner hall."


    "Like us."


    Si Chen replied while Feng Ma looked serious for some reason.


    "They must have reached their known limits and must have also umted 100 xin points."


    Senior Cutie said as he looked at the disciples who were passing by them.


    Among the disciples who had passed them, many were recognized by Senior Cutie since they had been in the Outer Hall for 2 to 3 years just like him.


    "Shouldn''t we go too?"


    Pi Hao mumbled as he got restless after listening to Si Chen and Senior Cutie talk about the passing disciples.


    "Don''t you know Little Brother is waiting for someone?"


    Senior Cutie said to Pi Hao in a mischievous tone which caused Zhao Luo to be embarrassed.


    But at the same time, someone was making their way towards them.


    "She is here."


    Zhao Luo smiled while looking at Mo Anna who had just reached them.


    Mo Anna greeted the others and looked at Zhao Luo before turning her eyes away from him.


    "What?"


    Zhao Luo who had been eagerly waiting to meet her was surprised by her reaction and felt sad.


    ''Don''t tell me...''


    Zhao Luo looked at Senior Cutie whose head looked red as he barely hid his smile.


    The end of his lips twitched and finally, he let the curves freely appear on his face as his eyes met Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo walked towards Senior Cutie while everyone had already started moving towards the exit of the Living Zone.


    Xiao Yu, Si Chen, Pi Hao, and Feng Ma were walking in the front while Mo Anna was behind them.


    At the end was Zhao Luo who was grabbing onto Senior Cutie''s arm while ring at him.


    "I really didn''t say much."


    Senior Cutie said but the expression on his face said otherwise.


    "What lies did you spew about me?"


    Zhao Luo questioned as he hadn''t even said anything but Senior Cutie was already making excuses.


    ''Just like he had lied about the vitality pills causing his baldness, he must have said something to her.''


    Zhao Luo was sure that Senior Cutie was behind the reaction that he had gotten from Mo Anna but it wasn''t easy to make the baldy talk.


    Soon they had left the Living Zone and a crowded view had weed them as they entered the entrance hall.


    Zhao Luo looked around and found the same disciples who had left the living zone there.


    Every group of disciples and the ones who were alone were gathered as a bigger group.


    Just yesterday, many of them had been challenging each other in the ranking tournament.


    Out of the thousand disciples, there were around 69 disciples here.


    "I don''t see big bean here."


    Zhao Luo raised his question as not one of the disciples resembled him since Big Bean had a height that was that of a giant and a shape that resembled a bean.


    Zhao Luo still looked around with worry since he hadn''t seen him after the time he had left them at the stage in the colosseum.


    "Don''t worry. You will meet him soon. He isn''t someone who wouldn''t be aiming to be an inner disciple."


    Senior Cutie told Zhao Luo as he also believed that Big Bean was already strong enough to be an inner disciple.


    As for his points, he was Mo Suo''s right-hand man, so how could he not have the required points.


    "I am not worried about leaving him behind instead what if he is in trouble?"


    Zhao Luo couldn''t help but think so as Big Bean''s tragic expression from the time he talked about his past and sister, was still buried in Zhao Luo''s mind.


    "Hmmm."


    Senior Cutie also understood what Zhao Luo was talking about.


    Just then,


    "Is this it?"


    An old raspy voice entered everyone''s ears.

 Chapter 275 - Outside The Inner Hall

    ''That sounds familiar.''


    Zhao Luo mumbled and tried to look ahead of the crowd to look for the owner of the voice which sounded simr to his ears.


    "It''s the Junior Elder."


    Senior Cutie whispered to Zhao Luo.


    "The one from the library and the one who healed your legs."


    Senior Cutie added while Zhao Luo stared at him with nk eyes.


    "Why are you telling me that? I already know that much."


    Zhao Luo asked him with a confused look..


    ''Did he hit his head?''


    Zhao Luo looked over the shiny surface of Senior Cutie''s head but couldn''t find a bump that suggested that.


    "Hah, I thought maybe you would''ve forgotten about him."


    While awkwardlyughing it off, Senior Cutie turned his face to the front.


    "Are you all the ones trying to be an inner disciple?"


    The junior elder who was standing in the front face the crowd of disciples, while Zhao Luo was at the other end of the crowd.


    Listening to the elder''s voice, he wanted nothing more than to rush to the front and thank him but now wasn''t the time to pay his gratitude.


    "YES!"


    All the disciples present in the entrance hall answered the Elder''s question at the same time.


    "Good."


    The junior elder looked at the energized disciples who were eager to advance and replied with a longsting roll of the tongue followed by a nod.


    "I hope you all have the required points in your badges!"


    "Otherwise, he, hehe."


    The junior elder told them and startedughing mischievously as he didn''t even mention the aftermath of the ones who didn''t have the 100 xin points.


    Everyone shuddered since there was no way to check your points but to rely on your memory.


    After saying what he wanted, the elder started moving towards the exit of the outer hall, followed by the outer disciples.


    Most of the disciples were wearing badges which showed that they were at level nine ''?'' of the ck rank. The number of such disciples had increased in just a day when Zhao Luo had gone on a mission with Senior Cutie, Xiao Yu, and Pi Hao.


    While some were like Zhao Luo who was still wearing the badge showing that he was still at level eight irrespective of the fact that he was the strongest outer disciple at the moment.


    After exiting the outer hall the group of 69 disciples followed the elder to the entrance of the inner hall.


    "Come forward."


    The junior elder who had stopped at the entrance of the inner hall, suddenly turned around instead of entering while pointing his hand at the disciple who was right behind him.


    The disciple slowly moved towards the junior elder who had brought out a silver badge with three marks that were making a triangr shape "?".


    Zhao Luo who was looking at the front was stunned.


    ''So the elder is at the peak of silver rank. Hmm.''


    He wondered about how long it will take for him to reach that stage.


    He passed his silver badge over the ck badge of the outer disciple and then gazed at him.


    "Pass."


    "You can enter."


    With his word, the door of the inner hall''s main building opened up and the disciple entered the hall.


    The elder and the others looked at his back but the area which had appeared after the door had opened was not only dark but also looked deep as though they were staring into an abyss. The disciple disappeared the moment he took his third step after passing the door.


    ''It''s like someone is looking at us from behind this dark space.''


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he squinted his eyes towards the space between the door which looked like a curtain but only for the eyes who were standing outside the inner hall.


    The elder turned his head back to the group of disciples.


    "Next."


    The junior elder looked at another disciple who moved up and repeated the same action of passing his silver badge over the ck badge which was on the chest o the disciple.


    The junior elder was simply taking the 100 xin points that were in their badge and storing the points in his silver badge.


    One by one the disciples kept on entering the inner hall and the nervousness in the air had disappeared after the same action had been repeated many times.


    But at 16th disciple turn.


    "BOOM."


    A disciple flew out of the space between the door.


    ''He is the fourth one to enter the inner hall.''


    Zhao Luo still remembered the face of the disciple who had been thrown out now.


    "Hah, too much confidence can lead to this. Now go back to outer hall and train well."


    The junior elder looked at the disciple who was lying on the ground while looking at the sky with disappointment filling his eyes and tears which were being forcibly stooped.


    He got up and nodded at the junior elder who had just given him harsh advice and started running towards the outer hall while swinging his arms like a girl whose heart had been broken.


    After that disciple''s exit, things continued once again, and soon it was Senior Cutie''s turn.


    ''So he was the only one who was thrown out.''


    Zhao Luo mumbled with a calm look on his face as he stared into the dark space.


    ''It will be my turn now.''


    After watching the elder nod at the baldy, Zhao Luo moved towards the elder with hurried footsteps. Even before the Elder could call or him, Zhao Luo was already standing in front of him.


    "We meet again, young man."


    The elder addressed Zhao Luo, but not as a disciple which would ce him a level below him but instead his words showed the mutual respect he had for him.


    "Thank you, Elder."


    Zhao Luo bowed his head as he looked sincerely at the elder.


    "Thest time, I couldn''t greet you properly and I don''t want to miss this chance."


    Zhao Luo told the elder while raising his head.

 Chapter 276 - The Unfamiliar Place Inside The Inner Hall

    "I just did what any other teacher would have done for his student. There is no need to thank me."


    The Junior Elder looked a little embarrassed as he scratched the back of his head.


    "But still-"


    "Instead of thanking me, guide me."


    The junior elder interrupted Zhao Luo while presenting a request of his own.


    "Me? Guide you?"


    Zhao Luo with a shocked look repeated his words again in case he didn''t hear them right.


    "Yes. I am really bad at riddles and you have be famous among the elders as the ''friend'' of Master of Riddles.. So who see could I ask about this If not you!"


    Zhao Luo had half of his mouth open as he gazed at the junior elder who was almost two whole ranks above him and yet he wanted to learn ''solving riddles'' from him.


    "I will guide you on that."


    Zhao Luo epted his request since it wasn''t even a big deal.


    "Now go. And show them what the new King of Outer Hall is like."


    The elder didn''t use his badge this time since Zhao Luo was the winner of the tournament and as the winner, he was exempt from this.


    ''Nod.''


    Zhao Luo turned his eyes away from the junior elder and looked in the space in front of him and passed through it.


    ''Whoosh.''


    Seeing Zhao Luo''s back vanish after entering through the door, the junior elder looked a little sad since he was left alone, and he couldn''t help but remember his old days.


    "The world has changed."


    He mumbled and took a step away from the inner hall when he stooped after realizing that two disciples were walking towards him.


    "Why are you two sote?"


    The elderined loudly since the two were still far away, and he couldn''t make out their faces.


    ''A giant and a disciple with golden hair?''


    As the elder searched through his memory to remember these two, they had already closed in on him as though they were going to attack him.


    The elder stumbled back, not in fear, instead, in excitement as he was more than ready to defend.


    But before he could defend, they had to attack which never happened.


    "Hah, hah, Brother I told you, we will bete."


    The one who had a gigantic structure said to the one with the golden hair.


    It was none other than Mo Suo and Big Bean who were talking to each other as if there were no differences between them.


    What could have happened in a day that changed them so much?


    "It''s okay. Junior Elder, we will be entering the hall too."


    Mo Suo looked at the junior elder with a downward gaze, as though he wasn''t even worthy to meet his eyes, and said to him.


    "Ah"


    Looking at the change in the youngest and the most arrogant son of the Royal Mo family''s leader, the junior elder was left agape.


    "Elder."


    Both Mo Suo and Big Bean urged the elder together.


    "Ahem. Yes, go on."


    The Junior Elder with a swift motion passed his hand which held his silver badge in front of their badges and told them to enter.


    Soon, Mo Suo and Big Bean entered the hall.


    -


    Zhao Luo who had been teleported to an unfamiliar ce looked back.


    ''What?''


    He was witnessing something that he had been fearful of, with clenched jaws and tightened fists.


    ''Is he bullying Big Bean by using his sister''s safety?''


    Zhao Luo thought as he could clearly see Mo Suo and Big Bean outside of the door as they stood in front of the elder.


    ''What should I do to save Big Bean''s sister?''


    Zhao Luo was lost in his thoughts as he was trying toe up with a n to get his Brother Disciple Big Bean free of Mo Suo''s clutches.


    Zhao Luo stared at theming towards him but as he had thought, they didn''t know that.


    ''Here theye.''


    Zhao Luo looked more than ready to attack Mo Suo yet to his surprise, they did pass through the door but never appeared to where he was.


    ''What?''


    Zhao Luo looked outside and could only see the junior elder who looked towards him and smiled.


    -


    Outside, the junior elder who was looking at the door smiled.


    ''They were all sent as pair except him. How funny.''


    The junior elder smiled as he looked at the dark space which seemed somethingpletely else now.


    There were small windows that showed the pair of disciples who were at different ces.


    Zhao Luo could be seen on one of the windows that showed the inside of the inner hall and he was alone there as he stood on a tform that looked like a square-shaped ring but a hundred blocks that made the ring were divided into two colors, ck and white.


    Every side of the block of one color was covered with the other color blocks.


    ''He will do well if that''s the test.''


    The Junior Elder turned away from the door which slowly closed.


    -


    Zhao Luo was still in a state of shock which slowly faded away after the door closed and he couldn''t see the junior elder anymore.


    ''"Are you done?"


    A very familiar voice entered his ear. One he could never forget.


    "Senior Zi Fei?"


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he turned around and looked at the disciple who had just spoken to him.


    The disciple had a bronze badge on his purple robe which showed that he was an inner disciple and not an elder, also the disciple was standing on a statue with a crown.


    ''He isn''t him. But his level...''


    Zhao Luo looked at the lines on the badge and felt challenged.


    The badge showed that the inner disciple in front of him was at the sixth level ''VI'' of bronze rank.


    "ZI Fei? Oh, so you know the little butcher of the inner hall?"


    The disciple talked about Zi Fei while jumping down from the statue as hended on the ck block.


    That was when Zhao Luo looked down and realized that the stage where he was on resembled something.


    ''A chessboard?''


    He mumbled as the stage did look like one.

 Chapter 277 - [Bonus ] The Stage Is A Game Board

    Zhao Luo looked at the disciple who had jumped down on the ck block, as there were a total of eight blocks between them since he was standing on a white block.


    ''No. There are ten rows and ten columns so it isn''t a ''simple'' chessboard.''


    Zhao Luo realized as he continued to look around but how could the inner disciple let himself be ignored like this just because this character in front of him was simply too handsome.


    "Ahem."


    The inner disciple made a rtively loud sound while pretending that he was clearing his throat just to get Zhao Luo''s attention focused on him.


    Zhao Luo had indeed turned his eyes on the disciple in front of him who looked a little angered.


    ''Is he mad?''


    Zhao Luo wondered, not knowing that he was the reason..


    "Listen here, Junior."


    The inner disciple said to Zhao Luo.


    ''Junior?''


    Zhao Luo was taken back by the way he was being addressed us but he held himself back and showed a smile while his lips twitched.


    "If you are done looking around then let me exin to you about myself and the ce you are at."


    The inner disciple told Zhao Luo before pointing his index finger at himself.


    "I am Bu Xing but you can call me Senior Xing. Consider me as your misfortune."


    The inner disciple told Zhao Luo with an evil grin that was slowly carving upon his face.


    "Senior Xing, why are you my misfortune?"


    Zhao Luo looked confused as he innocently asked this entric senior who stood around 100 meters away from him but for some reason, they both had no need to be loud as their voices traveled to each other as though they were standing right next to each other.


    "Hmmm."


    Bu Xing looked disturbed over Zhao Luo''s question.


    ''Should I tell him the reason or....''


    He wondered while feeling reluctant to answer Zhao Luo''s question.


    Bu Xing was one of the nicest disciples of the inner hall, yet no one dared to be close to him except a senior. No junior woulde to him for any kind of advice and none of his peers or those who were at his level would stay with him. No matter how nice he was to others, he would bring misfortune to them, just like his name.


    Slowly as almost everyone left him, he started to change. He started pretending to be an evil person. He would act like someone who intentionally ruined things for others, just like what he was trying to show Zhao Luo.


    But as Zhao Luo questioned him, Zhao Luo saw a tragic look in senior Xing''s eyes that he couldn''t miss even if he tried.


    ''What was that?''


    Zhao Luo wondered as he waited for Bu Xing''s answer who looked lost in his thoughts,


    "Y-you don''t need to know. Just focus on where you are."


    Senior Bu Xing suddenly opened his mouth with a flustered look.


    ''Nod.''


    Zhao Luo nodded since he too wanted to know.


    "Where am I? Where are the others?"


    Zhao Luo questioned the Senior who again had the same evil grin hanging on his face.


    "So you finally noticed. The inner hall has several zones. The first zone is the test zone, where the outer disciples who hope to be an inner disciple are gathered."


    Bu Xing waved his hand around and continued.


    "Your friends are also in the test zone, but you can''t see them neither can they since the test zone has several hundred small rooms like the one you are in."


    Zhao Luo nodded as he heard the senior calmly exining to him.


    ''He isn''t that bad.''


    Zhao Luo mumbled while looking at Bu Xing who was waiting for Zhao Luo''s question, in case, he didn''t understand something, just what a nice senior would do.


    "What room is this one then?"


    Zhao Luo questioned while pointing downward since the room looked like a barrennd except for the unusual stage they were on and Bu Xing instinctively answered it as though he knew what the question would be.


    "This test room is a little special. It''s been three years since this room was used. Only the winner of the Outer Hall is tested here or as you juniors call it, the ''King'' of the outer hall."


    ''I see. Last year''s winner of the outer hall ranking tournament was Mo Suo and before that, it was Senior Cutie and they never tried to be an inner disciple when they held the title of the King. But the stage looks like something that only someone like me would know about.''


    While Zhao Luo was looking back on what he knew, Bu Xing was already talking again.


    "The stage you are on is a game board. Just like the dragon road of the outer hall, this is a relic of the other world, modified by the Sect. There are ten rows and ten columns. You see this statue behind me?"


    Senior Bu Xing started telling Zhao Luo about the stage that the two were on while the statue was behind Bu Xing.


    ''As I thought, it is indeed from there.'', Zhao Luo thought as his doubts were indeed true.


    "The dragon statue."


    He had been ncing at it from time to time but he never had time to look at the statue more closely like now.


    The statue was a four-meter tall dragon with red wings which were opened to its full wingspan while the dragon''s base had a square shape with each side being a meter long which showed that it was indeed a piece that will be used on the stage they were on.


    As Zhao Luo looked at it slowly moving his gaze down and then back to Bu Xing, he saw a serious expression on Bu Xing''s face as though something was about to go down.


    "Think of a beast that you want to use as your piece."


    Bu Xing instructed Zhao Luo while the dragon piece with the crown on its head moved on the same block where he was while almost touching his back.


    "A beast?"


    Zhao Luo tried to think of a beast that could rival the aura of the dragon with the red wings in front of him.

 Chapter 278 - The Simple Game

    As he tried to imagine a beast that he would like to use as his piece on the game board, the first image that popped up in his mind was none other than Bimba''s.


    "Ah, Bimba."


    Even though he was attached to Bimba, Zhao Luo didn''t want to use him as a piece in a game even if that piece was just a statue resembling Bimba.


    ''Oh, I know. A statue of blue eyes white dragon would be a good match for that red-winged dragon.''


    Zhao Luo mumbled while his arms were folded in front of his chest as he nodded his head, barely able to hide his grin because of the surprise he was going to give the senior in front of him. Just then, Bu Xing opened his mouth.


    "So. you have chosen a sand lion. How mediocre.."


    Bu Xing said with a smile as he had already won the war of imagination.


    Zhao Luo was stunned as he listened to Bu Xing making fun of him.


    "But I haven''t eve-"


    While Zhao Luo was trying to refute his words by saying he hadn''t even thought of the beast statue he wanted to use as a piece, he noticed that Bu Xing was looking behind him with his eyes raised.


    Zhao Luo turned around while following Bu Xing''s gaze and found a 3-meter tall statue of Bimba who was standing on his two feet and had a crown ced on his head.


    "Oh, wow."


    Zhao Luo eximed as his tamed beast was looking handsome just like his tamer.


    The next moment, the beast statue slid towards Zhao Luo and stopped on the white-ck Zhao Luo was on.


    "The game is very simple."


    Bu Xing said as both of their pieces faced each other just like how they were facing each other.


    "What are the rules?"


    Zhao Luo asked and that was when the five blocks on his left and the four blocks on his right turned bright.


    ''What''s happening?''


    Zhao Luo who was freaked out couldn''t help but raise his hands as an eerie feeling crept on him.


    Nine more pieces that looked just like the first piece appeared on the row he was on.


    The nine new pieces were two-meter tall, which is a meter shorter than the one on the fifth column where Zhao Luo was.


    Just like the first row, the tenth row where Bu Xing was, went through the same change.


    Nine dragons with big red wings appeared there. Each of the dragons looked like a smaller version of the one on the block Bu Xing was standing on.


    "The rules are as simple as the game."


    Bu Xing leaped forward once to stand on the block in front of him which was on the ninth row.


    "We both shall face each other in the middle with a game that will give the winner a ''chance'' to attack."


    As Bu Xing told the first rule to Zhao Luo, he jumped another block andnded on the 5th column''s block on the eighth row.


    "With one chance to attack, you can take down a regr piece with the attack of your piece. As for the crowned one behind me, you need to attack it with your pieces five times, that is, you will need to get five chances and for that, you will need to beat me five times in the game we will be ying."


    Xu Bing jumped to the next block and then another before finally stopping at the 5th block of the sixth row.


    Zhao Luo looked at the dragon statues behind Bu Xing and realized that except for the crown one, all of them had the same limit on them which was 1/1, but the crowned dragon with the red wings had 5/5.


    "The winner will be the one who takes down five regr pieces or only the crowned one."


    Bu Xing smiled at Zhao Luo while telling another rule.


    "Wouldn''t that be the same? Since to do both, you need five chances."


    Zhao Luo said to Bu Xing who nodded at Zhao Luo''s question, once again showing that he knew what the question would be.


    "That''s also very simple. It''s different in the case of the crowned one since after you win a game and use a chance to attack it making its limit fall to 4/5, you will need to win another game to get a chance. And in case you lose the next game, the limit will return to 5/5."


    Bu Xing exined to Zhao Luo yet another rule which made it extremely hard to destroy the crowned one.


    ''Simple, Simple, Simple....''


    Zhao Luo screamed in his head.


    "What is simple about this game? Who would even go for the crowned one?"


    Zhao Luo mumbled while lowering his body.


    He pushed his toes back and raised his ankle.


    The 5th rows block was exactly eight meters away from and in an instant,


    "Half Walk."


    ''Whoosh.''


    Zhao Luo had covered it which caused Bu Xing to be filled with awe.


    "What''s the game?"


    Zhao Luo asked looking calmer than how he was a second ago.


    "It''s sim-"


    "Simple?"


    Zhao Luo interrupted Bu Xing and regretted it right after he opened his mouth again.


    "Simr to guessing the other person''s moves."


    Bu Xingpleted his words and Zhao Luo looked a bit embarrassed.


    "Senior, what kind of moves are we guessing here?"


    Zhao Luo politely asked with an awkwardugh.


    "Up, Down, Left, and Right. We both have four directions. I will be the one guessing and you will be the one making the move. You can make the move by turning your face or pointing your arm in any of the four directions. If I guess your move correctly, I will win and get a chance otherwise you will win and a chance will be given to you."


    Bu Xing finally told Zhao Luo about the game they would be ying which will decide the destruction of their pieces.


    "So if you can''t guess five times, I will win?"


    "YES!"


    "Hmm, sounds fair."


    Zhao Luo smiled as the game turned out to be a really simple one.


    ''So, I have to guess about his guess as to which direction I will be looking at. This should be a breeze.''


    Zhao Luo thought while preparing his mind as Bu Xing looked more than ready to start the countdown.

 Chapter 279 - Good Luck

    "Are you ready?"


    Bu Xing asked Zhao Luo who looked like he was contemting his thoughts.


    Listening to the question by Bu Xing, Zhao Luo who was thinking about how easy the game was, looked up with a smile.


    "Smile after you''ve won."


    Bu Xing smirked as he noticed the expression on Zhao Luo''s face.


    "I am ready to win."


    The smile on Zhao Luo''s face slowly faded away and he looked ready for the start of the guessing game.


    "Heh. I will start the countdown then.."


    Bu Xing told Zhao Luo while giving out a shortsting chuckle.


    ''Nod.''


    Zhao Lou nodded his head and Bu Xing started the count.


    "1"


    "2"


    ''I will look up.''


    Listening to the second count, Zhao Luo decided the direction where he will turn his face that is making his move ''upwards''.


    "3"


    Zhao Luo tilted his face upwards and at the same time he was moving his head up, Bu Xing was pointing his right hand in the same direction, that is, up.


    "I win."


    Bu Xing''s voice sounded out in Zhao Luo''s head multiple times and he lowered his head.


    ''What? Did he get lucky? Right from the start...Tsk!''


    Zhao Luo was stunned for a moment as he had started with a loss, no less, after thinking that the game would be a breeze for him since Bu Xing had to point in the same direction as the one Zhao Luo would be choosing otherwise it would be a loss for him.


    "I will attack the crowned piece."


    Bu Xing announced. right away after winning game 1.


    "Why the crowned piece?"


    Zhao Luo questioned but Bu Xing stayed quiet while from behind him,


    "mhmmm."


    Rumble~


    Zhao Luo looked at the crowned Dragon with the red wings which was in the tenth row and realized that it wasing to life as it slowly pped its red wings.


    Soon, the wings generated a red tornado that traveled to the crowned piece that Zhao Luo had.


    Zhao Luo turned his head as he watched the tornado crashing on his piece.


    ( 4/5 )


    A point was taken from the limit of the crowned sand lion''s statue.


    The dragon piece turned back to a lifeless one after the attack had ended and Zhao Luo turned his head back at Bu Xing.


    "Do you think you can four more times?"


    Zhao Luo felt confused by Bu Xing''s decision to attack the crowned piece with his first chance.


    "I am sure of it."


    Bu Xing told Zhao Luo with a confident look.


    ''Even if I don''t want to win, I can''t help it.''


    Once again Bu Xing looked a little sad but that didn''tst long as he started the countdown for the second game ( or second round of the same game ).


    "1", "2", "3".


    Zhao Luo turned his face at the left while looking at Bu Xing''s hand, and to his surprise was already pointing towards the left.


    "What? But How?"


    Zhao Luo was shocked. He felt cheated since Bu Xing had his hand pointed in the same direction even before Zhao Luo turned his head,


    ''Does he already know where I will be turning?''


    Zhao Luo suspected that he was already trapped in the palm of Bu Xing.


    "Don''t worry."


    Bu Xing who had won another chance smiled while pointing his finger upwards.


    "A few elders are already watching this. So, if any one of us cheats, they will be the first ones to step in."


    Bu Xing told Zhao Luo which assured him that there was no such thing as cheating here.


    Zhao Luo instantly looked upwards and felt the gazes of the elders that were supposedly spectating this.


    ''Enjoying my misery?''


    Zhao Luoined while Bu Xing used his chance to attack the crowned piece once again.


    Another tornado was generated by the wings of the crowned dragon on Bu Xing''s side which soon struck the crowned piece on Zhao Luo''s side and took another point of the limit.


    ( 3/5 )


    ''Shit.''


    Zhao Luo cursed in his mind while looking back at Bu Xing who looked a little embarrassed for some reason.


    Before Bu Xing could continue onwards to the third round of the game Zhao Luo heard a voice in his mind.


    ''He is not normal.''


    The old man had woken up because of the distress Zhao Luo was in.


    ''What do you mean master?''


    Zhao Luo asked the old man while on the other hand, Bu Xin had already started counting once again.


    "1"


    ''You won''t understand. Just turn your face up again and let me see if this kid can see through you once again.''


    The old man instructed Zhao Luo and Zhao Luo was ready to act upon it.


    "2"


    "3"


    Zhao Luo looked up while looking at Bu Xing, who once again was pointing his hand upwards.


    "Another win."


    Bu Xing mumbled while smiling.


    "Grr"


    ''Old man, can you exin now?''


    Zhao Luo looked helpless as he turned to the old man while Bu Xing had used his chance to attack the crowned piece of Zhao Luo for the third time.


    ''He is a difficult case.''


    The old man felt reluctant to say something for the first time in his life as he still wanted to make sure of what he was seeing.


    ''Just how difficult could an inner disciple be for you to act like this, master?''


    Zhao Luo who was questioning his master heard a sting sound as the tornado struck the statue of the sand lion once again.


    ( 2/5 )


    "Just two more wins and you will be out."


    Bu Xing''s said to Zhao Luo while looking calm as if what was happening right now was already the expected result.


    "Good Luck."


    Bu Xing suddenly wished Zhao Luo well out of nowhere which angered Zhao Luo so much that a vein could be seen bulging on Zhao Luo''s forehead.


    "Phew."


    Zhao Luo calmed himself and showed a forced smile as he nodded his head at Bu Xing who had started the fourth round.


    "1"


    "2"


    "3"

 Chapter 280 - The Reincarnated Empera

    Zhao Luo turned his head down instantly while Bu Xing also had his hand pointed downwards.


    "I lost again."


    Zhao Luo slowly said with a cold look.


    ''Am I going to lose the test?''


    Zhao Luo thought since this game was simply a way to test him who was aiming to be an inner disciple.


    ''Is this really guessing the opponent''s move?''


    Zhao Luo questioned it since it looked more like Bu Xing already knew where he would be pointing from the start.


    ''Master, did you figure out something?''


    Zhao Luo question the old man again who had suddenly popped up to leave a wrong move just to go silent after saying that Bu Xing was a difficult case..


    While Zhao Luo was addressing his master, Bu Xing had used his fourth chance to attack the crowned piece, making its limit fall to thest point.


    ( 1/ 5 )


    ''Do you know what happens when a person dies?''


    The old man questioned Zhao Luo.


    ''He bes a soul like you?''


    Zhao Luo hurriedly answered his master''s question while looking at Bu Xing who was ready to start the fifth round.


    "1"


    "Wait!"


    Zhao Luo shouted while staring at Bu Xing.


    Bu Xing gazed at Zhao Luo who looked like a person who was aggravated by his consecutive losses.


    "Give me some time."


    Zhao Luo said to Bu Xing in a polite manner, instantly changing from the earlier aggression that he was showing.


    "Take as much time as you want. But remember, I am your misfortune. Till you face me, you will lose."


    Bu Xing coldly said to Zhao Luo as if it was a statement that couldn''t be changed no matter what.


    But the way he spoke, Zhao Luo could tell that Bu Xing was challenging him, more like begging him to win against him.


    "Hmm."


    Zhao Luo nodded whilst his talk with the old man continued over time.


    ''You fool, I am not dead. If I was dead, my soul wouldn''t be trapped in a sword. The death of a person happens when his soul is shattered into countless pieces and only the ''Origen'' of the soul is left, and that Origen is then forced into a cycle of rebirth.''


    ''Hmm.''


    Zhao Luo quietly listened to the mystery of the soul which happens after a person''s death or as the old man said when a person''s soul shatters.


    ''Once you will enter the Rank of Gods, your way/path/road to Godhood will end and then you will have to step on a new path, which the Gods of the Godly realm call a ''Dao''. There are thousands of Minor and Major Daos, like Fire, Water, Patience, Goodwill, and so on, that every God tries toprehend but there are only a few of ultimate Daos like Fate, Luck, Life, and Death.''


    The old man had taken an unexpected turn while exining about the death of a person but that didn''t mean that Zhao Luo was lost somewhere instead hepletely understood what he was saying.


    ''But what does the Dao of a God has to do with the death of a person and more importantly with this Senior? Look at how he is staring at me, master? Doesn''t he look like a cute toad?''


    Zhao Luo couldn''tbine the three situations together and even though he was having an exchange with the old man in his mind, his eyes were wide open and he could see Bu Xing who was staring at him after bringing his face closer to Zhao Luo''s.


    ''Don''t be hasty. ''


    The old man said to Zhao Luo in a scolding tone but even he had to agree that Bu Xing looked like a toad as he stared at Zhao Luo.


    ''When an Empera who has mastered an ultimate Dao dies which is next to impossible, his Soul Origen enters the cycle of rebirth. But the time it takes for him to reincarnate can take more than a hundred thousand years.''


    The old man''s tone was too tragic that even Zhao Luo felt like crying.


    ''When he reincarnates, his memories of his past life will be lost, all of his strength wouldn''t be there anymore but how could he lose the Ultimate Dao that is attached to his Soul Origen itself. Just like that, the young man in front of you is definitely an Empera like me, and he must have mastered the Dao of good fortune in his life as an Empera of the Godly Realm. So, no matter what you do, till his Dao isn''t controlled by him directly, you will not be able to win against him in this kind of game.''


    ''So he was an Empera before.''


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he finally understood what he had gotten himself into.


    ''No wonder he kept on saying that he was my misfortune. If only my luck wasn''t so shit.''


    Zhao Luo cursed at his own luck while finally deciding what he wanted to do now.


    ''So what if he was an Empera in his previous life? So what if he still has his Ultimate Dao?''


    Zhao Luo confidently refuted all the facts as he didn''t have time to worry about these things.


    ''Master is there a way to defeat him?''


    Zhao Luo only thought of winning, as his mind was set on passing the test.


    ''There is none for you.''


    The old man replied with a sigh which made Zhao Luo sulk so bad that even Bu Xing was able to see the tragic expression on Zhao Luo''s face.


    ''But.''


    Right then the old man continued.


    ''There is a way for me to block his fortune but even then, it would be left on the chance that you won''t lose to him.''


    ''I will NOT lose.''


    Zhao Luo confidently said to the old man.


    ''Ah, I have to do this shameless act because of my disciple.''


    The old man''s left ast note to Zhao Luo with his voice which was slowly disappearing.


    The next instant, Zhao Luo couldn''t feel the presence of the old man anymore as if he hadpletely disappeared.


    "Are you ready?"


    Right then, Zhao Luo heard Bu Xing''s voice.

 Chapter 281 - Games Should Be Fun

    It had already been more than five minutes where they both had only stared at each other. Even the elders who were here to watch Zhao Luo were getting bored and their patience grew restless.


    "I am ready."


    Zhao Luo nodded and tried to look calm but nobody except him knew that mentally, he was already standing on the edge of a giant cliff.


    ''The Dao''s.''


    Zhao Luo mumbled the words that were the cause of this pressure.


    On the other hand, Bu Xing had already started counting for the fifth round of the game.


    "1"


    "2".


    ''Here goes nothing.''


    "3"


    Zhao Luo turned his face upwards once again but this time his eyes were closed.


    ''Please, please, please...''


    Zhao Luo screamed in his head as he felt reluctant while opening his eyes.


    To his surprise, he heard the confused voice of Bu Xing.


    "Is this real?"


    Bu Xing mumbled while looking at Zhao Luo and then turning his face towards the elders as if asking them about his loss.


    Bu Xing had pointed his hand down while Zhao Luo had made his move by facing upwards, thus finally handing Bu Xing his first loss.


    Zhao Luo slowly opened his eyes and realized what had happened.


    "Ha, haha, I won."


    Zhao Luoughed as he announced his first win with a smile.


    ''Looks like master was indeed able to block his fortune.''


    Zhao Luo nodded his head and felt as if some powerful authority was given to him.


    "Is this the ''chance'' to attack?"


    Zhao Luo questioned as he felt that the whole chessboard stage was in his hand.


    "Yes, a ''chance'' has been granted to you. Tsk, you can choose the piece you want to attack."


    Zhao Luo listened to Bu Xing''s answer and looked around.


    The crowned piece, the statue of the sand lion. on his side was already back to the maximum limit of the piece.


    ( 5/5 )


    ''So, all of his earlier wins came to naught.''


    Zhao Luo grinned as he could barely keep himself calm with the intense excitement he was going through.


    "I will use my chance to attack thest piece."


    Zhao Luo pointed at thest dragon piece that was on Bu Xing''s right side.


    The sand lion piece parallel to the dragon piece that Zhao Luo wanted to attack, came to life.


    "The ws."


    Zhao Luo eximed as the ws of the sand lion kept on growing bigger and at one point the sand lion leaped at the dragon piece and shed it into pieces, before returning back to its ce.


    ( 0/1 )


    The dragon piece waspletely obliterated after the attack of the sand lionnded on it.


    "Now, I just have to destroy four more of your pieces."


    Zhao Luo said to Bu Xing as if telling him about the future that was going toe soon.


    "This is the first time, I have lost in my life. Who knew such a day woulde?"


    Bu Xing told Zhao Luo instead of taking his words to heart.


    "But, a loss should be enough for today."


    The evil look in his eyes had disappeared, and a challenging fire burned in them.


    He looked at Zhao Luo and nodded before starting the count again.


    "1", "2", "3"


    Zhao Luo turned his head towards the right while Bu Xing was pointing in the same direction too.


    "SEE!"


    Bu Xing celebrated his victory by attacking one of the regr pieces on Zhao Luo''s side and destroying it with the attack of his regr dragon piece.


    ''It''s just a coincidence.''


    Zhao Luo told himself and looked forward to the next round, which started a few secondster.


    "1", "2", "3"


    Zhao Luo looked down while Bu Xing was pointing upwards.


    ''I see.''


    Zhao Luo thought as if he hade up with a grand n with this win.


    The authoritative feeling fell on him again and he used his chance on the regr dragon piece.


    Another piece on Bu Xing''s side was destroyed but Bu Xing himself stayed quiet.


    "Are you shocked?"


    Zhao Luo asked Bu Xing whose eyes were trembling, no less the shock of losing for the second time at the hands of the same person again was indeed too big.


    "Don''t fret on your losses. Games should be fun, not something to be pressured about."


    Zhao Luo told him but only Zhao Luo knew how much pressure he was under just a moment ago.


    "You are right."


    Bu Xing agreed as he looked ahead to winning the next round.


    ''He fell for it.''


    Zhao Luo mumbled while barely keeping the mischievous look in his eyes under control.


    "Let me tell you something. I am going to look UP so you should too, just to make it fair. Up, okay?"


    With a serious look on his face, Zhao Luo lookedpassionate in the eyes of Bu Xing as he pointed upwards.


    A nice person like Bu Xing who had never lied in his life had yet to face such a situation before.


    Bu Xing nodded at Zhao Luo''s sacrifice and gave out a bright smile before he happily started counting for the eighth round.


    "1"


    Zhao Luo looked at Bu Xing who was looking at him and both nodded at each other.


    "2"


    "3"


    As the sound of three entered their ears, Bu Xing pointed his hand upwards, with shocked eyes.


    Zhao Luo had turned his head down once again, with a shortsting smile on his face as he looked at Bu Xing who looked ready to spit out a mouthful of blood after being deceived so passionately.


    "Little Brother, didn''t you say that you were going to make your move towards..."


    Bu Xing said while pointing his finger upwards, while Zhao Luo pretended to be confused.


    "Oh, I thought we were supposed to look down. Sorry."


    Zhao Luo said while rubbing his hands together to show how bad he felt for that.


    Bu Xing was taken back as he looked at the sincere look on Zhao Luo''s face.


    But the next moment Zhao Luo used his chance to attack another regr dragon piece on Bu Xing''s side.


    ----- x ----- x ----- x ------ x


    A/N: Please read this on webnovel to support this poor author called, The_Fake_God. Arigatou~

 Chapter 282 - The Mysterious Voice

    The regr piece on his side came to life once again and as its ws grew bigger, it attacked the dragon piece by sashing its ws at it.


    Another piece''s limit fell to 0, and the dragon piece was destroyed.


    ''That felt good.''


    Zhao Luo thought while looking at the dark expression on Bu Xing''s face.


    "This game is fun."


    Zhao Luo suddenly said to Bu Xing who was still pondering over something.


    ''Did he fool me or was he really mistaken about the direction?''


    Bu Xing thought but just this thought would have made Zhao Luough..


    Even if he looked sincere while apologizing, it didn''t mean that he hadn''t pointed in the opposite direction of the one he had told Bu Xing about.


    After shaking off the irrelevant thoughts Bu Xing who was having a weird day stared at Zhao Luo before opening his mouth to say something.


    "Where will we be pointing now?"


    Bu Xing curiously asked Zhao Luo while Zhao Luo chuckled in response.


    "Senior, how would I know that? Let''s keep it fair."


    Zhao Luo told Bu Xing which caused him to take a step back as now he was sure of the fact that he had indeed been fooled him.


    ''I have never been fooled before this. All of my enemies and friends would face misfortune before leaving me. No matter who tried to do something bad to me, it never happened and they would always have to suffer instead, but what is this? Who is this guy?''


    Bu Xing looked more interested in Zhao Luo than the anger he was supposed to be projecting towards Zhao Luo.


    "Yes, let''s keep it fair."


    Bu Xing answered Zhao Luo with a nod before starting the next round.


    ''He will never know that I will be looking down for the third time in a row.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he had already made up his mind on where he will be turning his head at.


    On the count of three, Zhao Luo turned his head down while looking at Bu Xing who was pointing his hand towards the right.


    ''Good.''


    Zhao Luo breathed in the relief he was feeling as he used his chance to destroy the fourth dragon piece.


    "Only one more win."


    Zhao Luo mumbled with a confident look on his face as he thought that his victory was inevitable.


    ''Hah.''


    Bu Xing looked down as he had lost yet another round and a glint shed in his eyes.


    "Let''s end this."


    Zhao Luo said to Bu Xing who looked unready for another round.


    Bu Xing nodded and counted to three once again.


    He pointed his hand down, while Zhao Luo had turned his head up, thus winning for the fifth time.


    ''Was this game specifically made for him? If it wasn''t for the old man, I would have lost.''


    Zhao Luo thought as originally the game would have been in his favor but because of Bu Xing''s Dao of Fortune, things had gone his way. But the end was what it should have been.


    The fifth piece on Bu Xing''s side was destroyed as Zhao Luo hurriedly used his chance.


    "So, is it over now?"


    Zhao Luo asked Bu Xing with a victorious smile on his face.


    "Yes. Now you will be moved to the second floor to take the tests of the Elder."


    "But don''t I get anything for winning this game?"


    Zhao Luo asked Bu Xing who had just told him that he will be going to the second floor.


    "Junior Zhao Luo, this was just a game to check some things about you. Even if I had been the one to win, you would have been sent to the second floor nheless."


    Bu Xing exined to Zhao Luo while Zhao Luo nodded as he kept on ncing upwards as the roof blocked his sight but the ones looking down from behind the wall were able to see him.


    "Don''t worry. For each of the pieces you have destroyed, you will be rewarded something. Also for winning the game."


    Bu Xing said to Zhao Luo, as he tried his best to take care of his junior.


    Zhao Luo looked at Bu Xing and smiled.


    ''He has a good character.''


    Zhao Luo thought while his eyes moved to the crowned dragon piece behind Bu Xing.


    "What would have happened if I had destroyed that?"


    Zhao Luo turned his eyes back on Bu Xing and while pointing at the 4-meter tall dragon, he asked him.


    "Nobody knows. Except for just one person."


    "One person?"


    Zhao Luo mumbled while wondering who that one person could be.


    "The First Elder."


    Bu Xing replied to him.


    On one hand, Bu Xing had answered him, while in his head the old man had returned.


    ''Good job.''


    The old man sounded tired, so much that even his voice wavered as it echoed in Zhao Luo''s head.


    "Thank you, master."


    Zhao Luo said to the old man.


    ''I am going back to my sleep. Take care of yourself.''


    The old man sounded eager to return to his sleep and Zhao Luo turned his focus back to Bu Xing who was looking at him weirdly.


    "Are you okay?"


    Bu Xing asked Zhao Luo while looking worried for him.


    "Mhmm."


    Zhao Luo nodded his head before finding himself being sucked in by a mysterious force.


    "Good Luck."


    Bu Xing said to Zhao Luo who was disappearing with a confused look on his face.


    The next instant Zhao Luo had disappeared from his ce leaving Bu Xing alone on the stage.


    "How was he?"


    A mysterious voice sounded out but it was only Bu Xing who could hear it.


    Bu Xing turned around and looked at the crowned dragon with the red wings.


    "I am not sure. But he is really different than the others, I have my eyes on."


    Bu Xing replied without opening his mouth.


    "Even the First has his eyes on this one. So will you be able to bring him on our side, when the time is right?"


    Another question followed by a little informationnded on Bu Xing''s ear.

 Chapter 283 - The Twin Elders

    "I will try. But it won''t be easy."


    Bu Xing said with a respectful tone.


    It seemed like the person he wasmunicating with didn''t seem ordinary as even Bu Xing who was on level six ''VI'' of bronze rank had to be careful while replying.


    "Hmm, you already how much the oldie cares for the First. And since the First has also ryed his interest in this kid to the oldie, so you better not disappoint him."


    "I will try my best so that master isn''t disappointed with me."


    Bu Xing bowed his head lightly after which all the pieces on the game board disintegrated slowly and then vanished altogether.


    Only Bu Xing stood there while the voice he was talking to had also left..


    Soon the lights of the room dimmed down and Bu Xing also left the room.


    -


    On the second floor of the test zone, Zhao Luo stood there with a confused look.


    He had suddenly been pulled here and the feeling he got was somewhat simr to getting teleported by the TPC but he couldn''t remember seeing a circle there.


    Zhao Luo had no idea who the First was or the one Bu Xing was talking to nor the ''oldie'' who was brought up during their exchange, he only knew that for now, he was standing in front of two elders who looked at him with wide eyes while striking their white beards that reached their knees.


    Both looked so simr to each other than anyone would think of them as twins. One was wearing a crimson robe that looked like a bright sun, while the other had a silver robe that seemed to be giving off the feeling of looking at the moon as Zhao Luo stared at him.


    ''Why do they both have such long beards?''


    Zhao Luo''s first thought was on their beard which was exactly the same shape and size.


    "We usually don''t meddle in the inner disciple''s tests, yet we are here. Can you guess why?"


    One of the two elders asked Zhao Luo.


    The one who talked was the one wearing the crimson robe and funnily the one wearing the silver robe had his eyes closed.


    ''Is this a test too?''


    Zhao Luo wondered while thinking of an answer.


    "Is it because you both are too old to do these kinds of stuff?"


    He answered them without filtering his thoughts and soon realized what he had done.


    Both elders red at Zhao Luo and he felt a strong pressure falling over him.


    Zhao Luo squinted his eyes.


    ''It''s like I''m staring into a sun and a moon at the same time.''


    Zhao Luo mumbled while feeling a burning sensation in his eyes.


    "Correct."


    Both Elders seemed to be in sync as they uttered one simple word thatpletely switched the situation.


    Everything seemed to have returned back to normal and Zhao Luo smiled.


    "There are many special cases in the inner hall. Just like the one who had tested you."


    ''I don''t think anyone could be more special than him though.''


    Zhao Luo wondered while the two elders spoke together like a broken record. Their voices stacked over one another resounded out in the room Zhao Luo was in, that was on the second floor.


    "We were the one who brought him here to test you since little dousan was filled with praises for his friend."


    "Who knew that his friend would be an exceptional character?"


    Zhao Luo nodded his head as the Elders seemed to be praising him and he couldn''t help but agree with their words.


    "But the question is, how were you able to win against someone, who could even defeat us in guessing?"


    The Elders question had ced Zhao Luo in a tight spot but he looked calmer than ever.


    "I have been extremely lucky at games for as long as I can remember. So winning this was nothing for me."


    Zhao Luo said with a proud face that screamed his words in front of the elders and they looked impressed by Zhao Luo. But then one of the Elder opened his mouth.


    "Then why did you lose four rounds?"


    "Keh."


    Zhao Luo who was smiling instantly choked on his saliva as he hurriedly thought of his next answer.


    "I wanted to know how good that Senior was."


    Zhao Luo told them while worrying that the two elders would see through his lies but to his surprise, they turned to each other.


    "See. I did tell you that he was a challenger."


    "No, that was me. Remember when I told you that he looks like someone who doesn''t fear challenges."


    Both argued as they had alreadymented on Zhao Luo while he was ying against Bu Xing.


    They turned back to Zhao Luo and this time they didn''t even hide the surprise they had towards how impressive he was.


    "Everyone else has to prove their strength by battling with a puppet whose strength is the same as a level one of a bronze rank disciple. Once they survive against it for ten minutes or defeat it, they will be an inner disciple. But you don''t have to do that."


    The elder wearing the crimson robe told Zhao Luo about the test that the other disciples were taking, while the Elder with the silver robe continued.


    "How about it? We are letting you pass as a reward and also this..."


    The elder brought out a small bag and threw it towards Zhao Luo.


    "There are hundred Xin coins inside it."


    "Nice right?"


    Both Elders took turns saying a line and looked at Zhao Luo with a satisfied look on their faces.


    Zhao Luo instantly stored the bag away and looked at the elders.


    "Elders, I have a request."


    Zhao Luo gave them a palm fist salute as he wanted to ask them something.


    "Hmm."


    "Go on."


    The elders looked intrigued.


    "I want to fight the puppet."


    Zhao Luo told them as he wanted to test his strength against the puppet.


    "Hahaha."


    The elder with the silver robeughed and brought his palm in front of the other Elder.

 Chapter 284 - Becoming An Inner Disciple

    The Elder with the crimson robe looked at the hand and made a groaning sound as he suddenly took a de out of nowhere and shed it towards his own neck.


    Zhao Luo was shocked at the turn of events while the elder with the silver robe smiled in joy just like how Zhao Luo had smiled when he had won the game against Bu Xing.


    ''Why is he smiling? Why did he sh his own neck?''


    Zhao Luo looked at the two with widened eyes as if he was staring at two kids.


    Surprisingly there was no blooding out of the elder who had shed the de towards his neck instead his beard was cut off from right below his chin and fell on the hand of the other elder who then stored it.


    "That was my 11111 win. Hah, now I am a win ahead of you."


    The elder with the silver robe said to the other one whose beard was no more.


    ''Were they betting on my actions? So if i had just gone with the flow and hadn''t challenged the puppet, then the other Elder would have won..''


    Zhao Luo realized that he was just a chip in the game between the two Elders.


    "Good job kid."


    The elder with the silver robe said to Zhao Luo while showing him a thumbs up.


    "Uh-huh, but elder what is with the 11111 wins?"


    Zhao Luo nodded and couldn''t help but questioned the elder who looked like he was in a good mood.


    "You are the first to question us."


    The elder who had just seemingly lost the game and also his beard, looked anger as he didn''t answer Zhao Luo.


    "Don''t be hard on him for your shortsightedness."


    The mood between the two seemed to have changed, as the one with the silver robe seemed to be scolding the other one.


    He then turned towards Zhao Luo and looked at him with a gentle smile.


    "We had been challenging each other for as long as we remember but in thest 60 years, we have challenged each other every day."


    ''Just how old are they?''


    Zhao Luo trembled as he listened to the story of the two elders who seemed to be the biggest rivals that he has ever seen.


    ''They have even surpassed Naruto- Sasuke, and Goku-Vegeta.''


    Zhao Luo remembered the biggest rivals that he had seen in his favorite animation when he was hospitalized but even they couldn''te close to the elders in front of him.


    "Sixty years ago, he wagered that the winner has to lose his beard. That time, he had lost. Then thirty yearster, he lost the same wager again. This was the third time and he even came up with a grand strategy which was ruined thanks to your challenging spirit."


    The elder looked incredibly contented with the new look that the other one had.


    "Then what about when does the winner normally get?"


    Zhao Luo''s interest was piqued as he wanted to know more about the two elders.


    "If it''s a tie, we act like twins. If one of us has more wins than the other then, he will the big brother while the other will be the little brother."


    "Right Big brother?"


    The elder with the crimson robe answered Zhao Luo.


    He seemed to have calmed down while talking to Zhao Luo.


    "Yep."


    The elder with the silver robe nodded.


    ''Interesting.''


    Zhao Luo felt touched by how the two had been challenging each other with such a simple reward for the winner for so long.


    "Get ready!"


    The elders told Zhao Luo as a puppet appeared in front of him.


    "The puppet will be as strong as someone on the level one ''I'' of the bronze rank."


    The elder warned Zhao Luo as the two Elders seemed to have bonded with Zhao Luo already.


    ''Nod.''


    Zhao Luo looked at the puppet that seemed to be a lifeless skeleton but soon there was a red shine that glowed where its eyes were supposed to be.


    "What is this eerie feeling?"


    Zhao Luo wondered as a cold feeling made him tremble and he brought out Ifrit from his storage space.


    "It''s a Bone puppet. Don''t worry and just do your best."


    One of the elders said to Zhao Luo.


    "This should be a piece of cake for him."


    The other elder said to the elder who was exining to Zhao Luo.


    In front of them, the bone puppet rushed at Zhao Luo with incredible speed.


    In less than a second, it was already swinging its sharp arm towards Zhao Luo.


    "Mini walk."


    Zhao Luo shed from his spot and appeared behind it while holding Ifrit with both of his hands, he brought it down on the puppet.


    ''sh.''


    A red light was left behind as the crimson de passed through the puppet''s body and split it into two.


    Zhao Luonded back on the floor with a disappointed look on his face.


    ''This was too easy.''


    Zhao Luo mumbled.


    Without realizing that it was only him that had it this easy, Zhao Luo felt cheated.


    ''I can''t test my limits with this.''


    He thought since he had never had a chance to go all out against someone except his apparitions after returning from doing the missions.


    "Elders, can I fight a stronger one?"


    Zhao Luo asked the two elders who shook their heads.


    "You have passed the test. Clearly, there is no need to challenge yourself further. Each level on the bronze rank is not only an increase in one''s strength but also their internal energy. The puppet you have faced just now just had the strength but not the internal energy, which should be your aim."


    The two elders talked together while looking at Zhao Luo.


    ''Ah, like the girl from the Qi Sect."


    Zhao Luo remembered the leader of the spies while listening to the exnation of the elders.


    Her attacks were indeed strong enough to hold back four of them, so Zhao Luo could somewhat guess why the elder emphasized chasing after the internal energy.


    "I understand."


    Zhao Luo bowed his head in front of the elders and the two nodded.


    One of the elders walked towards Zhao Luo and ced his hand on his chest, that is, right over his ck badge.


    The moment he removed his hand, Zhao Luo eximed.


    "A bronze badge."


    Zhao Luo looked down and found that the color of his badge had changed, same as his level.


    "You are now an inner disciple."


    The Elder informed Zhao Luo even though there was no way that Zhao Luo didn''t know of that.

 Chapter 285 - Getting Surrounded By The Three Groups

    Zhao Luo looked slightly happy but it onlysted for a while.


    ''This is just a stop. I still have a long way to go.''


    Zhao Luo murmured while staring at his bronze badge and listening to the words of the two elders.


    "Once you exit this room, you will be in the entrance zone of the inner hall. It is also called the Group Zone and believe me, you will find many lost cases chasing after you."


    The elder with the silver robe gave a heads up to Zhao Luo before the two elders vanished right before his eyes.


    "Ah, I couldn''t even say goodbye to them. But...."


    "What could he mean by saying that I will be chased?"


    Zhao Luo wondered who he will be chased by when he is simply entering the inner hall.


    In front of him, a door appeared right where the elders were standing before and a ck space with an endless depth could be seen as the door opened.


    Surprisingly, the space between the door was the same as the one outside the inner hall.


    ''Let''s go.''


    Zhao Luo entered the door without any hesitation and appeared on the other side.


    "So this is the entrance zone."


    Zhao Luo who had seen many extraordinary things till now was surprised once again as he looked around the gigantic zone and the number of inner disciples that were present here.


    ''Are all the disciples of the inner hall here?''


    Zhao Luo wondered as his eyes fell on some familiar faces.


    These disciples were the ones who hade to spectate the outer disciples ranking tournament.


    "Little Brother."


    Just then Zhao Luo heard a voice and instantly knew who it belonged to even before he turned towards the direction where the voice had reached him.


    "Senior."


    Zhao Luo turned around with a smile and all of his brother disciples were with Senior Cutie and they were all walking towards Zhao Luo.


    "What took you so long?"


    Xiao Yu questioned Zhao Luo with a curious look.


    "Did I really take that long?"


    Zhao Luo was also interested in knowing how long it had taken for the others to clear their tests.


    "Little Brother, I had arrived here twenty minutes ago and Brother Xiao Yu was already here."


    Senior Cutie told Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo had entered the inner hall around 30 minutes ago, which was almost the same for the others too.


    "How long did you fight the puppet?"


    ''Did he take less time than me?''


    Zhao Luo questioned Xiao Yu while thinking ofparing his single sh with Xiao Yu''s time.


    "I destroyed it with a single palm."


    Xiao Yu said confidently as though no one else could have broken his record, especially not Zhao Luo who had taken so long.


    But how could they that he had to y a game as a source of entertainment for the two elders, that too against a senior who was a one in a million case.


    Zhao Luo simply nodded his head at Xiao Yu''s answer after which his eyes seemed to be longing for something as he gazed around.


    "Little Brother, are you looking for your love?"


    Senior Cutie had a grin on his face as the surprised expression on Zhao Luo''s face confirmed that he had hit the spot.


    "Umm, where is she?"


    Zhao Luo didn''t deny it and instead asked about her since she wasn''t with them.


    "She was taken away."


    Feng Ma told Zhao Luo while barely standing straight.


    "Taken away?"


    Zhao Luo heard Feng Ma''s words and was angered. These words were the triggers that made him remember the sight he had seen after entering the test room.


    ''Mo Suo.''


    Zhao Luo mumbled awhile thinking that it may be his doing.


    ''He must have taken her away.''


    Zhao Luo clenched his fist as his eyes trembled with anger.


    "Calm down, little brother."


    Senior Cutie patted Zhao Luo''s shoulder and red at Feng Ma.


    "Stop drinking."


    Senior Cutie looked like he was scolding him but Feng Ma who was extremely drunk at the moment couldn''t resist taking another sip from his wine sk.


    While looking at Feng Ma continuing drinking, Senior Cutie shook his head and turned to Zhao Luo.


    "She has already joined a female-only group and has already left with them."


    "A Group?"


    Zhao Luo who initially couldn''t understand Senior Cutie''s words suddenly calmed down as he remembered the words of the elder.


    ''He did say that the entrance zone is called the Group Zone.''


    Zhao Luo tried to stay calm while listening to Senior Cutie''s words.


    "There are four groups in the inner hall. Little sister has joined one of them, and already left with them."


    Senior Cutie exined to Zhao Luo and the earlier misunderstanding finally cleared.


    Zhao Luo looked at Feng Ma whose unusual words were the reason behind his earlier aggression and tried to snatch the wine sk in Feng Ma''s hand.


    Zhao Luo in no way was slow, but Feng Ma who waspletely drunk twirled around like a leaf and dodged his hand.


    "Gulp, Gulp."


    Feng Ma took two more mouthfuls of wine and then nced at Zhao Luo with shaky eyes.


    "B-Brother, Are you after my wine too?"


    Feng Ma asked Zhao Luo while Zhao Luo could onlyugh awkwardly.


    ''It seems like everyone has gotten stronger.''


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he stared at Feng Ma before moving his eyes on Si Chen who had his eyes closed.


    ''He must be going over his fight against the puppet.''


    Zhao Luo thought and found that Pi Hao had his eyes closed too.


    "Little Brother, look."


    Senior Cutie called out Zhao Luo while pointing his head towards the right.


    Zhao Luo followed his gaze and realized that a group wasing towards them.


    But even before he could make anything out by watching them advance towards him, two more groups wereing towards him.


    Soon, three groups were gathered around them.


    Si Chen and Pi Hao had also moved beside Zhao Luo and Senior Cutie.


    Feng Ma was still wobbling on his feet even after more than twenty people had surrounded them.


    ''Tsk.''


    Xiao Yu clicked his tongue as he lowered his body and sped his palms.


    Zhao Luo felt troubled since he hadn''t even realized till he and the others had already been surrounded by this many disciples who to him seemed like one big group.


    But if one looked closely they would realize that the disciple who had surrounded them could be differentiated.


    Zhao Luo looked around them and realized that each and every one of the disciples was at least at level four ''IV'' of bronze rank.


    ''What is up with the color over their badges?''


    Zhao Luo wondered as the moment he had looked around to see who he was dealing with and how strong they were, he found out that each of the disciples had a colored stripe attached over their bronze badge.


    The group of disciples in front of him had a red stripe over their badges, the ones on the right had a blue color on their badge, while the ones on the left had a green stripe over their badge.


    The six disciples with the red stripe over their badges, who were in the front suddenly parted into two subgroups as they made some way between them to walk towards Zhao Luo.


    "So you are Zhao Luo."


    A man walked towards them.


    He was not only the most handsome one of this red stripe group but also the strongest one.


    ''A level eight.''


    Zhao Luo mumbled while looking at the badge on his chest.


    A bronze badge with five marks ''VIII'' shined as he made his way towards Feng Ma.


    "Indeed someone with such ssy moves can be famous as the friend of the second elder."


    The level eight disciple who seemed to look like the leader of the red group grabbed Feng Ma''s hand before shaking it gently.


    Even though there was a seven level difference between the two, the senior still showed respect to Feng Ma who was nodding his head, every time his hand would go down.


    The greeting came to a point where Feng Ma''s almost stumbled left and then continued his drunk dance as his body fell towards the right, all this happened while his hand was still in the level eight disciples'' hand.


    "Oh, these must be the moves that brought you victory in yourst fight."


    The disciple looked excited as he tried reading where Feng Ma would move towards next.


    Zhao Luo and the others looked at this disciple with a smile on their faces.


    He had clearly mistaken Feng Ma for Zhao Luo and was trying to praise whatever he could while eng Ma was just moving around while being a drunkard.


    "Who are you senior?"


    Zhao Luo looked at the man and asked politely.


    "Who gave you permission to speak against the great one of the red group."


    The disciples behind him shouted at Zhao Luo as if they were privileged to show him his ce for speaking out of turns here.

 Chapter 286 - Yuu Mi, The Maiden

    Their leader, the level eight bronze rank disciple raised his hand to stop them from shouting at Zhao Luo and showed a gentle smile.


    He turned around to look at his sixckeys.


    "To earn respect, you must show them respect. They are our juniors so we should treat them like that. So don''t shout at them instead answer them politely."


    The leading disciple of the red group went off loudly even though it seemed like he was reprimanding his subordinates for shouting at Zhao Luo.


    Once again turning back to look at Feng Ma, who he had mistaken as Zhao Luo, the disciple introduced himself.


    "I am Wang Redo, the leader of the Burning Pheonix group. And these are your seniors who are also being to the burning phoenix group. I am here to invite you to my group.."


    "hmm"


    Feng Ma wondered about how he should reply to this senior who was proudly announcing his name and the group he was leading and nced at Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo wanted to watch more of this so he kept quiet.


    For some reason, none of the ones with the red stripes who belonged to the burning phoenix group knew who Zhao Luo actually was thus they kept on asking Feng Ma for the time being.


    The disciples with the blue and green stripes at the left and right stayed quiet as they had grins hanging on their faces.


    Zhao Luo looked at them and realized that the ones on the sides knew what was going on but they had chosen to watch Wang Redo make fun of himself.


    But there was another reason why they had stayed silent while wAng Redo talked about his group.


    Their group''s leaders weren''t here yet thus even if the disciples who had blue and green stripesbined their strength, they wouldn''t be able to take down Wang Redo alone, thus they waited.


    Zhao Luo looked at their choice and signaled Feng Ma.


    Feng Ma took a short sip of wine to show hisposure even when surrounded by so many seniors which impressed Wang Redo so much that he had decided to take him in his group.


    "I want to say something."


    Feng Ma mumbled slowly while stuttering that showed how drunk he was by now but even this impressed Wang Redo.


    ''What an amazing junior. I must have him. Truly, Second Elder''s friend can''t be ordinary.''


    "Go on."


    Wang Redo told Feng Ma.


    "I am not Brother."


    Feng Ma who was drunk said in the simplest way while pointing his sk at Zhao Luo.


    "I see. I already knew that. You are not him. And he can never be you. Thus is the difference between a genius and someone ordinary."


    Wang Redo nodded while speaking words of great importance while Zhao Luo and the others could barely hold back hisughter.


    "You think, my brother isn''t a genius?"


    Feng Ma was angered as he heard Wang Redo''s words that were clearly hurting his pride too since he cared a lot about Zhao Luo.


    ''He must have a strong bond with his brothers. What a great guy.''


    Wang Redo was even more sure of the fact that this angry drunkard in front of him was Zhao Luo.


    "No, I never meant to degrade your brother. But you are on another level."


    Wang Redo corrected his words but the next dialogue by Feng Ma shocked him.


    "How can I be on another level, when Brother is the King of Outer Hall?"


    Feng Ma said to Wang Redo while bringing his wine sk to his lips as he started indulging himself with the fragrance of the wine instead of just drinking it.


    ''Pat.''


    "You did good, now let me talk."


    Zhao Luo whispered to Feng Ma who had been acting as his spokesperson till now and stepped forward to deal with these disciples who had surrounded them simply because they wanted him to join their group.


    ''So all this time...''


    Wang Redo looked like he had lost a year of his life as he looked at Zhao Luo who was smiling at him and the disciples behind him.


    "Greetings Seniors. I am Zhao Luo."


    Zhao Luo said to them as he slowly bowed his head.


    Looking at the smile on Zhao Luo''s handsome face Wang Redo felt betrayed.


    ''Why did he had to be Zhao Luo? Why?''


    He was trying to me this on someone and who was better than the one who had stayed quiet.


    "Why didn''t you correct me sooner?"


    Wang Redo looked slightly angered as he questioned Zhao Luo.


    His nice-guy persona was nowhere to be seen and now he just wanted to get away from this ce.


    He looked around while questioning Zhao Luo and found the snickering of the other two groups.


    ''These bastards.''


    Just like the name of the group Wang Redo burned in anger and right then Zhao Luo''s answer came to him.


    "I would have if the seniors behind you hadn''t shouted at me."


    Under Zhao Luo''s silver hair, his eyes trembled as he stared directly at the ones behind Wang Redo.


    "I see."


    Wang Redo nced back and red at the sixckeys and nodded his head, that is, sending them a ''something''s waiting for you all when we get back'' message.


    "So what do you think about joining our gro-"


    "Hold your horses."


    A melodious voice caused Zhao Luo and the others to get goosebumps as it entered their ears and they instantly looked at the disciple who had spoken just now.


    A female disciple was making their way towards them and watching hering towards them all three groups looked baffled.


    "It''s her."


    "Yuu Mi the Maiden."


    Zhao Luo could hear the murmurs of the disciples around him as his eyes were stuck on the female disciple.


    "Why are you here, Yuu Mi?"


    Wang Redo questioned her.


    "You have no reason to be here. Your group only epts female disciples so why?"


    Wang Redo looked annoyed as he asked the female disciple who was named Yuu Mi.


    "I am here for the same reason as you."


    Yuu Mi looked at Zhao Luo and smiled.

 Chapter 287 - [Bonus ] The Invitations By The Seniors

    Yuu Mi was small and as she walked towards them, she looked like a cat but nobody underestimated her.


    Her cuteness was too much, just like her melodious voice but no one messed with her.


    It was simply because under the white stripe on top of her badge was her level.


    Another level eight disciple was here to recruit Zhao Luo.


    "She is the one who Sister Anna has left with."


    Xiao Yu told Zhao Luo which caused Zhao Luo to pay more attention to this senior and her words.


    "Don''t tell me you are really here to recruit him?"


    Wang Redo couldn''t believe what he was seeing here..


    While Zhao Luo was interested in the two.


    But before anything could go on, two more disciples joined them.


    Both were level eight just like Wang Redo and Yuu Mi.


    One joined with the disciples with the green stripes on the left and the other went towards the disciples with the green stripes on the right.


    "This has never happened before."


    The four looked at each other and Wang Redo said while ncing at them.


    "If you hadn''te, then we wouldn''t be here either."


    The leader of the disciples with the green stripe over their badge said to Wang Redo.


    "Let him decide then."


    Wang Redo looked at Zhao Luo just like the others.


    ''I don''t even know why there are groups here. Let''s not let them know that."


    Zhao Luo looked turned around and looked at Senior Cutie, Xiao Yu, Si Chen, Pi Hao, and Feng Ma.


    "Let''s gather information about these groups first before deciding. What do you all think?"


    Zhao Luo told them his idea and all of them pondered over his words for a few seconds.


    "That would be the best. Instead of asking them now, we can meet other disciples and get information from them."


    Xiao Yu added as he looked around and found the four leading seniors staring at them with squinted eyes.


    "Little Brother is right."


    Senior Cutie was also in favor of Zhao Luo and Xiao Yu''s words.


    "We will follow brother''s decision."


    Si Chen and Feng Ma didn''t care much as they had already decided to follow Zhao Luo.


    All of them looked at Pi Hao who had yet to share his thoughts.


    "I want to join her group."


    Pi Hao who had always been Senior Cutie''s follower pointed at the Female Senior while blushing like a stupid fool.


    ''As if that would ever happen.''


    Zhao Luo grinned and turned around.


    "Seniors."


    Zhao Luo greeted the three leaders, as he had already been talking to Wang Redo, so there was no need to greet him again.


    "We all would like to take a day before making our decision."


    He told them and none of the seniors objected to his answer. But even if they didn''t, their subordinates looked angered and disappointed with Zhao Luo.


    The level eight bronze rank disciple with the green stripe over his badge walked forward and grabbed Zhao Luo''s hand.


    "You cane to me, after making your decision and I can promise you that I, Xin Gareen, will not disappoint you."


    The leader of the disciples with the green stripes shook his hand and left right after leaving his words with Zhao Luo.


    But it was;t only Zhao Luo that he was looming at, as his eyes went over everyone as if he was scanning them.


    One group left, two groups were left along with the Yuu Mi.


    Wang Redo walked forward and looked at Zhao Luo for a minute.


    A whole minute, it was only the two staring at each other while nobody disturbed this face-off between a senior and a junior.


    ''What is he looking at?''


    Zhao Luo wondered as he felt weird as Wang Redo wasn''t saying anything and silence was something that was harder to bear in such a situation.


    ''Why is he so handsome?''


    Wang Redo thought that was the only thing that didn''t sit right with him except the fact that he had been ignoring Zhao Luo while confusing Feng Ma and him.


    "Ahem. So, remember to tell me your decision tomorrow."


    Wang Redo said to Zhao Luo before leaving with his six subordinates.


    Only two of the seniors were left while one was with a group.


    Yuu Mi was the first of the two to approach them.


    "You can stop staring at me."


    Even though she was short, there was no doubt that she could smash them right here.


    Her melodious voice contained a hint of anger as she told Pi Hao who was gazing at her absentmindedly.


    "Ah."


    Pi Hao instantly looked away while Yuu Mi looked at Zhao Luo.


    "Even though there are no male disciples in my group, but since someone special has made a special request for you, only you can be the first andst male disciple in our group."


    Yuu Mi told Zhao Luo in a very enticing way.


    ''A harem.''


    Zhao Luo mumbled while listening to her offer.


    Zhao Luo was already imagining the future where he would be surrounded by all the beauties of the inner hall. He didn''t forget Mo Anna at all. In his imagination, she was there too.


    "Little Brother."


    A beautiful voice entered his ear, burying Zhao Luo deeper in his imagination.


    He could already see a senior sister calling him out.


    "Wipe off your drool. Fhooo~"


    Senior Cutie blew in Zhao Luo''s ear with a grin on his face.


    "Disgusting."


    Yuu Mi said while looking at the two and feeling disappointed in Zhao Luo as she also departed from there.


    Both Zhao Luo and Senior Cutie looked at her receding back with widened eyes.


    "Because of you, she....she..."


    Senior Cutie looked at Zhao Luo and tried toin. He was only trying to mess around with Zhao Luo just as he would do all the time but who knew that this female senior of theirs would find it so untasteful.


    "Hahaha."


    Right then all of them heard a merryugh and turned around.

 Chapter 288 - The Changed Prince Of The Mo Family

    The oneughing was the senior with the blue stripe over his level eight bronze badge.


    He looked at Zhao Luo and Senior Cutie in a funny way.


    "I like you two."


    The senior confessed to them in a very serious manner.


    Zhao Luo trembled since Senior Cutie was already a handful for him.


    ''I don''t want to be around another one like him.''


    Zhao Luoined while barely holding back his scream.


    "Senior, I wo-".


    "I know. I won''t make any empty promises to you or the others. But whoever joins my group gets treated fairly no matter the odds."


    The senior told Zhao Luo and the others with a smile.


    ''He is different.''


    Zhao Luo thought as he looked at the Senior who gave off a different feeling than the other three.


    "Senior Balue."


    A familiar voice was heard and the senior who was standing in front of Zhao Luo and the others turned towards the direction of the voice.


    Zhao Luo and his brother''s disciples were the same too. They knew who the voice belonged to.


    An aggressive look appeared on Zhao Luo''s face as he red at the golden-haired disciple walking towards them.


    "Mo Suo."


    Zhao Luo shouted at him but before he could move towards him, Senior Cutie held him back.


    "Big Bean is with him too."


    Senior Cutie told Zhao Luo but how could Zhao Luo miss that.


    Big Bean was walking beside Mo Suo too as he made his way towards them along with him.


    "Greetings."


    Mo Suo bowed his head as he looked towards them.


    His arrogance had vanished into thin air after the beating Zhao Luo had given him.


    "Big Bean, wee back."


    Si Chen and even the drunk Feng Ma were d to see Big Bean.


    "Why are you with him?"


    Senior Cutie asked Big Bean.


    It was clear that there was animosity between the two, Big Bean and Mo Suo since Big Bean had asked Zhao Luo and the others to save Little Bean.


    But, now after disappearing for two days, he was with Mo Suo, which didn''t sit right with the others.


    "Did he threaten you?"


    Zhao Luo directly questioned Big Bean without twisting his words. He didn''t care about giving face to Mo Suo or the Royal Mo Family.


    "It''s not like that. He...Brother Mo Suo has changed. He was actually helping Little Bean without me knowing. Not only that, but he has also freed her. She doesn''t have to work for the Mo Family anymore."


    Big Bean told Zhao Luo but Senior Cutie, Feng Ma, and Si Chen were also listening to it closely.


    Pi Hao was the only one who didn''t know where their grudge with Mo Suo wasing from so he kept quiet.


    ''It wasn''t Mo Suo who changed but Big Bean learned the truth just now. But what about the assassins?''


    Zhao Luo wondered as he looked at Mo Suo as he tried to see through him but there was nothing on Mo Suo''s expressionless face.


    Zhao Luo took a few steps towards Mo Suo and brought his face closer to him.


    "What about the guards?"


    Zhao Luo questioned him while whispering into his ears.


    "What guards?"


    Mo Suo''s expression changed as bewilderment covered his face and with raised brows, he questioned Zhao Luo.


    ''So, he doesn''t know. Or, is he pretending to not know?''


    Zhao Luo still couldn''tpletely believe the fact that Mo Suo who wanted to kill him in theirst fight, had changed over two nights.


    ''But if Big Bean is also saying it then I can let it go.''


    Zhao Luo looked at Mo Suo right in his eyes and knew that he had some questions.


    ''He may really not know about the guards sent after me.''


    "It''s okay. I won''t pursue the matter anymore."


    Zhao Luo patted Mo Suo''s shoulder while saying.


    ''Tap.''


    Mo Suo instantly grabbed his arm and pushed it away.


    "I am the one who lost. Not you. We have nothing to do with each other anymore."


    Mo Suo said to Zhao Luo before moving on to the Senior who had been enjoying this exchange between Zhao Luo and Mo Suo.


    "What can I, Chi Balue help the third prince with?"


    The level eight bronze rank senior of thisst group was none other than Chi Balue who was one of the most famous disciples of the inner hall.


    "Senior, I would like to join your group!"


    Mo Suo told Chi Balue whose eyes widened as if he was going to jump like a frog any instant now.


    "You want to join Deep Sea Group? Why?"


    Chi Balue was stupefied for some reason so he questioned Mo Suo who looked determined to join his group right away.


    "I can only get what I want in your ''Deep Sea Group'' so please let me join."


    The once arrogant ex-king of the outer hall was literally a ''no'' away from going on his knees.


    This shocked not only Zhao Luo but also the others as they looked at Mo Suo who seemed like a different person altogether.


    "If you say so."


    Chi Balue took out a blue stripe and attached it over Mo Suo''s level one bronze badge.


    "Wee to our Deep Sea Group, Junior."


    The disciples behind Chi Balue said to Mo Suo in a loud voice and he nodded at them before giving a fist palm salute.


    Chi Balue moved past Mo Suo and walked to Zhao Luo.


    "Think about it, Junior Brother."


    Chi Balue left these words with Zhao Luo before leaving with his subordinates.


    "Take care, Big Bean."


    Mo Suo said his farewell to Big Bean before ncing at Zhao Luo as he joined Chi Balue and left.


    "Let''s go."


    Zhao Luo said to them as he also turned around.


    As Zhao Luo walked towards the inner part of the entrance zone, he looked around and found many seniors at different levels.


    ''This is the best ce to get information.''


    Zhao Luo decided as this would be the start of their n.

 Chapter 289 - [Bonus ] The Four Groups Of The Inner Hall

    "We should divide into groups of two and meet at the end of the entrance zone."


    "Obviously, after collecting information about the groups."


    Zhao Luo turned around and told them.


    "Feng Ma and Si Chen, you will ask around about the ones with the red stripe, The Burning phoenix group."


    Zhao Luo told them as they left the group and went around with the task at hand.


    "Pi Hao and Xiao Yu, you both can find out about the group of Senior Yuu Mi."


    Zhao Luo told them, even though except him no one else was invited to the group by her, but still knowing about her group was a must.


    ''Since she is in it..''


    Zhao Luo couldn''t help but think about Rose for a second while Pi Hao and Xiao Yu went around asking about the group with the white stripe from other disciples.


    "We will go and ask about Senior Xin Gareen and his group."


    Senior Cutie looked at Zhao Luo and told him as he pointed at himself and Big Bean.


    "Okay."


    Zhao Luo looked away as he was thest one left.


    He went around the entrance zone talking with the seniors one by one.


    After half an hour, the seven were gathered at the end of the entrance zone, where a door was present.


    They were exchanging information that was almost the same no matter who was telling about it.


    "So, there are four groups in the inner hall."


    Zhao Luo said to them and Si Chen continued after him.


    "The Burning Phoenix Group which is led by the Senior Wang Redo. The Senior is infamous for his anger against his enemies and how much he cares for juniors."


    There were other rumors too but Si Chen only kept the relevant information as he told about the group he was told to gather the information about.


    "The Deep Sea Group which Mo Suo had joined earlier is the one with the most disciples out of the four groups. The leader of the group is none other than Senior Chi Balue who is also pretty famous in the inner hall as one of the two geniuses of the inner hall."


    Zhao Luo told them about what he found about the group with the blue stripes but unexpectedly there was another shocking thing that he had found out.


    There was a big reason behind Chi Balue''s fame.


    "Senio Chi Balue is the only one who has had a victory over the other genius of the inner hall. While also losing to him three times in the four battles that he had against this Senior."


    Zhao Luo exined to them as he could barely hide his smile when he mentioned the other genius.


    "Who is this other genius?"


    Senior Cutie asked Zhao Luo as he also looked interested in this Senior who could force his Little Brother to smile so brightly.


    "Senior Sang."


    Zhao Luo slowly told them the name of the other genius who was none other than Brother Sang.


    After Zhao Luo, it was Senior Cutie''s turn to tell them about the group with the green stripe.


    "Senior Xin Gareen has the strongest defense among the level, eight inner disciples, as he leads the group which has the second most number of disciples in it. The group is called Forest Tortoise Group."


    "Just like the name of the group."


    Zhao Luomented as the name had tortoise in it but he had yet to know the real reason behind the group''s name.


    Zhao Luo looked at Xiao Yu and Pi Hao. He couldn''t help but frown as he looked at the sulking expression on the face of Pi Hao.


    "What happened?"


    Zhao Luo asked Pi Hao while patting his shoulder but instead of getting an answer he simply shook his head.


    Xiao Yu took a step forward and nced at Pi Hao before telling them his findings.


    "The three groups have a few female disciples too but Senior Yuu Mi only epts female disciples in her group so there aren''t any male disciples in her group, the Flying Horse Group."


    Xiao Yu told them but Zhao Luo was still focused on the depressed expression on Pi Hao''s face.


    "But what happened to him?"


    Zhao Luo questioned Xiao Yu since Pi Hao looked reluctant to answer it.


    "It''s because of you. Telling us to ask about Senior Yuu Mi and her group."


    "Huh?"


    Zhao Luo was confused by Xiao Yu''s words.


    "First we asked from the male senior disciples about her but as if they were enchanted by her, they only had praises or Senior Yuu Mi. Then we both had decided to question only the female senior disciples about her."


    Xiao Yu clicked his tongue as he reached this part.


    "Then what?"


    Everyone looked curious to know what had happened to them next that caused Pi Hao to look so devastatingly sad.


    "When we both approached the girls, they would ignore me and only talk with Brother Xiao Yu."


    Pi Hao told them as tears filled his eyes and he hardly controlled himself from crying out.


    ''That was it.''


    Zhao Luo who already had someone thought that it wasn''t a big deal but the ones around him moved forward and hugged Pi Hao one by one.


    Si Chen was the first one along with Feng Ma who both had been watching Zhao Luo and Mo Anna from the start.


    Even Big Bean was wiping off his single tear that had missed everyone''s attention.


    "Ahem."


    Zhao Luo cleared his throat since it wasn''t a big deal, he was signaling Xiao Yu to continue.


    "Senior Yuu Mi is one of the strongest female disciples in the inner hall. But her movement technique is unmatched amongst the inner disciples. Even though her strength isn''t at that level but her speed matches Senior Chi Balue and Senior Sang."


    Xiao Yu continue and ended there while everyone turned their eyes on Zhao Luo.


    "There are three reasons why the four groups were made."


    Zhao Luo told them and everyone looked focused.

 Chapter 290 - The Famous Senior Sang

    Zhao Luo had three of his fingers opened up as he started telling them the three reasons behind the formation of these four groups. The truth was, these reasons were just spections made by the inner disciples who had been in the groups for more than a year.


    "The four seniors had actually made a single group initially to gather the students who weren''t rted to the Royal families. The group was quite popr after it was formed three years ago since the name was also quite catchy. They used to call it, The Camaraderie."


    Zhao Luo said to them since the members of the royal families already had many subordinates so it was hard to face them without getting pressured by their numbers.


    "So, that was the first reason which alternately gave birth to the four groupster on."


    Zhao Luo closed his index finger leaving his middle and ring fingers open.


    "But why did they go their separate ways?"


    Pi Hao asked Zhao Luo since there must be something that had caused them to drift apart..


    "That is because of the second reason. All four of them want to win over the other thus their first group fell apart and now the third reason is connected to the group''s names."


    Zhao Luo said to them as he closed his index finger since only thest reason was left, thus he kept his middle finger opened right in front of them.


    No one minded that since the discussion was quite serious but the inner disciples passing them wouldugh at Zhao Luo and the others since to them it seemed pretty inappropriate and funny.


    "The group names are indeed weird."


    "Maybe they fought against each other since they couldn''t help but make fun of the names they hade up with."


    Si Chen and Feng Ma guessed the third reason which seemed fairly true but Zhao Luo shook his head.


    "That did happen. But that wasn''t the third reason."


    Zhao Luo said with an excited voice.


    "There are many ''internal energy cultivation manuals'' in the inner hall that we can learn but the four most famous are, The Deep Sea Manual, The Forst Tortoise Manual, The Burning Phoenix Manual, and The Flying Horse Manual."


    Zhao Luo told them the names of the four famous manuals which were exactly the same as the names of the groups. He finally closed his middle finger too which allowed the other to let out a longsting sigh of relief.


    Zhao Luo still continued since there was still more to know about the inner hall than just the groups and their leaders.


    "The first group was popr so many disciples had joined them but now joining one of the groups has be a norm."


    It was indeed so, that is also the reason behind Chi Balue''s fame and the reason why his group had the most inner disciples in it.


    "Though, there are still many disciples who are not in any of the group, like the strongest inner disciple, Senior Sang, and the members of the Royal Families."


    Zhao Luo looked at Feng Ma since he would know better about that than him.


    ''Nod.''


    Fend Ma nodded at Zhao Luo''s words and Zhao Luo continued.


    ''So he doesn''t want to talk about it.''


    "Since we still have a day to make our decision, let''s learn about the four internal energy cultivation manuals and also the other manuals too."


    Zhao Luo told them before turning around and everyone also looked ready to move to the next zone of the inner hall.


    Till now they had only been in the test zone and the entrance zone.


    "What''s the next zone?"


    Zhao Luo questioned since, unlike the outer hall''s zones which were separated right at the entrance zone and were distinguishable by their color, there was no such thing in the inner hall.


    It was simply door to door if someone wanted to move to the other zone of the inner hall.


    "I don''t know."


    Si Chen answered since he had no idea neither had he asked anyone.


    The others also shook their head as they all were like Zhao Luo, unaware of the zone that was right behind the door.


    "Well, we will know once we pass it."


    Zhao Luo turned towards the only door that was at this end as he told the others.


    The seven moved towards the door and they weren''t the only ones there. There were many inner disciples who were going to the next zone but most of them were not new here.


    The other disciples who had entered the inner hall along with them had already joined a group just like Mo Anna and Mo Suo and weren''t in the entrance zone either.


    Without waiting any further, Zhao Luo stepped in towards the door whose dark space seemed like a portal to some demonic dimension.


    "Let''s go."


    Zhao Luo said to them before walking in the door.


    ''Whoosh.''


    The next instant, the seven stumbled as they had appeared in a new ce inside the inner hall.


    "Is this th-"


    "So you are here, Brother Zhao Luo."


    A hoarse and heavy voice reached them which had cut off Zhao Luo''s amazement into pieces.


    "No way."


    Zhao Luo looked at the disciple who was talking to them and tookrge steps towards him.


    "Brother Sang."


    Zhao Luo mumbled as he stood face to face with the person who had promised to serve him with all his heart.


    The progeny of Takuma, Brother Sang.


    The owner of the biggest merchant group of the Xin Range, the Sang-Sang merchants.


    "You are quite famous here, Brother Sang."


    Zhao Luo said with a teasing tone since the two shared a rtion that surpassed time itself.


    Zhao Luo was someone who belonged to his great grandfather''s generation.


    "Hahahaha. That wouldn''tst long since you are here."


    Brother Sang couldn''t help butugh his heart out after seeing Zhao Luo here.


    Zhao Luo and Brother Sand smiled as they talked to each other while the others had stupefied looks on their faces.


    They all slowly and politely approached Zhao Luo and nced at Brother Sang.


    "He is really a level eight."


    Senior Cutie mumbled while the others shared the same surprised sentiments.


    "Just what is Zhao Luo''s identity that even the Senior hailed as the strongest inner disciple is showing respect to him?"


    Xiao Yu questioned himself but others also nodded since even Feng Ma knew about Brother Sang but he couldn''t say the opposite.


    "There are very few juniors who are known by Senior Sang."


    Si Chen suddenly told the others as his head was tilted at a perfect angle as he showed a prideful look to them.


    "Only the extremely talented juniors are known by him. Juniors who are unmatched."


    Since it was clear that Senior Sang knew of Zhao Luo who was indeed unmatched by his peers so they didn''t doubt Si Chen''s words.


    "Does he know about me too?"


    Senior Cutie asked Si Chen since it seemed like he knew the answer.


    "Senior Cutie, I don''t know about that. But I know the other junior that Senior Sang knows about."


    Senior Cutie looked disappointed for a moment but still had hope that such an amazing Senior may know about him.


    ''Just who is this junior?''


    All of them thought about it since they all had a chance to be that junior and they may just be treated like Zhao Luo if that was the case.


    But only Si Chen knew who it was as he moved towards Senior Sang.


    "Brother Sang."


    Si Chen bowed his head as he moved forward.


    "Oh, Si Chen you are here too."


    Brother Sangughed as he grabbed his shoulder right in front of everyone''s eyes.


    Si Chen was surprised by Brother Sang''s reaction but he also felt d that he still remembered him.


    Si Chen looked around and smiled at the envious gazes o others especially Feng Ma who was already taking out his wine sk.


    Zhao Luo was smiling since only he knew why Brother Sang was overacting and soon Si Chen also found about the reason behind the reason why Brother Sang had grabbed his shoulders.


    Brother Sang moved closer to Si Chen.


    "So Brother Zhao Luo was your cousin."


    Even though Brother Sang already knew the truth since their first meeting he still teased Si Chen about it before leaving him in a state of shock before letting him go.


    "Hahaha, so these are you brothers."


    Brother Sang looked at Senior Cutie seriously. Then his eyes moved to Xiao Yu, Feng Ma, Pi Hao, and finallynded on Big Bean.


    "He looks like a big bean."


    Everyone stumbled as Brother Sangmented on Big Bean.


    "Senior Sang."


    All of them greeted Brother Sang but heard him sighing.


    "Call me Brother Sang. Since you all are Zhao Luo''s brothers."


    Brother Sang told them while calling Zhao Luo without any title.


    This was what the two had decided before Si Chen came up to Brother Sang so Zhao Luo doesn''t get the attention of others.


    "So what is this zone?"


    While the others looked excited, Zhao Luo questioned Brother Sang while looking around the ce they were in.

 Chapter 291 - Amogus, The Lecture Hall

    Listening to Zhao Luo''s question which he had asked Senior Cutie, everyone present there also looked around.


    Right when they had entered this zone after passing through the door, their attention had shifted to Senior Cutie who was already waiting for Zhao Luo there.


    But now, their attention finally shifted to the zone of the inner hall, they were currently in.


    "Hmmm."


    Brother Sang seemed to be lost in his thought as he wondered about what to call this zone since the third zone didn''t have a name.


    "There is no name for this zone since all the disciples call it The Inner Hall''s City."


    Brother Sang answered Zhao Luo which also enlightened the others.


    "Interesting.."


    Zhao Luo mumbled since he had already realized for things to be so.


    A little further away there were numerous buildings that had circr structures.


    Each building had a golden que at the entrance of each building which had shiny words carved on it.


    Brother Sang looked at the buildings before turning back to Zhao Luo and the others.


    "Do you know what happens after an inner disciple reaches the ninth level ''?'' of Bronze rank?"


    Brother Sang asked them while pointing towards his badge.


    "Th-"


    Si Chen who had just opened his mouth to guess the answer was interrupted instant.


    "Obviously, you all don''t. So, I will tell you about it."


    Si Chen nodded his head at Brother Sang''s words while Zhao Luo smiled.


    ''He hasn''t changed.''


    Zhao Luo thought while looking at Brother Sang who was telling them about their near future.


    "If they are talented and geniuses, one of the ten elders can take them as their direct disciple. If they are average, then they are advanced to a junior elder. Some stay with that title for the rest of their life since they are unable to cross the middle boundary of silver rank. Those who go beyond it are called Senior Elders. But even though have the title of an elder, many of them are still the disciples of one of the Ten Elders."


    Brother Sang told them the hierarchy of the disciples after they surpass the bronze rank and many of them wondered where they would end up.


    "Then there are those who can enter the gold rank, like the ten elders and the Sect Leader. But till now nobody knows how many disciples have entered the gold rank since they are the core disciples of the Sect and most of them are rumored to be the sessor candidates."


    As the word, sessor came up, Senior Cutie and the others looked at Zhao Luo.


    Zhao Luo was also taken back.


    ''So, that must be why he had asked me to be his student.''


    Zhao Luo remembered the time when Xin Wang had asked him to be his student.


    ''I would have be a core disciple right away.''


    Zhao Luo wondered but he wasn''t envious since how could something like being a core disciple match against what he was aiming at.


    "But, don''t worry. You guys should focus on increasing your strength. Every week, a few lectures are held by junior elders in the lecture hall called ''Amogus''. A lecture may be starting soon which will be benefitting for you, Brothers."


    Brother Sang pointed at the biggest building.


    The building was round in shape and looked more like a colosseum but the walls were different.


    The que on top of the main door had a word written on it.


    ( AMOGUS )


    Zhao Luo looked at the que and read the name which sounded more like a devilish chant that some possessed kid would be repeating at night in front of his fridge.


    ''But whatever.''


    Zhao Luo shook his head to get rid of the irrelevant thought and focused on the word. Each of the letters of ''Amogus'' was connected. The ''A'' seemed to be the tail of a dragon while the upper part of the ''S'' seemed to be its''s head which gave off the feeling that the dragon was trying to leave the golden que.


    In this setting, the que seemed like the evening sky and the word carved into it was just a lonely dragon that was trying to go past its limit which was the sky.


    "Brother, it seems like you have understood the meaning behind the word on the que."


    Brother Sang whispered in Zhao Luo''s ear as he had already seen the changing look in his eyes as Zhao Luo had continued to stare at the que.


    ''Nod.''


    Zhao Luo nodded as Brother Sang was indeed right.


    He looked around and found the others looking at the que with wide eyes too.


    "Senior Cutie, can you see it?"


    Zhao Luo asked since he was standing right beside him.


    "Yes."


    Senior Cutie mumbled with a serious look on his face.


    ''So he can see the struggling dragon too.''


    Zhao Luo realized how insightful Senior Cutie was but the next moment he was left speechless.


    "I can see the weirdness in it. Why carve such a strange word on a golden que?"


    "Right."


    "Senior, that''s what I was wondering too."


    As Senior Cutie continued what he was saying, the others also added their perspective of the que and the name of the lecture hall.


    "Hah."


    Brother Sangughed before telling them and Zhao Luo to proceed towards the lecture hall, Amogus.


    "Let''s go."


    They all proceeded towards the entrance of the building.


    Zhao Luo who was looking forward to it found many inner disciples also going towards it.


    ''What will the junior elders even teach that can help these seniors too?''


    Zhao Luo realized that there were even many high-level inner disciples that were making their way towards the entrance.


    The door was simr to the ones they had encountered before. The space of the door looked endless and dark but they could feel eyes that were staring right at them from the other side.


    Zhao Luo, Senior Cutie, Xiao Yu, Feng Ma, Si Chen, Pi Hao, and Big Bean, all entered the doors one after another.


    The seven appeared inside a big hall of the building which was supposed to be the lecture hall and Zhao Luo who was in the lead was baffled for a moment.


    They had appeared in the walkway just like all the inner disciples who had entered before them and who wereing after them.


    The walkway led to five doors.


    Green, Red, ck, White, Blue.


    Except for the ck door, the inner disciples kept on entering inside one of the other four doors.


    Not one inner disciple stopped before the doors showing that they knew which door they had to pass through.


    Zhao Luo felt like a viger who had just entered a city for the first time.


    ''Which door should I enter?''


    Zhao Luo wondered and that was also what the others were doing at the moment.


    They had no idea on which door should they walk in through.


    "Brother, nobody''s going inside the back door. We should go there."


    Si Chen told Zhao Luo as he pointed at the third door.


    "No, we should enter the blue door, since that''s where most of the disciples are entering through."


    Xiao Yu rejected Si Chen''s idea as he presented his own.


    But how could the others follow Si Chen and Xiao Yu without even knowing what was behind those doors?


    "I think we should do it like this."


    Feng Ma got down and ced his wine sk on the ground.


    "What are you doing?"


    Zhao Luo asked as this was the first time Feng Ma had ced his sk on the ground like this.


    "I will spin it. You should all choose a door and if the sk''s head stops at you then everyone will enter through the door that you have chosen."


    Feng Ma left everyone speechless with his creative side as he told them his n.


    Even Zhao Luo was impressed. Even though they all knew that Feng Ma was strong but nobody knew that he was smart too.


    A new side of his was finally shining and everyone had chosen a door while Si Chen and Xiao Yu were still on ck and Blue, respectively.


    Zhao Luo decided to just watch and stand out of the circle that the others were making.


    Since there were five doors, so he didn''t have to participate in it. Feng Ma tightened his grip around the sk before giving it a spin.


    *Whistle*


    A whistle blew and Zhao Luo looked in the direction where the sound wasing from.


    A gorgeousdy seemed to be looking at him with a mischievous look in her eyes.


    Zhao Luo left but it wasn''t only him. The others around him also felt the same, even Senior Cutie was mesmerized by the gorgeous female disciple on the other side and followed behind Zhao Luo.


    Only Feng Ma was left behind who was sitting there with his eyes fixed on his wine sk which was spinning rapidly.


    "Brothers, it''s stopping. Hahah-"


    Feng Ma said without knowing that Zhao Luo and the others had already left.


    "Where did everyone go?"


    ''Tsk''


    He mumbled while clicking his tongue.


    This was the first time he had shown his clever side to them and now no one was there to witness the result.


    "Here."


    Zhao Luo shouted at Feng Ma and Feng Ma looked towards the five doors.


    A little further away from the green door, a reception was there, and Zhao Luo and the others were already standing there.


    "What are they doing there?"


    Feng Ma grabbed his wine sk and rushed towards them.

 Chapter 292 - The Color Of The Cores

    "Who is this beautiful senior?"


    Feng Ma asked right when he reached them while everyone instantly red at him.


    Even Zhao Luo was staring at him before he pulled Feng Ma closer to him.


    "She is a senior elder."


    Zhao Luo whispered in Feng Ma''s ears before turning towards the beautifuldy with long blonde hair who was sitting behind the only reception in the whole walkway.


    The five doors were which were the entrance to the lecture halls were just ten feet away from where Zhao Luo was standing at.


    Feng Ma sweated as he looked at the youngdy sitting behind a brown table with her hands sped and ced over the table as if she was waiting for something.


    "Greetings, Senior Elder."


    .


    Feng Ma bowed his head and Zhao Luo nodded since even the drunkard knew what he was supposed to do here.


    "Elder, what was the test you were talking about?"


    Zhao Luo questioned the Elder as he looked at her respectfully.


    Just the presence of this "Senior Elder" was extraordinary. Not to mention her beauty that seemed to rival that of Mo Anna''s.


    ''Her beauty far surpasses Senior Yuu Mi''s.''


    Zhao Luo and the others thought since this was how everyone''s mind worked.


    "Everything is art."


    The Senior Elder suddenly said. She was already telling them about the test but since Feng Ma had joined, she had to start again.


    Senior Elder looked at Zhao Luo and smiled and gestured him to continue.


    "We are also just art made by an unknown entity. Each art has a specific color which is its core."


    Zhao Luo repeated the words of Senior Elder and pointed downwards with both of his hands.


    Feng Ma who had joined just now unknowingly nced a little lower than where Zhao Luo had pointed.


    "Interesting disciples."


    The Senior Elder spoke with a chuckle that was as melodious as a siren''s singing.


    Feng Ma looked away with embarrassment while Zhao Luo also had ck lines on his face as he shook his head while looking at the Senior Elder. In the end, they both were still in front of an Elder, no less.


    "Elder, my little brothers are just very naughty, so please don''t mind them openly showing their love for each other."


    Senior Cutieughed as he looked like he was having fun after a long time.


    ''This baldy.''


    Zhao Luo and Feng Ma cursed at Senior Cutie in his mind and looked at the Senior Elder who only had a smile on her face.


    Senior Elder brought out a clouded ball which was big enough that even when she used both of her hands, only half of the ball was covered.


    ''Why did she bring out a ball?''


    Zhao Luo questioned the reason why the elder was suddenly brought out a ball.


    He gazed at the ball which looked like a simple ss that had a thick white cloud trapped inside it.


    "This ball will show the color of your core. The color of your core will tell you about the types of internal energy that you can cultivate. It can either be one of the four colors or in between any of two colors."


    The Senior Elder told them while pointing at the ball and then the green, red, white, and blue door, one by one.


    "What about the ck door?"


    Zhao Luo asked since there were five doors there and the Senior Elder was only talking about the four of them.


    "There has never been someone with a ck core before except..."


    Senior Elder told them but as she remembered the only one who was the unusual one, she stopped and Zhao Luo could see the reverence in her eyes as she seemed to be remembering the one who had a ck core.


    ''Except who?''


    Zhao Luo and the others were waiting for the revtion but the Senior Elder just shook her head before pointing towards the ball.


    She looked at Senior Cutie and opened her mouth.


    "You look the oldest of the group. Go ahead."


    Senior Cutie was shocked as just because he was bald, the senior elder had told him that he looked the oldest of the bunch.


    "Yes, Elder."


    Even though he wanted toin but thedy in front of him who looked the same age as them was already a Senior Elder.


    ''She will squash with just a blow.''


    Senior Cutie mumbled while cing his hand on the ball.


    "No Breathe in and then hold your breath."


    She instructed Senior Cutie whilst he had his hand on the ball.


    ''Huff~''


    He breathed in and slowly closed his mouth while calmly holding it in.


    "Feel that air inside you and imagine that you can move that air towards your hand and then force it into the ball."


    The Senior Elder kept ongoing.


    Even though her words did sound outrageous but Senior Cutie still followed them step by step.


    ''Nod.''


    He nodded his head before his eyebrows furrowed together.


    ''Is he constipated?''


    Zhao Luo mumbled while grinning at the expression on Senior Cutie''s face but just then in front of his eyes and the eyes of others, the cloud inside the ball was being reced by a red shine.


    The shine grew more and more, till the ball itself looked like a bloated drop of blood.


    "Your core is bright red."


    Senior Elder told Senior Cutie who had removed his hand from the ball.


    The red color disappeared the moment Senior Cutie had pulled back his hand from the ball and the ball looked like it had a cloud trapped inside it once more.


    "Your turn."


    The Elder looked at Big Bean and then told him to ce his hand on the ball.


    Big Bean ced his hand on the ball which looked like a small chestnut in Big Bean''s hand.


    A red shine was emanating from the ball which showed that Big Beans core was also red


    Next was Feng Ma, who already had his hand on the ball.


    The ball showed a light red color with a small blue sphere in the middle of the ball.


    "Hmm."


    The Senior Elder looked at the dual-color in the ball and then stared at Feng Ma before showing a beautiful smile.


    "You can either enter the red door or the blue door."


    "So, I have a choice like that."


    Feng Ma listened to the Elder''s words and then looked at Senior Cutie and Big Bean.


    "I will enter through the red door."


    Feng Ma told them, showing that he would be going with them but both Senior Cutie and Big Bean looked uninterested in his choice.


    "I guess, you are the only one who cares for me."


    Feng Ma raised his wine sk and almost kissed it.


    The Senior Elderughed as she looked at Feng Ma before she regained herposure and looked at the three who already knew what their cores were.


    "You should pass."


    She told them and they nodded.


    Zhao Luo bid them farewell since who knew what his core would be and if he will even pass through the same door.


    Right before entering the door, Feng Ma looked at Senior Cutie and Big Bean.


    "I will be entering through the blue door."


    Feng Ma told them but they could see the hidden meaning behind his sudden change of mind.


    ''It''s yourst chance to show how d you both were that I am going through the same door as you.''


    Feng Ma thought while waiting for Senior Cutie''s response.


    Senior Cutie smiled since he could see through what Feng Ma was thinking.


    "Oh no. Little Brother, please go with us."


    Senior Cutie said to Feng Ma who instantly smiled at Senior Cutie''s words.


    "Ah, if you say so."


    Feng Ma raised his hands as if he had no other choice but to follow the two and enter through the red door.


    After their little exchange, Senior Cutie, Feng Ma, and Big Bean left the walkway.


    Zhao Luo looked back at the elder with a smile which was the result of the show he was watching that was started by Feng Ma.


    "You should try now."


    Senior Elder looked past Zhao Luo and told Si Chen.


    Si Chen walked to the front and ced his hand on the ball.


    As he followed her earlier instruction and directed his breath towards the ball through his hand, the ball turned blue.


    "Hmm, good."


    She said while pointing towards the blue door and Si Chen bowed to the Elder before ncing at Zhao Luo and the others as he made his way towards the blue door.


    "I will go next."


    Pi Hao said as he ced his hand on the ball.


    A momentter a green color radiated from the ball.


    "A sturdy core."


    The senior elder mumbled while looking at Pi Hao as she directed him towards the green door.


    "Farewell, Brothers."


    Pi Hao bowed gave a fist-palm salute while looking towards Zhao Luo and Xiao Yu.


    Zhao Luo and Xiao Yu nodded at him after which Pi Hao passed through the green door and they couldn''t see him anymore.


    "Who will go next?"


    The Senior Elder asked suddenly and both Zhao Luo and Xiao Yu pointed at each other.

 Chapter 293: The Mysterious Man on the Platform

    Chapter 293: The Mysterious Man on the tform


    You should go first.


    Zhao Luo said to Xiao Yu while Xiao Yu looked reluctant as he had his finger pointed at Zhao Luo.


    No. It should be definitely you who gets this turn.


    Xiao Yu said since Zhao Luo was the one who had defeated him.


    Both stared at each other for a while just for there to be broken of by the Senior Elder who had a charming smile on her face.


    ¡®Is she going to pick one of us?¡¯


    Zhao Luo wondered.


    IF that would be the case then he had no choice but to follow her decision.


    Zhao Luo had already prepared his mind just in case the Senior Elder would pick him to go first.


    Why not the both of you let the more handsome one go first?


    Obviously then it would be me.


    As she told them how Zhao Luo and Xiao Yu should deal with this Xiao Yu was already answering her.


    He even had his hand on the ball and looked ready to take in a long deep breath.


    You know that¡¯s not true.


    Zhao Luo whispered in Xiao Yu¡¯s ears but he only got a smile in return.


    Soon a color was rising on the ball.


    The red color covered half of the ball and just like water being filled in a cup the round ss ball looked the same.


    But then a whiteyer covered the red as if it was a creamyer on fruit cake but that wasn¡¯t the end. As Xiao Yu focused more of his breath on the ball after which the blue color started taking root from the whiteyer.


    A triple color core.


    The Senior Elder pped her hands in surprise.


    I can¡¯t believe that there is a junior who has a triple-colored core.


    Even Zhao Luo thought of it as something extraordinary.


    ¡®I knew he was somewhat special.¡¯


    Zhao Luo mumbled while looking seriously at Xiao Yu.


    Even though he had defeated him once it didn¡¯t mean that he would be stronger than him always.


    The three stared at the ball whose lower part was red and the upper part was blue while both colored parts were divided by a white line.


    So am I allowed to choose freely between the three doors?


    Xiao Yu asked the Senior Elder while pointing at the blue red and white door.


    Yes.


    The Senior Elder answered Xiao Yu and still found him looking at him with begging eyes.


    Hah i would rmend the white door.


    She said to him with a slightugh.


    Xiao Yu smiled and then bowed to the other before looking at Zhao Luo.


    One day you will be as handsome as me Brother.


    Xiao Yu told Zhao Luo while patting his head.


    Listening to Xiao Yu¡¯s words Zhao Luo couldn¡¯t help but smile and shake his head.


    I will try my best. Good luck.


    Zhao Luo followed along with Xiao Yu¡¯s littleic advance.


    Xiao Yu nodded at Zhao Luo¡¯s words and Zhao Luo saw his back as he moved towards the white door.


    The next instant Xao Yu disappeared as he passed through the white door and only Zhao Luo was left there.


    It¡¯s your turn.


    The Senior Elder said to Zhao Luo who was still staring at the white door.


    ¡®I wonder what color my core has.¡¯


    Zhao Luo wondered while taking a deep breath and cing his hand on the ball.


    ¡®Now focus it on the ball.¡¯


    Zhao Luo mumbled the words of the senior elder as he focused the air he had breathed in towards his hands and then the ball.


    The cloud which seemed to be trapped in the ball was instantly swallowed up towards the base of the ball.


    A red color covered the ball and the next moment it was swallowed up too.


    ¡®What?¡¯


    Zhao Luo was shocked and looked at the Senior Elder who looked more shocked than him.


    Continue.


    Suddenly she said to Zhao Luo since Zhao Luo was going to pull his hand away from the ball.


    The Senior Elder was already grabbing his arm and had an urging look on her face.


    ¡®Nod.¡¯


    Zhao Luo nodded and focused on the ball.


    One after another three more colors appeared separately but just when Zhao Luo would think that this color was the color of his core it would be swallowed up by the base of the ball.


    Lastly a ck color enveloped the ball. A dark shine that couldn¡¯t be illuminated by any light seemed to havee alive inside the ball.


    ¡®Crack.¡¯


    The Senior Elder pulled Zhao Luo¡¯s arm away causing his hand to be pulled off the ball just when a crack had appeared on the ball.


    You have a ck core.


    The Senior Elder told Zhao Luo but then gently smacked her own head since even a baby would have realized that by now.


    ¡®PHsSSssHH.¡¯


    The ball broke down and turned to dust as ck smoke emanated from inside it.


    Now go.


    While Zhao Luo was lost in his thoughts he heard the Senior Elder¡¯s voice and looked at her.


    She was forcing a smile on her face while trying to change her tone.


    ¡®Nod.¡¯


    Zhao Luo nodded at her before heading towards the ck door and stopped just in front of the door in the middle.


    ¡®It¡¯s dark.¡¯


    The space of the door was darkness itself.


    Zhao Luo took a step in and then vanished from the walkway.


    He is really special.


    A melodious voice left her mouth whilst the Senior Elders watched Zhao Luo enter the door.


    She felt a little lonely even though the walkway was still crowded.


    There were many who were whispering among each other while looking at the shattered ball since they had witnessed everything. Right at the beginning from Senior Cutie¡¯s turn to Zhao Luo¡¯s.


    The only thing that remained now was to let this be known to the other inner disciples.


    Many disciples left the Amogus building instead of passing through a door to enter a lecture hall.


    Their intentions were clear but Zhao Luo had no idea about it and how could he have since he was already standing in an unfamiliar ce.


    Where am I?


    Zhao Luo wondered as he looked around.


    Right behind was a ball unlike the door he had passed through.


    An enclosed space that was big enough to hold around a hundred students and a raised tform at the other end from where Zhao Luo was standing at.


    This was the ce Zhao Luo was in.


    A man sat on the tform with his back towards Zhao Luo but since the difference between them was more than 200 feet Zhao Luo could barely make out his appearance.


    Oh I came here just in case but who knew that someone woulde.


    The man said with a thundering voice.


    Not only was his voice was familiar to Zhao Luo but it had a magical essence to it that slowly changed the hall Zhao Luo and the man were in.


    As thoughmps were lighting up one after another the hall was now three times brighter than before.


    The walls of the hall hade to life and within them dragons with different shapes seemed to be waking up as they flew from one part of the wall to another.


    Some dragons weren¡¯t holding anything back as they engaged in something which in human terms would be ¡®Netflix and Chill¡¯ and Zhao Luo who was left speechless by such a surprising event happening in the wall between many pairs of dragons moved his eyes away from the walls.


    ¡®The art hase to life.¡¯


    Zhao Luo realized and then looked at the one who had just spoken a few words and the whole space of the hall had changed.


    At this moment both Zhao Luo and the man didn¡¯t know of each other¡¯s identity and Zhao Luo moved towards the man by taking slow yet strong steps.


    While the man still kept his back towards Zhao Luo.


    A hundred feet away from the man Zhao Luo who was taking slow steps had a surprising look on his face.


    What a strong pressure.


    The pressure was there since the start but before Zhao Luo wasn¡¯t affected by it.


    After entering the hundred feet distance there was a big jump in the pressure so Zhao Luo instantly felt it.


    Now Zhao Luo was using his strength to take a step forward as he moved towards the man on the tform.


    ¡®So I am not worthy to see your face till I reach you.¡¯


    Zhao Luo could guess why he had to see the back of the mysterious yet familiar man who looked close but because of the pressure it was hard to reach him.


    Oh you are good.


    The man on the tform also mumbled as he could feel the disciple approaching him even under the immense pressure that was falling on him.


    ¡®Who could it be?¡¯


    The man raised one of his brows as he thought about all the disciples who could have a ck core.


    ¡®It could be anyone.¡¯


    Heughed and waited for Zhao Luo to approach him.


    On the other hand Zhao Luo who was now fifty feet away from the tform looked grim.


    The pressure increased by two folds.


    Zhao Luo could ¡®feel¡¯ his bones getting crushed under the pressure that was falling on him.

 Chapter 289: [Bonus Chapter] The Four Groups of the Inner Hall

    Chapter 289: [Bonus Chapter] The Four Groups of the Inner Hall


    We should divide into groups of two and meet at the end of the entrance zone.


    Obviously after collecting information about the groups.


    Zhao Luo turned around and told them.


    Feng Ma and Si Chen you will ask around about the ones with the red stripe The Burning phoenix group.


    Zhao Luo told them as they left the group and went around with the task at hand.


    Pi Hao and Xiao Yu you both can find out about the group of Senior Yuu Mi.


    Zhao Luo told them even though except him no one else was invited to the group by her but still knowing about her group was a must.


    ¡®Since she is in it.¡¯


    Zhao Luo couldn¡¯t help but think about Rose for a second while Pi Hao and Xiao Yu went around asking about the group with the white stripe from other disciples.


    We will go and ask about Senior Xin Gareen and his group.


    Senior Cutie looked at Zhao Luo and told him as he pointed at himself and Big Bean.


    Okay.


    Zhao Luo looked away as he was thest one left.


    He went around the entrance zone talking with the seniors one by one.


    After half an hour the seven were gathered at the end of the entrance zone where a door was present.


    They were exchanging information that was almost the same no matter who was telling about it.


    So there are four groups in the inner hall.


    Zhao Luo said to them and Si Chen continued after him.


    The Burning Phoenix Group which is led by the Senior Wang Redo. The Senior is infamous for his anger against his enemies and how much he cares for juniors.


    There were other rumors too but Si Chen only kept the relevant information as he told about the group he was told to gather the information about.


    The Deep Sea Group which Mo Suo had joined earlier is the one with the most disciples out of the four groups. The leader of the group is none other than Senior Chi Balue who is also pretty famous in the inner hall as one of the two geniuses of the inner hall.


    Zhao Luo told them about what he found about the group with the blue stripes but unexpectedly there was another shocking thing that he had found out.


    There was a big reason behind Chi Balue¡¯s fame.


    Senio Chi Balue is the only one who has had a victory over the other genius of the inner hall. While also losing to him three times in the four battles that he had against this Senior.


    Zhao Luo exined to them as he could barely hide his smile when he mentioned the other genius.


    Who is this other genius?


    Senior Cutie asked Zhao Luo as he also looked interested in this Senior who could force his Little Brother to smile so brightly.


    Senior Sang.


    Zhao Luo slowly told them the name of the other genius who was none other than Brother Sang.


    After Zhao Luo it was Senior Cutie¡¯s turn to tell them about the group with the green stripe.


    Senior Xin Gareen has the strongest defense among the level eight inner disciples as he leads the group which has the second most number of disciples in it. The group is called Forest Tortoise Group.


    Just like the name of the group.


    Zhao Luomented as the name had tortoise in it but he had yet to know the real reason behind the group¡¯s name.


    Zhao Luo looked at Xiao Yu and Pi Hao. He couldn¡¯t help but frown as he looked at the sulking expression on the face of Pi Hao.


    What happened?


    Zhao Luo asked Pi Hao while patting his shoulder but instead of getting an answer he simply shook his head.


    Xiao Yu took a step forward and nced at Pi Hao before telling them his findings.


    The three groups have a few female disciples too but Senior Yuu Mi only epts female disciples in her group so there aren¡¯t any male disciples in her group the Flying Horse Group.


    Xiao Yu told them but Zhao Luo was still focused on the depressed expression on Pi Hao¡¯s face.


    But what happened to him?


    Zhao Luo questioned Xiao Yu since Pi Hao looked reluctant to answer it.


    It¡¯s because of you. Telling us to ask about Senior Yuu Mi and her group.


    Huh?


    Zhao Luo was confused by Xiao Yu¡¯s words.


    First we asked from the male senior disciples about her but as if they were enchanted by her they only had praises or Senior Yuu Mi. Then we both had decided to question only the female senior disciples about her.


    Xiao Yu clicked his tongue as he reached this part.


    Then what?


    Everyone looked curious to know what had happened to them next that caused Pi Hao to look so devastatingly sad.


    When we both approached the girls they would ignore me and only talk with Brother Xiao Yu.


    Pi Hao told them as tears filled his eyes and he hardly controlled himself from crying out.


    ¡®That was it.¡¯


    Zhao Luo who already had someone thought that it wasn¡¯t a big deal but the ones around him moved forward and hugged Pi Hao one by one.


    Si Chen was the first one along with Feng Ma who both had been watching Zhao Luo and Mo Anna from the start.


    Even Big Bean was wiping off his single tear that had missed everyone¡¯s attention.


    Ahem.


    Zhao Luo cleared his throat since it wasn¡¯t a big deal he was signaling Xiao Yu to continue.


    Senior Yuu Mi is one of the strongest female disciples in the inner hall. But her movement technique is unmatched amongst the inner disciples. Even though her strength isn¡¯t at that level but her speed matches Senior Chi Balue and Senior Sang.


    Xiao Yu continue and ended there while everyone turned their eyes on Zhao Luo.


    There are three reasons why the four groups were made.


    Zhao Luo told them and everyone looked focused.

 Chapter 287: [Bonus Chapter] The Invitations By The Seniors

    Chapter 287: [Bonus Chapter] The Invitations By The Seniors


    Yuu Mi was small and as she walked towards them she looked like a cat but nobody underestimated her.


    Her cuteness was too much just like her melodious voice but no one messed with her.


    It was simply because under the white stripe on top of her badge was her level.


    Another level eight disciple was here to recruit Zhao Luo.


    She is the one who Sister Anna has left with.


    Xiao Yu told Zhao Luo which caused Zhao Luo to pay more attention to this senior and her words.


    Don¡¯t tell me you are really here to recruit him?


    Wang Redo couldn¡¯t believe what he was seeing here.


    While Zhao Luo was interested in the two.


    But before anything could go on two more disciples joined them.


    Both were level eight just like Wang Redo and Yuu Mi.


    One joined with the disciples with the green stripes on the left and the other went towards the disciples with the green stripes on the right.


    This has never happened before.


    The four looked at each other and Wang Redo said while ncing at them.


    If you hadn¡¯te then we wouldn¡¯t be here either.


    The leader of the disciples with the green stripe over their badge said to Wang Redo.


    Let him decide then.


    Wang Redo looked at Zhao Luo just like the others.


    ¡®I don¡¯t even know why there are groups here. Let¡¯s not let them know that.


    Zhao Luo looked turned around and looked at Senior Cutie Xiao Yu Si Chen Pi Hao and Feng Ma.


    Let¡¯s gather information about these groups first before deciding. What do you all think?


    Zhao Luo told them his idea and all of them pondered over his words for a few seconds.


    That would be the best. Instead of asking them now we can meet other disciples and get information from them.


    Xiao Yu added as he looked around and found the four leading seniors staring at them with squinted eyes.


    Little Brother is right.


    Senior Cutie was also in favor of Zhao Luo and Xiao Yu¡¯s words.


    We will follow brother¡¯s decision.


    Si Chen and Feng Ma didn¡¯t care much as they had already decided to follow Zhao Luo.


    All of them looked at Pi Hao who had yet to share his thoughts.


    I want to join her group.


    Pi Hao who had always been Senior Cutie¡¯s follower pointed at the Female Senior while blushing like a stupid fool.


    ¡®As if that would ever happen.¡¯


    Zhao Luo grinned and turned around.


    Seniors.


    Zhao Luo greeted the three leaders as he had already been talking to Wang Redo so there was no need to greet him again.


    We all would like to take a day before making our decision.


    He told them and none of the seniors objected to his answer. But even if they didn¡¯t their subordinates looked angered and disappointed with Zhao Luo.


    The level eight bronze rank disciple with the green stripe over his badge walked forward and grabbed Zhao Luo¡¯s hand.


    You cane to me after making your decision and I can promise you that I Xin Gareen will not disappoint you.


    The leader of the disciples with the green stripes shook his hand and left right after leaving his words with Zhao Luo.


    But it was;t only Zhao Luo that he was looming at as his eyes went over everyone as if he was scanning them.


    One group left two groups were left along with the Yuu Mi.


    Wang Redo walked forward and looked at Zhao Luo for a minute.


    A whole minute it was only the two staring at each other while nobody disturbed this face-off between a senior and a junior.


    ¡®What is he looking at?¡¯


    Zhao Luo wondered as he felt weird as Wang Redo wasn¡¯t saying anything and silence was something that was harder to bear in such a situation.


    ¡®Why is he so handsome?¡¯


    Wang Redo thought that was the only thing that didn¡¯t sit right with him except the fact that he had been ignoring Zhao Luo while confusing Feng Ma and him.


    Ahem. So remember to tell me your decision tomorrow.


    Wang Redo said to Zhao Luo before leaving with his six subordinates.


    Only two of the seniors were left while one was with a group.


    Yuu Mi was the first of the two to approach them.


    You can stop staring at me.


    Even though she was short there was no doubt that she could smash them right here.


    Her melodious voice contained a hint of anger as she told Pi Hao who was gazing at her absentmindedly.


    Ah.


    Pi Hao instantly looked away while Yuu Mi looked at Zhao Luo.


    Even though there are no male disciples in my group but since someone special has made a special request for you only you can be the first andst male disciple in our group.


    Yuu Mi told Zhao Luo in a very enticing way.


    ¡®A harem.¡¯


    Zhao Luo mumbled while listening to her offer.


    Zhao Luo was already imagining the future where he would be surrounded by all the beauties of the inner hall. He didn¡¯t forget Mo Anna at all. In his imagination she was there too.


    Little Brother.


    A beautiful voice entered his ear burying Zhao Luo deeper in his imagination.


    He could already see a senior sister calling him out.


    Wipe off your drool. Fhooo~


    Senior Cutie blew in Zhao Luo¡¯s ear with a grin on his face.


    Disgusting.


    Yuu Mi said while looking at the two and feeling disappointed in Zhao Luo as she also departed from there.


    Both Zhao Luo and Senior Cutie looked at her receding back with widened eyes.


    Because of you she¡­.she¡­


    Senior Cutie looked at Zhao Luo and tried toin. He was only trying to mess around with Zhao Luo just as he would do all the time but who knew that this female senior of theirs would find it so untasteful.


    Hahaha.


    Right then all of them heard a merryugh and turned around.

 Chapter 277: [Bonus Chapter] The Stage is a Game Board

    Chapter 277: [Bonus Chapter] The Stage is a Game Board


    Zhao Luo looked at the disciple who had jumped down on the ck block as there were a total of eight blocks between them since he was standing on a white block.


    ¡®No. There are ten rows and ten columns so it isn¡¯t a ¡®simple¡¯ chessboard.¡¯


    Zhao Luo realized as he continued to look around but how could the inner disciple let himself be ignored like this just because this character in front of him was simply too handsome.


    Ahem.


    The inner disciple made a rtively loud sound while pretending that he was clearing his throat just to get Zhao Luo¡¯s attention focused on him.


    Zhao Luo had indeed turned his eyes on the disciple in front of him who looked a little angered.


    ¡®Is he mad?¡¯


    Zhao Luo wondered not knowing that he was the reason.


    Listen here Junior.


    The inner disciple said to Zhao Luo.


    ¡®Junior?¡¯


    Zhao Luo was taken back by the way he was being addressed us but he held himself back and showed a smile while his lips twitched.


    If you are done looking around then let me exin to you about myself and the ce you are at.


    The inner disciple told Zhao Luo before pointing his index finger at himself.


    I am Bu Xing but you can call me Senior Xing. Consider me as your misfortune.


    The inner disciple told Zhao Luo with an evil grin that was slowly carving upon his face.


    Senior Xing why are you my misfortune?


    Zhao Luo looked confused as he innocently asked this entric senior who stood around 100 meters away from him but for some reason they both had no need to be loud as their voices traveled to each other as though they were standing right next to each other.


    Hmmm.


    Bu Xing looked disturbed over Zhao Luo¡¯s question.


    ¡®Should I tell him the reason or¡­.¡¯


    He wondered while feeling reluctant to answer Zhao Luo¡¯s question.


    Bu Xing was one of the nicest disciples of the inner hall yet no one dared to be close to him except a senior. No junior woulde to him for any kind of advice and none of his peers or those who were at his level would stay with him. No matter how nice he was to others he would bring misfortune to them just like his name.


    Slowly as almost everyone left him he started to change. He started pretending to be an evil person. He would act like someone who intentionally ruined things for others just like what he was trying to show Zhao Luo.


    But as Zhao Luo questioned him Zhao Luo saw a tragic look in senior Xing¡¯s eyes that he couldn¡¯t miss even if he tried.


    ¡®What was that?¡¯


    Zhao Luo wondered as he waited for Bu Xing¡¯s answer who looked lost in his thoughts


    Y-you don¡¯t need to know. Just focus on where you are.


    Senior Bu Xing suddenly opened his mouth with a flustered look.


    ¡®Nod.¡¯


    Zhao Luo nodded since he too wanted to know.


    Where am I? Where are the others?


    Zhao Luo questioned the Senior who again had the same evil grin hanging on his face.


    So you finally noticed. The inner hall has several zones. The first zone is the test zone where the outer disciples who hope to be an inner disciple are gathered.


    Bu Xing waved his hand around and continued.


    Your friends are also in the test zone but you can¡¯t see them neither can they since the test zone has several hundred small rooms like the one you are in.


    Zhao Luo nodded as he heard the senior calmly exining to him.


    ¡®He isn¡¯t that bad.¡¯


    Zhao Luo mumbled while looking at Bu Xing who was waiting for Zhao Luo¡¯s question in case he didn¡¯t understand something just what a nice senior would do.


    What room is this one then?


    Zhao Luo questioned while pointing downward since the room looked like a barrennd except for the unusual stage they were on and Bu Xing instinctively answered it as though he knew what the question would be.


    This test room is a little special. It¡¯s been three years since this room was used. Only the winner of the Outer Hall is tested here or as you juniors call it the ¡®King¡¯ of the outer hall.


    ¡®I see. Last year¡¯s winner of the outer hall ranking tournament was Mo Suo and before that it was Senior Cutie and they never tried to be an inner disciple when they held the title of the King. But the stage looks like something that only someone like me would know about.¡¯


    While Zhao Luo was looking back on what he knew Bu Xing was already talking again.


    The stage you are on is a game board. Just like the dragon road of the outer hall this is a relic of the other world modified by the Sect. There are ten rows and ten columns. You see this statue behind me?


    Senior Bu Xing started telling Zhao Luo about the stage that the two were on while the statue was behind Bu Xing.


    ¡®As I thought it is indeed from there.¡¯ Zhao Luo thought as his doubts were indeed true.


    The dragon statue.


    He had been ncing at it from time to time but he never had time to look at the statue more closely like now.


    The statue was a four-meter tall dragon with red wings which were opened to its full wingspan while the dragon¡¯s base had a square shape with each side being a meter long which showed that it was indeed a piece that will be used on the stage they were on.


    As Zhao Luo looked at it slowly moving his gaze down and then back to Bu Xing he saw a serious expression on Bu Xing¡¯s face as though something was about to go down.


    Think of a beast that you want to use as your piece.


    Bu Xing instructed Zhao Luo while the dragon piece with the crown on its head moved on the same block where he was while almost touching his back.


    A beast?


    Zhao Luo tried to think of a beast that could rival the aura of the dragon with the red wings in front of him.

 Chapter 45: First Shop-Robester

    Chapter 45: First Shop-Robester


    As Feng Mei¡¯s subordinate whispered something in her ear she looked shocked as she opened her eyes abruptly.


    What happened?


    Zhao Luo asked as something didn¡¯t sit right with him.


    Feng Mei was looking at Zhao Luo like she wanted to tell him everything.


    Everything¡¯s okay. It was nice meeting you all. Especially you big brother.


    Feng Mei said while looking at everyone then solely focused on Zhao Luo as she continued.


    I will be going now. Let¡¯s meet at the teleportation circle tomorrow before the departure time.


    Feng Mei said while smiling with her head bowing downward.


    Everyone agreed and bid their farewells with Feng Mei after which she went out with her subordinates.


    ¡®She looks lonely.¡¯


    Zhao Luo thought even though there were two subordinates with her. He didn¡¯t know why but he was feeling this heaviness in his heart as if a bone was stuck in his throat.


    It was a feeling called worry that Zhao Luo was experiencing for the second time in his life. But this time it wasn¡¯t towards his private part instead it was for a person. A little girl who had connected with him so fast that he already considered her as his sister.


    So what should we do now?


    Zhao Luo asked brother sang as it wouldn¡¯t be any use to worry about something he didn¡¯t even know about.


    We should go buy some things first.


    Brother Sang looked at Zhao Luo as of scanning him with his eyes.


    Everything on you is a no-no.


    Brother Sangmented on Zhao Luo¡¯s appearance. Even though he was so good-looking and tall but he was missing many things.


    Brother Sang looked at Zhao Luo starting from his head.


    ¡®His hair is okay but this robe of his. It looks so worn out and those shoes. I haven¡¯t seen such a weird design before.¡¯


    Brother Sang inspected Zhao Luo as if he was Zhao Luo¡¯s mom. Zhao Luo was still wearing the same robe that Si Chen had given him. He had fought with Bambi in these robes so they were worn out already and the shoes were the same ones that he was wearing before.


    What?


    Zhao Luo asked as it was getting annoying to be stared at by someone for so long.


    You are missing the storage ring. Some new robes and power shoes. Let¡¯s go shopping.


    Brother Sang told Zhao Luo.


    Do you guys wannae with us?


    Zhao Luo asked the others.


    Yes I will be tagging along.


    Yan was the first to reply. He wanted to go shopping too. Also it would let him be with Zhao Luo for a long time so it was a beneficial offer for him.


    Zhao Luo nodded while smiling lightly. Then he looked at Si Chan Rose and Su Shi who were standing with them.


    I have to go back. Sorry.


    Su Shi said as she had to go back to the 3rd City and tell her father and mother that she had passed. It will be big news for the Su family.


    I have to go back to sect so let¡¯s meet at the sect tomorrow.


    Rose said as she looked at Zhao Luo.


    ¡®So she won¡¯t being. Sigh.¡¯


    Zhao Lup thought as it would have been a fin time if Rose had also joined.


    Si Chen still hadn¡¯t answered so Zhao Luo looked at him and saw that he was being hesitant.


    It¡¯s okay if you can¡¯t. You don¡¯t have to force yourself.


    Zhao Luo told him.


    I want toe with you but I have to go back to the Sect.


    Si Chen said while looking at Zhao Luo but he kept on peeking at Yan.


    Heh okay.


    Zhao Luo knew why Si Chen was so uncertain. It was because he was still in shock regarding Yan being a man.


    ¡®Understandable.¡¯


    Zhao Luo thought over Si Chen¡¯s action.


    Thus Si Chen Rose and Su Shi left the Sect building as they headed towards the building with the teleportation circle in it.


    Zhao Luo with Brother Sang and Yan also tagged along with them.


    The infrastructure of all the cities was somewhat simr.


    The buildings with the teleportation circle were in the middle of each city. Then if you moved towards the central mountain where the Sect was from the TPC building the Inner Area of the City would start.


    But if you move in the opposite direction that will be the Outer Area.


    Inner Area was where families would be living. This area had buildings hotels and restaurants.


    While the outer City was like a business area. There were different kinds of markets here.


    For the 1st City most of the inner city was covered by the three Royal Families.


    Feng Mo and the Qin family. Each of the Royal family had lots of members and there were also branch families of such thus they owned most of thend in the inner area of the first city.


    There was also the Sect building in the inner area of the first city.


    As Zhao Luo¡¯s destination was the outer area thus his ¡®shopping group¡¯ tagged with the ¡®going back¡¯ group.


    The journey towards the TPC building was mostly quiet. They just walked towards the building without saying a word to each other.


    Zhao Luo and Brother Sang were talking to each other. They were walking right behind the group.


    Zhao Luo was telling him about his past.


    He was telling him about how he met Brother Sang¡¯s great grandfather Takuma and how Takuma trapped him in the capsule for his research. But he also told him how he doesn¡¯t me Takuma at all now. Instead he regrets not thanking him and agreeing to participate in his research with his own free will.


    While they were walking the building was in sight. Zhao Luo looked at his friends as he had grown close to every one of them even if it was by a little.


    Outside of the TPC building.


    Take care guys. We will be meeting tomorrow for sure.


    Zhao Luo said while looking at Si Chen and Rose. Su Shi was looking at him and felt weird as he didn¡¯t say anything to her.


    You too.


    Zhao Luo said to Su Shi.


    I don¡¯t need you to worry about me. Hmph.


    After hearing what she wanted Su Shi felt happy but she couldn¡¯t show it.


    Take care.


    Rose said in a light tone but her voice sounded so mesmerizing that Zhao Luo started staring at her.


    Thank you.


    Zhao Luo replied to her with an honest smile on his face.


    I was saying that to Brother Sang and Yan.


    Rose rified and went inside the building leaving Zhao Luo with a nk face.


    Hahaha guess there is someone you can¡¯t win against.


    Brother Sang teased Zhao Luo.


    I will be going now. See you at the Sect.


    Si Chen said as he turned around and went inside the building with Su Shi.


    Let¡¯s get you the things.


    Brother Sang told Zhao Luo as he walked in front and lead them towards the market in the outer area.


    They walked for a little while before reaching the marketce.


    Zhao Luo could see a big rock in front of him.


    Shi Chang market.


    Zhao Luo read the words which were carved in that rock.


    This is the biggest market of the Xin Range.


    Brother Sang told Zhao Luo.


    If you can¡¯t find something in the other eight cities you will find it here.


    Brother Sang continued as they passed the big rock to enter the market area.


    Wow there are so many shops here.


    Zhao Luo eximed as he looked around. No matter where his sight went there would be a shop there.


    Let¡¯s go there. He is famous for the quality robes he sells.


    Brother Sang pointed at a shop.


    The outer appearance of the shop was simply a dark-coated ss with a ss door as the entrance. It was what you would call an enemy of the window shoppingmunity.


    ¡®So I can¡¯t see inside. Suspicious.¡¯


    Zhao Luo couldn¡¯t believe Brother Sang¡¯s words.


    How could he be famous for his robes if he doesn¡¯t showcase them? Zhao Luo asked Brother Sang.


    A seller would show others his valuable items even if the other party isn¡¯t there to buy them. This will help in gaining reputation and poprity but this guy had a special ss so that others aren¡¯t able to check his items from the outside.


    Well brother ¡®this¡¯ is his selling n.


    Brother Sang tried to exin it to Zhao Luo as he waved both of his hands pointing towards the door telling Zhao Luo to enter the shop.


    Zhao Luo ced his hand on the door to push it open but instead of opening his hand got sucked in gradually his whole body was sucked in the door.


    ¡®Wooop.¡¯


    What?


    Yan was shocked after witnessing the scene of Zhao Lup being sucked in by the door of the shop.


    Pat.


    Yan¡¯s back felt hot as Brother Sang pped his back lightly but with power behind it forcing him towards the door.


    ¡±Wooop.¡¯


    Yan was swallowed by the door too.


    Brother Sang followed behind him.


    Zhao Luo appeared on the other side that is inside the shop.


    The Robester.


    Zhao Luo read the name that was written on the board that he saw as soon as he appeared there.


    Hahaha.


    Zhao Luo couldn¡¯t control hisughter as he let it go after reading the name of the shop. This was the first shop he was visiting in thest 100 years and it had such a weird name.


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