“He’s just too strong. Even I can’t afford to provoke him. So, you’d better leave him for last.” Seeing the confused expressions on everyone’s faces, Batengping chuckled, first pointing at the martial artist standing at the south end of the hall and explaining briefly, then pointing at Zhang Wen while scratching his head, “As for him… I find him a bit confusing. He seems both weak and strong somehow. Anyway, just to be safe, you’d better keep him at the back.”
Batengping grinned and shrugged.
If Ge Luo still hadn’t understood what Batengping meant by this point, then he wouldn’t deserve to be here anymore!
“Hmph… Hmph…” Ge Luo let out a string of angry chuckles. “Are you trying to say I’m not even a match for you three and that I might lose to you before dealing with these trash?”
“Oh… I really didn’t want to hurt your pride…” Batengping shook his head helplessly.
“Nonsense!” Ge Luo raised his chin high, his eyes flashing coldly. “Do you think you’re qualified to talk to me like that?”
“He’s too strong, even I can’t afford to provoke him. So, you’d better save him for last.” Seeing the puzzled expressions on everyone’s faces, Bateng Ping smiled and first pointed to the martial artist on the south side of the hall to explain a few things, then pointed at Zhang Wen and scratched his head, “As for him… I’m a bit confused. He seems weak, but also seems very powerful. Just to be safe, you should keep him for later.”
Bateng Ping shrugged with a cheerful demeanor.
If Ge Luo hadn’t understood what Bateng Ping was implying by now, then he really didn’t deserve to continue in this line of work!
“Hmph… hmph…” Ge Luo let out a series of angry sneers, “Are you saying that I’m no match for the three of you, and you’re afraid I’ll lose to you before I can deal with these trash?”
“Sigh… I didn’t want to hurt your pride…” Bateng Ping shook his head helplessly.
“Ridiculous!” Ge Luo raised his chin high, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, “You think you’re worthy of speaking to me like that?”
As soon as the words left his mouth, Ge Luo had already turned into a blur, lunging towards Bateng Ping’s position without any warning. Since Ge Luo could utilize over eighty percent of his combat energy, there was no exaggerated burst of energy when he attacked at full strength. However, his speed far surpassed that of any normal Saint-level expert, and the suddenness of his assault was unmatched by any other Saint-level expert.
In fact, while Bateng Ping was still pointing at Zhang Wen and talking, the furious Ge Luo had already carefully observed Bateng Ping’s condition. As one of Thunder God Omega’s proud disciples, Ge Luo had mastered several methods to sense an opponent’s combat energy. From Bateng Ping, Ge Luo could clearly feel that he was at most at the same Saint-level peak as the three from Franz.
A Saint-level peak martial artist? Ge Luo had just casually dealt with three of them! How could he tolerate someone like Bateng Ping, who was on the same level as his defeated opponents, acting so arrogantly in front of him?
Ge Luo was confident that Bateng Ping had no chance of dodging this sudden attack.
Indeed, as Ge Luo seemed to turn into a blur and almost reached Bateng Ping, Bateng Ping still stood there as if he hadn’t noticed Ge Luo’s movement.
“Learn to be smarter in the future!” Ge Luo sneered in his heart, suddenly swinging a hand chop towards Bateng Ping’s left arm. Ge Luo wanted to teach Bateng Ping a lesson he wouldn’t forget; if this hand chop landed, it would completely shatter the bones in Bateng Ping’s left arm!
However, the triumphant look on Ge Luo’s face disappeared in an instant. Because the hand chop he swung passed through a complete semicircle in front of him, but aside from air, it touched nothing!
Missing his strike, Ge Luo was instantly shocked. But what made Ge Luo even more incredulous was that when he stood still, he found Bateng Ping still standing in his original position, as if he hadn’t moved at all! And the hand chop Ge Luo had swung hadn’t even touched a single hair on Bateng Ping!
What… what is going on? This bizarre situation, which he had never seen before, instantly drenched Ge Luo in cold sweat.
Ge Luo didn’t understand what had just happened, and the others in the hall were equally confused. They all saw Ge Luo suddenly lunge at Bateng Ping, only to swing his hand chop at the air when he was still a step away.
“What does Ge Luo mean? Just trying to warn that kid? From his earlier demeanor, it didn’t seem like that!”
“Who knows?” The martial artists in the hall started discussing again. The martial artist who had been sitting motionless on the south side of the hall finally showed a flicker of unusual interest in his eyes.
“Sigh… Mr. Ge Luo, why are you in such a hurry? Didn’t I say it’s better for us not to fight until you’ve dealt with those people?” Bateng Ping sighed again.
“You…” Ge Luo stared at Bateng Ping, his face constantly changing colors.
The martial artists in the hall held their breath, waiting for the show to start. Seeing Ge Luo’s hand chop at the air, the thugs in the hall quickly realized that this baby-faced martial artist with the strange name was definitely not simple!
However, just as Ge Luo was hesitating and couldn’t make up his mind, a roar that Zhang Wen was all too familiar with suddenly came from outside the hall.
“Get out of my way! If you dare block my path again, I’ll tear this damn ship apart!”
Then, after a burst of noisy commotion, a loud “boom” came from the east door of the hall. The sea urchin stone door, which was over two people tall and three fingers wide, was blasted off its hinges, carrying a few unlucky bodyguards with it, and crashed heavily into the hall.
Boom! The sound of the sea urchin stone door hitting the ground was like a hammer striking the hearts of the dozens of tenth-level experts in the hall, making them tremble with fear and secretly curse their luck.
The thugs in the three-story hall were all too aware that without super-level strength, it was impossible to even think of blasting open that sea urchin stone door.
The situation in the three-story hall was already bizarre enough, and now with the appearance of such a hot-tempered super-level expert… the thugs all fervently hoped that they had accumulated enough virtue in their past lives to see them through this ordeal.
“Aggart…” Zhang Wen also sighed heavily.
“Hey! Perverted teacher! Where the hell did you run off to! You made me get lost in the lower decks while you came up here to enjoy yourself!” Aggart stormed into the hall, angrily striding towards Zhang Wen.
“Lost?” Zhang Wen helplessly glanced at Shura, who was following behind Aggart with a bitter face.
“He couldn’t find the way out and kept wandering around the corridors on the second floor. By the time I found him, it was already too late.” Shura succinctly explained why he and Aggart had arrived so late.
“Hmph… So what if you’re a super-level expert? I’m the examiner today. The rule I set is that anyone who doesn’t arrive within ten minutes is disqualified. You’ve lost your qualification.” Aggart’s appearance gave Ge Luo, who was already fuming, a perfect outlet for his anger.
On Hassan’s Star Moon, Ge Luo didn’t believe Aggart would dare to do anything to him.
“Disqualified? Say that again?” Aggart was momentarily stunned, then raised his voice, step by step approaching Ge Luo.
“I’m the examiner today, and those are the rules I set. If you want to blame anyone, blame your own bad luck!” Ge Luo refused to back down verbally, but facing the pressure of a super-level expert, even someone as arrogant as Ge Luo lost some of his earlier confidence.
“Disqualified? Fine! Then don’t blame me!” Before Ge Luo could finish speaking, Aggart had already sneered and drawn the iconic greatsword from his back.
“You… what are you going to do?” Aggart’s action of drawing his sword terrified all the martial artists in the hall.
After all, most of the martial artists in the hall were only at the tenth level. Earlier, when the Star Moon was just a few kilometers from the shore, they had already exhausted themselves flying to board the ship. Now, after sailing for four or five hours, the Star Moon was dozens of kilometers from the coastline. If Aggart really tore the ship apart, more than half of the tenth-level experts present would likely drown at sea!
“What am I going to do? Isn’t it obvious? Since I can’t pay off my debts anyway, I might as well owe a bit more! Since I can’t stay in the empire, I might as well tear this damn ship apart before I leave, at least to vent my anger. Don’t worry, after I tear this ship apart, I’ll find another ship to rescue you.”
Boom!
As Aggart spoke, the “Flame Demon Fire” he was famous for began to blaze around him.
“Wait!” Just as Aggart raised his greatsword, ready to tear the ship apart, the blue-clad man Anthony finally appeared at the hall’s entrance.
“What else do you have to say?” Aggart showed no intention of lowering his greatsword. The energy blade of the sword had gradually turned a fiery red, and any martial artist with a bit of knowledge could see the destructive power contained within.
“Mr. Ge Luo, I think everyone is quite tired. Let’s end today’s test here.” Anthony nodded to Ge Luo. Although his tone was conciliatory, the look he gave Ge Luo was stern and unyielding.
“Hmph!” Ge Luo pretended to be indignant, snorted, and stormed off. In reality, it was clear to anyone with eyes that Ge Luo himself was also greatly relieved.
Aggart, a super-level expert who had risen from the streets, might not know the value of the Star Moon, but Ge Luo was well aware. The artworks in the three-story hall were almost all priceless treasures that couldn’t be bought with money! Ge Luo couldn’t even imagine how Hassan, who would be heartbroken if the Star Moon were destroyed because of his petty squabble, would deal with him!
With Anthony stepping in to mediate, Ge Luo naturally wouldn’t miss this opportunity to save face.
“Today’s test is over. Everyone can go back and rest. After breakfast tomorrow, we’ll inform you of the time and arrangements for the next test.” As soon as Ge Luo walked out the door, the blue-clad man Anthony addressed the relieved thugs.
“Ah? The test is over? What about us?” Aggart asked, still not entirely reassured.
“Ha ha. Today’s second test is canceled, so of course you all pass.” Anthony smiled politely, gave a slight bow to Zhang Wen and his group, and then left the hall.
Along with Anthony, the tenth-level thugs, who felt as if they had been granted a reprieve, also left. In the blink of an eye, the hall was almost empty.
The baby-faced Bateng Ping smiled with interest at Zhang Wen and his group, then left the hall through the north door. The unnamed martial artist who had been sitting against the wall on the south side of the hall also left through the south door after Bateng Ping.
Zhang Wen followed the crowd back to his room on the second floor of the Star Moon. When Zhang Wen first arrived on the second floor, he had been preoccupied with exploring the ship’s layout and hadn’t paid much attention to his room.
Now, finally settling down and entering the room, Zhang Wen realized that the guest rooms on the Star Moon, like all the other rooms on the ship, lived up to the description of “magnificent.” When Zhang Wen pushed open the door marked with the numbers “25, 26,” he was greeted by a scene reminiscent of a crystal palace from mythology.
“Huh? Why are you here?” However, as soon as Zhang Wen stepped into the living room, he heard a startled exclamation.
Ryan was curled up on the sofa, made of some unknown fur, his legs hugged tightly to his chest.
“Is it strange that I’m here?” Zhang Wen asked with a half-smile, “We’re supposed to be together, so isn’t it normal to be assigned the same room? Or do you have some other reason to think I shouldn’t be here?”
“But… but…” Ryan looked at Zhang Wen in surprise as he sat down opposite him, hurriedly crossing his legs, a blush that looked almost like shyness spreading across his face.
“Hey, Ryan, you’re acting more like a girl now!” Zhang Wen teased with a smirk.
“Who… who’s acting like a girl? I’m just not used to being watched so closely!” Ryan retorted nervously, turning his back to Zhang Wen.
“Heh…” Zhang Wen raised an eyebrow and said no more. But after a moment, the fidgety Ryan jumped off the sofa and stormed out of the room in a huff.
“Eh?!” Just as Ryan pushed open the door, a slightly overweight middle-aged man with a ridiculous goatee appeared at the entrance. The goatee man, who had been about to knock, was startled by Ryan suddenly opening the door. Ryan also gave the goatee man a surprised look before quickly running off.
“Ha ha…” The goatee man chuckled as he watched Ryan’s retreating figure, then turned and walked straight into Zhang Wen’s room.
“Hmm?” Zhang Wen looked up in surprise.
“Ha ha… I never thought I’d have the honor of meeting the hero of Casares in person. The famous Teacher Zhang Wen, it’s a pleasure to meet you!” The goatee man said with an ingratiating smile, his flattering words almost making Zhang Wen’s skin crawl, as he extended both hands and quickly approached Zhang Wen.
As the saying goes, you don’t hit a smiling face. Although the goatee man’s flattery was a bit over the top, his ingratiating demeanor made it hard for Zhang Wen to just kick him out.
“And you are?” Zhang Wen had just asked when the goatee man enthusiastically grabbed his right hand.
“Ha ha! My surname is Angelo. Loki Angelo.” The goatee man shook Zhang Wen’s hand vigorously as he introduced himself, “My friends like to call me ‘Old Goat.’ If Teacher Zhang doesn’t mind, you can call me that too.”
“Old Goat? Do I know you?” Zhang Wen withdrew his hand, looking at the goatee man in surprise.
“Ha ha! Not yet, but we’ll get to know each other soon enough!” Old Goat smiled, completely unfazed by Zhang Wen’s tone.
“…What exactly do you want?” Zhang Wen was really at a loss with Old Goat’s enthusiasm, “If you’re just here to fawn over a celebrity, you’re a bit old for that.”
“Ha ha! My admiration for Teacher Zhang is genuine. But… I came here specifically to talk to you about something else.”
“I don’t think I’d be interested in discussing anything with a stranger who suddenly shows up at my door.” Zhang Wen smiled faintly, maintaining his aloof attitude.
“Hey, Teacher Zhang, don’t be so cold! Actually, I have some connections with Lord Shura.”
“Oh? If you have connections with Shura, why don’t you go talk to him?” Zhang Wen smiled.
“Uh…” Old Goat’s smile stiffened for a moment, but he quickly recovered, just slightly awkwardly smiling and saying, “Well… a few months ago, we had a bit of a misunderstanding. Although it doesn’t affect our relationship, it’s still a bit awkward to bring up certain things with Lord Shura now…”
“So you came to me instead?” Zhang Wen glanced at Old Goat.
“Ha ha! Teacher Zhang, you really live up to your reputation as an instructor at the Almis Academy.” Angelo shamelessly flattered Zhang Wen, then continued with a merchant-like smile, “I guess Teacher Zhang’s interest in this competition lies in the four spots Hassan is offering at the end, right? After all, only someone as famous as Teacher Zhang in Casares would be worthy of Hassan spending such a large sum to invite!”
“So you’re saying you’re not qualified?” Zhang Wen smiled faintly, deliberately needling him.
“Of course!” To Zhang Wen’s surprise, Old Goat didn’t seem to mind the jab at all, instead nodding readily, “The four spots Hassan is offering at the end are out of my league. I know my limits. Even if I managed to stay till the end of the selection, I wouldn’t dare to compete in a match with super-level experts.”
“Oh? In that case, why did you come to me?” Zhang Wen asked again, amused.
“Hey, Teacher Zhang, don’t rush me! Just because I don’t want to compete for the four spots doesn’t mean I don’t want to stay in the selection longer. The daily prize of three hundred thousand is nothing to someone as wealthy as you, but for small fries like us, it’s a significant amount.” At this point, Old Goat finally dropped his smile and spoke seriously to Zhang Wen, “Hassan is generous, but he’s no philanthropist. To earn that three hundred thousand a day, we selectors will eventually have to fight to the death. Those without allies will be the first to be eliminated…”
“So?” Zhang Wen was getting impatient with Old Goat’s long-winded explanation.
“So, I want to team up with Teacher Zhang, Lord Aggart, and Lord Shura.” Old Goat smiled indifferently, finally revealing his intention.
“Team up with you?” Zhang Wen looked at the smiling Old Goat, “Why? What’s in it for us?”
“Ha ha! Teacher Zhang, you always hit the nail on the head.” Old Goat nodded repeatedly with a merchant-like smile, “Since Teacher Zhang is familiar with Lord Shura, you must know that this competition has attracted almost half of the professional adventurers from the southern realm.”
“Yes. I’ve heard a bit about it.”
“Heh! In fact, I’m one of the professional adventurers lured here by Hassan’s bounty. So, I know a bit more about these professional adventurers than Lord Shura.” As he said this, Old Goat’s smile carried a hint of confidence.
“You seem quite confident you can persuade me.”
“I wouldn’t say confident, but I believe I have quite a few bargaining chips. After all, not many people can keep a clear head and not think about those final four spots. Everyone here was attracted by Hassan’s bounty, and who wouldn’t want to make it to the end?” Old Goat smiled slyly, “For them, the three people singled out by that young man Bateng Ping today are their biggest opponents. And with Teacher Zhang now supported by Lord Shura and Lord Aggart, you’re an even greater threat. So, you’re now public enemies.”
“In that case, why did you come to us specifically to cooperate?”
“Teacher Zhang, why ask when you already know the answer?” Old Goat spread his hands comically, “What’s called ‘public enemies’ can also be called the favorites. A lone wolf like me naturally seeks out the strong to ally with. If I went to them, I might be thrown out as a sacrifice at any moment.”
“You’re quite clever.”
“Thank you for the compliment. It’s this bit of cleverness that’s kept me alive in the professional adventurer business.” Old Goat resumed his merchant-like smile, “So, is our alliance settled then?”
In fact, while Batengping was still talking animatedly about Zhang Wen, Ge Luo, already furious, had carefully observed Batengping’s condition. As one of the favored disciples of Thunder God Omega, Ge Luo had mastered several methods for sensing an opponent’s battle energy. From Batengping, Ge Luo could clearly feel that at most, he was merely at the peak Saint level, just like Franz and the other two.
A peak Saint-level martial artist—Ge Luo had just casually defeated three of them! Now, how could he tolerate Batengping, who was merely at the same level as his defeated foes, acting so arrogantly in front of him?
Ge Luo was confident enough that his sudden attack would leave Batengping with absolutely no chance of dodging.
Indeed, when Ge Luo transformed into a blur and nearly reached Batengping’s position, Batengping still seemed unaware of Ge Luo’s movement, standing there motionless and dazed.
“Learn to be smarter in life!” Mentally sneering, Ge Luo suddenly slashed his open palm toward Batengping’s left arm. Ge Luo wanted to teach Batengping a sufficiently profound lesson. If this strike landed, it would be enough to shatter every bone in Batengping’s left arm!
However, Ge Luo’s triumphant expression lasted only a brief moment before vanishing completely. Because the open palm strike he had swung sliced through a complete half-circle in front of him, hitting absolutely nothing but air!
Missing his strike, Ge Luo was instantly alarmed. Yet, what left him even more incredulous was that when he finally stopped, he found Batengping still standing exactly where he had been before, as if he hadn’t even moved! And Ge Luo’s strike had somehow failed to touch even a single hair on Batengping!
What… what was going on? Such an unprecedented and bizarre situation instantly soaked Ge Luo in cold sweat.
Unable to comprehend what had just happened, Ge Luo was not alone in his confusion. Everyone else in the hall was equally perplexed. They had all seen Ge Luo suddenly lunge at Batengping, only to end up swinging his palm at thin air just a step away from his target.
“He’s too strong, even I can’t afford to provoke him. So, it’s best you save him for last.” Seeing the puzzled expressions on everyone’s faces, Baten Ping smiled and first pointed to the martial artist on the south side of the hall to explain a few things, then pointed at Zhang Wen and scratched his head, “As for him… I’m a bit confused. He seems weak, yet also seems formidable. Just to be safe, you’d better keep him for later.”
Baten Ping shrugged with a cheerful demeanor.
If by now, after listening to Baten Ping, Ge Luo still hadn’t grasped the meaning behind Baten Ping’s words, then he really didn’t need to continue in this line of work!
“Hmph… hmph…” Ge Luo let out a series of angry sneers, “Are you trying to say that I’m no match for the three of you, afraid I might lose to you before dealing with these trash?”
“Sigh… I didn’t mean to hurt your pride…” Baten Ping shook his head helplessly.
“Ridiculous!” Ge Luo raised his chin high, a cold glint in his eyes, “You, dare to speak to me like this?”
As soon as the words fell, Ge Luo had already turned into a phantom, pouncing towards Baten Ping’s position without any warning. Since Ge Luo could utilize over eighty percent of his combat energy, there was no exaggerated burst of energy when he attacked at full force. However, Ge Luo’s speed far surpassed that of any normal saint-level expert, and the suddenness of his attack was unmatched by other saint-level experts.
In fact, while Baten Ping was still pointing at Zhang Wen and talking, the furious Ge Luo had already carefully observed Baten Ping’s condition. As one of the proud disciples of the Thunder God Omega, Ge Luo had mastered several methods to sense an opponent’s combat energy. On Baten Ping, Ge Luo could clearly feel that he was at most at the peak saint-level, just like the three from Franz.
Peak saint-level martial artists, Ge Luo had just casually dealt with three! How could he now tolerate Baten Ping, who was at the same level as his defeated opponents, being so presumptuous in front of him?
Ge Luo was confident enough that Baten Ping had no chance of dodging this sudden attack of his.
Indeed, when Ge Luo seemed to turn into a phantom and almost reached Baten Ping, Baten Ping still stood there as if he hadn’t noticed Ge Luo’s movement.
“Learn to be smarter in the future!” Ge Luo sneered in his heart, suddenly swinging a hand blade towards Baten Ping’s left arm. Ge Luo wanted to give Baten Ping a profound lesson; if this hand blade hit, it would completely shatter the bones in Baten Ping’s left arm!
However, the triumphant look on Ge Luo’s face only lasted for a brief moment before disappearing without a trace. Because, the hand blade he swung passed through a complete semicircle in front of him, but touched nothing but air!
Missing the strike, Ge Luo was instantly startled. But what made Ge Luo even more unbelievable was that when he stood still, he found Baten Ping still standing in his original position, as if he hadn’t moved at all! And Ge Luo’s hand blade hadn’t even touched a single hair on Baten Ping!
What… what’s going on? This bizarre situation, never seen before, instantly drenched Ge Luo in cold sweat.
Ge Luo didn’t understand what had just happened, and the others in the hall were also completely baffled. They all saw Ge Luo suddenly pounce towards Baten Ping, only to suddenly swing his hand blade at the air when he was still a step away from Baten Ping.
“What exactly does Ge Luo mean? Just trying to warn that kid? From his earlier momentum, it didn’t seem like that!”
“Who knows?” The martial artists in the hall started discussing again. And the martial artist who had been sitting motionless on the south side of the hall finally showed a strange gleam in his eyes at this moment.
“Sigh… Mr. Ge Luo, why are you in such a hurry? Didn’t I say it’s better for us not to fight until you’ve dealt with those people?” Baten Ping sighed again.
“You…” Ge Luo stared at Baten Ping, his face constantly changing.
The martial artists in the hall also held their breath, waiting for the show to start. Seeing Ge Luo’s hand blade swing at the air, the scoundrels in the hall quickly realized that this oddly named, baby-faced martial artist was definitely not simple!
However, just as Ge Luo was still hesitating and couldn’t make up his mind, a roar that Zhang Wen was all too familiar with suddenly came from outside the hall.
“Get out of my way! If you dare block my path again, believe me, I’ll tear this damn ship apart!”
Then, after a burst of noisy clamor, a loud “boom” was heard from the east door of the hall. The sea urchin stone door, over two people tall and three fingers wide, was blasted away, along with a few unlucky bodyguards, and crashed heavily into the hall.
Bang! The sound of the sea urchin stone door hitting the ground was like a hammer striking the hearts of the dozens of tenth-level experts in the hall, making them tremble with fear and secretly lament.
Being able to blast open that sea urchin stone door with one strike, the scoundrels in the three-story hall were all too aware. Without super-level strength, one wouldn’t even dare to think about it.
The situation in the three-story hall was already bizarre enough, and now with the appearance of such a hot-tempered super-level expert… the scoundrels now all fervently hoped that they had accumulated enough virtue in their past lives to see them through this calamity.
“Agate…” Zhang Wen also sighed heavily.
“Hey! Lecherous teacher! Where the hell did you run off to! You made me get lost in the lower cabins while you came here to enjoy yourself!” As soon as Agate rushed into the hall, he angrily strode towards Zhang Wen.
“Lost?” Zhang Wen helplessly glanced at Shura, who was following behind Agate with a bitter face.
“He couldn’t find the way out and was wandering around the corridors on the second floor. By the time I found him, it was already too late.” Shura succinctly explained the reason for their late arrival at the hall.
“Hmph… so what if you’re a super-level expert? Today, I’m the examiner. The rule I set is that anyone who doesn’t arrive within ten minutes is disqualified. You’ve already lost your qualification.” Agate’s appearance just gave Ge Luo, who was already fuming, an outlet for his anger.
On Hassan’s Star Moon, Ge Luo didn’t believe Agate would dare to do anything to him.
“Lost our qualification? Say that again?” Agate was stunned for a moment, then sharply raised his voice, step by step approaching Ge Luo.
“I’m today’s examiner, and the rule I set is just that. If you want to blame someone, blame your own bad luck!” Ge Luo refused to back down verbally, but facing the pressure of a super-level expert, even someone as arrogant as Ge Luo lost his earlier confidence.
“Lost our qualification? Fine! Then don’t blame me!” Before Ge Luo could finish his words, Agate had already sneered, drawing the iconic giant sword from his back.
“You… what are you going to do?” Agate’s action of drawing his sword terrified all the martial artists in the hall.
After all, most of the martial artists in this hall were only at the tenth level. Earlier, when the Star Moon was just a few kilometers from the shore, they had already exhausted themselves flying to board the ship. Now, after the Star Moon had sailed another four or five hours into the deep sea, they were at least several dozen kilometers from the coastline. If Agate really tore apart the Star Moon, probably more than half of the tenth-level experts present would drown in the sea!
“What am I going to do? Isn’t it obvious? Anyway, the debts I owe are already beyond repayment, so I might as well owe a bit more! Since I can’t stay in the empire anymore, I might as well tear this damn ship apart before leaving, at least to vent my anger. Don’t worry, after tearing apart this ship, I’ll find a way to call another ship to rescue you.”
Boom!
As Agate spoke, the “Flame Demon Fire” he was famous for began to emanate from his body.
“Wait a minute!” Just as Agate was about to raise his giant sword to start dismantling the ship, the blue-clad man Anthony finally appeared in time at the hall’s entrance.
“What else do you have to say?” Agate showed no intention of lowering his giant sword. The energy blade of the sword gradually turned a fiery red, and any martial artist with a bit of knowledge could see the destructive power contained within.
“Mr. Ge Luo, I think everyone is quite tired. Let’s end today’s test here.” Anthony nodded to Ge Luo. Although his tone was consultative, the look he gave Ge Luo was stern and unyielding.
“Hmph!” Ge Luo pretended to be indignant, snorted coldly, and walked away with a flick of his sleeve. In fact, it was clear to anyone with eyes that Ge Luo himself also breathed a sigh of relief.
Agate, a super-level expert with a street thug background, might not know the value of the Star Moon, but Ge Luo knew it all too well. The artworks in the three-story hall were almost all priceless treasures that money couldn’t buy! Ge Luo could hardly imagine how Hassan, who would be heartbroken, would deal with him if the Star Moon were really torn apart because of his competitive temper with Agate!
With Anthony stepping in to mediate at this moment, Ge Luo naturally wouldn’t miss this opportunity to back down.
“Today’s test ends here. Everyone can go back and rest. After breakfast tomorrow, we will inform you of the time and arrangements for the next test.” As soon as Ge Luo walked out the door, the blue-clad man Anthony said to the relieved scoundrels.
“Ah? The test is over? What about us?” Agate still pressed anxiously.
“Hehe. Today’s second test is canceled, so of course you all pass.” Anthony smiled politely, bowed slightly to Zhang Wen and his group, then turned and left the hall.
Along with Anthony, the tenth-level scoundrels, as if pardoned, also left. In the blink of an eye, the hall was almost empty.
The baby-faced Baten Ping smiled with interest at Zhang Wen and his group, then left the hall through the north door. The martial artist who had been sitting against the wall on the south side of the hall, still unnamed, also left through the south door after Baten Ping.
Zhang Wen also followed the crowd back to his room on the second floor of the Star Moon. When Zhang Wen first came to the second floor, because he was still concerned about exploring the structure of the Star Moon, he didn’t carefully inspect his room.
Now, truly settling down and entering the room, Zhang Wen realized that the guest rooms on the Star Moon, like all the rooms on the ship, lived up to the description of “magnificent.” When Zhang Wen pushed open the door marked with the numbers “25, 26,” he saw a scene like a crystal palace from a myth.
“Huh? Why is it you?” However, as soon as Zhang Wen stepped into the living room of the room, he heard a startled cry.
Ryan was curled up on the sofa in the living room, made of some unknown fur, hugging his legs nervously.
“Is it strange that it’s me?” Zhang Wen asked with a half-smile, “We were together originally, so being assigned to the same room isn’t strange, is it? Or do you have some other reason to think I shouldn’t be here?”
“But… but…” Ryan looked at Zhang Wen in surprise as he sat down opposite him, hurriedly crossing his legs, his face flushing with what seemed like shyness.
“Hey, Ryan, your actions are looking more like a girl’s!” Zhang Wen teased with a half-smile.
“Who… who’s like a girl? I’m just not used to being watched so closely!” Ryan retorted in a fluster, turning his back to Zhang Wen.
“Hey…” Zhang Wen raised the corner of his mouth and said no more. But moments later, the restless Ryan jumped off the sofa and stormed out of the room in a huff.
“Eh?!” Just as Ryan pushed open the door, a slightly overweight middle-aged man with a ridiculous goatee happened to appear at the doorway. The goateed man, who was about to knock, was startled by Ryan suddenly opening the door. Ryan also looked at the goateed man in surprise, then quickly ran off without a trace.
“Hehe…” The goateed man chuckled a few times at Ryan’s retreating figure, then turned and walked straight into Zhang Wen’s room.
“Hmm?” Zhang Wen looked up in surprise.
“Hehe… I never thought I’d have the honor of meeting the hero of Casares in person. The famous Teacher Zhang Wen, pleased to meet you!” The goateed man said with an ingratiating smile, extending both hands and quickly walking up to Zhang Wen.
As the saying goes, you don’t hit a smiling face. Although the goateed man’s flattery was a bit over the top, his ingratiating demeanor made it hard for Zhang Wen to just kick him out.
“And you are?” Zhang Wen had just asked when the goateed man enthusiastically grabbed his right hand.
“Hehe! My surname is Angelo. Loki Angelo.” The goateed man introduced himself while vigorously shaking Zhang Wen’s hand, “My acquaintances like to call me ‘Old Goat.’ If Teacher Zhang doesn’t mind, you can call me that too.”
“Old Goat? Do I know you?” Zhang Wen withdrew his hand, looking at the goateed man in surprise.
“Hehe! Not now, but once we meet, we’ll get to know each other!” Old Goat smiled, not at all affected by Zhang Wen’s tone.
“…What exactly do you want to say?” Zhang Wen was quite speechless at the goateed man’s enthusiasm, “If you’re just here to fawn over a celebrity, you’re a bit old for that.”
“Hehe! My admiration for Teacher Zhang is genuine. But… I came to see Teacher Zhang for another reason.”
“I don’t think I’d be interested in discussing anything with a stranger who suddenly shows up at my door.” Zhang Wen smiled faintly, still maintaining a distant attitude.
“Hey, Teacher Zhang, don’t be so cold! Actually, I have some connections with Lord Shura.”
“Oh? Since you have connections with Shura, why don’t you go talk to him?” Zhang Wen smiled.
“Uh…” Old Goat’s smile stiffened for a moment, but he quickly recovered, just a bit awkwardly smiling, “Well… a few months ago, there was a small misunderstanding between us. Although it doesn’t affect our relationship, it’s a bit awkward to bring up certain things with Lord Shura now…”
“So you came to me?” Zhang Wen glanced at Old Goat.
“Hey! Teacher Zhang is indeed a teacher at the Almis Academy.” Angelo complimented Zhang Wen without hesitation, then continued with a merchant-like smile, “I guess Teacher Zhang’s interest in this competition is in the four spots Hassan is offering at the end, right? After all, only a famous figure like Teacher Zhang deserves such a large sum of money from Hassan!”
“Are you saying you’re not qualified?” Zhang Wen smiled faintly, deliberately needling him.
“Of course!” To Zhang Wen’s surprise, Old Goat didn’t mind the jab at all, instead nodding readily, “The four spots Hassan is offering at the end are not for me to covet. I know my own limits. Even if I could make it to the end of the selection, I wouldn’t dare to compete in a match with super-level experts.”
“Oh? In that case, why did you come to me?” Zhang Wen asked again, amused.
“Hey, Teacher Zhang, don’t rush me! I don’t want to covet the four competition spots, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to stay longer in this selection. The daily prize of three hundred thousand, Teacher Zhang, you’re wealthy and might not care, but for small fries like us, it’s a significant amount.” At this point, Old Goat finally put away his smile and spoke seriously to Zhang Wen, “Hassan is generous, but he’s no philanthropist. To earn this daily three hundred thousand shield prize, we selectors will eventually have to fight to the death. Those without allies will surely be the first to be eliminated…”
“So?” Zhang Wen was getting impatient with Old Goat’s lengthy speech.
“So, I want to team up with Teacher Zhang, Lord Agate, and Lord Shura.” Old Goat smiled without hesitation, finally stating his purpose.
“Team up with you?” Zhang Wen looked at the smiling Old Goat, “Why? What’s in it for us?”
“Hehe! Teacher Zhang always hits the nail on the head.” Old Goat nodded repeatedly with a merchant-like smile, “Since Teacher Zhang is familiar with Lord Shura, you must know that this competition has attracted almost half of the professional adventurers from the southern realm.”
“Yes. I’ve heard a bit.”
“Hey! In fact, I’m also one of the professional adventurers lured here by Hassan’s bounty. So, I know a bit more about these professional adventurers than Lord Shura.” As he said this, Old Goat’s smile inadvertently showed a bit of confidence.
“You seem quite confident you can persuade me.”
“Confident is a bit of an overstatement, but I’m sure I have quite a few bargaining chips to offer. You know, there aren’t many like me who can keep a clear head and not covet those final four spots. Everyone here, attracted by Hassan’s bounty, hopes to make it to the end, right?” Old Goat smiled cunningly, “For these people, the three individuals singled out by that young man Baten Ping in today’s match are their biggest rivals. And now, with the support of Lord Shura and Lord Agate, Teacher Zhang naturally poses an even greater threat. So, you’ve become public enemies.”
“Given that, why did you specifically come to us to cooperate?”
“Teacher Zhang, why ask when you already know the answer?” Old Goat spread his hands comically, “So-called ‘public enemies,’ in other words, are the hot favorites. A lone wolf like me naturally seeks to ally with the strong. If I went to them, I might be thrown out as a sacrifice at any moment.”
“You’re quite clever.”
“Thank you for the compliment. It’s this bit of cleverness that’s kept me alive in the professional adventurer business.” Old Goat put on his merchant-like smile again, “So, is our alliance settled then?”
“Who knows?” The martial artists in the hall began murmuring among themselves again. At that moment, the martial artist who had been kneeling quietly at the south side of the hall finally showed a flicker of unusual interest in his eyes.
“Oh… Mr. Ge Luo, why are you in such a hurry? Didn’t I just say? It would be better if we two didn’t fight until after you’ve dealt with those people,” Batengping sighed again.
“You…” Ge Luo stared fiercely at Batengping, his expression constantly shifting.
The martial artists in the hall held their breath, eagerly anticipating the show. Witnessing Ge Luo’s earlier strike at empty air, the villains in the hall had quickly realized that this baby-faced martial artist with the strange name was definitely no ordinary person!
However, just as Ge Luo hesitated, unable to make a decision, a roar suddenly echoed from outside the hall—one that Zhang Wen recognized instantly.
“All of you, get out of my way! If anyone dares block my path again, do you think I won’t tear apart this lousy ship of yours!”
Immediately afterward, amidst a cacophony of noise, a deafening “Boom!” suddenly erupted from the east entrance of the hall. The sea-urchin stone door, over two meters high and as thick as three fingers, was blown off its hinges. It crashed heavily into the hall, taking several unlucky bodyguards with it.
The sound of the sea-urchin stone door crashing to the floor was like a hammer striking the hearts of the dozens of tenth-tier experts in the hall, making them tremble with fear and silently curse their luck.
Everyone in the third-level hall knew perfectly well that only someone with Super-tier strength could have blown open that sea-urchin stone door in a single strike. No other explanation was even worth considering.
“He’s too strong, even I can’t afford to provoke him. So, you’d better save him for last.” Seeing the puzzled expressions of the crowd, Ba Tengping smiled and first pointed to the martial artist on the south side of the hall to explain a few things, then scratched his head and pointed at Zhang Wen, “As for him… I’m a bit confused. He seems weak, but also seems very powerful. Just to be safe, you should keep him for later.”
Ba Tengping shrugged with a cheerful demeanor.
If Ge Luo hadn’t figured out what Ba Tengping meant by now, then he really didn’t deserve to continue hanging around!
“Hmph… hmph…” Ge Luo let out a series of angry sneers, “Are you saying that I’m no match for the three of you, and you’re afraid I’ll lose to you before I can deal with these trash?”
“Sigh… I didn’t want to hurt your pride…” Ba Tengping shook his head helplessly.
“Ridiculous!” Ge Luo raised his chin high, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, “How dare you speak to me like that?”
As soon as the words left his mouth, Ge Luo had already turned into a blur, lunging toward Ba Tengping without warning. Since Ge Luo could utilize over eighty percent of his combat energy, there was no exaggerated burst of energy when he attacked at full force. However, his speed far surpassed that of any normal Saint-level expert, and the suddenness of his assault was unmatched by any other Saint-level expert.
In fact, while Ba Tengping was still pointing at Zhang Wen and talking, the furious Ge Luo had already carefully observed Ba Tengping’s condition. As one of Thunder God Omega’s proud disciples, Ge Luo had mastered several methods to sense an opponent’s combat energy. From Ba Tengping, Ge Luo could clearly feel that he was at most at the same Saint-level peak as the three from Franz.
A Saint-level peak martial artist? Ge Luo had just casually dealt with three of them! How could he tolerate someone like Ba Tengping, who was at the same level as his defeated opponents, acting so arrogantly in front of him?
Ge Luo was confident that Ba Tengping had no chance of dodging this sudden attack.
Indeed, when Ge Luo, like a phantom, almost reached Ba Tengping, Ba Tengping still seemed unaware of Ge Luo’s movements, standing dumbly in place.
“Learn to be smarter in the future!” Ge Luo sneered inwardly, suddenly slashing a hand blade toward Ba Tengping’s left arm. Ge Luo wanted to teach Ba Tengping a lesson he would never forget. If this hand blade hit, it would completely shatter the bones in Ba Tengping’s left arm!
However, the triumphant look on Ge Luo’s face disappeared in an instant. Because the hand blade he swung passed through a complete semicircle in front of him, but aside from air, it touched nothing!
Missing his strike, Ge Luo was instantly shocked. But what made Ge Luo even more incredulous was that when he steadied himself, he found Ba Tengping still standing exactly where he had been, as if he hadn’t moved at all! And Ge Luo’s hand blade hadn’t even grazed a single hair on Ba Tengping!
What… what is going on? This bizarre situation, which he had never encountered before, instantly drenched Ge Luo in cold sweat.
Ge Luo didn’t understand what had just happened, and neither did the others in the hall. They all saw Ge Luo suddenly pounce toward Ba Tengping, only to swing his hand blade at the air when he was still a step away.
“What exactly is Ge Luo trying to do? Just warn that kid? From his earlier demeanor, it didn’t seem like that!”
“Who knows?” The martial artists in the hall began to murmur again. And the martial artist who had been sitting motionless on the south side of the hall finally showed a flicker of unusual interest in his eyes.
“Sigh… Mr. Ge Luo, why are you in such a hurry? Didn’t I say it’s better for us not to fight until you’ve dealt with those people?” Ba Tengping sighed again.
“You…” Ge Luo stared at Ba Tengping, his face constantly changing.
The martial artists in the hall held their breath, waiting for the show to begin. Seeing Ge Luo’s hand blade swing at the air, the thugs in the hall quickly realized that this oddly named, baby-faced martial artist was definitely not simple!
However, just as Ge Luo was hesitating and couldn’t make up his mind, a roar that Zhang Wen was all too familiar with suddenly echoed from outside the hall.
“Get out of my way! If you dare block my path again, I’ll tear this damn ship apart!”
Then, after a burst of noisy commotion, a loud “boom” came from the east door of the hall. The sea urchin stone door, over two people tall and three fingers wide, was blasted off its hinges, taking a few unlucky bodyguards with it, and crashed heavily into the hall.
Bang! The sound of the sea urchin stone door hitting the ground was like a hammer striking the hearts of the dozens of tenth-tier experts in the hall, making them tremble with fear and silently curse their luck.
The thugs in the three-story hall knew all too well that it would take a super-tier expert to blast open that sea urchin stone door. Without super-tier strength, it was unthinkable.
The situation in the three-story hall was already bizarre enough, and now with the appearance of such a hot-tempered super-tier expert… the thugs could only hope that they had accumulated enough virtue in their past lives to survive this ordeal.
“Agate…” Zhang Wen also sighed heavily.
“Hey! Perverted teacher! Where the hell did you run off to? I got lost in the lower decks, and here you are, enjoying yourself!” Agate stormed into the hall, angrily striding toward Zhang Wen.
“Lost?” Zhang Wen glanced helplessly at Shura, who was following Agate with a pained expression.
“He couldn’t find his way out and kept wandering around the second-floor corridors. By the time I found him, it was already too late.” Shura succinctly explained why he and Agate had arrived so late.
“Hmph… So what if you’re a super-tier expert? Today, I’m the examiner. The rule I set is that anyone who doesn’t arrive within ten minutes is disqualified. You’ve already lost your chance.” Agate’s appearance gave Ge Luo, who was already fuming, a perfect outlet for his anger.
On Hassan’s Star Moon, Ge Luo didn’t believe Agate would dare to do anything to him.
“Disqualified? Say that again?” Agate paused, then raised his voice, stepping closer to Ge Luo.
“I’m the examiner today, and the rules are set by me. If you want to blame anyone, blame your own bad luck!” Ge Luo refused to back down verbally, but faced with the pressure of a super-tier expert, even the arrogant Ge Luo lost some of his earlier confidence.
“Disqualified? Fine! Then don’t blame me!” Before Ge Luo could finish, Agate sneered and drew the iconic giant sword from his back.
“You… what are you planning to do?” Agate’s action of drawing his sword terrified all the martial artists in the hall.
Most of the martial artists in the hall were only at the tenth-tier level. Earlier, when the Star Moon was just a few kilometers from the shore, they had already exhausted themselves flying to board the ship. Now, after sailing four or five hours into the deep sea, they were at least dozens of kilometers from the coastline. If Agate really tore the Star Moon apart, most of the tenth-tier experts present would likely drown in the sea!
“What am I planning to do? Isn’t it obvious? Since I can’t pay off my debts anyway, I might as well owe a bit more! If I can’t stay in the empire, then before I leave, I’ll tear this damn ship apart, at least to vent my anger. Don’t worry, after I tear this ship apart, I’ll find another ship to rescue you.”
Boom!
As Agate spoke, the “Flame Demon Fire” he was famous for began to emanate from his body.
“Wait!” Just as Agate raised his giant sword, ready to tear the ship apart, the blue-clad man Anthony finally appeared at the hall’s entrance.
“What else do you have to say?” Agate showed no intention of lowering his sword. The energy blade of the giant sword was gradually turning a fiery red, and any martial artist with a bit of knowledge could see the destructive power contained within.
“Mr. Ge Luo, I think everyone is quite tired. Let’s end today’s test here.” Anthony nodded to Ge Luo. Although his tone was one of discussion, his gaze carried an undeniable sternness.
“Hmph!” Ge Luo pretended to be indignant, snorted coldly, and left with a flick of his sleeve. In truth, anyone with eyes could see that Ge Luo himself was also greatly relieved.
Agate, a super-tier expert with a street thug background, might not know the value of the Star Moon, but Ge Luo knew it all too well. The artworks in the three-story hall were almost all priceless treasures that couldn’t be bought with money! Ge Luo couldn’t even imagine how Hassan, who would be heartbroken if the Star Moon were destroyed due to his petty rivalry, would deal with him!
With Anthony stepping in to mediate, Ge Luo naturally wouldn’t miss this opportunity to save face.
“Today’s test is over. Everyone can go back and rest. After breakfast tomorrow, we’ll inform you of the time and arrangements for the next test.” As soon as Ge Luo walked out the door, the blue-clad man Anthony addressed the relieved thugs.
“Ah? The test is over? What about us?” Agate asked, still not entirely at ease.
“Ha ha. Today’s second test is canceled, so of course, you all pass.” Anthony smiled politely, gave a slight bow to Zhang Wen and his group, and then left the hall.
Along with Anthony, the tenth-tier thugs, who felt as if they had been granted amnesty, also left. In the blink of an eye, the hall was almost empty.
The baby-faced Ba Tengping smiled with interest at Zhang Wen and his group, then left the hall through the north door. The unnamed martial artist who had been sitting against the south wall also left through the south door after Ba Tengping.
Zhang Wen followed the crowd back to his room on the second floor of the Star Moon. When Zhang Wen first arrived on the second floor, he was too preoccupied with investigating the ship’s structure to pay much attention to his room.
Now, with his mind at ease, he entered the room and realized that the guest rooms on the Star Moon, like all the other rooms on the ship, lived up to the description of “magnificent.” When Zhang Wen pushed open the door marked with the numbers “25” and “26,” he was greeted by a scene reminiscent of a crystal palace from mythology.
“Huh? Why are you here?” However, as soon as Zhang Wen stepped into the living room, he heard a startled cry.
Ryan was curled up on the sofa in the living room, hugging his legs nervously. The sofa was made of some kind of fur that Zhang Wen couldn’t identify.
“Is it strange that I’m here?” Zhang Wen asked with a half-smile, “We’re together, so isn’t it normal to be assigned the same room? Or do you have some other reason to think I shouldn’t be here?”
“But… but…” Ryan looked at Zhang Wen in surprise as he sat down opposite him, hurriedly crossing his legs, his face flushing with what seemed like embarrassment.
“Hey, Ryan, you’re acting more like a girl now!” Zhang Wen teased with a smirk.
“Who… who’s acting like a girl? I’m just not used to being watched so closely!” Ryan retorted nervously, turning his back to Zhang Wen.
“Heh…” Zhang Wen raised an eyebrow and said nothing more. But after a moment, the restless Ryan jumped off the sofa and stormed out of the room in a huff.
“Ah?!” Just as Ryan pushed open the door, a slightly overweight middle-aged man with a ridiculous goatee appeared at the entrance. The goateed man, who had been about to knock, was startled by Ryan’s sudden exit. Ryan also gave the man a surprised look before quickly running off.
“Ha ha…” The goateed man chuckled as he watched Ryan’s retreating figure, then turned and walked straight into Zhang Wen’s room.
“Hmm?” Zhang Wen looked up in surprise.
“Ha ha… I never thought I’d have the honor of meeting the hero of Cassares in person. The famous Teacher Zhang Wen, it’s a pleasure to meet you!” The goateed man said with an ingratiating smile, spouting flattery that almost made Zhang Wen’s skin crawl, and extended both hands as he quickly approached Zhang Wen.
As the saying goes, you don’t hit a smiling face. Although the goateed man’s flattery was a bit over the top, his eager demeanor made it hard for Zhang Wen to just kick him out.
“And you are?” Zhang Wen had just asked when the goateed man enthusiastically grabbed his right hand.
“Ha ha! My name is Angelo. Loki Angelo.” The goateed man shook Zhang Wen’s hand vigorously as he introduced himself, “My friends call me ‘Old Goat.’ If you don’t mind, Teacher Zhang, you can call me that too.”
“Old Goat? Do I know you?” Zhang Wen withdrew his hand, looking at the goateed man in confusion.
“Ha ha! Not yet, but we’ll get to know each other soon enough!” Old Goat laughed, completely unfazed by Zhang Wen’s tone.
“…What exactly do you want?” Zhang Wen was truly at a loss for words with Old Goat’s enthusiasm, “If you’re just here to fawn over me, you’re a bit old for that.”
“Ha ha! My admiration for Teacher Zhang is genuine. But… I came here specifically to discuss something else with you.”
“I don’t think I’d be interested in talking to a stranger who suddenly shows up at my door.” Zhang Wen smiled faintly, maintaining his aloof demeanor.
“Hey, Teacher Zhang, don’t be so cold! Actually, I have some connections with Lord Shura.”
“Oh? If you’re connected to Shura, then go talk to him.” Zhang Wen smiled.
“Uh…” Old Goat’s smile faltered for a moment, but he quickly recovered, though with a hint of awkwardness, “Well… a few months ago, there was a bit of a misunderstanding between us. It doesn’t affect our relationship, but it’s a bit awkward to bring up certain things with him now…”
“So you came to me instead?” Zhang Wen glanced at Old Goat out of the corner of his eye.
“Ha ha! Teacher Zhang, you truly live up to your reputation as an instructor at the Almis Academy.” Old Goat shamelessly flattered Zhang Wen again, then continued with a merchant-like smile, “I guess Teacher Zhang’s interest in this competition lies in the four spots Hassan is offering at the end, right? After all, only a renowned figure like Teacher Zhang would be worthy of Hassan spending such a fortune to invite!”
“Are you saying you’re not worthy?” Zhang Wen smiled faintly, deliberately needling him.
“Of course!” To Zhang Wen’s surprise, Old Goat didn’t mind the jab at all and instead nodded eagerly, “The final four spots Hassan is offering are way out of my league. I know my limits. Even if I managed to make it to the end of the selection, I wouldn’t dare to compete in a match with super-tier experts.”
“Oh? Then why are you here talking to me?” Zhang Wen asked, amused.
“Hey, Teacher Zhang, don’t rush me! Just because I don’t want to compete for the four spots doesn’t mean I don’t want to stay in the selection as long as possible. A daily prize of 300,000 shields might not mean much to someone as wealthy as you, but for small fries like us, it’s a huge sum.” At this point, Old Goat finally dropped his smile and spoke seriously, “Hassan is generous, but he’s no philanthropist. To earn that 300,000 shields a day, we participants will eventually have to fight to the death. Those without allies will be the first to be eliminated…”
“So?” Zhang Wen was growing impatient with Old Goat’s long-winded explanation.
“So, I want to team up with Teacher Zhang, as well as Lord Agate and Lord Shura.” Old Goat smiled without hesitation, finally revealing his intention.
“Team up with you?” Zhang Wen looked at the smiling Old Goat, “Why? What’s in it for us?”
“Ha ha! Teacher Zhang, you always hit the nail on the head.” Old Goat nodded with a merchant-like smile, “Since Teacher Zhang is familiar with Lord Shura, you must know that this competition has attracted almost half of the professional adventurers from the southern region.”
“Yes. I’ve heard a bit about it.”
“Ha! In fact, I’m one of the professional adventurers lured here by Hassan’s bounty. So, I know a bit more about these adventurers than Lord Shura.” As he said this, Old Goat’s smile carried a hint of confidence.
“You seem quite confident you can persuade me.”
“Confident is a strong word, but I do have a few bargaining chips. You see, not many people can keep a level head and not aim for the final four spots. Everyone here is drawn by Hassan’s bounty, and who wouldn’t want to make it to the end?” Old Goat smiled slyly, “For these people, the three individuals singled out by that young man Ba Tengping today are their biggest threats. And with Teacher Zhang now backed by Lord Shura and Lord Agate, you’re an even greater threat. So, you’ve become the public enemy.”
“Given that, why are you still seeking to cooperate with us?”
“Teacher Zhang, why play dumb?” Old Goat spread his hands comically, “A ‘public enemy,’ in other words, is a favorite. A lone wolf like me naturally seeks out the strong. If I were to join them, I might be thrown out as a sacrificial pawn at any moment.”
“You’re quite clever.”
“Thank you for the compliment. It’s this bit of cunning that’s kept me alive in the world of professional adventurers.” Old Goat resumed his merchant-like smile, “So, shall we consider our alliance sealed?”
“Agate…” Zhang Wen also sighed deeply.
“Hey! Perverted teacher! Where the hell did you run off to just now! You left me wandering around lost in the lower decks while you came here to enjoy yourself!” As soon as Agate stormed into the hall, he angrily strode toward Zhang Wen.
“Lost?” Zhang Wen helplessly looked at Xiu Luo, who was following behind Agate with a pained expression.
“He couldn’t find his way out, so he just wandered around the second-floor corridors. By the time I found him, it was already too late,” Xiu Luo succinctly explained the reason for their delayed arrival.
“He’s too strong, even I can’t afford to provoke him. So, you’d better save him for last.” Seeing the puzzled expressions on everyone’s faces, Bateng Ping smiled and first pointed to the martial artist in the south of the hall to explain a few things, then scratched his head as he pointed at Zhang Wen, “As for him… I’m a bit confused. He seems weak, yet also seems formidable. Just to be safe, you should keep him for later.”
Bateng Ping shrugged with a cheerful demeanor.
If Ge Luo hadn’t understood what Bateng Ping was implying by now, then he really didn’t deserve to continue in this game!
“Hmph… hmph…” Ge Luo let out a series of angry sneers, “Are you saying that I’m no match for the three of you, and you’re afraid I’ll lose to you before I can deal with these trash?”
“Sigh… I didn’t want to hurt your pride…” Bateng Ping shook his head helplessly.
“Ridiculous!” Ge Luo raised his chin high, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, “Who do you think you are to speak to me like that?”
As soon as the words left his mouth, Ge Luo had already turned into a blur, lunging towards Bateng Ping’s position without warning. Since Ge Luo could utilize over eighty percent of his combat energy, there was no exaggerated burst of energy when he attacked at full force. However, his speed far surpassed that of any normal Saint-level expert, and the suddenness of his assault was unmatched by any other Saint-level expert.
In fact, while Bateng Ping was still pointing at Zhang Wen and talking, the furious Ge Luo had already carefully observed Bateng Ping’s condition. As one of Thunder God Omega’s proud disciples, Ge Luo had mastered several methods to sense an opponent’s combat energy. From Bateng Ping, Ge Luo could clearly feel that he was at most at the peak Saint-level, just like the three from Franz.
A peak Saint-level martial artist—Ge Luo had just casually dealt with three of them! How could he tolerate someone like Bateng Ping, who was at the same level as his previous defeated opponents, acting so arrogantly in front of him?
Ge Luo was confident that there was no way Bateng Ping could dodge this sudden attack.
Indeed, as Ge Luo transformed into a blur and almost reached Bateng Ping, Bateng Ping still seemed oblivious to Ge Luo’s movements, standing dumbly in place.
“Learn to be smarter in the future!” Ge Luo sneered inwardly, slashing a hand blade towards Bateng Ping’s left arm. Ge Luo wanted to teach Bateng Ping a lesson so severe that this hand blade, if it hit, would completely shatter the bones in Bateng Ping’s left arm!
However, the smug look on Ge Luo’s face disappeared in an instant. Because the hand blade he swung passed through a complete semicircle in front of him, but aside from air, it touched nothing!
Missing his strike, Ge Luo was instantly shocked. But what made Ge Luo even more incredulous was that when he steadied himself, he found Bateng Ping still standing in the exact same spot, as if he hadn’t moved at all! And Ge Luo’s hand blade hadn’t even grazed a single hair on Bateng Ping!
What… what just happened? This bizarre situation, which he had never encountered before, instantly drenched Ge Luo in cold sweat.
Ge Luo didn’t understand what had just happened, and neither did most of the people in the hall. They all saw Ge Luo suddenly lunge at Bateng Ping, only to swing his hand blade at the air when he was just a step away.
“What does Ge Luo mean? Just trying to warn that kid? From his earlier demeanor, it didn’t seem like that!”
“Who knows?” The martial artists in the hall began to murmur again. And the martial artist who had been sitting motionless in the south corner of the hall finally showed a flicker of interest in his eyes.
“Sigh… Mr. Ge Luo, why are you in such a hurry? Didn’t I say it’s better for us not to fight until you’ve dealt with those people?” Bateng Ping sighed again.
“You…” Ge Luo stared at Bateng Ping, his face constantly shifting.
The martial artists in the hall held their breath, waiting for the show to begin. Seeing Ge Luo’s hand blade swing at the air, the thugs in the hall quickly realized that this oddly named, baby-faced martial artist was definitely not simple!
However, just as Ge Luo was hesitating and unable to make up his mind, a roar that Zhang Wen was all too familiar with suddenly erupted from outside the hall.
“Get out of my way! If you dare block me again, I’ll tear this damn ship apart!”
Then, amidst a cacophony of noise, a loud “boom” came from the east door of the hall. The sea urchin stone door, over two people tall and three fingers thick, was blasted off its hinges, taking a few unlucky bodyguards with it as it crashed heavily into the hall.
Boom! The sound of the sea urchin stone door hitting the ground was like a hammer striking the hearts of the dozens of tenth-tier experts in the hall, making them tremble with fear.
Everyone in the three-story hall knew full well that it took a super-tier level of strength to blast open that sea urchin stone door.
The situation in the three-story hall was already bizarre enough, and now with the appearance of such a hot-tempered super-tier expert… the thugs were all fervently hoping that their past good deeds would be enough to see them through this ordeal.
“Agate…” Zhang Wen also sighed heavily.
“Hey! Perverted teacher! Where the hell did you run off to earlier? I got lost in the lower decks, and here you are, lounging around!” Agate stormed into the hall, angrily striding towards Zhang Wen.
“Lost?” Zhang Wen glanced helplessly at Shura, who was trailing behind Agate with a pained expression.
“He couldn’t find his way out and was wandering around the second-floor corridors. By the time I found him, it was too late.” Shura succinctly explained why he and Agate had arrived so late.
“Hmph… So what if you’re a super-tier expert? I’m the examiner today. The rule I set is that anyone who doesn’t arrive within ten minutes is disqualified. You’ve lost your chance.” Agate’s appearance gave Ge Luo, who was already fuming, an outlet for his anger.
On Hassan’s Star Moon ship, Ge Luo didn’t believe Agate would dare to do anything to him.
“Disqualified? Say that again?” Agate paused, then raised his voice, stepping closer to Ge Luo.
“I’m the examiner today, and those are the rules I set. If you want to blame anyone, blame your own bad luck!” Ge Luo refused to back down verbally, but faced with the pressure of a super-tier expert, even someone as arrogant as Ge Luo lost some of his earlier confidence.
“Disqualified? Fine! Then don’t blame me!” Before Ge Luo could finish, Agate sneered and drew the massive sword from his back.
“You… what are you doing?” Agate’s action of drawing his sword terrified every martial artist in the hall.
Most of the martial artists in the hall were only at the tenth-tier level. Earlier, when the Star Moon ship was just a few kilometers from the shore, they had already exhausted themselves flying to board it. Now, after sailing four or five hours into the deep sea, they were at least dozens of kilometers from the coastline. If Agate really tore the Star Moon ship apart, most of the tenth-tier experts present would likely drown in the sea!
“What am I doing? Isn’t it obvious? Since I can’t pay off my debts anyway, I might as well rack up a few more! If I can’t stay in the empire, then before I leave, I’ll tear this damn ship apart, at least to vent my anger. Don’t worry, after I destroy this ship, I’ll find another one to rescue you.”
Boom!
As Agate spoke, the infamous “Flame Demon Fire” began to emanate from his body.
“Wait!” Just as Agate raised his massive sword, ready to strike, the blue-clad man Anthony finally appeared at the hall’s entrance.
“What else do you have to say?” Agate showed no intention of lowering his sword. The energy blade of the sword was gradually turning a fiery red, and any experienced martial artist could see the destructive power it contained.
“Mr. Ge Luo, I think everyone is quite tired. Let’s end today’s test here.” Anthony nodded to Ge Luo. His tone was polite, but his gaze carried an undeniable sternness.
“Hmph!” Ge Luo feigned indignation with a cold snort and stormed off. In truth, anyone with eyes could see that Ge Luo himself was also greatly relieved.
Agate, a super-tier expert with a street thug background, might not know the value of the Star Moon ship, but Ge Luo knew it all too well. The artworks in the three-story hall were almost all priceless treasures that couldn’t be bought with money! Ge Luo couldn’t even imagine how Hassan, who would be heartbroken if the Star Moon ship were destroyed due to his petty squabble, would deal with him!
With Anthony stepping in to mediate, Ge Luo naturally wouldn’t miss this chance to save face.
“Today’s test is over. Everyone can go back and rest. After breakfast tomorrow, we’ll inform you of the time and arrangements for the next test.” As soon as Ge Luo left, Anthony addressed the relieved thugs.
“Huh? The test is over? What about us?” Agate pressed, still uneasy.
“Ah. Today’s second test is canceled, so of course, you all pass.” Anthony smiled politely, gave a slight bow to Zhang Wen and his group, and then left the hall.
Along with Anthony, the tenth-tier thugs, who felt as if they had been granted amnesty, also left. In the blink of an eye, the hall was almost empty.
The baby-faced Bateng Ping gave Zhang Wen and his group an amused smile before exiting through the north door. The unnamed martial artist who had been sitting against the south wall also left through the south door after Bateng Ping.
Zhang Wen followed the crowd back to his room on the second floor of the Star Moon ship. When Zhang Wen first arrived on the second floor, he had been too preoccupied with investigating the ship’s structure to pay much attention to his room.
Now, finally settling in and entering the room, Zhang Wen realized that the guest rooms on the Star Moon ship, like all the other rooms on board, lived up to the description of “magnificent.” When Zhang Wen pushed open the door labeled “25, 26,” he was greeted by a scene reminiscent of a mythical crystal palace.
“Huh? Why are you here?” However, as soon as Zhang Wen stepped into the living room, he heard a startled exclamation.
Ryan was curled up on the couch, hugging his legs nervously.
“Is it strange that I’m here?” Zhang Wen asked with a half-smile, “We’re together, so isn’t it normal to be assigned the same room? Or do you have some other reason to think I shouldn’t be here?”
“But… but…” Ryan looked at Zhang Wen in shock as he sat down across from him, hurriedly crossing his legs and blushing slightly, almost as if he were embarrassed.
“Hey, Ryan, you’re acting more like a girl now!” Zhang Wen teased with a smirk.
“Who… who’s acting like a girl? I’m just not used to being watched so closely!” Ryan stammered defensively, turning his back to Zhang Wen.
“Heh…” Zhang Wen raised an eyebrow and didn’t say more. But moments later, the fidgety Ryan jumped off the couch and stormed out of the room in a huff.
“Hey?!” Just as Ryan opened the door, a slightly overweight middle-aged man with a ridiculous goatee appeared at the entrance. The goatee man, who had been about to knock, was startled by Ryan’s sudden exit. Ryan also glanced at the goatee man in surprise before quickly running off.
“Haha…” The goatee man chuckled as he watched Ryan’s retreating figure, then turned and walked straight into Zhang Wen’s room.
“Hmm?” Zhang Wen looked up in surprise.
“Well, well, I never thought I’d have the honor of meeting the hero of Casares in person. The famous Teacher Zhang Wen, it’s a pleasure!” The goatee man said with an ingratiating smile, extending both hands as he approached Zhang Wen.
As the saying goes, you don’t hit a smiling man. Although the goatee man’s flattery was a bit over the top, his obsequious demeanor made it hard for Zhang Wen to just kick him out.
“And you are?” Zhang Wen had just asked when the goatee man enthusiastically grabbed his right hand.
“Ah! My name is Angelo. Loki Angelo.” The goatee man said while vigorously shaking Zhang Wen’s hand, “My friends call me ‘Old Goat.’ If you don’t mind, Teacher Zhang, you can call me that too.”
“Old Goat? Do I know you?” Zhang Wen withdrew his hand, puzzled.
“Haha! Not yet, but we’ll get to know each other soon enough!” Old Goat chuckled, seemingly unaffected by Zhang Wen’s tone.
“…What exactly do you want?” Zhang Wen was genuinely at a loss with Old Goat’s enthusiasm, “If you’re just here to fawn over me, you’re a bit old for that.”
“Haha! My admiration for Teacher Zhang is genuine. But… I did come here for another reason.”
“I doubt I’d be interested in discussing anything with a stranger who just showed up at my door.” Zhang Wen smiled faintly, maintaining his aloof demeanor.
“Hey, Teacher Zhang, don’t be so cold! Actually, I have some history with Lord Shura.”
“Oh? If you’re acquainted with Shura, why not go talk to him?” Zhang Wen smiled.
“Uh…” Old Goat’s smile faltered for a moment, but he quickly recovered, though with a hint of awkwardness, “Well… a few months ago, there was a bit of a misunderstanding between us. It doesn’t affect our relationship, but it’s a bit awkward to bring up certain things with him now…”
“So you came to me instead?” Zhang Wen glanced at Old Goat.
“Ha! Teacher Zhang, you truly live up to your reputation as an instructor at the Almis Academy.” Old Goat shamelessly flattered Zhang Wen before continuing with a merchant-like smile, “I suspect that Teacher Zhang’s interest in this competition lies in the four spots Hassan is offering at the end, right? After all, only someone as renowned as Teacher Zhang would be worth Hassan spending such a fortune to invite!”
“So you’re saying you’re not qualified enough?” Zhang Wen smiled faintly, deliberately needling him.
“Of course!” To Zhang Wen’s surprise, Old Goat didn’t seem bothered by the jab and instead nodded readily, “The final four spots Hassan is offering are way out of my league. I know my limits. Even if I managed to make it to the end of the selection, I wouldn’t dare to compete in a match with super-tier experts.”
“Oh? Then why did you come to me?” Zhang Wen asked, amused.
“Hey, Teacher Zhang, don’t rush me! Just because I don’t want to compete for the four spots doesn’t mean I don’t want to last longer in this selection. The daily prize of three hundred thousand shields—Teacher Zhang, you might not care about it, but for small fries like us, it’s a huge sum.” At this point, Old Goat finally dropped his smile and spoke seriously, “Hassan is generous, but he’s no philanthropist. To earn that three hundred thousand shields a day, we participants will eventually have to fight to the death. Those without allies will surely be the first to be eliminated…”
“So?” Zhang Wen was growing impatient with Old Goat’s long-winded speech.
“So, I want to team up with Teacher Zhang, as well as Lord Agate and Lord Shura.” Old Goat smiled, finally revealing his intention.
“Team up with you?” Zhang Wen looked at the smiling Old Goat, “Why? What’s in it for us?”
“Ha! Teacher Zhang, you always hit the nail on the head.” Old Goat nodded with a merchant-like smile, “Since Teacher Zhang is familiar with Lord Shura, you must know that this competition has attracted almost half of the professional adventurers from the southern realm.”
“Yes. I’ve heard a bit about it.”
“Ha! In fact, I’m one of the professional adventurers lured here by Hassan’s bounty. So, I know a bit more about these adventurers than Lord Shura does.” As he said this, Old Goat’s smile carried a hint of confidence.
“You seem quite confident you can persuade me.”
“Confident? Not exactly, but I do have some bargaining chips. You see, not many people are like me, content with their lot and not aiming for the final four spots. Everyone here, drawn by Hassan’s bounty, hopes to make it to the end.” Old Goat smiled slyly, “For them, the three people singled out by that young man Bateng Ping today are their biggest threats. And with Teacher Zhang now backed by Lord Shura and Lord Agate, you’re an even greater threat. So, you’re now public enemy number one.”
“Given that, why are you seeking us out to team up?”
“Teacher Zhang, why play dumb?” Old Goat spread his hands dramatically, “Being a ‘public enemy’ is just another way of saying you’re the favorite. A lone wolf like me naturally seeks out the strong to team up with. If I went to them, I’d probably be thrown out as a sacrificial pawn sooner or later.”
“You’re quite shrewd.”
“Thanks for the compliment. It’s this bit of cunning that’s kept me alive in the world of professional adventurers.” Old Goat resumed his merchant-like smile, “So, is our alliance settled then?”
On Hassan’s Star Moon ship, Ge Luo didn’t believe Agate would dare do anything to him.
“Disqualified? Say that again?” Agate blinked, then suddenly raised his voice, stepping closer to Ge Luo.
“He’s too strong, even I can’t afford to provoke him. So, you’d better save him for last.” Seeing the puzzled expressions on everyone’s faces, Bateng Ping smiled and first pointed to the martial artist on the south side of the hall, explaining a few words, then pointed at Zhang Wen and scratched his head, “As for him… I’m a bit confused. He seems weak, but also seems formidable. Just to be safe, you should keep him for later.”
Bateng Ping shrugged with a cheerful demeanor.
If Ge Luo hadn’t grasped the meaning of Bateng Ping’s words by now, then he really didn’t deserve to continue in this game!
“Hmph… hmph…” Ge Luo let out a series of angry sneers, “Are you trying to say that I’m no match for the three of you, and you’re afraid I’ll lose to you before I deal with these trash?”
“Sigh… I didn’t want to hurt your pride…” Bateng Ping shook his head helplessly.
“Ridiculous!” Ge Luo raised his chin high, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, “Who do you think you are, to speak to me like that?”
As soon as the words fell, Ge Luo had already transformed into a blur, lunging towards Bateng Ping’s position without warning. Since Ge Luo could utilize over eighty percent of his combat energy, there was no exaggerated burst of energy when he attacked at full force. However, Ge Luo’s speed far surpassed that of any normal Saint-level expert, and the suddenness of his assault was unmatched by any other Saint-level expert.
In fact, while Bateng Ping was still pointing at Zhang Wen and talking, the furious Ge Luo had already carefully observed Bateng Ping’s condition. As one of Thunder God Omega’s proud disciples, Ge Luo had mastered several methods to sense an opponent’s combat energy. From Bateng Ping, Ge Luo could clearly feel that he was at most at the same Saint-level peak as Franz and the other two.
Saint-level peak martial artists—Ge Luo had just casually dealt with three of them! How could he now tolerate Bateng Ping, who was at the same level as his defeated opponents, being so insolent in front of him?
Ge Luo was confident that Bateng Ping had no chance of dodging this sudden attack.
Indeed, when Ge Luo seemed to transform into a blur and almost reached Bateng Ping, Bateng Ping still appeared unaware of Ge Luo’s movements, standing dumbly in place.
“Learn to be smarter in the future!” Ge Luo sneered inwardly, suddenly swinging a hand chop towards Bateng Ping’s left arm. Ge Luo wanted to teach Bateng Ping a profound lesson—this hand chop, if it landed, would completely shatter the bones in Bateng Ping’s left arm!
However, the triumphant look on Ge Luo’s face lasted only a brief moment before disappearing without a trace. Because the hand chop he swung had completed a full semicircle in front of him, but apart from air, it had touched nothing!
Missing his strike, Ge Luo was instantly startled. But what made Ge Luo even more incredulous was that when he steadied himself, he found Bateng Ping still standing in his original position, as if he hadn’t moved at all! And Ge Luo’s hand chop hadn’t even grazed a single hair on Bateng Ping!
What… what is going on? This bizarre situation, which he had never encountered before, instantly drenched Ge Luo in cold sweat.
Ge Luo didn’t understand what had just happened, and neither did most of the others in the hall. They all saw Ge Luo suddenly pounce towards Bateng Ping, only to swing his hand chop at the air when he was just a step away.
“What exactly does Ge Luo mean? Just trying to warn that kid? From his earlier demeanor, it didn’t seem like that!”
“Who knows?” The martial artists in the hall began to chatter again. And the martial artist who had been sitting motionless on the south side of the hall finally showed a flicker of unusual interest in his eyes.
“Sigh… Mr. Ge Luo, why are you in such a hurry? Didn’t I say it’s better for us not to fight until you’ve dealt with those people?” Bateng Ping sighed again.
“You…” Ge Luo stared fixedly at Bateng Ping, his expression constantly shifting.
The martial artists in the hall held their breath, waiting for the show to begin. Seeing Ge Luo’s hand chop that had swung at the air, the thugs in the hall quickly realized that this oddly named, baby-faced martial artist was definitely not simple!
However, just as Ge Luo was still hesitating and unable to make up his mind, a roar that Zhang Wen was all too familiar with suddenly erupted from outside the hall.
“Get out of my way! If you dare block my path again, I’ll tear this damn ship apart!”
Following a cacophony of noise, a loud “boom” came from the east door of the hall. The sea urchin stone door, over two people tall and three fingers wide, was blasted off its hinges, carrying a few unlucky bodyguards with it as it crashed heavily into the hall.
Boom! The sound of the sea urchin stone door hitting the ground was like a hammer striking the hearts of the dozens of tenth-tier experts in the hall, making them tremble with fear and silently curse their luck.
The thugs in the three-story hall knew all too well that only someone with transcendent-tier strength could blast open that sea urchin stone door in one strike.
The situation in the three-story hall was already bizarre enough, and now with the appearance of such a hot-tempered transcendent-tier expert… the thugs could only hope that they had accumulated enough virtue in their past lives to see them through this ordeal.
“Agate…” Zhang Wen also sighed heavily.
“Hey! Perverted teacher! Where the hell did you run off to earlier? I got lost in the lower decks because of you, and here you are, enjoying yourself up here!” As soon as Agate stormed into the hall, he angrily marched up to Zhang Wen.
“Lost?” Zhang Wen helplessly glanced at Shura, who was following behind Agate with a pained expression.
“He couldn’t find his way out and kept wandering around the second-floor corridors. By the time I found him, it was already too late.” Shura succinctly explained why he and Agate had arrived so late.
“Hmph… so what if you’re a transcendent-tier expert? Today, I’m the examiner. The rule I set is that anyone who doesn’t arrive within ten minutes is disqualified. You’ve already lost your chance.” Agate’s appearance gave Ge Luo, who had been simmering with anger, an outlet to vent.
On Hassan’s Star Moon, Ge Luo didn’t believe Agate would dare to do anything to him.
“Disqualified? Say that again?” Agate was momentarily stunned, then suddenly raised his voice, stepping closer to Ge Luo.
“I’m today’s examiner, and the rules I set are final. If you want to blame anyone, blame your own bad luck!” Ge Luo refused to back down verbally, but faced with the pressure of a transcendent-tier expert, even someone as arrogant as Ge Luo lost some of his earlier confidence.
“Disqualified? Fine! Then don’t blame me!” Before Ge Luo could finish, Agate had already sneered and drawn the iconic greatsword from his back.
“You… what are you planning to do?” Agate’s action of drawing his sword terrified all the martial artists in the hall.
After all, most of the martial artists in this hall were only at the tenth-tier level. Earlier, when the Star Moon was just a few kilometers from the shore, they had already exhausted themselves flying to board the ship. Now, the Star Moon had sailed four or five hours into the deep sea, at least dozens of kilometers from the coastline. If Agate really tore the Star Moon apart, more than half of the tenth-tier experts present would likely drown in the sea!
“What am I planning to do? Isn’t it obvious? Since I can’t pay off my debts anyway, I might as well rack up a few more! Since I can’t stay in the empire any longer, I might as well tear this damn ship apart before I leave, at least to vent my anger. Don’t worry, after I tear this ship apart, I’ll find another ship to rescue you.”
Boom!
As Agate spoke, the “Flame Demon Fire” he was famous for began to emanate from his body.
“Wait!” Just as Agate raised his greatsword, ready to dismantle the ship, the blue-clad man Anthony finally appeared at the hall’s entrance.
“What else do you have to say?” Agate showed no intention of lowering his greatsword. The energy blade of the sword had gradually turned a fiery red, and any martial artist with a bit of knowledge could see the destructive power contained within.
“Mr. Ge Luo, I think everyone is quite tired. Let’s end today’s test here.” Anthony nodded to Ge Luo. Although his tone was conciliatory, his gaze carried an undeniable sternness.
“Hmph!” Ge Luo feigned indignation with a cold snort and stormed off. In truth, anyone with eyes could see that Ge Luo himself was also greatly relieved.
Agate, a transcendent-tier expert with a street thug background, might not know the value of the Star Moon, but Ge Luo knew it all too well. The artworks in the three-story hall were almost all priceless treasures that couldn’t be bought with money! Ge Luo couldn’t even imagine how Hassan, who would be heartbroken, would deal with him if the Star Moon were destroyed because of his petty squabble with Agate!
With Anthony stepping in to mediate at this moment, Ge Luo naturally wouldn’t miss this opportunity to save face.
“Today’s test is over. Everyone can go back and rest. After breakfast tomorrow, we’ll inform you of the time and arrangements for the next test.” As soon as Ge Luo walked out the door, the blue-clad man Anthony addressed the thugs, who were also relieved.
“Huh? The test is over? What about us?” Agate still pressed anxiously.
“Ha. Today’s second test is canceled, so of course you all pass.” Anthony smiled politely, gave a slight bow to Zhang Wen and his group, then turned and left the hall.
Along with Anthony, the tenth-tier thugs, who felt as if they had been pardoned, also left. In the blink of an eye, the hall was almost empty.
The baby-faced Bateng Ping smiled with interest at Zhang Wen’s group and left through the north door. The unnamed martial artist who had been sitting against the south wall also left through the south door after Bateng Ping.
Zhang Wen followed the crowd back to his room on the second floor of the Star Moon. When Zhang Wen first arrived on the second floor, he had been preoccupied with investigating the ship’s structure and hadn’t paid much attention to his room.
Now, with his mind at ease, he entered the room and realized that the guest rooms on the Star Moon, like all the other rooms on the ship, lived up to the description of “magnificent.” When Zhang Wen pushed open the door marked with the numbers “25, 26,” he was greeted by a scene reminiscent of a crystal palace from mythology.
“Huh? Why are you here?” However, as soon as Zhang Wen stepped into the living room, he heard a startled exclamation.
Ryan was curled up on the sofa in the living room, hugging his legs nervously. The sofa was made of some unknown fur.
“Is it strange that I’m here?” Zhang Wen retorted with a half-smile, “We’re supposed to be together, so being assigned the same room isn’t odd, is it? Or do you have some other reason to think I shouldn’t be here?”
“But… but…” Ryan looked at Zhang Wen in shock as he sat down opposite him, hurriedly crossing his legs, his face flushing with what seemed like embarrassment.
“Hey, Ryan, you’re acting more like a girl!” Zhang Wen teased with a smirk.
“Who… who’s acting like a girl? I’m just not used to being watched so closely!” Ryan protested nervously, turning his back to Zhang Wen.
“Tsk…” Zhang Wen raised an eyebrow but said no more. Moments later, the fidgety Ryan jumped off the sofa and stormed out of the room in a huff.
“Hey?!” Just as Ryan pushed open the door, a slightly overweight middle-aged man with a ridiculous goatee appeared at the entrance. The goatee man, who had been about to knock, was startled by Ryan’s sudden exit. Ryan also gave the goatee man a surprised glance before quickly disappearing.
“Ha ha…” The goatee man chuckled as he watched Ryan’s retreating figure, then turned and walked straight into Zhang Wen’s room.
“Hmm?” Zhang Wen looked up in surprise.
“Ha ha… I never thought I’d have the honor of meeting the hero of Cassares in person. The famous Teacher Zhang Wen, it’s a pleasure!” The goatee man said with an ingratiating smile, spouting flattery that almost made Zhang Wen’s skin crawl. He extended both hands and quickly walked up to Zhang Wen.
As the saying goes, you don’t hit a smiling face. Although the goatee man’s flattery was a bit over the top, his obsequious demeanor made it hard for Zhang Wen to just kick him out.
“And you are?” Zhang Wen had just asked when the goatee man enthusiastically grabbed his right hand.
“Ha ha! My name is Angelo. Loki Angelo.” The goatee man shook Zhang Wen’s hand vigorously as he introduced himself, “My friends like to call me ‘Old Goat.’ Teacher Zhang, if you don’t mind, you can call me that too.”
“Old Goat? Do I know you?” Zhang Wen withdrew his hand, looking at the goatee man in surprise.
“Ha ha! Not yet, but we’ll get to know each other soon enough!” Old Goat laughed, completely unfazed by Zhang Wen’s tone.
“…What exactly do you want?” Zhang Wen was truly at a loss with Old Goat’s enthusiasm, “If you’re just here to fawn over a celebrity, you’re a bit old for that.”
“Ha ha! My admiration for Teacher Zhang is genuine. But… I came here specifically to talk to you about something else.”
“I don’t think I’d be interested in discussing anything with a stranger who suddenly shows up at my door.” Zhang Wen smiled faintly, maintaining his aloof demeanor.
“Hey, Teacher Zhang, don’t be so cold! Actually, I have some connections with Lord Shura.”
“Oh? If you’re connected with Shura, then go talk to him.” Zhang Wen smiled.
“Uh…” Old Goat’s smile froze for a moment, but he quickly recovered, though with a slightly awkward expression, “Well… a few months ago, there was a small misunderstanding between us. Although it doesn’t affect our relationship, it’s still a bit awkward to bring up certain things with Lord Shura now…”
“So you came to me instead?” Zhang Wen glanced at Old Goat from the corner of his eye.
“Ha ha! Teacher Zhang, you truly live up to being a professor at the Almis Academy.” Angelo shamelessly flattered Zhang Wen again, then continued with a merchant-like smile, “I guess Teacher Zhang’s interest in this competition lies in the four spots Hassan is offering at the end, right? After all, only a renowned figure like Teacher Zhang deserves the hefty sum Hassan is willing to pay for an invitation!”
“So you’re saying you’re not qualified enough?” Zhang Wen smiled faintly, deliberately needling him.
“Of course!” To Zhang Wen’s surprise, Old Goat didn’t seem bothered by the jab at all, instead nodding readily, “The four spots Hassan is offering at the end are way out of my league. I know my limits. Even if I managed to last until the end of the selection, I wouldn’t dare to compete in a match with transcendent-tier experts.”
“Oh? Then why are you here looking for me?” Zhang Wen asked with amusement.
“Ha ha, Teacher Zhang, don’t rush me! Just because I don’t want to compete for the four spots doesn’t mean I don’t want to last longer in this selection. The daily prize of three hundred thousand shields might not be a big deal to someone as wealthy as you, but for small fries like us, it’s a significant sum.” At this point, Old Goat finally dropped his smile and spoke seriously, “Hassan is generous, but he’s no philanthropist. To earn that daily prize of three hundred thousand shields, we participants will eventually have to fight tooth and nail. Those without allies will be the first to be eliminated…”
“So?” Zhang Wen was growing impatient with Old Goat’s lengthy speech.
“So, I want to form an alliance with you, Teacher Zhang, as well as Lord Agate and Lord Shura.” Old Goat smiled without hesitation, finally revealing his purpose.
“An alliance with you?” Zhang Wen looked at the smiling Old Goat, “Why? What’s in it for us?”
“Ha ha! Teacher Zhang, you always hit the nail on the head.” Old Goat nodded repeatedly with a merchant-like smile, “Since you’re familiar with Lord Shura, you must know that this competition has attracted almost half of the professional adventurers from the southern realm.”
“Indeed. I’ve heard a bit about it.”
“Ha! In fact, I’m one of the professional adventurers lured here by Hassan’s bounty. So, I know a thing or two more about these adventurers than Lord Shura.” As he said this, Old Goat’s smile carried a hint of confidence.
“You seem quite confident you can persuade me.”
“Confident might be an overstatement, but I’m sure I have quite a few bargaining chips to offer. You see, not many people can keep a level head like me and not aim for those final four spots. Everyone here, drawn by Hassan’s bounty, hopes to make it to the end.” Old Goat smiled slyly, “For them, the three people singled out by that young man Bateng Ping today are their biggest rivals. And with Teacher Zhang now backed by Lord Shura and Lord Agate, you’re an even greater threat. So, you’ve become public enemies.”
“Given that, why are you seeking an alliance with us?”
“Teacher Zhang, why play dumb?” Old Goat spread his hands theatrically, “Being ‘public enemies’ is just another way of saying you’re the favorites. A lone wolf like me naturally seeks out the strong to ally with. If I were to join them, I might be thrown out as a sacrificial pawn at any moment.”
“You’re quite shrewd.”
“Thank you for the compliment. It’s this bit of cunning that’s kept me alive in the world of professional adventurers.” Old Goat resumed his merchant-like smile, “So, shall we consider our alliance settled?”
“Disqualified? Great! Then don’t blame me!” Before Ge Luo’s words had even finished, Agate had already sneered coldly, drawing the iconic giant sword on his back.
“What… what are you going to do?” Agate’s sword-drawing movement terrified all the martial artists in the hall.
You see, most of the martial artists in this hall were merely tenth-tier level. Earlier, when the Star Moon was only a few kilometers from the shore, they had barely managed to fly aboard, exhausted from the effort. Now, the Star Moon had already sailed for four or five hours deeper into the ocean, dozens of kilometers from the coastline. If Agate really tore apart the Star Moon, most of the tenth-tier experts present would likely drown in the sea!
“What am I going to do? Do I need to explain? Anyway, I’ve already got debts I can’t repay, so I might as well add a few more! Since I can’t stay in the Empire anymore, I might as well tear apart this lousy ship before I leave. At least that’ll relieve some of my anger. Don’t worry, after I tear apart this ship, I’ll find a way to call another ship to rescue you.”
Boom!
As Agate spoke, flames—the famous “Demon Flame” he was known for—had already begun to rise from his body.
“Wait a minute!” Just as Agate raised his giant sword high, ready to tear apart the ship, the blue-clad man Anthony finally appeared timely at the hall’s entrance.
“What do you have to say for yourself?” Agate showed no sign of lowering his sword. The crystal energy blade of the giant sword had gradually turned a fiery red. Any martial artist with even a little knowledge could see the destructive power contained within that blade.
“Mr. Ge Luo, I think everyone is quite tired. Let’s call it a day for today’s test,” Anthony nodded at Ge Luo. His tone was one of consultation, but his gaze carried an unmistakable authority.
“Hmph!” Pretending to be angry, Ge Luo coldly snorted and left with a sweep of his sleeve. In truth, anyone with a discerning eye could see that Ge Luo also let out a long sigh of relief.
“He’s too strong, even I can’t afford to provoke him. So, it’s best you save him for last.” Seeing the puzzled expressions on everyone’s faces, Bateng Ping smiled and first pointed to the martial artist on the south side of the hall to explain a few things, then scratched his head and pointed at Zhang Wen, “As for him… I’m a bit confused. He seems weak, yet also seems formidable. Just to be safe, you should keep him for later.”
Bateng Ping shrugged with a cheerful demeanor.
If Ge Luo hadn’t grasped the meaning behind Bateng Ping’s words by now, he might as well quit!
“Hmph… hmph…” Ge Luo let out a series of angry sneers, “Are you saying I’m no match for the three of you, afraid I’ll lose to you before I can deal with these trash?”
“Sigh… I didn’t want to hurt your pride…” Bateng Ping shook his head helplessly.
“Ridiculous!” Ge Luo raised his chin high, a cold glint in his eyes, “You think you’re worthy of speaking to me like that?”
As soon as the words left his mouth, Ge Luo transformed into a blur, lunging towards Bateng Ping without warning. Since Ge Luo could utilize over eighty percent of his combat energy, there was no exaggerated burst of energy when he struck with full force. However, his speed far surpassed that of any normal Saint-level expert, and the suddenness of his attack was unmatched by any other Saint-level expert.
In fact, while Bateng Ping was still pointing at Zhang Wen and talking, the furious Ge Luo had already carefully observed Bateng Ping’s condition. As one of the proud disciples of the Thunder God Omega, Ge Luo had mastered several methods to sense an opponent’s combat energy. From Bateng Ping, Ge Luo could clearly feel that he was at most at the peak Saint-level, just like the three from Franz.
Ge Luo had just casually dealt with three peak Saint-level martial artists! How could he tolerate Bateng Ping, who was at the same level as his defeated opponents, being so insolent in front of him?
Ge Luo was confident that Bateng Ping had no chance of dodging this surprise attack.
Indeed, as Ge Luo seemed to turn into a blur and almost reached Bateng Ping, Bateng Ping still stood there as if he hadn’t noticed Ge Luo’s movement.
“Learn to be smarter in the future!” Ge Luo sneered inwardly, suddenly slashing a hand chop towards Bateng Ping’s left arm. Ge Luo wanted to teach Bateng Ping a lesson he wouldn’t forget; if this hand chop landed, it would completely shatter the bones in Bateng Ping’s left arm!
However, the triumphant look on Ge Luo’s face disappeared in an instant. Because the hand chop he swung passed through a complete semicircle in front of him, but touched nothing but air!
Missing his strike, Ge Luo was startled. But what shocked him even more was that when he steadied himself, he found Bateng Ping still standing exactly where he had been, as if he hadn’t moved at all! And Ge Luo’s hand chop hadn’t even grazed a single hair on Bateng Ping!
What… what’s going on? This bizarre situation, which he had never encountered before, instantly drenched Ge Luo in cold sweat.
Ge Luo didn’t understand what had just happened, and neither did most of the people in the hall. They all saw Ge Luo suddenly lunge at Bateng Ping, only to swing his hand chop at the air when he was still a step away.
“What exactly does Ge Luo mean? Just trying to warn that kid? From his earlier demeanor, it didn’t seem like that!”
“Who knows?” The martial artists in the hall started discussing again. The martial artist who had been sitting motionless on the south side of the hall finally showed a flicker of unusual interest in his eyes.
“Sigh… Mr. Ge Luo, why are you in such a hurry? Didn’t I say it’s better for us not to fight until you’ve dealt with those people?” Bateng Ping sighed again.
“You…” Ge Luo stared intently at Bateng Ping, his face constantly changing.
The martial artists in the hall held their breath, waiting for the show to begin. Seeing Ge Luo’s hand chop swing at the air, the thugs in the hall quickly realized that this oddly named, baby-faced martial artist was definitely not simple!
However, just as Ge Luo was hesitating and couldn’t make up his mind, a roar that Zhang Wen was all too familiar with suddenly came from outside the hall.
“Get out of my way! If you dare block my path again, I’ll tear this damn ship apart!”
Following a burst of noisy commotion, a loud “boom” came from the east door of the hall. The sea urchin stone door, over two people tall and three fingers wide, was blasted off its hinges, taking a few unlucky bodyguards with it, and crashed heavily into the hall.
Bang! The sound of the sea urchin stone door hitting the ground was like a hammer striking the hearts of the dozens of tenth-level experts in the hall, making them tremble with fear and silently curse their luck.
The thugs in the three-story hall were well aware that without super-level strength, it was impossible to even think of blasting open that sea urchin stone door.
The situation in the three-story hall was already bizarre enough, and now with the appearance of such a hot-tempered super-level expert… the thugs were all fervently hoping that their past good deeds would be enough to see them through this ordeal.
“Agate…” Zhang Wen also sighed heavily.
“Hey! Perverted teacher! Where the hell did you run off to? I got lost in the lower decks because of you, and here you are, enjoying yourself up here!” Agate stormed into the hall, angrily striding towards Zhang Wen.
“Lost?” Zhang Wen glanced helplessly at Shura, who was following Agate with a pained expression.
“He couldn’t find his way out and was wandering around the second-floor corridor. By the time I found him, it was too late.” Shura succinctly explained why he and Agate had arrived so late.
“Hmph… So what if you’re a super-level expert? Today, I’m the examiner. The rule I set is that anyone who doesn’t arrive within ten minutes is disqualified. You’ve already lost your chance.” Agate’s appearance gave Ge Luo, who was already fuming, an outlet for his anger.
On Hassan’s Star Moon, Ge Luo didn’t believe Agate would dare to do anything to him.
“Disqualified? Say that again?” Agate paused, then raised his voice, stepping closer to Ge Luo.
“I’m the examiner today, and those are the rules. If you have a problem, blame your own bad luck!” Ge Luo refused to back down verbally, but facing the pressure of a super-level expert, even the arrogant Ge Luo lost some of his earlier confidence.
“Disqualified? Fine! Then don’t blame me!” Before Ge Luo could finish, Agate sneered and drew the iconic giant sword from his back.
“You… what are you doing?” Agate’s action of drawing his sword terrified all the martial artists in the hall.
Most of the martial artists in the hall were only at the tenth level. Earlier, when the Star Moon was just a few kilometers from the shore, they had exhausted themselves flying to board the ship. Now, after four or five hours of sailing into the deep sea, they were at least dozens of kilometers from the coastline. If Agate really tore apart the Star Moon, most of the tenth-level experts present would likely drown in the sea!
“What am I doing? Isn’t it obvious? Since I can’t pay off my debts anyway, I might as well owe a bit more! Since I can’t stay in the Empire anymore, I might as well tear this damn ship apart before I leave, at least to vent my anger. Don’t worry, after I tear this ship apart, I’ll find another ship to rescue you.”
Boom!
As Agate spoke, the “Flame Demon Fire” he was famous for began to emanate from his body.
“Wait!” Just as Agate raised his giant sword, ready to tear the ship apart, the blue-clad man Anthony finally appeared at the hall’s entrance.
“What else do you have to say?” Agate showed no intention of lowering his sword. The energy blade of the giant sword was gradually turning a fiery red, and any martial artist with a bit of knowledge could see the destructive power it contained.
“Mr. Ge Luo, I think everyone is quite tired. Let’s end today’s test here.” Anthony nodded to Ge Luo. Although his tone was conciliatory, his gaze carried an unyielding sternness.
“Hmph!” Ge Luo snorted in feigned indignation and stormed off. In truth, it was clear to anyone with eyes that Ge Luo himself was also greatly relieved.
Agate, a super-level expert with a street thug background, might not know the value of the Star Moon, but Ge Luo was well aware. The artworks in the three-story hall were almost all priceless treasures that couldn’t be bought with money! Ge Luo couldn’t even imagine how Hassan, who would be heartbroken if the Star Moon were destroyed because of his rivalry, would deal with him!
With Anthony stepping in to mediate at this moment, Ge Luo naturally wouldn’t miss this opportunity to save face.
“Today’s test is over. Everyone can go back and rest. After breakfast tomorrow, we’ll inform you of the time and arrangements for the next test.” As soon as Ge Luo walked out the door, the blue-clad man Anthony spoke to the equally relieved thugs.
“Ah? The test is over? What about us?” Agate asked, still not entirely reassured.
“Ha ha. Today’s second test is canceled, so of course, you all pass.” Anthony smiled politely, gave a slight bow to Zhang Wen and his group, and then left the hall.
Along with Anthony, the tenth-level thugs, who felt as if they had been pardoned, also left. In the blink of an eye, the hall was almost empty.
The baby-faced Bateng Ping smiled with interest at Zhang Wen and his group, then left the hall through the north door. The unnamed martial artist who had been sitting against the wall on the south side of the hall also left through the south door after Bateng Ping.
Zhang Wen followed the crowd back to his room on the second floor of the Star Moon. When Zhang Wen first arrived on the second floor, he was too preoccupied with investigating the Star Moon’s structure to pay much attention to his room.
Now, with a calm mind, he entered the room and realized that the guest rooms on the Star Moon, like all the rooms on the ship, lived up to the description of “magnificent.” When Zhang Wen pushed open the door marked with the numbers “25, 26,” he was greeted by a scene reminiscent of a crystal palace from mythology.
“Huh? Why are you here?” However, as soon as Zhang Wen stepped into the living room, he heard a startled exclamation.
Ryen was curled up on the sofa made of some unknown fur, hugging his legs nervously.
“Is it strange that I’m here?” Zhang Wen asked with a half-smile, “We’re together, so isn’t it normal to be assigned the same room? Or do you have some other reason to think I shouldn’t be here?”
“But… but…” Ryen looked at Zhang Wen in surprise as he sat down opposite him, hurriedly crossing his legs, his face flushing with what seemed like embarrassment.
“Hey, Ryen, you’re acting more like a girl!” Zhang Wen teased with a smirk.
“Who… who’s acting like a girl? I’m just not used to being watched so closely!” Ryen retorted in a fluster, turning his back to Zhang Wen.
“Heh…” Zhang Wen raised the corner of his mouth and said no more. But after a moment, the restless Ryen jumped off the sofa and stormed out of the room in a huff.
“Hey?!” Just as Ryen pushed open the door, a slightly overweight middle-aged man with a ridiculous goatee appeared at the doorway. The goateed man, who was about to knock, was startled by Ryen suddenly opening the door. Ryen also glanced at the goateed man in surprise, then quickly ran off.
“Ha ha…” The goateed man chuckled a few times at Ryen’s retreating figure, then turned and walked straight into Zhang Wen’s room.
“Hmm?” Zhang Wen looked up in surprise.
“Ha ha… I never thought I’d have the honor of meeting the hero of Casares in person. The famous Teacher Zhang Wen, it’s a pleasure to meet you!” The goateed man said with an ingratiating smile, his flattering words almost making Zhang Wen’s skin crawl, as he extended both hands and quickly walked up to Zhang Wen.
As the saying goes, you don’t hit a smiling face. Although the goateed man’s flattery was a bit over the top, his ingratiating demeanor made it hard for Zhang Wen to just kick him out.
“And you are?” Zhang Wen had just asked when the goateed man enthusiastically grabbed his right hand.
“Ha ha! My surname is Angelo. Loki Angelo.” The goateed man said while vigorously shaking Zhang Wen’s hand, “My acquaintances like to call me ‘Old Goat.’ If Teacher Zhang doesn’t mind, you can call me that too.”
“Old Goat? Do I know you?” Zhang Wen withdrew his hand, looking at the goateed man in surprise.
“Ha ha! Of course not now, but first time strangers, second time friends!” The old goat smiled, completely unfazed by Zhang Wen’s tone.
“…What exactly do you want?” Zhang Wen was truly at a loss with the old goat’s enthusiasm, “If you’re just here to fawn over a celebrity, you’re a bit old for that.”
“Ha ha! My admiration for Teacher Zhang comes from the heart. But… I came specifically to see Teacher Zhang for another reason.”
“I don’t think I’d be interested in discussing anything with a stranger who suddenly shows up at my door.” Zhang Wen smiled faintly, maintaining a distant attitude.
“Hey, Teacher Zhang, don’t be so cold! Actually, I have some connection with Lord Shura.”
“Oh? If you have a connection with Shura, why don’t you go talk to him?” Zhang Wen smiled.
“Uh…” The old goat’s smile froze for a moment, but he quickly recovered, just a bit awkwardly smiling and saying, “Well… a few months ago, we had a bit of a misunderstanding. Although it doesn’t affect our relationship, it’s still a bit awkward to bring up certain things with Lord Shura now…”
“So you came to me?” Zhang Wen glanced at the old goat.
“Ha ha! Teacher Zhang is indeed a trainer at the Almis Academy.” Angelo complimented Zhang Wen without hesitation, then continued with a merchant’s smile, “I guess Teacher Zhang’s interest in this competition is in the four spots Hassan is offering at the end, right? After all, only a famous figure like Teacher Zhang would be worthy of Hassan spending such a large sum to invite!”
“So you’re saying you’re not worthy?” Zhang Wen smiled faintly, deliberately needling him.
“Of course!” To Zhang Wen’s surprise, the old goat didn’t mind the jab at all, instead nodding readily, “The four spots Hassan is offering at the end, how could I possibly qualify? I know my own limits. Even if I could make it to the end of the selection, I wouldn’t dare to compete in a match with super-level experts.”
“Oh? Then why did you come to me?” Zhang Wen asked again, amused.
“Hey, Teacher Zhang, don’t be in such a hurry! I don’t want to compete for the four spots, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to stay in the selection longer. A daily bonus of three hundred thousand, Teacher Zhang, you might not care, but for small fries like us, it’s no small amount.” At this point, the old goat finally put away his smile and said seriously to Zhang Wen, “Hassan is generous, but he’s no philanthropist. To get this daily bonus of three hundred thousand, we selectors will eventually have to fight to the death. Those without allies will surely be the first to be eliminated…”
“So?” The old goat’s long-winded explanation made Zhang Wen a bit impatient.
“So, I want to team up with Teacher Zhang, Lord Agate, and Lord Shura.” The old goat smiled without hesitation, finally stating his purpose.
“Team up with you?” Zhang Wen looked at the smiling old goat, “Why? What’s in it for us?”
“Ha ha! Teacher Zhang’s question hits the nail on the head.” The old goat nodded with a merchant’s smile, “Since Teacher Zhang is familiar with Lord Shura, you must know that this competition has attracted almost half of the professional adventurers from the southern realm.”
“Mm. I’ve heard a bit.”
“Ha! In fact, I’m one of the professional adventurers lured here by Hassan’s bounty. So, I know a bit more about these professional adventurers than Lord Shura.” As he said this, the old goat’s smile carried a hint of confidence.
“You seem quite confident you can persuade me.”
“Confident is a bit of an overstatement, but I’m sure I have quite a few bargaining chips to offer. You see, not many people can adjust their mindset like me and not aim for the final four spots. Everyone here is attracted by Hassan’s bounty, and who wouldn’t want to make it to the end?” The old goat smiled slyly, “For these people, the three individuals singled out by that young man Bateng Ping in today’s match are their biggest opponents. And now, with Teacher Zhang having the support of Lord Shura and Lord Agate, you’re an even greater threat. So, you’re now the public enemy.”
“Given that, why did you specifically come to us to cooperate?”
“Teacher Zhang, why ask a question you already know the answer to?” The old goat spread his hands comically, “The so-called ‘public enemy,’ in other words, is the favorite. A lone wolf like me naturally seeks out the strong to team up with. If I went to them, I might be thrown out as a sacrifice at any moment.”
“You’re quite clever.”
“Thank you for the compliment. It’s this bit of cleverness that’s kept me alive in the professional adventurer business.” The old goat smiled again with a merchant’s grin, “So, is our alliance settled then?”
With Anthony stepping in to mediate at this moment, Ge Luo naturally didn’t miss the chance to back down gracefully.
“Today’s test is over. Everyone may return to rest. After breakfast tomorrow, we will inform you of the time and arrangements for the next test,” Anthony said to the equally relieved villains as soon as Ge Luo walked out the door.
“Ah? The test is over? What about us?” Agate still asked cautiously.
“Hehe. Today’s second test is canceled, so naturally you all have passed,” Anthony politely smiled, slightly bowed to Zhang Wen and his group, then turned and left the hall.
And leaving with Anthony were the tenth-tier villains, who felt as if they had been granted a great reprieve. In the blink of an eye, the hall was nearly empty.
Baby-faced Batengping smiled interestingly at Zhang Wen and his group, then left the hall through the northern door. The still-unnamed martial artist who had been leaning against the wall at the south side of the hall also left through the southern door after Batengping departed.
Zhang Wen also followed the crowd back to his room on the second level of the Star Moon. When Zhang Wen first came to the second level, because he was still thinking about investigating the structure of the Star Moon, he hadn’t carefully examined his room.
Now, finally settling down and stepping into the room, Zhang Wen realized that the Star Moon’s guest rooms, like all the rooms on this ship, fully deserved the description “magnificent and luxurious.” When Zhang Wen pushed open the door marked with the numbers “25 and 26,” he saw a scene like a mythical crystal palace.
“Hey? Why is it you?” However, as soon as Zhang Wen stepped into the living room of the room, he heard a startled cry.
Ryan was hugging his legs nervously, curled up on the sofa made of unknown fur in the living room.
“Is it strange that it’s me?” Zhang Wen asked with a half-smile, “We were supposed to be together. It’s not strange that we were assigned to the same room, right? Or do you have another reason to think I shouldn’t be here?”
“But… but…” Ryan looked at Zhang Wen in surprise as he sat down opposite him, hurriedly crossed his legs, and his face flushed with what seemed like embarrassment.
“Hey! Ryan, your movements look more like a girl’s!” Zhang Wen teased Ryan with a half-smile.
“Who… who looks like a girl? I just don’t like being stared at like this!” Ryan argued in a fluster, turning around to show Zhang Wen only his back.
“Heh…” Zhang Wen raised the corner of his mouth slightly, saying nothing more. But soon after, the restless Ryan jumped off the sofa and stormed out of the room in a huff.
“Ah?!” Just as Ryan pushed open the door, a middle-aged man with a slightly fat figure and a ridiculous goatee happened to appear at the doorway. The goateed middle-aged man, who had just been about to knock, was startled by Ryan suddenly opening the door. Ryan also looked at the goatee in surprise, then quickly ran off without a trace.
“Hehe…” The goateed man chuckled at Ryan’s retreating figure for a few moments, then turned back and walked directly into Zhang Wen’s room.
“Hmm?” Zhang Wen looked up in surprise.
“Hehe! I never expected the honor of meeting the hero of Casares in person. The famous Mr. Zhang Wen, it’s a pleasure to meet you!” The goateed man, with a flattering smile, said words that almost made Zhang Wen’s skin crawl, stretching out both hands as he quickly approached Zhang Wen.
As the saying goes, you don’t hit someone with a smiling face. Although the goateed man’s flattery was a bit excessive, his face full of flattery made it hard for Zhang Wen to just chase him out.
“May I ask who you are?” Zhang Wen had just asked one question when the goateed man had already enthusiastically grabbed Zhang Wen’s right hand.
“Hehe! My name is Angelo. Loki Angelo.” The goateed man shook his hand vigorously while introducing himself, “My close friends like to call me ‘Old Goat.’ Mr. Zhang Wen, if you don’t mind, you can call me that too.”
“Old Goat? Do I know you?” Zhang Wen pulled his hand back, looking at the goateed man in surprise.
“Hehe! Of course not now, but first time strangers, second time acquaintances!” Old Goat smiled happily, not at all affected by Zhang Wen’s tone.
“…What exactly do you want to say?” Zhang Wen was really at a loss for words at the goateed man’s enthusiasm, “If you’re just here to chase a star, you’re a bit old for that.”
“Hehe! My admiration for Mr. Zhang Wen is truly heartfelt. But… the reason I specially came to find Teacher Zhang this time is naturally something else.”
“I don’t think I have any interest in talking to a stranger who suddenly shows up,” Zhang Wen smiled faintly, still maintaining a distant attitude.
“Hehe, Mr. Zhang Wen, don’t be so harsh! As it happens, I also have a bit of a connection with Lord Xiu Luo.”
“Oh? Since you have a connection with Xiu Luo, then go find him,” Zhang Wen smiled slightly.
“Uh…” Old Goat’s smile stiffened for a moment, but he quickly recovered, just a little awkwardly continuing to smile, “Well… a few months ago, we had a little misunderstanding. Although this doesn’t affect our relationship, it’s still a bit awkward to go find Lord Xiu Luo about certain matters now…”
“So you came to me?” Zhang Wen glanced at Old Goat with the corner of his eye.
“Hehe! Mr. Zhang Wen, you’re not in vain an instructor at the Almexis Academy.” Angelo casually flattered Zhang Wen, then continued with a merchant-like smile, “I guess, Mr. Zhang Wen’s intention in participating in this competition must be among the four final spots offered by Boss Hassan. Speaking of which, only someone as famous as Mr. Zhang Wen in Casares would be worthy of Boss Hassan spending such a large sum to invite!”
“Your meaning is, you yourself are not qualified enough?” Zhang Wen smiled faintly again, deliberately poking at the other person.
“He’s too strong, even I can’t afford to mess with him. So, you’d better save him for last.” Seeing the puzzled expressions on everyone’s faces, Ba Tengping smiled and first pointed to the martial artist on the south side of the hall, explaining a few words, then scratched his head and pointed at Zhang Wen, “As for him… I’m a bit confused. He seems weak, but also seems very strong. Just to be safe, you should keep him for later.”
Ba Tengping shrugged with a cheerful demeanor.
If Ge Luo hadn’t figured out what Ba Tengping meant by now, then he might as well quit!
“Hmph… hmph…” Ge Luo let out a series of angry sneers, “Are you saying that I’m no match for the three of you, and you’re afraid I’ll lose to you before I can deal with these trash?”
“Sigh… I didn’t want to hurt your pride…” Ba Tengping shook his head helplessly.
“Ridiculous!” Ge Luo raised his chin high, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, “Do you even deserve to speak to me like that?”
As soon as the words left his mouth, Ge Luo had already turned into a blur, lunging towards Ba Tengping without warning. Since Ge Luo could utilize over eighty percent of his combat energy, there was no exaggerated burst of energy when he struck at full force. However, his speed far surpassed that of any normal Saint-level expert, and the suddenness of his attack was unmatched by any other Saint-level expert.
In fact, while Ba Tengping was still pointing at Zhang Wen and talking, the furious Ge Luo had already carefully observed Ba Tengping’s condition. As one of Thunder God Omega’s proud disciples, Ge Luo had mastered several methods to sense an opponent’s combat energy. From Ba Tengping, Ge Luo could clearly feel that he was at most at the peak Saint-level, just like the three from Franz.
Ge Luo had just casually dealt with three peak Saint-level martial artists! How could he tolerate someone like Ba Tengping, who was at the same level as his defeated opponents, acting so arrogantly in front of him?
Ge Luo was confident that Ba Tengping had no chance of dodging this sudden attack.
Indeed, when Ge Luo, as if turned into a blur, almost reached Ba Tengping, Ba Tengping still seemed unaware of Ge Luo’s movements, standing dumbfounded in place.
“Learn to be smarter in the future!” Ge Luo sneered inwardly, suddenly swinging a hand chop towards Ba Tengping’s left arm. Ge Luo wanted to teach Ba Tengping a lesson he would never forget; if this hand chop landed, it would completely shatter the bones in Ba Tengping’s left arm!
However, the triumphant look on Ge Luo’s face disappeared in an instant. Because the hand chop he swung traced a perfect semicircle in front of him, but aside from the air, it touched nothing!
Missing his strike, Ge Luo was instantly startled. But what made Ge Luo even more incredulous was that when he steadied himself, he found Ba Tengping still standing exactly where he had been, as if he hadn’t moved at all! And Ge Luo’s hand chop hadn’t even grazed a single hair on Ba Tengping!
What… what’s going on? This bizarre situation, which he had never encountered before, instantly drenched Ge Luo in cold sweat.
Ge Luo didn’t understand what had just happened, and neither did most of the others in the hall. They all saw Ge Luo suddenly lunge at Ba Tengping, only to swing his hand chop at the air when he was just a step away.
“What exactly does Ge Luo mean? Just trying to warn that kid? From his earlier demeanor, it didn’t seem like that!”
“Who knows?” The martial artists in the hall started murmuring again. And the martial artist who had been sitting motionless on the south side of the hall finally showed a flicker of unusual interest in his eyes.
“Sigh… Mr. Ge Luo, why are you in such a hurry? Didn’t I say it’s better for us not to fight until you’ve dealt with those people?” Ba Tengping sighed again.
“You…” Ge Luo stared fixedly at Ba Tengping, his face constantly changing.
The martial artists in the hall held their breath, waiting for the show to begin. Seeing Ge Luo’s hand chop aimed at the air, the scoundrels in the hall quickly realized that this oddly named, baby-faced martial artist was definitely not simple!
However, just as Ge Luo was hesitating and unable to make up his mind, a roar that Zhang Wen was all too familiar with suddenly echoed from outside the hall.
“Get out of my way! If you dare block my path again, I’ll tear this damn ship apart!”
Following a burst of noisy clamor, a loud “boom” came from the east door of the hall. The sea urchin stone door, over two people tall and three fingers wide, was blasted off its hinges, along with a few unlucky bodyguards, and crashed heavily into the hall.
Bang! The sound of the sea urchin stone door hitting the ground was like a hammer striking the hearts of the dozens of tenth-tier experts in the hall, making them tremble with fear and silently curse their luck.
The scoundrels in the three-story hall knew all too well that without super-tier strength, one couldn’t even dream of blasting open that sea urchin stone door.
The situation in the three-story hall was already bizarre enough, and now with the appearance of such a hot-tempered super-tier expert… the scoundrels now fervently hoped that they had accumulated enough virtue in their past lives to see them through this calamity.
“Agate…” Zhang Wen also sighed heavily.
“Hey! Perverted teacher! Where the hell did you run off to! I got lost in the lower decks, and here you are, enjoying yourself!” Agate stormed into the hall, angrily striding towards Zhang Wen.
“Lost?” Zhang Wen helplessly glanced at Shura, who was following behind Agate with a pained expression.
“He couldn’t find the way out and was wandering around the second-floor corridor. By the time I found him, it was already too late.” Shura succinctly explained why he and Agate had arrived so late.
“Hmph… so what if you’re a super-tier expert? Today, I’m the examiner. The rule I set is that anyone who doesn’t arrive within ten minutes is disqualified. You’ve already lost your eligibility.” Agate’s appearance gave Ge Luo, who had been seething with anger, an outlet to vent.
On Hassan’s Star Moon, Ge Luo didn’t believe Agate would dare to do anything to him.
“Disqualified? Say that again?” Agate was momentarily stunned, then sharply raised his voice, step by step approaching Ge Luo.
“I’m the examiner today, and the rules I set are final. If you have a problem, blame your own bad luck!” Ge Luo refused to back down verbally, but facing the pressure of a super-tier expert, even someone as arrogant as Ge Luo lost some of his earlier confidence.
“Disqualified? Fine! Then don’t blame me!” Before Ge Luo could finish, Agate sneered and drew the iconic giant sword from his back.
“You… what are you planning to do?” Agate’s action of drawing his sword terrified all the martial artists in the hall.
Most of the martial artists in this hall were only at the tenth-tier level. Earlier, when the Star Moon was just a few kilometers from the shore, they had exhausted themselves flying to board the ship. Now, the Star Moon had sailed four or five hours into the deep sea, at least dozens of kilometers from the coastline. If Agate really tore the Star Moon apart, more than half of the tenth-tier experts present would likely drown in the sea!
“What am I planning to do? Isn’t it obvious? Since I can’t pay off my debts anyway, I might as well owe a bit more! Since I can’t stay in the empire, I might as well tear this damn ship apart before I leave, at least to vent my anger. Don’t worry, after I tear this ship apart, I’ll find another ship to rescue you.”
Boom!
As Agate spoke, the “Flame Demon Fire” he was famous for began to emanate from his body.
“Wait!” Just as Agate raised his giant sword, ready to tear the ship apart, the blue-clad man Anthony finally appeared at the hall’s entrance.
“What else do you have to say?” Agate showed no intention of lowering his giant sword. The energy blade of the sword gradually turned a fiery red, and any martial artist with a bit of knowledge could see the destructive power contained within.
“Mr. Ge Luo, I think everyone is quite tired. Let’s end today’s test here.” Anthony nodded to Ge Luo. Although his tone was consultative, his gaze carried an undeniable sternness.
“Hmph!” Ge Luo pretended to be indignant, snorted, and stormed off. In fact, it was clear to anyone with eyes that Ge Luo himself also breathed a sigh of relief.
Agate, a super-tier expert who rose from the streets, might not know the value of the Star Moon, but Ge Luo knew it all too well. The artworks in the three-story hall were almost all priceless treasures that couldn’t be bought with money! Ge Luo could hardly imagine what Hassan, who would be heartbroken, would do to him if the Star Moon were destroyed because of his quarrel with Agate!
With Anthony stepping in to mediate at this moment, Ge Luo naturally wouldn’t miss this opportunity to save face.
“Today’s test ends here. Everyone can go back and rest. After breakfast tomorrow, we’ll inform you of the time and arrangements for the next test.” As soon as Ge Luo walked out the door, the blue-clad man Anthony spoke to the equally relieved scoundrels.
“Ah? The test is over? What about us?” Agate still pressed for an answer.
“Hehe. Today’s second test is canceled, so of course, you all pass.” Anthony smiled politely, gave a slight bow to Zhang Wen and his group, then turned and left the hall.
Along with Anthony, the tenth-tier scoundrels, as if pardoned, also left. In the blink of an eye, the hall was almost empty.
The baby-faced Ba Tengping smiled with interest at Zhang Wen and his group, then left the hall through the north door. The unnamed martial artist who had been sitting against the wall on the south side of the hall also left through the south door after Ba Tengping.
Zhang Wen also followed the crowd back to his room on the second floor of the Star Moon. When Zhang Wen first arrived on the second floor, he was too preoccupied with investigating the Star Moon’s structure to pay much attention to his room.
Now, truly settling in and entering the room, Zhang Wen realized that the guest rooms on the Star Moon, like all the rooms on the ship, lived up to the description of “magnificent.” When Zhang Wen pushed open the door labeled “Twenty-five, Twenty-six,” he was greeted by a scene reminiscent of a crystal palace from mythology.
“Huh? Why are you here?” However, as soon as Zhang Wen stepped into the living room, he heard a startled cry.
Ryan was curled up on the sofa made of some unknown fur, hugging his legs nervously.
“Is it strange that I’m here?” Zhang Wen asked with a half-smile, “We’re together, so isn’t it normal to be assigned the same room? Or do you have some other reason to think I shouldn’t be here?”
“But… but…” Ryan looked at Zhang Wen in surprise as he sat down opposite him, hurriedly crossing his legs, his face flushing with what seemed like embarrassment.
“Hey, Ryan, you’re acting more like a girl!” Zhang Wen teased with a smirk.
“Who… who’s acting like a girl? I’m just not used to being watched so closely!” Ryan retorted nervously, turning his back to Zhang Wen.
“Heh…” Zhang Wen raised an eyebrow and didn’t say more. But moments later, the restless Ryan jumped off the sofa and stormed out of the room in a huff.
“Hey?!” Just as Ryan pushed open the door, a slightly overweight middle-aged man with a ridiculous goatee appeared at the entrance. The goatee man, who was about to knock, was startled by Ryan’s sudden exit. Ryan also gave the goatee man a surprised look before quickly disappearing.
“Hehe…” The goatee man chuckled a few times at Ryan’s retreating figure, then turned and walked straight into Zhang Wen’s room.
“Hmm?” Zhang Wen looked up in surprise.
“Hehe… I never thought I’d have the honor of meeting the hero of Cassares in person. The famous Teacher Zhang Wen, it’s a pleasure!” The goatee man said with an ingratiating smile, his flattering words almost making Zhang Wen’s skin crawl, as he extended both hands and quickly approached Zhang Wen.
As the saying goes, you don’t hit a smiling face. Although the goatee man’s flattery was a bit over the top, his ingratiating demeanor made it hard for Zhang Wen to just kick him out.
“And you are?” Zhang Wen had just asked when the goatee man enthusiastically grabbed his right hand.
“Hehe! My name is Angelo. Loki Angelo.” The goatee man shook Zhang Wen’s hand vigorously as he introduced himself, “My friends call me ‘Old Goat.’ If Teacher Zhang doesn’t mind, you can call me that too.”
“Old Goat? Do I know you?” Zhang Wen withdrew his hand, puzzled.
“Hehe! Not yet, but we’ll get acquainted soon!” Old Goat smiled, completely unfazed by Zhang Wen’s tone.
“…What exactly do you want?” Zhang Wen was quite speechless at Old Goat’s enthusiasm, “If you’re just here to fawn over a celebrity, you’re a bit old for that.”
“Hehe! My admiration for Teacher Zhang is genuine. But… I came here specifically to discuss something else with you.”
“I don’t think I’d be interested in talking to a stranger who suddenly shows up at my door.” Zhang Wen smiled faintly, maintaining his aloof demeanor.
“Hey, Teacher Zhang, don’t be so cold! Actually, I have some connections with Lord Shura.”
“Oh? If you’re connected with Shura, why not go talk to him?” Zhang Wen smiled.
“Uh…” Old Goat’s smile froze for a moment, but he quickly recovered, though with a slightly awkward smile, “Well… a few months ago, there was a small misunderstanding between us. Although it doesn’t affect our relationship, it’s still a bit awkward to bring up certain things with Lord Shura now…”
“So you came to me?” Zhang Wen glanced at Old Goat.
“Hehe! Teacher Zhang, you truly live up to being an instructor at the Almis Academy.” Angelo complimented Zhang Wen without hesitation, then continued with a merchant-like smile, “I guess Teacher Zhang’s interest in this competition lies in the four spots Hassan is offering at the end, right? After all, only a figure as renowned as Teacher Zhang in Cassares would be worthy of Hassan spending such a fortune to invite!”
“So you’re saying you’re not qualified enough?” Zhang Wen smiled faintly, deliberately needling him.
“Of course!” To Zhang Wen’s surprise, Old Goat didn’t mind the jab at all and instead nodded readily, “How could I possibly have a shot at the four spots Hassan is offering? I know my limits. Even if I managed to stay till the end of the selection, I wouldn’t dare to compete in a match with super-tier experts.”
“Oh? In that case, why did you come to me?” Zhang Wen asked, amused.
“Hehe, Teacher Zhang, don’t be in such a hurry! Just because I don’t want to compete for the four spots doesn’t mean I don’t want to stay in the selection as long as possible. The daily prize of three hundred thousand shields might not matter to someone as wealthy as Teacher Zhang, but for small fries like us, it’s no small sum.” At this point, Old Goat finally dropped his smile and spoke seriously to Zhang Wen, “Hassan is generous, but he’s no philanthropist. To earn this daily prize of three hundred thousand shields, we selectors will eventually have to fight to the death. Those without allies will surely be the first to be eliminated…”
“So?” Zhang Wen was growing impatient with Old Goat’s lengthy speech.
“So, I want to ally with Teacher Zhang, as well as Lord Agate and Lord Shura.” Old Goat smiled without hesitation, finally revealing his purpose.
“Ally with you?” Zhang Wen glanced at the smiling Old Goat, “Why? What’s in it for us?”
“Hehe! Teacher Zhang, you’ve hit the nail on the head again.” Old Goat nodded repeatedly with a merchant-like smile, “Since Teacher Zhang is familiar with Lord Shura, you must know that this competition has attracted almost half of the professional adventurers from the southern realm.”
“Yes. I’ve heard a bit about it.”
“Heh! In fact, I’m one of the professional adventurers lured here by Hassan’s bounty. So, I know a bit more about these professional adventurers than Lord Shura.” As he said this, Old Goat’s smile carried a hint of confidence.
“You seem quite confident you can persuade me.”
“Confident is a bit of an overstatement, but I’m sure I have quite a few bargaining chips to offer. You see, not many people like me can keep a level head and not aim for the final four spots. Everyone here, drawn by Hassan’s bounty, hopes to make it to the end.” Old Goat smiled slyly, “For these people, the three individuals singled out by that young man Ba Tengping in today’s match are their biggest rivals. And with Teacher Zhang now supported by Lord Shura and Lord Agate, you pose an even greater threat. So, you’ve become the public enemy.”
“Given that, why did you come to us for an alliance?”
“Teacher Zhang, why play dumb?” Old Goat spread his hands comically, “Being the ‘public enemy,’ in other words, means you’re the favorite. A lone wolf like me naturally seeks out the strong to ally with. If I went to them, I might be thrown out as a sacrificial pawn at any moment.”
“You’re quite shrewd.”
“Thank you for the compliment. It’s this bit of cleverness that’s kept me alive in the professional adventurer business.” Old Goat resumed his merchant-like smile, “So, is our alliance settled then?”
“Oh? If that’s the case, then why did you come looking for me?” Zhang Wen asked again with a smile.
“Hehe, Mr. Zhang Wen, don’t be in a hurry! I don’t want to get involved in the four competition spots doesn’t mean I don’t want to stay in this selection for a little longer. Thirty thousand a day in prize money, Mr. Zhang Wen, you’re rich and generous and don’t care, but for us small fries, it’s not a small sum.” At this point, the goateed man finally stopped smiling and spoke seriously to Zhang Wen, “Boss Hassan is generous, but he’s no philanthropist. To get that thirty thousand shield prize money a day, we competitors will eventually have to fight tooth and nail. Those without the support of companions will definitely be eliminated earliest in this competition…”
“So?” Old Goat’s long-winded speech made Zhang Wen a little impatient.
“So, I want to team up with Mr. Zhang Wen, along with Lord Agate and Lord Xiu Luo.” Old Goat smiled happily and finally revealed his intention.
“Team up with you?” Zhang Wen looked at the smiling Old Goat, “On what basis? What’s in it for us?”
“Hehe! Mr. Zhang Wen’s question hits the nail on the head again.” Old Goat nodded with a merchant-like smile, “Since Mr. Zhang Wen is close with Lord Xiu Luo, you must know that this competition has almost attracted half of the professional adventurers from the South, right?”
“Um. I’ve heard a little.”
“Hehe! In fact, I’m also one of the professional explorers lured here by Boss Hassan’s bounty. So, I know a bit more about these professional explorers than Lord Xiu Luo does.” As he said these words, Old Goat’s smile carried a hint of confidence.
“You seem pretty confident you can persuade me.”
“Confident might be too strong a word, but I do believe I have quite a few bargaining chips. You see, people like me who can keep their expectations in check and not dream of those final four spots are few and far between. Everyone here was lured by Boss Hassan’s bounty, who wouldn’t want to make it to the end?” Old Goat smiled cunningly, “For these people, the three individuals specifically pointed out by that young man named Batengping today in the competition are their biggest rivals. And Mr. Zhang Wen now has the support of Lord Xiu Luo and Lord Agate, making you an even greater threat. So, you’re already public enemy number one.”
“If that’s the case, then why did you specifically come looking for us to cooperate?”
“Mr. Zhang Wen, why ask what you already know?” Old Goat spread his hands in a comical gesture, “What’s called ‘public enemy’ can also be described as a hot favorite. A lone wolf like me obviously needs to team up with the strong. If I went to them, who knows when I’d be thrown out as a scapegoat.”
“You’re actually pretty sharp.”
“Thank you for the compliment. I’ve survived in the profession of an adventurer this long thanks to a bit of cunning.” Old Goat smiled again with that merchant-like grin, “So, shall we consider our alliance settled then?”
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