Chapter 118: The Eccentric Ryan

“He’s just too strong. Even I can’t afford to provoke him. So, you’d better leave him for last.” Seeing the puzzled expressions on everyone’s faces, Batengping smiled, first pointing toward the martial artist at the south end of the hall and then scratching his head while gesturing toward Zhang Wen. “As for him… I’m a bit confused. He seems both weak and strong somehow. Anyway, just to be safe, you’d better keep him at the back.”

Batengping shrugged cheerfully.

If Ge Luo still hadn’t figured out what Batengping meant by now, he wouldn’t deserve to be here any longer!

“Hmph… Hmph…” Ge Luo let out a string of angry chuckles. “Are you trying to say I’m not even a match for the three of you and that you’re afraid I’ll lose to you before dealing with these trash?”

“Sigh… I really didn’t want to hurt your pride…” Batengping shook his head helplessly.

“Ridiculous!” Ge Luo lifted his chin high, his eyes flashing coldly. “Do you think you’re qualified to talk to me like that?”

As his words fell, Ge Luo had already turned into a blur, suddenly lunging at Batengping without warning. Since Ge Luo could utilize over eighty percent of his battle energy, there was no exaggerated energy glow when he launched his full attack, unlike ordinary Saint-level experts. However, his speed far exceeded that of any normal Saint-level practitioner, and his suddenness in launching an attack was unmatched by other Saint-level experts.

In fact, while Batengping was still talking 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 to sense an opponent’s battle energy. He could clearly feel that Batengping was merely at the peak of the Saint level, no different from Franz and the other two.

A peak Saint-level martial artist—Ge Luo had just easily defeated three of them! Now, how could he tolerate Batengping, who was merely at the same level as his defeated opponents, being so brazen in front of him?

Ge Luo was confident enough that Batengping had no chance of dodging his sudden attack.

Indeed, when Ge Luo became a blur and nearly reached Batengping, Batengping still seemed unaware of Ge Luo’s movement, standing there motionless.

“Learn to be smarter in life!” Ge Luo sneered inwardly, suddenly slashing his open hand toward Batengping’s left arm. Ge Luo wanted to teach Batengping a profound lesson. If this strike landed, it would be enough to shatter Batengping’s left arm completely!

However, Ge Luo’s triumphant expression lasted only a brief moment before vanishing without a trace. Because his open hand sliced through a complete half-circle in front of him, hitting nothing but air!

Missing his strike, Ge Luo was instantly alarmed. However, what made Ge Luo even more incredulous was that when he stopped, he found Batengping still standing exactly where he had been, as if he hadn’t moved at all! And Ge Luo’s strike had not even touched a single hair on Batengping!

What… What’s going on? This unprecedented bizarre situation instantly soaked Ge Luo in cold sweat.

Ge Luo didn’t understand what had happened at that moment, and almost everyone else in the hall was equally puzzled. They all saw Ge Luo suddenly lunge at Batengping, only to suddenly slash his hand at empty air just a step away from Batengping.

“What exactly is Ge Luo trying to do? Is he just trying to warn that kid a little? Judging from his earlier momentum, it doesn’t seem like that!”

“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 expression in his eyes.

“Sigh… Mr. Ge Luo, why are you in such a hurry? Didn’t I say? Before you finish dealing with those people, it would be better for us not to fight just yet,” Batengping sighed again.

“You…” Ge Luo stared fiercely at Batengping, his expression constantly changing.

The martial artists in the hall held their breath, waiting for the show to begin. Seeing Ge Luo’s earlier strike at empty air, the villains in the hall quickly realized that this baby-faced martial artist with the strange name was absolutely no simple opponent!

However, just as Ge Luo hesitated, unable to make a decision, a roar suddenly echoed from outside the hall—one that Zhang Wen recognized immediately.

“Get out of my way, all of you! If anyone dares to block my path again, do you think I won’t destroy this lousy ship of yours!”

Immediately after a noisy commotion, a loud “Boom!” suddenly erupted from the east entrance of the hall. The sea-urchin stone door, which was over two people tall and as thick as three fingers, was blown away, crashing heavily into the hall along with several unlucky bodyguards.

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.

Everyone in the third-level hall knew clearly that only someone with Super-tier strength could possibly blast open that sea-urchin stone door in a single strike.

The situation in the third-level hall had already been strange enough, but now the arrival of another hot-tempered Super-tier expert made all the villains fervently hope that their good deeds from past lives would be sufficient to protect them through this crisis.

“Agate…” Zhang Wen also sighed deeply.

“Hey! Perverted Teacher! Where exactly did you run off to just now! You ran off here to enjoy yourself while leaving me lost in the lower decks of the ship!” 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 bitter expression.

“He couldn’t find the way out and wandered around the second floor corridor. By the time I found him, it was already too late,” Xiu Luo succinctly explained why he and Agate had arrived at the hall so late.

“Hmph… Even if you are a Super-tier expert, what of it? Today I am the examiner. The rule I set is that anyone who doesn’t arrive within ten minutes will be eliminated. You’ve already lost your qualifications,” Agate’s arrival provided Ge Luo, who was already seething with anger, with a perfect outlet for his frustration.

On Hassan’s Star Moon, Ge Luo didn’t believe Agate would dare do anything to him.

“Lost your qualifications? Say that again?” Agate blinked, then suddenly raised his voice, stepping forward toward Ge Luo.

“I am today’s examiner, and my rule is as such. If you blame anyone, blame your own bad luck!” Ge Luo refused to back down verbally, but under the pressure of the Super-tier expert, even the arrogant Ge Luo had lost his earlier confidence.

“Lost your qualifications? Great! Then don’t blame me!” Before Ge Luo’s words had even finished, Agate had already sneered, drawing the signature greatsword on his back.

“What… What are you planning to do?” Agate’s sword-drawing movement scared all the martial artists in the hall to the point of losing their gallbladders.

You must know that most of the martial artists in this hall were merely at the tenth-tier level. Earlier, when the Star Moon was only a few kilometers from the shore, they had all exhausted themselves flying to board the ship. Now, the Star Moon had already sailed another four or five hours deeper into the sea, at least dozens of kilometers from the coastline. If Agate truly destroyed the Star Moon, a large portion of the tenth-tier experts present would likely drown in the sea!

“What do I plan to do? Do you even need to ask? Since I can’t repay all my debts anyway, I might as well add a few more! Since I can’t stay in the Empire anymore, I might as well destroy this lousy ship before I leave, at least to vent my anger. Don’t worry, after I destroy this lousy ship, I’ll find a way to call another ship to rescue you all.”

Boom!

As Agate spoke, flames—the signature “Flame Demon Fire” he was famous for—had already begun to rise from his body.

“Wait a minute!” Just as Agate raised his greatsword high, ready to destroy the ship, the blue-clad man Anthony finally appeared in time at the door of the hall.

“What else do you have to say?” Agate showed no sign of lowering his greatsword. The crystal energy blade of the greatsword had already 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. Today’s test, I suggest we stop it here,” Anthony nodded to Ge Luo. His tone was one of consultation, but the look he gave Ge Luo carried an unmistakable authority.

“Hmph!” Ge Luo pretended to be angry, huffing and turning away. In fact, anyone with a discerning eye could see that Ge Luo also let out a long sigh of relief.

Perhaps Agate, a Super-tier expert who rose from street thuggery, didn’t know the value of the Star Moon, but Ge Luo was fully aware. The artworks in the third-level hall were almost all priceless treasures that couldn’t be bought with money! Ge Luo couldn’t even imagine how Hassan would deal with him if the Star Moon were destroyed by Agate’s reckless actions over a petty rivalry.

At this moment, with Anthony stepping in to mediate, Ge Luo naturally wouldn’t miss this chance to gracefully retreat.

“Today’s test is over. Everyone may return to rest. After breakfast tomorrow, we will notify everyone of the time and arrangements for the next test,” once Ge Luo had walked out the door, the blue-clad Anthony said to the relieved villains in the hall.

“Aww? The test is over? Then what about us?” Agate still asked cautiously.

“Hehe. Today’s second test is canceled, so naturally you all pass,” Anthony politely smiled, slightly bowed to Zhang Wen’s group, and 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 almost empty.

The baby-faced Batengping smiled interestingly at Zhang Wen’s group and 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 truly settling down and entering the room, Zhang Wen only then realized that the Star Moon’s guest rooms, like all the rooms on this ship, lived up to the description of “luxurious and 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 hugging his legs, nervously curled up on the couch made of some 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, so what’s strange about us being assigned to the same room? Or do you have another reason to think I shouldn’t be here?”

“But… but…” Ryan looked at Zhang Wen sitting down opposite him in surprise, hurriedly crossed his legs, and his face flushed with a look that seemed like shyness.

“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’m just not used to being watched so closely!” Ryan argued flustered, turning his back to Zhang Wen.

“Heh…” Zhang Wen raised the corner of his mouth slightly but didn’t speak anymore. However, moments later, Ryan, unable to sit still, jumped off the couch and stormed out of the room in a huff.

“Ai ya!” Just as Ryan pushed open the door, a slightly fat middle-aged man with a ridiculous goatee happened to be standing at the doorway. The goateed middle-aged man, who had just been about to knock, was startled by Ryan suddenly opening the door. Ryan was also surprised to see the goatee and quickly ran off without a trace.

“Hehe…” The goateed man chuckled at Ryan’s retreating figure for a few moments before turning back and walking straight 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. It’s a great pleasure to meet you, the famous Zhang Wen!” The goateed man, with a flattering smile, said the kind of sycophantic words that almost made Zhang Wen’s skin crawl, extending both hands as he quickly walked up to Zhang Wen.

As the saying goes, one doesn’t strike a smiling face. Although the goateed man’s flattery was a bit excessive, his face full of flattery made it difficult for Zhang Wen to just throw 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 hands vigorously while introducing himself, “My close 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 pulled his hand back, surprised to ask.

“Hehe! Not now, of course, but first time strangers, second time acquaintances!” Old Goat smiled happily, not affected by Zhang Wen’s tone at all.

“… What do you actually want to say?” Zhang Wen was really at a loss for words at Old Goat’s enthusiasm, “If you’re just here to be a fan, you’re a bit old for that.”

“Hehe! My admiration for Teacher Zhang is truly heartfelt. However… the reason I specially came to find Teacher Zhang this time is naturally something else.”

“I don’t think I’d be interested in discussing anything with a sudden stranger,” Zhang Wen smiled faintly, still choosing to keep a distant attitude.

“Hehe, Teacher Zhang, don’t be so cold! As it happens, I also have a bit of a relationship with Lord Xiu Luo.”

“Oh? Since you’re on good terms with Xiu Luo, why don’t you go find him?” Zhang Wen smiled slightly.

“Uh…” Old Goat’s smile stiffened for a moment, but he quickly recovered, just a bit embarrassedly smiling and saying, “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 now…”

“So you came to find me?” Zhang Wen glanced at Old Goat with the corner of his eye.

“Hehe! Teacher Zhang, you’re not in vain an instructor at the Almexis Academy.” Old Goat flattered Zhang Wen carelessly, then continued with a merchant-like smile, “I guess, Teacher Zhang’s intention in participating in this competition should be on those four final spots provided by Boss Hassan? Speaking of which, only someone as famous in Casares as Teacher Zhang would deserve to be invited by Boss Hassan for such a large sum of money!”

“Your meaning is, you’re not qualified enough yourself?” Zhang Wen smiled faintly again, deliberately poking at the other person.

“Of course!” To Zhang Wen’s surprise, this Old Goat didn’t care at all about the little jab in Zhang Wen’s words, instead nodding vigorously, “The last four spots provided by Boss Hassan, how could I even think of getting involved? I know exactly how much ability I have. Even if I could really make it to the end of the selection, I wouldn’t dare to get involved in a competition with Super-tier experts.”

“Oh? If that’s the case, why did you come looking for me?” Zhang Wen asked again with a smile.

“Hehe, Teacher Zhang, 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 a bit longer. Thirty thousand a day in prize money, Teacher Zhang, you’re rich and don’t care, but for us small fry, it’s no small sum.” At this point, the goateed man finally stopped smiling and seriously said to Zhang Wen, “Boss Hassan is a generous person, but he’s not a philanthropist. To get that thirty thousand shield prize money per day, we competitors will eventually have to fight each other to the death. 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 bit impatient.

“So, I want to team up with Teacher Zhang, as well as Lord Agate and Lord Xiu Luo.” Old Goat smiled unconcernedly, finally revealing his intention.

“Team up with you?” Zhang Wen looked at the smiling Old Goat, “On what basis? What benefits would we get?”

“Hehe! Teacher Zhang’s question hits the nail on the head again.” Old Goat nodded repeatedly with a merchant-like smile, “Since Teacher Zhang is so familiar with Lord Xiu Luo, you must know that this competition has almost attracted half of the professional adventurers from the Southern Border, right?”

“Ah, 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 adventurers than Lord Xiu Luo does.” As he said these words, Old Goat’s smile carried a hint of confidence, intentionally or unintentionally.

“You seem pretty confident you can convince me.”

“Confident is a bit too much to say, but I’m confident that I have quite a few chips I can offer in exchange. You know, people like me who can adjust their mindset and not think about those final four spots are very few. 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 specially pointed out by that young man named Batengping today are their biggest rivals. And Teacher Zhang now has the support of Lord Xiu Luo and Lord Agate, naturally posing an even greater threat. So, you’re already public enemies now.”

“If that’s the case, why did you specifically come to seek cooperation with us?”

“Why does Teacher Zhang ask when he already knows?” Old Goat humorously spread his hands, “What’s called a ‘public enemy’ can be rephrased as a big favorite. A lone wolf like me naturally has to team up with the strong. If I go to them, I don’t know when I might be thrown out as a sacrificial lamb.”

“You do have some brains.”

“Thank you for the compliment. I’ve survived in the profession of an adventurer so far just by relying on a bit of cleverness.” Old Goat smiled again with a merchant-like expression, “So, shall we consider our alliance settled then?”