"What?"
Peak Master Liu exclaimed, his efforts to meticulously uncover Zhang Ergou's past experiences now yielding such an unpleasant piece of news. In an instant, the surrounding air felt less pleasant to Peak Master Liu.
The other peak masters also wore looks of astonishment, their gazes fixed on Dan Feng, who was feigning composure.
"What's going on, Brother Dan?"
Although Jian Ying was a sword cultivator, he was far from aloof; in fact, he possessed a strong sense of curiosity.
"That brat, last time his divine soul was overdrawn from alchemy, I fed him a pill. After he woke up and learned of this, he was so grateful for my timely intervention that he cried and insisted on joining Dan Peak," Dan Feng stated solemnly, after glancing at the assembled crowd. "I couldn't dissuade him, so I could only agree verbally for the time being. But I did set conditions."
"What conditions?" Peak Master Liu asked with evident urgency.
"I told Zhang Ergou that he had to continue participating in the subsequent assessments and give it his all. Only after all assessments concluded would he be allowed to make his choice. If he still chose to join Dan Peak then, I would accept him," Dan Feng explained.
Jian Ying and the other peak masters regarded him with suspicion, doubting the veracity of Dan Feng's words. They suspected he had coerced or bribed Zhang Ergou into agreeing to join Dan Peak.
...
Zhang Ergou, standing in the plaza, suddenly felt an unease. He turned to see a young man with a sword on his back looking at him with obvious hostility. Zhang Ergou was perplexed, as he didn't recognize the man.
"That's Li Xun. He's from the same place as Li Qian and is a sword cultivator," Li Zhan explained softly, noticing Zhang Ergou's gaze towards a young man in white.
"Li Xun, Li Qian? I don't know them?" Zhang Ergou was even more bewildered.
Li Zhan and Qu Yao exchanged a helpless look, their expressions filled with exasperation as they looked at Zhang Ergou.
"Li Qian achieved an outstanding second place in this year's alchemy assessment. He's a fourth-grade alchemist at only thirty years old," Qu Yao emphasized her words. Zhang Ergou then recalled the young man who had looked at him multiple times during the assessment.
"But what does that have to do with me?" Zhang Ergou felt utterly perplexed.
"You won the championship. As a genius alchemist from the Central Continent, he's naturally resentful. It's said that Li Xun and Li Qian are very close, so he's taken his anger out on you," Li Zhan elaborated. Through their explanations, Zhang Ergou finally understood the intricate details. It seemed quite a bit had happened during his period of recovery.
"What's Li Xun's cultivation level?" Since the other party's hostility was undisguised, Zhang Ergou was not afraid. However, knowing your enemy and yourself meant you would never be defeated.
"Both Li Xun and Li Qian hail from cultivation families in the Central Continent. Unlike Li Qian, who displayed talent in alchemy, Li Xun has shown a unique aptitude for the sword since childhood," Qu Yao explained. "It's said he has already comprehended Sword Intent, and his cultivation has reached the middle Nascent Soul stage."
Qu Yao looked at Zhang Ergou with some concern. She wasn't certain of his cultivation, but Li Xun's reputation was not just prominent in the Central Continent. Like Li Qian, Li Xun was a young genius of the Li family in the Central Continent, and together they were known as the Li family's twin stars. They likely didn't have much competitive relationship in their cultivation, which explained their close bond since childhood. If Li Qian suffered a setback, Li Xun would find a way to avenge his brother. The alliance's arrangement conveniently suited him.
Zhang Ergou hadn't realized there were so many underlying factors. However, he didn't truly fear someone at the middle Nascent Soul stage. Back then, Li Kongcai of the Liuhai Sect was at the late Nascent Soul stage, and he could face him without defeat. Zhang Ergou was confident he had ways to deal with an arrogant young genius.
As all participants arrived, an elder stepped forward to announce the final assessment rules. The rules were quite peculiar, seemingly designed to differentiate sword cultivators from other cultivators. The first round of the finals would pit the top ten sword cultivators against ten cultivators, led by Zhang Ergou, who used other weapons. This meant each sword cultivator would draw lots to determine their opponent, who would be chosen from Zhang Ergou and the other nine.
"Who came up with such a bizarre rule?" Li Zhan grumbled indignantly. He was among those on the assessment list, and as he wasn't a sword cultivator, this feeling of being chosen was rather unpleasant. Zhang Ergou, however, felt more relaxed. Even though several young men on the opposing side exuded powerful auras, suggesting they had broken through to the Nascent Soul stage...
The ten sword cultivators first leaped onto the high platform and drew their corresponding opponents from the elder. Li Zhan mumbled nervously.
"Brother Li, what's wrong?" Zhang Ergou curiously leaned closer. Li Zhan seemed to be engaged in a highly reverent activity.
"Of course, I'm hoping not to be chosen by those freaks, or I'll be eliminated in the first round."
"Does it work?" Zhang Ergou glanced at something Li Zhan held in his hand.
"Of course, this is something that can change one's luck," Li Zhan said with a hint of pride.
"Did you rely on this all the way to get here?" Zhang Ergou now began to understand how Li Zhan, a late-stage Golden Core cultivator, had progressed so smoothly in the selection assessments. This fellow was indeed quite something. Zhang Ergou realized he hadn't truly gotten to know Li Zhan well.
"Brother Li, isn't your family one that specializes in divination?" There existed a special kind of cultivator in the cultivation world, those who possessed a unique affinity with heaven and earth, capable of seeing what ordinary people could not. What they saw were the unusual occurrences commonly referred to as heavenly secrets. Those with profound cultivation could even defy fate. Zhang Ergou had only heard of such cultivators and had never met one. Seeing Li Zhan's actions now, he was likely one of them.
"You're only realizing this now?" Li Zhan didn't deny it, instead giving Zhang Ergou a playful, exasperated glare. He considered Zhang Ergou a good friend, yet this fellow hadn't paid much attention to him.
"Heh heh, Brother Li, don't be angry. Teach me how to use this," Zhang Ergou quickly slung an arm around Li Zhan's neck, and the two began whispering secrets to each other.
...
On the high platform, the ten sword cultivators had each drawn their designated opponents. Li Xun looked at the name on the jade token in his hand, a peculiar curve forming on his lips. He then looked towards the crowd, and his eye twitched when he saw Zhang Ergou. Zhang Ergou was embracing someone, and the two of them were squatting on the ground without any semblance of composure, looking nothing like a master. Li Xun cast a disdainful glance; such a person was not worthy of being his opponent.
"First match of the finals, sword cultivator Li Xun versus spear cultivator Zhang Ergou."