Chapter 265: Heading to the Dark Sea!
Xiao Ze sat in a chair, resting his chin on his right hand, watching the chaotic battle in the plaza. He had participated in similar battles when he was at Canaan Academy. It had been several years, and now he could watch from above as a spectator.
Xiao Ze didn't have too many mixed feelings. His growth had been smooth and without many difficulties. To stand out in this chaotic battle, besides strength, one needed a bit of luck to avoid becoming the target of others.
The rules of the Four Pavilions Conference competition were simple: a chaotic battle until only eight people remained, who would then fight each other. The disciples of the Four Pavilions on the platform were very powerful, with strength superior to the other young talents. Many young participants grouped around the Four Pavilions' disciples to help them eliminate opponents. Although they knew their chances of advancing were slim, they were willing to fight for that small hope.
Xiao Ze didn't see Feng Qing'er or Mu Qingluan among the participants. They might need a few more years before competing. Feng Qing'er could still be in the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Tribe, not yet a disciple of the Wind and Thunder Pavilion. The same with Mu Qingluan, who was also from the Luan Bird Tribe.
Xiao Ze drummed his fingers on the armrest of his chair, guessing who the eight finalists would be. Among them, he had the most hope in a disciple of the Sword Pavilion, who had an upright posture, long hair tied in a ponytail, and a noble face. At first glance, her figure was completely flat, making it hard to suspect she was a woman, and her attire was also masculine. However, Xiao Ze noticed some details that indicated she was indeed a woman with a special purple talent.
However, Xiao Ze had already decided to accept only golden talents. He still had a bonding slot available and was considering giving it to Cao Ying. According to the original novel, Cao Ying's soul strength was naturally strong, so could her innate soul improve even more? If it couldn't improve, there would be no feedback. If it could, Xiao Ze preferred to bond with a soul-related talent. He had numerous talents related to cultivation and physical constitution, but only Dan Chen had a body with great soul talent. Though very powerful, Xiao Ze still hoped his soul level would grow faster. His soul strength was increasing steadily, faster than other alchemists, but he wasn't satisfied.
The original novel mentioned Yao Ling from the Yao Tribe, whose soul was special and considered the most likely to reach the imperial level in her tribe. That was a high evaluation. Unfortunately, ancient tribes were like hidden dragons, hard to find. However, if he could become the president of the Danta, maybe he would have a way to contact the Yao Tribe.
While Xiao Ze was lost in thought, the Sword Pavilion disciple he had been observing launched a sword strike, unleashing a multitude of sword shadows that sent her opponent flying. She controlled her strength, avoiding fatal injuries.
Plop! The young talent, careless for a moment, fell into the water, causing a slight smile on the Sword Pavilion disciple's face. The young man, embarrassed, stood up and bowed to her. He knew she could have easily killed him with that strike. Thus, only eight people remained on the platform.
Xiao Ze listened carefully and learned that the Sword Pavilion disciple's name was Liu Ling. Liu Ling held a light blue long sword, and the others watched her cautiously. Her earlier technique made them feel threatened. However, Liu Ling didn't pay much attention, smiling slightly and jumping off the platform. It wasn't her turn to compete yet, but on her return, she looked towards the guest section and met Xiao Ze's gaze. Xiao Ze smiled and nodded, making Liu Ling feel flattered.
Liu Ling had learned from her master, the Swordsman, that the young and handsome man was a master alchemist from the Danta. Being recognized by someone of such status made her feel deeply honored. Elder Chihuo also noticed Xiao Ze's gesture and asked, "Xiao Ze, do you have confidence in that Sword Pavilion disciple?"
"Of course, she has a great chance of winning this competition," Xiao Ze replied. Elder Chihuo began to pay more attention to Liu Ling. Indeed, in the following rounds, Liu Ling demonstrated her skill with her secret technique, defeating all her opponents. As Xiao Ze had predicted, she became the winner of this edition.
"This Sword Pavilion disciple masters her technique perfectly, her strength is extraordinary," commented Elder Chihuo, impressed by Xiao Ze's critical eye. The Four Pavilions Conference ended without incident. The strongest young person of this generation was Liu Ling from the Sword Pavilion, making the Swordsman proud and smiling.
With the announcement of the competition's end by Venerable Huang Quan, everyone knew the real show was about to begin. All eyes turned to the guest section. After briefly chatting with the others, the elder took Xiao Ze, heading directly to the Dark Sea without hiding their intentions. Other powers didn't linger either, leaving instructions and heading to the Dark Sea.
On the platform, the four respected figures looked at each other. Finally, the Swordsman, the winner, spoke first: "What are we standing here for? If we're interested, we should follow them."
"Haha, I'm quite interested in this ancient site in the sea, so I'll go ahead," said Venerable Lei with a laugh, enveloping himself in lightning and disappearing into the distance. The other three smiled and shook their heads, and Venerable Feng commented: "Venerable Lei is still so impulsive. Seeing how relaxed the Danta elder is, the ancient site probably isn't ready to open yet."
"You, who are the fastest, have nothing to worry about. Anyway, I'll go ahead," said the Swordsman, rolling his eyes and transforming into a giant sword that shot towards the Dark Sea. Venerable Feng shook his head, ignoring Venerable Huang Quan, and turned into a green whirlwind, taking his people to the same destination.
Venerable Huang Quan watched as his pavilion, full of life moments ago, emptied quickly, clenching his fist. "I regret organizing this edition of the Four Pavilions Conference!" he finally expressed out loud the thought that had crossed his mind so many times. Unfortunately, there was no one to listen.
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