After Ming Xiao defeated Yu Jia and looked around, she started to walk towards the gold necklaces scattered on the ground. She approached with steady steps and extended her hand to collect the necklaces, but suddenly she stopped. She rose up and quickly raised her sword towards a certain direction full of trees, her facial features alert and cautious for the first time.
As I expected, a person came out from between the trees. It was Jeffrey, with a small smile on his face and his eyes full of curiosity and tension.
On his way to the western side of the island, Jeffrey encountered several competitors who tried to stop him from advancing. Of course, none of them were a match for him, as he managed to defeat them all easily and without problems. He collected seven gold necklaces from them, adding them to the five necklaces he had previously seized from Shin Young. Now, he had thirteen necklaces.
As he was walking on his way, he suddenly heard a powerful sound wave from afar. His steps stopped for a moment, then he decided to go and discover the source of the sound. He climbed a small hill, and from there he saw the fight between Ming Xiao and Yu Jia. Jeffrey hid in the trees, silently and carefully observing the two's movements.
He not only watched, but studied every move and attack, trying to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of each of them. Looking at the fight, he knew that facing either of them would be a great challenge, but he did not feel afraid, but rather excited.
After the fight ended and Yu Jia was defeated, Jeffrey concluded that he would likely be no match for her so he prepared to leave. But as soon as he took a single step, Ming Xiao's sword headed towards his place and he was forced to come out of hiding.
Jeffrey emerged from the trees, raising his hands slightly to show that he had no intention of fighting.
"Looks like you were expecting me," he said with a calm smile like a kind neighbor.
Ming Xiao stared at him coldly, her features filled with extreme caution and her sword still pointed at him.
"Who are you?" Ming Xiao spoke for the first time.
Jeffrey quickly replied, "My name is Jeffrey, I was just watching to learn. I have no intention of fighting, at least not yet."
Despite his words, Ming Xiao didn't lower her sword and kept her guard up. She looked at Jeffrey's right waist, which was full of necklaces, and narrowed her eyes warily.
"Apparently, you carry a lot of necklaces, and it really makes me wonder what you want."
Jeffrey smiled cheerfully and pointed to the necklaces that Ming Xiao was holding. "The same goes for you too, you have more necklaces a lot more than me, but I think we can be allies instead of enemies, because I don't want to fight you after all, wasting time fighting someone strong for nothing is just stupid, what do you think?"
Ming Xiao was silent for a moment, then lowered her sword slightly. Looking at her, she knew that she would waste her time fighting Jeffrey. She did not know his ability and whether he was hiding something in his mind, so it was better for her to cooperate with him instead of fighting uselessly, even though she is still young, but she was able to recognize the extent of the danger of the young man in front of her, which prevented her from removing her sharp gaze from him.
"That depends on what you do now, Jeffrey."
"Oh? Finally someone who uses his brains instead of his muscles!" Jeffrey gave a satisfied nod.
*****
The judges were sitting in a large observation room, feverishly following what was happening on the island. The mirrors displayed the different areas, where the participants were competing fiercely.
The judges started talking about how strong this generation is. One of them looked into the mirrors and said, "Out of the two hundred participants, about thirty of them impressed us. This generation seems special."
Another judge asked Nei Fai, who was one of the leading judges, "Nei Fai, who among the contestants have you liked so far?"
Nei Fai took a moment to think deeply, looked at the mirrors for a while and then answered.
"There are many distinguished competitors. One of them is Yung Bai, who possessed the ability of darkness and controlled the eastern side of the island with great skill. His ability to control combat is unique, especially when fighting many people, and also Sae Yun, who possesses the ability of water, many tried to defeat him, but he drowned them all, which made me enjoy watching him a lot. He is also someone who likes to finish things quickly, unlike Yung Bai, who takes his time."
Nei Fai stopped talking, then looked in a certain direction where Jeffrey and Ming Xiao were. "However, Ming Xiao is the most impressive, with her immense strength and reaching the Second Heaven without needing a sect at such a young age, she is a person who will undoubtedly make our sect stronger."
Then Nei Fai turned and looked at Jeffrey for a long time, much to the astonishment of the other judges. Finally, he spoke curiously, "As for Jeffrey, he is a very intelligent and cunning person. I expected him to attack anyone who gets in his way, regardless of the opponent's ability, but despite having the rule ability, which is considered rare and extremely powerful, he did not use it recklessly like the other competitors."
One of the judges raised his eyebrows questioningly, "What do you mean, Nei Fai?"
Nei Fai replied, "This boy does not act like a fourteen-year-old at all. He reminds me of the aura of an old man with his experience and wisdom. He only makes his attacks at the right time, and does not have the frenzy of teenagers. He is also extremely observant and cautious, knowing when to intervene and when to remain hidden. If we look in terms of combat intelligence, Jeffrey will be the best of them without the slightest doubt."
The rest of the judges looked at Jeffrey on the screen in a completely different way. They did not care about him much except for his rare ability, which he did not use it too much, so the judges stopped watching him. Now they realized that this young man might be more than just an ordinary participant. Since Jeffrey is distinguished by exceptional intelligence and rare wisdom at his age, this made him the focus of attention and admiration of the judges.
Returning to Fog Island, the number of contestants became fewer and fewer until twenty people remained, all of whom managed to survive and destroy the dreams of the losing competitors.
After Ming Xiao and Jeffrey's alliance, searching and seizing necklaces became more efficient, leaving the two full of necklaces, Jeffrey collecting nineteen necklaces, while Ming Xiao collected twenty-seven in total.
The twenty gathered in the same place, ready to finish the test. Each of them looked at the other with curiosity and caution, with a little enthusiasm and desire for a challenge. Suddenly Yung Bai walked towards Sae Yun and smiled.
"You seem to have collected a lot, are you still doing the drowning move for the weak?" Yung Bai laughed sarcastically.
Sae yun looked at him for a while and then smiled lightly, "It doesn't matter how as long as I win. Unlike you who uses his muscles to show off, I do things the quick and easy way."
"Hehehe, your words are still sharp you bastard, and I was the one who thought those with water abilities were calm and gentle."
"The same goes for you. Shouldn't those with dark abilities be hidden like shadows? Look at yourself, how you brag."
The rest of the contestants: "..."
While the two continued to argue, Jeffrey was sitting on a medium-sized rock, looked at the other contestants carefully and began trying to analyze them.
"They are all at the peak of First Heaven like me, and their aura is completely similar to mine, that means…." Jeffrey narrowed his eyes and looked at Ming Xiao nearby, who was completely isolated from everyone.
"she's probably in the Second Heaven. That explains why my instinct has been warning me all this time. Fortunately, I didn't provoke it and cooperated with her from the beginning." Jeffrey sighed.
At the same time, Ming Xiao was thinking the same thing as Jeffrey, ever since she met him, her mind had been extremely cautious towards him and she treated him as someone as powerful or more powerful despite their difference in rank.
"Jeffrey is only at the peak of First Heaven and he doesn't even fake it, why do I feel nervous, his presence and his eyes… look similar to that person." Ming Xiao looked at Jeffrey curiously, making their eyes meet. The two ignored each other as if nothing had happened.
"Let's forget it, it's not like I care." The two spoke internally at the same time.
A short while after the competitors met, a blue space portal opened on the ground, and the referee who explained the rules to them at the beginning, who was called Nei Fai, came out of it.
Everyone stopped talking after seeing the latter. His aura and gaze were enough to sink everyone's hearts. He cast his gaze at Yung Bai, Sae Yun, Ming Xiao and finally Jeffrey and then smiled lightly.
"I see that this year's exam ended early, contrary to our expectations, I can only congratulate you," Nei Fai said.
"Now I will tell you about your ranks," the latter continued.
The first place went to Sae Yun, followed by Yung Bai, with a difference of a few necklaces, which made the latter almost explode in frustration. Ming Xiao got the third rank, while Jeffrey got the seventh rank. Of course, if Jeffrey had put in all his effort, he could easily have gotten a higher rank, but he didn't care. With his rank, he preferred to keep himself hidden and not attract much attention, his reward was guaranteed, and this is what is most important.
After Nei Fai told them about their rank, he continued to speak, "Don't be too conceited. Just because you passed this simple test does not mean that your future is promising. The Curved Moon Sect is the strongest sect currently. You will only join as outer disciples and then the real challenge will begin. Our sect follows the principle of One thing which is strength! Without the ability to move forward and seek strength anywhere, you are useless, and even worse, you will be just trash!!!" Nei Fai let out an aura that made all of the competitors feel suffocated.
"Outer disciples…that's good, my new life has just begun!" A sparkling gleam appeared on Jeffrey's black eyes.
He has now taken his first steps on the path to reaching the peak!