Chapter 84 (2/2)

“…”

With an excited expression on their faces, the attendants explained, and under the guidance of the security guards, all the visitors in the Everlasting Feast Hall’s 100 private dining rooms rushed out and strode toward the Thousand Revolution Array’s direction.

Inside one of the private dining rooms…

Jia Ruidao and his three apprentices stared blankly as they listened to the attendant’s explanation. To them, the most important thing today was to serve and entertain Tang Xiu. Otherwise, if Tang Xiu were to quit, not only would they go bankrupt, they would lose their reputation greatly in the professional gambler’s society and no longer be able to rise again for a lifetime.

“The three of you, do you want to watch?”

After having explained, a young and beautiful attendant then asked.

Jia Ruidao waved with a fidgety expression and replied, “We’re not interested. Please leave!”

“Wait a minute.”

Gong Dalong suddenly stopped the attendant. He looked at Jia Ruidao and said, “Master, as far as I know, Master Tang seems to know martial arts. Maybe one of the people who will challenge the array is him. Please think about it! It’s a rare event for people trying to challenge the Thousand Revolution Array even in 1 or 2 years. But the moment Master Tang comes here, some people want to break through the array. I think that Master Tang is highly likely to be one of the people challenging the array.”

Jia Ruidao’s complexion moved. He also knew that Tang Xiu was a martial artist. He suddenly nodded and said, “Then, let’s go! Even if it is not Tang Xiu, perhaps he will also be there to watch!”

Shortly after, the woods surrounding the Everlasting Feast Hall was filled with a lot of people, as the entire plaza’s edge had been occupied. Dozens of Everlasting Feast Hall’s security guards took positions outside the plaza and prohibited anyone from entering even half a step.

Gu Xiaoxue folded her arms. Her eyes occasionally swept Tang Xiu while mostly shuttling back and forth between Shao Mingzhen and Miao Wentang. She was curious, to what degree their cultivation has progressed. Could they be able to break through to the third layer?

“Little Boss, is it time?”

The Security Chief came at Gu Xiaoxue’s side and whispered.

Gu Xiaoxue nodded slightly. She glanced at Tang Xiu, Shao Mingzhen, and Miao Wentang and then said lightly, “Today the three of you want to challenge the Thousand Revolution Array. Regardless of your life and death, the Everlasting Feast Hall will not be accounted or be held responsible for your fate. Anyone who can break through the third layer will be our Everlasting Feast Hall’s Honorable Guest.”

Three people?

Shao Mingzhen and Miao Wentang looked at each other as their vision fell on Tang Xiu at the same time. Shao Mingzhen hesitated for a moment. He looked at Tang Xiu and said, “Little Brother, you want to challenge the Thousand Revolution Array? Anyway, this is not something you can joke about. If you’re not a genuine martial artist, perhaps you will lose your life inside.”

Miao Wentang also nodded and said, “That’s right! A young man with spirit is good, but don’t aim too high without having sufficient skill. Although this Thousand Revolution Array is very helpful for a practitioner’s cultivation, but if one does not have the sufficient strength, you will either be injured or you’ll die.”

“I’m aware of that.”

Tang Xiu glanced at the two men, who looked and judged him based on his appearance only. But he didn’t feel any antipathy toward them. He was the creator of this Array and he knew everything about it. However, he didn’t want to speak, and he believed that the fact will open their eyes.

Upon seeing Tang Xiu’s expression, Shao Mingzhen and Miao Wentang wryly smiled inside. They reminded him out of goodwill, but Tang Xiu seemed to ignore them.

_“Damn!!”_

A trace of anger was suddenly birthed in Shao Mingzhen’s heart as he indifferently spoke, “Since Little Brother wants to strive until the last minute, we will remind you no longer then.”

With that said, he turned toward Gu Xiaoxue and cupped his fist, and then strode into the plaza.

The entire plaza seemed to be only filled with randomly placed jadeites. But, the naked eyes were unable to see that these jadeites were the pattern of the Thousand Revolution Array. The moment Shao Mingzhen stepped into the Array area, his footsteps suddenly stopped as he began to move the next moment.

In the onlookers’ eyes, Shao Mingzhen was only repeatedly moving around in the perimeter area of the ten square meter range, as though he was a fly that was moving around heedlessly. But for Tang Xiu, Gu Xiaoxue, as well as Miao Wentang, who had once challenged the Thousand Revolution Array, they knew that Shao Mingzhen was facing a different scene.

Inside the Thousand Revolution Array…

The split second Shao Mingzhen stepped inside, it was as though he had come to another world. He looked at the Oriole birds that flew above the grasses as high as a person’s height in front of him, giving off the scene of the springtime, and the feeling of the blowing spring breeze. But, even then, he was in full concentration at this time. He had the knowledge of the first layer of Thousand Revolution Array, since he had challenged it before. He knew that even though the beautiful mountain forest he saw right now was a sight to behold, but it actually contained countless grave dangers.

Suddenly, spring thunder sounded as the bright and beautiful sunshine was shrouded with floating dark clouds. The entire world turned darker as light drizzle rain began to drip from the sky, bringing along the corrosiveness with them.

“It’s coming!”

Shao Mingzhen’s heart tightened. He vigilantly looked around and immediately found groups of mottled snakes as thick as person’s arms from the surrounding woods as they gathered around him.

“Hmph……”

Since he had once experienced it, Shao Mingzhen didn’t panic. He took a yellow paper talisman from his chest, waved his wrist and ignited the paper talisman as a raging fire suddenly blazed and sprayed out toward the mottled snakes in the surroundings.

“Hiss……”

A mottled snake was neighing in the sea of raging fire and died. But more and more mottled snakes dauntlessly slithered forward in waves. With a cold and chilling manner, the scarlet-colored mottled snake’s eyes were tightly eyeing Shao Mingzhen. However, a sharp stiletto suddenly appeared in Shao Mingzhen’s hands. Along with his foot’s movements, he struck dead the mottled snakes that bolted toward him.

“Found it.”

~~~~~~~~~~

[1] I translate the inherent meaning in the raws to make it clearer.

*[Long Taos]: side characters in Chinese operas who perform acrobatics and fight scenes

*[12.47 to 13.07]: don’t ask me about the tree sap