138 Chapter 138 (1/2)
The elder members from the three clans dispersed after a small commotion. The Matriarch of the Feng clan almost got into a scuffle with the Huo clan young lord. Luckily the others managed to quell her anger, the man in question not really sure why the lady was mad at him. He even offered her the spot as his 100th wife again. Telling her that if things with Zhang Dong didn't work out, she could join his harem. This, of course, didn't go well ending in the Feng Matriarch trying to deliver a strike to the Huo lords nether regions.
While this was happening, down in the pagoda hotel the Zhang Clan juniors were getting ready for the last trial. After the 'misunderstanding ' was cleared up, their Grand Elder Zhang Jin went over to tell them about the plan and the alliance.
”So it's like this, young ones...”
Zhang Jin laid it bare, telling everyone to work with the Feng Clan and the Huo Clan if they came across them. He didn't beat around the bush too much as he didn't have the spare time. Still having important business to take care of later on.
”Remember, when the final trial opens you will be randomly spread out throughout the testing grounds. If you are lucky you will have your brothers and sisters with you, but if not. You might find yourself against multiple opponents.”
”The Feng and Huo Clans have agreed to aid us, the other families will band against us so if you see anyone from our allies, aid them.”
The trial area had a teleportation formation implemented in it. It would put the juniors at random locations in a maze-like area. There were many traps and even some of those dolls were waiting to give the contestants a trashing. This wasn't all though, in the area were hidden treasures like spiritual herbs. This was placed inside the area to give the participants some incentive to fight, the resources were limited and you could keep everything that you managed to find.
The short briefing ended and the juniors bowed, they weren't against working together with other clans. They weren't so sure if they could trust the other clans that well. They didn't know the other party well enough for that. The Feng women were strange and hard to approach, the Huo cultivators overbearing and haughty. Still, this was the order of the grand elder, so the juniors would try to follow it as well as they could.
”Liu'er, Xue'er join your grandpa for a talk...”
Before Zhang Jin left the juniors, he made sure to get his grandson and grandaughter for a little talk. The two just looked at each other and nodded, not really thinking much off it. They all gathered in a separate room that was prepared for the highest-ranking member from their clan. It looked quite nice, but compared to the penthouse one it looked quite shabby.
”Sit down, have some tea.”
They got offered some snacks and tea, their grandpa just trying to create a nice enough atmosphere. What he would say would probably not fly well with these two youngsters that had progressed at an amazing pace. But he had to at least try to convince them to see things his way, if not he would have to go with plan B.
”Liu...Xue... it would be wise if you dropped out of the competition after the next trial...”
Zhang Liu coughed out as he was sipping on the tea, his sister had a similar reaction as she choked on a cookie that she was nibbling on. The two were quite shocked not understanding the meaning of their grandpa's words, why would he want them to drop out now.
”Grandpa Jin, what is the meaning of this? How can we show the other clan's our superiority if we don't participate?”
Zhang Liu slammed his palms down on the table in protest, the table rattling due to the force. His sister covered her mouth with the sleeve of her robe as she didn't want to show the crumbs on her mouth while also replying.
”Yes dear grandpa, I would like to hear an explanation too...how could we, as the Patriarch's disciples do such a thing?”
The old man looked at the two youths, the two looked a lot different now than they did two years ago. They looked a lot more mature, those white locks only added to their mystical appearance. He didn't think it would be possible for anyone below the age of twenty to be at their power level. That Master of theirs really did bring in all the best techniques to the table and in that lay the problem.
”Now calm down you two, let your grandpa explain... the thing is...”
”You might bring unwanted attention to your Master and the clan if you continue like this...”
The two twitched slightly as they heard their Master getting mentioned, Zhang Liu sat back down after he stood up to smack the table and continued to listen.
”You might think that spreading the glory of the clan is a good thing, but in reality, it might bring it to ruin if we aren't careful...”
”Your master is a powerful man, but he isn't strong enough to shoulder this burden... not yet at least.”
”I have seen his cultivation manual... I've seen yours and it's far more immeasurable than you might think. If the powerful sects realize what we are holding and it's true worth, we might face annihilation...”
The two youths gasped in shock, not really sure if their grandpa was serious or if he was being a bit too melodramatic. Would the sects really attack if they found their Master's cultivation method to be of a high quality?
”So that's why grandfather stopped me back then...”
Liu said while moving his head down and thinking.
”You would have easily attained first place, but you would have attracted a lot of unwanted attention.”
”Still... I don't agree! It would be shameful to not fight at our best!”
Liu retorted, not wanting to throw a fight as his pride didn't allow him. Xue was also of the same mind, thinking their grandfather was overexaggerating. Though she also understood where her family member was coming from, but if they hid some of that strength things should work out.
”Well, I'm not telling you two to lie down and take it, at least try not to use the more powerful techniques like the Embodiment of the Thunder God. But your grandpa would be glad if you thought about what is good for the clan... Luckily the inside of the trial is sealed off so no one will be able to see you fight. But after the main tournament starts all eyes will be on you.”
What continued was an attempt of the old man on getting the two youths to see it from his standpoint. Bringing honor to your clan or yourself was fine and all, but it wasn't worth your life. The two weren't all that convinced, from their experience things seemed to work out in the end but they would take their grandpa's words into consideration.
”So, you're not convinced... well at least try to not stand out, your opponents shouldn't be strong enough for you to go all out...”
The man gave off a large sigh, he could force the two to drop out but he also wanted them to make their own mistakes. The probability of something going wrong wasn't all that high, there were only a couple of people that could contend with his young grandson at an equal level. One of them was even from their own clan, the other was the Huo clan young master. It should be fine if Zhang Liu doesn't use the more overpowering techniques that gave off that strong lightning Dao.