Chapter 355 (1/2)
The new number one disciple had emerged from the competition. Not even a full hour went by as he managed to dismantle the top 3 disciples from this Thunderball Hall. Feng Shi, the golden boy that was unanimously agreed upon by everyone as the best, had fallen.
Zhang Dong in his disguise stood tall and walked down from the battle stage that he was on. When he arrived at the edges of this tournament area the youngsters parted to the sides. No one that was around this age range was willing to meet his gaze.
No one knew how they should act around the new number one. Would he be the irritable type that lashed out at anyone that didn't show him any respect? Maybe he would be more stoic as the previous number one or more conniving like some of the other top students.
”What is it? Do I have something on my shoes? Raise your heads, brothers and sisters, there is no need to be afraid.”
Zhang Dong called out in a soft-spoken voice which caused a few people to raise their heads.
”See, isn't that better?”
He laughed out loud while shrugging. Now it was the time to show his magnanimous persona. He knew that everyone preferred a senior that was easy to talk to. Pompous ones like Feng Shi or muscle heads like the third-ranked one were not preferred by many.
Both of them put a certain barrier around themselves. One was hard to approach due to his violent tendencies while the other seemed like an idol that should be observed from afar but never touched. What would happen if the new top student was different, one that was willing to lend a hand to his brothers and sisters.
”Challenge me if you must, I'm sure we can exchange some pointers during this tournament but don't think I'll go easy on you!”
His plan was to show off while also looking humble. Instead of boasting about his victory and pointing his fingers at the other disciples, he urged them to take it easy. He made it seem that even if they challenged him, he would not cripple their cultivation like the other top students that despised the lower disciples.
”Hm, not bad he shows some restraint but will he be able to last till the end.”
Elder Jingyi commented while talking with the other elders. It seemed that he did indeed pique the man's interest but until the competition was over, the old man didn't seem willing to end it.
”I have returned elder, I have gathered all the information about this disciple!”
As if he was waiting for it, the elder that left to gather details about Dai Rong's other competitions had returned to the tower. He quickly informed Elder Jingyi about how the young man was just a trial disciple that had already won four competitions.
”He has won both the pill-making competition and the blacksmithing competition?”
Zhang Dong couldn't see the man's expression but by his tone, he knew that Elder Jingyi was surprised. The tails of his expedition into the sect's contest were revealed to each and everyone of the elders above. Quickly they became chatty as none of them had paid any attention to those outer sect competitions.
”This Dai Rong, where did he come from… such a talent has made it into our Thunderball hall. It would be bad if it's cut short, maybe I should…”
”You should what?”
”Take him under my wing of course!”
Soon as according to his plan the elders were fighting with each other. All of them were on the very top of the totem pole.
”Silence! This competition isn't finished yet!”
Finally, Jingyi interrupted the bittering as the only inner sect elder here, he had all the power.
”We apologize, Elder Jingyi.”
The old red-haired man easily silenced everyone here but it didn't seem that he would be plucking Zhang Dong away just yet. Time continued to pass and Zhang Dong found himself getting challenged by some of the top twenty disciples.
At first, it seemed that they were just testing the waters to see if he was tired enough to be knocked down from the first spot. After easily beating the 5th ranked senior brother everyone was sure that he had a lot more gas in the tank.
The 5th ranked youth was not maimed or injured much which showed them that this Dai Rong did show some restraint. Through this, he was seen accepting more fights through which he showed some of the flaws in peoples fighting techniques.
At the end of the competition, he remained the number one ranked. The night had fallen upon the sect and the people started cheering. Due to the knockouts that they suffered the previous top three was not seen again which caused people to be ranked higher by default.
”With this, we will end this year's outer sect battle competition!”
Each competition that gave him this bead would allow him to redeem it for some treasure. He just needed to visit the outer sect treasure house. There he would be able to redeem his rewards but not like this would add much to his repertoire.
If he was a regular Martial Master disciple this would probably allow him to cultivate much faster than the other disciples. He was already far too strong for these rewards to actually matter.
The elder gave a speech that he could only roll his eyes on and then it was over. This would be the time where the elders approached the young men and women to strike a deal.
Zhang Dong found himself surrounded, there were at least a hundred people around him, one older than the other. He could see some people from the blacksmith's hall as well as the formation and pill-making hall. The elder that lent him the cultivation abode was also there, just at the edge as he was forced out by the more influential elders.
These old men that prided themselves on being composed and stoic were now shouting like angry children. It was as if this Dai Rong that he was playing was some kind of limited edition action figure that everyone wanted.
Before they could start yanking on his clothes, finally the person that he was here for appeared. Jingyi appeared as if he was waiting till everyone gathered up so that he could show off his superiority. His descent from the tower was greeted with bows and clasped hands.