Chapter 81 - Crossroad Lake (2/2)
”Because it's the logical choice. Unlike you and the other participants, I lived almost all my life in the wilderness. As for fighting in an unknown place, I think I have an advantage over any other participant. But to maintain this advantage, I have to move without being seen. So I can only take at most one other person, Lian. I am also a beast tamer, and I think you learned that I have come into possession of two spirit beast bags. Therefore, I won't have problems with numerical inferiority in case I have to meet the groups of other sects.
By removing Lian and me, you will also return to being a united group since you have known each other for a long time. In this type of situation, group cohesion is fundamental. Initially, I decided to entrust the command to Mei, but as a third classified, it is right that I pass it to you. Also, I doubt you would have accepted the fact that Mei bypassed you when you were in a higher position than her in the inner members' hierarchy.”
It was true. Zan would never have accepted such a thing. And the fact that he wasn't replying despite Hei's claims was synonymous that his words were right.
”Alright. I will then take the lead, while I leave you the autonomy of moving on your own.” In the end, Zan accepted what Hei said without making too much fuss.
At his words, Li burst out laughing.
”And I thought you would give up the command to keep your pride. I see you have finally learned something useful from your old man.”
”Li, you bastard! Dare to repeat it, and I... ”
”All right, all right. Forget it. Rather, it is better to start telling us what you have in mind. Knowing you, you had already thought of various ways to get the command even without the Hei's resignation. And therefore, you have also developed several plans.”
At Li's words, Zan frowned. Since they had known each other for a lifetime, he knew how to make him nervous.
In any case, Zan began to illustrate the various tactics he had developed. It happened he had already obtained a copy of that stack of documents. So, he had memorized the data of all the participants. Therefore, he illustrated every possible course of action according to the adversary they could meet.
When he listened about how he had studied the information in the sect's possession, Hei couldn't help but be surprised. He was more and more convinced that it had been a good idea to leave the command to him.
So they spent the day elaborating every possible tactic for every kind of scenario imaginable. Hei also gave his contribution and gave them information on how to move in the wild. He also taught them tricks on how to hide their smell against potential beast tamers, and how to deal with them.
Eventually, it was evening, and they all ended up eating together. Strangely, despite the various tensions between them since the arrival of Hei and Lian to the sect, they ended up creating a strange bond. They couldn't be called friends or comrades in arms, but the initial hostility that existed between them had disappeared.
After all, they were all risking their lives there. United by the common goal of surviving, they had signed a ceasefire and combined their forces to fight the enemies around them.
On the morning of the third day of their stay at the lake, the opening was finally declared. The various sects gathered around the metal tower. The various sect leaders and elders of the sects stepped aside, letting their younger generation disciples come forward.
At that point, the metal tower lit up, and a voice that seemed to be coming from far away spoke.
”The time has finally come. I will now proceed to memorize the spirit power of each participant. I remind you that only those who have the token with a trace of my spirit power can access it. I'll start then with the big sects and so on, going down.”
The Artifact Spirit then passed to announce the number of participants of each respective sect. He had to confirm the participants who had been selected, verifying that they didn't surpass the rank of spirit apprentice.
At that point, Bao Bei jumped off Hei's head and positioned herself near the sect leader of the Flower Sect, watching her children from afar. She was worried about them, but she knew they were smart and had trained a lot for today.
After verifying the participants of the Bubble Sect, it was the turn of the Flower. When it pronounced the sect's name and looked at the participants, the Artifact Spirit paused for a moment as it smiled to itself.
”Flower Sect, no participant exceeds the spirit apprentice rank. The number of participants - Seven.”
Upon hearing the number of participants proclaimed by the Artifact Spirit, all those present, except those of the Flower Sect, couldn't help but doubt their ears. Had they heard correctly? Was the Flower Sect's number really seven?
Initially, they believed that they had brought seven disciples of the younger generation to throw them off and to hide until the last moment who were the real participants. After all, several other sects had thought of a similar tactic. So, they didn't care too much about that.
But who would have imagined that what they considered to be a diversion was instead the real number of participants?
The various sects were dying to know how the hell the Flower Sect had managed to grab so many tokens. From their information, they knew that the total number available to them was five. And that was even greater than the number of participants of the most import sect, the Tremor Sect, which occupied the first place among the five big sects.
However, the Artifact Spirit had no time to waste to let them feed their thirst for curiosity. Thus the participants of the other sects continued to be confirmed.
But, although it was continuing in its work, all the present martial artists' eyes were still glued to the Flower Sect. They were trying to telepathically contact the sect leader and other elders through a spirit message. However, they were all refusing any communication.
There was no way that they would reveal their secrets to strangers, nor were they obliged to do so.
Understanding they couldn't get an answer from them, the other sects immediately started making last-minute changes to their battle plan and agreeing with the other sects.
Their goal? Reduce the combat strength of the Flower Sect as soon as possible.
Initially, they had planned to dedicate the first stages to exploration and collection of materials. But now they had to distort all of their plans since the Flower Sect represented a danger too big.
In a short time, the Artifact Spirit ended its task of verification. In total, there were 100 participants, all belonging to the younger generation. Each of them could be called a martial artist with excellent prospects, with some of them being called geniuses. But now 100 of these 'geniuses' were gathered here, and each of them risked being killed.
Emitting its spirit power from the metal tower, and with the help of the formative masters present there, the Artifact Spirit opened the passage to the Secret Dimension.
A white light enveloped the participants possessing the token with the trace of the Artifact Spirit until they were completely swallowed by it. Then, these disappeared from the eyes of the other people who were watching from afar.
The long-awaited Secret Dimension had finally been opened, and 100 martial artists of the younger generation were now in there, unaware of what was awaiting them.