Yang Ying’s voice was gentle, but also decisive. It was her way of telling Wang ng that their agreent had co to an end. After all, Wang ng had already achieved his goal. In truth, Yang Ying could have simply ignored him, but out of courtesy, she ca to bid him a formal farewell.
"Thank you for all your trouble during this ti, Senior Sister. If we et in the Grand Competition, you must go all out. I certainly won’t be holding back."
Wang ng gave a brilliant smile and held out his hand.
Yang Ying paused for a mont, then extended her own hand. The two shared a light handshake. Yang Ying then threw out her flying sword and soared into the sky, as elegant and graceful as ever, without a trace of hesitation.
And that was exactly what Wang ng wanted: clean and decisive!
’Another matter settled. For an expert like Yang Ying, all she needed was a little push, and she could find the solution on her own. The process of solving it is also valuable experience. It’s clear she’s already confident.’
"Brother ng! Brother ng! Ah, don’t go, don’t go!"
Zhang Xiaopang’s roar could be heard from a great distance. The first part was for Wang ng; the second had nothing to do with him.
Zhang Xiaopang bounded over like a rubber ball shot from a cannon, watching Yang Ying’s departing figure with an expression of utter despair.
"What’s the rush? Are you trying to get reincarnated?"
"Where’s Senior Sister Yang? Why’d she leave?" Zhang Xiaopang asked eagerly.
"She went back to Flying Phoenix Hall to prepare for the Grand Competition."
Wang ng chuckled, sizing up Zhang Xiaopang. He hadn’t changed much at all. ’Looks like Wan Jing’s brutal training wasn’t harsh enough.’
"Ah? When is she coming back? I haven’t even gotten to know her yet."
"Heh, she’s not coming back. Or maybe you can challenge her during the Grand Competition."
Zhang Xiaopang beat his chest and stamped his feet. ’Gods! Everyone else got to see her, but I was the only one who missed out. Heaven is truly unfair!’
"So, is your training over? You look to be in good shape."
"Haha, Brother ng, I’m super strong now! ...Or so Master says. We have the rest of the ti to ourselves. Master said it would be best to go out and get so real experience, to turn what we’ve learned into actual combat strength."
Zhang Xiaopang said, "Everyone sent to co get you."
Zhang Xiaopang glanced around, and only after making sure no one else was present did he whisper, "Brother ng, with your brilliance and power, it’d be no big deal to take both Junior Sister Ma and Junior Sister Yang for yourself. You have my full support!"
BONK...
Wang ng rapped Zhang Xiaojiang on the head. "Cut the crap. Junior Sister Ma and I are just friends."
"Brother ng, just tell secretly, how far have you two gone? Don’t worry, I absolutely won’t tell anyone else. My, Zhang Xiaojiang’s, lips are famously sealed!"
"If your lips were sealed, pigs could fly."
"Hehe, I’m just curious."
Zhang Xiaopang hadn’t seen Wang ng in a long ti and had a bellyful of words pent up. He’d finally found an outlet and chattered nonstop the entire way, even spilling the beans about his business with Liuu i, leaving Wang ng not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
"It seems like you’ve really been holding it in."
"Sigh, ii is great in every way, she just won’t let have my way with her. I an, where else is she going to find a dependable guy like ?"
"Haha, you’re dependable, I’ll give you that. But *how* dependable, I can’t say."
Wang ng laughed heartily. He was happy for Zhang Xiaojiang. The guy was different from him; he could enjoy life to the fullest, regardless of whether he was dependable or not.
By the ti the two arrived at Thunderlight Pavilion, everyone else was already there. It had been a while, but Ma Tian’Er was still the sa. Seeing Wang ng, she offered a gentle smile. "Brother Wang, long ti no see."
Her expression was normal. It was clear Ma Tian’Er had sorted out her feelings and her mood had recovered. Liuu i, on the other hand, shot Wang ng a harsh glare, her face unfriendly.
"Let’s get down to business," Hu Jing began. "Wang ng, our special training has co to an end. Although we’ve made so improvents, our overall strength is still at the bottom compared to the other Halls. Do you have any good suggestions?"
Hu Jing looked at Wang ng. Everything that had happened in the Small Thousand World had earned him her deep respect. Frankly, as her own strength grew, Hu Jing’s prestige in Thunderlight Hall had also risen, but she still trusted Wang ng’s judgnt implicitly.
Wang ng fell into a brief thought. "Honestly, the best training would be to leave the Holy Hall. But at our current level, if we go out seeking experience, we’d just beco training targets for others. The internal missions within the Holy Hall are mostly focused on practicing Skill Techniques, which won’t be much help for the Grand Competition. It’s a tricky situation."
"Why don’t we just spar with each other!" Zhang Xiaojiang suggested.
"We’re too familiar with each other; it would have little effect. The problem now is that we’ve already fallen behind everyone else. If we don’t find a better way, we’re bound to be defeated in this Grand Competition." Hu Jing shook her head. Her ambition was stronger than that of most n.
"The most crucial thing is that our Thunderlight Hall has stolen the spotlight from quite a few people recently. I’m afraid they’re all waiting to watch us make a fool of ourselves."
Liuu i was more familiar with the rules of the Holy Hall. It wouldn’t be so easy for Thunderlight Hall to turn their fortunes around.
Hu Jing pondered for a mont. "Actually, a few days ago, Mingren sent soone to find with a proposal. Looking at it now, it might be our best option. Do you rember that Teleportation Talisman that Lingyin Hall acquired at the auction?"
Everyone nodded. For it to have been auctioned off with such solemnity, it had to be sothing good.
Wang ng smiled. "Don’t tell they want to team up with us? Would they really offer us such a good deal?"
Hu Jing glanced at Wang ng, a little surprised. "You know what it’s for?"
"Generally speaking, this kind of Talisman leads to a Secret Realm."
"How does a Secret Realm help with cultivation? Besides, if there’s a Teleportation Talisman for it, soone must have already been there. What value could be left?" Zhang Xiaojiang’s face was a mask of confusion as he looked at Liuu i.
"Ignorance is a scary thing," Zhou Qian chuckled. "Any Secret Realm that has a Teleportation Array leading to it is definitely the cultivation type."
"There are so strange places within the Small Thousand World that require special thods to enter. The Elental Power inside them is much more abundant than outside, which is extrely helpful for cultivation. This abundant Elental Power also allows us to gain a stronger and more acute feel for our Magic when we use it. You could say they are places that all Cultivators vie for. However, these places often have strange requirents. For example, so can’t be entered if your Elental Power is too strong, others if it’s too weak, and so have ti limits, and so on," Hu Jing continued.
Wang ng nodded slightly. ’Truthfully, I’ve seen too many places like this. What Hu Jing is describing are just the superficial characteristics. In essence, these types of Secret Realms are actually spatial rifts. The Small Thousand World and the Middle Thousand World are separated by the Power of Laws, but the clash between laws and power creates isolated pockets of space—so-called Space Secret Realms.’
’So Space Secret Realms are fatal, but others are suitable for cultivation. Their Elental Qi is a bit stronger than in the Small Thousand World, but because they are spatial rifts, their incomplete laws create nurous restrictions.’
"Why would Mingren co to us with such a good deal?" Zhang Xiaojiang said, unconvinced.
"Activating the Teleportation Talisman requires a massive amount of Spirit Stones. With their own preparations for the Grand Competition, Lingyin Hall is running a little short, so they want to cooperate with us. However, I think the lack of Spirit Stones is only one reason. Part of it might also be Li Tianyi’s idea." At this, everyone looked at Wang ng. Zhang Xiaojiang was practically gloating. "That Li Tianyi is just a masochist. He’s gotten addicted to getting beaten up by the boss."
No one paid him any attention. "They probably chose us because we pose the smallest threat," Zhou Qian said.
Everyone accepted this reasoning. Although Li Tianyi was famous, the Senior of Lingyin Hall was Mingren, and he wouldn’t let Li Tianyi do as he pleased. If they were looking for a partner, the weakest Thunderlight Hall was undoubtedly the best choice. While both would improve together, Lingyin Hall’s improvent would certainly be greater. Thunderlight Hall’s targets were the likes of Hundred Herbs Hall and Beast Hall, whereas Lingyin Hall’s target was Dao Guang Hall.
"Activating the array requires two hundred Middle-Grade Spirit Stones. We’ll split it fifty-fifty."
A flicker of excitent appeared in everyone’s eyes. For Holy Hall Disciples below the Twenty Layers, going outside was basically asking for a beating. But a Secret Realm was different. One like this, with an established Teleportation Array, might very well contain treasures left behind by senior Cultivators. Coupled with the rich Elental Qi, it was absolutely a rare opportunity.
What’s more, they would be acting together with Lingyin Hall. For Thunderlight Hall, this was truly a golden opportunity that had fallen into their laps.
"Let’s do it!"
"We have to give it a shot!"
"Li Tianyi is such a good guy."
"Mingren is a good guy too."
The group chid in one after another, their spirits suddenly soaring. After the special training, they had all felt their strength increase, but at the end, the Elders had poured a bucket of cold water on them.
At their current level, they still couldn’t break into the top twenty of Dao Guang Hall.
One had to admit, reality always had a way of crushing dreams. But Hu Jing and the others were not willing to give up just like that.
Zhang Xiaojiang imdiately sent his Tiger Eagle with a ssage. If Lingyin Hall found another Hall to partner with, they would lose out. After all, there were plenty of others who could afford the Spirit Stones.
Over at Lingyin Hall, they indeed had a backup plan. If they didn’t hear back from Thunderlight Hall soon, they were going to proceed on their own.
After reading the ssage and releasing the Tiger Eagle, Mingren smiled faintly. "Junior Brother, Thunderlight Hall has agreed. But do you really think this is necessary?"
Li Tianyi nodded. "Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated. With Wang ng around, Thunderlight Hall is a completely different animal."
"Heh, it’s not just Wang ng. That Hu Jing is quite impressive too. Add in Ma Tian’Er’s Spirit Beast, and Thunderlight Hall could definitely stir up so trouble."
"It’s more interesting when things are lively."
A hundred Middle-Grade Spirit Stones was hardly a challenge for Lingyin Hall. This was simply a matter of repaying a favor to Wang ng. Neither Mingren nor Li Tianyi liked being indebted to others.
The Secret Realm this Array Talisman led to was indeed suitable for cultivation, but only for those whose Elental Power was below the Thirtieth Layer.
This kind of limitation was known as a Secret Realm Restriction. Of the various Secret Realms existing in the Small Thousand World, almost all of those involving Space Secret Realms had such restrictions, and no one could break them.
This opportunity was truly invaluable.
The only problem was that it was hard to tell if such a Talisman was genuine; you had to rely on luck. Even if you got a real one and spent a huge amount of Spirit Stones to enter, you might find that the Secret Realm’s Elental Qi had dried up, or that soone else had already gotten there first. That would be incredibly frustrating.
Lingyin Peak was located in the northwest of the Holy Land, soaring into the clouds. With its green mountains, clear waters, and swirling white clouds, it was truly a sacred place for cultivation. Its na, Lingyin, truly evoked the sense of a blessed grotto-heaven. The Lingyin lineage had always been a powerhouse in the Holy Hall, flourishing for hundreds of years without decline.
Due to Lingyin Hall’s style, even at their strongest, they were never as ostentatious as Dao Guang Hall. This was their defining characteristic. Moreover, Lingyin Hall held a record: every generation was guaranteed to produce an Ancestral Master.
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