Chapter 679: None of My Business
Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
Chu Yang also took part in this gathering. But his performance was neither good nor bad. It was simply ordinary.
That was in line with his status as an Ethereal Mountain Sect disciple. Out of all the great powers that attended this gathering, the Ethereal Mountain Sect was one of the lowlier ones.
Chu Yang did not perform badly, which was something deserving of notice by the elders.
After all, his original cultivation was in the Aurous Core Stage. Even when he was suppressed till the Foundation Establishment Stage, his performance was still not affected.
However, he just earned himself the right to be treated normally. It was not as if anyone would be impressed or fearful because of his performance. That was because those in the same group as him had hidden talents.
Huang Zhenting from the Celestial Sect of Wonders, who was one of the best performers in the internal competition.
A rising talent from the Great Qin Empire’s royal family, Shi Yu’s youngest daughter, Shi Jingyun.
Successive Disciple from the earliest batch of the Celestial Sect of Wonders, disciple from the Inferno Precipice, Yan Wuwei.
Even the remaining Xiang Heng was an elite cultivator from the Great Zhou Empire. His cultivation was in the Aurous Core Stage, but in the Starry Treasure Pagoda, his cultivation was suppressed till the Foundation Establishment Stage like Chu Yang. In fact, his cultivation was the highest among everyone in this group.
In reality, Xiang Heng was a sociable person. His words were able to allow Huang Zhenting, Shi Jingyun and the others to accept him. As he was the most experienced and had the highest cultivation, this group of cultivators acknowledged him as their leader.
"Your junior that went crazy, will he be fine?" Xiang Heng asked Yan Wuwei and Huang Zhenting.
He was not that old either. He also had a round face, which made him seem very friendly as he smiled.
Yan Wuwei sighed, "He will be fine, but his time has been delayed greatly. I believe that he has not much chance left. It’s a pity that Fifth Junior Uncle only has one disciple."
Xiang Heng also felt that it was pity. "Indeed, this is a pity. But why will he go crazy suddenly?"
Yan Wuwei pursed his lips, "Who knows, Junior Zhou rarely interacts with anyone. Even we don’t know."
Huang Zhenting complained, "It’s not his first time. I’ve seen it before…"
Xiang Heng’s gaze flashed, "Oh?"
"He must have a taken a shortcut in his cultivation. He is also such a loner. I believe that he is not very receptive to Fifth Junior Uncle’s teachings. He is always trying to learn things on his own." Yan Wuwei laughed and his body blocked Xiang Heng’s view, as he shook his head at Huang Zhenting.
Fatty was also growing older gradually. He also left the mountain for training often and was much more mature than when he was younger. He seemed to be blabbering too much, but he was no longer as big-mouthed as before.
He also did not realize anything weird about Xiang Heng, but he did think that it was not necessary for him to share too much about his own fellow disciple with others. While he chatted with Xiang Heng along the way, everything that he said was just nonsense. There was nothing valuable that he revealed.
But a leopard can’t change its spots. Yan Wuwei was also very curious about Zhou Yuncong’s situation. But he did not have to reveal this in front of Xiang Heng.
Chu Yang remained quiet and followed instructions. The only thing lacking were the words "None of My Business" on his head.
But he was observing his own groupmates along the way and he made an analysis on all of them quickly.
Xiang Heng was a smooth person and had tricks up his sleeves. But he was not discreet enough. His actions of befriending Huang Zhenting and Yan Wuwei seemed too deliberate. His words revealed his intention of fishing news from the two Celestial Sect of Wonders’ disciples.
He seemed to be very concerned about Zhou Yuncong, or he might be planning something.
Yan Wuwei was clumsy in minor things, but was reliable in carrying out bigger things. His cultivation was slightly weak, as he was only in the Intermediate Stage of the Foundation Establishment Stage. He was not that intelligent either. If Chu Yang was the one fishing news from him, he could do it better than Xiang Heng.
Huang Zhenting was acknowledged as a talent in terms of his cultivation, but he was not stable enough.
Shi Jingyun was the same. She and Huang Zhenting were very similar. Because of her background, she seemed a little more pampered than Huang Zhenting.
Throughout this journey, the only reason why the group was not harmonious was because of the two of them. It was as if they were destined enemies. From the start when they saw each other, they did not like each other already.
Chu Yang, Yan Wuwei and Xiang Heng had to mediate between the both of them apart from tackling the various problems along the way. They were left with a big headache.
They finally managed to reach the top of the pagoda. After claiming their rewards and hearing Shi Tianhao introduced the rules of the second stage, Shi Jingyun leaped to one side before snorting at Huang Zhenting, "Finally, I don’t have to travel with this asshole anymore!"
Huang Zhenting waved his fist at her, "You are the asshole. Don’t come crying to me when you are taken away by the Qiong Qis!"
Shi Jingyun retorted, "I wonder who it was who almost cried when he faced the meteor showers?"
Yan Wuwei was annoyed, "Are the two not tired of quarreling with each other?"
Huang Zhenting and Shi Jingyun quarreled before they advanced towards the light door. As they saw the actions of each other, they stopped and glared at each other. They were unwilling to give way to the other party.
"Two imps!" Yan Wuwei shook his head and entered the light door first. Chu Yang and Xiang Heng also followed him with frustrated looks on their faces.
As Xiang Heng entered the door, he turned his head to look behind. It seemed as if he was looking at Huang Zhenting and Shi Jingyun, but he was in fact looking back at the Starry Treasure Pagoda.
Inside the Grand Heavens Pavilion, Lin Feng and the rest were also observing the scenes inside the Starry Treasure Pagoda. At this point, which eight groups could enter the second stage was already very obvious.
The levels of the pagoda could only be ascended one by one. But if one activated the mana restrictions, they could fall many levels. The only thing that could affect the rankings of the groups were the mana restrictions.
But they were very obvious. In most cases, if they were not disturbed, nothing would happen.
Thus, the situation was more or less obvious. The only doubt was whether Zhou Yuncong’s group could squeeze into the top eight.
Zhou Yuncong and Zhao Huan rushed their way to the top and had already passed half of the people. Zhou Yuncong was extremely domineering, but Zhao Huan was not lacking either. Although he was only in the Intermediate Stage of the Foundation Establishment Stage, because of the void elixir in his body, his powers were far beyond most Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators.
But to stabilize his foundation, he decided to slow down his cultivation speed.
At this point, inside the Starry Treasure Pagoda, he combined with Zhou Yuncong to increase their speed of ascension.
This caused them to quickly catch up with Zhu Yong and the other two. This caused all three of them to be shocked.
"Junior Zhou, we have already caught up so much. In the next stage, we may be able to move on our own or we may be regrouped. You can settle scores with him then." Zhao Huan stopped Zhou Yuncong and advised him.
Zhou Yuncong did not stop and forced his way to Zhu Yong, with a cold glare in his eyes.
Zhu Yong creased his brows. For him to catch up so fast, it must either be his luck was good or he activated some sort of mechanism that sent him all the way up. Otherwise, he must be some exceptional talent. Since the situation was unclear, he was undecided which of the options was the most plausible.
But he was not afraid. He laughed at Zhou Yuncong sarcastically. He was yearning for Zhou Yuncong to lay a move on him.
Zhao Huan grabbed Zhou Yuncong’s arm and said, "Fifth Junior Uncle only has you as his disciple. It’s only you from the Nirvana World who has taken part in this gathering. If you don’t pass the first stage, Fifth Junior Uncle’s face will be lost."
As he heard this, Zhou Yuncong stopped and stared at Zhu Yong. After a while, he turned and nodded at Zhao Huan. He did not bother with Zhu Yong anymore and moved forward on his own.
Zhao Huan followed him. The other two cultivators were a little hesitant and awkward, but they chased them.
Zhu Yong stared at Zhou Yuncong’s back and his eyes squinted gradually. As Zhou Yuncong glared at him for the last time, he felt a sense of crisis. That feeling was similar to the one he felt in the battlefield when he almost died.
Inside the Grand Heavens Pavilion, as Yue Hongyan saw this scene, she stared at Zhu Yong coldly. She turned to look at Yang Qing, "Congratulations, Fifth Junior."
Yang Qing smiled and replied, "Yuncong has always been a kid who is cold on the outside but warm in the outside. I know that."
Wang Lin was silent for a while before he said, "For those who can appreciate him, they can tap on this virtue of his. But for those who are scheming, they will always try to exploit his weak spot."
Yang Qing bit his lips and looked at his own disciple before sighing.
Xiao Yan snorted, "Hey!"
Wang Lin and the rest were slightly stunned. They turned over and saw Xiao Yan starring at a light projection. It was not the view of the Starry Treasure Pagoda, but the small world in the second stage.
Wang Lin took a look too and his brows raised. His gaze turned cold.
In the small world, on a cliff, a young lady in purple was surrounded by five Qiong Qis. She was Li Xingfei.
At the bottom of the cliff was a deep valley. It was not the same as a normal deep valley. There were lightning and fire spurting out from it. It was extremely dangerous. For a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator to land inside, death was inevitable.
The powers of a pure-blood Qiong Qi were much superior than those of Wuyang beasts.
And at this point, a fat figure appeared not far from the cliff. His chubby face and squinty eyes revealed a vicious radiance, as he stared at Li Xingfei while laughing.