At the Grand Martial Arts Arena, after Feng Qingzhu and the others stepped forward and agreed to serve as bait, many people, like Chen Feng, noticed that Lu Ming had not reacted.
At once, everyone wore different expressions as they looked at Lu Ming.
At that moment, Lu Ming frowned slightly and thought to himself, The Genius Bait plan? If my peerless talent really can be sensed by the Earth Dragon Beast, then naturally I should go.
Otherwise, if Wei Jinlin goes out with the geniuses to ambush the Earth Dragon Beast while I remain at the Military Service Bureau, wouldn't I be in danger?
Unfortunately, the Earth Dragon Beast had mortal eyes and could not see through his talent.
Then he could not go.
If he went, Wei Jinlin would naturally watch his movements first. That could lead to a misjudgment and might even get the other disciples killed.
Secondly, serving as bait put one's life in danger.
And he possessed the Divine Ability Panel. As long as he did not die, his future was boundless. If anything went wrong against the Earth Dragon Beast, he would end up like Zhao Zhiqiu.
He also had the path of Wei Jinlin's mysterious technique. He did not need to risk his life for a future like the others did.
Therefore, he was unwilling to do something that harmed both others and himself.
He immediately cupped his hands and said, "Master Wei, I was only able to obtain a Red Token through a few tricks. My cultivation talent alone is not outstanding, and I am still only at Flesh Refining. With all these geniuses ahead of me, I will not be going."
The moment he said this, everyone was utterly astonished.
"Lu Ming actually chose not to go? He's just letting such a good opportunity slip away?"
"With Master Wei there, nothing will most likely happen. Lu Ming still doesn't dare go? It seems Lu Ming is too timid and lacks the heart of martial arts."
"Perhaps he truly believes he is not a genius? Still, this is rather disappointing!"
On the platform, Chen Boxiong, head of the Chen Family, exchanged a glance with Shen Wanlin, head of the Shen Family, and both shook their heads slightly.
After seeing Lu Ming's performance, they had originally intended to return later and separately reprimand Chen Feng and Shen Mo for rashly joining forces to intercept Lu Ming in the Iron Stake Area.
Who would have thought that Lu Ming was as timid as a mouse, destined to never amount to much?
It did not matter if they offended someone like that, so they immediately abandoned the idea.
Qin Zhonghai also frowned slightly and shook his head. "This brat is unwilling to take even the slightest risk!"
He was not particularly surprised by this outcome.
Back when Lu Ming faced Shen Changfeng's threat, he had refused to even leave the gates of the Military Service Bureau. If Qin Zhonghai had not personally come to fetch him and expressed his intent to recruit him, Lu Ming would never have gone out.
With Lu Ming's cautious nature, it was only normal for him to choose not to provoke the Earth Dragon Beast.
Beside Wei Jinlin, Xu Shou was also stunned for a moment before smiling. "The person Senior Brother favors seems to lack courage."
Wei Jinlin's expression remained calm. "Everyone has their own aspirations. It is normal if he chooses not to go."
"Master Wei, this disciple Chen Feng may not possess talent equal to Lu Ming's, but for Red Cloud County, I am willing to serve as bait."
Below, Chen Feng discovered that Lu Ming actually did not dare go, and delight surged through his heart. He shot Lu Ming a disdainful glance. A commoner was still a commoner, bringing shame upon martial arts geniuses.
Without hesitation, he stepped forward with righteous grandeur and recommended himself.
Wei Jinlin glanced at him and pondered for a moment.
"Very well. Including Feng Qingzhu, Liu Yiyi, Chen Ping, and Yun Potian, there are already five people. Who else is willing to serve as bait? You must be at least at Major Completion of Flesh Refining. There are five remaining slots."
Upon hearing this, Chen Feng was overjoyed, and a trace of confident brilliance appeared on his face once more.
The gloom from having been defeated by Lu Ming and Yun Potian earlier completely vanished.
At the same time, he sneered inwardly. There were more than ten, perhaps even more than twenty, martial arts geniuses at Major Completion of Flesh Refining in the Grand Martial Arts Arena.
Given his performance in the Iron Stake Area earlier, under normal circumstances he would no longer have had a chance to become bait.
Yet now, he had seized the awkward lull created by Lu Ming's refusal, taken the initiative to volunteer as bait, and successfully joined the ranks of the Genius Bait.
He already had Lingyun Sect, a Third-Rate Sect, as a fallback. He wanted to join this plan in order to strive for a Second-Rate Sect, or even a First-Rate Sect.
As for Lu Ming, after losing this opportunity, he might not even be able to join a Third-Rate Sect.
As one rose and the other fell, Lu Ming might appear to have won today, but in truth, he had already lost!
And Chen Feng, of course, was the winner!
"Senior Brother Chen is truly righteous! Yiyi admires you!"
Liu Yiyi's beautiful eyes shifted as she took light lotus steps and came before Chen Feng. Her face showed admiration as she spoke.
She had originally thought that Chen Feng would be unable to recover after suffering a setback in the Iron Stake Area, but unexpectedly, his bearing remained unchanged and his martial will was unyielding.
Chen Feng's heart stirred, and he sighed. "It is a pity that I was inferior in skill just now and failed to obtain a Red Token.
"Otherwise, with Demon Meat to aid me, I might have broken through to Tendon Refining before the Genius Bait plan begins."
Hearing this, Liu Yiyi gave Lu Ming, who stood not far away, a cold look.
"Senior Brother Chen was not inferior in skill. If Qingzhu had not suddenly helped Lu Ming, and if Yun Potian from Cloud Peak County had not forcibly interfered, Senior Brother Chen would not have failed to obtain a Red Token.
"Senior Brother faced three great experts and was not injured. That alone proves Senior Brother's talent.
"Otherwise, why would Master Wei agree to let Senior Brother become Genius Bait?"
Chen Feng nodded, then sighed again. "What a pity! If I could break through to Tendon Refining in advance and become the only Tendon Refining martial artist among the ten Genius Bait, then I might stand head and shoulders above the rest and join a First-Rate Sect."
"A First-Rate Sect?!"
Liu Yiyi's heart stirred upon hearing this. Thinking carefully, if Chen Feng truly broke through to Tendon Refining, it really was possible.
She clenched the Red Token in her hand and said hesitantly, "Didn't Senior Brother obtain a Red Token during the previous minor test? One-tenth of the Demon Meat should be enough for Senior Brother, shouldn't it?"
Chen Feng gave a bitter smile. "My lineage spent great effort nurturing me. They had already said that after I fought for a second Red Token, I was to hand that second Red Token over to the lineage.
"Yet today, not only did I fail to obtain a Red Token, I even disgraced the lineage.
"The Demon Meat in my hands will likely be taken back by the lineage. Those are our lineage's rules. As the only daughter of the Flying Dragon Martial Hall's master, you would not understand."
Liu Yiyi nodded deeply in agreement.
Leaving aside anything else, Li Youning had worried herself sick over her family's circumstances. Even Feng Qingzhu, despite being in the Green Bamboo Gang, had her father take away the Demon Meat she obtained in the previous minor test.
In comparison, as Liu Feilong's only daughter, Liu Yiyi truly had the best circumstances.
Then she looked hesitantly at the Red Token in her hand and thought, Even if I use the Demon Meat to cultivate, I still cannot break through to Tendon Refining in a short time.
But if I give this Demon Meat to Chen Feng, then I may have a friend from a First-Rate Sect in the future.
She suddenly bit her lip and said:
"It would be such a pity to miss this opportunity. Yiyi is willing to share this Demon Meat with Senior Brother Chen. Once Master Wei distributes the Demon Meat, Senior Brother Chen and I will each take half."
"Is that true?"
Chen Feng was overjoyed. Excited, he reached out and clasped Liu Yiyi's fair, soft hand. "Yiyi, thank you. If I can become a disciple of a First-Rate Sect, I will never let you down."
Liu Yiyi's cheeks reddened slightly. She hurriedly pulled back her hand and said:
"Senior Brother is being too excited."
Chen Feng pretended to smile foolishly, but inwardly he was secretly delighted. This way, not only would he have Demon Meat to use, he had also helped the Chen Family draw the Flying Dragon Martial Hall closer.
It could truly be called killing two birds with one stone!
With this gain added in, today, he had won a great victory indeed!
At this moment, the other five Genius Bait had also been decided.
"...Thus, aside from Feng Qingzhu and the other five, Wu Yong of Black Mountain County, Ma Sandao of Black Water County, Niu Dali, Lu Wenzhao of Cloud Peak County, and Lei Zhen will serve as Genius Bait."
Wei Jinlin announced the final results.
Within the crowd, however, Lu Ming no longer cared about any of this.
Once everything had settled, Wei Jinlin later divided up the demon carcass, and Lu Ming alone received four-tenths of it. He rejoiced inwardly.
With this Demon Meat, he might be able to break through to Major Completion of Flesh Refining before the Grand Examination and accomplish his established goal!
Afterward, everyone at the Grand Martial Arts Arena gradually dispersed.
In the end, only Wei Jinlin and Lu Ming remained.
Lu Ming looked at Wei Jinlin's calm expression but could not tell what attitude he held toward Lu Ming's earlier refusal.
He immediately cleared his throat and stepped forward.
"Master Wei, my Cloud-Piercing Finger has reached Minor Completion!"
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