Teaming Up

Yonglu Mountain, of course, would not allow it either.

The provocateur's face immediately reddened. He had only just barely passed the Preliminary Trial. If his friend had not spent every day whispering in his ear that if Wen Xu had not suddenly appeared, they could have passed the Preliminary Trial together, he would not have let lard blind his heart and actually dared to pick at Yonglu Mountain's rules. "My apologies. This junior spoke too wildly. Please forgive me, Elder."

Elder Zhao did not even spare him a glance, utterly cold and merciless. "Oh? Why are you still here? Do you want this elder to personally see you out?"

Bian Chunchou: Wow, wow, wow! This elder's attitude is so tough. I love it~

Teaming Up

With one less rival competing to "make it ashore," everyone else present wished there were a few more such fools. Who would step forward to speak for him? Besides, Yonglu Mountain's elder had already spoken. Even if he stubbornly stayed, he likely could not become a Yonglu Mountain disciple.

The little incident of a fool provoking Yonglu Mountain's rules soon passed. After he slunk away in disgrace, Elder Zhao began the Mountain Examination procedures. He was a man of few words but ruthless action, so the process went quickly.

"First, this Mountain Examination will be fought in teams. Each team must have no fewer than three members and no more than five. If there are only two people, either withdraw from the examination or join another team."

"Second, fifteen low-grade magical artifacts bearing Yonglu Mountain's mark have been placed within the Mountain Examination area. Within one day and one night, each team must obtain one artifact and reach the endpoint. The Mountain Examination will only be considered complete once every member of the team has arrived. If you fail to obtain an artifact, you will receive no examination score."

"Third, high-grade magical artifacts are forbidden in this Mountain Examination. Killing is forbidden, but talismans, pills, and magical artifacts within the Qi Refining Stage are permitted. Any violations discovered will result in immediate disqualification from the Mountain Examination."

"One last point: Shadow Walls will be in use throughout this Mountain Examination, so do not provoke Yonglu Mountain's rules."

Very good. This elder had emphasized Yonglu Mountain's rules once again.

Bian Chunchou glanced at blindfolded Wen Xu and thought that the heavy burden of finding teammates appeared to have fallen on his shoulders. But that was fine—making friends was what he was best at... Wait!?

Meow meow meow? Did you all have to form teams this fast? No communication needed at all? You just formed them directly? Bian Chunchou could not help looking around. Fine, aside from the two of them, there was also a gloomy-looking fellow left behind.

But this guy looked to be thirty, didn't he? Even if he was not thirty, he had to be twenty-nine. Gloomy and old—the reason he had been left over was obvious.

Bian Chunchou thought that these people must have learned beforehand that the Mountain Examination required teams, so they had found teammates early on. Looking around, he saw teams of three, teams of four, and teams of five. There were fewer five-person teams; four-person teams were the most common.

"I'll join your team."

Bian Chunchou had not expected the other man to be so proactive. After all, if this man joined another team, he and Wen Xu would be forced apart. Or, if those teams refused to accept them, then according to the rules just announced, they would be automatically eliminated without even participating in the Mountain Examination.

It sounded like a particularly underhanded method, but it was within the rules.

"Welcome aboard. But why did you choose us?" Could it be that he loved helping the poor? Speaking of which, Wen Xu was at the Second Layer of Qi Refining, while he himself was at the Third Layer of Qi Refining. The few talismans they had were fleeced from others. They truly had little competitive value in a team for the Mountain Examination.

"My name is Chen Zui. Zui as in 'the best.' Naturally, the team I join must be the best team. You came first in the Preliminary Trial, right?"

Wen Xu nodded. "Brother Chen is correct, but my cultivation is shallow. I am only at the Second Layer of Qi Refining."

"That's enough. You don't look like much of a fighter anyway." Chen Zui wore an exceedingly wild beard. In truth, the hair on his face was extremely lush—his hair, brows, and beard all grew with barbaric abandon. He looked weathered beyond his years, and paired with his ragged style of dress, anyone unaware of the truth might have thought Brother Sharp had reincarnated into the world of cultivation.

Bian Chunchou could not help raising his hand. "I'm only at the Third Layer of Qi Refining too. My name is Bian Chunchou."

Chen Zui did not even furrow his brow. He showed no difficulty at all over gaining two extra burdens. "That's even better. You two are so weak I could knock you down with one punch. If I can bring you two along, obtain an artifact, and reach the endpoint, wouldn't that prove that I'm stronger than everyone else?"

Bian Chunchou: ...So the best team in your eyes is the team that best highlights how impressive you are.

But having someone join was better than having no team at all. Bian Chunchou thought optimistically. What if they went in and simply picked up a magical artifact for free? Right? A person had to have a few wild delusions to live.

"Let's go. We should head in too. As long as you two don't drag me back too much, I guarantee I'll take you to the endpoint." Chen Zui patted his chest with great reliability. "I'm at the Sixth Layer of Qi Refining. In this Mountain Examination, only two people share my cultivation level."

Well then. The two of them combined did not measure up to him. There was nothing wrong with him treating them as burdens.

Before Bian Chunchou could deliver his little speech about clinging to a powerful thigh, Wen Xu spoke first. "Brother Chen is a righteous man. I admire you. But if there is anything you need us for, please do not hesitate to say so."

"No problem, no problem. Can you really not see with those eyes of yours?" Chen Zui had a straightforward temperament and naturally said whatever came to mind. Besides, treating one's eyes was not particularly difficult. For all he knew, some people simply disliked using their eyes to see things. He had even met someone whose legs could walk but insisted his legs were broken.

Respecting other people's peculiar preferences was something Chen Zui's mother had repeatedly reminded him before he left home.

"Yes, but it does not hinder my walking. Please rest assured, Chen Zui."

Chen Zui waved a hand, utterly unconcerned. "You're already in Qi Refining. If it still hindered your walking, there'd be no difference between you and an idiot. Just call me Chen Zui. 'Brother Chen' sounds like you're calling someone else."

Wen Xu: ...Someone even blunter than Bian Chunchou had appeared.

"But if you can't see, doesn't that mean you can't search for magical artifacts?"

Wen Xu shook his head. "No. Magical artifacts will definitely be easy to find." After all, the Preliminary Trial had involved finding spirit plants. There was no reason for the Mountain Examination to test the same thing again. But easy to find did not mean easy to obtain. Competition from other teams was one factor; Yonglu Mountain had certainly set up obstacles as well.