The Choice

The next morning, sunlight shone through the window. Ming Hao stretched, climbed out of bed, and began getting dressed with a yawn.

It had been late when he returned the night before. After washing up, Ming Hao had gone straight to his room and fallen fast asleep, rather than cultivating diligently through the night like the other disciples.

Once he had washed up, Ming Hao opened the door, ready to head to the Dining Hall for breakfast.

Yet the moment he stepped outside, he was surprised to find Fatty Zhang already waiting at the door, with two unfamiliar youths standing beside him.

Ming Hao was clearly taken aback, but he soon recovered, greeted Fatty Zhang with a smile, and invited them to join him at the Dining Hall.

Fatty Zhang gladly accepted, and the four chatted as they walked.

"Junior Brother Ming Hao, this is my younger brother, Zhang Ze," Fatty Zhang introduced, pointing to one of the youths, who was slightly plump.

Then he gestured toward the other youth, who looked rather aloof.

"This is my brother's good friend, Jiang Lingfeng."

Ming Hao promptly cupped his hands in greeting and said,

"This junior brother, Ying Ming Hao, greets you both."

Zhang Ze and Jiang Lingfeng both returned the salute and replied,

"Greetings, Junior Brother Ming Hao. We've both heard your elder brother here mention you before."

Ming Hao smiled and said,

"I see! It's truly a pleasure to meet you today!"

As they chatted, Fatty Zhang suddenly paused, his expression turning serious.

"Junior Brother Ming Hao, yesterday I heard that the four of you had challenged Luo Junhang and his group to a fight, and that you had no one helping you. I was really worried!

"So after I went back last night, I wrestled with myself for a while before deciding to find my brother and persuade him to lend you a hand.

"His good friend Jiang Lingfeng happened to be there too. When they heard about it, both were filled with admiration and offered to help.

"I hope you won't look down on them for their meager strength. They might not be able to help much.

"My brother is only at the seventh level of the nascent soul realm, and Jiang Lingfeng is only at the eighth.

"We've always lacked resources, so our cultivation has progressed painfully slowly.

"But my brother's talent and strength are definitely not to be underestimated. Few at his level can match him. He'll certainly be able to do his part for you."

Fatty Zhang spoke with a solemn expression.

Fatty Zhang's days in the inner sect had not been easy. Other disciples frequently bullied and ostracized him.

Because he was weak himself, he could not provide his brother with the best resources.

That had also left his brother's cultivation path riddled with difficulties, his progress falling far behind the other disciples who had joined at the same time.

Yet ever since Ming Hao entered the inner sect, Fatty Zhang had felt that he was different.

Ming Hao came from a distinguished family and a privileged background. He also understood the ways of the world and handled his dealings with others with remarkable grace.

More importantly, Ming Hao had never looked down on Fatty Zhang for being unremarkable. Instead, he treated him quite kindly.

This had filled Fatty Zhang with admiration, while also giving him the idea of latching onto Ming Hao's thigh.

After spending this time together, Fatty Zhang felt increasingly certain that Ming Hao was someone who could accomplish great things.

Their relationship had also grown increasingly harmonious, strengthening his resolve to cling tightly to the great tree that was Ming Hao.

So when he heard about the four of them arranging that fight yesterday, he had been deeply shaken, but he also knew it was an opportunity.

If they succeeded, he would soar into the heavens in a single leap. If they failed, he would merely gain a few more enemies and suffer a couple more savage beatings. Things could hardly get much worse.

This chance to reap a vast profit without investing a thing was inherently a gamble. He immediately went to find his brother Zhang Ze and explained the reasons in detail. After giving it some thought, they all hit it off at once.

At this, Ming Hao's expression also turned serious as he said,

"Have you thought this through? They have nearly a thousand people, while there are only four of us. Even with you two, that only makes six. This won't be a joke, and you won't be able to leave whenever you feel like it."

Zhang Ze and Jiang Lingfeng exchanged a glance before replying,

"If you aren't afraid of them, Junior Brother Ming Hao, neither are we. So what if they have more people? Each of us can hold off twenty or thirty opponents at our level. We'll leave the rest to you."

Ming Hao was delighted to hear this. If each could hold off twenty or thirty disciples, their combat strength was clearly considerable. They might even be a little stronger than Lin Yong and the others at the same level. They would make good allies.

Having help was certainly better than being few and outmatched. Even with two more, they would still be few and outmatched, but it was better than nothing.

"Excellent! I never imagined you two were so outstanding. Your talent is truly unparalleled."

Ming Hao spoke with a smile.

"You flatter us, Junior Brother. I'm afraid you could easily defeat the two of us."

Zhang Ze smiled rather modestly as he spoke.

Sometimes, friendship between men formed just that quickly, without any need for further words. They exchanged glances and smiled.

Ming Hao then busied himself with something in his hands. Soon, he took out three Storage Rings and held them out to the three men.

Fatty Zhang and the others exclaimed in astonishment,

"Junior Brother Ming Hao, what is the meaning of this?"

Ming Hao's expression was somewhat solemn as he said,

"Since you're unafraid of powerful enemies and have decided to lend me a hand, we're naturally all in the same boat. I can't be stingy with you.

"Here are three Storage Rings, one for each of you. Each contains ten thousand lower-grade spirit stones, a hundred bottles of eighth-grade pills, and ten bottles of seventh-grade pills. Please accept this small token of my appreciation."

All three froze at his words. They had never encountered anyone who treated them so well. Apart from their parents, everyone else seemed eager to squeeze them dry.

For a moment, they could hardly believe it. Too embarrassed to reach out and take the rings, they stood rooted to the spot.

Seeing this, Ming Hao continued,

"There's no need to stand on ceremony. These resources will help you cultivate better, sending your cultivation soaring and improving your strength. That way, you'll be able to help me more in next month's fight."

When the three still hesitated after he finished speaking, Ming Hao simply pressed the rings into their arms.

After a long while, Fatty Zhang and the other two finally stopped refusing and thanked him.

"Then thank you, Junior Brother! From now on, we'll cling to your thigh and never let go! Hahahaha..."

"Of course, of course! I'll still need your wholehearted support! Hahahaha..."

"Hahahaha..."

They all burst into laughter, drawing looks from passing disciples as though they were a bunch of idiots.

On the way, Ming Hao also asked Fatty Zhang and the others to hand over their tokens, then transferred twenty thousand sect contribution points into each one.

These had all been seized during his earlier plundering. He had given more than half to Lin Yong and the other two, and he could not use up what remained in his hands so quickly anyway.

It was better to put them where they would count and help the others grow stronger quickly. In any case, another huge batch of resources would be delivered to him next month.

This was the law of the cultivation world: the weak were meat for the strong. The strong grew ever stronger, while the weak grew ever weaker. The cultivation progress of those with resources and backing was as far from that of those without as heaven was from earth. They could not be compared.

Sometimes, a higher cultivation did not necessarily mean greater strength or better talent. Perhaps those people simply had more resources and more opportunities, allowing them to cultivate faster.

The reverse was also true. A lower cultivation did not necessarily mean inferior talent. It might simply mean a lack of resources, opportunities, and the like. Once their fortunes turned, they too could soar into the heavens in a single leap, overtaking countless Heavenly Prodigies.

Before long, Ming Hao and the others reached the Dining Hall and joined Lin Yong's group, then introduced everyone to one another.

At the table, Zhang Ze and Jiang Lingfeng ate even more ferociously than Ming Hao, as though they had been starving for ages.

Not to be outdone, Ming Hao, Lin Yong, and the others swept through the food like a gale scattering clouds, wolfing it down.

Watching from the side, Lin Zihan could only shake her head. Helplessly, she got up to fetch several more portions for everyone. Every so often, she also had to wipe grease off Ming Hao, leaving her barely enough time to take two bites herself.