The groups were already assigned?
Yue Shen paused, then joined the other contestants in searching the six crystal pillars before him for his numbered ball.
It did not take him long to find a ball bearing an emblem of a crossed sword and shield. Engraved on it was the number he had used during the preliminaries: five.
It was in the sixth crystal pillar, which meant he would be competing at the Soul Temple's Summoner Trial Grounds.
While the old man onstage read out the draw results, Yue Shen glanced at the other nine numbered balls in the same crystal pillar as his own. He did not bother memorizing their numbers; he only wanted to see whether he had been grouped with anyone he knew.
"Brother Yue, which trial grounds are you at?" Lin Xin asked, looking miserable. "I'm in Group Two. I never expected Assassin Number One to be in my group too. I heard she's the Assassin Temple's only fifth-tier contestant from this year's preliminaries."
"I'm in Group Six, at the Summoner Trial Grounds," Yue Shen replied casually. "My number during the preliminaries was five."
"Hmm..."
At that, Lin Xin looked toward the sixth crystal pillar containing Yue Shen's ball, then said, "I didn't expect that Gandalf to be in your group. He's fifth tier too, but with his strength, he shouldn't pose any threat to you.
"But you've also got the Priest Temple's Number Two contestant in there. I heard that one took first place in the Priest Temple's preliminaries this year."
Lin Xin suddenly gave a surprised murmur. "Not only that, there's even a fifth-tier warrior in your Group Six."
"Your Group Six is the real group of death," Lin Xin said in amazement. "Including you, Brother Yue, your group has a full four fifth-tier contestants."