Chapter 409: Zhao Guang's Reason
Hao Ren looked over to the Li Xia Arena and realized that it was empty as well. It meant that the battles in the Li Xia Arena had finished earlier.
The cultivators beside the Jing Zhe Arena were whispering into each others' ears.
Hao Ren was only at Gen-level, but his performance was outstanding in the Ren Yin group. It was unbelievable, but experienced cultivators knew that it was impossible to cheat.
Each arena around the Dragon God Shrine had its own energy sphere which could resist any nature essence from cultivators below Kun-level. In fact, even if a Qian-level or Kun-level master were to break through the energy sphere, it would cause an obvious quack.
Since the cultivators outside of the arena couldn't help, the only ones who could influence the outcome of the match would be the two participants.
Therefore, as many cultivators watched Hao Ren slowly jump down onto the ground, they were all surprised at this cultivator with the token 'Ren Yin 246'.
"Great techniques! He seems to be only at Gen-level, yet his strength is impressive!" they thought.
Zhao Hongyu looked at Hao Ren in surprise as well. She thought he wasn't good at battling, but he appeared to be an experienced cultivator. He was both calm and fast!
That wood-elemental cultivator didn't even get a chance to use his most powerful technique before Hao Ren kicked him out of the arena.
In Zhao Hongyu's opinion, that cultivator might even have the chance to rank in the top 50 in the general exams. However, Hao Ren defeated this powerful cultivator...
Hao Ren was an absolute surprise to all of them!
In war, the key is to trick your enemies. In other words, have your enemies think you are going to use one method but use another; have your enemies think you are going near them but get very far; have your enemies think you are going away but get near; tease them if they are easily triggered; spoil them if they are timid; annoy them if they are in peace; split them if they are united; attack them when they are least prepared; and take actions that surprise them.
Hao Ren seemed to be using random techniques, but he was using the art of war.
Zhao Hongyu looked at Hao Ren differently and thought, "Who said that he couldn't be the Commanding General of East Ocean!"
"Grandma made you these zongzi for you, Hao Ren." Xie Yujia walked to Hao Ren, took out two hot zongzi out of her bag, and handed them to him.
"What did you guys say to Grandma?" Hao Ren asked as he peeled the zongzi.
"I told her that you are going on a trip with Zi's family and will be back tomorrow," Xie Yujia answered.
Hao Ren nodded as he quickly ate half a zongzi. He hadn't had any food since he got to the Dragon God Shrine last night and was starving after so many battles.
Xie Yujia covered her mouth and giggled when she saw Hao Ren devouring the food.
Zhao Yanzi stood half a meter away from them, and she got so mad when she saw them acting all lovey-dovey.
"I made these elixir pills for you to replenish your nature essence," Xie Yujia took a white porcelain bottle out of her pocket and put it in Hao Ren's hand.
Hao Ren sensed a strong surge of nature essence as soon as he opened it.
"There are 60 Essence Replenishment Pills," Xie Yujia said.
She said it as if it was not a big deal, but these elixir pills were all valuable level 4 elixir pills! When she learned from Zhao Hongyu that Hao Ren was attending the Dragon God Shrine's general exams, she stayed up a few nights and made them particularly for Hao Ren.
"Um, thank you very much," Hao Ren put the bottle into his necklace. He was a little touched when he noticed the dark circles under Xie Yujia's eyes.
If the surrounding cultivators were to see a bottle filled with 60 level 4 Essence Replenishment Pills, they would definitely be extremely jealous!
"Um..." Hao Ren suddenly asked Xie Yujia, "Did you...break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm?"
"Um...I broke through yesterday." She slightly nodded.
"Haha, congrats! I thought I felt something different about you," Hao Ren said happily.
Xie Yujia used to look a bit weak when she stood beside Zhao Yanzi. However, her temperament seemed to be even stronger than that of Zhao Yanzi's today.
The Life-Death Notes could connect with heaven and earth. Therefore, Xie Yujia appeared to be more powerful than Zhao Yanzi even though they were both at the Foundation Establishment Realm.
"It's alright..." Xie Yujia blushed a little. She used about 20 Foundation Establishment Pills in total to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm. Therefore, it wasn't really something worth congratulating.
Hao Ren looked around and noticed that about six more battles were happening right now. The cultivators beside Jing Zhe Arena slowly spattered; they either went for a break in the outer city or went to watch the battles in the other arenas.
Dang...dang...dang... The bell at the Dragon God Shrine rang again.
It was noon!
There were 96 small arenas from east to west and south to north. All the battles have been completed, and 96 winners had been generated in total within eight hours.
All the level 4 inspectors on the stage entered the Dragon God Shrine. The level 2 inspectors who were in charge of the battle arenas followed their superiors and went back to the Dragon God Shrine. They had to issue internal reports, analyze scores, and generate the list.
The upcoming battles would take place between one to three in the afternoon!
Hao Ren looked over at the Li Xia Arena; many cultivators were leaving. Then, he looked in the Dragon God Shrine's direction but didn't see Zhao Guang and the two elders coming out.
Zhao Yanzi was a little worried as well. She stood on her tip-toes and looked toward the Dragon God Shrine.
At this moment, Zhao Guang, the two elders, and six inspectors walked out of the Dragon God Shrine's door.
"Dad!" Zhao Yanzi waved her hands. She was finally relieved to see Zhao Guang coming out.
Zhao Guang headed toward the Jing Zhe Arena calmly along with Elder Lu and Elder Sun.
Zhao Hongyu walked to them and asked worriedly, "How was it?"
Zhao Guang didn't answer her question. Instead, he asked, "How were Ren's battles?"
"Not bad; he placed first in the Ren Yin group," Zhao Hongyu answered.
"Oh?" Zhao Guang was slightly surprised; He obviously didn't expect Hao Ren to win in the Ren Yin group.
He looked at Zhao Hongyu and said, "The Dragon God Shrine thinks that both East Ocean and West Ocean need to abide by the rules. They are still keeping Black Wolf, a top master of the West Ocean, in the Dragon God Shrine's prison, and they didn't release him even though the West Ocean Dragon Palace requested several times."
"Black Wolf murdered several inspectors; they sure won't release him," Zhao Hongyu said.
"Therefore, they said that it is ok if we want our stuff back, but our cultivator needs to rank top three in the Dragon God Shrine's general exams!" Zhao Guang exclaimed.
"B*stards!" Zhao Hongyu became furious suddenly, and it even startled Zhao Yanzi.
Zhao Hongyu looked at Zhao Guang and thought for a bit before saying, "We have several Qian-level and Kun-level elders, and it shouldn't be hard for them to rank within the top three in the Dragon God Shrine's general exams. But wouldn't that be beneath them; they wouldn't want to fight for the Dragon God Shrine's inspector positions. We are already giving them face to let Hao Ren attend this general exam in East Ocean's name!"
"Isn't Third Uncle here this time too, mom?" Zhao Yanzi interrupted.
"Your third uncle is attending as an individual. He isn't representing the East Ocean Dragon Palace even if he ranked within the top three," Zhao Guang said.
"Uncle, Auntie, what is going on?" Hao Ren asked in confusion.
Zhao Hongyu looked at Hao Ren and then at Xie Yujia and the others behind them. She calmed down slightly and said, "Our East Ocean Dragon Palace lent the Dragon God Shrine something a long time ago. The leasing period was 200 years, and the time is almost up. However, the Dragon God Shrine doesn't seem to want to return it to us."
"What is it?" Zhao Yanzi blinked.
"You don't have to worry about that." Zhao Hongyu didn't answer her question.
Zhao Yanzi didn't push further since she noticed Zhao Hongyu's bad mood. She turned to the hunch-backed Premier Xia and pouted, urging him to answer her.
Premier Xia took two steps back and shook his head when he noticed Zhao Yanzi's look. He was the Premier of the East Ocean Dragon Palace, so he certainly knew what Zhao Hongyu and Zhao Guang were talking about. However, he didn't dare to tell her that since Zhao Hongyu didn't say anything.
Zhao Yanzi then turned to Zhen Congming since she thought he would know about it as well. However, Zhen Congming whistled as he looked around, ignoring Zhao Yanzi completely.
Zhen Congming was closer to Xie Yujia than Zhao Yanzi, so he didn't tell her anything. This made Zhao Yanzi even madder, and she glared at Hao Ren.
"Is it very important? Do we have to get it back? Or is it vital to the Dragon God Shrine?" Hao Ren hesitated for a bit before he asked.
Hao Ren knew that Zhao Guang had his own reasons for coming to the Dragon God Shrine, and it seemed like Hao Ren's intuition was correct.
"This thing is very important to the Dragon God Shrine, but it is more important to the East Ocean Dragon Palace. Due to the lack of this item, the East Ocean Dragon Palace got slowly surpassed by the West Ocean Dragon Palace in the last 200 years," Zhao Guang said.
"The leasing period is almost up. If we don't get it back in time, it will be difficult to get it back in the future, right?" Hao Ren asked after some consideration.
It was just like lend-out money. If one couldn't get it back within the agreed upon time, it would become bad debt.
"Um!" Zhao Guang nodded seriously.
"If the Dragon God Shrine is unreasonable, our East Ocean Dragon Palace could fight them in a battle!" Zhao Hongyu said abruptly.
Lu Qing and Sun Yun, who stood beside Zhao Guang, kept silent.
Zhao Guang slighted sighed, "Three of the six Vice Shrine Masters have reached peak Qian-level."
Zhao Hongyu looked at Zhao Guang in surprise, and she didn't know what to say.
The Dragon God Shrine had been developing rapidly over the past 200 years, and it had far surpassed the East Ocean Dragon Palace's expectations! It had exceeded all four ocean dragon palaces and had become the strongest dragon force!
The East Ocean Dragon Palace lent that item to the Dragon God Shrine to assist them in defending the human cultivation sects. Now, it seemed like the East Ocean Dragon Palace wouldn't be able to get it back if the Dragon God Shrine didn't want to return it!Zongzi is a traditional Chinese rice dish made of glutinous rice stuffed with different fillings and wrapped in bamboo leaves.