Chapter 3523 — Coming to Ask for Help

"I hear the trial-takers have all performed rather well, and the inheritors too. But one trial-taker provoked someone of his own accord and got himself crippled—I hereby issue a criticism! And one inheritor failed to advance to Great Perfection—also a criticism!" Ancestor Xuanchen said mildly. "Zhang Naipao, if you cannot restore your true qi and your strength by the time of the Heaven-Rank Assembly, then the Mingri Fumingri Sect will have its qualification for this trial revoked, and Wang Xinyan will take your place!"

"What?!" Zhong Yongliang was instantly aghast. "Ancestor Xuanchen, what is the meaning of this? Our Mingri Fumingri Sect is one of the founding sects of the Cloud-Rank Island plan. You kick us out—what are you trying to do?"

"I never said I was kicking you out. It is simply that if you cannot recover, there is nothing I can do. Recover, and everything can still be discussed," Ancestor Xuanchen said.

Zhong Yongliang drew a deep breath. Though he was thoroughly aggrieved, Ancestor Xuanchen's reasoning was sound and well-founded—who had told Zhang Naipao to get himself crippled?

"Tang Zhi, if you cannot break through to the Heaven-Rank Great Perfection realm by the time of the Heaven-Rank Assembly, then the Snow Valley will have its qualification to attend the assembly and set foot on Cloud-Rank Island revoked!" Ancestor Xuanchen continued. "Tang Zhi's place will be taken by Bing Tang of the Ice Palace. Both share the water-element support attribute; they are not entirely identical, but still interchangeable. At the very least, a Great Perfection cultivator will be somewhat stronger than one who is not!"

Xueli's expression was not pleasant either. She too had come this time bearing dreams and aspirations. If the Snow Valley could not take part, she would have no choice but to return home dejected.

Still, Tang Zhi yet had hope—after all, the trial was not yet over; the Heaven-Rank Assembly had still to come!

Having said all this, Ancestor Xuanchen spoke slowly once more: "Apart from those I have named, everyone has obtained the qualification to attend the Heaven-Rank Assembly. But before that, I will give you all a holiday! Whatever business you have, see to it as quickly as you can, and then I will issue the ancient proclamation summoning you back for the Heaven-Rank Assembly! Zhang Naipao, Tang Zhi—this is your last chance. I hope you can seize it and not disappoint me!"

"Very well, everyone disperse," Kang Jingming came over and said to the crowd. "But those with no pressing business may remain at the Five Elements Inn and await word of the Heaven-Rank Assembly!"

The crowd dispersed one after another. Wei Zhao glanced in the direction of the inheritors; he was somewhat worried about Tang Zhi. Before, when he could not remember Tang Zhi, that was one thing—but now that he remembered, Wei Zhao would absolutely not look the other way. Tang Zhi had not broken through to Great Perfection, and Wei Zhao would have to think of some way to help her.

Yet before Wei Zhao could walk over, Xueli blocked his path. "Young Hero Lin, what are you doing? Please conduct yourself with propriety. What you promised me, you must honor—do not change your word at will. Tang Zhi has not yet broken through to Heaven-Rank Great Perfection, so you still cannot acknowledge her!"

"You misunderstand." Wei Zhao shook his head. "I am not going to acknowledge her or anything of the sort. I only want to see whether there is anything I can do to help. You know as well as I that I am an expert of Heaven-Rank Great Perfection, and so are those around me. I do have some experience in breaking through to Great Perfection. So we can put our heads together and see whether Tang Zhi's problem can be solved."

"Is that so..." Xueli hesitated after hearing Wei Zhao's words. To be honest, she was rather tempted. After all, what Wei Zhao said was true—he and the others with him were all experts of Heaven-Rank Great Perfection, and they had real insights when it came to breakthroughs.

And for Wei Zhao to have risen from a lone wandering cultivator to his present height—it was impossible that he had no ability at all. So Xueli hesitated a moment, then said, "I will go back and think it over. You will be staying in your room at the inn for the time being, and not leaving?"

"Not leaving." Wei Zhao nodded. Once he returned, he planned first to forge a Heaven-Rank divine weapon, then go to the cave on West Star Mountain, open the stone door, and see whether there was anything good inside.

But the precondition was forging the Heaven-Rank divine weapon, and Wei Zhao now already possessed the blood of the Five-Shas Dragon. Everything was ready; all that remained was to set to work.

It made no difference where he forged it. There was no one else in Wei Zhao's home anyway, and Han Jingyi and Wang Xinyan were both here, so Wei Zhao planned to settle down at the inn for now and decide later.

"All right." Xueli left and walked over to Tang Zhi.

Tang Zhi very much wanted to look at Wei Zhao, but she restrained herself. Earlier, while receiving the inheritance's empowerment and resisting the pressure, Tang Zhi had tried very hard to forget Wei Zhao, yet she still had not broken through to Heaven-Rank Great Perfection, which left her deeply regretful.

To be honest, Tang Zhi felt very guilty today. She was the hope of the Snow Valley, the hope of Xueli. If she could not successfully advance, then Xueli too would have no part in the Heaven-Rank Assembly or the Cloud-Rank Island plan.

After Xueli left, the other inheritors also drifted away. Wei Zhao wanted to find them and talk, but this did not seem the place for it; better to wait until they were back at the inn.

Wei Zhao returned with Wang Xinyan and Han Jingyi to their room at the inn, and before long there came a knock at the door.

Wei Zhao had assumed it was Xueli—he had not expected her to come around so quickly. But when he opened the door, it was actually Zhong Yongliang and Zhang Naipao!

That took Wei Zhao somewhat by surprise. Why these two?

"What is the meaning of this? Come to settle scores?" Wei Zhao regarded the two of them coldly and asked.

"Er... Young Hero Lin, may we come in? There is something I would like to discuss with you." Zhong Yongliang pondered a moment before speaking. To be honest, coming to humble himself before Wei Zhao was not in Zhong Yongliang's nature, but there was no other way now—he could only do this.

"You two? Something to discuss with me?" Wei Zhao looked at Zhong Yongliang with a strange, half-smiling expression. "I say, Zhong Yongliang, are you feeling all right? Do you think we are still back in school? Is there any friendship between us to speak of?"

"Come now, our relations were harmonious enough for a time back then, and today I truly do have business with you..." Zhong Yongliang sighed.

"Out with it, then. What is it?" Wei Zhao nodded and let the two of them into the room.

"Er, Young Hero Lin, I hear you have quite a knack for healing injuries and raising people's strength. Could you help Zhang Naipao restore his strength?" After entering, Zhong Yongliang hesitated a moment, then came straight to the point.

"Do you take me for a great philanthropist, or do you think I have forgotten that you are my enemy?" Wei Zhao was rather taken aback by Zhong Yongliang's words. This Zhong Yongliang really was a piece of work—there was nothing he could not bring himself to say!RS