Chapter 1490 — The Unlucky Pi Brothers
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
"Peak late-stage Profound Rank, external strength." The innkeeper had not been thrown off by the fact that Pi Zhifeng was an external-style expert; he announced the man's strength promptly enough. "Go pay your deposit!"
"Yes..." Pi Zhifeng handed his bank card to Elder Qing at his side, but his eyes kept darting desperately toward Pi Zhitao behind him, signaling for all he was worth. Pi Zhitao was now an early-stage Earth Rank external expert; there was no chance he would pass the test. Pi Zhifeng's meaning was plain: get out, and quickly!
Earlier, Pi Zhitao had not stepped forward because Pi Zhifeng had clung to a hope. He was not certain whether the innkeeper could test the strength of an external expert, so he had come up first as a scout. If the innkeeper could not detect it, then Pi Zhitao would come up as well; if he could, then Pi Zhitao must slip away at once and go home.
Pi Zhitao caught the hint and rose to leave, only to be halted by a sudden shout from the innkeeper: "Where do you think you're going?"
"I... I was going to withdraw. I won't take part in the trial..." Pi Zhitao said hastily, badly startled.
"Withdraw? Why?" the innkeeper asked coldly.
"I... I'm not feeling well..." Pi Zhitao's heart was pounding. The Hidden Pi family might be a formidable presence before ordinary clans, but before an ancient sect like this, he scarcely dared breathe.
"Not feeling well? Come here!" the innkeeper said. "Did I give you leave to go?"
"This..." Pi Zhitao did not dare disobey the innkeeper, and in any case escape was impossible. Before an expert of peak late-stage Earth Rank, what was he, an early-stage Earth Rank? Besides, the monk may flee, but the temple cannot; his identity could be uncovered with little effort, and then the Pi family would be dragged down with him.
So, after a moment's hesitation, Pi Zhitao turned and walked back.
"Whose family's son are you?" the innkeeper asked.
"The Hidden Pi family..." Pi Zhitao answered honestly.
"Hold out your hand!" the innkeeper barked.
"This... yes..." Reluctant as he was, Pi Zhitao had no choice. He held out his hand, and it was clasped in the innkeeper's.
"Early-stage Earth Rank, external strength? Hmph. The Hidden Pi family's trial qualification is revoked. You may not enter again for ten years!" the innkeeper said with a cold snort.
"Uh... and me?" Pi Zhifeng asked, alarmed.
"Are you not of the Hidden Pi family?" the innkeeper countered.
"..." Pi Zhifeng was utterly dejected. Had he known, he would have sent Pi Zhitao home. All along the journey he had made Pi Zhitao conceal his strength, and in the inn the man had shown no flaw, all so that they might slip through and shine in the trial. Yet even so, they had failed this strict screening.
"An external expert is one rank weaker than an internal one to begin with, so he's the equivalent of a peak late-stage Profound Rank internal expert. Surely that doesn't count as a violation?" Pi Zhifeng argued, struggling.
"Are your ears deaf?" the innkeeper snorted. "Did I ever say Earth Rank external cultivators could take part? Be off, before you bring disaster down on your Hidden Pi family!"
"Ah! I understand..." Pi Zhifeng was out of options. How could his luck be so bad? Yet he truly did not dare voice any complaint against the Ice Palace. He could only say, crestfallen, "Then my trial deposit..."
"Deposits are not refunded once paid. It has already been deducted." Xiaoqing returned the bank card to Pi Zhifeng and spoke coldly.
"What?!" Pi Zhifeng had not expected to lose a hundred million in deposit without even entering the trial. Truly, he had lost the lady and the troops besides. Could anything be more wretched? But since the Ice Palace said it would not be returned, he did not dare demand it back. He and Pi Zhitao could only slink away...