Chapter 3661 — The Rules of the Trial
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
To begin with, this trial teleported each newcomer to a random location; regrouping would be no easy feat. And to squander one's time searching for the others would be to lose far more than one gained.
Most crucially, Wei Zhao was single-minded in his search for the Heart-Devouring Linglong Grass, while Xiao Che and Qiao Hongcai each had plans of their own. Moving as three would indeed let them watch one another's backs, but it would naturally cap their scores as well.
After all, if three men walked a single route, the herbs they ultimately found would surely be limited—and there lay the problem. They could hardly split all of it equally, could they?
Split equally among three, the likely outcome was that every one of them would end with a lower score than the rest of the field, making it impossible for any to place in the top three, and so the Foundation Establishment Pill would slip through all their fingers. And if they did not split equally, then who was to get more and who less? That made the problem even worse.
On the other hand, if the three went their separate ways, there would be a little more risk, but the returns would be greater too. In the end each man's score would surely far surpass what it would have been in company—at the very least, there was still hope of contending for the top three. And the prize for the top three was the Foundation Establishment Golden Pill—how could they lightly cast away such a chance?
What was more, the bald Elder had already warned them plainly that no killing would be permitted. So long as they were careful, their lives at least were not at stake, and the risk was not so very great. Reckoned thus, it was plainly the better bargain for the three to part ways.
Yet Xiao Che and Qiao Hongcai exchanged a glance. Wei Zhao treated them generously in ordinary times—was this not the moment to repay him?
If the three pooled their efforts and gave every herb they found to Wei Zhao, then his bid for first place should be without question! At this thought, both felt ashamed of their earlier selfishness.
Together they said, "Senior Brother Ku is right. We should find a way to move together after all. Brother Lin has looked after us so much—this time, come what may, we must win you first place in the trial!"
The implication was that any herbs found while moving together would all go to Wei Zhao first, which amounted to the two of them voluntarily renouncing the trial's rewards. Such a thing required no small resolve; the Foundation Establishment Pill was, to Heaven-rank cultivators at the peak of perfection like them, a temptation beyond compare.
Wei Zhao shook his head with a bitter smile. Their goodwill touched him, but his most important task this time was to find the Heart-Devouring Linglong Grass. Compared with the Foundation Establishment Golden Pill he meant to refine afterward, the trial's Foundation Establishment Pill meant nothing at all.
And if he moved together with the two of them, quite apart from the unfairness to Xiao Che and Qiao Hongcai, it would be an added burden on him as well.
"I am grateful for your kindness, both of you, but there is no need. This chance is rare—whatever rewards are worth winning, absolutely do not let them slip by, or you will regret it all your lives." Wei Zhao urged them gravely.
"But two fists cannot beat four hands. If Meng Zhou and the rest really do join forces, then no matter how many herbs we find early on, it will do us no good—they will take them in the end anyway. Better that we give up contending and adopt the two-guard-one plan, focusing on supporting Brother Lin. That would be the safer course." Xiao Che thought it over and spoke, and beside him Qiao Hongcai found himself in wholehearted agreement.