Chapter 3708 — The Newcomer Rankings Trial
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
Hu Yunfeng's words were no idle threat. If the oppression array of the Law Enforcement Hall were truly unleashed at full power, never mind a mere crowd of Heaven-rank, Great Perfection experts—even cultivators at the pinnacle of late Foundation Establishment, a full major realm above them, would be crushed until blood streamed from every orifice and they perished, with no chance of escape.
As matters stood, though the oppression array had not yet been fully activated, the pressure atop that round platform was still absolutely beyond what these newcomers could bear. Someone would have to operate the array to reduce the burden for them.
A short while later, Hu Yunfeng led the newcomers to the side of the round platform. Even before stepping onto it, everyone already felt the strain increase markedly. This was truly no place for ordinary people to linger.
No wonder people often said that once anyone entered the Law Enforcement Hall, no secret about them remained. The saying was somewhat exaggerated, but it was not far from the truth.
Think about it: however powerful an expert might be, under such oppression their mind was bound to grow weary. And the Law Enforcement Hall never lacked experts skilled in mental martial techniques. The slightest lapse would let them slip in through the gap, and so-called secrets would naturally cease to exist.
What Wei Zhao counted himself fortunate for was that today he had come merely to undergo the newcomer trial, not to appear as a prisoner. Otherwise, the secrets he carried really might have been exposed.
By now, the Law Enforcement Hall experts Hu Yunfeng had mentioned had arrived. To Wei Zhao's considerable surprise, he spotted two familiar faces among them.
One was Xu Lingchong. This fellow was no member of the Law Enforcement Hall at all; two days ago in the Rear Mountain Hall he had already schemed against Wei Zhao, and now here he was again, hovering about like a persistent ghost. No doubt he was cooking up some fresh villainy!
The other was Shangguan Lan'er, whom he had just met yesterday in the little grove—and, of course, her inseparable little Curly Bear.
Spotting Wei Zhao in the crowd, Curly Bear immediately gave a whining cry and tried to pounce on him, but Shangguan Lan'er held it back with all her might. Today was different from other days; the trial was about to begin, and she could not let Curly Bear disrupt Wei Zhao's state of mind.
What was more, she had only yesterday promised Wei Zhao that she would play along with his act. With so many people watching now, she naturally had to feign loathing for him—and certainly could not let Curly Bear go over and make nice with him.
Still, though Shangguan Lan'er's face showed utter disgust the moment her gaze fell on Wei Zhao, deep in her eyes lurked a clear warning and concern.
The reason she had come today was that Xu Lingchong had invited her.
After their earlier performance, Xu Lingchong was convinced she had completely fallen out with Wei Zhao. He had therefore made a point of inviting her to the Law Enforcement Hall to observe the newcomer trial, saying he would use the occasion to deal with Wei Zhao and win the fair lady's favor.
And with Young Master Xu's influence, even though he was no member of the Law Enforcement Hall, targeting Wei Zhao was a trifling matter. As it happened, among the Law Enforcement Hall experts Hu Yunfeng had summoned were acquaintances of his; a word to them to seize the chance and give Wei Zhao a thorough working-over was the work of a moment.
Shangguan Lan'er had originally had no interest whatsoever in a place as uncomfortable as the Law Enforcement Hall, but the moment she heard Xu Lingchong say he meant to deal with Wei Zhao, she could not help worrying, and so she had come along.