Chapter 5176 — Raising the Question
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 3
The crowd had already been muttering inwardly; stirred up by these words, their expressions at once turned somewhat strange. Anything else might be overlooked, but where the Cangwu Sect of North Island was concerned, they could not rest easy. The image Xin Yi'an had built up over the years was indeed a fine one—but to claim that he was truly impartial and utterly without private interest would convince no one who heard it. At the very least, he would surely let a hint slip to the disciples of his own Cangwu Sect of North Island beforehand.
It seemed no great matter—yet one party prepared in advance and the other caught unawares could well mean a world of difference in performance when the Trial Contest truly came. Even if this were merely the crowd's own imagining, with contests and examinations of this sort, the slightest unfairness is magnified without limit, and everyone feels certain to be the victim. In the end passions ran high, until the situation threatened to slip beyond all control.
"Xue Jianming. Are you questioning whether this old man conducts himself unfairly?" Xin Yi'an's face darkened as he gave a cold snort.
"I wouldn't dare. I merely feel that in matters like the Trial Contest, it is best to be a little open and transparent, lest people whisper behind your back and let suspicion breed phantoms. I say this for your sake too, Uncle-Master Xin. Wouldn't you all agree?" Xue Jianming said carelessly.
"Right, Senior Brother Xue is right!" the crowd echoed in unison.
With passions running so high, Xin Yi'an dared not forcibly suppress them. His face ugly, he snorted coldly: "Very well. What you say is quite reasonable. It is only a pity that this old man still cannot tell you the content of the contest—because even I do not know it yet. For now only the general framework has been set; as for the specific events, the high council of the Ancient Alliance is still deliberating. Three days from now the events will be transmitted here on schedule, and all will be revealed then."
The crowd exchanged glances. Since even the high council of the Ancient Alliance was still deliberating, there was nothing left to doubt.
"Any other questions? Best raise them all together, so that certain people needn't go gossiping behind our backs again." Xin Yi'an looked at Xue Jianming as he spoke. To be confronted to his face time and again by this man, though he was the Uncle-Master leading the expedition—even a mild temper could not truly swallow such insults. His stance now was a direct challenge to Xue Jianming.
Anyone else would have backed down long ago, but Xue Jianming did not hold Xin Yi'an in his eyes at all. After all, he had far too many things to rely on: he was himself a fine hand at the early Golden Core stage; behind him stood a father who was vice-head of the Xuejian Sect; and most important of all, he had the backing of that vast and mysterious organization, the Center. With his habitual arrogance, it would have been a wonder indeed if he still held Xin Yi'an in any awe.
"I have one more question. Must everyone in the Transit Isles take part in this Trial Contest?" Xue Jianming asked, though his gaze drifted to Wei Zhao and the others. He did not yet know that Wei Zhao had long since resolved to have them all enter the Trial Contest, and was in fact afraid they might not take the bait.
"Not necessarily. The Ancient Trials have never compelled anyone to take part, and the Trial Contest is no different. Whether to enter is entirely a matter of personal will. But if one gives up the Trial Contest, that is tantamount to giving up one's chance at the Ancient Trials," Xin Yi'an said flatly.
This answer was no surprise, yet it left Xue Jianming's face somewhat grim. The plan he had proposed to Dr. Glasses rested on one minimum precondition: that Wei Zhao and his people must take part in the Trial Contest. Otherwise he would be at a loss.