Chapter 1151: Trial Squads
After a short while, he stood up and said to the uncle next door: "Uncle, get me two small dishes and a pot of wine."
"Young man, the Sect Leader has ordered that no alcohol should be consumed tonight because you need to prepare for the trial." The uncle replied respectfully.
"It’s okay, it’s okay, a little wine won’t affect the trial."
Hao Shuai thought it was no big deal, just a bit of wine.
"Young man, I really can’t go against orders, the Sect Leader gave the command, and I dare not disobey." The uncle found the person somewhat demanding but still answered with a smile.
"Alright, alright, then just bring dinner, two small dishes." Hao Shuai said impatiently, feeling that this Sect Leader’s Mansion had too many rules.
"Okay, got it, please wait."
With that said, the uncle went to prepare.
Chen Tianlong glanced at Hao Shuai’s attire, feeling a sense of familiarity with the overall appearance. The familiarity was not about knowing him, but rather as if he had seen it somewhere before, though he couldn’t recall where at the moment.
Suddenly, Chen Tianlong’s gaze fell on Hao Shuai’s shoe sole, since Hao Shuai had his leg crossed, making the sole directly face Chen Tianlong’s eyes.
There were some dark green mosses stuck to the sole, triggering a picture in Chen Tianlong’s mind: Hao Shuai secretly throwing darts at him and Lin Wushuang in a peach blossom forest, accidentally taking away a few peach flower petals on his clothing and shoes.
This image rolled around in Chen Tianlong’s mind before finally coming together.
"Humph, so it’s him. I wasn’t looking for revenge, yet he wants to harm me."
Thinking of this, Chen Tianlong felt a bit angry and just as he wanted to stand up to say something, the uncle brought the dishes over and placed them on Hao Shuai’s table.
"Young man, please enjoy."
Hao Shuai said nothing but directly picked up his chopsticks to start eating, and Chen Tianlong suddenly remembered there was a trial to attend later; personal matters could wait until it was over.
Thus, Chen Tianlong quietly resumed eating his meal.
Soon, Pure Yang Daoist appeared in the dining hall and seeing that everyone was eating, he smiled and said: "Since everyone’s here, let me tell you, later we will gather in the courtyard, first divide into groups, and then take you to designated array areas."
"Understood, Sect Leader," everyone said in unison.
After the Sect Leader finished speaking, he specifically glanced over at Chen Tianlong, who promptly smiled and nodded at the Sect Leader, indicating a greeting.
Not long after, everyone finished eating and followed the Sect Leader’s instructions to head to the courtyard.
At this time, Xu Wei had been waiting for a while, and seeing everyone gathered, he started to speak: "Good evening, everyone, we’re preparing for the trial, please ready yourselves, Trial Takers."
"Additionally, I will divide everyone into teams."
Fatty Xu said as he took out a piece of paper from his pocket, unfolded it, and began to read: "Hao Shuai, Chen Tianlong, and Du Nong, Lin Wushuang, Liu Ting, Bing Ruxue, six people in one group; Hao Kan, Xu Fei, Yang Fan, Tan Batian, Yang Xinru, Xue Kong, in another group; Master Mie Wo, Cheng Qianjin, Thunder Wolf, Wu Guangzu, Xiao Jianteng, Li Bingshuang in another group..."
Listening to those familiar names, Chen Tianlong furrowed his brow, not expecting Xu Fei, Hao Kan, and the others to join as well.
However, thinking about it, they are all good friends of Hao Shuai, who is now the Third Elder of the Celestial Pill Sect; entering wasn’t difficult.
"Additionally, three people from inside the Celestial Pill Sect will join, making thirty people in total, in the trial, everyone should help each other for mutual gain and must not conflict."
This arrangement was deliberately made by Pure Yang Daoist for Chen Tianlong, perhaps to leave a better impression.
Chen Tianlong was quite pleased, though clearly, someone was not happy, and that someone was Hao Shuai. Seeing Chen Tianlong made him uncomfortable all over.
"Okay, the teams are set. Next, we’ll all proceed together to the teleportation array site, and once the time comes, our Sect Leader will activate the array and send you to the trial place," Fatty Xu announced loudly.
Everyone was ready, so a large group followed Sect Leader Pure Yang Daoist, along with several Hall Masters and Elders, to the teleportation array site.
Along the way, Chen Tianlong encountered a stranger, who seemed very amiable, this person was Tan Batian. Initially, the name sounded vaguely familiar to Chen Tianlong, but he couldn’t remember where from.
Who knew Tan Batian was the descendant of the Ancient Tan Family mentioned by Tan Tian.
Ahead was a forbidden land of the Celestial Pill Sect, normally no one dared to come here, guarded by a small team of disciples, each seemingly not very impressive, yet they were veteran-level masters of the Celestial Pill Sect.
Seeing how Pure Yang Daoist treated them with much respect, Chen Tianlong realized these people were unusual. At this point, Xu Fei, curious after seeing the forbidden land, quickly rushed to take a look inside.
"Young man, please stop, this is the forbidden land of the Celestial Pill Sect, no one is allowed to enter without the Sect Leader’s orders."
One of the guards said.
The guard was a middle-aged man in his thirties to forties, looking thin but exceptionally energetic, his expression extremely solemn, resembling the Cold-faced Envoy.
"I just want to take a look, why be so uptight? Besides, aren’t we supposed to go in later anyway?"
Xu Fei was the first to arrive, and the Sect Leader was taking it slow to accommodate those behind.
Seeing the Sect Leader showing such respect to those guards when entering the gate made Xu Fei a bit displeased, thinking to himself: "A grand Sect Leader being so respectful to servants; is that necessary?"
That’s the old way of the Wu Family; people find it hard to change their intrinsic nature.
Even though the Wu Family had fallen, Xu Fei remained as arrogant and unruly as ever.
"Sorry, please wait a moment, the Sect Leader will be here soon," the guard patiently advised.
"Humph, what’s the big deal? A servant being so pompous; isn’t it the same whether I go in earlier or later?" He said as he ignored the guard’s advice, ready to dash inside.
So Xu Fei bypassed the guard, taking big strides inside, but the next second, he was incredibly shocked because the guard suddenly appeared in front of him.
Xu Fei jumped in surprise, "Whoa, are you human or ghost? You were just over there."
"Sorry, I mentioned that only the Sect Leader can personally lead others inside, please forgive me." The cold-faced guard did not explain further but advised directly.
"Alright, alright, I won’t go in."
Xu Fei recognized the man as a master; his speed said it all, with the trial about to start, he didn’t want to stir up trouble.
The guard clenched his fist and then stood aside to continue his watch, and soon Pure Yang Daoist walked over with his group.
"Greetings, Sect Leader."
The cold-faced guard said respectfully.
"There’s no need for formality, Master Bai Yu has worked hard." Pure Yang Daoist said respectfully.
"Eh?"
Xu Fei beside him was infinitely astonished; turns out he insulted the Hall Master of the Celestial Pill Sect.
Had he known earlier, apart from Pure Yang Daoist, there were two Vice Sect Leaders at the Celestial Pill Sect, with Du Fei already dead, the other being Vice Sect Leader Gu Biao, and then there were the Hall Masters.
Thus, the status of Master Bai Yu was indeed quite significant.
Xu Fei realized he had caused trouble and stood aside, not daring to speak. Pure Yang Daoist saw Xu Fei’s actions from afar but didn’t want to say much, as guests should be treated courteously.