"Lin Tian, don't get too cocky. You've only won the first round. There are still several more rounds ahead, and you'll have your turn to regret it," Zhao Zhenjie spat, rising from the ground with a menacing expression. The humiliation he had suffered before so many witnesses was unbearable. If he didn't find a chance to exact revenge, it would be a disgrace to his pride.
However, Lin Tian paid little heed to Zhao Zhenjie's threat. Though his current condition was far from ideal—his spiritual energy severely depleted—he knew that once his energy had fully recovered in two days, Zhao Zhenjie would no longer pose any threat. For now, he could afford to be patient.
In the two days that followed, Lin Tian took advantage of his time to drink spiritual liquid, elevating his cultivation to the seventh level of Qi Refining. Though his strength hadn't increased drastically, the total amount of spiritual energy within him had been significantly boosted. This would allow him to extend the duration of his forgemaster's fire, which would prove useful in the upcoming tests.
"To think you'd still have the guts to show up," Zhao Zhenjie sneered when he saw Lin Tian's arrival.
"After all, I wanted to enjoy once more the sight of you kneeling before me," Lin Tian said with a slight smile. Zhao Zhenjie's face flushed red with anger, his eyes burning with fury. Lin Tian's words struck him deeply, reopening the wound of his previous humiliation.
"You brat, you're quite bold. Let's see if you can still smile after the next rounds," Zhao Zhenjie hissed, leaving with a scowl.
"Lin Tian, there's no need to stoop to his level," Zhao Xufeng, who had been watching from a distance, approached and advised him.
Zhao Xufeng couldn't deny Lin Tian's remarkable talent, which was undoubtedly the most extraordinary he had witnessed in years. However, such brilliance had also made Lin Tian a target of jealousy within the sect. If Lin Tian could be more discreet, things might be easier, but given his showy nature and his tendency to clash with people like Zhao Zhenjie, it was clear that things wouldn't be simple.
"Don't worry, Senior Brother. I know what I'm doing," Lin Tian reassured, understanding Zhao Xufeng's concern. In his eyes, Zhao Zhenjie was nothing to fear. If necessary, he had more than enough means to deal with him.
"Alright, if you say so. But there's one thing I must warn you about—Zhao Zhenjie is not as simple as he seems. Behind him is the support of an elder," Zhao Xufeng said with a sigh.
"An elder's support?" Lin Tian was taken aback.
"Yes. After joining the Xuanwu Sect, every disciple is expected to choose an elder to be their mentor. Talented disciples, in particular, become the targets of several elders vying for their favor," Zhao Xufeng explained. "Since you entered the sect, your talent has been so outstanding that all the elders in our Array Peak want to take you under their wing. But your public performances have been too remarkable, and since you've never officially expressed your allegiance, they're still hesitant."
"So, while it seems like Zhao Zhenjie is personally seeking revenge, there's actually a lot more to it. The elders have been working behind the scenes to create trouble for you. They prefer to help when you're truly cornered, when your survival depends on their intervention. And right now, Zhao Zhenjie is just their pawn in this game."
Lin Tian couldn't help but fall into deep thought, clearly surprised by the hidden dynamics Zhao Xufeng had just revealed.
"Now, the second round involves forging a Foundation Stage spiritual weapon within the span of one hour. For most outer disciples, this is a considerable challenge. As such, the outer disciples will be grouped into teams of three. One of your teammates has been planted by Zhao Zhenjie as a spy, so you'll need to be cautious," Zhao Xufeng warned.
"Zhao Zhenjie only planted one spy? I didn't expect him to be so kind," Lin Tian replied with mild surprise. If it were him, he would have planted two spies in order to forfeit the match outright.
"Zhao Zhenjie is not so kind. The other member of your group isn't a spy, but their situation is... peculiar. When you meet them, you'll understand," Zhao Xufeng added with a touch of resignation.
"Peculiar? How peculiar?" Lin Tian asked, still unsure about what Zhao Xufeng meant.
As Lin Tian pondered, Zhao Zhenjie took the stage in the center of the arena and began announcing the team assignments. As each name was called, the disciples were paired into groups.
"Group 13, Lin Tian," the announcer soon declared. Lin Tian hurried onto the stage, and as he passed by Zhao Zhenjie, he noticed a smug smile creeping onto the latter's face. Lin Tian's heart sank, but he gave no outward sign of concern, merely coldly smiling in response.
"Zhao Zhigang," the next name was called, and a burly disciple in a white sweat shirt stepped forward, his gait heavy. While Zhao Zhigang appeared a bit dull-witted, Lin Tian didn't dare to underestimate him. The way Zhao Zhigang interacted with Zhao Zhenjie indicated there was some sort of collusion between them. Lin Tian immediately surmised that Zhao Zhigang was the spy that Zhao Xufeng had warned him about.
However, Lin Tian's curiosity was piqued by Zhao Xufeng's mention of a third person. He couldn't wait to see what this individual's "peculiar" situation was.
Just then, Zhao Zhenjie called out another name: "Ruan Chenhao."
A disciple quickly ascended the stage, and when Lin Tian saw this person clearly, he was utterly stunned. He shot a perplexed glance at Zhao Zhenjie, silently wondering, Are you seriously trying to fool me?