n

n

nA while ago, after Zhao Luo and Senior Cutie had left the library zone through the yellow door, the Junior Elder who looked in a bit of hurry also followed them.

nBut both Zhao Luo and Senior Cutie never realized that.

nUnlike them, Junior Elder had left the Outer Hall and was making his way towards somewhere else.

nBy the time Zhao Luo had reached the training zone, the Junior Elder was standing inside the hall of a golden palace.

n---- ---- ----

nInside the golden palace.

n

"What brings you here?

"

nA voice questioned.

nThe Junior Elder who was bowing down, raised himself properly and while stroking his snow-white beard, placed his sight on the throne, that is, the plastic chair where the voice was coming from. But there was no one on it.

n

"Greetings, Sect Leader.

"

n

"I have something important to tell you.

"

nJunior Elder said in a very respectful tone.

n

"How important can it be that you are willing to come here yourself?

"

nXin Wang asked with anger in his voice that shook the Junior Elder to his core.

nThere was a rule among the elders.

nOnly the ten numbered elders were allowed to come or bring others inside the Palace of the Sect Leader

nThat is, solely, they were allowed to come whenever there was something important that could have escaped their leader's eyes or something that needed to be discussed with him.

nJust like how the third elder had brought Zhao Luo after he had completed the Successor mission successfully.

n

"I-Indeed this was something that you needed to know as soon as possible so I came here directly. Please forgive my audacity.

"

nThe Junior Elder bowed his head while looking down.

n'Tap.'

nXin Wang appeared next to his seat in a flash.

n

"Ah, It's okay.

"

nHe told the Junior Elder while waving his hand at him.

n

"Let's hear it.

"

nHe said to the Junior Elder.

n

"The matter is related to this.

"

nThe Junior Elder brought out a scroll and passed it to Xin Wang.

n

"The Scroll of Greed...What happened?

"

nXin Wang asked while being silent for a while.

n'I have indeed been shortsighted.'

nXin Wang thought while looking at the Scroll and glancing at the Junior Elder.

n'What could have happened that he brought me this Scroll?'

nXin Wang wondered while waiting for Junior Elder's answer.

n

"Leader, there is finally someone who can't see the content of Scroll of Greed.

"

nThe Junior Elder told Xin Wang with confidence brimming in his voice.

n'What?'

nXin Wang was shocked but he didn't show it.

nZhao Luo's face appeared in his mind but, 'Is it him?'

nXin Wang thought.

n

"A level eight outer disciple just visited the library a while ago and he was the one.

"

n'So it wasn't the little guy.'

n

"Are you sure?

"

nXin Wang asked after what he had assumed proved to be wrong.

n

"Yes, I observed him twice and he couldn't have known the truth of the Scroll of Greed beforehand.

"

nThe Junior Elder replied while clasping his hands and truthful eyes.

n

"I see, But what is the name of this outer disciple?

"

nXin Wang question the Junior Elder and opened the Scroll of Greed.

n'Frr~'

nThe Scroll rolled as it opened slowly and the Junior Elder saw the Sect Leader looking at it with his mouth covered by one of his hands and eyes dilated.

n'He is nervous.'

nJunior Elder speculated the condition Xin Wang was in.

n

"Sigh~

"

nA loud sound filled with resentment escaped Xin Wang's mouth when the whole Scroll was opened.

nHe was clearly angry with himself as his eyebrows were lowered to the point that they looked like they were knitted together.

nThis could just have been the beginning of the unibrow Sect leader but Xin Wang suddenly calmed down.

n

"Even I can see half the content of the Scroll. WHO IS THIS OUTER DISCIPLE?

"

nThe expressions on Xin Wang were on a rollercoaster ride.

nFrom nervousness to anger to excitement as he asked about the one who was able to see the clear version of the Scroll.

n

"Leader, he is a very interesting young man. His name is...

"

nThe Junior Elder slowed down raising the attention of Xin Wang.

n

"Yes, his name is?

"

nXin Wang repeated after Junior Elder with excited eyes.

nThe instant of suspense was enough for black clouds to cover the whole Xin Range and coincidentally the darkest cloud appeared above the Xin Sect which was already on the peak of the tallest mountain.

n

"Leader, his name is...*Thunder* ZHAO LUO.

"

nA loud sound of lightning fell on his ear as the name of the outer disciple proved to be an even bigger shock.

nEven though he had primarily suspected Zhao Luo to be the one but he couldn't even imagine the trainee disciple that he had met yesterday would be a level eight 'VIII' outer disciple today.

n

"Hahahaha. Finally a successor candidate with unparalleled character.

"

nXin Wang said with a big smile on his face.

n'S-successor candidate?'

nJunior Elder couldn't believe that the man he had seen a while ago was a potential sect leader.

n

"In this World, only the strong rule. Everyone is chasing after strength. They desire it and attain that strength. But then the stronger they become, the desire for strength keeps on increasing. But when this desire becomes undeserved that is when a person's mind falls to his Greed.

"

nXin Wang started talking while rolling the scroll backward.

nJunior Elder listened to the sect leader calmly.

nHe also knew about the truth of the scroll in Xin Wang's hand.

n

"This scroll helps such a person to eliminate his greed for the unattainable strength and lets him stay on that path of strength which he can achieve in the future. LIKE ME. I still have greed for the ultimate strength yet that is something that I know I will never achieve.

"

nXin Wang looked saddened as he talked about the truth and Junior Elder was here to witness it all.

n

"Does that mean, Zhao Luo doesn't have any wish to attain that strength?

"

nMustering his courage, Junior Elder asked Xin Wang.

n

"Maybe. But that young man isn't of such a kind. His desire is pure and attainable that is why the scroll of greed appeared blank to him.

nThe strength he seeks is something that he will have one day. That is how much he believes in his goal.

"

nThe Sect Leader, Xin Wang was impressed beyond words while talking about Zhao Luo.

nAs the discussion of this important matter ended, he returned the scroll to Junior Elder and dismissed him.

n---- ---- ----

nTraining Zone of the Outer Hall.

n

"Hahahaha.

"

nZhao Luo laughed as he had just been mocked by a disciple who was extremely strong but his posture showed that he couldn't even balance himself properly.

nWhile Zhao Luo laughed, the laugh alone looked sinister as the dark clouds above the sect and around the Xin Range, increased the pressure behind this simple laugh.

nHe removed his hand from his face and opened his eyes to look straight into the eyes of Feng Ma which were hidden behind the hundreds of hair strands.

n

"I will fight you.

"

nZhao Luo replied while jumping on the stage.

n

"Shwaa~

"

n

"Shwaa~

"

nThe dark clouds opened their huge doors and heavy rain started pouring on the training zone.

nAround the stage, Zhao Luo and Feng Ma were on, no one tried to escape the rain or tried not to get wet, instead, everyone just stood straight with their eyes on the two.

nRumble!

nA lightning strand fell right in the middle of the stage, following it was a thundering sound that simulated the start of their fight.

n

"You were brave enough to come on stage but are you strong enough to challenge me?

"

nFeng Ma questioned Zhao Luo while leaping at him with his fist towards Zhao Luo's face.

n

"Worry for yourself.

"

nZhao Luo replied while slightly moving his head.

n

"Fwoosh

"

nWith just the minimum movement he had dodged Feng Ma's punch.

nZhao Luo jumped back and sneered at Feng Ma.

nHe was impressed by Feng Ma's drunken fighting style but now he was just using simple attacks.

n

"You can go all out. You won't be disappointed.

"

nZhao Luo said as he was soaked with the rain.

n

"Gulp

"

n

"Brother your confidence is good but do you have the strength to back it up?

"

nFeng Ma grinned at Zhao Luo while taking a sip from his wine flask.

n

"That is for you to find out!

"

nZhao Luo shook his head and gestures at Feng Ma to come at him.

n

"Then I will take your offer.

"

nFeng Ma smiled while slowly advancing towards Zhao Luo.

n

"Come.

"

nZhao Luo also moved towards him.

nUnder the thundering rain and the pressure from an unseen gust of wind, they both slowly came at each other.

n

"Gulp.

"

nFeng Ma took another sip and threw his flask right at Zhao Luo's face.

n'What?'

nZhao Luo's vision of Feng Ma was blocked by the wine flask.

nHe tried to dodge it again by the minimum movement but to his surprise, Feng Ma was right behind the flask.

n'Woosh.'

nBoth threw a punch at each other while Feng Ma with wobbling movements grabbed his wine flask and swung it back towards Zhao Luo.

n'Bang'

n'Thud'

nBoth fists collided while Zhao Luo blocked the flask with his other arm.

n

"Tsk

"

n

"Click

"

nZhao Luo and Feng Ma both backed away at the same instant and the next moment they both leaped at each other.

n