n

n

nThe Puppet Lord stared at Zhao Luo.

n

"Clap.

"

nThe puppet lord couldn't help but admire the young man in front of him.

n

"There are myriad challengers out there who are not even sure of their ultimate goal. But you, young man you have a clear goal.

"

nThe Puppet Lord said to Zhao Luo.

nZhao Luo could feel a coldness taking over his body as he looked at the expressionless face of the Puppet Lord who was just admiring Zhao Luo a moment ago.

n

"Do you think you qualify to stand at the summit of your World?

"

nThe Puppet Lord asked in a powerful voice.

nZhao Luo was silent for a moment but then one after another, moments of the past kept on rising in his mind.

nThe years that he spent in his mind. Then the years with the old man. Getting the Heaven Tomb from the old man. The meeting with owners of the Heaven Tomb. Mastering the Naoli.

n'Mhmm.'

nZhao Luo mumbled as memories passed through his eyes.

nZhao Luo couldn't help but smile when he remembered the old man and blush when he remembered the Goddess with crimson eyes.

n

"Junior, did my question embarrass you that your face is red like a fresh tomato?

"

nThe Puppet Lord wasn't aiming to discourage Zhao Luo but he couldn't understand the reason behind the redness that was taking over Zhao Luo's cheeks.

nHe just wanted to see Zhao Luo's determination but it may have backfired. Thus the puppet lord decided to take the appreciative way.

nFirst changing the way how he addressed Zhao Luo.

n

"I may not qualify now but there will be a day when the summit will beg me to stand there.

"

nZhao Luo replied to the puppet lord showing his utmost determination.

n

"Haha, Good. For a moment I thought you were thinking otherwise.

"

nAfter seeing Zhao Luo's conviction firsthand, the pullet lord started looking around before looking at Zhao Luo again.

n

"Since the challenge has ended and you have gotten your reward, it's time to send you back.

"

nThe puppet lord said as the surrounding silver space was losing its color and the destroyed puppets started to vanish.

n

"What about my second reward?

" Zhao Luo asked hurriedly as the puppet lord grinned at his question.

n

"I already gave you three rewards in the form of that black sword.

"

nThe puppet lord replied as though he had been very magnanimous while rewarding Zhao Luo.

n

"I wish you luck. Don't let Bellum down. Especially not me.

"

nBefore sending him out of the silver space, the puppet lord gave Zhao Luo his last words as an exit opened up in the space.

nBefore walking out of the exit, Zhao Luo looked at the Puppet Lord with a painful face.

n

"Sigh. Don't worry, I won't let you nor Senior Bellum down like you have let me down with your reward.

"

nZhao Luo left a verbal attack as he stepped towards the door of the silver space's exit.

n'I hope so.'

nThe puppet lord thought with a smile while gazing at Zhao Luo's disappearing back.

nZhao Luo still had this unhappy expression on his face.

n'Woosh.'

nZhao Luo's body of consciousness was drifting in some sort of whirlpool and Zhao Luo could feel a pinching feeling in his head. After spinning in that whirlpool for a while he returned to his physical body that was standing in front of the pillar.

n

"Ah.

"

nZhao Luo moaned as he opened his eyes.

nHis hand was still on the moonstone but the shine of the moonstone was gone.

nZhao Luo looked upwards to see the top of the pillar and he realized that instead of a number there was a letter there.

n

"C

"

nZhao Luo looked at the 'C' and guessed that it was for 'Clear' or 'Complete'.

n'I did it.'

nWith a tragic face, he nodded his head confirming that he had cleared the moonstone challenge.

nThe reason behind the sad expression on Zhao Luo's face was indeed an extraordinary one.

n'Hmm, so I got Blackey. The Puppet Lord didn't give me anything else. He didn't even sneak something inside my body.'

nZhao Luo confirmed as he couldn't feel any change in his body and peered inside his storage space.

n'Who is the miser here?'

nZhao Luo wondered as Bellum was indeed the more generous one among the two.

n

"He is back.

"

nA disciple said while looking at Zhao Luo's eyes.

nUnlike before when Zhao Luo was inside the silver space and his eyes were closed then, now they were wide open.

n

"Zhao Luo.

"

nSome disciples shouted at him.

nThis sudden shout was enough to give Zhao Luo a momentary heart attack.

n'Who's attacking?'

nZhao Luo assumed as he turned around just to see thousands of disciples staring at him in awe.

n

"Zhao Luo.

"

n

"Zhao Luo.

"

n

"Zhao Luo.

"

n.

n.

nThese disciples starting cheering for him by repeating Zhao Luo's name again and again.

nThey kept on going till only Zhao Luo's name reverberated in the whole training area.

nZhao Luo looked stunned. He was there when Ruo Qing had reached stage 45 but there wasn't such a reaction so why was everyone so excited.

n

"Hmm.

"

nZhao Luo wondered but the feeling of happiness was overwhelming him as he walked down the stage.

nHe could see Feng Mei and Yan walking towards him.

nMo Lee was also there with them.

n

"Brother you are really the star of our trainee hall.

"

nMo Lee rushed ahead of Yan and Feng Mei just to grab Zhao Luo's hand and praise him.

n'This guy.'

nFeng Mei and Yan cursed as they saw Mo Lee taking Zhao Luo for himself.

nBy right it was their turn to congratulate Zhao Luo but he had to break the order.

nThud!

nThey pushed Mo Lee to the right and grabbed Zhao Luo's hands.

n

"Brother you are so amazing.

"

n

"Zhao Luo you are incredible.

"

nFeng Mei and Yan said as Zhao Luo couldn't help but show them a sincere smile.

n

"They are right. You are indeed an incredible individual. I was right to barge in your room that day.

"

nZhao Luo heard a familiar voice as Wu Yang entered in his view from among the crowd.

nWu Yang was talking about the day before Zhao Luo challenged the Drums of Bellum otherwise known as the War Cry Challenge.

n

"Where were you?

"

nIgnoring the compliment that Wu Yang had given him, Zhao Luo questioned Wu Yang about his disappearance.

nHe wanted to know as Wu Yang had suddenly left them.

n

"That...I had something important to do.

"

nWu Yang said while scratching his head.

n'He's hiding something.'

nZhao Lup could easily see through the way Wu Yang answered him.

n

"Well, it's good that you are back now.

"

nZhao Luo didn't dwell on the fact that Wu Yang was hiding something but instead welcomed him wholeheartedly.

n

"How is it like clearing the stage 100?

"

nWu Yang asked Zhao Luo.

n

"Hard. Hard enough to make me go at it in full-

"

n'Huh'

nZhao Luo who was telling Wu Yang his experience suddenly stopped.

n

"How did you know if I cleared stage 100 or not?

"

nZhao Luo inquired as for him he had only fought till 50th stage.

nWu Yang looked at Zhao Luo and opened his mouth.

n

"Brother it's because the pillar showed 100 before it turned to C.

"

nBefore Wu Yang could answer Zhao Luo, Mo Lee interjected.

n

"I see.

"

nZhao Luo mumbled as he remembered the Puppet Lord.

n'He must have changed the stage number.'

nZhao Luo assumed.

nWhile Zhao Luo was talking with them, other disciples started going up the stage.

nA fierce fight broke out on the stage as the disciples aimed for the 7th pillar which was in the middle of the ring.

nBut that wasn't the reason they were fighting to stand in front of the pillar.

nIt was solely because Zhao Luo, the star and hope of the Trainee Hall had taken the moonstone challenge in front of that pillar.

nAfter a fierce fight, a disciple finally emerged successfully and stood in front of the pillar.

nUnfortunately, he couldn't even pass stage 30.

nWhile the disciples were taking their turns, Zhao Luo was listening to how well the others did in the moonstone challenge.

n

"Brother I had to face these puppets. They were good at fighting. Then I pulled out my spear but in the next stage, they started using spears too. I was fighting well but then three puppets came at me, I fought them and defeated them. But the puppets never stopped coming. I tried my best but defeating so many puppets is too much for me.

"

nFirst Feng Mei started telling her experience.

nNobody interrupted her or made fun of her. And how could they anyway? It was like paying attention to a cute angel in human shape.

nZhao Luo listened to her cute little sister attentively and patted her head when she ended telling them her challenging experience.

n

"You did well.

"

nZhao Luo told Feng Mei as she closed her eyes and giggled while feeling the gentle hand of Zhao Luo rubbing her head.

n

"How about you?

"

nZhao Luo looked at Yan and asked.

n

"I had the same experience. It was hard but I tried my best.

"

nYan answered with confidence. She knew that she did as much as she could.

n'Pat.'

nZhao Luo brought his hand closer to her face and patted her head.

n

"Good job.

"

nZhao Luo encouraged her.

nWhile the affection continued as Zhao Luo's hand was still on Yan's head, Mo Lee jumped in between them surprising Zhao Luo and the embarrassed Yan who couldn't hide her blushing face.

n'Why is this guy blushing?'

nMo Lee thought after taking a glimpse at Yan and then turning away to look at Zhao Luo.

n

"Brother let me tell you my experience.

"

nMo Lee announced to Zhao Luo.

n

"Haha, go ahead.

"

nZhao Luo said after seeing how excited Mo Lee was to share his story.

n

"I was surrounded by multiple puppets. They all had fist knuckle in their hand. But I wasn't scared instead I jumped at them.

"

nMo Lee told them as he circled around Zhao Luo and the others.

n

"Then 'Pow', 'Pow', 'Pow', yeah just like that I destroyed them one after another.

"

nMo Lee started punching in the air like showing them his technique. While making the sound effect of his punches which was funny to watch.

nZhao Luo and Wu Yang were barely holding their laughter. While Yan and Feng Mei were shaking their heads at Mo Lee's dumb acting.

n