A Card In Hand

Chapter 39: Li Ao’s Mysterious Challenge List

Shuanghan.

A tall youth from the Ice River Family, fifteen years old, with a demeanor cold as ice, sometimes going a whole day without uttering a single word.

Due to his noble birth within the Ice River Family, everyone knew him, and it was typical for the offspring of the Ice River Family to be cold, so no one found this unusual.

Unlike his brothers and sisters, Shuanghan didn’t seem to possess any special talents or extraordinary combat abilities.

It is known that the Ice River Family prides itself on a multitude of talented descendants, shining like countless stars.

While Shuanghan’s combat power wasn’t low, standing around six hundred, he still lacked a silver-grade battle beast.

With a bit of effort, breaking into the top thirty of this session’s newcomers shouldn’t be a problem.

To everyone else, Shuanghan seemed completely normal.

What was strange, though, was that Li Ao, who had been tacitly acknowledged as the King of Newcomers, didn’t challenge the second-ranked Lie Feng after defeating Prince Jinxi.

Instead, he inexplicably chose to challenge Shuanghan, who was ranked around thirtieth.

Did Li Ao have a grudge against Shuanghan?

For a moment, everyone’s attention was on Shuanghan.

Shuanghan himself was just as stunned about Li Ao’s challenge.

He couldn’t recall any feud with Li Ao; they barely knew each other!

Their only interaction had been during the Magic String Control event, where Li Ao had greeted him, and he had walked away without responding.

Could Li Ao have taken that to heart?

If not for that incident, he really couldn’t think of any reason why he might have offended Li Ao.

“According to the rules, I must accept the challenge, but I am no match for you. Would you allow me to concede the match?”

Shuanghan asked tentatively, looking at Li Ao.

“Shuanghan, I hope you will listen to what I have to say next before deciding whether to fight me,” Li Ao said with a smile, gesturing with his hand.

Seeing Li Ao’s expression, which did not seem spiteful, Shuanghan wondered what was really going on.

As Li Ao prepared to speak, everyone became intrigued.

What could the mysteriously powerful Li Ao possibly have to say?

The two assistant referees responsible for recording and broadcasting quickly adjusted the giant crystal wall, transformed from Crystal Rainbow Phantom Butterflies, to better display Li Ao’s image and ensure everyone could see and hear him clearly.

Another crystal wall displayed the expressions of the newcomers, such as Shuanghan’s at that moment.

Li Ao stood on the Obsidian Platform.

Smiling.

Like a beam of both warm and brilliant sunlight.

His radiant face conveyed an endless vitality that seemed to flow around him.

Li Ao then respectfully performed a summoner’s greeting to all the new trainees and staff of the Trial Temple: “Ladies and gentlemen, teachers and fellow students, please allow me to reintroduce myself here. My name is Li Ao, hailing from a branch of the Iron Clan family in Silverlight City, fifteen years old. My relative, whose name is Fuxi, has always taken great care of me and is a wonderful family elder. And the future head of our main Iron Clan family is Tie Zheng, a man of few words but great responsibility.”

As Li Ao introduced them, the assistant referees quickly projected images of Fuxi and Tie Zheng onto the crystal wall.

Tie Zheng was well-known.

A formidable figure ranked fourth in combat power, with a talent known as Tempered Steel, boasting a combat power of 1025. Before this, the only ones ahead of him were Prince Jinxi, Lie Feng, and Man Huang.

Of course, now the one at the forefront was Li Ao.

Although his combat power had not been officially measured, it was undoubtedly much higher than that of Prince Jinxi, who had been no match for him.

And Fuxi?

Sorry!

Not many among the newcomers knew him.

Looking at the crystal wall, which showed his combat power was only 250, how could he be Li Ao’s family elder?

Fuxi didn’t care what others thought.

He lifted his head proudly, puffed out his chest, and tried to display his grandeur and wisdom as much as he could!

Next to him, Cang Yue really wanted to claw this guy to death.

Fortunately, for Li Ao’s sake, Shuanghan held back.

“Some of you might wonder why I’m telling you all this. I never thought that not introducing my big brother Fuxi to everyone would be a loss for you all. I sincerely want to say that I, Li Ao, am honored to be part of this batch of trials, honored to be your classmate! My words are not sarcasm or irony but are truly heartfelt. Among you, there are many hidden talents, simply understated and low-profile, leading outsiders to misunderstand our batch as lacking geniuses. I want to say that our batch is not lacking in geniuses; on the contrary, we have countless talents. This is why, after defeating Prince Jinxi, I still stand on the platform ready to continue challenging!”

Li Ao’s words made people somewhat understand.

People immediately turned their eyes to Shuanghan.

Could he be the low-profile genius Li Ao was talking about?

Shuanghan’s face changed slightly upon hearing this, but after taking a deep breath, he calmed down.

Subtly, the cold aura naturally emanating from his body seemed to intensify.

Li Ao continued with a smile, “Let me first announce the list of people I wish to challenge, and then I will explain why I am determined to fight you all!”

Lie Feng perked up upon hearing this.

It should be my turn next.

How should he respond to showcase his personality?

Before Lie Feng could think of anything, Li Ao named the second person: “The second person I want to challenge is Qian Nian from the Heavenly Refinement Family!”

Qian Nian?

At that moment, Qian Nian was standing behind Dou Guang, among the protected newcomers.

Being among a group of newcomers whose combat power did not exceed two hundred, Qian Nian couldn’t help but show a wry smile on his face when he heard his name mentioned by Li Ao.

He shook his head helplessly.

The newcomers were nearly losing their minds.

Qian Nian’s previous combat record hadn’t exceeded two hundred; how could he possibly be a target for Li Ao’s challenge?

And he was ranked before the Ice River Family’s Shuanghan and the 1235 combat power-rated Lie Feng.

Incredible!

If anyone other than Li Ao had announced this challenge order publicly, everyone would have thought them mad!

“The third person I want to challenge is Qiqu from the Joyful Family.”

Li Ao’s list still did not include Lie Feng but Qiqu from the Joyful Family.

Qiqu, whose face bore a bizarrely exaggerated smile, resembled a clown performing in a comedy.

He wore a six-colored outfit characteristic of his family.

On his head, he wore a giant pointed hat, surrounded by many quirky dolls.

His combat power, measured by the Trial Temple, did not exceed three hundred, and yet he was the third on Li Ao’s list, leaving Lie Feng at a loss for words!

Lie Feng had planned to say something characteristic of his personality when it was his turn to challenge Li Ao.

Now?

Lie Feng just wanted to ask one question: Why?

Why were these three ranked before him?

On what basis did he think they were stronger than him?

Not just Lie Feng felt this was unjust, even Dou Guang and Chang Chi were perplexed. Were these three really more powerful than Lie Feng?

Supervisor Lei Bao, too, looked astonished, but he remained seated, quietly observing the unfolding scene.

Meanwhile, the three elders from the Pantheon whispered amongst themselves.

Unfortunately, they were silently communicating with secret sounds.

Silent.

Unheard by outsiders, leaving everyone clueless about their discussion.

“My fourth challenger is Huo Mei from the Rose Family; yes, you, didn’t you say you wanted to fight me?”

Li Ao’s fourth challenger was still not Lie Feng; he was almost numb by now.

If not for wanting to know when his name would finally be called, he would have rushed down to fight Li Ao immediately.

Li Ao’s demeanor remained calm, as if he saw no issue with his list: “The fifth person I want to challenge is Cang Yue, the Big-Eyed Monster from the Frost Wolf Family!”

“You’re the Big-Eyed Monster!”

Cang Yue retorted angrily, wanting a challenge but asking why he must be called names.

Li Ao ignored Cang Yue’s reaction and continued reading his challenge list: “The sixth person I want to challenge is Lie Feng from the Haoyue Family!”

Lie Feng was almost in tears.

Ah!

Finally, it was his turn!

It wasn’t easy; he had waited a long time for his name to be called!

Li Ao paid no mind to Lie Feng’s reaction and continued with his list: “The seventh person I want to challenge…”