LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 41 - Is This Poisonous Chicken Soup?
Chapter 41: Is This Poisonous Chicken Soup?
“The eleventh challenger I choose is Man Huang from the Highland Family, a giant among them,” Li Ao declared.
As the name of Man Huang was spoken by Li Ao,
not only did Man Huang himself feel relieved,
but Tie Zheng also let out a sigh of relief.
Thankfully, since Man Huang was listed, he must be fine.
The pressure had been immense just moments before.
If he, as the future patriarch of the main line of the Iron Clan, couldn’t make it into the top twenty of Li Ao’s challenge list in Silverlight City, it would become an eternal joke!
Tie Zheng, too, had a strong sense of pride and absolutely did not want such a disgraceful history attached to his name.
Sure enough, after Man Huang, Li Ao mentioned Tie Zheng’s name: “The twelfth person I challenge is from our Iron Clan, Tie Zheng!”
Roar~!
As his own name was announced,
Tie Zheng clenched his fists, unable to hold back a roar of excitement, his heart overflowing with thrill and enthusiasm.
He had made the list, and even though it was only the twelfth spot, Tie Zheng knew how difficult it was to be included on this list.
The originally second-ranked Lie Feng was barely placed sixth, and that was only because the seventh-ranked Ling Long and the eighth-ranked Yue Sha lacked the desire to compete.
Li Ao had mentioned that if those two were ambitious, they could even break into the top three.
Therefore, this fearsome list was truly filled with geniuses, and every spot was hard-earned!
Those ranked above him included Tang Guo with her Sweet Smile talent, and someone with a Silver-grade Biphasic Hypnotic Flower, both of whom were daunting opponents for anyone.
Qiu Ye? He even managed to deceive his cousin, Lie Feng.
As for Man Huang,
Tie Zheng had sparred with him and knew this giant from the Highland Family was no simple character.
Finally, the newcomers realized something.
With Lie Feng ranked sixth, and Man Huang and Tie Zheng at the eleventh and twelfth spots, if this was the ranking order, then those who seemed unremarkable in the trials were indeed incognito genius freaks. Were they pretending to be weaklings all this time? If it weren’t for Li Ao’s revelations, when would these guys have stopped hiding?
Supervisors Dou Guang and Chang Chi began to feel displeased.
He was seething with anger internally.
Given his status, it was inappropriate for him to throw a fit.
After all, Prince Jinxi had been utterly defeated by Li Ao.
Their meticulously promoted Supernova Project had been completely thwarted by Li Ao, who had no connection to their interests. How could they possibly be pleased?
However, their mindset had now shifted.
Prince Jinxi was finished.
But the performance of this cohort of newcomers had exceeded expectations, and they, as the supervisors of these newcomers, had made significant contributions.
Of course, the happiest were the three old men from the Pantheon, who watched eagerly.
As Li Ao mentioned each name, they silently noted it down on their list of potential supernova seeds.
They had initially thought that this cohort had few supernova seeds, with only Prince Jinxi, Lie Feng, Man Huang, and Tie Zheng barely making the count of four.
However, it now seemed that the Pantheon’s previous information was grossly inaccurate; the emergence of talents among these newcomers was like a sudden explosion, bewilderingly abundant.
“The thirteenth newcomer I wish to challenge is from the Mountain and Lake Family, Zhao Kong.”
By now, the name Li Ao mentioned no longer caused any exclamations.
Zhao Kong was well-known to everyone.
He was a special type of enhancement summoner who fused with his war beast.
His body, emerald green as if petrifying those who looked at him, possessed a unique talent called “Flowing Form.” He could merge with his bonding beast, the Sticky Green Water Beast, becoming indistinguishable from it.
Normal attacks couldn’t harm Zhao Kong at all, and he was immune to any poison.
If only the Sticky Green Water Beast were not just of the bronze level, the Trial Temple’s rating for Zhao Kong would be even higher.
“It is an honor to battle with you,” Zhao Kong said to Li Ao, performing a ritual salute typical of summoners, equally anxious as he had been waiting for quite a while.
“The fourteenth I wish to challenge is from the Drilling Wind Family, Youjin,” Li Ao continued, and a dwarf, about the height of a six or seven-year-old child, began to chuckle sinisterly.
Youjin looked almost like a child and was dressed in children’s clothes.
His appearance was extremely deceptive.
However.
Anyone who mistook him for a mere child would likely die under his venomous dagger.
Youjin’s talent was called “Poisoned Blade.”
Aside from Zhao Kong, who was his natural nemesis, he hardly feared even stronger combatants like Man Huang and Tie Zheng.
Li Ao’s challenge continued: “The fifteenth, Feiyu from the Falcon Clan; the sixteenth, Liuxing from the Starry Clan. The seventeenth, Hei Wan from the Archer Clan; the eighteenth, Zao Chi from the Savage Clan.”
Feiyu and Liuxing, like Qian Nian, Qiqu, and Qiuye before them, were not widely recognized.
The one named Feiyu had a beautiful silver-spotted falcon perched on his shoulder.
His combat power was only 266.
Liuxing, a chubby little boy with a headband adorned with star patterns, stood beside Feiyu, seemingly good friends with him.
At Liuxing’s feet lay a lazy, nearly spherical chubby cat, his pet.
Liuxing’s combat power was even lower, at 255.
If the newcomers didn’t know that Li Ao was definitely not mistaken, they might have wondered how these two with barely 250 combat power each had managed to sneak into this challenge list.
Of course, with unknown prodigies like Qian Nian, Qiqu, and Qiuye in the top ten, no one delved too deep into how these two made it into the top twenty.
Just low-profile geniuses, right?
This generation’s geniuses just love to hide their strength, don’t they?
If you have the ability, Li Ao will naturally call your name. If not called, don’t speak up. In the presence of a bunch of abnormal geniuses, it’s not your turn to speak!
Hei Wan from the Archer Clan.
He was a dark-skinned, slim, short guy who flashed a set of bright white teeth when he smiled.
Zao Chi was a massive figure, akin to an orc, so ugly that everyone gave up after one glance. Seeing Zao Chi looking like this yet still having the courage to live, Fuxi immediately felt an immense boost of confidence.
Compared to Zao Chi, I’m clearly a super handsome guy!
“If Prince Jinxi is willing to accept my challenge after he wakes up, I might consider adding his name to this challenge list. But until he decides, the last two I will challenge are, the nineteenth, Long Ying from the Steel Shield Clan, and the twentieth, Wu Ying from the Silver Moon Clan,” Li Ao concluded, adding two ladies to his challenge list.
Long Ying, tall and muscular, with a heroic stance and a bronze complexion, was clad in heavy armor, wielding a giant sword taller than herself.
In contrast, Wu Ying.
She was a petite and cat-like masked girl.
Aside from a pair of emotionless eyes visible, not a single bit of her skin was exposed to the sunlight.
“The spots on the challenge board are limited and can’t truly represent the potential and talent of our new generation,” Li Ao declared.
“There are many overlooked talents off the list, like my brother Fuxi, who is indeed a gifted genius. Because of his special status, to avoid accusations of partiality, I’ve reluctantly excluded Brother Fuxi from the list. I hope Fuxi, and other newcomers who didn’t make it to the challenge board, continue to surpass themselves and progress swiftly, breaking into the challenge board to prove me wrong. I welcome everyone to prove me wrong at any time!”
Upon hearing this, Fuxi’s face broke into a broad smile.
Great!
My little cousin is so thoughtful, always remembering to promote me. Yes, I am an unseen genius, a super overlooked talent among the newcomers!
Not just Fuxi, other newcomers also felt somewhat relieved. Not making it to the challenge board doesn’t mean we lack talent; perhaps I am a summoner who needs to accumulate experience over time to prove myself.
Or maybe it’s because my battle beast isn’t strong enough; otherwise, with my talent, there’s no reason I couldn’t make the list.
Not today doesn’t mean not tomorrow.
Let’s wait and see!
“Is this toxic positivity?”
Huo Mei rolled her eyes as she listened. If you really had talent, you’d already be on the challenge board. Are you saying this toxic positivity because you’re afraid it won’t kill others or what?
“Scammer!”
Ling Long also didn’t believe that mere effort could make it to the challenge board.
Without talent, you talk about effort?
Are you joking?
Effort is the poisonous soup that geniuses brew for ordinary people, right?
I’m sorry.
But the truth is like this.
Effort without talent is useless!
Moreover, trying to forcefully exert effort without talent can only lead to physical over-exertion, injuries, disabilities, and even death!
The more ordinary people try, the more desperate they become, whereas the more geniuses try, the more successful they get.
This is the reality.
Reality is very cruel.
Of course, geniuses think the truth is too cruel.
The best way of life for ordinary people is to continue living in ignorance, so a fresh and hot motivational soup has emerged!
You say effort leads to success?
Yes!
You want to try hard?
Go for it, youngster, you’ve got plenty of time to waste!
Seeing someone calling me out for padding my article, I’m quite upset. My ultimate skill, Boundless Ocean, hasn’t even been displayed yet! Besides, how could I possibly water down my articles? Am I that kind of writer? I’ve always been one to add words into water, okay?