Chapter 2244 - 2241: Opportunity or Crisis?

Chapter 2244: Chapter 2241: Opportunity or Crisis?

"Respect?" Lin Tian sneered, and said lightly, "For those worthy of respect, I will naturally respect them. Who do you think you are?"

Shen Lin wasn’t angry, merely looked down and said, "I saw your strength was not bad, and initially had a higher regard for you. I didn’t expect your insight to be so shallow, no different from the others."

"I saw you came from the Ancient Hidden Stream, thought you’d be smarter. Didn’t expect you to be mindless." Lin Tian almost returned the words verbatim.

"Heh, ants are just ants!" Shen Lin said disdainfully.

"What’s wrong with ants? Though small, ants have considerable combat power. Even eagles that land in the desert are picked clean by army ants. Besides, there are trillions of ants in the world, but eagles are nearly extinct." Lin Tian countered, sharp and eloquent, not fearing anyone in a verbal contest.

Shen Lin’s gaze was cold as he retorted, "No matter how few the eagles, they still soar through the Nine Heavens. No matter how many ants, they only crawl in the dust. Nobility and baseness are never the same."

"You’re noble? Hahaha..." Lin Tian laughed heartily, looking Shen Lin up and down until he felt uneasy. "You’re noble, don’t eat grains? You’re noble, and your farts don’t stink? You’re noble, and you don’t have to go to the bathroom? Whether eating, drinking, or expelling, you still pretend to be so noble!"

Lin Tian’s string of rhetorical questions left everyone momentarily stunned before they burst into laughter. Even Situ Yufeng found it immensely satisfying.

"You truly are wicked! You can even say such rogue words." Xiao Manxuan rolled her eyes at Lin Tian, smiling cheerfully. Though she called it rogue, she felt quite gratified inside.

"You..." Shen Lin was left speechless by the questions, his eyes flashing coldly, with his right hand resting on the black sword behind him.

Lin Tian’s eyebrows raised defiantly, speaking arrogantly, "Want to fight? Come on, come on, I’ve been stuck in a wheelchair all day. I need to stretch my muscles a bit using you!"

It seemed like the mountain top was turning into a fighting arena again. The other contestants subconsciously stepped back, not wanting to be caught in the crossfire.

"Cough, cough..." Suddenly, Yan Bei coughed twice, breaking the tense atmosphere: "I called you here, not to fight. Don’t act like you’ve been injected with chicken blood. Settle down a bit."

"Hmph!" Shen Lin snorted, turning his head to the side. Though displeased, he still heeded Yan Bei’s words and decided not to press the matter.

Lin Tian didn’t mind; he was here merely for the Shennong Ding, and the exchange with Shen Lin was just to vent some frustration for Miss and Ling Shuiyao.

Seeing both sides calm down, Yan Bei then spoke again: "Today, you have recognized a new power, the Ancient Hidden Stream. What is the Ancient Hidden Stream? Perhaps even the seniors in your clans don’t dare to tell you."

"That’s not important. All you need to know is that the Ancient Hidden Stream is more formidable than any of you and the seniors in your clan." Yan Bei was direct. However, Lin Tian could tell the old man wasn’t being arrogant but genuinely lazy to explain.

Shen Lin raised his head slightly, clearly feeling more justified in his pride because of Yan Bei’s words. Other contestants didn’t dare to retort, having experienced the power themselves.

Yan Bei looked around and suddenly exclaimed loudly, "Look at you all, losing spirit after one defeat. Where’s the sharpness of the youth gone?"

"Senior Yan, it’s not that we’re discouraged. I’m a loose cultivator, and before, I thought the ancient martial families were the pinnacle of power. But now suddenly, a surpassing Ancient Hidden Stream appears. With my resources, I can’t surpass the ancient martial families, let alone the Ancient Hidden Stream."

Liu Xiaoxiao spoke loudly, voicing the thoughts of all the participants, including those from the families. The family scions understood how difficult cultivation was. Even with vast family resources, a lifetime might only reach Innate Perfection.

This Innate Perfection, most find impossible to achieve, and today they learned there’s a higher realm, stronger power above it. How are they supposed to cope with this? The blow could even shake their spiritual core.

"Heh, I knew you’d say that." Yan Bei seemed to have expected this, laughing lightly, "Now, there’s an opportunity for you to gain greater power, to break the shackles and reach the peak of life."

The old man’s words were full of temptation, making Ji Zimo’s eyes shine. No Ancient Martial Artist could resist such allure.

Cultivation is about growing stronger, living longer. Otherwise, why endure the hardships of cultivation? It would be more enjoyable to be a wealthy heir, carefree all one’s life, wouldn’t it?

Wealth-wise, the ancient martial families might not be as rich as the Yun or Li families, but not far behind. Ji Zimo, Situ Yufeng, those scions, could easily live as carefree playboys.

But they chose cultivation, and what it offered to ancient martial artists was greater power and longer life. With stronger power available now, no one could refuse.

Of course, Lin Tian was an exception. Without unexpected events, he would possess eternal life, and his power would eventually peak.

"Senior, what is this opportunity you’re mentioning?" Miss asked politely.

Apart from pursuing greater power, she had another anticipation, like Lin Tian, to find the Shennong Ding. The most probable place for the existence of Shennong Ding, the Medicine King Mansion, was definitely one of them.

Others were equally curious about the opportunity, but Yan Bei merely smiled and then shook his head: "Since it’s an opportunity, it’s no fun if revealed too early. Once you reach the Medicine King Mansion, all will be clear."

"Are we going to the Medicine King Mansion?" Xiao Manxuan asked curiously, also a bit excited, as everyone but Shen Lin was excited since it was the Ancient Hidden Stream.

Shen Lin wasn’t excited because he was already part of the Ancient Hidden Stream.

"Of course we’re going to the Medicine King Mansion. Otherwise, why would I gather you all?" Yan Bei said matter-of-factly.

"This... isn’t it a bit sudden?" Ling Shuiyao blinked, speaking the minds of the other contestants.

"Hmm, it’s indeed a bit sudden for you all. But I’m not unreasonable. Here’s what we’ll do: I’ll give you an hour to return and grab your strongest weapons, best gear, finest elixirs, or healing medicine."

"Then, take the time to say a proper goodbye to your family." Yan Bei nodded and advised.

However, these words left the crowd with a strange feeling. It sounded less like they were going to seize an opportunity and more like heading to their doom? Was the Medicine King Mansion a dragon’s den or a tiger’s lair?

"Senior Yan, what do you mean by these words? Are we not coming back?" Huang Xiaopang asked. Although his father’s injuries were healed, he was still uneasy at heart.

The participants looked at Yan Bei, feeling a bit apprehensive inside.

Yan Bei’s gaze swept across and finally landed on Lin Tian, saying coldly, "Because this journey... you might die!"