Chapter 102 - 101: It’s Them Again
Of course, just because no one else had seen it clearly didn’t mean the Chief Examiner on the high platform, Wang Zongyao, had missed it too.
He was the only Battle King among everyone present, and his power was immense.
Although he might not have been a match for Tang Yi, his Level was still slightly higher.
Even though Tang Yi’s previous strike had been too fast for anyone to see, he had seen it.
Therefore, Wang Zongyao paid no mind to the crowd’s accusations and doubts. He didn’t need to.
Power was power. It couldn’t be faked. Even if someone managed to cheat here, their true colors would be revealed once they reached the West Mansion. It was pointless.
And Wang Zongyao had witnessed Tang Yi’s strength long ago, so there was no need for him to doubt it.
The crowd grew increasingly rowdy with no sign of stopping. Just as Wang Zongyao was about to say something to bring the situation under control, a sudden change occurred.
A group of black-robed men stormed into Unrivaled Square. They broke through the cordon formed by the referees and some West Mansion proctors, charging into the Central District.
This group of black-robed men appeared quite formidable. Each of them was as light as a swallow, moving like a gust of wind. They all charged in at once, leaving everyone unable to react.
"Hmm?" Wang Zongyao frowned upon seeing the group. He felt a sense of familiarity from them. ’And to dare break into the West Mansion’s examination area in broad daylight... they have some nerve.’
In the entire Western Domain, no one had ever been so audacious!
Immediately, Wang Zongyao’s figure flashed as he leaped down from the high platform and rushed directly toward the group of black-robed men.
Some of the West Mansion’s experts, as well as Zhu Yan, the manager of Fengyue City’s branch of the West Mansion, seemed to realize something was wrong and followed him.
Led by Wang Zongyao, the West Mansion experts intercepted the black-robed men before they could reach the tournament rings.
The two groups stood on opposite sides, seemingly poised for a confrontation.
Moreover, the West Mansion experts seemed to sense that the group of black-robed men was exceptionally powerful and not to be trifled with. So, they didn’t immediately try to drive them off, instead falling in behind Wang Zongyao to await his orders.
The audience now also noticed the sudden intrusion of the black-robed men. They stopped their cursing and questioning, staring at the group with curiosity.
On the tournament rings, the examinees also sensed that something was wrong. They all stopped their matches and gathered together.
Everyone was utterly shocked by the appearance of these black-robed men, and a buzz of discussion rippled through the crowd.
"Who are these people?"
"I don’t know, but they look aggressive and up to no good. Heh, to cause trouble on the West Mansion’s turf, and on an important day like the qualification exam... Now we’ve got a good show to watch."
"Wearing black robes and hiding their faces in broad daylight... This group definitely isn’t up to any good."
"Holy shit, I can’t sense the Level of a single one of these guys in black. I’m a Nine-Star Battle Master! That means every single one of them is stronger than I am!"
"I can’t sense them either! And I’m a Battle Grandmaster!"
"...No way! Something big is about to go down!"
"The Chief Examiner took the West Mansion experts over there. Let’s see what they have to say. I’ve got a bad feeling about this, though."
"..."
There were seventeen black-robed men in total. One of them, who had the most powerful aura, appeared to be the leader.
Wang Zongyao sized up the leader for a moment, then made a shocking discovery. The man was also a Battle King. Judging by his aura, he had reached at least the Level of a Three-star Battle King, making him quite a bit stronger than Wang Zongyao, who was a One-star Battle King.
Disregarding Cultivation Techniques, Martial Techniques, and other special factors, the higher the Level, the greater the disparity in strength between each star. By the Battle King Level, the difference in power for each star was calculated exponentially.
In other words, with a Two-Star difference between them, Wang Zongyao might be no match for the black-robed man before him at all!
He might even be completely crushed!
And as he looked at the other black-robed men, he realized... they were all at the Battle Spirit Level!
There were more of them than the West Mansion’s own Battle Spirits present at the scene!
The power levels of the two sides were completely disproportionate. If a fight broke out, they would have no chance of winning!
’The strength of this group...’
This reminded Wang Zongyao of the other group of black-robed men he had encountered on the Yangsha Ancient Dao. That group had also consisted of one Battle King and more than a dozen Battle Spirits.
The two groups were remarkably similar!
This made Wang Zongyao wonder, ’Could these two groups belong to the same influence?’
’In the Western Domain, just what influence has managed to amass such power right under the West Mansion’s nose?’
’This is not good news at all,’ Wang Zongyao thought. ’The situation has become extremely serious. It’s necessary to report this to the West Mansion’s higher-ups!’
To be challenged by a powerful, unknown influence on the West Mansion’s own turf—how could this be?
This was a direct challenge to the West Mansion’s authority!
However...
The group of black-robed men that had blocked the way on the Yangsha Ancient Dao had been after Tang Yi.
’Could this group of black-robed men be here for Tang Yi as well?’
At this thought, Wang Zongyao glanced back toward Tang Yi on the tournament ring, his heart filled with bewilderment. ’Who in the world did Tang Yi provoke?’ he wondered. ’Why would they send so many experts to deal with him?’
However, now was not the time to question Tang Yi. Wang Zongyao had to step forward and resolve this matter first.
Moreover, he could not allow the West Mansion to lose face.
After all, to be intruded upon by a band of black-robed men in front of a massive crowd was a humiliating affair for the West Mansion. If it wasn’t handled properly, what right would the West Mansion have to act as the center of power in the Western Domain in the future?
How could it still command the various powers of the Western Domain?
Wang Zongyao turned his gaze back to the leader of the black-robed men and boomed, "Who are you people? Skulking around with your faces covered in broad daylight, and now you’ve come to the site of my West Mansion’s qualification exam. What are your intentions!"
Wang Zongyao’s questioning was sonorous and powerful, filled with an imposing aura. It made the members of the West Mansion involuntarily lift their heads and puff out their chests, looking haughtily at the group of black-robed men before them.
It was as if they themselves were on the side of justice, while this group of black-robed men were just skulking rats on the side of evil.
"We have no intention of offending the West Mansion. We’ve only come looking for someone. Please, Your Excellency, grant us this convenience," the leader of the black-robed men said politely, cupping his fists.
However, Wang Zongyao’s brow only furrowed deeper upon hearing this.
’Looking for someone again!’
’And their attitude is identical to that of the black-robed men on the Yangsha Ancient Dao!’
’They don’t dare to offend the West Mansion!’
Hearing the black-robed man’s words, Wang Zongyao was now certain that this group and the one from the Yangsha Ancient Dao were from the same influence.
’They really are all here to find Tang Yi!’
However, Wang Zongyao had no intention of letting them go and cause trouble for Tang Yi so easily. He said in a cold voice, "I don’t care who you are, nor do I care who you’re looking for. Retreat from here now, immediately, at once. Otherwise, don’t blame the West Mansion for being unreasonable!"
Trespassing on the qualification exam site, especially while bringing so many masters with ill intent, was already a violation of the rules established by the West Mansion. The West Mansion had every right to execute or punish this group.
It was only because Wang Zongyao knew he couldn’t defeat them that he was trying to scare them away with the West Mansion’s name.
Otherwise, he would have attacked by now.