The Sword God of the Universe

Chapter 2166: The Second Round Begins

Jing Yan left the residence of Yuantong Immortal Venerable, constantly pondering the meaning of Yuantong Immortal Venerable’s final words.

The second round of the Huangquan Points Contest might have some variables?

Apart from this sentence, Yuantong Immortal Venerable did not say more to Jing Yan, and Jing Yan also found it inconvenient to further question Yuantong Immortal Venerable.

"Forget it! Why am I thinking so much? Anyway, in the second round of the contest, I’m representing the Shadow Tower. I’ll do my best." Jing Yan shook his head, dispelling stray thoughts from his mind.

The news of Jing Yan being hired by the Shadow Tower has also spread near the Yellow Spring Cave. Many people know that this time, the Shadow Tower spent value worth hundreds of billions in Black Crystal Stone resource materials to hire Jing Yan. Such a large amount of resources would make even ordinary Immortal Rhythm Level experts envious.

"That Jing Yan obtained over three hundred points in the first round of the Huangquan Points Contest, but it can’t be confirmed that he earned it with his own strength. Even if it was indeed relying on personal strength, his illusion body perished inside the secret realm. Can he maintain peak strength in the second round of the contest?"

"I see the Shadow Tower was also provoked. If Jing Yan doesn’t earn as many points in the second round, I wonder what they’ll do."

"Haven’t you heard? It’s not just the Shadow Tower that wants to hire Jing Yan for the second round. Even the Xuan Yue Commercial Building made the same offer, yet Jing Yan chose to be hired by the Shadow Tower."

"Madness, it’s sheer madness! A hundred billion Black Crystal Stone!"

"..."

Even many Heavenly Monarch level characters joined in the discussion.

Members from the Xin Family and the Ancient Land of Morning Light, upon learning Jing Yan was hired by the Shadow Tower, could only sigh in resignation. These two forces, in terms of resource collection, indeed pale compared to the Xuan Yue Commercial Building and the Shadow Tower.

"We can’t be too greedy. This time, with the opening of the Yellow Spring Cave, our Xin Family has indeed been lucky. The Huangquan Points Contest has two more rounds before ending, and our Xin Family has already secured two quotas." Clan Chief Xin Si told the Xin Family members.

"Clan Leader is right!"

"In the last opening of the Yellow Spring Cave, our Xin Family had just one quota. This time is much better than the last."

"Indeed! We scored four hundred thirty-three points in the first round. There’s still a chance to win a floating quota in the second round, just do our best." Most Xin Family members were quite open-minded about this, and none blamed Jing Yan for not being hired by their Xin Family, seeing as their resource collection abilities were weak. If they had been able to offer such resources, Jing Yan would surely have been willing to be hired by their Xin Family.

With two hours remaining before the start of the second round of the Huangquan Points Contest, a male martial artist dressed in a blue robe arrived, and walked straight to Inspector Ao Hong.

This person was Cao Zhiqun.

"Greetings, Inspector!" Cao Zhiqun saluted Inspector Ao Hong.

As for others present, Cao Zhiqun couldn’t care less, not even bothering to greet them. Qi Yuan and others showed no sign of displeasure, on the contrary, they all smiled at Cao Zhiqun.

"Zhiqun, you’ve finally arrived!" Ao Hong spoke warmly.

"Inspector General, before coming, I heard about the situation here. If you have any requests, feel free to instruct me." Cao Zhiqun said.

Cao Zhiqun was cultivated as a prodigy by the Xuan Yue Commercial Building’s base and didn’t care at all about general members of the Xuan Yue Commercial Building in the region like Qi Yuan and Pang Bang. However, he still respected Inspector Ao Hong.

Inspector Ao Hong was a regional inspector capable of direct communication with the elders, having an unusual status.

"Very good! Zhiqun, with your words I feel assured. The second round of the Huangquan Points Contest is about to start, and I want you and Huai Shang to participate." Ao Hong said.

Huai Shang was also a Nether Sky Realm cultivator trained by Ao Hong, possessing extremely strong combat power.

"Yes!" Cao Zhiqun responded.

The two hours quickly passed. The cultivators again gathered before the secret realm.

Yuantong Immortal Venerable also timely appeared before the secret realm. Upon appearing, he first looked toward Inspector Ao Hong of the Xuan Yue Commercial Building, seeing Cao Zhiqun standing beside Ao Hong dressed in a blue robe. Yuantong Immortal Venerable didn’t recognize Cao Zhiqun, but knew that Cao Zhiqun wasn’t beside Ao Hong during the first round of the Huangquan Points Contest, thus guessed Cao Zhiqun’s identity.

Yuantong Immortal Venerable coldly snorted in his heart.

He greatly disliked such behavior by the Xuan Yue Commercial Building in breaking the rules, but since Kuo Lian personally communicated this matter to him, he couldn’t disregard Kuo Lian’s request. So, although he was displeased, he’d still allow Cao Zhiqun to represent the Xuan Yue Commercial Building in the contest.

Furthermore, this was somewhat due to the Xuan Yue Commercial Building skirting rules. Cao Zhiqun had been with Ao Hong since ten thousand years ago and would remain with Ao Hong in the future, making the situation hard to define. If Cao Zhiqun were purely an outsider, Yuantong certainly wouldn’t let him represent the Xuan Yue Commercial Building in the contest.

Yuantong Immortal Venerable took a deep breath, surveying the entire scene and proclaimed, "The second round of the Huangquan Points Contest starts now. The order of participation is the same as the first round, please have Inspector Ao Hong send forth representatives of the Xuan Yue Commercial Building to battle."

Ao Hong smiled subtly and said, "The participants from our Xuan Yue Commercial Building this time are Cao Zhiqun and Huai Shang!"

Immediately, Cao Zhiqun and Huai Shang stepped out from the crowd, and sat down cross-legged in front of Yuantong Immortal Venerable.

"Who is this Cao Zhiqun?"

"Haven’t seen him before!"

"That’s strange, there’s no such person among the Nether Sky Realm cultivators from the Xuan Yue Commercial Building. Nor among the hired ones. When did he come to the Yellow Spring Cave?"

Murmuring voices echoed.

Clan Chief Xin Si and others frowned as they gazed at Cao Zhiqun. Before the Huangquan Points Contest, the Four Great Forces expended considerable effort investigating possible internal cultivators sent by other forces. But Cao Zhiqun, they had no impression of, lacking understanding.

"Immortal Venerable, why haven’t we heard of this Cao Zhiqun before?" Shadow Tower’s Gong Zhi Buddha was first to inquire.

"Immortal Venerable, is this Cao Zhiqun sent by Xuan Yue Commercial Building not an external person?" Li Feng said with a cold frown.

"Hmph, members cultivated by our Xuan Yue Commercial Building are beyond your imagination! There are many you don’t know of!" Inspector Ao Hong said loudly.

"Ao Hong Daoist, such bold claims. In this region, the Shadow Tower wouldn’t dare say they have no unknowns, but certainly not as many as you claim!" Gong Zhi Buddha sneered.