Black Myth: Starting from the Destined One
Chapter 270 - 205: The Last Chance!_2

Chapter 270: Chapter 205: The Last Chance!_2

"..."

The Zhengyi Taoism cultivator Nangong Zhidao’s face initially darkened upon hearing the words but then he still maintained a smiley expression.

Finally, it was the second senior brother of the Hehuan Sect, Bai Yue:

"Taoist Li, I beg you, please choose me, as long as you are willing to choose me..."

The second senior brother of the Hehuan Sect, Bai Yue, stopped midway and then leaned in to whisper in Li Ping’an’s ear, tempting him:

"I know that your lust has not yet abated, and you are extremely fond of beauty, so if you’re willing to accept my challenge, I am ready to introduce you to the female cultivators of my Hehuan Sect. I can guarantee they are ten times more beautiful than Zixia of the Qingyun Sect!"

"Taoist Bai, you see people so clearly."

Li Ping’an licked his lips and said excitedly:

"Taoist Bai, you said it yourself, huh!"

The second senior brother of the Hehuan Sect, Bai Yue, patted his chest and assured:

"I said it, as long as you agree to it!"

"This... Let me think it over..."

Faced with everyone’s promises, Li Ping’an was filled with uncertainty, finding it difficult to make a choice at the moment, especially between the second senior brother Bai Yue of the Hehuan Sect, Senior Brother Taishi Bao of the Qingyun Sect and Senior Brother Xianyu Shu Qinghai of the Immeasurable Sect.

The eldest senior brothers of The Four Great Noble Paths and the other main disciples waited patiently for the final decision from Li Ping’an.

...

Seeing that Li Ping’an behaved so pettily and obviously didn’t consider his request, the Zhengyi Taoism cultivator Nangong Zhidao, therefore, took a step back, looked toward the Kumarajiva hidden in his left shoulder, and murmured:

"Master, what should we do? It seems like Li Ping’an is going to choose a cultivator from Qingyun Sect, Hehuan Sect, or Immeasurable Sect to challenge!"

"Fool! Fool! Fool!"

Three ethereal voices emanated from the Kumarajiva in his shoulder, all utterances of reprimand, revealing his inner rage:

"Haven’t I told you before! Both Li Ping’an and Wang Tianran are extremely unconventional in their moods, actions, and they often do the unexpected, acting most unorthodox. You should never judge their behavior by common sense, yet you foolishly repeat the same idiocy as the others. How could that ever move Li Ping’an?"

The Zhengyi Taoism cultivator Nangong Zhidao anxiously looked at Li Ping’an, who was about to make a decision, and said:

"Master, what do we do now? If Li Ping’an doesn’t choose me, and Wang Tianran fails to force out his methods, it seems that no one else stands a chance against Li Ping’an."

"Fool! Can’t you think differently?"

The Kumarajiva in his shoulder reminded him:

"Forget about Li Ping’an for now. You’ve offended him today, and he is someone who holds grudges. Even if you talk until you’re blue in the face, he won’t choose you. So, you could persuade the other six!"

"Persuade the other six?"

The Zhengyi Taoism cultivator Nangong Zhidao frowned in confusion and said:

"Master, how should I persuade the other six? They simply wish to pick the ripest fruit, to ensure their success in advancing to the next round of the competition. I’m afraid I won’t be able to persuade them!"

"..."

Kumarajiva was silent for a long time. For a moment, he truly wanted to kill the Zhengyi Taoism cultivator Nangong Zhidao, but to uncover the secrets of Li Ping’an, he continued to remind him patiently:

"You puppet! You fool! Wang Tianran has already set an example for you; can’t you learn from Wang Tianran?"

"..."

The Zhengyi Taoism cultivator Nangong Zhidao still looked clueless when Kumarajiva finally reminded him with a reprimand:

"Fool! Haven’t you just spelled out their reasons to challenge Li Ping’an? It’s all to enter the next round and retain the Imperial Court Offering quota for their sect, isn’t it? If you just relinquish your place, with such a temptation, who would disagree? Huh?"

"I understand, Master! I’ve got it!"

The Zhengyi Taoist cultivator Nangong Zhidao suddenly saw the light and excitedly responded:

"Thank you, Master, for showing me the way out of confusion!"

...

Just as Li Ping’an was deep in thought, about to make a decision, Zhengyi Taoist cultivator Nangong Zhidao, who stood behind everyone, suddenly spoke up:

"Wait! Taoist Li Ping’an, I have something to say to the other six senior brothers and sisters!"

"Hmm? Why do you have so much to say?"

Li Ping’an glanced at Zhengyi Taoist cultivator Nangong Zhidao and then casually waved his hand, saying:

"Fine, fine, you go ahead and speak."

"Thank you!"

After expressing his gratitude, Zhengyi Taoist cultivator Nangong Zhidao turned to the other six, Group A’s number one cultivator from Kunlun Sect He Zudao, Group C’s number one from Hehuan Sect, second senior brother Bai Yuewu, Flame Cloud Sect’s eldest senior brother Jiao Chujun, Heavenly Mist Sect’s eldest senior sister Qiao Huilihui, Senior Brother Taishi Bao of Qingyun Sect, and Immeasurable Sect’s eldest senior brother Xianyu Shu Qinghai and said:

"Senior brothers and sisters, would you be willing to let me have the opportunity to challenge Li Ping’an?"

"What? You want us to give it to you? Did we hear wrong?"

Group A’s number one cultivator from Kunlun Sect He Zudao, Group C’s number one from Hehuan Sect, second senior brother Bai Yuewu, Flame Cloud Sect’s eldest senior brother Jiao Chujun, Heavenly Mist Sect’s eldest senior sister Qiao Huilihui, Senior Brother Taishi Bao of Qingyun Sect, and Immeasurable Sect’s eldest senior brother Xianyu Shu Qinghai exchanged glances, and said teasingly:

"Why should we give you the chance to challenge Li Ping’an? We are not that close to you!"

"Exactly, exactly, you sure are audacious to even say such a thing! How did your master teach you?"

"Nangong Zhidao, you have cultivated for only a few years, why should we give you such a golden opportunity? Truly laughable to the extreme!"

"We have urgent reasons to challenge Li Ping’an, but what about you?"

"Your Zhengyi Dao lineage is almost extinct; it’s rare for someone like you to emerge. You should challenge us, the Four Great Noble Paths. If you win, you would make a name for yourself in a single battle, and you might even manage to win an Imperial Court Offering for your sect."

"I think you should give up the chance to challenge Li Ping’an, and challenge us instead; we will surely show mercy!"

"Hahaha, exactly, exactly, what big talk! You dare to command us to do such a thing!"

"Ridiculous, truly ridiculous!"

Facing the mockery from Group A’s number one cultivator from Kunlun Sect He Zudao, Group C’s number one from Hehuan Sect, second senior brother Bai Yuewu, Flame Cloud Sect’s eldest senior brother Jiao Chujun, Heavenly Mist Sect’s eldest senior sister Qiao Huilihui, Senior Brother Taishi Bao of Qingyun Sect, and Immeasurable Sect’s eldest senior brother Xianyu Shu Qinghai, Zhengyi Taoist cultivator Nangong merely kept smiling and did not retort.

After the others stopped teasing him, Zhengyi Taoist cultivator Nangong Zhidao countered with a question:

"May I ask all senior brothers and sisters, if you win this round and enter the top four of the Grand Ritual of the Heavenly Master, would you be willing to give up the Imperial Court Offering position?"

"No, what are you actually trying to say?"

Group A’s number one cultivator from Kunlun Sect He Zudao, Group C’s number one from Hehuan Sect, second senior brother Bai Yuewu, Flame Cloud Sect’s eldest senior brother Jiao Chujun, Heavenly Mist Sect’s eldest senior sister Qiao Huilihui, Senior Brother Taishi Bao of Qingyun Sect, and Immeasurable Sect’s eldest senior brother Xianyu Shu Qinghai responded with a touch of sarcasm and annoyance:

"Nangong Zhidao, you are truly arrogant! You want us to give up the Imperial Court Offering position?"

"What a joke! Why would we possibly do that? Isn’t the purpose of hosting the Grand Ritual of the Heavenly Master to secure the Imperial Court Offering position? Are you suggesting we come here for nothing?"

"Make it into the top four of the Grand Ritual of the Heavenly Master and then give up the Imperial Court Offering position? Are you insane? Or drunk? Or perhaps you’re still half asleep? How can you even say such a thing?"

"The sects in the world don’t engage in production and focus solely on cultivation; our daily consumption relies on incense money from the common people. In these times, how much can the common people afford? Hence, the Imperial Court Offering is crucial for the sect’s sustenance, clothing, and cultivation resources for the next decade. How can you say to just give it up?"

"How did we end up with a pest like you from cracking melon seeds? Listen to yourself; what you say is utterly preposterous!"

"You brat, don’t think that making it into the top eight of the Grand Ritual of the Heavenly Master makes you above everyone else!"

"If you want to give it up, you do it; we are certainly unwilling!"

Zhengyi Taoist cultivator Nangong Zhidao had been waiting for this response; with a smile, he immediately replied:

"Exactly! If I, Nangong Zhidao, make it into the top four of the Grand Ritual of the Heavenly Master, I am willing to give up the Imperial Court Offering position!"