Heavenly Dao Engine
Chapter 265 - 265 0223 Dont Even Think About Catching Up to

Chapter 265: Chapter 0223: Don’t Even Think About Catching Up to Me_2 Chapter 265: Chapter 0223: Don’t Even Think About Catching Up to Me_2 If this were not too long ago, the call from Luo Xia for help would have raised few responses. To put it bluntly, the disciples of Golden Roc Hall looked down on those of Sky Eagle Hall. It was a fact that the foundation establishment stage disciples of Golden Roc Hall were far stronger than those of Sky Eagle Hall, let alone those with half-step foundation establishment stage.

However, after witnessing Qi Tian defeating Zhang Guangyao right in front of them, they were deeply impressed and held much admiration for Qi Tian. Some even considered Qi Tian as their idol.

Consequently, following Luo Xia’s call, disciples from Golden Roc Hall immediately started to enlist their names. In no time, there were already over a dozen names listed.

Qi Tian invited each of these people to come on stage and challenge him in a palm to palm exchange. None of them was able to make Qi Tian lose. On the contrary, almost every foundation establishment stage disciple who sparred with Qi Tian was slapped across the stage by him.

Luo Xia was somewhat disappointed. He lowered his voice and said to Qi Tian, “Junior Brother, you will not recruit any followers with this approach.”

Qi Tian nodded in agreement and replied, “Master Luo, I understand what you’re saying. But I’m doing this intentionally. I can recruit people who are weaker than me as my followers, but I can’t allow those with too weak abilities to join my team. Otherwise, it will be me protecting them at the border, rather than them protecting me.”

Luo Xia could only sigh and shake his head. He said, “If you want someone with equal or slightly lower strength to you as a follower, that might be wishful thinking. For example, if you challenge me, would you expect me to agree? No, right? So, do you think I would agree to be your follower?”

Qi Tian shook his head. It was impossible for someone at Luo Xia’s level to serve as his follower. In other words, it was already beyond Qi Tian’s capabilities to recruit a cultivator of Zhang Guangyao’s level at the Imperial Master Mansion with his current abilities and status. The cultivators with higher abilities and cultivation realms would neither be interested in the rewards offered by Sky Eagle Hall nor pay attention to Qi Tian.

Luo Xia advised him, “You can’t always make decisions based on strength, you need to consider things from different perspectives. At the border, when fighting against the invaders, talents in various aspects are important. You should have some reconnoitre personnel who can continuously scout the road ahead for danger and scout the enemy situation around you. You should also have a doctor who can provide professional treatment based on the injuries sustained in battles.”

Luo Xia carried on giving advice, suggesting that Qi Tian slightly modify his standards and methods of recruitment, to form a more efficient team.

After hearing Luo Xia’s words, Qi Tian was enlightened. Just as he was about to modify his recruitment strategy, someone shouted, “Qi Tian, so you are here.”

Qi Tian turned around and put on a friendly smile, “Oh, Sister Zhang Lei, what brings you here? Do you need anything?”

Zhang Lei was once a first-class executive in the Peacock Hall. She used to serve under Huang Liuyan in West Peacock Palace by the order of the Mansion Master. But now that Huang Liuyan had left, Zhang Lei remained in West Peacock Palace, not knowing what to do in the empty hall.

Zhang Lei had helped Qi Tian in the past which is why Qi Tian had been very polite to her.

Zhang Lei smiled and said, “I just heard that you have been assigned to head for the border in response to the court’s call. Are you short of helping hands? Even the basic number of followers are not enough? How about considering me? I can act as your follower for a few days.”

Qi Tian hurriedly said, “Sister Zhang, as a woman, it wouldn’t be appropriate for you to join us at the border to repel Chi Di people’s invasion. It will be a tough fight that could last for one or two months. You won’t be able to withstand it.”

Zhang Lei said, “How would you know I can’t if you don’t try? Well then, how about we duel?”

Qi Tian quickly waved his hands and said, “If you insist on joining, then by all means do so. But let me remind you, once you’re at the border, you won’t be able to enjoy the peace you have now.”

Zhang Lei nodded. She had thoroughly prepared for it.

“Well then, welcome aboard, Sister Zhang.” Qi Tian said, extending his hand to her.

Zhang Lei was surprised by Qi Tian’s very Earth-like manners but instinctively reached out to clap his hand, which was the equivalent greeting.

Although Zhang Lei was a disciple from Peacock Hall, she was very popular among the disciples of Golden Roc Hall. She had been serving as Huang Liuyan’s assistant for several years, and was considered as half a disciple of Huang Liuyan. Zhang Lei was a pill refinement master and reputedly became even more proficient in her alchemy skills after being tutored by Huang Liuyan. Even after Huang Liuyan left the Imperial Master Mansion, Zhang Lei’s popularity remained high.

Seeing Zhang Lei volunteering to accompany Qi Tian to the border, those from Golden Roc Hall who had signed up earlier naturally followed suit. Surprisingly, even those didn’t sign up earlier began to clamor about joining Zhang Lei to serve as Qi Tian’s followers.

Since such a large number of Golden Roc Hall disciples responded, it was unrealistic for Qi Tian to continue testing them one by one. Moreover, having accepted Luo’s advice, Qi Tian was not planning to continue selecting followers through palm exchanges. He asked Luo Xia, “Master Luo, you have a deep understanding of each of the foundation establishment stage disciples from Golden Roc Hall. Could you help me select one with distinctive characteristics and reliable traits?”

“Just one? Isn’t this a bit too few? Didn’t I promise you five places?” Luo Xia said.

Qi Tian counted with his fingers, “Me, Sister Zhang Lei, Brother Zhang Guangyao, and another one called Pan Yulin. Isn’t that already four? We’re just short of one.”

Luo Xia hurriedly said, “You’re mistaken, Pan Yulin is not on the list of five.”

Qi Tian smiled and said, “Thanks for the good intention, Master Luo. But regardless of whether Pan Yulin is on the list or not, I don’t intend to recruit more than one person. The more people there are, the more difficult it is to manage.”

Seeing that Qi Tian had already made up his mind, Luo Xia did not try to dissuade him further. After reviewing the team that Qi Tian had selected, he immediately knew what type of person they were missing. He pointed at a slim man who was waving his arm and clamoring to serve as Qi Tian’s follower for a while and accompany him to the border, saying, “Choose him. His name is Jiang Pan. Among all the disciples of Golden Roc Hall who are in the initial and middle stages of foundation establishment, he’s the fastest. No one knows why he’s so fast. Anyway, his speed is unquestionably fast. Let him be your reconnoitre personnel. He’s quite experienced in this particular area.”

Qi Tian immediately showed interest and asked, “How fast can he go at his fastest speed?”

Luo Xia replied, “You’d better ask him this question. Jiang Pan, come over here.”

The slim man immediately squeezed out of the crowd and came to Qi Tian and Luo Xia. He bowed and greeted them politely. “Hello Master Luo, Sister Zhang Lei, Brother Qi Tian.”

“Hello to you too. Brother Jiang Pan, may I ask you some questions? What’s your fastest speed?” Qi Tian asked directly.

Jiang Pan chuckled and said, “I can’t tell you exactly how fast I can go, but certainly faster than you riding a horse. Let me put it this way, unless they have special means, cultivators in the initial and middle stages of foundation establishment can’t catch up with me.”