Chapter 104: Second Trial (2)
And he was right. All the participants were taken aback by Long Wei's announcement.
They had assumed that they would be able to choose their partners for the next trial.
However, the mischievous gleam in Long Wei's eyes revealed that he had intentionally intended to catch them off guard.
The participants were now uncertain and possibly even frustrated by this unforeseen turn of events.
"Hahaha~"
Long Wei's smirk and chuckle further emphasized his satisfaction in catching them off guard.
"Okay, now let's stop and get back to business," Long Wei said, his mischievousness fading slightly.
The participants exchanged glances, still unsure of what to expect next.
They had been thrown off balance; their assumptions had been shattered, and now they needed to regain their focus and adapt to this new situation.
With a mixture of determination and a hint of annoyance, they listened to what Long Wei had to say since nobody dared question his authority.
Among them, there were some who remained indifferent, while one person found it amusement in Long Wei's mischievousness.
Chen Tian sighed in relief after knowing that nobody can choose their partner.
"I will still have to worry about being paired with someone I don't get along with or someone weak." Chen Tian thought as he listened to Long Wei's words.
Long Wei soared through the middle of the room, his figure exuding an air of authority and power.
With a flick of his wrist, his palm opened, and to the astonishment of the participants, 80 red tokens materialized, hovering above his hand like ethereal flames.
His eyes gleaming with purpose, Long Wei selected one token from the shimmering cluster and held it aloft for all to see.
The token, adorned in radiant red, possessed a distinct golden number 1 etched upon its surface. It exuded an aura of significance, captivating the attention of everyone present.
Long Wei's voice reverberated, exuding a sense of authority and excitement. "There are 80 tokens, one for each of you, numbered from 1 to 40," he announced.
Pointing to a shimmering token in his hand, he continued, "As you can see, this one bears the number one.
The person who selects the matching token will be your partner for the trial." All eyes of the participants were fixed on the gleaming token as Long Wei spoke.
Long Wei then threw the token in his hand back to the pile of tokens, The tokens started to rotate in the air and then started descending toward the middle of the place.
The participants eagerly watched as the tokens descended towards the middle of the place, knowing that the one who chose the same token would be their partner for this trial.
Everyone hoped to get a decent partner, as it would make this trial a lot easier to complete.
The atmosphere was filled with anticipation and nervous excitement as the tokens slowly made their way down. The fate of each participant's success in the trial depended on the token they picked.
"Okay, the first that finished the first trial, come and choose your token!" Long Wei called out.
Chen Tian, paying attention to Long Wei's instructions, made his way towards the center of the gathering. As the first participant to finish the first trial, he had the privilege of choosing first.
A hush fell over the place, with all eyes fixed on Chen Tian, eager to discover his partner and the corresponding number.
Reaching the center of the place, Chen Tian selected one of the floating tokens before returning to his original position.
"So I have number 10." With a sense of anticipation, Chen Tian gazed at the token clasped tightly in his palm.
Its vibrant hue glowed in his hand, and the golden number 10 etched upon its surface was a testament to his progress. The token represented his number.
As he retreated to his original position, Chen Tian's eyes surveyed the room, his gaze meeting the curious and expectant gazes of the other participants.
It didn't take much time for all participants to choose a token for themselves.
"Since everyone has taken in a number, I will give you all 10 minutes for everyone to find his or her partner and time to familiarize yourselves with each other; after that, the next trial will start," Long Wei said, seeing that everyone has a number.
The participants started to move around the room, searching for their designated partners.
Some even started shouting their numbers out loud.
"Number 5, is anyone looking for number 5?" One participant called out.
"I have number 38!" As the participants continued to search for their partners, the room became filled with a mixture of excitement and anticipation.
Some participants were lucky enough to get a partner that they already knew, and others were unlucky enough to get people that they didn't know. Nonetheless, it didn't matter to Chen Tian, as he also started searching for his number.
"Number 10, where on earth are you?" Chen Tian exclaimed as he joined in the search for his partner.
"Hm?"
As he was searching, Chen Tian suddenly felt a sudden tap on his shoulder.
Turning back, Chen Tian's gaze met that of a familiar woman standing before him.
Her presence stirred a mix of emotions within him—surprise and curiosity.
He recognized her as Yin Yun, the core discipline of the Immortal Sword Sect.
"This girl, what does she want?" Chen Tian thought as he looked at Yin Yun.
"Hello, you're Chen Tian, right?" Yin Yun spoke, her voice carrying a melodious tone.
Yin Yun's eyes shimmered with a hint of mischief as she greeted him with a warm smile.
"Yes?" Chen Tian replied bluntly.
Yin Yun's smile remained unfazed by Chen Tian's curt response. She was known for her persistent and mischievous nature, undeterred by her initial aloofness.
Her eyes sparkled with a playful glint as she continued, undeterred by his brevity.
"I've heard a lot about you, Chen Tian," Yin Yun said, her voice melodious yet filled with a hint of teasing. "It seems fate has brought us together today."
Chen Tian's curiosity was piqued, and he regarded Yin Yun with a newfound interest.
"You seem to know a lot about me," Chen Tian replied, his tone still guarded but tinged with a touch of intrigue. "May I know why you sought me out?"
"Heheh~, well, I wouldn't have heard about you if there weren't three guys around me talking about how to kill you all the time," Yin Yun said.
Hearing her words, Chen Tian glanced in another direction toward Zou Yang, Qiu Xufeng, and Wang Hao.
Zou Yang and Wang Hao were a team, and Qiu Xufeng was with another guy from the immortal sect that arrived with them.
"So they were talking about how to kill me?" Chen Tian asked, his voice laced with a mix of amusement and disdain.
"Yeah, they never stopped talking about you," Yin Yun said with a smile.
"Then why are you..." Chen Tian wanted to ask why she approached him, but before he could finish his sentence, Yin Yun interrupted him.
She showed the token that was in her hand to Chen Tian, and with the same smile on her face, she said.
"Please take care of me, partner~"
"So you're my partner," Chen Tian said as he looked at her token that had the number 10 on it.
"Correct~"
Chen Tian stared, and Yin Yun's face was filled with a nod of understanding.
"At least I've got a decent partner," Chen Tian thought.
Yin Yun's cultivation was almost entirely in the Step Meridian Opening realm, and she will be of great support to Chen Tian in this trial.
As he was in deep thought, Yin Yun extended her hands towards Chen Tian, a gesture that seemed to convey her support.
Chen Tian's gaze met Yin Yun's extended hands, a silent acknowledgment passing between them.
He understood the unspoken message of support conveyed by her gesture.
With a firm resolve, he extended his own hand, their palms meeting in a symbolic embrace of their partnership.
"Thank you, partner," Yin Yun said, her voice filled with gratitude and determination. "Together, we shall overcome any obstacle that comes our way."
"What a funny way to show support," Chen Tian said. "But I appreciate it nonetheless."
Yin Yun's smile widened, her eyes radiating assurance. "Indeed," she replied, her voice resonating with unwavering confidence.
"What an interesting girl!" Chen Tian thought to himself, impressed by Yin Yun's unique way of expressing support.
Afterward, the two of them engaged in conversation, seeking to familiarize themselves with each other.
They understood that getting to know one another better would facilitate mutual assistance once the trial began.
Yin Yun posed various questions to Chen Tian, inquiring about his place of root, his age, and other similar details.