The Strongest Talent Tree

Feng Hao’s brow furrowed. He couldn’t figure out why the five great sects would choose to gather at Rongcheng Academy.

"I happen to be going to see the competition anyway. Let’s go together," Feng Hao said after a moment of thought.

Kang Shuai and Wang Tongqian were both taken aback. "Why are you going to the competition?" they asked in surprise.

"Hehe, your sister-in-law is competing. I have to go cheer for her," Feng Hao said with a grin.

Hearing this, Kang Shuai and Wang Tongqian were immediately intrigued. Wang Tongqian, in particular, instantly sidled up to Feng Hao, his eyes gleaming. "Well, look at you! You’ve got a girlfriend already?"

’Can’t be helped. It’s fate,’ Feng Hao chuckled to himself.

Kang Shuai stood up with a suave motion, straightened his messy clothes, and said with a slight smile, "In that case, let’s all go. We can see what our sister-in-law looks like while we’re at it."

With that said, the three of them delayed no longer. They walked out of the Miao Medicine Tower together and headed toward Rongcheng Academy.

With someone as devastatingly handsome as Kang Shuai around, the number of heads they turned was simply explosive. Kang Shuai seemed used to this, however, walking ahead on his own and basking in the adoring gazes of the young women.

"Second Brother is really charming, isn’t he?" Feng Hao said to Wang Tongqian with a strange expression as they walked together.

Wang Tongqian smiled faintly. "You get used to it."

Feng Hao shook his head, speechless. It was the first time in his life he’d felt like a sidekick.

Laughing and talking along the way, they arrived at Rongcheng Academy. Unlike usual, the academy was especially lively today. The competition grounds were packed with students from every grade, and in the stands, the various sects and powers had all gathered. Even the Patriarchs of the four great families were present.

The arena, which should have been filled with cheers and laughter, was now shrouded in a repressive atmosphere.

On the viewing platform, Zhao Hao and a group of the academy’s experts looked grim. None of them had expected the masters from the major sects to gather at a time like this.

The arrival of Feng Hao and his two companions caused quite a stir. Feng Hao’s appearance, in particular, drew gasps of surprise from all the students.

However, the gazes of the various powers were focused on Kang Shuai and Wang Tongqian.

"People from the Thief God Hall are here too?" In the War and Magic Alliance’s seating area, Blond Cruise said with a dark expression.

Even Dugu Xiao, the silent genius from Thousand Blades Valley, opened his eyes. His sharp gaze locked onto Kang Shuai and Wang Tongqian. "The second and third Thief Sons?"

"Hmph, to think the Thief God Hall sent two people." In the Student Alliance’s seating area, Ye Xiaobao said with a disdainful look.

On the other side of the stands, Xiyue Peak sat with the other three Patriarchs. Behind Dongfang Wuji and Nanyuan Bo stood Dongfang Qi and Nanyuan Xu, who had returned with them. Upon seeing Feng Hao, they both nodded in acknowledgment.

After seeing Kang Shuai and Wang Tongqian, Xiyue Peak couldn’t help but ask, "Older Sister, what’s the background of these two?"

West Moon Ridge’s face grew solemn. "I didn’t expect the Thief God Hall to send two of their Thief Sons."

"From the Thief God Hall?" Xiyue Peak nodded in realization and shot a meaningful glance at Feng Hao.

Among the academy’s leadership, Zhao Hao looked at Feng Hao with a strange expression, a mix of complicated feelings swirling in his heart...

Meanwhile, Feng Hao and his companions had already swaggered onto the viewing platform.

Kang Shuai scanned his surroundings. Seeing no seats reserved for the Thief God Hall, a playful smile touched his handsome face. "It seems we’re not very welcome here, are we?"

The geniuses from the five great sects all scoffed, uninterested in responding.

But right at that moment, Hongyan Saber from the Celestial Eagle Team jumped out, his gaze disdainful. "Your Thief God Hall is infamous. You’re not qualified to attend this gathering."

"And who might you be?" Kang Shuai asked with a light chuckle, glancing over at him.

"I am Hongyan Saber of the Celestial Eagle Team!" Hongyan Saber declared with an arrogant sneer.

Kang Shuai nodded in mock surprise, his eyes glinting playfully. "Oh, so you’re a mutt from the Celestial Eagle Team. No wonder you’re yapping so much. This is a gathering of the six great sects; it’s not your place to speak."

"What a joke. Your Thief God Hall thinks it’s worthy of being called the sixth great sect?" Hongyan Saber retorted with a contemptuous look.

Kang Shuai coldly withdrew his gaze and looked calmly at Wang Tongqian beside him. "Third, give that bastard a slice. We’re taking the Celestial Eagle Team’s seats."

"No problem." Wang Tongqian, who could no longer hold back, charged at Hongyan Saber with a wild laugh.

Hongyan Saber sneered arrogantly, instantly drawing his twin sabers. With a cross-current of blade energy, he met Wang Tongqian’s charge.

Wang Tongqian was seen unleashing a single, unremarkable slash. There was no aura, no pressure—just a plain, simple slash. Someone who didn’t know better might have thought he was just chopping a tree.

And yet, this one unremarkable slash sent Hongyan Saber flying.

"Impossible! This is impossible!" Hongyan Saber crashed wretchedly to the ground, coughing up blood nonstop, completely unable to process what had just happened.

After a brief silence, the entire crowd erupted in gasps of astonishment.

"Trash that can’t even block a single strike." Wang Tongqian calmly sheathed his saber, shot a disdainful glance at Hongyan Saber, and joined Kang Shuai and Feng Hao in taking over the Celestial Eagle Team’s seats.

The geniuses in the adjacent seats couldn’t help but suck in a cold breath.

"You truly live up to your name as Cankun. How about we spar when we have the chance?" Dugu Xiao said, his sword-like brows raising and his eyes glinting.

"Sure. I’d also like to see the Swordsmanship of Thousand Blades Valley," Wang Tongqian nodded nonchalantly.

After driving off the Celestial Eagle Team, calm returned to the viewing platform once again.

On the other side, at a signal from West Moon Ridge, Zhao Hao and a group of academy leaders began to organize the combat assessment.

The competition began in full swing. Perhaps because the major sects were present, the students of Rongcheng Academy were all pumped up as if they were on steroids, hoping to catch the attention of the major sects.

Unfortunately, in the eyes of these sect geniuses, the competition was nothing more than child’s play.

Feng Hao, for his part, had just recovered from his shock. He looked at Wang Tongqian in bewilderment. "Cankun? What’s that about?"

Kang Shuai teased, "Cankun is a nickname others gave him."

"I see." Feng Hao nodded in understanding, then asked curiously, "Second Brother must have a nickname too, right?"

Kang Shuai just smiled without saying a word. Wang Tongqian, standing to the side, helped explain, "His nickname is just Kang Shuai. It serves as both his name and his title—simple and direct."

"Alright, that is indeed simple and direct." Feng Hao nodded, speechless. "By the way, what about First Brother?"

"The Boss doesn’t have a nickname," Wang Tongqian said, clicking his tongue.

"Why is that?" Feng Hao asked, confused.

Kang Shuai answered with a light laugh, "Because the Boss doesn’t really have any distinguishing features."

"Oh." Feng Hao nodded as if he half-understood.

At this moment, the competition was proceeding with great intensity, but the geniuses from the major sects paid it no mind, seeming to be waiting for something.

Over with the War and Magic Alliance, Blond Cruise had noticed Feng Hao long ago. He shot a cold look at West Moon Ridge. "Xiyue Envoy, isn’t that kid a junior from your family? Why is he hanging out with the Thief God Hall?"

"Is there a problem with that?" West Moon Ridge retorted.

"Heh," Cruise sneered, curling his lip. "If it were any other sect, this junior wouldn’t say a thing. But the Thief God Hall is different. It could easily cause a misunderstanding among the other four sects."

Ye Xiaobao, the genius from the Student Alliance, chimed in with a questioning look. "I think Elder Xiyue needs to provide an explanation."

"Everyone has the right to make their own choices. Our family has never interfered with the choices of our juniors," West Moon Ridge said with a calm expression.

At these words, Cruise and Ye Xiaobao were left speechless.

West Moon Ridge added mockingly, "At your young age, it’s best to spend less time learning how to plot and scheme."

"You needn’t trouble yourself with that," Cruise huffed, turning his head away.

PS: Since no one joined the open beta event, West Mountain can only go in and make a cameo himself. That’s right, that handsome guy named Kang Shuai is none other than yours truly.