81: They are all leeks in the yard, why differentiate them?

The competition was divided into two parts: a combat trial and a testing trial.

The combat trial involved selecting the ten individuals with the highest combat power through a series of matches.

The testing trial was where the sect envoy would use his own methods to test those who passed the first round, selecting five people from them.

And the second round, the testing trial, was specifically where the sect envoy would gain benefits.

Of course, he couldn't be too excessive; picking out a bunch of useless people would be a slap in the face to the sect.

Moreover, if they discovered a true genius, they would try their best to bring him back.

If he achieved a great achievement (merit) because of this, the rewards would be far greater than any embezzlement or bribes.

Chen De sat in the waiting area, watching the matches on the stage.

Above, only some Qi Gathering Realm martial artists were fighting back and forth.

Why, with Ning Yuan Realm cultivators present, were Qi Gathering Realm cultivators still on stage?

Because it was the rule; what if a genius capable of challenging a Ning Yuan Realm cultivator while still in the Qi Gathering Realm was missed?

Although the possibility was small, a rule was a rule.

Unless one's strength reached a certain level, one had to follow the rules.

Whether it was Chen De, or Feng Zhe, or the sect envoy Qing Yuzi, they all knew very well that in this sect selection competition,

None of the disciple slots would fall to these people.

Listening to the conversations of other participants in the waiting area,

Chen De was a bit puzzled; these were just people he didn't know before.

Now they were actually communicating and arguing so fiercely.

But who was Chen De? Could such emotions affect Chen De?

Apparently not!

As soon as Chen De arrived, he immediately blended in with everyone.

Of course, he mainly valued the status and position of those people; only such people had value.

Although Chen De's morality was that all beings are equal, now the all-beings-equal Chen De also needed to eat.

With his outstanding social skills, Chen De quickly integrated several people into a small group.

Separating and distinguishing them from the group that looked like they were poor.

This was also something the few people were happy to see.

After all, the people including Chen De had similar statuses and positions, so they naturally got along.

Those who were different simply couldn't get along; even speaking to them felt like there was a communication barrier.

And those people weren't too keen on interacting with them either.

This was perfect; everyone did their own thing, Chen De just made it clear.

Just as the battle on the stage was decided, someone beside him suddenly pointed at a person in the arena and laughed,

"I told you the red-clothed one on the left wouldn't make it, see? He's down, as expected."

He immediately received a reply, "Ah, boring, just a fight between some small-time Qi Gathering Realm characters."

The first speaker was a bit annoyed, "Are you a sore loser?"

The other party chuckled, "How could I be? Playing this isn't very interesting, why don't we play something else?"

"Play what?"

Seeing that the other party was interested, "How about we compare who will be beaten to a pulp on the stage later?"

When he said the last sentence, his words were full of provocation.

Sure enough, the first speaker was enraged, "Good, a bet it is! Let's see how I teach you a lesson, you arrogant fellow."

"Then we shall see!"

"We shall see!"

The conversation was full of hostility.

Chen De, watching from the side, was a bit puzzled; they were all leeks from the same garden, why did they have to differentiate themselves?

You hit me, I hit you, how uninteresting.

Chen De believed that there was nothing a meal couldn't solve.

Chen De was confident that after the competition, as long as he treated them to a meal,

Not just the two of them, but everyone in this small group,

Would definitely get along harmoniously, show mutual respect, and be as close as one person.

The root of all these problems was that Chen De hadn't had time to reform them yet.

The current situation was entirely his, Chen De's, fault.

But this time, Chen De would no longer be timid or hesitant.

Chen De would strike hard, set things right, and make amends for his mistakes.

So, Chen De clapped his hands, signaling them to stop yelling.

Chen De, as the Young City Lord of Tianfeng City.

Although some of them had a status not inferior to Chen De's.

Chen De still had a slight home-field advantage in Tianfeng City, and they were all willing to give Chen De face.

For certain reasons, their elders at home could not come.

First, there was a regulation: the empire explicitly stipulated that no city lord, of any city or any level, was allowed to privately visit a city of the same level.

They could visit lower-level cities under their jurisdiction for inspection, or visit higher-level cities to report on work.

But they could not visit cities of the same level; violators, if discovered by the local city lord, could be executed on the spot.

If the local city lord was aware and did not report it, he would be punished with the same crime!

If not discovered but later found out, they would still not escape beheading.

Even if they voluntarily surrendered, they would be severely punished.

With this regulation in place, their city lord fathers naturally dared not come under any circumstances.

They believed that if their city lord fathers dared to come,

Feng Zhe would absolutely not mind using the city-protecting array to keep them all here to pave the way for his son.

As for the patriarchs and family heads of other cities, they dared even less to come.

To kill those city lords, Feng Zhe would still need to find some reasons; to kill the patriarchs and family heads of these external families,

Feng Zhe wouldn't even need to find a reason, he would just kill them and be done with it.

Afterward, no one would jump out and say anything.

It wasn't that their elders at home weren't afraid of Feng Zhe playing tricks inside.

However, as long as they didn't come, Feng Zhe would always be wary.

Even if Feng Zhe wanted to use some small tricks, he would be more restrained and wouldn't dare to be too blatant.

This could also be considered a form of mutual restraint.

Of course, a small number of people did not give Chen De face.

But this was harmless; Chen De was not a petty person.

After silently glancing at a few people and confirming he had remembered them all, he then began the main business.

Chen De naturally couldn't immediately put on a 'I'm the boss' attitude.

Even if Chen De had the home-field advantage, that wouldn't work.

They just didn't want to offend Chen De and were willing to give him face; they weren't afraid of Chen De.

So Chen De's attitude was very good; he respectfully and smilingly invited everyone, "Everyone, I have an impolite request, I wonder if I should speak it or not?"

Jiang Ziling of Luori City smiled charmingly, "Young City Lord, you jest. You are the host, we are the guests. Whatever it is, please just say it."

And the others mostly meant the same thing.

However, the atmosphere seemed to have become a bit tense.

But Chen De seemed very happy and excited after hearing this, "Good, since that's the case, I won't hide anything then."

"I feel like old friends with all of you at first sight and have enjoyed our interactions greatly. Therefore, I would like to invite all of you to honor me with your presence at a meal after the competition ends."

"I have already booked the best restaurant in Tianfeng City for tonight."

"Regardless of today's results, consider it an opportunity to make friends with all of you. What do you all think?"

Everyone thought Chen De wanted to discuss trading entry disciple slots with them.

After all, looking at Chen De's current situation, besides Chen De himself,

There were eight people whose strength was not inferior to Chen De's; even if the three Ning Yuan Realm Third-Layer cultivators were removed,

There were still five people not weaker than Chen De.

They already knew the number of disciple slots recruited by this sect selection competition: five.

Excluding the three who were guaranteed to get slots, only two slots remained.

If six people were competing for one slot, it would indeed be quite intense.

If that was what Chen De wanted to say, then no one present would agree.

It turned out Chen De just wanted to treat them to a meal, and it was after the competition ended, when the slot results were already out.

Such a proposal really made them, made them...