Trials (II)
November 10, 179th of the New Calendar, was the first day of the Orb trials.
The qualifiers were held on an isolated island, far from the mainland, east of District 12. Multiple barriers had been set up around the island, eliminating the need for any tools. Transportation, accommodation, and even communication were completely unrestricted.
On the way to the island, Maya kept leaning against the window to look at the scenery outside. Where the island connected to the ocean, there was a large peacock blue shallow sea. In the middle of this shallow sea was a spectacular sight of an "underwater cliff".
Maya could see the rushing river at the bottom of the cliff, and the dark abyss below.
"What are you looking at?" Maier came over and sat down next to Maya. "Are you looking at the underwater cliff? It's really quite rare. I heard that this place was only developed six years ago. Because there are no signs of any biological activity, it was chosen as the location for this preliminaries."
Maya turned away and ignored her.
Mai Er was somewhat helpless: "I know you're unhappy about not adding you to the team roster, and you think I broke my promise. But Maya, you should understand that no one can change his decision, and what the team really needs is a commander."
"8001...Lin Zhou chose him, he is the most suitable."
Maya turned around angrily when she heard it, and opened her mouth, but no sound came out.
Lu Zhiqi happened to be passing by behind them. He stopped and softly reminded them, "Today is that person's death anniversary. Remember, don't mention anything related to that person in front of him, including Lin Zhouze."
It's common knowledge that Lin Zhouze and Shi Youchen were once good friends. After Shi Youchen's death, Lin Zhouze and Ying Yungui had a major disagreement. Unwilling to be under Ying Yungui's care any longer, he resolutely committed himself to becoming a test subject for the association's research on superpowers. He was the first person in District 8 to volunteer, earning him the number 8001.
It's just that they've been at odds for so long, so why are they suddenly willing to work together again this time? Mai Er doesn't know the reason.
...
The weather was just right when they landed, and Ying Yungui led a group of seven people into the venue.
Latecomers always attract the attention of those present, and so did they. So immediately, discussions arose around them.
"Labril? Why is he on that team?"
"Why else could it be? The Belmond clan is in decline. They can't even put together a decent team. I can't afford to lose face, so I simply won't participate."
"You said the Belmond family is really miserable. They were so prosperous when the previous president was here, but after his death, there is no one to succeed them."
"What's so tragic about it? Isn't it enough that we've been prosperous for so many years? Things always change."
Because of the barrier on the island, there is no obstacle for people from different areas to communicate with each other, so Labriel heard these words clearly.
But he didn't dare to refute, nor could he refute.
At this time, a person appeared in front of Ying Yungui.
"Ying, long time no see. Is this your team?" Kulin greeted his old friend, although they had not been in touch for a long time.
Ying Yungui saw that his expression wasn't very happy, but still replied: "Yes, what about you?"
Kulin sensed the "unwelcome" aura emanating from Ying Yungui, glanced at the timid Labairel behind him, and said, "As for me, I did bring a team from home, but I couldn't get past those old guys, you know."
Ying Yungui chuckled: "Can't bend it? There's nothing you can't bend it, just be strong enough."
"Uh." Kulin was a little embarrassed now. "You're right. I'm not strong enough and don't have much say at home. By the way, I heard that Red is here too." In fact, Kulin didn't quite understand why Ying Yungui's attitude towards him was completely different from before. After all, they had been through hardships together.
Ying Yungui was unwilling to waste time arguing with him: "Really? No matter how many people come, we will only be opponents."
"Everything that happened before can be forgotten. After all, even the association is not managed by the same people anymore."
"You said so." Ying Yungui looked at Kulin with a cold look, and there was a hint of subtle sarcasm in that coldness.
Kulin understood that he was hinting that the association's style of doing things had completely changed, and that this might be related to the major changes in the decision-making group.
After all, the association's decision-making group used to be led by Ying Xiangze.
Knowing that the greetings were over, Kulin politely extended his hand to Ying Yungui: "See you after the game." Both of them were level 7 psychics, so they naturally could not participate in the competition as team members. Therefore, for team leaders like them, the real competition took place off the court.
Ying Yungui did not return the handshake, but nodded to Kulin and went to the spectator seats with a few people behind him.
Kulin's embarrassment was seen by others, and some who were unaware of the situation whispered, "Who's that guy with the purple highlights? How can he look so arrogant at such a young age?"
His companion immediately poked him, "Be quiet, don't let anyone hear. That's the guy from the Ying family in District 8. He was already a level 7 psychic five or six years ago."
"He is Ying Yungui, right? Why does he seem different from the rumors? Didn't they say that the young master of the Ying family is quite an outgoing person? He should be quite popular."
"That's news from years ago. He's quite capable, having completely ruled District 8 over the years."
"Yeah, yeah, I heard he's become a different person since his parents' accident."
"If it were you who had to deal with those things, wouldn't you change?"
"Anyway, don't mess with him. The team he leads is definitely not simple."
A few people were still whispering to each other when suddenly someone said, "Hey, look at the group following him, there seem to be seven people."
"Yeah, seven people. What's going on? Don't the rules say each team can only have six people?"
"No, the key point is that the one following behind seems to be a blind man?"
Lin Zhouze's vision was indeed pitch black, but he said he didn't need anyone else's support and insisted on following at the end of the team.
He walked a little stiffly and couldn't see, so when he was going up the stairs to the auditorium, he accidentally tripped over someone's outstretched foot.
Just as he was about to fall to the ground, someone grabbed his arms and dragged him up the stairs.
"Be careful, do you need help?" Lin Zhouze couldn't see the man's appearance, but judging from his voice, he should be a gentle and steady man, and probably not young.
"Thank you, but no thanks." Lin Zhouze withdrew his hand and was about to leave without further conversation, but the man actually followed him.
His judgment was correct. The man looked quite refined, wearing a pair of half-rimmed glasses, perhaps for show of competence or perhaps for decoration. His hair was just long enough to tie into a small braid at the back, with a few strands hanging loose at the sides. He looked to be at least thirty-five.
"Are you also a contestant? Are your eyes... congenital?" The man's voice was relatively gentle, but the questioning made Lin Zhouze uncomfortable. So he opened his hand, intending to support him, and said, "Sir, I appreciate your help, but I don't like this kind of flirting. Please respect yourself."
After saying that, Lin Zhouze lifted his foot and kicked upwards, following the location instructions of the chip in his brain, and caught up with his teammates who had slowed down and were waiting for him.
The man stood there, watching Lin Zhouze's departing back, gently rubbing his fingertips. Then a teasing voice sounded behind him: "Oh, you got rejected? Tsk tsk, you still need to learn how to strike up a conversation from me, Wenyuan."
The man named Wenyuan rolled his eyes at his teammate and said, "You better save your breath. If you keep doing this, be careful that the leader will scold you again."
A little girl in the distance waved at them and shouted, "Brother Wenyuan! Brother Bai! The team leader is calling you!" The two men's faces changed and they immediately gave in and rushed towards the little girl.
As soon as Lin Zhouze sat down after joining the team, Ying Yungui's voice rang in the minds of several people: "How is it?" Obviously he was asking Lin Zhouze.
This is one of Lin Zhouze's abilities - spiritual sharing, which can build a high-dimensional space between established targets for direct communication through consciousness.
Lin Zhouze's voice: [At least level 6, very strong energy, and definitely not lacking in combat experience.]
Luo Zhao: [He looks like an old man, not surprising.]
Lu Zhiqi: [This is just the preliminaries, there are all kinds of people. But the first one to come up is a level 6, which is not easy.]
Mai Er: [From the looks of that person, he seems to be very interested in Lin Zhouze.]
Pei Yanbai: [Really? I didn’t see it.]
Labril's weak voice: [You can't see...it's normal.]
Ying Yungui interrupted the conversation, which was gradually going off topic: [His teammate is no ordinary person either.]
Everyone was shocked. If someone like Ying Yungui could be called an extraordinary person, then he must be truly extraordinary.
Ying Yungui: [It seems that this Orb selection competition is truly full of hidden talents.]
Pei Chanbai: [Just defeat them all.]
Labril: [...You... forget it.]
On the other side, the person who had just become the topic of discussion was being taught a lesson by the team leader.
"Are you sick again? Can't control it?" The leader of Wenyuan's team was a white-haired old man. He was pointing at the two people who had just left the team and scolding them. "I thought only Bai had this problem before, but I didn't expect that, Wenyuan."
"You can't judge a person by his appearance. So this is what you like."
Wen Yuan, who was nearly forty years old, was scolded so hard that he dared not say a word and kept his head down obediently.
The team leader turned around and scolded another guy: "You, you seem unusually excited after coming here? Why, do you want me to help you find a partner here? It would also fulfill your previous wish."
Bai quickly apologized with a smile: "I was wrong, wrong, I won't do it again." Then he flicked the little girl who was giggling next to him on the head and said, "You're still laughing!"
At this time, the female teammate on the opposite side could no longer sit still and stood up for the little girl: "Why did you touch our little conch? It's obviously your own problem!"
"That's right!" The girl called Little Conch curled her lips and made a face at Bai.
Wen Yuan suddenly asked, "Where's the captain? Why isn't he here?"
Little Conch: "Looks like he's going to gather intelligence!"
Hearing this, Wen Yuan looked at his team leader with a strange expression: "Is it okay for him to act alone like this?"
The old man changed his discontent and said calmly, "What's the problem? Can you find a contestant in this venue who is better than him?"
——
Outside the venue, Ying Yungui handed the task of leading the team to Pei Chanbai and went for a walk in the scenic area. He loved to see the scenery more and more.
He had now reached the edge of a triangular cliff, beneath which stretched the endless sea. From this angle, the ocean and the sky merged in the distance, becoming indistinguishable from one another.
The grass here was lush, half a man's height. Ying Yungui stretched out his arms and closed his eyes, enjoying the breeze from the sea.
The wind moved the grass, creating waves of green, turning this place into a sea of green grass.
Ying Yungui suddenly opened his eyes, bloodshot eyes, and looked directly in front of him.
The grass there swayed in the wind, revealing a figure lying in it.
Ying Yungui's mouth twitched, and he walked towards there while taking off his ring.
He felt Lu Ming's aura on that person.
"Who are you?" Ying Yungui's expression twisted as he grabbed the man's neck and pinned him down. "Tell the truth."
——
Ying Yungui just managed to get back when the host announced the official schedule and content of the preliminaries.
Luo Zhao was about to ask where his brother had gone when he saw Ying Yungui's face was a little off. "Brother, what's wrong with you?"
Ying Yungui patted Lin Zhouze's shoulder with a radiant expression. Lin Zhouze understood with a glance, and then they began to share their spiritual space.
Ying Yungui: [After the preliminaries begin, be careful in the individual battles on random maps.]
[Someone extraordinary has infiltrated this venue.]
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