Chapter 476: A Bet!
The entrance to the Battlefield of Ten Thousand Swords is about to open. Among these disciples, the top sixteen who prove to be the strongest will receive incomparable benefits and abundant rewards from the sect. This will be revealed at Spirit Sword Peak.
"Dharma Protector Wang, Dharma Protector Zhu, have you both picked up many new disciples this time? How many have you each accepted?"
Many Dharma Protectors gathered together and an elder spoke up, addressing the two Dharma Protectors.
"We accepted several who were quite promising."
"We had a few who were quite good, so we accepted them into the sect."
Two middle-aged men, around fifty years old, replied. One had a large face and round waist, with a slightly chubby body and a small, protruding belly, but his gaze emanated a sharp light that should not be underestimated.
One was tall and skinny, with a piercing gaze.
These two Dharma Protectors are precisely the ones guarding the fourth-floor spatial portal within the Battlefield of Ten Thousand Swords. This time, the Heavenly Stairs malfunctioned and numerous outer disciples entered. However, they each selected around ten promising disciples, which can be considered a decent harvest.
"Some outer disciples are quite promising, if they are trained well, they could have a bright future!"
An elder spoke, saying that amongst the outer disciples, there were also some good ones. If they were carefully selected and trained, they may have a bright future, and the Heavenly Stairs would be the best place to identify and nurture such talent.
"However, there was a malfunction on the Heavenly Stairs this time, so be careful not to overlook any talents..."
A Dharma Protector joked around. This time, when the Heavenly Stairs malfunctioned, so many outer disciples entered the Battlefield of Ten Thousand Swords and climbed up the Heavenly Stairs. Choosing the right disciples now requires keen insight.
"I do have some discerning eyes for this."
Dharma Protector Wang has a slightly plump figure, with a gentle smile, but his eyes exude a confident radiance.
He was confident in his discerning eyes and confident in the ten or so disciples he had chosen. Although they could not compare with the inner or direct disciples, they were definitely outstanding among the outer disciples.
"This one cannot be overlooked!"
Dharma Protector Zhu is tall and lean, and he has a certain confidence in his vision.
"Dharma Protector Hou, how many disciples have you accepted into your peak from the many who have walked up the fifth level of the Heavenly Stairs this time?"
A Dharma Protector asked and his gaze shifted towards a semi centenarian-looking elder.
The elder is not tall, but his face, of only slightly over fifty years, gives the impression of having weathered numerous hardships. He wears the emblem of a Dharma Protector of the Divine Sword School on his person, and his eyes twinkle with a mysterious light that may cause one's heart to quiver even at just a passing glance.
This is Dharma Protector Hou Changming, gazing at the protector who spoke, he slightly flicked his eyes and said, "One!"
"One!"
Upon hearing this, a group of Dharma Protectors immediately displayed a look of surprise and astonishment.
All Dharma Protectors were aware that the draw of three Dharma Protectors to enter the Battlefield of Ten Thousand Swords was extremely lucky, causing envy among all the Dharma Protectors.
However, Hou Changming was extremely unlucky and ended up drawing the lot to guard the fifth level of the Heavenly Stairs space teleportation portal.
The fifth level of the Heavenly Stairs is a portal in which disciples rarely have the opportunity to ascend. Even if one were to succeed, the Elders would have likely been keeping a watchful eye and the disciple would not easily be able to take a Dharma Protector as their teacher.
Therefore, when Dharma Protector Hou Changming drew the lot to guard the fifth level space teleportation portal of the Heavenly Stairs in the Battlefield of Ten Thousand Swords, it became a source of amusement amongst the other protectors.
However, the Heavenly Stairs encountered a malfunction, which resulted in a large number of disciples managing to reach the fifth level space teleportation portal of the Heavenly Stairs.
All the protectors originally thought that Dharma Protector Hou Changming had incredibly good luck and believed that he would take the opportunity to select a few promising disciples.
It was surprising for the other protectors to see that Dharma Protector Hou Changming only took in one disciple.
"Better to have nothing than something worthless!"
Hou Changming said calmly, without a trace of expression on his face.
At this moment, Dharma Protector Hou Changming was feeling quite distressed. He knew very well how his disciple was doing, but unfortunately, the other two disciples he had his eye on had both decisively and without any hesitation rejected him, leaving him with no room to maneuver.
He couldn't just tell these guys that he wasn't able to take the two he had his eye on, so he ended up randomly taking in one disciple.
"What an excellent eye for talent! I conjecture that the disciple received by Dharma Protector Hou is surely comparable to a direct disciple, having ascended to the fifth level of the Heavenly Stairs. Undoubtedly, his aptitude must be exceptional!"
Dharma Protector Wang cast a disdainful look at Dharma Protector Hou Changming and said impatiently.
He clearly remembered that when Hou Changming drew the lot to guard the space portal on the fifth level of the Heavenly Stairs, his face immediately turned black. And yet, he still put on an aloof and lofty expression, insisting that taking in disciples was not something to be compromised and that he would rather have none than settle for mediocrity. And now, he was saying something like this. Everyone knew that if it weren't for the malfunction in the Heavenly Stairs, it would have been impossible for any disciple to ascend to the fifth level.
"Not bad, I agree. The disciple taken in by Dharma Protector Hou is definitely comparable to a direct disciple, and who knows, perhaps they may even ascend to the Spirit Sword Peak!" Dharma Protector Zhu smiled knowingly.
"Ha ha."
The Dharma Protectors present smiled, knowing that Dharma Protector Wang and Dharma Protector Zhu were joking with Dharma Protector Hou Changming.
"Wang Tianbao, Zhu Changgao, don't be too happy just because you have taken in a few more disciples. Does that necessarily mean they are extraordinary?"
Dharma Protector Hou Changming was also helpless. He originally had no intention of guarding the space portal on the fifth level of the Heavenly Stairs, but luck was not on his side. He unexpectedly drew that lot, and although a miracle occurred and many disciples managed to ascend the stairs, he sadly ended up only taking in one disciple.
He set his sights on two absolutely exceptional individuals, but he flatly rejected them without giving any leeway.
Originally, the outer disciple named Zhang Qing was unremarkable in appearance and seemed to have an ordinary aura. He appeared to even fall below the average level of the group of outer disciples. Dharma Protector Hou Changming began to feel a slight regret in his heart regarding his decision.
He was purely stimulated at the time and wanted to know if he would be rejected by the third outer disciple. Who would have thought that Zhang Qing would kneel down and kowtow in an instant?
He spoke at that time, and even if he was secretly dissatisfied, there was nothing he could do. These were not enough for outsiders to comment on.
"Oh dear, it seems like Dharma Protector Hou has absolute faith in his disciple. He is so confident in him that I have an idea! Let's make a bet - if your newly recruited disciple can ascend to Spirit Sword Peak, I'm willing to bet ten intermediate-grade star-rated pills. However, if your disciple fails to reach Spirit Sword Peak, Dharma Protector Hou only has to give me one low-grade star-rated pill. No, actually, please give me ten high-grade dragon-rated pills instead. I can even share them with my newly recruited disciples."
Dharma Protector Wang Tianbao sneered and expressed dissatisfaction with Hou Changming's unyielding attitude, which he found quite irritating.
"Haha, good, I'll also bet on it. Ten high-grade star-level pills for ten high-grade dragon-level pills. I can also give some to my newly recruited disciples." Zhu Changgao also laughed heartily.
