Path of Alchemy Mastery-Chapter 334 - 235 Xu Liang

Indeed, after Wang Cai calmed down the crowd, a huge screen appeared above the Duel Arena, and rows of characters started to slowly emerge – numbers. Grouped in pairs, they seemed to correspond to the previously mentioned groupings.

Each person’s chest gradually displayed a number, from which they could determine their group.

Mu Can’s number was seventy-two, while Wang Cai’s was thirty-eight. Each person’s number was unique. Mu Can was grouped with a person with the number sixty-three, whom he could see from a distance – they looked like an ordinary Intermediate Martial Sect cultivator, with nothing peculiar about them.

At this moment, everyone’s feet suddenly emitted a bright light, and in the blink of an eye, Mu Can found himself away from his original spot, now joined by his grouped partner, who bore the number sixty-three.

The man wore a plain blue robe with a dark purple belt around his waist, his hair neatly tied back. He looked very ordinary, but the only thing that caught Mu Can’s attention was his eyes - serious eyes, similar to those of the old professors at Immortal Ancient Academy.

Mu Can instantly made a mental note – this was a young man of rigid propriety. Mu Can, not a rigid person himself and neither was Xuanyuan Mingkong, his former master, felt he might struggle getting along with such a personality.

"My name is Xu Liang, nice to meet you," Xu Liang said, extending his hand towards Mu Can, who seemed slightly stunned. Although there was slight displeasure in Xu Liang’s gaze, he still reached out to Mu Can.

Xu Liang’s discontent stemmed from a simple reason; staring at someone was impolite in his view, and propriety was ingrained in his bones over his short life of twenty-some years.

"Hello, my name is Mu Can." Mu Can quickly extended his hand, realizing that he had been impolite by staring, his face slightly reddening with embarrassment.

Mu Can was such a person—return generosity with generosity, and respond to slight with triple return.

"Looks like we are teammates. I am an Intermediate Martial Sect in strength," Xu Liang remarked, seeing Mu Can’s favorable attitude, and chose not to dwell on the gawking issue, quickly sharing his capabilities with Mu Can.

Being teammates meant that understanding each other could create advantages in their upcoming battle.

Xu Liang had no fondness for those who had been shouting earlier. Tongshen Mountain’s rules were clear, and adhering to them was only proper; what defined a man was as much about what he avoids as what he undertakes. Even faced with strong adversaries, how could one lose composure and yell?

"I am currently an Intermediate Martial Saint in cultivation." Seeing Xu Liang’s honesty, Mu Can did not hide his own strength either. As he spoke, he also released his aura. Xu Liang felt overwhelmed, as if facing a primeval beast, causing him to step back instinctively.

"You are an Intermediate Martial Saint?"

Mu Can, seeing his aura seemingly overpower Xu Liang, quickly withdrew it. This was the power of an Intermediate Martial Saint; even if a thousand Xu Liangs attacked him in a mass assault, it would be futile.

Mu Can could dominate many merely with his aura, without needing to lift a finger.

"Indeed." Mu Can nodded. Regardless of his personal preferences, Xu Liang was his teammate now, and they were tied to the same goal – winning the final victory.

"It shouldn’t be," Xu Liang mused aloud after confirming his suspicion. He believed Mu Can the moment he felt his aura. There was no point lying when they were about to battle.

Yet, Xu Liang was concerned because facing Mu Can’s true strength, he realized how disruptive such power could be to the fairness of the rules. He could foresee that if they truly battled, it might not even come to his turn, as Mu Can alone could sweep away many opponents.

"What shouldn’t be?" Mu Can asked.

"Have you ever thought that having a person of your strength in this challenge could severely disrupt the balance? That’s why I said it shouldn’t be. Or perhaps the real battle later will minimize the influence of individual strength, so we should be prepared for our abilities not affecting the outcome much." Xu Liang shared his thoughts, which coincidentally aligned with Wang Cai’s views.

If winning was solely based on strength, only a few fixed persons might win.

"Indeed." Mu Can pondered; he had also thought about this issue before, but now that Xu Liang brought it up plainly, it made Mu Can think that having overly powerful participants could indeed distort the balance of Tongshen Mountain’s challenge.

"Have you ever visited a Sect’s Inheritance Land?" Perhaps seeing a hint of confusion in Mu Can’s eyes, Xu Liang asked in return.

A teammate was akin to a battle companion, and a battle companion a friend. In Xu Liang’s view, striving together for victory was essential.

"Inheritance Land?" Mu Can had indeed been there; as a child at the Mu Family, later at the Immortal Ancient Academy, and now with access to the three layers of Reincarnation Pearl, these places all qualified as Inheritance Lands.

"Do you not feel that this Tongshen Mountain resembles traditional Sects’ Inheritance Lands?"

Hearing Xu Liang’s remarks, even Mu Can admired him somewhat. Wang Cai could only guess such a comparison based on his experiences from the Supreme Interface, combined with the information on Tongshen Mountain that he and Mu Can had gathered.

Yet, Xu Liang appeared to be a mere ordinary Loose Cultivator of Intermediate Martial Sect strength yet arrived at the same conclusion as Wang Cai.

"Indeed." Mu Can nodded, agreeing with Xu Liang’s observation.

"Therefore, the battle later might adopt an alternative approach that won’t let your power influence fairness too much," Xu Liang explained his speculation.

"What method?" A thought flickered in Mu Can’s mind as if something quickly crossed his thoughts.