The next day, in the same VIP lounge as yesterday, Hu Dezhi sat at the head of the table, enjoying the 'show' of the masters.
He invited Li Mo to help him pick antiques in the black market, while he invited these masters to increase his standing in Tang Zhan's heart.
Of course, the most important thing was that he wanted to recruit some people with real ability to be his bodyguards and protect his safety.
There were both real and fake masters in the Master Profession, and the majority of them were fakes. What Hu Dezhi wanted was a real master with real ability, not a fake master who only spoke extravagantly but had no real ability at all.
Yesterday, only three masters showed their 'skills', Zhao Zuo, Mo Jie, and Zhang Ding.
Zhang Ding needn't be said, he was now Hu Dezhi's' expert '. Grandmaster Zhao Zuo's skill wasn't that great, but his ability to control objects in the air was something mortals couldn't do. He barely qualified, but Mo Jie wasn't one of them.
Mo Jie was the first to perform. He took out a wooden crossbow, pressed the trigger and shot three wooden bolts.
"My skill in making a repeating crossbow is mediocre. If my clan's elders were to make it, they would be able to shoot twelve wooden bolts at a distance of twenty meters!"
Mo Jie was proud of himself, his hands behind his back.
Everyone was silent.
Hu Dezhi's face was also filled with disappointment. Yesterday, Mo Jie had taken out the clockwork wooden bird to liven things up. He had been looking forward to seeing Mo Jie take out something even better, but in the end, it was only a low-grade repeating crossbow.
Someone asked, "Grandmaster Mo, do you think your repeating crossbow is better, or a pistol?"
Mo Jie was startled, "It's different. This is a millennia old skill. You can't look at it with modern eyes."
Hu Dezhi said, "No matter how old the skill is, comparison is the most important. Just like the tea ceremony, the older it is, the more sought after it is. But this repeating crossbow, not to mention now, even a hundred years ago, wouldn't it be an obsolete item?"
"Grandmaster Mo, I am sorry, but you failed my test."
Mo Jie was out. Only those who passed Hu Dezhi's approval could become his guests.
Mo Jie was embarrassed as he left the VIP lounge. Hu Dezhi didn't ask him to leave, but if he waited for him to do so, he wouldn't be able to back down.
Zhang Ding stood up. "Chief Hu, let me?"
Zhang Ding wore a mask, covering his swollen face from Li Mo's kick.
Hu Dezhi smiled and said, "There's no need for that, Celestial Master Zhang. Yesterday's divine skill has left me in awe."
"Director Hu, you're flattering me again. I'm just a humble disciple of Mount Longhu. How could I possibly know any godly skills?"
Zhang Ding asked the person beside him.
"Celestial Master Zhang's divine technique."
"Celestial Teacher Zhang's Flying Talisman Technique is the first I've seen in my life."
"If I hadn't met Celestial Teacher Zhang, I wouldn't have known what a true grandmaster is. My horizons were truly broadened yesterday."
"If Celestial Master Zhang doesn't have a divine skill, then what is?"
Zhao Zuo sat on the side, feeling uncomfortable from head to toe.
Yesterday, this group of people were the first to praise him, but now, no one cared about his feelings.
Zhang Ding modestly sat down.
Hu Dezhi said, "Grandmaster Zhao Zuo doesn't need to take the test either. Who's next?"
Hu Dezhi's assessment continued until noon before it was announced to be over.
Only three were chosen, Zhang Ding, Zhao Zuo, and the self-proclaimed Body Hardening Skill Grandmaster, Xu Ming. His specialty was Golden Cover and Iron Shirt. He used an electric drill on his temple for a long time without a scratch.
This skill made Hu Dezhi's heart jump and he couldn't help but praise.
"Grandmaster Xu, how long have you been practicing this skill?"
"A dozen years. When I was young, I used a screwdriver, then a kitchen knife, and finally an electric drill."
"Amazing."
"That's not even amazing. My master is amazing. My master can stop an electric drill with his bare hands. A stomp of his foot can cause a magnitude 7 earthquake in ten li."
"My god, is your master that amazing?"
"That's just the tip of the iceberg. My master's strongest time was when an enemy called Ma something Nan provoked him. In a fit of rage, my master used his power from a distance and pointed a finger at him from a thousand miles away. What do you think happened?"
"What happened?"
"That enemy called Ma something Nan was walking when he clutched his stomach and knelt on the ground. He couldn't stop vomiting and was sent to the hospital. That's the power of my master's Thousand Li Finger. According to my master, he was merciful, or else that finger would've taken his life."
"Grandmaster Xu, can you introduce me to your master?"
"That won't do. My master doesn't meet guests easily. He told me that the people he wants to meet must be fated with him. If they aren't fated, no matter how much money you spend, he still won't meet you."
"Master, this is the demeanor of a master."
"To tell you the truth, my master told me that I'm fated with Gu Yue and told me to come to Sichuan."
"Gu Yue?
What do you mean? "
"I didn't know at the time, but I understood when I saw you. Look, doesn't Gu Yue form the character Hu?"
"Your master divined me?" Hu Dezhi was both surprised and happy.
"Most likely. But my master's words are always unfathomable. I can only guess a bit."
"Guessing one or two guesses is already very impressive."
"By the way, can you tell me your master's name?
If fate allows it, I must pay him a visit. "
"My master's surname is Wang. As for his name, I can't reveal it without his permission."
"It seems fate has yet to arrive. I was too stubborn."
After this exchange, Hu Dezhi's respect for Grandmaster Xu surpassed Celestial Master Zhang Ding.
Of the three, the most awkward was Zhao Zuo. Hu Dezhi valued Zhang Ding and Xu Ming, but Zhao Zuo was just so-so.
At lunch, Grandmaster Zhao was nowhere to be found. Hu Dezhi called him but he didn't pick up.
Grandmaster Zhao left without saying a word.
At four in the afternoon, Li Mo and Jiang Xiaomei went downstairs to meet Hu Dezhi.
The underground black market opened tonight.
Li Mo and Jiang Xiaomei boarded Hu Dezhi's spacious RV. Hu Dezhi, Zhang Ding, Xu Ming, and three beauties accompanied them.
"Come, come, let me introduce you. This is Feng City's Li Xuan Qing, Master Li. Don't look down on this little brother because of his age. His eyesight is the best I've ever seen in my life. When it comes to looking at jade and antiques, nothing can escape his eyes."
Zhang Ding squinted at Li Mo. Li Mo only glanced at him then looked elsewhere.
Li Mo only needed to know if Zhang Ding was the invisible man. He didn't care about anything else.
"This is Celestial Master Zhang Ding, from Longhu Mountain's Celestial Master Abode. He is the current Celestial Master's legacy disciple."
Zhang Ding was humble, "Director Hu, you're flattering me. I am but a lowly disciple from Longhu Mountain. Please don't call me that."
"This is Master Xu Ming. This master is really amazing. His teacher can injure people with a finger from a thousand miles away, and I've seen his Body Hardening Technique with my own eyes. An electric drill drilled into his head, but look, his skin isn't damaged at all. He's really amazing."
"Nice to meet you."
Xu Ming shook Li Mo's hand and Li Mo returned the gesture.