Half a year later, Zhang Xing led Hua Rong into the most prosperous hinterland of the Fifth Heaven — Central Plains!
Central Plains was located in the middle of the Fifth Heaven. It was vast with abundant resources and a prosperous economy. It was the gathering place of various sects.
At the same time, it was the stronghold of various sects' intelligence agencies.
The best place to inquire about Dengfeng Mountain was here.
The bustling streets of Wanlong City were crowded with people talking excitedly as they walked.
"Today is the third day of Head Shopkeeper Liu's son-in-law selection. In the entire Wanlong City, there isn't a single young talent chosen by Miss Liu. What a pity!"
"Yeah, Head Shopkeeper Liu's God Treasure Pavilion is a first-rate business in the Central Plains. The wealth he has accumulated over the years is uncountable. Whoever can become his son-in-law wouldn't need to worry about cultivation resources!"
"But Miss Liu is a genius. She is well versed in the art of formations. It's difficult to break the formations she set up!"
"It's not just difficult. It's simply impossible. Even the head disciple of the Ten Thousand Formations Sect was at his wit's end game. Others don't even need to think about it."
"I heard that the young masters from other cities have all come. It's going to get more and more lively!"
"…"
Zhang Xing moved with the crowd. He didn't take these words to heart.
What wealth, what son-in-law selection, what beauty, what Dragon and Phoenix endgame? It had nothing to do with him. He only wanted to inquire about the location of Dengfeng Mountain.
Just by hearing the name God Treasure Pavilion, one would know that it was a place that sold all kinds of treasures and weapons.
Presumably, they were knowledgeable and should know something about the Ascending Peak Mountain.
After all, every treasure had to be recorded of its origin.
After so many years of accumulation, God Treasure Pavilion was equivalent to a living map of the Fifth Heaven.
Zhang Xing decided to go and inquire.
Six hours later, Zhang Xing arrived at a manor that occupied a vast area.
This was God Treasure Pavilion's base.
From the outside, this place was five to six times bigger than a normal university town.
High walls stood in great numbers, enclosing an area that covered an area of more than 100 square kilometers.
The pavilions and towers inside formed a picture of a city within a city.
Such an ostentatious merchant was unparalleled in Thousand Prosperity City.
Head Shopkeeper Liu wasn't just a businessman, he was also the direct descendant of the Weapon Sect's ancestor of the top ten sects in the Fifth Heaven.
Moreover, he still held the title of an elder in the sect.
Therefore, not many people dared to offend the God's Treasure Pavilion.
The crowd entered the God's Treasure Pavilion through the three doors. The square in front of them was the location of the selection.
A chessboard was engraved on a stone platform in a luxurious ring that had been temporarily built.
It was full of intertwined black and white chess pieces. Anyone who knew how to play chess could tell at a glance that the game was coming to an end and was about to decide the winner.
However, according to the chessboard, the black and white pieces were in a stalemate. If it was Black's turn to move, then Black would win.
If he left for nothing, he would have won for nothing.
Zhang Xing looked at the competition rules in front of the arena. This was only the second step of the challenge.
The first step was to choose one of the eight paths leading to the arena. Those who passed could freely choose whether to play black or white.
Therefore, many people regarded the first step as the most crucial point of choosing a son-in-law.
However, Zhang Xing did not think so. He was not proficient in chess, but he knew that this game was not that simple.
Even the stupidest person would be able to tell that whoever left first would win, so the truth couldn't be like this.
"Boss, we found nothing!"
Just as Zhang Xing was studying the chessboard array, Black Treasure and the others returned.
As soon as he entered the city, he had sent the dragons out to gather information.
At this moment, Black Treasure and the others had the same idea as Zhang Xing. They wanted to investigate this place.
"Think of a way to talk to Head Shopkeeper Liu. He might know something about Dengfeng Mountain."
Zhang Xing was not surprised. He transmitted his voice to the dragons.
"We've also asked around. This Head Shopkeeper Liu is not someone that just anyone can meet. Apart from a few important figures in the city, no one else can meet him."
Black Treasure transmitted his voice.
"That's common sense. Countless people want to meet Head Shopkeeper Liu every day. He can't meet all of them."
Zhang Xing nodded.
"Boss, why don't we just barge in and capture him for questioning? That'll save us a lot of trouble."
Black Two glared and rubbed his arms, looking like a bandit.
"No, no, we all have limits. We can't make a big fuss over such a small matter."
Black Two shook his head and stopped him.
"Hey, Boss, why don't you solve the Dragon Phoenix puzzle and become Head Shopkeeper Liu's live-in son-in-law? Wouldn't that be killing two birds with one stone?"
Black Treasure chuckled.
The dragons' eyes lit up. "Boss, that's a good idea!"
Smack!
Zhang Xing immediately smacked Black Treasure's head. "Good, my foot!
I think you're more suitable. "
"I'm not going. I don't even know what Lady Liu looks like. If she's an ugly freak, I'll cry.
Moreover, I'm a dragon. I only like female dragons. I'm not interested in human women. "
Black Treasure rubbed his head and shook it like a rattle.
"Boss, look! Someone's going over!"
Hearing First Saint's voice, Zhang Xing looked up.
He saw a lonely figure. A young man in gray was walking toward one of the eight tunnels.
"Dong Tianxie!"
Zhang Xing's eyes revealed a strange look. He recognized this person with a single glance.
Dong Tianxie's walking posture was rather strange. He kept his head down, and every step he took was exactly the same.
Moreover, his lonely and unique temperament was something that no young man had.
The onlookers immediately became excited when they saw someone trying to break through.
"Who's that kid? Does anyone know him?"
A group of people who looked like young masters were making a racket near the front of the arena.
There was no excitement in their eyes. Instead, there was a hint of hatred and disdain.
They were all losers of the challenge. Naturally, they wanted others to fail as well.
"I've never seen him before. Look at his rustic appearance. He must be from the countryside!"
"Look at his tattered clothes. I'm afraid he hasn't washed them in months."
"Look, he's barefooted!"
"Hahaha …"
All the young talents who came to break through the array were dressed in sleek clothes. They had never seen such a poor person.
The onlookers mocked Dong Tianxie even more when they saw his clothes.
"This kid looks like he can't survive. He's dreaming if he wants to climb up the social ladder with that kind of character!"
"Hmph!
There are many people like him. Instead of working for a sect, he wants to reach the top in one step! "
"Yeah, people like him don't have much potential!"
"…"
Dong Tianxie ignored the mockery and continued walking with his head down.
He cultivated the Path of Hardship. After losing to Zhang Xing, he went straight to the Fifth Heaven to cultivate.
However, after these days of living in the open, his cultivation did not improve at all.
He knew that he could not go on like this. If he did not have a better cultivation technique, it would be difficult for him to achieve anything by cultivating like this.
Defeating Zhang Xing would be a distant dream!
When he heard that Head Shopkeeper Liu was an elder of the Weapon Controller Sect, he was tempted.
If he could join the Weapon Controller Sect through this method, it would be a shortcut.
Therefore, he came with the attitude of giving it a try.