A Card In Hand

Chapter 27: Can I Think About It?

Trial Temple.

Inside a splendid hall.

Before a massive crystal wall that perfectly reflected one’s image while concealing the inside from outside observers, Li Ao halted his steps.

The staff member who had led him here left without a word.

For an ordinary newcomer.

Being brought into such an environment would surely unsettle them.

But not Li Ao; he remained remarkably composed, his expression as serene as a calm breeze.

Through the crystal wall, no one could be seen.

But he could sense at least five people behind the crystal wall.

One of these presences was distinctly familiar to him, quickly singled out among the five—it belonged to his memories, naturally surfacing from the sealed depths of his mind.

This person was the chief supervisor of the newcomers’ trial this session, Thunderstorm.

Thunderstorm.

The chief supervisor of this trial.

This year, fifty years old, with an imposing appearance, thick eyebrows like blades, and piercing eyes, his presence turned any place into a solemn venue.

His overwhelming might, once a source of nightmarish defeat for Li Ao in a past life, would have been impossible to escape without his talent for Tempered Steel, even with a hundred extra lives.

Of course, the current Thunderstorm had no idea who Li Ao was.

And Li Ao?

He was no longer the clueless rookie from his past life, unaware of Thunderstorm’s true strength.

“What is your name?”

Thunderstorm’s voice was magnetic, the unforgettable sound of a metallic timbre.

“Li Ao.”

Li Ao pretended to be a well-behaved child.

“Introduce yourself.”

Thunderstorm’s tone was emotionless, as if a metal golem summoned from machinery was speaking.

“Reporting, sir, my name is Li Ao, from the Iron Clan Family branch in Silverlight City, fifteen years old. I successfully contracted a Black Iron Stone Bear war beast in the Trial Grounds, gaining the ability Stone Body Protection. My personal talent has not yet manifested, and my specialty is combat skills. I like eating both sweet and savory pastries; I’m not picky—I can even handle the roughest mercenary rations…”

“Why didn’t you participate in the Combat Power Measurement?”

After enduring his lengthy food preferences, Thunderstorm couldn’t help but interrupt.

“No money.”

Li Ao confessed honestly.

“Do you know how much the Combat Power Measurement costs?”

Thunderstorm hummed lowly through his nose.

“Five silver stars.” Li Ao nodded.

“You’re telling me you don’t even have five silver stars on you?” Thunderstorm completely dismissed Li Ao’s claim of poverty.

“Yes, I only have three silver stars and some copper coins.”

Li Ao pulled out his coin purse and casually poured it into his palm.

Only three small silver stars.

Six copper coins.

Slightly more tiny coppers, about eleven or twelve.

For a future summoner, having so little money was almost pitifully poor.

“Your Iron Clan Family lacks the money for a Combat Power Measurement? If I’m not mistaken, Tie Zheng is the trial leader for your Iron Clan Family, isn’t he? If you lack enough money, wouldn’t you ask him? I see no reason for him to refuse!”

Thunderstorm still did not accept Li Ao’s reason for not having the money.

“I belong to the Silverlight City branch, and there’s a main family elder above me, Fuxi. It’s complicated to bypass him to ask the main family.”

“Then doesn’t your main family elder Fuxi have money?”

Thunderstorm was running out of patience.

“He does, but he ran off early in the morning to chat with a pretty lady, and I couldn’t find him.”

Li Ao shrugged.

“…”

The irritable Thunderstorm was tempted to smash the crystal wall and flatten this youngster with a slap.

“Reporting, sir, my parents have been gone since I was young. I was raised by two old servants in Silverlight City. They don’t earn much, their annual income doesn’t exceed thirty silver stars, and they also have their own children to support. I save wherever I can, so I decided not to participate in the paid Combat Power Measurement,” Li Ao provided his reasoning.

“Perhaps you found a good excuse, but let me guess the real reason behind it: you’re actually concealing your true combat power, aiming to achieve a surprise effect in the arena, which is why you refuse to participate in the fourth Combat Power Measurement,” said a man cloaked in a large cape, his face hidden, suddenly speaking from behind the crystal wall.

“I’m not that kind of person, teacher, you’re mistaken. Besides, there’s no rule saying I must participate,” Li Ao replied with a smile, shaking his head.

“If you are given the opportunity now, would you like to retake the Combat Power Measurement?” an aged voice asked from behind the crystal wall, among the five people.

“If it’s free, I certainly have no problem,” Li Ao replied with an innocent look on his face, as if to say, what a good kid I am.

“And then hide your strength during the measurement to fool us again?”

A man cloaked in a large cape, his face deeply hidden, did not believe Li Ao at all.

“It seems that this teacher has some misunderstandings about me,” Li Ao said, looking particularly aggrieved.

“Why did you forfeit the match today?”

Thunderstorm asked.

“I feel very guilty about Prince Jinxi injuring the referee and losing control. To prevent my next opponent from losing control in the same way, I painfully gave up the opportunity to compete and learn with my classmates!”

Li Ao spoke of himself as a once-in-a-millennium good student with utter sincerity, almost convincing himself.

Thunderstorm clenched the armrest of his chair so hard it shattered, barely containing his rage.

“Student Li Ao, would you be willing to register in the Pantheon?” the aged voice behind the crystal wall asked again.

“Is there a fee for registration?”

Li Ao asked naively.

“There is a small fee involved,” the aged voice confirmed.

“If it costs money, then I won’t register. I don’t have any,” Li Ao pretended not to understand what it meant to be registered in the Pantheon.

“If you don’t have enough money, I can personally cover it for you temporarily,” the owner of the aged voice never imagined that someone would refuse to register in the Pantheon because of a lack of money.

This was a seed spot for future superstars, after all, something that no amount of money could buy!

Without the Pantheon’s recommendation and help, it was extremely difficult for newcomers to climb to the Celestial Realm.

Even with full family support.

It was nearly impossible!

For newcomers wanting a bright future, competing for the limited superstar spots in the Pantheon was a necessary path and the best option.

Li Ao asked cautiously, “Teacher, may I know how much it costs to register in the Pantheon? Also, do we have to pay every year after registering?”

The aged voice pondered for a moment: “Registering in the Pantheon requires a payment of one hundred platinum dragons initially. If you need special training or coaching in different projects later, there indeed are additional fees. If your family cannot pay these expenses, we have arrangements to allow newcomers to support themselves through various challenges… As long as you have unique talent and enough effort, I don’t think money will be a problem for you.”

“Thank you, teacher. The amount of one hundred platinum dragons is really huge, may I take some time to think about it?”

Li Ao looked shocked, as if frightened by the hefty fee of one hundred platinum dragons charged by the Pantheon.