C525 The Five Camps!
On the stone platform, Fong Zhiyuan was getting more animated as he vented to Woo Zhengyang about how tough his journey had been and how little he had gained from it. Woo Zhengyang was at a loss for words. Sure, Fong had it rough, but Zhengyang's journey wasn't exactly a walk in the park either. He was the one who first opened the portal to the spirit crystal world, and he faced nearly all the same dangers as Fong, even almost getting outsmarted by Fong's cousin.
But Zhengyang chose to keep silent, simply listening until a third person arrived, which finally put an end to Fong's rambling. Zhengyang understood that Fong wasn't sharing because he trusted him, but because he didn't care. Like many others, Fong didn't see Woo Zhengyang as a worthy rival but rather as a mere country boy, someone who posed no threat.
When the third person showed up, Fong's demeanor shifted dramatically. He stopped his chatter and returned to his earlier commanding and fierce presence. The newcomer was Yann Xinjue from the Sea Heart Martial Palace, a peer in both skill and status to Fong Zhiyuan. The strongest from two major Martial Mansions meeting in one place was a significant event. Though there was no direct confrontation, an unspoken rivalry simmered beneath the surface. As for Woo Zhengyang, he was naturally sidelined and forgotten.
The fourth and fifth individuals arrived in quick succession, one from the Azure Sun Martial Mansion and the other from the Sea Heart Martial Palace. Neither was the top representative from the Moon Light Martial Mansion; otherwise, having the top contenders from all three Martial Mansions would have made the scene even more thrilling.
The sixth person to arrive was a familiar face, Yuv Qingrong from the Moon Light Martial Mansion. He was the same guy who had previously clashed with the Zhan brothers over the Blood Sea Floating Flower shortly after entering the Misty Mountain Range. As soon as he landed on the platform, Yuv Qingrong wore a cautious expression.
Among the six on the platform, he was the only one from the Moon Light Martial Mansion, and his skills weren't particularly high. If anyone decided to target him, he would be powerless to resist. The presence of the strongest individuals from both the Azure Sun and Sea Heart Martial Mansions made Yuv Qingrong wish he could shed his skin and switch allegiances.
Then there was Woo Zhengyang in the corner, with whom he had a bit of a history. If Woo decided to make a move... However, Yuv Qingrong's worries were somewhat unnecessary. Neither Fong Zhiyuan nor Yann Xinjue showed any intention of acting rashly. Everyone gathered here for a reason, and making a hasty move could invite trouble.
As for Woo Zhengyang, he had no interest in engaging with Yuv. For some reason, the familiar feeling Woo had upon entering this platform grew stronger. From the start, this world felt oddly like home to him, with certain scenes evoking a sense of déjà vu.
As time went on, Woo Zhengyang started entertaining an even more bizarre thought: maybe he wasn't just living in this world, but had actually created it. This idea seemed even more outlandish. Even if his memory was faulty, his age wasn't. He was only in his teens, so how could he have created this place, even if he had been here before?
Could it be that he, like Moh Lunhui, was reincarnated? If that were true, who was he in his past life? Was he the creator of this Hundred Flower World? And what kind of person would that make him?
After Yuv Qingrong arrived, a few more people showed up. Over an hour later, the sixteenth person made their entrance. The arrival of this sixteenth individual heightened the tension among everyone present. This person was from the Heavenly Mirror Pavilion, meaning they were a martial arts master at the Tendon Bone Stage, and not even twenty years old yet. Their potential was undeniable, and even now, no one here could match them.
Many had seen this disciple of the Heavenly Mirror Pavilion before but didn't know their name. Yann Xinjue and Fong Zhiyuan, however, were aware, as they were the strongest from the two major Martial Mansions. As soon as the person landed on the platform, both Yann and Fong approached. During their brief exchange, everyone learned that the person's name was Yu Wenqing.
Yu Wenqing seemed somewhat disinterested in the small talk with Yann Xinjue and Fong Zhiyuan, and their conversation wrapped up quickly.
Afterward, the entire platform was enveloped in an eerie atmosphere. No one spoke; they just waited quietly, unsure of what they were waiting for.
Since Yu Wenqing's arrival, nearly three hours had passed without anyone else showing up, making everyone feel something was off. Although the previous world was perilous, there had been hundreds of young people entering, so it was unlikely that only sixteen remained. Moreover, just from the Heavenly Mirror Pavilion alone, there should have been more than just Yu Wenqing left.
As everyone was feeling a bit lost, a rainbow of seven colors shot up from where the sea met the sky, reaching straight into the heavens. This sight lifted everyone's spirits, but the rainbow quickly vanished, leaving them even more confused.
"It must be guiding us to where the rainbow appeared!" someone speculated.
"I think so too. There must be a great opportunity there, and the rainbow is showing us the way," another agreed.
Yet, whether they were the first to speak or just echoing others, no one dared to make a move. Everyone knew this world was strange, and the seemingly calm sea could harbor unknown dangers. Besides, even if there were no threats, who knew how far away the rainbow's location was or if there was truly any opportunity there? If they exhausted themselves halfway and drowned, it would be their own fault.
Several gazes began to drift toward Woo Zhengyang...
On the platform, sixteen individuals were divided into five distinct groups, easily identified by their attire. The lines between them were clear.
The Azure Sun Martial Mansion had four members, led by Fong Zhiyuan, gathered in one spot. The Sea Heart Martial Palace had five, with Yann Xinjue at the helm, forming another group. The Moon Light Martial Mansion also had five members, led by a woman named Sun Siyu, who was in the later stages of the Inner Stage, and they gathered together as well.
The remaining two groups consisted of individuals standing alone: Yu Wenqing from the Heavenly Mirror Pavilion and Woo Zhengyang, who had no affiliations or background.
Among these groups, Yu Wenqing, despite being alone, was the most powerful and had the deepest connections, so naturally, no one dared to challenge him. Of the remaining three martial mansions, the Sea Heart Martial Palace, led by Yann Xinjue, was the strongest. The Azure Sun Martial Mansion, led by Fong Zhiyuan, came next. Although the Moon Light Martial Mansion lacked a leader at the peak of the Inner Stage, they still had five members, making them not much weaker than the Azure Sun Martial Mansion.
As for Woo Zhengyang, he was hardly considered a group at all. In everyone's subconscious, he was just a country boy excluded by the other four groups.