Chapter 7- Finding Teammates

When his vision was back Liu Guanyi found himself in a big hall with many people, and er… bipedal humanlike creatures that featured animal parts on their bodies which for him shared many similarities to certain beings in his world, the beastmen.

However, according to his observation, there was a significant difference between them. These humanlike bipedal beings sported a level of intelligence equal to that of humans, unlike the beastmen. They were dangerous foes for sure with their physical advantage way above normal humans he thought.

"Hello, regulars! Congratulations on passing the first test! However, it was just the beginning. Now, within the time limit of an hour you can rest or use it for whatever you like, but… you must form a team!" The announcer's voice reverberated in the hall.

"The team could be a two, three, and four-men team. Those who haven't formed a team by the time ends will be instantly disqualified, so please form your teams!"

The voice sounded in an excited tone.

"Oh, I almost forget... and don't fight among yourselves." The voice ended.

The previous quiet hall was suddenly filled with hubbubs as the regulars started to eye one another for reasons hard to determine.

Maybe some of them formed a grudge in the previous test, or maybe looking for strong and suitable teammates, or even to determine their power and threat?

Liu Guanyi simply strolled around looking for someone suitable to be his teammate. He talked casually to other regulars with a normal tone, not disrespectful nor bootlicking.

Just the perfect amount to let him display enough confidence and strength to not be bothered, but also didn't pass him as arrogant or weak.

He evaluated the regulars he met and conversed through their body movements, words, gestures, and facial expressions they had.

With his experience he could at least get the correct read for around eighty percent he believed… unless if they were capable of masking their emotions, and faked their expression which was unlikely he believed since they were all young-looking.

Until he saw a boy… yup, a boy with yellow hair probably around thirteen years old from his body, sitting down alone with a dispirited face like he had lost all hopes in life. Seeing this, he rejoiced.

'Hmm…? Good! A perfect information vault that won't be snuffing around my business.' He smiled inwardly.

Liu Guanyi knew what he lack the most in this situation… information.

Headon's last words had unnerved him somewhat, his warning not to give any clues to his origin, which meant that there was something more to his arrival.

Therefore, he tried to deduce it and managed to find suspicious points. When he woke up and met Headon, he remembered that his words were "I have a guest, it has been a while."

However, when he came to the floor of tests, he was not the only one and there were many people before him. As the first floor guardian, Headon should have tested them as well. So did he lie?

Or he did not lie at all and he was indeed the first regular he tested for a while?

It seemed confusing at first, but if the fact that he had to survive the giant eel for ten minutes was the standard test on the first floor, the truth became much clearer.

Other regulars aside, he was sure that both the swordsman and the green spearman he met would never survive against the giant eel with their capabilities. So if it was the test standard, they would never pass it and come to the floor of tests.

Adding on Headon's warning, it was crystal clear that he was special, or at least his arrival was. Maybe it was because he was reincarnated or according to Headon's words. Because he had opened the gate by himself, or maybe it could be just another completely different reason.

Basically, he was desperate to get more information while not giving away his identity in the process.

Seemed hard if he asked basic common sense in the tower and all, except if someone that he asked had an indifferent attitude or was easy to manipulate. Fortunately, it seemed that he had already found a suitable candidate.

"Hello, are you ok? You look really sad." Liu Guanyi asked with a worried face, a hint of concern was apparent in his voice.

However the yellow-haired boy seemed unresponsive with his eyes still unfocused.

"Hey, are you ok!?" He came in front of the boy and shouted.

"Ahhhh!" The boy yelped and fell on his back in surprise.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to surprise you, but you look really sad. Are you okay?"

"Ah-ah, yes I am okay- I am completely okay!" He answered hastily with a stammer.

Showing a kind grandpa smile he often used to appear harmless, Liu Guanyi spoke in a caring tone. "It's okay, I just want to know if there's something that makes you sad? Maybe if you share it with me you will be less sad?"

"R-really you will hear me?!" His face became much brighter as he asked excitedly.

"Of course, that's the least I can help." He reassured the boy with a smile.

After the persuasion, the boy began to tell his story. He came from a branch Tu Perie family one of the ten great families in the tower. However, instead of living a noble and lavish life as a member of one of the ten great families, he lived the polar opposite of it.

It happened because of a simple reason. He was found out to not possess the talent to use "Lighthouse", a well-known and must-have core skill for the members of the family.

Since then, his life had been hell as his family branch neglected him, and even his own parents treated him like air.

Feeling despair, he didn't know what to do and was lost until Headon reached out to him to climb the tower. Having nothing to lose he simply went with the flow, and here he was, on the floor of tests.

"I see… you really have a rough life." Liu Guanyi commented after the boy concluded his story.

Looking at his hanged-down head, he quickly came to a decision.

"Hey, my name is Liu Guanyi. What's yours?" Liu Guanyi spoke casually.

"Ah! My name is Tu Perie Xin." The boy responded hurriedly.

"Hey, Xin! Do you want to climb the tower with me? I don't care about you can't use a lighthouse or whatever it is! Let's show them that they made a great mistake for abandoning you!"

Liu Guanyi spoke with fervor and slight anger as he offered his hand to the boy who was now stunned. It had never crossed his mind that a stranger would show so much care and compassion for him as even his family had abandoned him since his childhood.

Without even realizing it, his hand subconsciously moved on its own to reach the light, the hope of being acknowledged that he always longed for. Xin quickly grasped and shook Liu Guanyi's outstretched hand with strength, afraid of losing it.

'This boy! His strength is abnormal! This is unexpected, but it is good. After all who would throw away an unexpected treasure?' Liu Guanyi rejoiced in his heart as he experienced the boy's grip power.

"Now, could you explain more about the great families, lighthouse, the tower, and many other things?" Liu Guanyi casually asked as he was almost unable to hold his grin from forming, he was truly lucky this time!