Start of the second round

Bai Yun looked at the list that was displayed on the screen. Pictures of the candidates were put up alongside their names so that team members could identify each other. Bai Yun was surprised to see that the spear youth was one of his team members. He had no idea who the other two were.

As he looked around, he noticed that the other three members of his team were already here. It seemed as if the two people that he did not know were fawning over the spear youth. Bai Yun took a look at him. From his clothes and weapons, it was obvious that he was from an influential family.

"There you are. Who do you think you are, making lord Zhang wait." One of them said angrily as he approached.

Bai Yun was stunned. This was the first time he had experienced something like this. Who would ever ask him who he thought he was even in this life, let alone his past life.

He saw Zhang Zi frown upon hearing this. Bai Yun figured that he was someone who lived to fight. He had his spear out even in the hall, while people like Bai Yun usually kept their weapons inside their storage rings. Bai Yun had seen many such people in his past life. Such people often fell quickly, but if they did not, they would reach quite terrifying cultivation levels. He could recognize such people with one look.

Bai Yun looked at the two people who were here. He had seen their names, but after seeing their actions, he simply decided to call them lackey one and lackey two.

He proceeded to ignore them and walked up to the group.

"Too bad we didn't get a chance to have some fun yesterday. I hope to fight you sometime later." The spear youth said as he approached.

Bai Yun laughed. "Likewise. I am Long Tian." He said introducing himself.

"Zhang Zi." The spear youth replied.

"Hey, did you not hear me." Lackey one asked angrily.

"Any idea when they will start the second test?" He asked, completely ignoring the two lackeys.

"They simply asked us to gather here in the morning. They did not specify a time. Most likely, when everyone arrives." Zhang Zi replied.

The two lackeys started to simmer in anger. But since both Bai Yun and Zhang Zi had ignored them, they couldn't say anything. So they simply stood there plotting their revenge. Bai Yun knew what they were thinking of. He had met quite a few such people in his past life.

Since neither Bai Yun nor Zhang Zi were the talkative type, they simply waited while meditating. A short while later Bai Yun opened his eyes. He could see that almost everyone had come. Just now he opened his eyes when he felt the strange creature enter. He was filled with curiosity towards her.

The strange creature looked around after entering, almost completely ignoring the test team list. Then her eyes lit up when she looked at his group, and then ran up to them. "Big brother Zi, Big brother sword hi."

For a moment Bai Yun was stunned. 'Am I big brother sword.' he thought.

The strange creature ran up to them. Zhang Zi opened his eyes and looked at her while smiling. "Its been a while, Hui."

She turned to Bai and asked "Big brother we meet again. What's your name?"

"Long Tian." He replied.

"Hui what are you doing here. This place is dangerous. Why did you sign up for it." Zhang Zi asked.

"Big sis told me about it. I thought that I would come and have some fun here." She replied.

Bai Yun looked at the two of them. Even someone like Zhang Zi who was a battle maniac seemed to care for the strange creature. She seemed to be like a rabbit, radiating an aura that made someone look after her. Bai Yun realized that even he did not attack her when her defenses are down.

'I wonder if it is some defensive ability that the creature developed.' Bai Yun thought. 'Further research and a larger sample are necessary.' He concluded.

Suddenly Zhang Zi froze. He pulled Song Hui behind her and pulled out his spear. "Be careful. He is here." He said very seriously.

"Huh who is here?" Song Hui asked curiously.

Bai Yun stiffened. 'Did some enemy slip in without me noticing? Impossible.' He looked around sharply.

"Hello there my lady." A voice was heard. "Your beauty radiates like the midday sun, blinding all that see you. Would you please accept my rose as a token of my surrender?"

Bai Yun looked around. The multicolored young man from yesterday was sitting on one knee in front of Song Hui, offering one rose towards her. "Thanks." She replied accepting it.

"Gong Ming you bastard." Zhang Zi said pulling Song Hui away. "Have some honor, you eel."

Zhang Zi was standing there with his spear pointed straight at Gong Ming. He seemed to hate him with a passion.

Suddenly Bai Yun realized something. He had not sensed Gong Ming approach. Of course, since there was no hostile intent towards him from Gong Ming, his god sense had not reacted. But even then to slip past his perception was no easy matter. And even a wary Zhang Zi did not notice him. Not only that, he was one of the people who left early yesterday.

'He is strong.' Bai Yun concluded.

Gong Ming slowly stood up, and patted his robe. He then turned toward Zhang Zi and said. "If it ain't old Zhang. Long time no see. How have you been?" he asked cheekily.

"Why are you even here you eel. I thought you would be off trying to pick up girls."

Gong Ming took out a small fan and started to fan himself, not forgetting to pose. "I heard the birds sing that today was an auspicious day. So I came here to get a gold card. It is very useful in impressing beautiful women."

"Excuse me but are you even old enough to care about women." Bai Yun asked.

Gong Ming smiled then put his arms upward and turned his head towards the sky. "Romance has no age." He said.

"Don't say things that are said by criminals you bastard." Zhang Zi shouted.

Just as Zhang Zi was about to throw his spear at Gong Ming, a voice was heard through the hall. "Now now, there is no need to fight. If everyone would please quickly gather in teams." It was the woman who was in charge of the test. She appeared and quickly dissolved the situation.

Both Gong Ming and Song Hui were in the same team, so the two of them left to meet up with their teammates. "Don't you dare harm Hui, you eel." Zhang Zi shouted as they left. Gong Ming simply waved his hand in response. The rest of the participants also moved towards their teams.

"I hate that bastard." Zhang Zi said through clenched teeth.

"Why, because he is a womanizer?" Bai Yun laughed.

"He is no womanizer." Zhang Zi replied. Bai Yun was startled. "He would not be considered as a prince of the Gong clan if he was. And I would only look down upon that bastard, not hate him. Everything about him is a lie. His clothes, his mannerisms, and even his words. That's why I hate him."

Bai Yun's eyes narrowed as he looked at the young man sundering off. If this was true, then he was indeed terrifying.

A short while later the teams had been formed. Then the organizer smiled at them. "Well it looks like all of you are ready. Good luck and try not to die." With a wave of her hand, the entire group disappeared.

As the participants disappeared, the boss smiled. "The best of the generation of both the Song and Gong clan are both here. Too bad Bai Qing is not here or it truly would have been a battle between the top clans."

For a second Bai Yun's eyes were completely filled with white. A moment later he opened his eyes, and was greeted with the sight of a city. As he watched, one by one, the others also started to come to.

As he stood there, an electric shock went through him. A familiar feeling washed over him. His blood started to boil in expectation.

Long Tian had spent nearly all of his life in war.

He was back in his element. He closed his eyes and stood there savoring the feeling.

"Hello everyone." Bai Yun opened his eyes when he heard a voice. It was Gong Ming. "I believe that all of you know that we need a leader for the battle. The siege will begin in a few hours. I believe that I will be a good leader. So I nominate myself for the post."

"You are correct prince Ming." Someone in the crowd replied. "Only you can be the leader of our group."

"Yes prince Ming. Only you can be our leader." The rest of the participants quickly agreed, sucking up to him.

Bai Yun looked at Zhang Zi from the corner of his eyes. Even though he seemed to be fuming inside, he did not say anything in protest, confirming that even he accepted Gong Ming as a leader.

"Aren't you afraid that he will do something to you in his capacity as the leader?" He asked.

"If he did that I will kill him. Besides, he might be a reptile, but he isn't the kind to put his personal interest over the larger picture." Zhang Zi replied grudgingly.

As they watched, Gong Mig smiled as he heard the cheers. He stopped them soon after. "Thank you for all of your support. I will try to do a good job. But I can only be the leader of the defending team,I suggest that Zhng Zi be the leader of the attacking team."

The crowd applauded Gong Ming's suggestion, but it was apparent that their enthusiasm was much lesser than when Gong Ming nominated himself for the leader positions. It seemed as if Zhang Zi was not very popular here. But Zhang Zi did not seem to care about it at all.

Bai Yun had inferred their background by listening to the various conversations by then. Gong Ming and Song Hui were direct descendants of Dao step elders of the Gong and Song clan, while Zhang Zi was the grandson of the chairman of the council of elders of the Little Merchant Union. While it might seem as if Zhang Zi should have more prestige considering his background, the three clans were extremely powerful in Yellow City. Not only that, Zhang Zi was also not someone who tried to get other people's favors.

Once the leaders of the two teams were decided, the next job was to figure out who would be in each of the two two teams. Since Zhang Zi was the leader of the attacking team, this had nothing to do with him. Soon after that fights started to break out between people who wanted to be part of a particular team. Zhang Zi simply watched all of this impassively, but Gong Ming intervened and stopped the fights. Thanks to him, a battle hadn't broken out yet.

As he watched the proceedings, Bai Yun frowned. Gong Ming was trying to be leader, but it seemed to be too much to expect a spectacular performance from a child, no matter how good he is. Not only had he not split the participants into teams by now, he had also missed the most important matter that had to be addressed. Bai Yun knew that he had to speak up. Time was flying and there was none to waste. Bai Yun sighed and spoke up.

"Before we split into attacking and defending teams, shouldn't we at least send a scouting party to figure out what we are dealing with."

The group went silent and turned to him.