"Greetings from Kong Qing to Third Elder and Fifth Elder!" Fang Zhengzhi reacted quickly and bowed together with the other three disciples.
As for which was the Third and Fifth Elder, he would just pretend that he knew them all along.
"Ummm, Kong Qing, what's going on here?" A slightly thinner looking elder pointed to Sima Feng on the ground and asked.
"This...." Fang Zhengzhi hesitated.
The reason why he paused before replying the elder was because he had to know their individual identity before addressing them.
Was it, "to Third Elder", or "to Fifth Elder"?
He had no idea.
That was the time to test his acting skills.
Not opening his mouth would definitely result in someone else speaking up for him.
The three disciples made eye contacts with each other when they saw Fang Zhengzhi's hesitation, before they stepped out.
"To Third Elder, this person was being very disrespectful towards the Heaven Dao Pavilion and rude to our senior Kong Qing. He even tried to purposely stir things up, by accusing senior Kong Qing's true identity. He even initiated the challenge, Senior Kong Qing had no choice but to fight him!" One of the disciples replied.
"That's true, the three of us can testify for senior Kong Qing!" The other two disciples began matching up after listening.
"Senior Kong Qing was really forced to make his moves!"
"We can stand up for Kong Qing senior!"
"Senior Kong Qing was very strong and skillful indeed. It was really impressive, and given that Sima Feng was very weak, he couldn't even handle a single blow from senior. That's why he had landed into this place!"
Some of the contestants saw the situation and stood out to testify for Fang Zhengzhi.
"Skillful? Defeated in just a blow?" The slim Third Elder finished listening to the rest of the contestants and asked in a suspicious tone, "Sima Feng? If I didn't remember wrongly, he was from the Holy Barbarian Empire Sima family line right?"
"Yes Third Elder! Sima Feng was still in the mid term of the Rebirth State, but he made many mistakes when defending. Therefore senior Kong Qing managed to defeat him openly in just one move!" The three disciples replied almost immediately.
"I see, is he dead yet?" The Third Elder nodded his head.
"Senior Kong Qing was very kind to let him stay alive." The three disciples answered again.
"Okay, throw him out." The Third Elder casually waved his hands.
"Yes!" The three disciples began moving after hearing the command. They immediately lifted Sima Feng up and threw him at a distant place.
The rest of the contestants remained silent.
Initially, upon seeing Third Elder's queries on the situation, they were guessing if Third Elder would interrogate senior Kong Qing about being too harsh on the contestant.
But now it seemed like...
Nothing was going to happen.
Indeed, in front of the Heaven Dao Pavilion, it was useless mentioning about being the best assassin in the family line.
Qian Wu turned pale, but it wasn't because of the Heaven Dao Pavilion's attitude towards Sima Feng. He was worried about the possibility that the Heaven Dao Pavilion may get angry at him due to Sima Feng' actions.
Nevertheless, Third Elder did not pay attention to him. He turned to Fang Zhengzhi, looking very impressed.
"Wow Kong Qing, the last time we trained with each other was about a year ago? Seems like you haven't been slacking for this past year!" Third Elder was filled with excitement.
Fang Zhengzhi bowed instantly and was about to thank Third Elder for his compliment.
But he couldn't help but felt strange after looking at the smile on the Third Elder's face.
He had noticed the nervousness and panic on the faces of the three disciples when they had seen the elders coming down from the sky.
That just showed...
How strictly distinguished each individual status was in the Heaven Dao Pavilion.
And that would also mean that something was not right, when the Third Elder smiled brightly and amicably at him. After all, he wasn't the son of the Third Elder.
Furthermore, when the Third Elder and Fifth Elder came down from the Heaven Dao Pavilion, it was obvious that they weren't just passing by. Hence it could only mean that they had a purpose.
Was that a test?
About a year ago?
That was a fact that most people would neglect on, and easier for one's true identity to be exposed.
Despite that, Fang Zhengzhi had no idea if the Third Elder was stating the truth.
If it was true, he might accidentally expose himself while explaining. On the other hand, if it was fake, using the same logic, it was also possible to reveal his true self.
How?
He had no other solutions but to gamble.
"Kong Qing is only of a mediocre quality, more importantly it was because of the guidance of Third Elder, just that….. pardon me for asking but have you remembered the wrong date of the spar with me?" Fang Zhengzhi had decided to place his bet on the possibility that the Third Elder was testing him.
After all, the Third and Fifth Elder had came down from the sky for some reason. Moreover, the three disciples had also mentioned about Sima Feng questioning his true identity.
However, Third Elder had not followed up on that matter. Hence Fang Zhengzhi was 70% confident that the Third Elder was indeed suspicious of him.
However...
He had completely no idea as to when the Third Elder had taught Kong Qing. Hence, he had no choice but to throw the question back to Third Elder.
"Remembered wrongly? Oh, right, you're right. Indeed, I have remembered wrongly, I did soar with you three months ago at the empty land outside my study room." Third Elder paused for a while before responding.
Fang Zhengzhi subconsciously pointed a middle finger at the Third Elder.
Indeed, there were certainly some old and deceitful old foxes in the Heaven Dao Pavilion, it was very easy to fall into the trap.
Hold on!
It seemed like his reply contained a trap.
The empty space outside his study room?
Third Elder only needed to reply him with the correct date but he purposely mentioned the location.
Suspicious!
"To Third Elder, you're right that happened 3 months ago. But the location wasn't exactly outside your study room." Fang Zhengzhi reminded him softly.
"Oh? I think I'm really getting old, my memory is getting bad." Third Elder shook his head in confusion as he continued, "Right, have you ended the first round of test?"
"Not yet." Fang Zhengzhi shook his head.
"Oh, you may continue, I will just go in and sit with Fifth Elder." Third Elder finished speaking and turned towards the wooden house.
Fifth Elder flashed a smile at Fang Zhengzhi and followed closely behind Third Elder.
Wooden house?!
Crap!
Fang Zhengzhi had a change in his expression as his heart skipped a beat. He stepped aside subconsciously and prayed silently in his heart.
Five wooden houses.
Would he be that unlucky for them to chose that particular wooden house?
Fang Zhengzhi was hoping for a lucky goddess watching over him or maybe, two rays of lightning striking onto the two elders.
But the reality was there weren't any sort of lightning from the sky, and the elders were nearing that particular small wooden house. Very near, within a few steps of distance.
"Kong Qing has limited skills and decisions and this is my first time assuming such an important responsibility. Can I request for you two elders to stay and give me some guidance!" Fang Zhengzhi shouted.
He even bowed straight after he finished his sentence to show his sincerity.
"Oh?" Third Elder paused and stared at Fang Zhengzhi, while he looked at the slightly plumped Fifth Elder, "What do you think, brother?"
"Since our junior really wanted to ask for help, I will naturally not reject it." Fifth Elder smiled faintly after looking at Fang Zhengzhi bowing down.
"Alright." Third Elder nodded his head and looked at the remaining twenty over contestants. "You will still be in charge of testing, while we stand at the side and listen. We will give our suggestions if there were any wrong points given!"
"Thank you Third Elder, thank you Fifth Elder!" Fang Zhengzhi waited till they finally agreed and expressed his gratitude, while standing up at the same time.
Nevertheless, Fang Zhengzhi was still very nervous and scared.
But...
He couldn't help but admit that the risky feeling was quite exhilarating.
If possible, he would even choose to knock one of the contestants unconscious and impersonate him, so as to enter the Heaven Dao Pavilion easily.
He was thankful for having a strong heart at times like this.
Any other average person would have been tricked by the two "old foxes".
What should he do now?
Should he just be systematic and ask the questions or continued his elimination plan?
Fang Zhengzhi thought that he should at least try to abide by the rules first. But he was still cautious and felt that he might be exposed anytime.
After all, he was at the bottom of the Heaven Dao Pavilion.
What if he really had to go up?
How many other disciples know Kong Qing in the Heaven Dao Pavilion? Furthermore, Fang Zhengzhi did not even know his own living area.
What would happen if he was lost?
Then he would accidentally enter a female disciple's room, and thereafter coincidentally see her showering. The steam surrounding her body as a red cloth covered her stomach.
That would be very awkward.
Of course, entering a female disciple's rooms would be a small matter. The scariest thing would be to accidentally entering a female elder's room....
"ARGH!" Fang Zhengzhi shivered at the thought of it.
Indeed, he had done something really recklessly.
Of all people, he had impersonated a disciple from the Heaven Dao Pavilion. And ended up being spotted by Third and Fifth Elders. There was really no way for him to escape.
"I can't do this. I can't sit here and do nothing, I must strike first and keep the authority to myself." Fang Zhengzhi had a lot of thoughts in his mind.
Then he made a surprising decision.
To continue his elimination plan!
It had nothing to do about him being stubborn, as he was being forced to make this decision. In fact, if he were to follow the rules closely, it would just be a matter of time before he was exposed.
Troubles would follow once he entered the Heaven Dao Pavilion.
Therefore, he had decided to chose the other path.
Such as eliminating half of the contestants at once and agitate the elders.
Wait till the both of them were angry...
Things would be easier.
As disciples of the Heaven Dao Pavilion, they would be punished for making such grave mistakes.
There were all sorts of punishments.
The first was to be trapped in an enclosed area and being forced to do some self-reflection. Fang Zhengzhi wasn't afraid of being trapped, in fact he was excited for that as that meant that he would know of his "living area" already.
The second type was the physical punishment, where he would be hit by boards or thick canes. Fang Zhengzhi wasn't looking forward for this type of punishment, although he still had his way of dealing with it.
And that would be to make a scene of it!
Throwing a tantrum!
Such as shouting his resentments loudly, "I refuse to comply, what is this Heaven Dao Pavilion, I'm not staying here!"
And that would lead to the third punishment.
Being kicked out of the Heaven Dao Pavilion and forced to relinquish his authority.
That would be the last resort for Fang Zhengzhi. No matter what, he had no intention to be a disciple of the Heaven Dao Pavilion, so it would not matter much to him.
At that point of time, Yan Xiu and Nangong Mu would be able to enter the Heaven Dao Pavilion. And he only had to shout loudly at the bottom of the hill, towards the Heaven Dao Pavilion, "Chi Guyan, show yourself!"
He would then wait till Chi Guyan jump out and he would fight her, using his identity and status as the Great Xia Dynasty Cang King.
Of course...
He wasn't too willing to walk down this last path.
Since that would mean that he wouldn't have the chance to "observe" the interiors of the Heaven Dao Pavilion, such as the Heaven Academic Altar, the Treasure Pavilion, the Divine Rain Pond and the Heaven Dao Tablet.
And that also meant that he had only completed half of his mission in the Heaven Dao Pavilion.
However, even so, it was better than being beaten to death in the Heaven Dao Pavilion after his identity was exposed.
As long as he stayed alive...
There was no need to stay in the Heaven Dao Pavilion. He could try to visit the Nine Pinnacle Mountain, as well as the Fuxi Valley and the Yin Yang Pavilion. It was just a try anyway, he would not turn pregnant!
"Fine, let's just begin the rest of the elimination! Oh, wrong….. I mean the test!" Fang Zhengzhi recovered with a smile immediately as he stared at the contestants. They were just like innocent lambs waiting to be sacrificed.
However, little did he know that the two Elders behind were looking at him too, akin to looking at a waiting sheep too.