As their voices died down, ten silhouettes rushed towards them at astonishing speeds, arriving promptly behind Third Elder and Fifth Elder.
The person right at the front was naturally Kong Qing. And behind him, were nine candidates who passed the second round of the selection test and were preparing for the third round: Yan Xiu, Nangong Mu, Yan Qing, Qian Wu and the rest.
"It's Senior Kong Qing!"
"So this scoundrel is really an imposter!"
"He still dared to proclaim his name to be Kong Qing. I've never seen such a shameless person before!"
Upon noticing Kong Qing and the nine candidates tailing him, the Heaven Dao disciples could feel the blatant shamelessness of Fang Zhengzhi lying through his teeth even more.
Yan Xiu and Nangong Mu exchanged glances with each other. Both of them naturally noticed Fang Zhengzhi standing in front of them and appeared slightly anxious.
Qian Wu, on the other hand, sneered. He was indeed surprised to see Fang Zhengzhi, but he quickly regained his composure. Who could possibly deceive the entire Heaven Dao Pavilion?
"You disgusting little brat, how dare you go around pretending to be me? Die!" Kong Qing's face turned horribly dark, worlds apart from his awkwardly pathetic expression just moments ago. Now, he was more valiant and determined than before. Having changed into a clean set of white scholarly robes, he brandished a radiant long sword in his hand.
However, upon hearing Fang Zhengzhi claim that "Actually, my name is Kong Qing", he could suppress his rage no longer. Such a shameless bastard deserved to die.
"Wait!" Third Elder restrained Kong Qing who was about to pounce on Fang Zhengzhi, glaring at the latter with cold eyes. "Reveal your true identity and your purpose for trespassing here, or I can't guarantee that you'll walk out of here alive!"
"Alright, my true identity is a Heaven Dao disciple, and my name is Kong Qing." Fang Zhengzhi nodded gently as he answered with utmost obedience.
"How dare you still lie?!"
"Precisely, Senior Kong Qing is already here, and that bastard is still spouting nonsense. I've never met a more shameless scoundrel than him!"
"He's just too much!"
The Heaven Dao disciples couldn't resist hurling their own insults upon hearing Fang Zhengzhi's words.
Meanwhile inside the Heaven Academic Altar, standing below Mu Qingfeng, Lin Yun looked at Lin Mubai and asked, "Father, do you think there are really two people that are this shameless?"
"I don't know, let's continuing watching them!" Lin Mubai glanced at Lin Yun then gazed back at Fang Zhengzhi surrounded by an angry mob. He naturally understood what Lin Yun meant, but he wouldn't possibly elaborate much under such circumstances without first discerning the truth.
"Yes, I understand." Lin Yun nodded without probing further.
However, Third Elder and Fifth Elder have grown impatient.
"Brat, isn't your futile attempts at defending yourself a little pointless? Even if I believe that your name is Kong Qing, isn't claiming to be a Heaven Dao disciple slightly ridiculous?" Third Elder uttered calmly despite already being at his limit.
Fang Zhengzhi naturally knew that continuing his denial was pointless, but he had no other choice. Yan Xiu was standing behind Kong Qing, so how could Fang Zhengzhi possibly reveal his true identity?
If Yan Xiu discovered his true identity, the result would be catastrophic.
Yan Xiu would definitely stand out and then, not only would Fang Zhengzhi be unable to help Yan Xiu enter the Heaven Dao Pavilion, he might even turn Yan Xiu in the Heaven Dao Pavilion's enemy.
In fact, this was far from Fang Zhengzhi's original plan. He did agree with Yan Xiu to meet each other in the Flame Capital City before travelling to the foothills of the Heaven Dao Pavilion earlier. If everything went according to plan, Fang Zhengzhi should have knocked one of the candidates unconscious and stolen his victim's identity to participate in the selection test alongside Yan Xiu. That way, he could help Yan Xiu secretly along the way. And once he infiltrates the Heaven Dao Pavilion successfully, he would use his dual identity to enjoy the resources inside the pavilion.
But things did not go according to plan.
Fang Zhengzhi was trapped by Yun Qingwu, and naturally lost the chance to regroup with Yan Xiu. By the time he reached the foothills of the Heaven Dao Pavilion, the selection test had already begun. Out of options, he could only target Kong Qing.
Of course … Yun Qingwu was not the sole reason for all this.
In fact, if Yun Qingwu hadn't held him back, he could never have broken through and obtained the Rebirth Plate to achieve his current level of strength.
Perhaps, all of this was fate. But having reached this stage, Fang Zhengzhi could only continue down this path without implicating Yan Xiu.
"I can't let Yan Xiu suspect me!" Fang Zhengzhi gazed back at Third Elder after affirming his decision. "Third Elder, if you claim that I'm just throwing a meaningless fuss, does that mean that you've forgotten what you told me on the cliff of Sword Peak?"
"On the cliff of Sword Peak?" Third Elder was stunned.
"That's right. You told me that you'll give me one chance to enter the Heaven Dao Pavilion and participate in the third round of the selection test. Were you toying with me?" Fang Zhengzhi reminded.
"What do you mean?" Third Elder's heart jumped. He naturally knew that Fang Zhengzhi was telling the truth, but he only intended to use it as a ploy to buy time without any other considerations.
"I mean, Third Elder promised me this opportunity previously on the cliff of Sword Peak. You promised to give me the right to participate in the Heaven Dao Pavilion's selection test, and you said that I can become a Heaven Dao disciple once I pass the third round. I don't think the Third Elder of the Heaven Dao Pavilion would go back on his word, would he?" Fang Zhengzhi sneered.
"What? Third Elder allowed this brat to participate in the selection test?"
"What's going on?"
"How can Third Elder possibly allow a sneaky imposter to participate in the selection test?
Upon hearing what Fang Zhengzhi said, the Heaven Dao disciples evidently refused to believe his words, all of them concentrating their gaze on Third Elder and Fifth Elder. And after noticing the piercing eyes of the crowd, Third Elder's face turned dark.
He naturally didn't mind the doubts rising amongst the Heaven Dao disciples, but they were not alone today. The Sages, Emperors, Crown Princes and Princes of the four lands were all present.
In such a situation … how could he possibly deny what he promised previously as the Third Elder of the Heaven Dao Pavilion?
"You brat, aren't you pushing this a little too far? Third Brother and I did in fact allow you to participate in the third round of the selection test, but it was just to stall you at Sword Peak!" Fifth Elder exclaimed after noticing that Third Elder was keeping mum.
"So, do you deny the fact that you did in fact say this?"
"Of course I wouldn't …" Fifth Elder stopped his sentence halfway and glanced at Fang Zhengzhi, then scanned his eyes across the emperors of the four lands inside the Heaven Academic Altar, before finally keeping his mouth shut.
"Continue saying what you wanted to say, it's okay. Let the Emperors see how flippant and untrustworthy the elders of the Heaven Dao Pavilion are!" Fang Zhengzhi chided without a care.
"You're twisting logic!"
"But I do have logic, don't I?"
"You …." Fifth Elder's face was flushed red. Even he could be rendered speechless by Fang Zhengzhi's shameless arguments.
Third Elder then shook his head at Fifth Elder. It was just as Fang Zhengzhi said - they could not take back whatever they had promised previously, even if it was just a ploy to buy time.
"Third Elder, Fifth Elder, this brat has twisted your words. Please don't fall into his trap!" Kong Qing grew anxious as he noticed Third Elder and Fifth Elder falling silent.
If they really allowed Fang Zhengzhi to participate in the selection test, and if Fang Zhengzhi actually passed it, he would really gain the true identity of a Heaven Dao disciple. When that happens, even if he does receive punishment, he would definitely escape the death penalty.
Third Elder and Fifth naturally knew what Kong Qing was thinking, but they could not find any other way to take back what they said previously.
"Third Elder, Fifth Elder, even if what he says is true, he still stole my identity and knocked me unconscious. This is my personal feud against him. Please allow me to seek revenge in my own name!" Kong Qing finally clenched his teeth and yelled after Third Elder and Fifth Elder refused to speak.
"Your own name?" There was a glitter in Third Elder and Fifth Elder's eyes. Even though it was slightly inappropriate for them to discuss personal feuds in the Heaven Dao Pavilion's selection test, this was indeed their only way out.
If they actually allow Fang Zhengzhi to participate in the third round just like this … Not only would they disagree with the decision, all the Heaven Dao disciples would voice their objections.
"You disgusting brat, I challenge you under the name of Kong Qing. Do you dare to accept my challenge?" Kong Qing emerged from the crowd upon noticing Third Elder and Fifth Elder's hesitation.
Competing against one another in the Heaven Dao Pavilion required one party to issue an official challenge. In other words, only if Fang Zhengzhi himself agrees to Kong Qing's challenge, this scuffle over their personal feud would be acknowledged and permitted.
"Will that brat accept the challenge?" Fifth Elder looked over at Third Elder.
"No." Third Elder shook his head.
"You mean that, he still believes that he can participate in the third round of the selection test, so he wants to conserve his strength?" Fifth Elder quickly realized Fang Zhengzhi's intentions.
"If he's still harboring on the promise we made, it may very well be that way. We can only settle this matter after he completes the selection test." Third Elder nodded slowly.
"Is there really no other way?"
"Not at the moment."
"Aish …." Fifth Elder let out a sigh and prepared to hold Kong Qing back.
Then, a crisp and evidently ecstatic voice sounded.
"Alright, I'll give you the chance to challenge me!"