The Prodigal Son of the Mystical Sect

Looking at the lush forests and bamboos, the tinkling spring water... For a moment, Chu Tianxiao had the illusion of being in an underground fairyland.

"Two seniors, what do you mean?"

"This is the test question you want."

After Mr. Ze finished speaking, Mr. Feng also nodded: "Yes, you need to cultivate a bamboo here to satisfy us."

As the two elders talked to each other, Chu Tianxiao roughly understood the content of this question.

To put it bluntly, the content is simple, that is, cultivating bamboo, but upon closer inspection, it is by no means easy.

Because the bamboo here is not ordinary bamboo, but a strange species called "mentally retarded bamboo" in the vast land of China.

The reason why it is called this strange name is because this kind of bamboo has a characteristic - it grows regardless of the season. As long as it is continuously hit by a power above the peak of Tongxuan for a period of time every day, it will grow rapidly, and when it grows Before the bamboo becomes mature, no one can know its "final form", and no one can know its "value". According to an ancient legend, the value of the highest form of "retarded bamboo" is enough to rank among the vast bamboos in China. The top level of heavenly materials and earthly treasures! But no one has ever seen that... Over time, some people joked that only "mentally retarded" would believe those rumors...

Hence the name.

However, although the "mentally retarded bamboo" sounds very good, and the rumors may be exaggerated, it does have enough possibilities in itself, and there are still examples of it growing into a natural and earthly treasure that is still eye-catching... ...All of this depends on various factors and is intricate. Not to mention those "trying their luck" guys who can't grow "good bamboo" at all. Even veterans in this way, known as "bamboo farmers", are also very difficult to grow. It is difficult to mass-produce "good bamboo"...

Over time, the "mentally retarded bamboo" naturally became a worthless existence, a short-lived flash in the pan, and then fell into decline.

But judging from what the two elders just told... it seems that they have found a little trick, so they 'trapped' a bunch of "experimental mice" - that is, the group of academy students who came to challenge before, the geniuses from far away and so on... Their "first pass" hit here, and the entire army was wiped out, so the two elders left some behind to raise bamboo...

Of course, the two elders had no intention of letting Chu Tianxiao realize that absurd legend... They just wanted to cultivate a "totem bamboo" that would satisfy them and allow them to observe and gain enlightenment.

But even so, the difficulty can be imagined. After all, everyone knows that the academy is the master of the world, and the two elders of the academy who can rival the president of the academy in terms of knowledge are naturally the best among teachers!

His erudition is destined to have a broad vision.

It is said that except for Wushan and Yun... how can people like the two elders of the academy be so easily satisfied?

Of course...the most important thing is...

"...I seem to only know that bamboo can bloom, can be eaten by pandas, and can be used to chant a few pretentious poems, and then, and then..."

Chu Tianxiao racked his brains and shrugged, realizing that there was nothing more to come.

What is growing bamboo?

He knows nothing!

Just when Chu Tianxiao was in trouble, Mr. Ze suddenly disappeared on the spot. When he reappeared after a few breaths, he brought a group of young geniuses - judging from their appearance, they should all be "bamboo farmers", no? I guess I've been "sent home" by now.

"Little friend Chu, as the answerer, you can choose one person at will... to cooperate with you and help you cultivate bamboos. It happens that this batch of bamboos will be mature in a few days... hurry up."

After saying these words, Chu Tianxiao roughly understood - it should be that after these geniuses "lose", there will be regular opportunities to "come back", probably by themselves or by cooperating with new answerers to cultivate enough talents. What benefits can you get from high-quality bamboo?

While Chu Tianxiao was thinking about it, Mr. Ze stroked his beard and said: "Okay, there are nineteen people in total. You should choose a collaborator... In seven days, I am looking forward to your 'answer'."

After saying these words, the two elders looked at each other, nodded, and immediately disappeared from the scene, leaving time for Chu Tianxiao.

As the two elders left, although the faces of these geniuses did not change much, they still relaxed a lot when raising their hands. Some of them held a handful of "bamboo leaves" and looked at Chu Tianxiao, looking eager to try. appearance, but more... still an indifferent attitude.

After all, although they are not as good as the nine geniuses who first entered the imperial palace of the Liu Clan, they are still the first choice. They are extremely talented and arrogant... Among them, there is one person who is the most conspicuous. He wears a long-sleeved robe and has a tall figure. He looks like he stands out among the chickens. He is extraordinary, and you can tell at a glance that he is the top figure among this group of people...

At this time, Chu Tianxiao's appraising eyes just happened to fall on him... With just one glance, the man's brows were raised high. Then, he looked back at Chu Tianxiao coldly and said without any emotion: "Don't Choose me.”

"You don't deserve it."

With a sound, the place suddenly became silent.

Those plain words seemed to carry a natural sense of superiority.

Before Chu Tianxiao could reply, the tall man snorted disdainfully and continued: "You have no bamboo charm at all, which shows that you are not someone who is proficient in the art of 'raising bamboo'. No, you haven't even touched bamboo a few times. Right? In that case, it’s better to admit defeat early and ask for mercy from the two elders and go back.”

As he spoke, his eyes became sharper and arrogant. He looked at Chu Tianxiao with a look like an ant, and sneered: "You know, what I despise the most in my life is people like you who don't know how to rely on your own efforts and always hope to hug other people's thighs." Trash! Others may have the intention to help you, but I don’t.”

"Dragons do not live with snakes. This has been true since ancient times."

"There is no benefit in living here. On the contrary, you will be insulted by low-ranking people and your status will be lowered."

After saying this, the tall man turned around, leaving a "chic" figure on his back, and left.

From the beginning to the end, he was talking to himself and did not give Chu Tianxiao a chance to steal the white spot. Obviously, he had already practiced this skill extremely well.

Naturally, Chu Tianxiao would not be easily offended by this, but if he said that this person behaved like this, he had no idea at all, but it was just a joke.

At that moment, Chu Tianxiao narrowed his eyes slightly and looked at the expressions of the other geniuses around him... He saw that their faces were full of complicated expressions, some looked like sympathy and some looked like ridicule, but no matter who it was, they stepped back unconsciously. After a few steps, even the people who had previously wanted Chu Tianxiao to choose them suddenly had their eyes wandering and seemed to have changed their minds.

All of this, of course, is due to the fact that his identity has not been disclosed, or the tall man has an extraordinary status...

but.

"...Moreover, I'm afraid it's still limited by the rules." Chu Tianxiao watched the cold reading for a while, and soon figured out the key point, "The interests of the bamboo farmers are shared? In other words...the people who come here are... The selection of the 'answer' can certainly increase the possibility of being 'selected as the answer' by the two elders, but the benefits gained in the future will inevitably be diluted, and the majority should be on the side of the respondent. "

"If we follow this rule... of course no one wants to be chosen by a questioner who 'knows nothing'. The person who was interested in me before was probably interested in hugging my thigh. Once he was chosen by a 'high-level person' If you point it out, you will naturally not be 'fooled'..."

Thinking everything through in his mind quickly, Chu Tianxiao couldn't help but look in the direction where the cold man left before, and said in his heart: "This man... is very smart. He seems to be making a mindless mockery, but in fact he is an answerer." Using his self-esteem as a 'protective umbrella', he removed himself as soon as possible...From this point of view, he is also considered a number one person, but arrogance is indispensable..."

"Well, to be fair, this plan is pretty good. There's nothing wrong with thinking about it for yourself..."

"but!"

A hint of coldness flashed in Chu Tianxiao's eyes.

"You want to play dirty and use me, Chu Shanjia, as a stepping stone?"

"Wishful thinking, don't you think the fight was too loud!"

Thinking about this, Chu Tianxiao suddenly wanted to see what kind of expression he would have if he insisted on "choosing" that person... But then he thought about it, although this was revenge, the method was too "lose-lose", and he himself The ultimate goal is to pass, which means... that the guy will get some benefits?

This is not possible!

You clearly have no grievances and no grudges, but just for your own selfish purposes, you come here to spray me, and you still want to gain benefits?

Beautiful thought!

It must be punished to the point of death, and no scraps can be left to him!

"Well... the best way is to find someone he least values ​​​​and support him to steal all his opportunities... Tsk, I can do this myself, but raising bamboo is too tiring... Prodigals don’t do hard work!”

Thinking in his heart, Chu Tianxiao scanned the crowd carefully. Suddenly, their expressions became unsightly, and everyone's eyes flickered, looking extremely reluctant to be selected...

(ps: Don’t ask me what’s going on with the mentally retarded bamboo in this chapter, everyone in the group knows)