The Strongest Talent Tree

Chapter 227: Chapter 224: Thief Master

「The next day.」

Feng Hao awoke from his cultivation and couldn’t help but pick up the files to study them again. As the saying goes: know your enemy and know yourself, and you can fight a hundred battles without defeat. It was always a good idea to learn more about one’s opponents.

Just as Feng Hao was engrossed in the files, Lu Linfei and Ting Xiaoxue walked in.

"Brother Feng, Xiaoxue and I are planning to go down the mountain for a walk. Want to come with us?" Lu Linfei asked, holding the hand of a shy Ting Xiaoxue.

Feng Hao gave a wry smile. "It’s fine, you two go ahead. I have some things to take care of today."

Lu Linfei didn’t press the matter, leaving with a slightly disappointed shake of his head.

After seeing the young couple off, Feng Hao went back to studying his freakishly strong opponents. Before he knew it, it was noon.

He put the files back into his Spatial Ring, stretched lazily, and walked out of his pavilion. He needed to find a place to eat. There was an old saying: a tough guy needs his three meals, and even a hero is powerless against delicious food. No matter what one had to do, filling one’s stomach first was always the right call.

He stood outside his pavilion’s small courtyard for a good while before realizing he had no idea where to find food.

’This won’t do. I have to ask someone,’ Feng Hao thought.

The pre-selection tournament was still more than ten days away, so there weren’t many people in the contestants’ residential area. He didn’t see a single person for the longest time.

Just as Feng Hao was about to look elsewhere, a woman in green robes emerged from the pavilion three doors down. She had a well-proportioned figure and elegant bearing. While not stunningly beautiful at first glance, she was very pleasant to look at—the kind of woman who grows more beautiful the longer you look.

"Miss, please wait," Feng Hao said, closing the distance in a few quick strides to strike up a conversation.

The green-robed woman turned in surprise, her Dai Mei brows furrowing slightly. "You are...?"

"I am Feng Hao, a contestant in the upcoming pre-selection tournament," Feng Hao introduced himself with a light laugh.

The green-robed woman said in surprise, "Level 38 and you’re competing?"

"Ahem." Feng Hao coughed dryly and changed the subject. "Excuse me, do you know where I can get something to eat?"

"You stopped me just to ask that?" the green-robed woman asked, finding it odd.

"Well, it’s my first time at the Grand Hall, so I’m not very familiar with the place," Feng Hao said awkwardly.

The green-robed woman studied Feng Hao for a moment, then said thoughtfully, "Come with me, then. I was just about to get something to eat myself."

"Haha, the ladies of our Thief God Hall are as warm-hearted as they say!" Feng Hao laughed heartily and trotted after her. "By the way, I haven’t gotten your name yet, miss?"

"Ming Xin Yan," the green-robed woman replied coolly.

Feng Hao froze. He didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. ’Seriously, what are the odds? I was just reading her file yesterday, and I run into her today.’

Seeing Feng Hao’s strange expression, Ming Xin Yan frowned and asked, "What’s wrong? Have you heard of me?"

"I’ve heard a little, a little," Feng Hao said sheepishly.

Ming Xin Yan didn’t press for details. She just gave Feng Hao a few odd looks, as if trying to see something more. But no matter how she looked, Feng Hao was just a level 38 Mage in a full set of trash-tier gear.

Under Ming Xin Yan’s guidance, they soon found the Thief God Hall’s cafeteria.

After thanking Ming Xin Yan a few more times, Feng Hao dove headfirst into the ocean of delicacies. He had to admit, the food at the Grand Hall was quite high-end. As long as you had the money and points, you could eat even the most incredible ingredients.

’What a strange guy,’ Ming Xin Yan muttered to herself. She paid Feng Hao no more mind and began carefully selecting the food she liked.

Beautiful women always eat so slowly. This was especially true for an elegant beauty like Ming Xin Yan; she ate with such meticulous care.

In short, by the time Feng Hao had devoured his meal like a whirlwind sweeping away clouds, Ming Xin Yan was just getting started.

Feng Hao was just about to go over and chat with Ming Xin Yan when he received a Stone Listening Communication from his big brother, Lin Luo: "Brother Feng, get over to the Thief’s Palace right away. The old man is back."

"Okay, I’m on my way."

He stood up and glanced at Ming Xin Yan. Seeing that she had no intention of paying him any attention, he didn’t dwell on it and left the cafeteria with an uneasy heart.

...

「Thief’s Palace, inside Lin Luo’s small courtyard.」

Lin Luo and his three companions, who were usually laughing and joking around, now stood to the side like well-behaved children. In their midst stood a handsome old man with his hands clasped behind his back. His long, gray-black robes were slightly disheveled, giving him a thoroughly decadent look from a distance.

"Sanmei, you met that kid yesterday, didn’t you? What was your impression?" the decadent old man asked with narrowed eyes.

Mei Meimei smacked her small lips and said with a straight face, "He can hold his liquor. Very promising."

Hearing this, Lin Luo and the other two struggled to hold back their laughter.

The decadent old man’s mouth twitched. "I was asking about his character and aptitude," he said irritably.

"Oh, that I don’t know," Mei Meimei said casually. "But based on my intuition, little brother Feng Hao seems pretty good."

The decadent old man was speechless. He turned to Lin Luo and his companions. "Xiaolinzi, you’re the one who recommended him. If he doesn’t satisfy me, you can forget about this year’s ’Uncooked’."

"Don’t worry, Thief Master, I guarantee you’ll be satisfied," Lin Luo said, his eyes full of confidence.

The decadent old man looked unconvinced. "Cut the crap. When the kid gets here, all of you behave yourselves. Especially you three—no funny business."

"Hehe, with you here, old master, how would we dare try any funny business?" Wang Tongqian said, sucking up.

"Hmph!" The decadent old man snorted and began to wait patiently.

Meanwhile, Feng Hao had already arrived on his Mancsa and was standing before the gate to Lin Luo’s courtyard, feeling somewhat apprehensive.

After all, he was about to meet a major figure from the Thief God Hall, and the master of his sworn brothers at that. It would be a lie to say he wasn’t nervous.

"Damn, this is more nerve-wracking than my first job interview," Feng Hao muttered, trying to steady his breathing.

CREAK—!

Suddenly, the courtyard gate swung open, and an old voice called out, "What are you dawdling for? Get in here."

"Uh." Feng Hao was stunned as his body involuntarily lifted off the ground and instantly appeared inside the courtyard.

When Feng Hao regained his footing, he saw the handsome old man standing before him.

"You’re the kid named Feng Hao?" the Thief Master asked in a deep voice.

Feng Hao hurriedly bowed. "Um... This lowly thief, Feng Hao, pays his respects to the Thief Master."

The Thief Master’s eyes flashed. His powerful Divine Sense instantly locked onto Feng Hao, and his expression turned peculiar. "Forty-eight points of genetic activity, seven bottomed-out stats in your Demon Base Root System... No, that’s not right. There’s something wrong with this genetic data."

Feng Hao’s heart clenched, and he couldn’t help but grow tense.

"Kid, what is your bloodline talent?" the Thief Master asked, his brow furrowed.

"Uh, how did you know I have a bloodline talent?" Feng Hao asked, startled and suspicious.

"Less nonsense, just spit it out," the Thief Master said impatiently.

Feng Hao was at a loss for words. He happened to see Lin Luo and the others making faces at him from the side, so he answered truthfully, "My bloodline talent is called [Black Pupil]. When activated, it doubles my stealth ability."

The Thief Master’s face darkened, and he snorted coldly. "That’s not the one."

Hearing this, Feng Hao immediately grew nervous. He could only force himself to ask, "What do you mean by that, Thief Master?"

"Stop playing dumb with me. I can see your Genetic Tree as clear as day. Tier 1: Dark-Strength Double, Tier 2: Magic Power Surcharge, Tier 3: Shadow Strike. Where did all that Qi Blood come from?" the Thief Master asked, his gaze profound.

"..." Feng Hao was speechless. So, after all that, his high Qi Blood had given him away. ’It’s a good thing the grafted Talent Branches can be hidden by my Bloodline Power, otherwise I wouldn’t even have a chance to make an excuse.’

Seeing Feng Hao’s hesitation, the Thief Master said irritably, "It’s just a second bloodline, for crying out loud. What’s so hard to talk about?"

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