The more he thought, the more he was sure Alex had planned everything from the start.
'Just what does he want with me?' he thought while his eyes turned toward Reina's direction.
"Morgan, are you sure they don't suspect anything with you?"
"What do you mean? They already know I have connections with people from Shangxi Temple.
We already made sure everything was progressing in a natural manner. Why do you suddenly ask that?"
"Nothing. It's just Alex's presence here is weird. How could your sister find someone strong like that out of nowhere?"
"You tell me. How could I know? I have asked the coalition for this information, but they got nothing. It's like he came out of nowhere."
Zhu Zheng frowned. 'There is no way he came from the outer region. My temple would already find out. Is he from another world?
That would make more sense.
I need to find more information. If this is true, I am sure they will not punish me for this incident.'
Meanwhile, Alex was now looking at his next opponent. "You can just forfeit or come here and fight with me.
But don't forget to make a bet first, or, well, I don't know what will happen to you in our fight."
It was clear in their eyes now how strong Alex was. Despite their questions about how he achieved it with his cultivation realm, no one was stupid enough to fight.
All of them were now busy sending information back to their sects and elders. They suspected Alex had some treasure or secret method to achieve this.
Some of the smart ones also linked Alex to the spice water. Just like Morgana, each had their own method to gather information.
Alex's appearance was close to when the spice water was being spread around the area. Although it might have been just a coincidence, it was better for them to check on it.
Their goal was simple: try to find out Alex's secret by enticing him to join their clan or sect. If he rejected, that would mean he had some backing behind him.
The goal would then be to try to communicate using Alex as the bridge. Only a stupid cultivator would reject backing if they had a lucky encounter.
No matter how good the treasure was, if they died, none of this would matter. It was better to just share some of it.
But Alex didn't realize this. His thinking was impacted by most novels he had read. Usually, in cases , the main character would hide their treasure as they were afraid someone would just steal it and then kill him afterward.
Unfortunately, this was not true here. A person who had a lucky encounter was considered someone who brought fortune.
As long as their request made sense, any group would gladly recruit them to help improve the sect's fortune.
It felt superstitious, but since even immortals cared about this, other cultivators also followed behind them.
All the other competitors forfeited; none wanted to fight with Alex.
Uncle Moria's lips twitched, seeing how things progressed. "You really don't know what it means to stay low-key."
Alex, who had just returned to his seat, replied, "This is good enough for me. Being too low-key will also not give us any result."
"You do realize you are pulling the patriarch's attention by what you do. Other clans and sects will soon also come here."
"What do you mean? I only beat Zhu Zheng. Is he really that popular here?"
"Beating him is not a problem. The way you did it is the problem. Why did you need to make him stuck on the floor? Even I don't know how you could do it."
"I only temporarily negated the artifact's effect. Why was it such a big deal?"
"And you think that is a small feat?
The patriarch's artifact can even hold against immortal attacks, and you, a golden core cultivator, easily played around with it?
Only an immortal with a specific skill set can achieve what you did."
Alex furrowed his eyebrow. He never thought the artifact used was of this caliber. "I see… well, what's done is done. The plan still doesn't change."
"Sir Alex, this time, I agree with what Uncle Moria said. I doubt things will be as simple as you think."
"That is fine. If my value is that important, I can just make them invite me then."
"Lady Reina, what do you mean by invite? What are you talking about?"
"I didn't want to tell you before since you would probably just reject our plan, but now it doesn't matter, uncle. Things are already moving, and you cannot stop it," Reina said. She then told Moria the gist of her plan.
His eyes quickly turned into worry. He wanted to say the plan was absurd. But seeing Alex's performance so far, he thought it was possible to succeed.
"In that case, we can just have Alex go by himself. You don't need to follow him, Reina."
"No, I must go. I want to see it with my own eyes, uncle. How my mom lives there. If they do something to her," Reina said in an icy cold tone.
With so many rumors she had heard, her mind always imagined the worst-case scenario. Sometimes, she couldn't even sleep, no matter how tired she was.
Reina felt very guilty about the incident. If only she had been stronger or older at that time, she could have protected her mother.
"Dad told me she was alright, but I want to see it with my own eyes."
Seeing the determination in her eyes, Moria could only sigh while starting to plan how to go with her. There was no way he would let her go by herself.
Meanwhile, the match continued. No one challenged Zhu Zheng except as their last option.
The woman beside Situ Chen, meanwhile, kept focusing her senses on Alex.
"How is it? Did you find anything?"