Apotheosis

Zen had memorized them and could repeat them verbatim.

Master Wen smiled back at him but instantly turned into a serious face. "Don't forget that you hit Blackrock Peak's disciple Mack in the previous round. They must be holding the grudge against you. I am afraid Dick is planning to take revenge on you. Please pay attention to your safety," he reminded.

However, his concern did not shake Zen's resolution even the slightest. Instead, he clenched his fists hard with determination and said, "Master Wen, don't worry about me at all. No matter what, I will try my best. I may end up being defeated, but it is still better than giving up."

Seeing Zen this determined, Master Wen did not dissuade him any longer. He nodded his head in consent.

Although Zen had improved a lot in his training, Master Wen could not help but feel worried that Zen's stubbornness would do him more harm than good. After all, Dick was the most powerful disciple that Zen would be fighting against. He did not want Zen to invest his all into this one competition and end up losing his motivation for further cultivation. For Master Wen, there was no need for Zen to rush.

On the other hand, he could not persuade Zen to give up either. However, he had his reservations about this competition. It was unbelievable to him that Zen could defeat those personal disciples and the high-grade ones.

'He might not be the strongest, but he is absolutely the most persistent, ' Master Wen pondered. After going through many competitions, Master Wen knew the pattern clearer than anyone else that the final winner would be decided not only by his barren strength but also his persistence and resolve. If a disciple had great strength and unshakeable resolution, he would become unbeatable.

"I'm sorry for worrying too much. You're right. One must absolutely try his best whatever the outcome will be. And I believe that you will not disappoint yourself," Master Wen encouraged Zen.

Zen nodded and smiled. He finally looked at the stage with his eyes blazing with determination and walked up to it.

Among the small number of people w

minute and burn him. Zen then turned his gaze back at Dick and smiled contemptuously. "I can see that. But why bother warning me? It would be more interesting to beat me up than warn me ahead," Zen said, a flame of mockery flickered in his eyes.

Dick sighed and said, "That's not true. The fact that I am telling you this is because I don't think that it's your fault or Yehudi's. Mack did not behave himself in the first place and hit Yehudi. You hit him just for the sake of Yehudi and that's kind of a fair deal to me."

Zen was puzzled after hearing Dick's words. He had no idea that his opponent was such a reasonable man. After a short pause, Zen asked, "But you're still taking revenge on me for your friend Mack, am I right? Is that what's this competition going to be?"

"Frankly speaking, yes. But it is more of Master Yu's idea than mine. I don't want to lie to you. I am not fond of Mack either," Dick replied. A grimace of helplessness came over his face.

Indeed, Mack was a cruel and insidious man, and a humble and courteous person like Dick would never be his friend. Dick was the kind of a person who enjoyed a simple but full life, learning as much knowledge as he could in books and in life and treated his friends with integrity and politeness. He would never offend or bully anyone who was inferior to himself. So taking revenge on behalf of Mack was apparently an insult to him.