Free Web NovelChapter 59: Chapter 58: Suppression and Harassment
If the prerequisites to become an Alchemist were strict, then the prerequisites to become a Mystic Master were simply draconan.
Innate Spiritual Power of Level Six was an exceptionally harsh condition.
An ordinary person’s Innate Spiritual Power was typically Level Zero. To possess Innate Spiritual Power of Level One or higher was already considered a sign of extraordinary talent, while possessing Level Six or higher was incredibly rare.
However, some people were different. The children of powerful experts began their Foundation Establishment with Spirit Medicine while still in the womb, enhancing their Innate qualities. The fetus would become akin to a Spirit Embryo, and its talent upon birth would generally be far superior to that of an ordinary person.
This was why most of the elites from the Noble Families in the hall generally possessed Innate Spiritual Power of Level Four or Five.
As the tests proceeded in the hall, the Spiritual Power of the dozens of young men and women awaiting their turn mostly hovered between Level Four and Level Five. The lowest score was still Level Two; not a single person was Level Zero.
"Song Kun, Spiritual Power Level Eleven! Qualified!" Suddenly, a slightly shaken voice called out.
WOW! The hall instantly erupted with excitement! All eyes widened in disbelief. Innate Spiritual Power of Level Eleven—that was a sign of extraordinary, once-in-a-generation talent!
They recognized this Song Kun. He was a disciple from the Song Family—one of the Nine Great Families of Mountain and River City—but he was not one who was highly regarded. His status was similar to their own, but now that he had demonstrated such immense talent in Innate Spiritual Power, his standing was sure to change rapidly. One by one, the young men and women looked on with envy.
A handsome, arrogant-looking youth strode excitedly down from the crystal testing platform. Song Kun puffed out his chest, the pride in his eyes unconcealed. It was no wonder he was so haughty; out of everyone, he was the only one whose Innate Spiritual Power had met the standard. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com
"Congratulations, Young Master Song Kun. Your Innate Spiritual Power has reached Level Eleven, granting you the qualifications to become a noble Mystic Master. However, I must first ask: have you ever cultivated your Spiritual Power before?" Master Liu Xi asked, his voice laced with amazement.
"I have, of course, never cultivated Spiritual Power before!" Song Kun glanced across the hall at the awe-filled faces of the other youths, unable to contain the smug look in his eyes.
"Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!" Liu Xi was overjoyed, so pleased he said it three times.
Liu Xi had only come to the Mystic Master Guild to preside over the Spiritual Power test as a routine matter. He never expected to encounter such a promising sapling, and for a moment, he couldn’t suppress the excitement rising in his heart.
Liu Xi asked with noticeable eagerness, "Are you willing to enter my tutelage and cultivate the path of a Mystic Master? If you study under me, I guarantee you will become an Apprentice Xuan Master within three years. Within ten years, you might even become an Official Xuan Master!"
In the silent hall, all eyes were filled with jealousy and envy. Becoming an Apprentice Xuan Master in three years might sound like a long time, but it was actually an incredibly short period. An ordinary person would need at least five years to become an apprentice, and becoming an Official Xuan Master was even more difficult. Some people remained stuck at that threshold for twenty, thirty years, or even their entire lives, never managing to break through.
Song Kun was ecstatic and immediately stepped forward to bow in acceptance. For a moment, both master and disciple were wreathed in smiles, the scene filled with celebration.
The subsequent tests held no suspense; the vast majority of candidates were eliminated. Only one person barely managed to reach Level Six. However, compared to the dazzling spectacle of Song Kun’s Level Eleven Innate Spiritual Power, this person’s achievement seemed utterly mundane. Liu Xi didn’t even spare him a glance, leaving the boy who had tested at Level Six thoroughly dejected.
Soon, it was Qin Feng’s turn. He was the last person.
Qin Feng was about to step forward when Liu Xi suddenly walked onto the testing platform. His eyes held a faint, knowing smile as he nonchalantly glanced toward Qin Feng, who was holding his registration form in the corner. A mocking grin touched his lips as he spoke to the men in charge of the test. "That concludes today’s testing. I have accepted a fine disciple, which brings things to a perfect close. You have all worked hard. To celebrate gaining a beloved disciple today, please, everyone, come to my residence for a celebratory drink!"
The few experts in charge of the test chuckled, their eyes showing a hint of eagerness. One of them glanced at the single registration form left in his hand—the last spot for today’s test. He then checked the time. According to the Mystic Master Guild’s regulations, they had to wait another two hours before they could shut down the testing Array. After a moment’s thought, they shook their heads and casually tossed the form into a corner.
There was still plenty of time left for testing, but an opportunity to get on good terms with this renowned Great Profound Master of Mountain and River City was rare. They immediately spoke up.
"Alright, since the Master has invited us, let’s all pack it in for the day. We can’t refuse the Master’s good graces. Let’s all go for that celebratory drink!"
"We’ll go, we’ll go!"
"Congratulations, Master, on gaining such a fine disciple!"
...
For a moment, the hall echoed with sounds of congratulations and flattery, leaving Qin Feng, who was waiting to be tested, completely ignored.
Qin Feng frowned. He had noticed that when Liu Xi spoke, his gaze had swept over him—seemingly by chance, yet entirely deliberate—and a smirk had played on his lips.
’Was he doing this on purpose?’ Qin Feng couldn’t understand how he might have offended the distinguished Master Liu Xi. He then noticed a young girl standing behind Liu Xi, staring at him with a frosty expression, a cold light glinting in her eyes.
Although he didn’t understand why, Qin Feng was not about to let his trip be for nothing. Seeing them about to shut down the testing Profound Array, a cold light flashed in his eyes. He immediately stepped forward, channeled a trace of his Inner Breath into his voice, and roared.
"Hold on! I have not yet taken the Spiritual Power test!"
RUMBLE!
The sudden voice exploded in the hall like a clap of thunder. Qin Feng had deliberately infused his voice with a trace of Inner Breath, and the tremendous sound erupted like a storm. Everyone in the hall, and even those outside the Mystic Master Guild, heard the thunderous shout. Many people stopped what they were doing and stared in surprise toward the testing hall.
On the second floor of the testing hall, inside one of the rooms, the expressions of two elderly men deep in conversation suddenly changed. One of them said in surprise,
"That voice sounded like it came from the testing hall. Who would be so bold as to cause a ruckus in the Mystic Master Guild?"
The other elder hesitated for a moment, his snow-white eyebrows knitting together. Then, with a hint of anger, he said, "It seems Liu Xi is presiding over this Spiritual Power test. What in the world is he doing?"
The two men left the room and hurried toward the testing hall.
The hall fell deathly silent, with only the massive voice still echoing within it. Every gaze was instantly drawn to the lone figure standing in the middle of the hall.
He was dressed in snow-white, standing perfectly still, as if untouched by the dust of the world. He had sharp brows and bright, star-like eyes that held a faint, unyielding glint. Many of the young women’s eyes lit up, and they couldn’t help but stare at this figure with curiosity.
Liu Xi’s face instantly darkened, and rage began to brew in his eyes. He glared at Qin Feng with a frosty expression and said menacingly,
"Kid, what do you think you’re doing?"
Qin Feng’s expression was nonchalant, as if he hadn’t been the one to shout. He waved the registration form in his hand. "I don’t want to do anything. I just wanted to remind you all, in your elation, that the celebration will have to wait. The Mountain and River City Mystic Master Guild hasn’t seceded from the Mystic Master Guild Headquarters, has it? I trust that none of you would trample the headquarters’ regulations underfoot, would you?"
Qin Feng pointed to a poster hanging on the wall, which listed the operating hours for the Mystic Master Guild’s Spiritual Power test. According to the posted schedule, they indeed had to wait another two hours before they could shut down the testing Profound Array for the day!
Liu Xi’s expression was grim, a cold glint rolling in his eyes. The rebuke on the tip of his tongue was choked back by Qin Feng’s words.
Liu Xi was furious, his eyes turning sinister as a cold killing intent surged within him. He had only intended to snub Qin Feng to appease his disciple, who had complained about him. He wanted to teach Qin Feng a small lesson, but he never imagined the boy would be so difficult, completely ignoring the unspoken rules and just shouting out loud.
That shout had likely alerted the entire Mystic Master Guild. He could no longer use underhanded means to suppress Qin Feng. In fact, if he mishandled this, he, Liu Xi, would become the laughingstock of the entire Guild!
Liu Xi felt his cheek twitch. His face was dark and sullen.
’Damn little bastard. I was just going to put you in your place to let Lin’Er blow off some steam. But since you’re so utterly shameless, don’t blame me for being ruthless. Just wait until you leave the Mystic Master Guild...’ A powerful killing intent surged from the depths of Liu Xi’s heart.
The experts in charge of the test also looked grim. They clearly hadn’t expected someone to show such disrespect to the Mystic Master Guild staff, blowing the matter wide open and putting them in an impossible position. They were furious, but also worried. If this reached the ears of the Guild’s upper echelon, they would surely be charged with dereliction of duty.
In truth, this sort of thing wasn’t usually a big deal. They had done it several times before, and most people, awed by the authority of the Mystic Master Guild, didn’t dare to say anything. But today, something had gone wrong.
The men quickly turned their gazes to Liu Xi.
Liu Xi took the registration form that one of the staff members had picked up from the floor. He strode forward, stared coldly at Qin Feng, and snapped,
"Qin Feng, is it? I’ve heard about you. You injured the young master of the Guan Family, Guan Xiaopeng, during the All Stars Academy’s entrance ceremony. So young, yet so cruel. You’re nothing but a lawless troublemaker!"
Liu Xi made no effort to hide the disgust in his eyes as he sneered, "Let me tell you, I will never accept a student like you, so you can just give up. And I can also tell you this: it’s not just me. No other Official Xuan Master in the entire Mystic Master Guild will ever take you as their disciple!"
Song Kun also stepped forward. He looked Qin Feng up and down, his gaze condescending and scrutinizing as he jeered, "Kid, you heard what my master said, didn’t you? The path of a Mystic Master is a noble one. Not even one in ten thousand people has the talent for it. An upstart like you shouldn’t be daydreaming. Not just anyone is qualified to become a Mystic Master, so you can just give up hope!"
