"What an ignorant whelp!" Following Xu Feiās words, dozens of gazes fell upon Qin Feng, and many people shook their heads.
Xu Feiās words were quite convincing. Combined with Qin Fengās deep black robe and youthful face, they only seemed to prove his point.
Qin Fengās expression was cold and indifferent. He offered no rebuttal, his gaze sweeping coolly over the looks of disdain and disgust. A cold sneer touched his eyes.
Behind Qin Feng, the Zuo Brothersā expressions were grim.
If the talent displayed by Guan Ruolin had given the Zuo Brothers a headache, then the Martial Arts Talent shown by Xu Fei left the Zuo Family utterly distraught.
These words had, in particular, thrust Qin Feng into the eye of the storm.
Zuo Song had sent the two Zuo Brothers to accompany Qin Feng with the intention of building a good relationship with him. Now, Qin Fengās interests were intertwined with those of the Zuo Family!
āDamn it! That Xu Fei is a master of twisting the truth. Itās clearly the Nine Great Families who run rampant and unchecked, suppressing anyone talented out of sheer jealousy, yet he has the gall to turn it all around. And his timing is perfect, doing this right after revealing such high Martial Arts Talent. Heās riding the wave of popular opinion. Brother Qin Feng canāt stand against this alone. If Xu Fei successfully tramples him now, his reputation will be ruined forever, and heāll become nothing more than a stepping stone for Xu Feiās fame!ā Zuo Quan fumed internally, but he was helpless and could only worry in silence.
Just then, Qin Tianjiao also finished her test. A jade-green light unfurled in layer upon layer, resembling a vast, surging forest. Eighth-Grade Wood Attribute Martial Arts Talentāanother genius with Upper Three Grades talent, capturing everyoneās attention.
Many gazes shifted to Qin Tianjiao. Eighth-Grade Martial Arts Talent. Her talent was a cut above Xu Feiās. The only minor flaw was that it was a basic Five Elements attribute, which couldnāt compare to a Mutated Attribute.
But for a moment, her glory was second to none.
In the crowd, the Elders from Lingyun Sect, Taibai Mountain, Cyan Wood Sect, and Wuji Sect watched with torch-like gazes. At this moment, these powerhouses had eyes for no one else. Their gazes on these two geniusesāthe likes of whom were seen only once in centuriesāwere sharp and filled with a determination to win them over.
Near the Array Map, the attendant glanced at the long line and called out, "Next!"
And the next person was none other than Qin Feng!
A figure emerged from the crowd and walked toward the Array Map.
All eyes locked onto the young, slender figure. He wore a black robe, his face was still touched by youth, and his eyes held a deathly calm. Combined with the black robe of a Mystic Master, it was as if he had no presence at all.
Many in the crowd wore mocking smiles, their eyes filled with contempt.
"Get lost, Qin Feng! This is no place for you!"
"So what if youāre an Official Xuan Master at fifteen? All Stars Academy isnāt a place where some mere First-Grade Xuan Master can act so presumptuously!"
"This isnāt a place where you can do as you please!"
...
"Did you hear them, Qin Feng?" As Qin Feng walked past, Xu Fei suddenly looked up and sneered softly in his ear. "If I were you, Iād know my place. Why bother with the test, just to humiliate yourself?"
Qin Feng looked at him, the corner of his mouth curving into an icy smirk, but said nothing.
Seeing Qin Fengās indifferent expression, a mocking smile appeared on Xu Feiās handsome face. "Qin Feng, I know youāre not happy about this, but what can you do? Our strengths are no longer on the same level. I possess Upper Three Grades of Martial Arts Talent. My future is destined to be brilliant! I will become a new legend!"
"As for you... youāll have Lower Three Grades of Martial Arts Talent at best. Youāre destined to be stuck in Mountain and River City for the rest of your life!"
"And what if I also have Upper Three Grades talent?" Qin Feng looked up at Xu Fei and suddenly smiled.
"Such arrogant words from a young man!" Xu Fei didnāt speak. Another voice suddenly sounded in Qin Fengās ear as a group of magnificently dressed people came into view.
This group exuded a formidable aura. The moment they drew near, an immense, oppressive pressure washed over the areaāan aura only a Martial Artist at or above the Condensing Vein Realm could possess.
Qin Feng frowned. āI donāt think Iāve offended these people, have I?ā
Tang Lin sized up the black-robed youth for a moment, his eyes cold. "Young man, a little arrogance is fine, but arrogant ignorance just makes you a laughingstock. Do you really think talents of the Upper Three Grades are a dime a dozen?"
"You must understand, young geniuses like Young Master Xu and Qin Tianjiao are a rare sight even among the dozens of major cities in the Great Yan Kingdom!"
After speaking, Tang Lin nodded toward Xu Fei and Qin Tianjiao, an eager smile on his face.
Qin Feng understood. Tang Lin was here to recruit both Xu Fei and Qin Tianjiao.
āSucking up to the powerful and trampling the weak... these people are treating me like an easy target, a stepping stone!ā Qin Feng sneered inwardly.
"Young man, donāt be resentful. Just possessing Martial Arts Talent makes you one in a hundred. However, most of those are of the Lower Three Grades. Those with Middle Three Grades, let alone Upper Three Grades, are one in ten thousandāexceedingly rare!" Behind Tang Lin, Elder Xu Changsheng of the Cyan Wood Sect glanced at the sneering, black-robed youth and spoke with indifference.
"When we were young, we were just as reckless as you, thinking our outstanding talent would let us reach the heavens in a single step, enter a Major Sect, and suppress all other geniuses. But as youāll learn, the greater the hope, the greater the disappointment!"
The Elder from Lingyun Sect also led a group of white-robed Martial Artists over. He shot an eager glance at the pair of geniuses before his eyes landed on Qin Feng with faint, mocking amusement. "There are always people in this world," he chuckled, "who have to smash their heads until they bleed before they learn their own limits."
"Thinking that becoming an Official Xuan Master at fifteen means you can look down on everyone and have a smooth journey ahead... such a naive way of thinking!"
...
Everyone in the plaza stared coldly at the black-robed youth.
Xu Fei was extraordinarily pleased with himself, frequently returning their courtesies. He recognized the sect affiliations of these powerful experts, and his eyes lit up as he basked in the glory.
"Then weāll just have to wait and see," Qin Feng said lightly. "Some people mistake mud for treasure, not realizing their eyes have grown dim and their minds have been muddled by greed. Such people will eventually bring disaster upon themselves."
A lone figure passed through the crowd and arrived before the Array Map. No one paid any mind to Qin Fengās words. All eyes were on Xu Fei and Qin Tianjiao; the pair had captured the attention of the entire plaza, basking in all the glory.
The experts from the major sects, their faces wreathed in cordial smiles, surrounded the two prodigies. They used all their powers of persuasion, making one spectacular offer after another in an attempt to recruit them into their respective sects.
In the distance, on the second floor of a tavern by a window, Zuo Song and Master Hall watched the scene unfold. Master Hall burst out laughing.
"Honestly, Iām quite surprised," he said. "Being pushed this far, Iām shocked that little fellow hasnāt flown into a rage and killed Xu Fei, given his personality of never taking a loss lying down."
A faint smile flashed in Zuo Songās eyes as he shook his head. "Youāre wrong. After being cornered by them like this, that kid has long since wanted to kill someone. Itās just that his mental fortitude is extraordinary; heās completely suppressed his true nature. This little fellow isnāt the type to take a beating without hitting back. In fact, Iām a bit worried for those sects that suddenly popped up. In their haste to recruit Xu Fei and Qin Tianjiao, they said some things to provoke him. Iām afraid their future wonāt be a pleasant one."
Zuo Song knew just how profound Qin Fengās accomplishments were with Profound Arrays. Although he was only a First-Grade Xuan Master, he could deploy many advanced Profound Arrays with ease. He couldnāt be described as a mere genius Mystic Master; he was a monster, a freak of nature. And a vengeful one at that, the kind who would seek revenge for the smallest slight!
Seeing the people from the Nine Great Families offend Qin Feng so grievously, Zuo Song was secretly pleased.
"Isnāt this perfect? Itās good that the little fellow is angry!" Master Hall snorted, a flicker of anticipation in his eyes. He had already gleaned some information from his old friend and was rather elated by it. After all, Master Hall was an expert at the Sea of Reincarnation Realm Peak, on the verge of breaking through to the Nirvana Realm.
āSome things Zuo Song can do for Qin Feng, I, Hall, can do as well!ā A kindly smile played on Master Hallās face, but deep within his eyes flashed a bloodthirsty, chilling glint.
Noting the chaos-loving glint in his old friendās eyes, Zuo Song gave a wry smile. He shook his head and was about to say something when his expression suddenly froze. In the plaza below, a brilliant light erupted, soaring toward the sky. From its center, dazzling waves of radiance pulsed outward, one after another.
"One, two, three... seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven! Eleven waves!" Zuo Songās pupils dilated to their absolute limit. He pointed, dumbstruck, at the source of the eruption of light. The jaw of the Mystic Master Guildās president, a man usually known for his dignity, practically hit the floor.