“Then how come you weren’t able to smash in number two hundred and thirty’s face? How come you are hiding here?” angrily retorted an embarrassed Lian Rou.
“I- I…” Tang Siqi’s face became entirely flushed red. Breathing rapidly, she frustratedly exclaimed, “That bastard burned my clothes. I was almost fully exposed, so I could only retreat. Rest assured that once he falls into my hands, he’ll get what he deserves!” After speaking to this point, Tang Siqi expression changed as she loudly clamored, “How can we two sisters just accept being bullied by men? I definitely won’t let go of that number two hundred and thirty. Why don’t you choose that bastard who dared to spout so much nonsense as well and color him pretty?”
“Then let’s do that!” agreed Lian Rou, clenching her fist. She firmly exclaimed, “I’m going to get him back too!”
……
“Time’s almost up. Whether or not you have the qualification to remain is now becoming more apparent,” said Tong Jihua as he walked up to the front after calculating the time.
Starting with Liang Shaoyang, Tong Jihua would grasp each examinee’s forged artifact and sense the cohesion of its insides. Afterwards, he decide whether or not he would record down the examinee’s number.
Each person whose number was recorded had successfully passed the examination. If Tong Jihua shook his head, it meant that the examinee had been eliminated.
As Tong Jihua touched each artifact, people were constantly eliminated and their hopes were incessantly destroyed. The number of people within the courtyard, which originally numbered over a hundred, gradually declined.
Liang Shaoyang, Ouyang Jingjing, and Yi Yuan, who were all in the front, all had very relaxed expressions as Tong Jihua moved past them.
—They had all seen Tong Jihua record down their numbers.
Before long, Tong Jihua arrived beside Qin Lie. After touching the smooth surface of the metal ball for a moment, his eyes lit up and he profoundly gazed at Qin Lie for a second before also recording down Qin Lie’s corresponding number—two hundred and thirty.
Tong Jihua continued onwards.
Time flew by, and a full hour later, only twenty six people remained standing within the courtyard.
Those examinees whose numbers hadn’t been recorded all self-consciously left. They didn’t have the face to remain behind and wait for Tong Jihua to announce the final results, so they had all long since left the courtyard.
“Twenty six people passed the exam. Tomorrow, inner sect disciples will come and pick assistants from amongst you. If any of you are fortuitously selected, you will have the opportunity to experience true artifact forging.” Tong Jihua’s expression was stern as he continued, “Becoming an inner sect disciple’s assistant and helping them break down and grind their spirit materials, as well as aiding them while forging artifacts, will be a great help to your own growth. I hope you will all have this luck…”
“Elder Tong, Miss Lian Rou has sent over a note.” At this time, an outer sect disciple handed over a little slip of paper.
As Tong Jihua read it, his expression suddenly became abnormal as he began to laugh. Afterwards, he said, “There are already lucky fellows. Number nineteen, Yi Yuan! And number two hundred thirty, Qin Bing! Congratulations on being the first two to be selected. After taking a good look at you two, heh, I trust that your lives in the future will certainly be luxurious ones.”
Only at this time did Qin Lie finally understand the purpose behind Tang Siqi’s wanderings beside him. Upon hearing that he had been selected beforehand, not only did he not feel the slightest bit of happiness, he also felt a bad feeling blossom inside him, “Uh oh…”
Meanwhile, Yi Yuan was indeed elated as a smile overflowing with joy emerged on his face. He seemed to be unaware about what was coming.