Chapter 385: Coming Out

"Y-Yes...the Patriarch is right." Grand Elder Yan answered with a forced smile and, seeing the Patriarch’s meaningful expression, turned around to witness the exam once again instead of leaving.

"Mhm." Seeing this, the Patriarch nodded subtly and continued, "Since we’ve already been waiting for all this time, waiting for ten more minutes is only logical.

Moreover, isn’t it the first time we all have gathered for the final testing phase? Let’s use this opportunity to meet the new disciples later on."

"Patriarch Su is as wise as ever," Grand Elder Jian said with a playful smile, causing the Patriarch to let out a chuckle.

"As cheery as always, aren’t you, Grand Elder Jian?" Patriarch Su continued with a meaningful glint in his eyes, "How about it? If that young man makes it in the end, would you also be competing for him?"

"Haha, Patriarch Su jests. Knowing very well that Patriarch Su has been looking for a suitable personal disciple all these years, I’ll naturally step aside and let you have him." Grand Elder Jian answered with a cheery smile.

Chuckle

A mocking chuckle suddenly rang out from the side.

"Well, even if Grand Elder Jian decides to compete, with his unique disposition I doubt any one of us will have to worry about him."

A Grand Elder who was on the healthier side commented, which immediately caused the other Grand Elders to laugh in unison.

Seeing this, Grand Elder Jian just shook his head with a subtle smile on his face. By now, he had grown used to these comments, so they didn’t bother him.

However, that wasn’t the case for Patriarch Su, whose eyes narrowed subtly while glaring towards Grand Elder Shan.

Cough.

Sensing Patriarch Su’s gaze, Grand Elder Shan let out a cough to regain his bearing and said, while glancing towards Grand Elder Jian, "My apologies, I lost myself for a bit there."

Even though he said that, there was not a single trace of remorse on his face. It was obvious that those were just functional words.

However, Grand Elder Jian didn’t take those actions to heart and said, "It’s alright, Grand Elder Shan. From your words earlier, I presume that you are also planning to compete with Patriarch Su this time."

"Isn’t that only natural?" Grand Elder Shan asked as he turned towards Patriarch Su, who was looking at the two of them, and continued, "I hope for Patriarch Su’s understanding, as having the opportunity to take an individual with a peak-grade spirit root as one’s personal disciple is just as enticing for me as it is for you."

"Haha, don’t think much over it, Grand Elder Shan," Patriarch Su waved his hand and said, "It’s the same with everyone else here as well. If that young man truly succeeds in the remaining time, then I’m pretty sure many of the Grand Elders here might even forget my title as the Patriarch in order to pull that young man towards their side...isn’t that right?"

As Patriarch Su said those words, his gaze went towards all the other Grand Elders as well, most of whom couldn’t help but let out an embarrassed smile under that gaze.

With the smile on his face widening at this expected reaction, Patriarch Su focused his attention back on Yi Chen while patiently waiting for the test to end.

’Even if he fails the test this time, there’s always a next time...’ he thought to himself while noticing the deep furrows on Yi Chen’s forehead.

Just from that alone, it was apparent to all of them that he was stuck in a difficult dilemma.

Seeing that the Patriarch had turned silent, so did the other elders as they all waited patiently for the incense stick to turn into ash.

"Only one minute..." Yu Xong muttered, with panic evident in his heart.

With all the peak masters present to witness Yi Chen’s result, he naturally wanted Yi Chen to succeed as well.

’Come on! Hurry up! You’re almost out of time!’ he exclaimed inwardly while nervously looking towards Yi Chen, who still had his eyes firmly shut.

One of the Grand Elders sucked in a disappointed breath, glancing at the incense stick before turning to look towards Yi Chen, who was still under the influence of the illusion array.

"Guess we were too hopeful..."

"Well, he’s only nineteen years old, so he can apply for the entrance test two more times..."

Hearing those words, Grand Elder Yan couldn’t help but snort inwardly, ’Next attempt? I doubt an indecisive lad like this will even think of trying again after failing his first attempt.’

However, just when most of them, including even the Patriarch, had accepted that Yi Chen was not going to make it, an amused smile formed on Grand Elder Jian’s face, who had never taken his eyes off Yi Chen for even a moment.

"Well, looks like we won’t be needing to wait until the next entrance tests..." he muttered with his gaze focused on Yi Chen.

"???"

The moment all the other peak masters heard this, they momentarily turned towards Grand Elder Jian with a questioning look evident on their faces.

However, before they could voice their doubts, they noticed his strange expression, making them trace the direction of his gaze.

"This...!"

Everyone’s eyes widened the very next moment.

Meanwhile, Yi Chen, who had just been engulfed by blinding white light inside the illusion, opened his eyes with difficulty as his blurry vision slowly cleared up.

"He did it!" Yu Xong cheered while glancing towards all the peak masters whose eyes had also brightened at this development.

"Congratulations on clearing the third test. Let me guide you to the waiting area." A Ninth Qi Absorption Stage Elder who had been waiting at the side of the hall approached Yi Chen the very next moment, gesturing for him to stand up.

"Oh..."

Yi Chen nodded after hearing those words and got up the next moment before following the elder.

However, just when he was about to exit the hall, his gaze fell upon several elders who were standing on the stage at the end of the hall.

’...Who?’

The question had just appeared in his mind, but before he could use his status panel, he was already out of the hall, and the door behind him was tightly shut.

Inside the Cloud Hall.

Cough! Cough!

"I know everyone wants to go out right now and attempt to win over him."

Patriarch Su said with a smile and continued while pointing towards the hundreds of candidates in front of them who were still trapped inside the Illusion array.

"However, since we are all here already, shouldn’t we use this opportunity to motivate these candidates when they need it the most? If we do it well, then who knows, one of them just might end up becoming the next peak master in the future."

Patriarch Su chuckled lightly as he said those words.

Hearing those words, all the other peak masters glanced towards each other before nodding firmly.

Seeing this, Patriarch Su glanced towards Yu Xong and said with a smile, "Elder Yu, the time’s over."

"Yes, Patriarch." Elder Yu nodded respectfully and instantly removed the domain he had set up around the hall as the pink cloud of smoke that had been resting near the bottom of the hall began to dissipate.

Meanwhile, outside the hall, Yi Chen was guided towards the courtyard that was filled with a little more than two hundred candidates.

"Brother Chen!"

Zhou Mei and Qin Yao exclaimed the moment their eyes landed on Yi Chen’s figure, as a trace of excitement and relief could clearly be felt in their voices.

"Oh? You guys already finished?" Yi Chen asked curiously, thinking that there was still a lot of time left for the test to finish.

"This..."

Both Zhou Mei and Qin Yao couldn’t help but glance at each other when they heard his words.

Seeing this, Yi Chen couldn’t help but frown.

"Actually..."

It was Feng Ning who came forward to answer his doubt, "...Brother Chen, the test finished just a minute ago...you were the last person to complete it."

"Last..."

Yi Chen’s eyes widened in realisation as he couldn’t help but glance at the two hundred or so candidates who were all gathered in the courtyard right now.

’So, I was trapped there for almost the entirety of the five hours...’ Yi Chen thought to himself while looking back on his experience inside the Illusion array.

’...I almost failed.’

"Yes!" Zhou Mei exclaimed in a blaming tone the very next moment, "What took you so long? Do you know how worried we all were?"

"Well... I lost track of time in there. Sorry for making you guys worry." Yi Chen said with an apologetic smile, and while at it, patted Zhou Mei’s head to calm her down.

"I...see."

Zhou Mei still had a lot to say, but feeling Yi Chen’s hand on her head, she lost track of all the complaints she carried in her heart and was only able to reply briefly.

"It’s only them, Brother Chen! You don’t need to apologise to me, for I wasn’t worried at all!" Qin Yao exclaimed with a bright expression the very next moment and continued with a confident expression, "I always believed that Brother Chen was going to make it."

"...Who was the person who couldn’t stop biting his nails earlier then? Was it your ghost?"

Zhou Mei glared at him with narrowed eyes the very next moment, causing everyone in the group to laugh cheerfully, seeing Qin Yao attempting to hide his chipped nails behind his back.

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