The old lady wasn't very tall, but as she paced back and forth here, she carried an imposing aura.
"The first round, we test talent!"
Pan ifeng declared with authority:
"There's a saying—if you're lacking in innate ability, no amount of hard work can make up for it. Everyone has their own bowl of rice to eat; whether you can hold on to it or not depends on your destiny."
At the ntion of this, Lu Chengwen felt a bit nervous.
These two—one radiating kingly dominance and the other wielding a bizarre and unorthodox internal energy unseen in the Path of Heaven—were obviously prodigies!
And besides, they're both classic leading characters, destined to be flamboyant, domineering, and utterly extraordinary!
As for him? A delivery guy whose "talent" boiled down to running red lights to speed up food delivery—did that even count as a skill?
Qi ishao was visibly excited.
"Great! The Young Master is sure to win this one!"
Luo Shiyin, observing the innocent Qi ishao, thought to herself, She's so naive.
Even now, I wouldn't dare to make such a claim, but you really have the guts to dream big.
"What's wrong?" Qi ishao asked. "Don't worry! The Young Master's talent is unmatched. With his kingly dominance, the greatest of the four elental forces, he's definitely going to win!"
Luo Shiyin nodded calmly. "Just watch."
Zhao Ritian, on the other hand, was brimming with confidence.
"Senior, how exactly are we supposed to test talent?"
Pan ifeng replied, "I have a unique technique that I'll teach you. Whoever can master it has talent. Simple as that."
"HAHAHAHA!" Zhao Ritian burst into laughter.
"Senior! I don't an to brag, but when it cos to talent, I dare say there's not a single person in the world better than !"
"At three, I started learning literature. At four, I began practicing martial arts. At five, I smashed a boulder on my chest—"
Pan ifeng frowned. "At five?"
"Exactly!" Zhao Ritian pointed to his chest.
"I was bedridden for six months afterward, but I survived! When it cos to raw talent, I can confidently say I'm peerless!"
Pan ifeng rolled her eyes.
Long Aotian, on the other hand, smiled gracefully. Despite his confidence, he maintained an air of composure, laughing heartily as he took two steps forward and clasped his hands in salute:
"Brother Ritian! When it cos to talent, I, Long Aotian, have never conceded to anyone!"
"Oh? Let's hear it!"
"Very well!" Long Aotian said proudly.
"From a young age, I've possessed kingly dominance. Trained for years under the tutelage of my adoptive father, I broke through the Four Upper Gates by the age of eighteen. I led the frontier troops in defending our borders, participated in countless battles, achieved over a hundred rits, and filled an entire room with trophies and accolades. For five consecutive years, I was nad one of the Top Ten Outstanding Youths of the Southern Frontier!"
"For four straight years, I won the Best Male Warrior Award!"
"For three consecutive years, I earned the Best Commander Award!"
"For two consecutive years, I was nad Person of the Year!"
"And for one con—"
Pan ifeng cut him off impatiently, "What nonsense are you spouting about 'one consecutive year'?"
"Yes!" Long Aotian corrected himself quickly.
"What I ant to say was, that year, I won four seasonal awards as Public Favorite!"
Long Aotian bead with pride.
"When it cos to talent? HAHAHA! I've never lost!"
Pan ifeng turned to Lu Chengwen.
"Xiao Lu, are you going to brag a little too?"
"Uh..." Lu Chengwen scratched his head nervously.
"I... well... uh..."
"Hmph! Stamring and hesitant, completely inarticulate. As a man standing seven feet tall, how do you lack even a shred of confidence?"
Lu Chengwen felt utterly awkward. "You're right, Senior. Thank you for the lesson."
Pan ifeng surveyed the three young n, her expression turning grave.
"One by one, you all puff up your chests, brimming with confidence. Hmph! Let make one thing clear. I value fairness, impartiality, and transparency above all else!"
"None of you should even think about playing tricks. If you want the teorite Ice Crystal, you'll have to rely on your genuine abilities and true performance! Don't try to fool —otherwise, not only will I withhold the Ice Crystal, but I'll also beat you up and cripple your cultivation! That way, you won't embarrass my old friend Hun Tiangang in the future!"
Zhao Ritian raised his hand nervously.
"Senior, I'm not Hun Tiangang's disciple! My master's na is—"
"Does having a master make you so special?"
"No, no, that's not what I—"
"So just because your master isn't Hun Tiangang, you think it's okay to disgrace soone else's na?"
"I... I didn't an—"
"Look at you! Slouching like a mangy dog, eyes shifty, hair unkempt—what a disgrace!"
The more Pan ifeng scolded, the angrier she beca.
"If you can't master this technique, I'll smack you to death with one slap!"
Zhao Ritian hung his head awkwardly, saying nothing.
Long Aotian chuckled and said, "Senior, please calm down. Actually—"
"And you!" Pan ifeng jabbed Long Aotian's ribs with her wooden stick.
"As Hun Tiangang's senior disciple, is this all you've got? How do you expect to survive in the martial world?"
Zhao Ritian held back his laughter.
Pan ifeng swung her stick around and pointed it at Zhao Ritian.
"And you! Just a reckless fool and a big idiot—if you can't even beat him, don't you dare call yourself Hun Tiangang's disciple when you're out and about! It's humiliating!"
Long Aotian lowered his head, thinking to himself, Even breathing feels wrong right now.
Pan ifeng wasn't done yet. She jabbed Long Aotian's ribs again with her stick.
"Show so spirit! Study hard! Strive for progress every day! Stop being so clueless! Useless brat! Idiot!"
When Long Aotian tried to dodge her stick, she got even more annoyed.
"Oh? You dare to dodge? Try dodging again, I dare you! I'll jab you! Jab you! Jab you!"
Long Aotian could only stand there and take it.
Lu Chengwen watched in horror.
This old lady is losing it! All her pent-up relationship frustrations are making her unstable!
Pan ifeng stord over to Lu Chengwen, her nostrils flaring with anger.
Lu Chengwen smiled weakly.
"Shi-niang (Master's wife)."
Pan ifeng froze, her face turning bright red.
"You... you little rascal! Who are you calling Master's wife?! You... you're so annoying!"
Pan ifeng stomped her foot.
"From now on... don't you dare call that! You're such a pest, I'm telling you!"
Zhao Ritian and Long Aotian exchanged looks of utter disbelief.
What just happened?!
What just happened?!
One simple "Shi-niang" and she's overjoyed?!
Oh my god! She's acting like a shy little girl now!
Long Aotian stomped his foot in frustration, thinking, Why didn't I think of that?! Am I an idiot?!
The old lady tried her best to hold back her laughter but couldn't. She ended up covering her face and laughing for a long ti. Finally, she peeked out shyly from behind her hands, pretending to be annoyed. "Call that again, and I'll get angry!"
Zhao Ritian leaned closer. "Honestly, Lu Chengwen, you're really sothing..."
The old lady swung her stick and hit him on the head. "What does this have to do with you?"
"But he's cheating! He's flattering you—"
"I like it!" She gave him another hit with the stick.
Zhao Ritian thought to himself, This is outrageous! What happened to fairness, impartiality, and transparency!?
And what's with this old lady? I can't even dodge her swings! It's like she knows exactly where to hit, and it hurts like hell!
Even worse, she keeps hitting the sa spot where Lu Chengwen used a tree to hit yesterday!
anwhile, Lu Chengwen shalessly leaned over. "Shi Niang..."
Pan ifeng glared at him. "You're still calling that? Still!?"
Lu Chengwen looked pitiful. "Even if I don't call you that, you're still our Shi Niang!"
Pan ifeng pressed her lips together, trying to hold back a smile. "I hate smooth-talking brats like you, let tell you."
Then, she softened. "Go wait over there."
"Alright, but Shi Niang, take it easy on them. Don't get too mad, okay?"
"Got it, you're annoying."
Long Aotian also moved closer. "Shi Niang, actually, I..."
"Get lost!" Pan ifeng snapped. "Stand back where you were! Did I say you could speak!?"
Long Aotian thought to himself, What's going on here? This is worse than my Shifu!
This lady is bossing around like we don't co from the sa sect!
I'm the senior disciple, for heaven's sake! I was the first one taken in!
And my greeting wasn't as sweet as his? Impossible!
Zhao Ritian, still rubbing the lump on his head, whispered to Long Aotian, "What's the deal here!? What's up with your junior brother?"
Long Aotian sighed, frustrated. "He used to be a professional bootlicker. He's got a natural talent for it. Damn it, we walked right into his trap."
Zhao Ritian was surprised. "Bootlickers have their own stage too? Are we really going to lose to a bootlicker?"
"Ugh, I've already been bested by him more than once. Let's just hope the old lady is fair this ti."
Pan ifeng declared, "The three of you will draw lots and take turns entering the cave. I'll teach you a technique. If you master it, you win."
Zhao Ritian went in first. Within two minutes, he started screaming.
"Spare , senior! I was wrong! I surrender! I give up! No, no, no, I can't practice this..."
Pan ifeng's angry voice followed. "Useless! You talk big, but when it counts, you're nothing but hot air! You couldn't even get past the first move. Get out!"
Bang!
Zhao Ritian was sent flying out of the cave! He landed near the big tree, smashing into it. Before he hit the ground, he coughed up a mouthful of blood and lay there, struggling to move.
"What the hell!?" Lu Chengwen walked over, circling him. "Co on, how did you end up like this just trying to learn a technique? Hey, weren't you super talented? What did you see in there?"
Zhao Ritian weakly raised his head. "You... go in... and... you'll... find out..."
Long Aotian was still stunned when a voice called from inside the cave. "Long Aotian! Your turn!"
Long Aotian carefully entered the cave. In less than a minute, he gave in too.
"I'm not practicing it! Shi Niang, I quit! I surrender too! I give up!"
Zhao Ritian, still lying there, quickly moved to the side. Sure enough, with a loud bang, Long Aotian flew out and hit the tree. Just like Zhao Ritian, he coughed up blood and collapsed right where Zhao Ritian had been.
Zhao Ritian kindly reminded him, "Stay here and rest for a bit. When you're feeling better, move aside to make room for Lu Chengwen."
Long Aotian, barely able to speak, replied, "I know... let catch my breath..."
Lu Chengwen grew even more nervous.
What kind of bizarre technique could terrify two top-tier talents like this!?
"Little Luzi, your turn. Co in."
"Alright, coming, Shi Niang."
Qi ishao and Luo Shiyin rushed over to Long Aotian. He groaned, "Don't touch ! It's broken!"
The two beauties exchanged a glance. What's with this old lady? Why is she so ruthless!?
Qi ishao said, "Young Master, what happened? You shouldn't lose when it cos to talent!"
Long Aotian saw Lu Chengwen entering the cave. "Help lean to the side. He'll be flying out soon."
Once he was moved, Zhao Ritian laughed, "We both ended up like this. That guy's probably going to get killed, hahaha!"
Luo Shiyin glared at him. "Shut up! You got beaten up too, and now you're laughing at others?"
Long Aotian also chuckled, wiping the blood from his mouth. "The first move of her technique is, 'To master this skill, one must first castrate oneself.' Hahaha! Nobody can practice it."
Luo Shiyin's face turned pale as she looked toward the cave. "Lu Chengwen! Co out!"
Long Aotian was surprised. "Why are you so worried?"
"I... I..."
Qi ishao's eyes flashed with sadness. She seed to understand sothing.
But Lu Chengwen didn't co out!
Ti passed, and there was no sound.
The world seed to have frozen. Luo Shiyin looked like a cat on hot bricks.
That idiot! Don't tell he's really going to do it for the sake of a technique...
That's insane!
What about your future!? What about !?
What if I get poisoned again!?
After a while, Lu Chengwen's laughter echoed from inside. "Yay! I get it! Hahaha! I can do it now! Hahaha..."
Luo Shiyin sat on the ground with a thud, blurting out, "It's over."
Zhao Ritian looked at her. "Your woman?"
Long Aotian also glanced at her. "I... guess she is?"
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