Chapter Fifteen: The Turning Point in the Assessment, Changfeng Ascends to the Top

Dong Changfeng stepped onto the grounds for the retest, and an oppressive, deadly aura immediately washed over him. It felt almost tangible, a cold breeze brushing against his cheek, sending a shiver through his skin.

His eyes burned like flames as they swept across the surroundings. Senior Brother Liu and the others stared at him with hostile gazes, their looks like sharp arrows aimed to tear him apart alive. He could feel the malicious intent in their eyes pricking at him like needles.

A faint, disdainful smile curled at the corner of Dong Changfeng’s mouth. “Is that all? Such a small-time act!” He lifted his head proudly, chest out, and strode firmly toward his seat. Each step landed with a steady thud, as if wielding a drawn sword, radiating undeniable sharpness.

Seeing this, Senior Brother Liu and the others’ faces darkened further, like storm clouds gathering before a tempest. They exchanged glances, seemingly plotting some insidious scheme. Dong Changfeng could almost hear the faint hiss of their conspiracy as their eyes met.

A heavy tension filled the air, as still as the calm before a storm, pressing down on everyone’s hearts.

The retest was extraordinarily difficult, involving complex runes, formations, and alchemy techniques.

For Dong Changfeng, with only an ordinary spiritual root, this was an immense challenge.

Yet, that was not the worst of it.

Senior Brother Liu and his cohorts united to sabotage him.

They deliberately made loud noises, crashing over him like roaring waves, disrupting his focus; they even stealthily hurled small stones at him—not painful but irritating—trying to break his concentration.

In an instant, the testing ground descended into chaos, noisy as a bustling market, with countless distractions buzzing in Dong Changfeng’s ears like swarms of flies.

“You despicable scoundrels!” Dong Changfeng’s fury ignited. He sprang to his feet, the chair creaking behind him. Pointing a finger at Senior Brother Liu and the others, he roared, “If you have guts, fight fair and square! What kind of heroes resort to such dirty tricks?” His voice cut through the clamor, trembling with rage.

“Hmph, heroes? The truth is survival of the fittest!” Senior Brother Liu sneered coldly, his laugh like a stone plunging into a deep pool, eyes flickering with cunning. “As long as we win, no means are off limits!”

“Exactly! Dong Changfeng, just admit defeat and stop struggling!” Junior Brother Ma chimed in, his tone sharp with schadenfreude, like the call of a night owl.

The surrounding chaos grew, and Elder Song, overseeing the test, furrowed his brows tightly, the lines intertwining like tangled ropes.

Though just and strict, he was easily deceived by appearances.

Seeing Dong Changfeng so agitated, a seed of doubt crept into his heart: Could Dong Changfeng really be cheating?

Dong Changfeng took a deep breath, the air tinged with dust filling his lungs, forcing himself to calm down.

He knew now was not the time for rash emotions.

He had to focus, complete the test, and prove his innocence.

He sat down again, picked up his pen, feeling its solid weight in his hand, ready to continue.

But just then, a hand suddenly snatched his test paper away, the swift motion stirring a breeze that tousled Dong Changfeng’s hair.

“Let me see what nonsense you’ve scribbled!”

Sweat beaded on Dong Changfeng’s forehead, slowly trickling down. His hand trembled slightly, causing the pen to leave shaky marks upon the paper, the rustling sound faltering.

Buzzing with the clamor of Senior Brother Liu and the others, the noise gnawed at his mind like countless flies droning near his ears, threatening to invade his thoughts.

He looked up to see Senior Brother Liu grinning triumphantly, mockery shining in his eyes like a fox caught stealing chickens; Junior Brother Ma cowered nearby, eyes flickering anxiously—clearly a pawn in Liu’s game—his body trembling like a leaf in the wind.

Other outer disciples cast gleeful, malicious glances at him, their gazes cold as rain, as if Dong Changfeng’s defeat was already sealed.

Anger surged within Dong Changfeng’s chest, yet his eyes grew even firmer, like steel forged in roaring flames.

He inhaled deeply, striving to steady his emotions.

Now was not the time to vent rage; he must calm his mind and devise a solution.

His gaze quickly swept over everyone present, calculating.

“You all rely on petty tricks—how laughable!” Dong Changfeng suddenly spoke, his voice laced with a cold sneer, sharp as a drawn blade.

“But I’m no pushover!”

He abruptly rose again, the chair groaning beneath him. His eyes sliced across Senior Brother Liu and Junior Brother Ma like razor blades, challenging: “You think teaming up will beat me? How naive!”

Senior Brother Liu’s expression shifted, dark as an overcast sky, a flicker of caution flashing in his eyes. “What do you mean?”

“Simple,” Dong Changfeng’s lips curved into a cold smile as his gaze darted between them. “Senior Brother Liu, aren’t you worried Junior Brother Ma might expose your scheme? After all, your plan is quite underhanded; if the elders find out, you’ll be finished. And Junior Brother Ma, don’t you feel used by Senior Brother Liu? He treats you like a pawn, yet you foolishly follow him.”

As he spoke, he carefully observed their reactions. Cold sweat appeared on Senior Brother Liu’s forehead, glistening in the light. Junior Brother Ma’s body trembled slightly, like a candle flickering in the wind. A surge of satisfaction bloomed in Dong Changfeng’s chest.

Raising his voice deliberately to cut through the noisy crowd, he repeated, “Senior Brother Liu, are you afraid Junior Brother Ma will reveal your plan? And Junior Brother Ma, don’t you think Senior Brother Liu is using you?”

The surrounding air seemed to freeze. All disciples held their breath, only Dong Changfeng’s voice piercing sharply through, like icy arrows aimed at Liu and Ma.

A gentle breeze stirred his robes as he stood calmly, a master strategist in control, while Liu and Ma appeared trapped prey caught in a net.

Their eyes met.

Senior Brother Liu’s face flickered with hesitation, like ripples spreading across a still lake. Junior Brother Ma’s expression turned fearful, eyes wide as if witnessing something dreadful.

Tension snapped taut between them like a drawn bowstring.

The other disciples stared in shock, whispering in hushed tones, their murmurs rustling like leaves stirred by the wind.

“Hmph, Dong Changfeng, you’re courting death!” Senior Brother Liu gritted his teeth, though his forced smile resembled a strained mask.

Junior Brother Ma lowered his gaze, avoiding Liu’s stare, fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles whitened, struggling to suppress his unease.

Dong Changfeng’s lips curled into a satisfied smile.

He sat down once more, picked up his pen. Suddenly, everything around him seemed to quiet, leaving only the smooth strokes of his pen across the answer sheet—the rustling sounding like the most beautiful symphony.

“That’s better,” he murmured softly, “You can keep squabbling among yourselves—I have no time for your petty disputes.” A cold smile played on his lips, as if gifted with divine insight, his pen moving with unerring grace.

Runes danced beneath his touch like playful spirits, their glow vivid in his mind; formations unfolded like grand scrolls, their majesty palpable; alchemical techniques emerged as lyrical verses, their fragrance seemingly wafting from the pages.

His movements were fluid and effortless—seamless and continuous.

His speed outpaced even Bolt sprinting a hundred meters; his precision surpassed an eagle’s strike on its prey.

Senior Brother Liu and Junior Brother Ma were utterly dumbfounded.

Like ducks with their throats grasped, they could only watch helplessly as Dong Changfeng surged ahead, unable to utter a word.

The surrounding disciples were equally spellbound, eyes fixed on Dong Changfeng as if he were a captivating lecturer.

Elder Song’s eyes widened in astonishment. In all his years, he had never witnessed such a miraculous display.

He had assumed Dong Changfeng was a useless weakling with an ordinary spiritual root, but here stood a master cleverly disguised as a fool.

His whiskers twitched with excitement as he looked at Dong Changfeng with admiration and praise.

“Done!” Dong Changfeng laid down his pen with flair, stretching lazily, his face embodying the loneliness of invincibility.

Senior Brother Liu and Junior Brother Ma’s faces turned green with shame. They felt like two mocked monkeys, humiliated beyond measure.

The surrounding disciples erupted in thunderous applause, their claps surging like waves, eyes full of respect and envy directed at Dong Changfeng.

Standing amid the crowd, basking in their attention, Dong Changfeng’s heart swelled with accomplishment.

He was like a triumphant general returning from battle, brimming with pride and invincibility.

Senior Brother Liu and Junior Brother Ma slunk away like defeated roosters, heads bowed, retreating to a corner in disgrace.

Elder Song approached Dong Changfeng, patting his shoulder with a reassuring strength, grinning warmly. “Well done, lad! You’ve truly made us outer disciples proud in this test!”

Dong Changfeng smiled humbly. “Elder, you flatter me. I was merely fortunate.”

Elder Song laughed heartily. “Young man, don’t be so modest! We have all witnessed your talent and strength. Keep cultivating diligently and strive to become an inner disciple soon!”

Dong Changfeng nodded, his heart filled with hope and aspiration.

He had finally secured his footing among the outer disciples, becoming a standout.

He believed that with continued effort, he would create an even more brilliant future.

“Senior Brother Dong, please continue to guide us in the future!” a clear, bright voice sounded…