NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 536: Is It So Hard To Believe That Others Are Better Than You?
Chapter 536: Is It So Hard To Believe That Others Are Better Than You?
Jun Qingsheng was currently feeling overwhelmed, his head spinning as he looked at Nangong Xiu with confusion.
I asked for your help, but did you have to go all the way to the first place? Isn’t that a bit too much?
To his surprise, Nangong Xiu also looked at him with a bewildered expression, her eyes filled with questions.
You guys cheated, and you’re being so blatant about it?
Zhou Yuanhua, the chief examiner, glanced at Jun Yunshang’s direction and broke into a cold sweat.
Cheating is never a small matter, but today, the Empress herself is here! This is a disaster!
He regretted ever getting involved in this mess.
Coughing lightly, he said, “Everyone, please remain calm. Allow me to check the surveillance orb from the tower.”
The surveillance orb was an expensive artifact, capable of not only monitoring but also recording everything that happened within its range.
The inspector handed over the orb, and Zhou Yuanhua immersed his spiritual sense into it, carefully examining the recordings.
While they waited, the crowd began to murmur and the atmosphere became tense.
Jun Qingsheng knew that he had to distract them, or things would quickly spiral out of control.
He stood up, raised his hands to signal for silence, and said in a deep voice, “Quiet, everyone! Please wait patiently for the Grand Elder’s investigation.”
As the King of Heavenly Grace, his authority commanded respect, and the crowd quickly fell silent.
“I understand that everyone has doubts about this examination. Before Elder Zhou reaches a conclusion, I will conduct a simple investigation.”
He turned to Qin Yan and the others and asked sternly, “Did any of the nine inspectors witness any cheating during the examination?”
Ding Bonan looked at Qin Yan expectantly, hoping that she would expose Lin Fengmian’s misdeeds.
Qin Yan wanted to lie and say yes, but with the surveillance orb in play, doing so would only bring trouble upon herself.
So Qin Yan, along with the other eight inspectors, shook her head.
“Your Majesty, we did not witness any cheating.”
The crowd erupted in disbelief. Someone shouted, “No cheating? Are you blind?”
“This is collusion! Corruption!”
Ding Bonan stared at Qin Yan in disbelief.
Qin Yan, you have completely sided with this guy, haven’t you?
I have to tell Brother Yunzheng. He can’t be kept in the dark about this.
Meanwhile, Qin Yan and the other inspectors were in a panic. They knew that outsiders would suspect that they had been bribed.
But to be honest, Lin Fengmian hadn’t cheated. He had genuinely fought his way to the top.
Yet, no one believed them, and they were left with no way to defend themselves. All they could do was wait for Zhou Yuanhua to clear their names.
Nangong Xiu, on the other hand, was filled with doubt and fear.
The Heavenly Grace Dynasty even bribed Qin Yan, who has a grudge against me? All nine inspectors?
Are they trying to force the Grand Elder to accept the results of this child?
If the results aren’t recognized, the scandal of the Junyan Imperial Hall’s inspectors accepting bribes will be a devastating blow to their reputation.
Jun Qingsheng is not only well-connected, but also a cunning schemer!
Sure enough, she noticed a hint of shock on Zhou Yuanhua’s face, and he subtly glanced in her direction.
Zhou Yuanhua let out a long breath, feeling a weight lift off his shoulders.
Thank goodness it wasn’t cheating. Otherwise, I’d be in big trouble.
That kid used Nangong Xiu’s signature technique, Overlapping Karmic Flames, didn’t he?
No wonder such a prodigy has emerged from this backwater. He must be her disciple.
Zhou Yuanhua composed himself and spoke in a calm but clear voice that reached everyone’s ears.
“Everyone, after my investigation, I can confirm that Jun Wuxie genuinely fought his way to the 81st floor. There was no cheating involved.”
Nangong Xiu and Jun Qingsheng both sighed in relief and exchanged glances, each thinking that the other had staged this.
Jun Qingsheng nodded slightly and smiled as if a great burden had been lifted.
However, to Nangong Xiu, his smile seemed like the smug grin of a schemer who had just pulled off a successful plot, and she couldn’t help but feel wary.
Ye Yingying, who was clearly not satisfied with this explanation, asked, “According to Elder Zhou, does that mean that Jun Wuxie is stronger than all of us?”
She was worried. The top three contestants received not only magical tools, but also top-grade Nascent Soul Pills.
She had been confident of securing a spot in the top three, but now Lin Fengmian had suddenly pushed her out.
Zhou Yuanhua nodded seriously. “In terms of dealing with demonic beasts, he is indeed stronger than you.”
The crowd erupted in anger. Have they no shame?
Luo Jinfeng sneered. Since his youth, he had been famous and looked down on everyone. His words were blunt.
“If the Junyan Imperial Hall doesn’t want to give ordinary disciples a chance to rise up, why do they put on this facade of fairness?”
Other disciples from Heavenly Grace King’s Hall also expressed their anger and refused to let the matter go.
For once, Ding Bonan found himself siding with the common disciples.
Not only did he have a grudge against Lin Fengmian, but he also knew that the rewards on the stone table were too much for one person to handle.
Zhou Yuanhua sighed. “Please trust the Junyan Imperial Hall. We guarantee that this selection process will be fair, just, and transparent.”
Ye Yingying retorted, “Elder Zhou, this is clearly a scam. How can we believe you?”
Lin Fengmian spoke calmly, “Is it so hard to believe that others are better than you? Just because you can’t do something, why assume that others can’t either?”
Ye Yingying was furious when she saw this spoiled young master acting so arrogantly despite his cheating.
“I can believe that others are better than me, but I can’t believe that you are better than me!”
Lin Fengmian sighed. “Prejudice. This is pure prejudice.”
Ye Yingying snorted, then bowed respectfully to Zhou Yuanhua who was holding the Guardian Orb.
“Elder Zhou, since you claim absolute fairness, please release the recordings publicly to prove it.”
The audience, always eager for drama, joined in and demanded to see the recordings.
Nangong Xiu became nervous. If the footage is released, everything will be revealed!
Noticing her unease, Xu Zhichang smirked maliciously.
He suddenly spoke up, “The examination records are private. Unless the person involved agrees, outsiders cannot view them without permission.”
I’ll help you cover this up for now, and then use it to manipulate you later.
Nangong Xiu, the Heavenly Grace Dynasty—you’ll all be at my mercy.
But the crowd was not satisfied and continued to demand the release of the recordings.
Just as Zhou Yuanhua and the others were in a tight spot, Lin Fengmian, the person at the center of the controversy, stepped forward smiling and holding a folding fan.
He opened the fan and said with a grin, “Although I stand by my integrity and do not fear rumors or slander, this matter affects the reputation of the Heavenly Grace King Hall and the Heavenly Fiend Hall. Therefore, I am willing to make a concession.”
“However, I used a unique technique during the test, and some of you may become my competitors in the future. I can’t just let you see it for free.”
Surprised that he was willing to compromise, Ye Yingying asked warily, “What do you want?”
Lin Fengmian closed his fan and pointed at everyone, smiling. “I’ll show you the footage, but on one condition.”
“If it’s proven that I didn’t cheat, the top ten contestants will give me their rewards, and the rest of you will each give me one hundred top-grade Spirit Stones. How about that?”
Luo Jinfeng sneered, “What if you did cheat?”
Lin Fengmian confidently replied, “I will pay you back tenfold! Each of you will receive one thousand top-grade Spirit Stones! But…”
He pointed at the other disciples. “The condition is that everyone must agree. If even one person disagrees, the deal is off!”