This statement immediately garnered support from many.
An elder with white hair and beard raised his voice, "Exactly. Constable Chen performed excellently in this round of assessment and persisted until the end. On what grounds do you give him one point?"
Another person shouted, "Although you are a judge, giving one point at this moment is clearly bullying. This is unfair, and we do not accept your scoring."
Perhaps Duan Kun was from Fengdu City.
Perhaps he was a significant figure.
But at this moment.
He had incurred the wrath of the masses.
Duan Kun exuded a powerful aura, his cold eyes sweeping over the commoners below, "The Great Emperor sent me to serve as judge, trusting me, Duan, with this task."
"As such, my score represents the Great Emperor."
"You all cry foul play. Are you perhaps harboring dissatisfaction towards the Great Emperor?"
His voice was indifferent.
He exemplified the saying "a dog relying on its master's power."
Upon hearing this.
Everyone fell silent.
Although they were unhappy with Duan Kun's score.
Now that he had invoked the Great Emperor.
Who would dare to object?
If he were to truly accuse them of disrespect.
It could cost them their lives.
Han Zongyuan said in a low voice, "Lord Duan, do you truly intend to show no mercy?"
He had not expected Duan Kun to be so unscrupulous, suppressing Chen Nan so openly in front of everyone.
Duan Kun asked indifferently, "Does Lord Han also question the Great Emperor?"
Han Zongyuan suppressed his inner rage, forcing a smile, "As a subject of the Great Emperor, how could this subordinate dare to question His Majesty?"
"However, this matter today will be truthfully reported to the Great Emperor."
Although Han Zongyuan knew.
Even if he reported this to the Great Emperor.
By then, the deed would be done.
And Chen Nan would not be able to become a Yin Messenger.
However.
This did not mean they should passively endure injustice.
Even if the Great Emperor did not severely punish Duan Kun upon learning of this, he was not afraid.
At that time, he only needed to have the Heaven-Defying Sect disciples hidden within the Duan family self-destruct, and the Duan family would be utterly annihilated.
This was the fitting end for his fifth brother's actions.
Hearing that Han Zongyuan intended to impeach him, Duan Kun's disdain grew even stronger, "Lord Han naturally has the right to impeach this official, but do you think your memorial will reach the Great Emperor's eyes?"
In his eyes.
Han Zongyuan, like Chen Nan, was an ant.
Even if Han Zongyuan was the magistrate of Tongcheng County.
But.
Memorials written by people like him would never reach the Great Emperor.
Duan Kun said in a low voice, "Even if, for the sake of argument, your memorial reaches the Great Emperor, do you think His Majesty would blame me?"
Han Zongyuan took a deep breath.
Then.
The four judges awarded Ma Jun a perfect score of forty points based on his previous performance.
This almost made many people curse aloud.
In fact, they had also paid attention to Ma Jun's earlier performance.
He had indeed performed quite excellently.
He had maintained a pleasantly smiling demeanor throughout.
But...
All four judges giving a perfect score of ten points each.
Wasn't this too excessive?
Wasn't this blatant favoritism?
Ma Jun appeared beside Chen Nan, a playful smile on his face, and said in a low voice, "Chen, do you see this?"
"This is the foundation of my Ma family."
"That Yin Messenger position can only be mine."
"You are not worthy of it."
Chen Nan's expression was impassive, "Although your Ma family's foundation is deep, it is still unknown who will secure the position until the very last moment."
"Still showing off your verbal prowess when facing imminent doom? Is that interesting?" Ma Jun sneered, then added, "Once I become a Yin Messenger, I will be the first to kill you, to let you know the consequences of offending me."
His previous apprehension towards Chen Nan was mainly due to Chen Nan's status.
Although he was an unregistered constable.
He still had a certain standing.
But if he became a Yin Messenger, his status would be one level above Chen Nan's.
What difficulty would there be in killing an unregistered constable?
"Quiet down!"
Han Zongyuan's voice suddenly rang out.
After the atmosphere in the venue calmed down, he announced the list of fifty selected candidates.
Although in the first round of assessment, Chen Nan had received three nines and one eight, accumulating twenty-eight points.
In the written examination, he had scored nine points.
These scores were to be accumulated.
Adding them up to thirty-seven points.
This score was by no means low.
But...
It only ranked him second.
He was still thirteen points away from Ma Jun's first place score of fifty points.
"Next, I will explain the content of the second round of assessment," Han Zongyuan said. "The second round tests strength. Only with powerful strength can one protect the common people and oneself."
Having said this.
An elder with a youthful appearance and white hair among the four judges stepped forward.
He placed one hand behind his back, walked on air, and slowly landed in the training ground.
Han Zongyuan continued, "Lord Ge possesses Soul Devouring realm cultivation. In this round, he will accompany you in the trial. You may unleash your strongest abilities to attack Lord Ge. The time limit is one incense stick."
"Within this incense stick, the four judges will score your performance."
"Ten winners will be selected to advance to the next round."
The rules were simple and easy to understand.
However.
Everyone had a premonition.
Even if Chen Nan performed well.
He might not necessarily receive a high score.
Because anyone could see.
Before this competition even began.
The outcome had already been decided.
That one Yin Messenger position was destined for Ma Jun.
Therefore.
A variable occurred.
Since the Yin Messenger position was already predetermined.
Then why should they continue to participate in this meaningless assessment?
What was the point of participating?
To play the role of a foil, to set off others?
"I forfeit the assessment!"
"I forfeit as well!"
"This is an unfair assessment; there is no point in continuing."
Among the fifty shortlisted candidates, many gradually stepped back.
As time passed.
Only three people remained in the field.
They were Ma Jun, Chen Nan, and Guo Yu.
Guo Yu was not old.
He was only eighteen years old this year.
His lifelong dream was to become a Yin Messenger.
This dream could easily have been realized.
Because before the reforms, anyone who was eighteen, strong, brave, and not afraid of death could become a Yin Messenger.
Unfortunately.
When he came of age.
Becoming a Yin Messenger became fraught with difficulties.
However.
He was unwilling to easily abandon his dream.
Even though the sole Yin Messenger position in Tongcheng had already been predetermined, he still wanted to give it a try.
Not for anything else.
But for the sake of his inner dream.
And to leave no regrets.
Han Zongyuan looked at the sullen Duan Kun beside him, a playful smile appearing on his face, "Lord Duan, do you see? Your actions have already stirred public outrage."
"I believe that even if I do not impeach you to the Great Emperor."
"Your conduct today will still reach His Majesty's ears."
Duan Kun's face darkened.
He had not expected the people of Tongcheng to have such integrity.
This was beyond his expectations.
And it gave him a sense of foreboding.
If this matter truly reached the Great Emperor's ears, what would be the consequences?