Mu Fan nodded in agreement, and the others also voiced their approval.
The Hall of Trial Medicine was unusually lively today. Almost all the inner disciples within the sect had come, and many outer disciples had also put aside their cultivation to observe this unprecedented event in the history of the Lingxiao Sect.
News of Mo Qi's arrival to "play around" had spread like wildfire throughout the entire Lingxiao Sect. Bai Li Bing, Jin Dan, Yu Ming, Si Ma Shan, Peng Shao Feng, and others also came to watch and show their support. Jin Dan grumbled amidst the crowd, "This guy is quite secretive. Even I didn't know." Bai Li Bing felt a surge of satisfaction hearing him say that.
All disciples could only observe the changes on the ranking board from outside the main hall. The hall itself had been cleared, and all testing had been halted. Only Mo Qi walked in with his head held high, followed by Sect Leader Wu Fan and the six peak lords.
However, the hall doors were not closed, and some people stood at the entrance, peeking inside.
Seeing that no one was stopping them, they shifted their bodies further inside. More and more people squeezed in, gradually occupying more than half of the Hall of Trial Medicine.
Mo Qi still chose the testing stone tablet at the very back. He felt that this stone tablet would bring him good luck.
This time, when Mo Qi placed his finger on the platform, no welcome message appeared. It seemed Wu Fan had indeed deleted all previous information.
Mo Qi entered his real name this time and began the test.
He glanced back at Wu Fan. Wu Fan's expression was unreadable, offering no hints. So, he decided to take it one by one, starting with the medicine test.
After several months of study, he felt his knowledge of medicines was sufficient. Moreover, the medicines that appeared in the previous test were ones he didn't recognize at the time. However, after leaving, he had confirmed and identified all the ones he could remember by consulting books.
But the medicines that appeared on the stone tablet this time were basically all new ones that hadn't appeared before.
He didn't recognize the first few and skipped them. His heart sank. Would he get zero points again?
Fortunately, several recognizable medicines appeared consecutively, which calmed his nerves considerably. Then came a few ambiguous ones, looking like one medicine but also like another. He scratched his head in frustration, finding it agonizing. He truly didn't want his name to appear on the shame list again.
The peak lords watching from behind felt their hearts clench seeing his distressed state. "Is this all he's got?"
Han Yang watched from behind, feeling equally uncomfortable. Several times he wanted to curse. So many simple ones, and this kid just skipped them! Had this kid even studied? He began to regret the supportive words he had spoken earlier.
The disciples watching from afar in the hall also looked extremely disappointed. They whispered amongst themselves, "He doesn't even know basic medicinal knowledge. What's wrong with him? Even a pig would know this."
"Is this guy a fake? Would 'I'm here to play' be this weak?"
"Is 'I'm here to play' this weak with medicines? But I suspect he's deliberately acting weak to make people think he's 'I'm here to play'."
"Are you guys having a split personality? Is he more like 'I'm here to play' when he's weak, or when he's strong?"
"He's more like 'I'm here to play' when he's handsome. Look at his猥琐 (wěisuǒ - vulgar/mean/shabby) appearance. How is he like that at all?"
"Exactly! 'I'm here to play' must be exceptionally handsome, like Pan An, with sword-like eyebrows, bright eyes, rosy lips, a straight nose, and a square mouth. His aura should be majestic, like a jade tree facing the wind, dashing and unrestrained. How could he look like this?"
Time ticked by. The disciples outside couldn't see the changes on the ranking board and had no idea what was happening inside. In their eyes, Mo Qi must be undergoing the silk-drawing test. The fact that no information appeared on the board meant Mo Qi was no good; he was a complete imposter!
Mo Qi felt the gazes behind him like arrows piercing his back, causing him pain. But after finally mustering the courage to make decisions on those ambiguous medicines, more unfamiliar ones appeared.
He was on the verge of collapse! Today was not a good start!
He even suspected he had read some fake alchemy books, as he hadn't seen any of the medicines that appeared on the stone tablet.
There was no choice. If he didn't recognize them, he didn't recognize them. He could only skip them one by one.
Fortunately, almost all the subsequent ones were recognizable. He quickly finished the medicine test, like cutting through tangled silk with a swift knife. The stone tablet displayed his test score: six out of a possible ten. A passing score.
Mo Qi was so overjoyed he danced and even spun Han Yang around three times! Han Yang wished he could slap him. With this level of skill, what was there to be excited about?
Han Yang pushed Mo Qi away with disdain, "Don't waste everyone's time. Let's move on to the next item."
At this point, many outside the hall couldn't bear it any longer and felt there was no point in continuing. Mo Qi was definitely an imposter, and they were probably being ganged up on by the peak lords inside. So, they began to leave.
Mo Qi finally began the silk-drawing test. With his experience removing impurities from the golden armored silver-scaled cocoons, silk-drawing was a piece of cake for him. It was like picking fruit from a tree, accurate and effortless, and fast too. One strand after another, a dazzling display.
Everyone behind him watched in stunned silence. They had never seen silk-drawing from the North Sea Ice Silkworm cocoons done so casually and smoothly.
Most people would draw one strand, pause, observe the position of the next strand and its entanglement with other useful threads, then carefully estimate the force and direction before slowly proceeding.
But this guy was completely like someone picking persimmons, picking one after another without pause or deliberation, completing the task in one go.
Han Yang's initial disappointment turned into admiration. His eyes were filled with envy and adoration.
The disciples watching from afar also began to subtly change their expressions.
"I knew he was 'I'm here to play'."
"Exactly! Otherwise, who would be so handsome, with such fair skin, determined eyes, decisive speed, and skillful operation? He's simply too cool!"
"Are you guys having a split personality? You said he was ugly just now, and now you say he's handsome?"
"That's true. He became handsome subtly."
The silk-drawing rankings outside were generally concentrated between five hundred and seven hundred. So, in the first half, below five hundred, people outside couldn't see Mo Qi's name. People stared at the stone tablet until their eyes blurred, but they saw no changes. More and more people left.
Jin Dan was also somewhat disappointed and prepared to leave. "I knew it. This kid always likes to brag, but this time he's bragging a bit too much."
Bai Li Bing continued to stare intently at the ranking board, his eyes still filled with anticipation.
Just then, someone shouted, "Here it comes, here it comes!"
Those who hadn't gone far rushed back.
Mo Qi's name suddenly appeared on the silk-drawing ranking board. Once it appeared, it climbed upwards like a spider on its own web, with the numbers behind it changing rapidly: six hundred fifty, seven hundred, seven hundred fifty... Soon, it surpassed the first place on the board, becoming the new number one, and the numbers behind it continued to change rapidly.
"Wow!" The crowd erupted in an uproar! Some had witnessed the growth speed of "I'm here to play" the first time, but this time it was much faster than before. Many were utterly awestruck, wishing they could prostrate themselves before the ranking board on the spot!
The numbers quickly broke through nine hundred. By this point, almost no one doubted that Mo Qi was "I'm here to play"!
The faces of Si Ma Shan, Yu Ming, Bai Li Bing, and Jin Dan lit up with smiles. Jin Dan patted his chest and repeatedly told those around him, "This is my brother, this is my brother!"
"We're all fellow disciples, why draw such clear lines?"
"We're all brothers, all brothers!"
Inside the hall, Mo Qi continued to draw silk with ease. The peak lords behind him had various expressions. Han Yang nodded repeatedly, a look of relief on his face. Li Xue Mei had a hint of envy in her eyes, and even more so, a hint of realization: no wonder Xiao Cong'er had fallen for him; a young man like this would naturally be full of charm. Jin Hai's face showed shock, but at the same time, he still couldn't accept someone like this surpassing him.
Mo Qi grew more excited as he drew, his hands becoming more agile, and he drew faster. With a "swish," one strand broke.
At this moment, the number stopped at nine hundred ninety. The rankings outside, which had been changing continuously, stopped when they reached this number. Many cheered, feeling this achievement was worth celebrating; many sighed, lamenting that it was just a little short of drawing a thousand strands, a great pity.
Wu Fan and the others inside the hall also shook their heads and sighed. Because the broken strand meant it was essentially impossible to draw more, Mo Qi could at most complete nine hundred ninety-nine strands. But even with nine hundred ninety-nine strands, no one doubted that he was "I'm here to play"! Jin Hai, however, felt relieved. As long as he didn't draw a thousand strands, no matter how many he drew, he wouldn't have a chance to become the deputy sect leader.
Mo Qi took a deep breath. Regardless of the broken strand, he would first draw the other complete silk threads.
Thus, on the silk-drawing board outside, the numbers began to change again, drawing cheers.
The numbers continued to change, until nine hundred ninety-nine!
Mo Qi stepped away from the platform. Those behind him thought he had given up. Jin Hai took the initiative to applaud, "Good, very good, excellent. If we don't count that 'I'm here to play,' this is probably the best record in history."
As soon as he finished speaking, Mo Qi returned to the platform, pinpointed the location, and with a surge of spiritual power, he drew out the broken strand!
"What? What happened?" Jin Hai couldn't believe his eyes.
It was like a person who couldn't swim, exerting all their strength and using every trick to reach the shore, only to be pulled back into the water by a wave.
The disciples observing around them also let out a burst of genuine admiration. "Incredible, he actually succeeded."
"He's practically deified."
"If he can succeed at this, I really can't imagine what could possibly stump him on the path of alchemy."
The bell outside the hall rang again!
Outside the hall, there was a great celebration! "Deputy Sect Leader Mo," "Deputy Sect Leader Mo"..."
Inside the hall, Mo Qi glanced back at everyone. Wu Fan nodded at Mo Qi, signaling that it was time to finish. According to the announcement at the time, anyone who could complete drawing a thousand strands of the North Sea Ice Silkworm or achieve the complete quality of the Fire Butterfly Cocoon would be promoted to deputy sect leader of the Lingxiao Sect.
Mo Qi shook his head and said, "I still need to obtain my alchemist qualification! Please wait a moment longer!"
His request to wait a moment did not disappoint. Indeed, after a moment, the bell outside the hall rang again. Mo Qi had once again achieved the complete quality of the Fire Butterfly Cocoon. Da Feng Novel Network.
Before, they only looked at the data on the ranking board and found it magical. But just now, Wu Fan and the peak lords had personally witnessed Mo Qi's divine, almost performance-like skills, and truly understood what talent and divine inspiration were!
Everyone's understanding of data accumulation deepened. These data were effortlessly handled by Mo Qi, while for others, they represented a height that could never be reached in a lifetime.
Everyone had to admire him!
The test was over, but no one outside the hall had left. They were waiting to worship the new deputy sect leader.
Finally, a group of people slowly walked out. Wu Fan led the way, his face beaming with joy. Everyone was stunned because no one had ever seen Wu Fan smile before, not even the peak lords had seen him smile much. This kind of smile was likely born from infinite expectations for the future of the Lingxiao Sect.
Mo Qi followed closely behind Wu Fan, naturally radiant and beaming.
"Greetings, Deputy Sect Leader!" a thunderous roar erupted.
Mo Qi waved to the crowd, "Greetings, fellow disciples!"
Wu Fan waved his hand to the crowd, signaling them to quiet down. Then, Wu Fan's deep and resonant voice echoed across the plaza. "As I stated before, whoever could complete drawing one thousand strands of the North Sea Ice Silkworm or achieve the complete quality of the Fire Butterfly Cocoon would be promoted to deputy sect leader of the Lingxiao Sect. I keep my word, so three years from today, we will hold the inauguration ceremony for Mo Qi here."
A hush fell, as if the air had frozen. Then, thunderous applause erupted, followed by cheers: "Long live the Sect Leader!" Some mocking laughter was even mixed in.
Mo Qi almost fainted! He had been tricked again! What a bitter fate! First Xiao Cong'er had schemed against him, and now this old man Wu Fan was scheming against him. This old man, who was hundreds of years old, how could he openly go back on his word?
Upon closer thought, the old man's reneging was justified. He had said whoever could complete drawing a thousand strands of the North Sea Ice Silkworm or achieve the complete quality of the Fire Butterfly Cocoon would be promoted to deputy sect leader, but he hadn't said it would be an immediate promotion. He had been careless!
Han Yang and Li Xue Mei had not expected the Sect Leader to do this either. They felt a mix of amusement and exasperation. Jin Hai, however, was overjoyed. As long as the ceremony wasn't held today, there might still be a chance for a turnaround.
Almost everyone thought Wu Fan was toying with Mo Qi. Only a few understood. Si Ma Shan was one of them. He murmured to himself, "The Sect Leader's intentions are profound. For Mo Qi, an outer disciple who joined a few months ago, to suddenly be promoted to deputy sect leader would inevitably lead to disobedience. No matter how loud the cheers were just now, they were just people joining in the fun. True obedience must come from the heart. After three years, Mo Qi will undoubtedly be reborn and his cultivation will advance greatly, thus his prestige will increase. More importantly, this deliberate suppression will make many people feel injustice for Mo Qi, and when he takes office in three years, everyone will consider it a matter of course, because he should have been the deputy sect leader three years ago."