What A Monster! . . .
Zhan Yunfei was overwhelmed with regret. His emotions ran high as he ranted, "What an incredible opportunity, and you, you bastard! I missed it because of your words! I told you I wanted him to be my personal disciple... Yet, you kept droning on about Heaven's Selection and other nonsense. Look at it now! Look at what's happening! He can cultivate any martial art he wishes... Why did I listen to you? Why did I let my guard down? Damn it! Oh, heavens, it's reached ninety-six now... Ninety-seven... Unbelievable, it's ninety-eight... Xiao Mufei... I helped you get a daughter... and you've ruined my bright future... I hate you! I hate you now, and I'll hate you in the future, in the next life! I'll never stop hating you!"
Zhan Yunfei was so distraught that his speech was disjointed, a desperate attempt to vent the anger and frustration welling up within him.
Unbeknownst to him, his outburst had consequences. The three grandmasters who had previously been cold and distant were now visibly displeased. It was evident that they had harbored hopes of having the young man as their disciple, and those hopes were dashed by Xiao Mufei's intervention.
Xiao Mufei remained oblivious to the complicated emotions he had stirred among the sect's senior figures. He had gone from being the object of Zhan Yunfei's anger to becoming a pawn appreciated by the three great grandmasters.
As the light marks on the pillars reached ninety-nine and finally came to a halt, there was a collective exhale of relief in the hall. Some contemplated, "Finally... What a monstrous talent! Other disciples only aspire to learn something from us, but he might surpass us entirely. That's quite frightening... We're fortunate it didn't reach one hundred, or I might have met my end here today..."
However, life has a way of defying expectations. Perhaps there is a certain perverse pleasure in observing someone teetering on the brink of fear. The next moment, after the light marks had paused for a while, the moonlight abruptly surged, causing the marks to surge with it.
One hundred!
They had reached the pinnacle of the pillars!
All twelve of them!
Witnessing this spectacle left everyone in a state of astonishment. No one questioned it or asked how it was possible. They merely gazed at the pillars, their minds blank, an indescribable feeling settling over them.
"Is this real? Can it be true?" someone whispered.
Soon, the same question reverberated through the hall, and people began to murmur in awe.
"Is it real?"
"How...?"
"Am I in a dream? Hey, you there, pinch my arm... Ow!... Damn it! That hurt! This is real... Are you trying to kill me? It hurts like hell..."
"You told me to pinch you, didn't you? Besides, what's the harm? Even if I kill you, you'll be dead, and you won't challenge me for this perfect disciple!"
"Exactly! So why should I let you kill me? Why don't I just kill you instead? That way, you won't have a chance to mislead the young generation. I can't allow this perfect disciple to be under your foolish tutelage."
Amidst all the commotion, Yue Changtian remained silent. He, too, was astounded, his gaze fixed on the moonlight.
The miracle had not yet concluded; the scale marks on the pillars had reached their zenith. However, the moonlight did not waver or fade; it continued to shine.
What did this mean?
It signified that the potential of this young man was immeasurable, beyond the capacity of the twelve pillars in Cold Moon Palace to determine.
The miracle was far from over, and its implications were profound.
Yue Changtian was in awe. He couldn't tear his gaze away from the young man before him, his attention locked as if he were beholding a cherished treasure.
The moonlight continued to flow, and the pillars remained radiant, bathed in celestial luminescence. Time seemed to lose its significance as the spectacle persisted, captivating the onlookers.
For nearly an hour, the moonlight poured forth, and the pillars continued to shine with an intensity that defied their expectations. They had never witnessed such an extraordinary event during Heaven's Selection. Normally, the pillars would darken immediately once the selection was complete.
But now, the slow, deliberate darkening of the pillars left them astonished. Their previous questions and exclamations had given way to an eerie silence that pervaded the hall. Everyone remained fixated on Cha Eun Xiao, their eyes burning with fervor.
Zhan Yunfei was consumed by regret. The realization that all twelve pillars had reached one hundred left him feeling utterly despondent.
"One hundred in any martial art... He can cultivate any martial art... What a sham the Heaven's Selection is," he seethed internally, directing his hatred towards Xiao Mufei.
If Xiao Mufei had been present, Zhan Yunfei might well have resorted to violence in his frustration.
The three great grandmasters were aflame with excitement. Why did martial artists dedicate their lives to mastering their craft? It was not solely for personal power and invincibility; it was also to secure a worthy successor, someone who could carry on their legacy.
Even if their own progress was limited, they wished for their name to shine for generations. They did not want to be remembered as the masters of a talentless disciple who squandered their teachings. They yearned for the prestige of a worthy successor who could surpass them.
This vision filled the minds of everyone in Cold Moon Palace as they contemplated Cha Eun Xiao's potential.
If he were to become a legendary figure in the Qing-Yun Realm, even achieving a status surpassing that of Wu Fa, his name would be forever associated with Cold Moon Palace. Their desire was coming true.
The next step was to proudly declare, "The great Cha Chongxiao's master is..."
The anticipation was palpable, and the three venerable grandmasters couldn't contain their excitement, their aged bodies quivering with joy. The future seemed full of limitless promise.