Chapter 62: Arguing with Ants is pointless

As Ryan stepped forward, the noise only grew louder. Wushuang Square instantly turned into a boiling pot, buzzing like a crowded marketplace.

Even the four young geniuses standing beside Ryan wore unsightly expressions.

Being granted an exemption meant recognition. It meant their strength had been acknowledged by Western Mansion itself.

But now—

A so-called “waste” was standing shoulder to shoulder with them.

What did that make them?

Didn’t that imply they were being placed on the same level as him?

Their faces darkened, yet none of them dared to speak. On the high platform, Examiner Wang Zongyao still stood there calmly, his gaze sharp and commanding.

Who would dare openly question the examiner?

On the high platform, several family heads exchanged glances, their expressions complicated. Though none voiced their objections, dissatisfaction was clearly written across their faces.

The spectators were far less restrained.

The murmurs grew louder, the stares sharper. Among the examinees, many openly looked at Ryan with disdain.

And among them, Su Jian of the Su Clan and Fan Chun of the Fan Clan were the most enthusiastic.

They had just clashed with Ryan yesterday. Now, with a chance to ridicule him openly, how could they resist?

Their words dripped with sarcasm, openly questioning Ryan’s qualifications, even hinting that Ryan had somehow “visited” the Western Mansion branch yesterday and secured this exemption through improper means.

Those insinuations spread quickly.

The crowd stirred, as if enlightenment had struck.

“So that’s how it is!”

“No wonder a waste could be exempted.”

“Western Mansion must be hiding something!”

The discussions grew more vicious.

Some people even felt a twisted sense of pleasure. To them, questioning Western Mansion, even indirectly, felt like daring to slap the heavens.

After all, Western Mansion was the ruler of the Western Region. Being able to criticize it gave some people a fleeting sense of importance.

On the high platform, Zhu Yan frowned deeply, his gaze fixed on Ryan.

“Brother Wang,” he said cautiously, “Li Wei was known as someone who couldn’t cultivate. This time, letting him take the qualification exam is already surprising… but giving him an exemption slot feels inappropriate. It will only turn Fengyue City into a laughing stock.”

Wang Zongyao turned his head sharply, his eyes cold.

“Is he a waste?” he said flatly. “Who gave you the right to define that?”

His tone hardened.

“This matter is my decision. Exemption does not mean qualification. If he lacks strength, he will naturally be eliminated in the third round.”

Wang Zongyao sneered inwardly. “Eliminated? Li Wei?”

A nine-star Exalt who could kill an Upper Exalt?

Someone even he himself did not dare underestimate?

Lose?

That was the real joke.

Zhu Yan fell silent, lips pressed together, his brows still furrowed as he looked at Ryan.

Meanwhile, the chaos below showed no sign of stopping. Some spectators even seemed ready to leave their seats and rush toward the arena to protest.

Reckless.

Foolish.

“Humph!”

A cold snort echoed across the square.

In the next instant, Wang Zongyao’s Upper Exalt aura burst forth like a roaring tide.

An invisible pressure crashed down from the high platform.

In that moment, everyone beneath it—participants and spectators alike—felt as if a mountain had been slammed onto their shoulders. Breathing became difficult. Knees trembled.

Several weaker individuals collapsed straight to the ground, drenched in cold sweat.

The entire square fell into deathly silence.

Only Ryan stood calmly, unaffected, as if the crushing pressure didn’t exist at all.

Wang Zongyao withdrew his aura and spoke slowly, his voice echoing clearly across Wushuang Square.

“Who receives an exemption is decided by the examiner. You are not required to agree.”

“If you believe the five standing here lack the strength—”

“Then defeat them in the third round.”

The pressure vanished.

People gasped for air, faces pale, fear lingering in their eyes.

No one dared to speak again.

As Wang Zongyao had said, exemption did not equal success. Fail the third round, and everything before it was meaningless.

If Ryan truly lacked ability, he would be crushed there.

Understanding this, the complaints gradually faded.

Satisfied, Wang Zongyao nodded. “The five exempted participants will rest to the side and wait for the third round.”

“All others—begin the first round of examinations.”

Ryan and the other four stepped off the arena, moving to the observation area.

Soon, the qualification test resumed in an orderly fashion.

The first round was a strength test.

Each participant had to lift a massive stone weighing nearly three hundred jin. As long as the stone left the ground, they would pass.

For ordinary Upper Elites, this was no small challenge.

The first participant stepped forward.

He was a family disciple with a tall frame and thick arms, already at the three-star Upper Elite level.

In Fengyue City, that alone made him a respectable young talent.

He hugged the boulder tightly, veins bulging, teeth clenched.

“Haah!”

With a roar, he exerted all his strength.

The boulder trembled… and then settled back in place.

Failure.

The disciple’s face turned pale as he stepped down in frustration.

The next participant moved forward.

One by one, the test continued.

As for Ryan and the others, watching from the sidelines was… dull.

Just then, a cold voice sounded beside Ryan.

“Li Wei,” the voice said sharply, “do you really think you deserve to stand here and watch?”

Ryan turned his head. The one who had spoken was none other than Fan Wei, the young master who had just basked in cheers a moment ago.

The first round of the examination was in full swing. The crowd’s attention was fixed on the arena, and no one cared about the five exempted candidates resting at the side.

With the spotlight elsewhere, Fan Wei no longer bothered to hide his hostility. His gaze toward Ryan was sharp and cold, as if Ryan had committed some unforgivable crime.

Yuan Qiong, Su Sidao, and Mu Xianling also looked over, interest flickering in their eyes. Clearly, they were more than willing to watch a show.

Ryan didn’t respond.

Fan Wei’s brow twitched. He took a step forward, his voice dropping into a sneer.

“Li Wei, do you really think you deserve to stand here, leisurely watching others struggle through the exams?”

Ryan glanced at him, expression calm, almost puzzled. “Why wouldn’t I?”

Those two simple words landed like a slap.

Fan Wei’s face darkened. He hadn’t expected Ryan to answer at all, let alone so casually. His anger surged, and his voice rose unconsciously.

“You’re a waste who couldn’t cultivate. What right do you have to stand here? What right do you have to stand alongside us?” He sneered. “Even if you can cultivate now, you should still compete properly in the arena. Why do you get an exemption?”

Su Sidao folded his arms, eyes narrowing as he studied Ryan. “I’m curious too,” he said lightly. “With the Li Clan’s mediocre background and your trashy reputation, how did you get acquainted with Examiner Wang? Enough for him to grant you such special treatment?”

Yuan Qiong let out a short laugh. “Connections are also a kind of strength,” he said lazily. “If Li Wei can get an exemption, doesn’t that prove something in itself?”

Mu Xianling lifted her chin, pride evident in her eyes. “No matter how you got here,” she said coolly, “you’ll lose to me eventually.”

Ryan listened quietly, then spoke in an indifferent tone. “Whether I’m qualified or not has nothing to do with you lot. Worry about yourselves.”

To him, these people were nothing more than Upper Elites and Elites. He couldn’t be bothered to take them seriously. If this weren’t Fengyue City, if this weren’t the Western Mansion branch, they wouldn’t even qualify to stand in front of him.

Fan Wei’s jaw clenched. Since when had someone of the same generation dared to speak to him like this?

“You’re arrogant,” Fan Wei said coldly. “You think hiding behind Examiner Wang makes you untouchable? Fine. Pray you don’t meet me in the third round.”

Su Sidao chuckled, cracking his knuckles. “Same here. I can’t guarantee my hands will be gentle.”

Yuan Qiong merely snorted, while Mu Xianling stood proudly, like a peacock showing off its feathers, her confidence written plainly on her face.

Ryan only smiled faintly, saying nothing.

To him, arguing with ants was pointless.

Seeing that Ryan completely ignored them, Fan Wei’s anger boiled even higher. Yet he also knew that continuing would only make him look foolish. With a cold huff, the four of them turned their attention back to the arena, waiting for the third round, when they could “properly teach this trash a lesson.”

At that moment, a wave of astonished cries erupted from the audience.

“Whoa!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep