Fly Ansel, Genevieve, 'Emperor' Valerius, and Leo saw the commotion and quickly made their way toward the center of the crowd. Along the way, they ran into Jett Gale, who had also come to attend the exhibition. After exchanging a few brief pleasantries, the group quickened their pace.

  Inside the main exhibition hall, a tall woman surrounded by a cluster of staff members approached slowly. The surrounding guests parted like a receding tide, clearing a path for her.

  Fly narrowed his eyes and sized her up. The woman appeared to be in her early thirties, dressed in an elegant yet understated white gown. Her black hair cascaded down her back like a silken waterfall. Every gesture she made exuded an air of refined sophistication.

  "Could Grandmaster Muse really be such a young woman?" A look of surprise flashed across Fly's face.

  "She isn't Grandmaster Muse," Genevieve whispered a reminder from his side.

  "Ah, I see." A look of realization dawned on Fly's face. Indeed, Grandmaster Muse was among the very first generation of Beast Warriors to study in a Martial Academy, and he had even participated in the early stages of The Martial War. Based on that timeline, there was no way the young woman before them could be him.

  "Then, who is she?"

  "That is Cynthia Muse, the daughter of Grandmaster Muse," Genevieve explained.

  Cynthia did not stop to exchange idle talk with anyone present. Her beautiful eyes held a trace of unapproachable coldness. She simply swept a brief glance over the crowd, gave a polite, slight nod, and then walked onto the stage, which was covered by a heavy velvet curtain.

  "Hello everyone! I am Cynthia Muse, the daughter of this exhibition's organizer, Grandmaster Muse. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all of you for taking the time to attend this event."

  Cynthia paused momentarily, and the audience below immediately erupted into thunderous applause.

  While most of the attendees were the once-in-a-generation prodigies from various Martial Academies, there were also quite a few social elites who had managed to get their hands on invitations to attend this prestigious gathering.

  "My father's life has been a life dedicated to the Martial Dao. He has poured all his passion and energy into his cultivation. Now that he is advanced in years, there remains one matter that weighs heavily on his mind—the fact that the crystallization of his life's work has yet to find a suitable successor."

  "It is, quite frankly, a great regret. Every time it is mentioned, my father cannot help but lament with deep emotion."

  "Then why doesn't Ms. Muse inherit her father's legacy herself?" Someone in the crowd blurted out. In an instant, the room was filled with buzzing whispers.

  A flash of displeasure crossed Cynthia's face as her gaze swept toward the direction of the voice. However, she quickly regained her polite smile and replied, "I have trained under my father for many years. While I have achieved some small measure of success, I haven't even mastered a tenth of his skill. I suppose my talent simply hit its limit, and I can no longer improve. Therefore, after much careful consideration, my father decided to hold this exhibition in hopes of finding a disciple who meets his standards—someone to carry on his legacy and fulfill his final wish."

  The crowd began to murmur again. However, 'Emperor' Valerius furrowed his brows and shook his head secretly. A likely story, he thought to himself. This is clearly all for his grand revenge plan. He doesn't want his own daughter to risk her life, so he's looking for a disciple to act as his tool for vengeance. These words might fool the commoners, but they won't work on me.

  After a few moments, the murmuring died down, and Cynthia continued, "To select someone capable of receiving my father's life's work, he specially painted this: The Scroll of Martial Heart-Tempering."

  "Most of you here are the chosen ones of your respective high schools. I'm sure you've heard your teachers say that 'to train the body, one must first train the mind,' haven't you?"

  "When you were absorbing the power of a Beast Totem or attempting to break through to a new level, I'm sure you felt it. It isn't entirely a 'dead thing.' It possesses a fragment of consciousness, always ready to strike back against the warrior's own mind, isn't it?"

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  Hearing this, Fly nodded slightly. It was true. During his recent breakthrough to Level 3, he had nearly been killed by the origin of his own Beast Totem within The Sea of Consciousness.

  Cynthia continued, "Only when a warrior's mind is sufficiently powerful can they suppress the violent riots of the Beast Totem's consciousness and bond more closely with its power. Only then can the path of the Martial Art reach a higher level."

  "This is the core philosophy my father champions: The strength of the mind determines the height of the warrior!"

  At these words, another wave of discussion broke out.

  Cynthia didn't seem to care. She raised the microphone and increased her volume. "Therefore, the selection criteria set by my father is very simple. The Scroll of Martial Heart-Tempering can reflect the mental strength of a Beast Warrior. Any youth under the age of twenty who can withstand its power and pass the trial while observing this painting will be accepted as my father's personal disciple. He will pass on everything he has learned to that person."

  "Not only that, but all future tuition fees and cultivation resources for the chosen individual will be fully covered by my father!"

  The moment Cynthia finished speaking, the entire hall exploded into a chaotic din.

  "Heavens! Not only the personal teachings of Grandmaster Muse, but even the resources for future cultivation are taken care of?"

  "This truly is a chance to soar to the heavens in a single bound!"

  "But how many spots are there? If passing the test makes you a disciple, what happens if more than one person passes?"

  "No idea. Grandmaster Muse should have a way to handle it."

  "Regardless, I'm ready. I will be the one to become Grandmaster Muse's personal disciple!"

  ...

  All at once, the young boys and girls below the stage were rubbing their hands in anticipation, unable to suppress the excitement in their hearts.

  Even Leo, who had originally come just to see the sights, felt his blood start to pump with fervor.

  "But be warned!"

  Cynthia's voice rang out again, drowning out the murmurs in the hall. The chaotic room fell silent once more.

  "My father infused a thread of his own mental power into The Scroll of Martial Heart-Tempering. During the trial later, you will inevitably experience a certain level of mental impact. I hope you young heroes will know your limits and not suffer injuries through reckless bravado."

  "And now... let the unveiling begin!"

  At Cynthia's command, the curtain on the stage was pulled back, revealing a massive scroll about 1.8 meters high and five meters long before the crowd.

  "This..." Fly's mouth twitched as he stared at the giant painting.

  This was hand-painted by Grandmaster Muse? Why does it look like the random scribbles of a toddler?

  It was a chaotic mess of black and white blotches, with various shapes jumbled together and muddy, indistinct colors.

  Fly was just about to start roasting the artwork in his mind.

  But in the very next second...

  "Magnificent! Simply divine!"

  A fat man who looked like a wealthy tycoon squeezed out from the side, shouting his praises at the top of his lungs. "This painting is a masterful stroke, absolutely exquisite! The layout is impeccable, the coloring is bold, and the lines possess a certain messy beauty in their carefree nature! Especially the vibrant depth of this multicolored black... I feel as though I am perceiving the very essence of life itself!"

  "Grandmaster Muse is truly a master of both the blade and the brush! If my son could study under such an all-powerful master, it would be the honor of three lifetimes!"

  For a moment, Fly and his several guys were all left stunned by the display.

  Are you serious? You can actually squeeze that much praise out of this mess?

  Fly watched with a look of utter speechlessness.

  This guy is casting aside all dignity for some shameless brown-nosing just to get his son selected.

  But just then, another deep voice echoed from another side of the room.

  "This painting is full of rebellion! It shows the unique state of mind of Grandmaster Muse! In my opinion, even Van Gogh and Picasso would have to bow their heads in defeat!"

  In an instant, others in the exhibition hall began to nod and voice their agreement. The sound of praise was endless, with some even reciting poetry on the spot to glorify the work.

  Fly shook his head secretly: At this rate, even if Grandmaster Muse taped a banana to the wall, these people would treat it as a supreme work of art.

  "Everyone..."

  Seeing the situation devolve into an indescribable farce, Cynthia couldn't help but speak up, interrupting the crowd's flattery.

  "To prevent this painting from harming the innocent, my father specially applied certain restrictions to it."

  "Only when you are within a two-meter radius of the scroll will you feel its true power."

  "Young elites who wish to undergo this trial, please step forward."

  As soon as Cynthia's words fell, the people who had been praising the work just moments ago all retreated, as if the painting were some kind of venomous beast, wishing they could be as far away as possible.

  Cynthia looked at the crowd, a trace of disappointment flickering in her eyes.

  At that moment, a bold voice rang out. "Since no one else is willing to try, I'll be the first!"

  Fly looked toward the source of the voice and saw Gideon King pushing his way through the crowd, striding toward the stage.

  Then, a second person stepped out.

  Followed by a third, a fourth...

  Skaar, Hank, and Lucas Law from Ironpeak Academy.

  Hugh from Merit Academy.

  Jade Bell from Concord High.

  Every single one of them was a leader of their respective school; every single one of them was a prominent figure in Star City.

  Fly, Genevieve, 'Emperor' Valerius, and Jett Gale looked at each other and stepped forward together.

  "Hiss..." Leo sucked in a breath of cold air through his teeth. He wanted to walk onto the stage bravely like Fly and the others, but when the moment of truth arrived, his legs wouldn't stop shaking.

  So... I just can't do it? Leo watched the retreating backs of Fly and the others, a wave of desolation washing over his heart. I really am not a genius after all...

  Thanks for reading!

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  ?Next update: Next Monday!

  ?Also, I've already updated up to Chapter 93 on my . Feel free to check it out if you want to read ahead!