Nangong Qing'er proposal was clever. She framed it not as an accusation, but as a measure for transparency, to "clear his name." It put Lin Yun in a position where refusal would look like an admission of guilt.
Elder Kong frowned slightly. He exchanged a weary glance with the other teachers. This was becoming a spectacle. But Nangong Qing'er had a point. To maintain absolute fairness and quell the growing unrest, a definitive test was perhaps necessary.
He turned his gaze to Lin Yun, who still stood alone before the stele. "Lin Yun. Nangong Qing'er's proposal has merit. Are you willing to subject yourself to the Spirit-Revealing Mirror to dispel these doubts?"
Lin Yun's mind raced. I certainly have no choice here.
Refusing would be disastrous. But agreeing presented its own problem. The mirror would confirm his 3rd Level cultivation, but it wouldn't explain the score. It would only deepen the mystery. What excuse could he possibly give after that? He had nothing.
He maintained his outward calm, his face a mask of slight resignation. "This student has nothing to hide," he said, his voice even. "If it will satisfy everyone, I am willing."
Elder Kong gave a short nod. He signaled to an attendant, who hurried off and soon returned carrying a round, bronze mirror about the size of a dinner plate. Intricate formations were etched onto its back. This was the Spirit-Revealing Mirror, an artifact designed for one purpose: to display the unambiguous truth of one's cultivation realm.
The attendant brought the mirror before Lin Yun and held it up.
"Place your palm on the surface and channel a wisp of your spiritual energy," Elder Kong instructed.
Every eye in the avenue was fixed on the mirror. Ji Xuan watched with cold anticipation, certain some trick would be revealed. Wang Kun leaned forward, his face still flushed. Hua Mengyan looked on with worried hope. Bai Chenfeng observed, his scholar's mind curious about the outcome.
Lin Yun took a quiet breath. He had no fear of the result, only of the aftermath. He raised his right hand and placed his palm flat against the cool, smooth surface of the mirror.
He channeled a tiny, controlled stream of his spiritual energy into it.
The formations on the back of the mirror glowed with a soft white light. Symbols swirled across the reflective surface, resolving into clear, glowing numbers and characters.
Realm: Qi Condensation
Level: 3
There it was. In undeniable, luminous script. The truth.
"Hiss."
"No way right?"
A collective, soft gasp echoed through the crowd. The final, tangible proof was before them. Lin Yun was not hiding his cultivation. He was, without a doubt, a 3rd Level Qi Condensation cultivator.
The confusion in the air became palpable, almost a physical thing. The contradiction was now irrefutable. The stele said one thing; the mirror said another, and both were supposedly infallible in their own domains.
Elder Kong swept his gaze over the silent, bewildered students. "It is clear now. Lin Yun has not concealed his cultivation. The score from the Prowess Stele stands. There will be no further accusations of cheating."
His words were firm, but they did little to convince anyone. The students exchanged looks filled with skepticism and disbelief. The score stood, but the "how" remained a gaping, unanswered question that hung heavily in the air.
Lin Yun decided his best course of action was silence. He withdrew his hand from the mirror and stepped back, his expression neutral. He would offer no explanation. Let them think what they wanted. Let them speculate about secret techniques, latent talent, or sheer, impossible luck. Any story he concocted would be flimsier than saying nothing at all.
Just as he thought the ordeal was over, the elder who had been standing by the stele the entire time, the one with the kind face that was now etched with deep thought, spoke up.
"Elder Kong," the man said, his voice thoughtful. "While Student Lin has been cleared of cheating, the situation is... unprecedented. To ensure absolute fairness and to quell any sense of injustice among the other students, perhaps... he should take the test again?"
Lin Yun's heart sank. Damn it! he cursed inwardly.
This was the worst possible outcome. If he struck the stele a second time, he would be faced with the same dilemma. If he deliberately scored low, it would prove the first score was a fluke or, worse, that he had cheated and was now afraid to replicate it. If he scored high again, the mystery would only deepen, and the scrutiny on him would intensify.
He was trapped.
Elder Kong frowned, considering the suggestion. It was unorthodox, but the elder had a point about perceptions of fairness. He looked at Lin Yun. "Lin Yun? What say you? Are you willing to take the test a second time to lay this matter fully to rest?"
All eyes were back on him.
What choice do I have here? Lin Yun sighed inwardly.
He had no choice. He had to appear confident and compliant.
Lin Yun nodded, his face a mask of calm acceptance. "Since everyone is unconvinced by the first result," he said, his tone laced with a subtle, unspoken weariness, "then I am fine with taking the test again."
"Good," Elder Kong nodded.
Lin Yun walked back to his starting position before the dark, imposing Prowess Stele. The air was so still he could hear his own heartbeat thudding in his ears.
He took a deep breath, forcing his mind to calm. He activated his Heavenly Eyes once more. The golden grid superimposed over the stele, the complex web of blue energy lines glowing brightly. He located the same weak point he had targeted before—a specific, shimmering gap in the defensive matrix.
Same amount of strength, he decided. Roughly 80%. Let's see what happens.
Elder Kong, the elder by the stele, and every other teacher present leaned forward slightly, their spiritual senses sharpened to a razor's edge. They weren't just watching the score this time; they were dissecting Lin Yun's every movement, the flow of his spiritual energy, the very essence of his technique.
Lin Yun settled into the Fire Fist stance. It was the same simple, unadorned posture. He channeled his spiritual energy, consciously holding back to the same level as before. The vibrant, orange-red flames erupted around his right fist, controlled and superheated.
With the same explosive step, he drove his fist forward. The motion was a perfect replica—piston-straight, putting his entire body's momentum behind the concentrated fire.
FWOOM-BOOM!