Chapter 707 - A Special Rule
"Lord Shangguan, yesterday's matter was a case of deliberate incrimination using planted evidence. First, Huang Lin intentionally blocked our way at the city gate and gave us a hard time, and later he ganged up with Shopkeeper Zhou of [Refine Armor] to frame us for stealing. May Lord Shangguan discern the truth," Ye Qingyu said in earnest.
At the same time, everyone's eyes fell on Shangguan Wu.
He had appeared to be a very just and dignified examiner since the start of the test.
In particular, he had defused several situations where Huang Tayun said something to create difficulties for the envoy mission.
Perhaps, Lord Shangguan would provide a rational and fair judgment on this matter.
Upon this idea, every expert who was looking at Shangguan Wu revealed a faint sense of expectation on their faces.
However, he did not provide an immediate response.
He glanced at Ye Qingyu before turning to look at the Wall of Storm and returning to his contemplation.
It was not easy for him to formulate a judgment at present.
Even until this moment, he was yet unable to extricate himself from those feelings of incredulity.
The disappearing marks had defied nature and were unprecedented.
But Huang Tayun's and Huang Lin's words lingered in his ears.
Shangguan Wu's expression was that of struggle and confusion.
It was as if his heart was propping up a constantly teetering balance.
On one side were his near-fanatical worship of and reverence for the Storm Martial Emperor, which explained why he was a little agitated by Huang Lin's and Huang Tayun's rhetoric despite doubting them. Since even the Storm Martial Emperor took issue with the contingent's moral character, then perhaps it would only be appropriate to adhere to His Highness' will and declare the rating test a failure.
But on the other side were his suspicions of this incident.
The imperial family members and humans of the Heaven Wasteland Domain certainly did not look like the thieving sort.
Gloom and silence as before.
The entire plaza had fallen into an extremely odd, quiet atmosphere.
As though they were awaiting a judgment of destiny.
Just then...
"Cough cough, time's almost up... ho ho ho, let me say a few old man's words."
A jolly voice was heard from a corner of the plaza, from where a stout figure crowned with a head of red flames was seen moving toward the center. It was none other than the plump elder Yan Wushuang.
After the test began, the two reception elders had spent most of the time standing quietly at one side without saying a word or participating. In such a tense atmosphere, practically everyone had forgotten about them and did not expect the plump elder to suddenly come forth at this time.
Completely disregarding the weary and confused crowd, Yan Wushuang cheerfully walked up beside Ye Qingyu like a laughing Maitreya as usual.
"Cough... actually, you don't have to be so distressed..." Yan Wushuang wiped the sweat from his face and grinned. "Whether genuine or fake, the theft case can be set aside for now. Furthermore, the idea regarding the Storm Martial Emperor's will is only one party's account of events. What I want to say is, there's more than one way of passing the second test of the Wall of Storm."
"Don't you try causing more trouble, reception elder!" A cold star flashed across Huang Tayun's eyes.
There was a visible hint of threat in his tone.
"Elder Yan... you mean..." To one side, Shangguan Wu abruptly thought of something, and his eyes began to light up.
Every member of the envoy mission, including Ye Qingyu and all the other experts, looked toward Yan Wushuang as if the words he spoke had just rescued them from a deep abyss.
There's another way?
There's still hope for the test to continue?
Everyone's vision instantly became bright once again as they looked at Yan Wushuang and Shangguan Wu with a tinge of urgency and expectation.
"Of course, hohoho. Although I'm a poorly-informed old man, I've heard people say that the Storm Martial Emperor laid down a few test rules when he created the Wall of Storm. Aside from the two mentioned earlier, there's another way to pass the test. That is, as long as one person can punch through the wall, the contingent would be considered to have passed the test." Yan Wushuang looked at Shangguan Wu as he finished speaking and asked, "Lord Shangguan, I wonder if what I said is true."
"Yes, Elder Yan, that's very true indeed." Shangguan Wu nodded profusely.
He had completely forgotten about this special rule because the changes to the Wall of Storm had shocked him terribly.
But...
After a brief feeling of happiness, he suddenly regained his senses and remembered that punching through the wall was no mean feat.
On the other side...
"What? Punch through?!"
"Punch through the Wall of Storm? How... is that possible?!"
"What kind of rule is that!"
"Pointless to have even mentioned it!"
"Elder Yan, tell me you aren't teasing us!"
Like a stone that caused a thousand ripples, this idea engendered a hubbub of voices and discussions on the test plaza which had been gloomy for some time.
They had thought that the plump elder would come up with some brilliant plan, but instead the criteria he mentioned was way too difficult. After all, as a giant wall left behind by the Storm Martial Emperor, the various participants who left a mark had already done so strenuously and excruciatingly,let alone talk about punching through the wall.This was even a feat a Great Saint-level being might not be able to accomplish.
Exchanging looks, Ye Qingyu and Yu Xiaoxing saw the dismay in each other's eyes.
Huang Tayun had been a little worried, but after Yan Wushuang finished speaking, he guffawed at once, saying, "Haha, Elder Yan, surely you're joking, right? Punch through the Wall of Storm? Hahaha, you and I both know full well that, given this envoy mission's strength, this is impossible for them... Heh heh, Elder Yan, you're worrying too much and are simply wasting time."
Yan Wushuang smilingly wiped away the sweat on his forehead and cheerfully said, "Supervisor Huang, you're right. However, it had to be mentioned because it's part of the rules. As reception elders, that's the duty of us two brothers. Hohohoho!"
"Indeed." Shuang Wuyan, the emaciated elder whose body emanated a frosty chill, had inconspicuously arrived beside his brother.
Huang Tayun's complexion turned foul.
At this time, Shangguan Wu seemed to have made a decision.
Looking toward Ye Qingyu and the others, he said, "There's indeed such a rule in place, Lord Ye. There's not much time left, would you like to give it a try?"
Ye Qingyu, who had been looking forlorn, suddenly laughed.
He gently patted Yu Xiaoxing before signaling to the rest of the crowd to remain calm.
"Lord Shangguan, of course I'd like to."
Ye Qingyu's tone was firm and earnest like never before.
"Not giving up until you dig your own grave, eh? I'd certainly like to see how a little cricket like you can punch through the wall... heh heh, you sure don't know your limits." The chill in Huang Tayun's eyes became more severe.
However, for some reason or another, he suddenly felt a little apprehensive.
Since the start of the test, he had been unable to gain insight into the strength of this white-robed youth, as if it was covered by a veil.
"Heh heh, take it easy, Lord Huang. Hohohoho, since you don't think they can punch through the wall, then there is no harm in letting them try. This way, they'll naturally give up and shed a few tears after digging their own grave. Hohohoho, they'd then stop being a bother in Sunrise City, and my brother and I can head back early to Chaotic Sky City to rest. Don't you think so?" Shuang Wuyan said, still as jolly as ever.
Every time Shuang Wuyan verbally tried to stop a fight, he would choke one party to death within three sentences.
However, many people could see by now that although he was ineloquent, he was secretly trying to help the Heaven Wasteland diplomatic corps each time he spoke.
He was truly an eccentric man.
By this time, Huang Tayun also knew that this was unpreventable.
Inhaling a deep breath, he bit his teeth and contemplated for a while before saying with a dreary face, "The domain rating test has all along been fair, just, and open. Since this rule indeed exists, Lord Shuangguan and I will certainly let you all try one more time..."
"However..."
His mood changed and his voice became harsh as he snapped, "You can only send one person and only have one chance. If you cannot punch through the Wall of Storm in one move, you shall be deemed to have failed, and cannot raise any further questions!"
One person.
One chance.
In one move.
The envoy mission had already felt that chances were slim with regard to this test assessment rule of punching through the Wall of Storm. Things were certainly not helped by the added limitations.
"Alright, you may begin."
Shangguan Wu also nodded.
Although this rule was exceedingly harsh and the achievability was even lower, there was a kind of expectation in his eyes as he looked at the white-robed figure standing in front of the wall. Unconsciously, he always felt that this youth from the Heaven Wasteland Domain was extremely fathomless.
Perhaps, he has a way to turn the situation around.
Ye Qingyu walked up to the Wall of Storm.
He was in no hurry to act, and instead concentrated fully on observing the giant wall which flickered in an extremely mild, green misty luster.
On the surface of the wall, all of the pale-green, Dao-containing light patterns no longer changed form, and instead simply converged and surged non-stop like a billowing ocean. Standing below the wall, one would inevitably feel a sense of reverence and submission, regardless of how powerful one was.
Ye Qingyu went into deep contemplation.
The Wall of Storm is certainly not something I can punch through given my present strength. But... if the mysterious figure in the chilly underground lake was indeed the Storm Martial Emperor, then the Dao foundation in the shape of a green breeze that he gave me may have an effect. Time to give it a try.
He slowly operated his yuan qi.
In particular, under his deliberate compulsion, the pale green halo quickly surged throughout his limbs and bones.
A slight smile soon emerged on Ye Qingyu's face. This was because he could feel an extremely familiar aura and sincerity coming from the wall.
It seemed like a form of identity yet also like a form of physical convergence.
The strange sense of familiarity seemed to fuse Ye Qingyu and the wall together.
"Wasting time once again... Kid, are you able to do it or not?" Huang Tayun grew a little impatient as if he had anticipated this behavior from Ye Qingyu. Snorting, he urged, "If you can't do it, quit playing tricks over here and get your ass out of Sunrise City!"