C12 Unconvinced

"Thank you, examiner, and thank you, gentlemen, for your assistance."

Huah Yunfei was taken aback by the number of influential individuals who had come to his aid today. His recent appraisal and auction of a top-grade Five-color Spirit Stone had certainly put his name on the map, earning him widespread recognition.

"Examiner, this seems rather unfair! Why are you so strict with us, yet so lenient with him?"

Those who had just been screened out hadn't departed when the commotion here caught their attention. They had initially watched the examiner's stern demeanor with a sense of schadenfreude, thinking Huah Yunfei was just another unfortunate soul.

But in an instant, the tables turned dramatically. Huah Yunfei had breezed through the selection process with the backing of numerous endorsements.

Suddenly, a chorus of protests erupted as many voiced their grievances about the perceived injustice.

The examiner's face soured, confronted by the disgruntled crowd. He was at his wit's end, unable to bear the collective ire directed at him.

"What's all the fuss about? Didn't you see the multitude of endorsements he has? If you could garner such support, I'd let you through as well."

"It's rigged!"

"There's trickery afoot!"

The crowd was not swayed by the examiner's words, continuing to accuse the situation of being rigged and suspect.

The examiner's mood darkened further, blaming Huah Yunfei for the upheaval. Though he had been reluctant to pass Yunfei initially, he now saw an opportunity to turn the situation to his advantage.

"Enough with the noise! Let's settle this. I'll pose a few questions, and anyone who can answer them all correctly will be granted entry. Fail, and you must leave the governor's mansion immediately."

He intended to trip up Huah Yunfei, respecting the influence of the crowd but also seeking to extricate himself from the mess. This way, he could dismiss Yunfei under the guise of a fair challenge, and even those who had recommended him would have little ground to object.

"Alright, examiner, please pose your question!"

This approach was quite satisfying to many, as they had already lost their chance. It was essentially the examiner cutting them some slack.

"Okay then, tell me, how many types of Spirit Stones are there in total?"

This question sparked excitement among the crowd as they eagerly answered. It was, after all, the most fundamental knowledge.

After listening to the various responses, the examiner dismissed those who failed to answer correctly on the spot.

Soon, only a few people remained. Those left turned their attention to Huah Yunfei, anticipating his response.

"Examiner, while they have mentioned ten types of attributes for the raw stones, this is not exhaustive. As we all know, there are many rarer Spirit Stones, such as those with Double Attribute, Three-attribute, and Spirit Stones that combine Four-attribute and Five-attribute elements. The myriad combinations contribute to a much more complex Spirit Stone system."

"You're correct, the question is indeed complex. There's no need to be so explicit; mentioning ten types of attributes suffices!" The examiner, slightly annoyed, responded to Huah Yunfei's comment.

To the examiner, Huah Yunfei's additional information was inconsequential.

The examiner then posed another question, "What abilities do Spirit Stones of various attributes possess?"

Again, it was a fundamental question, and many had the answer, including Huah Yunfei who was well-versed in the topic.

As the questions continued, Huah Yunfei consistently provided fluent responses, leaving only three skeptics.

The examiner was losing face; his intention had been to stump Huah Yunfei, but it was clear that he was having no such luck.

"Alright, now only four of you remain. The next question will be more challenging!" The examiner surveyed the four candidates before him and paused before asking, "Where is the easiest place to find a Fire Attribute Spirit Stone?"

"A volcano!"

"Yes, definitely a volcano."

"The intense heat of a volcano is the most conducive environment for the formation of Fire Attribute Spirit Stones."

The three respondents were in agreement, and their answer was indeed correct.

The examiner nodded in approval and turned his gaze to Huah Yunfei.

Huah Yunfei not only provided the previous answer but also elaborated on it. "The properties of Spirit Stones are governed by a system of mutual enhancement and suppression. Since the wood element fuels the fire element, areas rich in wood spiritual energy are also likely to produce Fire Spirit Stones."

The answer was comprehensive, and the examiner was very satisfied, though his face remained expressionless.

"What kind of elemental combination is the most rapid?" the examiner asked without delay.

"Wind and Thunder, without a doubt! Sir, the questions you pose are quite simple!" the three candidates responded confidently, eager to show the examiner that his so-called challenging questions were no trouble at all.

"That's only one example! Besides Wind and Thunder, combinations involving the Wind attribute tend to be exceptionally swift. For instance, Fire, when aided by Wind, gains tremendous speed. Similarly, Wind and Metal can achieve unparalleled strength with swiftness. The same holds true for Wind and Water. And just as with Wind, combinations of Metal and Water with Thunder follow the same principle."

Despite the examiner's attempts to stump Huah Yunfei, he answered fluently and with deep understanding.

"Hmm! Your answers are quite comprehensive. You clearly possess extraordinary abilities compared to the others," the examiner conceded, visibly impressed by Huah Yunfei's performance.

The three other candidates bristled at the praise. "Sir, that seems a bit excessive! We're not ignorant of these concepts; it's just unnecessary to articulate the answer in such complexity!"

"Very well! The final question will conclude this session," the examiner announced, aware of the time he had taken. After a moment of thought, he posed a challenging question: "It's common knowledge that Yin and Yang are harmonious yet opposing forces. The Yin and Yang Spirit Stones are known as Chaos Origin Stones! With both attributes together, the opposition often outweighs the synergy. How can they be perfectly fused?"

This question caught the three candidates off guard, leaving them at a loss.

"This... isn't this too difficult?" they exclaimed, looking at the examiner with astonishment.

The three individuals hesitated for a considerable time, unable to come up with an answer to the question. Huah Yunfei observed them with a slight smile and asked, "My friends, do you happen to know the answer?"

This question from Huah Yunfei irked the trio, who quickly shot back, "Why the smirk? You act as if you know the answer! We admit we're stumped. If you can provide the answer, we'll hold our tongues and leave at once."

Huah Yunfei had been anticipating just such a response. He smiled again and explained, "To harmonize Yin and Yang, one must blend the two, with each containing a part of the other. Encase a portion of the Yin Spiritual Energy within the Yang, and then wrap a section of the Yang Spiritual Energy within the Yin. This will allow for their perfect integration."

The three men were taken aback, but they weren't alone in their surprise; the examiner was equally astonished. He had assumed that by posing such a challenging question, Huah Yunfei would be at a loss for an answer, and he wouldn't have to say much before Huah Yunfei would be forced to leave, crestfallen.

Yet, against all expectations, Huah Yunfei had provided the correct answer, leaving the examiner in disbelief. The Yin Yang Spirit Stone was exceedingly rare, and those who used it as a foundation for their cultivation were even rarer. Most people would never encounter such a Spirit Stone in their entire lives, much less comprehend its nature.

"Examiner, is my explanation correct?" Huah Yunfei asked, still smiling at the examiner's astonished expression.

With a reluctant nod, the examiner conceded, "You're absolutely correct."

"Haha! I always knew Young Master Huah's reputation was well-earned! How else could he have identified a Five-color Spirit Stone?"

"Indeed! There's no need for a contest for the Golden Stone Token. It should simply be awarded to Young Master Huah!"

The surrounding crowd erupted into cheers upon witnessing Huah Yunfei's triumph.

Even the examiner and the other candidates, who had initially been skeptical of Huah Yunfei, were now visibly agitated upon learning of his successful appraisal of a Five-color Spirit Stone.

"You mean to say you've personally appraised a Five-color Spirit Stone?" the examiner asked, his voice tinged with amazement.

With modesty, Huah Yunfei nodded, "It was purely by chance. Who would have thought I'd stumble upon such an exceptional Five-color Spirit Stone?"

He spoke with a nonchalance that belied the tension in the air; the onlookers couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy at Huah Yunfei's seemingly good fortune.

"Alright, you're now cleared to enter and take the foundational test," the examiner said, having recovered from his initial shock. With a newfound respect, he gestured for Huah Yunfei to proceed.

Those who had been vocally skeptical of Huah Yunfei's qualifications could do nothing but slink away in the harsh light of reality.

Once Huah Yunfei had departed, the examiner realized the reason behind the collective endorsement he had received.

Inside, the crowd thinned considerably. The rigorous screening had already weeded out at least half of the hopefuls.

"How did you manage to get in here?"

Lau Suifeng had taken notice of Huah Yunfei the moment he walked in. With a mix of surprise and hostility, he demanded an explanation.

Huah Yunfei arched an eyebrow and replied with cool contempt, "The same way you did."

"You must have bribed the guards and the examiners! Without a formal invitation, there's no way you could have entered the Prefecture Governor’s Mansion!" Lau Suifeng's accusations rang out, his voice tinged with the desire to broadcast Huah Yunfei's alleged corruption to all within earshot.

True to Lau Suifeng's intentions, the surrounding people cast sidelong glances at Huah Yunfei. Though they remained outwardly indifferent, their eyes betrayed a collective scorn.

Huah Yunfei couldn't be bothered to justify himself, especially not to Lau Suifeng.

Many were still waiting to be admitted, and those who had already passed through were left to wait in a temporary holding area.

As Huah Yunfei continued to ignore Lau Suifeng's outbursts, the latter could only watch in silent fury, eventually closing his mouth.