While every adeptus waited patiently, Morax—who outwardly looked calm and composed—was already considering how he should punish a certain brat if he failed to show up today.
On the mountain path nearby, Xue Kui suddenly shivered.
A chill crawled up his spine.
He sped up.
The crane chick buried its head into Xue Kui's chest, exhausted from being carried at breakneck speed and too scared to look up.
Not long after—Morax exhaled, relieved.
Then his amber eyes narrowed.
A crane?
No—not just a crane. Its gaze held intelligence.
A nascent adeptus.
Where did the brat find a quasi-adeptus?
Was recruiting subordinates now a buy-one-get-one deal?
Morax glanced toward his own followers… and suddenly felt dissatisfied.
He had to search the mountains himself to find talents, while these people never brought anyone back.
His initial irritation with Xue Kui—after all the chaos from the first meeting—softened.
The brat now even looked a bit… pleasing to the eye.
Everyone else stared at the tiny yaksha holding a crane.
Then, like synchronized puppets, they turned and looked at the large black-and-gold crane standing among them.
The crane's feathers bristled.
"What are you staring at?!"
The crowd flinched and turned back toward Xue Kui—only to see the little white-haired yaksha yelp as the crane chick suddenly launched itself at his head and pecked him furiously.
…
Unique entrance, to say the least.
Morax remained expressionless.
He wasn't even surprised anymore.
Not sure if that was good or bad.
"You cut it close. Today is the final day."
Xue Kui froze.
Oh.
So it was today.
He puffed up his chest immediately.
Of course he must not reveal that he had completely forgotten.
He set the crane aside. Morax looked at the fledgling beast and waved a claw. A golden shield wrapped around the crane to keep it safe.
Xue Kui exhaled, relieved.
He lifted his chin with confidence.
"Obviously. Old man—watch closely. I've improved a lot."
Every adeptus present leaned back in unison.
Old… man?!
They were Morax's subordinates. By right, they should be furious when someone insulted their lord.
Yet…
They couldn't help but feel a flicker of admiration.
Morax was strict. He was terrifying when teaching. All of them had entered his service because they fought him—and lost. No one wanted a second beating.
Yet this kid?
This kid had called him "old man" to his face.
Twice.
Even the yaksha group glanced at Xue Kui differently.
Were all newly born yaksha this fearless?
Fushe opened his mouth to explain, then paused.
He couldn't exactly say I wasn't as brave as a child when I joined.
So he said nothing.
Morax, however, remained unreadable.
"Let us begin."
Everyone leaned back again.
He's… not angry?
Morax—that Morax—didn't react to being called old?
Did he unlock some new divine technique that allowed him to create life?
Was this child secretly something the Emperor created?
Before they could overthink it—
Morax moved.
Not waiting. Not giving a handicap.
The one who tests must act first.
His claw tapped lightly against his arm.
Golden light split the air.
A stone spear, far too large for any human to wield, formed midair and launched like a bolt of lightning—leaving only an afterimage.
Morax's gaze sharpened.
If this were three months ago, you couldn't have survived this.
This thrust would reveal whether Xue Kui had trained consistently—or wasted his time.
Xue Kui saw the spear and knew he couldn't dodge.
Yes—his tracing attempt had failed. He still didn't know his true form.
One crucial factor was missing—something that opposed the leyline.
But he had gained something.
Before, he wouldn't have reacted at all.
Now—he could.
He planted his feet.
Ice formed.
Clash—
The spear tip met the ice spearhead in his hand.
Xue Kui twisted his wrist, redirecting the force, letting the spear skim past him rather than block it head-on.
He followed the momentum, body sliding sideways.
The spear shattered a distant hill into gravel.
The adepti turned toward Ping.
That technique—redirecting Morax's spear attack—looked eerily familiar.
Ping shrugged.
"I told you. He learns fast."
Everyone leaned back yet again.
Unbelievable.
Morax nodded once.
Not bad. He hadn't wasted the time.
He considered something.
Perhaps spear arts were worth investing in.
Guizhong's insistence on guiding mortals to develop tools and knowledge now felt less foolish.
Morax himself never assumed he was invincible. Growth was necessary even for gods.
And the test continued.
Knowing Xue Kui couldn't fly, Morax spread his will across the ground.
Spikes of jagged stone erupted toward him.
Xue Kui frowned.
Dodging was easy—but if he kept backing away, eventually he'd have nowhere to stand.
He stomped.
Ice surged forward, colliding with geo spikes.
Ice crystals shattered—
but the stone spikes slowed.
Morax nodded.
Fast absorption of elemental energy.
Higher intensity.
Better control.
Hmm?
Xue Kui lunged toward him.
Morax's lips curled.
Good.
A yaksha does not endure blows.
A yaksha charges.
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