The sun rose over the Azure Cloud Sect, dispelling the mist.
The survivors of the exam were gathered in the plaza. Of the ten thousand who entered, only six thousand remained. Some had quit; many had died.
The atmosphere was tense. The Elders were not smiling.
Elder Liu stood on the podium, holding a black orb. It was a Demonic Qi Detector.
"All disciples will form a line," Elder Liu commanded. "We have reason to believe a heretic has infiltrated the exam. You will be scanned before your results are tallied."
Panic rippled through the crowd.
Mo Tian stood in line, his appearance still that of "Han Fei." He was calm. The Face-Changing Bone Art was physical, not magical. The Bone-Masking Pill (he had taken a second one) suppressed his aura.
But the real test was the loot.
He had Zhao Feng's ring. He had the Beast King's core (which he had managed to pocket before Yan Luo noticed).
"Next!"
The line moved. The detector hummed.
"Clear. Pass." "Clear. Pass."
Suddenly, a commotion occurred near the front.
"My son! Where is my son?"
A middle-aged man in luxurious silk robes pushed through the crowd. It was the Clan Head of the Zhao Clan. He looked frantic. "Zhao Feng's life tablet shattered last night! Who killed him? WHO KILLED MY SON?"
The Elders exchanged looks. Zhao Feng was a prime candidate. His death was a political nightmare.
"Clan Head Zhao," Elder Liu said gravely. "We found his body. Or... what was left of it."
"Who did it?" The Zhao Clan Head roared, his spiritual pressure (Foundation Establishment Peak) washing over the disciples. "I will skin them alive!"
Mo Tian watched, bored. Grief is so loud.
Finally, it was Mo Tian's turn at the scanner.
Elder Liu held the black orb over Mo Tian's chest. The orb remained silent.
"Clear," Elder Liu grunted. "Name?"
"Han Fei," Mo Tian said.
"Results?"
Mo Tian reached into his bag. He didn't pull out ten cores. He pulled out one.
He placed the Mist King's Thunder Core on the table.
The size of a fist, crackling with purple lightning. The pressure emanating from it made the nearby disciples stumble back.
Silence descended on the plaza.
Elder Liu's eyes bulged. "A... Mutated Rank 1 Core?"
Yan Luo, sitting on the high platform, stood up. "I can vouch for him," she announced, her voice carrying across the silence. "I witnessed him slay the Mist King. He risked his life to protect the sect from a rampage."
The crowd gasped. The spotlight shifted instantly to Mo Tian.
The Zhao Clan Head, however, narrowed his eyes. He looked at this "Han Fei." He looked at the sword hanging at his waist.
"Wait," the Zhao Clan Head snarled.
He pointed a shaking finger at Mo Tian's hip.
"That sword... that is the Golden Crow Sword! That is my son's sword!"
The silence broke. Ten thousand pairs of eyes locked onto Mo Tian.
Mo Tian looked down at the sword. He hadn't thrown it away. Why would he? It was a good sword.
"Explain!" Elder Liu shouted, his hand hovering over his weapon.
Mo Tian looked up. He didn't panic. He didn't deny it.
He looked directly at the Zhao Clan Head, and then at Yan Luo.
"I found it," Mo Tian said, his voice trembling with 'fear'. "I found it in the forest... next to a pile of ash. I thought... I thought the owner had died fighting the beast. I only used it to survive!"
"Liar!" The Zhao Clan Head drew his blade. "You killed him to steal his treasure! Die!"
He launched himself at Mo Tian, a blur of murderous intent.
This was it. The moment of truth.
If Mo Tian fought back, he would reveal his strength and his demonic arts. If he didn't, he would die.
Mo Tian stood still.
Three... two... one...
FLASH.
A white ribbon of light intercepted the Zhao Clan Head, knocking him back.
Yan Luo stood in front of Mo Tian, her sword drawn.
"Stop," she commanded. "This disciple is under my protection. There is no blood on him. No demonic Qi. If he found the sword, he found the sword. The Azure Cloud Sect does not execute heroes based on conjecture."
Mo Tian looked at Yan Luo's back.
Beautiful, he thought. The shield works perfectly.
[System Notification] [Manipulation Successful.] [Yan Luo Trust Level: Protective.] [Villain Merit: +100 (Deceiving the Heavens)]
The Villain Emperor had officially entered the stage.