"You must be pretty good to have passed the first round of the Path of Fire-refinement, probably a talent yourself!" Xuan Feng nodded approvingly at Su Mo, like an elder praising his junior.
After a moment's hesitation, Xuan Feng said lightly, "Junior Sister Hong, Junior Brother Su, I'm determined to obtain Ou Lianzi's Legacy of Craftsmanship. Since you are here, please treat this as a test of your talent, and use it to increase broaden your horizons."
Despite his light tone, it was obvious that he was trying to tell Hong Qingxuan and Su Mo that they wouldn't be able to surpass him.
Su Mo and Hong Qingxuan were first taken aback by his words, before they both frowned. This guy seemed to think too highly of himself!
He was determined to obtain it?
And everyone else could only be here to broaden their horizons?
An imperceptible smirk curled across Su Mo's lips. It remained to be seen who would ultimately obtain Ou Lianzi's legacy!
Su Mo was extremely confident in his abilities, be it his talent for cultivation or willpower, he was miles ahead of an average martial artist.
Xuan Feng might be of a higher cultivation, and would definitely possess a stronger willpower, but similarly, this test of willpower would tailor its difficulty level according to one's cultivation.
If not, why would it be a test of willpower? Wouldn't it be easier to select those of a high cultivation?
Just then, the Celestialspirit Sect disciple sitting beneath the Fire Lotus suddenly shuddered, and blood spurted from his mouth. Fatigue also started to show on his face.
He opened up eight petals, but there was still some way to go before he would be able to open all ten petals.
Soon, that disciple got to his feet and walk toward Xuan Feng.
"Senior Brother Xuan, we have all failed this test of willpower. It seems that you stand the biggest chance of succeeding." that disciple said softly.
Xuan Feng dismissed him with a wave of his hand, "Go heal your wounds!"
He turned to Hong Qingxuan and said with a smile, "Junior Sister Hong, since I was here before you, I'll be taking the test next. I hope you don't mind."
Xuan Feng did not even wait for Hong Qingxuan to respond before he walked straight to the spot beneath the Fire Lotus and sat cross-legged.
He did not bother with Su Mo, for a Lv 4 Enlightenment Realm martial artist was not someone he would take seriously. He only spoke to Hong Qingxuan earlier out of courtesy due to her special status.
Hong Qingxuan did not respond since Xuan Feng did not even bother waiting before starting the test, so there wasn't a need to anyway.
"Qingxuan, you should go next. I'll go last." Su Mo told Hong Qingxuan.
This was only the second round, and since there was still one more round to go, Su Mo was not too concerned.
"Alright!" Hong Qingxuan said with a slight nod.
They both looked toward that Fire Lotus, waiting to see if Xuan Feng's talent would be enough to open ten petals.
After that disciple left earlier, the petals of the Fire Lotus had shut tightly again. Xuan Feng sat cross-legged beneath it, reaching out to the Fire Lotus with his willpower.
After one breath, the first petal opened.
In ten breaths, seven petals had opened. Xuan Feng's speed was extremely fast.
"He is amazing! No wonder he is on the List of Top 1,000 Talents!"
Someone among those who were in the midst of healing their wounds exclaimed.
However, after the seventh petal opened, Xuan Feng suddenly slowed down.
It took 10 minutes before the eighth petal slowly opened, and another hour before the ninth petal opened.
"He managed nine petals, just one more and he would pass the test!"
The audience was amazed, for Xuan Feng's results were the best amongst those who had undergone the test. As for the rest, the best result so far was eight petals.
"He is indeed strong!" Su Mo's eyes narrowed. For Xuan Feng to make it to the List of Top 1,000 Talents, it meant not only was he extremely talented, his willpower was also equally mighty!
However, Xuan Feng hit a snag after the ninth petal, his face was flushed and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.
Time trickled by slowly, and after an hour, Xuan Feng's face was covered in sweat while his breathing became laboured.
The tenth lotus petal finally moved!
It opened bit by bit, before finally blooming completely.
"I did it!" Xuan Feng immediately withdrew his willpower upon opening the tenth petal, his face flushed with excitement.
"You did it! Senior Brother Xuan is indeed amazing!"
"That was brilliant! You just need to pass the final round to obtain the Legacy!"
"It does look like Senior Brother Xuan stands the highest chance of obtaining the Legacy."
The audience was stunned, while those three disciples of Celestialspirit Sect looked even more emotional than Xuan Feng.
"Ha ha!" Xuan Feng laughed.
Just then, a beam of light shot out from the Fire Lotus, and enveloped Xuan Feng within.
Xuan Feng's figure suddenly disappeared as he was transported out of the stone chamber.
Those ten petals that had opened were now tightly shut once again.
"Quick, Qingxuan!" Su Mo motioned for Hong Qingxuan to quickly take the test. Any slower and Xuan Feng might obtain the Legacy!
"Alright!" Hong Qingxuan nodded and immediately walked toward the Fire Lotus to begin the test.
Su Mo was surprised to see that Hong Qingxuan opened the petals at a speed faster than Xuan Feng's.
In ten breaths, eight petals had opened.
In twenty breaths, nine petals were opened.
"What? She's that good?"
"She managed to open nine petals in such a short time. This is much faster than Xuan Feng's speed!"
"Her willpower talent is crazily amazing!"
The crowd burst into excited chatter, looking at Hong Qingxuan in disbelief.
As they chattered excitedly, the tenth petal slowly opened.
Hong Qingxuan did not even need 10 minutes to open all ten petals.
"Brilliant!" Su Mo exclaimed inwardly. He was just as surprised to see that Hong Qingxuan's willpower talent surpassed Xuan Feng, for Xuan Feng was on the List of Top 1,000 Talents.
Hong Qingxuan stopped after the tenth petal, although she was pretty certain she could open another two, but there was no need for that.
"Brother Su Mo, I'll go first. I'll be waiting for you!" Hong Qingxuan rose to her feet and smiled. She had complete confidence in Su Mo. Since she managed to pass, she was certain that Su Mo would pass too!
Su Mo nodded, and stepped up to take the test once Hong Qingxuan's figure was transported out by the beam of light from the Fire Lotus.
"She'll wait for him? Does she think it is so easy to pass this round?"
The crowd shook their heads speechlessly. They had all undergone this test, and this test was at least ten times more difficult than the first round.
Some of them had already failed once, some twice. Fortunately, they each had three chances. Once the three chances were up, they would be sent out of this stone chamber.
Su Mo sat cross-legged beneath the Fire Lotus and slowly closed his eyes after looking up at the Fire Lotus above him.