If it had been earlier, the scores of forty-six and forty-seven announced by Daoist Qingfengzi would have probably shocked everyone.
But now, such high scores seemed nothing special in everyone’s eyes, and they were all stunned.
They seemed yet to have recovered from Ye Feng’s score, each wearing a dumbfounded expression, scarcely believing their eyes.
"Young Master Zhou, not settling for this outcome, looked at Daoist Qingfengzi and asked, "Daoist Qingfengzi, could you please repeat... how much did Ye Feng score, number ninety-eight?"
"Oh! No, that’s incorrect!" Suddenly, Daoist Qingfengzi announced at that moment.
"Phew~~" Everyone exhaled in relief, showing a relaxed look in their eyes, followed by smiles all around.
Zhou Shaochen stated, "I knew it, how could it possibly be ninety points, how could anyone achieve a security score of ninety points? Such a person simply doesn’t exist!"
"That’s right, that’s right, Young Master Zhou, it’s just not possible for anyone to score higher than you, it was obviously a mistake!"
At that moment, Daoist Qingfengzi declared, "Let me announce Ye Feng’s score again."
Zhou Shaochen looked utterly relaxed, completely unbothered. He felt that no matter what Ye Feng scored, it wouldn’t be higher than his own.
"Number ninety-eight, Ye Feng, ninety-five points!" Daoist Qingfengzi loudly proclaimed.
"Ninety-five points... ninety-five points..." That robust and clear voice resonated clearly around them.
This time the voice was clearer and more resounding, making it unmistakable to everyone.
Even Daoist Qingfengzi thought it impossible for Ye Feng to score so high, but had to admit, Ye Feng’s responses to the questions showed a deeper understanding of the Taoist law than even himself, granting him a feeling of sudden enlightenment upon review.
Daoist Qingfengzi nearly awarded Ye Feng a perfect score, but deducted ten points on the last question due to a difference in understanding between them; it wasn’t necessarily wrong, so he confessed and deducted ten points.
However, seeing Zhou Shaochen’s arrogant demeanor, Daoist Qingfengzi decided to knock him down a peg. Given that Ye Feng’s differing views weren’t necessarily incorrect, he settled on a compromise, awarding Ye Feng ten points.
If someone were to look at Ye Feng’s test paper, they would see an initial one hundred points, crossed out and corrected to ninety points, and then nearly crossed out again, altering it to ninety-five points.
"How is that possible!" In an instant, all those present shouted in shock, finding the score of ninety-five points unbelievably high, a historical peak, beyond anyone’s grasp.
The crowd felt as if they were dreaming, staring with wide eyes, struggling to accept the reality.
Young Master Zhou looked at Ye Feng, overwhelmed with disbelief, then turned to Daoist Qingfengzi: "Elder Qingfengzi, you said Ye Feng scored how much? We didn’t hear it clearly; could you please repeat it?"
"Yes, Elder Qingfengzi, would it trouble you to say it once more?" echoed those around him.
Even Wang Wei and Du Yuan doubted their own ears, wondering if they had misheard.
Daoist Qingfengzi, impatiently and loudly exclaimed, "How long has it been since you’ve cleaned out your ears? Are they blocked with wax? Ninety-five points! Ninety-five points! Do you understand now, Ye Feng scored ninety-five points! Clear enough for you?"
Daoist Qingfengzi’s voice rang out forcefully, leaving the crowd dumbstruck, their minds in turmoil, as they realized they hadn’t misheard; Daoist Qingfengzi had indeed reiterated "ninety-five points" three times. This confirmation solidified their certainty that Ye Feng truly achieved an astonishing score of ninety-five points.
Zhou Shaochen’s eyes widened in disbelief, furiously glaring at Ye Feng: "Impossible, absolutely impossible, he must have cheated; this score is unprecedented, nobody could ever get such high marks. I don’t believe it, I absolutely don’t believe it! Elder Qingfengzi, you must investigate thoroughly, he definitely cheated, how else could he score so high?"
Zhou Shaochen’s lackeys nodded in agreement, "Indeed, how could such a high score be possible? Elder Qingfengzi, you must thoroughly investigate this matter, it has to be cheating, or else such a score couldn’t exist!"
"Exactly, it must be cheating, please conduct a thorough investigation!"
"Hold your damned tongue!" Daoist Qingfengzi couldn’t help but roar, letting slip a curse: "You brat, are you suggesting that I conspired with Ye Feng to cheat, or that I lack the ability to spot cheating?"
Daoist Qingfengzi’s overwhelming presence pressed down upon them, making even breathing difficult, their faces twisted in discomfort.
Zhou Shaochen quivered in fear, shaking his head repeatedly: "Certainly not, how could your excellence miss someone cheating?"
"Indeed, you brat, since I can detect cheating, but you say Ye Feng cheated, do you mean to imply I colluded with him and turned a blind eye to his cheating?" Daoist Qingfengzi demanded loudly.
Zhou Shaochen trembled all over, shaking his head incessantly: "No, no, it’s all a misunderstanding, just a misunderstanding!"
"Humph!" With a cold snort, Daoist Qingfengzi declared, "Let me tell you, even if Ye Feng had cheated and I hadn’t detected it, do you think you could cheat under my watchful eye and get away with it? If you managed to cheat successfully without being caught, I would still count your score!"
Following Daoist Qingfengzi’s words, the crowd was left with no choice but to concede to Ye Feng’s score.
"Is there anyone else with doubts about Ye Feng’s score?" Daoist Qingfengzi surveyed the surrounding people.
Everyone shook their heads, indicating they had no further doubts, and only then did Daoist Qingfengzi nod satisfactorily: "Good, now that all doubts have been addressed, let’s take a brief rest and immediately prepare for the third round of the martial trial."
At that moment, Du Yuan suddenly stood up: "Wait!"
Daoist Qingfengzi frowned and asked Du Yuan, "What are you unsatisfied with, lad?"
Du Yuan shook his head: "Of course not, Elder Qingfengzi. I remember Zhou Shaochen saying earlier that if anyone’s score surpassed his own, he would call them ’Dad.’ Now surely, what he said then still counts, doesn’t it?"
"Right!" On hearing Du Yuan’s remark, the crowd grew excited, their eyes gleaming with anticipation as they took schadenfreude pleasure in watching Zhou Shaochen...
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