Chapter 15 The Test Began (2/2)
”Get them off the platform. They are useless.” The Chief Elder looked disappointed. These young men could not even pass the first level.
To everyone's astonishment, Darren closed his eyes tightly and did not behave unusually.
”Ha-ha, the loser is not meditating. He is just pretending.”
”Perhaps he is sleeping. Otherwise, he would have shown some signs of discomfort.”
”Ha-ha!”
The crowd roared with laughter.
”Shut up!” shouted an elder, and the crowd silenced. They did not dare to disturb the geniuses on the platform.
Mazes showed up in Darren's mind, one after another. He searched them for the exit.
”This is the way. It must be.” Darren felt enlightened all of a sudden. He succeeded in understanding the first level.
Then he continued with the second level.
Darren found it complicated and difficult in the beginning because he had never read about meridians. Now, after his probing at the first level, he found the second level even simpler.
Then the third level, the fourth level…
Darren meditated on one level after another, smoothly without stopping. One hour passed.
He completed the meditation of the sixth level.
Darren opened his eyes and looked down from the platform.
”Ha-ha! Look, the loser has woken.”
”Get off and stop pretending.”
Someone from the crowd taunted.
Darren felt something unusual just as he was going to tell the disciple from Ilmen Sect that he had completed the meditation.
He noticed several words at the bottom of the stone tablet.
”There are seven levels in this scripture.”
Darren closed his eyes and engaged himself in meditation.
Meanwhile, several other Chu Clan members climbed down from the platform.
”How did it go, babe?”
”I have mastered the third level. But I could not go on. My head is aching.”
”Well done. You've done enough to pass the first test. Take rest now.”
Nicholas, Blake, and Leo frowned. Obviously, they had encountered difficulties as well and were struggling to overcome them.
Darren's forehead beaded with sweat. The seventh level was so tricky that he felt as if he were lost in endless darkness, unable to get out by any means.
The clock continued ticking. Four hours passed.
At this moment, only four youngsters remained on the platform. Everyone gazed at the three geniuses, while completely ignoring Darren.
”Ah!” shouted Leo as he woke from the meditation, his face pale.
At this time, Nicholas' mother and Blake's father smiled at the thought that their sons had done better.
Another quarter of an hour later, Nicholas and Blake both woke and panted heavily. They looked even worse than Leo.
”My son must have mastered all six levels, Ha-ha!”
”Humph, maybe not. He is just forcing himself. Only the master can tell us.”
Darren was the only one left on the platform now. Everyone grew impatient. It was a pure waste of time for the idiot to pretend and posture.
After a little while, Darren stood. A sharp light shone in his eyes.
The crowd burst into a guffaw at the sight of Darren in an energized mood.
”Now, come here to test your degree of mastery. The first one is York Chu.”
York walked forward with his head high and began to practice his mastery of the Meridians Refining Scripture, one level after another.
”York has mastered four levels, although his degree of understanding is low. He can take the next text.”
The degree of mastery for each level was categorized as low, medium, high, and perfect.
The next person was not that lucky. He had mastered three levels at a low degree and was taken away after he cried.
”Nicholas Chu is next.”
As he walked past Darren, Nicholas scorned at him contemptuously. ”Idiot, you are making such a scene here. Let me show you what a true genius can do!”
Nicholas began to practice his mastery of the scripture.
For the first level, he achieved a high degree of mastery.
In the second level as well, Nicholas had reached a high degree of mastery.
…...
For the fifth level, he had acquired a medium degree of mastery.
And for the sixth level, Nicholas had a low degree of mastery.
A commotion arose in the crowd. The audience felt as if their blood was boiling.
Nicholas had achieved complete mastery of all six levels, but for the sixth level, he had reached a low degree. It was impressive. He was a very talented genius, indeed.
Even the master from Ilmen Sect nodded with satisfaction.
Then Blake and Leo continued. Neither was as good as Nicholas. Their mastery of the fifth and sixth was adjudged at a low degree.
”Darren Chu is next.”
The crowd burst into laughter when Darren's name was called. This fool had slept for hours on the platform, and it was time for him to humiliate himself.