?


    "Also, the participant who takes first ce may name a wish-Kornac''s Keep will grant it, as long as it''s within our power to grant it."


    As Mole Cricks-the ck-robed elder-finished, he turned to look at another white-haired elder who walked casually out of the keep and sat on an armchair ced beneath the signboard.


    He nodded, and Mole continued, "Then, let''s not drag our feet. The first trial starts now!"


    At this announcement, over a dozen apprentices carried a giant cauldron filled with a herbal soup with a weird scent, cing it in the middle of the crowd.


    Mole then exined, "Everyone will have a chance to taste this soup. You will then list down the ingredients used and its purpose on the piece of paper given to you."


    As soon as he finished, the crowd was pushing their way toward the giant cauldron eagerly, dipping into it with the spats prepared for them and sipping the soup.


    Yosil Darman—the white-haired elder who was seated on the armchair-stroked his beard and smiled as he watched the participants scrambling to get a taste of the soup.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    Ira was among the first who tasted the soup.


    Despite being a spoiled rich brat, he was actually skilled, and he chuckled coolly after tasting it.


    Picking up a pen and piece of paper from the table nearby, he began writing down the ingredients and chemistry.


    Lizard skin, bull horns, poison caps, white sugar...


    Later, Mole nodded approvingly as he took the paper Ira handed him and read through the list.


    The kid did have a few tricks up his sleeve, listing all the herbs used and stating the correct effects: clearing the mind, energizing the lungs and removing body waste.


    Holding up his hand, Mole announced, "Ira Summers, ny-five points."


    Everyone was surprised, not expecting the spoiled rich brat to show such insight, identifying the herbs urately.


    Hell, he was five points short of full marks!


    Ira was certainly pleased, even


    dissing Kairo as he walked past him. "Never judge a book by its cover, right Mr. Wal of Cloudnine Sect?"


    Kairo was unaffected and took a sip of the soup like the others did before smirking at Ira.


    As everyone looked on, he wrote


    down a list of herbs on a piece of


    paper, which was basically what ira


    had listed, except for one extra


    name. ne


    When Mole picked up Kairo''s list, he turned toward Kairo, appearing taken aback before announcing, "Kairo Wal... a hundred points!"


    "What?!" Ira''s smile stiffened.


    Then, seeing Kairo smiling gleefully at him, his eyes narrowed while his knuckles clenched in clear frustration.


    However, he had lost, and it only added insult to injury that he tried to diss Kairo before.


    "That''s a Cloudnine Sect apprentice for you. Actual perfect score."


    "Yeah, it''s been years since any participant got that..."


    Still, amid the noisy discussion, the trial continued.


    No one else got close to Kairo and Ira after that, however, as the best was seventy-five points while the others failed.


    Over ny percent of the


    participants were eliminated from


    orey,


    the first trial alone, except for who participated too and got a perfect score just like Kairo