Chapter 1171, The Supreme Expert

Translator: Silavin

  

Across a boundless plain, countless silhouettes radiating powerful fluctuations stood with composure suspended in mid-air.

 

All manner of wind-splitting sounds rang out at irregular intervals, and from within the Silent Forest, experts continued to streak out in an endless stream, joining this overwhelming sea of figures.

 

Crossing the Silent Forest in its entirety, such a feat was something these talented experts would ordinarily never have even considered attempting. It was only because of the Supreme Expert’s trial that they had acted in such a fashion.

 

At this moment, every single one capable of standing here had been tempered through countless battles and possessed formidable strength.

 

In this sustained wait, the blazing sun hung high overhead, and its piercing light, like the very first rays of dawn, spread open above the heads of those assembled, stirring the hearts of countless experts into a surging tide of emotion.

 

They had finally put an end to those days that had seemed forever devoid of sunlight, and had passed the first trial.

 

*Ziiiii…*

 

All at once, beneath the refraction of that brilliant sunlight, a patch of space at the far edge of the sky seemed to grow faintly indistinct.

 

Qin Yichen’s head snapped upward, and in the very next instant, his pupils contracted sharply.

 

*Whoosh!*

 

A wave of movement, like the surging of a tide, spread outward from within the ocean of people, and nearly every gaze turned to look up into the sky above.

 

In their eyes were deep and genuine reverence.

 

Up in the sky, light wove and interlaced until it resembled a vast chair of radiance, and what commanded the most attention of all was the indistinct silhouette seated upon that great chair of light.

 

That silhouette belonged to a man with slightly greying hair. He was seated with an upright composure. His face bore more than a few wrinkles, yet they could not conceal a peculiar sort of distinction. From within the gaze that occasionally opened and closed in that silhouette, there dwelt a terrible pressure beyond description, spreading faintly yet pervasively over this entire expanse.

 

Across the whole of that vast plain, a silence fell. Gaze upon gaze, every last one filled with excitement and reverence, was fixed upon that indistinct silhouette.

 

That terrifying pressure, together with the silhouette that many experts found familiar, made the identity of that figure all but ready to spring from their lips.

 

The Supreme Expert…

 

Even among the Top Tier Races, the Supreme Expert was the most supreme and transcendent of existences. Even as a mere projection, such an existence was more than sufficient to make countless geniuses hailing from every great Race involuntarily set aside their own pride and bend, humbly, at the waist.

 

“The Supreme Expert… Lord Mo Sheng.” Qin Yichen let out a slow breath, and a flicker of burning heat crossed his eyes.

 

If he could become Lord Mo Sheng’s Disciple, having such a towering backer behind him would add one immense layer of security to his position.

 

“I am Mo Sheng.” That indistinct silhouette surveyed the countless figures below. A voice entirely devoid of emotional colouring rang out. It was level and unhurried from high in the sky, transmitting itself clearly into the ears of every single person.

 

“First, congratulations are in order. You have all managed to arrive here, and you stand here now proof enough of your potential and talent.”

 

Upon hearing these words, more than a few felt a flush of pride rise to their faces. Compared even to the praise of the Supreme Expert, all the hardships they had endured before, risking their very lives to cross the Silent Forest, seemed entirely worthwhile.

 

Yet many found it rather strange. Why, at the very moment the first trial had just concluded, had the Supreme Expert suddenly made an appearance?

 

“Surely…”

 

More than a few sharp-minded guys felt their bodies give a sudden involuntary tremor.

 

What a supremely exalted existence the Supreme Expert was. On an ordinary day, even those of no small standing would find it extraordinarily difficult to secure even a single meeting with him.

 

No one believed it was because the first trial had claimed too many lives, and the Supreme Expert had been moved to sudden compassion.

 

Though it was only a projection, the Supreme Expert making an appearance at the precise conclusion of the first trial, this seemed to carry some significance…

 

[Does he already have a candidate in mind?] Qin Yichen’s eyes narrowed just slightly, and something of a tension he could not quite suppress rose in his heart.

 

[This is too quick, no?]

 

Then again, the Supreme Expert’s temperament was not something others could easily fathom. If he had truly set his sights on someone, no one else could hope to sway his mind.

 

“During the first trial, I observed your courage, your strength, and various other aspects.”

 

Sure enough, under the weight of gaze upon gaze, that indistinct voice, like that of a deity, spoke slowly: “And in the course of that period of observation, I have already settled on a candidate.”

 

“Already settled on a candidate?!”

 

“Who is it?”

 

“Could it be Lei Jiuchun? I heard he slaughtered several Saint Realm Demonic Beasts inside the Silent Forest!”

 

“I wasn’t half bad myself. Three Peak Stage Martial Ancestor Realm Demonic Beasts cornered me, and didn’t I put every last one of them down?”

 

No sooner had those words fallen than the vast plain erupted into a rustling chorus of whispers and murmurs. The eyes of countless experts were filled with a mixture of shock and disbelief.

 

“Ha! Brother Qin, surely Lord Mo Sheng must have taken notice of you.”

 

Beside Qin Yichen, Qing Luan chuckled lightly.

 

Indeed, if one spoke in terms of sheer brilliance, it was entirely likely that no one in the first trial could hold a candle to Qin Yichen.

 

Alone, he had drawn the encirclement of several thousand young prodigies. Under the assault of several hundred, he had slaughtered over a hundred of them. And finally, he had defeated Jin Mi.

 

Such a record, who could compare to it?

 

Even if rumours held that he possessed a defensive treasure capable of withstanding the attacks of Saints, the courage and the composure of mind required, those were things no ordinary person could hope to rival.

 

“I believe this person is someone you are all familiar with.”

 

High in the sky, that silhouette like a deity’s rose slowly from the chair of light, and his gaze seemed to turn in a particular direction.

 

In an instant, gaze upon gaze followed the line of that indistinct figure’s sight.

 

There, standing in mid-air with an expression of complete bewilderment, was Qin Yichen.

 

“Me?” Qin Yichen blinked. Even with his usual cold composure, something he simply could not restrain began to stir with excitement in his chest.

 

His own experience had admittedly been rather rough. But viewed in this light, it did seem that, in the first trial at least, no one had truly matched his record for brilliance.

 

“Qin Yichen?!”

 

“Seriously, it really is him!?”

 

“You accursed wretches, two thousand of you went to encircle him and couldn’t even finish the job! Look what’s come of it now!? You’ve gone and set the stage for his rise instead!”

 

The moment Qin Yichen was singled out, a wave of startled outcries rang out across the plain.

 

Set against Qin Yichen’s dazzling record of achievements, what the others called their own accomplishments seemed, by comparison, rather difficult to look at.

 

After all, in the first trial, quite a number of them had possessed maps of the safe routes, and many had quite deliberately held back their strength, never showing their true hand.

 

And yet, based solely on the first trial, the Supreme Expert had already determined the candidate in his mind?

 

At this moment, many of them began to deeply regret having held themselves in reserve. And those who had participated in the ambush against Qin Yichen were consumed by something far closer to outright despair.