Chapter 8: Loss of Common Sense
"6-69?! That can't be right?!", the other examinees were perplexed.
The children who were making fun of Viel had their mouths shut. Their faces were currently painted red in shame. Wei Song was the most affected among them.
"H-he definitely cheated! T-that stone is broken!". Wei Song complained while glaring at Viel.
"Are you saying this prestigious academy that has stood for thousands of years, is being cheated by a little boy?". An Da's voice exerted authority. Even though he did not release any kind of malicious intent at all, the children still felt like they were being suffocated.
Wei Song, the instigator, couldn't help but look down in disgrace as he was scolded by the examiner.
'This isn't good', An Da thought.
An Da was first and foremost a teacher. He knew that some of these kids will start to doubt themselves if this continues on. So he couldn't help but encourage the examinees to not lose hope.
"You have to remember that Viel here has western blood. Westerners are known for their strength. Does anyone here know why that is?"
Diao Mei raised her hand, "Teacher! This is because their techniques, skills, and even their so called magic primarily rely in their physical strength! But Teacher An Da, even if that was the case, I remember Grandpa-"
"That is enough, Diao Mei. Very good.", An Da did not let Diao Mei finish her sentence.
As soon as the other examinees heard Diao Mei's explanation, the they couldn't help but come into realization and they once again started to brighten up.
Diao Mei, however, felt something was definitely off. He could not help but look at Viel with suspicion, but also an equal amount of amazement.
"Ha! That's right! You westerners are only good at using your bodies!". Wei Song couldn't help but return to his usual arrogant liveliness.
"That's enough! Even though I said that, it doesn't change the fact the he is physically stronger than all of you! Do not slack!". An Da quickly glared at the little buffoon that doesn't stop on yapping.
"We move on to the next test, all those who did not pass may leave now!". As he said this, the faces of the people who did not score above 30 showed signs of disappointment, majority of them crying as they leave their hopes of getting in to the academy.
'This kid… there is something wrong about him'. An Da thought while seeing Viel happily hopping back towards the end of the newly formed line.
"That was... surprising. How the hell did you that, Viel!? ... you're not some kind of monster, are you!?', Xiao Pei jokingly asked as he poked Viel all over his stomach playfully.
"Hehehe stop that! Were you surprised, Pei Pei?". Viel chuckled as he covered his mouth, ever since Viel was able to walk and think, he had this strong urge to want to surprise and startle people. For some reason, it makes him feel happy and excited. Not Grandpa Ling, though, as he was always the receiving end.
[Soul 03's nose starts to bleed due to the Player's cuteness]
'T-this aura?! Why is this boy so cute?!' Xiao Pei and the nearby examinees could not help but blush. Wei Song, on the other hand, was slightly annoyed, yet he was also blushing.
"E-enough! We will now begin the second test!". An Da waves his hand as he urged the children to stay quiet. With this, everyone once again put their attention on the stage as they anticipated what comes next.
"Hehe. I am excited, I wonder what kind of game we will be doing next.", Viel's eyes sparkled as he waited for the examiner to begin the next test. Yes, for him, this might as well be considered as a game.
"A…a game?". Xiao Pei couldn't help but form beads of sweat on his face.
Suddenly, the big slab of stone on the stage disappeared onto the ground.
"The second test is fairly simple. You just have to stay standing as I release my killing intent upon you. Those who can not suppress my will and kneel down in 30 seconds will fail the test. You do not need to move from your spot as I will release it equally at the same time amongst you. Be careful, the pressure will get stronger as every second goes by."
"Are you children ready?!"
"This student is ready!"
With this, everybody bowed and readied their stance. Some of them carrying a worried expression.
The examiner nodded. Suddenly, a heavy pressure came upon the children. A few of the children fainted immediately, while some kneeled in pain. Half of the group already failed as soon as the test started.
Seeing this, the examiner couldn't help but exhale and shake his head. He was disappointed that with just the lightest pressure, some of the children already gave up. He continued to increase the pressure while scanning the rest of the children.
"20 seconds left!"
As An Da was checking the children, he nodded in approval when he saw the black and silver haired girl who scored above 50 at the first exam. Even though she was sweating, there was a smile on her face.
'Very good, she has an aptitude for battle. Violet, was it? I did not notice she was also a westerner because of her black hair. I wonder what they are feeding young westerners right now, they seem to be getting stronger.", An Da thought.
"10 seconds left!"
Diao Mei still had a relaxed face as she controlled her breath.
Wei Song was shouting as he tried his best to remain conscious.
Xiao Pei had a very ugly expression, traces of blood flowed through his lips as he gritted his teeth. 'I musn't fail here!'.
An Da continued to scan the talented students from the Strength Test earlier. He couldn't help but reveal a wide smile. This smile, however, was short lived as his eyes reached the end of the line.
Viel was currently looking at the other children, he was wearing a very confused face. It was as if he didn't even feel any pressure.
'T-this little boy?! Very formidable!'. Although An Da was very surprised at first, he became excited at the thought that a one in a million genius was going to attend Taizhou academy.
He wanted to test this little boy further, and he did do just that.
He exhaled and focused his eyes on Viel as he exerted more killing intent.
"....", Viel waved his hand in the air as if there was a mosquito flying around him.
Seeing that it still didn't have any effect, he decided to double the pressure… then triple… then quadruple.
Beads of sweat started to form on An Da's face as he continued to apply more and more pressure on Viel. 'T-this monster! Hahaha!'. An Da's face distorted in excitement.
Perhaps because he was so excited, he couldn't help but sneeze, accidentally losing control of the pressure he is releasing on Viel.
'Oh! Oh no! The little boy!'
An Da couldn't help but worry, putting too much pressure on an untrained child, that will most likely result in death. He hurriedly tried to retract his will, afraid that the academy will lose a very talented student.
[Soul 02 expresses annoyance]
Suddenly, An Da felt a sharp pain on his chest.
He noticed that Viel was now staring at him with his eyes wide open. Viel's deep dark eyes felt like it was trying to suffocate and suck him in. It felt like it contained a hidden malice, like a calm dragon luring you to intrude its terittory.
Fear, there was no other word to describe it.
Where did the innocent and cute child go? It was as if the little boy in front of him was a totally different person.
"!!!", An Da held his breath as he twisted his face in fear.
"Hehe, Grandpa An Da, your face is very funny"
An Da felt the pain on his chest stop as soon as he heard the little boy laugh at him.
'W-what...C-could I just be imagining things?', An Da thought as he regained composure.
"Grandpa?", Viel continued to innocently look at him.
"I-it's nothing! T-the second test is over! 30 seconds have passed!"
As soon as he said this, the pressure on all of the children stopped. They all exclaimed a breath of relief as the heavy pressure started to dissipate.
"EEEH?! The test is over!? Eeeh, what happened…". Viel sulked as he lost his chance to startle anyone, not realizing that Examiner An Da almost died of shock because of him.
When Xiao Pei heard what Viel said, he couldn't help but sigh, "I... i'm going home.".
'No! Don't just accept it!' Just like that, some of the children that also heard Viel were about to cry blood as they start their descent from common sense.