Damned Healer-Chapter 712: Bouncy Clown

Pyreus flinched at Darian’s words and quickly snapped at him. "Don’t mess around here! This is the Celestial Plane, not your mediocre planet. Even if he wasn’t a Palace Master, any disciple could—ahhhh, stop!"

Darian didn’t bother listening and stepped forward, looking at those figures with indifference, as if they were nothing more than clowns.

That gaze made the two powerful figures narrow their eyes. The only reason they didn’t teach him a lesson was because there were too many people watching.

"What is it? Still got something to say?" Baynod spat, staring straight into his eyes.

"Palace Supervisor..." Darian ignored the idiot as if he were just a noisy child; a vein bulged on the man’s forehead. Then Darian focused on the woman instead.

"You said earlier it didn’t matter whether I took the test or not. I didn’t know that, in this sect, people change their word so quickly."

"Heh," Naposell snorted. "My words naturally carry the highest credibility. But since there’s someone like Limdiss, who’s in the same situation as you, taking it, do you really have the nerve to sneak in through the back door? I only said that to help you, giving you an easier path. You’re too immature and foolish, child..."

Darian almost burst out laughing, but he didn’t bother arguing.

"The Supervisor’s words are completely fair. If this junior wishes to enter the sect, it’s only right that I take the exam. Taking shortcuts would not only be unfair to others but also disrespect the sect’s laws and order. So I’ll have to trouble you to make the necessary arrangements and allow this junior to participate in today’s exams."

"Darian, you..." Pyreus was furious and anxious. He wanted to jump in rage, but since he was standing in front of everyone, he couldn’t shout too loudly and could only force his voice down. "You... you’re crazy!"

"Hahahaha!" Baynod and the participants around them burst into loud laughter.

"Excellent." Naposell nodded slightly, but the disdain in her gaze toward Darian was obvious. If he wanted to humiliate himself, that would be even better to tarnish Chrysos’ reputation for bringing him.

"In that case, you may join the first group. Preparations are almost complete. The first exam of today should begin shortly."

Darian nodded, and she pointed out his group’s location.

The first group was the closest to them. It was the group that had been laughing at them the whole time, and also... Baynod’s niece, Limdiss, belonged to that group.

Pyreus took two "slow" steps forward and grabbed Darian’s sleeves. He sent him a mental message, serious and urgent: ’Hurry, come back with me. Don’t embarrass yourself here. You’ll make Master a laughingstock, too. I swear he’ll handle this, and you’ll enter the sect anyway. Don’t be an idiot and insist on this!’

Darian replied calmly through voice transmission: ’I’m doing this precisely so I don’t trouble your Master or make him a joke. Just stand there and watch...’

His words were calm, yet carried an imposing weight. He turned and walked toward his group without looking back.

As Darian approached, one of the organizers said clearly, "The exam will begin soon... You’re the ’first person’ in history to participate while being this weak. This test wasn’t designed for someone like you, so you’re taking extremely high risks. Don’t forget: this was your choice."

The people around burst into laughter once again. Normally, someone with special abilities was a person who focused on something other than raw power and was naturally weaker than others in combat or extreme situations.

Of course, that only applied to normal people from the Mortal Plane.

As for him... on top of that, he had ridiculously low cultivation. Taking this test was basically inviting his own death.

The earlier nervousness and caution of those taking the test were replaced with looks of contempt and amusement. All those who barely dared to breathe inside the Hall now felt superior to one single person... superior in both strength and intelligence.

When Limdiss returned to the group, whether on purpose or not, she simply stopped right beside Darian.

The moment she stopped, she turned to him with a wide smile.

"Kid, I don’t wish you harm. Even though Chrysos is a Palace Master, no one knows when he might just drop dead. What a pity... someone like you, who probably worked hard to gain at least some decent skills, ended up in his hands. How about this? If you kneel in front of me, I guarantee I’ll get you into the sect and keep you by my side. Fair, right?"

As she spoke, her right foot tapped against the ground, and her eyes fixed on Darian without the slightest attempt to hide that she was sizing him up. After humiliating him, she clearly intended to do even worse in the future.

"Stop dreaming about entering the sect at your current level. If you obey me from now on and become my loyal little dog, maybe I’ll throw you a few bones. Think I’m insulting you? No, no, no. I actually pity you, because you’re about to become a huge joke. If no one protects you, your chances of walking out alive are already close to zero... I’m really being generous, aren’t I?"

"..." Darian crossed his arms, eyes half-closed, not giving her any response.

"What? Are you deaf?" Limdiss mocked.

Darian sighed and muttered, "Stupid girl."

"W-what did you say!?" Limdiss’ expression twisted.

She believed Darian wasn’t an idiot and understood the risk he was taking, but that he’d been pushed into this with no other way out.

So, after her offer, he should’ve been overjoyed. In her mind, she was like an imposing monarch, able to look down on him with disdain and decide his fate. If she wanted him dead, it would only take a snap of her fingers. She even saw actively speaking to him as a kind of favor.

Not even in her dreams did she imagine Darian’s response would be an insult filled with contempt.

Her whole body trembled, but she couldn’t explode in anger in that place. Soon, her face returned to its usual calm. However, a sinister coldness appeared in her eyes as she let out a low laugh. "Good... very good. You’ve got guts!"

Darian snorted and ignored her. Dealing with spoiled brats was an endless headache; no matter where he went, they always seemed drawn to causing him trouble.

Suddenly, the voice of the person in charge of the test rang out loudly.

"The preparations are complete. You may begin at any moment. However, before that, I need to remind you of something. Your group currently has a total of ten thousand three hundred and twenty-three people, but only one thousand will advance to the second round."

Only one out of ten would pass... and that was just for the second round.

"And only one hundred out of those thousand who enter the second round will pass. In other words, out of all of you, only one in a hundred will be approved. The Golden Crow Sect is not a place for just anyone! If you don’t want to fail miserably, put aside your former arrogance... because here, all of that is nothing but a joke!"

Everyone in the first group fell silent, holding their breath. Even though the sect accepted people from everywhere, they couldn’t afford to lower their standards. It was better to have fewer people who were truly powerful than pathetic disciples who would disgrace the sect in the future.

"Also, I have some good news for you." The person in charge casually took out a crystal bottle from his pocket.

"There’s always someone who achieves the best result, and, of course, that person will be rewarded. After all, what’s useless should be discarded, while talent deserves special treatment. And this year’s reward—tsk tsk—can be considered the greatest in a hundred thousand years. It’s something that even makes my mouth water."

He slowly held up the bottle in his hand, movements careful and deliberate. Then he said clearly, "This is a Fire Soul Pill!"

"!"

The moment the words "Fire Soul Pill" were spoken, the participants who had been holding their breath let out involuntary gasps.

Darian lifted his head and, shocked, noticed that everyone around him had wide eyes and open mouths. Even Limdiss, standing beside him, had her eyes shining intensely. Her hands were clenched into fists, trembling with excitement.

Judging by the crowd’s reaction... there was no doubt that even within this Sect, that was a treasure of considerable power and extreme rarity.

"Ah? A Fire Soul Pill!?" Pyreus also gasped. "Why is this year’s reward so excessive?!"

Naposell replied calmly, "This current generation is somewhat fortunate, because the Celestial Tournament, which happens once every ten generations, is about to take place. Therefore, the Sect Leader personally issued an order that we should no longer be stingy with the sect’s resources and instead use all our power to nurture our top disciples. Those already inside the sect will also have a chance to gain a lot very soon."

"However," the person in charge of the test put the bottle away, casting a glance at Limdiss as his expression instantly softened, "in this group, unless some major accident occurs, this Pill already has an owner."

Countless looks of admiration and envy turned toward Limdiss. At the same time, the desire in their eyes quickly faded... because they knew very well that Limdiss stood out far too much in that group, even with the lowest cultivation... or rather, she had—since now someone else held that title.

She was powerful and talented, and also a rare beauty in a sect dominated by men. Naturally, everyone wanted to get close to her.

Limdiss made a huge effort to suppress the joy and satisfaction written all over her face and promptly replied, "Senior is flattering me. The strength of everyone who managed to reach this point—aside from the jumping clown—is extraordinary. The next exam will certainly be a fierce battle. As for first place... although I never underestimate myself, I can’t afford to be complacent."

"Haha," he laughed lightly.

Darian, on the other hand, felt like throwing up.

Baynod’s earlier words about his niece being the weakest in direct combat were complete nonsense. She might have been a few levels lower than the others, but throughout the test, no one had managed to last more than three exchanges against her.

As an alchemist, she had near-supernatural control over the power of her flames. And she could also use her own pills to support herself. It was a perfect combination of talent, resources, and profession.

"Very well! The first part of the final exam begins now. Those who wish to enter the Golden Crow Sect, get ready!"

*Buzz!*

After the last words of the person in charge, a massive inscription was activated. A pulsing red light surged up from below, enveloping all the examinees.