Heavens' Laughter

In that instant, an overwhelming explosion erupted in the sky.

Under all the eyes, the cannonball, a formidable force, had made contact with Dragon's Roar.

The explosion erupted with such intensity that a blinding light filled the sky.

Onlookers stumbled back, covering their faces or averting their gaze, yet a few stared directly into the dazzling burst, mesmerized despite the searing brightness.

For those brief seconds, the entire sky seemed to vanish in a white-hot flash.

Feng Shen simply tucked his black fan away, clasping his hands behind his back as a satisfied smile spread across his face.

"It's so beautiful..." he thought to himself, his golden eyes shining.

The sheer amount of power he could command with such a low level of cultivation filled him with a deep, almost reverent satisfaction.

The blast itself for Feng Shen was a testament to the precision and control he had over Qi.

So, he couldn't help but fix his eyes on the fading remnants of the explosion that he himself had set in motion.

Yùn Yì, on the other hand, crouched low, positioning herself like a turtle retreating into its shell. She shielded her face with her arms, squeezing her eyes shut against the overwhelming light.

The flash was so intense that she dared not even peek, fully aware that for a mortal like herself, gazing upon such a display of power could mean instant blindness.

As the light faded and the sky began to clear, clouds slowly drifting back into place, a murmur rippled through the crowd.

Onlookers exchanged shocked glances and hushed whispers, their eyes inevitably drawn to the young man who had caused such a spectacle.

"Who… who is that?"

"You don't know? That's the Second Young Master of the Feng family from the Crane Empire…"

"Wait… you mean him? The one they called the infamous coward?"

"Believe it or not, he's no coward anymore… He's a hero to us humans!"

"Tsk... so that's the bastard human who murdered one of our kind in broad daylight!"

As a minute passed, the blinding light finally dissipated.

Suddenly, Feng Shen heard a loud thump resonate through the air, drawing his attention to the left. He turned his head sharply, his curiosity piqued by the sudden noise.

But what he saw made him chuckle to himself.

The demi-human bear, who had been all talk earlier, now lay collapsed on the ground, unconscious from the shock of everything that had transpired.

Fortunately for him, he had managed to tend to his injury, and the bleeding from his neck had ceased, leaving behind only a distorted scar marring his fur

The sight was both pathetic and amusing, and it took every ounce of restraint for Feng Shen to hold himself back from wanting to toy with the demi-human bear further.

However, he soon shifted his attention away from the bear as he heard his personal servant muttering incoherent words nearby.

"I can't... I shouldn't... If I open my eyes, will it be over? Will it be worse?"

Yùn Yì was rocking back and forth, clearly conflicted and uncertain about whether she should open her eyes.

"I gotta admit though… that was so cool!" She said under her breath, her voice barely above a whisper.

Although Yùn Yì hadn't witnessed the spectacle directly, the sound of the explosion had resonated through her, creating a vivid image in her mind.

It had felt epic to her!@@novelbin@@

"You know you can open your eyes now?" Feng Shen said, rolling his eyes with a hint of exasperation.

It was amusing yet mildly annoying to see his personal servant like this, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of responsibility for her safety.

Something Feng Shen didn't really ever have a sense of; it felt like an alien concept to him.

However, he understood that he needed to protect his personal servant as she grows, to become stronger and more capable in her own right.

Just so Feng Shen could reap all the benefits once she reached a high cultivation level.

Having heard the Second Young Master's words, Yùn Yì felt a surge of trust wash over her. Slowly, she opened her eyes, blinking as she stood up.

As her gaze drifted upward, she saw that everything had returned to normal. "You truly are amazing…" She muttered under her breath.

Yùn Yì knew just moments ago, the Second Young Master had caused such destruction in mid-air, an explosion that shook the very skies, only for it all to return to a beautiful scene.

"Attention! Attention! The Trial Overseer alongside all the Instructors are now here!" A small blue bird with three eyes flew around in circles, its voice sharp and clear, spreading across the grounds.

Such words brought everyone's attention to the front entrance of the academy, where multiple men and a single woman emerged, each draped in elaborate robes adorned with intricate patterns and luxurious accessories.

As they walked, everyone fell silent. Most of the eyes were wide with awe and respect.

The Trial Overseer, a small, overweight figure, led the group with a jovial demeanor. A giant smile stretched across his face, his cheeks round and rosy.

His earrings—small, silver crosses—swung back and forth, perfectly matching the color of his short hair and eyes.

Stopping in place, the Trial Overseer brought the procession to a halt, causing the other instructors behind him to stop as well and fall into a neat formation, hands clasped behind their backs.

He took a moment to savor the vibrant liquid in his alcoholic bottle, lifting it to his lips for a sip before placing it away from his mouth.

Then, after a satisfying puff from his pipe, the Trial Overseer erupted into a fit of coughs.

"Cough... cough... Nowww... What was I s'posed to say again?" He muttered to himself, his brow furrowing in concentration.

Despite having held this role for a couple of thousand years, he could never quite get used to the responsibilities it entailed.

The weight of such a role often felt heavy on his shoulders, and in truth, he preferred the simpler pleasures of life—like drinking and smoking in peace.

As the Trial Overseer, he often found himself in this position, stumbling over the familiar lines he had delivered countless times before.

"Ah~ that's right! Hiccup… Welcommmmme, newwwcomers!" His voice slurred and boomed across the grounds, wobbling as it reverberated off the stone walls.

The Trial Overseer couldn't lie to anybody.

He was externally wasted right now. Hell, it was hard for him to walk properly just the couple of feet from the academy. Each step was a precarious balance of wobbling and swaying,

Any moment he could've fallen to the ground and began snoring.

This moment made the instructors behind him exchange glances, their expressions a mixture of embarrassment and resignation.

They all felt like falling to the ground in defeat, knowing they were supposed to uphold the academy's reputation, yet here they were, led by a Trial Overseer who could barely string two coherent sentences together.

It was a familiar scene, one that had played out countless times before, but each iteration still left them cringing at the spectacle.

Once he regained his composure a tad bit, the Overseer cleared his throat, his expression still cheerful but now tinged with a hint of seriousness:

"Ahem… Alright, alright! Hiccup! Welcome, welcome, you lovely bunch!" He waved his hand that held the bottle in the air, nearly spilling its contents:

"You're about to start the trials, where... where everything's a little crazy! But don't worry—cough—you'll get through it... or not!"

The Trial Overseer giggled. "Just remember, if you trip, fall, or... or end up dead, it's all part of the fun! So, let's get this show on the road!"

Immediately after his words, he spilled the alcohol from the bottle, the liquid splashing onto the ground with an ominous hiss.

As soon as it made contact, the entire ground began to bubble and melt away rapidly, creating a swirling vortex that began swallowing everything in its vicinity.

"What's happening!?"

"Is this a part of the trials!?"

"I didn't sign up for this bullshit!"

All the young men and women, caught in the throes of panic, struggled against the pull.

Some instinctively tried to flee, scrambling away from the edges of the vortex, while others froze in fear, their eyes wide with disbelief.

However, it was pointless, everyone was swallowed up.

Actually… Not everyone…

"Well, that was boring…" Feng Shen sighed, sitting atop the stone wall, his cheek resting on his fist. His expression was one of utter indifference.

He could tell the moment he saw the alcohol that it was a special type, one that transcended the ordinary. This wasn't just any drink; it was a technique.

Intoxicated Sips…

It was a technique that was very rare, even among those in the Nine Heavens, where the most powerful cultivators practiced.

Feng Shen couldn't resist shaking his head inwardly. The Trial Overseer who had this technique, while intriguing, seemed underdeveloped.

'Such a shame…'

It was like a diamond in the rough, possessing the potential for greatness but lacking the finesse and mastery required to truly harness its power.