Crazy Mockery

Lin Ming glanced calmly at Cao Ying, who was all bark and no bite, and slowly opened his hand from his sleeve.

If it weren't for Deacon Han Li's sudden intervention, that annoying old woman would probably be lying on the ground, too weak to even breathe...

Lin Ming's indifferent, almost dismissive gaze, as if he were looking at a buzzing fly, made Cao Ying's eyes twitch uncontrollably.

This kid... although he doesn't talk much, every move he makes, every look in his eyes, is filled with a silent, deep-seated arrogance and contempt! This makes her extremely displeased, and she feels a surge of anger, but has nowhere to vent it.

After Deacon Han Li issued a stern warning, the room calmed down considerably. However, Cao Ying's gaze towards Lin Ming grew increasingly sinister and venomous, like a poisonous snake lurking in the shadows, sending chills down one's spine...

"Creak..."

This somewhat eerie and oppressive silence lasted for an unknown amount of time before the tightly closed "Mysterious" level door finally slowly opened.

Immediately, the two men from the Cao Family stepped forward, their faces beaming with barely suppressed smug smiles. On their chests, they wore brand-new badges. The badges were pale blue, wreathed in flames, and on the central tower-shaped surface, six purple-gold stars emitted a dazzling light.

Sixth Grade Intermediate!

Upon closer inspection, one can see that the sixth star is slightly dimmer than the previous five. This is the mark of Sixth Grade Intermediate star. Lower-grade stars would be dimmer, while higher-grade stars would be as brilliant as the other stars.

"The Sixth Grade Intermediate test is complete. Both members of the Cao Family passed..." Deacon Han Li glanced at the badges on their chests before slowly announcing.

Upon hearing this, a smile appeared on the face of the Grey-robed Old Woman Cao Ying. Although it was only intermediate level, it was still quite good, at least it overshadowed the embarrassment of the Ye Family having no one to refer to.

Shortly after Deacon Han Li finished speaking, the tightly closed "Earth" level door slowly opened with a soft sound.

The aloof and beautiful woman, Cao Xue, walked out slowly, her steps still as proud as a peacock's.

On her full and alluring chest, a brand-new badge gleamed. On the badge, six Purple-Gold Stars, each full and radiant, shone with an extremely dazzling light!

Sixth Grade High-level!

"Sixth Grade High-level test completed, Cao Xue, passed."

Upon hearing Deacon Han Li's official announcement, Cao Xue's proud smile widened even further, almost overflowing.

She slightly raised her snow-white chin, feeling the gazes coming from all directions, mixed with envy, amazement, and even admiration, and her vanity was satisfied like never before.

She strode arrogantly to the side of the Grey-robed Old Woman Cao Ying, and then her gaze, full of interest and a playful, cat-and-mouse-like quality, fixed on Lin Ming, who was still resting with his eyes closed.

She was really curious to see how this guy would clean up his mess after that shocking "attention-grabbing" act. His expression when he slunk out after failing the test would be absolutely priceless!

"Next..." Deacon Han Li glanced at Lin Ming, who remained unmoved, with a complicated expression. He sighed inwardly, shook his head, and said, "It's time for the Seventh Grade Intermediate assessment. I will personally supervise this. Come with me..."

After saying that, he turned around and walked towards the "Heaven" level testing room, which was the rightmost and most ancient and imposing of the four large doors.

Seeing this, Lin Ming did not hesitate at all, as if he were just going for a walk, and followed along.

The two of them, one after the other, slowly disappeared behind the closed door of the "Heaven" level testing room, and also disappeared from the various gazes within the room.

Although the Grey-robed Old Woman Cao Ying and the others had long since finished their assessment, they did not leave immediately. Instead, they exchanged a cold glance and leisurely remained. Cao Ying looked at Ye Zhong and chuckled in a sinister voice:

"Hehe... This old woman is really not leaving today! I want to stay and see if that kid will still have that same sharp and vicious tongue when he fails the test and comes out in a sorry state! Ye Zhong, it seems that your Ye Family is going to lose face in Sacred Pill City again today! Let's see how you'll face coming back in the future! Oh, no, your Ye Family won't have the chance to come back in the future!"

Instead of showing any concern at Cao Ying's undisguised Grey-robed Old Woman and gloating laughter, Ye Zhong's face revealed a cold, expectant sneer.

He had personally witnessed Lin Ming's true alchemy skills, especially the scene of triggering the Four-color Pill Lightning! That composure and control were unmatched not only by Seventh Grade Alchemist, but even by many Tier 8 alchemists.

So at this moment, he was actually quite looking forward to it. He wondered how wonderful, ridiculous, and laughable that old woman's face would be when she saw Lin Ming successfully pass the Seventh Grade Intermediate test and walk out wearing that dazzling badge!

At this moment, not only the Cao Family members, but also some of the Pill Tower servants who were originally preparing to leave, couldn't help but stop and stay out of curiosity.

It seems they all shared a similar mindset with the Grey-robed Old Woman Cao Ying, wanting to stay and see for themselves whether this Ye Family youth, who dared to challenge Seventh Grade Intermediate with his outrageous pronouncements, truly possessed heaven-defying abilities, or was merely an arrogant fool who was ignorant of his own limitations and would ultimately only make a fool of himself.

Cao Xue crossed her arms over her full, alluring breasts, making her already stunning curves even more breathtaking.

A faint, alluring smirk lingered on her slightly seductive face, a smile that seemed to know everything. Even now, she remained convinced that the Ye Family brat was merely feigning composure, suffering for the sake of saving face. Seventh Grade Intermediate? That was utterly delusional!

With everyone's varying attitudes and expectant gazes, the room gradually fell into an eerie silence.

All eyes, as if drawn by a magnet, converged on the tightly closed "Heaven" level door, symbolizing the highest level of testing, awaiting the revelation of the final result behind that door.

Time ticked by quietly in the somewhat oppressively quiet testing room.

Half an hour, an hour, two hours...

As time went by, the initial confidence and mockery on the faces of the Grey-robed Old Woman Cao Ying and the others were gradually replaced by a hint of impatience and anxiety.

After all, waiting idly was incredibly boring. However, in order to be able to deliver the most satisfying sarcastic remarks and blows to Ye Zhong and Lin Ming as soon as the final results came out, and to vent her anger, Cao Ying forced herself to hold back.

She was already imagining the bitterness and embarrassment on Lin Ming's face when he failed the test and came out looking disheveled. Would he still dare to be as arrogant and domineering as before?

Thinking of the scene that was about to unfold and would bring her immense pleasure, a cold smile uncontrollably appeared on Cao Ying's face, which was as dry as old tree bark. A low, unpleasant laugh, like the cry of a night owl, escaped her throat, sounding particularly jarring in the quiet room.

Seeing the old woman so engrossed in her fantasies and thoroughly enjoying herself, Ye Zhong's strange smile deepened.

He even casually put his hands behind his back, swaying slightly, as if he wasn't waiting for a tense outcome concerning the family's fate and reputation, but rather enjoying a good show about to unfold.

As time quietly slipped by, roughly the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, just as Cao Ying and the others were about to run out of patience—

"Creak..."

A faint yet clear sound finally broke the long silence in the room!

The tightly closed, incredibly heavy door to the "Heavenly" level room slowly opened a crack!

Seeing that there was finally a response, everyone in the room perked up, instantly throwing away their previous impatience. Their gazes, like sharp arrows, instantly focused on the slowly widening crack in the door!

There, a familiar figure in black robes strolled out unhurriedly from the light behind the door—it was Lin Ming!

The instant his figure fully appeared in everyone's sight, almost all the eyes in the room, as if by prior agreement, immediately shifted downwards, fixing and focusing on his chest!

But there... it was completely empty! The expected Seventh Grade Intermediate Alchemist Badge, symbolizing supreme glory, was nowhere to be seen!

"Hahaha... Hahahaha!!"

Not seeing the expected (or rather, gloating) Grade Badge on Lin Ming's chest, the Grey-robed Old Woman Cao Ying, was first taken aback, then her face visibly lit up with uncontrollable ecstasy and mockery!

That triumphant, shrill laughter, filled with pleasure and a sense of revenge, finally burst forth from her parched throat, echoing in the room and sounding exceptionally jarring and unpleasant!

"Just as I expected! Just as I expected, a good-for-nothing who only knows how to brag! Hahahaha! He doesn't even have a badge, he definitely didn't even meet the minimum testing standards! What a disgrace!"

Cao Xue, standing beside the Grey-robed Old Woman, couldn't help but curl her cold, red lips slightly at the sight, forming a contemptuous arc that she had long anticipated. She slowly shook her head, her beautiful eyes almost overflowing with disdain.

What a show-off, overconfident clown! It's laughable that I actually stood here, wasting almost an hour waiting for his result. How foolish!

"Hehehe, a piece of trash is a piece of trash. No matter how much he jumps around and pretends, he's just a clown!" The Grey-robed Old Woman Cao Ying's malicious, shrill laughter echoed wildly in the room. After confirming that Lin Ming had "failed the test," the pent-up frustration and anger in her heart transformed into an indescribable sense of exhilaration.

She could almost see the ashen and desperate faces of Ye Zhong and Lin Ming, and felt like she had reached the climax of her life!