Chapter 264: Chapter 264: The Wrong Answer

If an ordinary Soul Refiner prodigy had written this answer, they would have marked it wrong long ago.

But Luan Hong was different.

The talent he had displayed since the beginning of the Floating Light Assembly had secretly shocked Zhu Tianlan and the others. His confident assertion only made the masters more awkward.

As the top Soul Refiners of the Thirteen Nations Alliance, they couldn’t possibly admit that they didn’t even know Luan Hong’s sixth answer.

Therefore, at this moment, the masters’ attention was completely focused on Luan Hong’s answer.

"Using the Ten Thousand Heart Flower as the main soul guide, add Thought Demon Stone, Strong Muscle Vine, and other materials to temper the White Tiger Martial Soul’s strength three times, thereby enhancing it..."

As Zhu Tianlan read, his mind raced, and the shock in his heart grew ever stronger.

The other Soul Refiners, too, found the surprise on their faces increasingly difficult to hide.

"These materials each have their own purpose. Once combined, it is indeed very possible that they could enhance the strength of the White Tiger Martial Soul."

"Upgrading a Martial Soul from One-Star to Two-Stars can be approached from multiple angles. Luan Hong’s method is meticulous and might actually be correct."

"The White Tiger Martial Soul is known for its power. Trying to enhance this aspect directly can easily damage the Martial Soul’s structure. However, using the Ten Thousand Heart Flower as the main soul guide immediately compensates for this weakness. Why hasn’t such a method ever circulated in the Thirteen Nations Alliance before? It’s too brilliant."

Many of the Soul Refiners were shaken and muttered to themselves.

In the contestant area, a proud and dashing smile hung on Luan Hong’s lips. He chuckled lightly, "Masters, you’ve been deliberating for so long. I wonder, is my sixth answer right or wrong?"

Zhu Tianlan and the others exchanged a look, a trace of shock in their eyes. Then, they nodded. "Correct."

As they said this, they were not only shocked but also embarrassed. They were the ones who had set the questions for the Floating Light Assembly, yet they couldn’t even judge a contestant’s answer. If word of this got out on the continent, they, the masters of the Thirteen Nations Alliance, would be utterly disgraced.

Hearing this, Luan Hong laughed heartily. He shot another provocative glance at Ye Xuan before sitting down arrogantly.

Unlike the embarrassment felt by the other masters, Zuo Yi Alliance was ecstatic. The higher Luan Hong’s score, the greater his chances of winning the bet, so naturally, he was thrilled.

After Luan Hong, it was soon time to review Ye Xuan’s answers.

Zuo Yi Alliance looked over eagerly, thinking, ’Kid, I refuse to believe you can get a perfect score on this second test too.’

On Ye Xuan’s answer sheet, five distinct methods were clearly written, and they entered Zuo Yi Alliance’s view.

Seeing that Ye Xuan had actually written down five methods, Zuo Yi Alliance’s heart sank. But after he saw all five, a wave of ecstasy washed over him. Unable to hide his delight, he couldn’t wait to gloat, "Everyone, Ye Xuan’s previous scores were so heaven-defying, but it seems he’s nothing special after all. For this second test, he can only get one hundred and twenty points!"

Of Ye Xuan’s five answers, four were identical to the standard solutions. However, the fifth was completely different from the standard solutions and also entirely unlike the sixth answer Luan Hong had written earlier. It was clearly wrong.

According to the competition rules, one correct answer was worth forty points, and one incorrect answer meant a deduction of forty points. With four correct and one incorrect, Ye Xuan effectively only got credit for three correct answers, which came to one hundred and twenty points.

In the previous rounds, Ye Xuan had been leading Luan Hong by a total of ninety points. This meant that after this second test, the gap between them would immediately shrink to just ten points.

For the third test, Martial Soul Condensation, anyone with eyes could see that Ye Xuan’s Martial Soul was far inferior to Luan Hong’s. Factoring in these scores from the second test, it was almost a foregone conclusion that Luan Hong would surpass Ye Xuan and take first place.

How could Zuo Yi Alliance not be overjoyed by this?

In contrast, Dongfang Yanyu’s heart sank. He had also seen Ye Xuan’s answers. The materials selected for the fifth method were extremely bizarre, and the technique was unheard of. Although it hadn’t been verified, based on his experience, it was wrong nine times out of ten.

"Master Zhu Tianlan, let’s just give Ye Xuan one hundred and twenty points for this second test," Master Xuu Xin Hua of the Fire Crow Kingdom said with a faint smile.

Zhu Tianlan did not speak rashly. He carefully examined Ye Xuan’s answer, his brow furrowed.

Seeing this outcome, Ye Xuan was rather speechless. He knew no fewer than ten ways to enhance the White Tiger Martial Soul. To account for the Thirteen Nations Alliance’s lack of advanced techniques, he had deliberately chosen five methods he considered the simplest. He hadn’t expected that there would still be one that Zhu Tianlan and the others didn’t know.

Seeing that he was about to be given a score of one hundred and twenty for the second test, Ye Xuan finally stood up. "Everyone, my fifth method uses Soul Light Stone as the soul guide, with added Doray Leaf, Celestial Orchid, Nine Spirits Stalactite, and other materials. Isn’t it a bit inappropriate to declare it wrong without even verifying it?"

"Hahaha, kid, are you refusing to accept the result?" Hearing Ye Xuan speak, Zuo Yi Alliance immediately started mocking him, gloating, "I, Zuo Yi Alliance, have never heard of this method of yours. No matter how you look at it, it’s completely and utterly wrong. There’s no need for verification. Why waste everyone’s time?"

"That’s right." Chairman Xuu Xin Hua also sneered. "Enhancing a Martial Soul is primarily approached from two aspects: the Martial Soul’s Soul Power cultivation and the Martial Soul’s own attributes. The materials you’ve chosen are unrelated to either of these aspects. Verification would be a waste of effort."

Luan Hong had been craning his neck, eager to see Ye Xuan’s answer. After all, he was well-read and knew that there were countless methods in the world; just because he hadn’t seen one didn’t mean it was wrong.

But after hearing the materials Ye Xuan used, the tension in his heart instantly vanished.

The materials in Ye Xuan’s method had no connection to each other and seemed jumbled and chaotic. Based on his knowledge, he had never heard of any of these materials being able to enhance a White Tiger Martial Soul. Without a doubt, it had to be wrong.

"Declaring it wrong without verification—aren’t you being a bit too flippant, sir? There are more than a hundred ways to enhance a Martial Soul in this world. Just because you haven’t heard of it doesn’t mean it’s wrong," Ye Xuan retorted with a cold smile.

"Kid, you can keep making trouble, but the result will be the same. Do you think I, a Fourth Grade Soul Refiner, can’t tell whether your answer is correct? If we did as you ask and every contestant wanted their answers verified, it would be chaos! When would the competition ever end?" Zuo Yi Alliance snapped coldly.

"Kid, a loss is a loss. Why haggle over it? I actually thought you were someone of substance, but now I see you’re just a whiny sore loser." Xuu Xin Hua’s face was filled with scorn. He sneered at Dongfang Yanyu, "Dongfang Yanyu, the personality of your Liuyun Kingdom’s contestant... it really is true what they say: the people are a product of their place. That saying couldn’t be more accurate! Ha, hahaha!"

Kuchen became furious when he heard this and sneered, "Xuu Xin Hua, look at you, gloating like that. Anyone who didn’t know better would think your Fire Crow Kingdom was the big winner of this Floating Light Assembly. I just wonder if your kingdom’s top prodigy can even make it into the top ten this time! Now *that* would be a real joke if he can’t."

"You..." Xuu Xin Hua was so angry his liver nearly exploded.

His most promising disciple, Chen Jueming, had put on a mediocre performance at this Floating Light Assembly, and even securing a spot in the top ten was uncertain. This was a thorn in his side, and Kuchen bringing it up so publicly made his old face flush red.

Kuchen ignored him, cupped his hands in a salute to Zhu Tianlan, and said, "Master Zhu Tianlan, I actually think Ye Xuan has a point. Although we haven’t seen this method before, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s wrong. To judge a contestant’s score so casually, without verification, seems a bit too flippant."

Although Kuchen didn’t understand Ye Xuan’s answer, he had a kind of blind faith in him. He believed that if Ye Xuan said something, he must have a good reason for it.

Zuo Yi Alliance heard this and gave a cold laugh. "Master Zhu Tianlan, I see no need. Even an idiot knows this answer is wrong. If we go and verify it, aren’t we just wasting time? Kuchen, don’t tell me you’re just unwilling to admit you’re about to lose the bet?"

A mocking expression appeared on Kuchen’s face. "I, Kuchen, have never been unwilling to admit to something I’ve said. But you, Chairman Zuo Yi Alliance, you keep objecting and don’t even dare to allow a verification. Are you afraid of losing the bet?"

"Hahaha, me, afraid of losing the bet?" Zuo Yi Alliance roared with laughter.

"Then why do you keep trying to obstruct it? If it’s not a guilty conscience, what is it?" Kuchen sneered.

"Enough," Zhu Tianlan said with a wave of his hand. "Since the contestant has an objection, we will conduct a verification. The result will be more credible that way. Does anyone have any objections?"

"Of course not," Zuo Yi Alliance said, a cold smirk on his lips as he looked at Kuchen. "Since you insist, I’ll let you lose so convincingly you won’t have a leg to stand on. When the results are in, let’s see what you have to say then."

Soon, all the materials mentioned in Ye Xuan’s method were brought over. A Martial Artist possessing a One-Star White Tiger Martial Soul was called onto the stage, and Zhu Tianlan personally began the verification, following Ye Xuan’s instructions to enhance the Martial Soul’s level.

In the contestant area, many of the participants looked at Ye Xuan mockingly.

Ye Xuan’s continuous outstanding performance had put immense pressure on them. Now, seeing him make a mistake, many of them were gloating. His demand for verification only made them think he was a sore loser, and their scorn was plain to see.

On the stage, Zhu Tianlan’s verification process continued.

At first, everyone wore faint, mocking expressions. But as time went on, the looks on the audience’s faces gradually grew solemn.