Chapter 500

Chapter 500: Completion of the Examination

Two pieces of Thunder Wood appeared in Ye Yun’s palm, glowing with gentle lightning.

“The light from your Thunder Wood seems off—it’s lost too much spiritual energy,” Zhong Huali remarked sharply, his brow twitching.

Yue Huai-Chang glanced at the Thunder Wood and nodded. “True. The Thunder Spirit Qi within these pieces is nearly gone. Restoring it would take ages.”

Ye Yun smiled. “Master’s test demanded Thunder Wood. He never specified it needed abundant spiritual energy. Are these not Thunder Wood?”

He had a point. Tian Yunzi requested Thunder Wood, regardless of its energy. Ye Yun’s pieces, though drained, still qualified.

“This… doesn’t count! Can lifeless Thunder Wood even be called Thunder Wood?” Zhong Huali choked out.

Ye Yun ignored him, turning to Tian Yunzi instead. “Master Uncle, what’s Master doing?” The elder remained seated, eyes closed.

Yue Huai-Chang smirked. “You both retrieved Thunder Wood, so technically either could become his disciple. But he’ll only pick one. Who’ll step down?”

Zhong Huali flushed. “Master will choose me! My Thunder Wood’s genuine. Ye Yun’s must be scraps discarded after someone drained their energy!”

Ye Yun snorted. “Throw some away yourself, then. Even drained, Thunder Wood’s priceless. Think it’s cabbage? How naive.”

Zhong Huali opened his mouth but stopped, bowing toward Tian Yunzi. “Master, please decide.”

“Decide?” Yue Huai-Chang bristled. “You brats ignore me? Fetching Thunder Wood was just the first step. To advance, bring the Ice Spirit Herb. Whoever presents it becomes his disciple!”

Ice Spirit Herb?

Zhong Huali paled. The herb grew only in thunder-soaked wastelands over millennia—a rare treasure. Even if it existed in Thunder Falls Valley, retrieving it demanded powers beyond mere talismans. Only thunder-cultivators or those with legendary artifacts could brave such zones.

Zhong Huali’s family wealth meant nothing here. If he’d owned thunder-warding relics, he wouldn’t have struggled so much earlier.

“The Ice Spirit Herb’s a myth. It won’t appear this time,” he muttered.

“What? You call me a liar?” Yue Huai-Chang roared.

“N-no! Just a guess!” Zhong Huali backpedaled.

“A guess?” Ye Yun cut in, strolling closer. “Can’t you handle the truth? Just because you failed doesn’t mean others did.”

Zhong Huali sneered. “Prove it, then! Where’d you even get those Thunder Wood scraps? Dreaming of the Ice Spirit Herb? ‘Others’ means yourself, doesn’t it?”

Ye Yun grinned. “Caught me. Yes, I meant myself.”

Zhong Huali gaped. Yue Huai-Chang’s eyes widened.

“You have it? Show it, and you’ll be Master’s inner disciple!” Yue Huai-Chang urged.

“Do it, and I’ll concede. Otherwise, I’ll kill you where you stand!” Zhong Huali hissed, voice dripping with murderous intent.

Ye Yun stayed silent, watching Tian Yunzi.

The elder stirred, turning slightly. “You absorbed the Thunder Wood’s energy to reach the pinnacle of Foundation Establishment. Impressive. Present the Ice Spirit Herb, and you’ll be my final disciple.”

Zhong Huali’s heart sank. The Thunder Wood’s drained state… proved Ye Yun’s claim.

“Master, his Thunder Wood’s—”

He stopped. Tian Yunzi had already acknowledged Ye Yun’s feat.

Clenching his fists, Zhong Huali glared at Ye Yun, willing him to fail.

Ye Yun met his gaze and smiled. Blue light flashed in his palm. A biting chill erupted, frosting the ground for ten zhang.

A delicate blue flower shimmered in his hand, radiating cold that pierced to the bone.

The Ice Spirit Herb.

Yue Huai-Chang lunged forward, snatching the herb. Tears streamed down his face. “My son… you’ll live!”

In a blur of light and shadow, he vanished toward the distant mountains.

Ye Yun and Zhong Huali stared, stunned. The ever-jovial Yue Huai-Chang… crying?

“It is the Ice Spirit Herb. Thus, Ye Yun, you are my final disciple.” Tian Yunzi’s calm voice broke the silence.

The examination had ended.