Chapter 76: First Place
"The first phase of the test ends now!"
No one dared to contest or utter a word. Many breathed in relief, while others shrank back.
"Those who possess three or more Ash Fruits, approach the elder responsible for the territory of your countries. Hand over what you have obtained."
"Those who do not have enough, or those who have not yet left the forest, will be gathered and returned by their respective elders."
As soon as Mei Ran’s voice finished the sentence for most of the youths, a murmur began.
Some young ones sighed, accepting defeat. Others, with slumped shoulders, were already heading toward the elders, without the courage to face the surrounding gazes.
Kyrian stood up calmly. The freshness still enveloped Yanyu and even the small fox that walked nearby. Kyrian had used the last spiritual stones he had the previous night to replenish the Qi he had spent.
They walked over to Li Yuan, the elder of their country. Then, Kyrian began first. Without hesitation, he handed over all the fruits, letting them fall from his hands to the ground before the elder.
Li Yuan received the fruits and silently counted them while noting something on a scroll.
"You really did a good job," he said after Kyrian handed over all the fruits. The tone of his voice carried satisfaction.
Yanyu came right after, her face still red from the effort of the past few days.
She did the same, and the elder also recorded in silence. But inside, he was even more surprised than when he saw Kyrian’s quantity.
After all, Kyrian might have had low cultivation, but simply by having a special physique, no one with sense would doubt his strength. Yanyu, however, had absolutely nothing special, and yet she had managed this amount.
The process repeated itself in every corner of the clearing. The elders checked, registered, and then handed the records to Mei Ran, who received them without hurry.
Meanwhile, those who had failed were called, grouped together, and led to one of the birds, which would carry them back.
In little time, the clearing, which had been completely crowded, began to empty. The laments and murmurs faded away with the ones who had failed.
Until only about three hundred youths remained. These were the ones who had passed.
From atop her beast, Mei Ran swept her gaze across them all. The pressure of her presence was not hostile, but many could not face her directly.
"You are the ones who will now proceed to the Verdant Sword Sect. However, before that, I must announce those ten who obtained the most fruits." Mei Ran declared.
The air filled with expectation. Many, who had truly tried their absolute best, clenched their fists.
And even those who did not care about such a thing, or already knew they would not be called, still looked on with curiosity.
Mei Ran then began to call their names.
One by one, starting from tenth place. Each time a name was called, a young man or woman stepped forward, receiving looks of envy or respect.
Mei Ran continued calling until...
"Fourth place. Mu Yanyu."
Yanyu was not very surprised, as she already imagined it would be so. Kyrian was a little surprised, but when he heard Yanyu’s summary of what had happened, he figured she would indeed be among the top ten.
Yanyu then stepped forward, trying to maintain a firm expression. She walked ahead, standing beside the others.
And Luz, bold as ever, walked along without caring, perked up her ears, and stood beside Yanyu, declaring that the achievement was hers as well.
Mei Ran then continued. Third and second place were revealed, receiving their respective murmurs. Especially since they were already recognized geniuses in their countries and even in neighboring ones.
But it was when the time came to reveal the one who had taken first place that everyone grew puzzled.
All five geniuses of the Liberation Realm had already been called. Apart from Mu Yanyu, who was an underdog and stood among them, they thought one of the five would certainly be first. But no.
The elder then spoke, without wasting time.
"First place. Kyrian."
For an instant, many furrowed their brows.
"Kyrian...?"
Many exchanged confused looks. Most thought it was just some strange nickname. They had never heard such a name, or anything like it.
But Kyrian then stepped forward, calmly standing beside the others.
It was in that moment that everyone understood. They had all already seen Kyrian in the clearing before the test began. For, like it or not, he stood out among the others.
Now, he stood out even more. While everyone else among the top ten, and even Yanyu, had dirt on their clothes, marks of blood, mud, sweat, and so on.
Kyrian was completely clean, without a drop of sweat. His clothes were spotless for someone who had spent three days in the forest. It was as if everyone else had gone hunting, and he had merely taken a stroll.
Even Mei Ran, who always kept her composure, let slip a brief flicker of surprise. But she controlled her expression at once.
Inside, however, she was even more satisfied. Kyrian, for now, was proving to be better than she could have imagined.
"Step forward." Mei Ran said suddenly.
One by one, the top ten came closer.
Mei Ran looked at them with a certain attention before taking out a small box.
When she opened it, dozens of Ash Fruits lay inside. But compared to the ones they had harvested, these were twice as large and exuded a faint warmth, unlike the cold they had felt when touching the other Ash Fruits.
"From fifth to tenth place, each will receive five fruits."
She handed them directly.
"Fourth place will receive ten."
Yanyu stepped forward, receiving the fruits with both hands, a little nervous but inwardly happy.
As she took the fruits, she felt several kicks at the back of her leg. When she stepped aside, she noticed the fox, staring at her angrily.
’HALF ARE MINE!’ That was what Luz’s gaze said. At least that was what Yanyu understood. And she could not have been more correct.
"Third place will receive fifteen, second twenty."
And finally, Mei Ran faced Kyrian directly.
"First place will receive twenty-five Ash Fruits."
Kyrian stepped forward and received them in silence, sending them into his spatial ring. The others seemed excited, but he wore a cold expression.
Mainly because he still did not know what these fruits were for.
Mei Ran then explained.
"These fruits can be used in three ways. Refined into weapons, transformed into pills, or absorbed directly by those who have an affinity with fire."
"But their main purpose is to strengthen the body. Many of you have surpassed the first cultivation realm only with basic and incomplete techniques. The use of the fruits will solidify your foundations so that in the future you will not suffer the limitations you otherwise would."
A silence arose after her words. Everyone looked at the fruits in their hands with renewed care.
And those who were left out of the top ten had envy in their eyes but did not dare to speak a word of it.
Kyrian only absorbed the information in silence. He immediately understood the value of the prize. Yanyu, beside him, also understood and found herself truly happy.
Kyrian, on the other hand, wondered whether it would really help his foundation.
After all, he had never used any technique to cultivate. He had crossed the entire first realm only with the pure energy from his eyes. So, probably, his foundation was perfect or close to it.
"Now that there is nothing else here, mount the beasts. We depart immediately!" Mei Ran concluded.
A murmur soon arose among all the youths. Departing meant finally leaving behind what they knew, heading toward a much greater world.
Kyrian cast a glance at Yanyu. She held the fruits tightly in her hands, her eyes burning with even greater determination.
Luz looked at the fruits with greed but decided to attack them later.
Without further hesitation, Kyrian mounted one of the beasts, Yanyu sat at his side, and the fox on the other.
After everyone had taken their places, the beasts finally took flight. The clearing was left behind, shrinking until it became just a lost speck in the forest.
The Red Mountain soon also disappeared from sight, the first phase had ended completely.
And the path to the true Verdant Sword Sect had at last begun.