Chapter 36: A Feast Of Joy
Soon, the announcer’s voice could be heard.
"The designated time for the final phase has come to an end, and no group has more than three members." He paused briefly. "That means those still remaining within the rift are the finally selected candidates who have passed this year’s Hunter Academy test."
The moment he finished speaking, a roar of cheers erupted as parents and relatives of the passing candidates expressed their joy with loud shouts, just like Daisy had done.
Some burst into tears, while others fell to the ground in laughter and disbelief.
Though nearly everyone was shocked by Derek’s performance, now wasn’t the time to dwell on that.
Soon, all the candidates were transported back to the arena as both the rifts and the floating panels above them shimmered and disappeared.
From the gallery, parents and relatives ran down toward their children.
Daisy and Martha were no different.
Tears of joy streamed down both their faces. They had both been worried about whether Derek would pass the test. But Derek hadn’t just passed; he had done the impossible and shaken everyone to the core.
The moment Daisy reached him, she leapt onto Derek, wrapped her arms around him tightly, lifted him off the ground, and spun him around while sobbing in joy.
But under the force of her happiness, Derek almost felt like his lungs would collapse at any moment.
"I... I’m glad you weren’t my opponent, sister," Derek somehow managed to say, "or else I would’ve surely lost if you hugged me like this."
Daisy didn’t mind at all. She let out a chuckle and kept spinning him like a victorious warrior.
Arthur arrived moments later, his face lit up with pride and joy. Yes, he had many questions, but none of them could overshadow the happiness he felt seeing his little brother succeed.
Right then, the announcer’s voice echoed once more.
"You will have seven days for preparation. Then you must report again to the entrance of the Academy. And before we part ways today...
Congratulations on passing the exam."
For the first time, the announcer’s voice sounded soft and warm.
Meanwhile, from one of the balconies, the judge’s eyes hadn’t left Derek even once.
"I can’t wait to see what more he has in store," the male judge from earlier said with a slight smile.
"Yes... Sebastian," the goofy-looking judge replied. "Now, like you, I also want to meet that boy... soon."
Inside the arena, the area was buzzing with noise as participants and their families crowded all around.
"Should we head out first?" Martha asked in a slightly raised voice, trying to be heard over the overwhelming chatter. "Staying here any longer will make it hard to even breathe."
"Yes. Let’s go. Let’s get out of here first," Arthur replied quickly.
Pushing their way through the crowd, the four of them, Martha, Daisy, Arthur, and Derek, finally exited the arena and began walking toward the academy’s entrance gate.
It didn’t take long before they were out in the open.
"Where should we go first? Home?" Martha asked, glancing at the others.
"Of course not!" Arthur grinned widely. "First, we’re going to celebrate Derek’s success. Let’s head to a tavern and enjoy a proper feast. After that, we’ll decide what to do next."
"Absolutely right!" Daisy chimed in, clapping her hands. "Finally, you’ve said something wise, Arthur. Let’s go!"
Martha didn’t object. With a heart full of joy, she began walking with her children by her side.
After renting a wagon, Arthur gave the coachman specific instructions about which tavern they wanted to go to.
And with a yank of the reins, the wagon began to move.
As soon as it started rolling, the group began chatting away.
"Derek, how come we never knew you were this strong?" Daisy asked, clearly still amazed.
Seeing her take the lead, Arthur joined in as well. "Yeah, seriously. The way you fought, I’d say you’re at least at F-Class level, if not E-Class already!"
Derek didn’t respond right away.
He knew these questions would come sooner or later.
And he never liked what he had to do now.... lie.
"I really don’t know. But I’ve been training vigorously. Maybe that’s how?" Derek said with an innocent face.
His words brought a brief silence.
’It doesn’t matter how hard you train,’ Arthur thought. ’To reach this level, one needs to accumulate an enormous amount of Qi, something that’s impossible within just a year or two... unless you had access to high-grade resources or some artifact that accelerated Qi absorption.’
But Martha and Daisy were thinking something else entirely. ’Could it be because of that hidden power within him?’ they both wondered. ’Maybe that’s what accelerated his cultivation speed.’
After a while, Martha finally broke the silence.
"Anyway, we’re all just happy for you, Derek. The faster you grow stronger, the better for you. Just make sure that walking the right path always remains your top priority."
"Of course, Mother," Derek replied without any hesitation.
Arthur and Daisy nodded as well.
Though Arthur still had questions, he decided not to press further.
After all, true talent always had a way of bending the laws of nature.
And if his brother truly was a genius, who could possibly be happier than him?
Soon, they arrived at a tavern.
One by one, they stepped down from the wagon. Arthur quickly paid the fare before leading everyone inside.
The moment they entered, the rich aroma of freshly cooked food filled their noses, making their stomachs rumble in anticipation.
They soon found an empty table and took their seats.
Not long after, a young man approached them with a polite smile to take their order.
"Dear guests, what would you like to order?" the young man asked politely, his tone courteous and professional as he slid the menu forward.
Arthur was just about to reach for it, but Daisy was quicker. "I’ll be the one choosing the food," she said confidently.
"This is my treat to everyone, to celebrate Derek passing the test."