"You... This..." Facing Fly's aggressive pressure, Preston York couldn't help but feel a flutter of panic in his chest.

  He had only glanced briefly at the scroll earlier, yet he felt that the power contained within it far exceeded his expectations. Forcing his way through to break the Inner Demon wasn't entirely impossible, but there were too many variables. One slip-up, and he might follow in Lance Wolfe's footsteps.

  He was the Student Council President, the strongest student currently at Star City High. He certainly didn't want to lose face in public like Lance had.

  Moreover, Preston pondered secretly, if the trial of The Scroll of Martial Heart-Tempering was this formidable—to the point where even he wasn't confident of passing—then Fly Ansel, a mere first-year freshman, no matter how talented, surely had little chance of passing either.

  As long as I can find a way to hold the line and not get eliminated in public, there's still a chance to turn things around.

  Worst case scenario, no one at this exhibition meets Grandmaster Muse's requirements. And judging by the looks of it, the old man is dead set on recruiting a personal disciple. In that case, the next recruitment event will definitely be held soon. If it doesn't work this time, I'll just figure something out for the next one.

  When that time comes, if everyone else has been eliminated and I'm the only one still holding on stage, maybe Grandmaster Muse will think I lasted the longest in the trial and therefore have the best talent. He might just be happy enough to accept me as his disciple right then and there.

  Preston calculated internally.

  So, he narrowed his eyes, carefully focusing his gaze on the floor, avoiding looking directly at The Scroll of Martial Heart-Tempering.

  But man proposes, God disposes...

  This kid, Fly, had actually passed the trial.

  With no other options, Preston had to play along, deliberately claiming that both of them had passed the trial simultaneously. Then, he planned to use his reputation and careful wording to mold the narrative, painting Fly as someone who had merely ridden on his coattails to pass.

  After that, he would play it by ear, striving to "steal" the slot for Grandmaster Muse's disciple right out of Fly's hands.

  Just as his plan was proceeding smoothly, Genevieve had to burst in halfway. She actually came up with the "dirty trick" of measuring heart rates, putting him in an awkward position where he couldn't easily back down.

  Damn it! Preston cursed silently. I have to hold on. Deny everything to the death. As long as I can persist, there's still a chance!

  "Fly," Preston said, forcing himself to remain calm. "You can't say that. Ordinary people might experience an accelerated heartbeat when facing such a trial, but for me, this is just a piece of cake—a walk in the park. Why would my heart rate speed up? Accusing me like this... you're really framing an innocent man!"

  Hearing Preston speak like this, a flash of anger crossed Genevieve's face. Because of Lysander Thorne, she already had no love for the Student Council. But for Preston York, as the sitting President, to engage in such despicable behavior was simply disgusting.

  "President Preston, stop with the innocent act. You know perfectly well whether you seriously participated in the trial just now. Being so afraid of a heart rate test... doesn't that just prove you have something to hide?"

  "And claiming to pass the trial without even breaking a sweat or raising your pulse... do you even believe that yourself? Our great President Preston doesn't look like someone with that kind of supernatural stamina!"

  "You sharp-tongued little girl..." Hearing Genevieve's cutting and mockery-filled remarks, Preston felt his dignity crumbling. Disregarding his image as the Student Council President, he practically started shouting insults back.

  Just like that, the two sides engaged in a fierce verbal argument. The audience below looked back and forth, feeling that both sides seemed to make sense, unable to decide who was right.

  Just then, Cynthia Muse answered a phone call. She subsequently picked up the microphone and silenced the noisy crowd.

  "Since all you young heroes have a dispute regarding the results of this trial, we will let the host of this exhibition—my father, Grandmaster Muse—make the final decision."

  "My father just communicated with me. He says he has made his final choice."

  "Of course, if my father agrees to accept two disciples at once, I would naturally support that fully."

  As she spoke, Cynthia took out a remote control and pressed a button. On the stage, behind the stand that originally held the scroll, a massive screen slowly descended.

  Seeing this, Fly just shrugged indifferently.

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  Preston, however, furrowed his brows slightly, feeling a faint sense of unease in his heart.

  Why did things have to escalate to this point?

  "Preston..." Seeing the situation, Lance Wolfe hurried over, wanting to offer a few words of comfort.

  Having failed the trial of The Scroll of Martial Heart-Tempering, Lance understood that he had no possibility of surpassing Preston in the short term. So, he wiped away his frown, put on a smile, and returned to his state of following Preston's lead.

  The other guests at the scene also quieted down one by one, fixing their eyes on the suddenly descending screen, awaiting Grandmaster Muse's final verdict.

  About ten seconds later, a silhouette appeared on the screen.

  To ensure fairness, Cynthia held her microphone up to the speaker, turning the video volume to the maximum.

  In reality, although Grandmaster Muse hadn't attended the exhibition in person, he wasn't ignorant of the situation inside the art gallery.

  "Bring Fly to see me."

  Everyone expected Grandmaster Muse to give a long speech, but to everyone's surprise, the voice coming from the speaker consisted of only that one cold sentence.

  Clearly...

  The candidate in Grandmaster Muse's heart was Fly.

  Preston York's face instantly went pale.

  "Grandmaster Muse..." He opened his mouth subconsciously, as if wanting to fight for himself one last time.

  But before he could finish, the connection was cut from the other end.

  Floating on the screen were only snow-like static and the faint buzzing of electric current.

  Even Fly hadn't expected Grandmaster Muse to be so decisive and clean-cut.

  How did Grandmaster Muse know what was happening here?

  Fly looked around. There were a few surveillance cameras installed on the walls and ceiling of the art gallery.

  But it would be hard to determine what happened in the trial just by relying on those, right?

  Even many people standing right next to the stage couldn't tell the difference. How did Grandmaster Muse make a judgment based on a few long-distance surveillance cameras?

  Could it be...

  Is there some kind of connection between The Scroll of Martial Heart-Tempering and Grandmaster Muse?

  ...

  On the other side, a trace of surprise flashed through Cynthia's eyes as well.

  Although she hadn't stated her position, she had been slightly biased toward Preston's side in her heart.

  After all, Preston York was a fourth-year student. He had several more years of cultivation time than Fly.

  He had undergone body tempering who knew how many times.

  And he was the Student Council President of Star City High. His future was undoubtedly bright.

  However, although her father had announced the result, Cynthia still flashed a smile at Preston.

  No matter what, Preston York was still the strongest high schooler in Star City at the moment.

  With his strength, plus the Student Council's connections, applying to Harford University shouldn't be a problem.

  Cynthia understood what her father was doing. At a time like this, facing such talent, even if he had indeed played some tricks just now, they should still try to win him over rather than make an enemy of him.

  As the saying goes: Better to have one more friend than one more enemy.

  Even if they couldn't get his help in the future, at least they shouldn't push him to the side of their enemies.

  "President Preston's talent is undoubtedly one in ten thousand."

  "Even without my father's guidance, you are bound to achieve great things in the future."

  "Please do not take this small setback to heart."

  "Finally, I would like to donate one hundred thousand dollars to you, President Preston, in my personal name."

  As she spoke, Cynthia took out a check directly, hastily filled in the number, and handed it to Preston York.

  "This gift is purely out of my appreciation for your talent."

  "If you encounter any difficulties in the future, you can also come to us for help."

  "Many thanks..." Preston looked at Cynthia, then glanced at Fly beside him, before taking the check in his hand.

  Cynthia's maneuver made him feel like there was nowhere to hide his shame.

  Since Grandmaster Muse could accurately choose Fly, it meant he wasn't ignorant of the events at the exhibition. In other words, Grandmaster Muse was fully aware of the petty tricks Preston had just pulled.

  Under these circumstances, the other party didn't expose him in public. Instead, they offered kind words of comfort and financial encouragement. Repaying malice with kindness like this...

  Sigh!

  Preston sighed deeply in his heart.

  I am the dignified Student Council President.

  The strongest high school student in Star City.

  The junior most favored by Senior Lysander Thorne.

  Yet, I lost to a first-year freshman at this exhibition.

  And I lost even after resorting to tricks...

  I've completely lost face.

  And...

  Preston looked down at the check in his hand.

  No, that's not right!

  How could I, Preston York, ever be wrong?

  Cynthia is humiliating me! She must be finding a way to humiliate me!

  A measly one hundred thousand?

  My monthly expenses are more than that.

  Does she think she's sending off a beggar?

  This is humiliation. Pure humiliation!

  "Let's go!"

  Forcing down the displeasure in his heart, Preston stuffed the check into his pocket, then turned and left the exhibition hall.

  Seeing this, Lance Wolfe immediately followed with large strides, though he felt an indescribable sense of dark satisfaction in his heart.

  Well, well, Preston York. I never thought I'd see the day you get knocked off your high horse!

  But, Lance only dared to think this internally; he wouldn't dare show it on his face.

  The other onlookers were also dumbfounded by this scene.

  "Did I see that right? Was Preston York rejected by Grandmaster Muse?"

  "What is going on? Wasn't President Preston the one who broke through The Scroll of Martial Heart-Tempering just now?"

  "Could it be... that it was Fly?"

  "How could a first-year's mental state be stronger than a fourth-year's?"

  "Maybe it's because Fly is younger?"

  "That's not impossible. After all, Fly has just started his path of martial cultivation. If he works hard, he's estimated to be another candidate for the eight elite universities of The Tulip League."

  "Right, that must be it. Fly's strength can't compare to Preston's right now simply due to age and cultivation time, not because of a lack of talent."

  "But President Preston isn't bad either, right? Didn't you see? Even though he was rejected by Grandmaster Muse, Miss Cynthia still gifted him a sum of funds. What does that prove? It proves that Grandmaster Muse still wants to win over President Preston."

  ...

  For a moment, discussions erupted all over the exhibition hall.

  Fly, on the other hand, was still immersed in an inexplicable feeling.

  I got selected just like that? It wasn't as hard as I imagined...

  "Fly Ansel."

  Cynthia had already walked up to him. With a smile on her face, she extended an invitation to Fly.

  "Please follow me."

  "My father is waiting for you."

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