"You remember the one you told me about?" Filly asked.
"Yeah, that kid?" Bel recalled that she had talked to Filly about the remaining business of the Leone Family, which Filly had declined, being too busy with her restaurant. At that time, Bel had noticed a beggar kid beside the restaurant and, as a good friend, reported it to Filly, hoping to help.
Suddenly, something clicked in her mind, but it was still too vague.
"Yup, that guy Arke wanted to take him away. Fortunately, Gail was there and was able to stop him—not that we were worried," Filly said, lowering her voice so that only the trio could hear. "We suspect he's a Wanderer pretending to be a beggar."
Bel's eyes widened. "What makes you say that?"
"He gave us unique recipes in exchange for being able to stay beside my restaurant," Filly explained. Thinking about it, she felt like what she had done for him wasn't enough. "Let's go after the exam—I'll personally serve you!"
"Then I won't refuse," Bel smiled, though her thoughts were elsewhere.
What am I missing? She tried to piece it together, focusing on the word "Beggar."
Her memory flashed back to the time she ventured into the forest, hoping to find the lost Leone Heir. She had thought he might be hiding outside the city and ended up in a forest filled with monsters. She was injured after encountering dozens of Duskfang Shadowtails. Due to her limited stamina and their overwhelming numbers, she suffered grave injuries.
She barely escaped with her life after using a precious item that teleported her to a random location. She had tried to rest and heal her injuries before calling it a night, but luck wasn't on her side. A few wandering Duskfangs sniffed her out, leading to another fight.
That was also when she met her savior, who had introduced himself…
"J-just a beggar. Yup, I'm just a beggar."
Those words echoed in her ears like a bolt of lightning, connecting all the dots.
"Can I meet him?" Bel asked, her tone serious as she stared at Filly.
Seeing her friend , Filly and Gail exchanged a glance before the restaurant owner responded, "I suppose so."
"Don't worry, I won't come empty-handed," Bel smiled.
"That's alright. He seems easygoing," Filly said.
About thirty minutes later, the second test finally ended.
Master Popo coughed, drawing the audience's attention. "Everyone, the second test has officially ended, and those of you still standing have passed. Now, we'll move on to the final test—the Battle Exam."
The Martial Students went silent, their determination and fighting spirit radiating from them. This was the test that would determine their true strength. Rivalries would be settled; each of them was an enemy they had to surpass.
"There's no time to waste, and the audience is already dying to witness your great battle," Master Popo said, smiling mysteriously.
Hearing this, the Martial Students tilted their heads in confusion. What does he mean by that?
They weren't given time to ponder as white-robed cultivators landed on the stage. Their uniforms were adorned with all kinds of inscriptions—mysterious and hard to understand—though the Martial Students immediately recognized who they were.
Array Masters. There were at least twenty of them.
Master Popo turned to the floating platform, specifically toward the Headmasters, who nodded in approval.
"Let's begin," the instructor said. Before the Martial Students could wonder what was happening, the Array Masters on the stage began gathering Qi from the surroundings. The force of their power summoned strong winds that engulfed the entire mountaintop.
Apollo, who had already distanced himself from the trio, couldn't help but look at the Array Masters. What are they doing?
As the Qi converged in the center, the Array Masters started performing strange gestures, moving in perfect synchronization—not a beat early or late. The Beggar and the others watched in fascination as inscriptions materialized in the air. These golden-yellow inscriptions covered the entire area, and the moment they did, the whole mountain began to shake!
Feeling the intense earthquake, Apollo thought it was the end of the world. Looking up, he saw that the inscriptions had transformed into a golden-yellow transparent dome that enveloped the mountaintop.
Like the others, he was baffled by the sudden change. But his question was soon answered when the shaking paused for a moment, only for them to suddenly feel as if they were falling.
Being familiar with this sensation, Apollo realized that the area had suddenly become a giant elevator, with the golden-yellow transparent dome protecting them. The mountaintop was descending. He watched as the jagged walls became a blur.
"I didn't know they could do things ," Apollo muttered, recalling the book Big Chub had given him. According to the book, cultivators could perform incredible feats—move mountains, part the sea, pull giant rocks from the sky, and more. He finally understood what it meant, experiencing what was happening now.
He looked at the reactions of the others. Some displayed expressions similar to his own, while others remained calm. It seemed those who weren't surprised were either nobles or had strong backing.
It only took a few dozen seconds before the scenery changed, and they found themselves inside the giant mountain, which was as tall as Mount Everest, if not taller.
"It's a stadium," Apollo muttered, noticing the rows of seats filled with people already shouting in excitement. They descended like stars as the audience's cheers drowned out the area.
The "mountaintop," now a platform the size of two football fields, created a dust cloud as it landed. The mountain shook slightly, but no one paid particular attention to it. Meanwhile, the floating platform ascended toward a wall in the distance, about ten feet above the audience, where another platform was located.
The two platforms joined together, and the people on both sides began talking with each other.
"Seems like the important figures of the city have gathered," Apollo concluded from the way they moved and the clothes they wore.