"True or false? What are you talking about? I say, Old Sixth, what's going on?"
"Why are you so surprised? What happened?"
Seeing Murong Liu acting so startled after hearing Elder Wan Sibo's whisper, Pan Borong and Guo Yangyun walked over and asked curiously.
Murong Liu glanced around cautiously, then approached Hall Masters Pan Borong and Guo Yangyun with a secretive air. He quietly repeated what Elder Wan Sibo had just told him, and as he spoke, he showed them the booklet.
"Is this for real?"
After hearing Murong Liu's words and seeing the list of eliminated candidates in the booklet, Pan Borong said with wide eyes, "No wonder. No wonder the North District's supervisors and Chief Examiners are so confident in their candidates. So that's how it is! It turns out the North District produced such an incredible figure this year. With him around, it'd be hard for the North District candidates *not* to make a comeback."
"I knew it. In all the past years, the North District's Chief Examiners and supervisors have been very low-key. Even when they bet on their own district to win, they never bet much—it was just for fun. But this year, they bet the farm. It was clearly abnormal. So that's what's going on with the North District." Guo Yangyun nodded in sudden understanding.
"Old Sixth, do you know who this candidate is?" Pan Borong asked.
"This candidate... I... Huh?"
Murong Liu had been about to say he didn't know who this North District candidate was either. But for some reason, the figure of Tang Yi surfaced in his mind...
'Tang Yi... isn't he a candidate from the North District, too?'
If he hadn't received the report from Elder Wan Sibo, Murong Liu would never have grown suspicious of the North District, let alone made the connection to Tang Yi. After all, Tang Yi had seemed completely ordinary, not like one of those typical prodigies whose brilliance was obvious at a single glance.
But now, with Elder Wan Sibo's report in hand, and recalling all the strange circumstances surrounding Tang Yi, it seemed highly probable that this Tang Yi was the very North District candidate Elder Wan Sibo had mentioned. It was even possible he was the candidate ranked second on the leaderboard!
At this thought, Murong Liu composed himself and began to organize the information he had on Tang Yi.
First, when he met Tang Yi, he had tested his Spiritual Power. 'And Tang Yi's Spiritual Power was at the 15th Layer?'
Not only that, but at Wang Bi'Er's request, he had activated the Six Spirits Gate for Tang Yi, and Tang Yi had somehow managed to open all six gates!
Such demonic Talent! To have 15th Layer Spiritual Power without ever having cultivated it—that would sound like a fairy tale to anyone.
When opening the Six Spirits Gate, others could only open One Spirit, two at most, and that already made them a once-in-a-generation prodigy. Yet Tang Yi claimed he opened all Six Spirits.
At first, Murong Liu hadn't believed it was true at all. He had just assumed Tang Yi had used some kind of trick. But now, it seemed...
'That might not have been the case...' 'Could he... really possess that kind of Talent?'
'A Demon with 15th Layer Spiritual Power who opened all Six Spirits?' Then there was the moment just after the House Entrance Examination began, when Tang Yi's image appeared on the Light Curtain.
He had killed a Level 4 Demon Beast with a single palm strike? Originally, Murong Liu had thought that since Tang Yi had opened the Six Spirits Gate, his physical constitution would have been comprehensively enhanced. Killing a Level 4 Demon Beast would be nothing special.
Anyone who had reached the Level of a Battle Spirit could do it. But thinking back on it now, he realized that wasn't the case at all.
A Level 4 Demon Beast is much more powerful than a Martial Artist of an equivalent Level. To even contend with one, a Martial Artist would need to be at least two minor levels stronger than the beast.
To actually kill one, they would need to be three to four minor levels stronger.
But to be ambushed and still counter-kill a Level 4 Demon Beast without using any Martial Technique—and to make it look so fluid and effortless—that was a feat even someone seven or eight levels higher than the beast might not be able to accomplish!
Counter-killing is a completely different beast from simply defending against an ambush; the difficulty isn't a matter of simple addition!
Tang Yi's Power was clearly far greater than what he showed on the surface! It was even possible he had the strength of a Battle King!
'Otherwise, he couldn't have done it!' 'A candidate who hasn't even passed the House Entrance Examination has the Power of a Battle King? That's just unbelievable.'
Furthermore, Tang Yi had some sort of indescribable relationship with Wang Zongyao and Wang Bi'Er. Hadn't Wang Zongyao even stepped forward and declared that Tang Yi was his person?
And Wang Zongyao was the Chief Examiner for the North District. What's more, he was the one who had so confidently placed a huge bet on the North District!
Connecting all these pieces of information... There was an enormous possibility that Tang Yi was, in fact, the candidate ranked second in the West Mansion!
This would explain everything! It would explain why Tang Yi had 15th Layer Spiritual Power during the test! It would explain how he could open all Six Spirits, and how he could kill a Level 4 Demon Beast with a single palm strike!
It would explain why even Wang Zongyao of the Wang Family valued Tang Yi so much, and why he had so confidently bet on the North District!
Because Tang Yi's innate Talent and Power were just that strong! As he connected the dots, Murong Liu's line of reasoning grew clearer and clearer. The more he thought, the more shocked he became...
The realization was startling. He hadn't known because he hadn't considered it, but now that he had, he scared himself.
'A genius was right under my nose, and I didn't even notice?'
"This candidate... I think I might know who he is," Murong Liu said slowly, having connected the dots.
"Oh? Who is he?" Pan Borong asked curiously upon hearing this.
Guo Yangyun also stared intently at Murong Liu, his face etched with curiosity.
"Do you two remember the North District candidate who appeared on the Light Curtain right at the start of the House Entrance Examination?" Murong Liu said.
"You mean the one who was ambushed by a Level 4 Demon Beast before he could even get his footing, yet managed to kill it with a single counter-strike?"
Pan Borong thought for a moment, then said, "Well, that candidate's Power is indeed impressive, but to say he's the one ranked second in the West Mansion... I think that's a bit of a stretch, isn't it? To be ranked second in the West Mansion Outer Mansion, one's Power must be at the level of a Battle King, at least! But he didn't have the imposing aura a Battle King should have."
"Old Pan, you're thinking just like I did. I thought the same thing at first, but after considering it more carefully, I changed my mind. I believe he was holding back his Power! Did you notice his expression? It was completely neutral. When he was ambushed, he didn't even furrow his brow. When a normal person uses more than half of their strength, their face will definitely show some sign of exertion. But he had no such expression when he was ambushed! In other words, that wasn't his True Power! When he dealt with that Level 4 Demon Beast, he didn't even use half of his strength to kill it!" Murong Liu explained.
"Oh. Now that you put it that way, it does seem to be the case. But that only proves his Power is impressive; it doesn't prove he's the candidate ranked second on the leaderboard," Pan Borong said again.

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