176: Chapter 176 Top-Grade Appraiser Examination! Are you taking a walk?!

The moment Jiang Yun's figure vanished into the Myriad Forms Law Forest.

The long-suppressed chatter in the spectator area erupted with a bang.

It was more intense than any previous time!

"He's in! He really went in!"

"Bets are open! Bets are open! Place your wagers, everyone. Guess if this Dong Xuan examinee can overcome another difficult hurdle and be promoted to High Grade!"

"A High Grade assessment... picking a hundred at random out of a hundred thousand items, and he even has to perceive Laws and formation patterns... Can a Dong Xuan Great Master really do it?"

"Do it? With what?"

As soon as these words were spoken.

Someone immediately retorted with a sneer.

"Old Wang, you're a third-tier Medium Grade yourself. Ask yourself honestly, if given two days, how many of those hundred thousand items could you remember? Could you even perceive their Law inclinations? Stop dreaming! It's one thing for this kid to use tricks in the Low and Medium Grade assessments, but here, it's all about real skill! He definitely won't pass!"

"Exactly! Speed is impressive in the Low and Medium Grade assessments. But here, what use is speed? The power of Laws is ethereal and elusive, and appraisal formation patterns are complex and profound. They require one to calm the mind, focus the spirit, and use the heart to communicate and interpret! Anyone who dares to come for the High-Grade Appraiser assessment has essentially already set one foot into the High Grade and has significant research into Laws and formation patterns. No matter how fast this Dong Xuan is, can he be faster than the obscurity of the Laws? Can he see through the mysteries of formation patterns at a glance? It's simply a joke!"

"The difficulty is too high. Even if his knowledge reserve is Heaven-Defying and he can remember the names and materials of most items, the random Law inclinations and formation pattern analysis have too much uncertainty."

"Yeah, picking a hundred out of a hundred thousand involves a fair amount of luck. Even if he really can finish looking at a hundred thousand items in two days, how many details can he remember? Not to mention perception."

"I reckon he'll be lucky to finish looking at ten or twenty thousand items, and the rest he'll just have to guess. Passing? It's as hard as reaching the heavens!"

Some people even began discussing it in conjunction with Jiang Yun's previous speed.

"How long do you think he'll take to finish looking this time? I bet he'll only last half a day at most before he has to stop and meditate to recover his Mental Energy!"

"A day? I doubt it! This is a hundred thousand items! Even if he just gives them a passing glance, spending only one second per item, that would still take nearly thirty double-hours! Is he not going to rest or recover?"

"In short, it's laughable. This isn't Low or Medium Grade; both the quantity and quality are on a different level. No matter how fast he is, he'll have to honestly spend over a day just to do an initial pass, right?"

While everyone was discussing animatedly.

Steward Li from the fourth floor also squeezed his way up to the seventh-floor spectator area, panting, and happened to run into some fellow stewards from other floors.

"Holy crap! Old Li? Why did you run up here? What about your Medium Grade examination hall? You'll be punished for deserting your post!"

An acquainted steward said in surprise.

Steward Li glanced at him.

Then he looked at the surrounding colleagues, of whom there was clearly more than one deserting their post.

He grumbled in his heart.

You guys have the nerve to talk about me?

But a polite smile spread across his face.

He lowered his voice and said, "It's fine, it's fine. I've already left some capable people below to look after things for now. For a major event like today that concerns the future landscape of our Appraisers Guild, how could I, as a steward, not be present to observe and record it properly?"

When the other stewards heard this.

Their curiosity was completely piqued.

Although they had heard the massive commotion in the building.

And had immediately rushed over to join the fun!

They hadn't had a chance to ask around yet.

And knew very little about the specific situation.

"Old Li, tell us quickly! What exactly happened down there? How much of a stir did that black-robed kid named Dong Xuan cause at your place? Our hearts are itching like a cat's scratch!"

Several stewards gathered around.

Seeing this, Steward Li.

Unconsciously puffed out his chest a bit.

His face bore a pride as if he shared in the glory.

As if a portion of Jiang Yun's results was due to his own contribution.

He cleared his throat.

And began to recount the story vividly.

"Ahem, it was nothing much, just that I had the honor of witnessing the birth of a peerless rising star of appraisal! You guys have no idea..."

He then recounted how Jiang Yun had perfectly passed the Low Grade assessment in ten minutes, how he had boldly claimed he would directly test for the Grand Tutor Level, how he had selected his exam questions within half a minute on the fourth floor, and how he had dictated a shocking appraisal report that even the System gave a transcendent cognitive evaluation and a score as high as one hundred and fifty points. He told the story with some embellishments, especially emphasizing his own fairness and keen eye as the proctor.

The stewards listened, dumbfounded.

Their mouths hung open wide enough to fit an egg.

"Holy crap! Passing the Low Grade in ten minutes?!"

"Dictating a Medium Grade appraisal report in half a minute?!"

"One hundred and fifty points?! Transcendent cognitive evaluation?! Old Li, you're not bragging, are you?!"

"This... is this really something a human can do?!"

"No wonder it could alarm two Elders to personally accompany him! This boy is truly a Prodigy!"

After a moment of extreme shock.

The stewards also began to calm down.

Smacking their lips as they evaluated.

"However... Old Li, isn't this kid a bit too arrogant? It's true his Medium Grade results were Heaven-Defying, but he wants to directly test for High Grade? And even thinks about the Grand Tutor Level?"

"Yeah! You and I both know the difficulty of the High Grade assessment all too well; that's not something that can be overcome just by piling up knowledge!"

"Arrogant! Simply arrogant to the extreme! Does he really think the steps of an Appraiser are that easy to climb?"

It was no wonder they were so indignant.

As stewards of various floors.

They understood the chasm between each level of assessment all too well.

Jiang Yun's behavior.

In their eyes.

Was a desecration and a provocation toward the noble status of a High-Grade Appraiser... In the front row of the spectator area.

The young man in luxurious clothing.

Was also searching the examination hall for his sister's figure.

His sister was none other than.

The eldest Young Miss of the Qian family, Qian Rongrong.

And he was the Prodigy of the Qian family's younger generation.

The Eldest Young Master of the Qian family!

Top three on the provincial city's Heaven Ranking.

Soon.

In a relatively quiet corner.

He saw his sister Qian Rongrong's figure.

She was standing concentratedly in front of a row of crystal display cases, her beautiful eyes focused as they scanned the dozens of items displayed upon them. Her fingers would occasionally trace something in the air, seemingly simulating some kind of formation pattern trajectory, appearing incredibly serious and devoted.

However.

After the Eldest Young Master Qian's gaze moved a few positions to the left, his brow couldn't help but furrow slightly.

He caught sight of Dong Xuan, who had caused such a stir in the Assessment Tower.

Even more coincidentally.

The distance between the two of them was not far at the moment.

According to Dong Xuan's seemingly casual movement trajectory, it probably wouldn't be long before the two met.

"These two... they aren't going to run into each other here, are they..."

Eldest Young Master Qian murmured to himself.

A trace of inexplicable vigilance flashed in his eyes... Inside the examination hall.

Jiang Yun had originally intended to walk directly to the center of the venue.

To begin the assessment.

But when he caught a glimpse out of the corner of his eye of the other examinees, including Qian Rongrong, who were all observing, memorizing, and perceiving with extreme seriousness—one could even say with great hardship.

He felt he should try to fit in a little more.

"Starting the assessment directly would be too fake; it's practically writing 'I'm cheating' on my face... Better keep a low profile and walk around for show."

Jiang Yun thought to himself.

And so.

He followed the example of the others.

And began to walk slowly among the vast crystal display cases.

However.

This slow walk of his... in the eyes of others... was practically Wind Rush!

The other three examinees.

All stayed in front of a single display case for dozens of seconds.

Carefully sensing and memorizing the aura, form, and patterns of the nearly one hundred items upon it.

Even for Qian Rongrong, who was recognized as having extraordinary talent, she needed to stay at each case for at least a few seconds to ensure the information was preliminarily imprinted in her mind.

But what about Jiang Yun?

He was walking at a steady pace.

As if he were taking a stroll in his own backyard.

Walking from left to right.

His gaze casually swept over the cases—yes, merely swept over them, his footsteps didn't even pause for a second!

Not to mention focusing his mind to sense anything!

He even looked around from time to time.

As if he were admiring the grand scenery of the Myriad Forms Law Forest!

This action, which seemed reasonable to himself, instantly ignited a storm of shock even more violent than when the rules were announced, in the hundreds of eyes outside the field!

"Holy crap!!!"

An expletive burst out from someone's mouth first, followed by a tsunami-like wave of exclamations, doubts, and curses!

"He, he, he... what is he doing?! Taking a stroll?!"

"My goodness! This speed! Is he here for an assessment or for sightseeing?!"

"Crazy! Completely crazy! It was one thing to be fast in the Medium Grade assessment, but he dares to play around like this in the High Grade assessment?!"

"Look at an appraisal Genius like Miss Qian; she's treating it like she's facing a great enemy, concentrating her spirit and calming her breath. He, on the other hand, isn't even giving it a passing glance; it's practically a hurricane passing through!"

"Is he really looking? Is he really memorizing? Is he really trying to perceive that faint trace of Law power?!"

"Arrogant! So damn arrogant! This isn't confidence anymore; this is blatant contempt! Contempt for the High Grade assessment!"

"He's giving up! He's definitely giving up! He knows he can't pass, so he's just abandoning himself!"

Seeing Jiang Yun's appearance.

Some people were exasperated and extremely angry.

There was even a High-Grade Appraiser who shouted loudly.

"If he can pass the assessment like this... I'll gouge out these Spirit Eyes I've cultivated for decades and stomp on them like bubbles! This is absolutely impossible! If he can pass, I have every reason to suspect he's cheating! Or even using a hack!"

The outside area instantly fell into chaos.

All sorts of unbelievable exclamations, angry accusations, and absurd mockery intertwined.

Everyone was completely baffled by Jiang Yun's assessment method, which was entirely beyond comprehension.

Even the stewards and Elders were left speechless...