Chapter 15: Identity Exposed?

Perhaps it was because the two bell ringers were stunned by Qiaolin’s unfathomable Mental Power, or perhaps they wanted to test the youth’s limits one last time before their defensive magic tools shattered completely.

Both struck the bell simultaneously.

The resulting sound waves clashed and careened wildly, throwing the two bell ringers back until they fell unconscious.

However, no one on the scene cared about the injured bell ringers.

Everyone’s eyes were fixed on the black-haired youth sitting cross-legged in the center, for fear of missing even his slightest movement.

Qiaolin’s arm suddenly twitched.

“He moved?!” someone whispered hoarsely.

The crowd held their breath as they watched Qiaolin raise his hand and scratch his waist.

‘Is he… just scratching an itch?’

He had endured eleven rings of the Echo Bell, yet he seemed completely unfazed.

Was he even human?

This was the only question left in everyone’s minds.

“Impossible… How can there be someone with such powerful Mental Power in this world? No, he’s definitely not human! I won’t accept it!”

Karl gritted his teeth.

The vast Nolan Empire had a population of 10,000,000, and Karl was the undisputed genius with the highest magical talent among them.

It wasn’t just his Magic Power capacity or intensity; even his Mental Power was peerless.

He acknowledged that there were races in the world stronger than humans, but he believed that with his talent, he could reach King Rank within 20 years.

He might even glimpse the threshold of the Saint Rank in his lifetime.

He was qualified to stand alongside those legendary powerhouses.

Even if he were transported back 300 years to the Era of Heroes, a genius like him would have certainly followed the Hero on the path to subjugate the Demon King and had his name recorded in history.

Yet now, a complete nobody had appeared before him, showing such terrifying potential in every aspect.

Karl could not accept it; he would rather believe the person before him wasn’t human at all.

After the staff carried away the bell ringers who had been knocked out by the sound waves, others hesitated for a long time.

Finally, a brave staff member stepped forward to check on Qiaolin.

After all, the youth was sitting perfectly still.

If he hadn’t scratched that itch earlier, they would have thought his soul had dissipated.

“Little brother? Are you still there?”

“Hmm?”

The staff member tapped his shoulder, and Qiaolin slowly opened his eyes.

He was met with the staff member’s helpless, wry smile and the gaze of countless onlookers.

Qiaolin blinked, then turned to the staff member and asked innocently, “Has it started yet?”

The scene fell into a deathly silence.

The magic used to project the test images allowed the distant audience to see Qiaolin’s lip movements.

The announcer translated the youth’s words into standard Continental Common Language.

“Has it started yet?”

As those words rang out, the spectators’ eyes widened.

Every staff member, including Karl, dropped their jaws in shock.

‘Do you even hear what you’re saying?’

Qiaolin felt the atmosphere turn strange.

‘Did I say something wrong?’

He had been sitting under the Echo Bell and honestly hadn’t heard much of anything, let alone felt any mental shock.

He had almost fallen asleep.

“Um… It’s already over. Or rather, our people couldn’t hold out any longer. If you want to continue the test, I’m afraid you’ll have to wait a while,” the staff member explained.

He pointed toward the two bell ringers being carried away on stretchers.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to stay there so long. I just wanted to pass. Um… how many did I endure?”

Qiaolin laughed awkwardly and asked.

“Eleven rings in total. This is the highest score in the history of the testing assembly. Congratulations, you may proceed to Master Osaran’s mansion to discuss magic with him,” the staff member congratulated him while clapping.

The crowd below followed suit.

This was a historic moment.

A human who was potentially even stronger than the King Rank had appeared before their eyes.

If they hadn’t seen it with their own eyes, they would never have believed the Nolan Empire harbored such a powerhouse.

“Wait a minute!”

Karl’s figure descended before the crowd.

He glared coldly at Qiaolin, who had just stepped out from under the Echo Bell.

He suddenly flipped his palm, and a green whirlwind surged toward the youth.

*Puff!*

At the same time, a girl with blonde hair and red highlights flashed in front of Qiaolin.

She dispelled the whirlwind with a casual strike, and the black-and-red Magic Power filled with Devouring Power began to surface from her body.

Qiaolin raised his hand and pressed it gently on her shoulder.

A warm current flowed down, instantly calming Gabriela’s turbulent Magic Power.

‘Don’t expose our identity,’ Qiaolin’s voice echoed via Divine Sense.

‘That human attacked you first.’

Qiaolin didn’t answer her further.

Instead, he stepped in front of Gabriela and looked at Karl.

“What is the meaning of this hostility?”

he asked.

“You aren’t actually human, are you? I’ve never heard of a human with Mental Power strong enough to withstand eleven impacts from the Echo Bell. You would need to be at least above the King Rank!”

Karl pointed at Qiaolin, his face grim.

“To be able to disguise yourself so perfectly as a human… you must be from the Demon Race!”

As Karl spoke, a commotion broke out in the crowd.

Some people suddenly had an epiphany and chimed in, “That’s right! Even Master Osaran hasn’t set a record of eleven rings. How could a mere brat surpass the Arcane King? He must be some Great Demon who has lived for 1,000 years!”

The voices of doubt grew louder, and people began to back away.

Even if they had never seen a real member of the Demon Race, they had heard that the demons had nearly enslaved all of humanity 300 years ago.

If the Celestial Realm hadn’t lent a hand and sent down blessings, human prosperity wouldn’t exist today.

Qiaolin glanced at the fearful crowd and then at the Echo Bell beside him.

Facing Karl’s interrogation, he explained unhurriedly, “I have received the blessing of the Saintess of the Holy Hero Church. My Mental Power is simply stronger than that of average Mages.”

“But this is too ridiculous. Even my teacher is nowhere near your level. This has completely exceeded the scope of humanity,” Karl argued.

Qiaolin sighed helplessly.

His original intention was to last three or four rounds under the Echo Bell to qualify for learning magic and then leave.

Unfortunately… he had vastly overestimated the effect of the bell.

Eleven rings were indeed beyond these people’s comprehension.

Qiaolin couldn’t think of any other suitable excuse for the time being.

‘Should I just say I was once the Celestial Hero?’

‘If I do that, they’ll believe me even less. After all, as the Celestial Hero, I’ve already become a legend in storybooks. There’s zero credibility.’

‘I’m sorry, Gabriela. It looks like our plan failed this time,’ Qiaolin’s voice echoed in the girl’s mind.

Gabriela turned her head and gave the youth a small smile.

‘It’s fine. It’ll just take a bit more time, that’s all.’

‘Should I show them my Magic Power and scare them? Since that guy says we’re demons, let’s show him what the Demon Race is really like!’

Hearing Gabriela’s complaint, Qiaolin quickly stopped her.

They were still in human territory and under the jurisdiction of the Holy Hero Church.

If she unleashed powerful demonic Magic Power—especially her unique Devouring Power—the Church’s Templars would likely swarm the area.

“Enough!”

The crowd parted as an old man leaning on a magic staff walked forward.

It was the Great Archmage, Osaran.

“Teacher?!”

“Stop this pointless behavior, Karl. From now on, this young man and his companion are my guests.”

Osaran’s tone was gentle, but it carried an undeniable authority.

“Anyone who can receive the blessing of the Church’s Saintess must possess an indestructible will. I believe you are a promising young man.”

Qiaolin bowed gratefully to Osaran for speaking up for him.

“Thank you for the praise, Great Archmage Osaran.”

“I am merely speaking the truth. *Cough, cough*…”

Osaran coughed a few times and then raised his hand.

An emblem fell into Qiaolin’s palm. “This is the entry sigil for my mansion. If you are interested, we can talk tonight.”

“Then I shall humbly accept,” Qiaolin replied.

Qiaolin took the emblem and smiled as he watched Osaran leave, while behind him, Karl’s killing intent continued to surge.