I Will Become a Phoenix More Noble Than the Emperor - Chapter 26

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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26.

 

 

 

 

“What?! That’s!”

“Don’t tell me she still hasn’t broken the Yin Stone?”

“No, but what’s she so proud of acting like that? She must be crazy.”

“Oh no! I bet my money on Yang Chae-gyo!”

 

The arena instantly became noisy. Even that seemed to be the reaction Chae-gyo wanted, as she wore a leisurely smile.

 

And soon a flashing light struck down from the sky. It looked like a sharp light pillar was striking down like lightning from heaven.

 

That light pillar struck down precisely into the Yin Stone.

 

“Still causing trouble as always.”

 

So-yoon muttered with displeasure. After a moment, the light pillar faded away. Everyone was squinting from the blinding light, but Seon-o focused his eyes and watched Chae-gyo’s Yin Stone.

 

At that moment, a very faint light seeped into Chae-gyo’s Yin Stone, and it cracked open with a splitting sound, revealing the seed.

 

At the same time, the sand in the hourglass completely settled to the bottom, ending the first trial.

 

As Chae-gyo shook the seed and smiled, the audience who had been speechless at her shocking behavior finally burst out with their pent-up words.

 

“Did, did she just break it?”

“Wait, didn’t they say last time that it couldn’t be broken with physical force?”

“This time it must be some different power! Ha, to see a Yin Stone break with my own eyes!”

“Have you ever seen such a crazy person! To dare make such a gamble!”

“Truly befitting the spirit of a phoenix.”

 

After instantly turning the audience seats into chaos, Chae-gyo turned around again and hummed a tune.

 

Her bold appearance made Seon-o’s heart grow cold. Of course, that massive light pillar just now was an illusion.

 

However, Chae-gyo knew exactly how to break the Yin Stone and used the lowest Yin Power to break it while the light pillar was flashing.

 

It was a scene that appeared in the original work too, but seeing it directly was even more amazing. It wasn’t just Seon-o’s thoughts, as tension was clearly written on the other candidates’ faces as well.

 

‘The psychological warfare was successful.’

 

Through that act, Chae-gyo not only proved her boldness but also instantly captured the attention of the audience that had been focused on Seon-o. Considering she even risked the possibility of failure, she was truly an amazing woman.

 

Soon the hourglass on the platform sank down by itself and disappeared. Then the sunken ground rose up again, and the massive brazier they had seen before appeared once more.

 

When all preparations were complete, High Priest Cheong-eum climbed onto the platform.

 

When Cheong-eum’s gaze turned toward Seon-o, Seon-o felt it and looked at Cheong-eum. However, Cheong-eum quickly turned his gaze away to look at the brazier, as if the eye contact just now was coincidental.

 

Soon Cheong-eum’s blue fire rose from the brazier.

 

When the divine oracle emerged from the flames, Cheong-eum took it out and unfolded it.

 

“I will call out the names of the candidates who strictly observed the task given by the Heavenly Emperor and thereby passed the first trial.”

 

As always, it was a plain announcement without flowery words. However, his calm voice dominated the solemn arena.

 

“Bu So-yoon of the Bu Family. Cheon Ga-jin of the Cheon Family. Wi I-ryeong of the Wi Family. Gwak Gi-rim of the Gwak Family… Seon-o of the Kang Family.”

 

When Seon-o’s name was called, those who had been holding their breath unconsciously gasped in admiration or let out tense sighs. Gong-un snorted quietly in displeasure.

 

With this, Seon-o’s abilities, which had been surrounded by countless rumors, were proven.

 

“Yang Chae-gyo of the Yang Family.”

 

Finally, Chae-gyo, who had broken her Yin Stone last, was also called. It was as expected. In the original work, everyone passed the first trial as well.

 

“No one was eliminated in the first trial this time either.”

 

I-so whispered to Gong-un.

 

“The first trial wasn’t that difficult, so it’s natural.”

 

As he said, the first task wasn’t very difficult. Unlike Seon-o, the candidates were superhumans who had awakened as children and were skilled at handling Yin Power.

 

The only obstacle would have been realizing that breaking the Yin Stone required the smallest force, but even that wasn’t difficult. The candidates were children of great families, and there were countless people who could give them advice.

 

Seon-o knew this fact well too.

 

‘In the two previous Phoenix Competitions held so far, no candidate was eliminated in the first trial.’

 

Therefore, it was an implicit common belief that the real competition began from the second trial. As that belief suggested, the difficulty increased from the second trial onward.

 

To a difficulty level that couldn’t be solved with advice from others.

 

A second divine oracle emerged from the brazier. Cheong-eum delivered the oracle again.

 

“The second trial.”

 

Everyone held their breath.

 

“Make the obtained seed germinate. Then bring it and plant it here.”

 

With those words, the floor in front of each candidate opened, revealing the soil ground that had been hidden inside.

 

As the second trial was finally revealed, the candidates’ expressions became subtle.

 

The divine oracle burned away in the blue fire and disappeared again.

 

“You will be given a one-month deadline. Only candidates who solve the task will be able to advance to the next gate.”

 

After delivering the brief oracle, Cheong-eum said nothing more and turned away with a bow.

 

‘He really doesn’t talk much.’

 

Usually, delivering an oracle should be a bit more exaggerated or solemn, shouldn’t it? However, Cheong-eum seemed to have no interest in such theatrics to enhance the dignity of the gods or himself.

 

When Cheong-eum disappeared, Seon-o unconsciously glanced toward the audience seats. There were too many people to distinguish anyone, but it seemed Hwan and Baek-ryu hadn’t come.

 

However…

 

“…”

 

Seon-o’s gaze paused when he spotted Wi Gong-un staring at him intensely from the front. Gong-un also felt Seon-o’s gaze directed at him and raised his eyebrows.

 

But that was brief—when Seon-o quickly turned his gaze away as if uninterested, Gong-un’s face hardened.

 

“Your prediction was correct, brother. The second task really was germinating seeds. Then it must be that method, right?”

 

I-so’s excited chatter didn’t register well with Gong-un at the moment.

 

“Wi I-so.”

 

When he quietly called I-so’s name, I-so quickly responded.

 

“Yes, brother.”

 

Gong-un turned to look at him.

 

“Am I sinister?”

 

I-so’s face went blank at the unexpected question.

 

What? All of a sudden?

 

Under Gong-un’s persistent gaze, I-so’s lips twitched.

 

Sinister…?

 

Uh…? Um… Oh…

 

“N…no?”

 

Even though he gave an answer contrary to his true feelings, Gong-un’s expression didn’t soften. He just glared at someone else with eyes that looked more sinister than ever.

 

I-so followed that gaze in confusion. At the end of Gong-un’s stare was Seon-o.

 

Huh…?

 

Of course, Seon-o was unaware he was receiving that terrifying glare and was being guided by the Temple Officials who had come up on the platform.

 

“You can take the carriage to the Imperial Palace right now.”

 

It was news that the Emperor had personally prepared a banquet for those who passed the second gate.

 

“Ha. Such a hassle, going back and forth.”

 

He could hear Bu So-yoon, who received the same instructions, muttering quietly.

 

However, since they couldn’t disobey the imperial command, the candidates followed the Temple Officials’ guidance toward where the prepared carriages waited. Two splendid ghost carriages sent from the Imperial Palace were waiting for the candidates.

 

“Three people per carriage, please.”

 

Then Chae-gyo and So-yoon rushed toward the carriage as if competing. When the two, who wouldn’t yield an inch, climbed onto the carriage simultaneously, it swayed wildly.

 

‘Why are they even fighting over something like that…’

 

Seeing that spectacle, none of the other candidates seemed to want to ride that carriage and didn’t move.

 

“One more person needs to board.”

 

When a Temple Official pleaded anxiously, Gwak Gi-rim finally made the sacrifice.

 

“I’ll ride.”

 

Her gentle voice was warm. Gi-rim politely greeted the Temple Officials, then bowed slightly to the remaining candidates with a smile.

 

Once Gi-rim boarded as well, the first carriage departed for the Imperial Palace. The remaining three people got into the second carriage.

 

Wi I-ryeong, Cheon Ga-jin, and Seon-o.

 

Though they had made it to the second gate, this was the first time the candidates had sat together.

 

It was truly…

 

‘Suffocating.’

 

Maybe the first carriage would have been better. But regret was useless now. Besides, Seon-o had business with I-ryeong. Just as Seon-o was about to acknowledge I-ryeong.

 

“Um…”

 

Ga-jin, who had been stealing glances at Seon-o, finally mustered her courage. Seon-o and I-ryeong’s gazes turned toward Ga-jin. The fairy-like Ga-jin seemed quite embarrassed and shrank back.

 

“Please speak.”

 

When Seon-o answered politely, Ga-jin’s expression brightened.

 

“It’s nothing major… I heard about Master Kang’s great achievement. I wanted to tell you that I think it’s truly remarkable.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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