The apprentices swiftly gathered their tools and materials, not bothering to pack them properly. They hurriedly stored them in their inner worlds and joined the throngs heading outside to witness the commotion in the Cultivation Hall.
Coughing and sputtering, Mentor Ma vigorously dispersed the hazy dust in front of him. It took him a couple of consecutive blinks before he could clearly discern the scene before him.
The Viscount of the Cultivation Hall’s courtyard now featured a colossal crater, more than ten meters deep. Su Xihua had evidently plummeted into that pit, as no one could spot him for quite a while.
Standing beside the treacherous hole with her hands behind her back, the stoic young lady displayed the poise of a true master, which left people struggling to stifle their laughter.
Although it seemed like Su Xihua had suffered quite a misadventure due to the deceitful pit, for some inexplicable reason, no one could contain their amused grins.
No, actually, not grins, but rather bewildered, suppressed smiles!
Understandably, Su Xihua was in quite a dire state, so outright laughter was out of the question.
“Pfft…” It was unclear which one of the fellow students couldn’t hold back any longer and ended up choking on their saliva, breaking into laughter.
Witnessing Mentor Ma’s fierce glare, the student promptly turned around and feigned a cough.
“Student Qiao Mu!” Mentor Ma struggled to find words.
“You! You!” He remained speechless for an extended moment.
Mentor Ma found himself genuinely lost for words in the face of that unflinching expression.
“This is absurd!” After a prolonged silence, Mentor Ma finally blurted out. He pointed at Mentor Gao and demanded, “You, please explain.”
Mentor Gao’s mouth twitched. He took a few steps forward, cleared his throat, and asked,
“Cla.s.smate Qiao, could you kindly clarify what is transpiring? Would you be willing to share with the instructors?”
An uncomfortable silence descended upon the a.s.sembly.
“Mentors, it seems there’s a considerable misunderstanding concerning Cla.s.smate Qiao. It appears you’ve a.s.sumed she’s inclined to offer explanations for her actions. Clearly, this young lady has no such inclination,” someone remarked.
Qiao Mu glanced apathetically at them before lowering her gaze to the pit, which exceeded ten meters in depth.
Sensing an intense aura rising from the bottom of the deceitful pit, Mo Lian knew that Su Xihua was regaining composure and preparing to ascend.
The young stoic remained expressionless. She retrieved two more divine energy b.a.l.l.s from her pocket and, much to the horror of the mentors and cla.s.smates, hurled them into the pit.
“Don’t, don’t!” Mentor Ma’s voice quivered with excitement.
But before he could finish his plea, the two divine energy b.a.l.l.s had already rebounded.
“Boom! Boom!”
The entire gathering fell into stunned silence.
Intermittent, audible swallowing was the only sound.
As Mo Lian hurriedly approached the scene, he nearly collided with Duan Yue’s entourage at the entrance.
Turning to observe, he discovered a growing crowd of onlookers who had come to witness the spectacle.
The individuals from the Pill Hall joined the throng as well. A crowd a.s.sembled, collectively pressing through the bamboo fence wall of the Cultivation Hall.
Upon their entry, they were met with an utterly bizarre tableau.
The instructors and students from the Cultivation Hall appeared immobilized, as if their acupoints had been struck. They stood in eerie silence, resembling mere wooden figures, prodded and lifeless.