Reincarnated as both God and The Devil

Chapter 151: Ancient Cultivator?

"I have failed all of you, sister Xing Cai!"

Viel's shout echoed throughout the entire training hall. But after that, only awkward silence followed. Even the audience, who usually had a lot to say, were confused speechless.

All of them were wondering, should they cheer or should they run?

Some of the other applicants also had the same thought, was this golden-haired kid some kind of super-powered Illegal Drifter that's here to kill them so they will no longer have any new Explorers? They almost did get splattered into a million pieces by the platform.

But, he did stop before the platform could squash them. Could he really just be from their world? If so, why haven't they heard of him before? Surely, someone this monstrously strong would have quite the reputation is he famous in the west?

Then why was he here causing trouble for them normal people!?

*Cough*

All of the thoughts inside the hall stopped as soon as they heard the examiner clearing his throat.

"Due to unforeseen events, we will be concluding the test prematurely"

"W-what!?"

"What about the 3 other tests!?"

"That's it!? But I paid to watch this!"

"...You paid for this?"

The audience started to whisper and shout as soon as they heard the examiner's announcement. The line-up they had today was, in a word, amazing. There was a possibility that there was more than a single applicant that will be bestowed an A rank.

And now they are asking them to go home!?

Suddenly, a loud whistling noise filled the entire hall, shutting the mouths of the clamoring audience.

"The numbers I will be calling are the ones that have passed the test and will officially be recognized as Explorers", the voice of the examiner once again resounded through the hall, ignoring the plight and pleas of both the audience and the applicants.

"What!? How is that even fair!?"

"Let us take the other tests!"

"I traveled more than a thousand kilometers to be here!"

"Those who wish to take the test again may do so 3 days from now", the voice of the examiner started to sound impatient. After reprimanding the applicants a bit more, he finally started to announce the numbers as soon as they turned quiet.

"Numbers 12, 32, 42, 43, 44"

But as soon as the numbers were called, the audience once again went into an uproar. Whistling and cheering like monkeys as they cat-called the 3 beautiful foreigners.

The three cloaked dark-skinned women nodded and whispered to themselves as their numbers were called, and for some reason, they were all staring at Viel as they stepped forward.

"54, 62"

"Yes!"

"69"

"Hmph", as soon as Guanbei's number was called, he immediately stepped forward, once again looking arrogantly towards those whose numbers have not been called. Even though he was still not clear as to what exactly happened earlier when the golden-haired kid took the test, what mattered was that he passed it even if no one was cheering for him.

"Number 83"

"R-really!? I passed!?"

"Number 95"

The handsome man wearing a white robe calmly stepped forward, without even opening his eyes. Once again, cheering erupted as the female audience hollered and shouted, some even claiming that they will have his babies.

"Number 101"

Like a sudden change of battlefield, the high pitched cheering instantly became like a lion's den. As the female cheers were replaced by the hungry shouts of men.

Sofia, of course, did not really mind. If there was anything she was used to, it was fame. Instead, she just placed all of her attention towards the handsome man as she stepped forward.

"V-vie Number 102", for the first time, the examiner's voice stuttered.

Once again, the cheers died down as silence instantly filled the entire hall as Viel's number was called.

"Yay! Go Viel!", there was only a single awkward cheer coming from the stands, Guang Yan.

Viel could not help but scratch his chin as he stepped forward, was his performance not enough? Did he shame his sister Xing Cai?

Viel closed his eyes in disappointment, he then blamed Mr. Voice for not telling him at an earlier time that Ms. Lu Yi and the others were unavailable. Telling him that they will talk seriously later.

[....]

"For the numbers that weren't called, you may try again 3 days from now"

"Oh, man I have no more money for a tavern"

"If I knew Explorers were this monstrous I wouldn't have even dreamed of applying"

"I'm going home"

With groans and sighs of frustration, the applicants whose numbers weren't called started leaving reluctantly. But still, some of the audience clapped and respectfully cheered for them. Telling them they should try again and that they shouldn't lose hope.

But as soon as the losers were gone, the audience once again started to whisper to each other, trying to guess what ranks will be given to those who passed.

"Surely, number 101 will be an A-rank?"

"Isn't she possible for an S-rank!?"

"...Might be, but they don't give out S-ranks in tests, you have to earn it first"

"R-really?"

"Ooh, I am getting excited. Are we witnessing the birth of another S-rank!?"

Truthfully, if stronger cultivators joined the test and became Explorers, they would probably dominate the higher rankings. But sadly, a huge majority of cultivators and their sects do not register themselves as Explorers.

Being registered as an Explorer means, one way or another, you were under the direct supervision of the Empire- and they surely did not want that. They take the dungeons before the Explorers could come and claim it, which usually leads to a scrimmage.

"W-what about number 102?"

As soon as the number of the golden-haired kid was mentioned, the audience that were talking to each other was once again silent. They were trying to get rid of number 102 from their memories as what happened earlier was truly shocking. 

None of them were expecting someone as young-looking as that to be capable of something like that. If he were in some off chance an ancient cultivator, then they surely would want to avoid talking about him. Ancient cultivators have the reputation of being ruthless.

"We will now begin ranking you based on your performance", the examiner's voice once again resounded throughout the hall, but this time, he had now revealed himself in front of the applicants.

It was an old man, obviously a cultivator. As he was walking near to the group, he was noticeably glancing at one of the applicants that have passed, Viel.

He squinted his eyes as if trying his best to see clearly as he continued to stare at Viel. But seeing as Viel wasn't responding to him, he just released a slight cough as he congratulated the people who have passed the test.

He then, without a pause or any form of suspense, gave the rankings of the group.

The three cloaked dark-skinned women were all ranked as C.

Guanbei, also ranked as C.

"W-what!?", Guanbei wanted to complain, but the examiner did not even give him a second glance as he continued to rank them one by one as if he was rushing for something.

The handsome man wearing a white robe was ranked B.

Of course, once again, Guanbei uttered a complaint. The handsome man destroyed fewer targets than him, so why was he ranked higher!? He complained, but once again completely ignored by the examiner.

Sofia, Rank A.

A slight murmur in the audience could be heard, they already expected the outcome. Sofia, however, was not satisfied. As an ex-member of the Royal Family, she was used to being the best. If she does something, then she will aim to be the best in it, otherwise, she shouldn't be doing it.

She just tagged along here since Viel was also taking the test, and of course, so that they won't have any troubles if they wish to enter more dungeons in the future. But now that she received her rank, she had this sudden urge to reach the top.

And finally, as soon as the examiner got to Viel, he stopped rushing and took a deep breath.

"Boy, do you remember who I am?"

The examiner said in a soft voice as he spoke to Viel. The audience were perplexed. Was the examiner rushing so that he could talk to the golden-haired kid? Wait, could their assumptions be right, was the boy some kind of ancient cultivator!?

Well, they were wrong. The old man in front of Viel was none other than examiner An Da.

Seeing the old man in front of him asking him a sudden question, Viel could not help but squint his eyes as he leaned forward.

"Hmmm", Viel placed his hand on his chin as he tried his best to remember the old man in front of him. Viel had to admit, the old man did look awfully familiar to him.

"!!!", after a few seconds, Viel's eyes widened as he released a light gasp.

"Do you remember who I am!?", An Da's eyes lit up, glimmering in anticipation and excitement.

"...Xiao Pei?"

"Number 102

...Rank D"