Chapter 245: Sorry to Keep You Waiting (Second Update)

“I really don't know what Chu Liuyue is thinking, actually coming to compete at a time like this! There's only an hour left, what can she even do?”

“Exactly! The remaining contestants, Sheng Yiming and Su Bai, are true geniuses, and even they took nearly a whole day to finally crack the four stages and reach the final round. Isn't she just coming here to make a fool of herself?”

“Sigh—you guys have to think about Tianlu Academy too! They only have Chu Liuyue left as their sole survivor now!”

“Sole survivor? You say it as if she can actually win, haha!”

Almost everyone held a low opinion of Chu Liuyue.

Even the members of Tianlu Academy were filled with worry; although no one spoke, the atmosphere was very heavy.

This was especially true after seeing Si Ting return.

Even the usually boisterous Si Yang didn't dare step forward to say anything reckless; he could only obediently stay to the side, trying his best to minimize his presence.

His eldest brother's current mood was not something to be trifled with...

He pressed his hands together and began to pray devoutly in his heart

“That freak must take first place! She must take first place!”

Suddenly, a commotion broke out around the arena.

Si Yang turned his head in surprise, only to see everyone looking at Chu Liuyue with subtle expressions.

Following their gaze, he immediately saw that a star had actually lit up on the stone platform in front of Chu Liuyue!

Holy crap!

Si Yang rubbed his eyes vigorously and looked again very carefully.

That's right!

Chu Liuyue really had cracked the first stage! She had entered the second stage!

This... this was too fast!?

They called her a freak, and she really was a freak!?

It wasn't just Si Yang; at this moment, everyone in the entire plaza was stunned by Chu Liuyue's extraordinary speed.

“Wait! Did I see that wrong? Chu Liuyue has actually already solved the first profound array!?”

“No, no, no mistake! I saw it too! It seems to be true!”

“No way! Didn't she just step onto the field!? Although the difficulty increases layer by layer, the first stage shouldn't be that easy to crack, right?! Didn't it trap quite a few people just now?”

“How on earth did she solve it...”

The sound of this commotion also caught the attention of Sheng Yiming and Su Bai.

Both of them turned to glance at Chu Liuyue.

On the stone platform in front of her, the first star had indeed lit up.

As for her, her expression remained calm and composed, as if she hadn't realized the incredible thing she had just done.

To be this calm, she was either too focused, or... she had been confident all along!

Su Bai's expression was somewhat playful, but a hint of solemnity appeared in the depths of his eyes.

Sheng Yiming frowned slightly, an inexplicable sense of irritation rising in his heart.

—From the first stage to the fourth, he had always been the first to crack them. But even for him, the first stage took a full stick of incense's time.

Yet Chu Liuyue seemed to have solved it with just a single glance!

Chu Liuyue was only a Level 2 Profound Master; logically, it should have been absolutely impossible for her to be this fast.

Could it be that the first stage happened to be a profound array she had seen before?

It seemed that only this reason could explain why she could solve the first stage so rapidly.

Sheng Yiming suppressed the irritation in his heart and gave a self-deprecating smile.

He was truly being overly nervous.

Even if Chu Liuyue happened to crack the first stage, there were still the second, third, and fourth stages ahead!

This one hour wouldn't be nearly enough for her to catch up to him!

Thinking of this, his heart settled slightly.

However, not long after, a familiar sound rang out again!

*Bang!*

That was the sound of a profound array being cracked!

Sheng Yiming's heart trembled, and he turned his head almost instinctively.

Sure enough, he saw that a second star had already lit up on the stone platform in front of Chu Liuyue!

Chu Liuyue had actually successfully passed the second stage!

The onlookers became even more agitated.

The first stage being simple was understandable, but how could she crack even the second stage so quickly!?

This speed had already surpassed everyone who had competed today!

Cheng Han already felt that something was wrong; he couldn't help but look at Sun Zhongyan, his face full of suspicion

“A mere Level 2 Profound Master, how can she crack them so fast? Could it be that she just happened to have seen a similar profound array before?”

Sun Zhongyan naturally understood his meaning, and his expression tightened slightly

“What, Brother Cheng Han, are you suspecting that I leaked the questions?”

“Of course not. Brother Zhongyan has always been honest; why would you do such a despicable thing? I am merely finding it strange—how is Chu Liuyue so successful?”

Sun Zhongyan laughed out of sheer anger and raised his voice

“Although the chessboards used for this Profound Master competition are provided by our Tianlu Academy, the five profound arrays chosen for the competition were decided through joint discussion by the three major academies. If there is a possibility that I leaked the questions, then Brother Cheng Han and Brother Yunshan are likely also involved, are they not?”

Fu Yunshan immediately said

“Brother Zhongyan, please do not misunderstand, I did not mean that! But I am also somewhat curious, how exactly did Chu Liuyue crack them so quickly?”

Sun Zhongyan sneered repeatedly

“How else? Naturally, it's because she has talent!”

This answer was so incredibly matter-of-fact that Fu Yunshan and Cheng Han didn't know how to respond for a long while.

Seeing that the two still seemed to want to argue, Sun Zhongyan brushed his clothes.

“If your students cannot do it, does that mean others cannot?”

With that one sentence, he completely shut their mouths.

The time of one stick of incense passed quickly.

*Bang!*

A familiar sound rang out!

Everyone stared intently, only to see that the third star on the stone platform in front of Chu Liuyue was already shining brilliantly!

The originally restless crowd gradually quieted down.

By now, they finally realized that Chu Liuyue's ability to crack the profound arrays so quickly the previous two times was not due to luck.

Sun Zhongyan's words were actually true.

Her talent was truly rare!

Chu Liuyue looked indifferently at the changing pieces on the chessboard.

Soon, the fourth profound array appeared!

At this point, those who had harbored various suspicions earlier completely shut their mouths!

If Chu Liuyue didn't count as a genius, then no one would dare call themselves one!

Now, they only cared about one thing—whether Chu Liuyue could crack the fourth and fifth stages within the remaining half hour to claim first place!

The smile on Su Bai's face had disappeared at some unknown point.

The hand holding the chess piece by Sheng Yiming also began to tremble slightly.

Even without turning around to look, they could guess what was happening.

Now, they only hoped that Chu Liuyue would not continue to catch up—

*Clack.*

Chu Liuyue placed a piece.

Both of them were startled!

She had actually started cracking the fourth stage so quickly!?

Immediately following that, the sound of pieces falling on the chessboard continued to come.

Chu Liuyue's movements were fluid; each sound echoed in the ears of Sheng Yiming and Su Bai like a death knell!

If one looked closely, fine beads of sweat were already seeping from the foreheads of the two!

*No, no, I must crack the final few steps faster!*

But the more they thought this, the harder it became to succeed.

Instead, behind them, Chu Liuyue's movements paused, and she became quiet.

Sheng Yiming and Su Bai exchanged a glance, and then both turned their heads to look.

Chu Liuyue held a chess piece between her fingertips, looking at the two of them with a beaming smile.

“Sorry to keep you waiting.”

As she spoke, with a *snap*, the piece fell!

*Bang!*

The fourth star lit up in response!

(End of Chapter)