Chapter 140: Images on the Screen

Chapter 140: Images on the Screen

"I am now going to present the dossier on Shen An. I believe that once you have all seen the information regarding this future Earl, you will be thoroughly convinced," the Grand Elder said, brimming with confidence.

"Although the Grand Elder is highly respected within the Grandmaster Council, I still feel that appointing a future Earl so hastily is far too impulsive. This matter should not be handled recklessly; it doesn't seem like the Grand Elder’s style at all."

"Indeed. For the Grand Elder to act this way is truly baffling."

"Heh, perhaps. The Grand Elder has truly grown senile. Sigh, I don't believe any dossier could convince me. Appointing an Earl in his early twenties? There has never been such a precedent in the history of our Grandmaster Council."

"The Grand Elder has truly erred this time. I, for one, will not support him in this."

Voices of dissent filled the air, yet the Elders and Earls remained composed and confident, as if they never doubted their ability to sway these skeptics.

"Heh, those people have simply never witnessed Shen An’s power. If they knew how strong he truly was, they wouldn't be acting like this," one Earl remarked, arms crossed, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Quite right. This future Earl has received the unanimous approval of all our Elders and Earls. How could his strength possibly be questioned? I can’t wait to see the look of utter astonishment on their faces," another Earl added.

"They just haven't seen Shen An’s true strength. Once they do, they will surely regret their current stance."

...

In the plaza, the crowd remained unimpressed, unconvinced that Shen An possessed the qualifications to become the next Earl.

"Hmph, I want to see what could possibly convince us. I don't believe there is anything he has that would make me change my mind," a young man muttered indignantly.

"Exactly. What could convince me? What kind of strength could a young man like him possibly have? I might even be able to defeat him in a single move."

"He’s just a mere youth—nothing special. He lacks both seniority and strength."

The Grand Elder smiled faintly. Behind him stood a massive screen, typically used to broadcast combat footage of legendary Grandmaster Council powerhouses.

At that moment, a young face appeared on the screen—a face entirely unfamiliar to the crowd. It was none other than Shen An of the Grandmaster Council. The footage displayed his aptitude test.

The numbers on the aptitude display began to climb rapidly, hitting ten thousand in a matter of moments.

"Ten thousand? His aptitude has already reached ten thousand? That’s astonishing. But even ten thousand is nowhere near enough to qualify for an Earldom. You must remember, Black Bear’s aptitude is already at twelve thousand."

"It’s reached twelve thousand... this... to reach such a level is truly shocking."

"It’s still climbing. Is it going to reach even higher levels? This is truly worth waiting for. Could it possibly surpass twenty thousand?"

The crowd stared intently at the numbers on the testing machine, as if any fluctuation in that figure was enough to stir their deepest excitement.

"Hahaha, twenty thousand... it has actually reached twenty thousand! How formidable! Such ability is truly mind-boggling. Twenty thousand is far beyond Black Bear."

"Powerful, truly powerful. This young man has surpassed the strength of most of us. Even the Berserkers of our Grandmaster Council would be no match for him."

Everything was unfolding exactly as the Elders and Earls had anticipated. They were not surprised; they knew there were even more shocking revelations to come.

"Shocked by such a measly aptitude? These people truly have no exposure to the world," an Earl sighed, shaking his head. They were, as expected, a group of lowly awakened ones, lacking the discernment of an Earl.

"An aptitude of twenty thousand is indeed not weak. If he were to unleash such power fully, I fear few could withstand it."

"Precisely. Heh, the young ones are about to have their jaws drop. They will soon regret the opposition they voiced earlier," an Earl said with absolute confidence.

"I agree. After all, this young man has earned the recognition of every Elder and Earl."

The numbers on the screen continued to leap, a terrifying progression that left the onlookers stunned and shaken. No one knew when the numbers would stop, only that they were utterly mesmerizing.

"It’s as if my eyes are bewitched; I can’t look away from the screen. Have I gone mad?"

"Heaven help us, thirty thousand! His aptitude has reached thirty thousand! Such an aptitude is indeed worthy of an Earl, but... it is still not enough. He hasn't reached the required age to be an Earl yet."

"This is terrifying. I have to secretly give him a thumbs-up in my heart. This guy is a monster. This aptitude is a full three times that of Black Bear. Black Bear is nothing more than a background prop in front of him."

"Exactly, exactly. Who would have thought that our proud Black Bear, known as the Berserker, would one day be reduced to a background prop? This is something Black Bear himself would never have imagined."

"Is this what they mean by 'invincible'? What terrifying strength."

As the numbers on the screen continued to climb, the crowd's shock deepened, as if the display would never cease its ascent. The Elders and Earls took great pleasure in the look of astonishment on the faces of the crowd.

"Indeed. Seeing their expressions reminds me of how I felt back then. An aptitude of thirty thousand is truly enough to startle anyone," the Second Elder remarked.

"Heh, this future Earl will surely lead our Grandmaster Council toward a glorious era. I truly look forward to that day arriving sooner," the Grand Elder said.

"Heh, the Grand Elder’s assessment of Shen An is perhaps a bit too high," the Third Elder interjected.

"Not at all, not at all. Shen An is truly worthy of such an assessment," the Grand Elder replied with a subtle smile.

Standing among the Elders and Earls, Shen An wore an expression of bewilderment. He had never expected that the footage of his aptitude test would be recorded, let alone broadcasted to everyone present. He knew that what was to follow would leave them all in total shock.