Chapter 175

Chapter 175: Falling Blossoms

"Falling Blossoms?"

This was a completely new term for Lou Yun, one he had never heard before. Puzzled, he instinctively looked around. He noticed that nearly all the higher-tier skilled weapon makers wore expressions of surprise upon hearing it, while the lower-tier ones looked just as bewildered as he did.

Seeing this, Lou Yun understood the situation. The Falling Blossoms method of testing spiritual perception must be quite challenging, something typically used only by high-level skilled weapon makers. Short Winter Melon proposing this test was clearly an attempt to deliberately make things difficult for him. However, he certainly wasn’t going to back down!

Beichen Ming, observing from afar, also noticed the change around Lou Yun. He was well aware of the Falling Blossoms test method. Frowning slightly, he hesitated about whether he should step in to assist Lou Yun.

He wanted to help, fearing Lou Yun might fail the Falling Blossoms test. Yet, he didn’t want their relationship revealed so early. After all, every skilled weapon maker desired a fair and impartial environment. If everyone learned Lou Yun was his chosen successor, then no matter what results Lou Yun achieved in subsequent tests, people would likely suspect it was all pre-arranged.

Just then, Liu Feifan beside him asked curiously, "Brother Bei, what exactly is this Falling Blossoms test method?"

Beichen Ming smiled faintly. "It’s quite interesting, actually. The person being tested must have their eyes and ears covered and stand in an open space. Then, a shower of petals falls from above. The test-taker must find the lightest petal among them. This method places extremely high demands on spiritual perception. Even if you know the method beforehand, cheating is impossible."

Liu Feifan nodded in understanding. "That does sound difficult. Picking out the lightest petal from a bunch… I’m afraid only someone whose magical weapon realm has reached the mystery rank could barely manage it. Can Lou Yun’s spiritual perception handle it?"

"Who knows!" Beichen Ming looked towards Lou Yun, a trace of worry in his eyes. Beside him, Liu Ruyan was also holding her breath for Lou Yun.

Seeing Lou Yun remain silent, Short Winter Melon couldn’t resist provoking him, "What? Are you afraid to take the test?"

Lou Yun laughed heartily. "Don’t try to provoke me. There’s nothing I’m afraid of. Come on, let me see what this Falling Blossoms of yours is all about!"

Hearing Lou Yun agree so readily, Short Winter Melon felt a slight jolt in his heart. Honestly, although this method was Fan Ruobing’s idea, he himself didn’t have much confidence. He had a sense that Lou Yun was unfathomable and might actually pass this test.

"Alright! Could everyone else please step back!"

Among the many skilled weapon makers present, very few had actually witnessed the Falling Blossoms test. Even those who had seen it were naturally eager to see how strong Lou Yun’s spiritual perception really was and whether he could pass. Instantly, everyone cleared a large space. They widened their eyes, focusing intently on the center of the area, anticipating the upcoming test.

Now, only Lou Yun and Short Winter Melon stood in the vast open space. Lou Yun spread his hands. "Shouldn’t you explain the specific rules and steps first? How exactly do I pass this test?"

Short Winter Melon glanced around, then scratched his head. "I actually don’t have any petals here!"

"Petals?" Lou Yun asked, confused. "What petals?"

At that moment, a rather alluring woman in her twenties stood up beside Fan Ruobing. Smiling lightly, she said, "I happen to have some petals. Does Brother Ai need them?"

Short Winter Melon’s eyes lit up as soon as he saw this woman speak. He nodded repeatedly. "Of course! I’d be much obliged, Fairy!"

The woman covered her mouth with a laugh, swayed her waist, and in a flash appeared beside Lou Yun and Short Winter Melon. She gave Lou Yun a flirtatious glance. "Little brother, do you have any objections to me setting the challenge?"

Although Lou Yun was still utterly confused—he neither knew what Falling Blossoms was nor who this woman was—seeing her descend from Fan Ruobing’s side made it clear this was all orchestrated by Fan Ruobing. He didn’t have any deep grudge against Fan Ruobing; he had merely blocked his path earlier and hadn’t yielded. Yet now, Fan Ruobing was targeting him so pointedly. It was evident Fan Ruobing wasn’t a good person!

A cold laugh echoed in Lou Yun’s mind. He nodded. "Since you’re all together, who sets the challenge makes no difference. I have no objections!"

The woman let out a tinkling laugh. "Who says I’m together with him? Someone like him? I wouldn’t give him a second glance!"

Short Winter Melon rolled his eyes at her, annoyed, but didn’t dare show any real anger. After all, this woman, named Yang Mengqiu, was Fan Ruobing’s beloved concubine. He couldn’t afford to offend her!

Yang Mengqiu turned to Short Winter Melon. "Brother Ai, why don’t you step aside too? How can I perform otherwise?"

Short Winter Melon obediently moved to the side. Yang Mengqiu then smiled at Lou Yun again. "Little brother, it seems you still don’t know what Falling Blossoms is. Let me explain. Your eyes and ears will be covered. Then, I’ll scatter petals around you. Using only your spiritual perception, you need to find the lightest petal. Understand?"

"So that’s how spiritual perception is tested!" Lou Yun nodded, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Interesting. Let’s give it a try!"

"Good!" Yang Mengqiu suddenly turned back to Short Winter Melon. "Brother Ai, shouldn’t you be covering his eyes and ears?"

Being ordered around like a servant by Yang Mengqiu filled Short Winter Melon with resentment. But he could only curse her silently in his mind, while outwardly maintaining a flattering smile, nodding and bowing.

Short Winter Melon produced the special black cloth strips and cotton wool used at the forging conference. He securely covered Lou Yun’s eyes and ears. After confirming Lou Yun could neither see nor hear, he nodded to Yang Mengqiu. "Ready!"

"Good. Then tell him I’m about to begin!"

Short Winter Melon tapped Lou Yun’s arm, signaling that Yang Mengqiu was about to scatter the petals.

Although Lou Yun’s eyes and ears were tightly covered, his innate senses were far superior to ordinary people. He couldn’t see, but he could faintly hear some sounds. Of course, he didn’t actually want to cheat. He deliberately sealed off his other five innate senses, leaving only his spiritual perception active.

At this moment, everyone tightly shut their mouths. Even their breathing became unconsciously held. The entire venue fell into absolute silence, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Yang Mengqiu gave a coquettish laugh and raised her hand. Indeed, she flung out a cluster of shimmering petals. Centered on Lou Yun, they fluttered down from the air in a flurry.

However, seeing this scene, everyone familiar with the Falling Blossoms test method had their expressions change drastically. Normally, the test used real petals. But at this moment, what Yang Mengqiu had thrown out were petals formed entirely from spiritual energy!

Real petals, no matter their size, have tangible weight, though distinguishing it is extremely difficult. Petals formed from spiritual energy also had weight, but it was almost negligible, as spiritual energy itself is an ethereal, intangible gas.

Finding the lightest petal among spiritual energy-formed petals while blindfolded and deafened, relying solely on spiritual perception—the difficulty was immense. Even a fifth-tier skilled weapon maker like Short Winter Melon would struggle to do it accurately!

Therefore, most people watching now could see, to varying degrees, that this test was blatantly designed to disadvantage Lou Yun. Neither Short Winter Melon nor Yang Mengqiu would dare such a thing on their own. The true mastermind had to be Fan Ruobing!

Realizing this, Beichen Ming expressionlessly swept his gaze over Fan Ruobing, who stood some distance away wearing a distinctly smug smile. A cold laugh echoed in Beichen Ming’s heart!

If Lou Yun truly failed this test, Beichen Ming had already decided he would personally step in to explain things for him!

After all, Beichen Ming’s purpose in having Lou Yun participate in this forging conference was for him to make a stunning debut, establishing his reputation before all the skilled weapon makers. That way, Beichen Ming could seize the opportunity to announce Lou Yun as his successor, allowing him to legitimately inherit his legacy.

Now, Fan Ruobing dared to deliberately set Lou Yun up for humiliation? That was equivalent to crossing Beichen Ming himself! Beichen Ming certainly wouldn’t let him succeed so easily!

Beichen Ming turned and whispered a few words into Dai Rong’s ear. Dai Rong gave a slight nod and hurriedly left.

Back at the center of the venue, Lou Yun was now surrounded by a flurry of falling petals. Through his spiritual perception, he already knew these petals were formed from spiritual energy, not real petals. Moreover, with such a large number of petals, finding the lightest one was indeed exceptionally difficult.

There were roughly over a hundred petals, falling at a deliberately slow pace—obviously Yang Mengqiu’s doing. Using spiritual energy to form the petals had already increased the difficulty significantly. If there were more petals or they fell faster, the test would be outright impossible!

Most onlookers were now holding their breath for Lou Yun. They unconsciously opened their own spiritual perception, widened their eyes, strained their ears, and tried desperately to find the lightest petal among the hundred-plus fluttering down. Yet, they couldn’t pinpoint it at all!

Lou Yun stood motionless, as if deep in sleep. Many secretly speculated that he must have given up. The difficulty was simply too great; probably only super experts like Beichen Ming could manage it!

Petals slowly drifted down from the air, landing on the ground one by one. As the number of petals still falling dwindled, Lou Yun remained utterly still.

Gradually, only six petals remained floating in the air. Suddenly, Lou Yun moved!

His fingers shot out like the wind, gently pinching one specific petal among the six. A smile lifted the corner of his mouth. "This is it!"