"Are you questioning me?" The Deacon glared angrily at Zhang Hao.
The youths Martial Warriors who were queuing to register around them looked at Zhang Hao with disdain. However, it was understandable, as there were many youths Martial Warriors at this moment who were over the age but still wanted to register for the assessment and enter various Colleges. This kind of thing was commonplace every time the Colleges recruited students. Often, hundreds of people would be found.
Zhang Hao looked coldly at the Deacon and said, "Hmph, I demand a re-test, and moreover, the testing stone must be replaced."
"No need!" The Deacon said coldly.
"By what right are you so arbitrary? Are you feeling guilty?" Zhang Hao's anger surged.
If his bone age was truly over, then so be it. But Zhang Hao knew that he still had three months before he would exceed sixteen years old, which meant he was currently still sixteen, and his age was definitely not over. For this Deacon to act like this, it was clear someone was targeting him.
"What a joke. If everyone demands a re-test, do we still need to work?" The Deacon laughed coldly.
"Stop the nonsense, I'm just asking if you dare. Don't tell me someone isn't making you do this?" Zhang Hao retorted sharply.
"Presumptuous... if you keep pestering me, I will expel you and ensure that no College ever admits you for life." The Deacon said angrily.
More than a dozen attendants around them immediately surrounded Zhang Hao, their sharp gazes locked onto him. These attendants were all Half-Step Martial King in cultivation. This made Zhang Hao feel immense pressure. But he was fearless and merely glared at the Deacon.
"Hahaha... is this a College assessment? Since you want to play today, I will turn this place upside down!"
"Hmph, kid, let me tell you, with me here, you will never be able to step through the College threshold in your lifetime. This Deacon wants to play you to death, it's as easy as crushing a bug." The Deacon sneered.
Zhang Hao was enraged by the Deacon's arrogance. Although he knew that a Deacon responsible for assessing levels here was definitely far above him in cultivation, he still couldn't suppress his anger.
Just as the two sides were on the verge of clashing.
"Stop!"
Three Old Men appeared from the side. The Old Man standing in the middle with an indifferent expression was Elder Wei.
Seeing Zhang Hao's somewhat astonished expression, Elder Wei winked at him, his eyes full of playfulness.
Zhang Hao realized that Elder Wei wanted him to pretend not to know him. Therefore, he was happy to play dumb. Knowing that Elder Wei was present, this little Deacon would absolutely not be able to cause trouble. Elder Wei's appearance here in his capacity as the head of the Qianlong Pagoda headquarters was definitely not just for show. He should at least be a core person in charge.
"What's going on?" One of the Black-Robed Old Man asked with a frown.
The Deacon quickly pointed at Zhang Hao and made a pre-emptive accusation, saying, "Several Lords, this kid's bone age is over, and he's not accepting it. He wants to cause trouble, so he got into a dispute with his subordinate."
The Black-Robed Old Man frowned and glanced at Zhang Hao with a stern gaze. This kind of thing happened too often in the annual assessments, so the Old Man didn't suspect anything.
"Someone! Take him down and cripple his cultivation!" The Black-Robed Old Man prepared to make an example of him.
The Deacon was very pleased. He thought to himself: Kid, you dare to contend with me, you really don't know how to write the word 'death'.
Just as several Half-Step Martial King attendants were about to pounce.
Zhang Hao shouted, "Wait!"
The attendants were momentarily stunned. Just as they were considering whether to step forward, the Black-Robed Old Man waved his hand and asked indifferently, "Kid, what else do you have to say? Today you are disrupting order, this Elder can only make an example of you. Don't blame this Elder."
"Hahaha! Make an example?"
Zhang Hao was also enraged. He pointed at the Old Man and asked, "May I ask the Elders, from beginning to end, you only listened to one side. Have you ever listened to my explanation? How do you think he is right and I am wrong? Is it just because he is your person and I am not?"
"Hmph, this Elder doesn't need you to teach me. This Elder has seen too many people like you." The Black-Robed Old Man said indifferently.
"Whether it's right or wrong, wouldn't it be settled with just another test?" Zhang Hao said calmly.
"Do you think this is child's play? If every unqualified applicant demanded a re-test, how would we get anything done here?" The previous Deacon said excitedly.
"That's right! A re-test is unnecessary." The Black-Robed Old Man was also protective of his own.
"Cough cough cough... Brother Gong, with a people-oriented and responsible attitude, let's give him a chance! Coincidentally, the testing stone that Brother Hong borrowed from our Qianlong Pagoda earlier is still with me."
At this moment, it was Elder Wei who spoke.
The Black-Robed Old Man frowned. But since Elder Wei had spoken, he naturally couldn't refuse. He nodded and agreed.
"Elder Wei, this..."
The previous Deacon immediately broke out in a cold sweat. He knew exactly what was going on. But his status was too far below Elder Wei's. Elder Wei naturally wouldn't pay attention to him, so the Deacon was extremely anxious.
Zhang Hao naturally knew that Elder Wei was helping him. He calmly walked up to Elder Wei.
Elder Wei looked at Zhang Hao with feigned indifference and said, "Kid, if you're really trying to sneak through, no one can save you!"
"Thank you, Senior!"
Zhang Hao also pretended not to know Elder Wei and placed his hand on the testing stone. A few seconds later, the testing stone emitted a green light. This test result was vastly different from the previous one. Zhang Hao's bone age was qualified.
"Attendant Fang Changlin, what exactly is going on? You need to give me a clear explanation." The Black-Robed Old Man's Face was extremely grim after being slapped in the Face.
The Deacon, who was Attendant Fang Changlin in the Black-Robed Old Man's words, was instantly scared pale, trembling as he said, "El... Elder, I don't know what's going on! Maybe the testing stone is broken..."
Elder Wei calmly walked over to the testing stone that Attendant Fang Changlin hadn't had time to hide and had used for Zhang Hao. He weighed it in his hand and sneered, "Attendant Fang Changlin, this testing stone has been broken for a long time, hasn't it! Yet you gave it to this young brother to use, what were your intentions? This Elder suspects you are a spy sent by the Magic Sect to disrupt our Colleges' plan to recruit geniuses!"
"No... no! Elder, I've been wronged!" Attendant Fang Changlin was instantly stunned.
Zhang Hao felt a chill from the side. This Old Man was too sinister, even bringing up the Magic Sect. Now in the Northern Region, anyone involved with the Magic Sect would at least suffer greatly, even if they didn't die. This Attendant Fang Changlin was definitely finished this time. While Zhang Hao felt a sense of satisfaction from getting revenge, he was also very touched by the Old Man's protection.
The Black-Robed Old Man knew he had to make a statement. His Face turned cold, and he shouted, "Someone, take Attendant Fang Changlin to the prison and let the Law Enforcement Team investigate and convict him!"
Several attendants dragged the collapsed Attendant Fang Changlin away.
"Young brother, it was my poor supervision that caused you to suffer. This Elder will immediately send someone to re-register you." The Black-Robed Old Man said gently to Zhang Hao.
The Black-Robed Old Man's attitude before and after was completely different.
"Thank you, Elder!" Although Zhang Hao was seething inside, he still needed to give Face to the other party on the surface.