Chapter 164: Result

Lukas walked toward the iron pillar one step at a time, his footsteps steady and his posture unwavering, completely unaffected by the taunts, ridicule, and disdain echoing around him.

He had nothing to prove.

Lukas was someone who understood his own worth far better than anyone else present. Their opinions meant nothing in the face of what he knew awaited him.

Sooner or later, he was going to stand on equal footing with the entirety of the White Knights Guild.

Or perhaps...

Even surpass them.

Without even realizing it, he arrived before the towering iron pillar.

The moment he stepped within arm’s reach, a soft, chilling sensation flowed from the ancient structure. The cool aura gently brushed across his cheeks like the tender embrace of a loving mother, carrying an indescribable warmth beneath its icy touch. Lukas unconsciously closed his eyes for a brief moment as every tense muscle loosened and every single nerve throughout his body relaxed.

It felt as though all the fatigue weighing on his soul had quietly melted away.

One after another, countless bright motes of light emerged from the surface of the pillar, drifting into the air before circling around Lukas in a slow, rhythmic dance. Their gentle radiance illuminated his calm figure, giving the scene an almost sacred atmosphere.

Yet no one paid any attention to the final contestant.

To everyone else, Lukas was merely the last participant destined to disappear into the background.

The only ones truly watching him at this moment were Natasha and the resentful Green Serpent Guild girl, Jasmine.

One pair of eyes was filled with anticipation, hope, and anxiousness, silently praying for a miracle.

The other was filled with resentment and ridicule, eagerly waiting for Lukas to fail so she could laugh at him and watch him become the joke of the day.

The vice head also remained completely still, his gaze fixed on Lukas without blinking. A strange, unreadable expression lingered deep within his eyes.

No one could tell exactly what he was thinking.

Unaffected by the countless gazes resting upon him or the invisible pressure filling the hall, Lukas stood motionless before the pillar. He slowly inhaled a deep breath before letting it out, allowing both his body and mind to sink into complete relaxation.

Just then, a faint hum resonated through the air.

The iron pillar began to vibrate ever so slightly.

It wasn’t loud.

Nor was it violent.

Instead, it produced a gentle, harmonious vibration that seemed to resonate directly with the soul itself, calming the hearts of everyone fortunate enough to hear it.

Slowly, the strange phenomenon spread outward like invisible ripples across a still lake.

The awakeners who had already begun leaving the hall suddenly froze. Their departing footsteps faltered as they instinctively turned around, their expressions changing dramatically.

An indescribable sense of enlightenment quietly filled their minds.

"What is happening?"

"My mind... it suddenly feels exceptionally clear. All the brain fog I’ve been struggling with has completely disappeared."

"This energy gathering technique that I’ve been unable to understand for years..."

One after another, shocked exclamations echoed throughout the enormous hall.

People looked at one another in disbelief, their faces filled with excitement over the miraculous windfall they had unexpectedly received, yet equally overwhelmed with confusion as they desperately tried to understand what exactly was taking place.

Just as everyone was trying to comprehend what was happening, the entire hall suddenly erupted with blinding radiance, as though the sun itself had descended from the heavens and taken root upon the earth.

An overwhelming brilliance swallowed everything.

The pillar standing proudly at the center of the hall had lit up in its entirety.

Every inch of its ancient iron surface glowed with dazzling light, illuminating intricate patterns that had remained hidden until now. Countless radiant motes of light poured out from the pillar like a never-ending stream of stars, drifting through the vast hall and bathing everyone present in their gentle glow.

Instinctively, every awakener present began absorbing these tiny particles of light.

The moment the shimmering motes entered their bodies, an indescribable feeling of clarity spread through their minds, as though invisible shackles restraining their comprehension were quietly breaking apart.

It was then that a shocked exclamation shattered the stunned silence.

"The pillar is completely lit up! How is this possible?!"

The one who cried out was none other than the green-haired Green Serpent Clan girl, Jasmine.

Her eyes were opened so wide they nearly popped out of their sockets, her face frozen in complete disbelief. The ridicule and smugness that had once filled her expression had long since disappeared, replaced entirely by overwhelming shock.

Even the young man who had displayed the greatest comprehension only moments earlier stood rooted to the spot.

A look of astonishment flashed across his face, though it lasted only briefly.

Soon, he let out a faint sigh before calmly accepting reality.

It had long been clear to him that nothing in this life was permanent except inevitable death.

What belonged to him today would eventually belong to someone else tomorrow.

The same was true in reverse.

There was no point in clinging to temporary victories or lamenting inevitable defeats.

There was no need to explain which pillar everyone was referring to.

By now, nearly everyone present had already pieced together what was happening.

Their gazes were unanimously locked onto the dazzling pillar standing at the center of the hall and the calm young man standing before it.

"He really went ahead and did it..."

Natasha unconsciously exclaimed, her mouth hanging wide open in utter disbelief.

After witnessing Lukas’s performance within the Sword God Inheritance Grounds, she had always known that his comprehension was extraordinary.

But...

She had never imagined it would reach such an unbelievable level.

The vice head also shook his head before wiping away the small bead of sweat that had unknowingly formed on his forehead.

Phew... I dodged a bullet.

What if I had turned down such a talent?

Just the thought alone made a chill run down his spine.

Not only him, but nearly everyone present had underestimated Lukas’s talent by an unimaginable margin.

They had mistaken a sleeping dragon for an insignificant ant.

Slowly, under the countless shocked gazes fixed upon it, the pillar’s dazzling radiance began to fade. The overwhelming brilliance gradually dimmed until the ancient iron surface returned to its ordinary appearance, as though nothing extraordinary had ever happened.

At the same time, the mysterious sense of enlightenment quietly vanished.

The incredible clarity that had filled everyone’s minds moments ago disappeared without a trace, leaving behind only lingering memories that felt almost unreal.

Everything that had just occurred seemed like a beautiful dream.

Sweet.

Surreal.

Almost impossible to believe.

Only after the phenomenon completely ended did the people who had mocked Lukas earlier finally realize who had been responsible for causing such an unbelievable commotion.

It was him.

The very same youth they had ridiculed for not knowing his place.

The same person they had dismissed as an overconfident nobody.

For a brief moment, the entire hall fell into complete silence.

Not a single person could utter a word.

Their expressions alternated between disbelief, embarrassment, and regret as they stared at Lukas’s calm figure.

Completely ignoring everyone’s reactions, the vice head slowly walked toward Lukas one step at a time before stopping directly in front of him.

His aged eyes no longer contained even the slightest hint of doubt.

Instead, they were filled with unmistakable appreciation.

"Indeed... I was mistaken."

"You truly are something."

The vice head’s voice echoed throughout the silent hall.

"Young man, from this moment onward, you are the White Knights Guild’s chosen one."

"You shall enjoy the same treatment and benefits as any top core member of the guild."

Upon hearing those words, Lukas did not become excited.

Instead...

A slight frown appeared on his face.

Weren’t there supposed to be multiple tests?

How did I become the chosen one after only completing the first one?

The vice head seemed to immediately understand what Lukas was thinking.

He simply smiled before shaking his head.

"Don’t overthink it."

"The most important examination is the test of wisdom."

"As for the remaining tests..."

"They are merely formalities."

Just formalities...

Lukas silently repeated those words in his mind, his brows knitting together ever so slightly.

Although he wasn’t entirely satisfied with the explanation, he chose not to ask any further questions.

There would be plenty of opportunities to learn the truth later.

Not long afterward, Natasha hurried over with an excited smile plastered across her face.

"So you finally did it, huh!"

There wasn’t the slightest trace of surprise left in her voice.

Only genuine happiness.

Hearing her congratulations, Lukas merely shrugged his shoulders with a calm expression.

"What’s the big deal?"

"Wasn’t that the whole reason we came here?"

Natasha could only roll her eyes helplessly after hearing his casual response.

To everyone else, what had just happened would likely become a story they remembered for the rest of their lives.

Yet to Lukas...

It seemed no more significant than completing an ordinary task.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone present, the vice head gathered the three chosen ones before dismissing everyone else.

"Now that the examination has officially concluded..."

"It is time for the three of you to meet the headmaster of the guild."

The instant the word headmaster echoed through the hall, the expressions of all three chosen ones, including Lukas, subtly stiffened.

Although none of them knew what kind of existence the guild’s headmaster truly was...

One thing was certain.

He was definitely not someone they could afford to take lightly....