SUPREME ARCH-MAGUS
Chapter 898 - 898: Kent Not worthy!

"Pool Master! Did you see it? What more proof do we need? Kent is clearly above all five. He must be made Prime Disciple immediately!"

Gasps rang among the elders. Elder Hua lowered his head in silent acknowledgment, while even the stoic Elder Jin gave a slight nod of approval.

But above them all, standing silently at the edge of the highest platform, the Immortal Living Pool Master—a man shrouded in calm majesty and mystery—remained unmoved.

He did not clap.

He did not smile.

He merely raised his hand, and the cheers across the arena died instantly.

Then came his voice, calm and thunderous like an ancient mountain spirit.

"Kent is indeed strong."

The elders and disciples leaned forward.

"His movements are refined, and his instincts are terrifying. His battle sense borders on the divine."

A pause.

"But I cannot declare him Prime Disciple."

The entire arena stiffened.

Kent, who had just begun nibbling on a stick of candied fruit a merchant had thrown to him, stopped mid-bite.

"…What?" Elder Liam's voice cracked.

He looked stunned, as though someone had slapped him.

"Master, did you not see what we saw? Five prime disciples! In a single battle!"

The Pool Master stepped forward slowly.

His robes flowed behind him like an ancient stream.

"Indeed," he said softly, his eyes now fixed on Kent.

"Kent's strength is real. But so is his arrogance. His actions, while brilliant, lack anchor. He lacks true intent. He fights because he can. He wins because he wants to. But does he know why he must fight?"

Kent narrowed his eyes slightly, his lips parting as if to protest—but he didn't speak.

"The Immortal Living Pool is not merely a place to train," the Master continued.

"It is a sacred space nurtured by countless ancestors. Our resources are not toys to be spent on talent alone. The Prime Disciple represents our legacy. Before I grant him that right, I want to see if he truly knows the heavens and earth... and where he stands."

Elder Liam frowned deeply.

"Master, forgive me, but how do you test that?"

The Master turned his gaze, and for the first time that day, a rare glint of coldness shone in his ancient eyes.

"Kent must battle the one person who has come closest to our ideals… the most refined disciple the Living Pool has ever produced."

Elder Jin's eyes widened.

The wind suddenly felt colder.

"You don't mean—" Elder Hua gasped and turned toward the Pool Master.

"Master… are you talking about your son? Lee?" Liam's voice shook.

The words crashed like thunder across the silent arena.

Murmurs exploded.

"Lee?! The Pool Master's son?!"

"But he left years ago… isn't he in seclusion?"

"They say he's already at Late Earth Realm!"

Kent's eyes narrowed.

The Pool Master nodded.

"Yes. Lee."

He stepped forward, his tone final.

"If Kent wishes to take the mantle of Prime Disciple, he must first pass the gate of Lee's sword. Three days from now, on the Grand Arena."

Liam immediately raised his hand in protest.

"Master! With all respect, this is unjust. Kent is only at Mid Core Formation. Your son is far beyond that!"

"Then let him quit now." The Pool Master's voice cut like frost.

"If Kent cannot withstand pressure, he cannot be the pillar of the Immortal Living Pool."

Liam looked back at Kent with pleading eyes.

Kent said nothing at first.

The arena had gone quiet again.

He flicked the last of the candied fruit into the air and caught it in his mouth.

Then dusted his palms and looked up with a crooked smile. "Three days, huh?"

The Pool Master nodded slowly.

"Good. Then prepare yourself. If you survive Lee… the Immortal Living Pool shall support you as the Prime Disciple for the Golden Heir Tournament."

He turned and vanished in a ripple of golden light, the high elders following behind.

Kent stood alone now in the center of the shattered ring, staring at the sky. The wind blew gently, and his robes fluttered.

His thoughts weren't calm.

His fists were clenched.

But his smirk never left.

"So I need to beat the best disciple ever raised in this place just to get a title?" he muttered to himself.

-

Above the Skies…

High above the clouds, a colossal floating lotus bloomed in midair. On its highest petal stood an old Naga man, his skin the color of deep ocean jade, eyes narrow and gleaming like serpent pearls.

Beside him stood a graceful yet fearsome presence — a woman of elegant curves. She was no mere human — but an evolved Naga, a rare and sacred being.

The two had watched the fight from beginning to end — never blinking, never speaking, like watchers from a forgotten age.

The old man exhaled softly as Kent delivered the final line below.

Without a word, he retrieved a thin green jade slip from his sleeve. He inscribed glowing golden runes into it with a flick of his nail. Every letter pulsed with ancient Naga script — a language older than the heavens.

He inscribed only one sentence. "My precious Naga Princess, the fellow Kent is indeed worthy of our task."

Then, the old Naga man burnt the jade slip in pale-blue flame, letting its ashes swirl into the heavenly winds.

The Naga lady beside him finally spoke, her voice as serene as still water and as sharp as a fang. "So he passed your test?"

The old man closed his eyes and gave a rare nod. "Not just passed. He toyed with five prime disciples while eating a snack."

The Naga lady looked down at Kent, now leaving the ring with his hands behind his back. "He doesn't act like a chosen one."

"Which is why he might survive what's coming," the old man said, folding his hands behind his back.

"But the person who can complete that precious Naga Clan task should be a beast like human. He definitely is not what we are looking for." The lady protested.

"I trust my instincts." He turned away as the lotus began to ascend into the clouds again, vanishing into layers of mist.

The Naga lady closed her eyes, and her snake tail shimmered beneath her robe. "As you command… Great Grandfather."

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