Jared ignored Pearl. Instead, he began ridding the poison from Gregory and the elders with his immense spiritual sense.
Not long after, Gregory and the others regained their clarity. However, they could not recall the verdict they had rendered.
The elderly judge filled Gregory and the others in, then produced the Focus Pills Jared and Roderick had synthesized and let them examine them again.
The group was stunned when they took a closer look. It was plain that Jared's Focus Pill was a hundred times better than Roderick's, but they did not know why they had chosen Roderick as the winner.
“How did this happen? I don't even remember what I did!” Gregory exclaimed, looking abashed.
As a judge of the contest, it was humiliating for him to have made such an unsound decision.
The other elders of Solaris Sect were also flushed with embarrassment for having made a choice even a child would not have made.
“Perhaps you should ask your disciple, Pearl, Mr. Stark. She knows what happened,” Jared said to Gregory.
Gregory whipped around to regard Pearl. “Tell me, Pearl. What exactly is going on? I remember you standing behind us.”
“I don't know what happened, Master. You were the ones who decided on the verdict.”
Pearl was still feigning ignorance.
In response, Roderick exclaimed loudly, “I won first place. Why aren't you announcing it yet? Are you going to openly go back on your verdict?”
Roderick's shouting also stoked the displeasure of many present. It was plain that his Focus Pill was the better one. After all, aside from the elderly judge, everybody had chosen him.
Such a stark difference in opinions like this renders any further discussion pointless. They should announce the results!
Gazing at Roderick, who was still shouting, and the restless crowd, the elderly judge yelled, “Remain calm, everyone! As the elders of Solaris Sect are suddenly feeling unwell, the results of this round of the competition may be annulled.”
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