I Can See Your Combat Power

Chen Menglu had no idea of the complexity within Tang Luo’s heart, instead, he spoke in earnest, “Chen deems the young friend trustworthy; how could a martial artist who remains unflustered even in the face of the Sutra of No Suffering and Extinction be a mediocre person who cannot keep a secret!”

“Truly… thank you, Master Chen, for your excessive kindness,” Tang Luo shook his head helplessly and blessed, “Since Master Chen has made his decision, I shall speak no further. I look forward to the day the Four Imperial Spirit Seals make their return to the world!”

“Should this endeavor succeed, you, my young friend, shall be credited with the greatest merit. Should the day come when the Four Imperial Spirit Seals reemerge, you will be the most honored guest in this realm.”

…

September 15, early morning

Peak platform of Master Bifang Mountain

The disciples from the sects and the aristocratic families stood in two distinct formations; despite the latter having a larger number, their momentum was clearly inferior.

Even top talents from aristocratic families, such as Xiang Loulan, Liu Chenxing, and Mu Pingyuan, realized after the third trial rank that they had a chasm-like gap in the path of martial arts with the sect disciples.

This disparity wasn’t very evident in the Mortal Realm or during the transformation to transcend Mortality; hence, scions of aristocratic families would often feel that they were not far behind the sect disciples. But once they elevated to the Fierce Realm level,

the aristocrats were shocked to find that opponents they once considered equally matched had suddenly become incredibly difficult to handle. Only the very top aristocratic talents could barely keep up with the pace of the sect disciples. And those top echelon sect disciples, once they broke through, were as distant as stars beyond the sky.

Among the hundred or so sons of noble families present, who wasn’t renowned in some way? Who didn’t possess pride and high spirit? But as they looked at the final ranking published by Martial Saint Mountain, all that remained was dejection.

Even Xiang Loulan, who ranked first in the second trial, fell beyond the top twenty in the final ranking. Xiao Ziyu, Liu Chenxing, and Mu Pingyuan had all plummeted beyond the thirtieth rank.

Apart from the top three whose rankings were not revealed, the names of all other participants hung on the mighty pillar in the center of the platform. The sealed scroll in the hands of the Grandmaster high on the cloud terrace contained the final rankings of the top three.

If the aristocratic family disciples only saw the gap after viewing the rankings, then the sect disciples felt humiliated.

At the triennial martial arts conference, the enquiry slots offered by Martial Saint Mountain were one of the most critical resources in the eyes of these sect disciples.

Who in the world did not know that the research capabilities of Martial Saint Mountain were at the pinnacle of the world? To have a Grandmaster from Martial Saint Mountain personally craft a set of secret techniques was akin to rising rapidly in an unconventional manner, gaining an overwhelming advantage. The three enquiry slots were regarded as sacred by the sects, but this year, it was as if their prey was snatched from the tiger’s mouth, with one slot brazenly stolen away!

If the names of Lu Liangliang and Tong Senyu, who lingered outside the list, could find some comfort for having attained an enquiry slot,

Cao Changqing, who had inadvertently fallen to fourth place, felt like he was going insane. He had come to Martial Saint Mountain this time specifically with a list of secret techniques, intending to use the opportunity to ask questions to have the masters of the Hundred Secrets Sect tailor a set of martial arts for him personally.

Even though Beast Taming Sect was a sacred place for mortals, it simply did not have any famous top-level sword cultivators. He, who had been passionately fond of swordsmanship since childhood, sought to blaze a new trail to achieve the esteemed position of Sword Saint, and so he had no choice but to seek help from the martial arts masters at Martial Saint Mountain.

It could be said that whether or not he could carve out a path of a Sword Saint within Beast Taming Sect was entirely predicated on whether he could secure an opportunity to ask questions on Martial Saint Mountain.

And now, all his plans had come to naught, having believed that he would definitely be in the top three, only to be unexpectedly surpassed by both Lu Liangliang and Tong Senyu!

The Grandmaster, standing on the Cloud Platform, naturally saw the sullen look in Cao Changqing’s eyes, but simply smiled serenely, unfurled the scroll in his hand, and announced loudly, “The final top three rankings of the 20th Longxi Youth Martial Arts Conference: Third extraordinary, Wuji Mansion’s Tong Senyu, bestowed with an Earth Level secret technique, ten volumes of the Xuanji Compendium, a set of Earth Quality Calculated Jade Flowing Spirit Armor!”

“Second Prodigy, Yulin Pavilion’s Lu Liangliang, bestowed with two Earth Level secret techniques, thirty volumes of the Xuanji Compendium, one set of Xuan Grade Superior Nine Chants Cloud Thunder Armor, one Xuan Grade Superior Yao Light Dragon Fang Sword, and one Dao Bone.”

“First Without Equal, Longxi Alliance’s Tang Luo, bestowed with five Earth Level secret techniques, eighty volumes of the Xuanji Compendium, one set of Earth Level Point Star Dragon Soul Armor, one Earth Level Great Dao Thunder Sound Zen Staff, one Dao Bone, and three Divine Pills.”

After the tender-faced old Grandmaster announced the final rankings of the three, he closed the scroll, and the platform of Bifang Mountain was already filled with numerous whispers.

No one had expected that this time, Martial Saint Mountain would be so generous, the rewards being many times stronger than before. In the past, due to the matter of asking questions, Martial Saint Mountain would at most give one or two volumes of the Xuanji Compendium and call it a day, even if one was First Without Equal, at best they’d receive an extra set of Xuan-grade spiritual armor. But this year, who knows what wind had blown, the traditionally stingy Martial Saint Mountain was actually so extravagant; the rewards for the third place were richer than the first place of previous years, and even Dao Bones and Divine Pills, of which two pieces were presented.

Even disciples from some top-tier sects could not hide the envy in their eyes. However, this did not include Cao Changqing, who, after hearing the rewards announced by Bu Chun, had a face twisted in distortion.

All the others were baffled as to why the rewards were so bountiful today, but he was clear in his heart.

This martial arts conference was jointly organized by Beast Taming Sect and Martial Saint Mountain from the start, with the initial goal being to choose talents while facilitating exchanges between all sects. Because of his participation, Beast Taming Sect had discussed it with Martial Saint Mountain before the conference to raise the standard of the rewards.

The purpose was to rightfully provide Cao Changqing with more resources, allowing him to climb faster within the Beast Taming Sect’s hierarchy, because according to past experiences, a practitioner of the Fierce Realm under 30 years old, clinching the top spot was considered a certainty.

But who could have expected what freak wind had blown today. Both Yulin Pavilion and Wuji Mansion had Fierce Realm practitioners of similar age. Having arrived at Martial Saint Mountain ahead of time, the three had already had several private exchanges, and Cao Changqing was sure he understood their martial styles as if they were at his fingertips. Although the two were extraordinary, they were still a distance from him.

He thought so, and even considered that in case his opponents were holding back, even if he only got second place, it would only mean three less Divine Pills, not a big deal.

But who could have imagined he would fall outside the top three, and seeing the somewhat surprised faces of Tong Senyu and Lu Liangliang, his heart was like being cut with knives, and his handsome and delicate face twisted with rage!

After announcing the rankings, the old Grandmaster Bu Chun didn’t even glance at Cao Changqing, and with a light flick, he closed the scroll and said, “This year is different from previous years. In the past, the opportunity to ask questions was directly awarded to the top three, but this martial arts conference will be doing things a little differently. The top three each get a chance to ask questions, and those ranked lower, even if they are at the very end, if they wish to fight for the opportunity to ask questions, they may challenge the top three. The top three cannot refuse, and the victor will then secure the opportunity to ask questions!”

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