The outcome of the duel was unsurprising. Despite using all his tricks, Yanling Ji barely lasted ten rounds before being swept away by Xuebing Xuan's sword, resulting in his defeat and elimination.
"…What rank will he get?" Qing Muling asked, still unfamiliar with the Dao Court's Heavenly Talents List ranking rules. He wasn't sure what rank Yanling Ji would end up with, so he directly asked the princess in front of him.
Dragon Ritual Princess pondered for a moment: "We'll have to wait until the Sword Competition concludes for the final rankings. But based on my personal experience, he should secure a spot within the top thousand, albeit towards the lower end."
Qing Muling nodded. This was not far from his own estimation. Compared to the status and influence of the armillary sphere Star Palace, such a result was rather embarrassing. Under normal circumstances, Yanling Ji should have at least made it into the top two hundred, but now he could only rank around eight hundred. Who knows what expression his nominal master and actual father, Sect Master Yan Qinyang, would have upon hearing this.
Although a position within the top thousand wasn't low, it was still on the list. However, compared to the rich rewards for the top two hundred, it was like heaven and earth.
The Sword Competition continued. As time passed, the number of names left in the bright moon in the sky was less than thirty percent of what it was at the start. The rest had either been eliminated or voluntarily withdrawn.
Among them, a few names had gradually turned golden, surrounded by strands of purple aura and radiance. These were the outstanding monstrous genius seeds, including both humans and other races. The names of Xuebing Xuan and her peers were particularly prominent.
Qing Muling now understood that the purple aura represented the fortune of the Dao Court, indicating that the destinies of these cultivators were likely to undergo a qualitative transformation. After receiving the Dao Court's abundant resources, reshaping their Dao foundation, cleansing their marrow, and strengthening their Divine Souls would be natural progressions. The potential achievements they could reach in the future would naturally be higher.
Judging by the current performance, his senior sisters were all firmly within the top fifty, with a strong momentum to advance further, possibly even into the top twenty or top ten.
So, even though Qing Muling hadn't participated, he was able to help his five senior sisters achieve extremely high rankings. The high-level members of Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace were well aware of this unprecedented accomplishment.
In just the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, Second Senior Sister Cheng Yulan got another chance to compete. This time, her opponent was the seventeenth prince of the Demon Path Ancestral Court, Ji Yunfeng.
***
"This is troublesome!"
From a distance, Ji Yunfeng frowned upon learning the match-up. He was currently only at the Ascending to Immortality realm, while his opponent was already a mid-stage Elemental Immortal, a whole major realm higher. How could he possibly fight?
Outsiders saw him as a glorified genius, but he knew his own situation best. Ji Yunfeng was well aware that his achievements came from usurping someone else's talents and roots. He could barely compete with ordinary genius cultivators, but against a true monstrous genius seed like Cheng Yulan, he would only be beaten badly.
"Your Highness, Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace and our Demon Path Ancestral Court have always been on good terms. Perhaps you could persuade her to forfeit this time? As long as you promise her some compensation afterward," suggested an elder.
"That makes sense." Ji Yunfeng's eyes lit up with renewed hope. Cheng Yulan had been unstoppable since her debut, never forfeiting a match. In theory, giving him a chance wouldn't affect her ranking.
On the spatial arena.
Cheng Yulan, tall and graceful in her ice-blue dress, landed lightly. Holding a plain cloud-patterned flag in her jade hand, her exquisite face radiated immortal energy, pure and serene. Her clear, water-like eyes were calm and unperturbed, waiting for her opponent to appear.
A few breaths later, Ji Yunfeng was teleported to the other side of the arena, holding a pitch-black, thick-backed straight sword, with dark blood light swirling around it, faintly accompanied by the roar of fierce beasts.
"Senior Sister Cheng, Yunfeng greets you."
Ji Yunfeng put on an eager smile and bowed slightly.
Cheng Yulan nodded expressionlessly and waved her jade hand, about to activate her formation.
"Senior Sister, wait…"
Ji Yunfeng quickly spoke, explaining his request at a rapid pace, promising generous gifts if she would let him off.
Cheng Yulan frowned slightly: "Are you joking? We're already on the stage, and you want me to forfeit?"
It's true that Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace and the Demon Path Ancestral Court had a good relationship, but she had no personal connection with this seventeenth prince. Besides, he had previously harbored ill intentions towards Qing Muling, a debt that had yet to be settled. Now he dared to make such an excessive request? Who gave him the face?
Ji Yunfeng, still smiling, said: "Senior Sister Cheng, I just want a better ranking. Please, do me this favor!"
"Enough talk!" Cheng Yulan's face turned cold: "Let's start. I need to rest after this."
All the senior and junior sisters, and even Junior Brother, were watching from outside. Why should she give this guy a break? Who did he think he was?
Ji Yunfeng's face darkened: "Senior Sister Cheng, must you be so aggressive? Aren't you afraid of affecting the friendly relations between our two sects?"
"Sorry, but you don't represent the Demon Path Ancestral Court." Cheng Yulan lightly waved her formation flag, and a vast white mist rose from the ground, enveloping the entire arena. It not only blocked Ji Yunfeng's vision but also isolated his divine senses.
Only the faint sounds of pain and curses could be heard from within the mist. When it finally cleared, Ji Yunfeng was lying on the ground, covered in blood, his face dark, barely breathing.
Cheng Yulan didn't spare him a second glance and turned to leave gracefully.
"This guy's fortune isn't bad,"
Dragon Ritual Princess commented: "To last this long, considering his true nature, this ranking is already flattering."
Qing Muling agreed: "It's a waste of Dao Court's resources. Giving them to someone like him is less beneficial than nurturing a grassroots genius."
Those who made it into the top five hundred would receive corresponding rewards. Although Ji Yunfeng's ranking was low, he would still get his share.
But given his true state, he would inevitably face the backlash of the Heavenly Dao laws and meet his end. That's why Qing Muling said it was a waste of resources.
Dragon Ritual Princess smiled: "I don't like people like him either, but life is full of disappointments. There are always annoying people and things you can't avoid. Fortunately, they can't cause much trouble, so there's no need to worry."
As she spoke, she peeled a snow fruit and handed it to Qing Muling. He opened his mouth to catch it, savoring the sweet and crisp juice.
He had to admit, the snow fruit from this Emperor's daughter was top-notch, no less than his senior sisters'. It was so good that Qing Muling found it hard to resist.
But if he had to choose, Qing Muling would still choose his senior sisters. After all, becoming the son-in-law of the Qinghuan Emperor wasn't easy. Once trapped, it would be hard to regain his freedom.
On the arena, one batch of geniuses after another was eliminated. Luck played a part, but the main reason was their insufficient cultivation. With the Dao Court's Emperors personally overseeing the duels, the chances of mistakes were negligible.
***
Two days and nights later, the number of remaining cultivators had dwindled to less than one percent of the original participants. The average cultivation level had also become increasingly formidable. Any one of them could be a renowned new-generation elite in the Great Void.
Facing increasingly powerful opponents, the senior sisters from Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace also began to be eliminated. Su Yunmo, Qi Shuyu, and Yu Binghua were all defeated, but their rankings far exceeded their expectations, making it a good result.
Moments later, Luo Huan took the stage again. This time, her opponent was Li Chunyun from the Azure Fall Divine Sect, a well-known monstrous genius seed at the early stage of Elemental Immortal. He had fought his way to this point with his own strength and was widely regarded as a strong contender.
The result was unsurprising. After a few rounds, Li Chunyun was severely injured by Luo Huan's sword and eliminated. However, based on his previous performance, securing a spot in the top hundred was not an issue.
For the high-level members of the Azure Fall Divine Sect, this result wasn't too disappointing.
"It seems the Dao Court's pre-competition talent ranking list is quite accurate, with little deviation from reality," Qing Muling remarked.
Dragon Ritual Princess nodded: "But there are always variables. This time, your senior sisters are the biggest variables. For the past ten thousand years, the best geniuses from Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace could barely make it into the top five hundred. But now, it's certain that all five of them will be in the top ten."
"So… Junior Brother Qing, don't you think you owe me an explanation?" Facing another probe from Dragon Ritual Princess, Qing Muling continued to feign ignorance: "They are my senior sisters, not my disciples. I can't possibly know what's going on. You should ask the Sect Master."
"Heh…" Dragon Ritual Princess gave him a knowing look, realizing she wouldn't get any answers and temporarily gave up.
Hmm, maybe the effect was a bit too good?
Qing Muling felt a twinge of regret. Xuebing Xuan and the others aside, he had been too soft on Cheng Yulan and Luo Wanqing, his designated senior sisters. Unable to resist their repeated pleas, he had secretly infused them with some Harmony Spirit Seed's Dao Rhyme before arriving at the Dao Court.
This significantly boosted their cultivation, allowing them to break through to the mid-stage Elemental Immortal and possess combat power far beyond their apparent level, making them unstoppable in the Sword Competition.
But now it seemed that Dragon Ritual Princess and the Qinghuan Emperor were both quite surprised.
I suspect you're cheating, but I have no proof.
So, Qing Muling decided he needed to be even more low-key to avoid Dragon Ritual Princess's attention and smoothly make it through the grand event.
Shortly after, Qi Yalan took the stage again, making even Qing Muling a bit nervous.
This time, her opponent was Ni Qingyue, a rising star from the Ancient Lihuang Clan and a mid-stage Elemental Immortal powerhouse.
Proofreader & Editor:Peter Pan