Chapter 283: The First "Entry Standard"!
Lava Immortal Palace.
Clang, clang, clang...
The sound of bells echoed across the square in front of the main hall.
Before more than thirty tables, the expressions of all the cultivators were not looking too good.
Some were frowning deeply, some had faces as still as water, and some trembled both physically and mentally after hearing the bell.
This was because new information had been transmitted into their minds—the first round of the palace test had ended, and all the cultivators had finished answering their questions. Anyone who violated the rules would be disqualified from the rest of the palace test.
As a result, the cultivators, all wearing bitter expressions, reluctantly put down the jade slips in their hands.
“I'm done for!”
“I haven’t even finished answering yet.”
“Why did the time pass so fast?!”
“I tried my best to answer everything, even though I knew some of it was wrong, but answering something is better than nothing, right? Maybe they’ll give me some encouragement points?”
The thoughts of the cultivators were all similar. They secretly prayed to pass this test smoothly.
After all, this concerned the position of the Palace Master of the Lava Immortal Palace. All these people were top talents who had infiltrated the palace, and naturally, they harbored great ambitions. No one wanted to be eliminated in the first round.
The information continued to be transmitted to everyone, asking them to wait for a moment, as the grading would soon be completed, and they would know their results.
Thus, the cultivators on the square seized the time to communicate with each other and inquire about each other’s answers to the questions.
Zhu Xuanji, however, sat alone, lost in thought.
At this moment, Shuzhongjun (Booklord) approached him voluntarily, "Master Zhu."
With a smile on his face, Shuzhongjun asked, "Do you think the 'Mirror Platform Spirit Technique' and 'Demonic Blood Tendon Technique,' which appeared frequently in the jade slip, are part of a set along with the 'Five Elements Qi Regulation Art,' as the Three Sect Lords' supreme legacy in the Lava Immortal Palace?"
Zhu Xuanji was pondering this very question. Upon hearing this, he raised his head and said frankly, "I was just mulling over the fragments about these two techniques in the test questions. I think they do seem to be a set."
"However, to confirm this, we’d still need to consult someone like City Lord Meng Kui to calculate it further."
Shuzhongjun nodded, "I wonder if Master Zhu is willing to sell the Demonic Manual you possess?"
This was Shuzhongjun's true purpose.
During the Golden Core battle, a demonic manual had appeared. Although it was ultimately revealed to be a fake, there was still some truth to it. After all, Ning Zhuo had released a genuine version of the Demonic Blood Tendon Technique to gain the trust of others.
Any Golden Core cultivator who had held the genuine manual, even briefly, would have known a bit of the content from the first few layers of the Demonic Blood Tendon Technique.
But at that time, Shuzhongjun had not participated.
Despite his desire to do so, he belonged to the All Books Tower, a well-known neutral force in the world, which could not casually get involved in local disputes.
Thus, Shuzhongjun knew nothing about the Demonic Blood Tendon Technique.
He wanted to purchase it from Zhu Xuanji but was immediately refused.
Had this been before the first round of the palace test, Zhu Xuanji might have been tempted by Shuzhongjun's high offer and sold some of the technique he knew.
But now, having just completed the jade slip test of the first round, Zhu Xuanji had used some of his knowledge of the Demonic Blood Tendon Technique to answer questions.
This only made him more certain of its value. In this crucial phase of the palace test, there was no way he would sell it!
Shuzhongjun sighed and had no choice but to bid farewell to Zhu Xuanji and search for other breakthroughs, such as with the Zheng and Zhou families.
Watching Shuzhongjun's departing figure, Zhu Xuanji's gaze turned solemn.
Currently ranked second, Shuzhongjun was clearly Zhu Xuanji's greatest competitor based on the rankings.
Meanwhile...
"Brother, how did you do on the test?" Zheng Shuanggou asked with concern.
Zheng Jianlian snorted coldly, suppressing his inner frustration.
During the palace test, he had almost drawn his scythe and chopped up the desk!
Zheng Jianlian said, "The Three Sect Lords are nothing special. Before holding the palace test, they should have released the Three Sect Supreme Arts."
Zhou Nongying chimed in, "We've just discussed this. It's likely that the beast attack on the palace caused the test to be moved up. Normally, they would have transmitted the arts beforehand."
Ning Jiufan added, "Or perhaps, on the path of entering the Immortal Palace, the Three Sect Supreme Arts will be given later on."
Zheng Shuanggou shook his head with a bitter smile, "It’s fine, it’s fine. Since we all share the same situation, the rankings shouldn't change too much."
Almost all the cultivators shared the same thoughts.
Except for Sun Lingtong and Ning Zhuo.
Zhou Zhenshen approached Ning Zhuo to ask how he felt about the palace test this time.
Ning Zhuo smiled bitterly, "I’m afraid I’ve failed this time. Sigh, I may have missed the chance of a lifetime!"
Zhou Zhenshen immediately felt relieved and comforted him, "Everyone’s in the same boat. Brother Ning, don’t worry too much."
But Ning Zhuo shook his head, "We Qi Refining cultivators are no match for the Golden Core ones. Their vision is far broader than ours. Even if they don’t know about the Three Sect Supreme Arts, they can still answer the questions based on their understanding."
"But for people like you and me, that’s not the case."
Zhou Zhenshen nodded, sighing bitterly, "I feel the same as you, Brother Ning."
In another corner...
Yang Chanyu approached Sun Lingtong.
Sun Lingtong wore a conflicted expression.
Yang Chanyu couldn't help but worry, "Hey, how did you, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, do?"
"You’re too young and too weak. Don’t leave too many blanks and get eliminated. If you end up leaving me to participate in the rest of the palace test alone, I’ll have to raise my share by another ten percent!"
Sun Lingtong sneered and rolled his eyes at Yang Chanyu, "Woman, just you wait and see."
He quickly glanced at Ning Zhuo in the distance.
After obtaining the Three Sect Supreme Arts, Ning Zhuo had shared everything with Sun Lingtong without reservation!
Ning Zhuo could answer all the questions, but Sun Lingtong couldn’t.
Because he was acting under Ning Zhuo’s name.
So, even though he knew the answers to many questions, he couldn’t give the correct ones.
Sun Lingtong had to consider the outcome of the palace test when the results were announced.
Thus, throughout the entire test, he was deeply conflicted.
Striking the right balance was extremely difficult!
The cultivators' exchanges were suddenly interrupted by new information.
"The rankings for the first round of the palace test are as follows:"
"Entry Standard."
"Shuzhongjun."
"Zhu Xuanji."
...
The crowd immediately erupted into an uproar.
The first place was simply too, too, too conspicuous!
“Entry Standard?!”
Everyone cast shocked, angry, hateful, and disdainful gazes at Sun Lingtong.
Even someone as bold as Sun Lingtong couldn't help but swallow hard when faced with so many hostile glares.
Yang Chanyu snorted coldly, stepped forward, and shielded Sun Lingtong behind her. She let out a cold laugh, "Everyone, if anyone wants to be disqualified and eliminated from the Lava Immortal Palace, go ahead and attack!"
The cultivators' eyes were practically spitting flames of anger.
"What a bold move by the No-Void Sect!"
"To think they infiltrated so deeply and became so familiar with the Three Sect Supreme Arts!!"
"If Sun Lingtong knew the Three Sect Supreme Arts, why would he still practice such a basic technique as his youth cultivation art?"
"This is obviously cheating, blatant cheating!"
"We worked hard to answer our questions honestly, and this sneaky thief cheats openly?!"
"Sigh, I should have realized sooner. Sun Lingtong, being a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator, was able to enter the Immortal Palace and pass through the checkpoints, taking advantage of his cultivation. It seems the No-Void Sect has exploited a major loophole in the Lava Immortal Palace!"
"Where is the Palace Spirit? Someone is cheating!!! Please punish them severely!"
The cultivators were furious.
The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit, who had been paying attention the entire time, rolled its eyes and felt extremely powerless upon hearing this.
Because it knew the truth.
It let out a low growl, "The one you should really be concerned about is Ning Zhuo! It's that little monster!!"
Seeing everyone still in the dark
, seeing Ning Zhuo ranked in the middle of the list and looking completely inconspicuous, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit felt utterly helpless, and the chill in its heart grew stronger.
Sun Lingtong secretly let out a huge sigh of relief.
He had completed the task smoothly, keeping his score from standing out too much, allowing Ning Zhuo to continue hiding in the shadows.
Suddenly, Yang Chanyu wrapped her arm around him.
Such an affectionate gesture made Sun Lingtong extremely uncomfortable, and he quickly pushed her away, breaking free.
"Yang Chanyu, what are you doing?!" Sun Lingtong yelled.
Yang Chanyu stared at Sun Lingtong with eager eyes, "Impressive, little guy, you’ve really brought honor to our No-Void Sect."
"How did you manage it?"
"Did you really obtain the Three Sect Supreme Arts, or did you cheat?"
"Quick, tell me!"
Sun Lingtong shook his head, "Ah, you’re so annoying."
Watching Sun Lingtong from afar, Ning Zhuo also quietly relaxed, feeling deeply relieved, "As expected of the boss!"
Ning Zhuo’s name in the rankings wasn’t eye-catching at all.
New information was transmitted once again.
"Combining the performance rankings and the contribution points, the new rankings are as follows:"
"Zhu Xuanji."
"Shuzhongjun."
...
"Zheng Jianlian."
"Entry Standard."
...
Ning Zhuo.
Zhou Zhenshen.
...
"How could this be?!"
"I... I failed to make the cut?"
"Damn it!"
The cultivators in the bottom ten positions all had their expressions change. Some cried out in pain, while others were filled with despair.
Ning Zhuo noticed that there wasn’t a single Golden Core cultivator among them. About half were trial disciples, while the other half were Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Golden Core cultivators' knowledge and insight were still deep enough.
The questions in the jade slip were mostly aimed at the Qi Refining stage, with only a few reaching the Foundation Establishment stage. Therefore, even if Golden Core cultivators didn’t know about the Three Sect Supreme Arts, they could still use their own knowledge to answer the questions skillfully.
On the other hand, the reason why none of the Golden Core cultivators failed was also because they had accumulated more contribution points earlier and were already ranked higher.
The trial disciples who were eliminated suffered because of their lack of insight.
As for the Foundation Establishment cultivators, the reasons were likely twofold. On one hand, they lacked contribution points, and on the other hand, their knowledge wasn’t as profound as the Golden Core cultivators, which had less impact.
(End of this chapter.)