Ryu was determined to leave this place, and he wouldn't allow anyone to stop him.
His killing rate skyrocketed, his hands moving faster and faster. Most couldn't even see him coming before they found their lives fading. Ryu was simply the only one who would both spread his Spiritual Sense so wantonly and be completely unaffected by the surrounding beasts.
Others were too scared of beasts sensing their Spiritual Sense and using it to track them, and they most definitely didn't have a beast to rely upon that would scare away all others like Leonel's would.
By this point, Ryu's Chosen Rune had already pulsed out three more times and his kill count had crossed a hundred. If there was a leaderboard, he would by far and away be first. At the same time, he rendered the pulsing of the Chosen Rune practically useless.
He moved too fast on the back of the jaguar for his position to be easily pinpointed by the human cultivators, and the beasts were too afraid to even approach despite the qi pulse revealing his location.
The entire competition had practically become target practice for Ryu. Those watching didn't even quite understand how to react, their hearts outside of their control. Even the emotions of some of the 27 Second Heaven organizations were stirred. When they remembered that Ryu was just in the Immortal Ring Realm, their eyes even lit with greed.
Such a disciple, they had to have to him.
Many here were just disciples in their own right just like Jenneless, but there was no doubt that if they brought back a powerful disciple, not only would they be able to forge a friendship with someone who would clearly blaze a trail toward success in the future, but their Sects and Clans would also greatly reward them.
However, their hopes were doused when they remembered that Ryu had a Chosen Rune hovering before his forehead. They couldn't help but turn a glance toward Jenneless, only to be confused by the fact that her expression didn't look too good at the moment.
…
"This Ryu Tatsuya is actually so powerful while only being in the Immortal Ring Realm. It doesn't even look like he's used any special techniques outside of his beast taming technique. What kind of power would he wield if he was using techniques?"
"He's very close to the standard of a Heaven Class Genius. In fact, he might truly be one."
"Aren't you going a bit too far?"
"Absolutely not. Anyone who dared to participate today was at least at the pinnacle of the Path Extinction Realm. Yet, he hasn't even used more than a single arrow to slay them despite being at the Immortal Ring Realm.
"Crossing a full Realm of cultivation, if that isn't Heaven Class, then what is it?"
"It's hard to make such an assessment. If the youths he was facing were true Earth Class geniuses, then I would agree with you. But most of them only have one Pillar at the Earth Grade at best, not to mention the fact that to be considered Earth Class, one must also have the techniques and treasures to back it up."
These so-called Classes were the methods by which the Second and Third Heaven used to measure geniuses. This wasn't a system they had created arbitrarily, but rather a system designated by the Heavenly Path that barred those of the Third Heaven from easily entering the Fourth. It was this Heavenly Path that was the reason for these recruitment events.
In order to even step through the threshold and challenge the path to the Fourth Heaven, one had to be at least a Heaven Class talent, which was why these members of the Second Heaven were so fixated on it.
These Classes could be considered a holistic view of a person's battle prowess. This would include the Six Pillars of cultivation, the cultivation methods they used, and the techniques one could deploy.
"Plus, he can't be considered a true Heaven Class genius unless he has mastered at least one Heaven Grade Dao Charm technique to Large Success. Although this isn't a universal rule, pretty much all Heaven Class geniuses have met this standard aside from those with freak bloodlines. But even in such latter classes, if such freaks grasped a Heaven Grade Dao Charm technique, they'd immediately enter the border of Sovereign Class genius."
The 27 groups discussed among themselves. Despite being separated by thousands of miles, each standing on their own mountain peak, they might as well have been all sitting at the same dinner table.
"Regardless, he's still at the very least an Earth Class genius. With the resources of the Second Heaven, he should have an excellent chance to become Heaven Class. Grasping Dao Charm techniques is far easier in a higher Heaven depending on several variables.
"Considering what we usually find in the First Heaven, this is a great boon. Usually we'd be lucky to find a Pseudo Earth Class genius. Maybe some congratulations are in order for Junior Sister Jenneless for finding such a genius."
The gazes all fell on Jenneless but her expression only became darker. She truly couldn't control herself right this moment.
By this point, many were picking up that there should be a problem here, but most didn't dare to outright ask. Plus, Jenneless' Carving Ice Sect was very powerful among those here currently and they were one of only three True Two Star Sects present.
The other two were the Lurking Vine Sect, which had given a Chosen Rune to the head disciple of the Hidden Blade Sect, and the Thunder Blaze Sect, the latter of which had a representative that surprisingly chose to speak at this moment.
"Although he is not using a technique, I am 90% sure that he is currently using a very powerful Lightning Inheritance, one that even allows him to control lightning to such a great extent despite only being at the Ruler Realm.
"This Inheritance feels like it should be on the verge of forming a Phenomena… Dao Charm technique or not, this would be enough to classify as a Heaven Class genius.
"Since Junior Jenneless' relationship with this genius seems strained, my Thunder Blaze Sect will take him."