108: A personal disciple...?

Lin Chen pointed a finger, and the two of them were frozen in place as if they were part of a still picture.

Then, all the light dissipated.

The two regained their freedom, but both were significantly injured.

Ye Feng knelt on one knee, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, and his clothes tattered.

Lu Zhiming, though barely standing, was pale, his robes scorched with several charred holes, and his aura was turbulent.

Xu Zhishan finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Chu Nansheng stepped forward and announced loudly: "This match is a draw! Lu Zhiming and Ye Feng are tied for first place!"

"Whoosh—"

The Disciples broke out into a noisy clamor of discussion.

No one expected it to end in a tie for first place. Wouldn't that mean... the Sect Master, cherishing talent, would take both of them as Personal Disciples?

"For the Utility Disciples, the top thirty-six are..."

"Thirty-sixth place, Wu Jun!"

"Thirty-fifth place, Zhang Yang!"

"Thirty-fourth place, Liu Dayou!"

"..."

An Elder came forward to announce the competition results.

First was the ranking of the Utility Disciples, then the Outer Sect Disciples.

All participating Disciples, regardless of victory or defeat, would receive many rewards. Of course... the top thirty-six Disciples, in addition to receiving many resources, were also promoted. Utility Disciples became Outer Sect Disciples, while Outer Sect Disciples leaped to become Inner Sect Disciples.

The successfully promoted Disciples cheered with joy; all their efforts were worth it.

Those outside the top thirty-six were dejected, secretly resolving to make it into the top thirty-six in the next Sect Grand Competition!

"For the Inner Sect Disciples, the thirty-sixth place is..."

As the rankings of the Inner Sect Disciples were continuously announced, everyone's eyes occasionally fell upon Lu Zhiming and Ye Feng.

When it was announced that the two were tied for first place, the entire venue erupted in enthusiastic cheers.

"Lu Zhiming, Ye Feng, both of you step forward," Chu Nansheng said.

The two were so excited that their blood surged, and they walked toward Lin Chen with trembling steps.

At the thought that they might very well become Personal Disciples in a moment, their breathing became rapid.

"The two of you are not bad."

Lin Chen smiled and said, "Lu Zhiming, although your strength is slightly inferior to Ye Feng's, you have compensated for the gap well by relying on the experience of your past life..."

Lu Zhiming's head buzzed.

The Reincarnation of a Great Emperor... this was the greatest secret buried in the depths of his heart, which he had never mentioned to anyone. Although the Sect Master did not state it explicitly, it was clear he already knew this secret.

How... how did the Sect Master know?

Could it be... the Sect Master is truly omniscient and omnipotent?

"Ye Feng, you possess the Extreme Yang Immortal Body. You follow a path that is extremely rigid, fierce, and indomitable, somewhat similar to Shi Tian's Supreme Sacred Body. However... the gap is still too large. You should consult Shi Tian more in the future; it will be beneficial for you..."

Ye Feng's Extreme Yang Immortal Body was no secret; many Elders with profound cultivation could see it.

"Thank you for your guidance, Sect Master."

Both of them knelt down.

Afterward, Lin Chen casually gave out many rewards, including Cultivation Techniques suitable for their cultivation, as well as Magic Treasures, Medicinal Pills, and so on.

But regarding the matter of becoming Personal Disciples, Lin Chen did not mention a single word.

Seeing that Lin Chen was about to leave, both became anxious, disregarding etiquette: "Sect Master, you said... about the Personal Disciple matter..."

Lin Chen shook his head: "You should continue to work hard! If one day you can fight at the same Realm and reach a draw with Shi Tian, Xiao Bufan, and Su Muhuang, or even defeat them, This Sect Master will directly accept you as Personal Disciples."

Upon hearing this, the two immediately lost heart.

When they looked up again, Lin Chen had already left.

The two felt a sense of loss.

"What a pity!"

"Lu Zhiming and Ye Feng are already so strong, and they're still not qualified to become Personal Disciples?"

"In other top-tier Sects, they certainly would be!"

"But this is the Wending Sect!"

"Don't you see what kind of Prodigies the current three Personal Disciples are!"

"Indeed, compared to the three Personal Disciples, they still have a significant gap."

"..."

The crowd discussed animatedly, all feeling it was a pity for the two.

At this time, Chu Nansheng came over to comfort them: "Although you cannot become Personal Disciples for the time being, this is likely the Sect Master tempering your Heart-Nature. Given time, it's not impossible to become Personal Disciples. You must not give up on yourselves!"

"Compared to the so-called Saints and Saintesses of other Sects, you are already much stronger than them..."

After hearing Chu Nansheng's words, the two suddenly saw the light.

"Yes! We will work hard!"

"Thank you for your teachings, Elder Chu!"

Shortly after, a raging fighting spirit ignited in their eyes once more. Without a word, they headed toward the great dao spacetime pagoda... Batian Sect, deep within the earth veins.

Around the altar, the blood qi was so thick it wouldn't disperse. 'Qing Ming Old Ancestor' took the two soul blood stones offered by Huyan Bao and threw them directly into his mouth.

The soul blood stones dissolved in his mouth, and Soul Power quickly flowed through 'Qing Ming Old Ancestor's' entire body.

A moment later, the Soul Power was completely refined.

"Why are there only two this time?"

'Qing Ming Old Ancestor's' voice was hoarse and cold, but speaking was no longer difficult.

He frowned and narrowed his eyes, staring at Huyan Bao.

Huyan Bao suddenly felt as if death itself were gazing at him, and he said with a trembling voice: "...In... in response to Demon Ancestor Lord, the nearby Mortal cities are becoming fewer and fewer. I was afraid of being discovered by other forces and didn't... didn't dare to be blatant..."

"Useless!"

"You've been at it for so long and only managed to get twenty-seven soul blood stones!"

"How much longer must I wait?!"

'Qing Ming Old Ancestor' suddenly roared, saying angrily: "If it weren't for your relative loyalty, why would I have kept you until now! I have tolerated you repeatedly, yet you push your luck! I see you no longer wish to live!"

"Demon Ancestor Lord, have mercy! Have mercy!"

Huyan Bao wanted to cry but had no tears, so terrified that he knelt on the ground and kowtowed repeatedly.

He truly had done his best. He never would have thought that his Sect, once the number one force on the Imperial Continent, would fall to such a state.

Thinking back to the past was truly heart-wrenching.

"Too slow! Too slow!"

'Qing Ming Old Ancestor' was extremely anxious, roaring in anger incessantly.

Huyan Bao was terrified. Just as he didn't know what to do, he suddenly had a flash of inspiration and said with a trembling voice: "Demon Ancestor Lord, do not be anxious. With your strength, you can completely go out and personally annihilate some forces!"

"For example, Yushuang Palace, Misty Rain Tower, Ancient Moon Tower..."

"And, the Wending Sect!"

While Huyan Bao trembled, a cruel arc unconsciously curled at the corner of his mouth as he continued:

"A Sect with a Legacy of tens of thousands of years—its Disciples, and especially those Elders in the Undergoing Tribulation, Mahayana, and even Supreme Realms—their Divine Souls have undergone cultivation and tempering. Their Soul Power is pure, far surpassing Mortals by millions of times!"

"Using their Divine Souls to refine soul blood stones would have excellent results!"

"One... could equal ten of the previous ones!"

As he spoke, Huyan Bao's eyes gradually brightened. Once the Demon Ancestor Lord acted, the Wending Sect, Yushuang Palace, Misty Rain Tower... all would be annihilated. In the end, only the Batian Sect would survive!

Once the Demon Ancestor Lord left the Cangxuan Realm, the Batian Sect would be the unshakable overlord of the Cangxuan Realm!

This could be considered an accidental realization of the Batian Sect's long-standing goal to unify the Cangxuan Realm!

And... it was realized by his, Huyan Bao's, hands!

"...Oh?"

Hearing Huyan Bao say this, 'Qing Ming Old Ancestor' immediately became interested.

He had already devoured twenty-seven soul blood stones; his strength was no longer comparable to when he had first broken the Seal.

"Good, good, good... we'll do just that!"

After pondering for a while, 'Qing Ming Old Ancestor' laughed hoarsely: "You are of some use after all, jie jie jie..."

"Thank you for the praise, Demon Ancestor Lord!"

Huyan Bao was overjoyed and was just about to suggest going to destroy Yushuang Palace first, but... the Demon Ancestor Lord's next words made Huyan Bao feel as if he had fallen into an ice cellar, standing there in a daze.

"Then... let's start with the Batian Sect!"