Chapter 114 The Top Spot on the Elite List
The bottom of a deep pool.
The clanging of the thick, dark, blood-stained iron chains echoed as they tightened rapidly, violently lifting the man from the icy pool. The tightening chains pierced and rubbed against his flesh and bones, producing a screeching sound.
The man dangling in mid-air let out a muffled groan.
The soft twilight light was refracted by the pool water into the cave, casting shifting shadows.
"I thought that your sudden retraction of your scattered soul was to break free from the formation." Chongjue's face was half-hidden in shadow, his voice cold and sinister.
The suspended man was covered in gruesome wounds, breathing weakly, and remained silent with his eyes closed.
Chongjue continued, "I promised that if things went well, I would let you go, and you would actually help the Dingsheng Sect." He sneered, "I didn't expect you to be so eager to die."
A faint smile appeared on the man's pale face as he said in a hoarse voice, "Let me go. Can you do that?"
Venerable Chongjue said with a grim face: "I have no way to break the formation, but that doesn't mean I don't have ways to torture you! You've tried every means to force me to take action, but you're just trying to escape death. What a delusion! I have reforged the Soul-Devouring Key and restarted the formation. After tonight, your primordial spirit will be forever bound here, fused with the formation, and you will be unable to escape for all eternity. You will be unable to live and unable to die."
The sound of grinding chains echoed as the man, suspended in mid-air, was suddenly thrown into the deep pool. The water rippled, and an inky shadow swiftly covered his weak, pale body, dragging him to the bottom.
The rippling water, the rapidly moving iron chains, and the swaying shadows on the cave walls outlined pattern after pattern, which climbed and spread, covering the entire cave.
Regardless of whether the person trapped underwater could stop, Chong Jue's eyes were sinister as he gritted his teeth and said, "Yu Tianxing, you will be tormented by the Soul Devouring Array for eternity! As for that brat you brought, he will not escape death!"
......
As dusk approached, the four members of Dingsheng Sect set off for the Hongqi Sect's Great Hall of Primordial Chaos.
"So many names like 'mysterious and yellow,' 'primordial and desolate,' and 'heaven and earth,' does he really think he created the world himself?" Guan Wangzhen crossed his hands above his head, dragged his feet, and reluctantly walked towards the main hall of the Hongqi Sect.
Their location was the furthest no matter where they went, and the four of them were already unwilling, so they were too lazy to waste their spiritual energy. Therefore, they decided to stroll over and arrive just in time.
Walking is Ji Mingran's usual way of getting around. As for the other three, they gradually got used to it after becoming familiar with Ji Mingran. As long as they weren't in a hurry, the group usually wandered around the sect on foot.
"I've heard that the Hongqi Sect wasn't always like this. It's just that after Venerable Chongjue ascended to the position of sect leader, he made a grand vow to promote the Hongqi Sect's reputation, so he changed all the place names in the sect," Zhu Shibai explained to his two companions from the small world.
"Just because you changed your name, you think you can create the world?" Guan Wangzhen muttered to himself. "Does changing my name to Dengxian mean I'll actually ascend to heaven on the spot?"
"Hurry up, let's go to Guandengxian." Ji Mingran turned around and said, "At your speed, it would take you eight hundred years to get there."
Shen Qingluo smiled and said, "Yes, ascension to immortality."
"Okay, okay, okay." Guan Wangzhen then sped up and caught up with the three people in front.
Ji Mingran and Shen Qinglu were not interested in the history of Hongqizong. They simply listened to Zhu Shibai's narration as if they were visiting Hongqizong.
The four of them had reached the other side of Wangshan. From here, they could go directly to the opposite hilltop and take a shortcut to the main hall of Hongqizong.
The mountains rise high, and the clouds drift at our feet.
Guan Wangzhen clasped his hands together in front of his forehead and looked across at the other side: "There's no way across. We have to use spiritual power to get to the other side. Which should we use: talisman, artifact, or array?"
“It would be more appropriate for us to follow their usual methods within the Hongqi Sect’s territory, so as not to trigger the sect’s defensive mechanisms,” Zhu Shibai said.
“Then let’s fly there on our swords,” Shen Qingluo said. “I’ll carry you.”
Ji Mingran lowered his eyes and looked down without saying a word.
"What's wrong, Mingran?" Shen Qingluo asked.
"Aren't we going the wrong way?" Guan Wangzhen asked. "According to that kid Mu Huanhui, it would be closer to go through the Migration Cliff of Wangshan." He looked around and said, "Isn't this the Migration Cliff?"
“This is a good place,” Zhu Shibai confirmed. “Mu Huanhui showed me a topographical map, and I recognize it roughly.”
“That’s not the right direction.” Ji Mingran crouched down, sticking his head out over the edge of the cliff and straining to look down.
Seeing this, the other three also lay down on the edge of the cliff.
What's interesting down there?
"It's all clouds, I can't see anything."
"I can't see anything either."
The three of them looked at Ji Mingran in unison: "What are you looking at?"
“I’m sure I’m right, I sensed…” Ji Mingran closed his eyes and concentrated for a while, then opened them and said, “There seems to be a large formation set up down here.”
"A grand formation?" Guan Wangzhen got up from the muddy ground, bored out of his mind, and patted the dust off his robes. "What's so surprising about the formations within the Hongqi Sect?"
Zhu Shibai simply cast a purification spell on all four of them, since they were going to participate in the celebration and it wouldn't be good for them to be travel-worn.
He said, "The formation that could attract Granny Ming's attention must be an unusual one."
Shen Qinglu: "The protective formation of the Hongqi Sect?" It's similar to the large-scale protective formation, the Realm Gang Formation, of the Dingsheng Sect.
Zhu Shibai said, "I have heard that Hongqi Sect uses its advanced sword techniques to set up its defenses, rather than using formations."
Each sect has its own preferred Taoist techniques. Although formations are a common defensive Taoist technique, most sects and families use their own specialized Taoist techniques.
Shen Qingluo: "If it weren't for the need for protection, why would Hongqi Sect set up an array within its own sect?" In terms of offensive techniques, Hongqi Sect's swordsmanship is unparalleled among spiritual cultivators.
Guan Wangzhen: "Who knows? But it's not strange that major sects have large formations inside. Grandma, can you sense what kind of formation it is?"
Ji Mingran slowly stood up and shook his head: "The spiritual energy of the array is well hidden. I can't sense the direction of the spiritual energy and can't identify the array patterns. However, this fluctuation of spiritual energy feels very familiar to me. It feels like it's me."
"You yourself?" the three asked in surprise.
“Yes,” Ji Mingran said. “I don’t know how to describe it, but it’s just a strange feeling of familiarity.”
Zhu Shibai speculated, "Could it be related to the inheritance you recorded?"
"Could it be that the Hongqi Sect secretly used our Dingsheng Sect's formation?" Guan Wangzhen exclaimed, jumping up and down. "Great! We've caught them red-handed. We'll definitely have Yuan Liu come over to collect the spirit stones later."
Ji Mingran shrugged: "Perhaps." She looked at the celestial phenomena. "The ceremony is about to begin. Let's go over there first. The lower formation has other uses and won't affect our crossing to the other side."
The four discussed and finalized Shen Qingluo's proposal, and she would carry them there on her sword.
With one person on each shoulder, the four stood in a straight line, their broad blades raised, streaking across the twilight like shooting stars.
......
The Hongqi Sect's Great Hall of Primordial Chaos is similar to the realm of the Dingsheng Sect, used for gatherings of disciples when the sect holds grand events.
However, the realm of the Dingsheng Sect is a vast platform, while the Hongqi Sect is a majestic palace with a powerful aura, standing atop the clouds, resembling a paradise when viewed from afar.
As dusk falls, the interplay of light and shadow creates a golden dome that encircles the palace, with cranes soaring and circling within it, making the place appear even more dreamlike.
Just as planned, the four members of Dingsheng Sect arrived on time.
The Hongqi Sect disciples, who had been waiting there, rushed forward to greet them and urged them to go inside quickly.
The interior of the main hall is even more magnificent, with gold and stone floors, jade walls, and dazzling relief murals.
The four entered the building and couldn't help but squint to adjust to its glittering gold.
"I really thought I'd come to a house of gold and jade," Guan Wangzhen muttered.
Ji Mingran felt the same way. This golden feeling immediately reminded her of the Jin siblings who spent money like water.
Zhu Shibai said, "Each brick and jade comes from a thousand-year-old mine. Even the Jin family might not be able to afford to supply them." Even so, he immediately thought of the two people in gold clothes, "However, the interior decoration is probably not much different."
The hall was already filled with disciples from various sects participating in the test and their leaders. The four of them arrived last, instantly drawing all eyes to them.
Who wouldn't pay attention to the top spot in the spiritual competition?
The gazes directed at them contained scrutiny, envy, resentment, and also a thoughtful expression...
The four remained calm and followed the Hongqi Sect disciple who was leading the way, passing through the other cultivators, to stand in front of the main hall.
Inside the main hall, a 15-zhang-high black jade staircase rose up. The ten cultivators of the Dao Sect stood together on the black jade staircase. Zi Yan smiled and her eyes sparkled. Zhu Shengli's smile lines faded. Shen Ting withdrew his gaze from Shen Qingluo. Nanmen Hong was expressionless and glanced coldly at the people who had arrived.
Each participating disciple stood in front of the stone steps in turn, with Dingsheng Sect, the winner of this spiritual cultivation competition, positioned in the center.
"The young friends from the Dingsheng Sect have also arrived." Venerable Chongjue stood on the black jade steps in front of the main hall, nodded to the four who had arrived late, and said gently, "Then, let's begin."
The ten cultivators of the Dao Sect simultaneously performed a spell, and a ray of light slowly rose from behind them.
Ji Mingran's gaze followed, and the dome of the main hall had become transparent at some point, revealing the twilight sky before him.
"What's going on here?" Ji Mingran asked in a low voice. In fact, she had never taken the initial ceremony of the celebration that Hongqizong had mentioned to heart. She thought it was just the ten cultivators of the Dao Sect giving a speech to express their gratitude to all the cultivators for participating, summarizing the competition, and looking forward to the next spiritual cultivation competition.
But judging from this situation, it doesn't seem that way.
The cultivators watched as the leaders of the ten Daoist cultivators performed their spells; the atmosphere inside the hall was quiet and solemn.
Zhu Shibai responded in a breathy voice: "After the Spiritual Cultivation Competition ends, the ten elders of the Dao Sect will instruct the spiritual consciousness of the competition's secret realm to infuse new techniques or secret treasures into the sect, and then work together to close the competition's secret realm, letting it fall silent. The spiritual consciousness of the competition will respond to their invocation."
Ji Mingran understood. So the ritual refers to closing the secret realm of the spiritual cultivation competition.
The radiant light rising from behind the Ten Cultivators resembled a giant scroll, soaring over the dome of the hall and into the sky. At such a height, it was clearly visible not only to those inside the celebration hall but also to all the cultivators and commoners watching the celebration outside the Hongqi Sect.
A sheer scroll, as clear as gauze, slowly unfurled in mid-air, seemingly carrying a sky full of glittering stars.
The movement of stars forms one name after another, and after each name, the name of the sect appears.
Quiet whispers filled the celebration hall.
More and more names appeared on the gauze scroll, until all the disciples from various sects participating in this year's spiritual competition saw their own names and sect affiliations on the scroll.
The stars no longer conjure new names; the names on the scroll begin to move up and down.
"What is this?" Ji Mingran noticed the names of Shen Qingluo, Zhu Shibai, and Guan Wangzhen at the top of the scroll.
"The Spiritual Cultivation Elite Ranking," Zhu Shibai said. "What's displayed on it are the names of cultivators who have participated in the Spiritual Cultivation Competition in previous years. The Spiritual Cultivation Competition's spiritual consciousness will rank the participants based on their performance. The initial order of the names is based on the performance rankings of previous participants, as well as the initial rankings of this year's participants as assessed by the competition. The competition's spiritual consciousness will then make a final adjustment based on our performance in the competition."
Not only can they be compared with disciples participating in the same year, but they can also be compared with disciples participating in previous years. Through the Elite Ranking, each sect can more accurately compare the strength of its disciples.
This is also one of the reasons why various participating sects are drawn to the celebration.
"That guy from the Nameless Sect who's ranked first has been at the top for over two hundred years since he participated in the competition," Guan Wangzhen said, his gaze fixed on the top spot. "In all these years, no one has managed to dethrone him. Ha, those sects that sealed him away together must find it incredibly irritating every time they see him."
Ji Mingran was focused on the names of his three fellow disciples who were rising in the rankings, hoping they would rise even higher. He casually replied, "Sealing? Is that the one who later fell into demonic possession?"
"Who else could it be but him? I bet the top ten cultivators of the Dao Sect are itching to kill him right now." Guan Wangzhen lowered his gaze, searching for other names.
Three fingers pointing to the same spot at the same time.
"Found you, Mingran, where are you?"
"Look."
"Grandma, where are you?"
None of the three disciples paid attention to their own names. After searching through the dense list of names, they all discovered Ji Mingran's name at the same time.
Following the three people's fingertips, Ji Mingran saw his name at the bottom of the list. When he looked at it, it was swaying slightly before slowly moving up to a different position.
It moved extremely slowly, but it didn't stop until the other names stopped moving.
Gradually, it became the only name that moved on the scroll, making it extremely conspicuous.
Inside and outside the celebration venue, all the cultivators and commoners from Hongqi Sect and more than a dozen prefectures focused their gaze on the single moving name.
Watching it slowly move, climbing from the bottom to the middle, then to the upper middle, and finally pushing Meng Yingyang, who was in tenth place, off the list.
Stop with your name.
Before the word "Xiang" could be uttered, the paused name swayed and then began to move up again.
"My God, Grandma!" Guan Wangzhen exclaimed excitedly, tugging at Ji Mingran's sleeve.
"Mingran." Shen Qingluo wrapped her arm around her, her voice full of joy.
Zhu Shibai's lips curled up, his eyes fixed on the moving name.
From tenth place to ninth, eighth, sixth...
The discussion fell silent, and everyone held their breath at the same time.
third.
second.
First.
Ji Mingran, Dingshengzong.
A sudden uproar erupted in my ears.
Ji Mingran stared at the top of the scroll, his expression unchanged.
Without lingering over her own name, her gaze lingered on the second name she had pushed down and its corresponding sect.
Yu Tianxing did not have a clan name.
Author's note: Hehe, a ranking of well-matched couples~
Next, we'll enter a new chapter where hero Ji Mingran saves the beautiful Yu!
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