Chapter 444 - 329: Intricate and Complicated

Chapter 444: Chapter 329: Intricate and Complicated

Celestial Slaughter Square.

The release of the rankings wasn’t just confined to the Celestial Slaughter Secret Realm; it was simultaneously projected outside in the square. A massive screen of light materialized, shimmering with a blood-red glow. Upon it, a list of names flowed with dazzling radiance, visible to all who looked up.

As the list appeared, the gazes of the elders and disciples were instantly captivated. Everyone stared intently, and a wave of gasps and murmurs swept through the crowd.

"The top three are all from the Profound Yin Sect? Qiu Xing, I can’t believe even he showed up this time."

"And you can’t ignore Yama. He’s also at Golden Core Cultivation and is one of the Profound Yin Sect’s ’Slaughter Mountain Peak Demon Pride.’ As Yan Ta’s older brother, he’s not much weaker than Qiu Xing."

"But it’s strange, why don’t I see Yan Ta’s name?"

...

The square was in an uproar. The elders from the various sects had mixed reactions. Some beamed with pride upon seeing their sect’s prodigies on the list, while others looked on with disappointment, their faces falling.

As for Lu Ruikai, his gaze swept past the top of the list and finally landed on the name in tenth place. A ripple went through his eyes, and he exchanged a dumbfounded look with Ruan Hao.

"Yu Changsheng? Tenth place, it’s actually him?"

Lu Ruikai was surprised, but a brilliant smile soon spread across his face.

The top ten spots on the list were typically reserved for the prodigies of the three major sects to compete for. Outside of them, only the top disciples from the strongest of the Six Sects might have a chance to make the cut.

For instance, the Tyrant Emperor Sect and the Cang Lei Sect each had one disciple among them, and they were the two strongest of the Six Sects.

But as for the Wanxiang Sect, which ranked at the bottom of the Six Sects, Lu Ruikai had never expected any of his disciples to achieve a high rank. From the start, he had only intended for this to be a training opportunity for them.

And now, with Yu Changsheng’s name appearing in the top ten, Lu Ruikai was not only surprised but also couldn’t help but feel a swell of pride. He was, of course, delighted.

After all, who doesn’t like an opportunity to gain face? As a result, his fondness for Yu Changsheng grew even more.

"Yu Changsheng? Who is that? How have I never heard of him?"

Ruan Hao was equally dumbfounded. He stared at the list, puzzled by the unfamiliar name of a disciple from his own sect, and turned to Lu Ruikai.

Lu Ruikai smiled. Cupping his fist respectfully, he spoke in a low voice.

"Ancestor, you’ve been in seclusion for many years, so it’s normal that you don’t know of him. This Yu Changsheng hasn’t been in the sect for very long; he’s something of a rising star. He isn’t from our Sword Control Peak, but from the Beast Taming Peak."

"A rising star from the Beast Taming Peak?" Ruan Hao paused, then his eyes narrowed as he pressed on, "I see. What is his cultivation?"

"As for his cultivation, Foundation Establishment Peak, I think?"

Lu Ruikai hesitated for a moment, then spoke in a somewhat uncertain tone, sheepishly scratching the back of his head.

"Foundation Establishment? He made the top ten with just Foundation Establishment?" Ruan Hao’s eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at Lu Ruikai.

Lu Ruikai gave a light nod. "Yes," he mused. "That Yu Changsheng... he’s a disciple of Elder Wei."

Ruan Hao’s expression cleared with understanding. He let out a slow breath and smiled. "Ah, if that’s the case, then it all makes sense."

Ruan Hao chuckled, his eyes bright as he stroked his beard. "It seems our Wanxiang Sect has produced a true genius. I’ve clearly missed too much during my seclusion. I almost feel like a stranger to my own sect."

"Why don’t you tell me everything about this Yu Changsheng. For him to have caught Elder Wei’s eye... I’m quite curious to hear what makes him so extraordinary."

"Of course." Lu Ruikai nodded and proceeded to tell Ruan Hao, in a low voice and great detail, everything about Yu Changsheng’s time in the sect.

As Lu Ruikai spoke, the astonishment on Ruan Hao’s face grew more pronounced, as did his interest in Yu Changsheng.

"Interesting," Ruan Hao remarked. "If Elder Wei hadn’t already taken a shine to the boy, I’d be tempted to take him as my own disciple."

Ruan Hao sighed wistfully, his gaze distant, but his words ended with a smile.

Lu Ruikai broke into a nervous sweat but wasn’t surprised. He simply raised an eyebrow and chuckled.

"Holding a spot in the top ten is already quite an accomplishment."

...

Naturally, disciples from the other sects also noticed Yu Changsheng’s name. The members of the three major sects were surprised but did not let it show.

The other sects among the Six Sects, however, were openly surprised. One by one, their gazes drifted toward the Wanxiang Sect’s delegation, filled with astonishment and doubt.

"Yu Changsheng? I’ve heard of that kid. But with his level of strength, is reaching the top ten even possible for him?"

"What right does he have to be ranked alongside the prodigies at the top? He must have stepped in some serious dog shit to get that lucky."

"But then again, that’s the Profound Yin Sect for you. Even if they stay reclusive, their power is undeniable."

...

Murmurs of suspicion arose. Within the Six Sects, opinions varied. Although many were doubtful, no one was foolish enough to mock the Wanxiang Sect openly. They simply paid closer attention to the name Yu Changsheng.

Most of the discussion, however, was focused on marveling at the sheer strength of the Profound Yin Sect and speculating about the top-ranked cultivators.

"Aside from the Profound Yin Sect in the top three, who’s this Wuya in fourth place? A Loose Cultivator? I’ve never even heard of him."

"If he’s really a Loose Cultivator, then we could try to win him over."

"A genius of this caliber, if unaffiliated, is certainly a prime candidate for recruitment..."

Apart from Yu Changsheng, the other major surprise on the list was Wuya in fourth place.

While the other sects were baffled, the members of the Profound Yin Sect remained relatively calm. Only Zhu Zhengping frowned slightly, a hint of doubt crossing his mind.