Lying Low in the Martial World to Become a Saint

Chapter 463: Chapter 205: Grandmaster (3)

Li Yu-jun asked in a level tone.

The Steward replied respectfully, "Vein Master, today is the second day of the selection, and several promising prospects have indeed appeared. Wu Anren of Dubhe Mansion broke through to the tenth layer in one go, temporarily taking the top spot. His comprehension is outstanding, his talent brilliant. He Shuang of the Biluo Sect, who cultivates Three True Astrals, has a resolute will and holds a firm position on the Ninth Layer, placing her in the top three. In addition, Zhu Ming of the Red Cloud Sect and Luo Qianjue of the Celestial Blade Sect have also performed admirably, both reaching the Ninth Layer. They truly possess... the makings of a True Disciple."

"The makings of a True Disciple, you say? That’s already quite good."

Li Yu-jun smiled faintly. "Now, that’s more like it."

Her gaze grew profound.

There are only ten positions for True Disciples in the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect, a number that has never changed.

Each seat is of utmost importance, a matter of great concern to the four major veins and numerous Noble Families.

If a new, peerless genius were to rise with the potential to contend for a True Disciple’s seat, it would mean the existing balance could be shattered. When one person rises, another naturally... falls.

"Keep a close watch on these few, especially Wu Anren and He Shuang. As for that will..."

Li Yu-jun paused. "Investigate discreetly. See if any of the disciples who entered the tower today, regardless of their results, have shown any unusual behavior. Report back to me at once."

"Yes, Vein Master!" The Steward accepted his orders and departed.

...

Outside the Celestial Treasure Tower, upon the grand plaza.

Most eyes were drawn to the dazzling names at the very top of the Celestial Treasure Stele, and cries of shock and admiration rose and fell in waves.

However, when a name that had been hovering around fortieth place began to climb with steady and swift speed, it gradually caught the attention of many keen observers.

Chen Qing, Eighth Layer!

His rank shot up like a rocket from forty-third place, brazenly blasting its way into the top thirty before finally settling at a dazzling twenty-ninth!

"The... Eighth Layer?!"

Li Wang’s jaw dropped wide enough to fit an egg, his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets. His earlier excitement had transformed into utter shock, and his voice cracked.

The area for the Wutai Sect erupted in an instant, the gasps of astonishment no longer suppressible.

"The Eighth Layer! Brother Chen made it to the Eighth Layer!" a disciple cried out, his face flushed with excitement.

"Twenty-ninth place! My god! The top thirty!" another disciple muttered, as if unable to believe his own eyes.

Elder Sang Yanping’s body shuddered. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart, and turned to Chu Jinyun. "Junior Sister Chu... did you see that? The Eighth Layer! Twenty-ninth place!"

A complex light swirled in Chu Jinyun’s eyes, a mixture of shock and gratification. "I saw... the Eighth Layer."

’Chen Qing has given me far too many surprises!’

The commotion was far greater than when he had broken through to the Seventh Layer, instantly setting the entire plaza ablaze with discussion!

"He climbed again! That Chen Qing from the Wutai Sect! The Eighth Layer!"

"Twenty-ninth! He shot straight into the top thirty! How is that possible?!"

"How old is he? An Astral Force warrior under thirty with such comprehension?"

"The Wutai Sect from Yunlin Prefecture... they’re really going to soar this time!"

Cries of shock and discussion swept through the crowd like a tsunami. Countless gazes shot in unison toward the Wutai Sect’s area, focusing on Sang Yanping, Chu Jinyun, and the others.

In the Fiery Sun Sect’s area, the surprise on Zhu Yu’s face had already hardened into gravity. His brow was tightly furrowed as he stared at the glaring rank of twenty-nine on the stele, which left him far behind.

He had been somewhat pleased with his own rank, but now he felt an immense pressure crashing down on him. ’The Eighth Layer... He actually managed to pass the Eighth Layer!’

Previously, Zhu Yu had not believed Chen Qing capable of passing the Eighth Layer.

Kong Yian of the Bitaomen Sect let out a slow breath and shook his head, his tone carrying an unprecedented solemnity. "It seems we’ve all gravely underestimated him. Sixty-fifth on the Heroes’ Record? What a joke... This man’s true potential, even if it can’t match those at the very top, isn’t far off."

The Bitaomen Sect disciples beside him exchanged looks of stunned disbelief.

Shen Xiuyong had just been teleported out, his expression grave. He had given it his all but ultimately stopped at the Sixth Layer, his name settling at seventy-eighth place. Though not among the top, it should be enough to guarantee him entry into Xu Wang Mountain.

Before he could even regulate his breathing, the clamor around him drew his attention, and he snapped his head up to look at the Celestial Treasure Stele.

When he saw the number after Chen Qing’s name change to an eight and his rank shoot all the way to twenty-ninth, an incredulous and delighted surprise erupted in his eyes. "This kid... he was hiding his strength well!"

Nie Shanshan’s figure appeared outside the tower at almost the same moment. Her pretty face was frosty, tinged with a hint of resentment.

She had ultimately fallen on the Fifth Layer, her name flickering for a moment at ninety-eighth place.

She stared at Chen Qing’s soaring rank on the stele, a complex mix of emotions in her cool eyes: shock, envy, and a flicker of imperceptible gloom.

Yan Yaoyang, Li Lei, as well as Shi Ziyi and Fang Rui of the Xuanjia Sect, had been eliminated even earlier. Their results hadn’t been high enough to make the list, and now they could only look up at the figure of their peer, their feelings a complicated and indescribable mix.

Meanwhile, in the Earth Element Sect’s area, the surprise on Ding Jinfeng’s and Cao Xue’s faces had long since turned into profound shock.

Cao Xue’s pretty face was solemn. "It seems we’ve underestimated Yunlin Prefecture, underestimated the Wutai Sect, and most of all, underestimated him."

The facts before her forced her to abruptly raise her evaluation of this name by several levels.

Given time, Chen Qing might just reshape the entire landscape of Yunlin Prefecture, and perhaps even stir up a storm throughout the Four Mansions of the Poison Swamp.

On the other side of the plaza, however, the atmosphere was completely different.

A muscle in Elder Ruan Wenju’s face twitched, and her expression was so gloomy it looked like it could drip water.