Yun Jin still wore that infuriating smirk.
Everyone watching had a suffocating fire in their chest.
Truthfully, the main bulk of points in the Grand Sect Ranking Conclave came from later stages. The bouts between Foundation Establishment disciples were only a small part of it, more for demonstrating a sect's overall breadth than deciding the final standings.
The real battle, the true contest of supremacy, would begin when the higher realms took the stage.
But that did not matter.
No matter how little this round influenced the overall result, Yun Jin's expression made everyone itch to slap her. Surely the heavens could not be so blind as to let someone like her laugh until the very end?
The first round of individual duels began.
The three disciples of Wushuang Sect all faced formidable opponents.
Before the matches, the other sects had dug thoroughly into their backgrounds, and the results left them both shocked and skeptical.
Gao Jingxuan: a worthless five-spirit-root cultivator who had clawed his way into Foundation Establishment only after immense hardship, then stagnated for years with no progress. Yet after joining Wushuang Sect just two months ago, he had advanced straight to late Foundation Establishment.
Du Bing: a three-spirit-root loose cultivator. Like Gao Jingxuan, he was originally from the Imperial dynasty's cultivation circles, and the two were close friends. His aptitude was mediocre at best. Before joining Wushuang Sect, he was at mid Foundation Establishment. Now, after two short months, he had already reached the peak of the stage.
Lin Cheng: a four-spirit-root loose cultivator. He once tried to join a minor sect but failed the entry test and drifted aimlessly. Through years of grinding effort, he had barely reached Foundation Establishment. Not long ago, he had even clashed with a disciple of a low-tier sect and been utterly defeated in a single move. At that time, he was mid Foundation Establishment. Now, he too stood at the peak.
All in just two months.
Every single one of them had advanced by leaps and bounds the moment they entered Wushuang Sect. The sect's disciples were once famed for their ability to comprehend Dao, but no one had ever said they cultivated this quickly.
Two months for such growth? Were they treating spirit pills like candy?
But on reflection, it made sense. In the past, Wushuang Sect had countless disciples, and their resources were limited. It was impossible to endlessly provide medicine to everyone.
Now was different.
It was said that when the avatar of that Wandao Saint came to this world and established Wushuang Sect's secret realm, he had carried out nearly all the sect's greatest treasures. After a thousand years of accumulation, and with the sect only recently reestablished, their reserves must be at their richest point.
For the sake of standing out in this Grand Sect Ranking Conclave, Yun Jin had likely brought out every precious resource available just to force rapid growth in this first generation of disciples.
Understanding this, the crowd could accept their sudden rise in strength.
But…
Every participant here was already a peak Foundation Establishment genius. Among Wushuang Sect's three contestants, one was still only late stage—Gao Jingxuan.
They might have piled their cultivation up with pills, but what about their techniques?
Their Intent?
Their battle experience?
Two months was hardly enough to temper all that. These three might look strong on the surface, but in truth they had to be brittle.
Everyone thought the same thing, but their eyes remained glued to the three dueling platforms. Because no one wanted anything more than to see Yun Jin's smug face slapped into silence. Until those three lost, no one could relax.
"Begin!" The referee's voice rang out.
Gao Jingxuan was the only contestant not at peak Foundation Establishment. His opponent was none other than a disciple of Juling Sect.
This disciple had long been at peak Foundation Establishment. Even in the last conclave, he had stood at that level. In the five years since, he had honed himself to perfection, waiting for this chance to rise higher.
Feng Yuan stroked his beard.
This was Juling Sect's strongest contestant, and he was facing Wushuang Sect's weakest.
Gao Jingxuan, was it?
He had already instructed his disciples—against Wushuang Sect, hold nothing back. Gao Jingxuan would surely be crushed in moments.
Then they would see what Yun Jin had to say. That much at least would soothe Feng Yuan's lingering resentment over coughing blood before.
Under his eager gaze, Gao Jingxuan raised a ruler-shaped artifact in his hand. He sighed lightly. "This Senior Brother, Sect Master has commanded that this battle must end swiftly. Forgive Gao for striking first."
The Juling Sect disciple sneered. "Good. Let me see what tricks Wushuang Sect still has."
Gao Jingxuan smiled. "Senior Brother will see."
As his words fell, the ruler floated into the air.
The Juling Sect disciple instinctively watched closely.
So this was Gao Jingxuan's life-bound artifact? A ruler, of all things. Unique, if nothing else.
Yet the longer he looked, the more awe welled up within him. The ruler radiated solemn authority. Gao Jingxuan's figure loomed larger and larger, golden light shimmering faintly above his head, as though a divine being stood before him.
What was he doing here?
Why was he trying to fight such a godlike figure?
Had he gone mad?
His expression grew vacant.
A moment later, his body floated up and drifted out of the ring.
Boom.
He hit the ground, shook his head, and finally regained clarity.
He stared blankly at Gao Jingxuan.
Around him, an uproar burst forth.
What happened just now?
This was a disciple who had ranked in the top ten last time.
When Gao Jingxuan drew his ruler, they had all expected a fierce clash. Instead, the disciple had simply stood frozen, making no move at all.
Gao Jingxuan had strolled forward and lightly kicked him out of the ring.
From start to finish, the disciple had not resisted once, as if he had chosen to surrender.
"The winner… Wushuang Sect, Gao Jingxuan." The referee's voice wavered with disbelief.
"Senior Brother, thank you for letting me win," Gao Jingxuan said with a smile.
Almost at the same time, two more verdicts echoed out.
"The winner, Wushuang Sect, Du Bing."
"The winner, Wushuang Sect, Lin Cheng."
All three of them had won.
And not just won—each one had finished in a single instant.
Their opponents had not even glimpsed their true strength before falling.
Du Bing and Lin Cheng both glanced in surprise at Gao Jingxuan.
This time, he had won even faster than they did.
Until now, each thought the other was the strongest rival. Suddenly, they were wary.
This Junior Brother Gao was far deeper than he appeared. So this was the Sect Master's personal disciple. No wonder he was extraordinary. It seemed their greatest opponent for first place would not be outsiders, but Gao Jingxuan himself.
The three of them stood exchanging looks, completely ignoring the existence of every other sect's disciples.
That arrogant disregard was unbearably overbearing.
"Ah, my apologies," Yun Jin's cheerful voice cut across the arena. "Du Bing, Lin Cheng, Gao Jingxuan, what are you doing? I told you to attack first, but could you not have let these Senior Brothers and Sisters at least display something? To finish in a single instant, how rude. Next time, remember—three seconds minimum before ending a fight."
The three disciples answered with complete seriousness, "Yes, Sect Master."
The rest of the sects: "…"