Chapter 270 - 170: Trial Rankings
The uproar caused by Liou Tao’s death on the Spirit Ascension Platform offered the Outer Sect disciples quite a spectacle.
In the future, the Five Extremes Mountain Outer Sect will surely buzz with rumors about today’s event.
As each Foundation Establishment left, the matter gradually settled down.
Only Zhao Zhuoran remained on the Holy Spirit Platform, handling matters related to the Outer Sect training.
As the only Foundation Establishment who did not participate in the battle, he only activated the array on the Spirit Ascension Platform to protect the disciples below from the spillover of the Foundation Establishment battle.
From start to finish, he acted as befitted his duty as a Protector of Five Extremes Mountain.
The disciples were still lost in the breathtaking Foundation Establishment battle.
Zhao Zhuoran gave a gentle cough above the Spirit Ascension Platform.
"Cough!" His voice, amplified by True Essence, echoed across the platform, waking the disciples from their stupor.
"The Outer Sect training isn’t over yet. Bring up the stone beads you harvested in the Erosion Land."
"Based on the peaks you belong to in the Outer Sect, each of the five Shoushan Tower disciples will be responsible for recording your Stone Skills."
As Liou Yuan just landed on the Spirit Ascension Platform, Qiu Ming hurried over.
His massive body pushed the disciples on the platform into a disarray, sparking dissatisfaction and attracting curses.
But recalling that the old man from the Qiu Family had just appeared, and considering Qiu Ming’s formidable strength as the sole descendant of the Foundation Establishment family with a Five-Star Star Acupoint, capable of overpowering most disciples, they wisely shut their mouths.
Qiu Ming approached Liou Yuan, first giving him a once-over to ensure he was unharmed, then exclaimed, "Liou Yuan, you’re really lucky."
"Even in this state, not a limb missing."
"Could you just wish some luck upon me?" Liou Yuan cast a glance at Qiu Ming.
Despite the scolding, today Liou Yuan indeed owed the Qiu Family a favor, and he responded to Qiu Ming without anger, while glancing toward the front of the Holy Spirit Platform.
According to Zhao Zhuoran’s direction, five tables were indeed set up in front of the Holy Spirit Platform.
In front of the tables, each of the Outer Sect’s five peaks had a Shoushan Tower disciple holding a register.
And the responsible Shoushan Tower disciple for the registration of the fifth peak was none other than Qiu Ming’s old flame, Wei Miaomeng.
Her graceful figure stood out among the Shoushan Tower disciples, particularly with her thin gauze dress, her alluring figure faintly visible beneath it, arousing the enthusiasm of many young male disciples.
"Wei Miaomeng is becoming more... captivating." Liou Yuan glanced at Wei Miaomeng, instinctively wanting to say ’seductive,’ but quickly altered it upon remembering Qiu Ming was beside him.
Qiu Ming’s eyes hadn’t left his sweetheart since spotting Wei Miaomeng.
Wei Miaomeng’s eyes also occasionally drifted over, exchanging flirtatious glances.
"These two are really reckless!" Liou Yuan cursed inwardly.
With Zhao Zhuoran personally overseeing matters on site, the disciples of the five peaks dared not act recklessly, orderly lining up to submit their stone beads at their respective Shoushan Tower registration tables.
Liou Yuan and Qiu Ming joined the queue for the fifth peak, progressing steadily.
Though he appeared indifferent, his ears were subtly perked, attentively listening to the Stone Skill announcements made by the five Shoushan Tower disciples.
"Ren Yirong, Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer, three stone beads, totaling Three Stone Skills, assessment passed."
"Fang Yiling, Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer, one stone bead for the seventh layer, two stone beads for the sixth layer, totaling Four Stone Skills, assessment passed."
"Wen Ning, Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer, two stone beads, totaling Two Stone Skills. Mr. Wen, you didn’t meet the assessment threshold; please prepare to report to the Sealing Tower."
...
The Sealing Tower is the department in Five Extremes Mountain responsible for personnel deployment within the Outer Sect.
The promotions of subordinate disciples, assignments for Outer Sect disciples leaving, and the return of external disciples to Five Extremes Mountain all require registration with the Sealing Tower.
Having listened for some time, Liou Yuan noted that roughly more than two-thirds of the disciples passed the Outer Sect assessment, with the remaining third being eliminated.
Among them were several who had their stone beads taken by him and Qiu Ming.
The majority of the disciples undergoing assessment in the Erosion Land were at the Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer or Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer, with relatively few Stone Skills accumulated, rarely surpassing one hundred.
Though the Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer disciples were just a few dozen in number.
The Stone Skills of those Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer disciples were enough for one person to equal the strength of ten Qi Cultivation Sixth and Seventh Layer disciples.
"Bi Wan, Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer, three stone beads; Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer, twenty stone beads; Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer, fifty stone beads, totaling one hundred two Stone Skills."
The mention of Bi Wan’s name instantly caused astonishment at the Shoushan Tower registration table in front.
Liou Yuan naturally knew of Bi Wan, one of the fellow disciples of the same batch with a Five-Star Star Acupoint, skilled in Alchemy Dao.
Originating from the Bi Family, one of the seven major noble families.
He had only heard of Bi Wan’s name and had yet to see her in person, now casting a curious gaze toward her.
The woman standing at the registration table wore a light green gauze robe, with a pleasing appearance and fair skin like snow, emanating a gentle glow.
Under her curved eyebrows lay almond-shaped eyes, clear and bright, holding the charm of a rippling spring, radiating gentle beauty.
Using Evil Eyes, Liou Yuan observed her cultivation was at the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer.
"I’ve only heard she’s skilled in Alchemy Dao, never heard of her engaged in combat, possessing one hundred three Stone Skills is no easy feat."
This stone bead tally from the training revealed quite a few familiar faces.