Pagoda Ranking

Outside the Ancient White Pagoda, the disciples had different expressions. Some were happy, obvious from their confident and smiling faces. Some were as if they had eaten a bitter fruit. Some remained calm, treating the three trials as a chance to measure their abilities compared to the direct disciples and striving to reach their level.

Ji Chen and the elders did not go immediately as they were sure that the disciples would likely check first their rankings before listening to boring speeches.

"The other stone tablet is shining!" One of the disciples shouted with excited expression.

The rest hurriedly made their way to the stone tablet near the pagoda's entrance. They wanted to know their own ranking. The top 50 would receive generous rewards and the top 10 would represent the sect to the incoming city-level competition. Naturally, they wanted to be part of it.

"Who do you think will be the first place?"

"What kind of stupid question is that? Of course it will be Senior Sister Bai!"

"I hope I will be in the top 50. I only performed poorly in the third trial."

"Do you want to bet some origin stones? If your ranking is higher than mine, you win."

"Senior Brother Kai will surely be in the Top 3."

The blank stone tablet prior to their entry to the pagoda was shining with resplendent golden light. This did not prevent them from seeing the characters slowly being engraved on it.

At the uppermost part of the stone tablet, the words 'White Pagoda Rankings' emerged.

Following that, 184 names appeared at the same time.

Everyone skipped the other names and focused on the top 10.

1. Bai Ningshuang - (Quasi-stage 4th Tier,

25th Step, Average King)

2. Ling Jingjing - (Late-stage 5th Tier,

26th Step, Average Prince)

3. Hesha - (Peak-stage 5th Tier,

22nd Step, Lower Prince)

4. Xu Kai - (Peak-stage 5th Tier,

23rd Step, Pinnacle Master)

5. Jin Ren - (Mid-stage 5th Tier,

15th Step, Greater Master)

6. Ye Rong - (Early-stage 5th Tier,

13th Step, Lower Master)

7. Ximen Tian - (Peak-stage 6th Tier,

12th Step, Average Master)

8. Taxia Dru - (Peak-stage 6th Tier,

12th Step, Average Master)

9. Tai Yuwen - (Peak-stage 6th Tier,

12th Step, Average Master)

10. Gao Li - (Late-stage 6th Tier,

10th Step, Greater Master)

Upon seeing the names on the top ten, the disciples quickly went into clamor.

"Wow! Senior Sister Bai left all the others far behind." A fanatic of Bai Ningshuang screamed in reverence and excitement.

"Damn! What is quasi? And Fourth Tier, that is equivalent to emperor!"

Indeed, when the others compared Bai Ningshuang to Ling Jingjing, the second placer, the huge gap could be instantly seen even by a moron.

The two in the limelight did not seem to be affected by their success and were chatting together.

"Sister Ningshuang, you're so amazing and beautiful!" Ling Jingjing activated her fangirl mode as her enlarged eyes were glued to the beautiful silver-haired lady in front of her.

"Teehee, what a sweet mouth. You just want me to hold your hands, right?" Bai Ningshuang teased her junior sister with two winks.

"Ah! Don't do that Sis. It's too fatal to the heart."

"Should I try that to my master then? Maybe he will finally succumb to his urges." Bai Ningshuang asked while pondering.

Ling Jingjing's face flushed red from embarrassment. Her senior sister was too direct about such things.

"You guys are hiding here huh. Sister Ningshuang, Little Jingjing, congratulations!" A tanned, well-endowed lady with black hair cascading down her waist and purple slanted eyes came out from behind and held both of their waist with her hands.

"Ah! Sister Hesha, you're like an assassin."

Hesha, the Top 3 in the ranking, was a frequent visitor of Bai Ningshuang to her residence. The three of them started a girly talk with giggles and whispers. It could be said that the appearance of the three together made many disciples glued their eyes to them.

'What a beautiful sight to behold!' Most of them thought in their minds.

On another side, Xu Kai was talking coolly with his childhood friend, Ximen Tian. Both of them were also body refiners so their closeness was already on the level of brotherhood.

"Sister Hesha is really a monster in cultivation with her godly physique." Xu Kai shook his head in surrender.

"Senior Brother Kai, Senior Brother Tian, congratulations." A pale-skinned man with

feminine face moved closer to the two.

Gao Li, the top 10 in the ranking, was the newest in their brotherhood ever since the announcement of Ji Chen about their physiques and bloodline.

With common interest in body refining, the five, including two other disciples, forged a brotherhood of bodybuilders. For them, if everything could be solved by a solid punch, there was no need for long range combat.

The lively atmosphere continued as the top 10 received attention and congratulatory greetings from everyone.

They only became quiet after the arrival of the elders led by Ji Chen.

"You did a good job. Be proud. If you want to be better than today, you can train inside the pagoda and hone your skills. This is a rare chance to overcome your limits safely. Cherish it." His voice was infused with energy. It was a whisper but everyone heard it as if the speaker was beside them.

This was deliberate to create more impact to the disciples, to let them feel that the Sect Master was addressing them individually.

After using his trick. Ji Chen continued speaking without the infusion of energy.

"For the 41st to 50th place in the ranking, you will receive your rewards now. Step forward."

Ten jubilant and excited disciples stepped forward without a pause. Five of them were in True Realm and narrowly clutched the tail of the rankings. They did not care for anything other than the rewards personally given by the Sect Master.

Within the crowd, five or ten disciples had disappointed, sad, and exhausted expressions. They were the ones ranked just below the top 50. All they could do was to practice harder.

However, when the description of the rewards for 41st to 50th place was announced, they felt a lump of bitterness stuck in their throats.

"You already received these fruits last time. Each of you will be rewarded with two Spirit Fruits and a copy of one high-tier rare grade cultivation technique."

The ten rewarded disciples were ecstatic as they bowed in unison and said, "Thank you, Sect Master." Their eyes did not leave the faintly glowing green fruits hovering over Ji Chen's palm.

The Spirit Fruit and mid-tier rare grade cultivation technique would surely halve the needed time for them to step into the Mage Realm.

Ji Chen waved his hand in reply and continued, "Step forward, 21st to 40th placers."

"You are all in Mage Realm. Each of you will receive a Spirit Meridian Fruit. It's five times better than the Spirit Fruit. You can also choose a high-tier rare grade cultivation technique and art manual."

'A better fruit?' The twenty recipient disciples felt that they were dreaming. The others also felt the same as their eyes moved back and forth between Ji Chen and the fruits.

Only Long Zhu, Jiang Feng, and Bai Ningshuang remained calm as even a trace of contempt flashed in their eyes. 'Five years? Hmph. We got the 10-year fruit.'

"Thank you, Sect Master!"

"Alright. Cultivate well. For 11th to 20th place, each of you will receive two of the same fruits and a peak-tier rare grade cultivation and art manual."

Ji Chen distributed all the fruits and tasked Jiang Feng to deal with rewards involving the cultivation techniques and art manuals since the latter was in-charge of the sect's library.

"The top ten in the rankings, follow me and the elders to the Sacred Square."