"No wonder Dì Tiānguāng's performance in this assessment was so poor, it must have been disturbed by Lù Qīngyún! Hmph, unable to compete head-on, so resorting to such despicable means, absolutely ridiculous!"
Nàngōng Yuè, thinking she had learned the truth of the matter, immediately snorted, showing a look of disdain.
"In assessments, there are instances of interference, but usually it's higher-level practitioners interfering with lower-level ones. Even if he was disturbed, Dì Tiānguāng's performance shouldn't have fallen to such an extent... The truth behind this needs further examination," Hányǎ yì offered a somewhat balanced assessment.
Interference...
Even if Lù Qīngyún did interfere with Dì Tiānguāng, his performance shouldn't have plummeted to such an extent.
Although the means were not admirable, if Lù Qīngyún did indeed make Dì Tiānguāng lose face through interference, it would be a huge success.
"It's just a stroke of luck. Otherwise, she, Lù Qīngyún..."
Nàngōng Yuè was about to say something defamatory, but at this moment, Lù Qīnghé's voice rang out, "Slandering others in secret, be careful not to bring disgrace upon yourself."
He didn't mind Nàngōng Yuè's posturing in front of him, but it didn't mean he would allow her to insult Lù Qīngyún further.
"Hmph! Bring disgrace upon myself? Who's actually bringing disgrace upon themselves with such methods..."
"Be clear about this. First, Lù Qīngyún entered the second side hall before Dì Tiānguāng, so if there was any interference, it would have been Dì Tiānguāng interfering with Lù Qīngyún, not the other way around. Second... respect is given by others, but one's face is lost by oneself!"
Nàngōng Yuè's eyes shot out a cold, harsh light, "Lù Qīnghé, how dare you speak to me like this, you're really daring!"
"So what? The final test results have already been revealed! The truth is clear at a glance!"
"Hmph!?"
Nàngōng Yuè's gaze turned towards the Temple of Fate.
She had lost face, and even though she was furious, if she could obtain Lù Qīngyún's final ranking, it would also be a good opportunity to strike a blow to Lù Qīnghé...
...
"Hehe, Lù Qīngyún, this is your ranking."
The True Fate Elder, who had slightly changed his previous leisurely demeanor, stood up and handed a jade plaque to Lù Qīngyún.
For a moment, Hányǎ yì, Xīngjiàn Fēng, Nàngōng Yuè, as well as the disciples outside who were trying to gather information, including Dì Tiānguāng, craned their necks at the same time, trying to see the number on the jade plaque clearly.
"Congratulations, Lù Qīngyún, your progress in the past few months has been very significant, and your final ranking is thirteenth."
"Thirteenth!"
Thirteenth place!
As soon as the True Fate Elder announced this number, it immediately caused a great sensation among the disciples who were waiting for the final conclusions.
"This is impossible!"
Dì Tiānguāng, who was greatly shocked, couldn't help but exclaim in disbelief, "How can it be thirteenth!"
"Damn it, it's actually thirteenth!"
Lù Qīngyún was secretly angry at this result.
"Thirteenth!? Is it really thirteenth? Did I mishear? It's thirteenth?"
Xīngjiàn Fēng, who received this news outside the Temple of Fate, looked somewhat dazed.
Not just her, Nàngōng Yuè was also stunned.
Thirteenth!?
To her, Lù Qīngyún, a little girl who only cultivated true energy and not sword skills, had actually secured the thirteenth place in the third peak?
"Thirteenth!? Lù Qīngyún is actually ranked thirteenth!? She... she's only sixteen years old!"
Hányǎ yì's face showed an unstoppable look of surprise.
Xīngjiàn Yǔ, ranked eleventh in the third peak, was only twenty-three years old, and had earned the respect of all the inner disciples of the third peak, regardless of whether they were in the top ten or the top three. No one would doubt her equal status and position with the top ten of the third peak.
But at the moment...
Lu Qingyun!
Younger than Xing Jianyu...
No!
Much younger, Lu Qingyun, who is a whole seven years younger, unexpectedly made it into the top thirteen in today's test.
Thirteenth!
Although not as good as Xing Jianyu's eleventh place, the impact caused by this result is even greater than Xing Jianyu's eleventh place.
"Thirteen! Lu Qingyun's talent is terrifying to this extent!"
Han Ya-yi felt a chill in her heart.
If, given another ten years, she might be qualified to compete for the top three positions of the Third Peak.
"Impossible! Impossible!"
At this moment, Di Tianguang in the Temple of Fate couldn't help but shout, looking frantic, "Thirteenth place! How could she possibly rank thirteenth!? I clearly did everything I could to interfere with her test results, how could she still manage to get the thirteenth place!? This is absolutely impossible!"
His words were so loud that they echoed not only in the Temple of Fate, but also among the people outside the temple.
For a moment, all the speculation in their minds was completely overturned.
"Lu Qingyun... It's not Lu Qingyun who is interfering with Di Tianguang, but Di Tianguang is interfering with Lu Qingyun... interfering with Lu Qingyun's test..."
The evidence was undeniable!
For a moment, Nangong Yue, who had been somewhat ashamed, felt a burning sensation on her face.
Not long ago, she had confidently claimed that Di Tianguang's significant decline in performance was due to interference from Lu Qingyun, and had shown extreme disdain for Lu Qingyun’s defense, but now the truth had been revealed...
She had been publicly humiliated by the person she supported, Di Tianguang.
Some disciples who had just heard her conversation with Lu Qinghe looked at her with mockery.
Face is given by others, but it’s up to oneself to maintain it!
How fitting this saying was at this moment.
Retribution came so quickly.
"I don't believe it, there must be something wrong, Lu Qingyun, you and the real elders must be colluding, hyping up yourself, and setting up me!"
The huge drop was making Di Tianguang somewhat incoherent.
"Damn it! I was originally aiming for a place in the top ten, Di Tianguang, if it wasn't for you, I would be ranking outside of the top thirteen!"
Lu Qingyun gritted her teeth.
"Hehe..."
At this moment, the real elder spoke, though he was still smiling and looked as leisurely as ever, his tone of voice was noticeably colder, "Slandering an elder is a great sin. Little girl, I can't be bothered to act, get him out of here for me, I have something to take care of."
I have something to take care of.
The statement was extremely forceful.
A small inner disciple, ranking in the thirties, was challenging an elder?
"Yes, real elder."
Lu Qingyun responded, and in an instant, her sword was drawn.
"Di Tianguang, the elder has spoken, get out of here!"
"Lu Qingyun, how dare you!"
Seeing Lu Qingyun openly making a move against his fellow inner disciple, Di Tianguang yelled, drawing his sword in response.
"In the Second Hall, I want to achieve good results as much as possible, I have no time to bother with you. Do you really think that your meager cultivation can compare to me!"
Lu Qingyun's blade turned, and in an instant, her figure blurred and struck out.
"Shadow of Death!"
"It's the Shadow of Death!
"The ultimate move of the Splitting Light and Shadow Sword Art, the Shadow of Death!"
At the moment Lu Qingyun's figure blurred, a deafening exclamation erupted from the crowd.
All the inner disciples, attendants, and outer disciples who had witnessed this scene couldn't help but shout.
Even Nangong Yue, Han Ya-yi, and Xing Jianyu were no exception.
"Shadow of Death!"
Di Tianguang's pupils suddenly constricted.
The aura of death brought by the Shadow of Death eventually awakened him from this enormous blow.
"Ah! No!"
With a piercing cry, Di Tianguang unleashed his strength, ranked thirty-ninth on the Third Peak, and a powerful true essence erupted, crashing towards the illusory shade. Under the pressure of this illusion, his figure retreated abruptly.
"Ha!"
Blood splattered.
Di Tianguang, who was trying to retreat, could not completely avoid the shadow of death.
Accompanied by his arm being pierced by a sword, Lu Qingyun's figure suddenly approached and kicked out.
In the midst of retreating, Di Tianguang was suddenly kicked by Lu Qingyun, and the tremendous force of the kick sent him flying, crashing onto the floor outside the Hall of Destiny. The impact created a ring of cobweb-like cracks in the floor, and then he rolled two more rounds, spitting out blood and looking extremely disheveled!
One move!
In just one move, Di Tianguang, who was at the Ninth Level of Refining Truth, ranked thirty-ninth on the third peak, had been defeated.
In an instant, the outer disciples of the Hall of Destiny, who had been somewhat noisy and filled with speculation about Lu Qingyun's true cultivation level, fell silent.
The whole scene became pin-drop silent.
"In consideration of our shared sect, I won't kill you first, but if you dare to be presumptuous in front of me again, I will take your life."
With her precious sword sheathed, Lu Qingyun looked at the pale-faced Di Tianguang, her expression cold and stern.
Di Tianguang had never been taken seriously by her.
Even when she first entered the Eighth Level of Refining Truth and heard that Di Tianguang had broken through to the Ninth Level, she only felt it was troublesome and nothing more.
This scene, seen by those outer disciples, attendants, and inner disciples who had been investigating the news, affirmed their lack of doubt about Lu Qingyun's position.
"The Ninth Level of Refining Truth. Lu Qingyun has actually reached the Ninth Level of Refining Truth!"
"As far as I know, it has only been a few months since Lu Qingyun broke through to the Eighth Level of Refining Truth. Now, she has actually stepped into the realm of the Ninth Level of Refining Truth. Such a cultivation speed is simply..."
"Her true qi cultivation has reached the Ninth Level of Refining Truth, and her superior swordsmanship, the Split Shadow Sword Art, has reached perfection..."
Displaying the true qi cultivation of the Ninth Level of Refining Truth, and being able to perform the ultimate move, the Death Shadow of the Split Shadow Sword Art, to defeat this Ninth Level expert, was a true reflection of her rank and skill.
"The Death Shadow! Generally speaking, when the Death Shadow is performed, it either kills the opponent or is countered, leaving the performer in a perilous situation. But just now..."
Han Ya-yi looked at Lu Qingyun, who had sheathed her sword, her face still showing signs of shock.
Not only he, but Xing Jianfeng, Nan Gongyue, and some accomplished inner disciples present, were similarly astonished.
The only possible explanation for this situation was...
Perfect control!
Lu Qingyun had already achieved a level of perfect control over the ultimate move, the Death Shadow of the Split Shadow Sword Art!
Perfect!
Lu Qingyun had perfected the Split Shadow Sword Art of the superior swordsmanship to its pinnacle!
Thinking of this, Han Ya-yi suddenly remembered the previous bet between Lu Qingyun and Xing Jianfeng, and immediately turned her gaze towards him...