Ranked Last

Ranked Last . . .

The enigmatic Dream Demon King was a figure of immense power, a sovereign within the realm of dreams, wielding mastery over the enigmatic and potent energy of dream law. With effortless grace, he could infiltrate the dreamscapes of others, delving into the hidden recesses of their subconscious minds.

And where did dreams originate, if not from the depths of one's own subconscious?

Within the vast expanse of Qin Wentian's consciousness, his most cherished memories lay, hidden away like treasured gems waiting to be discovered.

In this crucial moment, Qin Wentian's aura surged wildly, creating a turbulent tempest that rippled across the platform. The spectators couldn't help but turn their attention toward the tumultuous display unfolding before them.

Within the dreamscape, Qin Wentian fought against the dream's grasp, determined to break free from its clutches. He steeled his heart and mind, refusing to allow the Dream Demon King to rifle through his memories. However, it was as if he grappled with an inscrutable and mysterious force, one that refused to release its grip. Memories of Qingcheng, the love of his life, materialized, and he could almost see her waiting for him in the particle world. Her flawless countenance, with eyes as limpid as autumn water, brimmed with boundless longing as she yearned for his return. Beside her, the Medicine Sovereign stood, offering solace to the grieving Mo Qingcheng.

These were but thoughts residing deep within his consciousness, yet they were forcibly brought to the surface by the Dream Demon King's dreamscape. The more Qin Wentian recollected his memories, the more insight the Dream Demon King gained, as his innermost thoughts were laid bare.

Fury consumed him. His mind felt divided, torn between two conflicting urges. One part of him struggled to break free—a clear-minded, rational self. But the other part seemed beyond his control.

"Despicable!" Qin Wentian thundered in the depths of his soul. This was no test; it was a blatant invasion of his memories. To martial cultivators, such actions were a grave violation, a taboo that should never be transgressed. Every individual harbored secrets, and once this boundary was crossed, it birthed an unquenchable hatred. Those skilled in soul-searching were shunned by all, becoming pariahs of society.

Yet this Dream Demon King cloaked his intrusion under the guise of a test, all while prying into Qin Wentian's memories.

His memories unfurled like an unwelcome scroll, recounting the kin and dear friends from his particle world. His foster fathers, Qin Chuan and Ye Qingyun; his sister, Qin Yao; his senior apprentice sister, Luo Huan; his teacher, Mustang; and even the cherished memories of Fatty Fan Le and Ouyang Kuangsheng.

"I can't allow this to continue!" Qin Wentian's resolute inner self roared with fury. An imposing figure materialized before him, its smile belying its colossal stature, with a head that seemed to pierce the very heavens.

"Get out of my mind!"

Pale candle flames flickered to life, enveloping his entire being and growing brighter by the second, casting a brilliant light upon his soul. In an instant, he was consumed by searing flames.

A thunderous roar shook the battle platform as Qin Wentian's eyes snapped open. The impact forced him to stagger back several steps, but he was awake.

Countless gazes from the spectators fixated on Qin Wentian. Dongsheng Ting maintained his composed facade, yet a gleam of sharpness sparkled in his eyes. As for the Deepflame Immortal King, a cold smile played on his lips.

The notion of Qin Wentian securing a spot among the coveted top three ranks was nothing short of a whimsical daydream. Many believed he was lost in a fantastical reverie. Regardless of his sincerity in seeking an opportunity within the Eastern Sage Immortal Sect, Dongsheng Ting had no intention of allowing him to clinch a spot among the top three.

Dongsheng Ting, the puppeteer behind this test, held the strings of control firmly in his grasp. While he sought the counsel of immortal kings and even entertained Princess Glaze's opinions, he remained the ultimate arbiter of fate in this trial.

"The first to falter among the heaven-chosen is Qin Wentian, currently ranked #27 in the Cloud Prefecture. Despite his formidable combat abilities, who would have thought that he'd be the initial casualty among the ten participants?" remarked one of the immortal kings with a sigh.

"The Dream Demon King's test assesses participants' willpower and temperament. Sometimes, sheer combat prowess doesn't translate to unwavering resolve. Moreover, all ten remaining participants are exceptionally powerful individuals. Qin Wentian being the first to withdraw is hardly surprising," another chimed in.

"No need to rush to judgment. This is just the first round of testing. Perhaps Qin Wentian will shine brightly in the next two rounds. Seniors, let's not prematurely dismiss him," Dongsheng Ting interjected, seemingly speaking in defense of Qin Wentian.

Princess Glaze's captivating eyes betrayed a hint of intrigue as she fixed her gaze upon Qin Wentian on the battle platform. In her estimation, Qin Wentian shouldn't have been the first to falter. His patience, resolute will, and exceptional temperament should have held him in good stead. Even if he didn't excel in these areas, he shouldn't have been the initial casualty.

Pondering this, Princess Glaze cast a profound glance at the slumbering Dream Demon King and the various immortal kings engrossed in their conversations. They laughed and chatted, seemingly oblivious to anything amiss.

The scene appeared perfectly ordinary, but did they genuinely remain ignorant?

Failure due to an inability to persist? Qin Wentian exiting the dreamscape for this reason? More likely, he had fought and freed himself of his own volition.

Qin Wentian stood tall on the platform, surveying his surroundings. The other nine participants remained ensnared in the dreamscape, yet to awaken.

His eyes gleamed with a sharp intensity, simmering with the flames of indignation as they bore into the Dream Demon King. Nevertheless, he chose to remain silent.

What could he possibly say? That he had endured unfair treatment?

This was the Eastern Sage Immortal Sect, and the Dream Demon King served as the orchestrator of this test. With a casual excuse, the Dream Demon King could easily discredit his claims, leaving Qin Wentian powerless to protest.

Perhaps Dongsheng Ting had meticulously designed this round of testing with the intent to ensure his failure, leaving no room for protest. Any attempt to argue his case would likely be perceived as a deficiency in temperament by the immortal kings. They might even lay the blame squarely on him for failing the test due to his own shortcomings. It was a clear message from Dongsheng Ting, asserting his dominance within this realm.

The words of the Deepflame Immortal King reverberated in his mind once more: "Some endings are already destined." Yet, could this truly be an inescapable fate that he couldn't alter in the slightest?

Qin Wentian shut his eyes and assumed a cross-legged posture on the platform, his silence speaking volumes. He had long braced himself for the possibility of being deliberately singled out. In the face of such a situation, what more could he say?

Let destiny unfold as it may.

Meanwhile, the test continued for the remaining participants. Time flowed steadily, and Qin Ta became the second person to emerge from the dreamscape.

Following him was Zi Qingxuan. Upon waking, she was panting heavily, her chest heaving as she regained her composure.

Spotting that Qin Wentian had also awakened, a flicker of puzzlement crossed her eyes. She then sent a telepathic message to him, "What did you experience in the dreamscape?"

"He attempted to pilfer my memories, but I resisted and forced myself awake," Qin Wentian replied candidly. He reciprocated, "What about you?"

"A nightmarish ordeal. He delved into my consciousness to unearth my deepest fears and employed them against me," Zi Qingxuan revealed.

"So, this Dream Demon King employs different methods to test all ten of us. The level of difficulty can be freely manipulated by him, and he can even determine the rankings," Qin Wentian communicated coldly. Zi Qingxuan grasped the implications of his words. If any form of unfair treatment were to occur in these final three rounds of testing, who would suspect it? And more crucially, who would investigate it?

Ye Qianchen was the fourth to break free from the dreamscape, followed by Jun Mengchen as the fifth.

"Senior brother, senior sister Qingxuan, what are your rankings?" Jun Mengchen inquired directly through telepathy.

"I'm third from the end," Zi Qingxuan replied.

"I'm the last one," Qin Wentian responded. These revelations left Jun Mengchen's eyes narrowing and his expression souring.

"These three fellow sect members displayed immense talent earlier, but during the final top ten test, their performance seems to have dwindled somewhat. All ten participants are simply too formidable, each excelling in their own right," an immortal king at the banquet observed.

"Indeed," concurred another.

Qin Wentian and his fellow sect members found themselves ranked among the bottom five. Such a performance seemed lackluster compared to their earlier displays.

Next, Mo Wen emerged as the sixth participant to awaken, followed by Ruthless as the seventh and Feather King as the eighth.

"As expected of Gusu Tianqi and the personal disciple of the Myriad Incarnations Immortal King, Hua Taixu. Their willpower and temperament are truly extraordinary," the spectators marveled as they watched Gusu Tianqi and Hua Taixu remain in the dreamscape.

"Your disciple from the Myriad Incarnations Immortal King is truly exceptional," some immortal kings turned to offer their praise to the Myriad Incarnations Immortal King.

She smiled graciously. She firmly believed that if the conditions had been equal for all participants in this test, Hua Taixu would undoubtedly claim the top rank.

However, at this moment, Hua Taixu's eyes suddenly opened.

The Myriad Incarnations Immortal King couldn't help but feel a tinge of curiosity, but she swiftly composed herself. It wouldn't be entirely fitting if her disciple secured the first rank in a test meant to recruit disciples for the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor.

Gusu Tianqi was the last to awaken.

All ten participants had emerged from the dreamscape.

The Dream Demon King remained in a deep slumber, seemingly unaffected by the events that had transpired.

"Many thanks to Senior Dream Demon for your assistance," Dongsheng Ting expressed his gratitude with a smile. He then turned his gaze toward the ten participants on the platform and spoke loudly, "All of you have shown exceptional perseverance during the test. Special commendation goes to Gusu Tianqi, Hua Taixu, Feather King, and Ruthless. Remarkable."

"Of course, for the gifted individuals who ranked lower in this round, do not be disheartened," Dongsheng Ting continued, shifting his gaze to Qin Wentian with a smile. "There are still two more rounds of testing ahead, and as long as you excel, you have a chance to compete for the top three positions. Our esteemed immortal king seniors will be closely observing your performances."

The ten participants remained silent. Qin Wentian glanced at Dongsheng Ting's handsome countenance. He exuded an air of grace and naturalness, showing no signs of concern.

"Now, let me announce the rankings for the first round publicly. In first place, we have Gusu Tianqi; second place, Hua Taixu; third place, Feather King; fourth place, Ruthless; fifth place, Mo Wen; sixth place, Jun Mengchen; seventh place, Ye Qianchen; eighth place, Zi Qingxuan; ninth place, Qin Ta; and in tenth place... Qin Wentian!"

Dongsheng Ting announced the rankings for the first round of testing.

In this round, Qin Wentian was placed last!

The Deepflame Immortal King's eyes flickered as he looked at Qin Wentian. Last place—Dongsheng Ting's ruthlessness was evident. In such a situation, how could Qin Wentian possibly turn the tide?

Aspiring to secure one of the top three positions? It seemed like a far-fetched dream now!