Dongsheng Ting’s Intentions

Dongsheng Ting's Intentions . . .

Qin Wentian couldn't help but be perplexed. The phenomenon unfolding behind Jun Mengchen had sent ripples of astonishment through all the immortal kings, prompting them to rise from their seats in a display of palpable shock.

"It seems, Junior Brother Jun possesses a unique destiny," Qin Wentian murmured, his voice hushed as he observed the stunned reactions of the immortal kings.

For these ancient beings, individuals with remarkable talents, while impressive, held but a faint glimmer of hope of ever ascending to the realm of the immortal kings. Immortal kings were the apex of existence, and no matter how exceptional one's talents were as a Celestial Phenomenon Ascendant, it was nearly impossible for them to leave the immortal kings awestruck.

Throughout the event, the immortal kings had maintained their composure, watching the battles with a detached demeanor. Even the esteemed Deepflame Immortal King, despite recognizing the exceptional talents displayed by Qin Wentian and his sect members, had remained indifferent. Talent alone did not guarantee the attainment of immortal king status; at best, it could secure a place within a prestigious sect.

Yet, here they were, the collective gaze of the immortal kings fixated on Jun Mengchen, who had triggered a phenomenon beyond their wildest expectations. What did this portend? Could it mean that Jun Mengchen possessed the potential to transcend the realm of immortal kings?

Following that initial shock, the immortal kings swiftly regained their seats. As supreme beings, they possessed the ability to swiftly recenter their focus. Although seated once more, their eyes sparkled with unbridled curiosity as they continued to watch the aerial battle.

Dongsheng Ting, too, was entranced by Jun Mengchen's transformation. The showdown between Jun Mengchen and Feather King had lost its significance. He never could have anticipated that a legendary phenomenon would manifest within Jun Mengchen. In hindsight, the machinations he had set in motion to target Jun Mengchen were akin to shooting himself in the foot. With the appearance of such an extraordinary figure at this event, it was all but certain that his royal father would take Jun Mengchen as a disciple—more than that, he would become a personal disciple, not just a run-of-the-mill one.

Jun Mengchen must secure a place among the top three, no matter the cost.

Dongsheng Ting's earlier actions now seemed utterly absurd.

"Well, in light of this revelation, this fellow is truly deserving of cultivation. After our royal father accepts him as a personal disciple, we will guide him to sever all ties with Qin Wentian. I'm sure he will make the right choice," Dongsheng Ting contemplated. In the face of irresistible temptation, even master-disciple relationships could fracture, let alone the bond between mere sect members. If his royal father were to wholeheartedly mentor Jun Mengchen, it wouldn't be surprising for Jun Mengchen to depart from his current sect, potentially even clashing with his master, let alone severing ties with Qin Wentian, a mere senior apprentice brother.

Had they not come to this immortal banquet with one clear objective in mind? Now, he was willing to grant this opportunity to Jun Mengchen.

Meanwhile, the battle reached its culmination. After Jun Mengchen unleashed his trump card, even the formidable Feather King could no longer withstand his relentless onslaught.

Feather King found himself defeated.

His wings fluttered as he remained suspended in the air, his body marred by wounds and his aura fluctuating. As he gazed at the resplendent figure of Jun Mengchen, a profound sense of reluctance welled within him. Jun Mengchen's attacks had been simply overwhelming, leaving him with no chance of prevailing.

In this climactic final battle, Jun Mengchen faced his first defeat.

His earlier performances in the first two rounds hadn't secured him a top spot either. In the initial round, he had clinched the third position, and in the second round, he had landed in fourth place. Given his track record, his chances of breaking into the top three rankings were slim at best. To achieve this, he needed to win every remaining battle. A single loss would dash his hopes entirely.

Qin Wentian contemplated this predicament silently. Coincidentally, Jun Mengchen's gaze turned toward him. Clad in regal armor, exuding an aura of unparalleled prowess, Jun Mengchen greeted his senior brother with a warm smile. "Senior brother!"

"Take a breather; there are only a few battles left for you," Qin Wentian advised. Jun Mengchen nodded, easing his aura. But the immortal banquet was far from calm, for Jun Mengchen had stirred a storm of anticipation.

"Your Highness, judging by Jun Mengchen's strength, he should be more than capable of securing a place among the top three. While his earlier performances were lackluster, the primary criteria for this recruitment event remains talent and combat prowess. Based on what he's shown now, it should be sufficient to secure a spot among the top three," remarked a supreme immortal king from the Eastern Sage Immortal Sect, subtly conveying the message that Jun Mengchen must reach the top three ranks at all costs.

Failure to do so might result in Jun Mengchen declining their sect's offer if the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor didn't accept him as a disciple. Many immortal kings present at the banquet were eager to recruit him into their ranks. Among them, Princess Glaze posed the most significant threat.

Princess Glaze, having traveled from afar to attend the immortal banquet, harbored motives unknown to the rest. She couldn't have missed the significance of Jun Mengchen's manifestation of a legendary phenomenon. If he failed to reach the top three, would she not act on behalf of her royal father to directly secure his allegiance?

"Mhm, his talent is exceptional. Let's observe his performance further. There's a high likelihood of him entering the top three," Dongsheng Ting replied, acknowledging the unsaid expectations of the immortal kings.

"Your Highness," Princess Glaze interjected, her gaze fixed on Jun Mengchen, a mysterious smile playing on her lips.

"Indeed, in the previous rounds, Jun Mengchen's rankings were less than stellar—sixth in the first round and seventh in the second. While his performance in the final round is noteworthy, can it truly propel him into the top three?" Princess Glaze questioned.

"Princess, your words echo my thoughts exactly. However, the purpose of this immortal banquet is to select the top three disciples with the most exceptional talent for my royal father. Despite Jun Mengchen's underwhelming performances earlier, his recent display of strength in the final round more than qualifies him," Dongsheng Ting proclaimed, his voice resonating with confidence.

"In that case," Princess Glaze said, her eyes fixed on the platform, "the senior brother of this young man, Qin Wentian... his performance during this round isn't in any way inferior to Jun Mengchen. If Jun Mengchen enters the top three, could it be that Qin Wentian would as well?" A smile graced her face. It was clear that if Dongsheng Ting chose only Jun Mengchen and not Qin Wentian, the fairness of the event would be in question.

"We'll still need to monitor their later performances. If Qin Wentian's performance is similarly outstanding, he can naturally be part of the top three as well," Dongsheng Ting replied diplomatically. Hearing this, Princess Glaze refrained from further comment.

With Gusu Tianqi, Hua Taixu, Jun Mengchen, and Qin Wentian, there were already four contenders for the top three positions. In addition, the formidable Feather King was in the mix. With these five exceptional individuals vying for just three spots, Princess Glaze was eager to see how Dongsheng Ting would make his selection.

The battles on the platform continued without pause. When Zi Qingxuan defeated Ruthless, the countenance of the Undefeatable Devil King turned unsightly.

Throughout the third round, his disciple Ruthless had suffered consecutive losses, failing to secure even a single victory. As Ruthless's master, his reputation had been tarnished.

However, this misfortune was partly due to the fact that Ruthless had faced exceedingly powerful opponents. Even as a devil cultivator, his advantages had diminished, and with so many losses, he had no chance of making it to the top three.

The competition remained fiercely intense. Mo Wen and Ye Qianchen were currently engaged in combat, and it was evident that Ye Qianchen was at a disadvantage. This top-ranking participant from the Qian Prefecture appeared to have become a stepping stone for many in this final round of testing.

Additionally, Gusu Tianqi had also entered the fray, setting his sights on battles. After defeating Ruthless, he turned his attention to Qin Ta. He aimed to match the accomplishments of Qin Wentian and his fellow sect members.

For Gusu Tianqi, only the top rank would suffice.

The immense pressure Qin Ta faced when confronting Gusu Tianqi was palpable. Like Ye Qianchen, he found himself in an exceedingly dire situation, without a single victory thus far.

"It appears that for this final battle, Ruthless, Qin Ta, and Ye Qianchen are destined to be ranked last," mused the spectators. "After tallying their scores from the first two rounds, they won't even have a chance to reach the top five."

In fact, many participants were now disqualified from contention for the top three. Aside from Ruthless, Qin Ta, and Ye Qianchen, Mo Wen also had little hope. Even the formidable Feather King's chances were slim at best.

At this moment, Feather King fixed his gaze on Qin Wentian, a fiery battle intent burning in his eyes. He yearned for a duel with Qin Wentian.

Qin Wentian, however, remained impassive, devoid of emotion. It was as though Feather King wasn't the opponent he desired to face.

Feather King noticed Qin Wentian's expression and advanced step by step, his confidence evident. His violet-gold wings fluttered, emanating a formidable aura.

"Step aside," Qin Wentian declared with an emotionless tone.

"Bzz!" The Feather King's wings thrashed violently, unleashing a tempestuous tornado that propelled him to Qin Wentian's side in an instant. With a menacing claw, he slashed through the fabric of space, targeting Qin Wentian.

Qin Wentian emitted a cold snort and retaliated with his right hand. The air resounded with deafening booms as ancient bells materialized, their sonorous chimes echoing through the space. Feather King, in a fit of rage, had initially aimed to crush Qin Wentian with a single strike, but the incessant chimes thwarted his plan.

The tolling of the bells seemed unending, and golden calamity lightning rained down upon Feather King, shaking him to his very soul. Qin Wentian's entire being radiated a fierce battle aura, and as Feather King gazed upon him, he saw a dazzling battle halo enveloping Qin Wentian.

"BANG!" Finally, Feather King could no longer endure the relentless calamity lightning. He hastily retreated, his gaze locked on Qin Wentian, who remained impassive at his original spot.

"Qingxuan, give it your all in this battle," Qin Wentian encouraged. Zi Qingxuan moved towards Feather King, divine falcon wings sprouting from her back, their brilliance shining brightly.

Feather King's eyes narrowed. Qin Wentian intended for Zi Qingxuan to face him? It seemed that Qin Wentian held him in disdain and was unwilling to engage him directly.

Having already defeated numerous opponents, Qin Wentian no longer found it necessary to use Feather King as a means to assert his dominance. In his eyes, Feather King was but a trivial adversary.

"BOOM!" Feather King's aura surged to the heavens. Defeated by Jun Mengchen and now rejected by Qin Wentian, he felt the sting of humiliation more acutely than ever.