Destined to Rank #4

Destined to Rank #4 . . .

"My heart remains unwavering!" Qin Wentian's voice rang out with an unwavering resolve. If the threads of time could be rewoven, even in the absence of knowledge about the hidden agendas of the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor and Dongsheng Ting, he would have still declined their offer.

To immortal kings, a thousand years was but a fleeting moment, a mere blink in the vast expanse of time. Yet, for Qin Wentian, who had breathed for less than fifty years, a millennium was an eternity.

Qin Wentian keenly discerned the implications beneath Dongsheng Ting's words. Perhaps, Dongsheng Ting was probing him, testing whether he possessed the humility to bend when necessary. In the eyes of some, acquiescence might have been the key to a future of privilege and tutelage under the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor. By surrendering to this, Qin Wentian could have secured his place among the top three, his heart yielding to compromise, thereby paving the way for a future of unwavering loyalty and devotion.

Yet, Qin Wentian's response was clear—his heart remained unchanged.

Qin Wentian could bow, but it had to be a bow from his own volition. If he yielded, why had he toiled in cultivation for all these years? A steadfast heart was the linchpin of cultivators. What if he could not claim a spot in the top three?

This recruitment event was, to him, a crucible for honing his skills. Though he had striven with all his might, he refused to betray his principles for the sake of a higher ranking.

The gaze of the Immortal Kings sharpened as they fixed their collective attention on Qin Wentian. This young man had emerged victorious over Hua Taixu. Although he had been the last-ranked participant in the first round, he had ascended to third place in the second round and delivered an exceptional performance in the finals. There was nothing to prevent him from securing a spot in the top three. Dongsheng Ting's words were tantamount to extending an offer, but Qin Wentian had declined without hesitation, his heart unswayed.

"A resolute heart, a talent deserving of cultivation. Impressive," Dongsheng Ting remarked with a smile, leaving his true thoughts concealed.

"The personal disciple of the esteemed Myriad Incarnations Immortal King, Hua Taixu, is truly exceptional. Those samsara eyes possess immense terror. With experience, he shall surely become even more formidable, ensnaring foes in a cycle of eternal torment from which there is no escape. If my father meets him, he will be quite pleased with Hua Taixu," Dongsheng Ting praised. "Despite his defeat, Hua Taixu's battle was nothing short of glorious. Based on his performances in the previous rounds, he is second only to Gusu Tianqi."

The crowd understood the implications of Dongsheng Ting's words. It was as if he were inclined to grant Hua Taixu a place in the top three.

Should Hua Taixu be included, Gusu Tianqi would naturally follow. But who would be the third and final contender?

All eyes turned to Jun Mengchen. Given his displayed talent, Dongsheng Ting would likely grant him a spot in the top three. Yet, that left no room for anyone else.

Amid this contemplation, a deafening explosion erupted from the mid-air above the platform. Attention, once monopolized by Qin Wentian and Hua Taixu, shifted abruptly to the spectacle unfolding between Feather King and Zi Qingxuan. The ferocity of their clash was staggering, each move delivered with such speed that it seemed to tear rifts in the very fabric of the sky. The air resounded with cracks as though even the heavens themselves might shatter. Feather King summoned a winged devil phantom, transforming into a formidable Winged Devil King. His monstrous form inspired fear, but Zi Qingxuan's unwavering resolve shone through her gaze, while the golden flames around her blazed even brighter.

The divine radiance of the golden blazing falcon constellation bathed Zi Qingxuan in its boundless astral light. In this moment, she herself transformed into a divine falcon incarnate. Aerial combat ensued as the winged devil clashed fiercely with the divine falcon. Each exchange of blows sent shockwaves through the heavens, leaving behind chaotic streams of qi that ravaged the surroundings. The winged devil paid a heavy price, its wings torn asunder in the heat of battle, and Zi Qingxuan emerged victorious by a slim margin.

Floating in mid-air, the two combatants locked eyes, their battle fervor undiminished.

A resounding "Bzz!" reverberated as terrifying lightning lanced forth, accompanied by Feather King's roar. In response, Zi Qingxuan's cry echoed through the skies. The divine falcon on her back grew more substantial, surging in strength. Manifestations of falcons, conjured by her divine power, raced through the air, shattering the lightning bolts before converging on Feather King. In the final climax, the divine falcon's talons seized Feather King, hurling him through the air, sending him hurtling off the platform.

"It's over! Zi Qingxuan has defeated Feather King!"

The spectators gazed upwards, surprised by the intensity and allure of the battle. Qin Wentian and his fellow sect members had achieved victory at every turn, an unexpected turn of events given their low initial rankings.

In this final round, they had emerged triumphant in every encounter.

Of the top five rankings' ten participants, it seemed that, aside from Gusu Tianqi and Hua Taixu, the other three spots were all but secured.

Qin Wentian exchanged glances with Jun Mengchen and Zi Qingxuan before fixing his gaze on Gusu Tianqi. Their journey of growth, forged through these trials, was reaching its conclusion.

"Senior brother, next up, I'll face Hua Taixu, and you'll take on Gusu Tianqi. How does that sound?" Jun Mengchen's eyes sparkled with a fierce excitement, as if battle were the sole thing capable of igniting such enthusiasm within him.

Jun Mengchen harbored a desire to sweep through all the participants, leaving devastation in his wake, one adversary at a time.

Qin Wentian regarded Jun Mengchen, his trust in his junior brother's strength and potential unwavering. However, in this upcoming confrontation against Hua Taixu, he held reservations. Hua Taixu specialized in illusionary techniques, a realm where raw power held little sway. If one could not pierce through his illusions, the mightiest of attacks would prove futile. Jun Mengchen excelled in direct, overpowering strikes, exemplifying the image of a supreme warlord with the Clear Sky Worldly Diagram. Yet, this was a stark contrast to Hua Taixu's artful mastery of illusions.

It was undeniable that, in terms of sheer power, Jun Mengchen surpassed Hua Taixu. However, such a direct confrontation was highly unlikely. Hua Taixu, with his mastery of illusion-scape and the formidable samsara eyes, would undoubtedly employ these techniques to ensnare his opponents.

"No need for that. My battle has concluded, and I hold no interest in further contests," Hua Taixu calmly declared, his words prompting a quizzical look from Qin Wentian. As he observed Hua Taixu, he saw a knowing smile gracing the immortal disciple's face. Understanding dawned on Qin Wentian, revealing Hua Taixu's intentions.

To Hua Taixu, this was a test of his mettle, a crucible to refine his skills. Moreover, as the personal disciple of the Myriad Incarnations Immortal King, he had no desire to accept the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor as his mentor. The top three rankings held little allure for him; his sole aim was to engage in a meaningful duel with Qin Wentian. In that sense, his mission was accomplished with his defeat. This loss had illuminated his weaknesses and paved the path for future cultivation.

"Hua Taixu intends to withdraw from further battles," murmured the participants, their surprise evident. With his departure, only one adversary remained for Qin Wentian and his companions.

That final obstacle was none other than the Eastern Prefecture's top-ranked contender, Gusu Tianqi.

Gusu Tianqi cast a measured glance at the trio before calmly stating, "I will engage all of you, but only when all is said and done."

With those words, Gusu Tianqi shifted his attention to those he had yet to face, his goal clear: to emerge as the most radiant figure at this immortal banquet, vanquishing each opponent he encountered.

"Let's take a brief respite," Qin Wentian suggested. He, Jun Mengchen, and Zi Qingxuan remained on the battle platform, observing the ongoing battles.

Among these contests, Mo Wen triumphed over both Qin Ta and Ye Qianchen, just as Ruthless did. Subsequently, Qin Ta and Ye Qianchen faced off, with Qin Ta emerging victorious.

Feather King had previously bested Mo Wen, solidifying his claim to the sixth rank.

As for the last five rankings, it appeared to be a foregone conclusion. Feather King, Mo Wen, Ruthless, Qin Ta, and Ye Qianchen would occupy these positions. While conjecture abounded, it ultimately rested on Dongsheng Ting to finalize the rankings. Perhaps he would place Feather King ahead of Zi Qingxuan, but regardless, the conclusion of this final test drew near.

Gusu Tianqi, having vanquished all his adversaries, elected to take a rest, recuperating his energy.

The atmosphere on the battle platform and within the immortal banquet itself took on a serene and contemplative air, in anticipation of the grand finale yet to come.

As the final battles drew to a close, the air was charged with anticipation. It was clear that the moment of reckoning was imminent.

Qin Wentian chose to communicate silently with Zi Qingxuan, seeking her candid opinion on a potential match against Gusu Tianqi. Having observed Gusu Tianqi's previous duels, Zi Qingxuan held a realistic assessment of his strength.

"I will likely be defeated," Zi Qingxuan admitted without reservation. She recognized that overcoming Feather King had been a challenge, and Gusu Tianqi, boasting even greater power, was an opponent beyond her current reach.

"In that case, do you still wish to continue?" Qin Wentian inquired, concerned for his fellow disciple.

Zi Qingxuan responded with honesty, "There's no need. Although the top three may be beyond my reach, I've gained substantial insights during this experience. My training exercise will conclude here. I see no reason to seek another defeat."

The conversation turned to the broader group as Jun Mengchen voiced a question. "Who among us still desires to fight? If we all feel satisfied, can the rankings be settled?"

Dongsheng Ting, who had been overseeing the proceedings, interjected with a keen gaze. "If everyone agrees to halt the battles, we can determine the rankings."

Jun Mengchen then sought clarification on the current standings, considering the implications of their decisions. "Gusu Tianqi held the top position in both the first and second rounds and has secured five victories in this final round. No one has challenged him. So, he will claim the first rank."

"Hua Taixu also held the first position in the earlier rounds and, despite a single defeat this round, it doesn't truly reflect his capabilities. He will be ranked second."

"In the last round, Jun Mengchen secured victories in all his matches, while Qin Wentian, despite his initial ranking at the bottom, defeated Hua Taixu and maintained an unblemished record this round. How will their rankings be determined?" Jun Mengchen questioned.

Dongsheng Ting responded, addressing Jun Mengchen's concerns. "Final rankings are an assessment of overall strength. Your exceptional talent and unique attributes have indeed left an indelible impression. If you can defeat Gusu Tianqi and Hua Taixu, you will naturally claim the top spot. However, if you fail, your ranking at third place will remain unchanged. As for Qin Wentian, even if he triumphs over Gusu Tianqi in this final round, his overall ranking will still lag behind that of Gusu Tianqi and Hua Taixu."

Dongsheng Ting's words left no room for ambiguity. While he was willing to grant Jun Mengchen a place in the top three, he firmly locked Qin Wentian into the fourth position. This outcome was the result of the strategic maneuvers targeting Qin Wentian during the initial rounds, effectively preventing him from achieving a higher ranking.