Killing Grounds

As Miao Ying and the protector approached, the protector elder remarked, "It seems the Riverfall Killing Array is already in use. Most convenient for your test. The ranking crystal next to the altar will sort your results and place you accurately within the Ranking War."

Miao Ying nodded, and as they drew closer, he could hear the excited murmurs of the gathered disciples. 

"Geng Jin has truly grown. Just how far can he go?" 

"Naturally, he'll go far! He received guidance from Young Master Chetian, after all. His understanding of the world is far beyond ours."

"As expected of someone who received personal pointers from Senior Brother Chetian. I heard his insights into the Sword Dao have reached an unfathomable level."

"Heh, I wonder how that Lian Wu fellow who caused such a stir will measure up? I still think his performance in the entrance examination had to be a fluke."

Amidst the buzz of anticipation, Miao Ying and the protector elder reached the edge of the crowd. Though many stared at them, the elder's overwhelming presence quickly discouraged any undue attention.

At that moment, a powerful aura rippled through the air, accompanied by a searing gust of wind that caused even the strongest Spirit Abode disciples to tremble. 

"There! Geng Jin has finished!" 

The murmurs intensified as a divinely handsome young man stepped out from the white radiance, his presence brimming with unstoppable power.

Miao Ying could only watch on with an impassive expression, marveling at the strength the man exuded. His aura alone far surpassed anything Miao Ying could bring to bear, the sheer weight of his cultivation pressing down on Miao Ying's soul. 

This was a true genius of the Blazing Sun Sect, someone whom Miao Ying could not afford to take lightly.

With a confident expression, Geng Jin watched as the ranking crystal flashed, projecting his results for all to see. 

Eyes widened in astonishment. 

"110! He jumped from 130 to 110!" 

"And he's still only at the 7th stage... His combat prowess is explosive." 

"Young Master Chetian's guidance is truly formidable to bring about such a transformation."

The crowd's excitement was understandable. Increasing one's rank required a significant boost in combat prowess, often achieved through advancing one's cultivation. For Geng Jin to rise in rank without raising his cultivation spoke volumes about his growing combat potential.

Amid the fervor, Geng Jin swiftly descended from the stage, making his way to a secluded part of the crowd where no disciple dared approach.

Two figures in particular stood out – a devastatingly handsome man and an incomparably beautiful woman. 

The waves of power rolling off them made it clear they stood at the top of the younger generation of the Blazing Sun Sect.

"Senior Brother Chetian, Miss Min," Geng Jin greeted, clasping his hands respectfully. "Many thanks for your guidance. I could never have achieved such a result without your pointers."

The man, Chetian, laughed heartily. "You're too modest, Geng Jin. Your own talent and effort played a far greater part than any minor insights I shared. I'm sure it won't be long before you're nipping at my heels."

The woman, Miss Min, smiled fetchingly. "Indeed. Although your result was as we expected, I'm sure many of the other disciples will still be shocked by your rapid improvement. That Ling Feng you mentioned before shouldn't pose any real threat to your position."

A delicate sneer played across Geng Jin's lips at the mention of Ling Feng's name. "There's no need to give it further thought. That Ling Feng? He didn't seem particularly special. His entrance exam results had to be a fluke or some trick on his part."

Senior Brother Chetian and Miss Min smiled faintly, a devious glint in Chetian's eye. "As I expected. Though, I dislike being kept in the dark. I am curious to see just how far this confident commoner can go."

At that very moment, the protector elder had guided Miao Ying to the Riverfall Killing Array. No one paid him any mind, even though his presence alongside an elder indicated something special. After all, who would believe that a mere peak Body Refinement cultivator could produce a spectacular result? Reaching a high rank in the Spirit Abode was considered unremarkable by most disciples' standards.

Miao Ying, however, was unperturbed by the lack of attention. With a calming breath, he stepped into the white radiance.

An intense pulling sensation overwhelmed his senses. In the blink of an eye, Miao Ying found himself standing in a barren wasteland. A fierce wind whipped across the desolate landscape, carrying with it the stench of blood and death. 

Beside him lay a varied selection of weapons - sharp, piercing swords; spears designed to crush foes; dazzling sabers; and other fearsome armaments.

This was it, the final trial standing between Miao Ying and his goal of securing a place in the Blazing Sun Sect. 

Miao Ying knew that his path forward would be fraught with challenges. The Blazing Sun Sect, for all its brutality, offered unparalleled opportunities for growth. Its division of disciples into abodes based on talent and prowess was a reflection of its core values - strength and potential above all else.

To secure a place in the Earth Abode would grant him access to resources and teachings far beyond those available to the average disciple. But to do so, he would need to prove himself in the Riverfall Killing Array.

Miao Ying's gaze settled on the array of weapons before him. He had the lightning-imbued techniques of the Speed As Supremacy Heavenly Art at his disposal, as well as the insidious power of the Devourer Art to weaken his foes and bolster his own cultivation.

But he knew that raw power alone would not be the only deciding factor. He would need to choose his weapon wisely and employ every ounce of his cunning and skill to emerge victorious.

Miao Ying only needed a thought to choose his weapon. He automatically went for the sword. There was something striking about it - it resonated with him, being as decisive and sharp about its attacks as he was with his actions.

Upon grasping the sword, a sharp wave of air sliced through the barren wasteland. The stench of flesh and death became more pronounced.

Several dazzling lights flashed. 

Miao Ying blinked, and what was now dozens of meters away from him was a wide range of Class 1 Demonic Beasts. These creatures all had fearsome appearances, their runes glistening across the barren expanse.

The killing intent was as thick as a river, but Miao Ying didn't flinch.

It was pressuring, dangerous situations such as these that could make any cultivator blossom. This is what even legendary old experts needed to advance. 

Miao Ying was truly beginning to understand that cultivation bases weren't everything.

The Body Refinement Realm focused on strengthening one's physical form to superhuman levels through grueling exercises, herbal remedies, and meditation to absorb ambient energy.

In the Qi Sea Establishment Realm, cultivators establish their Qi seed, then going on to form an internal reservoir of Qi energy which would be their Qi Sea. They learned to manipulate this Qi to enhance their strength, launch attacks, and reinforce their defenses.

Miao Ying had reached the 9th stage of Body Refinement, standing at the precipice of Qi Sea Establishment. But with his twin cultivation arts, he was confident he could handle threats well beyond his apparent cultivation level.

In an instant, his joints crackled with roaring thunder. Lightning ambient energy, granted by his Speed As Supremacy cultivation art, flooded his body. His aura wildly surged, the release of pure power blasting out of him, cracking the ground and whipping the air. 

This was the might of a cultivator who had honed his skills and absorbed the lightning ambient energies of the world.

He blasted forward with a loud bang, the sword in his hand twinkling with small arcs of electricity. His speed was too swift for these mere Class 1 Demonic Beasts to even blink before Miao Ying's sword slash called for their deaths.

Blood wildly splattered everywhere as Miao Ying's blade sliced through flesh and bone with no more resistance than cutting through fragile paper. One clean slash either split the beasts directly in half or cleaved off large parts of their bodies.

Miao Ying didn't care how easy it was. His soul stirred and on instinct, he swiftly slashed his sword with a crackling boom, spraying more blood as two bird demonic beasts were sliced in twain, neither fast enough to escape the lightning-swift sword.