Impossible Results

Many began to curl their brows. There was only a 2nd stage Qi Sea Establishment disciple and one mere 9th stage Body Refinement cultivator left.

Almost everyone ignored the Body Refinement cultivator, believing he would get average results at best. But when focusing on the Qi Sea Establishment disciple, numerous disciples began to curl their lips in disdain.

Ling Fen, a young man with a deceptively ordinary appearance, bore the brunt of the crowd's disdain. Whispers of his common background and audacity to challenge those above his station drifted through the ranks, each word laced with venom.

"Hmph! That Ling Fen can't possibly score too high. I refuse to believe any random commoner can make it to the Earth Abode," one disciple scoffed.

"Who does this Ling Fen think he is?" a portly disciple scoffed, his robes embroidered with the sigil of a prominent clan. "He should be groveling at Brother Geng's feet for even acknowledging his existence."

Murmurs of agreement rippled through the crowd, their faces twisted in contempt. In the world of cultivation, where ancestry and resources often determined one's fate, Ling Fen was an anomaly—a mere commoner daring to dream beyond his station.

But amidst the sea of derision, a sudden surge of energy cut through the chatter like a blade through silk. A powerful fluctuation of Qi essence, so potent that it forced the weaker disciples to their knees, radiated from the center of the exam field.

As the white radiance of the testing platform dissipated, Ling Fen emerged, his steps calm and measured, his gaze fixed not on the sneering crowd, but on the glowing characters of the results screen. 

A collective gasp tore through the audience as the numbers came into focus.

"130?" a disciple breathed, his eyes wide with disbelief. "Impossible!"

"He's... he's not far behind Brother Geng!" another exclaimed, their voice trembling with a mix of awe and fear.

The revelation sent shockwaves through the assembled cultivators. Ling Fen, a mere 2nd stage Qi Establishment disciple with no notable background, had not only reached the Earth Abode—the realm reserved for the sect's most extraordinary geniuses—but had done so with a score that put him within striking distance of the illustrious Geng Jin.

In a world where countless disciples, many hailing from prestigious clans and armed with vast resources, vied for a place in the Earth Abode, Ling Fen's achievement was nothing short of miraculous.

Among the stunned onlookers, a trio of figures exchanged meaningful glances. 

Senior Brother Chetian, his chiseled features etched with concern, leaned in close to his companions. "This development cannot be taken lightly," he murmured, his voice low and urgent.

Miss Min, the beautiful young woman with an air of refinement, nodded in agreement. "Indeed. But let us not forget the other surprise this exam has yielded."

Their gazes drifted to the ongoing test, where another disciple, Miao Ying, stood on the precipice of collapse. 

Geng Jin, his eyes narrowing, clicked his tongue in disdain. "It seems this little Body Refinement kid is about to meet his limit."

...

Within the confines of the Riverfall Killing Array, Miao Ying's world had become a blur of blood and violence. The once barren wasteland was now a macabre tapestry of carnage, the ground littered with the broken bodies of demonic beasts and human cultivators alike.

Miao Ying, his body wracked with exhaustion and blood loss, knelt amidst the chaos, his sword trembling in his grip. Each ragged breath sent waves of agony coursing through his battered form, a testament to the toll the array had taken on him.

But even as his physical strength waned, Miao Ying's mind burned with newfound clarity. With every slash of his blade, every invocation of his Devourer Dao Rune, he could feel himself growing more attuned to the flow of combat. 

His movements, once stiff and a bit unnatural, now carried a fluid grace—the mark of a true master in the making.

The Devourer Dao Rune, the mysterious power that had set Miao Ying apart from his peers, thrummed with barely contained energy. Through the grueling trials of the array, he had pushed the boundaries of his control, learning to harness its ravenous hunger with ever greater precision.

Yet, even the mightiest of warriors had their limits. As Miao Ying struggled to rise, his legs threatening to buckle beneath him, a flicker of movement caught his eye. 

In that moment of vulnerability, a phantom cultivator, his cultivation base soaring beyond the 5th stage of Qi Establishment, appeared before him, sword poised to strike.

Time seemed to slow as the blade descended, its Qi-infused edge gleaming with murderous intent. Miao Ying, his reactions dulled by fatigue, could only watch as the sword plunged into his chest, tearing through flesh and bone with sickening ease.

Pain, white-hot and all-consuming, flooded his senses as the world around him began to dissolve. 

The last thing Miao Ying saw before the darkness claimed him was the phantom's face, a haunting indifferent expression.

And then, with a jarring lurch, he was back on the altar platform, the simulated death nothing more than a vivid memory. 

Miao Ying's heart raced as he stepped out from the white radiance, his body still trembling from the aftermath of his ordeal.

But as he emerged, expecting to find a thinning crowd and a few curious stragglers, he was instead greeted by a sea of astonished faces. The assembled disciples, their attention fixed not on him, but on the results screen, stood in stunned silence.

Miao Ying followed their gaze, his own eyes widening as he took in the glowing characters: 185. A score that defied belief, that spat in the face of centuries of cultivation dogma.

In a world where the gulf between Body Refinement and Qi Establishment was considered an unbridgeable chasm, Miao Ying had achieved the impossible. 

A mere 9th stage Body Refinement disciple, standing toe-to-toe with the elites of the 5th stage Qi Establishment realm.

The crowd erupted in a cacophony of disbelief and amazement, their voices rising in a tidal wave of sound.

"185? For a Body Refinement cultivator? It... it can't be!"

"Is this some kind of joke? How could a 9th stage junior possibly compete with a 5th stage expert?"

Some dared to whisper of deception, their minds desperately grasping for an explanation that would restore the natural order of things. 

But even the most skeptical among them knew the truth: the Blazing Sun Sect's entrance exam, overseen by an array crafted by a legendary Xiantian master, was beyond reproach.

No mortal hand could tamper with the results, no scheme could undermine the integrity of the Riverfall Killing Array. 

The only conclusion, as impossible as it seemed, was that Miao Ying was an anomaly—a cultivator whose combat prowess transcended the limitations of his cultivation base.

As the realization sank in, the crowd's gaze shifted, their eyes boring into Miao Ying with a mixture of awe, envy, and calculation. 

Among them, Ling Fen stood silent, his brow furrowed in contemplation.

He had thought himself unique, a shining beacon of hope for the common man in a world dominated by the privileged elite. But now, as he looked upon Miao Ying, he saw a rival—a fellow anomaly whose potential threatened to eclipse his own.

"Just who is this Miao Ying?" Ling Fen mused, his gaze never leaving the enigmatic figure. "And what secrets does he hold?"

Amidst the commotion, the trio of Senior Brother Chetian, Miss Min, and Geng Jin huddled together, their expressions grim.

"Another variable in the equation," Chetian murmured, his eyes narrowing. "And one that may prove even more troublesome than Ling Fen."

Miss Min nodded; her delicate features marred by a frown. "We must tread carefully. The emergence of these two anomalies could upset the delicate balance we've worked so hard to maintain."

Geng Jin, his fists clenched at his sides, could only nod in agreement, his mind already racing with possibilities and plans.

But Miao Ying paid them no heed, his focus solely on the path that now lay before him. 

The Earth Abode, with its promise of unparalleled resources and opportunities, was his for the taking. And with it, the chance to leave his old life behind—to cast off the shackles of servitude and forge a new path.

As he followed the proctor Elder away from the exam field, Miao Ying's steps were light, his heart buoyed by a sense of triumph. He had proven himself worthy and had carved his name into the annals of the Blazing Sun Sect's history.

And yet, even as he basked in the glow of his achievement, a flicker of unease stirred in his gut. 

The path of cultivation was a treacherous one, fraught with perils both seen and unseen. The higher one climbed, the greater the risks—and the more vicious the competition.

For now, though, Miao Ying pushed those thoughts aside, his mind fixed on the immediate future. The Earth Abode disciples' quarters, with their opulent furnishings and Qi-rich atmosphere, awaited him—a tangible reward for his efforts.