Spiritual Resonance condensed into radiance, and primordial colors drifted like mist. Mysterious cranes swept through the sky with long cries, while white egrets played in the spirit pool.
The Momentary Grotto-Heaven, a sect grotto-heaven above Penglai, was blessed with beauty at every turn. Mountains and waters alike held a natural grace, and the resonance of the Dao lingered.
On a straw mat, across two meditation cushions, a White-Haired Elder in a blue cap and Daoist robes played chess against a young Daoist in a bamboo cap and white robes.
As black and white interwove, the board took on a Dragon-Tiger Formation. The elder stroked his beard, chuckled, and set down a white stone. "The Overall Rankings have been posted. The disciples are gathered around them, talking about those three extra True Disciple Candidate places."
"When do you plan to announce who gets them?"
That stone shattered the struggle between dragon and tiger, scattering the position the black stones had so carefully built.
The Daoist took his time. He picked up a black stone and placed it with ease. "Most of them are only there to watch the show. A little chatter is natural. Why pay it too much mind?"
"The few who truly qualify for those places aren't joining the crowd, are they?"
"Martial Uncle, don't be impatient. It never hurts to watch a little longer."
The elder and the Daoist were Xuanche Immortal Monarch and Jiang Sheng. In fact, before the top ten places on the Three Rankings had been settled, both men already had candidates in mind for the three extra places.
Of the ten True Disciple Candidates on the Overall Rankings, four were in the Spirit Transformation Realm, three in the Nascent Soul Realm, and three in the Golden Core Realm. This ensured the top three of