They had just raced against the clock through the three trials of the Hidden Dragon Pillars.
Li Muyun and the others were mentally exhausted, their breathing somewhat unsteady.
Clearly, the Hidden Dragon Pillars' trials had taken a considerable toll on them.
Jiang Fan, however, looked utterly at ease, as though he had never attempted the trials at all.
"Hmph!"
"He must have been eliminated early. That's how he had time to recover!"
Despite Jiang Fan's stunning performance in the fourth round's Troop Deployment Battle, Li Muyun and the others still considered him barely their equal.
His actual cultivation remained open to question.
After all, Jiang Fan had previously been unknown and had rarely appeared in the Sect Ranking Tournament.
A single performance in the Troop Deployment Battle was not enough to prove his strength!
"The Hidden Dragon Ranking tests overall ability!"
"That includes physical strength, willpower, and comprehension!"
"Even if he used some means to boost his strength, he couldn't change his willpower or comprehension!"
As these thoughts ran through everyone's minds, each different from the next.
Above the Tianjing Platform.
The White-haired Arbitrator slowly appeared.
He held a jade register in his hand, his gaze sweeping over the ten contestants on the platform.
"The first round of the Hidden Dragon Ranking trials, the Ten-Pillar Seizure Battle, has concluded!"
The old man's resonant voice carried across the entire venue.
"I will now announce each contestant's results and ranking!"
Everyone perked up, and the entire venue instantly fell silent.
"Tenth place, Nine Heavens Sword Sect, Xia Yuan!"
"Height reached: middle tier of the second section. Cultivation manuals comprehended: zero!"
"No Dragon Scale Token obtained. Points this round: zero!"
His words rang out.
Sighs swept through the Nine Heavens Sword Sect's spectator area.
Xia Yuan's face was pale, and he lowered