Fifth on the Sect Ranking, Dongji Emerges

Nanming Sect's victory went unnoticed.

The outside world knew nothing about it.

At that moment, everyone's eyes were fixed on the Heavenly Dao Gold Ranking, watching the scene of the sect ranked fifth on the Sect Ranking.

They saw the Gold Ranking.

A canyon shrouded in endless hurricanes appeared.

As the scene on the Light Screen continued to delve deeper, a cluster of sect buildings gradually came into view before all living beings. It was enveloped by a cyan formation shield and situated in the middle section of Hurricane Canyon.

Seeing this,

The Central Continent's forces remained utterly bewildered.

Meanwhile, the powerhouses of the Eastern Continent who recognized the place cried out in shock one after another.

"Old Man isn't seeing things, is he? This... this looks like Hurricane Canyon in our Eastern Continent?"

"It doesn't just look like it. This is Hurricane Canyon. I went to Dongji Sect for the Entrance Examination twice, so I absolutely couldn't have mistaken it. Unfortunately, Dongji Sect's examination was simply too difficult. Both times, I was rejected by the Heart-Training Array."

"Same here. I don't know what Dongji Sect was thinking, either."

"They were clearly recruiting disciples, yet they created such a realistic illusion... The temptations inside were impossible to resist!"

"Nonsense. Although Dongji Sect rarely had disciples active outside, it was still one of the top three forces in the Eastern Continent. It followed an elite route, so it was only natural for the Entrance Examination to be strict!"

"Wait, wasn't Dongji Sect's strongest expert a Seven-star Dou Venerate? How did it appear in the Heavenly Dao Gold Ranking's scene?"

"If it could appear on the Heavenly Dao Gold Ranking, then Dongji Sect must have been hiding its strength from the outside world!"

"There had already been forces speculating that Dongji Sect was hiding its strength deeply. I just didn't expect them to even have a Dou Saint powerhouse."

"How do you know Dongji Sect has a Dou Saint?"

"??????"

"Idiot. The Nanming Sect, ranked sixth on the Sect Ranking, already had two One-star Dou Saints. If Dongji Sect didn't have a Dou Saint, how could it rank above Nanming Sect?"

"I thought the Eastern Continent wouldn't make it onto the Sect Ranking."

"I never expected Dongji Sect to give us such a huge surprise!"

"..."

Amid countless expectant gazes,

A palace bearing a plaque inscribed with the three characters [Dongji Sect] appeared within the Heavenly Dao Gold Ranking.

The Frightening Heavenly Sound rang out across heaven and earth right afterward.

[Sect Power Ranking, Fifth Place: Eastern Continent—Dongji Sect]

[Reason for being on the list: The strongest force in the Eastern Continent, in a semi-secluded state. The sect is located in the middle section of Hurricane Canyon. Although its disciples rarely act on the continent, every one of them is a heaven's favored genius capable of standing alone;

Sect Leader 'Dong Feng' obtained a top-tier inheritance in his youth and currently possessed the cultivation of a Mid-stage Two-star Dou Saint (Seven-star Dou Venerate to the outside world);

Vice Sect Leader 'Huo Jian' was a Mid-stage One-star Dou Saint (Five-star Dou Venerate to the outside world). The sect also had many Half-Saint elders and Dou Venerate Experts hiding their true cultivation. With profound foundations, it ranked fifth on the continent's Sect Ranking!]

[Reward for being on the list: One Heaven-tier Intermediate Cultivation Method and one Heaven-tier Intermediate Dou Technique.]

[The cultivation level of all Dongji Sect disciples increased by one star.]

[Ten Nine-Colored Pill Lightning Eighth-grade Pills.]

[Upgrade Sect Grand Array (On top of its original defensive power, a killing array was added. At full power, its strongest attack could kill a Five-star Dou Saint).]

After seeing Dongji Sect's introduction and rewards,

The entire Dou Qi Continent erupted.

"Wo Cao! Wo Cao!"

"This guy is actually the old six of a sect!"

"Isn't that the truth? A Mid-stage Two-star Dou Saint claimed to be a Seven-star Dou Venerate to the outside world, and a Mid-stage One-star Dou Saint claimed to be a Five-star Dou Venerate... Who are they planning to trap to death?"

"Fortunately, my sect has no grudges with Dongji Sect."

"That... Our Great Elder once relied on his cultivation as a Six-star Dou Venerate to mock Vice Sect Leader Huo Jian, a Mid-stage One-star Dou Saint, in public. They made quite an unpleasant scene. Do you think it's still too late for me to leave the sect?"

"Run for your life, brother!"

"A Dou Saint powerhouse shouldn't be so petty as to hold a grudge..."

"Looks like there's no need. The Sect Leader just ordered the Great Elder expelled from the sect!"

"Was your Sect Leader's reaction really that fast?"

"Hahaha, I just discovered that Dongji Sect's annual Entrance Examination is one month away. This is the fifth-ranked sect on the continent, and it even offers Heaven-tier cultivation methods and Dou Techniques. Brothers, I'll go ahead first. Farewell!"

"Wait for me..."

"Gasp~ A Heaven-tier Intermediate Cultivation Method and Dou Technique, along with ten Nine-Colored Pill Lightning Eighth-grade Pills. These rewards are simply terrifying."

"By the way, why did Dongji Sect hide its cultivation from the outside world?"

"Could there be some conspiracy?"

"..."

While the outside world was in an uproar,

The Heavenly Dao Gold Ranking had already sent countless golden rays of light flying toward Dongji Sect.

Before long, an astonishing breakthrough storm erupted in every corner of Dongji Sect.

After this intense breakthrough storm ended,

Dong Feng, the Sect Leader of Dongji Sect, who had already advanced to the Mid-stage Three-star Dou Saint under the Heavenly Dao Blessing, first stored the command token, scroll, and pills floating before him.

Then,

He said to a sect elder who had just broken through to the Mid-stage One-star Dou Saint, "Ninth Elder, the Flame Demon Battlefield is short on people. Dongji Sect still needs fresh blood to join us."

"Therefore, the Entrance Examination planned for one month from now will remain unchanged."

"Now that the sect's fame has skyrocketed, this Entrance Examination will attract more suitable geniuses to register. Among them, there will certainly be many spies sent by various forces. You must make preparations in advance and screen them out."

"Besides that, don't let them see anything related to the Flame Demon Clan during the examination."

"The situation regarding the Flame Demon Clan cannot be revealed to the outside world for now. It could easily cause panic across the continent, so we must eliminate every possible factor that could expose us before it can take root."

The Ninth Elder, Hearing this,

Immediately thumped his chest and assured him, "Rest assured, Sect Leader!"

"I guarantee that spies from every force will be unable to pass the Heart-Training Array's test."

"Mm!"

Hearing this, Dong Feng gave a slight nod.

After the Ninth Elder left, he seemed to think of something.

He shook his head slightly and muttered inwardly, If I hadn't promised Father back then that I wouldn't let Dongji Sect's name disappear from the Eastern Continent, I would also want to go into seclusion like Nanming Sect and focus on assisting my lord in fighting the Flame Demon Clan.

As he spoke,

The gaze of the Sect Leader of Dongji Sect subconsciously turned toward the deepest part of Hurricane Canyon.

With his current cultivation as a Mid-stage Three-star Dou Saint, he could naturally see clearly that deep within Hurricane Canyon, inside the storm capable of tearing apart Dou Venerate powerhouses, a magnificent palace bearing the characters 'Tian Shu' was firmly suppressing a deep and terrifying Spatial Rift.

At the same time,

Central Continent, Hall of Souls.

Looking at the Heavenly Dao Gold Ranking's description of Dongji Sect,

Hun Miesheng stared at the Hall of Souls Vice Hall Master and the Hall of Souls Grand Celestial Venerable with displeasure.

He said coldly, "The Nanming Sect, ranked sixth on the Sect Ranking, went into seclusion. I'll let that pass."

"But Dongji Sect clearly has disciples active in the Eastern Continent. Why hasn't my Hall of Souls infiltrated it? We barely have any intelligence about this sect at all."

"Is this the continental intelligence network you painstakingly built over all these years?"

"You know nothing when asked about it?"

"And what's going on with Burning Flame Valley?"

"Why could this force, which usually operated right under my Hall of Souls' nose, rank above Dongji Sect, which had a Two-star Dou Saint and a One-star Dou Saint guarding it?"

"Speak!"