The Assessment That Decides the Rankings: One Sword Strike Instantly Defeats a Challenger!

After Elder Zhu's words fell, everyone's gazes shifted in unison to one person!

Lin Feng!

Everyone wore different expressions—confusion, astonishment, curiosity... After all, Lin Feng had been an unknown nobody before this, with no heaven-defying feats to his name. Yet he had actually taken first place in the Spirit Formation assessment?

And he had even broken the record!

Then someone suddenly recalled the number Elder Zhu had just announced.

Five hundred and fifty spirit beasts?

One had to know—

Xu Jun, who ranked second, had only slain two hundred and seventy-one spirit beasts! Lin Feng had slain twice as many as the second-place finisher!

This terrifying number drew many sharp intakes of breath from the crowd.

Even though Lin Feng was only at the Eighth Stage of the Blood-Shifting Realm.

The fact that he could slay so many spirit beasts meant that, among those of the same realm, Lin Feng's combat strength was incomparably formidable.

Among the million registered disciples, there were very few in the Sea of Reincarnation Realm—only a handful, no more than five. Yet there were quite a few at the Eighth Stage of the Blood-Shifting Realm, at least tens of thousands.

But even if all those Eighth Stage Blood-Shifting Realm cultivators were added together, they might not even amount to a fraction of Lin Feng's total!

The same realm, yet vastly different displays of combat strength—this was enough to show just how terrifying Lin Feng's strength against opponents of the same realm was!

At this moment, Chen Yunjing, Xu Jun, and Wei Changfeng all darkened their gazes as they scrutinized Lin Feng again and again!

This was somewhat inconceivable, and utterly unreasonable!

The Eighth Stage of the Blood-Shifting Realm, clearing the tenth stage, meant that he had faced at least a hundred spirit beasts in the Sea of Reincarnation Realm!

One had to know that the entire Spirit Formation contained only five hundred and fifty spirit beasts. This meant that Lin Feng had wiped out every spirit beast from the first stage to the tenth. What kind of terrifying combat strength was that?

"How did this guy do it? A registered disciple is this strong? I don't believe it." Xu Jun's gaze was exceptionally unfriendly. If not for Lin Feng, this Cheng Yaojin who had burst out halfway through, first place would have been his!

That was also supreme glory!

Chen Yunjing and Wei Changfeng were even more displeased, because Lin Feng's appearance had automatically pushed both of them down one rank.

"What background does this person have to be so strong?"

"An Eighth Stage Blood-Shifting Realm cultivator broke the record—just what is he capable of? I could never do it!"

"Could he have cheated, or used some other special method?!"

Many onlookers discussed the matter in hushed voices. Among them were influential figures from imperial nobles, as well as elders and even clan heads from the major surrounding families. The lowest realm among them was the Palace of Destiny Realm, and there were even several Dao Condensation Realm experts.

Without exception, all their attention was fixed on Lin Feng.

This time, he had truly stolen the limelight!

Even the three geniuses backed by Venerable Realm experts had been crushed beneath him!

"However, this Spirit Formation doesn't seem able to determine the final rankings!"

"Exactly. Clearing stages in the Spirit Formation has nothing to do with the final rankings. In the end, it still depends on one's actual strength! Lin Feng's combat strength among those of the same realm is indeed formidable, but those three geniuses are all in the Sea of Reincarnation Realm!"

"Tsk, looking at it this way, the final rankings will still belong to those three geniuses. Naturally—after all, they have Venerable Realm backing! For geniuses like them, taking the top three in a disciple assessment is far too easy!"

Soft murmurs rose from the surroundings again.

Lin Feng turned a deaf ear to the voices around him.

Was the Sea of Reincarnation Realm very strong?

At this moment, Chen Yunjing, Xu Jun, and Wei Changfeng snorted coldly. They did not dwell on this matter for long. After all, the second assessment was what determined the final results; the first was merely a screening.

Taking first place in this aspect meant nothing!

"The Eighth Stage of the Blood-Shifting Realm? The gap between our realms is vast. If we truly fought, I could instantly defeat him in one move!" Xu Jun said indifferently.

As the second-place finisher, he was quite displeased at being pressed beneath a registered disciple like Lin Feng, so he spoke up.

Chen Yunjing said disdainfully, "You overestimate him. Perhaps he merely used some special method we don't know about!"

Wei Changfeng also snorted coldly, not believing Lin Feng could threaten their final rankings!

At this moment.

Elder Zhu slowly said, "The first assessment has ended."

"Next comes the second assessment! It will determine your final rankings and decide who receives the rewards for the top three!"

Everyone's hearts jolted as they looked toward Elder Zhu.

"The top ten will each have an arena. You will defend your arenas, while everyone else may freely challenge you. If they win, they will take one of the top ten spots."

"The challenge period will last for a total of half an hour. After half an hour, the top ten will begin drawing lots for battle, ultimately determining who takes first place!"

The rules were quite simple: final rankings would be decided purely by one's own strength!

With a wave of Elder Zhu's hand, ten enormous arenas appeared in the venue.

Lin Feng lightly drifted onto an arena.

The moment he stepped onto it, countless ill-intentioned gazes immediately turned toward him.

Clearly, many believed that he had taken first place by some unknown method.

Quite a few people were eager to challenge him!

Chen Yunjing and the other two merely snorted coldly, believing that if anyone challenged Lin Feng, he might not be able to hold his arena and could be eliminated outright!

If that happened, the first-place finisher in the Spirit Formation assessment would become a laughingstock!

Just then.

A young man wielding a broadsword leaped directly onto the arena, his eyes gleaming!

"Xuan Wenzheng of the Great Xuan Dynasty!"

"No matter what method you used to take first place in the Spirit Formation assessment, the top ten is not something an Eighth Stage Blood-Shifting Realm cultivator like you can hold. Step down on your own!" Xuan Wenzheng said.

"That's Xuan Wenzheng! A prince of the Great Xuan Dynasty. He seems to be at the First Stage of the Sea of Reincarnation Realm!"

"Tsk, the gap in realms is like a vast chasm. Crossing it is not so simple! Lin Feng is probably about to be driven down!"

"No matter what, the Eighth Stage of the Blood-Shifting Realm is not qualified to stand on this arena, nor is he qualified to be among the top ten!"

The onlookers all spoke this way.

His realm was right there, meaning that his peak combat strength was locked in place as well.

So even though Lin Feng had taken first place, people still dared to come forward and challenge him!

Lin Feng glanced at Xuan Wenzheng.

The man's words sounded righteous and dignified, as though he did not wish to harm an innocent person.

Yet Lin Feng could see nothing but contempt in his eyes.

Lin Feng knew that the other man likely wanted to preserve his strength for the later battle over the top ten rankings.

But.

He had instantly slain hundreds of Sea of Reincarnation Realm spirit beasts inside the Spirit Formation.

How did a mere First Stage Sea of Reincarnation Realm cultivator dare challenge him?

Xuan Wenzheng, standing opposite him, wore a proud expression as he looked down on Lin Feng from above.

The next moment, Xuan Wenzheng's pupils contracted. The sword in Lin Feng's hand had moved. At that instant, an incomparably sharp cold gleam gradually blossomed in his eyes.

"Not good!"

Xuan Wenzheng roared. Origin energy surged throughout his body as the full power of the First Stage of the Sea of Reincarnation Realm erupted. He raised his broadsword and unleashed the strongest strike of his life!

However—

Beneath that plain, unadorned sword light, Xuan Wenzheng's broadsword snapped, and he sprayed blood into the air as he was sent flying off the arena!