The third level.
Beside Starry Lake.
Dugu Yan leaned against Ning Xian's shoulder.
The newly planted begonia seedling stood beside the lake, clear droplets clinging to its tender leaves.
The lake reflected a sky full of stars.
Qian Daoliu's rewards had all been distributed.
The sky screen outside returned to stillness.
Dugu Yan kept her eyes closed.
Her feet were still soaking in the lake, her emerald-green skirt spread across the grass.
"Senior."
"Mm."
"Even fourth place was already that powerful."
"Was third place already close to godhood?"
Ning Xian looked above Starry Lake.
"He already stood at the very pinnacle beneath godhood."
Dugu Yan opened her eyes.
She lifted her head from Ning Xian's shoulder and turned to look at him.
"He?"
"Third place wasn't human?"
"No."
Dugu Yan immediately recalled what Ning Xian had said earlier.
Third place on the golden ranking was a soul beast.
Only, after Qian Daoliu appeared, she had briefly thought the ranking order had changed.
Now it seemed otherwise.
Qian Daoliu ranked fourth.
That soul beast was the true third-place holder.
"Was he stronger than Qian Daoliu and Bo Saixi?"
"In terms of their own strength alone, yes."
Dugu Yan withdrew her feet from the lake.
Droplets slid down her snow-white ankles and fell onto the blades of grass.
She raised a hand and drew over a thin stream of lake water to wash the dirt from around her feet.
Ning Xian picked up the ankle boots she had left beside her.
Dugu Yan did not reach for them.
She brought her legs together, holding her bare feet in front of Ning Xian.
"Help me put them on, Senior."
"You can do it yourself."
"I just finished cultivating. My hands have no strength."
Ning Xian glanced at her hands resting on her knees.