A Pie in the Sky? Dig In!

"Congratulations to the three of you on becoming Purple Rank Disciples of our Qianyuan Sect!"

At the same time, Purple Rank Disciples could also directly become inner disciples of the Qianyuan Sect!

"Every Purple Rank Disciple may have a purple rank residence in which to live and cultivate alone!"

The trial elder continued in a ringing voice, and his words drew another round of startled cries from the new disciples!

Earlier, the elders responsible for receiving them had already told them about their living arrangements.

Although White Rank Disciples and Yellow Rank Disciples lived in different places, both lived together in communal quarters!

They had never expected Purple Rank Disciples to have separate residences!

At that moment, the trial elder pointed the newly promoted Purple Rank Disciples toward their residences.

All the disciples immediately looked into the distance with curious eyes.

Many houses dotted Qianyuan Mountain, standing far apart and facing one another across the distance.

These were where the Purple Rank Disciples lived!

Although they were called residences, each house actually looked rather small.

Even so, the astonishment and envy in the eyes of the White Rank Disciples and Yellow Rank Disciples were impossible to conceal!

These houses might not have been luxurious, but they were symbols of strength and status!

Moreover, having a separate residence would allow them to focus more fully on cultivation!

Many people silently made up their minds.

From now on, they would redouble their efforts and become Purple Rank Disciples as soon as possible!

"Thank you, Elder!"

Hearing this, Ling Yiran and Bai Ruoxi both thanked the trial elder.

Tang Yu, however, wore a gloomy expression and said nothing.

"I will now continue announcing the list..."

The trial elder spoke with a smile. At this point, he could not help a trace of excitement crossing his aged face.

Served you old fellows right for dumping this thankless chore on me!

Who would have thought that, through a lucky accident, I would become a witness to this historic moment!

After speaking with Yun Tianci earlier, the trial elder already knew the final results.

It had taken him quite some time to barely calm himself down.

Hearing the trial elder's words, the new and old disciples watching all grew nervous!

By now, only Lin Yu's and Xiaobai's names had yet to be read out!

Black rank?

Or... red rank?

The disciples did not know, but most of them harbored a faint anticipation.

"Next, I will announce this year's Black Rank Disciples!"

The trial elder spoke in a ringing voice.

Upon hearing his words, many disciples immediately looked disappointed.

"Ah, I thought Junior Brother Lin Yu and Junior Sister Xiaobai could become Red Rank Disciples!"

"Do you think Red Rank Disciples are as common as cabbages? You should know that even Black Rank Disciples have only numbered one in nearly a hundred years!"

"That one never reached the sixty-fifth step of the Heaven Rank Sacred Stairway, let alone the top!"

"Heh, don't you know? In the Qianyuan Sect's thousands of years of history, there has never been a Red Rank Disciple!"

"If you ask me, these Red Rank Disciples are nothing but a pie in the sky painted by the venerable old sect master! Something to motivate us to cultivate!"

Among the watching disciples, a know-it-all held forth, looking as though he knew the Qianyuan Sect's history very well.

"You're making that up, aren't you? I heard Red Rank Disciples have their own residence too, and it's so magnificent that it's even more luxurious than the sect master's sleeping palace!"

Someone among the disciples immediately objected, looking equally knowledgeable!

"The red rank residence happens to be on Stabilizing Mystery Peak, the most declining of our sect's four main peaks over the past few centuries!"

"Besides, that place towers into the clouds, so hardly any of us have ever been there!"

"But that residence really does exist!"

"So, it's simply a matter of not being outstanding enough."

That person shrugged and spread his hands.

Though he was somewhat puzzled too. Could even Lin Yu's and Xiaobai's astonishing, seemingly celestial performances fall short of red rank?

"Heh, that's where you don't understand."

The previous speaker picked up the thread:

"You said it yourself. There's only one residence for Red Rank Disciples!"

"If Red Rank Disciples really existed, why would there be only one residence?"

"What if two Red Rank Disciples appeared at the same time?"

"So, this whole Red Rank Disciple thing is just a bluff!"

"In reality, Black Rank Disciple is the highest rank anyone can reach!"

As that person finished speaking, many disciples nodded in sudden understanding.

They felt that explanation did indeed make sense.

Otherwise, what would happen if two Red Rank Disciples appeared?

So those Red Rank Disciples were actually a pie in the sky the old sect master had painted for them!

It seemed Red Rank Disciples really could only ever exist in legends...

Many disciples shook their heads and sighed, waiting for the trial elder to announce that Lin Yu and Xiaobai had become Black Rank Disciples.

Although Black Rank Disciples were already as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns.

They still fell short of the Red Rank Disciples everyone had been hoping for!

"I hereby announce."

A smile appeared on the trial elder's face.

"The list of Black Rank Disciples for this year's sect admission assembly..."

"..."

"Is empty!"

The trial elder's smiling voice echoed through Qianyuan Mountain.

For a moment, all the disciples were somewhat stunned.

"Empty? What's that supposed to mean?"

A disciple scratched his head in confusion.

"No idea. Aren't Lin Yu and Xiaobai supposed to be on that list?"

"Right, did the elder get the list wrong?"

"Wait... holy shit!"

"The black rank list is empty."

"Doesn't that mean..."

"Lin Yu and Xiaobai are both red rank?!"

A few seconds later.

Someone finally became the first to realize it and shouted in utter shock!

"Red rank! Junior Brother Lin Yu and Junior Sister Xiaobai are both red rank!"

"So Red Rank Disciples really do exist!"

"A legend has truly been born!"

After a brief silence, every disciple present instantly erupted!

After hearing that person's words earlier, they had thought Red Rank Disciples were impossible!

They had thought it really was just a pie in the sky the sect had painted for them!

Who could have known these Red Rank Disciples would appear so suddenly!

Just like that, Lin Yu and Xiaobai had eaten that pie!

"The Red Rank Disciple list: Lin Yu, Xiaobai!"

Now, the trial elder stopped keeping them in suspense and announced the final results with a smile.

Instantly, the disciples' applause and cheers thundered throughout the entire Qianyuan Sect!

Red Rank Disciples had never appeared in its history.

Yet today, two had appeared at once!

"But..."

"Now that Junior Brother Lin Yu and Junior Sister Xiaobai are both red rank."

"That one and only red rank residence..."

"How will it be assigned?"

In the crowd, a disciple suddenly scratched his head and asked with a somewhat peculiar expression.