First to Charge, Standing Alone Above the Whole Field

Duanmu Tong wore an inscrutable smile as he slowly set the Lottery Tube on the tabletop, having already made his arrangements in secret.

The Lottery Tube seemed crafted from gold and jade, refracting a kaleidoscope of light beneath the sun.

Everyone lined up and stepped forward. Once they touched the tube, streams of light flew out, transforming into large golden characters in midair that showed the lottery results. It was extraordinarily magical.

The Second Round tested comprehension. There were fifty people present, and precisely fifty different cultivation methods within the jade lots.

This prevented anyone from taking shortcuts by learning the test questions in advance and affecting the competition's results.

In the past, those blessed with great fortune had drawn cultivation methods they had previously studied, as though struck by divine inspiration. Yet such cases were few.

Luck was also a part of one's strength. To achieve great things, fortune was indispensable.

Shen Qiu regained consciousness. When he learned that he had only placed fifth, his face darkened like charcoal.

"Hiss! Why does this hurt so much?"

The Black Bee Needle's poison began to take effect. Excruciating pain surged through his limbs and bones, as though countless venomous ants were crawling over his body, making him convulse all over.

Gritting his teeth, he stepped forward to draw a lot. The jade lot flew into the sky and transformed into four large golden characters: Yuan Chen Sword Art. Sighs immediately rose from the surrounding crowd.

"Shen Qiu is far too unlucky. The Yuan Chen Sword Art has twelve forms. To achieve Entry, one must comprehend the laws of heavenly timing. It is even harder than a Foundation Establishment Dao art."

"This is simply fate at work. His bad luck is still continuing. He may even fail the selection because of it."

"..."

The crowd reveled in his misfortune. Shen Qiu's performance in the first round had been too eye-catching, and many considered him their greatest competitor. Seeing him suffer misfortune delighted them all.

Shen Qiu forced himself to remain calm and said blandly, "When Heaven is about to confer a great responsibility upon a man, it must first test him. This is merely one trial."

At his words, quite a few people were stunned and put away their mocking smiles.

Duanmu Tong's gaze deepened. He became more and more certain that Shen Qiu was a Heavenly Pride and decided to intensify matters in the final round.

"Putting on airs."

Shangguan Mo snorted coldly. He had drawn the Clear Wind Step and nodded inwardly. Not bad. It is merely a basic movement technique. I refuse to believe I still cannot defeat Shen Qiu this time.

The drawing continued. When Shen Yun stepped forward, many gazes converged upon him.

As the first-place winner of the first round, he had received enormous attention even though he was Not Showy.

"True Form Phantom Technique!"

Upon seeing his lottery result, everyone collectively let out a breath.

"The Shen Family's luck is truly terrible. Both of their great geniuses drew high-difficulty cultivation methods. It really is a matter of timing and fate."

"The True Form Phantom Technique is a Golden Core-level Dao art. Even if this is only its Qi Refinement section, its difficulty is terrifying. It is absolutely no easier than the Yuan Chen Sword Art."

"I heard that to achieve Entry in the True Form Phantom Technique, one must condense a phantom with an aura identical to one's own. An elder of my clan studied it for ten days before glimpsing its threshold. It seems Shen Yun will finish last this round."

"..."

Shen Yun's expression did not change, though his steps seemed somewhat slow. Everyone assumed he was in a heavy mood, but they had no idea he was thinking about something else.

Someone cheated in the previous round, and now this happened to be such a coincidence. It seems someone truly is working with the Shangguan Family.

Shen Yun fixed his target on Duanmu Tong. The trial had been almost entirely arranged by him, making him the most likely person to have tampered with it.

Afterward, Shen Qingruo and Shen Wude also completed their draws. Their cultivation methods were moderately difficult, while Shen Feng drew a simple one.

Duanmu Tong remained calm. Naturally, he was not foolish enough to tamper with everyone's lots. Even an idiot would know something was amiss if he did.

There was still the third round anyway. He intended to Make a Move at the end and block every member of the Shen Family from entering the Sword Sect.

If I help Senior Brother Dongjun accomplish this, I will have a place in the next Inner Sect Selection.

Duanmu Tong strategized behind the curtains, firmly controlling the rhythm of the entire situation.

The lottery results were settled. Some rejoiced, while others grieved.

The First Elder looked grave. If Shen Yun came in last this round, then no matter how outstanding his performance was in the third round, he could not Rise to the top five.

In contrast, the Shangguan Family's momentum surged like a rainbow, as though victory was already in their grasp.

Granny Aramaki's eyes held a teasing glint. Seeing the First Elder's face filled with worry, the pent-up frustration in her heart was instantly released.

So what if they are geniuses? The Shangguan Family excels most at strangling geniuses in the cradle.

At the thought of the Shen Family being completely wiped out while the one who entered the Sword Sect in the end would still be an undercover agent of the Shangguan Family, her bark-like old face blossomed like a chrysanthemum.

As for another reversal? There was no such possibility!

"The Shen Family's fortune truly has declined. Shen Changkong's physical troubles may not be baseless after all."

"When a dynasty is about to perish, monstrous talents emerge. The Shen Family has produced so many geniuses; it may well be a final flash before death."

"The Shangguan Family is flourishing day by day, and they even have an unparalleled genius like Shangguan Dongjun. In the future, Canglang Mountain may very well be dominated by a single family."

Those present pondered whether they should find an opportunity to offer their pledges of allegiance and promptly cling to the Shangguan Family's thigh.

Elder Yaoguang's gaze was distant and profound.

Even though he had not concerned himself with such trivial matters, his cultivation allowed him to sense that something was abnormal.

Under normal circumstances, someone else should have taken over. However, there was one matter that interested him.

This kid has hidden himself deeply. This is a perfect chance to observe him.

Elder Yaoguang gave Shen Yun a long, deep look. As for who would receive the selection slots, he had already made his plans.

Duanmu Tong did not know that he had already exposed himself. He distributed the Jade Slips, then sat firmly like a fisherman on his platform, carrying the imposing bearing of Eight Winds Unmoved.

Yet before his seat had even grown warm, a calm voice rang out across the grounds.

"I'm finished!"

One statement Stirred Up Thousand Layer Waves.

Duanmu Tong immediately looked toward the voice and witnessed an unbelievable sight.

Shen Yun stood alone. To his right was an illusory shadow with indistinct features, its aura exactly like his own. This was clearly the sign of achieving Entry in the True Form Phantom Technique.

Less than the time it took for one incense stick to burn had passed. Many people had not even finished reading their cultivation methods, yet Shen Yun had already achieved Entry. Duanmu Tong could not help rubbing his eyes, only to discover that this was no illusion.

Had the Sword Sect Disciples seen his expression, they would likely have been dumbfounded. Duanmu Tong had always kept his emotions hidden and was known as the Wise Spear. Who had ever seen him in such a state?

Granny Aramaki sucked back the breath of frustration she had just exhaled. Her eyes bulged like bronze bells, and her old face turned red. Combined with her sinister expression, she could have frightened a three-year-old child into not daring to cry.

"Good, good, good!"

The First Elder's excitement overflowed beyond words, and his appreciation for Shen Yun was beyond measure.

"Shen Yun must have cultivated the True Form Phantom Art before. What incredible luck."

"You are right. Thinking about it now, Shen Yun taking first place in the first round was also as though aided by the gods."

"Compared to him, Shen Qiu truly is a little unlucky. Shen Yun securing a slot is practically nailed to the board."

"..."

The crowd sighed inwardly and praised Shen Yun's fortune one after another.

This was not because they looked down on his strength. On the contrary, the envy in their hearts was nearly bursting forth.

Legend had it that those with great fortune not only possessed unparalleled opportunities and could often turn peril into safety, but those who opposed them would suffer repeated misfortune. Quite a few even met with the destruction of body and Dao.

As for comprehending a cultivation method in the time it took one incense stick to burn, that was entirely impossible. No one had even considered such a possibility.

Shen Qiu, who had been branded the unlucky one, had Anger Fire so substantial that wisps of green smoke even began rising from his head.

He had risked his life and shed his blood, only to take fifth place in the end. His mentality had already become unbalanced.

They had both drawn high-difficulty cultivation methods, yet Shen Yun had casually taken first place while he could not even grasp a clue. His mentality instantly exploded.

His poisoned body could no longer endure it. He spat out a mouthful of old blood and nearly fainted on the spot.

Azure Venerable was utterly speechless and could only act as a firefighter once again.

"The predicament before you is only temporary. Once you stand at the Peak, it will merely become a footnote on your road to success."

Only after hearing her words did Shen Qiu's unfocused eyes slowly regain their clarity. Seeing this, Azure Venerable hurriedly struck while the iron was hot.

"Shen Yun is merely lucky for the moment. The Immortal Path is naturally strewn with thorns. If you take one step at a time, you will certainly go farther than him..."

Azure Venerable practically racked her brains dry before finally coming up with those words.

"That's right. Luck will always run out one day. So what if Heaven does not favor me? I can still reach the mountaintop."

Shen Qiu pulled himself together once more.

Hearing him, Azure Venerable nearly rolled her eyes. Those truly blessed with great fortune enjoy unbroken blessings and longevity. Do you think they are all like you?

While frantically complaining in her heart, she casually offered a few more responses. Then she suddenly felt somewhat sorrowful. Since when had she needed to say such words against her conscience?

For a moment, Azure Venerable could not tell who was deceiving whom, and she no longer had any desire to continue speaking.

With Shen Yun's pearl and jade displayed before them, everyone else's performances seemed mediocre and unremarkable.

The second person to comprehend a cultivation method was Shangguan Ya. She took a full Two Quarters of an Hour, causing no small stir, but compared to Shen Yun, she was as far apart as clouds and mud.

Everyone could only sigh over his good fortune. Beyond envy, there was only envy.

Had he truly cultivated the True Form Phantom Art before?

This time, even Elder Yaoguang wavered. His instincts told him that did not seem to be the case, yet it was fundamentally impossible to comprehend the True Form Phantom Art within the time it took one incense stick to burn.

Perhaps it truly was just a coincidence.

He gradually let go of the thought, though Shen Yun only made him more curious.

Two hours passed before Shen Qiu finally managed to execute half a Sword Move.

This was far from meeting the standard for Entry, but he was already in last place, and no one cared about such details.

Duanmu Tong's eye twitched. Aside from Shen Qiu, every other member of the Shen Family was among the top five. This placed enormous pressure on him.

He gritted his teeth and said in a Deep Voice, "The third round is practical combat, and it is also the most important part of the assessment. Senior Sister Murong and I will serve as your opponents. The longer you endure, the better your result..."

Duanmu Tong's gaze was grim. He had already formed the thought of snatching chestnuts from the fire. This round, he would personally destroy the Shen Family's hopes.