First Place, Sang Ying
The female cultivator, sword in hand, moved forward with a terrifying aura, as if she had just escaped from a fierce battle.
With each step she took forward, the cultivator in front of her would inexplicably take a step back.
As everyone watched her slowly emerge from the crowd, even the surrounding air seemed to inexplicably turn chilly, and their surprise and doubt were no less than those of the Jing Household.
She walked straight across the Jing He and approached Elder Xiao, bowing respectfully. "Disciple Sang Ying greets Elder."
Sang Ying... Her name is Sang Ying?!
Jing Yang and the stall owner who set up the gambling den almost cried out on the spot. They both looked at the location of the Gu cultivator, only to see that he seemed to have expected it. He picked up a cup of tea and sat back down in his seat, looking as calm as a mountain.
Feeling the two burning gazes, the Gu cultivator silently swallowed a sip of tea, keeping his merits and fame hidden.
Elder Xiao was unaware of the complex emotions that arose in the hearts of the cultivators watching from the periphery due to this unexpected turn of events. He simply looked at the female cultivator in front of him and managed a rare, gentle smile.
"Sword cultivator Sang Ying, your performance in this entrance test, upholding your principles and demonstrating exceptional skill, is unanimously considered by all the elders to be the top performer this year." He beckoned to Sang Ying, "Come forward, and I will bestow upon you Ten Thousand Daos Born's disciple token."
Ten Thousand Daos Born's disciples all have a disciple's token to prove their identity, something they should only receive after formally joining the sect.
However, there has always been a rule that the sect leader would bestow a disciple's token upon the top-ranked disciple in the test. Since the sect leader was still in seclusion this time, Elder Xiao could only step forward on his behalf.
Upon hearing this, Sang Ying took two steps forward.
Elder Xiao reached out, and the jade tablet, inlaid with gold and engraved with the emblem of the Ten Thousand Daos Born Sheng Sect, appeared before everyone.
Unfortunately, before Elder Xiao could hand over the jade token, someone suddenly spoke up to stop him.
"May I ask how your sect determines the top spot? Why did I see this fellow Daoist set up the last formation?" The tall young man's face was frosty, his entire expression clearly saying, "I'm nitpicking."
Seeing that Jing He still couldn't keep his composure, Elder Fu could only shake his head helplessly.
How can I ask such a thing face-to-face?
Since Ten Thousand Daos Born has already fabricated the story, he will naturally find a reason that can convince everyone. Now that Young Master Jing He has asked this question, isn't that giving them a perfect opportunity to explain?
If he didn't ask, the others, who aren't blind, would naturally speculate. The Jing Household could then take this opportunity to voice their grievances.
Regardless of whether Jing He is truly in first place, with everyone spreading the word, it will only become that Ten Thousand Daos Born cheated and stole the honor that the young master of the Jing Household should have had!
In doing so, Ten Thousand Daos Born's reputation would inevitably be severely damaged, while Mara Gate would be able to take this opportunity to salvage some of his reputation.
Thinking about what should have been a very promising situation, Elder Fu sighed silently: What a pity, young people still think too simply!
No problem, he'll have plenty of time to teach the other person properly in the future.
Just as Elder Fu had thought, Jing He had expended countless talismans and Law Artifact to successfully outmaneuver Lan Fusheng and the others, becoming the first cultivator to emerge from the Thousandfold Formation.
He thought the top spot was already his for the taking, but unexpectedly, a wild girl appeared out of nowhere and ruined his plans!
If it were someone like Lan Fusheng, who was not much different from him, Jing He might have been able to swallow his anger. But for Ten Thousand Daos Born's people to use an unknown nobody to intimidate him was such a humiliation that Jing He simply couldn't tolerate it.
In his view, Elder Xiao was holding a grudge against him for refusing to become Ten Thousand Daos Born and for belittling them, so he randomly pointed to someone to humiliate him.
So he stepped forward. "How come I remember your sect clearly said that the top scorer in the entrance test would be the one who performed best in the Thousandfold Formation? What, doesn't 'best' mean the one who passes the Thousandfold Formation the fastest?"
Jing He raised his hand and pointed to Sang Ying beside him, saying, "Everyone, look at this young lady. Not only was she the last to leave the formation, but judging from her disheveled appearance, she must have suffered quite a bit inside the formation."
"She struggled so much with such a simple Thousandfold Formation. Is she really capable of leading us cultivators? If word gets out that someone so incompetent is the top student in this year's competition, we disciples will become a laughingstock!"
Jing He's reminder made the cultivators participating in the test suddenly realize what was going on.
Yes, the top scorer in the test not only represents the peak of this year's disciples' combat power, but will also become the chief disciple in charge of all new disciples for the next three years!
If what Jing He said is true, and this female sword cultivator is of average strength who rose to her position through underhanded tactics, then doesn't that mean they, the new disciples, are even inferior to this cheater?
As soon as Jing He raised his question, a group of male cultivators immediately echoed his sentiments:
"That won't do! We came to Ten Thousand Daos Born to learn immortal arts, not to be his concubines!"
"Yes, what kind of image would it have to give the position of chief cultivator to a female cultivator? The previous chief cultivators were all men!"
"Elder Xiao, you should just publish your sect's selection rules. Let us see how this fellow Daoist defeated our Senior Brother Jing He!"
The cultivator emphasized the word "defeat" so clearly that everyone present heard it.
During their conversation, the group not only insulted Sang Ying but also dragged all the female cultivators into it, which made Dong Fuzhu, who had been just watching the show, increasingly angry.
She remembered that the male cultivators who spoke the most vehemently were the ones who had previously approached Jing He and said a lot of flattering things.
They might not necessarily be defending the newly initiated disciples; they are probably just deliberately speaking up for Jing He.
"That's disgusting!" Dong Fuzhu couldn't help but exclaim.
Upon hearing this, the two people beside her also cast disapproving glances at the male cultivators who had spoken.
Dong Fuzhu went even further, saying, "Compared to Jing He, I would much rather have that female cultivator named Sang Ying become the chief; at least she's pleasing to the eye."
Hearing Dong Fuzhu's words, Bai Kejin, who had been mostly silent, looked at the sword in Sang Ying's hand and smiled with interest.
Others might not know, but he understood perfectly well that the sword in the female cultivator's hand was no ordinary item, much less Law Artifact that money could buy.
Which sword with its own consciousness doesn't possess a touch of arrogance, a sense of self-importance?
This female cultivator is definitely not simple; she can subdue such a sword.
It seems the Jing Household has really messed up this time.
Bai Kejin shifted into a more comfortable position, leaning back to one side, and reminded his two friends, "Just you wait and see, the real show is yet to come."
The two exchanged a puzzled look. Although they didn't understand Bai Kejin's meaning, they obediently quieted down and continued watching the show.
Sure enough, shortly after Jing He raised his questions, Elder Xiao's expression darkened.