Junior sister took first place again

"Xuanling Sect's Lin Sheng, here, challenges the top ten disciples on the Heavenly Ranking—"

"Xingchen Sect, feast Jiuyuan."

Ning Jiasheng's voice fell clearly, like a whistling north wind, instantly freezing the noise in the entire audience.

Dead silence.

What followed was an uproar even more violent than before!

"Yan Jiuyuan?! Even though she's only at the Nascent Soul stage, she's able to compete with Lingyun Zhenjun, the eldest disciple of Nanming Xianzun, in physiognomy and astrology—recognized as the most unfathomable existence among the top ten on the Heavenly Ranking? And she actually challenged him directly?!"

"And Immortal Yan is the most senior and experienced of the top ten. Everyone knows that in his previous matches, he didn't even use his full strength!"

"This...challenging him right after the team finals? That's way too arrogant."

Countless eyes turned to Yan Jiuyuan, but only a few caught the subtle twitch of his lips when he heard the word "most senior." The oldest... there really was no need to emphasize it.

Of course, no one cared about Lord Yan's subtle mood at this moment.

The disciples had to discuss this shocking gossip, analyze the combat capabilities of both sides, keep their eyes fixed on the protagonist who caused the storm on the stage, and pay their respects to the Immortal Lord who rarely appeared.

It was already the limit for me to find time to glance at Yan Jiuyuan in the midst of the noise, so I had no time to care about his little emotions.

After a brief moment of shock and doubt, the expressions of many sharp-minded people suddenly changed, revealing strange and meaningful lights.

"Smart, very smart." An old monk with white hair and beard clapped his hands and sighed.

"So that's how it is. That's great." Another elder of the major sect had a gleam in his eyes.

"It's brilliant, really brilliant." Even the cultivator who previously thought Ning Jiasheng was "crazy" had to admit that this was a brilliant choice.

He was slow to react and was about to ask, but suddenly forgot the words and just stared blankly at the center of the platform.

The usual deep and indifferent look on the handsome face of the peerless master who had transcended the tribulation suddenly melted away like ice and snow.

The corners of his mouth couldn't help but rise, finally outlining an extremely clear smile full of deep admiration and... a hint of mischief.

"Hehe... haha..." Immortal Yunhua even chuckled, and in his clear and pleasant laughter, he showed his understanding of everything and his appreciation for Ning Jiasheng's choice.

"Good! What a great Lin Sheng!" He smiled and shook his head, his gaze sweeping across the countless faces below, some shocked, some stunned. "Just now, I was wondering, who would you choose? He Ling? Or one of those other talented little guys? I didn't expect... you'd directly give Jiu Yuan a 'difficult problem' and put my disciple on the spot."

He looked at Yan Jiuyuan, his eyes full of teasing. "Jiuyuan, it seems your muscles can't avoid stretching today. Young friend Lin specifically asked you to be the 'touchstone.'"

On the high platform, the person who was named, Yan Jiuyuan, slowly stood up.

As a direct disciple of the Immortal Lord, he was only wearing a slightly simple Taoist robe of the Star Sect, with a smile on his face, as if the challenge was not to him, but a trivial matter.

He looked at Ning Jiasheng in the field, and instead of anger being offended, his eyes held a hint of... understanding and a faint appreciation?

Yan Jiuyuan bowed respectfully to his master and said with a smile, "Disciple obeys your command. It is Jiuyuan's honor to be challenged by Junior Sister Lin, and it is also my duty to the Immortal Alliance."

He turned to Ning Jiasheng and nodded slightly: "Junior Sister Lin, please."

The faint smile on Yunhua Immortal Venerable's face deepened, and he declared loudly:

"Yan Jiuyuan, one of the top ten disciples on the Heavenly Ranking, accepts the challenge! This battle complies with the Immortal Alliance's rules!"

"The challenge takes effect immediately. One stick of incense later, the central sword testing platform—"

"Lin Sheng, against Yan Jiuyuan!"

His robe sleeves moved without wind, and the majesty of a great tribulation-crossing master emanated from him. His voice was unquestionable:

"Lin Sheng, the rules of this battle are as follows:"

"If you win, you will replace Yan Jiuyuan and directly enter the 'Battle for the Top of the Heavenly Ranking' of this Immortal Sect Competition!"

"If you lose, your challenge will fail, and your eligibility to enter the Immortal Alliance Treasury will be void!"

"The result of this battle is final. No one is allowed to object. Do you understand?"

Ning Jiasheng held the Xuantian flag, his back straight as a pine tree, his eyes sharp and unwavering. "Disciple understands. Thank you, Senior Brother Yan, for your guidance, and thank you, Immortal Venerable, for your help."

Yunhua Immortal Venerable nodded: "Good!"

With a wave of his robe sleeve, a portal containing rich star-origin power opened out of thin air: "Little friend Lin, Jiuyuan, follow me."

Ning Jiasheng stepped into the Starlight Gate without hesitation.

Yan Jiuyuan nodded slightly to the elders on the platform and the people below, and his figure flashed and disappeared into the portal.

The Starlight Gate closes.

The entire mountaintop was in an unprecedented frenzy!

"So that's how it is! She calculated that Yan Jiuyuan would definitely accept the challenge!"

"That's right! Immortal Yunhua just approved her request, and his attitude is clearly supportive. As the Immortal Master's direct disciple, how could Yan Jiuyuan go against his master's wishes and refuse a challenge that was personally judged by the Immortal Master and in accordance with the rules?"

"Brilliant! She chose an opponent who would never reject her and whose strength is strong enough to silence all doubts! Win or lose, no one will be able to gossip!"

"No matter what the outcome, Lin Sheng's name has resounded throughout the continent today."

"One stick of incense, only one stick of incense to regulate the breathing. She just finished the team finals, and her opponent was Yan Jiuyuan!"

"I'm so happy to see Immortal Yunhua smile in my lifetime! He's truly the Immortal with the best temper as rumored!"

. . . . . . . . . .

There was a great deal of noise and all eyes were fixed on the central sword-testing platform.

The time of a stick of incense has never been so long, nor has it ever been so exciting.

In the center of the storm, in the quiet room of the Xingchen Sect.

Ning Jiasheng sat cross-legged, madly absorbing the rich and pure power of the fire element to repair his injuries and nourish his dry meridians.

She closed her eyes and concentrated, restraining her fighting spirit. Like a volcano about to erupt, she tried her best to adjust her state.

Another corner of the quiet room.

Yan Jiuyuan... he did not meditate or regulate his breathing, nor did he have a lot of questions.

He just sat casually beside a star stone, one leg bent, his arm resting on his knee, and his other hand boredly drawing some meaningless lines on the smooth ground.

He lowered his eyelids slightly, his long eyelashes partially covering his eyes, and his whole body exuded an aura of "emptiness", "boredom" and "waiting".

Immortal Yunhua swept his mind over and saw this situation. He shook his head helplessly, but there was an indulgent smile in his eyes.

time up.

Yun Hua Xianzun's voice echoed in both of their minds at the same time: "The time has come. See you on the sword-testing stage."

Ning Jiasheng suddenly opened his eyes, his eyes gleaming with brilliance, and his aura instantly reached its peak.

Yan Jiuyuan seemed to be awakened. He slowly raised his head, blinked lazily, stood up slowly, patted the non-existent dust on his robe, stretched his waist slightly but very slowly, and his joints made a few light sounds.

He looked at Ning Jiasheng, whose fighting spirit was as sharp as a drawn sword. His lazy eyes finally had some focus, but his expression was still calm, as if he was just going to complete a daily task that had to be done.

"Let's go, Junior Sister Ning." He seemed to be still in a daze, his voice was lukewarm, and he even called the wrong name of his opponent.

The two figures flashed and disappeared at the same time.

On the central sword-testing platform, starlight gathered and two figures gradually solidified.

Ning Jiasheng held the Zixiao Sword, his eyes were as sharp as an eagle, and his fighting spirit was boiling like a volcano about to erupt.

Yan Jiuyuan stood there empty-handed, without even summoning the star plate.

He just stood there casually, his posture even a little loose, looking at the stormy opponent opposite with calm eyes, as if he was not involved.

Only those who are careful can vaguely sense the aura around him, which is as unfathomable as the vast starry sky, and the terrifying power lurking beneath the calm.

Among the seats of the Dongzhou noble families, Xue Wuying mingled with the Ji family's table, coldly gazing at the sword-wielding figure on the stage. He secretly instructed Ji Yu, "Approach her during the Heavenly Ranking Championship and give a good 'treat' to our long-lost... Sword Immortal disciple."

A hint of surprise flashed across Ji Yu's eyes, but his face remained unchanged.

"Yes." He nodded silently.