“Reaching eight thousand points is expected, but aiming higher? That’s simply impossible!”
Ji Mo spoke up. Although Lin Xiao had killed quite a few at Junzang, it didn’t seem likely he could have defeated many Martial King experts. For others, accumulating eight thousand points was already immensely difficult, so Lin Xiao probably just barely reached that number.
“He’s a disciple of the Tenth Outer Courtyard, not even a Martial King. How he managed eight thousand points is beyond me. In the records, he’s surely at the bottom,” someone sneered with disdain.
At this, the crowd nodded in agreement.
In their eyes, the Tenth Outer Courtyard was the lowest of the low.
“The Tenth Outer Courtyard is just the bottom rung. Even their top figure amounts to nothing,” another person said bluntly, standing at one of the testing platforms.
This made Duan Cangsheng and a few others nearby flush with embarrassment. As disciples of the Tenth Outer Courtyard, they strongly disagreed but couldn’t argue back, only able to prove themselves through strength.
“Alright, prepare for the test. For convenience, starting from your left, the First Outer Courtyard to the Tenth will test together!” At this moment, the inner courtyard youth in the centre spoke up, clearly the leader among the ten inner courtyard disciples.
With ten platforms, each outer courtyard standing together, it would clearly display the overall strength of each.
At this, the crowd began to move, except for Lin Xiao, who remained still, already standing at the Tenth Outer Courtyard’s spot.
Shura Butcher, Duan Cangsheng, Dao Yi, and Huan Die approached, filling the Tenth Outer Courtyard’s position with five people.
Duan Cangsheng and the others were reluctant to stand with Lin Xiao, and being at the tenth spot carried an air of being seen as the weakest.
But there was no helping it; no matter how strong they were, their identity as Tenth Outer Courtyard disciples was unchangeable.
Shura Butcher’s face showed no trace of concern.
The other outer courtyards also took their places, each team with six or seven people. The First Outer Courtyard had the most, while the Ninth had the fewest, with only three.
Watching the commotion, Baili He, standing atop the city wall, maintained a calm expression. The earlier kill points clearly hadn’t piqued his interest.
To him, these kill points were far too trivial. The real test, perhaps, was only just beginning.
On the wall, several elders stood nearby. Though not core elders, they were Martial Venerables, privileged to stand near Baili He.
As the recording of the top fifty kill points began, their interest was piqued, and they started discussing.
“I believe this year’s highest kill points will come from the First Outer Courtyard’s Gu Juejin. I heard from a few outer courtyard elders that he’s had a remarkable encounter, making him quite extraordinary.”
“Yu Long from the Second Outer Courtyard, Bu Xi from the Third, and Wu Ke from the Fifth all have the strength to rival Gu Juejin. The top spot is hard to predict.”
“In my view, that youth brimming with killing intent is the most likely. That lad practises the Way of Slaughter, and his strength isn’t weak.”
The group debated, each comparing notes. As Martial Venerables, their eyes were sharp.
Yet Baili He didn’t join their pointless guesses, his gaze searching for something.
Finally, it landed on Lin Xiao, flickering slightly, though he shook his head inwardly. Could this be the one the higher-ups sent someone to rescue?
Though the lad seemed somewhat unique, he didn’t appear that exceptional, falling short of the rumours about the prodigy who crossed the You Tian Demon Palace.
He wondered if that figure who’d stirred the higher-ups had arrived.
Logically, having offended the You Tian Demon Palace, joining Shengyuan Academy would be his best choice.
“Begin!” Outside the wall, the mid-tier Martial King youth scanned the crowd and spoke again.
The remaining sixty or seventy moved, all top-ranked geniuses from their outer courtyards, drawing much attention. Their kill points represented the pinnacle of their courtyard’s strength.
Flickers of light flashed as numbers materialised in the air.
“Eight thousand points!”
“Eight thousand points!”
“Eight thousand one hundred points!”
“Eight thousand five hundred points!”
The first thirty or forty were all around eight thousand, a remarkably high threshold. Their points didn’t differ greatly.
Even having reached the Martial King realm, killing eight or more peers was no easy feat.
“Nine thousand points!”
When the count reached a certain point, a number surpassing eight thousand appeared in the air.
“That’s Zhan Hua, a top-three disciple from our Fifth Outer Courtyard!”
Someone exclaimed, their tone filled with pride. Nine thousand points already surpassed half the group.
“I’d rather not be lumped in with you!” At the Tenth Outer Courtyard’s spot, Dao Yi glanced at Lin Xiao, who still hadn’t stepped forward, and tossed his kill bracelet onto the platform.
A flicker, and nine thousand points appeared in the air, sparking a wave of gasps.
The Tenth Outer Courtyard had achieved such a score.
“Junior Brother Lin Xiao’s holding back, so this little lady will go first. I haven’t killed that many, mind.”
Huan Die gave a charming smile, stepping forward and tossing her kill bracelet onto the platform. A number formed in the air.
“Ten thousand points!”
Seeing the figure in the air, the crowd gasped, their eyes turning to the enchanting silhouette.
Huan Die didn’t shy away from the stares, instead flaunting her allure, captivating countless onlookers and stirring their imaginations.
A super genius beauty was the object of many’s adoration.
“Who is this woman, amassing ten thousand kill points? Truly remarkable!”
“Such charm and talent—she’s the envy of us all.”
“Who’d have thought the Tenth Outer Courtyard could produce such figures? One at nine thousand, another at ten thousand—better than several others!”
“It’s down to the rest now. If one more exceeds ten thousand, the Tenth Outer Courtyard might not be the bottom anymore!”
“Heh, one person might ruin the honour the Tenth Outer Courtyard’s just earned.”
The crowd buzzed with discussion, many gazes filled with fervour. Huan Die’s beauty shone at this moment.
Of course, plenty cast scornful looks at Lin Xiao, assuming he’d end up like Ma Bi and Niu Bi, lingering till the end to disgrace the Tenth Outer Courtyard.
“Hmph, what’s so special about her!” At the fourth row, another striking woman scoffed. As a woman, she was sensitive to another being worshipped.
Still, she didn’t rush to test, being the top of the Fourth Outer Courtyard and aiming to compete with the very best.
Soon, most had tested, with only a dozen or so unmoved.
These were the absolute elites of each outer courtyard.
The earlier group’s points stayed within ten thousand, with little variation.
The Tenth Outer Courtyard had only Duan Cangsheng, Lin Xiao, and Shura Butcher left.
The First Outer Courtyard had the sharp-faced man, Gu Han, the red-robed man, and Gu Juejin, while the others had just one or two remaining.
These figures were, without doubt, the centre of attention.
