"Li Yun ranked first in the combat assessment!"
"He is someone with no bone frame, yet he has accomplished something that many found difficult. His rank isn't overrated at all; in fact, he deserves it."
"I believe it too. Even though the notion of someone with no bone frame achieving first place in the combat assessment sounds absurd, the reality is right in front of us."
"Well, he did enter the fourth floor of the Combat Pagoda, so his points would have soared to a very high level. Therefore, his first rank in the combat assessment was inevitable."
Once the ranking of the combat assessment was announced, many disciples—both those who participated in the assessment and the older outer disciples—were shocked, yet at the same time, they felt it was unsurprising.
Someone who could enter the fourth floor of the Combat Pagoda deserved every right to be ranked first in the combat assessment.
Entering the fourth floor of the Combat Pagoda on their very first try was a feat so rare it had become legendary in the Mystic Cloud Sect. That Li Yun had done it, despite lacking a bone frame and being only at the 1st level of the Qi Training Realm, made his accomplishment even more extraordinary.
He had surpassed the ten individuals who had previously reached this level, each of whom had possessed far greater advantages.
The points awarded by the sect for each floor of the Combat Pagoda varied greatly, with the difference in points becoming more significant from the fourth to the fifth and sixth floors. Those who had ever entered these floors always ranked first in the combat assessment, though no one had ever entered the fifth or sixth floor on their first attempt.
When Li Yun heard his name at the top of the list, he smiled proudly.
'Just make me an outer disciple already.'
With such a vast difference in points between him and Lie Hua, winning the selection assessment was a certainty. His only task now was to successfully become an outer disciple.
"Alright, now the only thing left is the announcement of the overall ranking," Elder Zhao said loudly, attracting everyone's attention as he took out a scroll.
He opened the scroll partially and threw it into the air above him.
The half-opened scroll suddenly glowed with a radiant blue light before fully unrolling, expanding to five times its original size, and hovering in mid-air. Its surface shimmered as it displayed intricate details about every disciple who had taken part in the combat assessment.
Every participant's profile was meticulously outlined on the scroll: their points, rankings, performance in the talent and potential assessments, as well as their standings in the combat trials.
The most important columns, however, were the overall points and overall rankings, the true markers of their success in this rigorous selection process. Alongside this, the number of floors each disciple had conquered in the Combat Pagoda was listed, a key factor in determining their combat prowess.
The giant scroll, floating high above, was like an undeniable verdict—a report card that laid bare the strengths and weaknesses of every disciple who had undergone the trials, leaving no stone unturned.
Every name on the list was written in gray ink—except for one. The name at the very top of the list—Li Yun—was written in glistening bright gold, making it stand out prominently among the thousand names on the list.
Li Yun stared at the list, feeling deeply satisfied seeing his name at the very top.
"Only the top 250 disciples on the list will become outer disciples," Elder Zhao announced.
'Top 250? Then I should be an outer disciple now, right?'
Li Yun wondered, but he wasn't sure. The system should have rewarded him instantly if he had become an outer disciple, but it hadn't. This could only mean there was still something left for him to do before he officially gained the status of outer disciple.
"Those disciples who are not in the top 250 should head to the department of nominal disciples. An elder will be waiting for you there," Elder Zhao said, looking at the gathered disciples.
Many of the disciples couldn't hide their disappointment as the results were announced. Their hearts sank, knowing what awaited them at the department of nominal disciples. It was a harsh reality—they hadn't ranked high enough to become outer disciples, and now, they had no other option.
The rank required to secure a spot as an outer disciple changed each year, fluctuating with the number of participants in the selection assessment. This uncertainty only added to the pressure, forcing every disciple to push themselves to the brink. Yet, no matter how much they strained, many still fell short of the mark.
These disciples, with their dreams momentarily crushed, could only lower their heads in quiet resignation as they turned toward the department of nominal disciples, the weight of failure heavy on their shoulders.
A moment later, the disciples who had failed to become outer disciples left the scene, leaving behind 250 disciples who were set to join the ranks of outer disciples.
"The rest of you will be given an identity badge for outer disciples," Elder Zhao said as he waved his hand, sending hundreds of gray square badges toward the remaining disciples.
Li Yun's eyes shone as one of the badges hovered in front of him.
He caught it in his hand and inspected it. The badge was square and gray, with golden letters spelling "Outer Disciple - Li Yun" at the center. It was a pleasing sight to Li Yun's eyes.
At that moment, a notification appeared before his eyes, and the pleasing voice of the system echoed in his ears.
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing the task.]
[Reward Obtained - 10x]
'Hehe, finally, the mission is complete.'
Li Yun grinned as he saw the notification and opened his status.
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« Status »
[Name: Li Yun]
[Cultivation: First Level of Qi Training]
[Multiplier: 10x]
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« Mission »
[Task: Become the number one ranked Outer Sect disciple in a year.]
[Reward: 25x]
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