Sect Master Chu Yunshan's voice had just faded when a gray-robed elder suddenly emerged from the Golden Warship. Floating in the air, he walked on the void, waving his hand to unleash three streams of True Yuan Power which respectively entered the Heaven, Earth, and People leaderboards.
This person was one of the Guardian Elders, with a cultivation at the Sect Martial Realm. His fluid True Yuan inside had solidified into a solid Martial Pill. The True Yuan Power he wielded was vast and mighty, allowing him to fly through the air without the aid of a Spiritual Artifact, and even faster than those in the True Martial Realm using Qi Manipulation Flight.
The Heaven, Earth, and People leaderboards simultaneously issued a vibrating sound, and then with a flash, the rankings changed.
"The timing is just right." Zhao Letian, riding on a flying sword, arrived just in time, his gaze directed toward the leaderboards on Huangquan Island.
Atop the Heaven leaderboard, the name of the top Core Disciple was rather unique, marked only by the character "Li" in bold, glittering gold. This v+e^rsion is s*ou^rc+ed. from MV3L3M+PYR+.
This person was a legendary figure of the Galaxy Sect, known by everyone. His fame in his prime even exceeded that of Zhao Letian. Zhao Letian's trademark was his boundless arrogance, while this person was characterized by just one word—ruthlessness.
His rise was a path filled with blood and slaughter. Anyone who stood in the way of his strength met their demise, whether they were stunning beauties or the old, sick, and weak, without exceptions. Once, for a single Cultivation Technique, he had annihilated a small sect of hundreds, his actions not distinguishing between good and evil, influenced only by whims.
"Sword strays from the path; he has entered the evil way, and even if he achieves something in the future, he is likely to be a calamity-inducing fiend," muttered Zhao Letian, shaking his head inwardly.
He did not deny that a person with astonishing talent and an indomitable spirit, like Li, could achieve higher martial prowess even through evil means. However, he could not condone such cold-hearted killers who disregarded lives, slaughtering only those deserving of death and not wanting to harm the innocent. Such divergence in paths meant they could not collaborate—people were not meant to have many intersections with him.
However, Zhao Letian's disapproval did not mean others disapproved of Li's actions. In truth, the high ranks of the Galaxy Sect greatly admired Li. They were indifferent to whether he was righteous or evil, focusing only on Li's talent and strength. Even if Li were to become a disaster-bringing fiend in the future, it would still be a fiend of the Galaxy Sect. As long as he was under the sect's control and could bring benefits, the sect, in a world that revered strength and respected the powerful, did not mind entrusting its fate to a fiend.
Today's grand competition within the sect, Li was absent because no one dared to challenge him, rendering his presence meaningless.
Looking at the Earth leaderboard, the first place naturally displayed the name of the top Inner Sect disciple, Xiao Feng, in dazzling golden letters.
As for the People leaderboard for Outer Sect disciples, Zhao Letian merely gave it a cursory glance. Unfamiliar with the names, he withdrew his attention, deeming it unrelated and unworthy of much concern.
"What? Tenth place on the Earth leaderboard is Zhao Letian?"
"How is that possible? Half a year ago, he was only at the Primordial Martial Seventh Realm, and now he has become one of the top ten talents of the Inner Sect?"
"Terrifying! Zhao Letian can truly be considered a demon-level genius."
While all the talents on the Heaven, Earth, and People leaderboards shone brightly, the crowd's eyes almost unanimously focused on Zhao Letian's name. This wasn't due to his current strength but rather his frightful rate of progression.
"Top ten of the Inner Sect? Hmph! Even among the top ten talents of the Inner Sect, the gap can be insurmountably wide. In my eyes, he's still just a weakling," Shentu Yu narrowed his eyes, staring intently at Zhao Letian's name. Zhao Letian's progress had indeed exceeded his expectations, shocking him deeply, but he maintained an indifferent demeanor, scoffing in disdain, steadfast in his belief that Zhao Letian was not his equal.
The emotions within Liu Fei, held in his arms, were much more complex. She looked at Zhao Letian's name in astonishment, a hint of regret uncontrollably flashing through her beautiful eyes. She suddenly realized that betraying Zhao Letian to side with Shentu Yu might not have been as wise as she initially thought. Could Zhao Letian, with such astonishing progress, truly achieve less than Shentu Yu? Had she chosen the wrong side?
"No! This world never lacks brilliantly talented geniuses, but many geniuses fade away before they can rise, lost in the river of time. Zhao Letian's unyielding and overly arrogant nature easily attracts trouble, and there's a high chance he'll fall before he can grow. Following him, I might someday end up a widow. Compared to him, Shentu Yu has talent, strength, and background. How is he not superior in every aspect? With Shentu Yu, I can at least call the shots in Qingzhou City. With Zhao Letian, all I can hope for is an unrealistic and impractical future. I've made the right choice!" Liu Fei's fleeting look of regret was quickly replaced by renewed confidence as she reassured herself.
"He actually defeated Zhuo Yifeng?" In the air, Lin Yun, wearing a golden robe, furrowed his brows—Zhao Letian's strength had exceeded his expectations, causing him some concern since his own cultivation was not much higher than Zhuo Yifeng's.
"Lin Yun, you're not scared, are you?" Seeing Lin Yun's expression, Pan Qingqing's face darkened, and she spoke displeasingly.
"Scared? Qingqing, you're really underestimating me. Zhuo Yifeng is merely the tenth of the Inner Sect, while I am ranked fifth. I am much stronger than he is. Even if Zhao Letian has luckily defeated Zhuo Yifeng, he cannot compete with me. On the Life and Death Platform, I will certainly slay him," said Lin Yun with a cold laugh, displaying disdain.
"That's good." Pan Qingqing nodded.
"Zhuo Yifeng is merely a useless trash. Defeating him is nothing notable. Zhao Letian, whether you ascend to the heavens or burrow into the earth, you have no way to survive," remarked Yan Peng, clad in a black robe, utterly disdainful of Zhao Letian's achievements.
"He actually broke into the top ten of the Inner Sect? Was the gap between us really so vast?" In a certain part of the sky, Luo Hao clenched his fists, trembling as he did so, the complex expressions in his eyes—shock, unwillingness, jealousy, envy, and frustration—mingle together, causing a stifling feeling in his chest, making it slightly difficult to breathe.
He had planned to challenge Zhao Letian again today at the sect's grand competition, hoping to redeem his previous disgrace and prove his strength. But now, it seemed there was no longer any need for that challenge.