Chapter 1319: Rejected Despite High Ranking

"

Huh?

"

Many people felt a wave of disappointment. The Heavenly Realm and the Earth Realm were worlds apart. They had thought the elimination during the qualification assessment was already cruel enough. Only now, at the gates of the Dongling Immortal Pool, did they truly understand what real cruelty meant.

Aside from a few geniuses who had long been confirmed for the inner sect, the remaining young elites all wore solemn expressions. Each silently hoped that fortune would smile upon them and grant them entry into the inner sect.

When the final results were fully revealed, Ling Feng's overall score ranked third on the list, surpassed only by Tuoba Yan and Princess Qian Ling.

This ranking was largely due to Ling Feng's comparatively lower cultivation level. During the physique test, he had revealed a Sky Spirit Body rather than a Sacred Body.

Just as Zu Xiaotian was about to announce the final results, the void above suddenly condensed into an illusion that resembled a divine being. A colossal figure, towering like a mountain, hung high in the heavens. Zu Xiaotian and Feng Ling immediately looked up, then dropped to their knees and called out loudly, "We greet Saint Lady Hui Yue!"

Most of the martial practitioners present had heard of Saint Lady Hui Yue's name. They quickly followed suit and knelt as well. Even a mere illusion of her presence was not something they dared to look upon directly.

Ling Feng glanced at the illusion, then turned to look at Tuoba Yan beside him. He understood at once that Saint Lady Hui Yue had likely come specifically to take Tuoba Yan as her disciple.

As a Hall Master, she had personally come to receive Tuoba Yan. This alone showed how highly she valued her.

In the sky, Saint Lady Hui Yue's spiritual manifestation did not spare a single glance for the others. Her gaze settled on Tuoba Yan, calm and clear like autumn water, as she spoke lightly. "I am the Hall Master of the Illusory Moon Divine Hall. Are you willing to acknowledge me as your master? You should be able to sense the shared origin of our auras."

Tuoba Yan lifted her head and looked at Saint Lady Hui Yue in shock. A mere illusion could suppress heaven and earth with such terrifying might. Just how powerful was she in her true form?

"What are you standing there for?" Ling Feng pushed her gently from behind and whispered, "Go and acknowledge her as your master!"

"

Oh...

"

Tuoba Yan bit her lower lip. She knew that Ling Feng would likely be sent to the Earth Spirit Hall, and she had wanted to go there with him. Yet now, such a mighty expert wished to take her as a disciple, and Ling Feng himself urged her forward.

After a brief moment of hesitation, Tuoba Yan gathered her robes and bowed deeply toward the illusion in the sky. "Greetings, Master!"

"Good. Come with me!"

Saint Lady Hui Yue's expression remained calm and emotionless. With a flick of her sleeve, Tuoba Yan rose into the air and was drawn into the high heavens under her guidance.

Tuoba Yan's beautiful eyes lingered on Ling Feng, filled with reluctance and tenderness.

"

Hm?

"

Saint Lady Hui Yue noticed her gaze and followed it. When she saw Ling Feng, her brows knitted slightly. She then swept Tuoba Yan away in a streak of light, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

"

Whoa...

"

A chorus of awed sighs followed as countless envious gazes turned toward where Tuoba Yan had disappeared. To become the direct disciple of a Hall Master meant limitless future achievements.

Mo Sanqing swallowed hard, his face full of envy and bitterness. "An innate Sacred Body really is something else. Who would have thought that Miss Tuoba took part in the Five Spirit Hall assessment, yet ended up favored by the Hall Master of the Illusory Moon Divine Hall?"

Ling Feng rubbed the bridge of his nose. Given Tuoba Yan's talent, following him into the Earth Spirit Hall would indeed have been a waste.

This path was likely the most suitable one for her.

After Saint Lady Hui Yue departed, another inner sect disciple from the Profound Thunder Hall descended from the immortal islands and took Princess Qian Ling away, once again stirring widespread envy.

Soon after, two more figures descended from the sky. Everyone could see clearly that they were Lin Mu of the Earth Spirit Hall and Ning Guichen of the Flowing Flame Hall.

"Junior Brother Ling!"

"Brother Ling!"

Seeing the two head straight for Ling Feng, the geniuses who had barely survived countless dangers to reach the Dongling Immortal Pool could not help but look at him with envy.

It seemed that the third lucky one was Ling Feng.

Moreover, he had drawn the attention of two major Spirit Halls at the same time!

Mo Sanqing also looked at Ling Feng with envy. He clenched his teeth and said, "Brother Ling, congratulations in advance. You are sure to enter the inner sect. As for me, that is still uncertain."

Ling Feng smiled faintly. Even if Master Qingxuan held some influence, he could not possibly interfere with the decisions of the Five Spirit Hall Masters at the same time. In the Dongling Immortal Pool, no one could truly cover the sky with one hand.

Lin Mu and Ning Guichen landed before Ling Feng. Ning Guichen smiled broadly and stepped forward, patting Ling Feng on the shoulder. He laughed and said, "Junior Brother Ling, I came especially to welcome you into the Heavenly Realm. Hehe, the Earth Spirit Hall is quite a fine place!"

Lin Mu, however, wore a pained expression, his brows tightly furrowed. "Brother Ling, I am sorry. I think it is because I usually behave too recklessly. My sister ended up taking it out on you. She... she refuses to accept you into the Earth Spirit Hall..."

"What?" Ning Guichen's eyelids twitched. "Junior Brother Lin, did you not swear that it was guaranteed?"

"My sister has the final say in Earth Spirit Hall."

Lin Mu's face was full of shame as he clenched his fists. "Brother Ling, although you cannot enter the Earth Spirit Hall, your results in the Five Hall assessment were outstanding. You ranked third overall. The other halls will not overlook a peerless genius like you. Entering another hall is just as good!"

Ling Feng frowned slightly, then quickly relaxed. He smiled and said, "It is fine. Brother Lin, you need not blame yourself. You have already done everything you could."

Beside them, Ning Guichen clenched his fist and spoke through gritted teeth. "Your name also does not appear on the Flowing Flame Hall's admission list. I thought..."

Ling Feng's heart sank. His name was absent from both the Earth Spirit Hall and the Flowing Flame Hall. Two of the Five Spirit Halls were already ruled out. Could it be that, despite ranking third overall, he had actually been rejected?

About the time it took for an incense stick to burn, Zu Xiaotian finally spoke again in a clear voice. "There should be no more who were directly accepted as direct disciples. Next, those whose names I call should follow me into the Heavenly Realm."

"Lu Tianyi, Xu Dayou, Ye Shao... Mo Sanqing..."

Zu Xiaotian read out eleven names in succession. He then smiled and said, "Quite a few disciples are entering the inner sect this time. All right, follow me. I will first take you to the Tianxin Palace. The elders of the Five Spirit Halls will arrive there to make the final selections and decide your respective affiliations."

"Wait!"

Lin Mu frowned and spoke in a deep voice. "Senior Brother, why is Ling Feng's name not on the list? Did you miss him?"

Zu Xiaotian shook his head with a smile. "There are only this many names. I may not be exceptional, but I am not blind."

"That is nonsense. Ling Feng's name is not even there. You must have missed it!"

As he spoke, Lin Mu snatched the list and examined it closely. His lips twitched violently. "Damn it. This makes no sense. How is this possible? Are they blind? Are all the elders of the Five Spirit Hall blind? This is outrageous!"

Only after Lin Mu caused such a scene did everyone finally realize the truth.

Ling Feng, who ranked third overall, had been rejected!