In the evening.
On the ring, the two disciples competing for the first place finally decided the winner.
The first place winner was actually a female disciple!
The female disciple was of sturdy build, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, bulging muscles all over her body. She held a diamond axe in her hand and looked majestic, more domineering than a man.
The sturdy arena was already riddled with holes from the axe in her hand.
Wu Youzi came on stage and announced: "The first place in the overall ranking is from the Qingzhou branch disciple, Gongsun Wushuang!"
The Qingzhou branch disciples below the stage cheered loudly with excitement.
In this way, the top ten in the overall list have been released.
The other rankings will be calculated based on the scores given by several elders.
As for the team ranking, it will be calculated based on the ranking and performance of each disciple, by adding the scores and adding or subtracting the number of people.
In the square, the voices were noisy and everyone was talking expectantly.
Of course, there are also those who are depressed and silent.
Sun Jiang gathered several disciples together with a smile on his face and said, "Our score will definitely not be less. Feiyang and Yuanshan are both in the top ten, so their scores will definitely double. Our Jingdu branch will probably be ranked at least in the top fifteen, or even higher. You have worked hard this time, and you have brought honor to yourselves and to your master. When you return, you will receive all the rewards from your master."
Chu Xiaoxiao immediately jumped up and cheered: "Master, what rewards do you have? Can I choose one myself?"
Sun Jiang smiled and said, "Let's talk about it when we get back. When you get the rewards from the sect, I guess you won't be interested in the rewards from me anymore."
Chu Xiaoxiao chuckled and said, "The more the better. We won't think it's too much. Master, please don't refuse to pay when the time comes."
Sun Jiang laughed and said, "Master is not a person who refuses to pay his debts."
Zhang Yuanshan and his companions were delighted to see their master smile in such a rare moment, and they also started laughing.
In fact, they didn’t know that Sun Jiang was happy about more than just this.
Their team's ranking this time is not just in the top fifteen. Because of someone's relationship, they may directly enter the top five!
After all, he is a direct disciple, and this kind of situation has never occurred in Ling Xiao's initial tests in the past few years.
At most, there would be a few elders recruiting a few inner disciples, but even so, it would cause a sensation throughout the sect.
Therefore, this year's preliminary examination will undoubtedly shock everyone present.
Below the stands, there were nine elders counting scores and rankings.
After calculating the team's total score, the Great Elder Wu Youzi took the data and went to the top of the stands to ask other elders from each peak if they had any disciples they liked.
If a disciple is accepted as an inner disciple, the team's total score will naturally increase a lot.
As for individual rankings, they will not change.
Of course, the rewards you receive will also increase.
Two of the elders walked up to Wu Youzi, pointed at the names on the list, and whispered something.
Both of them seemed to have disciples they liked and were willing to accept them as inner disciples.
After listening to this, Wu Youzi took note and prepared to go downstairs to give extra points to the teams of two of his disciples.
But at this moment, an old voice suddenly came from the highest point of the stands: "Junior Brother Wu, come up, I have something to say to you."
When Wu Youzi heard this, he immediately took the list and walked up.
"Senior Brother Mo, do you have a favorite disciple that you want to take into your inner sect?"
Wu Youzi came to the platform and asked with a smile on his face.
Mo Jiufeng snorted coldly and said, "What do you mean by accepting him into the inner sect? I have taken a fancy to a disciple and would like to accept him as my personal disciple."
After hearing this, Wu Youzi was stunned.
At this time, the other peak masters nearby also spoke up immediately.
"Junior Brother Wu, I also like him, and I want to take him in as my last disciple."
"Humph, I have already made it clear with that kid's master. Junior Brother Wu, just register him under my name."
"How dare you be so arrogant, old man! Do you think I don't exist? I'll definitely take care of that kid!"
Several respected elders suddenly started arguing with their eyes wide open.
When Wu Youzi saw this scene, he froze in place, with a look of shock on his face.
These old guys haven't accepted any disciples for several years. It was their disciples who were accepting apprentices. Why are they suddenly accepting disciples themselves today, and even fighting over them
"My fellow brothers, what's going on here? Which disciple do you want to accept? Are you sure it's not an inner sect disciple, but a personal disciple?"
Wu Youzi was full of doubts and asked quickly.
But several people were arguing and seemed not to hear what he said.
Wu Youzi could only look at the woman in red at the top and said respectfully, "Sect Master, what is going on?"
Fairy Zixia paused and said, "The disciple of the Kyoto branch, Chu Feiyang, you only need to announce that he has been accepted as your personal disciple. As for who he will belong to and which peak he will belong to, you don't need to announce it for now. I will discuss it with the peak masters."
Wu Youzi was stunned for a moment when he heard this: "The disciple of the Kyoto branch, Chu Feiyang... So it was that kid..."
Then he quickly lowered his head, found his name on the list, and wrote it down.
He wanted to ask something else, but Mo Jiufeng at the side immediately urged him, "Junior Brother Wu, go and announce the result quickly. We will bring that kid back to the main hall later. As for who he will belong to, hmph, that depends on who among us is more capable!"
Upon hearing this, Wu Youzi didn't dare to ask any more questions. He immediately turned around and walked away, feeling more and more suspicious.
What merits and abilities did that kid have? Didn't he just defeat a martial arts master in the late stage? Why are these old guys so anxious? It looks like they will have to go to the main hall to fight later.
The disciples gathered below the stage had already been eagerly waiting for the result.
Wu Youzi hurriedly told the elders in charge of scoring the list and what had just happened.
When the elders heard this, they were all shocked.
"Personal disciple? Several peak masters are competing for it?"
Several people looked at each other in disbelief.
"Who is that disciple? What's so special about him?"
One of the elders asked doubtfully.
Wu Youzi smiled bitterly and said, "The disciple of Sun Jiang in the Kyoto branch is named Chu Feiyang, and he is only at the middle stage of the martial arts master realm. As for what is so extraordinary about him, I don't know. Anyway, those people above are vying for it, and it looks like there will be a fight later."
"fight?"
After these words came out, the nine elders looked at each other again.
Wu Youzi hurriedly whispered, "Hurry up and give the scores. Several peak masters are urging us, and the sect master is also waiting. I guess we will have to go to the main hall later to discuss who should get the disciple."
When the nine elders heard this, they immediately looked at the list and began to think.
"If you are accepted as an inner disciple, you can double the score for the branch. As for the personal disciple..."
Several people discussed in low voices and made a decision.
All the disciples below the stage, as well as the leaders of the various branches, were looking forward to it eagerly.
Beside Jin Song, Yun Wanrou, who was supported by the slightly plump female disciple, had recovered a little at this moment. She re-adjusted her makeup and was looking at the stage quietly.
Sun Jiang was also surrounded by disciples. He suppressed his excitement and waited calmly.
Another half incense stick of time passed.
Wu Youzi finally walked onto the stone platform with the results given by the nine elders after discussion.
The noisy sounds in the square immediately quieted down.
Everyone held their breath and looked towards the stage.
The entire square was silent.
Wu Youzi first glanced at the people below before announcing, "The results are out. Now, I will read out the individual rankings."
"First place, the disciple of Qingzhou branch, Gongsun Wushuang!"
"Second place, a disciple from Yuancheng branch, Jiang Zhe!"
"Third place..."
Wu Youzi read out the individual rankings for a total of fifty people.
The top fifty disciples will receive generous rewards based on their specific rankings. As for the disciples ranked outside the fifty, they will only receive some small rewards for participation.
After the individual rankings were read out, some discussions were heard from below.
But it soon became quiet again.
Because Wu Youzi continued to read out the rankings of each branch.
"First place, Qingzhou branch!"
"Second place, Jiujiang Branch!"
"Third place, Kyoto branch!"
When the name of the third-place branch was read out, not only the others were surprised, but even Sun Jiang was surprised.
“It’s actually the third place!”
Sun Jiang was both excited and surprised.
Zhang Yuanshan and others were all shocked, wondering if they had read it wrong.
No matter what, there is no way their team can be ranked in the top three, right
"Master, what's going on?"
"Yes, Master, how did you rank them? How did we get into the top three? I think it's hard to get into the top ten, right? We only have a few disciples, and we don't even have a late-stage martial artist disciple. Although Senior Brother Chu beat a late-stage martial artist disciple, it can't be that exaggerated, right?"
"Did you get the score wrong?"
When they heard the ranking, they felt no surprise or excitement, only confusion and suspicion.
They simply couldn't believe the result.
Of course, the people at the nearby Water City branch were even more unconvinced.
Jin Song was stunned when he heard the result. After a long while, he finally realized what was going on and said, "It must be a mistake... How could they be ranked third? Only two of their disciples made it into the top ten of the overall ranking. It's impossible, absolutely impossible..."
The disciples behind him also had expressions of surprise and doubt on their faces.
"Eighth place, Water City Branch!"
Upon hearing this ranking, Jin Song's face suddenly became even uglier.
"Eighth place. How can it be only eighth place?"
Jin Song looked at the stage and said again: "The score must have been calculated wrongly. It was definitely calculated wrongly. Wanrou must have at least doubled her total score to become an inner disciple... and our overall score is not bad..."
The eldest disciple Lei Yang whispered, "Master, is it possible that there are too many outstanding disciples this year, and many of them were selected as inner disciples? Or... Junior Sister Wanrou is a disciple of the late martial arts master, but she was defeated by a disciple of the middle martial arts master, so the score she was given... was lower?"
Jin Song frowned after hearing this, and after a moment of hesitation, he said, "I'll go ask later, there might be something wrong with the scores. Our ranking may be fine, but the ranking of the Kyoto branch... humph, although they beat Wanrou, their overall score is definitely not as high as ours, and Wanrou will get extra points if she becomes an inner sect disciple... They don't even have a late martial arts disciple, and their disciples as a whole are not as strong as my disciples. Why are they so much lower than us?"
At this time, on the stone platform, Wu Youzi was still announcing the rankings.
After the rankings of all the branches were announced, Wu Youzi paused, glanced at the people below, and smiled. He said, "The performance of all the branches this year is quite good. I hope you can keep up the good work next year. Next, I would like to congratulate the two women who were selected as inner disciples. You can guess who the two lucky disciples are."
As soon as these words were spoken, the audience exploded.
"Wow, someone was actually directly selected as an inner disciple. This is so lucky."
"There are actually two of them this year. I guess they are the top two?"
"One of them must be the number one on the overall ranking this time, the female disciple holding an axe, what's her name? I think her name is Gongsun or something, she is really amazing."
"Alas, if we are chosen as inner disciples, I'm afraid that the resources we will have for cultivation in the future will be many times more than ours... As expected, the strong get stronger and the weak get weaker... I'm afraid that in a few years, we will be unable to keep up with them..."
While everyone was feeling mixed emotions, talking and guessing with envy, a smile finally broke out on Jin Song's face.
He looked at the girl beside him with a kind face and said with a smile: "Wanrou, don't be nervous, you don't have to go on stage later. After this is over, I will take you to Jianfeng to formally kneel down and pay homage to your master. Tomorrow morning, you and your master will go to pay homage to the Linghu Fairy, the master of your Jianfeng. Although Linghu Fairy is young, her cultivation and talent are both top-notch. You must not be careless and must perform well. If you can gain the favor of Linghu Fairy, then the cultivation resources of Jianfeng will be at your disposal. If..."
Having said that, he immediately lowered his voice and whispered, "Wanrou, if you practice well, you will have a chance to be noticed by Fairy Linghu. Maybe she will accept you as her personal disciple. That will be the time for you to truly soar to the sky. However, you have just become an inner disciple, so you still need some time to hone yourself. Don't rush. You must perform well at Jianfeng and earn more glory and merit for Jianfeng..."
Yun Wanrou listened to his instructions quietly, nodded repeatedly, and said with a firm look: "Master, don't worry, I will definitely live up to your expectations."
At this time, Wu Youzi on the stage paused for a moment and began to announce the names of the two lucky people who became inner disciples.
Everyone in the audience immediately held their breath and fell silent.
"Elder Sun Chongyang of Chaoyang Peak is willing to accept Gongsun Wushuang, a disciple of the Qingzhou branch, as an inner sect disciple!"
As soon as these words came out, all the disciples in the audience said, "It is true. She must be one of them."
At this moment, Yun Wanrou raised her head, chin up, chest out, and looked at the stage with burning eyes, waiting for the next name.
Although she looked calm, her face was flushed with excitement, her heartbeat had almost stopped, and her palms were full of sweat.
Jin Song next to him also had a smile on his face, his fists clenched in his sleeves, and he stared at the stage expectantly.
Wu Youzi continued to read: "The second disciple is Bai Zichuan from Baidi City. Elder Yang Ming from Beiwang Peak is willing to accept him as an inner disciple!"
There was a sudden commotion in the audience.
There were cheers, sighs of regret, and voices of unwillingness or envy.
The people at the Water City branch were frozen in place, stunned.
Jin Song's expression suddenly became extremely ugly, and he said stupidly: "How... How could this happen... Obviously..."
Yun Wanrou's face turned pale, her body was shaking, and she could hardly stand.
But at this moment, Wu Youzi on the stage suddenly said: "Now, there is another good news to tell everyone. This year is destined to be an extraordinary year for our Lingxiao Sect! In this Lingxiao preliminary examination, in addition to selecting two inner disciples, we now have to select another personal disciple!"
As soon as these words were spoken, not only were the people in the audience shocked, but the guests from other sects in the stands were also startled and their expressions became solemn.
A direct disciple is the most important disciple of a sect. He or she will inherit a lot of power of the sect and may even inherit the position of the sect master!
Most of the direct disciples were extremely talented with great potential and a bright future, and they obtained their status through many years of practice and hard work.
Every sect attaches great importance and caution to the identity of their disciples.
Among one hundred inner disciples, there may be only two direct disciples at most. This shows how rare and precious direct disciples are.
I didn't expect that today, Lingxiao Sect would actually accept a personal disciple in a small preliminary test!
The warriors from other sects were naturally very curious about what kind of disciple could be favored by the top leaders of Lingxiao Sect and be directly accepted as a personal disciple.
That disciple must have something extraordinary about him, and might become a powerful rival of their sect in the future, so they were curious and worried.
The audience was talking about it.
In the stands, the guests had complicated expressions and each had their own thoughts.
Jin Song, who had been in despair just now, suddenly became excited again. He turned to look at his disciple and said in a trembling voice: "Wan Rou, could it be..."
Yun Wanrou's face, which had just turned pale, turned blood red in an instant. Her whole body was shaking with excitement. She held her breath, staring motionlessly at the stage, and even her heartbeat almost stopped.
It must be her... It must be her...
Last night, Uncle Wei had already agreed...
Uncle Wei must have told Peak Master Linghu about her talent for swordsmanship, so Peak Master Linghu decided...
Yun Wanrou was shaking with excitement, her teeth chattering, and her ears filtered out almost all the sounds around her. She focused on the stage, ready to hear the name that made all the warriors in Water City envious...
Wu Youzi stood on the stage, raised his hand and asked everyone to be quiet.
Silence immediately returned to the audience.
Yun Wanrou opened her eyes wide, her whole body stiffened, and she waited motionlessly.
Wu Youzi then announced loudly: "This lucky disciple who was chosen as a personal disciple is the disciple of the Kyoto branch, Chu Feiyang!"
“Buzz—”
Yun Wanrou's head suddenly buzzed, and then her body trembled, her eyes went dark, and she fainted again...
Jin Song, who was standing next to her, staggered and almost lost his balance, muttering, "How is it possible... How is it possible..."
The other side.
Zhang Yuanshan, Sister Dao and others were also stunned after hearing this name.
Behind them, Nangong Meijiao also had a look of astonishment on her face.
"Dear...disciple?"
After being stunned for a moment, she suddenly thought of the bet she made with him last night.