Chapter Forty-Five: Renowned Throughout the Sect!

Inner Sect of the Sect of Self.

On the Fifth Mountain.

All disciples participating in the selection for the Hall of Enforcement, after the martial trial, began a brief period of rest, restoring their strength and nurturing their spirits in preparation for the upcoming written examination.

As everyone made their preparations, news of the martial trial quickly began to circulate throughout the sect.

Because of the Hall of Enforcement’s unique role and prestigious status, many disciples paid close attention to this selection event.

Especially the top four candidates, who would enter the Hall of Enforcement and become its new generation of disciples. No one even spared a thought for the fifth and sixth places.

“The results of the first round of the Hall of Enforcement’s martial trial are out!”

“That’s right, I heard the fourth place went to Dong Nimu.”

“What? Dong Nimu is only fourth?”

“He’s a six-star prodigy! Then who took third?”

“Heh, you’ll never guess—it's that little junior sister who always follows behind Wang Ran!”

“It’s her?”

“Why not? Her grades are among the very best.”

“Second place is Zhao Xiaobai, the God of Slaughter reborn, his reputation is well deserved.”

“But if we’re talking about the most impressive, it’s got to be Wang Ran, who took first place!”

“With Wang Ran’s ten-star Foundation Establishment, it’s not surprising he’s first. What was his score? Top tier?”

“Heh, I bet you’ll never guess!”

The disciples buzzed with speculation, and those with inside knowledge wore a look of mystery.

“How could we not guess? The martial trial’s highest mark is top tier. What, did he shatter the heavens and Elder Liu gave him a ‘top tier plus’?”

Annoyed at the secrecy, some scoffed at the suggestion.

But the insiders only smiled mysteriously. “His score was zero!”

“Zero?”

Many disciples widened their eyes in confusion.

The Hall of Enforcement’s selection had been held many times, and scores ranged from lowest to highest, each clearly graded. But no one had ever heard of a score of zero.

The informant, still visibly shaken, explained, “The reason is simple… he smashed the Spirit Martial Stone!”

The words fell, and silence blanketed the crowd.

Then, as if a dam had burst, an uproar erupted.

“That’s impossible!!”

“The Spirit Martial Stone is a natural divine stone, incomparably hard. Even if it’s just a lower-grade Spirit Martial Stone, it can withstand the full-strength blow of a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator. How could he break it?”

“Exactly, unless a Golden Core cultivator made the attempt, it couldn’t be shattered.”

“Does that mean Wang Ran’s strength is already on par with a Golden Core cultivator?”

“That can’t be.”

The first reaction of many disciples was disbelief—it was beyond their understanding of strength.

But those who had witnessed the miracle firsthand merely smirked coldly. “This was administered by Elder Liu himself. Could it be faked? Senior Brother Wang Ran’s strength is beyond our imagination!”

In this world, martial prowess was revered above all. On the Fifth Mountain, Wang Ran had shattered a lower-grade Spirit Martial Stone with a single blow, winning over many who witnessed it. Their admiration for him grew immeasurably.

Thus, the tale spread like wildfire. Many who were skeptical at first eventually had no choice but to accept it.

For the first time since he achieved ten-star Foundation Establishment, Wang Ran’s name resounded throughout the Sect of Self, from prodigious inner disciples to humble outer servants.

The shock was widespread, and Wang Ran’s acquisition of Dao Value surged.

Throughout the entire afternoon, the system’s notifications rang incessantly.

Before the main hall of the Hall of Enforcement on the Fifth Mountain, the scene was a surging sea of people.

By rights, after the first martial trial ended, any disciple ranked below fifth had no hope in the selection and could have left early. Yet the crowd in the square only grew larger.

Even disciples who hadn’t participated in the Hall of Enforcement’s selection flocked to the Fifth Mountain, encircling it so tightly that not even a drop of water could pass through.

Every gaze was drawn to the same place—to the figure standing hands clasped behind his back upon the great stone in the main hall’s center.

“That’s Wang Ran?”

“Yes, that’s Senior Brother Wang.”

“He looks so thin and frail—can he really be that formidable?”

“Hmph! Senior Brother Wang shattered the Spirit Martial Stone with a single palm. Hundreds of disciples witnessed it firsthand—how could it be false?”

“Look, there are still shards of the Spirit Martial Stone on the ground—they haven’t even been cleaned up yet.”

“Heavens, he really split the Spirit Martial Stone in two!”

“So this is the might of ten-star Foundation Establishment? It’s truly terrifying!”

As the crowd beheld the fragments scattered across the ground, the last traces of doubt vanished. All eyes turned, awestruck, to the figure before them.

There stood Wang Ran atop the great stone, hands folded behind his back, his expression indifferent, untouched by joy or sorrow. A cold wind lifted his violet-white robe, and as it billowed, the loneliness of a true master became ever more palpable.

Especially as Wang Ran deliberately released a trace of domineering aura, faintly rippling around him, causing many to feel a chill in their hearts. In that moment, his presence and charisma reached an unprecedented pinnacle.

The disciples behind him were stunned, one and all subdued by his overwhelming aura.

“Senior Brother Wang is truly a peerless genius—his transcendent composure is far beyond us!”

“They say Senior Brother Wang is a dragon among men, the greatest prodigy of the Sect of Self. I didn’t believe it before, but now I do.”

“Indeed, there are only a handful who could reach such a realm in the Foundation Establishment stage.”

“Senior Brother Wang is a true paragon among us cultivators.”

Cries of admiration and reverence rose one after another. Little Junior Sister Yan Wanrou’s eyes sparkled with infatuation.

Only Wang Ran, at the very center of this storm, remained unchanged in expression, as if fame and fortune meant nothing to him—a figure of distant grandeur, set apart from the world.

But if one looked closely, they would notice a trace of pride in his gaze, impossible to conceal.

“Alas, my life is destined to be bathed in glory,” Wang Ran sighed inwardly, though he couldn’t suppress the smile tugging at his lips.

Just as the entire Sect of Self was abuzz with talk, the second round of the examination began.

Zhao Xiaobai, Dong Nimu, and the others roused themselves from meditation and, following Elder Liu’s instructions, entered the examination hall one after another.

In truth, the martial trial had already determined the rankings. Those outside the top five were as good as eliminated, and there was little point in taking the written test.

Yet many still wished to challenge themselves. After some thought, their fighting spirit ignited, they strode into the hall.

Including Wang Ran, more than a hundred and twenty people took their seats in a grand hall on the Fifth Mountain, reminiscent of an ancient imperial examination.

Because of his outstanding performance in the first trial, Wang Ran sat in the front row. The pressure, however, was immense, for he was directly under the proctoring elder’s watchful eye.

Many found this scene amusing, but Wang Ran felt not the slightest fear.

After all, in his previous life, he had been a renowned top scholar in the national college entrance exam.

As he picked up his brush, Wang Ran’s eyes began to shine.

It was time to show them what a true academic champion looked like!