novelaction Chapter 572 The Final Spot
Chapter 572 The Final Spot
A month later, the sword tournament came to a complete end. Countless sword cultivators who participated in the tournament crowded in front of the giant stone monument in the square to check the places for the top 500 to advance in the training program. The entire square was packed with people, and those who arrived late couldn't even squeeze in...
Although the Extreme Sword Sect did not announce the specific rankings, the top fifty participants were placed at the top of the stone tablet because they would not only receive a place for further study, but also enter the Extreme Sword Sect's sacred training ground—the Sword Cave.
"Princess! Princess!" The maid ran back to the guest courtyard, full of excitement and joy.
"How did it go?!" Seeing her happy expression, Huangfu Jia's tense nerves relaxed slightly, but she was still a little uneasy until she heard the final result.
"She's in! The princess has made it into the top 500!" Although her name was displayed at the bottom of the stone tablet and her ranking wasn't very good, as long as she made it in, she would get a place for further study.
Huangfu Jia revealed a relieved smile, her joy barely concealed in her eyes. She seemed to be talking to herself, "I must make the most of these three years. As long as my strength improves significantly, my father will value me even more when I return to the palace..."
"Princess, the last few days of the tournament have already used up all your spirit stones. What will happen in the days to come..." the maid said in a worried voice.
He was halfway through his sentence when Huangfu Jia gave him a warning look, and he dared not continue.
"Let's not mention this again," Huangfu Jia said softly. "An opportunity to study for three years in the world's number one sect is something that no amount of spirit stones can buy..."
"Yes." The maid lowered her head, not daring to say anything more.
Just then, the wooden door in the courtyard was suddenly pushed open with a loud "bang".
Huangfu Ye's furious voice filled the entire guest courtyard: "With my strength, how could I not even make it into the top 500?! Did the Extreme Sword Sect miscalculate the points?!"
“Your Highness, the Extreme Sword Sect is the number one sect in the world. They would certainly not stoop to such deception. Our Ning Kingdom is far inferior to the Extreme Sword Sect in terms of both status and prestige. You should not say those words again in the future…” one of the elders who accompanied Huangfu Ye reminded him.
Huangfu Ye kicked over the stone bench beside him viciously, glaring angrily at Huangfu Jia's room. He knew that Huangfu Jia and her servant were inside, but his jealous and sarcastic words were made without any attempt to conceal them:
"Huangfu Jia is a mediocre person. In the past, I always managed to beat her in the palace competitions. Why is it that this time she made it into the top 500 while I didn't..."
What else could it be?! Of course, it's because this seventh princess had been playing dumb all along.
The two elders and guards of Ningguo watched as Huangfu Jia's points gradually caught up with Huangfu Ye's. Each victory made them go from being impressed to having a sudden realization.
Until today, seeing Huangfu Jia's name on the stone tablet, everyone except the incompetent and furious Fifth Prince has finally realized that the usually low-key Seventh Princess has actually been hiding her true strength all along.
"Princess!" The maid knew that Huangfu Ye was deliberately saying this to Huangfu Jia, and her words were full of malice.
Huangfu Jia smiled slightly, adjusted the hairpin in her hair, pushed open the door, and walked out...
"Fifth Brother, you're back?" she greeted casually.
Huangfu Ye found the smile on her face extremely irritating. He had rarely paid attention to this younger sister before. His mother had given him almost 90% of the resources she received, leaving only a little for her. In his eyes, this younger sister was no different from the followers who fawned over him.
He himself had to cultivate, compete with other princes for his father's favor, and secretly win over various forces to strive for the future throne. He had no time to spare for a follower.
But now, when he realizes that his younger sister is just as strong as him, he feels a surge of anger at being fooled and a crazy jealousy.
Huangfu Ye grabbed Huangfu Jia's wrist, looking at her with an air of entitlement, and commanded, "Give me your spot! I can put in a good word for you with my mother, and I'll increase your allocated resources by 30% next year..."
Everyone present was stunned by Huangfu Ye's shamelessness. Before they could even complain in their hearts, Huangfu Jia smiled even more brightly. She circulated her spiritual power, flipped her hand, and broke free from the restraint of the person in front of her.
"Huangfu Ye, this is the Extreme Sword Sect, not Ning Kingdom. Do you think the people of the Extreme Sword Sect can let outsiders arbitrarily change their spots?! With a brain like yours, you still want to compete for the throne? You're truly overestimating yourself! The other princes are probably laughing at you and your mother behind your backs, you two idiots. You're not only stupid, you're also stupid and vicious..."
Huangfu Ye's eyes widened in anger, his face filled with shock. He had never heard the person before him utter such sharp and vicious words. His face instantly darkened, as if it were about to drip water.
"Even if you get a place for further studies, you can only stay in the Extreme Sword Sect for three years. You will eventually have to return to Ning Kingdom. How dare you insult me and my mother? Aren't you afraid of retaliation?"
"Tsk tsk! You're still so naive, thinking the whole world should revolve around you... What Father values most is the strength of his children. You didn't make it into the Sword Tournament, but I did. Do you think Father will value you more or me more when I return to Ning Kingdom three years from now?" Huangfu Jia looked at the person in front of her with a mocking smile.
Seeing Huangfu Ye's face gradually turn ashen, she glanced disdainfully at the two elders behind him, her tone becoming more sincere and meaningful:
“Elders, you were sent by your maternal grandfather to protect the Emperor, but you have seen it for yourselves these past few days. I don’t need to tell you who is more valuable and who is more worthy of protection!”
The two elders hadn't expected that the Seventh Princess was truly a hidden talent, and that she still had the mind to win them over at this moment. As the maternal family of the Princess Consort of Wu, they were naturally bound to her. However, the Fifth Prince was indeed extremely foolish and not a good candidate for the throne.
One of the elders had a sudden thought and understood immediately, saying, "It is great news that the Seventh Princess has entered the top 500 and obtained a place for further study in the Extreme Sword Sect. We two should naturally report this news to the old Marquis."
Huangfu Jia smiled calmly. Talking to smart people was so effortless. She ignored the mad Huangfu Ye and left the guest courtyard with her maid.
She didn't have time to waste words with fools. Now that she had laid her cards on the table, there was no need to hold back anymore. She still needed to inquire about when the further education would begin and where she would be staying...
……
Meanwhile, the people from the Immortal Wave Sect were packing their belongings, preparing to leave the Extreme Sword Sect today.
Cao Shan, who was originally a sure thing to be in the top 500 or even the top 50, died unexpectedly. No one else got a spot for further study. There were no clues about Zhaoyuan Mountain for the time being, so we could only plan for the long term.
Zhen Yao walked out of her room, looked at her junior brothers and sisters chatting enthusiastically in the courtyard, her eyes flashed slightly, and she stepped in front of them.
"Senior Sister Zhen." Everyone bowed in greeting.
Zhen Yao said casually, "I have a good friend in the Yunshan Sect who is about to leave the Jijian Sect. I'm going to say goodbye to him now. If the elders look for me, please tell them I'll be back soon..."
"Yes."
……
In the guest courtyard where the Yunshan Sect was temporarily staying, Pei Yun and the others were chatting idly. They had decided to leave the day after tomorrow, while Luo Rufeng and Qu Yi would move to the inner sect.
The elders of the Extreme Sword Sect give lectures at the inner sect's training academy every so often, and those who obtain a spot for further study can enter and leave the training academy to attend the lectures.
During these three years, they can receive the same treatment as inner disciples of the Extreme Sword Sect. The Extreme Sword Sect will open up some cultivation paradises for these people to further their studies. Of course, to enter them, they must exchange points just like inner disciples. In other words, they also have to accept the tasks issued by the Extreme Sword Sect.
“Master, I checked, your name is in the first row, seventh place, so you should be ranked seventh. The Extreme Sword Sect says they don’t rank people, but the order of names matches the points ranking…” Luo Qi said.
Lan Chu complained, "If it weren't for that Elder of the Extreme Sword Sect challenging you to a duel for no reason, causing you to lose half of your points for no reason, with Master's abilities, you would at least be in the top three!"
Luo Rufeng shook his head: "I benefited greatly from the battle with that Elder of the Extreme Sword Sect. If I could spar with such experts a few more times, even if I lost points and didn't make the rankings, it would still be worth it..."
“Hey! Don’t underestimate the resources within the Extreme Sword Sect. This sword cave alone will bring you great rewards. I also left a sword cave, but unfortunately, you’re on a different path than me. Let’s see if you can discover the sword cave I left behind…” Qin Meng patted his shoulder, pretending to be mysterious.
Qu Yi sighed, "...The last few days of this sword tournament were chaotic. I heard that many sword cultivators ranked around 500th secretly bribed their opponents to win, while those who had no chance of winning naturally chose to make deals..."
"There's nothing we can do about it; money can be a powerful motivator..." Everyone chimed in with their own opinions.
Just then, a noise came from outside the door. The Yunshan Sect members looked over and saw Zhen Yao standing outside the courtyard gate.
Everyone instinctively turned their gaze to Fu Lingchen, assuming that Zhen Yao had come to see him. Fu Lingchen himself thought so too, and after a slight pause, he was about to walk towards her.
Zhen Yao smiled and said, "Fellow Daoist Pei, I am about to leave, so I have come to say goodbye." She nodded slightly to the Yunshan Sect members, then looked at Pei Yun.
Pei Yun paused for a moment, then smiled and got up, walking with her to an open space outside the courtyard.
Fu Lingchen's smile involuntarily faded. Gazing at Zhen Yao's figure, his eyes held a complex mix of emotions and hesitation. His fingers, hidden in his sleeve, clenched slightly. When he saw Zhen Yao solemnly bow to Pei Yun and prepare to leave, he finally couldn't resist and stepped forward to stand before her.
"Zhen Yao, I want to talk to you."