Chapter 13: The Seventh Prince's Crisis of Faith and the Arrival of the Ten True Disciples

Qi Xingyu's face turned pale with anger, his whole body trembling with fury.

He shook off Li Wudao's arm, then cupped his hands towards Murong Yan and sneered coldly, "Master, since he is so confident, why not let him demonstrate the circulation of the cultivation method right here? Whether he has truly comprehended it will be immediately clear."

"Li Wudao, do you have any objections?"

Murong Yan nodded; he had the same intention.

"No objections. But since he raised the challenge, naturally he must prove himself first."

Li Wudao was indifferent.

He only needed to exert a slight effort, which was already Qi Xingyu's limit, so he was completely unruffled.

"Fine, then this prince will go first."

Qi Xingyu was brimming with confidence. Sitting cross-legged, he began to circulate the fragment of the cultivation method he had just learned.

Soon, strands of spiritual energy gathered and flowed.

The senior members of the Xuanyuan Sect were exceptionally powerful and could easily discern the circulation through Qi Xingyu’s meridians.

"Eight meridians connected, initial comprehension—quite good. With your aptitude, it will be no problem to reach the 'Small Achievement' realm within a month," Murong Yan nodded in approval.

"Stop standing there foolishly. Your turn."

Receiving the sect leader’s praise, Qi Xingyu looked at Li Wudao with a hint of arrogance.

He had grasped this cultivation method in just over an hour, a rarity even in the entire Great Qi Dynasty.

Only his elder brother Qi Xinghai could outmatch him, but the latter had long been a renowned true disciple.

At this moment, all disciples and elders fixed their gaze on the young man in white.

The truth would be revealed here and now.

"Maybe you should just skip it—I really don’t want to crush you."

Li Wudao shrugged, feigning difficulty.

"Hmph, I knew you wouldn’t dare. Now admit you cheated, and perhaps the master will be lenient; otherwise..."

Qi Xingyu was cut off before finishing his sentence.

"Dare? No, I’m just worried your fragile heart won’t take it. You really don’t understand my kindness."

"You—"

Qi Xingyu’s face darkened, nearly bursting with rage.

How dare this guy still talk back when death was near?

Li Wudao laughed and stopped arguing, sitting cross-legged.

The moment had come for him to show off.

As soon as the young man sat down, a massive surge of spiritual energy flooded in from all directions, more than ten times the amount Qi Xingyu had mobilized.

Soon, eight meridians were connected.

But the cultivation method did not cease; instead, the speed accelerated.

The tenth meridian, the twentieth...

Until all seventy-two meridians were connected, Li Wudao finally stopped.

He neither concealed his strength nor flaunted it excessively.

He did not circulate the later portions of the cultivation method, which would have been astonishing.

After all, if a disciple at the Blood Displacement realm could perfectly grasp the fragment, that was impressive enough; creating subsequent methods would only invite envy.

He had no desire to be a test subject.

His goal was simply to dominate Qi Xingyu and everyone else, revealing undeniable talent—that was sufficient.

"All seventy-two meridians connected, cultivation method flowing smoothly—this is... Great Perfection!"

Murong Yan’s lips twitched slightly, his spirit shaken.

This cultivation method "Lingfei Scripture" he created was of the highest grade in the Profound category, and the extracted portion barely qualified as a top-tier Yellow grade.

The proficiency of a technique generally ranges from: Initial Understanding, Small Achievement, Proficient, Great Achievement, to Perfection.

Li Wudao had reached Great Perfection with a Yellow grade supreme technique in just a quarter-hour—what an extraordinary genius!

Many elders and peak leaders were stunned, frozen like statues.

They rubbed their eyes hard, afraid they had mistaken what they saw.

But no matter how they looked, the meridian circulation and the strength of the aura in Li Wudao’s body were undeniable.

"Is this guy even human?"

"So terrifying. If I hadn’t witnessed it myself, I wouldn’t believe it even if killed."

"Such comprehension borders on demonic. In ten thousand years of Eastern Wasteland history, few can compare. Unprecedented and unmatched!"

"This kid’s demonic aptitude, though only Earth grade, may surpass Jiang Churan in time."

"Indeed, as one advances in realm, demands on comprehension increase. Li Wudao’s overall talent rivals Heavenly grade."

The sect’s high-ranking members breathed rapidly, eyes shining with excitement.

Xuanyuan Sect had not produced a Heavenly grade disciple in a century.

Now, with two recruited at once, the sect’s future was secure.

Only now did they understand why the founder established the aptitude test—because there truly existed geniuses of such demonic aptitude.

"I hereby declare Li Wudao's results... valid!"

Murong Yan’s solemn voice echoed in everyone’s ears, lingering.

At this point, the doubting disciples had no choice but to believe.

"The heir is just too strong!"

Li Dabao and others were completely convinced; in their hearts, Li Wudao was a godlike being.

"He actually comprehended it in just fifteen minutes..."

Jiang Churan was stunned, lips slightly parted and eyes dazed.

Such aptitude, even in the Central Continent’s Imperial Domain, would be top-tier.

When did Li Wudao’s aptitude become so monstrous?

"How could this be..."

Sun Qian and the other Sun family disciples turned pale, their strength drained.

The sect leader’s personal endorsement shattered any lingering illusions.

This meant the Sun Family had crossed an exceptionally promising true disciple.

The consequences were unbearable for the Sun Family!

"Sister Qian, why don’t you go apologize to him?"

"Yeah, with how he feels about you, just admitting fault should calm him—he might even be grateful."

A few Sun family outer disciples encouraged Sun Qian, their lips pale.

They had no means to contend with a true disciple and were now terrified.

"It’s the only option. After this ends, I’ll talk to him. It should be fine."

Sun Qian’s eyes flashed with humiliation, but she nodded with difficulty.

At this moment, Qi Xingyu stood stunned, his mind buzzing.

He began to question his existence.

What had just happened surpassed his understanding.

"See, I told you not to demonstrate, but you insisted... sigh."

Li Wudao feigned a sigh, inwardly chuckling.

Even a little prince dared to pick a fight with him—this should teach him a lesson.

This small episode quickly passed, and everyone’s mood gradually settled.

As time went on,

more disciples gradually awakened.

Finally, two hours passed.

Excluding Li Wudao, Jiang Churan, and Qi Xingyu, ninety-eight inner sect disciples had awakened, while the remaining four hundred were eliminated with no reward.

"Everyone awaken!"

Wu Ming retracted the Illusion Sea Mirror, and the still-sleeping disciples gradually woke.

"The assessment is over. The following ninety-eight passed the aptitude test: Ma Rui..."

As each name was called, the disciples’ gazes gathered, filled with envy.

When the list reached the eleventh name,

Wu Ming paused and said, "Those just named will each be assigned an inner sect elder as mentor and awarded one Jade Scale Pill.

Tomorrow, come to the Internal Affairs Hall to register and receive your identity tokens and attire; the same applies to other disciples."

He cleared his throat and solemnly announced,

"Now announcing the ten true disciple spots: tenth place, Qiu Zishi..."

"Third place, Qi Xingyu; second place, Li Wudao; first place... Jiang Churan!"