paranoianovel Chapter 32 Taking the Stage
Chapter 32 Taking the Stage
Without Qin Feiyu carrying the load, the team's speed did indeed increase.
But every step he took felt like stepping on thorns, bringing with it a piercing pain.
Lu Ming felt lighter on his back, but his heart felt heavy.
It was as if Qin Feiyu's final resolute abandonment had been imprinted on his soul, more unbearable than any weight.
Lu Ming shook his head, no longer thinking about anything else, and just stared intently at the white jade reception platform in front of him, which was emitting a soft halo in the twilight.
He transformed all his grief and resentment into motivation to move forward.
His eyes were sharp as a drawn sword, carrying a stubborn and determined gaze.
Lin Feng, Zhao Qian, Li Yun, Zhou Ming, and Hu Zhen remained silent, squeezing out the last bit of potential from their bodies as they desperately climbed upwards.
Qin Feiyu's withdrawal was like a fire, burning away their last hesitation and igniting their belief that they must succeed.
The ten-mile steep slope was finally left behind by them just before the sun completely sank below the horizon.
When they finally stepped onto the smooth, warm white jade floor of the reception platform, the six people almost simultaneously collapsed to the ground, not wanting to move a single finger.
Heavy breathing filled the air, and sweat and blood soaked through their tattered clothes, mixed with bloodstains and dirt, making them look extremely disheveled.
More than 300 people have gathered on the welcoming platform, which is far fewer than the thousands who entered the secret realm at the beginning.
Most of the disciples who successfully arrived were also injured and looked exhausted, but their eyes mostly shone with excitement and pride.
They looked at the six men who rushed up at the last moment, especially at their almost exhausted state, and their expressions varied.
Various gazes were cast from all directions—some with sympathy, some with admiration, and some with a faint sense of superiority.
Lu Ming lay on the ground, gazing at the stars that had begun to twinkle in the sky above the secret realm, his chest heaving violently.
The extreme physical and mental exhaustion and pain caused him great suffering.
The crisp sound of Qin Feiyu crushing the jade talisman, and his final release, replayed repeatedly in his mind like a nightmare.
Hu Zhenjing sat down beside him and began to meditate to recover her strength.
Lin Feng sat up cross-legged and silently circulated his cultivation technique, beginning to recover his spiritual power.
Zhao Qian leaned against the edge of the stage, gazing at the starry sky, lost in thought.
Li Yun and Zhou Ming leaned on each other, their faces pale.
No one spoke; the commotion on the reception platform seemed to isolate them.
After an unknown amount of time, the light in the center of the reception platform suddenly became incredibly dazzling, and waves of spatial fluctuations emanated from it.
Several powerful auras appeared out of thin air, towering like mountains.
As the light faded, several elders of the Taoist Academy, led by Master Chongming, stood solemnly on the high platform.
The noisy reception platform fell silent instantly, and all the disciples struggled to their feet and bowed respectfully.
Master Chongming's gaze was sharp as he swept over every disciple below the stage.
"The time has come!" Master Xuanji's resounding voice echoed throughout the reception platform, "The trial in the Yunmeng Marsh Secret Realm has officially ended!"
"Congratulations on successfully reaching the reception platform. The path is arduous, but it tempers you into maturity. Success or failure is only temporary; only perseverance earns you the right to seek the Dao!"
A burst of barely suppressed excitement rippled through the audience.
Master Chongming slightly raised his hand, and the audience fell silent once more. "Now, tally the scores!"
With a wave of his sleeve, a huge light screen appeared above the reception platform, displaying the names and scores of all the arriving disciples at a rapid pace.
The score is calculated by adding the level and number of monsters hunted and the number of Cloud Mist Flowers collected after the name.
The screen flickered, and the rankings kept changing.
"First place: Nangong Yu, with 2750 points."
"Second place: Lin Feng, with 2630 points."
"Third place, Shui Ling'er, with 2480 points."
...
"Fifteenth place, Lu Ming, with 1,920 points."
"Twenty-seventh place, Zhao Qian, with 1,650 points."
"Forty-first, Hu Zhen, 1500 points"
"Seventy-three, Li Yun"
"Eighty-ninth, Zhou Ming"
Looking at his name and score on the screen, Lu Ming felt little joy.
He knew that a significant portion of this was obtained by Qin Feiyu in exchange for withdrawing.
The ape king's inner core and materials accounted for a large proportion of the score; this score was stained with the blood and tears of his brothers.
His eyes searched the list, but he didn't see that familiar name until the very end.
Qin Feiyu has voluntarily withdrawn, and his points have been reset to zero. His name will not appear on this list.
Lu Ming clenched his fist silently.
The final rankings have been determined.
Except for Qin Feiyu, who withdrew, all six members of Lu Ming's group made it into the top 300 and qualified to enter the inner sect! Lin Feng even ranked in the top ten!
Master Chongming looked at the final rankings, nodded, and softened his voice slightly:
"Those ranked in the top 300 will gather in front of the Hall of Ten Thousand Laws three days later for the inner sect division ceremony. The top ten will receive additional rewards."
His gaze swept over the crowd again, lingering particularly on the first few for a moment, before he finally spoke in a loud voice:
"The trial is over. Whether you succeeded or failed, it has all been a form of cultivation. I hope you will remember this experience, strengthen your resolve, and strive diligently! Now, follow us back to the academy!"
The massive teleportation array lit up again, enveloping all the disciples on the reception platform.
A dizzying sensation from the spatial shift washed over them, and when their vision cleared again, they found themselves back in the familiar outer courtyard square—in front of the Hall of Ten Thousand Laws.
The familiar scene and rich spiritual energy made the disciples who had survived the calamity feel as if they had been transported to another world. Many of them collapsed to the ground on the spot, and some even wept with joy.
Lu Ming stood in the square, looking at the cheering and excited crowd around him, but felt out of place.
He raised his head and looked up at the azure sky, as if he could see Qin Feiyu's face, which was both roguish and righteous.
"Feiyu..." he murmured to himself, "We...have come in."
Hu Zhen walked to his side, gently tugged at his sleeve, and still looked haggard.
"Lu Ming, shall we go look for Fei Yu? He must have been lured out by the elders."
Lu Ming withdrew his gaze, looked at Hu Zhen, and nodded.
"it is good."