Elder Luo argued again. It looked like he had made up his mind to prevent Austin from becoming a
principal disciple.
"Elder Luo, please remember that Austin has beaten Timothy here in public, fair and square, with so
many witnesses watching. If we really cancel his qualification as per your proposal, what would the
others say about us? There would be no integrity to our Sun Sect anymore!"
Elder Jiang questioned Luo angrily. His hot temper was making it difficult to bear the injustice that Elder
Luo was looking to mete out.
"If we can get a real genius to the Sect by sacrificing just a little fame that our Sect enjoys, then it
completely makes sense! I think you are considering fame more than anything else. Am I right, Elder
Jiang?"
Elder Luo said, his voice silky and eerily elegant, giving out the impression that he was really pressing
for justice.
"Fair points from both of you. But please stop arguing and listen to me for a minute. Three years ago,
Austin was attacked and badly injured. His brain was hurt at that time and he lost a lot of himself.
I've heard that after the attack, for a long time, his cultivation base was stuck at the third level of the
Energy Gathering Realm.
And I also heard that, around two months ago, his sanity was suddenly restored to normal. And his
cultivation base was back to the ninth level of Energy Gathering Realm after only two months'
cultivation. Just think about it. He has progressed from the third level to the ninth level of the Energy
Gathering Realm in just two months! Such a cultivation speed already proves that he is a rare martial
arts genius!"
This revelation took the Elders' collective breath away. Breaking through six levels in two months! Such
speed and skill could only be described as genius.
If there was a word higher than that, even that couldn't be enough to describe the talent that Austin was
exhibiting.
"From this point of view, Austin doesn't really seem like a normal person," one Elder commented.
"Rising up six levels in two months still feels too good to be true, even if he was once at the ninth level
of the Energy Gathering Realm. But he can really be considered a super genius!" another Elder said
thoughtfully.
Elder Luo scowled as he heard these comments but didn't say anything more.
"Since nobody else has any other concern, we shouldn't deprive him of the opportunity of becoming a
principal disciple," Theon declared.
The Elders nodded in agreement. Elder Luo had to accept the decision and keep silent, now that the
matter had reached this stage.
Fair then left his chair to announce to the crowd that Austin's challenge had been successful, and that
Austin would replace Timothy to become the third-ranked outer disciple. The best part of the news was
that he was also promoted to the position of a principal disciple.
The disciples standing in the square looked at Austin, faces raw with envy. Austin gave a slight smile,
brimming with satisfaction at the result. . . . .
The challenges for the second and the first place were to take place next.
But the problem was, there was no disciple daring enough to challenge the first and second ranked
disciples.
Timothy, who was previously ranked third, was already at the Earth Realm. That meant that the
disciples who ranked first and second also needed to have a cultivation base of the Earth Realm. And
right now, no one else had the confidence and strength to challenge them.
It was not long before this session of the Ten Masters Challenge was wrapped up, its preliminary
ranking having been finalized.
Marquis Qin ranked first.
Wade Zhangsun ranked second and
third-placed was Austin.
Fair continued with his announcements, declaring the challenge to have now moved to the second
round. The new top ten masters could challenge a higher-ranking disciple if they weren't satisfied with
their own rankings. And everyone who had been challenged had to accept one challenge of the lot that
came their way.
Marvin stared gloomily at Austin. After a long time, he sighed and reined his impulse.
Although he nursed a profound hatred of Austin in his heart and would have liked nothing better than to
defeat and humiliate Austin in public, he fully understood that he was really no match for Austin.
Austin's cultivation base was at par with his, if not more. Even though he had understood level one
palm intent, Austin had gone a step ahead and grasped level two sword intent. What was more, Austin
had just beaten an Earth Realm cultivator before their eyes!
After thinking through his decision over and over again, Marvin finally gave up. He would not challenge
Austin.
The remaining disciples too decided not to challenge the top three masters. It took quite a bit of a
mental struggle, but they decided it was for the best.
These disciples were the top ten masters of the outer sect for a reason. They were clever, sensitive,
and flexible, and had a clear understanding of their own strengths. No one was willing to humiliate
themselves in front of thousands of people.
With that, the top ten ranking challenge now came to an end.
The top three disciples, Marquis, Wade, and Austin were formally instated as principal disciples of the
sect.
After the game, most disciples watching the challenge were reluctant to leave. They fell into hot
discussions, talking enthusiastically about the competition. And everyone's conversation revolved
around Austin.
Because Austin had been one of the main focuses of this challenge.
And now that the competition had ended, Austin left Martial Arts Square along with Evan and Herbert. .
. .
On the second day, a steward came up to Austin to inform him that he needed to now take up his
identity as a principal disciple.
Austin exchanged his Identity Jade Badge and obtained a batch of cultivation resources.
The principal disciples lived in separated caves in a grand valley that had the most intense Reiki effect
in the Sun Sect.
Every cave had one separate Energy-gathering Array, which was many levels higher than that of
Energy-gathering Array in Austin's previous cultivation room in his yard.
All the living fixtures and facilities were prepared in every cave.
Austin did not have much luggage. He moved all his belongings to the cave allocated to him in one go.
As he set his luggage down, he looked carefully around the cave and could not help but sigh. A
principal disciple was much better off than the normal disciples in the Sun Sect.
After unpacking, Austin sat down, feeling the rich spirit of heaven and earth surround him. He felt
comfortable, almost as if he was at home. And it was going to be really efficient and of great help to
cultivate in such an environment.
Minutes later, he crossed his legs and began to try and refine a skill. His hands crossed before his
chest, with cycles of bright golden vital energy force dancing around his fingers.
He was cultivating the Grand Pagoda Summoning Skill.
The Grand Pagoda Summoning Skill was a grade four skill. Austin could implement the first step to
generate a three-layered Grand Pagoda.
When he had mastered the first step, Austin had been at the sixth level of the Energy Gathering Realm.
Now, he was at the preliminary stage of the Earth Realm. It was the right time for him to cultivate the
second step that could generate a six-layered Grand Pagoda.
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