Xing Yu could elevate space by two to three meters, perhaps even higher, while she could only raise or lower it by two centimeters; Xing Yu could cut so many dead bodies into powder, yet she could only manage to cut them into three pieces.
Ling Luo Yi attempted the third cut, but lost control, causing the space to collapse. The juice, now unbound, spilled onto the ground, splashing onto the hem of Ling Luo Yi's skirt.
"Luo Luo, don't be discouraged. You've only been learning space elevation and space cutting for just over two years, and to reach this point is already remarkable. Other so-called geniuses took over a decade, even several decades, to achieve what you have."
"A Su, I know. I'm just lamenting. Time and space attributes are known as the two great nightmares of spiritual cultivation, and there's a reason for it. They are too difficult to learn, and very few people become proficient. It's hard to even teach."
"Luo Luo, these two attributes are still manageable. Have you forgotten your life attribute? That one is even harder to learn."
Ling Luo Yi compared the difficulty of these attributes and said, "That's true. But A Su, the five elements attributes are still easier to cultivate."
"Luo Luo, while the five elements attributes are easy to cultivate, that's only in the early stages. In the mid-stages, they are equally difficult to cultivate."
"That's also true," Ling Luo Yi sighed. "There's no easy path in cultivation."
Seeing that she was not disheartened, Gu Yun Cheng felt relieved.
Ling Luo Yi picked up Gu Yun Cheng and walked towards the bed, saying, "Alright, time for bed. There's a competition tomorrow. Although it's just sitting there."
Ling Luo Yi slept soundly, but the heads of the families who had dispatched dead bodies could not rest.
The next day, Ling Luo Yi was refreshed.
After breakfast, Zhu Xue brought Steward Li in.
"Greetings, Eldest Miss Ling," Steward Li said, bowing.
"Greetings, Steward Li," Ling Luo Yi said, taking out a storage ring and a porcelain bottle. "Steward Li, please trouble you to take this to your Young Pavilion Master. I won't be going to Flowing Cloud Pavilion. This pill is for you."
Steward Li, knowing Ling Luo Yi's temperament, accepted with a smile and said, "Thank you, Eldest Miss Ling."
Checking the time, Ling Luo Yi, carrying Gu Yun Cheng, descended the stairs with Zhu Xue.
Bright Moon Tower was not far from the competition venue. Ling Luo Yi and her attendants took a carriage and arrived quickly.
As Ling Luo Yi arrived, other members of the Ling family also appeared.
Today's competition was the top ten ranking match, the final competition for spiritual cultivators. This match would determine the rankings, and those who advanced to the top ten would receive imperial rewards, with even greater rewards for the top three.
This competition allowed participants who were dissatisfied with their rankings to challenge those ahead of them. Those ahead could not challenge those behind. Each participant had only one opportunity. Losing meant their ranking remained unchanged, while winning meant they gained the challenged participant's ranking. The challenged participant could not refuse; refusal was considered a forfeiture, and the rankings would automatically swap.
The top ten ranking matches did not involve elimination, but participants who were absent or late would be considered to have withdrawn and would receive no ranking.
Therefore, upon seeing Ling Luo Yi appear at the Ling family's resting spot, many who had dispatched dead bodies the previous night were stunned.
Ling Luo Yi's cultivation level guaranteed her first place. If they didn't want her to be first, their only option was to force her withdrawal.
They had dispatched numerous dead bodies and even hired assassins. If they couldn't kill her, delaying her would suffice. As it turned out, Ling Luo Yi not only showed up but arrived ahead of schedule.
They were not willing participants, but they were all affiliated with the Wei family or the Yin family and dared not disobey their orders.
Thinking of their dead bodies, which had likely perished, the family heads felt both heartache and pain, secretly resenting the Wei family head and the Yin family head.
An elder appeared on stage precisely on time. He first announced the list of the top ten, then called upon those dissatisfied with their rankings to issue challenges.
Only Ling Luo Yi and Ling Luo Chen from the Ling family were in the top ten. Ling Luo Jia was later knocked out by Bai Zhi Xu.
The first match of the ranking competition was Wei Chu Hong, who was temporarily ranked third, challenging Ling Luo Chen, who was temporarily ranked second.
"Eldest Young Master Ling, this is not my fault. You injured my elder brother, and as a brother, I must avenge him."
Wei Chu Hong's reason was perfect and unassailable, but his eyes were full of provocation, completely contradicting his claim of merely seeking revenge.
Ling Luo Chen did not refuse, as he also had a score to settle.
Both were twenty-four years old, young and handsome, though Wei Chu Hong was considerably less so.
Wei Chu Hong was a first-tier Spirit Cultivator, not particularly outstanding among the participants. He had entered the top ten relying on his two contracted beasts.
Ling Luo Chen was a second-tier Spirit Cultivator. He had not summoned his contracted beast in previous matches, but as the eldest young master of the Ling family's direct line, it was likely he possessed one, given that many collateral Ling family disciples did.
This match was going to be interesting.
Facing Ling Luo Chen, Wei Chu Hong immediately released his contracted beasts, giving Ling Luo Chen no time to react. The man and his two beasts attacked Ling Luo Chen simultaneously.
"Despicable!" The Ling family members cried out in dissatisfaction upon witnessing this.
Ling Luo Chen remained calm, darting out from between the attacks, all three of which missed him.
Ling Luo Chen drew the sword he had used previously. That sword was one of the resources provided by Ling Luo Yi, named Starfall Sword, a third-tier Great Illusionary Artifact.
He did not summon his contracted beast, intending to test his own strength.
The Shadow Leopard Cat charged forward rapidly, its front claws raking fiercely towards Ling Luo Chen's face, its sharp claws seemingly capable of tearing through anything.
Ling Luo Chen blocked with his sword, while the other ninth-tier demonic beast also surged forward, charging towards Ling Luo Chen's back.
Wei Chu Hong also drew his sword and thrust it towards Ling Luo Chen's heart.
In this moment of peril, Ling Luo Chen suddenly released his force and rapidly stepped to the right.
The Shadow Leopard Cat's charge remained undiminished, its claws tearing the face of the ninth-tier demonic beast to shreds.
Before the ninth-tier demonic beast could react, Wei Chu Hong's sword pierced its head. The ninth-tier demonic beast fell with a loud thud, its wide pupils still holding confusion, wondering why its master was killing it.
Wei Chu Hong's sword thrust was aimed at Ling Luo Chen's life, so he had used his full strength.
Ling Luo Chen's speed was so great that Wei Chu Hong only saw a blur before his eyes, and the sword in his hand pierced the head of his own contracted beast.
While Wei Chu Hong was still in shock, Ling Luo Chen retaliated with a sword thrust into the heart of the bewildered Shadow Leopard Cat.
The Shadow Leopard Cat also did not understand why its claws, aimed at the enemy, had wounded its companion. Before it could comprehend, it felt a sharp pain in its heart, and then, nothing more.
Wei Chu Hong only snapped back to reality when he sensed the disappearance of two contracted beasts in his divine sense. The first thing he saw was Ling Luo Chen's Starfall Sword, stained with the blood of his Shadow Leopard Cat, pressed against his heart.
The genius selection did not permit fatalities. Otherwise, Ling Luo Chen's sword would not merely be pressed against his heart but would have pierced it.
The victor was decided. Ling Luo Chen withdrew his sword and turned away. He did not want to kill him out of losing control and cause trouble for the Ling family.
Seeing Ling Luo Chen preparing to leave the stage, Wei Chu Hong finally reacted. He raised his sword and lunged at Ling Luo Chen, shouting, "Ling Luo Chen, I will kill you!"
Ling Luo Chen did not look back. Wei Chu Hong's entry into the top ten was due to his two ninth-tier demonic beasts. Without them, Wei Chu Hong couldn't even defeat Ling Luo Jia.
As Wei Chu Hong's sword was about to pierce Ling Luo Chen's body, Ling Luo Chen suddenly squatted down and then, with a backhand slash, struck.
"Ah!!!"
The crowd was stunned.
An arm, still gripping a sword, slowly fell to the stage. As the sword touched the ground, it made a crisp sound.
Due to the impact, the arm loosened its grip, and the sword flew to the side and fell.
People seemed to see the fingers of that arm still trembling.