Chapter 207

Chapter 207: Heading to the Heaven-grade Zone

The points stacked up: the haul from defeating the Dodder Flower Sprite and taking its materials, the treasure they found like they had Koi Carp luck in the Earth-tier Zone, and the points from eliminating those sect teams. Altogether, the Ninghua Sect’s total reached a shocking height.

No one expected the team trial to turn out like this. At first people thought the Ninghua Sect’s earlier glory would end here. Instead, it grew even brighter, dazzling everyone’s eyes.

Someone sighed with respect: “Looks like the Ninghua Sect is really going to surpass the Flying Cloud Sect and take first this time!”

Another person declared: “Too strong! From now on, if anyone badmouths the Ninghua Sect, I’ll be the first to stand against him!”

In a cultivation world that worships strength, such performance won over countless hearts. Even Shen Sang Ruo’s reputation improved a lot.

Supporters spoke up: “And what if she did those things they talked about? A kid that strong is allowed a little temper.”

Others added: “Don’t smear her. She doesn’t look like that kind of person at all. We still don’t know the truth.”

Their carefully arranged public pressure began to fade. That was not what Shen Dao Chen and Master Ling Xiao wanted. If Shen Sang Ruo hadn’t shone like this and had to face the Flying Cloud Sect, public opinion would have been one sided. They planned to press her and the Ninghua Sect so hard that she would have to return to the Flying Cloud Sect.

But Shen Sang Ruo used her own strength to slap their faces and carve out a path for herself. Things were slipping from their control, something long-time Flying Cloud Sect leader Shen Dao Chen and high-standing Master Ling Xiao had never experienced. Now they pinned their last hopes on Bai Mu Mu leading the Flying Cloud Sect team. At any cost, they had to eliminate the Ninghua Sect and steal back the spotlight. They would not hand Shen Sang Ruo to anyone else. She could only be a disciple of the Flying Cloud Sect.

Inside the Secret Realm, the Ninghua Sect had won big. All five teammates were delighted. When Ye Huai and the others saw the Young Heirs crush their own tokens, they understood what had happened.

Song Wei Yan said with shining eyes: “A win without drawing a blade! Junior Sister, you’re amazing.” The others nodded in full agreement. With their Junior Sister here, they felt safe. People on Fengling Terrace must be dying of envy, seeing them with a Junior Sister like this.

Bai Ruo An rubbed his chin and smirked: “The Beast Taming Sect and the others must be livid. What a pathetic way to get knocked out.” They gathered a huge force and, before the fight even began, eliminated themselves. It was a blow straight to the heart, and it would also stir up their internal conflicts. “Our Junior Sister is ruthless.”

The Dodder Flower Sprite popped out from Shen Sang Ruo’s hair, quivering with anger: “I did all the dirty and hard work, so why are you only praising her?!”

The group blinked in sudden realization: “Oh!”

The Dodder Flower Sprite straightened its vines, ready to receive praise, only to hear: “It was still Junior Sister’s foresight to keep this Dodder Flower Sprite. It did great work because she chose to keep it.”

The Sprite’s just-straightened vine drooped with a snap as it shrank back into her hair, sulking.

Shen Sang Ruo soothed it, fingers brushing her hair as she smiled: “Alright, I’ll give you some spiritual plants later so you can refill your Spiritual Power.” The Dodder Flower Sprite’s mood finally eased a little.

Half of the five trial days had already passed. They had searched the Earth-tier Zone for a long time, and even the tricky demonic beasts there posed no challenge anymore.

Shen Sang Ruo made a decision and told her several Senior Brothers and Senior Sister: “I want to go to the Heaven-grade Zone.”

Points were one goal, but exploring the Heaven-grade Zone mattered more. Even without seeing the exact rankings, she could feel they were far ahead. She also had a backup plan, so first place was basically secure and the pressure for points was light. It was better to use this chance to explore the Secret Realm to the fullest.

Ye Huai shared what he had learned: “In past Sect Grand Tournaments, very few teams entered the Heaven-grade Zone, because a Mid Nascent Soul Stage Guardian Beast sits at the boundary between the Heaven-grade and Earth-tier Zones. Only by defeating it can we enter.”

Shen Sang Ruo followed up with a nod: “That’s why the supplies inside must be extremely rich.” A Secret Realm nurtured for over a thousand years would hold many rare treasures. Just thinking about it made people drool.

Song Wei Yan rubbed his hands together and grinned: “So we’re going big, huh? I’m in!”

Living is about constant challenge. Shen Sang Ruo also felt her bottleneck loosen a little and wanted to use this chance to push forward. After the trial ended, she might be able to break through.

She poked the Sprite hidden in her hair and asked: “Little Flower Sprite, do you know what it’s like in the Heaven-grade Zone?”

The Dodder Flower Sprite’s voice trembled: “It’s been many, many years since I went. There’s a very scary demonic beast in there. Are you sure you want to go?” It was easy to see it was truly afraid. If not for that demonic beast, it would have claimed the Heaven-grade Zone long ago and wouldn’t have needed to linger in the Earth-tier Zone.

Su Xi Yu frowned slightly: “You’re Mid Nascent Soul Stage now. If it scares even you, wouldn’t that demonic beast be Late Nascent Soul?”

The Sprite waved quickly: “No, no. It shouldn’t have cultivated that fast. It should still be Mid Nascent Soul Stage.” Back then, when it met that demonic beast, it had only been Nascent Soul Early Stage. After absorbing the Yin-Yang Tree Demon’s power, it had broken through to Mid Nascent Soul Stage. Even so, that terrifying figure had burned into its mind as a shadow, so it didn’t dare return to the Heaven-grade Zone.

Shen Sang Ruo judged calmly: “Mid Nascent Soul Stage is fine. We might be able to trade a few moves.” If it were Late Nascent Soul, they could only take a beating. A whole major realm of difference meant instant defeat.

She added with a light smile: “We came all this way, so we should at least visit the Heaven-grade Zone. And we still have you. We might not even run into that demonic beast.” The Dodder Flower Sprite felt a chill down its back.

Other Nascent Soul Early Stage demonic beasts were not much of a problem. Back in the Phantom Mirage Domain, Shen Sang Ruo had already worked with Fang Yu to kill a Nascent Soul Early Stage Black Bear Fiend that had been strengthened by that eerie aura.

They weren’t the only ones moving. Teams from the Heavenly Sword Sect, the Red Desert Jiang Clan, and other sects were also heading toward the Heaven-grade Zone. At the end of the team trial, the Heaven-grade Zone was the final goal for every top sect with ambition. By coincidence, several of these teams were converging on the same boundary point.