Molten Lava Immortal Palace.

Clang clang clang…

The bell echoed throughout the plaza before the main hall.

Before the thirty-odd tables, the expressions of the cultivators were grim.

Some furrowed their brows, others had faces as still as water, and some, upon hearing the bell, trembled in body and spirit.

This was because new information had reached their minds – the first round of the palace examination had ended. All cultivators had finished answering the questions. Violators would be disqualified from the subsequent palace examination.

Thus, the cultivators were all full of bitter smiles, reluctantly putting down the jade slips in their hands.

“It’s over!”

“I haven’t finished answering yet.”

“Why did time pass so quickly?!”

“I tried my best to answer all of them. Even though I know it’s wrong, it’s better to answer than not, right? Should I get some encouragement points?”

The cultivators’ thoughts were similar. They secretly prayed that they could pass this time.

This concerned the position of the Palace Lord of the Molten Lava Immortal Palace. These individuals were all outstanding figures who had infiltrated the Immortal Palace, and naturally harbored ambitions for it. No one wanted to be eliminated in the first round.

Information continued to be transmitted to everyone, asking the cultivators to wait for a moment, as the papers would be graded and the results would be known instantly.

So, the cultivators in the plaza took advantage of this time to quickly communicate with each other and ask about each other’s answers to the questions.

Zhu Xuanji, however, was lost in his own thoughts.

At this moment, Scholar Monarch took the initiative to approach him: “Sir Zhu.”

Scholar Monarch smiled and asked: “Do you think that the frequently appearing ‘Mirror Platform Spirit Enlightenment Technique’ and ‘Demon-Stained Blood Meridian Art’ in the jade slip, when combined with the ‘Five Elements Qi Law Technique’, form the set of three supreme arts, the treasured inheritance of the Molten Lava Immortal Palace?”

Zhu Xuanji was indeed pondering this question. Upon hearing this, he looked up and admitted: “I was just musing over the scattered words about these two cultivation methods in the examination questions. I believe they are likely配套 (complementary).”

“However, to truly confirm, we would need to find cultivators like City Lord Meng Kui for deduction.”

Scholar Monarch nodded: “I wonder if the demonic cultivation scripture in Sir Zhu’s possession can be sold?”

This was Scholar Monarch’s true purpose.

During the Golden Core melee, a demonic dao scripture had appeared, although it ultimately revealed its counterfeit nature. However, it did have a third of genuine content, as Ning Zhuo had indeed released the Demon-Stained Blood Meridian Art to gain trust at the time.

Golden Core cultivators who participated in the melee and had held the true scripture, to varying degrees, knew some of the content of the first few layers of the ‘Demon-Stained Blood Meridian Art’.

But at that time, Scholar Monarch did not participate.

Although he also wanted to, he belonged to the All-Book Tower. The latter was a world-renowned neutral force and could not casually participate in regional disputes.

Therefore, Scholar Monarch was completely unaware of the ‘Demon-Stained Blood Meridian Art’.

He wanted to purchase it from Zhu Xuanji but was immediately refused by the latter.

Before the first palace examination, Zhu Xuanji might have been moved by Scholar Monarch’s high price and sold some of the cultivation methods he knew.

But now, he had just taken the first round of the palace examination using the jade slip test papers.

Zhu Xuanji used some knowledge of the Demon-Stained Blood Meridian Art to answer the questions.

This further convinced him of the value of the Demon-Stained Blood Meridian Art. At this critical juncture of the palace examination, he could not sell it!

Scholar Monarch sighed and could only bid farewell to Zhu Xuanji, going to find other breakthroughs such as the Zheng family and the Zhou family.

Looking at Scholar Monarch’s receding figure, Zhu Xuanji’s eyes were deep.

On the current ranking list, Scholar Monarch was ranked second. From this ranking, the other party was Zhu Xuanji’s greatest enemy.

On the other side.

“Brother, how did you do on the exam?” Zheng Shuang Gou asked Zheng Dan Lian with concern.

Zheng Dan Lian snorted coldly, suppressing the vexation in his heart.

During the palace examination just now, he had almost taken out his sickle and chopped up the table!

Zheng Dan Lian: “The Three Supreme Masters are nothing special. Before holding the palace examination, they should have propagated the Three Supreme Arts.”

Zhou Nong Ying said: “We just discussed this point. It’s likely that the beast tide attack on the palace caused the palace examination to be greatly advanced. According to the original steps, there should have been transmission of the arts.”

Ning Jiufan added: “Or, on the path of soul entering the Immortal Palace, there should be these three supreme arts in the subsequent stages.”

Zheng Shuang Gou shook his head and smiled bitterly: “It’s fine, it’s fine. We are all in the same boat. The ranking shouldn’t change too much.”

Almost all the cultivators had the same thought as them.

Except for Sun Lingtong and Ning Zhuo.

Zhou Zeshen came before Ning Zhuo and asked about his feelings regarding this palace examination.

Ning Zhuo smiled bitterly: “This time, I’m afraid I messed up the exam. Alas, I might miss out on a great opportunity in life!”

Zhou Zeshen immediately felt relieved and comforted him: “Everyone is the same. Brother Ning, please be at ease.”

Ning Zhuo, however, shook his head: “How can we Qi Refining cultivators compare to those Golden Core cultivators? Their horizons are much broader than ours. Even if they don’t know the Three Supreme Arts, they can answer the questions as much as possible through their own understanding.”

“This is not the case for you and me.”

Zhou Zeshen nodded and sighed bitterly: “What I thought is the same as you, Brother Ning Zhuo.”

In a corner on the other side.

Yang Chanyun came before Sun Lingtong.

Sun Lingtong had a conflicted expression.

Yang Chanyun couldn’t help but worry: “Hey, how did you, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, do on the exam?”

“You are too young and your cultivation is weak. Don’t get eliminated because of too many blanks.”

“If I’m the only one participating in the subsequent palace examination, the profit distribution afterwards must be increased by another 10% for me!”

Sun Lingtong sneered and rolled his eyes at Yang Chanyun: “Woman, just you wait and see.”

He quickly glanced at Ning Zhuo in the distance.

After Ning Zhuo obtained the Three Supreme Arts, he shared them with Sun Lingtong without reservation!

Ning Zhuo could answer the questions with all his might, but Sun Lingtong could not.

Because he was acting under Ning Zhuo’s name.

Therefore, for many questions, even though he knew the answer, he could not give the correct answer.

Sun Lingtong had to consider the situation when the palace examination results were announced.

Therefore, throughout the entire palace examination, he was extremely conflicted.

It was too difficult to grasp this balance!

The cultivators’ exchanges were interrupted by the sudden arrival of information.

“First round of palace examination, performance ranking as follows:”

“入门标准 (Entry Standard).”

“Scholar Monarch.”

“Zhu Xuanji.”

The crowd immediately erupted in an uproar.

The first place was simply too, too, too 눈에 띄는 (eye-catching)!

“入门标准 (Entry Standard)?!” Everyone looked at Sun Lingtong with eyes full of shock, anger, hatred, and disdain.

Even with Sun Lingtong’s audaciousness, being glared at by so many people at once, he couldn’t help but swallow his saliva.

Yang Chanyun snorted coldly, took a step forward, and blocked Sun Lingtong behind her. She let out a cold chuckle: “Everyone, whoever wants to be eliminated by the Molten Lava Immortal Palace and disqualified from the palace examination, feel free to make a move!”

The anger in everyone’s eyes was almost boiling over.

“What a Not Empty Sect!”

“I didn’t expect their infiltration to be so deep, so familiar with the Three Supreme Arts!!”

“If Sun Lingtong knew the Three Supreme Arts, how could he only practice his innocent boy technique?”

“This is clearly cheating, it’s blatant cheating!”

“We worked hard to answer the questions and honestly took the palace examination, yet this thieving little scoundrel openly cheated?!”

“Alas, I should have thought of it earlier. Sun Lingtong, being in the Foundation Establishment stage, could enter the Immortal Palace with his soul. He cleared the checkpoints, taking full advantage of his high cultivation. It seems the Not Empty Sect has grasped a huge loophole in the Molten Lava Immortal Palace!”

“Where is the Palace Spirit? Someone is cheating!!! Please punish them severely at once!”

The cultivators were furious.

The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit, of course, was paying attention throughout and rolled its eyes upon hearing these words, feeling extremely powerless.

Because it knew the truth.

It growled: “What you should really be concerned about is Ning Zhuo! It’s this little monster!!”

Seeing that everyone was kept in the dark, seeing “Ning Zhuo” in the middle of the ranking list, completely inconspicuous.

This made the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit feel deeply powerless, and the chill in the depths of its heart grew stronger.

Sun Lingtong secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

He successfully completed his mission, not making his results too outstanding, allowing Ning Zhuo to continue to hide.

Yang Chanyun suddenly embraced him.

This intimate gesture made Sun Lingtong extremely repulsed. He pushed with all his strength and broke free.

“Yang Chanyun, what are you doing?!” Sun Lingtong yelled.

Yang Chanyun’s eyes were fervent, staring intensely at Sun Lingtong: “Amazing, you little guy, you really brought honor to our Not Empty Sect.”

“How did you do it?”

“Did you really get the Three Supreme Arts, or did you cheat?”

“Quick, quick, tell me!”

Sun Lingtong shook his head: “Oh, you’re really annoying.”

Looking at Sun Lingtong from afar, Ning Zhuo also quietly relaxed, feeling quite relieved: “As expected of the boss!”

The name Ning Zhuo was in the middle of the list and was not noticeable.

New information was transmitted again.

“Combining the performance list and the examination ranking, a new calculation is performed, resulting in the following ranking:”

“Zhu Xuanji.”

“Scholar Monarch.”

“Zheng Dan Lian.”

“入门标准 (Entry Standard).”

Ning Zhuo.

Zhou Zeshen.

“How is this possible?!”

“I, I failed?”

“Damn it!”

The cultivators in the last ten positions on the list changed color one after another. Some cried out in pain, while others were crestfallen.

Ning Zhuo noticed that there was not a single Golden Core cultivator among them. About half were trial disciples, and the other half were Foundation Establishment cultivators.

The horizons and knowledge of the Golden Core cultivators were still sufficiently profound.

The questions in the jade slip test papers were limited to the Qi Refining stage, and a few reached the Foundation Establishment stage. Therefore, even if the Golden Core cultivators did not know the Three Supreme Arts, they could cleverly answer through their own knowledge.

On the other hand, the reason why not a single Golden Core cultivator was eliminated was also because they had accumulated more achievements before and their rankings were at the forefront.

The trial disciples who were eliminated suffered from their limited knowledge.

As for those Foundation Establishment cultivators, there may be reasons from both sides. On one hand, they lacked achievements, and on the other hand, their knowledge was also inferior to that of Golden Core cultivators, and their contribution was less significant.