Chapter 770: Everyone Cheated

Instantly, murmurs erupted from the crowd!

"No way!"

"These two humans didn't awaken any divine art?"

"How is that possible? In the past, even the two-hundred-zhang spiritual vortexes could yield divine arts—how come theirs at three hundred and six hundred zhang couldn't?"

"Could it be that before…"

"Shh… shut up, don't speak recklessly!"

Regardless of the crowd's murmurs, the Jin Gang Demon Emperor turned his gaze toward Zhu Xuanlun.

"Xuanlun… have you awakened a divine art?"

In the Jin Gang Demon Emperor's eyes burned deep longing.

Before Zhu Xuanlun could speak, the Jin Wu Demon Emperor spoke first: "Though Xuanlun's comprehension doesn't match that of humans, he still opened a two-hundred-twenty-zhang spiritual vortex. I believe mastering this Tian Gang divine art should be no problem!"

As he spoke, Zhu Zhengyan gave his son a meaningful glance.

Before Zhu Xuanlun came to awaken, Zhu Zhengyan had prepared a divine art for him.

Of course, this divine art wasn't Lingwu ed by Xuanlun—but it didn't matter.

I'll just say I Lingwu ed it. What can you do about it?

Who's going to verify it?

It's related to Tian Gang anyway.

He expected his son to reveal the divine art, but Zhu Xuanlun took a deep breath, shook his head, and said: "Forgive me, Uncle Yuan. If you gave me three more years, I could awaken this Tian Gang divine art—but the time is too short. My art isn't complete yet!"

Clearly, Zhu Xuanlun had indeed awakened a divine art—but it wasn't perfected.

In other words, it didn't count.

"This…" Zhu Zhengyan, the Jin Wu Demon Emperor, was so furious he nearly spat blood—but he couldn't expose the truth. He glared fiercely at his son and growled: "Fine, fine, Zhu Xuanlun, you're impressive—you're better than your old man… hehe… just wait. When we return, I'll give you three hundred divine whippings!"

Zhu Xuanlun's face paled again.

"Sigh…" The Jin Gang Demon Emperor let out a long breath. "What a pity indeed!"

First, second, third place.

None of them awakened a divine art.

Next up: fourth place!

Third place was Feng Wanxi.

When she awakened, her spiritual vortex was two hundred zhang.

When the Jin Gang Demon Emperor asked Feng Wanxi, she calmly bowed and said: "Your Majesty, the Jin Gang Demon Emperor, I have indeed awakened a divine art related to Tian Gang energy here!"

"Whoa…"

The entire scene erupted in uproar!

Well, well…

The top three didn't awaken anything, yet you…

Actually did.

Then, everyone saw Feng Wanxi sweep her jade arm—and a streak of Tian Gang energy shot from her body, transforming into a violent whirlwind that surged outward.

"Stop!" The Jin Gang Demon Emperor immediately halted the art. "Good. Indeed, this is a Tian Gang divine art!"

"Feng Clan prodigy Feng Wanxi: +100 points!"

Whoa…

Though no one voiced doubt, the crowd's murmurs grew louder.

Some sneered. Others chuckled. Some laughed openly.

Yet Feng Wanxi, standing before them all, still wore an air of calm composure.

But the flicker of panic in her eyes didn't escape the gaze of the Demon Emperors.

But what could they do?

She was of the Feng Clan, and there was no way to thoroughly investigate the awakening of a divine art.

If Feng Wanxi claimed she Lingwu ed it, who could challenge her?

Soon, a shocking scene unfolded.

Fourth place: Buddhist Mingyue, awakened a Tian Gang divine art: +100 points.

Fifth place: Tian Hu Clan's Bai Zhiting, awakened a Tian Gang divine art: +100 points.

The Peacock Holy Maiden, awakened a divine art: +100 points.

…

He Pingsheng glanced over—nearly all the prodigies of the Nine Celestial Clans had received +100 points.

All of them, without exception, claimed to have awakened a single Tian Gang divine art.

Even Zhu Que's Nan Qiqi had been awarded +100 points.

Well, well!

Well, well indeed!

At the final tally, the top three scorers ended up ranked outside the top ten.

The entire scene erupted in chaos.

Neither the crowd nor the Demon Emperors had anticipated this.

How embarrassing!

The faces of the Demon Emperors grew darker by the second.

In the past, only two or three would pull such tricks—now everyone's doing it?

But the problem was, there was no way to catch anyone in the act.

"Huh…" The Jin Gang Demon Emperor took a deep breath, displeased: "Next time we hold the Stone Platform Gathering, this rule must be changed…"

The Nine Celestial Clans, relying on their deep reserves, casually hand out Tian Gang divine arts to their juniors to cheat.

If this keeps up, the Stone Platform Gathering will lose all meaning.

"Hmph…" Seeing this, the Jin Wu Demon Emperor snorted in fury—he wanted to go down and slap his son senseless right now.

Idiot!

I gave you the chance, and you still blew it.

"He Pingsheng, Wang Dun!" The Jin Gang Demon Emperor turned again: "And Xuanlun—if you feel your awakened divine art is too powerful to fully display, just reveal a trace of Tian Gang energy. I'll count it as awakened!"

"And I'll award you +100 points!"

The Jin Gang Demon Emperor felt the top three were too unfairly treated.

But He Pingsheng shook his head again: "Thank you, Your Majesty, but I truly haven't awakened any divine art. It's my own fault—I didn't spend much time on awakening. Most of my focus went into breaking through!"

"Look—my cultivation base has advanced three levels!"

The Jin Gang Demon Emperor nodded: "What about Wang Dun?"

Wang Dun said: "Apologies, Your Majesty. I haven't awakened anything either. Let them have the points—I'll reclaim them in the fourth trial!"

Wang Dun wore a look of absolute confidence.

The other Demon Emperors' faces turned black.

Zhu Xuanlun still bowed: "Uncle Yuan, my art isn't complete—I won't display it."

"Very well," the Jin Gang Demon Emperor nodded. "Then the rankings are final!"

"All of you, here is the current ranking… take a look yourselves!"

Hummm…

Lines of characters appeared in the air.

First place: Feng Clan, Feng Wanxi: 197 points.

Second place: Buddhist Mingyue: 196 points!

Third place: Tian Hu Clan's Bai Zhiting: 195 points!

…

He Pingsheng scanned down the list.

Not bad.

Wang Dun ranked tenth: 100 points.

He ranked eleventh: 99 points.

Zhu Xuanlun twelfth: 98 points.

"All of you!" The Jin Gang Demon Emperor waved again. "The overall score leaderboard is over there… feel free to check anytime!"

He pointed to a stone stele nearly a hundred zhang tall beside the plaza.

He Pingsheng remembered—there had been no such stele before the awakening. He didn't know when it had been erected.

Let's go take a look.