Chapter 806

"Ladies and gentlemen!"

The seventh elder of the Phoenix Clan waved his hand, sweeping over the matter of Huo Ming's attainment of Body Integration: "My Phoenix Clan will immediately investigate Huo Ming's achievement of Body Integration through Dao Comprehension, and we will certainly provide everyone with a satisfactory reply!"

"However, due to significant anomalies during this trial, no one is permitted to leave!"

"All prodigies, follow Golden Steel Demon Emperor immediately to the Stone Platform Stairway!"

"We will tally the results there!"

"The Stairway will open for ascent in three days!"

"Hurry!"

The seventh elder of the Phoenix Clan waved his hand again.

Golden Steel Demon Emperor frowned—he had not been informed of this step.

Yet since the Phoenix Clan's Demon Emperor had spoken, Golden Steel Demon Emperor could not directly insult the Phoenix Clan's face; he merely nodded and said, "All of you, follow me!"

Whoosh—

Hundreds of disciples followed Golden Steel Demon Emperor away, transforming into streaks of light and landing on the nearby Stairway Plaza.

"Feng Wanxi!" Before Golden Steel Demon Emperor could speak, the seventh elder of the Phoenix Clan immediately asked: "In the fourth trial, how many jade tablets did you obtain?"

Swish—

All eyes turned to Feng Wanxi.

Feng Wanxi lowered her head, her expression grim, and bowed: "Disciple is incompetent—this stage yielded not a single jade tablet."

Swish—

The crowd erupted in murmurs.

A top Phoenix Clan prodigy didn't obtain a single jade tablet?

How is that possible?

In truth, Feng Wanxi had indeed obtained no jade tablets, for she had remained hidden all along, fearing He Pingsheng would kill her.

For her, the points from the first three stages were enough to place her in the top thirty and challenge the Stairway.

Even if she pushed herself to the limit in the fourth stage, she could never reach first place.

Thus, risking herself for a few extra points was simply not worth it.

So she stayed hidden in the cave, never emerging.

"Good!" The Phoenix Clan's Demon Emperor seemed unconcerned with Feng Wanxi's points: "Then in this stage, you receive zero points!"

"Come with me!"

Feng Wanxi and Huo Ming were then taken away.

No sooner had the Phoenix Clan's Demon Emperor left than the other Phoenix Clan elders, Kongkong Demon Emperor, Tianpeng Demon Emperor, and others followed the seventh elder away one by one.

"Alright, now let's determine the rankings!" Golden Steel Demon Emperor said: "Zhu Xuanlun, how many jade tablets did you obtain? Show them!"

One by one, cultivators produced the jade tablets they had collected.

He Pingsheng had acquired many jade tablets, but he could only produce six or seven.

The rest he had crushed.

Moreover, since he never seized the stone stele, his ranking was low.

Even so, he still placed thirty-sixth, earning sixty-five points.

But that was all.

The rest of the rankings: Wang Dun first.

This boy earned two hundred points in this stage.

Bai Zhiting came second with one hundred ninety-nine points.

Zhu Xuanlun came third with one hundred ninety-eight points!

Nan Qiqi obtained fewer jade tablets than He Pingsheng, but because she seized a stone stele, she received a hundred bonus points.

In the end, Nan Qiqi ranked fourth overall.

Results are in!

The overall rankings have shifted.

The overall number one is now Zhu Xuanlun!

Number two: Bai Zhiting!

Number three: Wang Dun!

Number four: Feng Wanxi!

Number five: Mingyue!

Number six: Nan Qiqi!

Number seven: He Pingsheng…

…

Wang Dun was formidable—first in kills, instantly slaying peers, dominating the stone stele.

Yet in this fourth stage, his score was only one point higher than Bai Zhiting's and two points higher than Zhu Xuanlun's.

Thus, after final results were tallied, his ranking still did not reach first.

It was third.

But even third place was astonishing enough for him.

After all, in the third stage, he had barely earned any points.

"Hehehe…" An elderly demon emperor with white hair walked up to He Pingsheng, smiling: "Young He, you've done well—surviving the schemes of the Phoenix Clan and Kongkong Demon Emperor, and slaying many of their prodigies. I admire you!"

He Pingsheng recognized the elder demon emperor and immediately bowed: "Your Majesty, Xuanwu Demon Emperor!"

Correct—the demon emperor was Xuanwu Demon Emperor of the Northern Sea Emperor Domain.

The Northern Sea Emperor Domain was also called the Xuanwu Emperor Domain.

His true form was a colossal divine turtle.

Moreover, the divine turtle clan—or Xuanwu clan—was one of the Nine Celestial Clans.

Seeing the Northern Sea Demon Emperor approach He Pingsheng, countless eyes turned toward them.

"No need for formalities," Xuanwu Demon Emperor said: "Earlier, I noticed you holding a blood-red turtle shell. If I recall correctly, that shell was forged from the molted carapace of one of my Xuanwu clan's transcendent immortals—its rank should reach the level of a Xuantian Spirit Treasure, a Demon Emperor-grade weapon, correct?"

He Pingsheng's heart skipped: Oh no—is he here to demand the shell?

He quickly bowed again: "Your Majesty, this item was brought from the lower realms—it is not from the Spirit Realm, nor was it stolen from your Xuanwu clan!"

"Hmm," Xuanwu Demon Emperor nodded: "I understand this much. I did not come today to claim it."

"But you don't know—the divine turtle blood armor has two halves: the upper shell and the lower shell!"

"The one you hold is the upper shell."

"When the upper and lower shells are united, their power multiplies."

As he spoke, Xuanwu Demon Emperor waved his hand and produced another blood-red turtle shell: "Look—this one in my hand is the lower shell."

"I give it to you."

"Only after the upper and lower armor plates are refined together can they achieve their maximum defensive effect!"

Go!

He Pingsheng stared, dumbfounded.

Not only did they not demand the tortoise shell in his hand, they gave him another one.

This...

Not only was He Pingsheng dumbfounded, everyone else was stunned, their jaws nearly dropping to the ground.

"Fuck..." someone blurted out a curse: "What... what does this mean?"

"The Black Tortoise Demon Emperor just gave He Pingsheng a Profound Heaven spiritual treasure?"

"What's going on here? Can anyone tell me?"

Everyone was bewildered.

Among the onlookers at the periphery stood a tall man with an immortal aura.

Beside this man stood a delicate, radiant young girl.

The two were father and daughter—naturally, Tian Jin and Tian Yao.

"Father, what does the Black Tortoise Demon Emperor mean?" Tian Yao also didn't understand.

"I don't know!" Tian Jin shook his head, but after a few breaths, he nodded, "The Black Tortoise Demon Emperor excels in divination—he can see past, future, and karmic ties from previous lives. Though he is a Mahayana Emperor, he is no benevolent soul!"

"Today, he gifted a treasure to He Pingsheng—he must have seen that He Pingsheng will one day be extraordinary!"

"Huh..." Tian Jin exhaled deeply: "Perhaps... even the Phoenix Clan can't kill him now!"