The Spiritual Mountain Sect's unspoken rule was that no one was allowed to place first for three consecutive rounds. The first and second rounds could be manipulated, but not the third round.
Therefore, the only way to manipulate the rankings was through the first and second rounds. Although the first and second rounds were different, the core of the test was the same. The first round tested a cultivator's strength and perseverance. The stronger one's body and willpower, the higher one's ranking would be. The second round tested a cultivator's willpower and state of mind. The more honest and determined one was, the higher one's ranking would be.
However, these two types of tests could easily cause one type of person to stand out quickly. That was the Martial Warrior!
A person who practiced martial arts from a young age had tempered his body from a young age. He was able to withstand the tempering of the bitter cold and the torment of the scorching heat. Over the years, it was easy for him to forge an extremely strong body and a strong spiritual will.
Therefore, the stronger a martial artist was, the easier it was for them to place well in the first and second rounds. It was very easy for a strong person to win the first and second rounds consecutively.
Therefore, the first and second rounds had to be manipulated. Otherwise, if the person who won consecutively turned out to be a talented genius in the third round, the Spiritual Mountain Sect would be handing the initiative to someone else. What if this person said, "That's all the Spiritual Mountain Sect can do, I'm not playing anymore."
What would happen to the Spiritual Mountain Sect's reputation then?
Sun Boyi was not afraid of anyone seeing through his tricks, because manipulating the rankings and ensuring that no one could win the championship consecutively was what he was supposed to do.
Compared to his brother Sun Boren, who had a low cultivation level, his younger brother Sun Boyi was a talented cultivator, especially in illusions. No one in the younger generation would underestimate him.
Sun Boyi was full of confidence, so Ouyang Xiu could not say anything.
Sun Boyi pointed at Li Chengfeng in the sea of clouds. "Look, I've used a little trick. This kid has already fallen into the sea of clouds, I think he'll fall into the sea of clouds soon!
I don't think he can pass the second round.
If he can't pass this round, I'll find an excuse not to let him participate in the third round. Then everything will fall into place and no one will be able to blame me for chasing him off the mountain! "
Senior Sister Ouyang watched as Li Chengfeng's figure slowly sank into the sea of clouds. She nodded slightly and said, "I didn't expect this kid to be so mentally strong. He can still persist for so long."
Sun Boyi smiled. "It's just a matter of time."
Senior apprentice-sister Ouyang looked at the other person and said, "This is the Fourth Young Master of the Zhan Clan?"
Zhan Qisheng covered his eyes and ears as he walked forward slowly. Unlike the others, every step he took was steady. Although his speed was slower, he was very stable. At most, his body would sway a little when he took a step, but he would quickly regain his balance and walk forward steadily.
Senior Sister Ouyang revealed a look of admiration and said, "As expected of the descendant of a famous clan, your will is firm and different from ordinary people. Amazing!"
Sun Boyi smiled fawningly. "This is just a pig among the dragons, phoenixes, dogs and pigs, and it's already so amazing. You can imagine how powerful the dragons and phoenixes are."
Senior Sister Ouyang said lightly, "The Zhan Clan has been dominating the Northwest for hundreds of years. They have deep roots and great power. Naturally, they are not ordinary people."
Sun Boyi smiled. "Senior Sister Ouyang, do you think the Fourth Young Master of the Zhan Clan will be the winner of the second round?"
Senior Sister Ouyang nodded slightly. "Looks like it. After all, he's the closest to the finish line."
As they spoke, they did not notice that Li Chengfeng, who was trapped in the illusion, was undergoing a sudden change!
In the illusion, the Grim Stork that swallowed Li Chengfeng raised its head and roared, its voice shaking the heavens and earth. A beam of golden light shot out from its belly.
The Grim Stork looked down and howled in fear. It clawed at its abdomen with all its might, but more and more golden light shot out of its abdomen. Then, the Grim Stork's body suddenly exploded into countless pieces, and a golden human figure appeared in its abdomen. This person emitted a blinding golden light, so blinding that it almost covered the entire world. He stood in the golden light, and his face could not be seen clearly. One could only see the outline of his body and the golden vertical eye on his forehead that was emitting a blazing golden light.
The golden eye was slowly closing and the golden light dissipated. When the golden light faded, the person's face was revealed. It was Li Chengfeng.
Li Chengfeng opened his eyes, slightly dazed. He looked left and right, realising that the beauty in the white dress, the terrifying Grim Stork, his mother's figure, and the back garden were all gone. There was only a door glowing with a faint white light in front of him.
Li Chengfeng walked towards the door. His journey was smooth without any obstructions. After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, he arrived at the door. He saw that the door only had a door frame, floating above the sea of clouds. White waves of light flowed through the door. He reached out to touch it, but it felt like he was touching water.
Li Chengfeng thought for a moment, then stepped forward and disappeared into the door frame.
Once he passed through the door, Li Chengfeng felt the air beneath his feet and he fell. Li Chengfeng was shocked but before he could react, he was already on the ground.
Li Chengfeng had just landed when Sun Boyi and Ouyang Xiu, who were above the clouds, heard the crisp sound of a bell. Their expressions changed.
"Someone's reached the finish line?"
Senior Sister Ouyang's eyes widened. "That's impossible! Isn't the Fourth Young Master of the Zhan family still here?!"
At this moment, Zhan Qisheng was still forty to fifty metres away from the finish line. He was still moving forward slowly and steadily.
Senior Sister Ouyang and Sun Boyi looked at each other. Senior Sister Ouyang said, "Did we miss someone else?"
Sun Boyi instinctively looked towards Li Chengfeng's position but there was no one there. Sun Boyi smiled. "It shouldn't be that kid."
Senior Sister Ouyang said, "There are a few talented fellas this year, but I wonder who will be first in the second round?"
Sun Boyi smiled apologetically. "Senior Sister Ouyang, come with me and you'll know."
In a flash, both of them disappeared in mid-air. When they reappeared, they were in a gigantic stone house.
The stone house was ring-shaped, and there were five stone platforms in the center facing east. The stone platform in the middle was the tallest, and there was a chair at the top. It was impossible to see the whole thing clearly, but it gave off a majestic and inviolable feeling. On the side of this stone pillar, there were two stone pillars on the left and right, and they were aligned in order. There was a chair on each of them, but the size of the chairs was much smaller than the one in the middle.
Below the five stone pillars, there were seven stone steps. Each stone step was circular in shape, with distinct levels and ranks.
At the bottom of the stone steps was a circular field. In the middle of the field was a cauldron that was wide enough for three people to hug. Nine incense sticks of different lengths were inserted into the cauldron.
Below the cauldron was a man with his eyes blindfolded. He crawled up in a daze and pulled off the cloth, looking around blankly.
When Sun Boyi and Senior Sister Ouyang saw this, their jaws dropped.