Chapter 62: Beyond Doubt, the Top Core Disciple

"It is indeed true. Disciples from the Hall of Discipline have confirmed it, and several Disciples who escaped have also provided testimony. The presence of Demonic Sect Disciples is suspected, and this matter has been verified without a doubt."

Just as Zhou Chen finished speaking, three Elders from the Hall of Discipline stood up and explained the situation to Liu Qingtian and the other Elders.

After speaking, one of the Disciplinary Elders took three items from his storage ring and placed them on the counting table one by one.

The wreckage of a pitch-black, crack-riddled Ghost-Head Greatsword.

And three black tokens wreathed in a faint blood-red Evil Qi. On the front was a hideous blood skull, and on the back were the characters "One," "Five," and "Seven."

The moment the tokens appeared, a dense Evil Qi unique to Blood Demon Cultivation Techniques permeated the air!

"Hiss—Blood Demon Tokens!"

"These are the unique identity tokens of the Blood Demon Sect's Hidden Guards!"

"Hidden One, Hidden Five, and Hidden Seven! These are core-level Hidden Guards!"

Exclamations broke out everywhere.

Everyone recognized the strength of the Blood Demon Sect Disciples represented by these three tokens!

Only Disciples whom the Blood Demon Sect had poured immense effort into cultivating could possess a Blood Demon Token, and every one of them was incredibly powerful and exceptionally ruthless.

Many Geniuses from various Sects had been slaughtered by these lurking Demonic Sect Disciples.

Being able to kill them and seize their tokens meant possessing the absolute strength to crush them!

The Seventh Elder, who was in charge of the Hall of Discipline, had a face as solemn as water. He carefully inspected the tokens and the broken blade, confirming they were undoubtedly genuine.

He took a deep breath, suppressing the turbulent waves in his heart, and said to Zhou Chen.

"This matter is not simple. Zhou Chen, you must explain it in detail."

Zhou Chen bowed slightly and said,

"The process of this Disciple killing these three was quite perilous… I was afraid that staying too long would attract stronger accomplices, so I only took the key items and didn't have time to collect the bodies. A Senior Brother can testify for me."

Zhou Chen narrated with a mix of truth and lies.

His words were logically sound; while some details were withheld, they were beyond reproach.

The Seventh Elder and the three Disciplinary Elders exchanged glances and nodded slowly.

Being able to kill three elite Demonic Sect Hidden Guards at the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment during the trial was a major contribution!

With both key physical evidence and a witness, it was enough to prove that what Zhou Chen said was true.

"Disciple Ma Yuan can testify!"

Just then, a voice filled with the excitement of surviving a disaster rang out.

It was Ma Yuan, whom Zhou Chen had conveniently saved at the Lava Waterfall earlier. Although he had been severely injured and eliminated early, he had still earned quite a few points.

Hearing the Elders' discussion involving the Hidden Guards, he immediately rushed out of the crowd, pointed at Zhou Chen, and added excitedly,

"Elders, it is this Senior Brother Zhou! On the fourth floor's Lava Waterfall, I saw it with my own eyes! He faced the Blood Demon Sect Hidden Guards head-on and saved me. That Demonic Sect scoundrel used that ghost-head blade. If Senior Brother Zhou hadn't intervened, I would have been dead. I can swear a Heavenly Dao oath!"

Ma Yuan's appearance and testimony were convincing, causing a stir in the crowd!

After all, no one would ever joke with a Heavenly Dao oath; if one lied, their path to the Dao would be destroyed, and they would be obliterated by heaven and earth.

"It's confirmed! Senior Brother Zhou killed three Blood Demon Sect Hidden Guards by himself, and two of them were at the ninth level of Foundation Establishment!"

"Heavens! Facing Yao Beasts everywhere while also dealing with the Demonic Sect's assassination attempts, he still managed to achieve such results and get a million points… Just how strong is Senior Brother Zhou?"

"I… I take back what I said before! Senior Brother Zhou's results are well-deserved!"

"Too terrifying! This is a true Prodigy!"

All sorts of astonished and reverent gazes focused on Zhou Chen.

The suspicion and resentment that had arisen earlier due to those million points had long since vanished, replaced by deep shock!

The admiration in Liu Qingtian's eyes was no longer hidden.

He nodded slightly; his voice wasn't loud, but it carried over the entire field.

"Excellent! Zhou Chen, for slaying demons and upholding the Dao with such brilliant talent, you are undeniably the Top of this Core Disciple trial! In addition to the rewards for this trial, the Sect will also provide separate heavy rewards!"

At this moment, no one had any further objections regarding Zhou Chen's points.

The atmosphere in the square was completely ignited, as countless Disciples discussed Zhou Chen's name, his terrifying points, and his battle record.

Looking at Zhou Chen, who stood before everyone receiving the spotlight yet remained deep-eyed and as steady as Mount Tai.

Liu Qianru pursed her red lips, the curiosity in her heart growing stronger like a scratching cat.

Although the Sect Master and Elders didn't sense anyone leaving a name on the Source-Suppressing Stone Stele, Liu Qianru's intuition told her that things weren't that simple.

Was his name really not on the Source-Suppressing Stone Stele of the sixth floor?

Liu Qingtian stepped forward, his voice like a resounding bell.

"The Core Disciple trial ends here!"

"Top—Zhou Chen!"

The blood-red "1,050,000" on the giant stele was eye-catching.

"Second place, Ye Chen, 300,000 points!!"

In the distance, the eyelids of the carried Ye Chen twitched, and an unnatural flush appeared on his pale face, but he failed to wake up in the end.

Third to tenth places were announced in order.

The top ten were selected as Core Disciples. The Sect bestowed upon them Core Disciple robes, with dark gold cloud patterns embroidered on the sleeves, looking ancient and grand.

"From today on, I am a Core Disciple of the Wenxian Sect!"

Standing in the center of the high platform, Zhou Chen looked at the dark gold cloud patterns on his sleeves and felt deeply moved. When he first transmigrated, he had nothing and his face was swollen; now, he was already in the core sequence.

Steady as an abyss and unmoving as a mountain, many female Disciples screamed frantically.

"Senior Brother Zhou Chen, I love you!"

"Senior Brother Zhou Chen, do you have a Dao Companion yet? I want to marry you!"

"Senior Brother Zhou Chen, if you like Junior Brothers, this Junior Brother is also available!"

Even some male Disciples began to joke around, and Zhou Chen almost couldn't hold back his laughter.

Liu Qingtian's gaze swept through the crowd, stopped on Zhou Chen, then turned to Ye Chen on the stretcher, with some faint suspicions in his heart.

Both had entered the sixth floor, but Zhou Chen was perfectly fine while Ye Chen was carried out and his points had been cleared. It truly made one wonder.

Grand Elder Li Hu's expression was complex as he pressed his palm against Ye Chen's shoulder, silently transferring spiritual power.

Due to his merit in killing the Blood Demon Sect Hidden Guards, Zhou Chen received extra points. As the reward for first place, a Heaven Rank Low Grade Spirit Gathering Pill and an Earth Rank Top Grade Spiritual Artifact, the Qiankun Sword, were now handed to Zhou Chen.

[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for intercepting the Opportunity of the Child of Destiny Ye Chen: Heaven Rank Low Grade Spirit Gathering Pill! Triggered hundredfold return! Reward: 100 bottles of Heaven Rank Low Grade Spirit Gathering Pills! Claim now?]

[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for intercepting the Opportunity of the Child of Destiny Ye Chen: Earth Rank Top Grade Spiritual Artifact, Qiankun Sword! Triggered hundredfold return! Reward: Heaven Rank Medium Grade Qilin Armor! Claim now?]

"Do not claim for now!"

With so many people around, Zhou Chen chose not to claim them for the time being.

But it was only a hundredfold return?

It seemed that Ye Chen's key Opportunities had been snatched by him, and no more good things could be squeezed out. He needed to find a few more treasure-hunting rats, Zhou Chen thought to himself.

Liu Qingtian stepped forward again and raised his hand, and the noisy square instantly returned to silence.

"Disciples of Wenxian Sect, hear my command!"