Chapter 22

“You all saw the strength and talent that Lu Zhen displayed, right? However, it’s no use even if you want to go back on your word now!”

Elder Wang no longer paid attention to the quarrel among the outer sect disciples. He slowly withdrew his gaze and looked at Elder Xie and Elder Xie as he smiled.

“Emm, Lu Zhen’s talent is not bad. If nothing unexpected happens, he can be ranked in the top three among all the disciples participating in the outer sect trials this year.”

Elder Li nodded in approval of Lu Zhen’s talent and strength.

“Good, you’ve invested in a promising young man,” Elder Xie also said with a nod.

“Well… Actually, I don’t think you guys need to pretend to be calm.”

Elder Wang looked into Elder Li’s eyes for a long time, then turned to stare at Elder Xie, trying to see through their fake calmness.

However…

What disappointed him was that there was not a slight change in their countenances.

“No way! Lu Zhen already had such a brilliant performance. Do you still think that Mu Qingxue and Su Chen can surpass him? We’ve known each other for a long time. If you lose, so be it. There’s no need to feel indignant! Moreover, this is not something embarrassing. If you feel uncomfortable, you can show it. You don’t have to pretend that you don’t care about anything. The bet is the God Altar Pill! Don’t your hearts ache? Old Xie! Don’t tell me you really believe the brags of those outer sect disciples. Su Chen can seckill Lu Zhen? Hehe, they don’t know the difference between the Qi Sea Realm and the Qi Gathering Realm. Don’t you know it too?”

Elder Wang chattered non-stop as he observed the expressions of Elder Xie and Elder Li. He realized that the two of them were really not flustered at all.

The two of them did not panic, but he was a little flustered.

Their calmness gave him the creeps.

“Cough cough cough…”

At this moment, a monitoring elder next to him coughed dryly and interrupted Elder Wang who was about to continue speaking.

“Next, Mu Qingxue!”

The voice of the monitoring elder rang out.

Mu Qingxue, who had an otherworldly aura and a tall figure, walked to the formation of the first test.

“It’s finally Senior Sister Mu Qingxue’s turn!”

“Senior Sister Mu Qingxue is really beautiful! If only she could guide me in my cultivation…”

“Are you dreaming? There aren’t many people who can talk with Senior Sister Qingxue, and you still want her to guide you in your cultivation?”

“Why are you dreaming in broad daylight?”

…

With Mu Qingxue’s appearance, the atmosphere in the venue instantly became charged with excitement.

After all, she was the sacred goddess in many outer sect disciples’ hearts.

Mu Qingxue silently recited the Three Thousand Purity Palace Art to block out the noise and clamor of the outside world. She slowly came to the crystal ball.

“Qingxue, your constitution hasn’t completely been awakened yet. There’s still a small gap between you and the Forbidden Stage. But overall, it’s not a big problem. It’s fine as long as you can reach the Forbidden Stage in the future. Although Lu Zhen is not bad, he is not a true genius in my eyes. This time, you do not need to hold back your strength. You can unleash your full strength and let these people see what a true genius is!”

An old female voice sounded in Mu Qingxue’s mind.

“Yes, Master!”

Mu Qingxue nodded gently and replied in her mind.

In the next moment.

She stretched out her slender hand and gently placed it on the crystal ball.

Buzz…

The crystal ball instantly radiated with a blinding light, as if a small sun had fallen on the stone pillar.

The noisy crowd instantly quieted down, and everyone cast their glances at Mu Qingxue.

“What’s going on?”

“Why is it so dazzling?”

“What happened?”

“It’s far brighter than the rest of Senior Brother Liu Yang and Senior Brother Lu Zhen put together!”

…

Soon, the silence was broken by astonishing noises.

Even Elder Wang, Elder Xie, and the others were shocked at this moment, and their pupils constricted.

“Is this… Is this the legendary Forbidden Stage? No! The real Forbidden Stage was dazzling with golden lights, but this is also infinitely close to the Forbidden Stage!”

The monitoring elder’s voice carried a trace of shock.

It had been a long time since they had seen such a powerful Level Nine Qi Gathering Realm cultivator.

Even if this was not the real Forbidden Stage, it was still something infinitely close to the Forbidden Stage!

“Such a blinding light doesn’t symbolize the Forbidden Stage?”

The outer sect disciples present were also in disbelief.

If this wasn’t even the Forbidden Stage, then how terrifying would the real Forbidden Stage be?

The light emitted from the crystal ball had far surpassed that of Liu Yang and Lu Zhen!

This difference was so obvious that anyone could see it.

At this moment, Liu Yang and Lu Zhen also stood rooted to the ground in disbelief.

They had never expected Mu Qingxue’s cultivation to be so strong. She was very close to the Forbidden Stage!

But she buried it deep!

The confident smile on Lu Zhen’s face had disappeared at some point, replaced by disbelief.

“When did she become so powerful? Has she been hiding her strength?”

Elder Wang suddenly turned his head and stared at Elder Li.

It was over!

He was totally screwed!

Elder Wang’s heart sank.

In terms of cultivation alone, Mu Qingxue had far surpassed Lu Zhen!

“She has indeed been hiding her strength. I only discovered it by accident not long ago…”

Elder Li helplessly shrugged and said.

Elder Wang was speechless.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but hesitated.

He subconsciously looked at Elder Xie and found that although Elder Xie was also very surprised, he was still calm.

For a moment, Elder Wang felt wholly at a loss.

This…

What was going on?

It was fine if Mu Qingxue had a stronger cultivation base than Lu Zhen, but why was Elder Xie so calm?

Did Su Chen really step into the Forbidden Stage?

The only way to surpass Mu Qingxue in the Qi Gathering Realm was to enter the legendary Forbidden Stage!

These outer sect disciples who were inexperienced, ignorant, and did not know what the Forbidden Stage meant were not just bragging.

But they could even boast about Su Chen killing Lu Zhen in a second!

Elder Wang was very disappointed in them. He did not believe this at all.

At the same time, he also had serious doubts about the authenticity of Su Chen entering the Forbidden Stage!

It had been many years since someone in the Great Mystery Sect had entered the Forbidden Stage in the Qi Gathering Realm!

This time, he had bet four God Altar Pills on that!

Was he really unlucky enough to meet a person who entered the Forbidden Stage?

But he could not figure out why Su Chen was able to step into the Forbidden Stage!