His question was extremely abrupt, yet it voiced the doubt in everyone's hearts!
For a genius who had displayed such terrifying formation mastery in actual combat, what was her rank in the overall standings of the competition, which gathered all the Golden Core stage prodigies of every sect?
Was she in the top ten?
The top twenty?
Or... even higher?
That Beast Taming Sect elder dared not delay. He immediately took out a communication jade slip, sank his divine sense into it, and quickly began to search.
The high platform fell silent instantly. Everyone's gaze focused on that elder, and even the sect leaders were no exception. Clearly, they were all extremely concerned about this question.
This series of movements was smooth and seemingly ordinary, but who among those present wasn't a cunning old fox who had cultivated for thousands of years?
Although the high-level figures of the various sects remained sitting as still as bells—some sipping tea, others watching the battles—the atmosphere of the entire high platform had undergone a subtle shift.
Immortal Venerable Ling Xiao's hand holding his cup paused for a moment. The white-bearded elder from the Tianyan Sect, who had been resting with his eyes closed, had his eyelids tremble slightly.
Even the Sect Leader of the Water Moon Sect, who had been chatting and laughing with her disciples, slowed the rhythm of her fingertips tapping the armrest by half a beat.
A moment later, the elder looked up, his face filled with a hint of unbelievable shock and strangeness. He looked at Qin Wuyan and spoke in a somewhat dry voice, whispering into the other's ear.
"Sect Leader... I found it. Feng Qingping of the Five Elements Dao Sect... in the overall rankings of the Golden Core stage Sect Competition... is ranked... twenty-sixth."
Though whispered, this number was like a clap of thunder exploding on the silent platform, causing the hearts of all the powerful figures secretly paying attention to the matter to shake.
Twenty-sixth.
This ranking was truly subtle!
It was perfectly situated just outside the crucial threshold of the top fifty advancing to the top twenty-five, stopping short of the battle for the top twenty-five, yet precisely occupying the twenty-sixth position.
This meant she had successfully stood out from hundreds of Golden Core stage prodigies, steadily entering the top fifty to earn considerable personal points, while perfectly avoiding the most intense and eye-catching elimination rounds for the top twenty-five!
To achieve such a ranking was by no means an accident or a result of insufficient strength.
On the contrary, it was highly likely the result of meticulous calculation and precise control!
Consider this: the ranking rules of the Sect Competition were complex. To stop at a specific rank—especially one like twenty-sixth, which was neither too low nor too prominent—to avoid further exposing one's strength.
This required not only an extremely clear understanding of one's own power but also a deep grasp of the competition rules and even an accurate prediction of the strength and tactics of potential opponents!
What did this indicate?
It indicated that Feng Qingping—or rather, the Five Elements Dao Sect behind her—had no intention of letting her stand out too much in the Individual Arena Battle!
They had intentionally let her hide a portion of her strength, saving her true trump cards for the more important Sect Team Battle phase!
Individual ranking matches were more about displaying individual martial prowess and frontal combat ability.
The team battle, however, was the stage where formations, strategy, cooperation, and various special abilities truly shone!
A cultivator of Feng Qingping's type would play a far greater role in a team battle than in an individual one!
"A fine twenty-sixth rank..." Liu Changhe gently set down his teacup, a flash of realization and appreciation in his eyes. "Keeping a low profile while maximizing benefits and minimizing risk. The Five Elements Dao Sect has truly produced a meticulous disciple."
The white-bearded elder of the Tianyan Sect also slowly opened his eyes, a sharp light flickering within. "Precise score control, hiding sharpness in simplicity. This girl not only possesses startling formation talent but also an extraordinary temperament. The Five Elements Dao Sect is plotting something big this time."
Zhao Wufeng's fingertips stopped their tapping, and a meaningful smile curled his lips. "Intentionally staying in this position ensures a respectable amount of points without becoming a target by pushing too far forward. It also allows her to catch opponents off guard in the team battle... Sect Leader Feng Yi, this disciple of your sect is truly... a remarkable person."
In an instant, the atmosphere on the high platform became even more subtle.
Originally, they were only surprised by Feng Qingping's formation mastery. Now, the high-level figures of each sect began to reassess the overall strategy of the Five Elements Dao Sect and their true goals for this team battle.
Feng Qingping's 'twenty-sixth rank' was like a mirror, reflecting the hidden edge and far-reaching schemes concealed beneath the Five Elements Dao Sect's low profile.
Amidst the hushed discussions, the gazes directed at Feng Yi, the Sect Leader of the Five Elements Dao Sect, became more complex.
Some were amazed that the Five Elements Dao Sect had cultivated such a specialized eccentric genius; others were grave about the variables Feng Qingping might bring to the team battle; and still more felt a deep wariness and a faint, hard-to-detect envy.
Envy that the Five Elements Dao Sect could have such a disciple—one who did not simply chase rankings but possessed decisive power in a specific field.
The Five Elements Dao Sect had been silent for many years. Was this competition truly showing they were a place of crouching tigers and hidden dragons?
First, there was Duan Xianxing with his Natural Sword Physique, then Li Nanzhu, who cultivated the three paths of the brush, the sword, and alchemy. Now, an actual-combat formation freak like Feng Qingping had emerged... Add to that the refinery champion Jiang Yifan, the Nascent Soul champion Mu Wenyan, and Zhu Yinxi, who specialized in both music and the sword...
Was the Five Elements Dao Sect about to make a powerful rise?
Qin Wuyan slowly sat back in his seat, his expression shifting between light and dark.
He had originally thought the Five Elements Dao Sect had just produced a few juniors with decent combat power. He hadn't expected them to be hiding a trump card like Feng Qingping.
This made him even more worried about the situation of the Beast Taming Sect disciples in the secret realm.
Similarly, everyone realized that after this battle, the name of Feng Qingping would surely resound among the high-level figures of all sects in a different way!
And the Five Elements Dao Sect's method of cultivating disciples—specialized yet highly distinctive—once again drew the attention and contemplation of the entire cultivation world.
Feng Yi took in everyone's reactions, his expression remaining calm and indifferent as if everything were within expectations.
He merely raised his teacup and took a light sip. No one could see the brilliance swirling in the depths of his eyes.
As the person who had personally taught Feng Qingping, he knew her characteristics well. He also understood that a Sect Competition ranking could not fully represent a cultivator's true value and potential.
At this moment, he felt only pride for his disciples and a faint sense of anticipation.
As for the proverb about the tree standing out from the forest being destroyed by the wind?
As long as he, Feng Yi, was there, if he couldn't even protect his own disciples, he might as well stop being the Sect Leader of the Five Elements Dao Sect and go home to farm.
Within the secret realm, Feng Qingping naturally had no way of knowing the undercurrents and tremors she had caused on the high platform.
But she had been clear from the start: entering the secret realm for the team battle meant that her every move and every strategy would have nowhere to hide under the gaze of the various sect leaders.
She was prepared for this.
From the moment she decided to participate in the competition, she never intended to hide forever.
The 'twenty-sixth rank' in the Individual Arena Battle was the optimal strategy determined after careful deduction.
It secured enough points without prematurely exposing all her cards and making her a target for everyone.
The true stage was this team-based secret realm, which was fraught with danger and tested comprehensive abilities even more.
Therefore, when she was forced to show her special skill in front of Qin Lie, although she had a moment of weighing the consequences, she was not particularly flustered.
Since it could no longer be hidden, she would openly display a portion of her edge.
This was not recklessness, but a continuation of her confidence and strategy.
What she wanted the outside world to see was a Feng Qingping who was 'skilled in formations and good at planning,' but that was still only a part of her strength, not the whole.
"Fifth Senior Sister, what's wrong?"
Li Nanzhu keenly noticed that Feng Qingping had a momentary lapse of focus while controlling the compass and couldn't help but ask with concern.
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