Yan Ran explained, "The Inner Gate List of Outstanding Talents is indeed related to the Four Sects' Genius Ranking, and it was created to inspire the disciples of the Heavenly Sword Faction."
"Of course, the difficulty of entering the Inner Gate List of Outstanding Talents is much lower than that of the Four Sects' Genius Ranking, so the rewards are also much less."
"In other words, those who can make it to the Four Sects' Genius Ranking within the Heavenly Sword Faction are definitely also listed on the Inner Gate List of Outstanding Talents and occupy the top positions. But not everyone on the Inner Gate List can make it to the Four Sects' Genius Ranking."
"Because there are only fifty positions on the Four Sects' Genius Ranking, whereas our Inner Gate List of Outstanding Talents has seventy-two!"
"That Huang Daochen just now, he is also on the Inner Gate List of Outstanding Talents, but he's ranked seventieth!"
"However..." Yan Ran hesitated before continuing, "Although he is just ranked seventieth, which is at the bottom of the list, he's still a part of it. I'm not his match, and the residences of the disciples on the list have better Spirit Gathering Arrays and Defensive Formations than those halfway up the mountain. So even though you have the Sacred Wood Branch, Junior Brother Mu, once you get to his place, it might not be effective..."
"The most important thing is, to go to the summit of Tianlan Peak, you need the consent of a disciple on the List of Outstanding Talents. If you are not invited, as soon as another disciple on the list sees you, and if they're in a bad mood, they might take action against us!"
"Oh, is it that overbearing?" Mu Jinyu frowned and asked, "What is the general strength of those on the Inner Gate List of Outstanding Talents?"
Yan Ran replied, "Those ranking at the bottom are generally at the Fifth Layer of the Divine Transformation Realm, while those in the middle-upper range are at the Sixth or Seventh Layer!"
"Is that so? Then I have a rough idea." Mu Jinyu smiled knowingly upon hearing Yan Ran's response, not caring at all about the so-called geniuses on the list.
Yan Ran heard Mu Jinyu's words, his heart skipping a beat, and then asked, "Junior Brother Mu... are you still planning to go up?"
"Yes, please lead the way, Senior Brother Yan." Mu Jinyu smiled.
"But..." Yan Ran was full of worry and indecision.
In his view, Mu Jinyu's strength was merely at the Fourth Layer of the Divine Transformation Realm, just barely entering the Inner Gate. If he intends to go to the summit of Tianlan Peak, it would be like seeking his own doom.
He couldn't understand why Mu Jinyu was so confident, still wanting to go confront Huang Daochen. Did he really believe that with a Sacred Wood Branch in hand, he was invincible?
Mu Jinyu said, "Don't worry, Senior Brother Yan, I won't act recklessly. I only do things I am confident in. If you don't want to go up, I can go alone."
Hearing Mu Jinyu's words, Yan Ran's expression changed several times, finally gritting his teeth and sighing, "Sigh, forget it. Master told me to guide you, so if you insist, I'll accompany you at the risk of my life."
Yan Ran, with a bitter expression, led Mu Jinyu toward the summit of Tianlan Peak, to the residences of the disciples on the List of Outstanding Talents.
Following Yan Ran, Mu Jinyu quickly reached the expansive summit, seeing at the entrance a black stele nearly three zhang high.
The stele was entirely black, of unknown material. At the top were five large characters: Inner Gate List of Outstanding Talents.
Below were seventy-two columns of names, glowing faintly, indicating their remarkable status.
Mu Jinyu glanced over them, noticing the name of Yun Ge, whom Lin Feng had mentioned during the Outer Gate exam, high on the first column.
"Third on the Four Sects' Genius Ranking, first on the Inner Gate List of Outstanding Talents..." Mu Jinyu murmured, his gaze passing over to the seventieth name, Huang Daochen!
Withdrawing his gaze, Mu Jinyu said to Yan Ran, "Let's go, Senior Brother Yan."
"Mm." Yan Ran responded, carefully noting no one was around before leading Mu Jinyu toward Huang Daochen's residence.
They had just reached the vicinity of Huang Daochen's door.
The door of the house opposite Huang Daochen's opened, and four to five people walked out.
One man, with a somewhat gloomy face, saw Mu Jinyu's group's strength, only at the Fourth Layer of the Divine Transformation Realm, sneaking around, and couldn't help but furrow his brow, shouting, "Who are you? Who allowed you up here?!"
His tone was accusatory. If they couldn't explain who allowed them up to the summit of Tianlan Peak, he seemed ready to teach them a lesson with a thunderous hand!
Yan Ran trembled upon hearing this voice, swallowing hard, feeling doomed.
Mu Jinyu stopped, looking back indifferently while saying, "We're here to find Huang Daochen."
"Oh, Senior Brother Mu, you're here too?"
At this moment, a woman at the back of the group spoke with a tone of surprise.
Mu Jinyu glanced over, his eyes flashing as he recognized her.
It was Li Xiaoxiao, with whom he had exchanged a few words after the Outer Gate exam.
She was also at the summit of Tianlan Peak, having just come out of a disciple's residence on the List of Outstanding Talents.
After a brief thought, Mu Jinyu guessed that she had some connections within the Heavenly Sword Faction. Once promoted to the Inner Gate, she must have come to visit the Senior Brothers and Sisters on the list.
"Hmm." Mu Jinyu nodded slightly to Li Xiaoxiao as a greeting.
Li Xiaoxiao, recalling Mu Jinyu's earlier words that he came to find Huang Daochen, couldn't help but curiously ask, "Senior Brother Mu, was it Senior Brother Huang who allowed you up?"
Mu Jinyu shook his head, lightly saying, "No, I don't know him. He offended me, so I'm here to settle the score."
"Junior Sister Li, do you... know each other?!"
One of the people beside Li Xiaoxiao spoke up, noticing her conversation with Mu Jinyu, and Mu Jinyu's bold claim about seeking trouble with Huang Daochen.
"Yes." Li Xiaoxiao quickly introduced, "This is Senior Brother Mu I mentioned earlier. He placed first in the Outer Gate exam and even rejected the Sect Leader's offer to take him as a disciple!"
"The Spirit Root genius?!"
The others were stunned upon hearing Li Xiaoxiao's words.
They hadn't expected Mu Jinyu, newly promoted from the Outer Gate to the Inner Gate, to already dare to come to the elite summit of Tianlan Peak.
This was a bit...
Too arrogant!
A man resembling Li Xiaoxiao chuckled after recovering from his surprise, "Interesting, interesting. Previously, you refused to be the Sect Leader's disciple in order to cultivate in seclusion within the Outer Gate. Now, you ascend to the top in the Outer Gate exam, and upon entering the Inner Gate, you challenge someone on the List of Outstanding Talents..."
"You truly aim to be earth-shattering with your moves!"
The gloomy-faced man smirked, "I hope this is a case of a hidden dragon ascending and not mere arrogance!"
They doubted Mu Jinyu's challenge against Huang Daochen would end well.
Given Mu Jinyu's Concealment Art, they only saw him as being at the Fourth Layer of the Divine Transformation Realm. Challenging Huang Daochen at the Fifth Layer seemed a losing battle!
Seeing they didn't intend to cause trouble and merely wanted to watch, Mu Jinyu ignored them, stepping directly to Huang Daochen's courtyard door and delivering a thunderous kick.
The courtyard, under attack, immediately activated its Defensive Array, trying to resist Mu Jinyu's assault.
But because Mu Jinyu's attack was too fierce, the Defensive Formation quickly became unstable, shaking violently, making nearby courtyards feel like an earthquake!
While attacking Huang Daochen's courtyard, Mu Jinyu shouted, "Huang Daochen, get out here!"
"Get out here!"
"Get out here..."