"The person who ranks No.1 in the test today is Xiong Hu with 36 points while No. 2 is Jin Yuan Bao with 32 points," the Heavenly Leader Guardian announced loudly in the assembly hall.
As soon as the Heavenly Leader Guardian was done speaking, everyone had their eyes trained on both Xiong Hu and Jin Yuan Bao one after another.
"They live up to their name of being No. 2 and No. 3 in the Thirteen Gangsters when they scored first and second in the test today," many of them exclaimed.
"The both of them will surely be Master City Governor's disciples!" Envy rippled around the room.
Naturally, some of them were bitter and felt helpless.
Xiong Hu smiled joyfully.
Although Jin Yuan Bao did not show his pleasure as obviously as Xiong Hu did, a curve appeared at the edge of his lips. It showed how happy he was at the moment.
"From today onwards, Xiong Hu and Jin Yuan Bao will be my disciples," declared the City Governor of Mound Hill City.
However, he took a glance at Duan Ling Tian with disappointment in his eyes.
Since the City Governor of Mound Hill City had said since the beginning that he would only take the people who ranked first and second today as his disciples, the Heavenly Leader Guardian did not announce the ranking and results of the rest.
As the City Governor of Mound Hill City spoke, people were looking at Xiong Hu and Jin Yuan Bao with envy and jealousy.
"For the rest, I'll send your point records to the Merit Pavilion. All of you can retrieve the Merit Points from the points that you've obtained today in three days," the Heavenly Leader Guardian said while looking at Duan Ling Tian and the rest.
At that moment, everyone was exhilarated.
"One point would mean a hundred Merit Points… I have eight points, so I'll be able to trade in 800 Merit Points! Hehe!" One of the Intermediate Mortal Shedding Stage Martial Cultivators among the Thirteen Gangsters snickered.
"I've slightly more points than you do. I'll be able to trade in 900 Merit Points!" Another Intermediate Mortal Shedding Stage Martial Cultivator tittered too.
"Heavenly Leader Guardian, Xiong Hu, and Jin Yuan Bao will stay. The rest may return to the Latent Dragon Camp," informed the City Governor of Mound Hill City calmly as his voice spread throughout the entire assembly hall.
Just when the people sighed while shaking their heads and were ready to leave, a person took a step forward and said to the Mound Hill City's City Governor, "Master City Governor, Duan Ling Tian was the one who obtained all of the points that our team of three achieved."
"Please give all of the points our team has achieved to Duan Ling Tian." It was Guo Li who spoke to the City Governor of Mound Hill City while bowing.
To her, if Duan Ling Tian had not shared the points he obtained from killing the bandits with her and Zhu Lang, Xiong Hu would not rank the first in the test today.
"Guo Li." Duan Ling Tian frowned, not expecting her to speak up for him.
"That's right. Master City Governor, Duan Ling Tian was the one who obtained all of the points. I'm guilty of taking it." Zhu Lang stepped forward while clenching his teeth.
Although he desired the Merit Points, he felt guilty seeing Duan Ling Tian being disqualified.
To him, Duan Ling Tian was the one who deserved to be the City Governor of Mound Hill City's disciple in today's test.
"Hmph! Master City Governor has set the rule since the beginning. Do all of you think we're playing a game here? Do you think Master City Governor would believe that Duan Ling Tian was the one who obtained all of the points?" Zheng Jian mocked.
The City Governor of Mound Hill City who sat in front said nothing. Maybe he did not hear what Guo Li and Zhu Lang said, or maybe he did not want to be bothered with them at all.
"Let's go." Duan Ling Tian frowned and took the lead to leave the assembly hall after calling out to Guo Li and Zhu Lang.
He did not expect them to do that.
One must know that he had zero interest in being the City Governor of Mound Hill City's disciple.
Seeing that the City Governor of Mound Hill City ignored them, Guo Li and Zhu Lang looked at each other and forced a smile. Subsequently, they left with Duan Ling Tian as that was the only thing they could do.
However, they were filled with regrets. They regretted participating in the test with Duan Ling Tian and being a burden to him.
Meanwhile, the rest left the assembly hall one after another.
"Guo Li thought she could make Duan Ling Tian the Master City Governor's disciple just by saying that! Ridiculous!" Hou Lin smirked.
"It's funny that they wanted to use the points they obtained to help Duan Ling Tian to win a spot," Zhang Ji Long said disdainfully.
"Duan Ling Tian, I'm sorry… I'm sorry for burdening you," Guo Li apologized to Duan Ling Tian on the way back to the Latent Dragon Camp.
"It's me who should apologize. I can't believe we didn't manage to get second place with our points," Duan Ling Tian sighed.
He had miscalculated something.
He did not expect the Perfection Mortal Shedding Stage bandit to be the last bandit.
He obtained a total of 93 points after they entered the valley and killed the bandits along the way, including the Perfection Mortal Shedding Stage bandit. After dividing the points into three, they obtained 31 points each.
On the other hand, Jin Yuan Bao who ranked No. 2 in Thirteen Gangsters obtained 32 points which was one point more than what they had each obtained.
"We've only obtained 73 points, so we get 24 points each when it's divided into three. We're quite a distance away from ranking second place." Zhu Lang forced a smile.
Both he and Guo Li had no idea that Duan Ling Tian had killed the Perfection Mortal Shedding Stage bandit.
However, Duan Ling Tian did not plan to explain that.
Zhu Lang and Guo Li would naturally find out about it when they traded their points for Merit Points in three days.
"I believe Master City Governor will find out that you obtained 73 points all by yourself sooner or later," Guo Li said, "The two of the 36 Guardians who were protecting us secretly witnessed all of your moves along the way. They knew you were the one who obtained the 73 points all by yourself."
"If Master City Governor knows about this, he'll definitely make an exception to make you his disciple," Guo Li thought at that moment.
She panicked when they were at the assembly hall, which was why she had spoken up to the City Governor of Mound Hill City hastily earlier.
Just like what Zheng Jian said, City Governor of Mound Hill City might not believe what she said.
The City Governor of Mound Hill City would only believe the 36 Guardians.
"That's right." Zhu Lang nodded, agreeing with what Guo Li said.
Duan Ling Tian shrugged and looked like he did not care.
If he felt sorry, he was not sorry that he did not manage to become the City Governor of Mound Hill City's disciple. Instead, he was sorry that he could not return Guo Li the favor.
He had made up his mind.
If what Guo Li and Zhu Lang said came true whereby the City Governor of Mound Hill City could make an exception to make him his disciple, he would definitely grab the opportunity to return a favor to Guo Li.
Not long later, Duan Ling Tian and the other two of them returned to the Latent Dragon Camp and went back to their cottages respectively.
Soon after their return, Zheng Jian, Hou Lin, Zhang Ji Long and the rest returned one after another.
"Did Xiong Hu and Jin Yuan Bao become Master City Governor's disciples?" The other Latent Dragon Camp members were not surprised by the results.
Meanwhile in the assembly hall, Xiong Hu and Jin Yuan Bao stood aside respectfully after going through the ceremony of knighting them as the City Governor of Mound Hill City's disciples.
They did not dare to leave as long as their master did not ask them to.
"How many points did Duan Ling Tian and Guo Li's team obtain?" The City Governor of Mound Hill City asked the Heavenly Leader Guardian while looking at him.
At that moment, Xiong Hu and Jin Yuan Bao were looking at the Heavenly Leader Guardian too. There was curiosity deep in their eyes.
To them, Duan Ling Tian was undoubtedly a freak.
They were eager to know how many points the freak's team had achieved.
"93 points," Heavenly Leader Guardian said after his lips twitched a little as the three stared at him.
93 points?
As soon as the Heavenly Leader Guardian said that, Xiong Hu and Jin Yuan Bao were dumbstruck. They only inhaled sharply in unison after a while, disbelief written on their faces.
"93 points? Are you sure you didn't make a mistake?" The City Governor of Mound Hill City asked while frowning.
"No," the Heavenly Leader Guardian said, "They initially obtained 73 points… However, since the Perfection Mortal Shedding Stage bandit died in Duan Ling Tian's hands, they obtained 93 points eventually."
"They obtained 31 points each on average." The Heavenly Leader Guardian glanced at Jin Yuan Bao as he spoke. He seemed to be telling Jin Yuan Bao that he had been so close to losing his second place in the test today.
However, Jin Yuan Bao did not notice the Heavenly Leader Guardian's glance because he was in shock.
"The Perfection Mortal Shedding Stage bandit died in Duan Ling Tian's hands?" At that very moment, no matter Jin Yuan Bao or Xiong Hu, the Heavenly Leader Guardian's words echoed in their heads. They did not snap back to their senses for a long time.
"So, does that mean that what Guo Li said earlier was true?" The City Governor of Mound Hill City asked again.
At that moment, Xiong Hu and Jin Yuan Bao who suppressed their stirred emotions temporarily glanced at the Heavenly Leader Guardian once again.
They remembered that Guo Li had said earlier that it was Duan Ling Tian alone who had obtained all of the points the team achieved.
It was nothing since they did not know the points the trio had achieved earlier. Now that they knew, their hearts jolted. 'Duan Ling Tian obtained 93 points all by himself?'
They could only feel their hearts pumping faster as ever as if it would jump off their chests any second now.
"It's true." The Heavenly Leader Guardian nodded to confirm the fact.
He was shocked to find out about that in the beginning. However, he became numb when he found out that Duan Ling Tian had killed a Perfection Mortal Shedding Stage bandit.
Duan Ling Tian could not be predicted by logic.
That was how they perceived him.
"He obtained 93 points all by himself and killed a Perfection Mortal Shedding Stage bandit when his cultivation base's on the Intermediate Mortal Shedding Stage?" The City Governor of Mound Hill City mumbled softly while his eyes were filled with burning desire.
Xiong Hu and Jin Yuan Bao looked at each other. They saw the shock and disbelief in each other's eyes.
Eventually, both of them had a bitter smile on their lips.
Soon, the City Governor of Mound Hill City said to Xiong Hu and Jin Yuan Bao while looking at them, "The both of you may return… Get Duan Ling Tian to come to the assembly hall. Tell him I'm waiting for him."
"Yes," they replied respectfully and subsequently left the assembly hall. They hurried their way back to the Latent Dragon Camp.
Xiong Hu and Jin Yuan Bao, who had become the limelight among most of the Latent Dragon Camp members, said to Duan Ling Tian when they returned to the camp, "Duan Ling Tian, Master's asking you to see him at the assembly hall." They spoke to him through True Energy Voice Transmission in cottage No. 6 that he was staying in.