In the outside world, within the Pagoda, many eyes were staring at the Ranking Stele that was floating in the hall.
Although it wasn't time for the regular ranking assessment, many people had come here because they knew something big was about to happen.
It was something related to the top ranking disciples with Nascent Soul Realm cultivation, as a lot of rumors had spread across the entire sect in the past few days. And almost everyone was excited about seeing their favorite senior brothers and senior sisters rise up even further!
Among all those present out there today, one particular figure stood out above everyone else: a tall young man wearing dark green robes with long black hair tied behind his back. His sharp red eyes exuded confidence like he didn't have any equal under heaven itself!
He seemed aloof from everything going around him, standing still like a statue amidst an ocean full of people moving here and there without stopping even once for some time.
But despite being someone who looked down upon everyone, his gaze kept shifting between two names written over the Ranking Stele. It was as if he wanted nothing more than these two to disappear right now without leaving behind anything at all!
And yet, no matter how much anger bubbled inside his chest, he didn't do anything foolish. After all... this person had learned long ago that acting on emotions like these would only lead toward more troubles instead of resolving anything.
Still though, seeing those two names always made him feel furious beyond belief!
Just then loud shouts erupted from across the entire place where many disciples gathered together while looking towards someone who had just exited the ranking test of the pagoda.
It was a young woman clad in red robes with golden lines running along her sleeves and collar area. She had beautiful auburn eyes accompanied by wavy reddish-brown hair. Her body curves were perfect without any excess fat, making her look like a goddess!
With every step taken by this lady, people cheered out loud while clapping their hands together as if welcoming back some hero after winning against impossible odds during a battle against powerful monsters or demons.
"Senior Sister Long Lingyu has done it again! Look at her ranking!"
"Yes! She joined the sect not long ago, and yet she has already risen to the 8th position in the 7th level of Pagoda. I heard that she is even qualified to enter the secret realm!"
"Of course she is. Not only her, all the top 20 of the 7th level and top 30 of the 8th level of the Pagoda can participate in the secret realm."
"I am envious of all those who are going to be part of this event. It's not like a secret realm opens every other day."
"Yes. And all these seniors will come out from there with massive increases to their cultivation levels and combat power. Not to mention the resources they might get from inside there..."
"Hey, you can only envy someone if you don't belong to the same league as them. It's not like any of us here could ever compete against them. And we won't know what hit us before we are killed if we go to that realm! Only monsters like these senior brothers and sisters can go to the secret realm and achieve things."
"Shhh... Lower your voice; you don't want that senior brother over there to hear you bad mouthing about him. It would be a disaster!"
"Hahaha, you have no taste, man. The way Senior Sister Zhang Lingling teases everyone is way more attractive than that unapproachable cold-looking ice queen."
"Hah, what do you guys know? None of you can understand the graceful and elegant temperament of Senior Sister Zhang Meiling. She is like a goddess that descended from heaven."
"Hey guys, stop talking nonsense. All the triplets are beautiful in their own ways, but don't forget, they are all monsters who can kill you in an instant if you even look at them in the wrong way."
"Hmph! Who cares? I would gladly die for a chance to get noticed by them."
"You are sick, brother!"
As the crowd continued their discussion, the trio walked away while ignoring everyone else present around them.
"Ling'er, Mei'er, are you two sure about participating in the secret realm?" Zhang Xueling asked her two sisters as soon as they left the area.
"Of course. I don't want to miss this opportunity." Zhang Lingling replied with a playful smile on her face before continuing further. "Moreover, didn't you also agree that if we can obtain qualification, you won't stop us from going? Or are you going back on your word now?"
Zhang Xueling frowned at her question but didn't say anything more than this.
She knew very well how stubborn her younger sister was and that she wouldn't let go of matters once she set her mind upon it.
But even so, she still couldn't help worrying over the safety of these two siblings, who meant everything to her.
Seeing such an expression appear across her eldest sister's face made Zhang Meiling move forward while putting one hand over Zhang Xueling's shoulder before saying in a soft tone of voice filled with confidence that made everyone around feel relaxed whenever listening to it, "Big Sis Xueling, please don't worry too much about us. We will be fine. The results of our ranking test are proof that we are strong enough to protect ourselves during this expedition. Also, all of us have improved a lot compared to last time."
After hearing Zhang Meiling's words, Zhang Lingling couldn't help adding some fuel to fire things up further, "Yeah! If anyone tries to mess with me, I'll make sure they regret ever doing such a thing! Hahaha!!"
"This is exactly what I am afraid of..." Zhang Xueling muttered under her breath before letting out an exasperated sigh. "You just don't know how to lay low and cause trouble everywhere you go. It will be a miracle if you don't end up offending some powerful cultivator inside the secret realm."
"Come on! I won't do things like these on purpose; I swear!" Zhang Lingling replied innocently, but no one believed her because she always seemed to find new ways to annoy those around her.
"Still though, we have to participate," Zhang Meiling spoke again after seeing that neither party was willing to back down from their opinions. "We can't miss out on this chance. Increasing our own strength would help us deal with whatever schemes our enemies might have against us in the future."
A serious look appeared on the face of each triplet as they thought about all the troubles waiting ahead for them in the days to come.
Troubles that had been looming over their heads ever since their birth itself!