Xiao Fengxiong from the Hundred Poverty Nation secured the first position, his cultivation at the initial stage of the Eighth Level of the Dao Fusing Realm, standing supreme among all, earning a perfect score of twenty points. Second place went to Yin Wuji of the Heaven's Edge Nation, whose score was also remarkably high. Third was Guo Kan of the Sculpture of Heaven Nation. Fourth belonged to Liu Guo of the Ancient Tomb Nation. Fifth was Xu Kongzi of the Spiritual Void Nation. Sixth was Murong Huangfu of the Murong Nation.

None of the top six hailed from the Great Mediocre Nation, completely overshadowing the prodigious geniuses of that realm. This was an unprecedented event in tens of thousands of years—what madness had struck the other two hundred and forty-eight nations to produce so many peerless talents all at once! Normally, average geniuses were never even considered by the people of the Great Mediocre Nation. However, the people of the Great Mediocre Nation had never anticipated a moment where six peerless geniuses would firmly hold the top six spots. Normally, the leading positions would be dominated by those from the Mediocre Nation; such an event had never occurred. Usually, one peerless genius at most would surface. They recalled an instance years ago when two non-Great Mediocre geniuses snatched the top two spots—the second-place finisher then was Yan Cangtian—but that was only two. This time, it was six! This time! It was far from simple.

Countless people inwardly muttered about the strangeness of it all.

Lu Yuan glanced at his own rank and found it disappointingly low: five thousand and first out of a total of ten thousand participants. It was truly bewildering. Given that the majority of participants were at the Third, Fourth, or Sixth Levels of the Great Dao Realm, his position at five thousand and first, being at the peak of the Fourth Level of the Dao Fusing Realm, was entirely normal.

Looking closer, he noticed several figures from the Jin Nation ranked higher than him, such as the Ascetic Yuanyang, ranked three thousand nine hundred and sixty-third, and the Ascetic Zixia, ranked four thousand one hundred and sixty-fifth. Other people from the Jin Nation mostly clustered near the four-thousand mark, none ranking higher.

Only two hundred and forty-nine individuals were selected for this round. It seemed the situation was disadvantageous for the Jin Nation from the very beginning.

Lu Yuan shrugged. His score was eight points, clearly not high. However, there was still the Heaven-Reaching Pagoda assessment ahead, which accounted for a massive eighty points. Any deficit incurred here could be recovered in the Pagoda.

Just as he thought this, a boisterous laugh echoed. Mo Zihe from the Nine Splendors Mountain of the Great Splendor Nation looked towards Lu Yuan: "Merely a paltry eight points? I scored sixteen points this time, twice yours! To dare challenge me with such meager skill is utterly laughable."

Lu Yuan casually picked up his wine gourd: "The dog is barking again. So, Nine Splendors Mountain likes to keep dogs. Alas, why bother."

Mo Zihe bristled with rage: "Good, good, good. There's still the Heaven-Reaching Pagoda assessment. Once you're eliminated after passing the Pagoda, I'll come find you again." He was visibly furious. Since they were currently within the Great Mediocre Nation, any fighting outside of the required assessment tasks was strictly forbidden. He was also barred from acting, lest he forfeit his chance to participate, but his threat was clear. "By then, this young master will extinguish you," Mo Zihe snarled menacingly.

As Mo Zihe spoke, Murong Huangfu passed by. He didn't spare Lu Yuan a glance. Lu Yuan indeed possessed talent, but his current magical power was too low to be his true opponent. Murong Huangfu was confident; his true rival would be Xiao Fengxiong. The two were once considered equals, yet Xiao Fengxiong had already advanced to the initial stage of the Eighth Level of the Heavenly Dao Realm.

Murong Huangfu, born of aristocracy, attracted countless gazes with his sixth-place ranking. Many female cultivators were sighing in admiration: "So handsome." "Young Master Murong truly has a refined bearing." "Among the top ten, Young Master Murong is the most dashing." Those who favored the refined aesthetic murmured such things. Among the top ten, Guo Kan from the Sculpture of Heaven Nation seemed to have the lowest popularity. The man clearly carried an air of simple-mindedness, leading many to wonder how someone so dull could have cultivated to the Seventh Level of the Dao Fusing Realm and become