Therefore, she preferred to use a simpler and more laborious method.

Looking at the sun outside, Qin Ruqing knew the time.

She sat on the stone stool, and even took the time to send reassuring messages to those outside.

“It’s fine, don’t worry, it’s not a big problem!”

She sent the same message to her third sister, Qi Rong, and Tang Zifeng, without elaborating further since she was pressed for time and couldn’t explain much.

After sending the messages, Qin Ruqing unexpectedly received an unfamiliar message on her communication stone with no notes.

“Fairy Ruqing, my sharpening stone, our decisive battle isn’t over yet. You must come out.”

Qin Ruqing: ?

Who is this person trying to be funny?

But the message was too specific, and Qin Ruqing muttered, “Dan Qing? What’s with this ‘sharpening stone’ nickname!”

However, Qin Ruqing had encountered many oddballs before, so she calmly put away the communication stone and said, “If you come to my Qin family, you can stay at our family’s Xinglin Garden No. 3.”

The Qin family’s bizarre resort, which Dan Qing would surely enjoy.

Clenching her fists, Qin Ruqing stood up and faced the red-eyed Golden Core puppet blocking the cave entrance.

“You’ve provoked me, and now I’m going to show you what I’m made of!”

After saying this, the red-clad goddess leaped into action, her silk robes fluttering as golden flames erupted from her fists. It seemed she was opting for a close combat approach against the puppet!

“Boom!”

Was the puppet knocked away? No, the goddess was thrown away!

Qin Ruqing was slammed against the wall, gritting her teeth in pain.

Without hesitation, she used the momentum to spring up and punched again, only to be thrown back once more.

Soon, Cave No. 8 was filled with scenes of the red-clad goddess being repeatedly knocked down.

It seemed she was determined to break through with sheer force.

In the secret chamber, the directors watched the scene with surprise.

“What is she doing?”

The Director of the Northern Region, holding a sword, replied calmly, “Given her intelligence, she knows that brute force is not the way, but she insists on using it. She must have another purpose.”

Director Feng said, “This reminds me of the first test on Sand Boat Island. Her approach to the second monument was also puzzling but incredibly effective.”

The other directors nodded, appearing quite relaxed. They didn’t seem to think Qin Ruqing would fail this challenge.

While a Golden Core Stage puppet might seem intimidating, it’s not comparable to a real cultivator of that level. Puppets lack intelligence and have many exploitable weaknesses.

Moreover, the puppet only guards the entrance. If she can find an opportunity, slipping out counts as a win.

The directors set the challenges with a certain level of difficulty in mind.

Given Qin Ruqing’s previous performance, the directors didn’t think she’d struggle with this task.

Instead, they were more interested in her luck and fate.

“From Qin’s development and the events surrounding her, it’s clear that she is exceptionally fortunate. The Qin family’s success is likely due to her. However, it’s strange that she drew one of the most difficult challenges, which is almost impossible to draw.”

This situation seems contradictory!

The Director from the Western Region, who practiced Buddhism, had some understanding of these mysterious matters and suggested:

“This might be because she is highly favored by the Dao of Heaven, which brings her great luck. But her personal luck is extremely poor, leading to this contradictory and paradoxical situation.”

In other words, even the good fortune bestowed upon Qin Ruqing by the Dao of Heaven couldn’t erase her own misfortune.

What stubborn bad luck!

The directors fell silent. Eventually, the Southern Region Director shook his head and said, “Fortunately, her own qualities are exceptional. A bit of bad luck won’t affect much.”

On the screen, Qin Ruqing had been knocked down hundreds of times.

She seemed exhausted, but somehow quickly revived and faced the puppet with increasing ferocity.

Such impressive recovery! Is she even tired at all?

Director Feng commented, “This must be related to her physical condition.”

Well, it’s obvious that her recovery ability is abnormal!

Given how energetic she looks, she could probably continue fighting for another day.

Such a situation likely relies on special secret techniques or physical enhancements.

The Southern Region Director didn’t respond, focused on the screen, and suddenly exclaimed, “She stopped.”

After being knocked down a thousand times, Qin Ruqing slowly got up. This time, she didn’t charge recklessly as before.

Pouting and forming hand seals, she murmured:

“You wanted to kick me… watch me blow you away! I can’t just use a thousand seeds, I’ll give you something extra!”

She used the Blue Lotus Seal again.

She wasn’t afraid of revealing it since she had already used it before.

Qin Ruqing’s lips curled into a satisfied smile, her face taking on a dangerously alluring look in the golden lotus flame’s light.

.

The Maitreya Buddha Examiner, who had been leisurely relaxing, suddenly widened his eyes.

His expression changed several times, shifting from green to white, and then from white to black.

With a sudden leap, the Examiner performed several hand signs and pulled a section of space near the entrance of Cave No. 8, tightening it like an invisible bag.

He then tightly grasped the opening of the bag.

“Everyone, back off!”

The candidates, though confused, could tell something major was happening from the proctor’s expression.

Those who reacted quickly had already moved away from the island, while others were still in the process of evacuating.

Just as they were halfway through, a deafening explosion erupted from behind.

The entire entrance of Cave No. 8 was blown away.

The aftermath of the explosion was blocked by the Examiner’s protective barrier, but some broken stones still scattered everywhere, hitting the candidates and causing startled cries.

The Examiner, struggling to maintain the barrier, coughed several times.

The Examiner had received a warning about this girl before she even started her test, saying she was troublesome and needed to be watched closely.

At the time, he hadn’t taken it seriously, but now, seeing the situation, it was clear she was indeed troublesome.

The Examiner, known as the Maitreya Buddha, was visibly strained, with veins popping out on his arms as he continued to cough.

Inside the now-destroyed Cave No. 8, Qin Ruqing used the explosion’s force to escape.

Before leaving, she kicked the damaged puppet in frustration, breaking off its arm.

It was as if she was saying that even a passing dog deserved a kick if it crossed her path.

With smoke rising, Qin Ruqing flew out, exhausted from using up all her spiritual energy and even her Dao Physique needed time to recover.

Despite her exhaustion, she remembered her score and approached the Examiner, who still had a dark and angry expression.

“Sir, I should be within the time limit, right? I had sensed the explosion in advance and there were no other candidates in the ten caves! I didn’t harm anyone else!”

The Maitreya Buddha Examiner, though silent, was cursing inwardly.

So, you wanted to harm me, did you?

After a while, he finally released his grip on the barrier, rubbing his hand behind his back, still feeling numb from the shock.

As Qin Ruqing awaited her score, other candidates, seeing her dramatic escape, gathered around in disbelief.

“She blew up the entrance and forced her way out of a Core Formation Stage puppet’s defense! How did she do that?”

“Is this the difference between the top of the list and the rest of us?”

With the exam nearing its end, despite the commotion, this candidate had undeniably passed the test.

After some contemplation, the proctor used a golden ring, touched his palm, and announced to Qin Ruqing, “Your score is now available.”

He continued, “The last candidate on Tianyun Island has successfully completed the test. The first round of the competition is over. You may return to the foot of the Mountain.”

Qin Ruqing and the other candidates immediately checked their jade slips for their results.

Qin Ruqing smiled, clearly satisfied with her score.

As for the other candidates, their looks were no longer of surprise but of fear.

She drew the hardest challenge, broke through a Golden Core Formation Stage puppet’s defense, and received extra points… Who could compete with her now? Even Dan Qing might struggle.

This round of the competition was truly dominated by her alone.

At the foot of the Mountain, the last bit of ash fell from the incense burner, marking the end of the first round.

The first round of the competition had ended for everyone, and the participants from prominent families were about to return to the foot of the Mountain.

They would wait for the directors to announce the qualifying score, known as the “genius line,” which would determine who was eliminated.

Those on the brink of elimination were naturally nervous, but Qin Ruqing, who was in first place, didn’t have to worry about such things.

The first round was over for her, but she still looked worried, her brow furrowed and her face scrunched up.

Qin Qirong noticed her expression and asked, puzzled, “Sister, you’ve scored full marks and secured the top position. Why do you still look unhappy?”

Qin Ruqing replied seriously, “I’ve drawn the worst luck possible. How can I be happy about that?”

She muttered to herself, “Could it be that winning ten consecutive times has drained all my good fortune?”

“It can’t be!”

Qin Ruqing slammed her palm down firmly. “Good fortune must be conserved in this world. After this misfortune, my luck will surely return!”

Determined, Qin Ruqing decided to settle her affairs after returning and then start a lottery.

She wanted a single draw!

After great misfortune comes great luck; her single draw would definitely bring a miracle!

With this decision made, Qin Ruqing asked, “Was there anyone with particularly good luck in the final test?” She wondered if she could catch a bit of that good fortune.

Since she was among the last to test, she didn’t know the results of others’ tests.

Qin Qirong said with a somewhat puzzled expression, “Well, it’s that girl from the Rui Family Fenhua.”

Rui Family girl? “Oh! Is it Fenhua? Was she the luckiest?” Qin Ruqing remained calm at this point.

Qin Qirong took out a jade slip and pointed to the rankings on it:

“She, like you, drew one of the rarest challenges, but it was the simplest type—just walk from one end of the cave to the other. Due to her incredible luck, she not only scored full marks but also got extra points.”

“That’s not all. Thanks to those extra points, she barely edged out the original tenth place, Song Xinwu, by just one point, making it into the top ten on the gold list.”

Just one point away from the top ten?

That’s almost like barely making it into a University!

Qin Ruqing’s eyes widened, her expression dazed.

She was stunned and stammered, as if her worldview had been shattered:

“This is impossible. It can’t be…”

She couldn’t believe that anyone could be so incredibly lucky!!!