When Pure Yang Shrine's Yin Xu Zi showed up, it only took him a blow to heavily injure and defeat Xu Gang, the Rising Sky Mansion's disciple.

Unlike an ordinary Pristine Saint Stage Martial Cultivator, Xu Gang was widely acknowledged as the strongest person under the Refined Saint Stage in the Rising Sky Mansion. In the Rising Sky Mansion's district, those below the Refined Saint Stage, even those famous Martial and Dao Cultivators at the peak of the Pristine Saint Stage, did not dare to say they could defeat Xu Gang.

However, someone like that was defeated in just a second by Yin Xu Zi who seemed to be only at the Early Refined Saint Stage.

The other nine Ring Masters' expressions turned grave immediately as hints of helplessness appeared in their eyes.

They knew very well that in the Rising Sky Ranking Battle this time, there were more than twenty people who fit the requirements of being below 50 years of age and were at the Refined Saint Stage had come to participate.

Apart from the Rising Sky Mansion and the other outstanding disciples from the other three fifth-grade forces, there were also many talented sectless cultivators who came from all over the place.

These sectless cultivators did not care much about ordinary rankings since it would only gain them short-lived fame. They would be forgotten after a while. However, the Rising Sky Ranking was different. If one made it on the Rising Sky Ranking, one's name would be remembered for a long time in the Rising Sky Mansion's district.

In the Dao Martial Saint Land, very few people could reach the cultivation base that could break the shackles of mortality and live forever. Although their life span was longer, they would still die in the end.

Due to this reason, many people in the Dao Martial Saint Land wished to leave behind a legacy in this world before their lives ended. This way their lives would be worth living.

It was precisely because of this that many talented sectless genius cultivators who were unknown would participate in the Rising Sky Ranking Battle that was held in the Rising Sky Mansion's district every fifty years.

Although these sectless geniuses were outstanding, they were still slightly inferior when compared to the powerhouses from the big forces. Their innate talent might not be any worse than the latter, but they lacked cultivation resources.

Due to this reason, it was only natural for them to be inferior.

"Yin Xu Zi is really powerful!" Everyone's eyes shifted to Yin Xu Zi simultaneously. A baffled expression could be seen on their faces.

Although they knew the Pure Yang Shrine had three outstanding disciples, Jing Xu Zi's presence completely overshadowed the other two disciples. Due to this reason, not many people paid attention to the other two disciples.

Today, one of the two disciples, Yin Xu Zi, had proven his strength to everyone.

"Although I've heard about the Pure Yang Shrine's Three Geniuses, I thought the other two was only famous due to their association with Jing Xu Zi. However, it seems like they really live up to the title of Pure Yang Shrine's Three Geniuses," someone commented. Many people agreed with his words.

"Apart from Jing Xu Zi and Yin Xu Zi, there's still Yu Xu Zi. Jing Xu Zi's strength leaves no room for doubt, and Yin Xu Zi's strength has already been proven earlier. The fact that he shares the same fame as them means Yu Xu Zi is quite powerful as well," many people said.

Most people had their attention focused on the group of people from Pure Yang Shrine.

A few people had their eyes on a young Taoist priest, leading the others to follow their gazes as well. "He's Yu Xu Zi?"

At this moment, Duan Ling Tian's attention was focused on Yu Xu Zi as well. He was a Taoist priest with an ordinary appearance and a medium build. He did not stand out at all among the group of Pure Yang Shrine's people.

If one did not know who he was, it would be easy to mistake him as one of the people who tagged along to watch the show. Nobody would think he was one of the Pure Yang Shrine's Three Geniuses.

"This Yu Xu Zi is not a simple person." Although Duan Ling Tian had his own way of judging people, all he could see of Yu Xu Zi was how reserved and unassuming he was. Due to this reason, his instincts told him there was more to Yu Xu Zi than meets the eye.

"Good!" At this moment, Ren Zhong said, "Even I have heard of the Pure Yang Shrine's Three Geniuses before. Now that I finally witnessed it today, you indeed live up to the name. Currently, there's finally a Refined Saint Stage powerhouse among the ten great Ring Masters. This means the Rising Sky Ranking Battle will soon enter the climax and reach its end. Everyone, I'm looking forward to your performance."

It was apparent Ren Zhong's words were meant for the Refined Saint Stage powerhouses who came to join the Rising Sky Ranking Battle but had not made their moves yet.

Perhaps, it was Ren Zhong's words or it could be Yin Xu Zi's domineering attitude, after a short while, another person rose up to the stage and landed in front of a Ring Master who was at the peak of the Pristine Saint Stage.

As soon as he stabilized his footing, rich True Origin began to surge out of his body.

As the True Origin spread in the air, it caused colors to drain from the face of the Ring Master who was at the peak of the Pristine Saint Stage. "R-Refined Saint Stage!"

The biggest difference between a Refined Saint Stage powerhouse and a Pristine Saint Stage powerhouse was their True Origins.

The True Origins of the two stages were at a completely different level. The auras were completely different as well.

Due to this reason, when the Ring Master who was at the peak of the Pristine Saint Stage sensed the aura of the True Origin of his opponent, he instantly knew his challenger was at the Refined Saint Stage.

"Who's he?"

"I've never seen him before."

"It should be a sectless cultivator… It's said that the Rising Sky Ranking Battle will bring out a group of outstanding sectless cultivators… Looks like it's true."

"Refined Saint Stage… This battle's outcome is obvious!"

The people had their attention fixed on the Refined Saint Stage sectless cultivator. They were certain of the outcome, and as it turned out, they were right.

Although the Ring Master at the peak of Pristine Saint Stage was quite strong, he was still a lot weaker than Xu Gang. Faced with an Early Refined Saint Stage sectless cultivator, he was also defeated in a blow.

Although one was allowed to kill in the Rising Sky Ranking Battle, if the gap of strength was too wide, the more powerful one would usually spare the weaker one's life unless both of them had enmity or the stronger one was a violent and tyrannical person.

The former Ring Master at the peak of the Pristine Saint Stage who managed to live looked at the current Ring Master who was at the Early Refined Saint Stage with gratitude and thanked him, "Thank you for showing me mercy."

The latter nodded his head nonchalantly. The former was not angry since, with the latter's strength, he could have just ignored him.

After that, another eight Refined Saint Stage Martial and Dao Cultivators made their appearances and became the new eight Ring Masters.

The ten Ring Master had instantly changed to Refined Saint Stage Martial and Dao Cultivators. Naturally, they were all Early Refined Saint Stage Martial and Dao cultivators.

Among the ten Ring Masters, some of them were outstanding disciples who came from fifth-rate forces like Yin Xu Zi. However, there were many sectless cultivators as well.

"Half of the ten Early Refined Saint Stage Ring Masters are sectless cultivators… I can't believe there are so many outstanding sectless cultivators hiding in our Rising Sky Mansion's district. If they were nurtured by a powerful sect before this, they'll definitely be even more powerful," many people lamented.

"Hurmph! That's easy for you to say… Do you think that everyone dislikes being a sectless cultivator? Powerful sects are good, but if you don't have a patron, you won't get anything either. Tell me, are there any sects that don't have corrupt high-ranking officials?" Some sectless cultivators said in disdain.

The words of these sectless cultivators made many people fall silent.

Indeed. Although it was said that as long as one possessed a high innate talent, one would be able to join forces like the Rising Sky Mansion, Pure Yang Shrine, and Brahma Temple, one would still need a patron to obtain cultivation resources. Otherwise, one would be left out in the cold or be used and sacrificed in both open and hidden vendettas.

If this was not the case, how could there be so many sectless cultivators in the Dao Martial Saint Land?

Naturally, there were some people who chose to become sectless cultivators because of the freedom it granted them. However, most of them were more afraid of the schemes in powerful sects. Due to this reason, they chose to become sectless cultivators.

"I can't believe there are so many Refined Saint Stage powerhouses below the age of fifty in the Rising Sky Mansion's district," Duan Ling Tian said emotionally as he stood at the side hugging the Jasper Celestial Sword.

"Oh?" At this moment, Duan Ling Tian noticed a pair of eyes staring at him. The owner of the eyes was the Flowery Monk.

Although Duan Ling Tian was aware of his gaze, he did not turn to look at him.

'From the beginning until now, he has maintained his composure… Don't tell me he's really one of those powerful sectless cultivators? Or could it be he's just here to watch the show, that's why he's so calm?' The Flowery Monk thought to himself as he studied Duan Ling Tian.

Initially, when he saw Duan Ling Tian was alone, and he could not see through him, he instinctively felt like Duan Ling Tian was not a simple person. However, after a while, he felt he was thinking too much.

However, when he saw how calm Duan Ling Tian was when the ten Refined Saint Stage powerhouses suppressed the original ten Ring Masters, he realized Duan Ling Tian really might not be a simple person. Naturally, there was also a chance he was just putting on an act.

All in all, he felt that he could not understand Duan Ling Tian at all.

Now that the ten Refined Saint Stage powerhouses became the Ring Masters, they each stood on a huge chess piece. They were fired up with enthusiasm, and they looked like statues of invincible battle gods as they overlooked all directions.

Whoosh!

Without any warning, the rapid sound of wind whistling reverberated in the air. Somebody had flown out from the group of people from Brahma Temple.

It was a young monk whose face was covered with stubbles. His thick eyebrows made him look majestic but not fierce. Although he had a medium build, it looked strong.

When the young monk whose face was covered with stubbles came out, somebody exclaimed, "In the Brahma Temple, there are only two people below the age of fifty who are at the Refined Saint Stage. One of them is the famous Flowery Monk… Don't tell me this is the Wine-Meat Monk from Brahma Temple, the Flowery Monk's Senior Brother?"

Wine-Meat Monk!

Upon hearing his words, many people's eyes lit up immediately.

"Wine-Meat Monk… I've heard of him before. He's Flowery Monk's Senior Brother! Before Flowery Monk rose to the top, he was the strongest Martial Cultivator among the middle-aged generation in Brahma Temple. It was only until Flowery Monk appeared that he became the second strongest," somebody added.