It has been a long run. From the first phase to now, Ken had managed to take care of most enemies easily.

However, that didn't last; it couldn't.

Let alone an official disciple, Ken had struggled to keep up with one of the old inner sect disciples from the 4th batch, and with that disciple having a wide experience and some perfected techniques, the two of them had gone toe-to-toe against each other for half an hour before Ken outsmarted him.

But everybody had seen his limit. Ken's, that is.

It was unfortunate, but Ken was but a disciple with amazing comprehension.

In the end, when he came across someone with more experience, he was bound to meet his end, yet against all odds, he had exceeded expectations until he couldn't anymore.

And thus, when he was put against Alex when he reached the top 10, he couldn't help but be amazed.

The way official disciples fought against their opponents in tournaments allowed for both sides to benefit immensely, and by the time the 15th minute mark was on the clock, Ken, with all dignity, stepped down.

He had assumed he would be within the top 30 at most because he thought he would fight against both core and official disciples, but the entire core sect only allowed for 10 disciples; thus, he was lucky enough to reach the top 10 overall.

And he was the only disciple from both the outer and inner sects to do so, both because of fortune and because of his high and impossible comprehension.

It was to the point where people thought he could perfect a technique by only looking at it once, but that was obviously far from the truth.

And thus, the competition ended.

The rewards were distributed, the banquet rose once again, and time ticked as Adam got things ready for another lecture.

But, this time was used by Ken to go back home and continue reading 'The Book'.

Who would have thought... who would have thought that in his absence so many things would happen?

---------------

The outer sect's defense was breached, and a group of old-looking cultivators flew down all the way to the VIP room.

There, the inner sect elders welcomed them with serious faces.

"What are you people of the Great Realm sect doing here?" The first to speak was Elder Magga, the front man of the elders, and someone who everybody could tell with one look had great enmity against these people.

"Now now, we're not here to fight; we heard that a lot of you were gathered around, and we came here to seek retribution for a little something your elder Aristo took from us."

Hearing these words, the elders squinted their eyes, and one of them looked around, then the elder master floated up after finishing his drink and spoke.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this isn't a place to speak of such matters." He pointed towards a portal he opened with his hands and gestured for them.

"If you may."

And so, the gathering ended due to unforeseen circumstances...

-----------

Everything went back to normal, and the disciples returned to doing what they were used to.

Only a week was left for the elimination round of those who will be picked to go on the secret realm.

But everybody knew who was going and who was not from each batch.

Ken and the top 10 behind him were, without fail, going, as the former was a one-man army and the latter supported each other and wouldn't allow for any to fall down.

Not to mention that the difference between them and the rest of the batch's disciples was big.

At the moment, such a thing was still away, and Ken wasn't worried about his chances of participating.

Thus, while followed by the eyes of the entire sect, he moved towards the ascension tower, in hope of taking on the 2nd trial and also coming back the next day to face as many floors as he could now that most knew about his high mastery over techniques.

At the same time, he was planning on trying out something new he had gained from the Providence Gacha.

Something from the Special category, and something... that he needed very much in this world, something that would allow him to scale forward and truly reach the level of genius even without his high comprehension.

[----------Status----------]

Name: Ken Nem

Gender/Age/Lifespan: Male/20 Years Old/140 Years.

Race: Human

Element: Death{10th Grade}.

Stars: Starless

Spirit Path: 1st Qi Refining Realm/7th grade root.

Physical Path: Apprentice.

Skills: [Faceless], [Combat Talent(NEW)].

Techniques: [Useful Records (Idle Training-Evolving) {Mastery: Major Accomplishment}], [Perception Mastery (Idle Training) {Mastery: Major Accomplishment}].

Arts: [Art of Spirit Cultivation], [Art of Efficiency], [Art of Spirit Forging], [Xian Liansuo Arts], [Restraining Order Art].

Traits: [Infinite Providence], [Death Holder].

[----------------------------]

[----------Idle-Training----------]

[Useful Records - Mastery: Perfect —Time to Become an Art: 40+ Days.]

[Perception Mastery - Mastery: Perfect —Time to Become an Art: 40+ Days.]

[Sure-Kill Strategies - Mastery: Basic —Time to Perfect Rank: 2 years.]

[----------------------------------]

[Combat Talent] Something that made him pretty much a monster when it came to combat in all of its forms.

His techniques, which have already reached the level of art, could now be used in ways he couldn't even think of before; his fighting prowess increased, and he could even simulate fights while walking in his mind, and the difference between having the skill and not having it was massive.

It was a passive skill, and it just went on to make someone who already had enough cheats on his plate even more powerful.

However, it wasn't something he was very much in need of as a cultivator; it could still make things much easier for him when it came to planning, as now, he could think of more ways to defeat enemies faster.

All in all, it was good that he had refrained from using the gacha before the tournament, as the attention he had on him and the impression people have built of him is enough as it is.

------End------