Fu Peng watched as Wang Ling slowly step down from the stage and with his psyche still recovering, he exchanged looks with Lu Tao.

"Announce it already." Lu Tao said in an irritated fashion.

Fu Peng regained himself and cleared his throat, with a wave of his hand the name that was listed on the board changed from Wei Hu to Wang Ling as he announced, "The winner of the challenge is Wang Ling! He would be representing the Thundergod Academy to the coming Ten Year Bout. To those who wish to step up and challenge any of the three representatives, come and step up!"

Fu Peng waited for anyone to step up, but no one had no inkling of doing so. Everyone was too stiff to move or even think of challenging the current lineup of the Jade Board.

Bai Xue, the white fox of the Wang, Wang Ling, the Son of Heaven, and Mao Lan, the Judge of Heaven. Who in their right mind to stand up against such personalities? Besides, the ones who may have the chance to so had already been beaten to a pulp by either Bai Xue or Ye Chuan.

Fu Peng cringed at the sight and sighed as he knew no one would dare come up to challenge any of the three.

[Wang Ling beating Wei Hu in mere moments was the last nail in the coffin.] He thought as he made the Jade Board rise to the air through inexplicable means. The Jade Board began to shine and crack.

Boom!

The Jade Board crumbled to several pieces before reforming itself to three small pieces of pure and untainted sticks of jade with the size of a brush pen.

The three jade brush pen sped away and made its way towards three directions. To Wang Ling, Bai Xue, and Mao Lan. The three received the sticks of hade and held it with their hands (paws).

"Representatives, take a drop of your blood and imbue it to the Jade Sticks. Those Jade Sticks would be your identification slip that registers your blood." Fu Peng's words were heard loud and clear.

Wang Ling did what he been instructed to do and cut his finger. Dropping bit of his blood, the Jade turned red and then quickly turned Grey. This caused Wang Ling to look at the Jade Stick weirdly. There were bits of black and white surfacing amongst the gray color trying to devour each other.

He then heard Fu Peng's words.

"The Jade Stick you have on your hand reflects your qi and bloodline. Most of the Representatives have different colors, but some remain jade in color, however, it does not matter as the only thing that matters is one's combat prowess. With no challengers, I now hereby conclude the Festival!"

A roaring crowd was heard. Wang Ling and the other two basked in a moment of glory. While the claps and cheers of the crowd made the stage feel like it was shaking, Mao Lan approached Wang Ling.

She looked at him with a weirded out gaze. It seems like even Mao Lan could not properly understand the First Young Master known as Wang Ling.

"Junior Wang Ling, follow me, my Master, the old Thunderlord who you have met before is searching for you. Follow me, bring Junior Bai Xue with you. As for you, a student will direct you to a residence where you can rest." Mao Lan said and Wang Ling had no problems with it.

Yan Renhuo had a problem with how she was referred to as but that didn't really warrant her to create a scene so she nodded her head with a heavy feeling in her heart.

[Just because I didn't accept the title of a Phoenix, this lass is actually acting like this?] Yan Renhuo commented. Because of her obsession with Alchemy, Yan Renhuo ignored everything that was given to her including the ranking to become a Phoenix.

Years ago, an envoy from the [Origin Rankings] when her cultivation skyrocketed to True Saint Stage. But she refused to say anything that might spark something as it was a waste of time. And she wanted to enter the [Worlds of Chaos] on her own terms, not be forced in one of the sects when she ascends.

But it seems like not accepting the ranking made some of the people disregard her and even show disrespect towards her. She was free-willed but not unreasonable. Fighting for such a thing was not her thing and she would rather concoct a pill than dive into a full confrontation about something that has no value.

In a way, she was just like Wang Ling who only cares about the things that will benefit him.

Yan Renhuo said her temporary farewells to Wang Ling and Bai Xue and left with a student. Wang Ling was then guided by Mao Lan to the Red Pillar where Lu Tao and Fu Peng was at. No one other than the two was there, the Elders had no intention of staying as they have their own agendas.

Standing in front of Lu Tao, Wang Ling stared at the old man who carried a majestic and rough feeling to him. Bai Xue who was on Wang Ling's head was on edge as if the lightning in her body was attracted to Lu Tao.

Lu Tao looked at them and the pair bowed their heads to show respect.

"Student Wang Ling (Bai Xue) meets, the old Thunderlod and the current Thunderlord!" they lowered their heads to show their respect.

This cause Lu Tao to nod in acknowledgment, but not because he liked being bowed upon but because it was rare to have a Wang bow his or her to him. He had to say it was quite refreshing.

"Raise your heads, such formalities is useless to me."

Wang Ling and Bai Xue raised their heads and looked at Lu Tao directly in the eyes as they waited for his words. While they were doing so, Wang Ling and Bai Xue observed his cultivation and found out they could not see through it.

[As expected, he's strong, even now I can't see through his cultivation at all.] He thought.

At this time, Lu Tao grinned and patted his shoulders with great force. Wang Ling felt the weight it carried and groaned a little to show he was uncomfortable. But Lu Tao showed a wide smile and showed he cared not about his thoughts.

"Child, you were amazing! Though I do not want to admit it, you have the blood of your father in you! Your spear skills were honed to a point that it as sharp as your Brother's, if not sharper…"

Wang Ling rubbed the back of his head like a shy child and chose to stay silent.

"As for your little companion, I was not expecting to see you in the limelight! Your skills are still rough, but your lightning was dense and overbearing like a lightning tribulation from the heavens. I have grown interested on you little one, do you wish to look at the Thundergod's Cave?"

"The Thundergod's Cave? Master, you don't mean…" Fu Peng reacted with a shock expression. Mao Lan merely showed a bitter expression.

"What's the Thundetgod's Cave?" Bai Xue asked.

Lu Tao smiled once again as he nodded his head, "Hehe, little one. The Thundergod's Cave is a place where the first Thunderlord hid the [Thundergod's Spark Legacy]. It is a place where a student who I the current guardian of the cave deems worthy to enter the cave, it is a place of danger and power, I saw you struggling earlier with Ye Chuan and quite frankly I think you're going to be defeated early on if that is the case.

"Ye Chuan is strong, but he is one of the bottom-ranked in the Dragons and Phoenix rankings. I don't think you will get to enter the top eight if you go with your current strength. And so, I want to offer you a hand."

Bai Xue did not have to think about it and just nodded her head in agreement, "I would like to do so, Old Thunderlord."

Bai Xue jumped off Wang Ling's head and Lu Tao looked at Wang Ling and said, "I also want to take you to the Thunderlord's Cave, sadly, she is most suited for it and I can only take one student at a time. So, you have to separate from her, young one."

"It is fine, Old Thunderlord."

With that said, Wang Ling wished Bai Xue the best and watched them leave. The next they would meet should be the day before they leave for the Ten Year Bout which is happening at the 27th day of this month.

The preparation for the Ten Year Bout draws near, and Wang Ling knew he had to prepare as well.

"Maybe, it is time to start the second ignition of the True Heaven and Hell Flames…"