Master, this is my girlfriend.

The Debate Platform had already been destroyed twice, and it needed to be assessed before it could be repaired. Currently, only seven Debate Platforms could be used...

Both were destroyed by sword cultivators, which showed that the combat power of sword cultivators was indeed unmatched in the cultivation world.

And because the remaining sixteen disciples were stronger than the last, Golden Core judges were no longer enough, so the assessment work could only be handled by the Yuan Ying elders within the sect.

There were only four Yuan Ying elders who could preside over the assessment, so from this round onward, only four assessments could be conducted at a time.

Tian Wenjin's ID number was 1, so she was the first to go on stage today; Li Shiyin's ID number was 5, so she had to wait until the next round.

"Damn it!" Long Qiqi punched Xiu Feng and cursed, "What kind of stupid rule is this?"

Tian Wenjin had already gone on stage. The Yuan Ying elder was now verifying her ID number. Long Qiqi climbed onto Xiu Feng's shoulder to get a better view of the assessment.

Having been punched for no reason, Xiu Feng looked at Long Qiqi in confusion.

"It's actually pretty good," Qin Ran and Li Shiyin were standing next to Xiu Feng. Qin Ran said, "For a weakling like me, I don't have to pretend I'm strong and forcibly preside over the assessment."

"Good my ass!" Long Qiqi rolled her eyes.

Ye Qingxuan still hadn't arrived, clearly trapped in the formation. If Li Shiyin went on stage now, Ye Qingxuan definitely wouldn't make it, and Li Shiyin would win by default.

But if they waited until the next round, things might turn out differently.

Hearing Long Qiqi's words, Qin Ran just smiled without replying. He took a long look at her, then glanced at Li Shiyin.

Noticing Qin Ran looking at her, Li Shiyin looked back with her big eyes and asked, "Master, why are you looking at me?"

"No reason," their eyes met, and Qin Ran looked away. "Do your best later."

"Of course I'll do my best!" Li Shiyin sounded a little less confident.

At this time, on stage, Tian Wenjin had already started fighting with Yue Yiqun.

However, this assessment...

Firstly, Yue Yiqun's strength was inferior to Xiao Bufan. Secondly, Yue Yiqun's mentality was worse than Xiao Bufan's. Thirdly, his fighting style was restrained by Tian Wenjin. Fourthly, Yue Yiqun had been thoroughly studied beforehand, so it was a half-hearted battle.

Thus, the assessment ended very quickly.

Yue Yiqun's strength was not displayed at all, and he lost in a flash.

Just one step away from obtaining the qualification to knock on the Gate of the Dao, yet unable to take that final step. And losing the assessment in such a miserable manner made Yue Yiqun go berserk with rage. Upon hearing the judge announce the end of the assessment, his Purple Dawn Divine Skill was just powering up, so he directly flew up and bombarded the Debate Platform with a series of terrifying magics.

...Then he was escorted off the Debate Platform by the judge. As for what punishment he would receive afterward, no one knew.

Tian Wenjin had just gotten off stage when she was pulled into a one-armed hug by Li Shiyin, who came running over.

"Wow! Wenjin, you've obtained the qualification to knock on the Gate of the Dao! You're in the top eight now!" Li Shiyin had one arm around Tian Wenjin's shoulders, speaking excitedly as she led her toward Qin Ran. "That means you're at least eighth on the Geniuses Ranking! Amazing...so awesome..."

Li Shiyin spoke excitedly, completely oblivious to Tian Wenjin's strange expression.

She looked very uncomfortable at Li Shiyin's arm around her shoulders...it was almost like being embraced.

Li Shiyin came from a family of good genes and had practiced martial arts since childhood, so she was actually a bit taller than the average girl. Tian Wenjin was relatively tall too, but still petite compared to Li Shiyin.

So when Li Shiyin walked over with her arm around Tian Wenjin, Qin Ran somehow had the illusion of seeing a boyfriend with his girlfriend.

In particular, Li Shiyin looked natural and at ease, while Tian Wenjin appeared shy and awkward.

"Shy?" Seeing Tian Wenjin, a strange idea arose in Qin Ran's mind. "No way, right?"

"Master!" With Tian Wenjin in tow, Li Shiyin arrived before Qin Ran, like a boyfriend introducing his girlfriend to his parents. "Wenjin has obtained the qualification to knock on the Gate of the Dao! Impressive, right?!"

Li Shiyin's manner made Qin Ran hear an auditory hallucination again. (Master, this is my girlfriend, isn't she pretty?) He looked at the uncomfortable Tian Wenjin peculiarly and nodded. "Pretty...Impressive! Very impressive!"

"Wenjin has entered the Geniuses Ranking without even forming her core!" Li Shiyin exclaimed.

(Wenjin became my girlfriend before coming of age.)

Qin Ran translated in his head. Huh? Something seems off.

"Incredible!" he said.

"I haven't formed my core either, yet I'm also on the Geniuses Ranking!" Li Shiyin said. "Wenjin and I, we're the peerless double beauties! ...If I can beat Ye Qingxuan later too."

(I haven't come of age either, yet also became her girlfriend. We're a match made in heaven, if you remove the obstacles.)

Hmm, that makes more sense.

"Then do your best!" Qin Ran said.

"Hurry up, hurry up, the judge is calling!" At this time, Long Qiqi urged from above, yelling for Li Shiyin, "Go up quickly, end it quickly, don't let Ye Qingxuan make it!"

"Oh, it's my turn already?" Li Shiyin glanced at the stage and saw that the judge was indeed asking the disciple with ID number 5 to go on stage.

"Alright Master, I'm going up now!" She said to Qin Ran, then called to Tian Wenjin as well, smiling, "Wenjin, wait for my good news, I'll break into the top ten too!"

Speaking so, she hopped lightly onto the stage, sword in hand.

Qin Ran watched Li Shiyin's back, then looked back at Tian Wenjin...the girl had reverted to her cold expression.

No matter how he thought about it, he couldn't understand - didn't she use to like men? And was so infatuated with Huang Feiyu? How did she come to like women now?

No, the key was she had comprehended Heartless Sword Intent! What was up with this development?

Qin Ran didn't feel threatened at all, since their relationship was steadily progressing...cough cough! No, since they were just master and disciple. Right, that's it! He was just curious.

Of course, it would be inappropriate to directly ask if she was homosexual, or if she still liked his fema...disciple.

While Qin Ran was staring at his silly disciple on stage, pondering strange things, he suddenly heard these words:

"I won't get in your way."

Hearing this, he turned to look at Tian Wenjin, only to see her expression as cold and heartless as ever, as if she hadn't spoken.