The arena erupted in cheers.
Many disciples began chanting Li Yan's name, their excitement echoing through the stadium. Yet on the central platform, Li Yan's expression remained composed, his posture steady and restrained despite the overwhelming reaction.
He stepped closer to Mu Fan, who was still trying to regain his footing. Extending his hand, Li Yan said simply, "Get up. You fought well."
Mu Fan hesitated briefly. His pride stung from the defeat, but Li Yan's expression held no mockery—only sincerity. After a moment, he accepted the offered hand. Li Yan pulled him to his feet, and the two exchanged a respectful nod.
When they descended from the platform, several higher-ranked finalists waiting nearby offered applause.
"Li Yan Tian," one of the Brown Rank finalists remarked with a smile, "you've proven yourself worthy of the sect's special guest status."
Another finalist from the Azure Rank added with a shake of his head, "Winning the White Rank competition at Qi Gathering Realm (Stage-8), that's something we rarely see."
A female Azure Rank disciple nodded thoughtfully. "Even we could learn something from your calm approach to battle."
Li Yan cupped his hands politely. "Thank you for your praise, senior brothers and sisters."
Afterward, he and Mu Fan returned to the audience seating among the other disciples. The excitement from the White Rank final had not yet faded as the arena prepared for the next round of matches.
Li Yan settled into his seat and looked toward the central platform, where the Yellow Rank finalists were already stepping forward. Their auras radiated confidence and experience.
For the moment, he allowed himself to rest and observe, quietly analyzing the battles ahead.
In the elders' section, Cao Lian leaned forward slightly as the cheers slowly died down. She turned toward Ji Hong with thoughtful curiosity. "Li Yan truly surprised everyone today. What do you think of his performance?"
Ji Hong smiled faintly, his eyes reflecting quiet pride. "I told you earlier, Lian Er. He set his sights on first place from the beginning." He paused before adding, "But even I did not expect him to win so easily. I hoped someone might force him to reveal more."
Cao Lian raised an eyebrow. "Easily? Are you saying he still held back, even against Mu Fan?"
Ji Hong nodded slowly. "If I told you he used only thirty to forty percent of his true strength in this competition… would you believe me?"
Her eyes widened in disbelief, and several nearby elders who had been listening exchanged surprised glances.
"What makes you think that?" Cao Lian asked, curiosity replacing her skepticism.
Ji Hong leaned back slightly, recalling the memory clearly. "During the beast pack incident in the Hunting Ground, I witnessed something unusual. He released a pitch-black mist that engulfed both himself and the beasts."
He shook his head softly. "Even with my cultivation, I couldn't see through it at first. My Gray Eagle Gaze technique's first ability also failed. Only the third ability allowed me to perceive anything inside."
The surrounding elders fell quiet.
"That mist didn't simply obscure vision," Ji Hong continued. "It twisted the beasts' senses… even their thoughts."
A ripple of astonishment spread through the group of elders.
"If he can do something like that at his current cultivation," Cao Lian murmured slowly, "then his future potential…"
She did not finish the sentence.
As the elders continued their quiet discussion, the matches in the arena progressed. On one of the side platforms, Wen Hai faced Zhang Wei in the contest for third place in the White Rank.
After a fierce exchange, Wen Hai secured the victory, earning a round of applause from the crowd as the competition moved steadily toward its conclusion.
One by one, the finals of the higher ranks came to an end. The Yellow Rank match concluded with a fierce exchange of techniques, drawing loud applause from the audience.
Soon after, the Azure Rank finalists displayed refined mastery over their abilities, their precise control over Qi earning nods of approval from the elders.
Finally, the Brown Rank battle unfolded with overwhelming power, Mortal-Tier High-Level techniques colliding with enough force to make even experienced cultivators watch closely.
When the last clash settled, the head referee stepped onto the central platform. His voice, amplified by Qi, carried clearly across the entire arena. "Congratulations to the champions of all four ranks. With this, this year's annual competition officially concludes."
"All participants will report tomorrow morning at the Sect Core Hall to receive their rewards. Champions will report directly to the sect leader to receive their rewards and access to the Ancient Techniques Hall."
The crowd erupted in cheers one final time.
The champions, including Li Yan, bowed respectfully toward the elders' section before the arena gradually began to empty. Spectators streamed toward the teleportation portal, and the participants soon followed, returning to the sect's assembly area.
Back in his quarters, Li Yan released a quiet breath. The excitement of the competition still lingered faintly in his body, yet his thoughts had already shifted elsewhere.
Sitting on the edge of his bed, he summoned the Spiritual Beast egg from his storage ring. The gold-and-black shell glowed softly in the dim light of the room.
Holding it carefully, Li Yan guided a thread of Darkness Qi into the egg. The shell reacted immediately, pulsing with a steady rhythm that felt almost like a heartbeat.
After a few moments, he withdrew the energy and replaced it with Fire Qi instead. Warm orange-red energy wrapped around the egg, lingering for a short time before he withdrew it as well.
Satisfied, he returned the egg to his storage ring.
"There's still time before nightfall," Li Yan murmured.
He sat cross-legged on the bed and entered meditation, focusing on stabilizing his cultivation. As his breathing slowed, his awareness turned inward, observing the subtle changes within his body.
Over the past week, he had continued cultivating the Killing Aura. Now, within the space around his Qi Core, a second bloody-red orb had already appeared, orbiting beside the first.
The first orb had deepened in color, a dark crimson glow radiating from its surface. The second orb, however, was lighter, its unstable aura revealing that it had only recently formed. Both circled his Qi Core in uneven paths, their presence unsettling despite his calm expression.
"What exactly are these?" Li Yan wondered silently.
Each orb pulsed with violent energy, as if something within them struggled to break free. The sensation was faint yet unmistakable, like pressure building beneath the surface.
He had searched the sect's library thoroughly and even asked the sect leader directly, yet no records described such a phenomenon related to Killing Aura cultivation.
Despite the uncertainty, Li Yan understood one thing clearly.
He could not stop cultivating it.
If the Killing Aura remained uncontrolled, it could devour his mind entirely. The only path forward was to continue refining it, even if the consequences remained unknown.
"I'll uncover the truth myself," he decided firmly.
With that thought, Li Yan sank deeper into meditation. The steady circulation of Qi flowed through his meridians as he gradually entered the Spiritual Consciousness.
Within the vast expanse of his Spiritual Consciousness, Li Yan took a step forward. The space around him was dim and endless, yet filled with fog within a thirty-meter radius. In the center, a faint shimmer of light pulsed steadily.
He moved toward it.
Suspended within that glow was a translucent green sphere, smooth and glass-like. Inside the sphere sat a young boy in silent meditation—Yan Tian, the original soul of the body Li Yan now inhabited.
Li Yan stopped a few steps away and studied the boy quietly.
Yan Tian's figure remained perfectly still, his eyes closed, his presence dormant as if trapped in deep slumber. Yet Li Yan understood this state was not death. It was merely waiting.
"Yan Tian," Li Yan said softly.
His voice echoed gently across the boundless space.
"I hope you're doing well here."
For a moment, he remained silent before continuing, his tone calm and steady. "I've already taken first place in this year's White Rank competition. It's only the beginning. There are far greater challenges ahead, but I'll face them one by one."
His gaze lingered on the motionless figure inside the sphere.
"I'm waiting for the day you wake up and see it yourself… the path I'll walk to fulfill the wishes you asked for."
The space remained silent.
Yet despite the lack of response, Li Yan felt the faint thread that connected them—two souls bound within a single destiny.
After a moment, he stepped back from the sphere and withdrew from the depths of his Spiritual Consciousness.
Reality returned.
The quiet of his room settled around him as Li Yan lay down to rest, and before long, he slipped into a deep, dreamless sleep.
*****
Morning arrived with gentle sunlight spilling across the peaks of the sect.
Li Yan woke feeling refreshed, his mind clear and steady. Outside his room, the sect had already come alive with activity.
Dressed in his white sect robes, he stepped outside and headed toward the food stall area. The morning air carried the scent of warm meals, and the low hum of conversation as disciples from every rank gathered to eat.
As he walked through the area, many pairs of eyes turned toward him.
Several disciples offered respectful nods, while others greeted him with friendly smiles. The difference in their attitude was obvious.
Yesterday's victory had changed how they saw him.
Li Yan acknowledged the greetings with a slight nod before choosing a quiet place to eat. He finished his meal calmly, his thoughts already moving beyond the competition.
Winning the White Rank was only the beginning.
Greater challenges were waiting ahead.
After finishing breakfast, Li Yan rose and made his way toward the Sect Core Hall.
By the time he arrived, outside the biggest mountain was already crowded. Disciples from all four ranks stood in organized lines, waiting to receive the rewards they had earned in the competition. The hallway also buzzed with excited chatter and speculation.
Li Yan did not join the lines.
His path was different.
Without hesitation, he walked past the gathering disciples and ascended the staircase leading to the upper level of the mountain. The atmosphere there was quieter, more secluded.
At the end of the corridor lay Ji Hong's chamber.
That was where the champion of all four ranks would receive their rewards.
When Li Yan arrived inside the chamber, he found the other three champions already waiting.
The Yellow Rank champion—Wei Yong—was a tall young boy, no older than seventeen, with short brown hair and a confident posture. His aura carried the steady strength of someone who had fought through many battles.
Beside him stood the Azure Rank champion—Si Xiang—a young woman with fiery red hair and sharp, determined eyes. Though she appeared calm, the intensity in her expression suggested a fierce competitive spirit.
The final figure was the Brown Rank champion—Luo Ming, a young man in his late twenties with dark hair and a reserved demeanor. His eyes moved quietly around the room, observing everything with a calculating calm. He looked quiet, yet dangerous.
Standing before them were two familiar figures: Ji Hong, the sect leader, and Elder Yu Long in his deep green robes.
Li Yan approached with measured steps and cupped his hands respectfully. "Good morning, Sect Leader Ji, Elder Yu, and seniors."
The others acknowledged his greeting with nods.
"Good morning, Li Yan," Ji Hong replied with a faint smile. "You made quite an impression during the competition."
Li Yan returned the smile politely before stepping beside the other champions. "Apologies for arriving late."
"It's nothing," Ji Hong said calmly. "You're right on time. Elder Yu has been gathering information about the artifacts each champion wishes to receive. Once you finish your visit to the Ancient Techniques Hall, everything will be arranged."
Li Yan nodded. Though the rewards were valuable, the Ancient Techniques Hall was the real reason he had entered the competition.
Elder Yu Long stepped forward and began explaining the rewards. "Li Yan, as the champion of the White Rank, you will receive five thousand Shadow Points, two Tier-3 Mid-Level Qi Gathering Pills, two Tier-4 High-Level weapons, and the opportunity to enter the Ancient Techniques Hall to learn higher-tier techniques."
Li Yan acknowledged the reward with a calm nod, though his attention lingered on the mention of the Techniques Hall.