20: Chapter 20: First Place in the Grand Competition, Rewards in Hand

In the semifinals, Xiao Ran's opponent was Lu Qing.

"Xiao Ran!"

"Today, I will wash away my past humiliation!"

Lu Qing jumped onto the arena stage. It was unclear what he had consumed, but his eyes were blood-red.

"What humiliation do you even have?"

Xiao Ran countered.

Lu Qing choked on his words, then flew into a rage: "Cut the nonsense! Take this!"

He summoned a blood-colored long saber. A hideous ghostly face appeared on the blade as he slashed down!

Blood Fiend Saber Technique, Low Grade Earth Rank.

This was a Cultivation Technique Lu Qing had exchanged for with contribution points he'd saved for who knows how long; it was one of his trump cards.

Lu Qing's very first Move was a killing blow.

Its power was indeed impressive.

But Xiao Ran simply sidestepped, avoiding the edge of the blade, and then tapped the side of the saber with a finger.

Clang!

The long saber vibrated violently. The webbing of Lu Qing's thumb split open, and the saber flew from his hand.

Xiao Ran's second finger strike was already out, pointing directly at the center of Lu Qing's brow.

Lu Qing's Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering, he scrambled and crawled to get away.

"I concede! I concede!"

Lu Qing's gaze instantly cleared. His eyes were no longer red, and he couldn't even stand up straight.

Because he knew that if he stayed a moment longer, he might have to be carried off the stage.

"Sigh~"

A chorus of boos erupted from below the stage.

Too cowardly.

He was as cowardly leaving the stage as he was arrogant entering it.

Xiao Ran shook his head and stepped off the arena.

It was obvious he hadn't taken Lu Qing seriously at all.

The finals arrived quickly, and his opponent, as expected, was Han Cheng.

"Finally, it's time."

Xiao Ran had long been impatient to claim the double rewards and Breakthrough to the Golden Core realm in one go.

When he jumped onto the arena, Han Cheng was already waiting there.

The two locked eyes, the air thick with invisible Killing Intent.

"Xiao Ran, you are very strong."

"But it ends here."

Han Cheng spoke, his tone full of posturing.

To an outsider, it would seem like he was the Demon Seed and Xiao Ran was the challenger!

"Holy crap, you're actually trying to act cool with me?"

"In a moment, I'll have you kneeling and singing 'Conquered'."

Xiao Ran said disdainfully.

When it came to pre-battle trash talk, he was Han Cheng's ancestor.

Sure enough, Han Cheng's face darkened at those words. He stopped speaking and quietly waited for the match to begin.

"Begin!"

As soon as the word fell, Han Cheng moved.

His figure was like a phantom, instantly appearing behind Xiao Ran as he struck out with a palm!

The palm wind contained a bone-chilling Yin-cold Qi. Wherever it passed, a layer of frost formed on the arena.

Mystic Yin Demon Body—born with control over Yin-cold power.

Xiao Ran had already seen through Han Cheng's Move. He immediately turned and threw a punch!

Punch and palm collided, and a wave of Qi exploded!

Both men retreated three steps simultaneously.

They were evenly matched.

"Interesting."

"Again!"

Han Cheng licked his lips and lunged forward again.

His hands formed seals, and the temperature on the arena plummeted. Countless ice spikes condensed out of thin air, shooting toward Xiao Ran like a torrential rain.

Xiao Ran neither dodged nor avoided them. A massive black vortex appeared behind him.

Devour!

Before the ice spikes could get close, they were swallowed and refined by the vortex.

Han Cheng's expression changed.

He had heard of Xiao Ran's devouring ability, but seeing it with his own eyes, he still found it preposterous.

"Mystic Yin Domain!"

Han Cheng shouted low, beginning to use his trump card.

On the arena, frost spread, forming an icy Domain with a diameter of ten zhang.

Inside the Domain, the temperature was low enough to crack steel.

Standing within it, Xiao Ran felt his Devilish Qi circulation slow down.

"A Domain-type technique... it has some merit."

Xiao Ran frowned. Domain-type techniques were very rare and incredibly difficult to Cultivate.

But once mastered, their power was far greater than other techniques of the same rank.

For instance, with Han Cheng's Mystic Yin Domain, an ordinary Foundation Establishment Peak Cultivator standing inside would already be no match for Han Cheng.

But who was Xiao Ran?

He was no ordinary Foundation Establishment Peak Cultivator.

"Three-Part Return to Origin Finger!"

Xiao Ran shouted, firing nine finger-blasts at once!

Seeing this, Han Cheng swung his palms to block. Layers of ice walls appeared in front of him, forming a natural barrier.

Xiao Ran's nine finger-blasts pierced through seven layers of ice walls before finally dissipating.

"It's useless."

"In my Domain, you can only exert seventy percent of your strength at most, while I... can exert a hundred and twenty percent."

Han Cheng sneered; this was his reliance.

He was telling the truth.

The Mystic Yin Demon Body was indeed like a fish in water in an icy environment.

But Xiao Ran smiled.

"Who told you I only know finger techniques?"

His body blurred, splitting into two.

Demon Shadow Clone Technique!

Two Xiao Rans lunged at Han Cheng from the left and right.

Han Cheng was startled and hurriedly responded.

But he soon discovered that although the Clone's strength was only thirty percent of the original, their coordination was seamless, making them extremely difficult to deal with.

More troublesome still, he couldn't distinguish which one was the true body.

"The left!"

Han Cheng struck the Xiao Ran on the left with his palm.

The palm force passed through, and the Clone dissipated.

It was a fake!

"Too late."

The real Xiao Ran had already appeared behind him, pressing the vortex on his right hand against the center of Han Cheng's back.

"Essence Devouring Art!"

A terrifying suction force erupted!

Han Cheng felt the Devilish Qi in his body draining away frantically, and the Mystic Yin Domain instantly collapsed.

"No!!!"

He roared, trying to break free.

But Xiao Ran's fingers were like hooks, firmly gripping his shoulder.

After three breaths, Han Cheng slumped to the ground, seventy percent of his Devilish Qi having been sucked away.

"You..."

He looked at Xiao Ran with a pale face, his eyes filled with shock.

"Acting cool in front of me? How absurd!"

Xiao Ran withdrew his hand and gave a cold huff.

Below the stage.

There was a deathly silence.

Then, a thunderous cheer erupted.

"Uncle Xiao! Uncle Xiao! Uncle Xiao!"

The black-robed Elder stepped onto the arena and announced loudly: "In the Sect's Minor Competition finals, Xiao Ran wins!"

"First place of the Foundation Establishment group in this session's New Disciple Minor Competition—Xiao Ran!"

Xiao Ran stood on the arena, looking at the cheering crowd below, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

First place, secured.

The Demon Blood Pool, secured.

The System rewards, secured.

So... can the Golden Core be far behind?

...

The award ceremony was held that afternoon.

Xiao Ran received the first-place rewards: a token to enter the Demon Blood Pool, a bottle of Tier 3 Medicinal Pills called Gold-Accumulating Pills, and three thousand Sect contribution points.

[Ding!]

[Side Quest: Take the Lead in the Minor Competition - Completed]

[Rewards Issued: Special item 'barrier breaking pill', 2000 System points]

With the barrier breaking pill in hand, the success rate of Core Formation increased by another thirty percent.

Combined with the assistance of the Demon Blood Pool, Xiao Ran had a ninety percent certainty of forming his core within a month.

"Uncle, congratulations!"

Zhao Ying and the other two crowded around, their faces full of excitement.

"Congratulations to you all as well."

"You all fought well too."

Xiao Ran smiled.

The others quickly replied. In the end, Tie Shan made it into the top thirty-two. Although Domestic Manager Liu Qingqing lost in the first round, her talent in Formations was recognized by the judge, and she was taken in as a Named Disciple by an Elder from the Formation Hall.

It was simply a happy ending for everyone.