11: Critical hit returns the Golden Crow Rainbow Transformation Technique, the Inner Sect Competition begins!

"Not bad." Lu Yuan's tone was beyond doubt.

"The reward for first place in the Grand Competition will be replaced with one Low Grade Foundation Establishment Pill. As for the Perfect Foundation Establishment Pill, it goes to second place, and the Wind and Thunder Escape goes to third place."

"Furthermore, there is no need to disclose the matter of the Foundation Establishment Pill's quality externally. Simply announce that the top three winners will each receive one Foundation Establishment Pill."

This decision caused the confusion in Gu Qingxue's heart to reach its peak.

She completely failed to understand.

The Sect Grand Competition has always honored the first-place winner, and the reward is naturally the best.

But now, her husband had done the exact opposite.

He gave the two best rewards to the second and third place winners respectively.

Yet, the reward for the first-place winner was only a Low Grade Foundation Establishment Pill.

This level of reward was even worse than the treatment given to the top ten winners in previous competitions.

What... was the intention behind this?

She looked at Lu Yuan's deep and calm eyes. Although her heart was full of confusion, the trust she had built up over a long time allowed her to suppress all her questions.

She believed that her husband must have a profound reason for doing this.

"Yes, Disciple understands." She did not ask any further questions and immediately agreed.

The moment Gu Qingxue agreed, the System prompt sounded in Lu Yuan's mind as expected.

[Ding! Successfully intercepted the Son of Destiny Xiao Fan's Blue Opportunity, the Perfect Foundation Establishment Pill. Triggering 100x Critical Return: one hundred Perfect Foundation Establishment Pills awarded, and 100 Destiny Points rewarded.]

[Ding! Successfully intercepted the Son of Destiny Xiao Fan's Blue Opportunity, the Wind and Thunder Escape. Triggering 100x Critical Return: Heaven Rank High Grade Escape Technique "Golden Crow Rainbow Transformation Technique" awarded, and 100 Destiny Points rewarded.]

The System prompt fell silent.

In Lu Yuan's Storage Space, one hundred Foundation Establishment Pills instantly appeared, exuding a rich medicinal fragrance and possessing perfect Pill Essence.

At the same time, a vast and profound torrent of information surged into his Sea of Consciousness.

Golden Crow Rainbow Transformation Technique.

All the Cultivation methods and key insights of this Heaven Rank Escape Technique were completely mastered by him in an instant, as if by empowerment.

Executing this Escape Technique requires the power of an Heavenly Flame. The higher the quality of the Heavenly Flame, the more exquisite the executed Escape Technique will be.

With a slight shift in his thoughts, a wisp of Nirvana True Fire rose from his fingertip.

He could feel that if he wished, he could immediately merge with this wisp of flame and transform into a long rainbow piercing the heavens and the earth. Its speed was far beyond that of ordinary Escape Techniques.

"Not bad." Lu Yuan nodded in satisfaction... Three days later, at the Azure Cloud Sect's Training Ground.

The Inner Sect Grand Competition was held as scheduled.

Thousands of Inner Sect Disciples gathered here; the crowd was bustling, and the atmosphere was fervent.

On the high platform, the high-ranking Sect Elders had all arrived.

Xiao Fan was mingled within the crowd.

Today was the day he had long been anticipating.

His gaze pierced through the crowd and landed on the cold, exquisite figure occupying the main seat on the high platform.

Sect Master, Gu Qingxue.

An undeniable passion and admiration flared up in his eyes.

He believed that with his talent and strength, as long as he stunned everyone in today's Grand Competition and claimed the Champion title, he would definitely catch the attention of this beautiful Sect Master.

Just as Gu Qingxue prepared to stand up and announce the start of the Grand Competition.

Above the sky, a vast pressure descended without warning.

A figure stepped through the void and silently appeared beside Gu Qingxue.

The person who arrived was none other than Lu Yuan.

Today, he had changed into a Dark Robe. His half-black, half-white long hair was loosely draped. His features were handsome, and his eyes were deep. Standing next to the cool and elegant Gu Qingxue, they looked like a match made in heaven, an Immortal Couple.

The moment Gu Qingxue saw Lu Yuan appear, her cold eyes immediately softened with a gentle glow, along with a hint of surprise.

"Husband, you've arrived." She unconsciously called out softly.

Although the voice was soft, it was keenly caught by Xiao Fan.

That single word, "Husband," struck Xiao Fan's heart like a bolt from the blue.

He stared blankly at the two people standing intimately together on the high platform, feeling as if his Dao Heart had cracked at that moment.

The Sect Master... and the Old Ancestor.

They were actually Dao Companions? How could this be?

An indescribable jealousy and unwillingness furiously sprouted from the bottom of his heart.

However, he quickly forced this emotion down.

No.

He thought to himself.

Perhaps he had simply misheard.

After all, they had never publicly announced their relationship.

He still had a chance.

Yes, there must still be a chance.

As long as he could display unparalleled talent in today's Grand Competition and take first place.

He would definitely make the Sect Master look at him in a new light.

Thinking of this, his nearly shattered Dao Heart finally stabilized again.

"Revered Master, do you have confidence in today's Grand Competition?" He communicated mentally with the remnant soul in his Ring.

His greatest reliance was this mysterious Venerable Yao.

However, an unprecedentedly grave voice came from the Ring.

"Fan'er, I'm afraid I cannot intervene to help you today."

"Why?" Xiao Fan's expression changed upon hearing this.

"That Ancestor Qingyun..." The Venerable Yao's voice carried a hint of dread: "His Cultivation has already reached the Nascent Soul Late Stage Great Perfection, and he is only one step away from Comprehending the Law and entering the Soul Transformation Realm.

My remnant soul power is already scarce. If I expose myself in front of him, there is a risk of being discovered."

"In today's Grand Competition, everything rests on you alone."

Xiao Fan's face became slightly unpleasant upon hearing this.

But he quickly adjusted.

He clenched his fists, and a hint of arrogance flashed in his eyes.

So what if Revered Master doesn't intervene?

Haven't I experienced enough trials of life and death along the way?

This small Inner Sect Grand Competition is nothing but a piece of cake to me.

Even without Revered Master's help, winning first place just means paying a bit more of a price.

It won't stop him at all.

On the high platform, Lu Yuan's gaze calmly swept across the Training Ground below.

Gu Qingxue's voice, cold and authoritative, resonated throughout the venue.

"The Inner Sect Grand Competition begins now."

As her voice faded, thousands of Inner Sect Disciples, who could no longer hold back, all showed a flash of excitement in their expressions.

Dozens of massive Competition Platforms rose simultaneously.

The Disciples who had drawn lots to determine their opponents leaped onto the platforms.

Xiao Fan was among them.

He possessed the Ancient Desolate Sacred Body, a supreme Physique rarely seen throughout the ages. Although he had only broken the first of the nine Sacred Body Shackles and could not fully utilize its power, it was enough to make his Physical Body nearly invincible at the Qi Refinement Stage level.

His first opponent was a slightly overweight Disciple at the Eighth Level of Qi Refining, named Zhou Kun.

This person mainly Cultivated Wood-type Spells and was somewhat well-known among the Inner Sect.