28: Grand Champion

The next day was the final day of the Heavenly Talisman Assembly.

When Chen Xu stepped into the Heavenly Talisman Hall again, the atmosphere inside was already extremely tense.

Of the more than twenty people who remained yesterday, only seven were left after the brutal elimination rounds of the fourth and fifth stages.

These seven were all top Geniuses who had emerged from their respective prefectures.

Each person's face carried a look of solemnity and Battle Intent.

Shen Wuyi stood to the side, his expression grim.

Chen Xu's astonishing performance in the fourth stage yesterday felt like a slap in his face.

He no longer underestimated Chen Xu, but instead regarded him as his greatest enemy.

Zhou Yuan's face also looked unpleasant.

He would occasionally glance at Chen Xu, his eyes filled with vigilance!

And that black-clothed youth from Dense Forest Prefecture, Yue Guanshan, was like a statue.

He occupied a corner alone.

A cold Aura emanated from him, warning others to keep their distance.

On the high platform, the Elder presiding over the assembly looked around, quite satisfied with the remaining seven people.

He had no unnecessary words, his voice resounding loudly throughout the hall.

"Everyone, welcome to the final battle. Today, there will only be one last stage, and this stage will determine the final rankings of this Heavenly Talisman Assembly!"

"Now, I announce that the sixth stage of the assessment officially begins!"

As his words fell, spiritual light flickered on the stone tables in front of the seven people, revealing the final question.

"Question: Within five hours, use three sets of Materials to refine one Intermediate High Grade Heavenly Vault Lightning Summoning Talisman."

Heavenly Vault Lightning Summoning Talisman!

When the words "Intermediate High Grade" appeared, the hall was still relatively calm.

But when the words "Heavenly Vault Lightning Summoning Talisman" came into view.

Even a Genius like Yue Guanshan's pupils contracted sharply.

Lightning Talismans, among all Talismans of the same Rank, have always been known for their immense power and the highest difficulty in refining.

The power of lightning is incredibly violent, and with the slightest carelessness, spiritual power can go out of control.

At best, the Talisman is destroyed and the person is injured; at worst, they die on the spot.

And the Heavenly Vault Lightning Summoning Talisman is a top-tier existence among Intermediate High Grade Talismans, its power infinitely close to that of a true Advanced Spiritual Artifact.

Five hours, three sets of Materials, to successfully refine it, this was almost an impossible task.

"It's actually the Heavenly Vault Lightning Summoning Talisman... The Merchant Alliance has really gone all out this time, even bringing out a Talismanic Incantation of this Rank."

"This difficulty, I'm afraid, is the final battle. Being able to draw even a rudimentary Talisman would probably get one into the top three."

In the elegant rooms of the high-rise building, all the branch Presidents stared intently at the water mirror.

"Heavenly Vault Lightning Summoning Talisman, this is truly a grand gesture."

One President exclaimed, "I favor Xu Guangyu; his fire control technique is superb, and his control over spiritual power is incredibly precise. There's also Yue Guanshan from Dense Forest Prefecture; this person has a dark and resilient Heart-Nature, most suitable for challenging such high-difficulty Talismans."

Qian Li sat in his chair, silent, the fat on his face sagging, his expression more bitter than if he had eaten Coptis.

Xu Zhengyue sat upright, her gaze solely fixed on Chen Xu.

Her heart, for some reason, was even more nervous than when Chen Xu had hidden his strength a few days prior.

She was anticipating, anticipating that this man could once again create a miracle.

Inside the main hall, Chen Xu looked at the question, but a surge of joy rose in his heart.

Heavenly Vault Lightning Summoning Talisman!

This was a Sharp Weapon for attack; if he could refine it in large quantities, it would be enough to arm his Family and become a powerful trump card.

The Merchant Alliance setting this Talismanic Incantation as the question was, for him, nothing less than a great gift.

With his Realm as an Advanced Talisman Master and the powerful Divine Sense brought by the Spirit Manifestation Art, refining this mere Intermediate High Grade Talisman was simply a piece of cake.

He picked up his Talisman brush, not starting immediately like the others.

Instead, he closed his eyes, deconstructing and deducing the incredibly complex Talismanic Incantation structure in his mind.

A moment later, he opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing within them.

This Talismanic Incantation had three flaws.

If drawn step by step, the success rate would be less than one-tenth.

But if the order of those three Talismanic Incantations were slightly adjusted, it could make the violent lightning-attribute spiritual power much more docile.

The success rate could increase by at least fifty percent!

"So that's how it is."

Chen Xu understood in his heart.

This might also be a hidden test of the assembly, testing not only the Talisman Master's basic skills but also their vision and Comprehension Ability.

The bell for the competition rang.

Shen Wuyi took a deep breath and was the first to put brush to paper.

His personality was flamboyant, and he loved this kind of powerful offensive Talisman the most.

Yue Guanshan and Chen Jing followed closely.

Their expressions were solemn, and they applied their brushes with extreme caution.

Chen Xu, on the other hand, unhurriedly spread out his first Talisman paper.

Following his improved sequence, he began to draw.

His movements were still steady and composed.

The brush tip glided across the Talisman paper, as if not guiding violent lightning power, but rather depicting a tranquil landscape painting.

Time passed minute by minute.

An hour later, a Talisman Master from Wanyun Prefecture's Talisman paper exploded with a dazzling electric light.

The entire table was scorched black.

He screamed, directly knocked unconscious by a backlash of power, and was carried away by attendants.

Two hours later, another person failed.

Three hours later, the Talisman paper in front of Zhou Yuan flickered wildly with spiritual light; he tried his best to suppress it, but ultimately failed.

The Talisman paper turned to ashes with a hiss.

His face was pale; he had used up his last set of Materials and slumped weakly in his chair.

He lost.

Four hours passed.

"Damn it!"

With an angry roar, Shen Wuyi slammed the Talisman brush in his hand to the ground.

On the stone table in front of him lay three sets of ruined Materials.

He had tried his best, but in the end, he couldn't even draw a complete rudimentary form.

His eyes were bloodshot, staring intently at the calm and composed figure not far away.

His eyes were filled with unwillingness and jealousy.

Why? Why could he be so calm!

At this moment, only four people remained on the field.

Chen Xu, Yue Guanshan, Xu Guangyu, and another unknown Genius.

Chen Xu had actually used his first set of Materials in the third hour.

He had successfully refined a perfect-quality Heavenly Vault Lightning Summoning Talisman.

That Talisman was now quietly lying in his Storage Pouch, its spiritual light contained, its Aura astonishing.

But he didn't take it out.

He observed the other three.

Yue Guanshan and Chen Jing were both using their last set of Materials; sweat beaded on their foreheads, their expressions focused, clearly at their limit.

The other person was also much the same.

Chen Xu's eyes flickered slightly, and he had a plan in mind.

A tree that stands out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind.

His current identity was merely a Guest Elder of the Shangya Prefecture branch.

If he performed too astonishingly.

Directly taking out a perfect-quality Heavenly Vault Lightning Summoning Talisman would inevitably attract unnecessary trouble.

He might even be targeted by the Taiyi Merchant Alliance headquarters, or even more powerful forces.

This was not a good thing for him and the Chen Family, who urgently needed time to develop discreetly.

"I'll still hold back a bit."

Having made up his mind, he picked up the second set of Materials and began his act.

He intentionally slowed down at several key points, causing slight fluctuations in the output of spiritual power.

He created the illusion of struggling to maintain his progress due to a lack of stamina.

Finally, at the very last moment before the bell signaling the end of the fifth hour rang.

His wrist trembled, and the last stroke failed, unable to land.

Buzz—

On the Talisman paper in front of him, a purple lightning bolt lit up, but it appeared somewhat dim and unstable.

Ninety-nine percent of the entire Talisman's structure was complete, lacking only the final finishing touch.

At the same time, Yue Guanshan and Chen Jing also stopped writing almost simultaneously.

The Talismans in front of both of them were also semi-finished products, about ninety percent complete.

"Time's up!"

On the high platform, the Elder's voice rang out, announcing the end of the assessment.

Ultimately, no one successfully refined a complete Heavenly Vault Lightning Summoning Talisman.

"Please leave your works on the tables; the examiners will determine the final rankings based on the completion and quality of the Talismans."

After the Elder announced, attendants came forward and carefully collected the semi-finished products from each person's table.

Chen Xu glanced at his perfectly intact third set of Materials in his Storage Pouch.

And that perfect-quality Talisman, a faint smile on his face.

This assembly, with just these two gains, had already been worthwhile.

As he stood up, he happened to meet Yue Guanshan's gaze.

A hint of surprise flashed in those cold eyes.

Clearly, he had also noticed that Chen Xu had Materials remaining.

The two only exchanged a glance before looking away.

After a brief wait, the presiding Elder once again ascended the high platform.

The entire Heavenly Talisman Hall, including all the Presidents in the elegant rooms of the high-rise building outside the hall.

All held their breath.

The final rankings were about to be revealed.

"Before announcing the rankings, I will first announce the rewards for this assembly."

The Elder deliberately built suspense, whetting everyone's appetite.

"All those who enter the top ten will receive the qualification to enter the Rune Pavilion of my Taiyi Merchant Alliance headquarters for three days of contemplation!"

As soon as these words were spoken, there was an uproar below.

The Rune Pavilion, that was the core Legacy site of the Taiyi Merchant Alliance!

"Fourth to seventh place, each person will be rewarded with one hundred thousand Spirit Stones and one High Grade Spiritual Artifact!"

Shen Wuyi, Zhou Yuan, and others, hearing this reward.

Their faces showed a complex expression of both disappointment and relief.

"Third place, twenty thousand Spirit Stones, one High Grade Magical Artifact, and the choice of three Intermediate High Grade Talisman refining methods!"

This reward already made many branch Presidents envious.

"Second place, three hundred thousand Spirit Stones, one High Grade Magical Artifact, and the choice of one Advanced Low Grade Talisman refining method!"

Magical Artifact!! Advanced Talisman Legacy!

The atmosphere of the entire hall was completely ignited.

Everyone's breathing grew heavy.

Qian Li's small eyes stared intently at the high platform.

Praying frantically in his heart.

Zhou Yuan must not be second place, otherwise, he would suffer a huge loss this time.

The Elder was very satisfied with the atmosphere on site.

He paused, then slowly spoke in an incredibly solemn tone: "As for the champion of this Heavenly Talisman Assembly..."

"Will receive fifty thousand Spirit Stones! Three High Grade Magical Artifacts!"

"Five Intermediate High Grade Talismans personally refined by the headquarters Elder!"

"And..."

The Elder's voice dragged on.

"A complete refining method for an Advanced Low Grade Talisman, the Divine Decree Talisman!"

Boom! Divine Decree Talisman!

These three words, like a thunderbolt, exploded in everyone's minds!

That was an Advanced Talisman!

Enough to threaten the existence of a Golden Core True Person!

Any Legacy of an Advanced Talisman would be enough to serve as a treasure of a cultivation Family, passed down for thousands of years!

At this moment, everyone's eyes became incredibly fervent.

They stared intently at the high platform, waiting for the final name.

Xu Zhengyue's heart was in her throat.

Her fists were clenched, her palms slick with sweat.

Who could it be?

She didn't know what she was anticipating, or what she was nervous about.

Chen Xu's previous performance had far exceeded her expectations; even if he stopped here, it would be enough for her to hold her head high in front of Qian Li.

The presiding Elder was very satisfied with the atmosphere at the scene. His gaze slowly swept over the last seven contestants, then he cleared his throat and began to announce the final rankings.

"Now, I announce the final rankings of this Heavenly Talisman Assembly!"

"Seventh place, Yunzhou Branch, Zhou Yuan!"

When this name was called, Zhou Yuan's body trembled violently, and his face turned pale.

This Golden Talisman Master had thought he could soar to great heights in this assembly.

He never expected to end up at the bottom of the finals.

"Sixth place, Shangya Prefecture Branch, Shen Wuyi!"

Shen Wuyi raised his head, his eyes filled with unwillingness.

He held himself in high regard, having overcome all obstacles, but he never expected to fail at the most crucial stage, unable to even enter the top five.

"Fifth place, Dense Forest Prefecture, Qian Chengyi!"

...One by one, names were called out, and with each name, a proud Genius would show a displeased expression.

In the elegant room on the high floor, Qian Li's face had become extremely ugly.

Zhou Yuan only took seventh place, which made him lose all face.

The boasts he had made earlier now felt like slaps to his own face.

"Fourth place, Xu Guangyu!"

When this name was called.

Even the usually calm Xu Guangyu showed a look of surprise.

He hailed from the Immortal Sect Cold Pool Valley, his fire control techniques were superb, and he was recognized as one of the favorites to win the championship.

He had originally thought that even if he didn't get first place.

The top three should have been a sure thing, but he never expected to stop at fourth.

His gaze subconsciously swept over the remaining three people.

Hua Qianshan, Yue Guanshan, and that Chen Xu, who had been eerily calm from beginning to end.

In the elegant room, several branch Presidents also felt regret for Xu Guangyu, but only Xu Zhengyue's heart beat faster and faster.

On the stage, the Elder's voice rang out again.

"Third place, Xialin Prefecture, Hua Qianshan!"

"What?"

Hua Qianshan cried out in surprise, his face full of disbelief.

He was arrogant by nature, having come all this way.

He only regarded that gloomy Yue Guanshan as his sole opponent, completely disregarding everyone else.

He couldn't understand how he could have only gotten third place.

The next moment, his gaze turned towards Yue Guanshan.

In his opinion, the champion must be this person.

In the corner, Yue Guanshan heard Hua Qianshan's ranking, and a cold smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

The disdain in his eyes was undisguised.

"Second place, Dense Forest Prefecture, Yue Guanshan!"

The cold smile on Yue Guanshan's face instantly froze.

The entire Heavenly Talisman Hall also fell silent at this moment.

Second place... was Yue Guanshan?

That was Yue Guanshan!

The widely recognized favorite to win the championship, with the highest Talisman Dao talent and the most tenacious Heart-Nature! He was only second?

How could this be!

If he was second, then who was first?

In an instant, everyone's gaze, whether contestants in the hall or Presidents in the elegant rooms, all converged as if by agreement!

They all focused on the last remaining figure.

The guy who had performed mediocrely from the first round, considered by everyone to be relying on luck.

The guy who made a splash in the fourth round.

But was then thought to be a flash in the pan.

The guy who, from beginning to end, had an eerily calm expression.

Shangya Prefecture, Chen Xu.

Time seemed to stand still at this moment.

The Elder on the high platform took a deep breath, his eyes filled with admiration, then in a solemn tone, he announced: "The ultimate champion of this Heavenly Talisman Assembly is—"

"Shangya Prefecture Branch, Chen Xu!"

Boom!

When the words "Chen Xu" fell!

The entire Heavenly Talisman Hall seemed to have a depth charge thrown into it, instantly detonating!

After a brief silence.

There was a clamor and discussion like a mountain call and a sea roar!

"Chen Xu? I didn't mishear, did I? The champion is actually him?"

"How is this possible! Didn't he fail the last round? That Heavenly Vault Lightning Summoning Talisman wasn't completed at all!"

"Yes, the semi-finished products of Yue Guanshan and Hua Qianshan had extremely high completion rates, how could they lose to him?"

"It's a fix! There must be a fix!"

Questions arose one after another, but soon, a rational voice spoke up.

"Silence! How can you question the examiners' judgment?"

A Merchant Alliance steward sternly shouted: "The evaluation of a Talisman does not only consider its completion rate, but also the structure of the runes, the application of Spiritual Qi, and the profound principles of Talisman Dao contained within it!"

"Fellow Daoist Chen Xu's semi-finished product, although it was only missing the last stroke, its rune structure was exquisitely subtle, and its Spiritual Qi circulation was far more harmonious than that of Yue Guanshan and Hua Qianshan!"

"In fact, the examiners unanimously believe that the Talisman Dao philosophy he displayed has already surpassed the scope of an Intermediate Talisman Master! This first place is well-deserved!"

This explanation quelled most of the doubts.

In their place were shock and confusion.

"Chen Xu... why does that name sound familiar?"

"I remember now!"

Among the crowd, a merchant from a prefecture city near Ninghai Town suddenly slapped his thigh, "The Head of the Chen Family in Ninghai Town isn't named Chen Xu? I heard that this person has immense good fortune; in just a few years, he married several beautiful wives and concubines, each bearing him children, and his Family is incredibly prosperous!"

"What? It's him?"

"A Head of the Family who only knows pleasure and is engrossed in women, is actually an Advanced Talisman Master who can win the Heavenly Talisman Assembly?"

"This... the contrast is too great!"

For a time, everyone's gaze towards Chen Xu completely changed.

If before it was doubt and incomprehension.

Now it was awe, curiosity, and... a hint of fervor.

"Remarkable! So young, yet with such profound Talisman Dao attainment, his future prospects are limitless!"

"Yes, and I heard he's also blessed with many children and much fortune. If such a person could form a marriage alliance with my Family, then..."

"Brother Wang, isn't your daughter just coming of age? I think she and Head of the Chen Family are a match made in heaven!"

The direction of the discussion, in a short moment, shifted from Talisman Dao to marriage alliances.

In their eyes, Chen Xu had transformed from an unknown nobody.

Into a hot commodity that everyone wanted a piece of.

In the elegant room on the high floor.

The moment the Elder announced the champion's name, Xu Zhengyue stood up from her seat, her eyes filled with surprise and disbelief.

She won, she gambled and won!

This man truly gave her a huge surprise!

And Qian Li, opposite her, was as if struck by a bolt of lightning, completely frozen in place.

The fat on his face trembled violently.

His small eyes were wide open!

"No... impossible..."

He mumbled to himself, his face turning from flushed red to ashen: "Cheating... he must have cheated!"

He suddenly stood up, pointing at Chen Xu in the water mirror and roaring.

However, this time, no one echoed him.

The surrounding Presidents looked at him as if he were an idiot.

Xu Zhengyue slowly turned around, looking down at her opponent, who was making a fool of himself.

On her cool face, a faint smile appeared!

"President Qian..."

"Now, do you think my judgment is still good?"

"Pfft—"

Qian Li felt a sweetness in his throat, and a mouthful of old blood almost gushed out.

He pointed at Xu Zhengyue, his lips trembling!

Unable to utter a single word.

Humiliation, anger, unwillingness... all kinds of emotions intertwined, making his vision darken in waves.

"Xu Zhengyue! You... you just wait!"

Dropping a weak threat, Qian Li could no longer stay, and he scrambled out of the elegant room.

As soon as he left, the other Presidents immediately gathered around.

"Congratulations, President Xu! Heartfelt congratulations, President Xu!"

"President Xu truly has a Wisdom Eye for talent. With Fellow Daoist Chen Xu in Shangya Prefecture, why worry about not rising to prominence!"

"We hope President Xu will continue to look after us in the future!"

The change in attitude before and after was like night and day.

Xu Zhengyue handled it calmly, but her heart was filled with emotion.

This was the respect that strength brought.

In the main hall, Chen Xu calmly walked onto the high platform under everyone's gaze.

He received the Storage Ring, symbolizing the glory of the championship, from the presiding Elder.

The Elder presiding over the assembly showed Chen Xu a kind smile: "Fellow Daoist Chen, please follow me to claim your reward."

Chen Xu nodded to the Elder.

Under the escort of the Merchant Alliance guards, temporarily isolating the swarming crowd trying to make connections, he followed the Elder through a deep corridor!

They arrived in front of a heavily guarded treasury.

"This is the Taiyi Merchant Alliance's armory. The Magical Artifact rewards for the top three of this assembly are all here."

The Elder took out a token and pressed it against the heavy stone door. With a roaring sound of machinery operating, the door slowly opened.

A rich Spiritual Qi rushed out, mixed with the unique scents of various Heaven And Earth Treasures.

The interior of the vault was vast, with rows of shelves made of spiritual wood, displaying various Magical Artifacts.

Swords, spears, halberds, bells, tripods, pagodas, and seals, a dazzling array, each radiating an extraordinary spiritual glow.

"According to the rules, the champion can choose three High Grade Magical Artifacts."

The Elder made a gesture of invitation: "Fellow Daoist Chen can choose freely."

Chen Xu thanked him and slowly walked inside.

He was not attracted by the outwardly magnificent and imposing offensive Magical Artifacts; his gaze swept over the shelves one by one, a clear goal already in his mind.

He first came to an area specifically for armor.

As a Head of the Family, with Elders above and children below, his own safety was always paramount.

Although his current Realm was not weak.

But a tall tree catches the wind; winning the Heavenly Talisman Assembly would inevitably draw the attention of many with ulterior motives.

A powerful defensive Magical Artifact was essential.

His gaze finally settled on a soft armor, entirely dark, with an ancient and simple style.