Receive generous rewards, Hu Yunxi's favorability +20

Sounds of praise and flattery rang out all around.

Xiao Ming hadn't reacted much, but Li Changfeng was beaming.

He smugly glanced at Su Tianming next to him. Su Tianming snorted, seemingly unconvinced but helpless.

Seeing Su Tianming put in a tough spot, Li Changfeng became even happier.

Clearing his throat, Li Changfeng announced loudly, "Xiao Ming has won first place in this Sect Competition! According to the sect rules, the first-place winner will receive a large number of rewards!"

"Xiao Ming, come over and prepare to receive your rewards!"

"Yes, Sect Master!"

Xiao Ming responded, flew down from the high platform, and arrived in front of Li Changfeng.

Li Changfeng first patted Xiao Ming's shoulder with satisfaction, then said, "This Sect Master will bestow upon you ten three-thousand-year-old spirit herbs, fifty mid-grade Earth-tier pills, and thirty thousand low-grade Origin Stones."

After he finished speaking,

Li Changfeng turned his head and asked, "Where is Elder Zhou, who is in charge of the sect's resources?"

"I am here." Elder Zhou, who looked middle-aged, stepped forward.

"Elder Zhou, I'll trouble you to take Xiao Ming to the treasure vault to collect his rewards now," Li Changfeng said with a smile.

"Alright!"

Elder Zhou nodded, then looked at Xiao Ming and said, "Xiao Ming, follow me."

Xiao Ming nodded slightly and followed Elder Zhou towards the sect's treasure vault.

In the square,

the disciples, hearing such generous rewards, all showed expressions of extreme envy.

Such vast wealth was enough to make any disciple instantly rich. So many resources would allow Xiao Ming to cultivate for a very long time.

However, despite their envy, no one harbored jealousy.

Because these cultivation resources were won by Xiao Ming with his formidable strength, and everyone was genuinely convinced.

On Xianwu Continent, strength reigns supreme.

Powerful cultivators could obtain a large amount of cultivation resources, while the weak could only watch and drool.

However,

Su Tianming and the other elders were stunned, their faces showing surprise.

"Sect Master, aren't the rewards you're giving Xiao Ming a bit too generous?" an elder whispered, "Those Origin Stones and pills are fine, but according to sect rules, the first-place winner of the Sect Competition can only receive a maximum of five three-thousand-year-old spirit herbs."

"You've given ten at once..."

Hearing this, Li Changfeng's eyes widened. "Are you saying this Sect Master is abusing his power for personal gain?"

"No, no, no, I didn't mean that..."

"Whether you meant it or not, this Sect Master tells you, I *am* abusing my power for personal gain!" Li Changfeng waved his hand and said, "If your disciple were the first-place winner of the Sect Competition, I would also give him ten three-thousand-year-old spirit herbs!"

"Unfortunately, you don't have a disciple. Even if you did, he would never be as outstanding as Xiao Ming!"

On the other side,

Xiao Ming followed Elder Zhou to the sect's treasure vault.

After collecting a large amount of cultivation resources, Xiao Ming returned to his small courtyard.

He had lost interest in the subsequent Sect Competition.

For Xiao Ming, it didn't really matter who won second and third place in the competition.

It wouldn't affect him anyway.

However,

Xiao Ming speculated that, barring any accidents, the second and third places would most likely go to Lin Feng and Wang Hao.

Both of them were Sons of Destiny. Although their Cultivation Levels were slightly lower, their actual combat power was extremely formidable when unleashed.

They could challenge opponents beyond their Cultivation Level, astonishing everyone.

And the true disciples of Spirit Sword Sect were not particularly outstanding, so they shouldn't be their opponents.

Thinking this, Xiao Ming returned to his residence and saw Hu Yunxi.

"Young Master, you..."

"The competition is over, I won first place," Xiao Ming said concisely.

Upon hearing this, Hu Yunxi immediately cheered with joy.

"I knew Young Master was the best! The other disciples were no match for you!" Hu Yunxi was incredibly excited, vigorously waving her small, fair fists.

Xiao Ming smiled, then took out some pills and a few three-thousand-year-old spirit herbs from his ring and handed them all to Hu Yunxi.

"Young Master, this is..."

"These are part of the rewards the sect gave me," Xiao Ming explained, "Now that you've also embarked on the path of cultivation, you urgently need cultivation resources. With these, your cultivation speed will greatly improve."

"Young Master, I..." Hu Yunxi hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping.

"You don't need to say anything else," Xiao Ming waved his hand and said, "Just use these resources with peace of mind. I have something to do, so I'll go back to my room first."

With that,

Xiao Ming returned to his room and closed the door tightly.

In the small courtyard,

Hu Yunxi's expression was complex, her eyes filled with joy and the emotion of being cared for.

"Young Master, what I actually wanted to say is that I don't need these resources," Hu Yunxi murmured to herself, "Because the energy seed within me contains immense, endless power that is inexhaustible."

"However, the feeling of being cared for is truly wonderful..."

"Young Master, thank you!"

At the same time,

Xiao Ming, in his room, suddenly received a system prompt:

"The host has moved Hu Yunxi. Hu Yunxi's favorability +20."

Hmm??

Upon hearing the system prompt, Xiao Ming immediately became alert.

Just by giving Hu Yunxi some cultivation resources, he gained so much favorability?

This was an unexpected surprise!

With the newly gained 20 points of favorability, Hu Yunxi's favorability towards him had now accumulated to 90 points.

And the maximum favorability was only 100 points.

In other words, if Xiao Ming worked a little harder, he could max out Hu Yunxi's favorability!

"After Hu Yunxi's favorability reaches 90 points, I wonder what kind of changes it will bring me..."

As he spoke, Xiao Ming concentrated and began to check his condition.

He had just felt that something was a little off with him.

The countless cells in his body were like they hadn't eaten for three days, frantically craving energy replenishment. Influenced by this state, the surrounding five-element spiritual energy of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth surged towards Xiao Ming like a tide.

And this was also the reason Xiao Ming returned to his room immediately.

Without hesitation,

Xiao Ming sat cross-legged, took out all his cultivation resources from his ring, and began to consume them one by one.

A mid-grade Earth-tier pill was swallowed by Xiao Ming, and it was quickly broken down and refined, turning into surging medicinal power absorbed by his cells.

Then came the second, the third... After refining all the dozens of pills he had obtained, Xiao Ming became even more ravenous.

The medicinal power of those pills was still not enough!

He needed to consume more cultivation resources!

Without another word, Xiao Ming picked up a three-thousand-year-old spirit herb, tilted his head back, opened his mouth, and began to chew and refine it.

The energy contained in a three-thousand-year-old spirit herb was extremely abundant!

As the medicinal power entered his body, his cells immediately cheered with joy. This feeling was like a torrential rain falling in a parched desert!

A timely rain after a long drought!

Xiao Ming vaguely felt that,

if he continued to consume at this rate, he might very well advance further and promote to the late Danhu Realm!

This feeling made Xiao Ming happy, but also a little puzzled.

"I only just broke through to the mid-Danhu Realm not long ago. Logically, I shouldn't be breaking through again so soon."

"Could it be influenced by Hu Yunxi's luck?"