29: The harvest is the same! The competition is fierce!

“Oh, so that one from your Profound Heaven Dao Sect is awake too?”

Zhao Shengdao walked over with Luo Junjie, laughing heartily, and said with a tsk-tsk, “Sect Leader Wen, I have a thought today, help me analyze if it’s true.”

“I think, a Genius is a Genius. Look at Luo Junjie from our Five Elements Sect; after such a shock, not only did his strength not decline, but he also broke through due to a blessing in disguise. Look, Junjie, come closer and let Sect Leader Wen see. See? He’s 15 years old, Foundation Establishment Stage - Mid Phase. What is a Genius? This is a Genius, hahaha.”

After consuming a Spirit Gathering Pill, Luo Junjie not only recovered all his true Qi but also, under Zhao Shengdao's full protection, absorbed all the medicinal power of the Spirit Gathering Pill within a single day of waking up. He smoothly advanced from Foundation Establishment Stage - Early Phase to Foundation Establishment Stage - Mid Phase, significantly increasing his strength.

As a Sect Master, Zhao Shengdao was now overjoyed.

It was hard not to show off in front of Wen Yuheng.

Luo Junjie himself was an arrogant scion of a powerful family; his significant increase in strength made him even more confident that he could wield that unique Divine Artifact.

Proudly and with evident provocation, Luo Junjie raised his chin at Su Yang.

Don't think you're the only one in the Foundation Establishment Stage - Mid Phase.

Now, I am also in the Foundation Establishment Stage - Mid Phase!

And you are 18 years old in the Foundation Establishment Stage - Mid Phase, while I am—a 15-year-old in the Foundation Establishment Stage - Mid Phase!

The one who pulls out that Divine Artifact will definitely be me!

The one who can use that Divine Artifact next will also definitely be me!

Su Yang: ...This kid indeed has the capital to be arrogant.

However, Su Yang was not a man to be easily self-deprecating; you are good, but I am not inferior to you!

It's not yet clear who will emerge victorious!

Su Yang gave him an equally confident look.

Their gazes collided in the air, sparking invisible flames.

“Indeed, he possesses outstanding talent, very good! Very good!”

Wen Yuheng, after all, was a Sect Master of the Soul Transformation Stage and would not transfer his displeasure with Zhao Shengdao onto a Junior.

Although he knew that Luo Junjie's Breakthrough was due to the Spirit Gathering Pill and Zhao Shengdao's power, a 15-year-old boy entering the Foundation Establishment Stage - Mid Phase was indeed commendable.

At this moment, the Sect Masters of the other six Sects also came over.

“Congratulations, Sect Leader Zhao.”

“The name Junjie is well chosen; he is indeed a talent among talents!”

“A 15-year-old in the Foundation Establishment Stage - Mid Phase, he’s more than just a Genius; he’s a Genius among Geniuses!”

“Back in our day, none of us could achieve such a level.”

“This Genius of the Five Elements Sect will definitely be the pillar of strength for the Five Elements Sect in the future!”

Seeing that Luo Junjie of the Five Elements Sect not only suffered no damage to his strength but also took the opportunity to make a Breakthrough, his astonishing talent prompted the five Sect Masters, excluding Yu Ling Sect, to offer compliments and foster good relations with the Five Elements Sect.

Profound Heaven Dao Sect, Five Elements Sect, and Yu Ling Sect, as the top three of the Eight Great Sects, possessed their own confidence and arrogance. However, the lower five Sects—Sacred Sword Sect, Immortal Shadow Sect, Medicine King Valley, Tiangong Pavilion, and Heavenly Mystery Pavilion—needed to assess the situation at this crucial moment.

For the past two days, these five lower Sects had been deliberating on which side to align with.

Under the current circumstances, they all felt that Luo Junjie had a greater chance of being able to use the unique Divine Artifact.

Once Luo Junjie successfully wielded the unique Divine Artifact of Burial Immortal Valley, the Five Elements Sect would immediately become the undisputed number one Sect in the world. Standing with the Five Elements Sect at this time would clearly be beneficial to them.

Zhao Shengdao, of course, understood that these compliments were not for Luo Junjie but for him.

Having coveted the title of the world's number one Sect for a long time, this feeling of being praised had already made him feel like he was the Sect Master of the world's number one Sect.

The joy on his face was completely undisguised.

“Hey, hey, hey, wake up, wake up, the results aren't out yet, what are you showing off about?”

Wen Yuheng, though displeased, did not show it, and waved his hand in front of Zhao Shengdao.

“Who said I was showing off? This is confidence based on strength!”

Zhao Shengdao slapped his hand away and, looking at the sun peeking over the mountains, said, “The three-day treasure hunt in Burial Immortal Valley is about to end. Sect Leader Wen, shouldn’t we let Su Yang and Luo Junjie go down for a second attempt?”

Wen Yuheng said, “What’s your hurry? According to our initial agreement, whoever wins the treasure hunt and defeats the challenges from the other Sect leaders will earn the reputation of the world’s number one Sect. Since the event has concluded, I believe the first thing we should do is tally the gains of our Sect Disciples. Let’s handle the simple matters first and leave the important ones for last. What do you all say?”

“That’s fine.”

“The unique Divine Artifact is a matter for your Five Elements Sect and Profound Heaven Dao Sect, irrelevant to us. We should indeed tally the gains first.”

“I agree too.”

Wen Yuheng's suggestion received everyone's support.

“Alright, in that case, let’s tally the gains first!”

As this year's event host, Zhao Shengdao wasted no words, directly flying into the sky, standing in the Void Realm, and transmitting his voice to Burial Immortal Valley: “To all Disciples of the Eight Sects, the sun of the fourth day has appeared, and the three-day treasure hunt in Burial Immortal Valley officially concludes here.”

“First, congratulations to all Disciples of the Eight Sects who obtained their destined Magical Artifacts in Burial Immortal Valley. Based on past experience, your future will undoubtedly be extraordinary. Congratulations!”

“To the Disciples of the Eight Sects who did not receive recognition from an ancient Magical Artifact, you need not be disheartened. The ancient Magical Artifacts of Burial Immortal Valley are indeed powerful, but not obtaining one does not mean you have no future. Countless facts prove one thing: the path of cultivation, in addition to powerful Magical Artifacts, also relies on the powerful will of the cultivator themselves. Your perseverance and effort can still make you powerful cultivators in the future!”

“Now, please, everyone, leave Burial Immortal Valley and return here. We need to tally your gains. The moment for you to bring glory to your Sect has arrived!”

Zhao Shengdao's voice reached everyone's ears.

Those who obtained Magical Artifacts flew towards Flat Top Peak without hesitation, while those who didn't had faces full of endless regret. Some were still trying to gain recognition from a Magical Artifact, but after three days with no success, how could they possibly have that luck in the last moments?

Watching the Sect Disciples around them all flying towards Flat Top Peak, the number of people still struggling dwindled. Even those who were unwilling knew their chance was gone.

They could only fly back.

The Disciples of the Eight Sects quickly all returned to Flat Top Peak, rejoining their respective teams.

The Steward of the Five Elements Sect immediately began to tally the gains of each Sect.

“Heavenly Mystery Pavilion: 3 purple Magical Artifacts, 10 green Magical Artifacts, 22 gray Magical Artifacts.”

“Tiangong Pavilion: 3 purple Magical Artifacts, 11 green Magical Artifacts, 19 gray Magical Artifacts.”

“Medicine King Valley: 4 purple Magical Artifacts, 10 green Magical Artifacts, 25 gray Magical Artifacts.”

“Immortal Shadow Sect: 5 purple Magical Artifacts, 15 green Magical Artifacts, 25 gray Magical Artifacts.”

“Sacred Sword Sect: 1 golden Magical Artifact, 5 purple Magical Artifacts, 12 green Magical Artifacts, 20 gray Magical Artifacts.”

“Yu Ling Sect: 1 golden Magical Artifact, 7 purple Magical Artifacts, 10 green Magical Artifacts, 21 gray Magical Artifacts.”

“Five Elements Sect: 1 golden Magical Artifact, 9 purple Magical Artifacts, 15 green Magical Artifacts, 23 gray Magical Artifacts.”

“Profound Heaven Dao Sect: 1 golden Magical Artifact, 9 purple Magical Artifacts, 15 green Magical Artifacts, 23 gray Magical Artifacts.”

The Sect Steward tallied and loudly announced the results to everyone.

When the final tally for Profound Heaven Dao Sect was completed, everyone present showed an extremely peculiar expression.

They were already tense about which Sect would claim first place, and now they were even more so.

Profound Heaven Dao Sect and Five Elements Sect had the exact same gains this year.

Zhao Shengdao and Wen Yuheng exchanged glances. After a moment of surprise, the two Sect Masters immediately erupted with intense animosity.

“Your Profound Heaven Dao Sect did well this year, to actually gain so much.”

“It seems your Five Elements Sect’s luck has run out. This year, it should be our Profound Heaven Dao Sect’s turn to reclaim first place.”

“Sect Leader Wen, you spoke too soon.”

Zhao Shengdao patted Luo Junjie’s shoulder beside him.

“Su Yang, let Sect Leader Zhao see your strength!”

Wen Yuheng, not to be outdone, directly put his arm around Su Yang’s shoulder.

Everyone knew that the most crucial moment in the struggle for the world's number one between Profound Heaven Dao Sect and Five Elements Sect had arrived.

Su Yang and Luo Junjie, whoever could wield that unique Divine Artifact, their Sect would be the world's number one Sect!