"Silence!" Xuan Yangzi shouted, then continued, "Jiang Lijuan is the runner-up in the Grand Competition, Wu Yong is the third runner-up, and Li Hu is the fourth runner-up!"
After saying this, Xuan Yangzi turned to Qingling Fairy and said, "Junior Sister Qingling, please announce the rewards for this sect competition to all the disciples."
As soon as she finished speaking, Qingling Fairy bowed slightly to Xuan Yangzi, then slowly stepped forward. Her gaze swept over the disciples below the stage, and her clear, melodious voice, amplified by spiritual energy, resounded throughout the entire plaza: "By order of Senior Brother Sect Leader, the rewards for this sect competition are hereby officially announced as follows."
The disciples below the stage instantly fell silent, their eyes fixed on Qingling Fairy.
The Azure Spirit Fairy, her expression calm and her tone solemn, announced, "Those disciples who have made it to the top sixteen in this sect competition are all outstanding members of our Heavenly Sword Sect. I hereby grant you all the qualification to directly advance to the inner sect disciples. Furthermore, each of you will be rewarded with one hundred spirit stones as encouragement. I hope you will all diligently cultivate and achieve even greater success."
"I never expected to be directly promoted to the inner sect!"
"The resources for the inner sect are much better than those for the outer sect!"
"There's at least a monthly stipend of ten spirit stones!"
"And we can even enter the Scripture Pavilion and choose cultivation techniques from the second level!"
"If we perform exceptionally well, we can even view the cultivation technique stele!"
"Entering the inner sect should allow us to quickly reach Foundation Establishment!"
"It's a pity I was just one step away from becoming the arena champion!"
Hearing about the rewards for the top sixteen, many disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect were filled with envy.
After all, the treatment of inner sect disciples is much better than that of outer sect disciples.
Inner sect disciples even have the opportunity to view cultivation technique stele steles.
"All disciples who participate in the competition and step onto the arena will receive thirty spirit sands!" Fairy Qingling continued to announce.
"What?! Thirty spirit sands just for stepping onto the arena!"
"If only I had stepped onto the arena!"
"Damn it, why didn't I know to step onto the arena!"
"Luckily, I did step onto the arena that day!"
Hearing about the reward of thirty spirit sands for stepping onto the arena, many disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect were either happy or regretful.
Fairy Qingling glanced around and then announced, "Please, the top three in the competition, step onto the arena!"
As Fairy Qingling finished speaking, Hu Nan, Jiang Lijuan, and Wu Yong stepped onto the arena in turn.
Jiang Lijuan's face was still very pale, clearly indicating that her injuries from yesterday were quite severe.
Jiang Lijuan slowly walked onto the arena. As she passed Hu Nan, she paused slightly, looked up at him, and her eyes held a strange expression.
There was no resentment after defeat, nor envy for the champion; instead, a barely perceptible emotion flickered in his eyes, fleeting and elusive.
The Azure Spirit Fairy clapped her hands lightly, her voice clear and crisp: "Present them."
As soon as she finished speaking, seven outer disciples, each carrying an exquisite wooden tray covered with red brocade, slowly emerged from behind the viewing platform.
"Hu Nan, you are the champion of this competition. You may choose three treasures!" the Azure Spirit Fairy announced.
Hu Nan already knew the answer in his heart.
Qin Changsheng had just given him the order to choose a token, a key, and a magical prayer mat.
Qin Changsheng chose this because the token was what Chen Erniu needed.
To fulfill Chen Erniu's reward, he had to choose this.
This key could grant him access to the Heavenly Sword Sect's treasures and allow him to obtain the Spirit-Suppressing Pearl.
As for the Foundation Establishment Pill, Qin Changsheng already possessed a high-grade one, so there was no need to choose the low-grade one, which had a low success rate.
Although the low-grade Xuan-level longsword was quite good, Qin Changsheng already possessed the Black Wind Sword.
The Heavenly Sword Technique was also a decent manual, but Qin Changsheng already knew the Gale Sword Technique, and after entering the inner sect, he could borrow it for free from the Scripture Pavilion.
Qin Changsheng didn't know how to use a saber, so he directly ruled out the Xuan-level magic weapon longsword.
"Reporting to the Sect Leader, this disciple chooses the token, the key, and the magic weapon futon!" Hu Nan announced.
Hearing Hu Nan's choice, Elder Qingxuan's eyes flashed with surprise, but he quickly regained his composure.
Xuan Yangzi waved his hand gently, and the Spirit Gathering Futon, the token, and the key all flew into Hu Nan's hands.
"Thank you, Sect Leader!" Hu Nan cupped his hands in thanks to Xuan Yangzi.
Xuan Yangzi turned to Mo Chenzi and said, "Elder Mo Chenzi, please personally escort Hu Nan to the sect's treasury to choose his reward."
Mo Chenzi cupped his hands slightly to Xuan Yangzi before turning to Hu Nan and saying, "Young friend, please follow me!"
Hu Nan bowed again to Xuan Yangzi, then to Fairy Qingling and the other elders, before following Mo Chenzi down the stairs.
After Hu Nan left, Jiang Lijuan and Wu Yong also chose their rewards.
Jiang Lijuan chose the Foundation Establishment Pill and swordsmanship.
Wu Yong chose the longsword.
With Jiang Lijuan and Wu Yong having chosen their rewards, the Heavenly Sword Sect's grand competition came to a close.
However, the disciples didn't immediately disperse. Instead, they gathered in small groups, their discussions rising and falling. Almost everyone's topic revolved around one name—Hu Nan.
"Senior Brother Hu Nan is truly amazing!"
"I never expected him to become the champion so quietly!"
"I wonder how Senior Brother Hu Nan cultivates!"
"Senior Brother Hu Nan is destined to be the number one genius of our Heavenly Sword Sect!"
"Senior Brother Hu Nan might even make it onto the Southern Region's Azure Cloud Ranking!"
"If only I had half of Senior Brother Hu Nan's strength!"
The discussions were endless, filled with admiration, envy, and longing. Every word revealed their recognition of Hu Nan.
In just one day, Hu Nan's name had spread to every corner of the Heavenly Sword Sect.
From the servants' quarters to the inner disciples' residences, from the sect square to the back mountain cultivation grounds, whether it was a newly initiated disciple, a veteran disciple with many years of experience, or even the janitors responsible for cleaning, everyone was talking about this young man who had become famous overnight.
Some said he was a hidden master, having already mastered unparalleled martial arts;
Some said he possessed extraordinary luck, having obtained ancient divine powers;
Others said he was calm and composed, surpassing countless disciples solely in his temperament.
Hu Nan's name, like a thunderclap, exploded throughout the Heavenly Sword Sect, becoming a role model for all disciples and the most dazzling light in this sect competition.
However, amidst the bustling crowd, one person stood out, their expression in stark contrast to the festive atmosphere.
That person was Zhang Han.
Zhang Han's face was terrifyingly grim, his eyes filled with resentment, jealousy, and venom, as if the cheers and whispers around him were blades piercing him.
He and Hu Nan were from the same hometown, having entered the Heavenly Sword Sect together from Beihai County.
From the moment they joined, he had always looked down on Hu Nan.
In his eyes, Hu Nan was introverted, taciturn, never competitive, and his cultivation seemed mediocre, far inferior to his own exceptional talent.
He always believed that, apart from Lin Yao, he was the most outstanding disciple in Beihai County, the brightest rising star of the Heavenly Sword Sect, while Hu Nan was nothing more than dust in his eyes.
But now, reality had dealt him a harsh blow.
That fellow villager he had always looked down upon and despised had quietly fought his way through the competition, winning the sect's grand tournament and instantly becoming a revered figure. He had not only received abundant treasures but had also been directly promoted to inner disciple, gaining the attention of the sect leader and elders.
Meanwhile, he himself hadn't even stepped onto the arena, remaining an insignificant outer disciple, not even qualified to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Hu Nan.
This immense disparity weighed heavily on his heart like a boulder, making it almost impossible for him to breathe.
What he found even more unbearable was that, in recent days, even Lin Yao had been constantly mentioning Hu Nan in front of him.
Lin Yao was a woman he had long admired; gentle and beautiful, with outstanding cultivation. While Lin Yao hadn't been particularly close to him in the past, she had never deliberately distanced herself.
Ever since Hu Nan distinguished himself in the competition, Lin Yao frequently addressed him as "Senior Brother Hu Nan," her words filled with admiration and respect. She would even proactively discuss Hu Nan's matches with him, her eyes gleaming with a longing he had never seen before.
"Senior Brother Hu Nan is amazing! He defeated Senior Sister Jiang Lijuan in a single move..."
"Senior Brother Hu Nan is so composed. Even after winning the championship, he showed no arrogance whatsoever. He's truly admirable..."
Lin Yao's words echoed repeatedly in Zhang Han's ears, each sentence like a needle piercing his heart, intensifying his jealousy and resentment.
He was jealous of Hu Nan's talent, jealous of Hu Nan's opportunities, jealous of everything Hu Nan had achieved, and even more jealous of the attention and respect Hu Nan received from Lin Yao.
"Why?!" Zhang Han roared inwardly, his eyes burning with even greater venom.
"Why is it that good-for-nothing Hu Nan can win the championship? Can advance to the inner sect? Can he earn everyone's respect? Why does Lin Yao only have eyes for him?!"
He stared intently in the direction Hu Nan had left, his murderous aura almost uncontrollable.
He was unwilling, unwilling to be constantly overshadowed by Hu Nan, unwilling that the woman he loved only had eyes for someone else, unwilling to have gone from being the most outstanding disciple of Beihai County to a laughingstock in everyone's eyes.
However, Zhang Han was helpless at this moment.
After all, he was only at the fourth level of Qi Refining, while Hu Nan had already reached the Great Perfection of Qi Refining.
In a few years, he would successfully establish his foundation.
The gap between him and Hu Nan would only widen further.