Inside the ring, Gongsun Po remained silent. He stared at Ye Xuan for a moment before sighing and asking, "The Martial Technique you just used... it was High-Tier Ghost Grade, wasn’t it?"
As soon as those words were spoken, the venue fell deathly silent. The younger generation who had been clamoring for a rematch reacted as if they had just heard something utterly inconceivable.
"What? Did Brother Gongsun Po just say Ye Xuan used a... High-Tier Ghost Grade Martial Technique?"
"That’s impossible! With Ye Xuan’s cultivation level, how could he possibly learn a High-Tier Ghost Grade Martial Technique?"
Theoretically, only Cultivators at the 7th Layer of the Demon Spirit Realm and above could learn High-Tier Ghost Grade Martial Techniques. Those with strong talent could learn it at the 7th Layer. Those with weaker talent wouldn’t be able to grasp it until the 9th Layer, or even the next major realm!
This Ye Xuan was merely at the Super Spirit Realm. How could he have possibly mastered such a high-level Martial Technique? Could it be that he had been hiding his true strength all along? Was his true strength actually above the 7th Layer of the Demon Spirit Realm?
Just as everyone was reeling in shock, Ye Xuan’s voice rang out.
"My Martial Technique is only Mid-Tier Ghost Grade. However, it’s a Fire Attribute Martial Technique called the Heaven-Engulfing Flame Palm."
The technique Ye Xuan had just executed was none other than the mid-tier Martial Technique he had obtained from the Mou Family: the Heaven-Engulfing Flame Palm. Ye Xuan’s efforts in studying Martial Techniques over the past few days hadn’t been in vain. Even if it was a Mid-Tier Ghost Grade Martial Technique, his talent allowed him to master it rapidly.
"So it’s a Fire Attribute Martial Technique. Paired with your Fire Attribute Spiritual Qi, it indeed possesses the might of a High-Tier Ghost Grade technique. I didn’t lose unjustly," Gongsun Po admitted.
Despite Gongsun Po’s words, some of the younger generation were still unconvinced. Just as they were about to voice their protests, Gongsun Wenjin’s voice resounded.
"The first place in this grand competition goes to... Ye Xuan!"
"Grandfather... you can’t let him take first place! He launched a sneak attack! How about we do a rematch?"
Gongsun Wenjin’s eyes widened into a furious glare. "Shut your mouth! A true battle leaves no room for even a sliver of distraction. From start to finish, the rules of the competition have been clear: once you step into the ring, you may attack as soon as you are ready! You claim he launched a sneak attack, but is it possible you were simply slower to prepare than he was? A defeat is a defeat. Enough with the excuses!
"Ye Xuan’s battle should serve as a wake-up call to all of you. When you leave the Gongsun Family to explore the world on your own, you must be ready to fight at a moment’s notice. You never know when an opponent’s blade might end up pressed against your throat. Outsiders won’t give you a polite warning before trying to kill you."
Gongsun Wenjin’s reprimand awed everyone into silence.
Even though his words made perfect sense, they still begrudged Ye Xuan his first-place victory. In fact, just thinking about it filled them with humiliation. They had assumed a country bumpkin wouldn’t get very far. Who would have thought he would actually claim first place in the grand competition? It was simply unbelievable.
From now on, the Gongsun family members wouldn’t be able to find a single excuse to mock Ye Xuan. If they continued to insult him as an illegitimate child or a country bumpkin... wouldn’t they just be insulting themselves? After all, they were worse than a country bumpkin.
Most importantly, Ye Xuan was only twenty-five years old! To take first place in the grand competition at twenty-five... this had completely shattered the Gongsun Family’s records. It was a record that would likely be very difficult for anyone to break.
"Alright, this grand competition has come to a successful conclusion. To those who failed today, do not be discouraged. As long as you are not over thirty years old, you will have another chance next time. Now, will those who placed in the top ten step forward to claim your rewards."
Gongsun Wenjin spoke again as he personally handed out the rewards to the top ten outstanding youths. After distributing the prizes, he addressed the top three competitors.
"These are temporary tokens I created. Just hand them over when you go to the resource vault. No one will stop you, and you can go whenever you wish. Alright, you must all be exhausted from the battles. Go back and rest."
Having given his instructions, Gongsun Wenjin turned to leave. Ye Xuan, however, suddenly spoke up. "Grandfather, when will the Three-Star Secret Realm open?"
He had fought so painstakingly just for the chance to enter the Three-Star Secret Realm. Why hadn’t his grandfather mentioned a single word about it?
Gongsun Wenjin looked at him curiously. "You want to go to the Three-Star Secret Realm that badly?"
Although the Three-Star Secret Realm held an abundance of resources that could yield great rewards, there was no reason for Ye Xuan to be this impatient, was there? Could it be that there was still some undiscovered grand fortuitous encounter hidden within the Secret Realm? And did Ye Xuan know where it was?
Pushing the thought aside, he answered, "The Three-Star Secret Realm will open in seven days. Someone will notify you when the time comes."
"In seven days? I thought we were going tomorrow."
"Yes, in seven days. Do you have any other questions?"
"No."
"Then you are dism—"
Gongsun Wenjin nodded. He was just about to tell everyone to dismiss when he seemed to sense something. His brow twitched as he jerked his head upward.
On the horizon, a massive Flying Beast appeared. The creature’s speed was incredible; in just a few breaths, it arrived in the airspace above the Gongsun Family. More than half of the sunlight was blotted out by the Flying Beast, and the entire martial arts training ground grew significantly darker.
Standing upon the beast’s head was a middle-aged man clad in a golden robe. He wore a magnificent crown and held a battle halberd in his hand. He hadn’t released any spiritual pressure, yet his mere presence exuded an indescribable, suffocating weight that pressed down on everyone.
WHOOSH!
The beast flapped its wings, descending from the sky. As it drew closer to the ground, the tempest whipped up by its wings swept outward like wind dragons. Those with weaker cultivation were immediately blown away. Even outstanding youths like Ye Xuan and Gongsun Po were sent skidding across the ground, sliding a considerable distance. To think that a mere flap of this beast’s wings could possess such divine might! It was absolutely terrifying!
"That’s a Rank Six, Eighth-Tier Flying Beast—the Heaven-Reaching Bird!" someone finally cried out in shock.
"What! Rank Six, Eighth-Tier!"
Everyone gulped hard. Rank Six Beasts were already exceedingly rare, let alone a Rank Six, Eighth-Tier Flying Beast!
Although both the Gongsun Family and the Liu Family possessed Rank Six Beasts as mounts, their highest-ranked ones were only at Rank Six, Third-Tier. The Gongsun Family’s Wind Chasing Leopard and Snow Eagle were both at this level. Back then, the Gongsun Family had expended an immense amount of effort just to subjugate those two beasts. This was especially true for the Snow Eagle, which had required mobilizing the strongest combatant in the Gongsun Family. And the Gongsun Family’s absolute strongest expert was merely at the 4th Layer of the Earth Spirit Realm! In other words, this single Heaven-Reaching Bird possessed enough power to wipe out the entire Gongsun Family.
SCREECH!
The Heaven-Reaching Bird was exceedingly arrogant. As it hovered just above the heads of the Gongsun family members, it let out an ear-piercing shriek. Everyone covered their ears, their eardrums on the verge of rupturing. Those with weaker cultivation violently coughed up mouthfuls of blood.
"Gongsun Wenjin..."
At this moment, the man standing atop the bird’s head finally spoke. His voice resonated like that of a Divine King. It sounded ethereal and distant, yet it seemed to echo directly within their minds, compelling them to drop to their knees in worship.
"Lord Xiahou!"
Upon seeing the man’s face clearly, Gongsun Wenjin instantly dropped to his knees, his expression filled with the utmost reverence. "To what do we owe the honor of your visit from thousands of miles away, My Lord? What are your orders?"