Li Yan and the others followed Yu Long through the core hall corridors in silence. Each of them carried their own thoughts and reflections from the Ancient Techniques Hall.
Before long, they arrived at a reception chamber within the core hall, where the process of distributing rewards—Shadow Points and Pills began. Then they visited the Treasury to select their rewards.
There was no ceremony—only efficiency. One by one, the other three champions completed their claims and departed, each heading down a different corridor. Pride lingered in their steps, though exhaustion was equally evident.
Li Yan remained.
He moved toward the reception desk, where a calm figure stood—Dan Jian, the black-rank disciple assigned there. Today was quiet; no disciples were seen in the Core Hall.
Noticing Li Yan's approach, Dan Jian straightened slightly.
Li Yan raised his hand and summoned his disciple badge. Seeing this, Dan Jian knew what Li Yan wanted; he did the same, retrieving his golden badge. With a soft tap, Li Yan transferred five thousand Shadow Points.
Dan Jian's brows lifted in surprise. "Junior Brother Li, isn't this your competition reward? You…"
"I want you to distribute it," Li Yan said calmly, cutting him off.
Dan Jian paused. "Distribute it?"
"To the ten disciples from the last batch," Li Yan continued. "Quietly. No announcements."
Dan Jian frowned slightly. "All of it?"
Li Yan shook his head. "No. Divide it." He paused briefly before adding, his tone steady, "If they receive five hundred points at once, they'll rush to buy artifacts, thinking it will make them stronger. But those are only external tools. What they need right now is stability."
His gaze sharpened slightly. "Guide them to use it for their food, basic needs… and occasionally for cultivation pills. Enough to ease their burden, but not enough to make them careless."
Dan Jian studied him for a moment before nodding. "Understood. I'll handle it personally."
A faint smile appeared on Li Yan's lips. "Thank you, Senior Brother."
Without lingering, Li Yan turned and walked away, his figure soon disappearing down the corridor.
As Li Yan stepped out of the core hall, the noon sun had already risen toward the peak, casting long golden rays across the mountain paths.
He made his way toward the food stall area near the sect's exit, where the scent of sizzling meat, freshly baked buns, and steaming broth filled the air. Disciples moved between stalls with bowls in hand, their tired chatter and occasional laughter echoing through the lively space.
Li Yan ignored the curious glances directed at him. His body and mind had both been pushed to their limits; after nearly twenty-four hours of intense focus without food, a deep hunger gnawed at him.
He stopped at a stall and purchased a simple meal—a bowl of fragrant rice, stir-fried vegetables, a slice of grilled meat, and a clay jar of warm tea. The disciple at the stall recognized him but said nothing, only offering a respectful nod as he handed over the food.
Li Yan returned directly to his room. As the door closed behind him, the noise of the outside world faded, replaced by quiet stillness.
With a flick of his fingers, he summoned the meal onto the table from his storage ring. The dishes appeared neatly arranged, still warm.
He sat down slowly, the faint ache in his body reminding him of the long day behind him.
He ate quickly, but not carelessly. Each bite carried warmth back into his body. The meat was tender, the vegetables crisp, and the rice perfectly seasoned. It was a simple meal, yet in that moment, it was more satisfying than any feast.
Even as he ate, faint echoes lingered in his awareness—the Spirit Realm… the Sword Realm… the Tower.
None of it had truly faded.
After finishing, Li Yan leaned back slightly, the warmth settling comfortably within him. A faint smile touched his lips.
For the first time in what felt like days, there was no pressure.
No urgency.
Only quiet.
He settled on the couch, lay down, resting one arm beneath his head. Within minutes, his breathing steadied, and he drifted into a light, dreamless sleep.
A few hours later, Li Yan woke.
He sat up slowly, his gaze distant for a moment before clarity returned. Rising to his feet, he walked toward the bathroom. Warm water flowed over his body, washing away the lingering sleepiness from earlier.
After changing into fresh robes, he returned to the living area. His focus had already shifted.
Standing in the center of the room, Li Yan raised his hand. With a thought, he summoned the rewards he had received as the White Rank champion.
A faint shimmer appeared in the air. The first item materialized—a sword, floating inches above his palm.
Li Yan reached out and grasped the hilt. As he drew the blade, it slid free with a soft, almost whisper-like sound.
The sword was aged, yet flawless.
Its blade gleamed with a faint ethereal light, sharp and refined. It was a Tier-4 High-Level weapon, devoid of unnecessary decoration, embodying pure function and elegance. The grip, crafted from dark materials, bore subtle engravings resembling flowing wind and sharp fangs.
Li Yan slowly rotated the blade, studying it.
"Light… balanced… tempered by time," he murmured.
A faint hum resonated through the weapon, as if acknowledging him. This was not merely a weapon for combat. It was a weapon for mastery.
For precision. For speed.
Li Yan nodded slightly and returned the sword to its scabbard.
With another flick of his fingers, the second item appeared.
A spear.
Unlike the sword's quiet elegance, this weapon carried a deeper, more grounded presence. Taller than himself, the Tier-4 High-Level spear exuded a calm authority. Its shaft was forged from a smooth silver-toned alloy, faintly shimmering under the room's light.
Runes lined its surface, arranged in flowing patterns that seemed almost alive. The spearhead was sharp and clean, emitting a subtle, cold glow. Despite its age, there was no sign of wear.
Perfectly preserved—or not used enough.
But what drew Li Yan's attention most was its nature.
Neutral. A vessel without bias.
"This will be useful," Li Yan said softly, his gaze sharpening.
This spear, like his earlier weapon, could accommodate any elemental affinity. A tool meant for adaptability.
For growth.
Li Yan ran his fingers lightly across the runes. "You were made for someone like me."
A faint smile appeared on his lips as he stepped back, observing both weapons.
The sword—discipline and precision.
The spear—versatility and evolution.
One ended battles.
The other shaped them.
Two different paths.
Two distinct philosophies.
Both would become part of his arsenal.
For now, he had not chosen gauntlets. The one he already possessed was sufficient, and his focus would shift toward mastering the spear—especially with the Divine-Tier technique—Dark Shadows Spear—he had copied from the Ancient Techniques Hall.
With a final glance, Li Yan waved his hand.
Both weapons vanished into his storage ring. And the third reward appeared soon after.
A small porcelain bottle floated before Li Yan, simple in shape yet adorned with delicate azure lotus patterns that glowed faintly under the lamplight.
Even before touching it, he could sense the refined medicinal Qi swirling within. Li Yan caught it in his palm and removed the cork.
At once, a fragrant wave of alchemical energy spread through the room. The scent was crisp and pure, like mountain air after rain. It wasn't overwhelming, but it carried a clear sharpness—an unmistakable sign of high-grade pills.
These were two Qi Gathering Pills. Tier-3 Mid-Level.
Each one was a perfect sphere of deep jade green, threaded with faint golden veins that pulsed subtly, like a heartbeat.
Li Yan lifted one between his fingers, studying it carefully. The craftsmanship was perfect. Though he had no experience in pill refining, even he could tell—this was the work of a master.
A faint smirk touched his lips. "Refined well," he murmured.
He returned the pill to the bottle, sealed it, and stored it back in his ring.
"These will help me break through…" he murmured. "But not yet."
His gaze sharpened slightly. "I'll wait until the Spirit Beast egg shows its first reaction."
Silence settled briefly. Then his expression turned focused. "The competition is over. It's time to return to the real task—one thousand beast cores."
His gaze sharpened.
There was no room for delay.
Li Yan stepped out of his quarters and walked along the stone paths of the sect grounds. After gathering a few basic supplies, he headed directly toward the teleportation portal that led to the Tier-1 Hunting Ground.
The afternoon sun filtered through drifting clouds, casting soft shadows across the sect as he moved forward with steady purpose.
But his presence did not go unnoticed.
"Hey, look—it's Li Yan Tian!"
"He's heading to the Hunting Ground again!"
"I heard he can take down entire Tier-1 beast packs alone… is that true?"
"I want to see it myself!"
"He crushed peak-stage disciples like nothing."
Whispers spread quickly.
Curiosity turned into movement.
One disciple followed. Then another. Soon, more than thirty white-ranked disciples had gathered behind him. A few higher-ranked disciples are also available.
Their cultivation ranged from Qi Gathering Realm (Stage-2) to Qi Channeling Realm (Stage-5). Each of them carried a mixture of excitement, admiration, and curiosity.
Not all followed out of admiration.
Some came to measure him.
Others… to find flaws.
To many of them, Li Yan was no longer just a disciple.
He was a figure worth watching—a rising legend.
Li Yan did not slow down.
But as he approached the portal, he cast a brief glance over his shoulder. Seeing the growing crowd, he let out a quiet breath and shook his head slightly.
"Still treating me like entertainment…" Without another word, he stepped into the teleportation portal.
Light flared. And he vanished.
The disciples rushed forward immediately, following him without hesitation, but this time, only White-Ranked disciples followed him; the higher-ranked stayed back.
On the other side, the Tier-1 Hunting Ground opened wide. Wild. Untamed.
Jagged cliffs rose along the horizon, while dense forests swayed beneath the wind. The air carried a faint spiritual pressure, and distant roars echoed through the terrain.
Li Yan's gaze swept across the hunting ground. His robes shifted lightly in the wind. His eyes were calm.
Measured. Without hesitation, he moved forward.
His expression remained composed—but beneath it, something burned quietly. A relentless drive. For more strength. More mastery. More control.
As they entered the outer area of the Tier-1 Hunting Ground, Li Yan halted briefly and extended his Spiritual Sense. It spread outward smoothly, covering a fifty-meter radius. Compared to before, the range had increased significantly—a clear sign of his recent breakthrough.
In the next moment, Li Yan moved.
Without warning, he dashed in a specific direction. The disciples behind him were startled, but quickly followed.
They soon arrived at a clearing where a Tier-1 Earthly Bear stood, its massive body tense as it let out a low growl. The beast's presence was oppressive, its strength clearly at the peak of its tier.
Li Yan showed no hesitation.
With a simple motion, his sword appeared in his hand—a Tier-4 High-Level weapon. The blade gleamed faintly under the sunlight, its form refined and silent.
He didn't channel any Qi. He simply stepped forward.
The bear shifted at the last moment—Li Yan's blade adjusted mid-motion.
One movement. Clean. Precise.
The blade flashed.
The bear's growl was cut short. Its massive body stiffened, then collapsed to the ground with a dull thud.
Silence followed.
The disciples stared, stunned.
"That… was a peak Tier-1 beast…"
"And he didn't even let it react…"
"He didn't use any technique…"
"Did you see that angle?"
Ignoring their voices, Li Yan calmly stored the beast's body in his storage ring. His expression did not change.
His Spiritual Sense expanded again—another target. Without a word, he moved. The disciples hurried after him. The pattern continued. One hunt after another.
Each encounter ended the same way—swift, decisive, without excess movement.
In just one hour, more than thirty beasts had fallen. Four Tier-1 beast cores added to his collection.
No wasted motion. No hesitation.
The disciples trailing behind him could only watch in awe.
"Senior Brother Li, your swordsmanship is incredible!"
"Do you never get tired?"
"You've already killed so many beasts…"
Li Yan ignored them. His focus remained fixed.
Hunt. Kill. Move.
Nothing else mattered.
Eventually, he slowed.
The terrain ahead shifted subtly—the trees grew denser, the air heavier.
The deeper area.
Li Yan stopped and turned. "This is where I go further," he said calmly. "From here onward, beasts move in packs."
His gaze swept across them. "For your safety, you should return to the outer area."