The Grand Competition Ends

Ugh~

A wave of pain washed over Zeng Fan's entire body. He felt as if he were drifting in darkness, immersed in nothingness. He didn't know what he was doing, only that floating felt incredibly comfortable.

Slowly, he detected a scent, a faint, lingering fragrance. Accompanying this scent, fragments of memories began to surface in his mind: the match, the injury, the fight, Wang Beichen, Yuan Jin, Murong Xue... Murong Xue!

He remembered the owner of this scent – the healing area for disciples in the palace. Zeng Fan's eyes snapped open.

The first thing that met his gaze were the red roof beams. A mix of the faint fragrance and a strong medicinal smell assaulted Zeng Fan's nostrils, followed by pain that surged through his entire body. He couldn't help but let out a groan.

Aaaah~~~~

"You're awake! You're awake! Yuan Jin, hurry over here!" a joyful voice exclaimed. Zeng Fan turned his head and saw a graceful figure with her back to him, seemingly waving towards the doorway. As if sensing his gaze, the girl turned around and flashed a smile with tiny fangs at Zeng Fan.

"You're finally awake! Don't move, don't move, just lie there," it was Murong Xue. Seeing Zeng Fan try to sit up, she quickly pressed him down, landing directly on his wounds. The pain made him grit his teeth again.

Hiss hiss hiss~~~

"Oh, I didn't mean to," the girl said, raising her hands in a flustered manner.

"It's fine, it's fine, hiss, how long was I out?" Zeng Fan intended to wave his hand, but a sharp pain shot through it. He then remembered that Wang Beichen, that little scoundrel, had broken both his arms. However, they were already bandaged, and his clothes and wounds had been properly tended to.

"Three hours. Wang Beichen woke up an hour before you. He asked me to tell you that you're quite to his taste, that you hit it off despite fighting, and that you should have a drink together sometime if you get the chance," Murong Xue said with a hint of helplessness in her tone.

Zeng Fan chuckled wryly. A ten-year-old brat, and he had time for drinks? Still, there was no deep-seated hatred between them. It wasn't bad to gain the goodwill of an Earth Vein disciple after the match.

"Did I make it into the top ten?" Zeng Fan asked Murong Xue. After all, he had risked half his life for this. Although he had heard the announcement of his victory before passing out, he still wanted to confirm.

"You did, you did! You're amazing, kid! You even knocked down an Earth Vein disciple who was a realm higher than you! You have no idea, everyone in the audience was stunned." Yuan Jin also walked up to Zeng Fan at this moment, giving him a thumbs-up.

According to Yuan Jin, after Wang Beichen passed out on the stage, the crowd below fell into silence. Even the high platform for the Earth Vein disciples was quiet. Everyone was shocked by the outcome of the match between the two.

When the disciples on stage announced Zeng Fan's victory, the crowd erupted. However, Zeng Fan no longer had the energy to pay attention to anything around him. He had heard he won the match and then passed out. Murong Xue, however, had already rushed over from the Earth Vein disciples' high platform during their final exchange. She had caught him just in time when he fainted.

Hearing this, Zeng Fan was taken aback and looked at Murong Xue. The feeling he had before passing out wasn't fake; someone had indeed caught him.

Murong Xue's face gradually flushed as she saw Zeng Fan looking at her. "Yes, I saw how you two were fighting, and I was worried something might happen to you. Yuan Jin wasn't around either, and after all, we're friends." As she spoke, the girl's voice grew softer, and her delicate earlobes turned red.

Zeng Fan felt a part of his heart stir. Could something happen between them? Ripples of thought spread through Zeng Fan's mind, but it wasn't the time to discuss this.

Changing the subject, "How about your match, Murong? Did you finish? Did you make it into the top ten?" Murong Xue secretly breathed a sigh of relief when Zeng Fan stopped questioning her, but she also felt a little annoyed. A girl's heart is the hardest to guess, but hearing the concern in Zeng Fan's question, her anger vanished in an instant.

"I came in sixth. Making it into the top ten is enough. I wasn't planning on competing for the higher ranks with those senior brothers and sisters anyway; I couldn't beat them," Murong Xue stuck out her tongue.

Zeng Fan glanced over Murong Xue, knowing that her making it into the top ten was certainly not difficult, which made him feel a bit dejected. He had risked half his life!

Without this, he wouldn't have had a chance to enter the top ten even if he risked his life! Zeng Fan patted his chest with lingering fear. There was a chest-protecting mirror there, made from the scales of the Jade Spirit Flood Dragon. It was the real reason Wang Beichen had failed, and the source of Zeng Fan's confidence to act as he did.

The previous attacks had left no trace on these scales. The reason Wang Beichen made Zeng Fan spit blood was due to the recoil force. If Zeng Fan's physique had been stronger, that punch might have only caused him minor injuries.

"I should find time to see that Jade Spirit Flood Dragon again," Zeng Fan thought, feeling a sense of gratitude. A large part of his success this time was thanks to the Jade Spirit Flood Dragon. Both the cultivation of his killing move and the final battle were inseparable from it.

"Alright, alright, you two, stop flirting here. Look at pitiful me. I lost the match and got seriously injured, my body already feels terrible. Now I have to see you two being all lovey-dovey and my heart is breaking too." Yuan Jin exaggeratedly clutched his chest, looking distressed.

Murong Xue was exasperated upon hearing this. "You're awake now, then I'll be going. Take care of your injuries, and I'll see you when you go into the Quenching Body Pool!" With that, the girl hurried out the door. This time, she didn't lose her temper with Yuan Jin.

"You're something else, aren't you? Aren't you afraid of getting beaten up again?" Zeng Fan looked at Yuan Jin with a hint of helplessness.

Yuan Jin winked at Zeng Fan, but then a look of relief spread across his face. "You really surprised me this time, kid. You're the biggest dark horse in this grand competition. Defeating an Earth Vein disciple with your Profound Vein aptitude! You've gained quite a reputation among the Body Tempering Realm disciples now."

"It was mostly luck, plus some clever tricks," Zeng Fan knew the real reason he won the match and wouldn't get complacent about this so-called fame.

"Those guys won't care about your process. They just need to know the final result: a Profound Vein disciple defeating an Earth Vein disciple by a minor realm difference. Heh heh, quite a few female disciples are interested in you now," Yuan Jin's expression turned lewd again.

Zeng Fan didn't pick up on Yuan Jin's comment and fell silent for a moment before saying, "Regarding that Zhou Bao matter, wait for me. I'll cultivate quickly to catch up to you, and then we'll deal with it together."

Yuan Jin also fell silent upon hearing Zeng Fan's words. His body trembled slightly, his fingertips turning pale from clenching his fists. He seemed to have a lot to say, but in the end, the young man calmed down and patted Zeng Fan's shoulder.

"Yeah, focus on recovering first."

Zeng Fan wanted to say something more, but at that moment, a disciple approached them.

Zeng Fan and Yuan Jin looked at him simultaneously. The disciple noticed their gazes and, upon approaching, bowed to them.

"By order of the Disciple Hall Elder, for Brother Zeng's victory over the Earth Vein disciple Wang Beichen with his Profound Vein aptitude, you are hereby awarded two Healing Spirit Pills. We hope for your swift recovery and continued diligent cultivation to contribute to the Sect soon. Congratulations, Brother Zeng!" After speaking, the disciple politely took out a jade bottle and handed it to Zeng Fan before bidding them farewell and leaving.

Zeng Fan looked at the jade bottle in his hand. "A reward for defeating an Earth Vein disciple? It seems I've caught the attention of some higher-ups in the Sect. That's good; I can secure more resources in the future."

He opened the jade bottle. Inside lay two pills, completely different from the ones in his previous stipend. A faint medicinal fragrance emanated from the pills. Zeng Fan could feel that just one pill would be enough to heal most of his injuries.

He took one out and handed it to Yuan Jin. "Take it. One is enough for me. Don't say anything more about our relationship. Consider it repayment for the Spiritual Fruit you gave me back in the Profound Spirit Dynasty."

Yuan Jin was about to refuse, but upon hearing Zeng Fan's words and seeing the resolute look in his eyes, he reached out and took the pill. The burly young man's eyes reddened, and he raised his hand to wipe them.

"Strange, something suddenly got into my eyes."

"Hey, hey, hey, are you going to cry from being moved? I didn't realize you were so fragile."

"You bastard, something really got into my eyes! Hurry up and take the pill and recover properly, otherwise, how are you going to help me?"

"Okay!"