Champion

The entire arena fell deathly silent.

Everyone stared at the scene before them, dumbstruck by the sight of what looked like the end of the world.

They looked at the enormous crater billowing with thick smoke.

They looked at Qi Hao, lying far away, his life or death unknown.

Their minds had ground to a complete halt.

What had just happened?

Was the battle really over?

One strike?!

Another simple, effortless strike!

Where had Li Xiaoyu's attack come from?

The gourd?

What kind of gourd was that?

How could it unleash such a terrifying attack?

Qi Hao, at the eighth level of the Jade Purity Realm, armed with a divine weapon and ready to unleash his ultimate technique, had really lost just like that?

He'd been defeated so completely, so miserably?

Just how much strength had Li Xiaoyu been hiding?

What kind of monster was he?

The dust slowly settled.

Li Xiaoyu's figure reappeared in everyone's sight.

He stood quietly at the edge of the enormous crater, his robes snapping in the gusts of wind.

His face was still somewhat pale, as if that strike had taken a heavy toll on him too.

But the ashen Wine Gourd in his hand was already back at his waist.

He looked at Qi Hao, who lay in the distance like a dead dog, his expression calm and utterly unruffled.

The disciple serving as referee stood rooted to the spot, mouth agape. The flag in his hand had fallen to the ground, and he hadn't even noticed.

He'd even forgotten to announce the outcome of the match.

An unrestrained, jubilant laugh rang out from the viewing platform.

"Haha! Hahahaha!"

It was Shang Zhengliang!

He sprang to his feet, pointed at Li Xiaoyu in the arena, and laughed so hard he doubled over, tears streaming from his eyes.

"Good! Good, Li Xiaoyu! A fine disciple of my Morning Sun Peak!"

His excitement and pride had reached their peak!

Beside him, Daoist Cangsong's usually gloomy face had gone black as the bottom of a pot.

Looking at his disciple, beaten with one strike and left sprawled like a stray dog, he felt his face burn as if he'd been slapped a hundred times in front of everyone.

Daoist Cangsong clenched his fists inside his sleeves, his nails digging into his palms.

Over at Big Bamboo Peak, Tian Buyi and Tian Ling'er were already pale as ghosts, standing stock-still in stunned disbelief.

Tian Ling'er especially—looking at the figure standing on the edge of the crater, like some god or demon, she felt the world spinning around her, growing dizzy again and again.

She realized that they really were no longer on the same path.

But the one who had fallen behind was her.

In the deathly silence, Daoist Daoxuan's solemn, complicated voice rang out.

"The final match of this year's Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament."

"Li Xiaoyu of Morning Sun Peak is the victor!"

His voice cracked like thunder, finally rousing everyone from their endless shock.

The next moment, cheers, chatter, and cries of astonishment erupted like a landslide and a tidal wave!

"The champion! Li Xiaoyu is the champion!"

"Good heavens! He actually did it!"

"He beat Senior Brother Qi Hao with one strike! That's terrifying!"

All of Heaven-Reaching Peak erupted over the name!

With Daoist Daoxuan's solemn announcement, this year's Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament finally came to an end.

The atmosphere in the Martial Arts Arena remained electric.

Countless gazes focused on the calm figure walking down from the platform.

The disciples of Morning Sun Peak had already rushed over and surrounded Li Xiaoyu, tossing him into the air in celebration.

"Senior Brother is mighty!"

"Senior Brother is the best under heaven!"

Their faces brimmed with a pride and joy they'd never felt before.

How many years had it been?

Morning Sun Peak had never achieved such a glorious result in the Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament!

With his strength alone, Li Xiaoyu had won back the long-lost glory of all Morning Sun Peak!

Shang Zhengliang watched the disciples crowd around Li Xiaoyu, his usually stern face beaming so broadly that joy filled the creases at the corners of his eyes.

From this day on, Morning Sun Peak would no longer be an obscure presence, neither high nor low among the Seven Peaks.

And all of it was thanks to the disciple standing before him—the one he'd once all but given up on.

Meanwhile, the disciples of Dragon Head Peak, amid a cloud of gloom, scrambled to carry away the unconscious Qi Hao.

Daoist Cangsong's face was so dark it seemed water might drip from it.

He said not a word. He merely shot a cold glance at Li Xiaoyu, surrounded by the others, then swept away, his retreating figure steeped in boundless resentment and murderous intent.

He and Dragon Head Peak had been thoroughly humiliated today.

And it was all because of that brat named Li Xiaoyu!

He would remember this score!

After the brief celebration came the much-anticipated award ceremony.

Daoist Daoxuan personally descended from the viewing platform and walked to the center of the Martial Arts Arena.

His warm, deep gaze settled on Li Xiaoyu.

"Li Xiaoyu."

He spoke slowly, his voice full of praise.

"You did well."

Just three simple words, yet they were the highest praise a disciple could receive.

"According to the rules of our sect, the champion of the Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament may choose any one magical treasure from the treasury of the Green Cloud Sect as a reward."

Daoist Daoxuan waved his hand. Several attendant disciples immediately came forward, respectfully carrying a number of brocade boxes.

The boxes were opened one by one. Their treasures gleamed brilliantly, instantly drawing everyone's attention.

The most eye-catching was undoubtedly the ancient bronze mirror.

Dragons and tigers intertwined across its surface, while the eight trigrams swirled around them. It radiated a heavy, mysterious aura.

"The Six Harmonies Mirror!"

A knowledgeable disciple in the audience cried out.

"It really is the Six Harmonies Mirror, passed down by Patriarch Wufangzi! It's one of the Green Cloud Sect's most treasured relics!"

"Legend says it can reflect any attack, making its bearer invincible! It's a priceless treasure everyone dreams of!"

Envy showed in everyone's eyes.

Besides the Six Harmonies Mirror, there was an ancient sword wreathed in chilling sword energy, a jade pendant brimming with tremendous Spiritual Energy, and a manual of Daoist techniques that radiated an ancient aura.

Every one of them was a peerless treasure that ordinary disciples might never lay eyes on in their entire lives.

Everyone naturally assumed Li Xiaoyu would choose the immensely powerful Six Harmonies Mirror.

After all, it was the most famous treasure and the traditional choice of champions in years past.

Daoist Daoxuan smiled at Li Xiaoyu, gesturing for him to step forward and choose.

Under the envious gazes of the crowd, Li Xiaoyu slowly approached.

His eyes swept over the peerless treasures one by one.

The Six Harmonies Mirror was indeed extraordinary, containing the power of powerful spatial laws.

The ancient sword was also a rare, high-grade magical sword, its material even surpassing that of his Autumn Water Sword.

And yet Li Xiaoyu's gaze lingered on neither for long.

In the end, his eyes settled on a brocade box in the far corner.

There were no magical treasures or manuals inside.

Only an irregular crystal, about the size of a fist, deep red all over, as if magma flowed within it.

"Red Flame Crystal?"