"Cough."
A soft cough drowned out the faint commotion in the arena.
Chief referee Ning Yantong stepped through the air and arrived at the center of the platform. His voice was mild, yet it carried clearly to every corner of the Sword Trial Platform:
"After final deliberation, the disciple who remained in the small world until the end of the Hundred Sects Tournament Golden Core Division finals was—Zhou Wan of the Profound Heaven Sect."
"Therefore, the champion of this Hundred Sects Tournament Golden Core Division is Zhou Wan of the Profound Heaven Sect! Qu Lin of the Unquenchable Sect takes second place. Lu Qingzhuo of the Unquenchable Sect takes third."
The instant the results were formally announced, cheers did not immediately erupt from the floating platforms. Instead, an even more obvious wave of uproar and discussion swept through the crowd.
Though many had already vaguely anticipated it when Ling Anxin was eliminated, the impact remained immense when such an utterly dramatic result was officially declared aloud.
"Could it... could it really be like this?"
"That final move from Qu Lin... tch, calling it a deliberate concession wouldn't be wrong, would it?"
"But rules are rules. Zhou Wan was the one who stayed until the end!"
"Who would have thought? This Golden Core final actually ended in such a way..."
"But then again, the fact that Zhou Wan managed to remain until the end says plenty about her judgment and resilience."
"But I bet on Qu Lin!"
"Serves you right, gambling dog!"
Astonishment, reflection, controversy, admiration... all manner of complicated emotions flowed among the spectators. No matter what, a result destined to be discussed for a long time had been born.
The competition had completely ended. No matter how many breathtaking schemes, reversals, and accidents had been woven into it,