Victory or Defeat

It was an underdog victory, after all—and a Qi Refining cultivator had beaten someone at Foundation Establishment! Nothing like this had happened in several tournaments. Even the referee at the neighboring arena craned over to look, though it was too far away to see clearly.

"Chen Zui-Zui, you're the best—"

Bian Chunchou had never been stingy with praise. His friends could always count on him to cheer them on. Even though Chen Zui stood in the arena barely able to breathe, he had won. He had sent a senior brother at Foundation Establishment off the stage.

And his friends had been there to see it.

Coming to Yonglu Mountain on his mother's advice really had been a good choice.

Now he was the strongest Qi Refining cultivator.

When the referee announced that Chen Zui, a Qi Refining disciple of Blade Peak, had won, gasps swept through the crowd. Unfortunately, Chen Zui was utterly spent. Much as he wanted another match, his body would not let him push it any further.

Chen Zui struggled off the stage, and his two friends took him back to his cave dwelling. He would need at least ten days to half a month to recover.

"I won. Did you see?"

Bian Chunchou grinned. "Yes, yes, you won. You really stole the show today—this much!" He raised a thumb.

"Congratulations. You pushed past your limits again."

Scholars really do know how to make praise sound good, Chen Zui thought. He did love pushing his limits. "I'll keep winning."

"...All right, all right. Heal up first. In this state, are you even going to compete in the finals for those below Foundation Establishment?"

Chen Zui gave him a look that said, Who are you underestimating?

Bian Chunchou: ...Fair enough.

Then again, after making a name for himself