First Place Prize at the Cangwu Grand Competition

Inside White Tiger Hall, Han Feng and Shen Jingfeng sat across from each other, separated only by a low table. White steam rose from their teacups, curling upward before slowly fading into the air.

Han Feng spoke evenly. "You lost to Jiang Tingxue earlier, but there's no need to dwell on it. On the path of martial arts, victory and defeat are both commonplace. No one can keep winning forever, and no one will keep losing forever."

"You once had the upper hand over Jiang Tingxue. Now she's gained the upper hand over you. It's just one rise and fall along the path."

"It doesn't mean you can't turn the tables on her someday. For this Cangwu Grand Competition, placing in the top three is enough."

Shen Jingfeng sat opposite Han Feng and quietly listened to the hall master's words.

His match against Jiang Tingxue had not been an embarrassing one, but a loss was still a loss.

Shen Jingfeng would not make excuses for himself, much less blame his defeat on anything else.

He had once been the strongest disciple in the Four Symbols Sect. Now he had yielded that position.

To him,

the path of martial arts was not about who stood higher for a moment, but who could keep moving forward after a fall.

No jealousy took root in Shen Jingfeng's heart, nor did resentment over his loss.

Instead, losing to Jiang Tingxue had let him see things he had failed to see before.

He still had a long way to go on his martial path. His sword still needed a sharper edge.

This defeat had not become a demon in Shen Jingfeng's heart. He had merely shed the title of the Four Symbols Sect's greatest genius, and that left him feeling much lighter.

Shen Jingfeng raised