Rewards

"I wonder which elder from Myriad Phenomena Hall will preside over this year's Myriad Phenomena Genius Tournament?"

"They must already be on their way! Look, everyone! Liu Ruoxue of the Liu family is here!"

"Wow! It's only been a few months, but Liu Ruoxue has grown even more breathtaking! As expected of a genius with a fourth-grade water-attribute martial soul. She radiates the aura of water every moment..."

"What a joke. Someone like you can sense Miss Liu's water aura?"

The martial arena in Tianshui City buzzed with noise.

As Liu Fangzhi, Liu Ruoxue, Liu Kuang, and the others entered the arena, the crowd grew even more excited, and the chatter swelled.

Liu Ruoxue was now one of the most prominent figures in Tianshui City.

"I heard that two outer hall disciples from Myriad Phenomena Hall escorted Liu Ruoxue back to Tianshui City. Those two beside her must be the outer hall's geniuses!" someone said excitedly.

Two people stood beside Liu Ruoxue, one on either side.

They were the outer hall disciples Lei Zhen had assigned to protect Liu Ruoxue. The man was named Yang Benhong, and the woman was Yue Yilin. Yue Yilin was at the late ninth level of the Body Tempering Realm, while Yang Benhong already had one foot in the Meridian Opening Realm, having long since reached the peak of the ninth level of the Body Tempering Realm.

With cultivation like that, they were outstanding even among the outer hall disciples!

Just then, another figure entered the arena. Carrying the Iron Sword, Qin Hao walked slowly forward, his expression calm.

"Qin Hao?!"

The moment Qin Hao appeared, he drew the attention of Liu Ruoxue, Liu Kuang, Liu Ruojie, and the others.

Liu Ruoxue knitted her delicate brows, a trace of disgust flashing in her eyes.

"Qin Hao, you worthless trash! You still dare show your face!" Liu Kuang flew into a rage. If he hadn't needed to enter seclusion to improve his cultivation, he would have stormed into the Qin family long ago to settle the score with Qin Hao.

Liu Ruojie's eyes brimmed with venom. Ever since Qin Hao had slapped him in front of everyone and snatched his pills, he had all but become Tianshui City's laughingstock!

Liu Ruoxue swept her beautiful eyes over him and said coolly, "Qin Hao, I know you can't accept it, but I never imagined you'd chase me all the way here after learning I'd returned to Tianshui City! My prince charming is a peerless genius like Lei Zhen, not trash like you! We belong to different worlds. Besides, this Myriad Phenomena Genius Tournament isn't a place for you. Get out!"

Qin Hao laughed at her words. His voice remained calm as he sneered, "Liu Ruoxue, you think far too highly of yourself. What does my being here have to do with you? And you're right about one thing. A power-chasing, ungrateful person like you truly does belong to a different world from me."

Liu Ruoxue's expression darkened. Just as she was about to speak, the arrogant-looking Yang Benhong beside her suddenly said in a stern voice:

"You're Qin Hao?"

Yang Benhong sized him up and said in a condescending tone, "I'd heard someone in Tianshui City was pursuing Junior Sister Liu. So it was you! Heh. Junior Sister Liu is exceptionally gifted and breathtakingly beautiful. Why don't you take a look in the mirror and see whether you're worthy of her?"

"Besides, Myriad Phenomena Hall would never accept someone with trash talent and an equally trash character. Get lost!"

At Yang Benhong's words, mocking looks immediately appeared in the eyes of many Liu family disciples. Those same words carried an entirely different weight when spoken by a disciple of Myriad Phenomena Hall.

"Who the hell are you? What does our Tianshui City Genius Tournament have to do with you?" Qin Hao gave Yang Benhong a sidelong look, showing him no respect whatsoever.

The commotion also drew the attention of quite a few people in the spectator stands.

Seeing Qin Hao actually arguing with a disciple of Myriad Phenomena Hall, the surrounding crowd erupted into an uproar.

"How dare you! How dare you! Do you know who I am?" Enraged, Yang Benhong took a sudden step forward and glared at Qin Hao.

A mere piece of trash from Tianshui City actually dared speak to him like that.

Killing intent flickered in Yang Benhong's eyes. "Before I left, Senior Brother Lei specifically instructed me that if you accepted reality and willingly kowtowed to Junior Sister Liu in apology, we could let this matter rest. But if you refused to appreciate his kindness, I was to teach you a lesson in his place."

"On your knees!"

With that, Yang Benhong unleashed the full pressure of his peak ninth-level Body Tempering Realm cultivation and struck his palm down at Qin Hao.

He held nothing back. He clearly intended to take Qin Hao's life!

In the distance, Qin Yuntian, who had been watching them the whole time, paled. He sprang to his feet, about to intervene.

At that very moment, a voice brimming with authority suddenly rang out. "Yang Benhong, how very imposing you are, daring to cause trouble at the Myriad Phenomena Genius Tournament."

"Elder Chi!"

Hearing that voice, Yang Benhong froze. His expression changed drastically, and the pressure emanating from him instantly dissipated.

The expressions of Liu Ruoxue, Yue Yilin, and the other Myriad Phenomena Hall disciples who had returned also shifted slightly. They all immediately became more subdued.

Meanwhile, an old man in blue robes descended from above, appearing in the air over the arena.

His expression was resolute, his hands clasped behind his back as he slowly descended to the ground.

"What? He's flying! He's a Saint Martial Realm grandmaster!"

The sight stunned everyone.

Even Zhao Yuanji had been unable to do that back then; he had arrived riding a Giant-Toothed Vulture. Yet this Elder Chi could actually stand in midair!

Flight was an ability unique to Saint Martial Realm grandmasters!

"Hmph!" Elder Chi snorted. "The Myriad Phenomena Genius Tournament is Myriad Phenomena Hall's major disciple recruitment ceremony, held once every three years. Yang Benhong, don't forget how you joined Myriad Phenomena Hall!"

"I understand, Elder! I was wrong!" Cold sweat poured down Yang Benhong's face.

Elder Chi nodded and said mildly, "All right, take your seats. It's getting late. Now that I'm here, prepare to begin the Myriad Phenomena Genius Tournament!"

"Yes!"

Yang Benhong no longer had any thought to spare for Qin Hao. He obediently followed the others to their designated places.

Quiet murmurs gradually rose throughout the arena.

Many gazed at Elder Chi with reverence. Becoming a Saint Martial Realm grandmaster was the ultimate goal of countless martial artists.

Liu Ruojie asked quietly, "Sister, is this Elder Chi really that powerful? What's his background?"

Liu Ruoxue frowned and reprimanded him. "Shut up. Don't discuss Elder Chi behind his back!"

After a pause, she added, "Elder Chi's name is Chi Zhenheng. He isn't a Saint Martial Realm grandmaster, but he's very close. He reached the peak of the ninth level of the True Martial Realm years ago and is only a step away from the Saint Martial Realm. Naturally, he possesses some of a Saint Martial Realm grandmaster's abilities. He's also the third-ranked elder in Myriad Phenomena Hall's outer hall!"

"I never imagined Elder Chi would personally preside over this Tianshui City Genius Tournament!"

Qin Hao's heart also burned with excitement. A Saint Martial Realm grandmaster—that was a true powerhouse of the martial path!

Tianshui City is too small, after all. If I want to scale the summit of the martial path, I have to join Myriad Phenomena Hall! Qin Hao clenched his fists. Elder Chi's arrival had left him deeply shaken.

At that moment, Chi Zhenheng swept his gaze over the entire arena, a faint pressure constantly emanating from him. Brisk and decisive, he said, "I won't waste words. I will now announce the rewards for the top three in this year's Myriad Phenomena Genius Tournament."

"Third place!"

"The rewards are one high-grade Yellow Tier martial technique, one Origin-Nourishing Pill, and two hundred contribution points!"

"Second place!"

"The rewards are one high-grade Yellow Tier martial technique, two Origin-Nourishing Pills, and five hundred contribution points!"