Top Three

"What? Liu Kuang took a Forbidden Pill?"

"That... no wonder his aura changed so drastically just now."

"Hiss! So Liu Kuang took a Forbidden Pill and still couldn't beat Qin Hao?"

"My heavens, Qin Hao is terrifying!"

"Good thing I never offended him."

The entire Martial Arts Arena erupted into noise.

Everyone was stunned. Liu Kuang had dared to take a Forbidden Pill, yet even with its help, he had lost to Qin Hao.

At that moment, Chi Zhenheng's terrifying pressure enveloped Liu Chengfeng, turning his face pale.

He froze where he stood. When he heard Chi Zhenheng's words, disbelief filled his face, and he growled, "Impossible! How could my son have taken a Forbidden Pill? The Liu family has never given him any such pill!"

"A Forbidden Pill?" Qin Yuntian was momentarily stunned. Then he couldn't help looking at his son.

Qin Hao stood straight-backed and calm-faced on the platform, as though he had expected this all along. Not a ripple stirred in his heart.

Forbidden Pills were strictly prohibited in the Myriad Phenomena Genius Tournament. Chi Zhenheng, moreover, was known throughout the Myriad Phenomena Hall for his ironclad impartiality. What consequences awaited someone who dared take one during a tournament he presided over?

"The Violent Burst Pill doubles one's strength for a short time!"

"Liu Kuang took a Violent Burst Pill without authorization, violating the Myriad Phenomena Genius Tournament's ban. Now the pill has turned on him: his meridians are severed, and his Dantian is shattered!"

"Hmph. You Liu family have some nerve."

Chi Zhenheng's voice was icy as his gaze swept toward Liu Fangzhi, the Liu family head.

Liu Fangzhi felt as though he had fallen into an icy abyss. He hurriedly cupped his hands. "Elder Chi, Liu Kuang took the Violent Burst Pill on his own, and the Liu family is willing to accept punishment. But we truly knew nothing about it. Please investigate the matter!"

Chi Zhenheng's expression softened a little. "The Liu family will, of course, be punished severely. All Liu family disciples will lose their rankings in this year's Myriad Phenomena Genius Tournament. And... the Liu family will be barred from entering the next tournament!"

"What!"

Liu Fangzhi cried out in fright. "E-Elder Chi... how can you take away our right to enter the next tournament?"

Chi Zhenheng looked at him coldly. "Do you object?"

Liu Fangzhi shuddered. "No, no."

Every member of the Liu family looked deathly pale. Being barred from the next tournament was a devastating blow.

"As for Liu Kuang..." Chi Zhenheng turned to Qin Hao. "He took a Forbidden Pill during his match with you. What do you think should be done?"

Swish!

Everyone turned toward Qin Hao, their expressions deeply conflicted.

"Elder Chi!"

Qin Hao calmly cupped his hands, neither servile nor overbearing. "From start to finish, Liu Kuang wanted to destroy my Dantian and ruin my future. He even resorted to a Forbidden Pill. Now that the Violent Burst Pill has turned on him..."

"Please spare his life, Elder Chi. Let him spend the rest of it as a cripple."

"Very well," Chi Zhenheng said indifferently.

Hiss!

Sharp breaths were drawn all around.

What could be more painful than becoming a cripple?

"Qin Hao is ruthless. He gave Liu Kuang a taste of his own medicine."

"Liu Kuang always thought himself above everyone else. Becoming a cripple must hurt worse than death."

"Well, he was the one who provoked Qin Hao. Bet he's sick with regret now."

The crowd buzzed with discussion, their gazes toward Qin Hao growing more reverent.

"We accept Elder Chi's decision without objection."

The Liu family members wore bitter expressions. Their losses in this Myriad Phenomena Genius Tournament had been devastating.

And it was all because of Qin Hao.

They looked at Qin Hao with anger, but also a trace of fear.

Everyone had called Qin Hao trash, yet nothing about his performance today looked like the work of a good-for-nothing.

Meanwhile, Liu Fangzhi sank slowly into his seat, his body trembling. He sighed and turned to Liu Ruoxue. "Xue'er, the Liu family will depend on you from now on. We've lost far too much in this tournament!"

"Rest assured, Father. As long as I'm here, the Liu family will stand firm."

Liu Ruoxue nodded and said coolly, "Qin Hao is still just trash with a First-Grade Martial Soul. Even if he enters the Myriad Phenomena Hall, he won't go far. He poses no threat to us."

"It's a shame the Violent Burst Pill wore off so quickly. Otherwise, Qin Hao would certainly have lost!"

Liu Fangzhi nodded heavily. He opened his mouth to speak, but when he saw Yang Benhong and Yue Yilin beside Liu Ruoxue, he swallowed his words.

He had wanted to ask about Liu Kuang taking the Violent Burst Pill, but what was done was done. There was no point asking now.

Besides, with the outcome already settled, offending two more talents of the Myriad Phenomena Hall would do more harm than good.

"Liu Xiao." In the Liu Family Stockade's section, Liu Xiao's uncle spoke gravely. "What did you make of Qin Hao's match with Liu Kuang? Are you confident you can beat him?"

Liu Xiao was watching Qin Hao step down from the platform. He shook his head. "Uncle, Qin Hao won't be much trouble for me! If we face each other in the next match, the seventh wave of my Wave-Breaking True Spear Art will be more than enough to break through his sixty sword shadows."

"As I've said, Chen Yuntian is my greatest threat."

As he spoke, Liu Xiao turned toward Chen Yuntian.

Chen Yuntian's eyes were half-closed, his expression utterly relaxed. The battle between Qin Hao and Liu Kuang had not affected him.

In fact, he shared Liu Xiao's view: he thought little of Qin Hao's sixty sword shadows.

Against Liu Xiao, Chen Yuntian might need ten moves.

Against Qin Hao, Chen Yuntian was confident three moves would suffice!

More than Qin Hao's strength, what surprised him was that a trash with a First-Grade Martial Soul had made it into the top three of the Myriad Phenomena Genius Tournament.

"Well done, Hao'er!" In the Qin family's section, Qin Yuntian beamed with delight.

Liu Wei laughed heartily. "I knew Liu Kuang couldn't stand in the way of your rise. Well done, Qin Hao!"

The other Qin disciples looked at Qin Hao with both awe and admiration.

Whatever grade Qin Hao's Martial Soul was, he had defeated Liu Kuang and reached the top three of the Myriad Phenomena Genius Tournament.

The sight of Liu Kuang destroying Qin Fang's Dantian was still fresh in their minds. Without Qin Hao, they would have had no choice but to swallow their anger.

"Well done, Young Master Qin Hao!" Qin Xiongfeng shouted, his face full of admiration.

"Young Master Qin Hao!"

"Young Master Qin Hao!"

Many Qin disciples joined in the cheers.

"Hmph. He's still trash with a First-Grade Martial Soul!"

A sour voice cut through the cheering. The Grand Supreme Elder's expression shifted darkly as he snorted. "Qin Hao, even if you enter the Myriad Phenomena Hall, you'll still have only a First-Grade Martial Soul. What future could you possibly have?"