With a bang, Xiao Fan slammed hard into the ground outside the arena, lightning flickering all over him. His back was a mangled mess of flesh and blood, and he passed out on the spot!
At that moment, everyone was stunned. Even someone as powerful as Xiao Fan had failed to withstand a single move from Ji Wuchang and had been defeated instantly!
Time seemed to stand still. The entire square fell silent, not a single person speaking. They had all been cowed by Ji Wuchang's ruthless strike!
"Fan'er!"
The first to react was still Xiao Fan's father, Xiao Kong. He leaped toward the arena and reached Xiao Fan in an instant.
Xiao Kong checked beneath Xiao Fan's nose. Finding that he was still breathing, he let out a sigh of relief.
Then he hurriedly picked Xiao Fan up and rushed toward the Xiao Family estate.
From beginning to end, Xiao Kong never glanced at Ji Wuchang. He dared not look, afraid that hatred would show in his eyes.
The Xiao Family could not even afford to offend the Ji Family, much less Ji Wuchang. Behind him stood the Longevity Sect, a true haven of immortal cultivation!
"How could this happen? Weren't they supposed to fight like a dragon and a tiger, evenly matched, before finally bringing out their killing moves for a showdown?"
"Damn it, I must have been blind just now, thinking Xiao Fan could beat Young Master Ji."
"A bird that flies with phoenixes must be exceptional; a beast that walks with tigers and wolves must be fierce! Young Master Ji belongs to the Longevity Sect. How could an ordinary aristocratic clan disciple compare?"
"Young Master Ji is so handsome! No matter who steps up, he knocks them down in one move! He's incredible!"
The crowd erupted into an uproar, everyone talking at once. Almost all their words were praise for Ji Wuchang.
As for Xiao Fan, he was already history.
That was how this world worked. With first place right there, who would bother with the runner-up?
Tang Yiyuan glanced at Ji Wuchang, admiration showing in his eyes. He was very pleased with him.
Ji Wuchang had won cleanly and decisively, without the slightest hesitation or fuss, bringing honor to the Longevity Sect. As an elder, Tang Yiyuan was naturally delighted!
By now, every trace of Tang Yiyuan's earlier appreciation for Xiao Fan had vanished!
"Qiushuang, once we return to the sect, you should spend more time with Wuchang!"
Bu Qiushuang nodded mechanically as well. He had only been apart from Ji Wuchang for a month or so. He could not understand why Senior Brother Ji's cultivation had soared so much.
"Could Senior Brother Ji have been hiding his cultivation before?"
At that thought, Bu Qiushuang immediately felt that he had found the right answer.
Hearing his master's words now, Bu Qiushuang hurriedly nodded, then left with Tang Yiyuan!
Meanwhile, Ji Ping was already surrounded by members of Muye City's aristocratic clans.
The heads of the Wang Family, Zhang Family, Bai Family, Lan Family, and others gathered around to congratulate Ji Ping.
"Congratulations, Patriarch Ji! With Wuchang here, the Ji Family is sure to rise to greater heights!"
"Congratulations, Patriarch Ji! Under your leadership, Muye City is sure to flourish more and more!"
"Congratulations, Patriarch Ji! The Ji Family produces one talented person after another. How enviable!"
The members of these lineages all cupped their fists toward Ji Ping, their manner fawning and their faces full of ingratiating smiles.
The heavy stone in Ji Ping's heart finally fell away. He, too, had been shaken by Ji Wuchang's terrifying punch.
Ji Ping knew very well that even he could not have withstood that punch!
Ji Ping laughed heartily, but he would not put on too many airs and hurriedly returned their greetings. The smile on his face, however, would not fade.
Ji Wuchang had regained his earlier composure and walked slowly down from the arena, as though he had not been the one to strike just now.
But Ji Wuchang's calm was only on the surface. Within, his heart was already churning like an overturned sea.
My fate has changed completely. It really has changed completely!
[Ding! Congratulations, Master, on completing your first system mission. Time taken: two breaths. Distributing rewards!] [Reward: fifteen years of cultivation! Fortune points +500! Xiao Fan's fortune points -500!] [Reward: one fifth-grade Marrow-Washing and Meridian-Cleansing Pill!] [Reward: one Mind-Reading Rune! You may select a specific person to activate it on. Once activated, you will be able to hear that person's thoughts! Permanently effective!] [Reward: two sixth-grade Teleportation Talismans! These are single-use consumables. Upon use, you can travel a thousand li in an instant!]
The system's voice rang out repeatedly. At the same time, an immense force poured into Ji Wuchang's body!
Ji Wuchang hesitated for only a moment before immediately circulating the Purple Qi Heaven-Burning Art, refining that immense force and channeling it throughout his limbs and bones.
As the immense force entered his limbs and bones, Ji Wuchang felt every bone in his body begin to tremble.
The bones throughout Ji Wuchang's body were undergoing drastic changes.
Their original pure white shifted to something like a milky white, gaining a jade-like sheen! This was the beginning of their transformation into jade bones!
Of course, Ji Wuchang himself did not yet know any of this. He could only feel his physical strength increasing at a terrifying rate.
At that moment, Ji Wuchang had a feeling that if someone at the Qi Refining sixth layer fought him, he might very well avoid defeat using physical strength alone, even without using spiritual power.
Of course, this was purely a feeling. Whether it was true still needed to be tested.
After defeating Xiao Fan, Ji Wuchang discovered that his state of mind had changed enormously.
The gloom that had originally filled his heart had now dispersed completely. It was as though shackles had fallen away from his body, and lofty ambitions surged within him.
Ji Wuchang wanted to see the world beyond, too. He would not remain trapped in Boyun Province for his entire life. He wanted to contend with the heavens' chosen of every province!
I, Ji Wuchang, will be inferior to no one in this life!
At the sight of the 500 fortune points he had been awarded, Ji Wuchang's eyes instantly lit up. He then checked the system panel!
[Host: Ji Wuchang] [Cultivation: mid Qi Refining sixth layer] [Root bone: middle Earth rank] [Fortune points: 516] [Special abilities: none] [System missions: none]
As he looked at his 516 fortune points, Ji Wuchang's eyes shone even brighter.
When I find something good in the future, I'll have the capital to copy it again!
Ji Wuchang had ruptured Xiao Fan's meridians in many places, and he knew it well.
It could be said that Xiao Fan's injuries this time were even worse than those Ji Wuchang had suffered in his previous life!
Of course, compared with his injured meridians, the damage to his Dao heart was even more severe. Ji Wuchang had shattered his belief in his own invincibility!
"As expected of someone with great fortune. He can lose 500 fortune points in one go!"
Ji Wuchang murmured to himself, a smile involuntarily appearing on his lips.
If my guess is right, this Xiao Fan should still enter the Longevity Sect. After all, he's someone with great fortune.
Ji Wuchang was filled with anticipation. I'd better keep a close eye on this EXP baby. I'll introduce Senior Sister An Kexin to him first!
At that thought, a cold sneer instantly rose within Ji Wuchang.
You cheating scum. In this life, I'll personally send you both to hell!
Now that his business in Muye City was finished, his most urgent task was to return to the sect immediately, lest a long night bring more dreams!
At the thought of that secret realm, Ji Wuchang's heart flew back like an arrow! He wished he could use even the Teleportation Talismans he had just received!