The roars of the crowd slowly faded, the dust from the final battle still settling in the arena. The elder overseeing the competition stepped forward, his voice steady and clear as it echoed through the grounds.
"With this final match concluded, the Top Five Disciples of the Outer Sect Body Tempering Competition have been decided!"
The disciples fell silent, their eyes locked on the elder, eager to hear the final results.
The elder unraveled a jade scroll and began to read:
Competition Rankings:
1. Chen Yu
2. Jiang Mu
3. Wei Liang
4. Li Shen
5. Han Lei
Li Shen blinked in disbelief. "I actually made fourth place? I thought I'd barely scrape into the top ten!"
I smirked, still catching my breath. "Seems like you underestimated yourself."
The elder's voice continued, now announcing the rewards:
Competition Rewards:
1st Place: 200 Spirit Stones and a personal session with Elder Wu, one of the sect's most renowned instructors.
2nd Place: 100 Spirit Stones and one low-grade Body Refining Pill.
3rd Place: 50 Spirit Stones.
Top Five: All gain one-month entry to the Sect's Special Training Grounds, a ten-story tower where gravity doubles with each floor. Cultivating under such pressure would strengthen both body and qi at an astonishing pace.
The mention of Elder Wu's personal guidance caused a ripple of envy through the crowd. That reward was far more valuable than any pill—it was a direct opportunity to learn from a master whose teachings could cut years off one's cultivation path.
Li Shen leaned toward me. "You'll get to meet Elder Wu? That's huge. His guidance is priceless."
I nodded slowly, feeling the weight of my next steps settle on my shoulders. "This is just the beginning. I need to be ready for what's next."
The elder concluded, "The Sect's Special Training Grounds will open tomorrow morning. All top five participants are to report there at dawn."
The competition was over, but the next phase of my journey was just beginning.