"Excellent!" Murong Yue spoke loudly, a smile spreading across her face.
"Wonderful, wonderful!"
"Senior Brother Shen is mighty!"
"Senior Brother Shen is awesome!"
The disciples suddenly burst into cheers. Applause thundered, echoing for a long time.
Many people's hands were red from clapping.
In the crowd, Xiao Fan's face was gloomy, while Liu Fei hurried over to check on Liu Yunxuan's injuries.
Zhao Ting, Luo Shengnan, and the others showed genuine admiration.
Zhao Rou's eyes were filled with adoration.
Zhao Ting glanced at his sister and shook his head repeatedly. Clearly, Shen Mo's stature in her heart had grown even more impressive.
"Elder, it's time to announce the result," Shen Mo reminded.
The elder on the martial arts stage, still in shock, finally came to his senses at Shen Mo's words.
He quickly nodded towards Shen Mo, "In the battle between Shen Mo and Liu Yunxuan, Shen Mo is the victor!"
Shen Mo strode down the martial arts stage.
The disciples parted the way for him, looking at him with respect.
"Carry on, why are you all looking at me?" Shen Mo said with a faint smile.
The elder cleared his throat, "Yes, yes, Number three is Zhao Ting, and number four is a disciple named Liu Yong.
Their battle, while not extremely thrilling, was at least one-sided.
Zhao Ting, after all, was a true disciple at the Major Achievement stage of Foundation Establishment.
Defeating a disciple at the Minor Achievement stage of Foundation Establishment was not difficult.
Then, the battles continued. Numbers five and six were Luo Shengnan and Xiao Fan.
Seeing the burly, muscular woman before him, Xiao Fan's face turned grim.
Luo Shengnan grinned mischievously, cracking her knuckles.
She whispered, "Kid, I know what you did to Sister Rou. Today, I'll teach you a good lesson!"
Xiao Fan's eyebrows twitched wildly. He quickly said, "Elder, I forfeit!"
The elder was stunned, "So quickly?"
Luo Shengnan was furious, "You little..."
Xiao Fan hurriedly jumped off the stage.
He knew very well that he wouldn't be a match for Luo Shengnan. The disciples below sighed.
They looked down on Xiao Fan for forfeiting so readily. Even if you can't win, you should at least put up a fight, right?
The battles continued.
However, none were as exciting and intense as the match between Shen Mo and Liu Yunxuan.
Eventually, the first round ended, and the second round of drawing lots began.
In the second round, there were five lots. Those who drew numbers one and two, and three and four, would face off, while the one who drew number five would have a bye.
Shen Mo happened to draw number five. He was happy to relax, and the other four breathed a sigh of relief.
In the end, Shen Mo, Zhao Ting, and Luo Shengnan smoothly entered the third round.
Again, there would be one person with a bye. Shen Mo drew number three, meaning he had the bye again.
No one complained about his luck. His strength was evident.
Neither Zhao Ting nor Luo Shengnan could be his match. Having Shen Mo with a bye was actually beneficial for the others.
Ultimately, Zhao Ting defeated Luo Shengnan. Shen Mo and Zhao Ting stood on the martial arts stage.
This was the final battle.
However, many people believed that the match between Shen Mo and Liu Yunxuan was the true final battle.
The first place among the ten had long been decided to be Shen Mo.
"Actually, I would like to forfeit, but that would look too bad. Let's have a bout," Zhao Ting said, clearing his throat. "Go easy on me; I still want to maintain some status in my sister's eyes."
Shen Mo laughed, "Alright."
The two exchanged blows for more than ten rounds, both giving and taking.
In the sixteenth round, Shen Mo seized an opportunity and struck Zhao Ting in the chest, sending him off the stage.
The elder in charge of arbitration nodded knowingly at Shen Mo, "In the battle between Shen Mo and Zhao Ting, Shen Mo is the victor!"
Anyone with a discerning eye could see that Shen Mo was holding back. But so what?
Shen Mo was a future Core Formation cultivator. Many people were eager to curry favor with him, let alone expose him.
Thus, the first place had been decided.
Murong Yue nodded in satisfaction and flicked her fingers, sending the light spheres floating in mid-air into Shen Mo's arms.
"The selection battle is over. I hereby announce Shen Mo as the first place winner!"
The martial arts field erupted in cheers once again, with disciples looking on with immense envy.
Shen Mo gathered all the prizes, looking pleased.
"By the way, it seemed like Liu Yunxuan had another opportunity?"
Shen Mo pondered, glancing at Liu Yunxuan being helped away by Liu Yuanfeng and Liu Fei.
[Recent Opportunity: A month later, near Cold Water Ravine by Qingshan City, discovering the Alchemy King's Inheritance Site. Using the Alchemy King's elixirs, the father and son duo opened the inheritance site, allowing Liu Yunxuan to reach the peak of Foundation Establishment and enhance his physique to top-level Earth Grade.]
Shen Mo's heart stirred. The Alchemy King's Inheritance Site?
Liu Yunxuan's stage and physique would be greatly enhanced.
It seemed the items in the inheritance site were extraordinarily valuable! This opportunity had to be seized!
"But who is this Alchemy King? I need to ask Master."
That night.
Shen Mo arrived at the small courtyard on the mountaintop.
Before he could knock, the wooden door opened on its own.
"What do you need?" Murong Yue asked, her back to him, watering the flowers.
Clearly, she had sensed his arrival and opened the door before he could knock.
Shen Mo bowed as usual, "Master, I have a question."
"Ask," Murong Yue put down the watering can, looking at him with a satisfied expression.
Shen Mo nodded, "Master, have you ever heard of the Alchemy King? While on a mission, I unintentionally heard about the Alchemy King's Inheritance Site."
Murong Yue was taken aback, her breath quickening, "Where did you get this information?"
Shen Mo had already thought of an excuse, "I once took on a mission to eliminate a bandit stronghold. While clearing out the storage of those rogue cultivators, I found it by chance."
"I didn't find the exact location of the Alchemy King's Inheritance Site, just some records in a book."
Murong Yue seemed a bit disappointed but quickly masked it.
"It's no harm telling you this."
Murong Yue made a gesture, and a blue and white porcelain teacup flew in front of Shen Mo.
Then, a pot of hot tea appeared, and she poured tea for him.
"The Alchemy King, whose name was Gu Sanqiu, was a Core Formation rogue cultivator with extraordinary alchemical skills."
"Given his alchemical prowess, even the top five sects of Xuanjiang would have treated him as an honored guest, but he declined every sect's invitation and remained a rogue cultivator."
"About ten years ago, the Alchemy King disappeared. Some speculate he died of natural causes, others think he met with an accident. There are various theories."
"Some time later, the Alchemy King's only disciple spread the word that the Alchemy King left three inheritance sites in Xuanjiang Prefecture, each filled with a huge quantity of elixirs and various treasures."
"The keys to these inheritance sites are the elixirs he crafted."
Shen Mo was astonished, "It sounds similar to the rumors about the True Immortal Hellflame. Could this be another trick by the Alchemy King?"
Murong Yue chuckled, "I thought the same until three years ago when the Divine Sword Sect found one of the Alchemy King's inheritance sites!"
Shen Mo was even more surprised, "Is it true?"
"Yes, the inheritance site was filled with mountains of elixirs and treasures, including elixirs that could enhance one's physique! Because of this, a disciple from the Divine Sword Sect's physique was elevated from top-grade Earth to Heavenly grade," Murong Yue said with emotion, "That person is Zhou Qingcang, known as the Sword Supreme."
Shen Mo's eyes sparkled.
It seemed that the inheritance site discovered by Liu Yunxuan and his father was one of the three left by the Alchemy King.
Who would have thought that the inheritance site was near Qingshan City?
As for the key...
Shen Mo suddenly understood why the Lei family was so eager to seize the elixir from Shen Jiuding.
That elixir must have been crafted by the Alchemy King!