The battlefield was silent.
Xiao Lan stood tall, his robe fluttering slightly in the wind, his sharp gaze sweeping over the fallen warriors around him. Blood, sweat, and the lingering scent of Dao energy filled the air.
His victory was absolute.
Yet, he did not celebrate.
Instead, he took a slow, deep breath, letting the weight of the battle settle in his mind.
Above him, the tournament overseer—a man clad in golden robes, his presence exuding authority—slowly stepped forward.
With a single wave of his hand, the golden arena barrier that had been protecting the audience shimmered and vanished.
Then, his deep voice echoed across the battlefield.
"Xiao Lan is the champion of the Young Masters Tournament!"
The crowd erupted.
Thunderous applause and deafening cheers filled the air as thousands of spectators rose to their feet.
"Xiao Lan!"
"Champion!"
"He defeated them all!"
Some faces were filled with admiration. Others with jealousy.
And some… with deep resentment.
The overseer raised his hand, calling for silence.
"As the champion, Xiao Lan shall receive three rewards!"
The crowd fell into hushed anticipation.
Then, the overseer continued.
"First—a Hundred-Year Dao Elixir!"
A collective gasp filled the arena.
A Hundred-Year Dao Elixir was an extremely rare treasure, capable of purifying and expanding Dao reserves, allowing a cultivator to make leaps in strength in a short time.
Even peak Gold Rank cultivators could advance closer to Platinum Rank with such a pill!
The prize alone was enough to make countless young cultivators envious.
A golden-robed servant stepped forward, carrying a jade box. He knelt before Xiao Lan and carefully presented it to him.
Xiao Lan reached out and took the box. Upon opening it, a fragrant mist escaped, filling the air with a powerful medicinal aroma.
Inside, a single golden pill shimmered with a radiant glow.
Xiao Lan's fingers tightened slightly around the box.
'This alone will push my Dao cultivation forward by leaps and bounds.'
His heart was steady, but inwardly, he acknowledged the immense value of this prize.
The overseer continued.
"Second—a personal invitation to the Misty Cloud Pavilion!"
The entire crowd gasped again.
The Misty Cloud Pavilion was an elite sect in the Continent of the Mist, known for producing some of the strongest cultivators in history.
To be invited personally?
That was an honor beyond words.
Xiao Lan, however, remained unmoved.
He had no intention of joining a sect so easily.
But he accepted the invitation scroll without hesitation. Even if he didn't join, this was a valuable connection.
The overseer's eyes gleamed mysteriously as he announced the final reward.
"And third—a chance to enter the Dao Ruins!"
The entire arena fell silent.
Even the strongest young cultivators, the ones who had already been defeated, looked up in shock.
"The Dao Ruins…" someone whispered.
"Impossible! That place only opens once every fifty years!"
"He's getting a chance to enter?! That's unheard of!"
Xiao Lan narrowed his eyes slightly.
The Dao Ruins.
A legendary ancient site, said to be filled with mystical energies, lost Dao techniques, and hidden dangers.
No one who had entered before had ever returned unchanged.
Some emerged as legendary warriors.
Others… were never seen again.
And yet, Xiao Lan felt no fear.
Instead—
He felt a faint thrill of anticipation.
While the crowd cheered, there were those whose hearts burned with resentment.
Among them, Wei Xu, Qiao Lian, and Bai Yueru sat on the side, receiving medical treatment. Their gazes were dark, filled with unspoken emotions.
"He gets all three of those rewards?" Wei Xu muttered, clenching his fist.
Bai Yueru frowned but remained silent.
Qiao Lian scoffed. "We underestimated him. That was our mistake. But next time…"
Her violet eyes glowed with a dangerous glint.
"We won't lose so easily."
With the tournament concluded, the champions and contestants were led back into the grand pavilion.
Xiao Lan walked with measured steps, his mind already moving toward the next phase of his journey.
'The Dao Ruins… If I can unlock its secrets, my path forward will be clearer.'
But just as he exited the tournament grounds—
A voice called out.
"Xiao Lan."
He stopped.
Turning, he saw a man dressed in silver robes, his long black hair tied into a high ponytail.
His eyes were sharp, his presence overwhelming.
There was no doubt.
This man was strong.
Xiao Lan's gaze flickered.
"And you are?"
The man gave a faint smirk.
"My name is Feng Jue. I represent the Silver Moon Clan."
Xiao Lan raised an eyebrow.
He had heard of them.
A powerful sect—one that was known for producing elite assassins and shadow warriors.
"What do you want?" Xiao Lan asked directly.
Feng Jue chuckled. "No need to be so hostile. I simply came to offer you something."
He tossed a silver token toward Xiao Lan.
Xiao Lan caught it effortlessly.
"A recruitment offer," Feng Jue continued. "The Silver Moon Clan recognizes talent when we see it. If you join us, we will provide you with limitless resources, powerful techniques, and an unbreakable alliance."
The offer was tempting.
But Xiao Lan simply tossed the token back.
"Not interested."
Feng Jue raised an eyebrow, catching the token with ease.
"Think it over," he said, smirking. "One day, you might need us."
With that, he turned and vanished into the crowd.
Xiao Lan watched him leave, then exhaled softly.
'Interesting. The moment I rise, the wolves come to offer alliances.'
His journey was only beginning.
And now—
It was time to prepare for the Dao Ruins.