I gain ten years' worth of cultivation every day, and even geniuses will only see my doorstep!

"Not bad." A glint of light flashed in Zhou Qingxuan's eyes. "One month later, in Tianxuan City, the Hundred Sects' Prodigies Gathering will take place. If you can outshine all the others and claim the title of 'Number One,' you can choose any of the five great sects! If you want to go to the Qingmu Sect to accompany your old friend, I will personally speak to Mu Sangzi on your behalf, and I'm sure he won't refuse me! In fact, if you wish to bring your old friend to transfer to my Taiyi Sect, that's not out of the question!"

These words shocked everyone in the room!

Winning first place in the Heavenly Pride Tournament grants him the right to choose from any of the five major sects? Elder Zhou is even willing to personally intervene? This bet, this promise, demonstrates an extreme level of importance placed on Qin Yuan! It also reflects an extreme level of domineering confidence!

"But," Zhou Qingxuan changed the subject, his smile unchanged, "if you fail to win first place... then you must willingly join my Taiyi Sect, how about it?"

Chu Wuyue and the others listened with a mixture of excitement and worry. The Grand Gathering of Prodigies! It was a grand event that gathered countless geniuses from the lower sects of Qingzhou, talents rarely seen in a century, and possibly even veteran rogue cultivators like Li Han!

Even someone as strong as Xiang Tian, ​​the Little Tyrant, might not be confident of even making it into the top ten! Although the City Lord is strong, taking first place is as difficult as ascending to heaven! But the conditions offered by Elder Zhou are simply too tempting: the choice of any of the five major sects—what an incredible promise!

Qin Yuan raised his head and met Zhou Qingxuan's eyes, which seemed to see through everything. He saw appreciation for talent, expectation, and an undeniable air of authority in the other's eyes.

Winning first place in the Heavenly Pride Tournament? This was already part of his plan. He not only wanted to regain his lost face, but also to make the name of the Xuan Yuan Sect resound throughout all sects! Now, it was just a matter of having a clearer goal and a bigger prize.

Without the slightest hesitation, he nodded slowly, his voice clear and resonant:

"Alright. I accept this bet."

Zhou Qingxuan clapped his hands and laughed loudly: "Excellent! That's great! I'll await good news in Tianxuan City!"

After saying that, his figure rippled again, and just as he had come, he disappeared silently from the council hall, leaving only that awe-inspiring aura that slowly dissipated.

The hall was completely silent.

After a long while, Chu Wuyue finally spoke, her voice hoarse with disbelief, excitement, and worry: "Junior Brother Qin... first place in the Heavenly Pride Tournament... this..."

Qin Yuan turned around, his gaze sweeping over the faces of the crowd, a mixture of shock, excitement, and worry. He calmly said, "Since we've made an agreement, let's do our utmost. We cannot slack off for the next month. Senior Brother Chu, we need to speed up intelligence gathering. Senior Sister Yun, we must be even more careful with city defenses and resource allocation."

His tone remained calm, as if he had just agreed to something trivial, not a momentous bet.

But it was this tranquility that inexplicably calmed Chu Wuyue and the others, and a surge of passion and heroism welled up in their hearts.

"Yes!" the crowd responded in unison, their voices even more resolute and resounding than before.

Meanwhile, on the Glazed Terrace.

Zhou Qingxuan reappeared on the cloud bed. Mu Sangzi and the others looked at him.

"Well? Elder Zhou, have you already taken Qin Yuan under your wing?" the Xuan Tian Sect elder asked with a smile.

Zhou Qingxuan shook his head and briefly recounted what had just happened, especially mentioning that Qin Yuan refused because of an agreement with a disciple of the Qingmu Sect, and the bet the two had made.

"Is that so?" Elder Wan Jian Ge raised an eyebrow. "This young man is quite interesting. He is loyal and righteous, and his will is firm. But as for the first place in the Heavenly Pride Tournament... Elder Zhou, isn't your bet giving him too much credit? In every Heavenly Pride Tournament, there are hidden talents. Even some of the core disciples in our sects might not dare to say they are guaranteed to win."

Zhou Qingxuan smiled calmly: "When I observe people, I always have a certain degree of confidence. This child's foundation in the Nascent Soul stage is so solid, and his spiritual essence after the Deity Transformation stage is so pure, that I have never seen anything like it in my life. What's even more rare is his temperament. Becoming number one may be difficult, but it is precisely because it is difficult that it is worth the gamble. If he can truly achieve it..." A hint of expectation flashed in his eyes, "then he will not only be a genius, but a true prodigy. The Taiyi Sect needs a disciple like him."

Mu Sangzi listened silently to the sound, her thin face expressionless, but her heart was in turmoil. Was Qin Yuan really so obsessed with Lin Qing'er?

For the sake of an agreement, he could even refuse a direct offer from the Taiyi Sect? This kind of spirit moved him, but it also put him in a more difficult position. Zhou Qingxuan's bet, seemingly giving Qin Yuan a choice, actually placed pressure on the Qingmu Sect as well.

If Qin Yuanzhen wins first place and chooses the Qingmu Sect, how can he refuse Zhou Qingxuan's personal invitation? However, the Qingmu Sect has a limited number of openings this time, and the nephews and nieces of several elders in the sect are also eagerly waiting... Moreover, if Qin Yuanzhen comes, and has a close relationship with Lin Qing'er, will it affect the Holy Maiden's status and resource allocation within the sect?

He sighed inwardly. He had initially thought Qin Yuan was just an ordinary genius from a lower sect, but he hadn't expected him to cause so much trouble. This Qin Yuan was truly a handful.

But since things have come to this, all we can do is wait and see. We can only hope that he doesn't cause too much of a commotion at the Grand Gathering of Prodigies… although even Mu Sangzi herself felt that this hope was rather slim.

After Elder Zhou Qingxuan in purple robes left, the suffocatingly powerful pressure in the council hall gradually dissipated, but the shock in everyone's hearts lingered for a long time.

Chu Wuyue took a few deep breaths to calm her turbulent blood and qi, and her gaze toward Qin Yuan was filled with indescribable reverence.

For the head elder of the sect to personally descend and make such an astonishing bet, Junior Brother Qin's potential probably far exceeds all of their imagination.

Qin Yuan's expression had returned to calm, as if it had just been an ordinary meeting. He glanced at the still excited crowd and said in a deep voice, "Elder Zhou's matter can be set aside for now. The one-month deadline is fast approaching. I need to set off for Tianxuan City immediately to gather intelligence and make preparations. Lava City is now in your hands."

Upon hearing this, Chu Wuyue immediately straightened her back, her white pupils gleaming with a mixture of fighting spirit and responsibility: "Junior Brother Qin, rest assured! As long as we have a breath left, we will defend the city! Go ahead and spread the fame of Xuan Yuan!"

Yun Qingyao also said softly, "City Lord, please be careful in everything you do. Tianxuan City is a melting pot of all sorts of people, and powerful figures abound."

Qin Yuan nodded, saying nothing more. With a thought, several storage bags of different styles appeared in his hand. These were treasures he had obtained from the secret realm and from the apologies offered by the Overlord Sect. He had selected these treasures to greatly benefit the current cultivation levels of Chu Wuyue, Yun Qingyao, Han Bing, Ye Guying, and others, but they would have a negligible impact on the improvement of his own system.

"Senior Brother Chu, this bottle of 'Nine Yang Body Tempering Milk' and this piece of 'Star Iron' will be beneficial to your Moon Essence Body and body tempering."

"Senior Sister Yun, this incomplete copy of 'True Explanation of Clouds and Water' and this box of 'Millennial Snow Essence' may help you advance further in the path of clouds and mist."

"Junior Brother Han, Junior Brother Ye, these bottles of pills and these materials with yin and cold attributes will not only help you heal and stabilize your injuries, but also allow you to comprehend them."

He then took out a large number of spirit stones and a batch of pills and talismans suitable for Foundation Establishment and Golden Core stage disciples: "These will be used for daily expenses in the city and to reward meritorious disciples."