I'll make you the furnace and the cauldron, so you can refine Yin and Yang and prove the Great

The commotion in the square gradually subsided, and the once-in-a-decade sect competition finally came to an end after lasting for more than a month.

Li Hanshan stood at the front of the disciples' line, his spiritual energy having recovered to about 80%. His blue robes stood out starkly in the twilight. He stood tall and straight, his gaze calmly fixed on the high platform, awaiting the final summary and announcement.

The news of his victory in the Nascent Soul group had spread throughout the Hehuan Sect. Those disciples who had previously looked down on him now regarded him with a hint of awe; those who had gossiped behind his back about him being "an old fogey from the Northern Wilderness" had wisely kept their mouths shut. But what truly shook the entire Hehuan Sect was the result in the Deity Transformation group.

Ye Shuanghua won first place in the Nascent Soul group with a perfect record. Her Jinghong Sword was used to win twenty consecutive matches on the Nascent Soul group stage without a single defeat. In three of those matches, she even ended the battle before she could draw her sword completely.

Zhang Qingxuan followed closely behind, using the special spiritual power quality of her extremely Yin body to defeat powerful enemies one after another, and took third place in the Nascent Soul group.

The sect leader's lineage swept first place in the Nascent Soul group, first place in the Deity Transformation group, and third place in the Deity Transformation group. This achievement would be extremely impressive in any sect competition.

Li Hanshan stood in the queue, his peripheral vision sweeping towards the high platform. The Ninth Elder sat upright in the center of the elders' seats, his expression unchanged, even bearing a faint, formulaic smile, but the smile did not reach his eyes. The elders beside him were equally calm, none of them speaking, nor applauding or cheering.

Chang Sheng stood at the edge of the disciples' line, arms crossed, expressionless. Wu Qingfeng was pale, head bowed, lost in thought. Chen Jie stood further back, his gaze fixed on a spot on the ground, a faint, cold smile playing on his lips. He didn't come forward to congratulate them, nor did he utter any sarcastic remarks; he simply stood there, as if waiting for something.

After all the competitions had concluded, the Grand Elder stood up, his gaze sweeping over the thousands of disciples in the plaza, and announced, "This year's Sect Grand Competition has now concluded. The results of each group have been recorded in the sect's register, and the relevant rewards will be distributed in three days."

He didn't say much, nor did he offer any special congratulations to any of the winners. After announcing the results, he turned and left. The other elders also rose and left one after another, and the platform quickly became empty. The disciples began to disperse, some discussing the day's battle in small groups, while others hurried back to their caves to continue their cultivation.

Three days later, the rewards were distributed as scheduled in the square outside the sect's main hall.

The deacons of the External Affairs Hall carried long tables and trays, lining them up in the center of the square. Various jade bottles, spiritual materials, and tokens were neatly arranged on the tables, their emanating spiritual light reflecting off them in the morning sun. Disciples stepped forward in order of their groups and rankings to receive them, some with joy and others with expressionless faces.

The rewards for the Nascent Soul group were distributed quickly. Spirit stones, pills, and cultivation technique jade slips were allocated according to ranking. Li Hanshan was the first in line to receive his reward. As he took the storage bag from the steward, he scanned it with his divine sense—the number of spirit stones was average, the pills were grade five, and the cultivation technique jade slips were not low-grade either. This reward might be cause for celebration for an ordinary Nascent Soul disciple, but by the standards of the first place in the Nascent Soul group, it was only above average.

He didn't say anything more, put away the storage bag, and stepped aside to wait.

When the rewards for the Nascent Soul group were being distributed, Ye Shuanghua stepped forward. As she received the reward for first place in the Nascent Soul group from the steward, her gaze swept across the tray, her expression unchanged. However, that brief moment of hesitation was clearly captured by Li Hanshan's Nascent Soul level divine sense.

After the rewards were distributed, a steward from the External Affairs Hall took out a jade scroll, unfolded it, and announced loudly: "According to the tradition of this competition, the top three in each group will be qualified to enter the sect's secret realm for cultivation. The secret realms open this time are divided into three grades: A, B, and C. Grade A secret realms have the richest spiritual energy and the most abundant resources; Grade B is next; and Grade C is the lowest. Li Hanshan, the first place winner in the Nascent Soul group, will be assigned to a Grade B secret realm."

These words sparked a murmur of discussion among the lingering crowd in the square. Li Hanshan's gaze flickered slightly, but he didn't speak immediately. He looked in Ye Shuanghua's direction and noticed that her brows furrowed noticeably, a hint of coldness flashing in her clear, aloof eyes.

Ye Shuanghua spoke, her voice not loud, but clearly reaching the ears of the elders who had not yet left the high platform: "Ninth Elder, the first place in the Nascent Soul group has always been assigned to a Grade A secret realm, why has it been downgraded to Grade B this year?"

The Ninth Elder had already reached the edge of the platform. Hearing Ye Shuanghua's voice, he stopped and turned around. His gaze held the scrutiny and slight displeasure of an elder looking at a junior. He spoke unhurriedly, "Nephew Ye, the rewards for the sect's grand competition, held once every ten years, are always determined by the Elders' Council based on the specific circumstances. This year, resources are scarce, and the top-tier secret realms need to be prioritized for the top two in the Nascent Soul group. This is the established practice." He paused, his gaze passing over Ye Shuanghua and landing on Li Hanshan, carrying a meaningful coldness, "Giving the first place in the Nascent Soul group a second-tier reward is already quite good."

Just as Ye Shuanghua was about to speak again, Zhang Qingxuan walked up from the side, gently pressed her arm, and whispered, "It's no use saying it now."

Ye Shuanghua bit her lip, ultimately suppressing her dissatisfaction. She took a half step back, but her gaze did not leave the Ninth Elder; her clear, cold eyes held a calm resentment that was tempered by restraint.

Li Hanshan stood not far away, observing everything. He remained silent, neither speaking nor arguing. He had only been at the main sect for a little over a year, his foundation still shallow, and his seventh-level Nascent Soul cultivation was not particularly impressive within the Joyful Union Sect. Even Chen Jie, at the third level of the Divine Transformation stage, was addressed as "Master" by the Ninth Elder. For a newly arrived Nascent Soul disciple like himself, even if he won the argument, it would only make the other party resent him even more.

Ye Shuanghua clearly understood this as well, so although she was resentful, she didn't press the matter further. She walked to Li Hanshan's side and lowered her voice, saying, "Second grade is fine. You go first, and I'll help you get a better one later if there's an opportunity."

Li Hanshan nodded, about to say something, when a gentle voice came from behind the crowd: "A Grade B secret realm is indeed a bit of a waste for the first-place Nascent Soul group member."

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw the Fifth Elder walking slowly from the direction of the main peak. Her green dress fluttered gently in the morning breeze, and her aura was like a bottomless autumn pool. She walked to the center of the square, her gaze falling on Li Hanshan, her watery eyes carrying a gentle scrutiny.

The Ninth Elder stopped in his tracks. He looked at the Fifth Elder, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly: "Fifth Elder, what do you mean by this?"

"It's nothing." The Fifth Elder said calmly, but his gaze never left Li Hanshan. "I just think it's really inappropriate to give a Nascent Soul disciple who can defeat Wang Hao a Grade B secret realm. In my opinion, he deserves a Grade A secret realm."

She spoke softly, her gaze shifting towards the Ninth Elder, her voice rising slightly so that all the disciples present could hear, "However, since the Ninth Elder says resources are scarce, then let's leave it at that."

She paused for a moment, then took out a jade token from her sleeve and handed it to Li Hanshan. "Although a Grade B secret realm is not as good as a Grade A one, I happen to know that there is a hidden branch of a spiritual vein in that secret realm that ordinary disciples cannot find. The location is marked on this token. Please take it."

Li Hanshan accepted the token, clasped his hands in thanks, and said, "Thank you, Fifth Elder."

The Fifth Elder waved his hand, said nothing more, and turned to walk towards the main peak.

Her steps remained unhurried, as if she had just done something insignificant.

The Ninth Elder watched her retreating figure, his expression darkening slightly for a moment, but he didn't retaliate. He snorted coldly and turned to leave, his gray light disappearing without a trace atop the main peak.