C65 Reward

As Deacon Zhang's voice echoed across the square, it was as if a wave of excitement had been unleashed, sending the crowd into a frenzy.

It was only at this moment that everyone truly grasped the reality of the situation, realizing that what they were witnessing was no illusion.

Lin Xuan, the new disciple, had indeed clinched the top spot in the Outer Sect Competition.

He had shattered a record that had never before been broken in the Outer Sect.

Instantly, everyone present was profoundly shaken by Lin Xuan's display of skill, his achievements in battle, and his extraordinary talent.

Up on the stage.

"Congratulations, Host, for acquiring 3000 Shock Energy from Second Level Spirit Opening Stage martial artist Xu Annlan."

"Congratulations, Host, for obtaining 1800 Shock Energy from Fourth Layer Condensation Spin Stage warrior Zhang Qiushan."

Lin Xuan listened to the steady stream of notifications from the emotionless system voice. He watched the energy points in the void before him soar, a look of satisfaction spreading across his face.

His energy points were now nearing the two hundred thousand mark.

This was more than enough for him to replicate the remaining treasures from both the Head Elder and Xu Annlan.

Furthermore, once the events of today's competition were known, they would send shockwaves through the entire Outer Sect and even the Inner Sect.

When that happened, he would be able to harvest another wave of energy points.

Before long, he would break through to the Qi Transformation Stage and step into the Inner Sect.

And with these energy points, he would have ample resources to freely duplicate the treasures of those within the Inner Sect. That would secure his standing.

A glint of determination flickered in Lin Xuan's eyes as he nodded to himself.

Then, he closed his attribute panel and descended from the stage.

All eyes were on him as he moved through the crowd.

As he passed, the disciples looked on with awe, parting ways to create a path for him.

Lin Xuan found a spot to stand, seemingly at random.

Yet around Lin Xuan, a clear space remained; no one dared come close.

His performance had been nothing short of astonishing.

Before Lin Xuan, they were overcome with a sense of shame, unable to lift their heads.

In his presence, they felt reduced to mere ordinary individuals.

It was only at a distance from Lin Xuan that they could sense any semblance of their own worth.

Hence, they kept their distance, not daring to draw near.

Lin Xuan was well aware of this, yet it mattered little to him.

True masters who ascend to the pinnacle are a rare breed.

And with mastery comes solitude.

If he couldn't bear this modicum of loneliness, how could he ever aspire to be a martial arts master?

In time, the tension in the air began to ease.

On the elevated platform, the Head Elder rose to his feet, surveying the gathered crowd. His gaze lingered on Lin Xuan, his eyes reflecting pride and approval.

He then proclaimed, "This tournament is nearing its conclusion. The standout performer has undoubtedly been Lin Xuan. A mere month into his journey with the Outer Sect, he has claimed the top spot in the competition, setting a new record for the Outer Sect!"

The Head Elder extolled Lin Xuan's virtues for a moment longer before moving on to the matter at hand. "Now, we shall proceed with the distribution of rewards. The top three competitors, please ascend the stage for your awards, which I will have the honor of presenting. Those who placed in the top ten, present your number plates to Deacon Zhang, who will escort you to the stage. And for those in the top twenty, you may collect your rewards from the Clan Mission Hall with your number plates after the competition."

This procedure for the awards ceremony neatly segmented the top twenty of the Outer Sect into distinct tiers.

Clearly, the Head Elder deemed only the top three worthy of special recognition.

The others scarcely registered in his consideration.

Following his words, the crowd erupted into a wave of warm applause.

Under the watchful eyes of all, Lin Xuan, Chen Yuze, and Guan Yuanshuang made their way to the stage.

Ranked second, Chen Yuze followed closely behind Lin Xuan, though with a sense of dread.

For him, this ceremony was less a reward and more a punishment.

As a seasoned disciple who had attained the Qi Transformation Stage, he was humiliated by his defeat to a newcomer of the Qi Gathering Stage. The loss was a bitter pill to swallow.

He was on his way to accept his award, yet he had managed to embarrass himself in front of everyone.

At that moment, Chen Yuze would have rather found a crack to crawl into than to go accept his award.

Standing behind Chen Yuze was Guan Yuanshuang, who held third place. Guan Yuanshuang wore a calm expression, even allowing herself a small smile.

She had been in third place before, and she remained there. Her ranking was unchanged.

Zhou Lei, who had previously been second, wasn't so fortunate. He encountered Lin Xuan early in the competition and was swiftly defeated. He didn't even secure a spot in the top three.

In comparison to Zhou Lei, her position could be seen as an improvement.

Moreover, Chen Yuze, at the Qi Transformation Stage, had been bested by Lin Xuan, a prodigy at the Qi Gathering Stage who had already mastered the Artistic Conception of Creation. It was perfectly normal, then, for her to be quickly defeated by him.

So, instead of feeling downcast, she found her spirits lifted and even allowed herself a bit more of a smile.

Before long, the three of them made their way to the platform.

Lin Xuan's eyes swept over the Head Elder and Xu Annlan, a thought crossing his mind.

"Expending 30,000 energy points. Replication successful. Acquired [Flaming Fist (Rank 6 High-grade, Great Completion)]."

"Expending 3,000 energy points. Replication successful. Acquired [High-grade Heavy Water Talent]."

In the space of a breath, he had replicated all the remaining treasures from the two Spirit Opening Stage warriors.

Lin Xuan's face showed his satisfaction.

Not far off, the Head Elder looked towards Lin Xuan and the others, his face breaking into a smile. He gestured and called out:

"Lin Xuan, come over here."

Lin Xuan approached and bowed respectfully.

"Lin Xuan pays his respects to the Head Elder and the successor brother!"

The Head Elder and Xu Annlan both nodded in acknowledgment.

The Head Elder said with a smile:

"Lin Xuan, present your identity card."

Upon hearing this, Lin Xuan retrieved his identity card from his storage ring and handed it over.

The Head Elder took the card, his spiritual energy emerging and swirling around it. After a light tap, he returned the card to Lin Xuan.

"Lin Xuan, you are currently at the fourth level of the Qi Gathering Stage.

But given your talent, it should take you less than a month to break through to the Qi Transformation Stage and join the Inner Sect.

So, I've awarded you 5,000 contribution points.

Three thousand of those are your prize for taking first place in the grand competition.

The remaining two thousand? Consider it an advance on the next two months' worth of resources for a disciple with potential, which I've converted directly into contribution points for you."

"Thank you, Head Elder."

Lin Xuan accepted the identity card, bowing once more, his eyes alight with happiness.

Two thousand contribution points were the equivalent of at least two hundred substandard spirit stones—a significant sum.

For an Outer Sect disciple, it was an enormous figure.

He was understandably thrilled.

With these 5,000 contribution points, he could not only exchange them for ample cultivation resources but also accelerate his breakthrough to the Qi Transformation Stage.

He figured that once he reached the Qi Transformation Stage, he might even advance through several minor realms.

Yet, Lin Xuan was aware that as a disciple with potential, if he were to convert this month's resource allocation into contribution points, he'd likely receive less than a hundred.

The Head Elder, however, had just given him a quantity at least tenfold greater.

This was a clear sign of the Head Elder's investment in and regard for him.

Lin Xuan silently acknowledged the gesture with gratitude.

Behind him, Chen Yuze and Guan Yuanshuang's jaws dropped slightly in astonishment upon hearing this.

Two thousand contribution points!

For many Inner Sect disciples, that amount could exceed their entire savings.

Yet the Head Elder had bestowed it upon Lin Xuan, an Outer Sect disciple, and for a reason that defied conventional logic.

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