The ceremonial gong echoed across the assembly as the herald strode to the dais, his voice booming with authority, commanding the attention of every soul present.
Esteemed Proclamation of the Grand Tournament's Victor
A hush fell over the crowd as anticipation crackled in the air, every gaze fixed upon the stage where the fate of legends would soon be unveiled.
In the hallowed annals of the Jianhu Forge Battle Assembly, held beneath the watchful banners of the Moonveil Saint Sect on this auspicious day, the 8th of the Third Moon, Year of the Azure Dragon, we solemnly declare the triumphant champion whose valor and skill have dazzled all present.
Honored Victor: The Undisputed, Supreme Warrior, Yue Chan, Top Disciple of the Moonveil Saint Sect
Venue: Nine Peak Challenge Pavilion — a place revered for its breathtaking vistas and ancient spiritual resonance.
Nature of the Contest: Martial Combat — a crucible of strength, technique, and indomitable spirit.
The venerable Yue Chan, Ultimate Supreme Warrior, has transcended mortal boundaries, wielding an artistry of qi, blade, and spirit unmatched in living memory.
From the first clash of steel to the final, thunderous duel against Gong Xie—the Blood Shadow Sect's formidable prodigy under Elder Xue—Yue Chan's indomitable will has carved a legend that will echo through the generations.
We extend profound gratitude to all cultivators, honored sects, and wandering immortals who graced this sacred contest with their prowess and honor.
The harmony of your spirits has enriched the Dao of our gathering and kindled new bonds among the martial world.
May the champion's path inspire all present to seek the boundless heavens.
The details of the Celestial Award Ceremony, as well as news of forthcoming tournaments, shall be recorded and shared in due course.
With reverence,
Elder Yun Ji, Grandmaster of Ceremonies/Crescent Moon
After the final echoes of the announcement faded, the speaker raised his voice once more, proclaiming the rewards with solemn grandeur.
Let it be known—
The champion shall receive:
- One Nine Revolutions Spirit Enhancing Pill, a legendary elixir said to awaken latent potential and refine the soul.
- Ten thousand high-grade spirit stones, enough to empower a lifetime of cultivation.
- The Earth-grade manual "Thundershadow Nine Cuts," a tome of martial mastery coveted among the great sects.
- The illustrious Jianghu Ascendant Token, symbolizing supremacy and peerless status among wandering immortals.
- Immediate elevation to Core Disciple status within their own sect, marking the victor as a future pillar of the martial world.
For those who strove valiantly and achieved the highest ranks:
- 2nd–3rd Place: Three to five thousand high-grade spirit stones, a mid-grade manual or treasured artifact, and promotion to Inner Disciple standing.
- Top 10: Generous spirit stones, rare medicinal herbs, and valuable sect contribution points, recognizing their exceptional skill and perseverance.
To all participants—especially those hailing from the victorious sects—be assured that your courage and commitment shall not go unrewarded.
Each shall receive a chest of lesser pills, spirit stones, or minor cultivation manuals, to nurture your ambition and inspire continued striving upon the Dao.
With these treasures and honors bestowed, the Jianghu Ascendant Gathering draws to its solemn close.
May the champion's radiant light guide the younger generation, and may all who witnessed this great contest carry forth the undying flame of aspiration.
The Dao is eternal, the struggle unending—cultivate without regret, advance without fear.
The assembly is now dissolved.
Depart in orderly fashion, and may your paths lead ever upward toward immortality.
Hearing the speaker's proclamation, some distance from the platform, the Elder Sect Leader smiled proudly, his fingers gently stroking his flowing white beard.
"Oh, my Chan'er. Once again, you have made this day as delightful as ever," he murmured, his eyes brimming with satisfaction as he shook his head in quiet pride.
"With Yue Chan, nothing is impossible," Elder Qing Yun added, leaning in with a playful glint in his eyes, teasing yet sincere in his admiration.
Meanwhile, Li Haoran, standing beside them, couldn't help but feel a ripple of amusement as the list of prizes was announced, his lips curving into a faint, knowing smile.
"Master, seriously, those are the grand prizes?" he quipped, unable to hide his disbelief.
"Very well," Elder Qing Yun replied, arching an eyebrow with a trace of dry humor.
"If that's so, in the next tournament I will also participate," Li Haoran declared, a glint of mischief in his eyes.
Elder Qing Yun fixed him with a piercing gaze.
"Thinking of participating in the tournament? Why don't you focus on your cultivation first. The tournament is not a playground for idle cultivators—it is a crucible of true martial combat. When you step onto the battlefield, ensure that both your mind and body are in harmony. Only then can you hope to withstand the trials that await."
"I will work hard, Master," Li Haoran promised, his tone earnest and eyes filled with determination.
Elder Qing Yun nodded, his expression softening just a little.
"Actions speak louder than words. If you truly apply yourself, the day will come when you reap the rewards of your effort."
"I agree," Li Haoran said with a nod.
Suddenly, a sharp voice cut through the celebratory air.
"Stop right there!"
Elder Xue Mo shouted from afar, his finger leveled accusingly at Yue Chan, who stood surrounded by her junior disciples.
"I will not accept this proclamation—this is completely unfair!"
Yue Chan remained silent, her expression calm as she turned her gaze toward her master across the assembly.
"The reward should belong to us!"
Elder Xue Mo continued, his tone brimming with indignation.
"You arrived late—how could you possibly be selected as the victor?"
Yue Chan released a deep sigh, her eyes rolling in quiet exasperation as she murmured to herself.
"How troublesome."
The speaker stepped forward once more, his tone resolute and unwavering.
"Elder Xue Mo of the Blood Shadow Sect, from the very beginning of the tournament, the criteria for victory were made perfectly clear. Your disciple, Gong Xie, resorted to a forbidden, murderous attack against the reigning Supreme Warrior. Such actions, though grave, were overlooked in the spirit of fairness. Nevertheless, it is evident that your disciple failed—he was soundly defeated without contest.
Whether you choose to accept it or not, the last contender stood firm—unyielding and undefeated. The victors have rightfully earned their titles, and the proclamation stands."
"She cheated!"
Elder Xue Mo protested vehemently, his voice echoing across the assembly.
"Look at my disciple—she deceived him, using a forbidden technique that left him unconscious. How is that fair?"
"Xue Mo,"
Elder Yun Ji called out, his voice carrying both authority and calm.
"Where is your bravado now? If I recall correctly, you once mocked and humiliated both myself and my disciple—simply because they are women. Now, your disciple Gong Xie, a man you proclaimed unbeatable, has been defeated by the very person you dismissed as mere 'beauty.' It seems that beauty, after all, is far more formidable than brute strength."
As Elder Yun Ji's words settled over the assembly, murmurs rippled through the crowd of disciples under his guidance.
"I agree, I remember him saying that before."
"That's right, I clearly heard it."
"I recall, he claimed women don't belong on the battlefield."
"Now, who's the pathetic one here?"
"His ambition was nothing but empty pride—how shameless!"
"It's a pity. In the end, he had to swallow his own arrogance."
"So, who is the biggest loser after all?"
Elder Xue Mo's eyes widened as the murmurs of criticism echoed all around, each word stinging his pride.
His gaze darted anxiously from corner to corner, and he swallowed hard before finally shouting.
"Silence!"
The assembly fell silent at once, the atmosphere settling into an uneasy calm.
"You!"
Elder Xue Mo barked, jabbing a finger at Yue Chan.
"This is all your fault."
He sniffed indignantly, his tone tinged with wounded pride.
"If you hadn't interfered in the event, I wouldn't be in this disgraceful position!" he pressed, his voice tight with frustration.
Behind her mask, Yue Chan's gaze remained unwavering and cold, fixed intently on Elder Xue Mo.
His accusations were baseless—he simply couldn't accept that his disciple was nothing more than a display of arrogance, all words and no true substance.
How deceitful, she thought, her contempt hidden behind the expressionless facade.
In truth, when it came to a fair battle, it was the Blood Shadow Sect who resorted to corrupting techniques—methods designed to sap their opponents' strength and leave them unable to endure a prolonged fight.
Their true aim was clear: to eliminate the most talented contenders from every sect, stifling future threats before they could arise.
Unfortunately for them, their scheme failed today.
It was no surprise that, after the winner was announced, they shifted the blame and played the victim.
Xue Mo was a master of deceit, skilled at manipulating others to serve his own ends.
Yet his tricks held no sway over Yue Chan, Elder Yun Ji, and the others who truly knew his character.
Yue Chan folded her arms, her jaw clenched in silent restraint as she regarded Xue Mo.
Though she rarely spoke without necessity, today's troubles seemed determined to draw her in.
"You claim I cheated you," she said, her voice cool and steady. "Tell me—how, exactly, did I cheat?"
From afar on the platform, Elder Yun Ji arched an eyebrow as he observed the unfolding confrontation.
"My Chan'er, what's going on?" he murmured, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully.
Elder Qing Yun leaned in closer, his tone low.
"It's beyond me—this situation grows more complicated by the moment."
Li Haoran, overhearing their whispers, piped up, "What sort of challenge is it, Master?"
Elder Qing Yun's eyes widened in exasperation as he gave Li Haoran a gentle nudge to the side.
"You're such a gossip. Just watch and learn."
Li Haoran could only stare, speechless.
"You're greedy!"
Elder Xue Mo accused, his voice sharp.
"You've reaped countless rewards from every tournament. Today was supposed to be our chance to seize the spotlight. Why did you have to appear at such an auspicious moment?"
"Auspicious moment?"
Yue Chan retorted, her eyes narrowing behind her mask.
"So, in other words, you think your fortune depended on my absence. Now that I arrived on time, I'm suddenly the villain in your eyes? Your reasoning is laughable—a joke at best!"
"You're doing this just to provoke me," Xue Mo growled.
Yue Chan's lips curled into a faint, mocking smile.
"If that's what you want to believe, why don't you act on it?"
"You… you despicable woman!" he spat, his face flushing with anger.
"I'm flattered," Yue Chan replied coolly.
Elder Xue Mo pressed his lips into a thin line, trembling with exasperation.
"You'll pay for this!" he snapped, his voice barely restrained.
Yue Chan watched him calmly as he fussed over his unconscious disciple, Gong Xie.
"Elder Xue Mo, do you require my assistance?" she asked, her tone courteous yet laced with subtle irony.
"Shut up!"
Elder Xue Mo barked, his frustration boiling over.
Yue Chan's eyes glinted with cool amusement.
"Ah, I almost forgot—your favorite disciple's current state is because of me. Perhaps, if you reconsider my generous offer, I might be able to wake him as easily as I put him under."