"To be able to refine the 'True Nine-Orifice Exquisite Heart' in such a short amount of time… This is a talent that surpasses Situ Gu of yore. This young man has boundless potential!"

Upon hearing this, Gong Yuanzhi's flickering gaze darted toward the white-haired figure in the mirror's image.

Atop the mountain, Mulan Jin was also quietly listening to the rolling thunder echoing through the valley.

Situ Gu turned his head slightly and remained silent.

Among the surrounding crowd, only the Mingshan Sect faction seemed puzzled, looking around as if unsure why everyone was so engrossed.

The muffled "boom boom" thunder finally came to a halt. As duty required, the elder from the Li Huo Sect handed the Exquisite Heart to another elder, saying, "No issues on my end. You all can verify it too."

Thus, the elders from other sects took turns examining it.

Luo Shengsheng, returning to his senses, gazed at Tong Mingshan with a surprising look of relief suddenly appearing on his face.

On the Refining Heaven Sect's end, an elder leaned close to Luo Yan and whispered, "Are we really going to let a foreigner walk away with the first prize just like that?"

Luo Yan replied indifferently, "Who here still dares to say he's not a member of the Artifact Refining World? With so many eyes watching, behaving greedily would be disgraceful."

That elder was momentarily at a loss for words.

Luo Yan let out another soft sigh and said, "The gap is just too wide. Even if Zuo Zisheng were given ten Divine Fires, it would be futile. This wasn't a defeat due to lack of effort."

On the competition stage, the last remaining Divine Fire suddenly burned out.

With a thud, Li Hongjiu casually tossed aside the refining materials. He then stomped down on them, squashing the half-softened materials until they resembled a pile of filthy dog excrement, muttering curses that were unclear to anyone.

His shoe sole, now smoking, started to burn.

Startled, he immediately balanced on one foot like a golden rooster, cradled his scorched sole, and patted at it repeatedly.

He waved at the judging panel with a resigned expression, signaling his withdrawal, and then approached Tong Mingshan. After scrutinizing him head to toe, he remarked, "Was it worth going to such lengths? If you had this skill, you should've showcased it from the start! I nearly lost half my life over this. Exhausting! You really hide well. But this doesn't seem like your style—it must be Shi Chun's scheming, right?"

Whether the other acknowledged it or not, Li Hongjiu was too drained to care. He patted Tong Mingshan's arm and, with an air of lighthearted indifference, swaggered off the stage.

The meaning was clear to all: no point in continuing. The competition was unnecessary now. Li Hongjiu had publicly admitted defeat.

What he didn't know was that back at the Yanbao Sect's side, his master Qu Wuming had already fixed him with a wrathful glare, his eyes brimming with fury.

Seeing his master's expression as he went to report back, Li Hongjiu felt a chill of apprehension and nervously bowed, saying, "Disciple admits I'm no match for him and am willing to accept punishment."

Deep down, he thought it was unnecessary—everyone wasn't blind; they'd seen it. No matter how hard he tried, it wouldn't have turned out differently.

Qu Wuming asked in a grave tone, "Did you truly refine the True Exquisite Heart?"

Noticing some elders nearby sighing in disapproval, Li Hongjiu couldn't figure out his mistake. Carefully, he responded, "Yes."

Qu Wuming continued questioning, "How many orifices did you refine?"

Li Hongjiu honestly admitted, "I refined seven orifices."

Qu Wuming demanded, "How can you prove it?"

"Prove?" Li Hongjiu turned back to glance at the materials he'd stomped flat earlier, which no longer offered any proof, and asked in confusion, "Why must I prove this?"

Qu Wuming, evidently infuriated, clenched his trembling hand as a reddish-brown staff materialized out of thin air.

Li Hongjiu was startled, shrinking back instinctively and cupping his face with both hands, pleading, "Master, I've suffered much even if not earned any merit! In front of all these people—this isn't necessary, is it?"

The disciples nearby worried over him, yet no one dared speak up.

Qu Wuming tapped the staff against his shoulder, his face darkened, and he demanded, "Why did you destroy the True Exquisite Heart you refined with seven orifices, and why didn't you submit it for judgment?"

Li Hongjiu appeared bewildered and replied, "Wasn't judgment unnecessary at this point? No matter the judgment, I couldn't have won. Disciple accepts my loss wholeheartedly; I truly cannot compare to him."

Qu Wuming roared angrily, "Without submitting it for judgment, how can you prove you refined the Seven-Orifice True Exquisite Heart? Just because you said you did, it's true?"

Li Hongjiu chuckled bitterly, "At this stage, do I still need to prove myself? My abilities are my own; I don't need anyone's validation. Besides, the prize already belongs to the winner; there's nothing for second place anyway. Why bother with all this formality…"

"Do you even know what it means to act with legitimacy, you disgrace!"

Fuming, Qu Wuming lost control on the spot, lifting his staff and raining blows upon Li Hongjiu, reducing him to wailing like a beaten dog.

Li Hongjiu, aware of the rules, didn't dare activate his inner energy to resist. Otherwise, his master would use his own energy, and the consequences would be much worse.

Thankfully, the elders nearby stepped in to intervene, restraining Qu Wuming. One of them admonished, "Sect Master, striking him here, under everyone's gaze, is unbecoming. At least grant us some grace—or better yet—the Heavenly Mirror too deserves some respect. You can deal with him later in private."

Li Hongjiu, battered and bruised, was crouched by the railing nursing his head. Just as he cast a grateful glance their way, he froze upon hearing the latter part of the elder's remark.

Qu Wuming immediately glanced at the Heavenly Mirror's reflection and this time, heeded the advice. He flung off the hands restraining him, swiftly put away the staff, and pointed sharply at Li Hongjiu, scolding, "You disgraceful wretch—get back and kneel for a month!"

Li Hongjiu muttered a faint response, shuffled up from the stone railing, and seeing no one willing to approach him, felt isolated. He couldn't understand why everyone always thought he was wrong; he genuinely didn't believe his perspective was unreasonable.

Fortunately, everyone's focus had shifted back to Tong Mingshan, and few paid attention to him being beaten.

Oh well, he was used to it. Exhausted from the competition, he leaned back against the stone railing and sat down on the ground, gesturing to whoever had taken his belongings before the match to bring him some wine.

One of the elders who had earlier tried to defend him glanced back at him and shook their head, certain that this rascal wouldn't take his master's heartfelt intentions to heart. After all, sleepers who feign slumber cannot be awakened.

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