Being with Shi Chun, Wu Jinliang, who was in the habit of raising his guard when there were others around Shi Chun, instinctively scanned the surroundings and noticed Li Hongjiu being beaten up. He nudged Shi Chun with his elbow and signaled him to look.

Shi Chun glanced over distractedly and asked curiously, "He might not have merits, but he has done hard work. Why beat him?"

His words attracted Yan Qufeng's attention, who had been focused on Tong Mingshan. Upon noticing what Shi Chun was looking at, Yan Qufeng followed suit and saw someone being beaten too.

Wu Jinliang chuckled coldly, "Not surprising. To save his skin, he even spilled the beans about his master hooking up with another woman. For someone like him, getting beaten is pretty normal, isn't it?"

Shi Chun nodded slightly, agreeing that it made sense. He had no interest in Li Hongjiu's fate at the moment and turned his attention back to Tong Mingshan's side.

However, Yan Qufeng's expression turned into one of shock and suspicion. Wasn't Li Hongjiu's master the Yanbao Sect Master, Qu Wuming? Li Hongjiu's master hooking up with another woman? Who?

The revelation left him inwardly alarmed. It felt like he had inadvertently stumbled upon a secret...

The last bit of incense in the censer burned out. The presiding elder of the Li Huo Sect stepped forward, cast a spell, and loudly announced, "The competition is over!"

The competition had ended, but the result was still up for discussion.

The elders from each sect taking part in the judgment were still taking turns inspecting the Exquisite Heart refined by Tong Mingshan. From time to time, there would even be bursts of thunderous noises triggered by activating it.

These elders were all masters in their craft; there was no need to question whether or not there were issues. Rather than inspecting it, it was more like they were taking this opportunity to admire it. Being able to refine a True Nine-Orifice Exquisite Heart to such a level of intricacy was undoubtedly worthy of study and observation, and perhaps they could even learn something from it.

However, with so many people waiting for the result, they couldn't afford to drag it out for too long. In the end, they gave Tong Mingshan a decisive confirmation. Under the shared testimony of all the judges, Tong Mingshan's refinement results were officially recorded in the competition's register.

Normally, before the result was officially announced, the audience in Qi Yun Valley wouldn't be able to see the outcome recorded in the register. However, at this moment, the mirror image of the Heavenly Mirror zoomed in, displaying the words "True Nine-Orifice Exquisite Heart" clearly for all to see.

This sight stirred the audience in Qi Yun Valley, causing them to look up. As they anticipated, it was true! "Wow!" Cheers erupted, causing a ruckus throughout the valley.

The voices from the Mingshan Sect's people were especially loud.

Wu Jinliang even raised his fist and shouted, "Sect Master takes the lead!"

The Mingshan Sect people responded in unison, "Who dares to compete!"

Even Shi Chun couldn't maintain his scholarly demeanor this time. He also pumped his fist enthusiastically and joined in the shouting.

They were going to hit the jackpot. The whole group was so excited their faces turned red.

In the mirror image, Tong Mingshan appeared once more, walking back slowly amidst the thunderous cries of astonishment. He seemed utterly calm, not because he was particularly composed, but because he appeared to have exhausted all his emotions, having no energy left to demonstrate the spectrum of human feelings. At this point, even if he were granted eternal life, he probably wouldn't have the strength to rejoice.

Yet this calm demeanor, paired with his white-haired, slow-walking figure, exuded an air of transcendence, as though he embodied the lofty solitude of a person above worldly clamor. Put simply, it carried an aura of elegance. If described in more common terms, it was the demeanor of a distinguished master.

Practically speaking, the transformation from a head of black hair to white hair drastically changed his overall presence.

Particularly striking were his eyebrows, which had darkened—a contrast that diminished the lightness unbecoming of one with both white hair and a youthful demeanor. Instead, the change gave him a hawk-like sharpness; his gaze carried a kind of piercing dominance, as if it could take hold of anyone who dared meet his eyes.

At the valley's entrance, An Wuzhi and Zhu Xiangxin, already overwhelmed with excitement, clasped their hands tightly, gripping each other with fierce intensity, sharing a sense of pride and honor.

Achievement breeds unity. It proved that following their own path could also lead to brilliance. They were deeply moved, particularly so because they had just been abandoned again by the sect they were born into.

A soft breeze passed through. Standing atop the mountain, Mulan Jin tilted his head slightly to glance at the crowd gathered on the beach outside the valley. The cheers and zealous cries reached even there, a sea of fervent humanity seen from afar.

He turned his head again and cast a fleeting glance at the white-haired man shown in the mirror. That face was etched deeply in his memory.

Thus, he knew clearly that from this moment onward, countless people across the land would also remember that face.

He was fully aware that this image was being broadcast through the Heavenly Mirror in the royal arenas of the Four Great Capitals.

In the jubilant crowd, Duan Xiangmei covered her mouth with both hands in amazement and delight. She couldn't believe that Tong Mingshan had actually taken first place. After all, he was her companion, and she too shared in that sense of pride and honor.

Though there were curses from many around her.

The curses came from gamblers who had bet heavily in the wagering pools, only to see their calculations shattered by the emergence of this dark horse, Tong Mingshan. Now, all their money was as good as gone.

Outside the crowd, Feng Chi also covered her mouth with both hands but was crying tears of joy, her eyes brimming with light as she shook her head and sobbed, "I knew it. I just knew he could do it."

The sobs carried her pride, like a fine wine that eased despair, like life returning to a withered tree, bringing the kind of joy that revives from the brink of death.

Was this truly the champion? The Green-clothed Man and Xiang Laner were still somewhat stunned and had yet to recover from their shock. After recollecting themselves, they turned their attention back to Feng Chi, baffled. How? How was this even possible? It felt a bit... uncanny.

Xiang Laner looked back at the mirror. It was almost unbelievable to her. Was this still the same Tong Mingshan she knew? Whether in terms of the strength he displayed or his current appearance, it was as if he had become an entirely different person.

She couldn't say for certain about anything else, but one thing she was sure of was that having someone like this by her side again meant her own status would likely improve. The higher-ups would naturally take her more seriously—provided, of course, they could escape the clutches of the Stargazing Pavilion this time.

She turned back to the Green-clothed Man and asked, "Will they really get the champion's reward?"

The Green-clothed Man hesitated and replied, "Under normal circumstances, with so many eyes watching, the Artifact Refining World wouldn't break its promises. But with the Stargazing Pavilion now involved, things might not go so smoothly."

Unexpectedly, Feng Chi wiped her tears and said firmly, "He will definitely handle the Stargazing Pavilion."

The Green-clothed Man and Xiang Laner fell silent, gazing at her with speechless astonishment. They realized that her confidence in Shi Chun was practically absurd. Matters involving the Demon Path and the Stargazing Pavilion—did she really think they were as easy to deal with as she claimed?

And yet, given the living evidence of her apparent prophetic-like trust, they found it hard to refute.

Standing amidst the crowd, Mulan Qingqing remained calm and unperturbed in her snowy-white robes. Whether it was the cheering or the cursing around her, she was as serene as an orchid in bloom. Her bright eyes remained fixed on the figure in the mirror, unmoving.

The astonishment in her gaze was rich and fathomless. That man was about to claim first place again?

"Magnificent!"

Standing on the balcony, Gong Yuanzhi clapped his hands as he stared at the mirror image.

He turned around and looked at Lan Qiaoyan, commending her, "Mrs. Miao truly has a discerning eye. Out of all those from the Land of Exile, you alone recognized this person."

Lan Qiaoyan also stood up, shaking her head with a sigh, "What's discerning about me? He's just good at flattery. But, I have to admit, this man does have a knack for surprising people."

Her daughter, Miao Yilan, was also filled with delight. Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she watched the mirror image.

On the other hand, Gong Shaoci alternated his gaze between his father and Lan Qiaoyan. He was surprised to see even his father openly expressing admiration for Shi Chun. However, he thought it was an overstatement. This victory had to be credited to Tong Mingshan's exceptional artifact-refining skills—without those, nothing else would have mattered.

Although he didn't dare contradict his father's words in public, he couldn't help but interject, "I think they should first worry about how to get past Mulan Jin."

The remark was like a bucket of cold water poured over the group, leaving them looking at one another in silence.

Lan Qiaoyan's brows furrowed with worry. While her husband and Mulan Jin were technically on the same side, matters involving the Demon Path were not something she dared meddle in...

In the Shengshen Continent Royal Capital arena stands, the expressions on the faces of Wukang Mountain's three representatives as they stared at the mirror image were complicated.

After a string of exclamations, Wei Mo clicked his tongue a few times, and the man in elegant robes standing alongside Wukang Mountain's representatives turned to them and said indifferently, "Wukang Mountain shows poor judgment. It's a shame that Shi Chun left. Doesn't he still have a master in Wukang Mountain? If there's a way, you'd better bring him back."

The representatives from Wukang Mountain were left speechless. When Shi Chun was still with Wukang Mountain, he and Wu Jinliang were the kind to stir up trouble even if they were thrown into prison, going as far as beating up the Sect Master's disciples. With their personalities, how could they have taken Elder Ke, their nominal master, seriously?

Bian Weiyin briefly entertained a notion—if she were to approach Shi Chun, would he be willing to return to Wukang Mountain for her?

Wei Mo chimed in, "I gave him a chance to follow me, and he didn't take it. Instead, he chose to mix with those Namo Yu people. For the sake of a single gambling match, they've gone this far. Looking back now, perhaps it wasn't so bad that he left. His departure might not be as much of a loss as we thought."

In the Shanbu Continent Royal Capital arena stands.

Qian She was grinning, slapping the armrest and standing up. He stared at the mirror image with a mock scolding tone, "To seize the crown with just four Divine Fires—Young Master Nan is really cunning. I knew it! When he bet on the Mingshan Sect taking the top spot, there was no way it was just a coincidence."

Others also stood up, joining in the playful scolding, "That guy really isn't playing fair; he's already eating from the bowl but still keeps an eye on the pot."

Unaware of the chatter behind his back, Young Master Nan was busy using the Mother-child Talisman in his hands to communicate with the outside world, instructing those managing the gambling pools to prepare for the payouts.

As the mirror image continued tracking Tong Mingshan, as soon as it neared the Mingshan Sect members, it abruptly shifted away; even scenes of Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang appearing were swiftly cut short.

This was no coincidence. Having received specific instructions from Young Master Nan, the operator of the Heavenly Mirror was to avoid showing Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang whenever possible.

The Sky Rain Meteor Conference had caused Shi Chun's romantic interest to disappear entirely, leaving Young Master Nan burdened with guilt. It was a hard-earned and painful lesson for him.

Back at Shi Chun's side, Tong Mingshan, both weary and composed, said, "I think I've done my best."

After speaking, he realized everyone's attention seemed to be fixed on his hair.

The competition had ended. The heat from the Divine Fire dissipated, and a cool breeze came through, blowing strands of long hair across his vision. The drifting silver strands startled Tong Mingshan momentarily. Reaching up to grasp them, he realized they were his own hair.

He raised his hand again to loosen his tied-up hair and pulled at the strands hanging over his shoulders. Now he knew his hair had turned white.

But he felt no emotional ripple, nor did he have the energy to muster any.

"You've worked hard." Shi Chun patted his arm. For a moment, he wasn't sure what else to say.

Wu Jinliang joined in, adding, "What's the big deal about a man having white hair? You've made money, and women still like you. In fact, you look better with white hair, don't you all think so?"

"Yes, white hair looks better."

"Well done."

"Tired? Do you want to rest for a while?"

The Mingshan Sect members took turns offering their congratulations, sharing laughter or heartfelt words of comfort, with some even offering hugs.

Meanwhile, the people from the other sects viewed Tong Mingshan with entirely different expressions. They understood the true significance of Tong Mingshan refining the True Nine-Orifice Exquisite Heart, something the clueless and exuberant members of the Mingshan Sect couldn't possibly grasp.

Even the Hundred Refinement Sect's members edged closer, their gazes particularly complex.

Their Sect Master, Yan Qufeng, took a deep breath. Facing Tong Mingshan, he extended an invitation, "If you return to the sect, we'll promote you directly to the rank of elder!"

A collective wave of attention immediately swept toward Tong Mingshan.

After a brief silence, Tong Mingshan gave the offer some thought. Unable to expend the energy for a lengthy explanation, he calmly replied, "That's not possible anymore."

His words were succinct but firm. He truly couldn't go back. Ever since he derived his refining method, he realized that the Hundred Refinement Sect no longer had anything of real value to teach him.

As for the necessary resources, his Master had already made it clear that they had acquired plenty from the Ten Great Sects.

Luo Wan was about to protest but was immediately stopped by Shi Chun's raised hand and furrowed brow.

Shi Chun, having dealt with Luo Wan before, knew he would just start scolding the disciple from atop a pedestal, like a master reprimanding his pupil. Shi Chun didn't appreciate it and could see that Tong Mingshan was too exhausted. Since Tong Mingshan had already made his position clear, Shi Chun naturally took a stand on his behalf and interjected, "Yan Sect Master, there's something you might not know. The Stargazing Pavilion is here, and Lord Xuanji, Mulan Jin, has personally arrived in the valley. Somehow, they've mistaken us for being in league with the Demon Path and are waiting for the competition to end to arrest people. Are you sure you want Tong Mingshan to return to your sect?"

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