Outside the Yuxu Palace, absolute silence reigned as the entire plaza fell into an eerie quiet.
The faces of Qiuqiu Xian, Lingya Xian, and Jinguang Xian flushed crimson, as if someone had grabbed them by the throat, leaving them utterly speechless for a long time.
Zhao Gongming burst into uninhibited, loud laughter.
The members of Chanjiao looked as though they had been struck by lightning.
Guangchengzi wore a dazed expression, still muttering in disbelief.
"Impossible!Junior Brother Taiyi's Nine-Dragon Divine Fire Cover can release Samadhi True Fire with ninefold power. How could he possibly lose to Luoxuan?"
On the high platform, a look of slight shock surfaced on Taishang's usually placid face.
"That is... South-Aspected Separation Fire."
"South-Aspected Separation Fire is a spiritual fire unique to the Phoenix clan. Ever since the Dragon-Han Tribulation, the Phoenix clan has been nearly wiped out and has remained in seclusion, causing this fire to vanish from the Great Wilderness."
"I never expected it to reappear in the world today..."
Suddenly, Tongtian clapped his hands and laughed aloud, his laughter supremely carefree and uninhibited.
One party's joy is another's sorrow.
While Tongtian was ecstatic, Yuanshi's expression turned unsightly, shifting between green and white like a palette, his body trembling slightly as his anger clearly reached its peak.
He abruptly stood up and swept his large sleeve, gathering all the Chanjiao disciples into it.
Then, with a flash of light, he vanished from the spot.
A trace of regret crossed Tongtian's face; they had run away quite fast, when he had still wanted to mock and ridicule Yuanshi a few more times.
Taishang let out a long sigh, his aged face complex.
"Why go this far?"
With that, he too turned around and left.
Luoxuan put away the South-Aspected Separation Fire and leaped down from the sparring platform.
Seeing Luoxuan, Jinguang Xian, Qiuqiu Xian, and Lingya Xian wore awkward expressions, immediately shrinking back into the crowd as if terrified of being noticed by him.
Zhao Gongming patted Luoxuan on the shoulder and gave him a thumbs-up.
"Well done!"
Yunxiao, too, flashed a breathtaking smile at him.
The others stepped forward one after another to offer their congratulations.
Meanwhile, those who had previously asserted with absolute certainty that Luoxuan would lose now seemed to have completely vanished.
At that moment, Tongtian walked over from afar, beaming with radiant joy.
"Luoxuan, well done."
"You did not fail your master's expectations of you."
Luoxuan cupped his hands and said, "Master flatters me. Your disciple merely relied on the South-Aspected Separation Fire, which happened to counter Taiyi's Samadhi True Fire, and won by sheer luck."
With a chuckle, Tongtian replied, "Very well, there is no need for such modesty."
"As long as you win, that is your own capability. What luck is there to speak of?"
With that, Tongtian looked toward the others and said, "During this Three Teachings Assembly, all of you were of one mind and defeated Chanjiao. Not only have you upheld the dignity of our Jiejiao, but you have also brought glory to your master. You have all done exceptionally well this time."
At the mere thought of Yuanshi's wretched departure, Tongtian felt like laughing out loud.
How many years had it been? This was his very first truly complete victory over Yuanshi.
The disciples hurriedly replied that, as members of Jiejiao, this was nothing less than their duty.
Tongtian continued: "Your master has always been strict and fair with rewards and punishments. Since you have made such a great contribution this time, it is only natural that I reward you according to your merits."
With a sweep of his large sleeve, more than a dozen beams of light instantly shot outward. Every disciple who had participated in the sparring matches received a Spiritual Treasure.
For a moment, the spiritual light radiating from over a dozen Spiritual Treasures shone so brightly it nearly blinded the onlookers.
As expected of the Spiritual Treasure Heavenly Lord!
To pull out over a dozen Spiritual Treasures at once—such a magnanimous display was surely unmatched across the entire Great Wilderness.
The dozen or so disciples beamed with radiant joy as they received their Spiritual Treasures.
Only the space before Luoxuan remained entirely empty.
Tongtian continued: "Luoxuan, you won the final match and brought glory to your master. Name whatever reward you wish; so long as it is not an Innate Supreme Treasure or the like, your master can still satisfy it."
At the end, Tongtian even added a playful remark.
Everyone was astounded.
Tongtian's words meant that Luoxuan was free to make any request he pleased. One must know that even inner disciples like Duobao had never been granted such treatment.
Countless people turned green with envy.
With the chance to make a single request to a Sage, probably even a Semi-Sage could not resist such temptation, and the Jiejiao disciples wished nothing more than to take his place.
Even Duobao and the others revealed looks of envy, suddenly feeling that the Spiritual Treasures in their own hands lost their luster.
Hearing this, a look of surprise surfaced in Luoxuan's eyes.
He pondered for a moment.
If he truly followed his innermost desires, he would certainly want the Four Swords of Failing-Immortal; if that were out of the question, the Qingping Sword would do as well.
Ahem, just kidding.
If he dared to say such a thing, Tongtian would probably pull out the Qingping Sword and skewer him on the spot.
"Master," Luoxuan began, "your disciple cultivates fire-type arts and holds no interest in the Dao of formations. I wish to choose either alchemy or artifact refinement to practice, and therefore I wish to ask Master for a method in alchemy or artifact refinement."
Among the Three Pure Ones, Taishang excelled at alchemy, Yuanshi at artifact refinement, and Tongtian at formations.
Yet these were merely their greatest strengths; it did not mean Tongtian was incapable of artifact refinement and alchemy—only that his proficiency fell short of Taishang's and Yuanshi's.
Hearing Luoxuan state that he had no interest in formations, Tongtian felt no anger whatsoever.
In teaching his disciples, he had always tailored his instruction to their aptitudes.
With a sweep of his large sleeve, two streaks of light instantly flew before Luoxuan, transforming into a pair of jade slips.
Luoxuan looked down and saw that they were none other than the *Taishang Alchemy Formula* and the *Yuqing Artifact Refinement Manual*—names that immediately revealed them to be the alchemy and artifact refinement methods of the two Sages.
Luoxuan was overjoyed beyond measure.
He had only asked for a single method in alchemy or artifact refinement, yet he never expected Tongtian to grant him both.
Not only did he give both, but he bestowed the methods of two Sages.
This was a priceless treasure.
Taishang's skill in alchemy and Yuanshi's skill in artifact refinement were peerless throughout the Great Wilderness, and countless beings chased after their pills and magical treasures like ducks to water.
If these two methods were ever leaked, they would surely spark a bloody storm across the entire Great Wilderness.
Suppressing his racing heart, Luoxuan said, "Many thanks, Master!"
***
When all was settled, Master Tongtian led his disciples back to Jin'ao Island.
Suddenly, a rainbow streak broke away from the procession, plummeting from the nine heavens straight toward the Great Wilderness below. That person was none other than Luoxuan.
Along the way, Luoxuan had stated that he wished to temper himself through trials in the Great Wilderness.
Tongtian had not probed deeply; after offering a few words of caution, he readily agreed.
Of course, the talk of trials was false.
Luoxuan's true objective was to head to Mount Buzhou to check in.
Mount Buzhou was formed from the spine of Pangu.
Across the entire Great Wilderness, if one spoke of the most renowned locations, Mount Buzhou could claim second place, and even Hongjun's Zixiao Palace would not dare claim first.
Therefore, the rewards for checking in at Mount Buzhou would undoubtedly surpass all imagination.
Moreover, while others might not know it, Luoxuan, as a transmigrator, was acutely aware that after the Lich Tribulation, Mount Buzhou would be knocked down by Gonggong.
Thus, if he wanted to check in at Mount Buzhou, he had to do so as early as possible.
For the sake of the system rewards, even though the Great Wilderness at this time was extremely dangerous, Luoxuan still resolutely decided to head to Mount Buzhou.
"Fortunately, with my status as a Sage's disciple, so long as I do not deliberately stir up trouble, those mighty figures shouldn't do anything to me."
"The phrase 'beneath the Sages, all are ants' is no empty saying."
For the very first time, Luoxuan felt profoundly grateful for his identity as a Jiejiao disciple.