C18 A Generous Reward

For a moment, the base of the colossal Peak-Bound was as silent as a tomb. Every servant disciple, including the haughty Three Heroes, held their breath, not daring to let out a whisper. They all watched in hushed awe as the man in white approached, his steps measured and unhurried, yet swift. In the blink of an eye, he was hovering above them.

"Indeed, there are some promising talents among you. With proper cultivation, the condensation of Spirit Bones is within reach!" The middle-aged man in white surveyed them from his lofty position, and instantly, everyone felt exposed, as if a profound and mysterious force had laid them bare. Their true natures were revealed in a single glance.

Yang Fann's heart seized, and he quickly composed himself, fearing the man in white might uncover his secret. The Heaven and Earth Devouring Method was a technique against the natural order. If exposed, he would find no refuge in this vast world!

"I am Bai, the manager of the Outer Sect. I will oversee your upcoming assessments!"

Yang Fann's heart jolted. "He's merely an Outer Sect manager? What power must the Sect Elders and Sect Master wield?" The title sounded prestigious, but within the vast Seven Stars Sect, it was a mid-level position. Above him were the Inner Sect manager, the core Elders, the Sect Master, and the Ancestor. "I've truly underestimated the Seven Stars Sect. As one of the Tang Dynasty's top powers, ruling over the Three Paths of Xishu, Longang, and Jieting is no small feat."

In that moment, any trace of arrogance in Yang Fann evaporated. A Bone Forging stage Martial Master was merely a common Outer Sect manager. What pride could he, a mere Sixth Layer Pulse Opening Stage martial artist, have? After all, the Seven Stars Sect was but one of the nine major forces of the Great Tang Dynasty, and not even among the top-ranked.

"Today, I may not be a match for Manager Bai, but there will come a day when I will surpass him and everyone in the Seven Stars Sect. I'm certain that day is not far off!" A fierce determination sparked in Yang Fann's eyes. Protected by the Heaven and Earth Devouring Method, he was fated to rise above the masses and reach the pinnacle of martial arts!

...

"Let me tell you, you youngsters are incredibly fortunate. The rewards for this year's Breakthrough competition are the most substantial in a decade," Manager Bai announced, prompting an audible stir among the servant disciples below. The annual Bronze Warriors' Lane Battle always offered significant rewards, particularly for the top ten, which even many outer sect disciples coveted. That this year's prizes were the richest in ten years was beyond imagination.

"Every servant disciple who succeeds in the Breakthrough will receive a hundred taels of gold." In the Great Tang Dynasty, gold was ten times the value of silver. A hundred taels of gold, therefore, amounted to a thousand taels of silver. A single tael could comfortably support a family of three for half a month. A thousand taels could rival the entire fortune of the wealthiest in remote towns.

"The top one hundred will each be awarded a hundred taels of gold, plus an Upper-class Meridian Invigorating Pill!"

"Wow! That's incredibly generous!" gasped many servant disciples, their breath catching in awe. Spirit pills were categorized into four grades: supreme, upper, middle, and lower. Even the lowest-grade spirit pill wouldn't go for less than a hundred taels of patterned silver. The Upper-class Meridian Invigorating Pill was just on the cusp of being considered a middle-grade spirit pill. Each pill was valued at a thousand taels of silver within the sect, but in the outside world, it could fetch up to fifteen hundred, even two thousand taels of silver. The possibility was there. In an instant, the eyes of countless servant disciples sparkled with excitement. With one of these Upper-class Meridian Invigorating Pills, they could save months of grueling training and achieve a breakthrough in their current level of cultivation.

"The top thirty will each receive five hundred taels of gold, plus a top-grade Meridian Invigorating Pill!" announced the manager.

At that, everyone except the Three Heroes, Yang Fann, and a few others, started to pant with excitement, their faces flushed. The Extreme-grade Pulse Breaking Pill was among the highest echelons of middle-grade spirit pills, its medicinal power several times that of the Upper-class Meridian Invigorating Pill. With just one, they could match the half-year's worth of cultivation of a Seventh Layer martial artist.

"For the top ten, each will be awarded a Spirit Stone and a Pulse Breaking Pill!"

The crowd inhaled sharply at the announcement. A Spirit Stone was the common currency among Bone Forging stage warriors, each valued at a thousand taels of gold and often priceless. The Pulse Breaking Pill, equally valuable, was a higher-tier spirit pill, ranking among the upper-class elixirs. Just one pill could equate to a year of arduous training for a Ninth-layer Martial Cultivator. With such a pill, it wasn't out of the realm of possibility to advance an entire layer in cultivation.

"And the top three?" Manager Bai's voice lingered with intrigue as he surveyed the eager servant disciples below.

"What's the reward for the top three? I can't stand the suspense!"

Countless servant disciples were visibly agitated, scratching their heads in anticipation. If the rewards for the top ten were already so substantial, the prizes for the top three must be even more lavish.

"One Spirit Stone, one Pulse Breaking Pill, and one Purple Elixir!" At this revelation, even the Three Heroes struggled to keep their composure, their chests heaving with excitement. The Purple Elixir, like the Pulse Breaking Pill, was an upper-class elixir. To many, its value was comparable to some of the supreme-grade elixirs. This rare life-saving elixir could fully restore the spiritual energy of a Ninth-layer Martial Cultivator with just one pill. Moreover, for the duration of an incense stick's burning, it would double one's strength, speed, and stamina—truly the ultimate choice for turning the tides in a dire situation. It wasn't an exaggeration to say that possessing the Purple Elixir was akin to having an extra life!

They had to make it into the top three, no matter what, to claim that Purple Elixir!

Just then, Manager Bai, floating above the crowd, dropped another bombshell, "The reward for the first-place winner is something even I find myself envious of."

"What? Even Manager Bai is envious? Surely that's an overstatement?" The servant disciples were astounded. Manager Bai was a Bone Forging Martial Master with a condensed Spiritual Bloodline, a world apart from the Pulse Opening Stage martial artists. While the Pulse Breaking Pill and the Purple Elixir were impressive, they were of little significance to him. And a mere Spirit Stone? Hardly worth mentioning. For an Outer Sect manager like him, his yearly earnings were likely no less than a hundred Spirit Stones.

"In addition to the top three prizes, the first-place winner will also receive a Marrow Cleansing Pill!"

"A Marrow Cleansing Pill? That reward is incredibly lavish, isn't it?" Instantly, every servant disciple's face turned beet red, their breaths coming in short gasps. Even the managers of the nearby peaks were visibly excited, licking their dry lips with eyes blazing. They wished they could shed a couple of decades, transform into servant disciples, and join the assessment.

The Marrow Cleansing Pill is an exceptional top-tier spirit pill, ranking among the best of the best. It boasts the power to purify the meridians and enhance one's bloodline. For those on the cusp of an Eighth Grade Bloodline, its importance is paramount. It has the potential to elevate their bloodline to the Eighth Grade, catapulting them into the ranks of elite geniuses. With that transformation, their prospects would be boundless!

"I am destined to be first!" The Three Heroes and One Immortal, four of the most formidable geniuses, were ablaze with combative zeal, vowing to claim that top spot. While the Marrow Cleansing Pill might not boost their bloodline to the Seventh Grade, it could certainly help them ascend to a mid-level Eighth Grade.

Among the servant disciples, those with a lower Eighth Grade bloodline are already considered top geniuses. But in the Outer Sect, a hotbed of talent, they're merely average. Whether they can break into the top ten remains a mystery. Yet for those with a mid-level Eighth Grade bloodline, the story is different. In the Outer Sect, fewer than five individuals could outmatch them.

"This Marrow Cleansing Pill will be mine!" Yang Fann's eyes gleamed with unwavering resolve. His bloodline had advanced further after ten days of rigorous training. He was on the verge of reaching a mid-level Eighth Grade. With the Marrow Cleansing Pill, he was certain he could elevate his bloodline to that coveted rank.

Just then, Manager Bai, clad in white and floating in midair like a celestial being above worldly concerns, let a sly smile play upon his lips. He chuckled mysteriously, "Indeed, the rewards for this year's Breakthrough competition are the most substantial we've seen in a decade. But well..."