C35 Unexpected Reward

Ten miles from Looh City, atop a hastily constructed stage, the Chief Eunuch, responsible for overseeing the event, promptly declared the rewards for the competition. The announcement of the prizes elicited a collective gasp from the audience.

The Hunting Competition traditionally rewarded only the top ten finishers with substantial prizes, fueling the elite disciples' fervent participation. The rewards were exponentially greater than the usual family provisions, sometimes by several or even a hundredfold.

This time, the rewards far surpassed those of previous competitions. Tenth place would receive 100 Grade Ten Low Rank Spirit Stones and one Grade Ten Low Rank Qi Increasing Pill. Ninth place was set to get 1,000 Grade Ten Low Rank Spirit Stones, one Grade Ten Low Rank Qi Increasing Pill, and one Ten-refinement Weapon.

Eighth place would be awarded 2,000 Grade Ten Low Rank Spirit Stones, three Grade Ten Low Rank Qi Increasing Pills, one Grade Ten Low Rank Calming Heart Pill, and one Ten-refinement Weapon. Seventh place could expect 5,000 Grade Ten Low Rank Spirit Stones, five Grade Ten Low Rank Qi Increasing Pills, two Grade Ten Low Rank Calming Heart Pills, and one Ten-refinement Weapon.

The sixth-place finisher would receive 1,000 Grade Nine Low Rank Spirit Stones, two Middle Rank Grade Ten Qi Increasing Pills, one Middle Rank Grade Ten Calming Heart Pill, and one Ten-refinement Essence Weapon. Fifth place would earn 2,000 Grade Nine Low Rank Spirit Stones, five Middle Rank Grade Ten Qi Increasing Pills, two Middle Rank Grade Ten Calming Heart Pills, and one Ten-refinement Essence Weapon.

Fourth place would take home 5,000 Grade Nine Low Rank Spirit Stones, ten Middle Rank Grade Ten Qi Increasing Pills, three Middle Rank Grade Ten Calming Heart Pills, and one Ten-refinement Essence Weapon.

While the reward for tenth place remained consistent with previous competitions, the prizes for fourth through ninth places were so impressive they sent a wave of excitement through the crowd. The competitors, with their fists clenched and eyes gleaming, appeared ready to secure their spot in the top nine.

For elite contestants like Xie Jutong and Jiaang Que, who were expected to place in the top three, their anticipation was focused on the even more lucrative rewards yet to be announced.

As the Chief Eunuch announced the rewards for the top three, the room fell into a hushed silence so profound that one could have heard a pin drop.

The prizes for the top three were so lavish they were almost beyond belief.

Third place would receive 1,000 Grade Eight Low Rank Spirit Stones, one High Rank Grade Ten Qi Increasing Pill, one High Rank Grade Ten Calming Heart Pill, one Ten-refinement Essence Weapon, one piece of Superior Armor, and one day in the Hidden Dragon Pavilion.

Second place was entitled to 2,000 Grade Eight Low Rank Spirit Stones, three High Rank Grade Ten Qi Increasing Pills, one High Rank Grade Ten Calming Heart Pill, one Ten-refinement Essence Weapon, one piece of fine armor, and two days in the Hidden Dragon Pavilion.

First place, the champion's reward, was even more extraordinary.

Five thousand Grade Eight Low Rank Spirit Stones, five High Rank Grade Ten Qi Increasing Pills, three High Rank Grade Ten Calming Heart Pills, one Ten-refinement Top Grade weapon, one piece of top-grade armor, and three days in the Hidden Dragon Pavilion.

Upon hearing the top three rewards, Wei Lulin couldn't help but inhale sharply in awe.

Grade Eight Low Rank Spirit Stones, Advanced Grade Ten Qi Increasing Pills, Advanced Grade Ten Calming Heart Pills, Ten-refinement Top Grade weapons, and top-grade protective gear were treasures typically reserved for masters above the middle level of the Body Refining Stage. This time, they were being offered as rewards.

Had the royal family and the three great families come into a sudden windfall?

What astonished Wei Lulin even more was the opportunity to train in the Hidden Dragon Pavilion.

The Hidden Dragon Pavilion, a cultivation Secret Realm exclusive to the royal family, was a miraculous treasure brought forth by Qi Xinhao, the founding emperor of Yao Country.

The Hidden Dragon Pavilion opened once every ten years, admitting only three individuals at a time. The Pavilion's benefits were twofold.

The first benefit pertained to cultivation. Inside the Hidden Dragon Pavilion, the concentration of Spiritual Qi was incredibly dense. Whether one was at Qi Refining Stage Level One or Level Nine, one could expect to elevate their cultivation by at least one level. With good fortune and a lengthy stay, it was even possible to advance by two levels. The lower the initial level of cultivation, the more rapid and significant the improvement. Conversely, the higher the level, the slower the rate of advancement.

The second benefit of the Hidden Dragon Pavilion was its potential-enhancing effect. Not only was it filled with dense Spiritual Qi, but it also contained a special energy that could improve one's constitution, fortify meridians, enlarge the dantian, and refine the purity of one's Spiritual Force.

The Hidden Dragon Pavilion was considered the crown jewel of the royal family's treasures. Historically, only direct heirs of the royal lineage were granted access. Even other royal descendants were excluded, regardless of their innate abilities. The idea of offering entry to outsiders was simply unheard of.

Yet, this time, the royal family had unexpectedly offered a spot in the Hidden Dragon Pavilion, leaving everyone in attendance baffled. Had the royal family's power waned to the point of relinquishing such a prized asset?

While doubts lingered, Wei Lulin's gaze settled on the twenty royal participants. Yao Yafeng was sure to secure a spot, suggesting that the royal family would not easily part with the remaining two. It implied that among these twenty, at least three to five Peak Experts were concealed.

This realization made Wei Lulin recall the unsettling presence of two royals earlier, likely the family's secret weapons.

Originally, Wei Lulin had planned to steer clear of formidable opponents like Xie Jutong and Jiaang Que, who had reached the Qi Refining Stage Level Seven, during the initial phase of the hunt. His current strength was insufficient to confront these Peak Experts. However, once he achieved a breakthrough to the Fourth Level of the Qi Refining Stage and reached its pinnacle, he felt he would stand a chance against them. Even if he couldn't triumph, he could at least hold his ground.

Naturally, advancing his cultivation level further and overcoming them wasn't out of the realm of possibility.

After the Chief Eunuch departed, the patriarchs of the three major families took the stage to deliver speeches filled with praise and encouragement. Wei Lulin tuned out, focusing inward to calibrate his spirit and ensure he was in peak condition.

With the conclusion of the patriarchs' addresses, the Hunting Competition officially commenced.

The Hunting Ground was situated roughly 20 miles from the high platform, marking the official start of the competition.

One hundred unique Jade Plates had been scattered throughout the Hunting Ground, some hidden along paths, others perched in trees, and a few even placed beside Magical Beasts.

Arriving at the Hunting Ground early could lead to an earlier discovery of the Jade Plates. Thus, once the competition was declared open, the eager Wei's disciples sprinted with full force.

Wei Lulin did not scramble to lead the pack, nor did he lag behind. He casually followed the other Wei's disciples, making his way to the Hunting Ground at a steady pace.

The Hunting Competition spanned fifteen days.

During this time, all competitors were required to remain on-site, with no early departures permitted. Leaving early would signify a forfeiture of the competition and an automatic concession.

Being first to arrive did not ensure victory; only those with true strength and skill could ultimately claim success.

Wei Lulin remained composed, and similarly, members of the three major families, the royal family, and several other formidable families from Looh City approached the Hunting Ground with no sense of urgency.

The twenty-mile journey was moderate in length.

The participating contestants ranged in ability, with the least skilled at Qi Refining Stage Level Three and the most powerful at Qi Refining Stage Level Seven Peak, ensuring a swift collective pace.

After three hours, Wei Lulin, accompanied by his Wei family peers, reached the Hunting Ground.