Amidst the violent sound of colliding spiritual energy, Chu Chenzhou's expression shifted drastically.
He felt clearly that his Seven-Star Reflecting Moon Mirror, fueled by Foundation Establishment stage spiritual energy, simply could not withstand the opponent's Six-Combination Continuous-Bead Gun.
"Not good!"
Just as that green light was about to strike the Seven-Star Reflecting Moon Mirror, the Golden Core stage spiritual energy within Chu Chenzhou's body erupted instinctively.
Silver light surged brilliantly from the mirror's surface, and the seven copper mirrors spun rapidly in the air, forming a silver curtain of light.
"Senior Brother Chu used Golden Core stage spiritual energy?!" Li Nanyi suddenly tugged on Le Changxi's sleeve.
Le Changxi nodded slightly, a trace of regret flashing in his eyes.
Once Golden Core stage spiritual energy was utilized, it meant admitting the opponent's magic tool possessed superior power. Although it was a helpless move, it was also a wise choice—if he had stubbornly persisted, even that precious Seven-Star Reflecting Moon Mirror might have been damaged in the confrontation.
Chu Chenzhou calmly put away his magic tool and cupped his hands. "This disciple admits defeat."
He looked up at Jiang Yifan, his eyes reflecting complex emotions. "Senior Brother Jiang's magic tool... is truly formidable."
As the address of 'Senior Brother Jiang' left his mouth, the entire arena fell silent for a moment.
One had to know that Chu Chenzhou was significantly older than Jiang Yifan; in the cultivation world, such a title meant completely recognizing the other's strength as superior to his own.
In the arena, Jiang Yifan was momentarily startled before solemnly returning the salute. "Senior Brother Chu is too modest."
He called him 'senior brother' with sincere conviction—it was both a recognition of Chu Chenzhou's cultivation and an expression of respect for his character.
"Senior Brother Chu's Seven-Star Reflecting Moon Mirror is also very ingenious," he continued. "It is merely a difference in design philosophy."
Chu Chenzhou paused, then showed a smile of relief. "Thank you for the guidance, Senior Brother Jiang."
On the judges' bench, Elder Chang Yan stood up, his voice booming.
"The challenge has ended; the rankings remain unchanged!"
"First place in the Individual Arena Battle of this Refining Great Competition: Jiang Yifan of the Five Elements Dao Sect!"
Elder Chang Yan's voice echoed over the martial arts arena. As soon as the announcement fell, the entire audience erupted in thunderous applause and cheers.
As for the rewards for the top placements, according to custom, they would be distributed together with the rewards from the other matches after the team battle concluded.
Amidst the cheering, only those few Qingxia Sect disciples looked ashen-faced, paralyzed on the ground and unable to move.
"It's over..."
"One hundred mid-grade spirit stones..."
Li Nanzhu held Suisui, a faint smile playing on her lips. The small skeleton in her arms clacked its jawbone, its soul fire flickering with exceptional joy.
"Come on, let's go collect the debt," she whispered to Suisui, walking toward the Qingxia Sect disciples.
Seeing her approach, their expressions became even more unsightly.
"Junior Sister... Junior Sister Li..." the round-faced cultivator stuttered. "About that bet..."
"A total of six hundred mid-grade spirit stones." Li Nanzhu smiled and held out her hand. "The contract is right here. Hand them over."
"But right now, we..." one of the female cultivators said, her eyes instantly reddening as her voice cracked. "We really can't produce that many spirit stones."
The purple-robed cultivator beside her immediately cooperated with a sigh. "Indeed, we are just ordinary inner sect disciples. One hundred mid-grade spirit stones is truly..."
Li Nanzhu remained smiling, pulling a handkerchief from her sleeve and handing it over.
"Don't cry, Senior Sister," Li Nanzhu said softly. "Wipe your tears."
The female cultivator blanked and subconsciously took the handkerchief. Before she could continue her performance, she heard Li Nanzhu add:
"However, a bet is a bet." She tilted her head, her smile innocent and pure. "Since that's the case, I'll just have to ask the elders to judge who is in the right—"
As she spoke, she made a move as if to shout, "Qingxia—"
"Don't shout! Don't shout!" The purple-robed cultivator lunged forward, looking around in terror. "We'll pay! We'll pay!"
The Qingxia Sect disciples were pale, huddling together and trembling.
They knew very well—if the sect found out they had made a private bet with someone from the Five Elements Dao Sect and lost, they would certainly face severe punishment. It might have been fine if they won, but now that they had lost, if they tried to renege on the debt and caused a scene, the entire Qingxia Sect would lose face because of them. At that point, it wouldn't be a simple punishment anymore.
"I have... one hundred and twenty here..." the round-faced female cultivator said, her hands shaking as she emptied her storage bag, even shaking out a few stray spirit stones.
The tall, thin cultivator gritted his teeth and pulled a small bundle from an inner pocket. "One hundred and fifty. This is my entire life savings."
"Eighty..." The purple-robed cultivator's face was green. "Can I owe you twenty for now?"
Li Nanzhu shook her head, still smiling.
"I have a hundred here!" another cultivator suddenly slammed a sword onto the table. "This Qingshuang is worth fifty stones. Plus these spirit stones..."
Li Nanzhu shook her head gently. "Senior Brother must be joking. This sword is your life-bound magic treasure. How could I possibly take it?"
The last two disciples looked at each other and suddenly pleaded in unison.
"Junior Sister Li, please have mercy!"
"We are truly bankrupt..."
Li Nanzhu tilted her head and thought for a moment. She suddenly turned toward the crowd and took a deep breath—
"No!!" the six of them screamed simultaneously, lunging forward to press down on her hand. "We'll pool it! We'll pool it!"
After a chaotic scramble, the six of them even took off the jade buckles from their belts and the hairpins from their hair, finally scraping together the value of six hundred mid-grade spirit stones.
"Thank you, senior brothers and sisters." Li Nanzhu smiled as she put away the storage bag full of spirit stones, pushing the jewelry back toward them. "I'll pass on these small trinkets."
The six Qingxia Sect disciples stared blankly at the returned jewelry, momentarily speechless.
"This..." The female cultivator's hand trembled as she took back her hairpin, her eyes reddening again. "Junior Sister Li..."
The purple-robed cultivator tightly clutched his recovered jade pendant, his voice choked. "Thank you..."
They thought they were truly going to be left with nothing, never expecting Li Nanzhu to return their personal items.
"Just remember the lesson." Li Nanzhu walked away holding Suisui, a faint smile on her lips.
When she returned to the Five Elements Dao Sect seating area, she found only Mu Wenyan remaining.
"Eldest Senior Brother?" Li Nanzhu was surprised. "Where are the others?"
Mu Wenyan smiled helplessly. "Fourth Junior Brother won the match, so too many people crowded around to talk to him. Seventh Junior Brother just grabbed him and ran. Second Junior Brother and Fifth Junior Sister don't like large crowds, so they headed back early as well."
As for Feng Weilan—there was no need to ask; he had naturally left with Feng Qingping.
"Did Eldest Senior Brother stay specifically to wait for me?" Li Nanzhu felt a warmth in her heart.
Mu Wenyan nodded slightly. "No one felt comfortable leaving you alone."
As they were about to leave, Li Nanzhu suddenly remembered something. "Oh right, I haven't found Liu Qingyang yet..."
Mu Wenyan nodded without asking questions. "Then let's go find him."
As the two walked along the edge of the path, Li Nanzhu's footsteps suddenly paused.
"What is it?" Mu Wenyan asked.
Li Nanzhu pointed ahead. "Is that... Cang Dongqing?"
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