Chapter 574: Grand Competition Rewards

Coming to Ten Thousand Nations City was for this grand competition. Although the final reward, a single mid-grade spirit stone, no longer held any attraction for him, as long as he won the championship and caught the attention of the Master Hall, finding a Mortal Transformation Fourth Layer technique would become much easier.

Moreover, with his cultivation and strength at this level, the Ten Thousand Nations Alliance had clearly become a shackle. He had to enter a higher nation or force, and making it into the top ten would grant him the opportunity to study at the Hongyuan Master Academy—a perfect chance.

Thus, he was quite looking forward to this competition.

"Master Zhang, this is a list of the hot contenders I've gathered over these days. Take a look..."

Hall Master Kang handed over a book.

He hadn't been idle these past two weeks either. He had people inquire extensively and finally compiled this, so that their own contestants could prepare in advance—knowing oneself and the enemy ensures victory.

"Thank you!" Knowing the other must have expended considerable effort, Zhang Xuan nodded and casually flipped it open.

"Potential rank one: Luo Xuan, personal disciple of Luo Huang, Sect Master of Liuyun Sect; Four-Star peak master; cultivation: Mortal Transformation Fourth Layer peak; auxiliary professions: Four-Star physician, Four-Star formation master..."

"This guy is potential rank one?" Zhang Xuan found it strange.

He had met this guy before, unlike others. Half a month ago, he had applied to 'Master Yang' and exchanged 150 mid-grade spirit stones for Luo Huang's life.

Moreover, according to Sun Qiang, this guy had been sat on by the Yaochen Beast and nearly died on the spot.

A fool like this could be potential rank one?

"Ahem!" Seeing his strange expression, knowing what he was thinking, Hall Master Kang coughed. "Actually, Luo Xuan isn't as useless as you think. His true strength is extremely formidable. Even if I were to fight him, it's hard to say whether I could win..."

After a moment's thought, Zhang Xuan nodded.

True. The Yaochen Beast possessed dragon bloodline; it was normal that he couldn't defeat it, but that didn't mean his strength was weak. As for that day, he himself, as 'Master Yang', under the pressure of his aura, even a half-step Five-Star master dared not speak carelessly, so a Four-Star peak naturally seemed unremarkable.

To be fair, he was still very powerful.

At least, with his Mortal Transformation Fourth Layer peak strength, he was no match for him.

"Of course, this potential ranking is just a sort. The top ten listed are all close in strength; who will ultimately take first place, no one can confirm!"

Hall Master Kang continued.

Zhang Xuan continued reading.

Indeed, as the other had said, the top ten in potential were almost uniformly Four-Star masters, all at the Turbid Clarity Realm peak.

With equal strength and similar master rank, it was indeed hard to say who would win and stand out.

He quickly finished flipping through the book.

The twenty-eight forces had sent a total of fifty-six contestants, the weakest being Four-Star initial masters—that is... his level.

Thinking back to the last selection, only Ruohuan was a Four-Star. No wonder Ten Thousand Nations City never placed well... the foundation was simply too weak.

Only by achieving good rankings in the grand competition could one gain respect and obtain higher resources. With resources, one could cultivate more and more powerful masters... and vice versa.

Under this cycle, the good get better, and the bad get worse.

It could be said that if the Ten Thousand Nations Alliance failed to achieve good rankings repeatedly, the entire force would weaken, eventually be annexed by other forces, and vanish into the river of history.

For this reason, every grand competition was crucial, and no one dared to take it lightly.

"Song Chao?"

Flipping to around twentieth place, he saw a familiar name: Song Chao.

He hadn't expected that this guy, who was fooled every time they met, was also quite high on the potential list.

After going through it once, he now had a certain understanding of the forces in this competition.

"Master Zhang is unmatched in his understanding of masters and auxiliary professions, but his cultivation is a bit lacking. As long as he has good luck, making it into the top ten... shouldn't be a big problem!"

Hall Master Kang offered some comfort.

This Master Zhang had performed remarkably at the Ten Thousand Nations City Master Hall, but among so many geniuses, he wasn't so outstanding. Not to mention other aspects, his strength alone was the biggest drawback.

It was like the planks forming a wooden barrel: only when all planks are long can it hold much water; if one is short, no matter how long the others are, it's useless!

The master competition tested overall ability—excellence in all areas. Having one obvious flaw would make him a target for others to attack, making it nearly impossible to advance to higher rankings.

"Has the content of this competition been decided?" Knowing his concern, Zhang Xuan asked.

"It was decided long ago, but... I don't know the specifics. It was designed personally by Master Hong Qian, and I hear it's extremely fair, with absolutely no possibility of cheating!" Hall Master Kang thought for a moment and said.

As a participating force, he was not qualified to know the specific content; otherwise, if the news leaked and contestants from other forces organized to adapt in advance, the competition would be unfair.

Master Hong Qian was a master from the Hongfeng Empire's Master Hall, not belonging to the twenty-eight forces, and had reached the Five-Star level. With him presiding, everyone was at ease.

The Hongfeng Empire was a subordinate empire of the Huanyu Empire, much stronger than forces like Liuyun Sect, Baiyang Sect, and the Ten Thousand Nations Alliance.

It was considered one of the top-ranked among the unranked empires.

"Although I don't know the specific content, the rewards have been announced!" Hall Master Kang's eyes lit up.

"Rewards? Aren't they a mid-grade spirit stone and the opportunity to study at the Hongyuan Master Academy?" Zhang Xuan looked at him in confusion.

This reward had been mentioned before; nothing surprising.

"That's what was said before, but this time, the rewards have suddenly increased. The amount is so large that even I can barely contain myself just thinking about it!"

Hall Master Kang said excitedly.

Last night, the leaders of the various forces suddenly received a message from Master Hong Qian that the competition rewards had increased. When they saw the content, even he, a peak powerhouse and hall master of a force, couldn't help but breathe rapidly, full of disbelief.

In past competitions, the rewards were already generous, but compared to this time... they were nothing, like child's play!

"Oh? What are the rewards?" Zhang Xuan looked over with interest.

"The first-place reward is a high-grade spirit stone!" Hall Master Kang said.

"High-grade spirit stone?"

Wasn't it a mid-grade spirit stone before? Why had it changed to high-grade?

"One high-grade spirit stone is equivalent to ten thousand mid-grade spirit stones, and it's not readily available on the market. Its value is immeasurable!" Seeing that he didn't know, Hall Master Kang explained.

"Ten thousand mid-grade?" Zhang Xuan's breath quickened.

He had worked hard, nearly killing himself or making himself sick from showing off, and only extorted about six hundred mid-grade spirit stones from fourteen sects like Liuyun Sect. Winning first place would yield one high-grade spirit stone, equivalent to ten thousand... that was too exaggerated!

"Yes! Not only that, but also the opportunity to study at the Hongyuan Master Academy and cultivate in the [Purification Pool] for three days..."

Hall Master Kang continued.

"Purification Pool? What's that?" Zhang Xuan looked over.

"It's the most precious treasure of the Huanyu Empire's royal family, and the foundation of their nation!"

Hall Master Kang spoke, his face full of envy. "Those who have cultivated to the Turbid Clarity Realm should understand: turbidity is the body, clarity is the soul. The Purification Pool is a place to nourish the soul. Cultivating there allows the soul to undergo transformation, greatly increasing the chance of breaking through to the Soul Union Realm by several times!"

"If I had the chance to cultivate there for three days, my chance of successfully breaking through to the Soul Union Realm could reach over fifty percent! Unfortunately... the Purification Pool is the most precious thing of the Huanyu Empire, with limited slots. Even the once-a-decade master competition only provides a few spots!"

Hearing that it was a place to cultivate the soul, Zhang Xuan nodded, inwardly shocked.

Being able to increase Hall Master Kang's chance of breaking through to Soul Union by over fifty percent—this Purification Pool was truly heaven-defying.

One high-grade spirit stone, the opportunity to study at the Hongyuan Master Academy, and three days in the Purification Pool...

Each of these would drive countless people crazy; all three together—terrifying!

"What about second place?"

These were the rewards for first place. What about second?

"Second place is much worse: three hundred mid-grade spirit stones, study at the Hongyuan Master Academy, and two days in the Purification Pool!"

Hall Master Kang said.

Although only one rank lower, the rewards were more than halved. Not to mention one less day in the Purification Pool, the spirit stones alone were far fewer.

One high-grade spirit stone versus three hundred mid-grade—a difference of over thirty times.

"Third place gets one hundred mid-grade spirit stones and one day in the Purification Pool. For the remaining fourth to tenth places, there's no chance to enter the Purification Pool, and each gets only ten spirit stones. Fortunately, as long as you're in the top ten, you have the opportunity to study at the Hongyuan Master Academy."

Hall Master Kang listed the rewards for the top ten.

"It seems... I must get first place!"

Zhang Xuan clenched his fist.

Earlier, he thought that just making the top ten would be fine, that the ranking didn't matter. But now... he had to get first place.

Not to mention anything else, just the single high-grade spirit stone was too tempting.

With that thing, he probably wouldn't need to worry about spirit stones even when cultivating to the peak of Mortal Transformation.

"Yes, we must strive for first place. Unfortunately... it's not that easy to get first!"

Hearing his words, Hall Master Kang smiled bitterly.

Everyone wants first place. With the increased rewards, countless cultivators are sharpening their minds to get it. How could it be easy?

Although the name 'Master Yang' was resounding and could intimidate people, this news only circulated among the sects and leaders of the fourteen forces. The young talents participating in the competition were unaware.

Therefore, in the actual competition, no one would go easy on you just because you were Master Yang's student.

Other contests might be fine, but once... it came to testing cultivation, he really fell too short.

Although Hall Master Kang had high hopes for this Master Zhang, he had no expectations of him winning the championship.

"We've arrived!"

Hearing his sigh, Zhang Xuan was about to speak when Ruohuan's voice sounded. Looking up, the three of them had arrived at the square before the Alliance Lord's Mansion. At this moment, it was packed with people, crowded like a tide.

The master competition, having weathered countless storms, was finally... about to begin!