Chapter 2 The Shocking Results
The announcement of the second-place winner caused another uproar.
Many had never even heard the name Ning Youci before.
Yet, she had managed to secure second place in the rankings!
Surpassing some of the top prodigies.
Astonishment, surprise, disbelief.
Everyone wondered who Ning Youci truly was.
Those who had entered the Void Immortal Realm felt the same.
Having experienced the Void Immortal Realm firsthand, they understood how difficult it was to earn points.
The creatures within were incredibly powerful, and defeating each one was a significant challenge.
It was understandable for Xu Chuan to obtain so many points, as everyone had witnessed his strength.
But by what means had Ning Youci accumulated such a high score?
They couldn't fathom it.
Nor did they understand the relationship between Ning Youci and Xu Chuan.
With these many questions, they awaited Li Yan's announcement of the third-place winner.
Li Yan, without further ado, with a grim expression, read out the next name.
"The third-place scorer is Cui Jiang from the Taiyi Holy Land, with fifty thousand points!"
Whoosh!
"Another one from Taiyi Holy Land!"
"What is going on? Why are two of the top three from Taiyi Holy Land?"
"This is unbelievable!"
"Impossible, there must be something fishy going on!"
No one could believe such an outcome.
The top three had all been claimed by individuals from the Eastern Domain.
And what was more, the first and third positions were from the same sect.
This was unprecedented!
In all the years the Five Domain Grand Competition had been held, such a situation had never occurred.
It completely overturned everyone's understanding.
The more the spectators were shocked and perplexed, the stronger Li Yan's hatred for Xu Chuan grew.
While others were unaware of the reasons, he understood the situation clearly.
He believed that the only reason these three had accumulated so many points was because Jiang Ming and others had been killed by them.
Otherwise, it would have been impossible for them to achieve such scores!
"Don't celebrate too soon. When the Five Domain Grand Competition ends, I'll deal with you!"
Li Yan gritted his teeth, seeing Xu Chuan smiling.
He had decided to personally eliminate Xu Chuan to quell his hatred!
Similarly, the leading elders from Yaoshan Sword Sect, Taixu Holy Land, Sanyang Holy Land, and the Temple of Light harbored intense hatred for Xu Chuan.
They too wished to kill Xu Chuan immediately to avenge their respective Holy Sons!
They had already begun secretly plotting how to eliminate Xu Chuan without anyone noticing.
With the top three announced, Li Yan proceeded to announce the scores of others.
However, the difference compared to Xu Chuan and his companions was significant.
The highest score among them was only ten thousand points.
Xu Chuan had fulfilled his promise, securing the top three positions with Ning Youci and Cui Jiang.
Under the gaze of countless astonished and awestruck eyes, Xu Chuan led the two onto the grand platform.
Next was the presentation of rewards.
Although this Five Domain Grand Competition was held in the Void Immortal Realm, and almost everyone who participated profited greatly, the competition still had its scheduled rewards.
However, the person presenting the rewards was no longer Li Yan, but Hou Qinglin.
Li Yan did not wish to personally present the award to Xu Chuan, with whom he had a deep animosity. He feared he might lose control and kill Xu Chuan on the spot.
"Now, I will present the rewards for the top three finishers of this grand competition!"
Hou Qinglin said solemnly.
He bore no particular enmity towards Xu Chuan, but given that Xu Chuan had killed two Holy Sons of the Xuanshan Holy Land, he naturally wouldn't offer a pleasant demeanor.
However, the proper procedures could not be omitted; this concerned the prestige of the Xuanshan Holy Land.
And for the rewards of this grand competition, the Xuanshan Holy Land, as the host, had spared no expense.
Originally, according to their calculations, the first place in this competition would go to Jiang Ming.
Therefore.
The reward for first place was an Imperial Weapon of Tier One, directly provided by the Xuanshan Holy Land.
Firstly, they intended to showcase the generosity of the Xuanshan Holy Land and put on a grand display.
Secondly, since Jiang Ming was one of their own, he deserved the reward for winning first place.
Giving the Imperial Weapon to him was akin to switching it from one hand to the other; the Xuanshan Holy Land suffered no loss.
But no one had anticipated.
Not only did Jiang Ming fail to win first place, but he even lost his life!
And first place went to Xu Chuan, who was an enemy of the Xuanshan Holy Land!
What a turn of events!
But since the outcome was already decided, the people of Xuanshan Holy Land could do nothing to change it.
They could only grudgingly accept this loss.
"Congratulations, this is your reward for first place, a Tier One Imperial Weapon."
Hou Qinglin produced a dark, unadorned staff and handed it to Xu Chuan.
The staff was unremarkable. If it weren't an Imperial Weapon, one would mistake it for a mere fire-poker.
Xu Chuan immediately recognized that although this was a Tier One Imperial Weapon, it was the weakest among them.
In fact, this Imperial Weapon had suffered severe damage, appearing fine on the outside but hollow within, likely inferior to some powerful Half-Imperial Weapons!
This was also deliberately done by the Xuanshan Holy Land.
Since they couldn't change the reward, they decided to tamper with the reward itself.
Had first place gone to Jiang Ming, there was no doubt it would have been a powerful Imperial Weapon.
But going to Xu Chuan, it became this shoddy item.
Xu Chuan paid it no mind, accepting the inconspicuous staff and saying calmly, "Thank you, Senior."
Although this staff was trash, he now possessed the skill of [Proficient in Pills and Artifacts], and might be able to restore it to its former glory!
Furthermore, even if he couldn't use it himself, he could use it as a primary material to forge a powerful weapon and give it to Feng Qingyang, fulfilling his previous promise.
The crowd below, upon hearing that the first-place reward was a Tier One Imperial Weapon, began discussing it even more wildly.
They were unaware of the inner workings, only thinking the Xuanshan Holy Land was incredibly generous.
To offer an Imperial Weapon as a reward!
One must understand that Imperial Weapons were rare commodities.
Only sects and holy lands with countless years of inheritance might possess one.
They were usually cherished above all else.
Yet, now, it was being used as a reward!
At this moment, countless people harbored envy and jealousy towards Xu Chuan.
And those who had participated in the grand competition felt the same.
Their hearts were filled with jealousy towards Xu Chuan.
This made many wish for Xu Chuan's death.
Thus.
News spread like wildfire that Xu Chuan had occupied a secret realm within the Void Immortal Realm, possibly holding the opportunity to break through to the Emperor Realm.
In a very short time, it swept across the entire Central Domain.
Countless sect leaders awakened from their seclusion, their eyes gleaming, moved by this development.
And an unknown number of factions dispatched scouts to verify the truth of this news.
Adhering to the principle of better to kill mistakenly than to let go, they prepared to conspire to kill Xu Chuan and seize the opportunity.
Xu Chuan was completely unaware of all this.
But even if he knew, Xu Chuan would not have shown an ounce of fear.