The competition concluded.
I had won eight consecutive matches; my first defeat was against Xi Jie Luosi, followed by Kongtong's Zhang Zhi, Shaolin's Kongming, Maoshan's Nanyang, Emei's Zheng Yue, Wudang's Li Chunlong, Qingcheng's Wu Kehang, and Dongying's Rikkawa Kojiro.
With my formidable strength and personal cultivation, I achieved eight consecutive victories.
By the end, no one dared to challenge me.
I had rightfully earned the top rank in the challenge matches.
And as for the worry that had been weighing on me, it finally lifted.
However, with that sudden release of tension.
My body could no longer hold itself together.
Pain, dizziness, nausea, and all sorts of discomforts assailed me.
My legs gave way, and I could barely stand.
Fortunately, at that moment, that fellow Lao Mo rushed onto the stage.
He grabbed me as I swayed, supporting me:
"Don't wobble, all fellow Daoists are watching!
Stand tall, let the glory wash over you.
Accept the cheers of victory!"
Lao Mo's words were still so overly dramatic.
A faint smile touched my lips, and I said weakly,
"Help me down, I'm so damn tired..."
At this moment, I truly wished I could just lie down and sleep.
The depletion of my spiritual energy made every inch of my muscles, every cell, feel utterly exhausted.
My head was swimming, and I felt thoroughly uncomfortable.
Soon, Chen Yao also came onto the stage.
The two of them helped me off the platform.
The audience, after cheering, also began to disperse.
After all, the stage matches were over, and there was nothing more to see.
But everyone was still excitedly discussing my performance.
No one had anticipated.
That such a dark horse would emerge in the Hegemony Tournament.
Overpowering the prodigies of various sects to claim the top rank.
As for this title, I had no interest in it.
All I wanted was the White Bone Resurrection Grass:
"Lao Mo, take me to get the Resurrection Grass, I need that thing!"
Lao Mo held me back:
"Get it? Forget it!
They'll deliver it to you shortly.
Let's head back to rest first, and deal with your wounds after!"
"Yes, Senior Brother Qin, your shoulder is still bleeding!"
Chen Yao was holding gauze, pressing it against my wound.
Meanwhile, some acquaintances, or those I vaguely recognized, also came over to congratulate me.
I was too weak at the moment and could only manage a weak smile and a friendly gesture.
Seeing me come off the stage, my martial uncle took out his medicinal wine and poured me a mouthful:
"Drink this, it'll help your blood circulation."
I took a sip. Yun Xia Gu and Xia Qiu Xi also came over.
Xia Qiu Xi handed me a Spirit Replenishing Pill.
She said I had consumed too much spiritual energy and that as long as there were no major internal injuries, I would recover in a few days.
After that, I was escorted back to my room.
Chen Yao bandaged my wound; her nurse background made her quite professional.
I lay on the bed, still thinking about the White Bone Resurrection Grass.
But my body was too weak, too tired.
Before the wound dressing was even finished, I had already fallen asleep...
When I opened my eyes again, I had no idea how much time had passed.
Nor did I know if it was morning or afternoon.
I only felt a dull ache throughout my body.
There was also some tearing pain in my chest and abdomen.
It was likely from the impact of the Qi that had torn my chest and abdominal muscles.
Outside, I could hear Lao Mo and Chen Yao laughing merrily, their voices carrying a hint of intimacy...
I ignored it.
Instead, I leaned back on the bed tiredly, letting myself recover for a moment.
Then, I managed to get out of bed.
I sat cross-legged and began to circulate my wood-attribute Dao Qi, meditating to heal.
As my true Qi circulated, spiritual energy was continuously absorbed into my body.
Using my wood-attribute spiritual root, I converted it into wood-attribute Dao Qi that roamed my entire body, accelerating my recovery.
Half an hour later, I opened my eyes and got out of bed.
The soreness in my body had eased slightly.
I walked to the door and pushed it open.
As soon as I opened it, I saw Lao Mo and Chen Yao fooling around in the small courtyard.
Lao Mo was crouching by the flower pond, splashing water on Chen Yao's face, while holding her hand with his other.
Chen Yao pouted, trying to block the water with her hands:
"Senior Brother, stop fooling around..."
"I'll ask you one more time, am I handsome? Am I handsome?"
Seeing this, I was somewhat shocked.
Good heavens, this dramatic fellow Lao Mo.
He was truly shamelessly persistent, hiding it so well?
There hadn't been the slightest hint of it before.
When did he manage to hold junior sister's hand like this?
"Ahem!"
I cleared my throat, interrupting their playful banter.
The two were so engrossed that they only noticed me when I opened the door.
They stopped abruptly and hastily released their hands.
Chen Yao's face turned even redder:
"Senior Brother Qin, you're awake!"
"Old Qin, when did you wake up?"
"About an hour ago!"
I looked at them with a smile.
Upon hearing this, their faces changed drastically.
"Ah? Then why didn't you come out!"
Lao Mo asked in surprise.
I smiled without answering, raising an eyebrow.
Lao Mo awkwardly touched his neck.
Chen Yao's face flushed all the way to her ears, and she lowered her head, saying hurriedly:
"Senior Brother Qin, I'll go get you new bandages."
With that, Chen Yao hurried back into the room.
After Chen Yao left, I smiled at Mo Ting:
"Not bad, Lao Mo, when did you get together with junior sister?"
My voice was low, and I looked at him with a gossip-filled expression.
Lao Mo was still a bit shy:
"Ahem, we haven't officially started dating yet!"
"You're holding her hand, and you're not officially dating yet?"
I pressed him with a smile.
Little Mo looked embarrassed, but the sweetness in his eyes couldn't be hidden.
He nodded at me:
"Soon, it should be soon!"
Seeing him getting shy, I stopped teasing him.
Instead, I turned my attention to my first-place reward, the White Bone Resurrection Grass.
I changed the subject:
"Never mind you two.
How long was I asleep?
Did they bring down my reward?"