"Winner Yu Xuan!" the referee announced, voice ringing across the arena.
The crowd erupted in a mix of cheers and groans.
"My money! My money, gone!"
"Hahaha! I got rich!"
"This match was totally unpredictable!"
"Who would’ve thought Lan Hao would be defeated twice in the sa week?"
"I bet all my points on him... damn it."
As the noise roared around them, Yu Xuan approached Lan Hao, who was still catching his breath. There was no enmity between them, just a clash of skill and will — so he helped the him get off the platform, he was still unconscious.
A few disciples rushed over to carry Lan Hao for treatnt. Among them, Yu Xuan spotted a girl with the sa fiery red hair and bronzed skin.
’So, they were related after all,’ he thought.
He didn’t linger on it.
Yu Xuan, too, found the match satisfying. It had forced him to bring out the best of his martial instincts, honed his sense of rhythm in battle, and pushed him closer to mastery.
More importantly, he felt he was adapting to his increased realm. Today morning’s cultivation session yielded so result, he had broken through two minor realms. So officially he was in the peak stages of Qi condensation realm.
’Status’
With a simple ntal command, a black gold interface shimred before his vision.
==================
[Qi Condensation: 7/12]
[Gates – 1st Realm Pathway: 12/12]
[Primary ridians(organs) Awakened: Lung, Kidney, Large Intestine, Bladder]
[Extraordinary Vessels: Ren Mai, Du Mai.]
==================
He smiled faintly.
Peak stage of Qi Condensation.
The first three levels were considered the "Early Stage," or "Lower Stage" the next three the "Middle Stage," and now, from the 7th to 9th, he had entered the Peak.
He decided that the stages 10 through 12 — those rarely reached with only superior talent, would be the "Perfected Stage."
’So this is how it feels to rise fast...’
Just then, a disciple approached Yu Xuan with a friendly smile.
"Junior Brother Yu, that was an excellent match. Please co with , we’ve got a few formal procedures to complete. Also, you haven’t withdrawn your sect points yet. We’ll handle that."
Yu Xuan nodded and followed him without question. Soon, they arrived at the disciple registration counter. There, displayed on a glowing crystal tablet, was the updated leaderboard. His na now sat at the top — Rank 1. Lan Hao had been shifted to second.
"Junior Brother, may I see your dallion?" asked the clerk behind the counter.
Yu Xuan handed it over. After a mont of processing, the clerk returned it to him with a faint smile.
"Now then," said the senior disciple beside him, "would you like to stay in this ranking level or move up to the Foundation Establishnt tier? I’d recomnd remaining here a while longer — until your own cultivation reaches Foundation level. Most of the disciples in that bracket are at least early stage Foundation Establishnt cultivators. You’ll gain better combat experience here while still having the edge."
Yu Xuan checked his dallion and from zero he saw it was updated to 232,091 sect points.
And why were his sect points were Zero, we will know soon.
"Senior, how is this amount calculated exactly?" he asked, curious.
"Ah, good question," the disciple explained. "All betting payouts are calculated after taxes and the challenger’s cut. But most of the pool goes back to the disciples. The system’s designed to motivate participation. Since this was a rank one match, the betting pool was particularly large."
At the word ’tax’, Yu Xuan’s expression darkened as if the sky had turned gray.
"Senior... last ti, when Lan Hao was defeated, what was the original payout rate?" he asked with urgency.
The clerk tapped a glowing jade tablet, then replied calmly,
"The original rate was 1:13. But after a 2-point tax and 1-point challenger’s fee, the final payout was adjusted to 1:10."
"...Damn," Yu Xuan muttered a little too loudly.
The disciple beside him jumped slightly. "Junior Brother, are you alright?"
"Yes, yes..." Yu Xuan replied, forcing a calm smile while mourning the phantom loss of sect points.
That ti he could have won one hundred and thirty thousand sect points, but due to taxes the amount got deducted.
But now ca the real ga.
He glanced toward the gambling area, where a nervous looking disciple stood behind the counter, eyes darting like a cornered rabbit.
As soon as Yu Xuan’s gaze landed on him, the man quickly turned his head away, pretending to busy himself with a talisman.
Yu Xuan’s lips curved into a faint, unreadable smile.
’Don’t worry, Senior Brother... I’ll be there.’
He turned to the clerk and said calmly, "I’d like to advance to the next level."
The senior disciple beside him raised a brow. "Are you sure? It might be wiser to stay. You could build your fa here first, get so real recognition."
"That’s alright, Senior," Yu Xuan replied. "I’d prefer to move forward."
The senior disciple sighed quietly. From his expression, it was clear he thought Yu Xuan was being reckless.
He’d seen too many overconfident newcors get crushed when moving up too fast. Even if he dominates in Foundation Establishnt... what then can he do the sa in core formation?
"Very well," the senior said, shaking his head. He turned to the clerk. "Register his advancent."
The clerk nodded and quickly processed the request. A mont later, the leaderboard updated again Yu Xuan’s na vanished from the first rank spot, and Lan Hao’s na once again reclaid the top position.
A few disciples watching the board took notice.
"Woah! Did Yu Xuan just give up his rank?"
"No, I think he advanced to the next tier. He’s moving to the Foundation Establishnt level!"
"So, doesn’t care about fa, huh?"
"Or maybe he just wants more challenge."
Whispers and speculation rippled through the crowd.
Yu Xuan gave the senior disciple a respectful nod. "Thank you for your help."
Without waiting for a reply, he turned and made his way directly toward the gambling area.
Behind him, the clerk and the senior disciple exchanged a glance and sighed.
"Another brave one," the senior muttered. "Let’s hope he’s not just another falling star."
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