The energy within the core was still vibrant and violent like it just went through a battle, it indicated it had been freshly extracted—not stored or preserved.
Elder Hu Sun's face darkened further.
"This..."Hu Sun muttered, unwilling to finish the sentence.
Noticing Elder Hu Sun's hesitation, Elder Mo stepped forward with a frown. He grabbed another beast core from the pile and inspected it carefully.
Moments later, Elder Xu joined them, lifting a third core and channeling his Spiritual Energy into it for examination.
The three elders worked in silence, their expressions gradually shifting from suspicion to reluctant acceptance.
Finally, Elder Mo straightened up and spoke in a voice that all could hear.
"I agree. These Monster Cores are genuine. The Monsters they came from were killed only a few hours ago. The residual blood is still hot, and the violent energy of the Monster is fresh."Elder Mo announced.
A wave of shocked murmuring rippled across the crowd.
"The trash really did it?"
"No way..."
"Maybe... he's not trash after all?"
Hearing Elder Mo's confirmation, even Elder Hu Sun, stubborn as he was, had no choice but to grit his teeth and remain silent.
"So now... adding ten points from these ten Tier 1 Monster Cores to our previous total of 63..."
He paused deliberately, letting the suspense build.
"The Xiao Clan's final score is 73 points!"Elder Xu announced.
A deafening silence followed his announcement.
The Hu Clan's participants looked utterly defeated, their heads drooping.
The Mo Clan's youths clenched their fists in frustration.
Meanwhile, the Xiao Clan's members, who had moments ago looked hopeless, now stood a little taller, their eyes gleaming with renewed pride.
Elder Xu turned toward Elder Mo and Elder Hu Sun, a glint of mischief in his usually stern eyes.
"I believe, Elders, that this means... I have won our little wager?"Elder Xu said smoothly.
Elder Mo and Elder Hu Sun's faces turned ashen.
Elder Xu don't know that the Elder Mo and Hu Sun already made a plan that no matter which clan wins the completion, they will divide the pill equally they would get from Xiao Xu.
But now in front of so many witnesses, they could not back out without bringing eternal shame to their clans.
With great reluctance, each of them produced a jade bottle from within their Storage Rings.
Both bottles were exquisitely carved, glowing faintly with inscriptions that preserved the precious pills within.
Each bottle contained ten Tier 3 Spirit Power Pills—a treasure worth fortunes in Mo City, because there are no Tier 3 Alchemists were in the City.
Their hands shook slightly as they handed the bottles to Elder Xu, who accepted them with an expression of utmost satisfaction.
"Many thanks"Elder Xu said politely, though the smugness in his voice was impossible to hide.
He carefully stored the two bottles into his own Storage Ring before turning back toward Xiao Wei.
For the first time in many years, Elder Xu looked at Xiao Wei with genuine approval.
With the competition officially concluded and the results beyond dispute, the three clans began to disperse.
Each Elder gave a brief speech to their disciples—praising their achievements or criticizing their failures—before leading their respective groups back toward their clan grounds.
The young cultivators of the Hu Clan and Mo Clan left with dark expressions, defeated and bitter.
The Xiao Clan, however, walked with a lightness in their steps they had not felt in many years.
The competition was over.
The results were decided.
But the seeds of hatred had been sown—and some were already taking root deep inside dark hearts.
Among them, three figures harbored particularly venomous gazes directed toward one person: Xiao Wei.
Mo Nan of the Mo Clan trudged along with his fists clenched tightly at his sides, his nails digging bloody crescents into his palms.
The humiliating loss, compounded by the three missing members of his team—whose fates he still did not know—burned at his pride like acid.
"Xiao Wei... just you wait. You've humiliated my Mo Clan. You won't live long."Mo Nan muttered to himself in anger.
Further ahead, hidden among the Hu Clan disciples, Elder Hu Sun kept stealing glances backward.
The man's face was an ugly mask of anger and disbelief.
The fact that he, a respected elder, had been forced to hand over Tier 3 Spirit Power Pills to Elder Xu because of a boy he had mocked as trash, was a humiliation he could barely swallow.
"I don't care if you have the talent of a dragon. Trash will always be trash. I'll find a way to grind you under my heel."Hu Sun said in low voice.
Meanwhile, within the Xiao Clan group itself, Xiao Yen's teeth were grinding audibly.
His face twisted with ugly jealousy as he watched the small figure of Xiao Wei walking ahead, quiet and calm.
He hated Xiao Wei.
He hated him more than anyone.
"This was supposed to be my moment! How dare you steal it from me, you bastard?"Xiao Yen muttered to himself while gretting his teeth.
The poisonous hatred from these three coiled invisibly through the air like venomous snakes.
But Xiao Wei remained unaware—or perhaps, he simply did not care.
After few hours of travel, the towering gates of the Xiao Clan appeared before them.
Guards stationed at the entrance quickly opened the gates as the returning disciples marched inside.
There was little fanfare.
The Xiao Clan Cultivators were tired, mentally and physically exhausted from their trials in Tiger Mountain.
Each member soon dispersed to their respective courtyards or dormitories, seeking food, rest, or meditation.
Xiao Wei, still calm and composed, made his way back to his humble room.
The simple wooden door creaked open under his touch.
The familiar scent of old wood and faint dust greeted him.
He sighed deeply, stretching his arms.
"Finally, I can rest a little."Xiao Wei muttered to himself.
His body was sore from the battles of the past few days.
Even though he had made significant gains, he was not invincible yet. His muscles ached, his meridians were strained, and his Spiritual Energy was nearly exhausted.
He was about to clean himself and sit in meditation when—
Knock, knock.
Someone rapped sharply on his door.
Xiao Wei's face darkened slightly.
"Can't they let me rest a little?"Xiao Wei grumbled under his breath.
Suppressing his annoyance, he went to open the door.
When it swung open, standing there was none other than Xiao Li, one of Xiao Yen's loyal dogs.
"Young Master Xiao Yen wants to see you. Come with me right now."Xiao Li said, his tone sharp and commanding.
He didn't even offer the pretense of respect.
To him, Xiao Wei was still nothing but trash.
Xiao Wei raised an eyebrow.
A cold smirk played on his lips.
"I don't want to"Xiao Wei said simply and tried to close the door.
But Xiao Li slammed his hand against the door, stopping it from closing.
His face twisted with anger.
"Don't think that just because you killed some Low Level Monsters you can act arrogantly before me!"Xiao Li growled, Spiritual Energy beginning to surge faintly around his fists.
That was the last straw.
Without warning, Xiao Wei's hand flashed forward like a striking viper.
Bang!
His fist connected cleanly with Xiao Li's face.
The impact sent Xiao Li stumbling backward several steps, dazed and clutching his nose, which had begun bleeding.
"Tell Xiao Yen if he wants to meet me, he can come himself. Don't send useless minions like you next time."Xiao Wei said coldly, his voice calm and commanding like an emperor addressing a peasant.
With that, he slammed the door shut.
Bang!
The sound echoed down the courtyard.
Outside, Xiao Li stood trembling with rage and humiliation.
His teeth ground audibly.
He wiped the blood from his face, glaring hatefully at the closed door.
But despite his fury, he didn't dare attack.
Gritting his teeth, Xiao Li turned and stormed off.
Inside the room, Xiao Wei chuckled softly to himself.
He cleaned up briefly, changed into fresh robes, and sat cross-legged on his meditation mat, allowing his exhausted body to begin healing.
The next morning dawned bright and clear.
The Xiao Clan training hall buzzed with activity as young generation gathered one by one.
Xiao Wei arrived early, choosing a quiet spot at the very back of the people.
He stood silently, arms folded, eyes half-closed, ignoring the stares and whispers directed at him.
Some looked at him with awe.
Others with suspicion.
Many with envy.
But none dared approach him.
Not after yesterday.
After a while, all the Xiao Clan's younger generation had assembled.
The room fell silent.
The heavy doors at the front of the hall swung open with a deep boom, and Elder Xu stepped inside, his robes flowing around him like a river of silver.
His aura, calm yet oppressive, immediately commanded attention.
Everyone straightened their backs instinctively.
--
[Author Note - I have been writing continuously for many hours for you guys. Please give me your support.]