He understood now—Myriad Sword Sect wanted to tell the entire human race that Demonic Beasts were not to be feared… but to be eaten.
"Kill!"
Zhang Fan took a slow step forward.
With a loud shout, he clenched his fists and charged toward the thousand Demonic Beasts.
However—
When he made this decision—
The dragon… would be shattered.
Zhang Fan laughed. Even though Myriad Sword Sectwas the largest sect in the
Eastern Region, it was impossible for them to be so wealthy as to let geniuses disciples feast on something as extravagant as dragon meat.
After the dragon was destroyed, golden fragments scattered across the ground, slowly taking shape into more than a dozen grand halls.
On the plaques above each hall were inscribed: Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth, Pill, Talisman, Artifact, and Array. Zhang Fan pondered for a moment, then walked toward the Pill Hall.
Only here could he best display the power of his Ten-Thousand-Fold Return System.
⸻
Blazing Heaven Sect — Sect Tournament Grounds
Just as Zhang Fan entered, the disciples present burst into laughter.
"I'm dying over here! He actually dared to enter! He's just broken through the Qi Refining Stage and really thinks he's invincible? He dares challenge the top three in this competition? He's not afraid of being laughed at, is he?"
"Maybe he just wants to show off in front of the Murong sisters!"
"Wang Teng, relax. There's no way that kid will make the top three. He probably won't even get past the second floor!"
The man named Wang Teng smiled slightly—he completely agreed.
How could anyone possibly be stronger than him?
Well… aside from Murong Bing and Murong Xue, of course.
His gaze lingered on the two sisters, a complicated expression in his eyes.
Gentlemen admire gentlewomen, and Wang Teng certainly admired the beautiful and talented Murong sisters.
"Murong Bing, Murong Xue, my junior sisters," he said confidently, "today's sect competition—you and I will secure the top three spots. Tomorrow, when we go to Myriad Sword Sect for the Peerless Genius martial arts competition, you can rest assured with me there!"
In Wang Teng's heart, the Murong sisters were untouchable.
Though rumors circulated about Zhang Fan and the sisters, he didn't believe them for a second. There was no way they would fall for someone like Zhang Fan.
Only he—and he alone—was worthy of both sisters.
He possessed top-grade Fire Spiritual Roots!
When he reached Myriad Sword Sect, he planned to use the Earth Fire in their secret realm to temper his spiritual roots. If lucky, they might even be upgraded to supreme quality.
Just as his father had said—
Wang Teng has the qualifications of an emperor.
⸻
"No! You won't be in the top three!"
Murong Xue's cold voice rang out, but in her mind, an image of Zhang Fan appeared.
"The top three belong to Mister Zhang."
"Impossible!" Wang Teng sneered. "Zhang Fan just broke through to the first level of the Qi Refining Stage. His cultivation is unstable, he has no spiritual treasures, no pills—how could he possibly reach the top three? Junior Sister Murong Xue, do you honestly think he can pass the ninth floor?"
Wang Teng thought of the horrors of the ninth floor—
A golden dragon.
And beneath it—thousands of powerful Demonic Beasts!
He laughed. "Don't joke. Even I couldn't get past the fifth floor! How could waste with five-attribute mixed spiritual roots even dream of becoming top three? With unstable cultivation, he'd be lucky if the Demonic Beasts didn't smash his dantian!"
Everyone laughed with him.
⸻
But before long, someone shouted:
"He's out!!"
Wang Teng's brows twitched, joy flashing in his eyes.
So fast?
If Zhang Fan had gone in only now and already come out, he couldn't have stayed more than two days. Clearing the ninth floor in just two days? Impossible.
Wang Teng smirked—until his gaze landed on the stone stele.
A golden light appeared on its surface.
"This…"
"How is this possible?!"
Wang Teng's eyes widened in disbelief.
On the stele, the first name in the ranking was—
⸻
1. Zhang Fan — Cleared the Ninth Floor — Time: Two Hours
2. Murong Bing — Cleared the Ninth Floor — Time: Seven Days and Seven Nights
3. Murong Xue — Cleared the Ninth Floor — Time: Seven Days and Seven Nights
⸻
Compared to the others, the result was obvious.
"Zhang Fan!! Impossible!" Wang Teng's voice broke.
He had seen the ninth floor—
The golden dragon.
The thousand powerful Demonic Beasts beneath it.
How could a freshly advanced Qi Refining cultivator from the countryside, without treasures or pills, kill them all in just two hours?
Even he, with a low-grade spiritual weapon and hundreds of pills, couldn't…
"Wait!"
"You cheated! You must have cheated! There's no other explanation for you clearing the ninth floor in two hours!" Wang Teng pointed at him, eyes blazing.
The disciples around them nodded—seven days for the Murong sisters, yet only two hours for Zhang Fan? Unbelievable.
"Zhang Fan! How dare you cheat in the competition!"
Elder Wang, who presided over the sect competition, finally recovered from his shock. His expression turned grave.
"I declare—your results are revoked! You cheated! I will report this to the Sect Leader—you are unworthy to be a disciple of Blazing Heaven Sect!"
He turned to announce the winners.
"The top three are—Wang Teng, Murong…"
"Wait, Elder Wang!"
Zhang Fan's voice cut in, calm and steady.
"Did you not see the stone stele in front of the trial tower? It clearly states I am in the top three. Or…" He narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Do you also believe I cheated?"
"Oh? Then you are questioning the truth of Myriad Sword Sect trial tower?"