Shen Shan sighed and said, "Although Tang Yan appears easygoing on the surface, he has his own pride and strength of character. It is clearly impossible to bring him willingly into our Artifact Pavilion. It is better to maintain this gentlemanly acquaintance for now. Once he goes to the Northern Spirit Realm and recognizes the gap between himself and true geniuses, we can invite him to the Artifact Pavilion again. The hope of success will be much greater."

"Will he really go to the Northern Spirit Realm?" Shen He asked.

"A golden-scaled fish is not a creature of the pond. The small Tingxiang Kingdom is not enough to trap Tang Yan. Let's go, it is time to return home." With that, Shen Shan stood in the long corridor and let out a strange whistle toward Purple Heart Lake.

Immediately, a black shadow swooped down from the horizon. Looking closely, it was an enormous flying Spirit Beast.

Each wing of the bird was nearly three meters long. With both wings spread, plus its body, it measured a full seven meters. Fortunately, it was getting late, and he had already rented out this area, so no one noticed.

pulling Shen He along, he jumped onto the bird's back. The Spirit Beast spread its wings and carried the two swiftly westward.

Elsewhere at Purple Heart Lake, inside a secluded pavilion, four young masters of varying temperaments sat around a table, drinking.

They were none other than the Four Young Masters of the East Domain.

But during this gathering, the cheerful banter of their previous meeting was entirely absent. A faint, oppressive silence shrouded the room.

"I thought the four of us were assured of taking the top five of the Eastern Region. I never expected such a turn of events." Fang Xuan broke the silence, speaking first.

Of the Four Young Masters of the East Domain, two had actually been eliminated before reaching the top five. It was truly baffling.

"I never expected Wan Fei to have reached the Black Rank, Fourth Grade, and with such a massive advantage in martial skills. Brother Song's loss was not unjust." Du Shu sighed, then shifted his tone. "But Brother Cheng's battle was completely unexpected. How did you feel during your fight with Tang Yan today?"

Cheng Gong's face was deeply gloomy. Being publicly slapped in the face by Tang Yan was a humiliation that would likely become an Inner Demon for the rest of his life.

Recalling his duel, he also felt some suspicion and spoke up. "That kid's strength isn't high, only Black Rank, Third Grade, but he's incredibly sinister. Every time I attacked him, right at the most critical moment, my head would spin, and my True Qi would fail to supply properly."

The four usually kept in touch and understood each other well; they wouldn't deceive one another on major matters. Hearing Cheng Gong's words, the other three were startled. Such a sinister situation could actually occur?

No wonder Cheng Gong's condition had seemed so off. So there was a hidden reason.

"Cheng Gong, tell us the details. What exactly happened?" Fang Xuan pressed.

"I really don't know. There was always a strange power disrupting my mind." Cheng Gong shook his head.

Because Tang Yan had used the Soul-Refining Fire not only with great speed but also with deep concealment, Cheng Gong had failed to notice it.

"Could someone have been interfering from the sidelines?" Du Shu's eyes turned cold.

Everyone's eyes lit up at this thought. If that were true, then Tang Yan had cheated.

"Tomorrow, Du Shu and I will definitely encounter that kid. We'll probe him carefully then. If he really is cheating, we'll point it out in public. Yun City will likely be implicated and barred from participating in the Eastern Region Grand Competition ever again," Fang Xuan sneered.

"Good!" Du Shu nodded in agreement.

"This time, the top five of the Eastern Region will include me, Brother Du, Wan Fei, and two from Yun City. Lin Dongxue's cultivation isn't high, but her combat prowess is quite strong. However, compared to us, she has no advantage and will definitely be eliminated. Wan Fei's strength is a bit troublesome. If Brother Du faces her, use fast moves. Do not give her the chance to continuously chain her martial skills."

Pausing, Fang Xuan frowned, a hint of curiosity in his eyes. "I've also studied Tang Yan carefully. This guy is good at hiding his strength. In his first fight, he only used the power of the Black Rank, First Grade."

"But when fighting Cheng Gong, he displayed the peak power of the Black Rank, Third Grade. Moreover, his martial foundation is extremely solid. He can transition between ordinary strikes and martial skills at will. If we run into him, we not only need to strike quickly but also completely suppress him with our cultivation."

"We must defeat him with thunderous momentum!"

...

By the time Tang Yan returned to the small courtyard, night had already fallen. Not in a hurry to go inside, Tang Yan stood in the yard, carefully pondering the wondrous uses of 'Force'.

That almost tangible aura, like woven threads, was incredibly mysterious. Tang Yan studied it until the late hours of the night before swallowing a Pill, regulating his breath, and entering meditation.

Early the next morning, after washing up, Tang Yan headed toward Lin Xiao's courtyard.

The three of them had breakfast together and then made their way to the square.

Because it was the final day of battles, the crowd in the square was even larger than before.

They finally squeezed their way to the front, took their seats, and patiently waited for the Grand Competition to begin.

When the bronze bell in the square chimed, a surge of excitement lit up everyone's eyes. The ranking battles for the five cities of the Eastern Region... no, the three remaining cities, had officially begun.

"Everyone, the Eastern Region Grand Competition has reached its most crucial day. The champion of this Grand Competition will be decided today. Which city shall claim the title of the number one young talent in the Eastern Region? Let us all wait with bated breath."

"In previous Eastern Region Grand Competitions, the champion has always received a corresponding Reward. The Reward for this Eastern Region Grand Competition is quite generous as well."

"City Lord Fang, what is the Reward?" A few impatient cultivators in the crowd couldn't help but ask.

"Since everyone wants to know, I won't hide it. The champion will be Rewarded with a Spatial Spirit Ring!" Fang Wentian smiled as he revealed the answer.

"Hiss-"

Many people gasped in shock upon hearing the Reward.

Tang Yan's heart also leaped violently!

The cultivators of this continent referred to the ability to store external objects in an inner space as 'Spatial Spirit.' Could it be that the Reward for this Grand Competition's champion was a storage Dharma Treasure?

Seeing the crowd below already in an uproar, Fang Wentian was extremely satisfied. He raised a hand to press down the noise and said, "I believe everyone knows the preciousness of a Spatial Spirit Ring. Now, let us all witness together who will obtain this treasure. The Grand Competition-begins!"

The red-robed elder stepped forward, bowed to the crowd, and loudly explained the rules: "In this final stage, only five participants remain. Inside this box are tokens numbered one to three. The person who draws number three will receive a bye and directly enter the finals! Now, will the five outstanding talents step onto the stage to draw lots!"

Tang Yan's mind stirred. This so-called drawing of lots could easily be manipulated in the shadows. The person who drew number three this time was most likely Fang Xuan.

He desperately needed the Spatial Spirit Ring. With it, he could carry his Pill Cauldron whenever he traveled, never again having to fear the awkwardness of running out of Pills.

I must obtain it! Tang Yan silently resolved.

After the five drew their lots, it was exactly as Tang Yan had expected. Fang Xuan drew number three.

"What luck, I'm flattered." Fang Xuan smiled gently.

Lin Dongxue and Tang Yan both drew number one. Seeing this, a chill ran through Tang Yan's heart. Generally, in this kind of Grand Competition, unless there were simply too many participants from a single city, they would never be arranged to fight one another so early.

"I concede!" As soon as they stepped onto the stage, Lin Dongxue's crisp voice rang out.

"What?"

Seeing Lin Dongxue concede so readily, the crowd was momentarily stunned.