Chapter 649: Final Result

On the small plaza at the summit of Feather Peak.

The clash between Yang Jing and Chu Yunhai grew increasingly fierce. The muffled thuds of their fists and palms striking echoed without end as waves of qi radiated outward, kicking up all the loose dust from the ground.

Their techniques were a fluid exchange of offense and defense, every advance and retreat executed at a peak level. They battled from the east side of the plaza to the west, then fought from the center to the very edge.

No victor emerged; they remained firmly deadlocked, perfectly matched.

Yang Jing was secretly shocked. After the Fushan Grand Competition, he had entered a Grade B Training Room to cultivate diligently. He had successively taken both the Yunqiao Jade Marrow and the Heart Inquiry Pill, which had refined his Inner Qi, made his Body Technique more agile, and enhanced his comprehension. His strength had improved greatly since their final battle.

He had thought he would be able to gain the upper hand this time, but Chu Yunhai’s rate of progress was in no way inferior to his own.

After several direct clashes, not only had he failed to gain an advantage, but the tyrannical power of his opponent’s War Body had forced him to constantly change techniques. He was completely unable to break through his defense.

Chu Yunhai was in turmoil as well. After revealing his War Body during the Fushan Grand Competition, he had received personal guidance from his master, the Celestial Derivation Peak Master.

He had learned more systematic methods for activating his War Body and controlling its power. In just a few days, he had become far more adept at wielding its might, and his strength, defense, and recovery had all soared dramatically.

He had intended to use this to completely suppress Yang Jing and wash away the shame of their previous draw, but Yang Jing’s Body Technique was more elusive than ever, his punches fiercer, and the coordination of his Three True Skills so flawless that he remained unassailable.

‘This rate of improvement is simply unimaginable.’

Not far away, Ouyang Jingxuan watched the battle with rapt attention, his gaze as sharp as a torch. He didn’t miss a single detail of their exchange, rubbing his fingertips together slightly as he tried to catch any subtle sign of hidden talent in their techniques, Inner Qi circulation, and physical reactions.

His focus was particularly intense on Yang Jing, his gaze so sharp it seemed to dissect the flow of Inner Qi through every one of Yang Jing’s meridians and the source of power behind each of his techniques.

In his view, for someone with Yang Jing’s Lower-Grade Root Bone to break through with all Three True Skills to the Qi Eating Realm within half a year and fight Chu Yunhai—who had awakened a War Body—to a draw meant he had to be hiding some kind of undiscovered special constitution or talent. It was the only logical explanation.

But to his great disappointment, no matter how closely he looked, Yang Jing’s Inner Qi circulation, his execution of techniques, and his physical reactions were no different from those of an ordinary Martial Artist.

‘There are no signs of a special constitution—no golden light, no unusual fragrance, no runes, no fluctuations in his qi signature. He isn’t displaying any bursts of unnatural strength or speed. He’s relying entirely on the exquisite coordination of his Three True Skills and his abundant Inner Qi to fight.’

Ouyang Jingxuan sighed inwardly. ‘If I can’t confirm Yang Jing’s hidden talent, his cultivation ceiling will remain an unknown. The weakness of his root bone could become a fatal bottleneck at any time.’

‘In that case, the sect’s leadership would never dare to recklessly pour core, non-renewable resources like top-tier elixirs and Grade-A training rooms into a disciple whose potential is unknown.’

Watching the two on the plaza still trading blows, their fists and palms colliding without end, Ouyang Jingxuan took a deep breath. He hesitated no longer and called out in a clear voice, “Stop!”

Hearing the command, the fiercely battling Yang Jing and Chu Yunhai simultaneously retracted their power and pulled back their techniques. Their fists and palms had barely touched when they abruptly separated, each taking three steps back to steady themselves.

In that battle, both had given their all. Their Inner Qi was heavily depleted, beads of sweat covered their foreheads, and they were panting slightly. The difference in their strength was minuscule; neither had been able to gain an advantage over the other.

After briefly regulating their breathing, they walked over to Ouyang Jingxuan together, their expressions a mixture of anticipation and apprehension.

Ouyang Jingxuan nodded slightly. His gaze swept past Chu Yunhai before finally settling on Yang Jing. In a solemn tone, he asked, “Yang Jing, have you awakened some kind of special constitution? Or do you possess a hidden talent unknown to others?”

Before Yang Jing could respond, Ouyang Jingxuan added emphatically, “Think carefully before you answer. This concerns who will be named the number one potential seed and how the sect’s most vital resources will be allocated. This is absolutely not the time to hide your strengths. If you have any special aptitude, you must report it truthfully.”

Yang Jing understood the Elder’s concerns. ‘But I really haven’t awakened a special constitution, and I don’t have any talent I’m deliberately hiding. My cultivation has all been due to my own hard work—with a little help from my panel, of course.’

‘But the panel is my biggest secret. I can’t tell anyone about it.’

He could only shake his head with a bitter smile and say sincerely, “Elder, every word I say is true. I really have not awakened any special constitution, nor do I have any hidden talents.”

Ouyang Jingxuan’s brow furrowed instantly. He stared intently at Yang Jing, his eyes a swirling mix of hesitation, conflict, and profound regret.

This expression lasted for several breaths before he finally made his decision.

Ouyang Jingxuan took a deep breath and said to Yang Jing in a softer tone, “You should return to Lingxi Peak for now. Cultivate in peace. The sect still holds you in very high regard. With your comprehension and resilience, your path in the Martial Dao will surely be a long one.”

With that, he turned to Chu Yunhai. His tense expression relaxed into a relieved smile as he said warmly, “Yunhai, come with me to the grand hall on the Main Peak. I must report the results of today’s examination to the Sect Leader and the other Peak Masters in person.”

Hearing Ouyang Jingxuan’s instructions, both Yang Jing and Chu Yunhai nodded in assent.

A heavy wave of disappointment and loss instantly washed over Yang Jing.

It weighed on him, leaving him feeling suffocated.

He knew. ‘In this contest for the title of number one potential seed, I’ve lost. I’ve lost to Chu Yunhai.’

Ouyang Jingxuan saw it all. Gazing at the unconcealable gloom and complex emotions on Yang Jing’s face, he sighed to himself, knowing that any more words would be useless now.

‘In the end, resources are limited. The sect had to make a choice.’

He said nothing more, turning and striding down the peak, his robes fluttering with an air of finality.

Chu Yunhai saw this and hurried to follow, his posture ramrod straight and his steps light. His entire being radiated an unconcealable elation.

Yang Jing silently watched their receding backs before he, too, started down the mountain path, a storm of complex emotions churning within him.

‘I poured so much into this contest for the number one potential seed, spending all this time frantically polishing my martial arts and deepening my insights.’

‘I even took the Heart Inquiry Pill, all just to seize this grand opportunity.’

‘I know all too well what being the number one potential seed means. It means the sect’s utmost focus, a steady supply of top-tier elixirs, an exclusive Grade-A training room, and high-level cultivation techniques and martial arts.’

‘The path of the Martial Dao isn’t just a competition of talent; the amount of resources one has often determines the speed and upper limits of their cultivation.’

‘With the same talent, someone with access to top-tier resources can advance by leaps and bounds, breaking through bottlenecks with much greater ease.’

‘Meanwhile, someone lacking resources, no matter how high their comprehension, might get stuck in a single realm, unable to make any progress.’

‘I desperately wanted to become the number one seed, to speed up my progress on the Martial Dao even just a little, to rise through the ranks of the Xuanzhen Sect as soon as possible. Then I’d have the power to use the sect’s influence to search for my father and my uncle.’

‘But now, I’ve still lost.’

‘This loss wasn’t because I was weaker in combat.’

‘Chu Yunhai and I still fought to a draw. I lost because of the sect’s evaluation criteria.’

‘The sect chose Chu Yunhai, which means that in the eyes of the leadership, Chu Yunhai, with his awakened War Body and Second-Grade Root Bone, has a more definite ceiling and is more worthy of their core resources.’

A tide of disappointment washed over him, but Yang Jing did not let himself drown in it. With his resilient temperament, he was already adjusting his state of mind with incredible speed.

He walked slowly down the mountain path of Feather Peak, sorting through his feelings as he went.

‘Since the outcome is already decided, complaining is pointless.’

‘Instead of wallowing in disappointment, I should focus on improving my strength.’

‘Besides, the sect only chose not to make me the number one potential seed; they haven’t given up on me.’

‘Given my performance in the Fushan Grand Competition and my recent progress, the sect will still treat me as a priority for cultivation.’

‘The resources won’t be on par with the number one seed, but they’ll still be far beyond what an ordinary disciple receives.’

‘Most importantly, I have my greatest ace in the hole—my potential!’

‘With the panel, my cultivation path has a clear direction and a steady rate of improvement. With abundant resources, I can advance by leaps and bounds. With fewer resources, my progress will just be slower—but it will never stagnate.’

As he thought about this, the gloom in Yang Jing’s heart gradually dissipated, and his steps became a little lighter.

By the time he had adjusted his mindset and looked up, Ouyang Jingxuan and Chu Yunhai were long gone from the mountain path. The two had moved quickly, heading straight for the Main Peak. It was true what they say: good fortune lifts the spirits. Their elation had put wind beneath their feet.

‘In contrast, I was so dejected by my loss that I slowed down without realizing it and got left far behind.’

…

By the mountain path at the foot of Feather Peak, Sun Ningxiang, Lin Ziheng, Yan Chenglong, Fang He, and the others were already waiting. All of them looked nervous, craning their necks in anticipation.

Sun Ningxiang, in particular, had her lips pressed together, her delicate brows furrowed. Her hands were unconsciously clenched into fists, her heart caught in her throat as she both hoped for Yang Jing’s victory and dreaded news of his defeat.

Lin Ziheng and the other two also had solemn expressions, periodically looking up toward the summit of Feather Peak.

Just then, the sharp-eyed Fang He spotted figures descending the mountain path. He immediately pointed, his voice urgent. “Look, someone’s coming down!”

At the sound of Fang He’s voice, Sun Ningxiang, Lin Ziheng, and Yan Chenglong all whipped their heads in the direction he was pointing, their gazes fixed on the Feather Peak path with a mixture of urgency and tension.

But the moment they saw who it was, their expressions fell. The tension on their faces was instantly replaced by a shadow of gloom.

On the steep mountain path, two figures were descending swiftly. In the lead was Chief Elder Ouyang Jingxuan, with his white hair and beard and his composed demeanor. Following closely behind was Chu Yunhai, dressed in dark robes.

Chu Yunhai’s posture was erect, his expression full of vigor. An unconcealable smile played on his lips, and his entire aura was relaxed and triumphant—the very image of a victor in high spirits.

Unlike his usual aloof pride, Chu Yunhai now seemed to be glowing with glory.

Seeing Chu Yunhai’s triumphant appearance, Sun Ningxiang’s heart plummeted. She clenched her fists even tighter, her fingernails nearly digging into her palms.

Lin Ziheng, Yan Chenglong, and Fang He also stiffened, a collective sinking feeling in their stomachs as a sense of foreboding washed over them.