Chapter 214: The Whole World Watches, Calling My Name!

'Puh—'

Ye Jiuzhong's seated body jolted violently, his face instantly turning ashen, a mouthful of blood spurting uncontrollably from the corner of his lips, the furious thunderous aura around him receding and dissipating like a retreating tide.

He opened his eyes, exhaustion and unwillingness flickering in them, but mostly resignation; he looked at Chen Mu and Cao Shaozu, still holding on, and let out a hearty laugh, his voice hoarse.

'Thrilling! Ye is defeated!'

Saying this, he rose cleanly and stepped out of the contest circle.

On the arena, only Chen Mu and Cao Shaozu remained.

Cao Shaozu's face was utterly grim, veins bulging on his forehead, his gaze fixed with lethal intensity on Chen Mu, who still showed no change in expression—his eyes sharp enough to carve a man into a thousand pieces.

Cao Shaozu could not accept that his pride, his invincible sword aura, could not crush this fellow whose cultivation seemed inferior to his own.

The two 'auras' continued to strangle and collide in midair, silent yet heart-stopping.

Two more days and nights passed.

On the seventh day, morning.

The morning sun once again bathed the square, illuminating Cao Shaozu's paper-white face, slick with sweat.

His body began to sway slightly, the sharpness and determination in his eyes gradually replaced by a vacant, despairing look.

'Ugh…'

A stifled groan escaped him; his piercing sword aura shattered like broken glass, crumbling piece by piece until it vanished entirely.

He seemed to have all strength ripped from him, his eyes rolled back, and he collapsed face-first onto the arena, unconscious.

The instant Cao Shaozu fell, the suffocating invisible pressure that had enveloped the arena vanished abruptly.

Chen Mu slowly opened his eyes, his gaze clear and profound, as if refined over seven days and nights, now even more subdued yet extraordinary.

The tournament organizer's voice, silenced for seven days, rang out across the entire venue with restrained excitement.

'The champion of this year's "Dragon-Tiger Grand Tournament" is hereby announced—he is… Chen Mu!'

'…'

After a brief silence, the entire square erupted in a deafening roar of cheers.

'Chen Mu! Chen Mu won!'

'Hahaha, Chen Mu is champion! I won! Made a fortune!'

'Number One of the Dragon-Tiger Grand Tournament—wow, impressive!'

'Seventy-seventh on the Potential Dragon List? The Heaven's Mechanism Sect's eyes are blind!'

'Lucky break! Chen Mu just got lucky! If it were real combat, he'd be no match for Cao Shaozu!!'

'Exactly! In real battle, Ye Jiuzhong is stronger!!'

'…'

Cheers, curses, wails…

The entire scene was a boiling cacophony.

Amid the clamor, Chen Mu slowly rose and stepped down from the arena.

Contest?

In terms of spiritual force, Chen Mu, enhanced by the Soul-Boosting Card and Awakening Elixir, rivaled a Ground Altar Realm cultivator.

In terms of physical strength, his Second Cauldron Cross-Refined Body could not be pierced even by spiritual weapons.

As for stamina and physical energy?

Chen Mu had more than enough of both.

The only thing he truly lacked was willpower.

But with abundant essence, spirit, and unceasing physical and mental reserves, even weak willpower could endure by sheer force of habit.

Taken together, could Ye Jiuzhong and Cao Shaozu possibly have won?

…

'Hahaha, Brother Chen, I made a killing! Fivefold profit!!'

As soon as Chen Mu stepped down, Huang Yuanhe rushed over, ecstatic, waving his arms to hug him.

Chen Mu stepped back slightly and smiled lightly, 'Good. Didn't let you lose your entire fortune.'

'Hehe~' Huang Yuanhe grinned broadly.

'Senior Brother Chen, you're incredible!' Xue Xue Ranran skipped up to Chen Mu, cheering excitedly, 'Cao Shaozu? Nothing compared to Senior Brother Chen!'

'Haha, I'm fully convinced—defeated by Brother Chen, Ye is more than willing!' Ye Jiuzhong joined in, smiling freely.

'Brother Ye flatters me. My victory this time was pure luck,' Chen Mu bowed.

It was the truth.

In real combat, blade to blade.

Without using 'Spirit-Shattering Spike' or the Yin Blade of the 'Two-Principle Sword Qi', Chen Mu could not have defeated Ye Jiuzhong's thunder arts.

Thunder arts were the most ferocious and forceful of all.

Even if Chen Mu unleashed the 'Ninefold Wave Force', he still would not have been a match—unless the Dragon-Tiger Grand Tournament finals were moved to the seashore!

With endless seawater as a backing, even the most ferocious thunder arts would shatter…

'Luck is part of strength.'

Ye Jiuzhong waved his hand, cheerfully saying, 'Brother Chen winning the championship proves it—all else is empty talk.'

'Exactly! Lose, you lose. Win, you win!'

Huang Yuanhe exclaimed, 'Come on, come on, Brother Chen—you haven't eaten in seven days and nights! This time, you're letting me treat you to a feast!'

'Brother Ye, Miss Xue, you both come too!'

'Agreed!' Ye Jiuzhong replied readily, 'For Brother Chen's championship celebration, Ye must drink three cups!'

"Hehe, I'll go get Sister Su." Xue Xue Ranran bounced away quickly.

Huang Yuanhe had just won big on his bet, so Chen Mu didn't stand on ceremony and went along with Ye Jiuchong to the largest, most luxurious restaurant in "Wudicheng."

Along the way, quite a few geniuses who had advanced to the finals, upon hearing the news, shamelessly asked to join in.

Chen Mu agreed to all of them.

After all, "Young Master Huang" was picking up the tab!

In truth, anyone who could fight their way into the finals was a local genius, a dragon among men, a phoenix among humans.

Behind each of these people, more or less, stood some faction.

They were eager to make friends, and Chen Mu naturally was happy to play along.

Making a living in the jianghu was never just about fighting and killing.

And so.

When the group arrived at the restaurant, the Shopkeeper, upon hearing it was a celebration banquet for the newly crowned champion, waved his hand grandly and cleared out an entire floor for Chen Mu's banquet.

Huang Yuanhe was the happiest, bustling about nonstop, greeting everyone.

Because the news had spread, people came to offer congratulations in an endless stream.

Factions within Wudicheng, factions from outside — anyone who knew about it sent representatives, bringing a congratulatory gift and offering a toast.

As long as the gifts weren't too extravagant, Chen Mu accepted them all.

He drank the wine along with them.

……

This celebration banquet didn't end until the night had grown deep and thick.

Chen Mu had drunk several jars of wine, yet his expression hadn't changed.

Returning to the inn where he was staying, he washed up a bit, and had just sat down when a knock sounded at the door.

"Please come in."

Chen Mu called out, setting down his teacup.

Creak—

The door pushed open.

Zhao Guangji walked in with a smile all over his face, cupping his fists in congratulations. "Champion Chen, congratulations, congratulations!"

"Steward Zhao!"

Chen Mu rose and returned the courtesy, smiling. "Please sit, Steward Zhao."

"Haha, visiting so late at night, I haven't disturbed Champion Chen, have I?" Zhao Guangji laughed heartily as he sat down.

"Of course not. I only just got back myself." Chen Mu shook his head.

"The celebration banquet — I heard about it too."

Zhao Guangji nodded, then said with a serious expression, "The reason I'm coming by at this hour is so as not to draw anyone's attention."

Saying so, he took out from his robe in succession two jade bottles of different colors, and a palm-sized black iron token covered in complex patterns.

"These are the rewards for the champion of this grand tournament."

Zhao Guangji introduced them with a solemn expression. "These are ten 'Divine Origin Pills,' this is an 'Earth Origin Pill,' and this most important one…"

"The Qilin Martial Token!"