Chapter 293: Shocking Rewards for the Great Desolation! An Angry and Helpless Hongjun!

"The real reward?"

Upon hearing Lu Yun's words, the contestants all revealed expressions of astonishment; they had not expected this seemingly ordinary competition to hide such a shocking reward. For a moment, the already tense and exciting atmosphere became even more intense, and in everyone's eyes flickered a longing for victory and curiosity about the unknown reward.

The audience, watching this scene through the Yuanling Immortal Net, also discussed it fervently, guessing what the "special grand prize" Lu Yun spoke of could be. Some guessed it was a precious Spiritual Treasure, some guessed it was a lost cultivation technique, and others even boldly imagined it might be a secret related to becoming a Saint.

Even Nuwa, Houtu, Xihe, and the others beside Lu Yun were looking at each other in dismay, their hearts filled with curiosity.

They did know what special reward Lu Yun had arranged, but they were very curious about exactly how Lu Yun would present that special reward.

Although the Saints of the Heavenly Dao Faction within Zixiao Palace had no time to pay attention to the competition themselves, they each sent their respective Good Corpse or Evil Corpse to monitor the matter.

At this moment, however, their expressions were varied, and an inexplicable sense of unease surged in their hearts.

They felt that Lu Yun's move must have a deep meaning, and it was very likely a layout targeting their Heavenly Dao Faction. But they could not directly interfere with the competition, so they could only be secretly vigilant, preparing to deal with any changes that might occur at any time.

Just then, Lu Yun's voice once again resounded through the Yuanling Immortal Net: "Contestants, the true reward of this competition is not an ordinary object. I have set up three special items in the latter half of the Proof of Dao Path. Each of these three special items contains the mysteries and power sufficient to allow one to achieve the Quasi-Saint realm. Whoever can seize one of them will have the hope of stepping into the Quasi-Saint realm!"

Once these words were spoken, the entire Yuanling Immortal Net instantly boiled over.

"How is this possible?"

"To think there would be such an unexpected surprise!"

"Great! This is truly great!"

Beyond their shock, the contestants felt more excitement and fanaticism.

A Quasi-Saint is the strongest realm in the Great Desolation, second only to a Saint!

Once one steps into the Quasi-Saint realm, it means truly ranking among the top powerhouses of the Great Desolation, possessing the power to change fate and influence the world.

The audience was also in an uproar; among them were many with profound cultivation who naturally understood the preciousness and rarity of the Quasi-Saint realm. At the same time, many among them even began to secretly regret it.

Because they had already discovered in the previous matches that many disciples of the Heavenly Dao Faction had participated in the competition after reincarnation. At this moment, thinking that they had a chance to obtain the mysterious reward for achieving Quasi-Saint, others could not remain calm! "If I had known, I should have reincarnated too!"

"Who's to say otherwise! I regret it to death!"

"Don't you suspect that what Lu Yun said is fake?"

"Hehe, I can only say that you have such thoughts because you don't understand His Majesty the Human Emperor!"

"We have no chance in this session of the Honghuang Genius Competition, and I don't know when the next one will be held?"

Seeing the excited contestants and the reactions of the many audience members, the Saint incarnations of the Heavenly Dao Faction had even more solemn expressions.

Lu Yun's move not only encouraged the contestants to fight hard but would also further promote the prosperity of Humanity and the Earthly Dao! They knew that Lu Yun was once again challenging them, attempting to attract more powerhouses to defect to Humanity and the Earthly Dao through this grand prize. They could not help but secretly calculate how to deal with this situation and how to maintain the advantage and status of the Heavenly Dao Faction.

Nuwa, Houtu, and the others smiled at each other.

Because they knew that what Lu Yun had just said was merely an appetizer, and it had already caused everyone to react so intensely; they were suddenly very expectant of what kind of shock Lu Yun would bring when he announced the real grand prize. Therefore, they all could not help but look at Lu Yun again.

Lu Yun felt the excitement and anticipation permeating the surroundings, and a mysterious smile curled the corners of his mouth. His voice echoed in the Yuanling Immortal Net once more, carrying an unprecedented impact: "In addition, I have also prepared a hidden benefit for this competition. If a lucky person can collect the three special items I have set up and combine them into one, then they will also receive an unprecedented reward—a complete Hongmeng Purple Qi!"

Once these words were spoken, the entire Yuanling Immortal Net seemed to be swept by an invisible storm; everyone was shocked and dumbfounded, standing like wooden chickens.

The contestants were silent for a brief moment, then erupted into deafening cheers. Their eyes flickered with unprecedented fanaticism and determination, as if they had seen the broad road leading to the supreme Great Dao.

Some clenched their fists tightly, breathing rapidly, vowing to do their best to fight for this once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity; others revealed expressions of disbelief, muttering to themselves, unable to believe this was actually true.

Hongmeng Purple Qi, that is the key to becoming a Saint; obtaining it allows one to ascend to the heavens in one step and step into that supreme Saint realm! Among the contestants, the group from the Transmigration Chat Group looked at the excitement and fanaticism of the surrounding Great Desolation natives and could not help but laugh, feeling that this pure shock and longing appeared both innocent and slightly "funny."

However, they did not show it, but silently communicated using the Transmigration Chat Group.

Jiang Ye: "The reactions of these Great Desolation natives are truly interesting!"

Fang Wenjie: "Haha, if I told them that Hongmeng Purple Qi itself does not have the effect of making one a Saint, would their jaws drop?"

Lin Chen: "The Hongmeng Purple Qi in Hongjun's hands might not necessarily make one a Saint even if obtained, but the one Boss Lu Yun is giving out is the real Saint position!"

Liu Chongxiao: "That's right! If one of us could seize this Hongmeng Purple Qi... what an honor and what an opportunity that would be!"

Xiao Ling'er: "It is not only recognition of our individual strength, but also Lu Yun's huge affirmation of us!"

Ling Yan: "It's a pity, the champion of this competition is already decided, it's Fuxi! Otherwise, I would really want to compete with these Great Desolation natives!"

Fang Xu: "Regardless of the outcome, being able to participate in such a grand event is in itself a rare experience."

Qiu Wanli: "You all underestimate Boss Lu Yun's magnanimity too much. Although Boss Lu Yun intends for Fuxi to prove the Dao and become the Human Emperor, he didn't say that we must yield to him, nor did he say that the competition champion must be Fuxi, right?"

Yun Yao: "It seems so! Could it be that we really have a chance?"

Lei Hong: "Think carefully, Fuxi really doesn't have to win the competition champion to become the Human Emperor!" Ming Xi: "Ah, this... could it be that we really have a chance to seize the Hongmeng Purple Qi and obtain the opportunity to become a Saint?"

Qin Ling: "Not bad, I believe Boss Lu Yun's arrangement must have a deep meaning. We just need to do our best, and leave the rest to fate."

In the audience stands, there was an uproar, with exclamations rising one after another.

"This, this, this... this reward is too shocking!"

"That's right! I even suspect if I'm dreaming?"

"I don't suspect it, I just feel like dying right now!"

"Me too! Ahhh! Why didn't I have the heart to enter reincarnation to compete back then!"

Those with profound cultivation had even more complex expressions, having both envy for the contestants and regret for their own failure to participate. They knew the preciousness of Hongmeng Purple Qi; this was not just recognition of strength, but also supreme assistance for the future path to becoming a Saint. Many people began to discuss heatedly, guessing who could be that lucky person to pocket this grand prize.

Nuwa, Houtu, Xihe, and the others were stunned upon hearing this, and then smiled at each other again, their eyes full of admiration and anticipation for Lu Yun. They had long known Lu Yun's plan, but they did not expect Lu Yun to release the "Saint position" reward in this form! Although they all knew the essence of the so-called Hongmeng Purple Qi by now, other living beings in the Great Desolation did not! A wisp of Hongmeng Purple Qi was enough to move any powerhouse, let alone those ambitious contestants. They could not help but be curious: when this news reached the Heavenly Dao Faction, what would Hongjun and the others think?

The Saint incarnations of the Heavenly Dao Faction, who were observing within the Yuanling Immortal Net, sensed this huge change through their respective means, and their faces instantly became extremely ugly.

They obviously could not have imagined that Lu Yun would be so crazy as to use Hongmeng Purple Qi as a competition reward!

This matter suddenly became serious and was not something they could decide on their own, so they had to immediately report it to their respective true selves.

Within Zixiao Palace, the atmosphere suddenly became heavy and oppressive.

The Saints of the Heavenly Dao Faction were originally discussing how to build the "Tianyuan" world, but the sudden news was like a bolt from the blue, causing everyone's discussion to come to an abrupt halt.

Laozi, this Taiqing Saint of quiet inaction, could not help but frown at this moment, a flash of disbelief crossing his eyes. He had cultivated for many years and experienced many vicissitudes, yet he had never seen such a bold layout.

Yuanshi Tianzun's face was even more livid, his hands clenched tightly, as if he were about to crush the air. He never expected that Lu Yun would dare to so blatantly use Hongmeng Purple Qi as a reward to challenge the authority of the Heavenly Dao Faction.

Tongtian Jiaozhu's gaze flickered, holding both shock and a trace of admiration. He knew Lu Yun's wisdom and methods well, yet he had not expected the other party to come up with such a brilliant move, placing the Heavenly Dao Faction in a passive position.

Jieyin and Zhunti, the two Western Saints, looked at each other, their eyes filled with shock and anxiety.

Minghe suddenly thought of the Hongmeng Purple Qi he had purchased from Lu Yun back then! He grew angry just thinking about it; he had paid so much, and clearly, he had originally had the opportunity for Lu Yun to help him become a Saint, but it was all because Hongjun had suppressed him that he directly lost the chance to become a Saint! Although he had now achieved the status of a Heavenly Dao Saint under Hongjun's help, he always felt he had suffered a loss, as he had paid a not-insignificant price to purchase that Hongmeng Purple Qi back then! Kunpeng cautiously glanced at Hongjun and discovered that among this group of Saints, Dao Ancestor Hongjun's expression was the gloomiest.

He seemed to be able to see through layers of the void, witnessing the boiling scene within the Yuanling Immortal Net, and feeling that fervor and longing stirred up by the Hongmeng Purple Qi.

"Lu Yun, you truly have excellent methods!" Hongjun's heart was so furious he laughed, his voice low and cold.

The Hongmeng Purple Qi was a method he had used years ago to scheme against the Saints of the Heavenly Dao Faction; Lu Yun's act of producing a pile of fakes to sell back then had already made him extremely furious!

Now, Lu Yun was actually using it to scheme against his Heavenly Dao Faction again? This was simply a naked provocation against his authority! Yet, even though his heart was filled with extreme rage, he understood that he could not act rashly at this moment.

If he were to come forward personally to stop it, not to mention whether he could stop Lu Yun, he would first be unable to convince those contestants and spectators who longed to become Saints; instead, it would cause an even greater backlash, and might even accelerate the defection of the Heavenly Dao Faction's disciples.

"Dao Ancestor, what should we do?" Yuanshi Tianzun finally could not help but speak, his voice carrying a trace of anxiety.

Hongjun was silent for a moment, his gaze sweeping over the Saints with profound depth, and he said slowly: "Lu Yun's move is intended to lure the disciples of my Heavenly Dao Faction into defecting. We must steady our footing and not fall into chaos ourselves. Continue researching the Tianyuan plan! At the same time, have your respective incarnations strengthen the monitoring and guidance of your disciples to ensure they will not be easily swayed."

Upon hearing this, although the Saints still felt unwillingness and anxiety in their hearts, they could only follow Hongjun's arrangements, contact their respective Good Corpses and Evil Corpses, and then continue discussing how to merge their respective Dao fields.

It was just that within Zixiao Palace, that shock and unease caused by Lu Yun's plan to bring out Hongmeng Purple Qi as a reward did not dissipate for a long time.

……

Inside the Yuanling Immortal Net.

Lu Yun seemed not to have noticed the anxiety and unease of the Heavenly Dao Faction's Saints.

He continued: "Contestants, the second stage is about to begin. I know you are currently scattered across the Great Desolation, and it will take time to gather at Shouyang City, so the official competition will begin in one year!"

"I am giving you one year to travel! If you cannot arrive at Shouyang City within a year, you will be deemed to have lost your eligibility! Afterward, you will set out from Shouyang City and head all the way to Witch City at Mount Buzhou. This journey is filled with unknowns and challenges, but it also holds countless opportunities and gains. I look forward to your brilliant performances, and even more so to witnessing the birth of one future powerhouse after another!"

As Lu Yun's words fell, the second stage of the competition officially kicked off.

Over thirty thousand contestants left the Yuanling Immortal Net one after another, embarking on their journey and heading toward Shouyang City.

They knew this would be an arduous battle and test, but they also understood that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and challenge.

To reduce competition, other contestants might collude with powerhouses of the Great Desolation to ambush other contestants on the road in advance! After all, the final result of the competition was related to a strand of Hongmeng Purple Qi; even Quasi-Saint level powerhouses might very well strike regardless of the cost! But even knowing the danger, they did not shrink back, each gripping their weapons and magic treasures, preparing to face all the upcoming challenges and unknowns.

As for the incarnations of the Saints of the Heavenly Dao Faction, they hurriedly summoned their respective disciples to prepare to guide them well, ensuring they would never be misled by the bait Lu Yun had offered!

(End of this chapter)