Whoosh!

Accompanied by a flash of white light, Xie Yuxing was teleported to the square where the magic mirror was located. His face was now filled with triumphant spirit, ready to receive everyone’s congratulations.

Before activating the teleportation talisman, he had even prepared an acceptance speech in advance, waiting to recite it publicly when he went on stage to receive his award, leaving behind a legendary tale for this Outer Sect Grand Competition…

But something he never expected happened.

Silence.

The atmosphere in the square was frozen, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Including the disciples who had participated in this Outer Sect Grand Competition, everyone’s gazes were filled with strangeness and a faint trace of pity…

What happened?

Could it be that his score of four thousand points was so dazzling that it stunned everyone…

Faced with this bizarre scene, Xie Yuxing was utterly confused, and questions couldn’t help but rise in his heart.

Suddenly, he saw Elder Yang Xiude of the Internal Affairs Pavilion standing not far away and froze for a moment.

Wasn’t Elder Yang still cleaning up the aftermath in the Back Mountain? How did he suddenly appear here?

“Ahem—”

Just as he was utterly perplexed, Yang Xiude cleared his throat and said with a serious expression:

“Disciple-nephew Xie, you used a teleportation talisman to withdraw early before the competition ended. According to the rules, your results for this competition are canceled!”

“I hope you can learn from this experience and strive to do better next year!”

What?

Canceled results?

After hearing Yang Xiude’s words, Xie Yuxing felt as if struck by lightning, standing there dumbfounded.

After recovering, he quickly walked up to Yang Xiude, his expression extremely agitated.

“Elder Yang, you just announced that the competition had ended and told us to hand over our jade tokens before teleporting out. Why are you canceling my results now?”

Although Xie Yuxing’s attitude was somewhat disrespectful at this moment, Yang Xiude didn’t blame him at all. He just shook his head lightly and patiently explained:

“Ah, Disciple-nephew Xie, what you saw just now wasn’t me, but a false illusion.”

“You were merely deceived by a Foundation Building realm Four-Eyed Spirit Fox. In reality, the competition hasn’t ended yet. Teleporting out early naturally leads to disqualification.”

Seeing the other party still looking dazed, Yang Xiude couldn’t help but sigh. “You gave your jade token to someone else. Even if you hadn’t withdrawn early, it would have been useless; your results still wouldn’t have been recorded.”

Illusion?

Xie Yuxing stared blankly, looking up at the magic mirror in mid-air. He saw that there were no longer any traces of other disciples in the competition area. Only one person remained, along with the snow-white fox beside him…

“Big Qi? This… how is this possible?!”

At this moment, he finally understood. All his hard work over the past few days accumulating points had ultimately been in vain; he had merely prepared a bridal gown for someone else’s wedding.

Thinking of this, he felt like crying but had no tears. He had an impulse to vomit three liters of blood on the spot and roared angrily:

“That scoundrel Big Qi is simply too despicable!”

Seeing Xie Yuxing so devastated, Han Zaiyuan and Lu Kuang, who were also among the biggest victims, immediately felt much better.

Seeing their previously arrogant competitor worse off than themselves balanced their hearts considerably.

After a while, Falling Cloud Valley’s Sect Master, Bai Qingwu, concealed his astonishment and said in a complex tone:

“Elder Yang, time’s up. I’ll go with you to bring that kid back.”

“You’re going personally?”

Yang Xiude was taken aback upon hearing this. He hadn’t expected Bai Qingwu, with his status as Sect Master, to personally go fetch a mere Qi Refining junior. This had never happened in previous competitions.

Although somewhat startled inwardly, he naturally wouldn’t question the Sect Master’s decision. Nodding in agreement, he transformed into a streak of light alongside Bai Qingwu and flew toward the competition area.

Back Mountain.

Qi Yuan waved his hand and stored the pile of jade tokens stacked like a small hill beside him into his storage bag. Glancing at the fox demon still diligently playing the role of “Elder of the Internal Affairs Pavilion,” he instructed:

“Alright, dispel the illusion. You did well this time.”

Upon hearing this, the Four-Eyed Spirit Fox immediately obediently stopped casting its spell. Then it ran up to Qi Yuan as if seeking credit, wagging its fluffy tail frantically behind it. “Master, how did I do this time?”

Its voice was clear and sweet, very much like that of a thirteen or fourteen-year-old human girl.

After reaching the Foundation Building stage, certain beasts that had awakened their intelligence early gained the ability to refine the horizontal bone in their throats and speak human language. The Four-Eyed Spirit Fox was naturally no exception.

Qi Yuan put away his storage bag while perfunctorily saying, “Didn’t I just say you did well?”

“Then… then Master, could you be merciful and set me free?” The Four-Eyed Spirit Fox’s pair of amber eyes rolled around as it looked at Qi Yuan expectantly. “You said if I did my job well, I could regain my freedom soon.”

“Wishful thinking.” Qi Yuan shot it a glance and said flatly, “Considering you’ve rendered some service this time, I’ll reluctantly forgive you for attacking my three Fellow Disciples not long ago.”

“But don’t forget you still owe me one top-grade Spirit Nurturing Pill. Until you repay that debt, you’ll keep working for me obediently.”

“Huh?”

The Four-Eyed Spirit Fox showed a troubled expression and asked weakly, “Master… about how many spirit stones is that top-grade Spirit Nurturing Pill worth?”

Qi Yuan smiled faintly. “Not many. A mere five hundred spirit stones.”

Five hundred spirit stones?

Hearing this number, the Four-Eyed Spirit Fox’s eyes lit up eagerly. “I had some savings before Foundation Building. My cave dwelling holds some rare treasures. Taking them out would definitely be enough to repay those five hundred spirit stones.”

“Is that so?”

Qi Yuan looked at it sideways and nodded. “Good. As long as you can gather five hundred top-grade spirit stones, I’ll set you free immediately.”

Top-grade spirit stones?

The fox demon froze. “Didn’t you mean low-grade spirit stones?”

Qi Yuan snorted coldly. “What I gave you was a top-grade Spirit Nurturing Pill. Naturally, it should be calculated in top-grade spirit stones.”

“Think about it yourself: with your lousy aptitude, if not for the help of a top-grade elixir, how could you possibly achieve Foundation Building overnight and even awaken your Heavenly Fox bloodline?”

He wasn’t wrong. The top-grade elixirs produced by the system were perfect in quality and exceptionally effective; otherwise, it really wouldn’t have been easy to guarantee the Four-Eyed Spirit Fox’s immediate Foundation Building.

Hearing this, the Four-Eyed Spirit Fox instantly wilted, its head drooping down.

Top-grade spirit stones? It hadn’t even heard of them before.

Seeing this, Qi Yuan frowned slightly; his tone carried displeasure. “What? Trying to renege on your debt?”

The Four-Eyed Spirit Fox jumped in fright and quickly fawned with a smile:

“Hehehe… wouldn’t dare.”

But inwardly, it cursed indignantly.

Pah! What a black-hearted master! If not for you ambushing me with that beast-catching net when I was weak… how could you possibly be my match?

Even worse is actually wanting to make my fur into a scarf…

Once our contract ends… I’ll definitely make you understand what it means when they say ‘a fox’s revenge is never too late’!

Estimating that the competition was about to end, Qi Yuan turned his head toward the fox demon. “Stay here on the Back Mountain for now and cultivate properly; I’ll contact you if needed.”

“And from now on… your name will be Xiao Bai.”

Xiao Bai (Little White)?

Treating me like some cat?!

The fox looked utterly disgusted, waving its paws repeatedly in refusal.

Seeing its genuine unwillingness, Qi Yuan pondered for another moment. “Since you don’t want Xiao Bai… then let’s call you Mao Qiu (Furball).”

Mao Qiu…

The fox demon panicked upon hearing this. “No no no! Please don’t name me anymore! Xiao Bai is fine!”

If I let this dog master keep naming me… who knows what awful name might come next?!

Thinking about being saddled with such an odd name as “Xiao Bai” from now on… the fox demon felt its entire life as a fox was one big tragedy.

Qi Yuan nodded slightly. “Alright then; remember to keep a low profile; don’t get yourself killed.”

Though saying so… this little fox had awakened a trace of Heavenly Fox bloodline during its Foundation Building process; among all Foundation Building realm beasts on Falling Cloud Valley’s Back Mountain… it could practically swagger around without worry regarding safety issues whatsoever!

“Understood.”

With one flash of its figure, the fox demon swiftly vanished deep into the forest thickets…

…

Not long after, two streaks of light sped over from the distant horizon skyline, landing right before Qi Yuan himself!

“Disciple pays respects to the Sect Master! Greetings, Elder Yang!”

Upon seeing the arrivals’ identities, Qi Yuan hurried forward, respectfully saluting them both!

“No need for formalities!”

Falling Cloud Valley Sect Master Bai Qingwu gave him a deep look. “This Outer Sect Grand Competition has concluded now—you are currently the only disciple who completed the entire competition, eliminating all opponents!”

“Since the founding of our Falling Cloud Valley, such a situation has never occurred before throughout the ages. A truly remarkable feat, showing the promise of the younger generation!”

Qi Yuan somewhat sheepishly rubbed his nose. “Disciple merely won by sheer luck, nothing more really…”

Though inwardly thinking:

Even the Sect Master himself got startled—this mission should be secured now, right?