Chapter Forty-Seven: The Contest

Suddenly, a pair of enormous, dark hands appeared in midair. The hands exuded a formidable aura, surging forward with unstoppable momentum toward the late Foundation Establishment cultivator. Upon the appearance of the Desolate Soul Palm, the alchemy grandmaster observing from the sidelines flashed a look of interest in his eyes, gently stroked his beard, nodded to himself, and a mysterious smile played at the corner of his lips.

Seeing Wang Haochen unleash the Desolate Soul Palm, Yang Jun immediately set aside his earlier disdain for Wang Haochen. Yang Jun was that late Foundation Establishment cultivator. In truth, Yang Jun had not wished to compete with Wang Haochen; he felt that, with his late Foundation Establishment cultivation, dueling someone who had just entered the Foundation Establishment stage was nothing short of bullying. However, due to certain special reasons, Yang Jun had no choice but to accept the challenge.

Thus, throughout the contest, Yang Jun could not muster any enthusiasm and had no interest in exchanging blows with Wang Haochen. Yet, upon witnessing the Desolate Soul Palm, Yang Jun’s interest in Wang Haochen grew immensely—for Wang Haochen’s technique made him sense a trace of danger. Moreover, the Desolate Soul Palm seemed to stir up all manner of negative emotions deep within his heart.

The eruption of these negative emotions left Yang Jun unable to focus, preventing him from wielding his full late Foundation Establishment power. He could only exert about half his strength, akin to that of a mid Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Meanwhile, the might of Wang Haochen’s Desolate Soul Palm was already enough to threaten a late Foundation Establishment cultivator. Yang Jun knew that, while he could withstand the strike, he would definitely be forced to retreat several steps. As expected, after receiving Wang Haochen’s palm with only mid Foundation Establishment strength, Yang Jun staggered back three steps before he could steady himself.

Thus, Yang Jun lost the contest. Although he merely retreated a few steps and was not defeated outright, the rules stated that if Yang Jun took even a single step back, Wang Haochen would be declared the winner. Unwilling to play tricks, Yang Jun abided by the rules and conceded the match to Wang Haochen.

After Yang Jun was forced back by Wang Haochen, everyone present was stunned—including Wang Haochen himself. It was hard for Wang Haochen to believe that, with his meager strength as a newcomer to Foundation Establishment, he could actually repel Yang Jun, a cultivator at the late stage of the same realm. Though both were of the same cultivation stage, one had just entered Foundation Establishment for less than a few months, while the other had dwelled in it for years, nearly reaching its peak.

Their strengths were utterly disproportionate—a late Foundation Establishment cultivator could defeat dozens of newcomers, or even kill them outright. Wang Haochen’s victory relied on Yang Jun’s underestimation and the sudden outburst of the Desolate Soul Palm.

The Desolate Soul Palm was something Wang Haochen had comprehended in a state of profound despair and immense pressure. Never had he imagined the technique would possess such overwhelming power, able to instantly repel a late Foundation Establishment cultivator. Though he won the bout, Wang Haochen himself was far from unscathed.

After performing the Desolate Soul Palm, Wang Haochen fell into a dire state. His mind was flooded with all manner of negative emotions—fear, dread, anxiety—assailing him relentlessly. The onslaught of these emotions caused Wang Haochen sharp pain in his head, while the spiritual energy within his body became uncontrollable, rampaging through his meridians and flesh, wreaking havoc everywhere it went.

On the dueling stage, Wang Haochen’s expression suddenly contorted in agony as his body convulsed uncontrollably. His skin split open without warning, and blood streamed from the wounds, immediately staining his robe a terrifying crimson.

Seeing Wang Haochen’s condition, Yang Jun rushed to his side, reaching for his wrist to check his state. But someone was faster—Grandmaster Xu Jun, the alchemy master who had been watching from the sidelines, grasped Wang Haochen’s wrist first.

Xu Jun appeared genuinely concerned for Wang Haochen’s wellbeing. He circulated his own spiritual energy into Wang Haochen’s body, suppressing the rampaging force. Then, retrieving a golden, fragrant pill from his storage ring—clearly of extraordinary quality—he fed it to Wang Haochen.

Once Wang Haochen swallowed the pill, all the wounds on his body healed visibly, and his expression gradually calmed. Were it not for the blood still marking his robes, no one would have believed he had been so grievously injured moments before.

This alone was proof of how miraculous and precious Xu Jun’s elixir was. After Wang Haochen’s injuries had healed, he regained consciousness. However, as he needed to suppress the chaotic spiritual energy within, he could only cast Xu Jun a grateful look. Even as he endured the pain of the negative emotions, the spiritual backlash, and his injuries, he was deeply aware of Xu Jun’s aid.

Wang Haochen knew that, had it not been for Xu Jun’s intervention, he might already have perished. For this, he was profoundly grateful. Although his injury had come as a result of Xu Jun’s proposed contest, it was Wang Haochen himself who had requested the duel, so he bore no resentment toward the master.

A quarter of an hour passed in a flash. Relying on the efficacy of Xu Jun’s pill, Wang Haochen fully recovered from his internal and external injuries. In fact, the cycle of destruction and healing had strengthened his body and meridians, and the pill’s continued effects had even refined his cultivation, stabilizing his position at the early Foundation Establishment stage.

Having stabilized his realm and pacified the spiritual backlash, Wang Haochen opened his eyes, cupped his fists, and bowed low before Xu Jun. “Haochen thanks Master Xu for saving my life. I will be sure to repay your kindness.”

Though Master Xu was the chief alchemy grandmaster of the Celestial Dao’s Five Elements Sect, possessing both peak Nascent Soul cultivation and vast power and wealth, Wang Haochen had his own code of conduct: a drop of kindness must be repaid with a spring in return. Whether the benefactor was a lofty master or a commoner, he would do all in his power to show his gratitude.

“Good. Since you say so, as long as you agree to one condition, you shall have repaid my life-saving favor. I wonder if you will accept this condition or not?” Master Xu, with none of the aloofness one might expect from a senior, stated his terms directly.

Wang Haochen was somewhat taken aback, but without hesitation, he immediately agreed—without even asking what the condition might be.