The final match was usually the grand finale battle and would be fought with exceptional intensity.

But the competition had just begun when Gu Chao Jiu was frozen solid, then slid out of the martial arena while maintaining a running posture, causing all the various factions to have their expectations shattered.

This… was it over?

It was over.

Gu Chao Jiu, who possessed sacred-grade spiritual root aptitude, had only spoken nine words after the judge shouted “begin” before suffering defeat.

The tragedy level was no less than Dai Lü’s.

After all, he was the Lingquan Sect’s strongest disciple!

One could only say he had been careless.

Because Gu Chao Jiu had completely failed to anticipate that Lu Qianqian was an ice-element martial cultivator, and even less expected that the intensity of her cold energy could freeze him solid!

Ye Xingchen’s brows furrowed as he thought inwardly, “This woman’s mastery over the ice element has already reached the pinnacle of perfection.”

He had confidence he could defeat Gu Chao Jiu, but definitely not this easily.

What exactly was this senior martial sister’s background? And what ice-element cultivation method had she practiced? How could she be powerful to this degree?

“Elder Jin.”

Jun Changxiao said, “My apologies—my sect’s disciple has won again.”

“Pfft!”

Elder Jin could endure no longer and immediately spat out a mouthful of blood on the spot.

The mouths of the various factions twitched.

Seventy-two matches—all seventy-two lost.

They now completely understood the pain in Elder Jin’s heart and understood his vomiting blood!

If their own sects had fought against the Iron Bones Clanging Sect and lost the tenth match, they probably would have already been vomiting blood in a mental stupor.

Alas.

Today, the Lingquan Sect had completely fallen!

Sect Leader Jun was feeling quite pleased right now.

After Lu Qianqian defeated Gu Chao Jiu, the defining conditions were met. Epic Mission Three was complete with 120% completion rate, gaining 1,000 contribution points.

Due to exceeding the completion requirement, he also obtained one Seal-Breaking Talisman, one bottle of Aptitude Modification Liquid, and various experience points.

Strange.

Why hadn’t he broken through…

Just as Jun Changxiao was thinking this, the spiritual energy within his body began rotating frantically. The qi spiral gradually solidified and finally condensed into something resembling a crystal core!

“What is this?” He was extremely astonished.

The system said, “This is the spiritual core that only forms when breaking through to Wuzong. It’s an upgraded version of the qi spiral that can store more spiritual power and convert it into stronger spiritual energy.”

“I see.” Jun Changxiao understood.

“Whoosh! Whoosh!”

Just then, a surge of pure spiritual energy emerged from within the spiritual core, slowly rotating beside it, then gathering to form another qi spiral.

“What’s happening now?” Jun Changxiao asked.

The system said in astonishment, “The host has actually condensed a qi spiral after breaking through to Wuzong!”

According to the data it had searched about the Xingyun Continent, some martial cultivators, due to certain reasons, could open up two, three, or more qi spirals within their dantian.

But after breaking through to Wuzong, no matter how many qi spirals they had, they would all fuse into one, forming a spiritual core larger than others.

The benefit was sufficient space, sufficient capacity, and strong endurance!

For something like Jun Changxiao’s situation—breaking through to Wuzong, having already gathered a spiritual core, yet still generating another qi spiral—there were absolutely no documented records on the entire continent!

Even the system was somewhat bewildered for a moment.

“Whoosh! Whoosh!”

Right at this moment, the spiritual energy existing within the spiritual core began to condense, gradually becoming more refined!

Jun Changxiao felt his own power surging frantically, easily breaking through 150,000 catties, 200,000 catties, 250,000 catties…

After a short while.

The increase stopped.

The system said, “Breaking through from Wushi to Wuzong doubles one’s original strength. With the host having one additional qi spiral, your current strength has reached 300,000 catties!”

300,000 catties?

Jun Changxiao’s gaze immediately became fervent.

He had experienced the pleasure brought by 300,000 catties of strength before, but that relied on a Strength Enhancement Talisman.

Now, having advanced to Wuzong and genuinely possessing this degree of strength—the feeling was definitely different!

The system said, “An ordinary First-Grade Wuzong has strength around 100,000. Though the host has just broken through, fighting three of them is no problem.”

“What about those First-Grade Wuzong with exceptional aptitude—how much strength do they have?” Jun Changxiao asked.

After some calculations, the system said, “The most elite First-Grade Wuzong can reach 250,000 in strength. The host is 50,000 higher than them.”

“Only 50,000.”

This “only 50,000” statement was truly impressive.

One must know, the system was talking about elite-level Wuzong. Such existences were all top-tier geniuses on the Xingyun Continent!

“The host breaking through to Wuzong and being 50,000 higher than top-tier geniuses can completely qualify as a super genius!”

Super genius?

That sounded pretty amazing!

The evaluation the system gave wasn’t unheard of on the Xingyun Continent.

Some high-level sects definitely had sacred-grade and divine-grade spiritual root powerhouses. They might rarely take action, but their strength absolutely crushed those with supreme-grade spiritual roots!

“Ding! The host has successfully broken through to Second-Grade Wuzong!”

Hearing the notification sound, Jun Changxiao’s blood surged with excitement, as every time he completed an epic mission, his cultivation would increase consecutively!

But after waiting a while, there was still no sign of further advancement.

Jun Changxiao’s mouth twitched as he said, “Completing the epic mission only advanced me from peak Wushi to Second-Grade Wuzong?”

“After advancing a major realm, cultivation difficulty increases exponentially. The host has crossed into Wuzong and even advanced one grade—are you still not satisfied?” the system said speechlessly.

Of course he wasn’t satisfied.

At the very least, he should break through to the third or fourth grade!

Wait!

Why was the outside world so quiet?

Jun Changxiao hastily withdrew his consciousness and only then realized that everyone around him was staring at him with wide eyes, their gazes filled with disbelief.

The nearby disciples also stood dumbstruck.

“Sect Leader.”

Li Qingyang transmitted his voice in shock, “Just now… that tremendous momentum—did you break through to Wuzong?”

When Sect Leader Jun broke through, powerful air currents released from around his body, instantly permeating most of the martial arena, immediately shocking everyone present.

My heavens!

Bringing disciples to challenge the Lingquan Sect and casually breaking through a realm level in the process—what kind of operation was this!

“Uh.”

Jun Changxiao explained rather awkwardly, “My disciples won seventy-two matches, and I couldn’t restrain myself for a moment, exposing my hidden cultivation. Everyone, please don’t mind it, don’t mind it.”

Once these words were spoken, everyone’s mouths twitched again.

This fellow who appeared to only have Wushi cultivation had actually been hiding his true cultivation level.

That explained it.

Even if one truly broke through a major realm, they couldn’t consecutively erupt with advancement momentum like that!

The crowd believed Sect Leader Jun’s clumsy lie.

Because they didn’t believe anyone could break through to Wuzong and then advance from first grade to second grade along the way.

Speaking of which.

For a sect leader of a seventh-tier sect to actually possess Wuzong cultivation—this was truly incomprehensible!

Li Qingyang and the others were also dumbfounded.

So the Sect Leader had been hiding his cultivation all along and was actually a genuine Wuzong!

Unfathomable, truly unfathomable!

“What’s my current strength?” Jun Changxiao asked.

The system said, “Based on the host’s advancement level, it should be around 330,000.”

“Advancing one grade only increased it by 30,000?”

“Wuzong strength increases range from 10,000 to 20,000 catties. For the host to reach 30,000 already far exceeds the highest standard.”

“Oh.”

Jun Changxiao acknowledged, then looked at Elder Jin, whose entire body was trembling with anger, and said, “The disciples from my Iron Bones Clanging Sect who could fight have all fought. This sect leader will take his leave now.”

Mission complete, level increased.

There was no point staying here—they definitely had to leave.

Elder Jin suppressed his anger and said, “Since Sect Leader Jun has traveled thousands of miles to challenge us, only letting disciples fight is probably unreasonable, wouldn’t you say?”

“What do you mean?” Jun Changxiao asked.

Elder Jin said, “Since Sect Leader Jun possesses Wuzong cultivation, this elder would like to experience your superior techniques.”