A god-level alchemist, starting by manually crafting forbidden pills.

The group chatted and laughed as they arrived at the training ground, a vast area large enough to accommodate tens of thousands of people.

Two large arenas were set up in the center, protected by defensive formations to prevent the aftershocks of the fight from injuring others.

On the high platform, Sikong Jue sat in the main seat.

On the left and right sides are Qingyang Zhenren and Xuanming Shangren, followed by Yunxi and Liu Linglong.

Below them are the elders of each sect.

"The Four Sects Martial Arts Tournament shall now begin!"

Sikong Jue stood up, his voice echoing across the empty space.

"The rules are simple: opponents are determined by drawing lots, the winners advance, and the losers are eliminated, until the top three are determined."

"Now, disciples of all sects, step forward and draw lots!"

As soon as the words were spoken, disciples from various sects stepped forward and drew their own lot numbers from the divination tube.

Luo Fan also stepped forward and casually picked up a cigarette.

He glanced at the number on the slip, then turned and went back to the line at Peach Blossom Temple.

"Junior Brother Luo, what's your number?"

Xiong Chumo asked curiously.

"Group C, No. 3"

"I am number seven in Group A."

Xiong Chumo looked at the arena, his fighting spirit blazing.

She was a disciple of the Weapon Peak. Although she was not good at fighting, the matter concerned the reputation of the Peach Blossom Temple, and she could not afford to lose!

Especially those who lost to the Zhengyang Sect!

Moreover, she obtained two inheritances in the sect's Sword Tomb Secret Realm, greatly improving her cultivation.

"Group D, number ten, Ji Kun from Peach Blossom Temple, versus Group B, number ten, Chi Ou from Zhengyang Sect!"

As the elder's voice faded, the entire hall fell silent for a moment.

Immediately afterwards, an uproar erupted.

"What?! Ji Kun against the Red Gull?!"

"Running into Senior Brother Red Gull in the first round? That's so unlucky!"

"It's over. Ji Kun of Peach Blossom Temple is probably doomed."

"Senior Brother Chi Ou is at the peak of Foundation Establishment, and could break through to the Golden Core stage at any time!"

"Ji Kun is only at the third level of Foundation Establishment, how can we possibly defeat him?"

Discussions rose and fell.

Ji Kun looked at the number in his hand, then looked towards the Zheng Yang Sect disciples opposite him.

He took a deep breath and walked towards the ring.

Everyone at Peach Blossom Temple changed their expressions; even Bai Jie frowned.

She could sense the terrifying strength of the Red Gull, and even if she encountered it, she dared not say she had a chance of winning.

Ji Kun's strength is not bad within Peach Blossom Temple, but he has no chance of winning against Red Gull.

Xiong Chumo muttered under her breath, "What bad luck."

Although she disliked Ji Kun, she was fighting for her sect at this moment.

and…

She discovered that Ji Kun had changed somewhat after experiencing life and death.

Luo Fan didn't speak; he could sense Ji Kun's calmness at that moment.

That wasn't a resigned calm, but a resolute calm.

On the arena.

Red Gull crossed her arms and slowly descended, a smile playing on her lips as she looked at the opposite side.

He tapped his elbow with his index finger and sneered, "Get out of here, I have no interest in trash."

Ji Kun didn't speak, but a faint blue light emanated from his body, and spiritual energy swirled around his fist.

Chi Ou raised an eyebrow. "Fine, since you're courting death, I'll grant your wish."

He appeared in front of Ji Kun in an instant, and his fist rapidly enlarged in Ji Kun's eyes.

He didn't hide.

It's not that I don't want to hide, it's that I can't.

At that moment, all his tension and worry disappeared, and instead, countless images flashed through his mind.

At Peach Blossom Temple, out of jealousy towards Luo Fan, he secretly plotted against Luo Fan, but failed.

He was once punished by kneeling in the disciplinary hall and was whipped a thousand times, the pain reaching his very bones.

While unconscious, he was controlled by the shadowy figures of the Soul Killing Hall and was nearly possessed, becoming a puppet.

In the Sword Tomb Secret Realm, he plotted against his fellow disciples, nearly killing everyone and committing a grave mistake.

It was Luo Fan and Bai Jie who risked their lives to kill You Ying and save him.

He knelt before Gao Yi and kowtowed, begging his master to give him a chance.

Gao Yi went to the sect leader for help, and the sect leader finally agreed to let him participate in the martial arts competition.

"Master..."

"Sect Leader..."

"Junior Brother Luo, Junior Sister Bai..."

Ji Kun suddenly clenched his fist, his eyes burning with fierce flames.

This time, he cannot lose.

At the very least, we can't lose so badly.

He wanted to tell everyone that the disciples of Peach Blossom Temple had backbone!

boom!

Ji Kun's aura suddenly erupted, and he stepped into the fourth level of Foundation Establishment, where he was at the peak of the third level.

The rise of that aura did not stop there.

His improved state of mind has led to rapid advancements in his cultivation.

Foundation Establishment Level 4: Mid-stage...Late-stage...Peak...

boom!

Foundation Building Level 5!

Only then did Ji Kun's aura stop increasing, and his cultivation level stabilized at the fifth level.

Red Gull's fist struck Ji Kun's protective barrier, briefly managing to block it.

This scene caught everyone off guard, leaving them all looking astonished.

Luo Fan nodded secretly after reading it.

Bai Jie's tightly furrowed brows relaxed, and a faint smile appeared on her red lips.

Only she knew that although her senior brother had shortcomings in dealing with people, he still had a strong conviction.

That is to gain recognition.

"I am Ji Kun! I am the chief disciple of the Hall of Affairs at Peach Blossom Temple, and the first disciple of Elder Gao Yi!"

Ji Kun clenched his fists, raised his head, and said, "Today, I want you all to remember this name!"

Snapped!

The protective barrier is shattered!

Ji Kun moved immediately, even though he could dodge Chi Ou's punch at this moment.

They still chose the most direct method to confront that invincible force head-on.

boom!

Unsurprisingly.

The moment their fists collided, Ji Kun was sent flying, crashing into the edge of the ring.

puff--

He spat out a mouthful of blood.

"this one?"

Chi Ou sneered and slowly walked towards him. "You can't even withstand one of my punches, yet you dare to come up on stage?"

"Who says it can't be caught?"

Ji Kun struggled to his feet, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. "Then what about this punch?"

He let out a low growl and charged at the red gull once more.

"Overestimating one's abilities."

Red Gull shook his head and threw another punch.

boom!

Ji Kun was sent flying backwards again.

This time, he crashed into the protective array with a muffled thud.

At least three ribs were broken.

"If you keep fighting, you'll die."

The red gull looked down at him, "Killing trash like you would only dirty my hands."

What harm is there in dying?

Ji Kun laughed, stood up again, and said, "Disciples of Peach Blossom Temple do not know the word 'admit defeat'!"

In his view, he had already won!

In this battle, he fought with dignity.

Even though he knew he was no match for the enemy, he had no intention of retreating in this battle.

In this battle, he did not disgrace his master.

His only loss wasn't in his cultivation level, but in the fact that he only now understands the meaning of cultivation!

This is not a fight for the sect!

He was not fighting for others, but for himself!

Losing isn't scary; what's scary is not daring to face it.

Ji Kun roared and charged forward once again.

boom!

boom!

boom!

Falling down time and time again, getting up time and time again, Ji Kun on the ring became a blood-soaked mess.

But the light in his eyes grew brighter and brighter, and he even burst into laughter, though it was mixed with blood.

"That's enough!"

"Junior Brother Ji, admit defeat!"

"Stop hitting him!"

Everyone in the Peach Blossom Viewing Crowd had tears in their eyes.

Ji Kun acted as if he hadn't heard their shouts and continued to charge towards the red gulls time and time again.

Why?

Red Gull frowned, growing impatient. "Knowing you can't beat me, why do you insist?"

Ji Kun, panting heavily, raised his head, revealing a face covered in blood.

"I didn't intend to win this martial arts competition. I just wanted to prove I'm not a loser, I just wanted to prove..."

He grinned, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. "Master didn't make a mistake in taking me as his disciple!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he formed a hand seal, and his spiritual power surged wildly within his body.

"He's burning his life essence!"

Someone in the audience gasped in surprise.

"Ji Kun! Stop!"

Yunxi shouted directly.

But it was too late.

Even Liu Linglong never expected that Ji Kun would change so much.

boom--

Ji Kun's aura suddenly surged, instantly breaking through to the sixth, seventh, and eighth levels of the Foundation Establishment stage!

Reaching directly to the ninth level of Foundation Establishment!

He stood in mid-air, his imposing aura causing his robes to billow like waves, and reached out to grasp his longsword.

"Even if I die from this sword strike, I will still break your teeth and see what your Zhengyang Sect is like..."

"How dare you... be so arrogant!"

His eyes were bloodshot as he roared and slashed out with his sword!

The sword strike, imbued with an indomitable spirit, slashed fiercely at the red gull.

Chi Ou's expression changed slightly, but he didn't dare to be careless. He quickly circulated his spiritual power and threw a punch.

boom!

Two extreme forces collided.

The red gull took three steps back, its red robes falling apart into tattered strips.

Scattered on his body, he looked quite disheveled.

Ji Kun was sent flying backwards.

The red gull was enraged.

He, a dignified peak Foundation Establishment cultivator, was forced into such a sorry state by a mere waste who had just advanced to the fifth level of Foundation Establishment.

This is a disgrace!

His figure disappeared from the spot, and when he reappeared, he was in front of Ji Kun.

"die!"

He punched Ji Kun's dantian.

If this punch lands, Ji Kun will be crippled!

"stop!"

With a sharp shout, Bai Jie was about to rush onto the stage.

But there was another figure who was faster than her.

It's Luo Fan.

He caught Ji Kun as he flew backwards and landed steadily using his movement technique.

Blood kept gushing from Ji Kun's mouth, yet he smiled, "I...didn't disgrace Peach Blossom Temple, did I?"

Luo Fan shook his head. "After today, Elder Gao Yi will be proud of you."

"That's good."

He struggled to raise his hand and grabbed Luo Fan's sleeve.

"Junior Brother Luo... help me... avenge myself..."

"Please..."

After saying that, his head lolled to the side and he fainted.