Ji Hong spoke again. "There is one more thing."
Li Yan looked toward him.
"Several elders and I noticed something during the competition. The Training Rings on your limbs."
He paused briefly before asking, "Why are you wearing them?"
Li Yan was not surprised.
During his battle with Luo Ming, he had temporarily deactivated one star on each Green Star Training Ring. Although the rings had only appeared for an instant, it was enough for cultivators of Ji Hong's realm to notice them.
There was no reason to hide the truth. "They're part of Senior Yao's training."
Ji Hong nodded. "I suspected as much."
He looked at Li Yan with growing curiosity. "How much burden are you carrying now?"
"Two thousand six hundred jin."
The answer came without the slightest hesitation.
Ji Hong's eyes widened. "What? Two thousand six hundred jin?"
Even with his composure, he could not hide his astonishment. "How is that possible? With your age and cultivation, even carrying half of that weight would be extremely difficult."
Li Yan smiled helplessly. "Elder Ji, don't forget that I'm cultivating the Steel Body Tempering Technique. Most of my time is also spent inside the Hunting Grounds fighting Magical Beasts."
"The constant battles temper both my endurance and my physical body."
Understanding flashed across Ji Hong's face.
The explanation was reasonable.
Even so, the number still sounded unbelievable.
After a moment, he sighed. "You're not even fifteen years old, yet you're forcing yourself to endure this much. I truly don't know whether to praise your perseverance or worry about you."
Li Yan laughed bitterly. "What can I do? Senior Yao never accepts complaints about the tasks she assigns me."
He shrugged helplessly. "Still, I understand why she's doing it. Every task she gives me is for my steady growth."
Ji Hong smiled and nodded. "That's true."
After a brief silence, curiosity returned to his eyes. "You've already completed the tasks involving Tier-1, Tier-2, and Tier-3 Beast Cores."
"I'm rather curious. What task did she assign you this time?"
Li Yan couldn't help but laugh. "This time…"
"Senior Yao truly went all out."
Then his expression became slightly more serious. "But I'd like to ask Elder Ji to keep it a secret."
Ji Hong nodded without hesitation. "Don't worry. My lips are sealed."
Li Yan smiled helplessly before saying, "Actually, my current task has no time limit."
Ji Hong nodded, waiting for him to continue. "I have to hunt and kill ten Tier-5 Magical Beasts."
His expression remained calm as he added, "And my Qi Cultivation must not exceed the Qi Harmonization Realm (Stage-1)."
Ji Hong's eyes widened. For the first time since their conversation began, genuine astonishment appeared on the Sect Leader's face. "Tier-5 Magical Beasts?"
Li Yan nodded. After a brief pause, he continued, "If my Qi Cultivation exceeds the Qi Harmonization Realm (Stage-1) before I complete the task, every additional stage will increase the requirement by another ten Tier-5 Magical Beasts."
Ji Hong stared at him for several moments.
Tier-5 Magical Beasts. Creatures comparable to cultivators of the Ethereal Fusion Realm. And Li Yan had to kill ten of them while remaining at the Qi Harmonization Realm (Stage-1).
Even for someone who had witnessed Li Yan's countless miracles firsthand, the task sounded almost impossible.
After remaining silent for several breaths, Ji Hong finally sighed. "Li Yan… This really is an extremely difficult task."
Li Yan couldn't help smiling. "Elder Ji, you're only shocked by the cultivation requirement."
He laughed helplessly. "That's actually the easier part, which I have confidence in completing."
Ji Hong looked at him in surprise. "The easier part?"
Li Yan nodded. "There is another restriction. It concerns the Training Rings."
Ji Hong silently listened as Li Yan added. "I have to complete the task while wearing the Training Rings on all four limbs. The White Star, Green Star, Brown Star, and Blue Star… They all have to remain fully activated."
For a brief moment, Ji Hong failed to understand what those words implied.
Then the realization struck him. His expression immediately changed. "What?"
Li Yan laughed bitterly. "Five activated stars across all four tiers on each limb. Four thousand five hundred jin per limb."
"Eighteen thousand jin in total."
Ji Hong stood there speechless.
Even with his experience and composure, he found it difficult to believe.
"Eighteen thousand jin…" He slowly repeated the number before shaking his head. "That's excessive."
Li Yan spread his hands helplessly. "I said the same thing. Unfortunately, Senior Yao wasn't willing to negotiate."
Ji Hong could only smile bitterly.
There was nothing he could say.
No one within the Shadow Haven Sect possessed either the authority or the courage to question Yao Fuhuo's decisions.
After a long silence, Ji Hong raised a hand and gently patted Li Yan's shoulder. "Your task is unimaginably difficult."
"But if anyone can accomplish it…" His smile returned. "I believe it's you."
He looked directly at Li Yan. "And if there's anything I can do to help, don't hesitate to ask."
Li Yan was about to decline as he always had. However, before the words left his mouth, another thought suddenly crossed his mind.
After a brief moment of consideration, he smiled. "There actually is something."
Ji Hong blinked.
Then a smile gradually spread across his face. During the past year, every offer of help had been politely refused. This was the first time Li Yan had ever accepted.
Without hesitation, Ji Hong replied, "Just ask."
At that moment, a soft chime echoed from Li Yan's and the other three champions' bracelets. The remaining time within the Ancient Techniques Hall had expired.
The other three champions didn't even move because they hadn't heard the bracelets' chimes while in a deep state of comprehension.
Neither Li Yan nor Ji Hong paid any attention to the bracelets either.
Li Yan continued, "My task has another condition."
Ji Hong listened attentively.
"I have to master two professions to at least Tier-6."
Ji Hong's eyes widened once again. "Tier-6… And two professions?"
Li Yan nodded. "I'm already practicing Alchemy. I only have to choose the second profession."
"Either Array Mastery… Or Craftsmanship."
He paused briefly before continuing. "What I need from Elder Ji is help purchasing the necessary resources after I make my decision. Techniques, Tools, and other materials required for learning that profession."
Ji Hong immediately understood Li Yan's intention. "You want to keep it secret."
Li Yan nodded. "Senior Yao has already agreed to arrange the resources I'll need for practice, just as she has been providing the alchemy ingredients."
Ji Hong looked at him with surprise. "So the Goddess has been supplying your alchemy materials all this time?"
"Yes."
For a moment, Ji Hong seemed to think of something.
Then he asked, "Can you honestly tell me what tier your alchemy has reached?"
Li Yan hesitated.
Then he remembered that Cao Lian already knew.
Ji Hong, as the Sect Leader, had also supported him in every possible way throughout the past year.
There was no longer any reason to conceal it. "I'm currently a Tier-3 Alchemist."
Ji Hong froze. "Tier-3?"
He looked at Li Yan as though he had misheard. "It hasn't even been a year since you started learning alchemy."
"How did you reach Tier-3 so quickly?"
Li Yan smiled modestly. "I suppose I have some talent for alchemy."
Ji Hong stared at him before letting out a long sigh. "So Lian'er was right."
A helpless smile appeared on his face. "A year ago, she told me your talent in alchemy might surpass even your talent with the sword."
He shook his head slowly. "Back then, I thought she was exaggerating. Now…"
He looked at Li Yan with complicated emotions. "You've already achieved Pure Sword Aura, yet your progress in alchemy has been even more astonishing. I really don't know whether you're a swordsman who happens to practice alchemy…"
"Or an alchemist who happens to be unrivaled with the sword."
Li Yan sensed something unusual in Ji Hong's expression. It was not a disappointment. Nor was it jealousy. It was simply regret. As a swordsman, Ji Hong naturally wished to see Li Yan's greatest talent lie upon the Sword Path rather than alchemy.
Li Yan understood that feeling.
He had no intention of revealing any more of his secrets, but after everything Ji Hong had done for him over the past year, he decided to reveal a small part of the truth.
A faint smile appeared on his face. "Elder Ji."
Ji Hong looked toward him as Li Yan continued, "You think my talent in swordsmanship is weaker than my talent in alchemy?"
Ji Hong answered honestly. "If we're comparing only your progress over the past year…" He nodded. "Then yes. You've become a Tier-3 Alchemist in less than a year."
"Meanwhile, judging from the Sword Intent you revealed during the Annual Competition, you've only reached the Practitioner Level (Intermediate-Stage)."
He smiled helplessly. "If I compare the two fairly, your talent in alchemy appears superior."
Li Yan nodded thoughtfully before asking another question. "Then may I ask something else?"
"Of course."
"If my talent in alchemy and swordsmanship were truly equal, to what stage of Sword Intent should I have reached to compare with my current Tier-3 Alchemy?"
Ji Hong did not answer immediately. Instead, he lowered his head in thought.
After several breaths, he slowly replied, "At the very least, Practitioner Level (Peak-Stage)."
He paused briefly before adding, "Perhaps the late Practitioner Level (Advanced Stage) would also be reasonable."
Li Yan smiled.
Without saying another word, he gently released his Sword Aura. The atmosphere within the Ancient Techniques Hall changed instantly. A sharp yet tranquil pressure steadily spread across the raised platform.
Ji Hong's expression froze. His pupils contracted slightly as he stared at Li Yan.
Several breaths passed before he finally spoke. "…Earth-Level Sword Intent?"
Li Yan withdrew his Sword Aura as naturally as it had appeared.
The pressure vanished completely.
Ji Hong remained standing there in silence.
Even after personally witnessing it, he found it difficult to believe.
After a long moment, he finally asked, "Li Yan…"
"Has your Sword Intent truly reached the Earth Level?"
Li Yan did not answer directly.
Instead, he smiled and asked, "Elder Ji, do you still think my talent in swordsmanship is weaker than my talent in alchemy?"
Ji Hong looked at him for several moments.
Then he suddenly burst into laughter.
"Hahaha…"
The laughter echoed throughout the silent hall.
When it finally subsided, Ji Hong shook his head helplessly. "You truly never cease to surprise me."
A smile filled with satisfaction appeared on his face. "But seeing this…"
"I can finally put my mind at ease." He looked at Li Yan with unconcealed admiration. "It seems your talent isn't limited to one path."
"Whether it's swordsmanship or alchemy, you're equally gifted in both."
Li Yan smiled modestly but said nothing.
Ji Hong naturally understood that Earth-Level Sword Intent was not something that should be revealed casually.
The fact that Li Yan had chosen to reveal it to him was already a sign of trust.
He did not ask any further questions.
Instead, he smiled and said, "When you've decided whether to study Array Mastery or Craftsmanship. Find me. I'll do my best to help you obtain everything you need."
Li Yan cupped his hands. "Thank you, Elder Ji."
Ji Hong nodded.
Without another word, he gently waved his sleeve.
A ripple spread throughout the Ancient Techniques Hall.
The three remaining champions gradually emerged from their states of comprehension. They instinctively lowered their gazes at the bracelets on their wrists before realizing that the allotted twenty-four hours had already passed.
None of them showed any dissatisfaction.
Instead, each wore a satisfied expression after gaining valuable insights from the Divine-Tier techniques.
Ji Hong looked at the four champions. "Your time here has ended. Let's go."
The group left the Ancient Techniques Hall together.
Outside, Elder Yu Long was already waiting for them.
After exchanging greetings with Ji Hong, he led the four champions toward the Core Hall to receive the remaining rewards of the Annual Competition.
As the Azure-Rank Champion, Li Yan received twenty-five thousand Shadow Points, two Tier-5 High-Level Qi Channeling Pills, two Tier-5 High-Level weapons of his choice, and the opportunity to enter the Ancient Techniques Hall.
The last reward had already been used.
As for the Shadow Points, Li Yan transferred all twenty-five thousand to Dan Jian, asking him to continue using them to support newly admitted disciples who lacked cultivation resources.
When selecting his weapons, Li Yan chose a Tier-5 High-Level neutral-type bow. For the second weapon, he selected a Tier-5 High-Level scythe imbued with the Darkness Element, as no neutral-version scythe was available.
Both were weapons he intended to master in the future.
The two Qi Channeling Pills, however, he stored inside his Storage Ring for later use.
After completing the reward procedures, Li Yan returned to his residence.
The moment he entered his room, the exhaustion that had accumulated finally caught up with him.
He lay down upon the bed.
Within moments, he had fallen into a deep sleep.