Chapter 287: Overwhelming Advantage, Slapping Jiang Mengyao’s Face

Soon, the rankings reached the top ten.

"Jiang Family, Jiang Mengyao!"

The Deacon shouted loudly.

Jiang Mengyao stepped forward. She was dressed in a long red dress, with delicate features and a tall figure, her every movement exuding arrogance.

"Seventy-three ancient desolate spirit pearls!"

The Deacon announced after finishing the count.

A wave of exclamations rose from the surroundings.

Seventy-three ancient desolate spirit pearls—this quantity was already quite impressive.

"Wait, I also have one ancient desolate spirit pearl king."

Jiang Mengyao smiled as she took out a fist-sized pearl from her Storage Ring.

She had found this right before being teleported out. Her maidservant had stumbled upon it by chance while relieving herself in a corner; without that maidservant, Jiang Mengyao would never have obtained it.

For this, Jiang Mengyao had promised to reward the maidservant handsomely afterward.

An ancient desolate spirit pearl king!

"Sss—"

The sound of people sharply drawing in their breath echoed all around.

The ancient desolate spirit pearl king was extremely rare. Every time the Secret Realm opened, only a few would appear. Each one required killing a Fourth Layer of Emperor Realm level Yao Beast for a chance to obtain it, and even then, the probability was very low.

"The Jiang Family truly lives up to being an Emperor Clan; their foundation is too strong!"

"With this spirit pearl king, Jiang Mengyao's ranking will at least be in the top three!"

"She might even take first place!"

The surrounding Cultivators discussed fervently, their words filled with envy.

Listening to the praise around her, the smile on Jiang Mengyao's face grew even wider.

She scanned the crowd, and when her gaze fell on Zhou Chen, a hint of mockery flashed in her eyes.

"Feng Biao, aren't you very capable? How many ancient desolate spirit pearls did you collect this time?"

Jiang Mengyao walked up to Zhou Chen, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Don't tell me you don't even have ten?"

The eyes of the crowd turned toward Zhou Chen.

Star Child frowned and was about to speak, but Zhou Chen reached out to stop him.

"It's alright, a bit more than yours."

Zhou Chen said nonchalantly.

"What did you say? More than mine?"

Jiang Mengyao laughed, her body trembling with mirth. "Hahahaha, Feng Biao, did I hear that right? Just you? Stop being so absurd."

She turned to the surrounding Cultivators and said, "Did everyone hear that? He said he has more ancient desolate spirit pearls than I do! Hahaha!"

Bursts of laughter erupted from the crowd as well.

Although the Heavenly Star Holy Land was one of the Holy Lands, its strength wasn't the highest among the several Holy Lands in the Eastern Desolation. Moreover, Feng Biao was unknown; how could he possibly compete with a top-tier Emperor Clan like the Jiang Family?

However, there was only one person present who couldn't laugh, and that was Gu Jifeng.

Gu Jifeng had always felt that 'Feng Biao' was very off, giving off a very dangerous feeling.

Every time he saw Zhou Chen, Gu Jifeng had an urge to turn and run, which left him feeling quite helpless.

"Jiang Mengyao, total score of one hundred and seventy-three points, currently in first place!"

The Deacon announced.

Jiang Mengyao walked back to her spot with her head held high, her eyes full of pride.

"Next, Heavenly Star Holy Land, Feng Biao!"

The Deacon called out.

Zhou Chen stepped forward. The surrounding gazes converged on him, but most were expressions of curiosity or waiting to see a joke.

"Feng Biao, take out your ancient desolate spirit pearls."

The Deacon said with a smile.

Zhou Chen nodded and took out an ancient desolate spirit pearl from his Storage Ring.

"One?"

Jiang Mengyao sneered. "I knew it. What kind of good results could the Heavenly Star Holy Land possibly have?"

"Wait."

Zhou Chen took out another one.

"Two?"

Jiang Mengyao shook her head. "Still too few."

Zhou Chen ignored her and continued to take them out.

Three, five, ten, twenty…

Soon, a pile of ancient desolate spirit pearls grew before Zhou Chen.

The laughter around him gradually vanished, replaced by a shocked silence.

"One hundred… two hundred… three hundred…"

The Deacon's voice began to tremble. "Five hundred ancient desolate spirit pearls!"

"What?!"

Jiang Mengyao's expression changed drastically.

Five hundred?

How is this possible?!

"Wait, I also have ancient desolate spirit pearl kings."

Zhou Chen said calmly, taking out another ten pearls from his Storage Ring.

Ten ancient desolate spirit pearl kings!

"Sss—"

The sound of sharp intakes of breath rose and fell throughout the crowd.

Ten ancient desolate spirit pearl kings?

Did he fucking scavenge every single spirit pearl king in the entire Secret Realm?!

"Feng Biao, total score of one thousand five hundred points!"

The Deacon swallowed hard and announced, "Currently… no, he is the definite first place!"

One thousand five hundred points!

This number was ten times that of the second place!

An overwhelming advantage!

The entire field was silent. Everyone stared blankly at Zhou Chen, their minds a complete void.

Is he even human?

Jiang Mengyao stood frozen, her face ashen and her lips trembling, unable to say a single word.

She had just been mocking Zhou Chen, only to have her face slapped hard in the blink of an eye.

And it was such a crushing slap to the face!

"Impossible… this is impossible…"

Jiang Mengyao muttered to herself, her eyes filled with resentment.

But the facts were right before her eyes; she had no choice but to believe them.

"Young Miss Jiang, what were you saying just now?"

Zhou Chen turned to look at her. "I don't think I heard you clearly."

"You…"

Jiang Mengyao gnashed her teeth, but in the end, she couldn't say a word.

She turned and left, not even collecting her rewards, and walked straight out of the plaza.

Whispers began to ripple through the crowd.

"Jiang Mengyao couldn't handle being humiliated like that."

"Serves her right. Who told her to mock him like that earlier?"

"The Heavenly Star Holy Land is really going to make a comeback this time!"

Star Child stood in the crowd, trying his best to suppress the smile on his face.

He was incredibly excited in his heart.

First place!

And an overwhelming first place at that!

What did this mean?

It meant that the Heavenly Star Holy Land would receive the top-tier resource allocation in the Eastern Desolation!

Whether it was Spirit Stones, Cultivation Techniques, or Spirit Medicines, everything would increase significantly!

The strength of the Heavenly Star Holy Land would undergo an explosive growth!

"Feng Biao… no, Fellow Daoist Green Lotus."

Star Child walked to Zhou Chen's side and lowered his voice. "This great kindness, the Heavenly Star Holy Land is eternally grateful!"

Zhou Chen nodded and didn't say much.

To him, he had simply fulfilled his agreement with Star Child.

"Next is the award ceremony."

Long Yan spoke, "The first place winner will receive one Imperial Rank Low Grade Cultivation Technique, one Imperial Rank Top-Grade Spiritual Artifact, and two million Top-Grade Spirit Stones!"

"Additionally, you may enter the Scripture Pavilion of the Prodigy City and choose one extra Cultivation Technique!"

Exclamations rang out once more.

These rewards are far too generous!

Not only are there Cultivation Techniques and Spiritual Artifacts, but also two million Top-Grade Spirit Stones!

More importantly, the Scripture Pavilion of the Prodigy City contains many rare collection Cultivation Techniques.

There are even legendary Imperial Rank techniques; how could one not be excited?

"Thank you, Senior," Zhou Chen said, cupping his hands.

However, Zhou Chen didn't feel any excitement, calmly accepting the rewards.

Seeing this, Star Child couldn't help but feel envious. Such a grand vision—it's a pity he isn't a member of the Heavenly Star Holy Land…

He scanned the crowd but still didn't see Xi Linger's figure.

"Sigh. Forget it, we'll meet again if there's a chance. As expected, women only affect the speed at which I draw my blade."

Zhou Chen withdrew his gaze, no longer dwelling on it, and followed Star Child out of the plaza.