Chapter 52

It's no wonder he didn't believe it.

This guy was knocked off his horse by Xu Xiaoshou in the top 32, and had long given up hope, never expecting to be able to enter the Inner Court.

The audience clapped, some out of envy, some out of jealousy, but most out of curiosity...

The top 32 of the "Feng Yun List" can all enter the Inner Court. Could it be that the threshold for this year has been lowered?

Xiao Qixiu continued, "Inner Court slot two, Chao Qingting!"

Even the usually cold and distant Chao Qingting couldn't help but curl her lips, her fingers constantly scratching the pattern on the Ice River Sword's guard.

"Another one..."

The audience clenched their fists, a record had been broken!

"Inner Court slot three, Mu Zixi!"

"Inner Court slot four, Mo Mo!"

Xiao Qixiu announced two more names, causing a wave of noise.

Mu Zixi grabbed her twin pigtails, her face couldn't hide her excitement, and she jumped with joy.

Mo Mo still held the small bronze furnace, her expressionless face deeply inhaled the scent of sandalwood.

"Awesome!"

The audience was incredibly excited, as if they were the ones whose names were called.

Suddenly, someone voiced a doubt, "It seems that all those whose names were called are at the Xiantian cultivation level..."

Everyone was stunned, realizing it was indeed the case.

Even Zhou Tiancan, who was outside the top 32, broke through to Xiantian in his battle with Xu Xiaoshou, earning a slot in the Inner Court.

"In previous years, only those at the Xiantian level could enter the Inner Court!"

"In that case, Xu Xiaoshou is definitely a sure thing, he has a Xiantian body..."

"Not necessarily!" someone interrupted.

"Xiantian body has reached its limit, it's very hard to improve further, and his cultivation is only at the eighth realm..."

Everyone became tense, as they had never heard of a Xiantian body breaking through to the Master level.

There was no other reason; the cultivation difficulty was simply too great, making it impossible to succeed!

This was an unwritten rule, not only applicable to the Tian Sang Ling Palace but also throughout the Holy Divine Continent.

All eyes immediately focused on Xu Xiaoshou, never expecting that the champion would be the one most worried about by everyone.

Would he be an exception, being specially recruited into the Inner Court with a post-Xiantian cultivation?

Would it be unprecedented for this year's Inner Court slots to be as high as five?

Everyone's hearts were on edge.

Xu Xiaoshou was startled by their gazes, but the next second, he was amused.

"Received expectation, passive value, +2130."

He sighed as if it didn't matter, though he had already won the championship, he still couldn't help but feel a bit nervous.

Xiao Qixiu's gaze moved from the paper, folded it, and put it in his pocket, his expression indifferent, "That's it, only four."

"Received doubt, passive value, +1869."

"Received doubt, passive value, +1511."

"Received doubt, passive value, +1042."

"..."

The information bar instantly went crazy, and Xu Xiaoshou was momentarily stunned. None?

Despite his nonchalant appearance, he had won the championship, and deep down, he felt confident, but the result...

None?

The other people on the award stage were also stunned, the smiles of the three who had just won slots instantly froze.

They didn't admit it openly, but they did respect Xu Xiaoshou, and the result...

"???"

The audience wasn't so polite, each one was so angry they exploded.

"None? Only four slots? Are you kidding me?"

"Xu Xiaoshou has already won the championship! Although he's funny, please don't joke at such a critical moment!"

"It's just a mockery, the champion doesn't get an Inner Court slot, the top 32... Hey, let me go, let me speak!"

"You're crazy, Zhou Tiancan is right behind you!"

"..."

Zhou Tiancan was furious, he suddenly stood up, "If this is the judgment, I, Zhou Tiancan, don't need this Inner Court slot!"

He stared at Xiao Qixiu, unafraid!

"Right, me too!"

"You don't have a slot!"

"Shut up!"

"..."

Xiao Qixiu's words were like a fire, immediately boiling the audience.

He didn't respond to everyone's protests, instead, he turned and walked to Xu Xiaoshou, silently looking at him.

This guy was still pretending to be calm, but...

With his experience, how could he not see the bitterness hidden on this young man's face?

He was just an 18-year-old boy!

"Phew..." Xiao Qixiu took a deep breath.

Xu Xiaoshou took two steps back, covering his nose.

Xiao Qixiu: "..."

Damn!

This kid was really toxic, and he had just felt sympathy for him!

Xiao Qixiu didn't dare to breathe, he took a deep breath and patted Xu Xiaoshou's shoulder, "You can still stay in the Outer Court for a year, striving to break through to Xiantian soon."

Xu Xiaoshou was stunned.

He almost forgot that if he couldn't enter the Inner Court within three years, or if he continuously ranked last in the "Feng Yun Struggle," he would be kicked out of the Ling Palace.

In other words, someone had already fought for him?

Perhaps it was this middle-aged man, or perhaps...

Elder Qiao?

He looked at the audience.

Elder Qiao was one of the few who still sat quietly, he didn't say anything, just nodded.

"Received encouragement, passive value, +1."

Xu Xiaoshou felt a warmth in his heart.

Disappointment and frustration, of course, he felt them!

But he didn't like others comforting him, so when he saw Xiao Qixiu with a deep, sincere look, he couldn't help it.

But at this moment, he was truly moved.

"Thank you!" Xu Xiaoshou sincerely said.

Xiao Qixiu shook his head and smiled, "If you could just stop annoying me, that would be enough, I can't bear your thanks!"

He didn't know why, but despite being a junior, he could be repeatedly annoyed by this guy's antics.

And when talking to him, he couldn't help but let down his guard.

Yeah, maybe Elder Qiao felt the same way!

Xu Xiaoshou secretly pursed his lips, saying nothing.

Xiao Qixiu turned and loudly said, "This year's 'Feng Yun Struggle' is over!"

"Dismissed!"

Everyone felt a deep sense of frustration but couldn't resist.

They had witnessed the birth of a dark horse, thinking it would be the most exciting conclusion, but the story's ending was always unexpected.

A champion couldn't even enter the Inner Court!

If he were an ordinary champion, it would be fine, but Xu Xiaoshou had defeated so many Xiantian cultivators!

This level of strength and potential, wasn't it worth the Ling Palace making an exception?

"Cheer up! Xu Xiaoshou!"

Many people didn't leave, spontaneously cheering for Xu Xiaoshou, and the encouragement quickly spread throughout the venue.

"Xu Xiaoshou, you're the fattest, I will always love you!"

"Xu Xiaoshou, hang in there!"

"..."

"Received encouragement, passive value, +663."

"Received encouragement, passive value, +414."

"Received encouragement, passive value, +520."

"..."

Seeing the crowd cheering for him, Xu Xiaoshou was once again moved.

Especially that phrase, "Xu Xiaoshou, hang in there"...

He vaguely remembered that this phrase was born during the group stage when he pretended to be beaten by forty or fifty people.

"Thank you!" he silently said in his heart.

The sun set in the west, and the crowd eventually dispersed.

Xu Xiaoshou smiled and responded to the many people who came to encourage him, some he knew, some he didn't...

"Disappointed?" Elder Qiao walked over.

"Uh-huh."

"A great disappointment."

Xu Xiaoshou looked at the sunset, and Elder Qiao looked at him.

This guy...

Despite smiling and telling so many people it was fine, he wasn't at all polite to him!

"Life is like this, with ups and downs."

"Uh-huh." Xu Xiaoshou tilted his head, seemingly thinking of something, "There are also downs and ups, as long as you have good luck..."

"You're quite optimistic!" Elder Qiao shook his head, took out two bottles of pills, and handed them to him, then walked towards the sunset.

"Cheer up."

"Let those old, stubborn people know they were wrong."

Xu Xiaoshou was slightly stunned, this sentence had a lot of information...

He looked down at the two bottles of pills in his hand.

One bottle of Spirit Refining Pills.

One bottle of Crimson Gold Pills.

Again, the sunset, Elder Qiao, and the pills...

Xu Xiaoshou smiled slightly, this scene seemed familiar, but something was missing...

He took out a Spirit Refining Pill and inhaled deeply.

"Whoa!"

The sunset seemed to wobble, even the shadows trembled.