Chapter 363: Award Ceremony
"Contestant Shui Bing'er forfeits!?"
"Uh… what an absolutely thrilling battle!"
"The champion of this tournament has finally been decided!"
The referee was momentarily stunned by Shui Bing'er's sudden forfeit but quickly recovered, smoothly transitioning into the announcement.
"The victor is Miss Zhu Zhuyun!"
"Ladies and gentlemen, let's give a round of applause for our champion!"
As soon as the words fell, the entire arena erupted into thunderous cheers.
"Well fought." Zhu Zhuyun smiled as she spoke, signaling her Three Headed Dog to withdraw its abilities. The fierce winds subsided, the dark clouds dispersed, and the lightning vanished everything returned to normal.
Well fought?
Hearing this, even the usually composed Shui Bing'er felt her eyebrow twitch. Why did that sound more like a taunt than genuine sportsmanship?
Forget it.
Shui Bing'er exhaled lightly, shook her head, and replied, "Thank you for the match."
After exchanging polite words, both contestants stepped down from the stage.
Soon, they would have to return for the awards ceremony, so they rushed to freshen up, making sure to present their best selves. Even though they had tried to maintain their appearance during battle, it was inevitable that some strands of hair were out of place, or their clothes looked slightly disheveled not to the point of indecency, but certainly not the most presentable.
A short while later…
"Now, we invite the top three contestants to step forward and receive their awards."
The announcer's voice echoed through the venue.
Dressed in fresh, pristine outfits, their hair neatly styled, and their most beautiful sides on display, the three finalists Zhu Zhuyun, Shui Bing'er, and Hu Liena stepped onto the temporary award podium built in the center of the plaza.
"Now, we invite the City Lord…"
"…to present the awards to our top three contestants!"
As the announcer spoke, the figure of Ye Cheng, clad in a flawless white robe, appeared on the stage as if out of thin air. With a gentle smile, he gazed at the three girls standing before him.
Under his piercing yet serene gaze, the three couldn't help but feel a bit nervous whether from sheer admiration or the overwhelming presence of their idol, they weren't sure. After all, in this era, who wasn't at least a little bit of a fan?
At that moment, attendants approached, carrying a tray covered with a red cloth. However, what lay beneath wasn't the main tournament prize it was something else.
Ye Cheng casually lifted the red cloth, revealing three round medals with intricate engravings and delicate patterns. The attached cords clearly indicated that they were meant to be worn around the neck. The medals came in three colors: gold, silver, and bronze.
However, these weren't just ordinary medals made of simple gold, silver, or copper. They were crafted from an exceptionally rare material, making them nearly indestructible. Additionally, they were infused with artifact forging techniques, granting them multiple practical uses. Merely wearing one could help calm the mind and enhance training efficiency.
In moments of crisis, these medals could even act as defensive treasures, shielding their owners from attacks.
Thus, these medals symbolized more than just honor they were invaluable artifacts.
Furthermore, possessing one of these medals granted certain privileges within White Cloud City. They were far more than mere decorations.
And beyond these medals, the winners would still receive their official tournament rewards. The medals were an extra gift, not a replacement for the main prizes.
As this was the first ever Contract Soul Master Tournament, the rewards had been made as extravagant as possible to promote the event. There was no way they would skimp on the prizes.
Ye Cheng first picked up the gold medal and walked toward Zhu Zhuyun, the champion of this tournament. As he brought the cord close to her, Zhu Zhuyun obediently lowered her head, allowing him to place the prestigious gold medal around her fair neck.
The crowd erupted in applause and cheers.
After awarding the gold medal, Ye Cheng considered offering a few words of encouragement but ultimately decided against it. He had already said everything that needed to be said at the start of the tournament.
Without further ado, he turned to the runner up, Shui Bing'er, with the attendants closely following behind.
Lifting the silver medal, he gently placed it around Shui Bing'er's neck.
Shui Bing'er felt a surge of emotion though she kept her composure, her heart was pounding. As soon as the silver medal touched her skin, a cool, refreshing sensation surged into her mind, instantly calming her racing thoughts. It felt like standing under a waterfall on a scorching summer day a sudden, invigorating chill.
"…Thank you…" she whispered softly.
The moment she spoke, even she was taken aback. In such a grand setting, it almost felt like one needed some kind of qualification just to speak.
Ye Cheng simply smiled and replied, "This is an honor you have earned."
Hearing this, Shui Bing'er let out a breath of relief and at the same time, a wave of excitement washed over her. Her idol had acknowledged her efforts! This moment was priceless.
She noticed the two other girls glancing at her with subtle envy.
After awarding the silver medal, only the bronze medal remained, reserved for Hu Liena.
Initially, the judging panel had debated whether Hu Liena truly deserved third place. Some had suggested that she and Huo Wu should have one final match to determine the rightful third place winner.
However, Ye Cheng had dismissed the idea outright, stating that it wasn't necessary.
Instead, the judges scored both contestants based on their overall performance throughout the tournament. The one with the higher score would be awarded third place.
Since their leader had spoken, the judges could only comply. After the scoring process, Hu Liena had the highest score, securing third place.
When she first heard the result, Hu Liena felt somewhat dissatisfied.
"With my true strength, I should at least be second place! There's no way Shui Bing'er could defeat me. She just got lucky and faced a weaker opponent!"
But what's done is done. Hu Liena eventually accepted the result. After all, if she refused to accept it, the third place spot would go to Huo Wu instead.
And Hu Liena wasn't that reckless she wasn't about to give up a reward just because she felt wronged.
Especially because, thanks to insider knowledge from White Cloud City's cooperation with the Spirit Hall, Hu Liena knew something crucial
The medals awarded in this first Contract Soul Master Tournament carried special privileges. Future tournaments might still offer medals, but those later medals wouldn't come with the same unique benefits as these first ones.
Because this was the inaugural tournament, these three specific medals were special cases.
So, when Ye Cheng placed the bronze medal around her neck, Hu Liena simply accepted reality.
As the crowd erupted into thunderous applause and cheers…
The legendary first ever Contract Soul Master Tournament officially came to an end.
(End of Chapter)
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