Since Chen Zirui had fallen unconscious, the outcome was unquestionable.
"Han Qixing wins," the gray-robed old man announced calmly.
Han Qixing lowered his sword, took a steady breath, and stepped out of the arena without any unnecessary display.
From the sidelines, Han Xuan watched silently.
Then, a faint smile appeared at the corner of his lips.
As a father… how could he not feel proud?
At that very moment—
A familiar sensation stirred in his mind.
A long-awaited notification finally surfaced.
[Congratulations, your son, Han Qixing, has achieved a major milestone: Winning his first official battle.]
Han Xuan's eyes flickered slightly.
[Congratulations, you have obtained: Pure Qi Spirit Peach.]
[Congratulations, you have obtained: Minor Enlightenment Chance.]
[Congratulations, you have obtained: Damage Transferring Talisman.]
"Only three rewards?" Han Xuan frowned faintly.
But nevertheless…
Although fewer than the rewards he had received when his son was born, they were still far better than nothing.
At that moment, Han Qixing returned to his side.
Han Xuan reached out and gently rubbed his son's head, "Well done, Xing'er."
Han Qixing stiffened slightly, the corner of his cheek reddening just a bit.
Han Xuan couldn't help but smile.
The matches continued in the arena, but Han Xuan's mind no longer paid them any attention.
His focus had already shifted inward, carefully examining the system rewards.
[Pure Qi Spirit Peach: A consumable spiritual fruit capable of helping a Qi Refining cultivator advance one minor realm.]
Han Xuan's eyes immediately lit up.
This spiritual fruit was perfect for Han Qixing.
His son's cultivation base was still too low. Even if he successfully secured a spot, participating in the main event at Starfall City would be extremely difficult with only the Fourth Stage of Qi Refining.
Raising Han Qixing's cultivation had become an urgent matter.
Yet under normal circumstances, it would be almost impossible.
Han Qixing had only recently broken through to the Fourth Stage. Attempting another breakthrough within a few months would be reckless at best.
But with a Pure Qi Spirit Peach…
That was an entirely different story.
Han Xuan exhaled slowly, his thoughts turning sharper.
Although he could technically use the spirit peach himself, doing so would not maximize its value.
Based on the system's previous behavior, Han Xuan was confident of one thing—
Every time his son broke through a minor realm, he would receive a Minor Realm Advancement Chance in return.
When that happened, he could then use that opportunity to break through to the Eighth Stage of Qi Refining himself.
A faint smile tugged at Han Xuan's lips.
One spiritual fruit.
Two breakthroughs.
This is simply killing two birds with one stone.
Han Xuan continued reading, his attention shifting to the second reward.
[Minor Enlightenment Chance: Grants a chance to enter an enlightenment state lasting three days.]
'Another good thing,' Han Xuan exclaimed inwardly.
However, after a brief consideration, he shook his head.
This reward had limited use for Han Qixing.
With the Seven Star Insight Eyes, his son's comprehension ability already far exceeded that of ordinary cultivators. Using a Minor Enlightenment Chance on him would be somewhat wasteful.
Instead, Han Xuan immediately made a decision.
He would use it himself to study talisman arts.
That field required patience, precision, and sudden moments of understanding. A three-day enlightenment state was perfectly suited for laying a solid foundation.
Then, his gaze moved to the final reward.
[Damage Transferring Talisman: A defensive talisman capable of bearing fatal damage. Effective as long as the attack does not exceed the power of a mid-to-late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.]
Han Xuan's breath caught slightly.
"This…" His eyes brightened, "This is a true life-saving talisman for Xing'er."
His joy quickly turned into contemplation.
Based on the information he had obtained from Gu Jiuye, the journey from Blueleaf Town to Starfall City would take three months.
Accompanying his son personally would be extremely difficult.
Shui Huoyan was still pregnant. He could not afford to leave her alone for that long.
Although he could entrust her safety to Shui Lanyue, Han Xuan remained uneasy. After all, Chen Wuye had already shown his willingness to act in the shadows once before. There was no guarantee he wouldn't attempt something similar again.
As for Han Qixing's safety...
According to the usual arrangements of the Hundred Sects Recruitment, the Town Magistrate of Blueleaf Town would personally escort all qualified participants to Starfall City.
That magistrate was a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and more importantly, a disciple of the Clearsky Sect. With such a person leading the group, the journey itself should be safe.
The real danger lay after they arrived.
Neither Han Xuan nor his son had any acquaintances or backing in Starfall City.
For that reason alone, Han Xuan had already planned to prepare as many life-saving measures as possible for his son.
This Damage Transferring Talisman…
It had arrived at exactly the right time.
According to the description, this talisman could even block an attack from an Early Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.
That alone was enough to significantly reduce the danger his son might face.
Moreover, when combined with the Blood Mist Talisman and several other defensive and escape talismans he had prepared beforehand, Han Xuan's thoughts gradually settled.
Even if Han Qixing encountered an Early Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator and could not defeat them, he would, at the very least, be able to escape alive.
For Han Xuan, that was already enough.
As long as his son lived, there would always be a future.
Han Xuan's attention gradually returned to reality.
Although he had little interest in battles that did not involve his son, he still watched the matches play out.
Most of them were… boring.
With the remaining participants largely coming from powerful families, the fights quickly devolved into contests of background and resources. Powerful spells were thrown out casually, talismans shattered one after another, and spiritual weapons clashed with dazzling flashes of light.
Technique mattered, but only after resources had already decided most outcomes.
The few participants from smaller families or casual cultivators were simply no match. Once they were forced into a head-on clash, the result was often decided in just a few exchanges.
However, one particular match caught Han Xuan's attention.
In the arena stood a female cultivator, slender and calm, her expression serene to the point of indifference.
Her name was Meng Yaoyao.
Opposite her was a male disciple of the Chen Family, his posture confident, his aura sharp.
"The Meng Family…" Han Xuan narrowed his eyes slightly.
This was a family that had risen rapidly in recent years, its momentum strong enough to almost rival the Three Great Families.
However, the Three Great Families had been rooted in Blueleaf Town for generations. Their foundations were deep and intertwined, their influence unshakable. Anyone who attempted to challenge their authority would inevitably face suppression.
The Meng Family was the clearest example.
They had suffered repeated pressure from the Chen Family—overt and covert alike. Had it not been for one of their members successfully becoming an inner disciple of the Clearsky Sect, the Meng Family would likely have been crushed long ago.
Han Xuan exhaled softly.
This was precisely why he had insisted on sending Han Qixing into a sect.
In this world, talent alone was never enough.
Background mattered.
With the backing of a major sect, many troubles could be avoided before they ever surfaced. Even if the Chen Family still dared to cause problems, they would at least be forced to restrain themselves.
They would not dare act recklessly—sending powerful cultivators to openly hunt him down or threaten his family.
Han Xuan's gaze returned to the arena.
The fight between Meng Yaoyao and the Chen Family disciple was about to begin.
The match began.
At the gray-robed official's signal, the Chen Family member stepped forward aggressively, spiritual energy surging as lightning flickered faintly around his body.
Meng Yaoyao, however, did not move.
She merely raised her sleeve.
A faint ripple spread outward, silent and almost imperceptible.
In the next instant, the arena seemed to change.
The Chen Family member froze mid-step.
His surroundings blurred, the stone floor beneath his feet dissolving into layers of drifting mist. The cheers of the crowd faded, replaced by an oppressive silence that pressed down on his mind.
"An illusion?" He muttered, his expression darkening.
He circulated his spiritual energy frantically, thunder qi surging outward, but the mist did not disperse.
Instead, it thickened.
Images began to surface within it—familiar faces, distorted expressions, memories twisted into grotesque reflections. His breathing grew uneven as cold sweat soaked his back.
Outside the arena, everything appeared normal.
Inside his perception, however, he was already trapped.
Meng Yaoyao stood quietly before him, her figure blurred and distant, like a reflection on water.
Her voice drifted softly into his ears, "Concede."
The Chen Family member trembled.
His thunder qi faltered.
Moments later, he clenched his fists tightly, "I… concede."
The illusion shattered like broken glass.
The arena returned to normal.
Meng Yaoyao lowered her sleeve, her expression unchanged.
The crowd erupted into murmurs.
She had not launched a single attack. Yet the battle had ended entirely on her terms.