As a result, everyone who went up to challenge Qin An later suffered. They all became Qin An's punching bags, and each of them was brutally beaten.
In the end, only ten champions remained on the entire platform.
Thus, the reigning champions began challenging each other again.
Because Qin An practiced the "Spirit Guiding Technique," the quality of his spiritual energy was ten times that of others, making him invincible among Golden Core cultivators. None of the Golden Core cultivators were his match.
As Qin An kicked the last challenger off the stage, the referee elder's voice rang out: "I hereby declare that the winner of this competition between Golden Core stage disciples is—Qin An!"
As the referee elder's voice faded, the disciples of the Star River Sect cheered. Qin An was their senior uncle, and he had truly brought great honor to the sect this time. The number one Golden Core stage disciple—who else could achieve such an honor? The disciples of the Star River Sect would tell you: their senior uncle could.
The elders from other sects also praised Qin An highly, believing him to be a prodigy and a rare talent in the cultivation world.
When Qin An stepped down from the arena, all the disciples crowded around him. But Qin An hurried along, ignoring the disciples who surrounded him. He rushed towards his master's room, wanting to check on his master's condition.
But when he pushed open the door to his master's room, he found that his master was not there. Qin An became extremely anxious, fearing that something had happened to his master.
And where is Shu Lan now?
It turned out that just as Qin An's competition ended, Shu Lan stepped down from the stands and headed towards her room.
On his way back to his room, a woman's voice suddenly called out to him.
"Shu Lan, wait a minute!" Who else could it be but Nangong Ting who called out to Shu Lan? Nangong Ting was looking at Shu Lan with a worried expression.
"Sister Nangong Ting, what can I do for you?" Shu Lan smiled at Nangong Ting and asked curiously.
Nangong Ting didn't immediately tell Shu Lan why she wanted to see him. Instead, she asked with concern, "Were you alright on the stage just now?"
Shu Lan breathed a soft sigh of relief and smiled gently: "Thank you for your concern, Sister Nangong Ting. I already told you, I'm fine. The Qi-breaking nail didn't pierce my body, and I wasn't affected by the Spirit-Dissolving Powder."
Nangong Ting felt a huge weight lifted off her shoulders. She then asked Shu Lan, "Little brother Shu Lan, are you free now? Would you like to walk with me?"
"Okay!" Shu Lan accepted Nangong Ting's invitation and walked alongside her.
Along the way, Shu Lan and Nangong Ting chatted and laughed, creating a very harmonious atmosphere.
“By the way, little brother Shulan,” Nangong Ting stopped when they reached a stream, and her tone suddenly changed, “I have something I’d like to ask you.”
"Go ahead," Shu Lan said, tilting her head slightly and looking at Nangong Ting with curiosity. "I will try my best to tell you anything I know."
Nangong Ting hesitated, her mouth opening and closing, unable to utter a word for a long time.
Finally, as if she had made up her mind, she mustered up her courage.
Nangong Ting's pretty face flushed slightly, and she said somewhat shyly, "Actually, I have feelings for you..."
At this point, Nangong Ting looked up and met Shu Lan's eyes: "Although we've only known each other for two days, I think you're a very good person after spending these two days together."
"I don't know..." Nangong Ting looked at Shu Lan somewhat nervously, "Could I become your Daoist partner?"
Shu Lan was stunned when Nangong Ting said she was interested in him. He originally thought that rumors were just rumors, nothing more than hearsay, and not true.
But to his surprise, Sister Nangong Ting actually fell in love with him and wanted to become his Daoist partner, which left him somewhat helpless.
For some reason, when Nangong Ting said she wanted to become his Daoist partner, Qin An's figure flashed before Shu Lan's eyes.
There were images of Qin An looking happy, sad, angry, and scared... The final image was of Qin An looking at him pitifully with wet eyes.
Nangong Ting waited a long time for Shu Lan's reply, and her anxiety grew. Just as she was about to speak, Shu Lan finally spoke: "I'm sorry, Sister Nangong Ting, I can't agree to that."
"Why?!" Nangong Ting looked at Shu Lan with sadness and disbelief.
"Probably because he'd be unhappy if I found a Daoist partner, right?" Shu Lan caught a leaf falling in the wind and gently stroked its texture. Her eyes held a tenderness Nangong Ting had never seen before. "My disciple definitely wouldn't want me to find him a master's wife, after all, he's so attached to me." If she found him a master's wife, she wouldn't have enough time to spend with him, and he would definitely be angry.
At this point, Shu Lan's mind was filled with Qin An's pouting, angry face, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl up slightly.
There's one more thing Shu Lan didn't mention: he might return to the real world one day, and if he were to settle down and start a family in this world, it would be irresponsible to his partner.
Nangong Ting was initially very sad, but when she heard that Shu Lan had rejected her because of her disciple, she was both amused and exasperated. "You really dote on your disciple! You even ask your disciple's consent when choosing a Daoist partner. Your disciple is truly extremely lucky to have such a good master like you."
"Don't be sad, Sister Nangong Ting. I never intended to find a Daoist partner. You are actually very outstanding, and you will definitely find someone suitable for you in the future."
"I'm not the kind of person who can't let go or be confused," Nangong Ting said with a smile, shaking her head. "I do like you quite a bit, but it's just that our time hasn't come yet, and I won't be too sad about it. After all, it's all fate, isn't it?"
"Sister Nangong Ting, it's so good that you think this way." Shu Lan was genuinely happy that Nangong Ting was able to take things so lightly.
"Alright, little brother Shulan, since we can't be Daoist partners, let's just be good friends instead," Nangong Ting suggested with a smile.
"It would be my greatest honor!" Shu Lan gladly accepted Nangong Ting's suggestion.
So they continued their walk along the stream, chatting about topics that interested them and sharing their life experiences and insights into spiritual practice.
Shu Lan and Nangong Ting parted ways in the evening.
Because she had resolved a major issue on her mind, Nangong Ting's steps became lighter.
Shu Lan, on the other hand, was in a good mood as she walked back to her room.
Just as he was about to reach his room door, a dark shadow suddenly pounced on him at lightning speed.
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