From a loser to an immortal sage

Chapter 38 Night of Glory

The old man had barely finished speaking when a deafening cheer erupted once more. I gripped the golden token tightly in my hand, my heart pounding with excitement. This was the glory I had dreamed of, the fruit of victory I had reaped with my sweat and tears.

As night fell, the Immortal Gate Square was brightly lit, and the aroma of fine wine and delicacies filled the air. To celebrate my victory in the Immortal Gate Grand Competition, the Immortal Gate hosted a grand celebration banquet for me. Looking around, heroes from all walks of life gathered together, chatting and laughing, creating a lively and festive atmosphere.

"Congratulations, Junior Sister Xiao!" "Junior Sister Xiao is truly a woman who rivals any man!" "Given time, Junior Sister Xiao will surely become a legendary female immortal!"...

Along the way, people kept congratulating me, and I responded with a smile to each one, but I always remained clear-headed. I knew that today's glory was only temporary, and I could not become arrogant or complacent. The path of cultivation ahead was still long, and I would need to put in even more effort.

Holding a glass of fruit wine, I stood on the high platform, looking at the cheering crowd below, my heart filled with emotion. Recalling the hardships and trials I had endured along the way, I took a deep breath and slowly began, "Esteemed seniors, fellow disciples, thank you all for coming to my victory celebration tonight..."

My voice was clear and firm, echoing throughout the square. I recounted my experiences and insights during the competition, from the initial confusion and helplessness to the later perseverance and breakthroughs, and finally to the victory and joy. Every detail deeply touched the hearts of everyone present.

"My achievements today are not only due to my own efforts, but also inseparable from the guidance of my seniors and the help of my fellow students, especially..." I paused, then turned my gaze to a familiar figure in the crowd, "my good sister, Sun Yue."

Sun Yue, dressed in a light blue dress, stood in the crowd. When she saw me looking at her, a warm smile appeared on her face. She walked slowly to my side, bowed slightly to the crowd, and said with a hint of gratitude, "Senior Sister Xiao Yao is too modest. Without her encouragement and help, I could not have made such great progress in this competition. She made me realize that even with ordinary talent, as long as you are willing to work hard, you can still succeed."

Sun Yue's words were sincere and simple, winning enthusiastic applause from the audience. Looking at her, I felt a surge of pride and emotion. I will always remember that when I was just a disciple ridiculed as a good-for-nothing, it was Sun Yue who reached out to help me, cultivating alongside me and encouraging me not to give up. Now, we have both grown up, but this genuine sisterly bond remains unchanged.

"Excellent! Well said!" A loud voice rang out from the crowd. Hall Master Li pushed through the throng and strode onto the stage. He wore a long golden robe, looked vigorous, and his eyes shone brightly. He looked at me, his face full of a gratified smile: "Xiao Yao, your performance this time was truly outstanding! You not only won honor for our Qingyun Hall, but also proved to the entire cultivation world that even without spiritual roots, one can still become a top expert!"

"Master Li, you flatter me." I lowered my head humbly, but a warm feeling welled up inside me. Master Li had always placed high hopes on me and carefully guided my cultivation. His affirmation and encouragement were my greatest motivation on my path forward.

Master Li patted me on the shoulder and said earnestly, "Your talent and perseverance are unparalleled in my life. Given time, you will surely become a pillar of the cultivation world! Remember, the path of cultivation is endless. Today's glory is just the beginning. I hope you can continue your efforts, break through your limits, and make greater contributions to the cultivation world!"

I nodded solemnly, "This disciple will remember Master Li's teachings!"

Master Li smiled with satisfaction, turned to face the crowd below the stage, and announced loudly, "Tonight, let us celebrate Junior Nephew Xiao Yao's victory to the fullest! Cheers!"

"Cheers!" everyone responded in unison, raising their glasses in a toast, their laughter echoing through the air once more. Just then, I felt a sharp gaze fixed on me from within the crowd. I followed the gaze and, in a corner of the crowd, a mysterious figure clad in a black cloak flashed by…

The figure in the black cloak flashed by so quickly that I couldn't even be sure if I had really seen him. Was it just my imagination? My mind was filled with doubt, yet I couldn't explain it.

The celebratory banquet was still in full swing, with many fellow disciples I didn't recognize coming to congratulate me. They spoke of my outstanding performance in the competition, their words filled with praise and admiration.

"Junior Sister Xiao, you are truly amazing! I personally witnessed you defeat that Senior Brother Zhao, it was truly gratifying!" A tall male disciple said excitedly, raising his wine glass.

"Yes, yes, Junior Sister Xiao, you don't know, you looked absolutely stunning when you used that move at the end!" another female disciple chimed in. "I always thought that without spiritual roots, it was impossible to cultivate advanced techniques. You've given us ordinary people a tremendous encouragement!"

I was enveloped in their warmth, and a surge of tenderness welled up inside me. I realized how wonderful it felt to be recognized. I returned their greetings one by one, a genuine smile on my face.

“You did a great job.” A deep and familiar voice suddenly rang in my ears.

I whirled around and saw a figure dressed in black, wearing a bamboo hat, standing behind me. Although his face was obscured by the hat, I recognized him at a glance—it was Windrunner!

"Senior..." I covered my mouth in surprise, "What brings you here?"

He smiled slightly, "I've come to see my...students."

The surrounding noise seemed to vanish in an instant, leaving only his gentle gaze in my world. I lowered my voice and asked, "You saw everything?"

“Yes, from the moment you stepped into the arena.” He nodded. “You did even better than I expected.”

A warm feeling welled up inside me, and my eyes welled up slightly. Windranger has always been the person I admire most, and his affirmation is a tremendous encouragement to me.

“You must remember,” he paused, his eyes filled with expectation, “you have a long road ahead of you…”

Windranger's words were profound, and his gaze seemed to pierce my soul, instilling in me an unprecedented sense of responsibility. I took a deep breath and nodded solemnly: "I understand, senior. I will not let you down!"

The atmosphere at the celebration banquet grew increasingly lively. Master Li raised his glass and said loudly, "Today, let us all raise our glasses and toast to the outstanding achievements of Junior Nephew Xiao Yao!"

"Cheers!" the crowd responded in unison, their cheers deafening.

I raised my glass and looked around, seeing faces beaming with joy. I knew that this honor belonged not only to me, but also to all those who had supported and encouraged me.

I slowly walked to the center of the main hall, faced everyone, and said loudly, "Dear senior brothers and sisters, fellow disciples, my achievements today are inseparable from your support and help. I come from a small place and was considered a useless person who could not cultivate from a young age. However, I have never given up on my dream. I believe that as long as I work hard, I can definitely create miracles!"

“That’s right! Junior Sister Xiao is right!” someone in the crowd shouted in agreement.

I paused for a moment, then continued, "The path of cultivation is long and arduous, full of challenges and opportunities. I will take this victory as a new starting point, continuously improve my strength, and contribute my power to protecting the peace and tranquility of the cultivation world!"

As soon as I finished speaking, thunderous applause erupted throughout the hall. I saw Sun Yue standing in the crowd, her eyes glistening with tears of emotion.

The celebration banquet came to a close in a joyful atmosphere. Sun Yue and I walked out of the main hall side by side. The cool night breeze brushed against our cheeks, carrying away the noise of the banquet and gradually calming my thoughts.

"Xiao Yao, you were amazing today!" Sun Yue said excitedly, linking her arm with mine. "You know what? That last move of yours was absolutely stunning! I was completely mesmerized!"

I smiled and shook my head: "Just lucky."

"What good luck? You clearly won through your own strength!" Sun Yue retorted indignantly. "Don't you know, you're a celebrity on Qingyun Peak now! Even disciples from the other peaks are talking about you!"

I smiled faintly, not taking the praise to heart. I knew my goal wasn't just to become a celebrity on Qingyun Peak, but to become a true powerhouse, capable of protecting everything I wanted to protect!

The moonlight, like water, poured down, casting long, slender shadows of Sun Yue and me. We walked slowly along the mountain path, our future path of cultivation seeming as full of endless possibilities as this moonlit road…

“By the way, Xiao Yao,” Sun Yue suddenly stopped and said mysteriously, “I heard…”