"How about the search? Did any of you find the demonic cultivator inside the Loom Forest?"

"We found nobody, Master Bai. Either that demonic cultivator has run away or is just too good at hiding."

Everyone darted their eyes towards Han Shun standing beside Bai Shijue.

Han Shun looked healthy and vigorous, which was weird since he was all alone in the Loom forest. Unless he was hiding all by himself, not hunting any celestial beast because he was too scared to take them down. 

They started sneering in their heart, thinking that Han Shun was a waste and Master Bai had misjudged for the first time in his life.

"Anyway, Master Bai, this hunting event will always claim a few victims every decade. We can't really stop that when the Loom Forest is filled with dangerous beasts and cutthroat competition between the participants, especially knowing the big prize, the phoenix elixir, will boost your cultivation to an unimaginable level," Man Zhang, the sect leader from Silver Harmony Immortal Sect said. He was the second strongest sect leader after Bai Shijue. Though, he was still miles away from Bai Shijue's power.

Bai Shijue nodded. The competition had to continue no matter what because death during this decade of hunting wasn't uncommon. 

"Let's start with the counting," Bai Shijue ordered. 

Man Zhang, the sect leader of Silver Harmony, was confident that his disciples had collected the most. His sect usually came second in every Loom Forest Hunting competition, but this would be his time to shine. 

Since Master Bai only had one disciple, and he didn't seem to get hurt, that meant that kid was hiding the whole time. 

There was no way that kid could beat his disciples. 

The other sects started counting their crystals, whether they were gold or rainbow crystals. The Silver Harmony Immortal Sect disciples got the most with 30 gold and 2 rainbow crystals.

"This is the most we get so far, Master Bai," Man Zhang announced. "How about your disciple, Master Bai? I think he won't be able to get that much. I'd be impressed if he gets more than one gold crystal, haha!"

Bai Shijue glanced at Han Shun and signaled with his head, telling Han Shun to count his crystal. 

Han Shun nodded, and he swaggered towards Man Zhang. He opened his palm and showed the rainbow crystals in his hand. 

Man Zhang and everyone else was shocked. They counted the crystals, "E—ELEVEN RAINBOW CRYSTALS?! HOW?!"

Everybody gasped, which was a natural reaction since nobody would ever be able to get that much even if they team up as 20 or even 30 cultivators. 

Heck, taking down one legendary beast was already difficult, borderline impossible, even with many people, unless your name is Bai Shijue. 

But this kid could take down eleven legendary beasts, and he did it alone!?

No, that was simply impossible, no matter how strong he was. 

Man Zhang shifted his eyes towards Master Bai Shijue, "Master Bai, you killed the legendary beasts for this kid, right?" Man Zhang accused, "The only person who could take down those legendary beasts alone without breaking a sweat is you," Man Zhang accused.

"Besides, look at him. Even if he somehow manages to take down eleven legendary beasts, how could he seem to be in good shape? It's not fair for the rest of us, knowing that you're basically a god walking amongst mortals!" 

Bai Shijue frowned. As much as he cared for Han Shun, he wanted Han Shun to be independent and showed how strong he was to get his own recognition.

"I would never do that," Bai Shijue replied. "I found Han Shun near a waterfall, severely wounded because he got attacked by the corrupted beast. I healed him and returned after he could move his body."

"And these rainbow crystals?"

"He did it by himself. I gave him nothing. He even refused my Talisman of safety," Bai Shijue explained everything. 

Man Zhang clenched his fist, he was so close to finally getting that phoenix elixir, but this kid suddenly came with eleven rainbow crystals? Unbelievable!

He looked towards the other cultivators and sect elders, "Do any of you think this kid could kill eleven crystal beasts alone?"

…

Silence, nobody dared to speak up, but they all had a collective idea.

"Do any of you think this kid could survive the attack of the corrupted beast alone? We lost more than twenty people because of that beast!"

…

Man Zhang looked at Master Bai, "See? Nobody believes this kid could do those, Master Bai! Unless he is actually the demonic cultivator that we're talking about. Maybe he is the one who corrupted that sabertooth tiger!"

Bai Shijue took a deep breath. He might be magnanimous, but he would never let his disciple get humiliated like this. He looked at the sect elders from his sect, and they were all agreeing with Man Zhang.

"If you don't want to accept my disciple's victory, you shall face me," Bai Shijue stated. Man Zhang's eyes widened, and he took a step back, knowing that Bai Shijue could decimate him in less than five seconds. 

The rest of the sect elders and disciples also did the same.

"T—T—That's not fair, Master Bai. You're protecting this kid even though he has nothing in him! You're playing favorite in a fair competition!" Man Zhang was accused.

Bai Shijue was about to take a step to shut that man, but Han Shun stopped him, "Bai Gege, let me be the one who proves my worth."

"But, you just recovered…."

"I can do it, Bai Gege," Han Shun said as he looked over his shoulder and smiled at his beloved Gege.

Bai Shijue hesitated, but since Han Shun seemed so sure, he had no choice but to give in. 

Bai Shijue looked at Man Zhang and said, "If you don't want to believe him, we can go to my sect's training ground. You can fight my disciple."

"If you could defeat him, I will give you the phoenix elixir. But if you got defeated, you have to accept his victory in this hunt."