From the moment Lu Guijiu entered the Xuanwu Conference, he made a decision - if he couldn't win the first place, he would never return.

After hearing from Yue'er that in the past thousand years, besides Zhang Jingmo's senior brother Bai Lingxiao, no one else had won that first place, Lu Guijiu's resolve was further strengthened.

What others couldn't do, Lu Guijiu wanted to do; what others had done, Lu Guijiu wanted to surpass even more.

That Xiang Mingzi was just an ant blocking the way. Killing him was just a side task that Lu Guijiu never took to heart.

The first place prize hung overhead like a star.

As Lu Guijiu kept flying upwards, a faint red light emerged on his body. This red light was different from ordinary spiritual energy. Not only did it wrap around Lu Guijiu's body, it also flickered and danced like flames, as if it was burning.

It had been a long time since he obtained the fourth bamboo slip from the giant stone.

However, that first place prize that was like a star still didn't seem to get any closer. It was as if no matter how long Lu Guijiu flew, it remained just as tiny and distant.

For some reason, Lu Guijiu suddenly recalled a question he had asked Zhang Jingmo when he was little.

He asked Zhang Jingmo how far the stars in the sky really were from them.

He still remembered Zhang Jingmo's answer to this day. Zhang Jingmo said it depends on how strong you are.

If you are strong enough, whether stars or the moon, they are all within reach. If you are very weak, even a shallow ditch is a gulf you can't cross in your lifetime.

Lu Guijiu didn't know how long he had been flying for. His whole body was numb, and he flew on instinct, conserving as much energy as possible.

However, this effort seemed to be in vain.

Lu Guijiu watched the sun set and rise again around him. The morning glow that should have been full of vitality instead seemed lifeless in Lu Guijiu's eyes.

Lu Guijiu asked Lu Shu, "How long have we been flying?"

Lu Shu said, "A day and night."

Flying for a day and a night without rest, not even stopping once, was becoming hard for even Lu Guijiu to bear. He hesitated for a while but still didn't make a move.

Lu Shu said, "How much longer can you hold on?"

Lu Guijiu looked up at the sky and said, "Until I win the first place."

Hearing this, Lu Shu quieted down and didn't disturb Lu Guijiu anymore.

Lu Guijiu continued his solo flight. It was like running a ten thousand meter marathon - the closer to the end, the harder it was to endure.

Lu Guijiu's face was a bit pale but his expression was calm. Although his body was in great pain, his spirit was still tenacious.

There were people waiting for him outside the mountain, waiting for his good news, waiting to celebrate for him. This was a big motivating force supporting Lu Guijiu to keep going.

Thinking of Zhang Jingmo's satisfied gaze, gentle smile, and soft praise, Lu Guijiu no longer felt tired. He flew for another half day but the spiritual energy in his dantian was about to run out.

Lu Guijiu pursed his lips and took out some medicinal pills from his sleeve, stuffing them into his mouth.

Not long after taking the pills, a stream of heat rose in his dantian. Lu Shu's voice sounded in his mind, "Are you sure you want to continue?"

Lu Guijiu said coldly, "What else?"

Lu Shu sighed, "If you keep going, I'm afraid it will harm your body... Is it worth it for a first place prize?"

Lu Guijiu said, "As long as it can make Master happy, it's naturally worth it." After saying this flatly, he stuffed the whole bottle of pills into his mouth.

Those pills were given to Lu Guijiu by Zhang Jingmo before the conference to save his life. Zhang Jingmo had instructed him not to use them unless absolutely necessary. Now Lu Guijiu had eaten a whole bottle.

Actually, Lu Shu also knew his persuasion was useless. He sensed something seemed off about this first place prize but he also had a feeling he couldn't tell Lu Guijiu about this oddity.

If he said it, all the previous efforts would be wasted.

Lu Guijiu flew and flew, as if embarking on an endless journey. He was like a traveler walking in a desert. The oasis was vaguely visible ahead but no matter how much he walked, that oasis never got an inch closer. It made one start to doubt if that oasis was just a mirage.

Another day passed from dusk to dawn. Lu Guijiu was exhausted to the extreme. The medicinal pills could quickly provide him spiritual energy but would also have adverse effects on his body, so he couldn't take too many.

But Lu Guijiu ate a whole bottle at once. After eating he didn't rest but instead continued flying tirelessly.

But even so, that first place prize still didn't get any closer to him.

No, no, something was wrong. Lu Guijiu felt it was wrong. No matter what, that first place prize overhead should have gotten a bit closer to him. But the prize was still a star, so dazzling in the sky after these many days that it made Lu Guijiu's eyes turn red.

Wanting to escape the feeling of fatigue, Lu Guijiu's mind began to deliberately recall his past with Zhang Jingmo. He saw Zhang Jingmo with black hair. At that time he was only four or five years old. His master smiled as he watched him, teaching him to read and write. If there was anything he didn't understand, Zhang Jingmo would personally instruct him.

He also saw Zhang Jingmo's appearance when he had just returned to the sect after wandering outside. Although his body was travel-worn, it couldn't conceal his outstanding bearing. His master was a true immortal...

But the last thing that appeared in Lu Guijiu's mind was Zhang Jingmo's cold expression.

Zhang Jingmo stood in the water, looking at him as if looking at a stranger. Those beautiful thin lips parted slightly and spat out two words at him: "Get lost."

"No!" Thinking that if he failed to win the prize and returned to face Zhang Jingmo's cold expression, Lu Guijiu suddenly regained his strength. His originally somewhat stagnant movements became smooth again. He stuck out his tongue and licked the blood from his teeth bit by bit...

The taste of blood and pain allowed Lu Guijiu to grit his teeth and persist. He stared with eyes that had turned red from fatigue, glaring fiercely at the distant star. "I won't accept it! I won't accept it! I won't accept it!" With roars of agony, he began coughing up large mouthfuls of blood. Yet even so, his figure did not falter as he continued to press forward, willing to consume his very life to advance.

The flames engulfing Lu Guijiu's body gradually shifted from red to deep purple. The fire burned away his outer robes, leaving only the magic treasure undergarment given to him by Zhang Jingmo.

Lu Guijiu did not notice the changes to his body, as all his attention was focused on the distant first place token. If his predecessors could seize it, why couldn't he? Since this prize was meant for disciples, then he, Lu Guijiu, must obtain it.

These thoughts fueled Lu Guijiu's final strength. He no longer coughed blood, but his face was as pale as paper and his lips turned black, showing signs that his lamp was running out of oil.

Lu Shu watched anxiously, not daring to distract him. If he broke Lu Guijiu's concentration, Lu Guijiu might directly faint and fall from the heights to his doom. Yet without warning, Lu Guijiu was burning away his life - each meter higher cost him months of lifespan.

However, from this Lu Shu understood the depth of Lu Guijiu's desire. Simply to avoid disappointing his master, Lu Guijiu was willing to sacrifice his life...

Inch by inch, Lu Guijiu's figure rose higher. Like a bird with broken wings, each flap was torment, yet he refused to stop, staking his life on reaching the goal.

The purple flames grew more saturated until they turned jet black as if mixed with ink. Wreathed in the fire, Lu Guijiu no longer seemed human.

Lu Guijiu felt an indescribable agony spreading from his dantian to engulf his body, as if ripping him apart from the inside.

Yet amidst the pain, Lu Guijiu sensed a power he had never experienced before, as vast and mighty as the boundless ocean.

Lu Guijiu's strength returned. He felt something burst out from his body, surrounding him and lifting his heavy form higher and higher...

The pain was so intense that Lu Guijiu's mind grew hazy. He didn't even see that the force elevating him was a giant red dragon. The dragon, formed of flames, pressed its head against Lu Guijiu's body, soaring towards the first place token. Its undulating form turned the sky into its playground.

Lu Guijiu could no longer see clearly. His mind buzzed and blood poured from his mouth and nose. Yet in that moment, his thoughts still fixated on two words: first place.

A crisp metallic chime brought Lu Guijiu back to his senses. As his blurred vision sharpened, he vaguely made out a glint of gold.

That golden glimmer danced before his eyes as if alive.

Instinctively, Lu Guijiu reached out to grab it. He easily caught it, and felt an icy sensation spread from his palm.

The coolness flowed from his hand throughout Lu Guijiu's body, soothing the searing pain and making him involuntarily groan.

As Lu Guijiu groaned, the dragon beneath him also let out a roar.

Color visibly returned to Lu Guijiu's face, and even his injured lips mended. Slowly, he opened his eyes to a sky full of stars.