Chapter 22: Request for Support

The entire audience was utterly bewildered. Was it common now for competitors to request their own disqualification?

Xiao Qixiu's face darkened; he couldn't believe the audacity.

"Doping?"

Who doesn't take a few pills before a competition these days? There wasn't even a rule against using elixirs to restore spiritual power during a match.

"Nonsense!"

"Get off the stage, now!"

Xiao Qixiu was so enraged that he fumed, looking as though he might draw his sword and strike the young man down.

Xu Xiaoshou's face fell. "If I hadn't genuinely taken too much medicine, I wouldn't have come to you! I seriously need assistance!"

He looked toward the back, where a group of white-clad medical staff sat.

Xiao Qixiu frowned. The boy's urgency didn't seem feigned, and that glowing red body...

What was happening?

He knew Xu Xiaoshou possessed an innate physical constitution. What could possibly have such a profound side effect on it?

"Come here!" Xiao Qixiu commanded, placing a hand on Xu Xiaoshou's chest. A terrifying, searing energy instantly assailed him.

*Sizzle!*

The smell of burning flesh wafted up, and Xiao Qixiu quickly withdrew his hand. He certainly didn't possess an innate constitution.

The audience was stunned.

"What kind of drug did Xu Xiaoshou take that it injured Elder Xiao?"

"He must be crazy! Did he really take drugs and then dare to turn himself in?"

"He probably truly took too much and is desperate, haha, I can't stop laughing!"

Xiao Qixiu was also shocked. He swiftly covered his palm with spiritual energy to dispel the searing sensation, but his palm was already corroded and raw.

Because he hadn't been cautious, he hadn't immediately used spiritual energy for protection, and now he was paying the price.

"The Cinderflame Seed?"

He mumbled to himself, "Elder Sang must be mad. Didn't this thing once burn out someone with an innate constitution?"

Xu Xiaoshou nearly wet himself upon hearing this, staring at Xiao Qixiu in horror, his face a canvas of confusion.

Xiao Qixiu awkwardly rubbed his hand, realizing his muttered words had been overheard. He quickly added, "This is a very good thing, a great opportunity for you. It's nothing, really, nothing at all..."

Xu Xiaoshou was about to lose his mind. *Nothing at all?* Who just mentioned it had burned out someone with an innate constitution?

"I heard every word!" he declared somberly.

"You misheard!"

"Right."

"Sigh!" Xiao Qixiu sighed, patting his shoulder. "Go rest. You can do it, just endure!"

"Received encouragement, Passive Value +1."

Xu Xiaoshou was utterly confused.

That wasn't the answer he wanted. He needed medical staff!

He didn't want to be burned out!

Xiao Qixiu ignored him, motioning for him to return to the waiting area. He then announced the start of the competition and began drawing lots.

The audience members' expressions became increasingly amused. What exactly was happening?

Xu Xiaoshou claimed to have taken drugs and requested disqualification, but the referee brushed him off and refused to provide medical assistance?

"Hahaha, I'm absolutely dying! This story just proves that you reap what you sow!"

"Poor Xu Xiaoshou, to take drugs to this extreme! Unbelievable!"

"Someone get him a medic! He's practically turning into braised pork... haha, I can't contain myself!"

Indeed, Xu Xiaoshou's bare torso was growing increasingly red and terrifying.

Steam billowed from his body as he returned to his waiting area, utterly dejected.

"How can they be so cruel, not even providing medical personnel..."

Xu Xiaoshou mused to himself that this public display hadn't been entirely pointless. At the very least, he'd gleaned some crucial information.

The Cinderflame Seed, and it had burned out someone with an innate constitution!

And...

Elder Sang?

That name sounded vaguely familiar...

Judging by the information Xiao Qixiu inadvertently revealed, it seemed he was aware of the Cinderflame Seed Xu Xiaoshou had consumed.

And it was likely connected to that damned old man.

This was also why Xu Xiaoshou didn't press the issue further.

"So, they're in cahoots..."

Xu Xiaoshou sat cross-legged, continuing to refine and expel the scorching energy from his body, bit by agonizing bit. This was all he could manage at the moment.

However, as he refined this terrifying, scorching energy, it began to seep, bit by bit, into his spiritual sea.

"It won't end up burning my spiritual sea, will it?!"

Xu Xiaoshou felt utterly wronged, having been inexplicably messed with by that old geezer.

He suddenly recalled Xiao Qixiu's initial remark about this being an "opportunity." Perhaps that old geezer intended for him to try and successfully refine this so-called "Cinderflame Seed"?

Since matters had come to this, he stopped dwelling on the fact that the object had once burned out someone with an innate constitution. With no one to help, he could only rely on himself.

On the arena, the light screen shifted, and as names were set, two contestants immediately stepped forward.

The crowd roared, and the atmosphere was electric, but the excitement wasn't for him.

Xu Xiaoshou silently endured the painful refinement, occasionally taking out a crimson-gold pill to sniff, using the surge of pleasure to counteract the internal agony and simultaneously repair his injured body.

"Received attack, Passive Value +1."

"Received attack, Passive Value +1."

"..."

Information flooded his mind every second. Xu Xiaoshou was constantly being seared from within. Normally, he might have been delighted by this, but now...

*Right.* It had burned out someone with an innate constitution.

That sentence flitted through his mind like a recurring nightmare.

"Ugh, I still have to compete. How am I going to manage this?"

Even with his utmost efforts, his condition was abysmal. His meridians were being burned away one by one, only to be repeatedly repaired with the crimson-gold pills.

The agony was unimaginable.

"Hmm, perhaps I could release this scorching energy through combat?"

He didn't know how much time had passed, but as Xu Xiaoshou sat cultivating, a sudden idea sparked in his mind, and he abruptly stood up.

This idea just might work!

He gazed at the arena; many pairs of contestants had already cycled through, but his name hadn't been called yet.

Currently, the spotlight was on a man in white robes, whose expression was quite cold. Wielding an Ice River Sword, he unleashed a single strike that froze his opponent into an ice sculpture, securing his victory.

"Chao Qingteng is the victor!"

Xu Xiaoshou's eyes lit up. Ice?

How he wished this man would strike him with a single sword blow right then! That would likely feel explosively comfortable!

But... Chao Qingteng...

An innate master!

That made him a little nervous.

The light screen flowed once more, and two large names appeared.

"Xu Xiaoshou!"

"Zhang Fu!"

As the names were announced, the arena erupted in cheers. This level of excitement had only been seen once before, when the innate master Chao Qingteng had entered the stage.

"Here he comes, Xu Xiaoshou!"

"Keep your eyes peeled, 'Xu the Punching Bag' is about to appear!"

"Huh? Why do they call him 'Xu the Punching Bag'?"

"You don't know? Let me tell you about Xu Xiaoshou..."

From the waiting area, Xu Xiaoshou immediately flew onto the stage, once again rushing to Xiao Qixiu and pleading, "If I defeat this opponent, will you treat me?"

Xiao Qixiu's face darkened. What kind of contestant was this, seriously?

"I'm the referee! Who do you think you are, running over and talking to me like that?"

From the referee's stand behind them, someone chuckled. "Look at him! It hasn't been long, and Boss Xiao is already annoyed with him!"

Others also found it amusing, observing Xu Xiaoshou with great curiosity.

"Go back and stand still!" Xiao Qixiu snapped.

Xu Xiaoshou pointed at his neck, from which steam was visibly rising.

His eyes were bloodshot, but this was the referee. What could he do?

"Look, I'm all burned red! I'm a contestant, and I have the right to demand treatment!"

"Heh, you did this to yourself before the competition started. It's not my concern!"

Xiao Qixiu actually wanted to treat him, but this particular condition was beyond his capabilities; even the most skilled medical personnel wouldn't be able to help. Xu Xiaoshou would simply have to endure it.

Xu Xiaoshou's eyes lit up upon hearing this. "Oh right, what happened before the competition isn't your concern, but if I get injured *during* the competition, then I can receive treatment!"

"Yes, exactly!" He nodded emphatically, muttering loudly to himself, "And according to the rules, I must be restored to my absolute strongest state!"

Xiao Qixiu was utterly exasperated. "Get lost!"

"Zhang Fu!"

"Where is Zhang Fu? Get up here, quickly!"