Hao Ren was clear in his words, he wanted Tian Teicong to accept that he lost, because that was the whole point, and their was a trap hidden in this contest. The contest started when they both swore an heavenly oath. Unless the result was settled, they were both bound to deal with anything and anyone that came to fight them with just the weapons they were holding on.

Tian Teicong grit his teeth and Hao Ren said, "Do you think that you can get away from this trap without admitting defeat?"

Tian Teicong opened his eyes wide, he didn't think that Hao Ren would realize this, but not only did this guy realize the trap, he even raised it publicly. Hao Ren raised his sword and walked over towards Tian Teicong and said, "You have five breaths to decide, if you didn't accept your defeat, then I will just chop your head off. I willnot hold back in the name of chivalry. I am one of the most vindictive people to exist in this world."

*Indeed, the author can definitely testify to that, after all, he gave you a plot twist and you turned him into a beggar.*

Hao Ren didn't respond to the system, as his focus was locked onto Tian Teicong, and indeed, he raised his sword as soon as three breaths passed, and on the fourth second, Hao Ren charged the sword with spiritual energy and sword intent. The next moment he stared at Tian Teicong dead in his eyes and lowered his blade. Just when his blade was about to cut through the flesh, Tian Teicong yelled, "I admit defeat!"

Hao Ren stopped his sword was resting on the skin of Tian Teicong's neck. The latter was panting and sweating. The surrounding people thought that it was going to be a real blood shed.

Hao Ren stepped back and said, "I am aware that your master has been secluding himself in the small world and trying to perceive the artifact, I am not here for the artifact, I have already achieved what I wanted to, I just want him to come forward and understand what is wrong with him."

Tian Teicong looked at Hao Ren, his eyes were filled with some vexation, some blame, and also rage. However, in front of strength, the weak could only shut up and obey. This was how the world worked. Tian Teicong said, "I can call my master, but after that, you will be on your own."

Leo shrugged and replied, "Don't worry, I don't mind it at all. I am used to facing psychophaths."

Tian Teicong clenched his fist and yelled, "You dare to disrespect my master."

Hao Ren looked at him and then his foot was directly hitting Tian Teicong on his face, which send the latter flying to a distance before he crashed in the protection barrier. The young man said, "You should understand that your status before me is that of a defeated opponent who almost died. You have resorted to tricks all these years to rule the city while your job was to serve the council to the best of your abilities and escalate the status of the path. However, you aren't entirely at fault, your master is also one retarded persona that taught you this way.

His words gained a nod from all the people around them, and Hao Ren said, "Call over Elder Hamil."

Tian Teicong shook his head as he stood up from the ground and he took out a Jade Plate and crushed it, as he said, "Master, please come out. I have lost the contest. The winner wishes to see you."

A spiritual phantom appeared in the void, it was sourced from the crushed powder, and the image was that of an old man. The phantom looked around before he asked, "Xiao Cong, who is the winner?"

Tian Teicong pointed at Hao Ren and Hamil's phantom looked at Hao Ren before the old phantom said, "Good, since you managed to defeat Xiao Cong, I understand that you skill and talent must be at least on par with him if not higher. Come be my disciple and I will teach you all that you need to know."

Hao Ren smiled and then he broke into laughter before he replied, "You really take yourself a bit too seriously, Old Sir. I am not going to agree to be your disciple, you need to understand that you are not qualified to be my master."

The people were shocked, although they were not fans of the old man but to say that he was not qualified to be his teacher, Hao Ren looked very arrogant. The old man's phantom furrowed its brows and asked, "Do you know who you are talking to?"

Hao Ren nodded and replied, "I am talking to an old man who thinks that he is above everyone else, and also an insecure coward who hid away the relics left behind by the elders of the previous generation for the betterment of the newcomers. That much information is enough."

Hamil's voice became cold and he asked, "Who are you?"

Hao Ren smiled and replied, "I am the one you should bow to. Ignorant to the point that you overlooked my saint halo. Perhaps it is because my halo is from my comprehension of sword arts that you are looking down on me."

Hamil snorted and replied, "So, what if you are a sword saint? So what if you can refine high level weapons? To match your potential you will need a saint weapon, and for that, I am your best shot. I am closest to anyone in terms of comprehension of the path. Are you sure that you should have this high of a tone before me?"

Hao Ren chuckled, then he started laughing loudly. He was so amused and angry at the same time that the people shivered when they saw him. Hao Ren replied, "Old man, let me show you how big the sky outside your well is."

As he said this, he said, 'Manifest the second Halo.'

He channeled his thoughts to the system, who unlocked the restrictions on his body and then a torrent of spiritual energy rushed through her body before it began to manifest into a second halo. The people who had yet to stand up were shocked, and some even fainted.

The weak of the heard couldn't understand what was going on, but Grandmaster Amira replied, "Fucking hell!"

All the elders looked at her for explanation. Amira said, "The halo of refining dao."

The elders shivered, and Hao Ren said, "Do you realize who you are talking to?"

The phantom seemed to have frozen due to some issue, but the next moment a void portal opened next to Tian Teicong, who was cluelessly unaware about things happening around him. In his mind there was only one thought, 'How can he be a refining saint? How is this possible? No, I must be dreaming.'

Hao Ren broke him, but he couldn't care less about it. His gaze was focused on the void portal as he asked, "So, you finally realized what you were missing?"

The figure of an old man emerged from the portal and while some people gasped, some people sighed, even after all these years Hamil was still obsessed with the saint halo as he was back then.

Hamil walked through the void and appeared before Hao Ren before he asked, "How did you get this? How did you become the saint?"

Hao Ren wanted to say many things but he frowned. This old man was still not giving up on his obsession and he decided to stay silent. His silence ticked Hamil even more and he unleashed his Heavenly Soldier Aura. Hao Ren stood unaffected from the aura and said, "All these years inside the small world, you have been using your cultivation base to survive, you have long ran dry, haven't you?"

As he said this, the old man shivered, and he looked at Hao Ren with gloomy red eyes, "Tell me what is the secret? How did you reach this realm? What is it that I am lacking?"

Hao Ren replied with a smile and replied, "You are lacking the vision. The path of dao is like a river, meanwhile you have been living in the same place for the last few centuries. You have no idea how the world has changed and you have no indea what is new. How can you breakthrough after you focus only on the bottleneck? That is the secret."

He sighed, but Hamil didn't seem to believe him and replied, "You are speaking nonsense. Since you will not tell me what is the secret, you can die."

That said, the old leader of the council took out a sword and wanted to attack, when he was stopped by a huge pillar of flames that surrounded him, and Hao Ren said, "Since you don't wish to give up. You can rest."

He decided to finish the old man once and for all.