Chapter 105: Returning in Complete Victory

Before Lin Cheng could react, the figure of True Person Cangfeng stood before him.

Clad in white robes whiter than snow, his white hair drifted in the wind. With his hands clasped behind his back and his head held high, he stood like a righteous sword, gazing calmly at the Ziyang Sect Master opposite him. He spoke softly, "Brother Ziyang, do you intend to strike at a junior?"

The Ziyang Sect Master stepped forward until he was right in front of True Person Cangfeng. He stopped and said with an expressionless face, "Your disciple’s aura is too malicious. If not properly disciplined, I fear he will bring great calamity upon your Qingyang Sect in the future."

"Why not let him remain in my Ziyang Sect for a time? I shall use the Mind-Clarifying Technique handed down by our ancestors to help him clear his heart, see his true nature, purge his inner demons, and advance his sword path..."

"As for his safety, Brother Cangfeng, you may rest easy. With all these eyes upon us, I can guarantee he will not meet with any accidents."

The Ziyang Sect Master made no attempt to hide his words, and all present heard them clearly. For a moment, everyone exchanged confused glances. What was going on? Was the Ziyang Sect trying to forcibly detain Lin Cheng?

It seemed so.

For such a monstrous talent, the Ziyang Sect’s intentions were clear as day. The offer of guidance was a pretense; taking him for their own use was the truth. The excuse of purging inner demons was a lie; ensuring no future trouble was the goal.

On their jade chairs, the heads of the great families grew restless.

Dongfang Han and Huangpu Zun watched the scene quietly with enigmatic smiles. True Person Shenshang and Daoist Zhenyang were prepared to intervene at a moment's notice. The head of the Changsun family remained calm, his thoughts unreadable.

Ximen Wudi and Zhao Kuo exchanged a glance before turning their attention to the Qingyang Sect Leader. Clearly, the Ziyang Sect’s actions were the last thing they wanted to see. If such a peerless genius were to emerge from their own sects or families one day, would the Ziyang Sect treat them the same way?

They decided then and there that they could not stand idly by.

True Person Cangfeng stood indifferently, yet he observed everything. He took a step forward and looked calmly at the Ziyang Sect Master. "My disciple requires no concern from you. If you feel your own disciple’s defeat was unjust and you, as his master, wish to stand up for him... then why not let me experience your superior skills?"

A sword intent soared into the sky. Needle against wheat, a great battle was imminent!

"Let them leave!" A mental transmission echoed in the Ziyang Sect Master’s mind just as he was about to strike. He immediately unclenched his fist, which had been coiled with power.

He stroked his beard and let out a light laugh. "Brother Cangfeng, you are too tense. Since your sect does not wish for him to stay and cultivate the Mind-Clarifying Technique, then so be it." He turned to Lin Cheng, his face softening into a benevolent mask. "Young brother, you are impressive. When you have time in the future, do come to our sect for an exchange. The sect’s library is open for your browsing."

Those gathered below scoffed inwardly; had it not been for the previous display, they might have actually believed him.

Lin Cheng offered a hollow laugh. "Many thanks for the Ziyang Sect Master’s kindness, but let us speak of that later." He then added, "And what about the tournament rewards? When will I receive them?"

His words left everyone stunned. This fellow was actually still thinking about the rewards at a time like this! But then again, the reward was no small sum.

"Very well, I shall present the tournament rewards to you personally..." The Ziyang Sect Master’s face twitched as he waved his hand, producing a storage bag and a jade bottle. "This contains one hundred thousand spirit stones and a Golden Essence Pill... As for the one thousand spirit stones of your choice, what attributes do you require?"

Lin Cheng took the bag and the bottle, checked them, and found the one hundred thousand spirit stones as promised, with a round, golden pill floating inside the bottle. He hesitated for a moment before saying, "Can I choose any attribute for the spirit stones? For instance... wind or lightning?"

True Person Cangfeng cast a surprised look at Lin Cheng. This young disciple was truly bold. Spirit stones with special attributes were so rare they were practically priceless. One thousand of them... the Ziyang Sect would likely feel the sting of this loss.

The Ziyang Sect Master’s eyelid twitched, and his expression darkened significantly. He said in a deep voice, "The tournament has been held by the three sects in rotation for years, and the rewards have remained largely unchanged. In hundreds of years, you are the first to dare request spirit stones of rare attributes."

"However, I am curious. You possess a metal-attribute spiritual root; why would you choose spirit stones of a different attribute?"

Lin Cheng rubbed his chin. "I was just asking. Since it was stated that the champion receives one thousand spirit stones of their choice, it never specified they had to be within the five basic elements. As for what I intend to do with them? I can give them away... that need not concern you, Senior!"

The Ziyang Sect Master suppressed his emotions and, after a moment of contemplation, asked, "Would you prefer wind-attribute or lightning-attribute, young brother Lin?"

Lin Cheng’s eyes brightened. He hadn't expected such a casual question to yield such a result. He immediately replied, "Wind-attribute."

Enduring the pain of his loss, the Ziyang Sect Master tossed over another storage bag. He then turned to True Person Cangfeng and said, "From today on, fifty percent of the spirit stone proceeds from the Tianyu Mine shall belong to your Qingyang Sect."

True Person Cangfeng finally revealed a smile, stroked his beard, and nodded. "Many thanks, Brother Ziyang."

After they descended from the stage, the presiding elder finally appeared to distribute the tournament rewards to the finalists of each sect.

With that, the Three Sects Tournament concluded successfully.

***

In front of the Ziyang Sect’s main plaza, everyone bid their farewells.

"Brother Qingyang, Brother Zhao, do come visit my Xisha Sect whenever you have the time..." Ximen Wudi clasped his hands in a salute, while his disciples exchanged parting words with their acquaintances from the other two sects.

"Certainly, certainly..."

"Head of the Dongfang family, would you care to accompany me to the Huangpu estate for a talk?" Huangpu Zun asked Dongfang Han, their eyes meeting with hidden significance.

"Perhaps you might include me? I, too, have matters to discuss with Brother Huangpu..." Daoist Zhenyang stepped forward and joined their conversation.

Behind the Qingyang Sect Leader, Dong Wuwang approached Liu Feng and the others with Li Zhentian in tow. He scanned the crowd, and upon failing to find Lin Cheng, he turned his gaze to Liu Feng. "I never imagined your Qingyang Sect could produce such a figure, aside from you and Dongfang Yu... It seems the seat of the number one in your Qingyang Sect may soon change hands."

Liu Feng replied, "In the path of cultivation, the strong prevail. I am truly happy for my Junior Brother Lin, who has surpassed his master and peers. There is no need for you to stir up trouble here."

Dong Wuwang laughed softly, shaking his head with a sigh. "Alas, it is a pity. I have lost one more opponent from this day forward..."

Liu Feng understood the subtext: Dong Wuwang no longer considered him a worthy opponent. The contempt was plain.

Seeing his senior brother being mocked, Niu Shisan jumped in, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I wonder who it was that was groveling and trembling under our Little Lin’s sword, their soul wandering off to the edges of the heavens in fear."

"You..." Li Zhentian started to step forward but was stopped by a wave of Dong Wuwang’s hand. Dong Wuwang took a deep breath and said calmly, "I admit I am no match for Lin Cheng... but aside from him, I truly do not hold anyone else in your Qingyang Sect in high regard."

Liu Feng straightened his white robes and smiled. "Who can say what the future holds? Perhaps when we meet again, you will be nothing more than an ant in the eyes of that elephant..."

Dong Wuwang’s eyes narrowed, then he laughed heartily. "Whether I am the elephant or the ant, time will reveal the truth... I wish you a smooth journey back."

"I accept your well wishes. Farewell."