Inside the main hall, after calming Yun Yun, Lin Ming looked at Hua Jin and the other person and said, "A competition is certainly no problem, but the price for it seems rather ridiculous."
After speaking, Lin Ming glanced at Hua Jin and the Demonic Flower Evil Lord, whose faces were grim, and continued in a completely calm voice:
"You, Hua Jin, won, and you'll receive the inherited Dou Qi from Granny Hua Yun Yun that wasn't originally yours, greatly increasing your strength and potentially allowing you to break through to a higher realm. But you lost, and all you get is a casual 'I won't bother you anymore,' without any real loss. Acting Sect Master Hua Jin, do you really think there's such a cheap deal in this world?"
Lin Ming's words were clear and logical, directly pointing out the unfairness in this so-called "fair competition," which made many of the Flower Sect disciples who originally favored Hua Jin and some neutral elders nod slightly in agreement.
Indeed, without an equal stake, this competition would be too disadvantageous for Yun Yun's side.
Hua Jin's eyes narrowed slightly, a cold glint in them, and she sneered, "Hmph, sharp-tongued! If this sect loses, Yun Yun can leave the Flower Sect safely, and no one in the Flower Sect will stop her. Isn't that enough?"
"If that's all there is to it, then there's no need for a competition. I can take Yun Yun away right now!" Lin Ming's expression turned slightly cold, and his tone suddenly became icy.
He did not come to beg for peace, but to reclaim what rightfully belonged to Yun Yun, so a simple "let her go" was far from enough.
"You dare! What do you take my Flower Sect for? Someone you can come and go as you please?"
Upon seeing this, Hua Jin's expression changed, and she shouted sharply like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, trying to intimidate people with the power of the Flower Sect.
"Even if you manage to leave the Flower Sect today with some skill, the Flower Sect's kill order will inevitably follow you for the rest of your life! Making it impossible for you to move an inch in the Middle Continent!"
This threat is indeed extremely intimidating to ordinary Dou Venerate. As one of the two sects, Flower Sect has a profound foundation, and its pursuit is no child's play.
However, upon hearing this, Lin Ming scoffed. Far from showing fear, his face revealed an undisguised mockery. Lin Ming's gaze flashed like lightning as he stepped forward and said to Hua Jin, "If you have the guts, then come and hunt me down at the Five Elements Sect! And dare you repeat 'hunt me down' to its face?!"
Before he finished speaking, a chilling and terrifying aura, vast as an abyss, suddenly surged out from the spatial ripples beside Lin Ming! An Ice Puppet, its entire body shimmering with metallic luster, its empty eyes exuding an aura that made one's soul tremble, silently appeared beside him.
That aura was incredibly powerful, clearly reaching the level of Nine-Star Dou Venerate!
A chilling Killing Intent spread like a tangible force, instantly enveloping the entire hall and causing the temperature to plummet. Some of the weaker disciples couldn't help but shiver, their faces turning pale.
"Nine-Star Dou Venerate Puppet?!"
Sensing this powerful aura that far surpassed that of everyone present, Hua Jin's angry expression instantly froze, replaced by shock and disbelief.
The Demonic Flower Evil Lord beside her also suddenly narrowed his eyes, abruptly stopped waving his folding fan, and his nonchalant expression vanished completely, replaced by an extremely solemn one.
"The Five Elements Sect? You're from the Five Elements Sect?" Hua Jin exclaimed, her voice trembling slightly.
The Flower Sect's higher-ups had naturally heard of the Five Elements Sect, a newly emerging force that had risen rapidly by occupying the Ice River Valley in the northern part of the Central Region of the Central Plains and had only been established for two years.
The most renowned figure in their sect was not the Sect Master Lin Ming, but rather the Great Elder of Five Elements Sect Yao Tianhuo, who was known as the Heavenly Flame Venerate.
His actual strength is at the Peak Nine-Revolution Dou Venerate!
With such powerful figures in charge, the Five Elements Sect is no longer afraid of established forces like the Flower Sect. Unless the two Half Sage Old Ancestor of the Flower Sect, who have been in seclusion for many years and do not concern themselves with worldly affairs, come out of seclusion, they will be unable to suppress them at all.
But clearly, it's wishful thinking to expect the Old Ancestor to be alarmed by Hua Jin's petty power struggles.
What's even more frightening is Lin Ming himself, the Sect Master of the Five Elements Sect!
As the Sect Master of the Five Elements Sect, although he is not the strongest in the sect, he has another identity that resounds Middle Continent — the Pill Gathering Champion!
Moreover, he is a champion whose achievements far surpass those of previous champions. During the Pill Gathering, he successfully refined a top-grade Tier 8 Medicinal Pill that triggered Eight-and-a-Half-Colored Pill Lightning, which made people realize how exquisite his alchemy skills were. As a result, many people hailed him as the number one in hundreds of years!
At this time, many people in the Middle Continent believed that it wouldn't be long before he could surpass the Venerable Yao, who was known as the number one alchemist on the Dou Qi Number One Alchemist of the Continent, and seize his title.
How terrifying must the power of an Eighth-Rank Alchemy Grandmaster, who is so young yet already commands the admiration of many renowned Old Monster, be? Countless powerful figures and forces in the Middle Continent are eager to have him owe them a favor.
So you want to hunt him down? Don't even mention that Hua Jin is just an acting Sect Master. Even if she really became the official Sect Master, if she issued such an order, the Flower Sect would probably not approve it first, and there would even be elders who would directly stop it.
No one wants to easily offend a giant in the Yao Realm, especially one who is poised to become the number one Yao Realm.
At this moment, Lin Ming ignored Hua Jin and the other person whose expressions were constantly changing. He had indeed been a bit arrogant just now, which would make people think that he was slapping the face of the Flower Sect. If this caused some real Old Monster to appear, it would be bad. So at this moment, Lin Ming suddenly raised his gaze and looked at the Flower Sect lush mountains surrounded by clouds and mist, with their auras hidden, and clasped his fists and said loudly.
"My name is Lin Ming. I have come to your esteemed sect without prior notice. I hope you seniors will forgive me if I have caused any trouble!"
Lin Ming's voice, carried by his powerful Dou Qi, spread out like rolling thunder, eventually resounding throughout the entire world, demonstrating his respect for the senior expert of the Flower Sect.
From the moment he stepped into the core area of the Flower Sect, his Soul Power keenly sensed that several extremely powerful and hidden auras were lurking in those mountains. The owners of these auras were probably at least at the Eight-Star Dou Venerate, and might even have reached the Peak Dou Venerate.
These must be the older generation of powerful figures in the Flower Sect who disregard worldly affairs and devote themselves to cultivation.
Lin Ming maintained a necessary level of caution towards these old monsters, so he took the initiative to speak up, both to identify himself and to show them sufficient courtesy.
"Lin Ming? He's the Lin Ming Pill Gathering Champion?"
"The Five Elements Sect Master? He's so young!"
"No wonder he dared to venture into the Flower Sect alone; so he has such a background and confidence..."
At this moment, a commotion suddenly arose around the square outside, and the Flower Sect disciples looked at Lin Ming with curiosity and amazement.
The title of Pill Gathering Champion carries unparalleled appeal in the Middle Continent, especially for the Flower Sect disciples who mostly cultivate water and Wood Attribute Cultivation Method. The significance of a high-level Alchemy Grandmaster is even more extraordinary.
"So it's the Pill Gathering Champion, Sect Master Lin Ming the Five Elements Sect, who has graced us with his presence. I have no honor in welcoming you."
Shortly after Lin Ming's shout, a hoarse and aged voice, like an ancient bell, slowly emanated from the deepest part of the mountains, echoing above the square.
The voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable air of authority. "If there is time in the future, the Flower Sect will certainly send someone to visit the Five Elements Sect..."
These words acknowledged Lin Ming's identity and status, and also implied a desire for equal interaction between sects, thus giving Lin Ming a clear response.
Lin Ming felt slightly reassured, and respectfully cupped his hands again in the direction from which the voice came, demonstrating impeccable manners.
Then, Lin Ming turned his gaze back to Hua Jin, whose expression was uncertain and who looked as uncomfortable as if she had swallowed a fly. He smiled faintly and said, "Well? Acting Sect Master Hua Jin, can we talk about the 'price' now?"
"Hua Jin, since Mr. Lin Ming has made this request, let's hear what he has to say."
On the left side directly below the main hall, an old woman who had been resting with her eyes closed and dressed in a plain elder's robe slowly opened her eyes and spoke in a calm voice.
She was a highly respected elder within the Flower Sect, whose status was so revered that even the acting Sect Master Hua Jin, had to show her deference.
Even this elder had spoken, so Hua Jin, despite her immense resentment, could only force herself to suppress it, gritting her teeth and squeezing out a few words: "You... what do you have to say? Speak quickly!"
She knew that after Lin Ming revealed his identity and displayed that terrifying Ice Puppet, the advantage she had previously built up based on her strength and identity had vanished.
Lin Ming remained calm and said loudly, "It's very simple. If we lose this competition, Yun Yun will voluntarily transfer all of her Dou Qi inheritance to you. But if you lose..."
Lin Ming paused, his gaze sharp as he fixed on Hua Jin, and said, "The position of Flower Sect Leader, I request that you, the current Sect Master, return it to Yun Yun! Return it to its rightful owner!"
These words caused another uproar in the audience!
"So you're after the position of Flower Sect Leader!" Hua Jin's face instantly turned icy cold as she stared at Lin Ming like a venomous snake, her anger turning into a mocking laugh.
The situation she feared most and least wanted to see was finally brought to the forefront by Lin Ming.
"Lin Ming, I really have no interest in being the Sect Master, so please don't make things worse!" Yun Yun, who was standing to the side, quickly grabbed Lin Ming's sleeve and whispered urgently.
At this moment, her personality was no longer what it was when she was in the Misty Cloud Sect. Now she wanted peace and quiet, and did not want to be bound by the mundane affairs of the sect. She also did not want to cause Lin Ming to be completely opposed to the entire Flower Sect because of herself.
Lin Ming gently patted Yun Yun's hand to reassure her, then looked at Hua Jin with a cold smile, his voice rising several decibels so that everyone could hear. "Coveting?"
"Hua Jin, you seem to have misunderstood something! The former Flower Sect Leader, Granny Hua, passed the Sect Master to Yun Yun, and even handed over the token, the sect Sect Master Jade Token! But you, shameless and brazen, took advantage of Yun Yun's new arrival and unstable foundation, and used your years of connections within the sect to forcibly seize the Jade Tablet and declare yourself acting sect Sect Master!"
"Right now, I'm merely helping Yun Yun retrieve what Granny Hua personally gave her before she passed away! Who, then, is coveting what doesn't belong to them?"
These words were like a sharp sword, piercing the darkest and most shameful corner of Hua Jin's heart, completely tearing away her self-deceiving veil of shame!