The Prize

"You bastard! Give me back my treasure!"

When Ling Bao saw that such a high-grade magic weapon as the King Kong Bracelet had been snatched away in one move, and that he couldn't recall it even with hand seals and incantations, he was greatly shocked.

"Junior Brother Ling Bao, is this all you've got?"

Zheng Zetian rubbed the gold ring together and then tucked it into his sleeve.

"You'd better put in some effort. We're representing two mountains in a competition. I'm giving you a handicap. It doesn't matter if you lose, but what if you do lose?"

"Loss, loss..."

Ling Bao swallowed hard, then turned to look at his master. He saw that Real Person was watching his performance coldly without saying a word. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead. He knew that he absolutely could not lose face for his sect this time.

"You surnamed Zheng! Don't be so smug! Behold the power of my Gengjin Demon-Binding Rope!"

Ling Bao reached into his robes again, pulling out a bundle of Golden Rope with his left hand. With his right hand, he made a hand seal and silently chanted. The bundle of demon rope shot into the sky, flying like a golden snake, and came to bind Zheng Zetian!

Zheng Zetian had seen many such magical artifacts for binding and capturing people. He simply raised his hand and unleashed a burst of lightning-blue light, directly deflecting the Golden Rope, and reached out to snatch the treasure back as before.

But Ling Bao had a different idea. With a wave of his right hand, he pulled out another Golden Brick. Without making a sound, he suddenly launched a sneak attack, smashing it straight at Zheng Zetian's forehead!

Zheng Zetian grinned. He had seen this kind of trick many times before. He opened his eyes and released a black lotus from the top of his head to block it.

The Golden Brick was caught by the lotus flower and swallowed into its bud without a sound. Meanwhile, the demon-binding rope was also grabbed by Zheng Zetian. Like a golden snake being held by its vital point, it softened and was then coiled up and put away by him.

"Junior brother, do you have any other tricks up your sleeve?"

The people of Ling Bao were stunned. After a long while, they gritted their teeth and shouted.

"You're cheating! You agreed to stand still and let me hit you!"

Zheng Zetian shrugged. "How can you say I'm not just standing here letting you hit me? Fine, fine, I won't lay a hand on you, okay? Come on, come on."

"Three Divine Hardness Path Dragon! Ultimate True Gold-Piercing Slash!"

Ling Bao roared and unleashed a talisman that transformed into a dragon-shaped Divine Hardness aura. At the same time, he drew a golden sword and slashed down with a blade imbued with divine power and aura.

Zheng Zetian didn't move, riding the black lotus out to block it in front of him. The petals unfolded, directly absorbing the incoming Divine Hardness escape technique into the lotus. Ling Bao rushed over with his golden knife, slashing at the lotus, but couldn't even break the petals. The impact caused the golden knife to slip from his hand and clatter to the ground. He was completely dumbfounded.

"Wh-what..."

"What? You're out of ideas?"

Seeing him standing there dumbfounded, motionless for a long time, Zheng Zetian simply opened his mouth and spat out a bolt of lightning, which slammed into Ling Bao's chest with a loud bang! Although Ling Bao had a life-saving golden lock on his chest that flashed with golden light and neutralized most of the lightning's power, the power of the Dao still sent this lively treasure flying with a "whoa—a!" as he crashed into the table, getting his head and face covered in vegetable juice and fish soup.

Master Shang and Song Dayou exchanged a glance and coughed.

"Let's stop here..."

Real Person smiled.

"Junior Brother Zheng showed mercy. Ling Bao, do you admit defeat?"

Ling Bao was lying blankly in the soup, suddenly shuddered, scrambled to his feet, and rushed out to pick up the golden knife from the ground.

"I... I haven't lost yet! Master! I haven't lost yet!"

Real Person's expression remained completely unchanged; she simply smiled and looked at him.

"Oh, then let's continue."

Zheng Zetian sighed inwardly. This gossipy woman was indeed ruthless; she wanted this kid dead.

Ling Bao, clearly well aware of his master's temper, was now truly enraged. He ripped off the life-saving golden lock, retrieved a copper-like Golden Core pill and three golden needles carved with dragon patterns from his Storage Jade, swallowed the Golden Core in one gulp, gritted his teeth and roared, then gripped the needles in his hands and repeatedly pierced them into acupoints on his abdomen, as if committing suicide. The needles formed a triangle around his Qi Sea, and in an instant! His divine Divine Hardness Dao Breath surged! He actually pushed his Dao cultivation to the Golden Core realm! His Dao Breath even became more profound! His power far surpassed Zheng Zetian's cultivation at this moment!

"The Three Elements Return to the Ultimate --!!"

Ling Bao beckoned, and the golden knife flew into his hand. At the same time, he roared fiercely, and the blade was filled with Dao power, with golden light shining brightly. A golden dragon seemed to be coiling around it. Copper-like golden blood also overflowed from his mouth, nose and five orifices. As his Dao power increased wildly, golden droplets also seeped from the Dao Breath of his whole body. It was the high concentration of Divine Hardness in his body that was permeating out, turning him into a golden-bodied boy!

Ling Chan and Ling Juan were too frightened to speak. Everyone from Ink Bamboo Mountain turned their heads to look, and the servants and maids couldn't help but make way. Only Real Person was still smiling, whether he was watching his disciples who were fighting to the death or wondering what other skills the unfathomable Junior Brother Zheng had.

Zheng Zetian maintained his expressionless and indifferent demeanor. After all, he had seen many methods of forcibly raising one's cultivation level by external force. The methods of various sects were largely the same, involving taking pills to borrow Qi and stimulating vital points to force out one's life potential in one go and fight desperately.

Moreover, it's now clear that Ling Bao, who was chosen as someone's vessel for disintegration, is indeed quite talented. His Divine Hardness Dao Breath cultivation is incredibly pure, and he can still withstand the massive amount of true qi he gained from the secret medicine. However, this kind of secret technique that forcibly stimulates potential will more or less damage his foundation. It seems this kid is going all out.

Knowing that Ling Bao's all-out attack was no small matter, and to show respect since the other party had gone all out, Zheng Zetian raised his hand and took the black lotus into his palm. He used his evil energy to stimulate the lotus, and it grew one, two... four layers of petals, becoming the size of a real flower, just as if he had just picked a flower from the lotus pond and was holding it in his hand.

"Ultimate Truth! Break Gold! Slash!"

Ling Bao roared angrily, gathering all his life's power and condensing his Divine Hardness energy on the tip of his blade. He charged forward with the blade, aiming a thrust at Zheng Zetian's chest!

Zheng Zetian casually shook and blocked the black lotus, and the golden knife flashed a bright light, piercing into the lotus. The light was instantly extinguished, and even the first layer of the black lotus was pierced, breaking the tip of the knife directly.

He can block three lightning bolts? You think he just said that offhand...?

"How could this be...?"

Ling Bao collapsed to the ground, staring in utter astonishment at the broken sword in his hand.

Zheng Zetian ultimately yielded, brushing past Ling Bao to avoid his sudden thrust. After all, the blade was embedded in the flower petals; if he hadn't yielded, he would have stabbed the kid right there and then. The Huang family had already wrecked the place like this; he shouldn't have dirtied their carpet.

"Junior brother, you're too kind. For you to make me back down, your skill is quite good."

Zheng Zetian glanced at him and casually offered a way out.

"Aaaaaah! I didn't lose! I didn't lose! I didn't lose!!!"

Ling Bao roared in fury, wielding a broken sword and chasing after Zheng Zetian, hacking wildly at him.

Zheng Zetian casually used a lotus flower to block the attack, and the blade clanged as it struck the flower, sending shards of the blade flying everywhere.

After casually parrying a few moves, Zheng Zetian could tell that this guy's swordsmanship was clumsy, his breathing was disordered, his muscles were twitching, and golden blood was spurting from his mouth and nose. He knew that this guy couldn't control the power of the Golden Core Stage at all. This was probably the first time he had used this kind of life-or-death secret technique, and he didn't know how to exert any force. His wrist had already been broken by the sword strike just now. If he continued to go crazy, he would probably damage his meridians. If his Qi Sea was broken, he wouldn't even be able to serve as a furnace or vessel.

Please, it's one thing if you kill yourself, but what if that despicable couple sets their sights on my Dao body?

So Zheng Zetian took action.

No, it's a kick.

"Tian Shu!"

With a loud shout, Zheng Zetian's left foot, wrapped in green grass and lightning, stomped and kicked Ling Bao in the side.

Ling Bao was slashing wildly, and the impact on the flower petals made his hands and feet numb. With his hands and feet wide open, he had no time to react and was suddenly struck squarely on a vital point in his abdomen!

Although his body was protected by Divine Astral Zhenqi, the green grass lightning still broke through his defenses. He took the kick head-on, and instantly his meridians trembled violently, and his true qi became disordered. He spat out saliva with a "Ugh!" and his eyeballs bulged out.

But that's not all.

"Wailing! Guanmen! Taiyi! Daju! Liangmen! Chengman!"

Zheng Zetian shouted repeatedly, his feet moving like the wind, sometimes poking, sometimes striking, sometimes kicking, a series of rapid kicks, his legs like shadows, swift as lightning, crackling and popping as he kicked and stomped on Ling Bao's vital points in the chest and abdomen, leaving shoe prints all over his body, almost kicking Ling Bao so hard that his feet almost left the ground, and for a moment he couldn't even touch the ground!

"Guanyuan! Shenque! Mingmen!"

After sealing all of Ling Bao's vital points with a series of moves, Zheng Zetian took the opportunity to leap into the air and unleash a triple kick in the Qi Sea, using a series of heart-piercing kicks that struck directly at Ling Bao's dantian. Each of the three kicks caused Ling Bao's body to tremble violently, causing the three golden needles inserted into his abdomen to be shaken out one after another!

"Weishu Lian Quan! Chongtian Foot!"

Zheng Zetian turned and landed, then followed up with a rabbit kicking an eagle, flipped over and swung his leg back, poking Ling Bao in the stomach, sweeping along the esophagus, and with a bang, kicked backwards, aiming straight for Ling Bao's chin, sending him flying into the air!

"Puff!"

Ling Bao couldn't withstand such a combo and finishing move. He was kicked backward and sent flying, spitting out a mouthful of stomach acid mixed with blood, which caused him to expel the Golden Core he had swallowed.

"Splash!!"

Ling Bao, who had been kicked far away, smashed over another fine table of food, then kicked his legs and fell silent.

The room fell silent.

"Thank you for the concession."

Ling Bao naturally wouldn't die. Of course, he controlled his strength. If it weren't to save this fool Ling Bao's life and force out the golden needles and pills, he wouldn't have wasted so much effort. He could have just kicked him in the chest and killed him.

Zheng Zetian expressionlessly brushed the blood off his shoes, took out the gold ring, Golden Rope, Golden Brick, and broken knife he had seized, and returned them to Ling Chan and Ling Juan.

"Junior sister, this is a magical treasure from your mountain. We return it to you as is."

The two girls just stared at him like silly geese, not moving an inch.

"Hehe, hehehehahaha!"

Real Person laughed heartily.

"A competition can't be without a prize, junior brother, don't be shy, these little things are for you."

Having witnessed the brilliance of Ink Bamboo Mountain today, this trip has truly been worthwhile. I'm sure even my unworthy disciple is completely convinced!

Real Person then took out a jade box and handed it to Boss Huang.

"I was deeply grateful for your hospitality, fellow Daoist, and before I could even express my gratitude, my unworthy disciple broke the bonsai in your manor. It was due to my lax discipline, so I offer this flying sword as compensation."

Boss Huang initially wanted to decline, but Real Person was too strong; she had already tossed the sword box into his arms. Knowing that the other party was determined to settle this matter, he dared not refuse a polite offer and then bowed in gratitude.

"It is my honor to make friends with a True Cultivator of the Xuanmen sect. As it is getting late, your disciple needs to rest. My humble abode also has Spirit Pool and elixir soup. Why don't you stay at my manor for a few days before you leave, so that we can fulfill our duty as hosts?"

Real Person didn't refuse, after all, they were here to study abroad, and it wouldn't be good to make things too awkward with Ink Bamboo Mountain, so he smiled and said...

"That's enough of this rambling. I'd better go and discipline my unworthy disciple."

Then she returned the greeting to the people of Ink Bamboo Mountain, and with a wave of her hand, she summoned Ling Bao had been kicking wildly and was now unconscious and in shock with his eyes rolled back. Lingbao floated behind her and was led by a servant of the Huang family to the guest room to treat the disciple.

Since the matter had escalated so much, Ling Chan and Ling Juan dared not linger. They bowed to Zheng Zetian and followed their master.

Zheng Zetian shrugged, tidied up the gold rings, Golden Rope, and Golden Brick, and stuffed them into his Storage Jade. After all, they were all magic treasures of the Xuanmen Golden Core stage, and he estimated they could sell for tens of thousands of taels of silver.

"Ze Tian, are you alright?" Song Dayou rushed over to check his pulse.

Master Shang glanced at Song Dayou, "What injuries does he have? Didn't you see your disciple almost beat someone to death?"

"This disciple has behaved improperly and caused trouble for the sect."

Zheng Zetian offered a perfunctory apology.

Master Shang quickly said, "No, no, you fought very well. Cough cough, I mean, you used your footwork very well. Are you from the North?"

Song Dayou quickly replied, "Ze Tian is from Li Country Township; his skills are probably passed down from his elders."

Master Shang nodded, not minding at all. He slipped a pill box out of his sleeve.

"I heard from your master that you cultivate the Purple Haze Qi. This time you have brought honor to Ink Bamboo Mountain. This box of Nine Revolutions Nine Flowers Nine Treasures Danlu Pill is made from eighty-one kinds of flowers, trees and spiritual plants. It is a reward for you to use to help you cultivate."

"Thank you, Master."

Zheng Zetian immediately bowed in gratitude.

This thing is actually quite useful. It's a special elixir for cultivation, far superior to the Qi pills that are usually boiled in a furnace to refine the Purple Haze Breath. It's similar to the Divine Hardness Golden Core Elixir that Ling Bao just ate, though not as potent. After being digested in the stomach, it's like cultivating by the furnace every day.

Boss Huang also chimed in,

"Junior brother, your skills are superb, but you must be exhausted after the battle. Why don't you stay at my humble abode for a few days? I happen to have some medicinal soup in my manor that you can soak in to warm your meridians and prevent any hidden problems."

Seeing that it was getting late, Song Dayou nodded, "In that case, it would be impolite to refuse. Ze Tian, you've also expended a lot of your Dao Breath, go to the Dan Pool to recuperate first."

"It's Master."

So Zheng Zetian, accompanied by Huang An, went to the Huang Residence to recuperate using the medicinal soup Spiritual Spring.

"Daozi's skills are truly impressive! A flurry of kicks, and he was sent flying before you could even see his feet! Amazing! That's satisfying! You don't know, that coral tree was brought all the way from the South China Sea, it's priceless! And he just sent it away with a flying sword? Hmph, the Xuanmen are really something..."

Huang An offered a mix of flattery and sarcastic remarks, while Zheng Zetian remained silent with a smile.

"My family's elixir is a liquid purchased from the Ink Bamboo Mountain Grotto-Heaven. It's best for regulating your breathing and nourishing your body. By the way, should we call some maids to assist with your breathing and give you a massage?"

"No need, I'll just go into seclusion myself."

"In that case, we won't disturb your meditation any longer. If you need anything, just ring this bell to call someone."

So Zheng Zetian soaked in the Dan Pool, took a Nine-Flower Nine-Treasure Elixir Pill, and consumed it to replenish his vital energy.

Black Lotus emerged unscathed from the battle, but the use of Green Grass Thunder to enhance his foot had still somewhat depleted his Qi. He could use pills to replenish it. After all, there might be another great battle tonight. If necessary, he might even have to use this box of elixirs, like Ling Bao, to cultivate and break through to the Purple Radiance Golden Core, so that he could have two Golden Core to deal with Nangong's attack.

Just as he was regulating his breathing and calculating, someone suddenly entered the Dan Pool.

Zheng Zetian opened his eyes and saw a graceful and charming woman in the swirling clouds of elixir energy. He couldn't help but frown.

Didn't I say I didn't want a massage? Why are you so eager to send people to him...?

The woman seemed oblivious to Zheng Zetian, stepping directly into the Dan Pool. She rubbed her shoulder and let out a weary sigh. A moment later, her breath became fragrant, and she drifted off to sleep in the Dan Pool.

Hmm? What do you mean by sleeping like this by yourself?

Zheng Zetian frowned and leaned closer to examine it carefully.

Oh, you know what, I didn't recognize her at first glance since she wasn't wearing any clothes. Isn't this Madam Huang?

Wow, Boss Huang is really generous...