Everyone present stared at Mu Yan with wide eyes, shock churning in their hearts like towering waves!
When had Mu Yan become a Golden Core Realm expert?
Even the Mu Household had only a dozen or so Golden Core Realm experts.
Had he truly stumbled upon some fortuitous encounter during his travels?
Mu Lei was so excited that he wanted to throw his head back and roar. His son was no useless fool, no piece of trash-he was a Golden Core Realm expert!
In that same blink of an eye, a ball of flame appeared in Mu Yan's hand, and the temperature of the surrounding air abruptly soared.
He charged straight into the crowd, sweeping through a swath of the Mu Household's youths with unstoppable might.
The scorching flames seemed to transform into fire dragons, surging back and forth across the arena and unleashing astonishing power!
Against a Golden Core Realm expert, these youths' pride and arrogance crumbled at a touch. A single move scorched them black from head to toe before they were knocked out of the arena.
Mu Tingting felt flames of unprecedented heat rush toward her face. She instinctively swung her sword to block, but its dazzling light proved utterly fragile.
A fire dragon blasted her away, and she crashed hard onto the ground, coughing up a large mouthful of blood.
"What happened to his strength? Why has he become so powerful?"
Mu Tingting's heart filled with horror, confusion, and disbelief.
To her, Mu Yan was no longer a genius worthy of her admiration and affection. They were simply not on the same level.
Yet as she gazed up at the tall figure shrouded in brilliant flames on the platform, she suddenly felt immense regret.
Had the former genius returned to his throne?
Was he about to shine with boundless brilliance and suppress everyone once again?
If that were truly the case, had her choice become the wrong one?
A blast of flame also struck Mu Kun in the chest. Its terrifying force and heat took half his life, sending him flying backward like a tattered burlap sack. He only stopped after smashing through a massive pillar in the distance.
"Cough, cough!"
He struggled out of the rubble, clutching his caved-in chest with his left hand. His eyes filled with terror and shock as he looked at Mu Yan.
"His strength has recovered? No, he's even stronger than before!"
Mu Kun felt as weak as an ant before Mu Yan, unable to withstand a single blow.
Those terrifying flames seemed capable of burning all things. Merely drawing a little closer threatened to burn away the spiritual power inside their bodies!
The fear of once being dominated by Mu Yan surged into his heart again.
That flaming figure on the platform looked like a fire god of High Antiquity walking the world, his entire body radiating extreme heat and an invincible presence!
"I lost..."
Whether from fear, unwillingness, or pain, his whole body began to tremble. He spat out another mouthful of blood and promptly passed out.
"What?"
The First Elder, Second Elder, and the others could no longer remain seated. The chairs beneath them shattered into powder, and their presences grew turbulent.
They stared at Mu Yan in shock, scarcely able to believe their eyes!
As far as they knew, Mu Yan was still a useless fool, a good-for-nothing who did nothing but spout arrogant boasts and was of no use to the Lineage.
Surrounded and attacked by dozens of Foundation Establishment Realm experts, he should have died a miserable death!
Yet none of them had expected every young member of the Mu Household to be overwhelmingly defeated in a single exchange.
Even the strongest, Mu Tingting and Mu Kun, had suffered crushing defeats!
The situation had changed so quickly that before they could even react, Mu Yan had cleared the entire arena single-handedly!
The remaining, younger children of the Mu Household gaped, unable to utter a word for a long while.
Over the past few years, Mu Yan's reputation as a good-for-nothing had become deeply ingrained in everyone's minds. Even children under ten looked down on him, believing that only Mu Kun deserved to be number one.
Yet now, the strongest idol in the children's hearts had proved so vulnerable before Mu Yan. His invincible image in their hearts shattered in an instant.
The five- and six-year-old children broke down completely and burst into tears on the spot!
To their young hearts, this was nothing short of an unprecedented shock!
Only Mu Lei laughed heartily with joy. Unable to wait, he transformed into a streak of golden light and appeared beside Mu Yan, tears streaming down his aged face in his excitement.
"I knew it, I knew it! My son was never a good-for-nothing! Who among you still dares call my son Mu Yan a good-for-nothing now?"
Brimming with pride, Mu Lei roared at everyone around him, determined to vent all the anger and grievances he had accumulated over the years!
The facts proved that his son was not merely far from useless-he was an unparalleled genius!
Which Lineage had ever produced a Golden Core Realm expert this young?
His gaze full of mockery and provocation, Mu Lei looked at the First Elder and demanded loudly, "First Elder, Yan'er defeated everyone single-handedly. Who do you say should be declared champion?"
The First Elder, Second Elder, and the other senior figures exchanged looks, their feelings complicated, unable to make up their minds.
Mu Yan's resurgence was equivalent to a vicious slap across their faces, and none of them wanted to acknowledge it.
Yet his achievements were plain for all to see!
Considering that Mu Yan was already a Golden Core expert and was indeed qualified to lead the younger generation once more, the First Elder could only say, "Mu Yan's strength is astonishing. He is the champion of the Lineage tournament!"
With that, members of the Mu Household carried out the champion's rewards.
The first box opened, revealing an azure pill lying inside and giving off a delicate fragrance. It was none other than the precious third-grade Mystic Azure Pill!
In the Desolate Immortal Great World, first-grade pills were the lowest quality, and the higher the grade, the more precious they became. Third-grade pills were extremely precious even to experts who had just entered the Golden Core Realm.
The second box contained a jade slip recording a cultivation method that only successive heads of the Household were permitted to practice. It was a Mystic Grade cultivation method.
A Mystic Grade cultivation method might not amount to much in a great sect, but to a small Lineage like the Mu Household, it was extraordinarily precious.
After all, the vast majority of the Mu Household could only practice Spirit Grade cultivation methods, one grade lower.
The treasure held in the third box was a longsword gleaming with cold light. Its grade had already reached the Mystic Artifact level!
Just as Mystic Grade cultivation methods were precious, the Mu Household possessed fewer than five Mystic Artifacts!
Receiving so many rewards at once would tempt even a veteran expert like the First Elder, let alone youngsters in the Foundation Establishment Realm!
Mu Lei was also exceptionally excited as he looked at the three treasures. With their help, Yan'er's strength would surely rise another level!
"Mu Yan, accept the rewards that belong to you! Lead the Mu Household to greater heights in the future and forge unsurpassed glory!"
The First Elder reminded him expressionlessly.
He had thought it through as well. His own selfish desires and preferences could not take precedence over the Lineage's fate.
Mu Yan was indeed the most suitable person to become the Lineage's future leader.
Everyone's eyes converged on Mu Yan once again, waiting for him to accept the honor.
Yet one corner of Mu Yan's mouth curled up in a mocking, contemptuous smile. He spoke in a cool voice, "Champion? I don't care for it! These things aren't worthy of my notice either!"
He had never returned for the championship in the first place.
Besides, as the eldest disciple of Kunlun Holy Land, could the cultivation methods he practiced and the resources he enjoyed possibly be compared to this little pile of junk before him?
If he accepted this garbage, he would instead disgrace his master!
His decision took everyone completely by surprise. The atmosphere chilled once again, and silence fell all around, every gaze filled with self-doubt!