The Ninth Peak Master's expression was as dark as still water...
Having failed to slap another's face, only to be slapped himself, the Ninth Peak Master's face turned liver-purple beneath everyone's eyes.
The sect tournament ended with a result no one had expected, yet no one questioned it.
After everyone dispersed, Lu Tianxing stood in silence for a long time. Watching the departing figures from Starfall Peak, he turned and left with a gloomy expression.
After that, Starfall Peak shed its former desolation and became bustling.
Most of those who came were disciples who had previously abandoned Starfall Peak.
To outsiders, Starfall Peak had produced three geniuses-Su Lianxin, Wang Yan, and Qu Youmeng-because of their exceptional natural talents. But those who had once stayed at Starfall Peak knew better.
Leaving Qu Youmeng aside, back when they were still at Starfall Peak, Su Lianxin and Wang Yan had merely been ordinary disciples, not even True Disciples.
Now, they had soared to become prodigies who could overwhelm the Holy Son. No one would believe Peak Master Lin Xuan had played no part in this.
Their purpose in coming could not have been clearer: they wanted to return to Starfall Peak.
Their strength and talents were not poor-at the very least, they were better than Wang Yan's had once been. They were willing to offer their loyalty and trust to the present Starfall Peak, asking only for a chance to turn back and reach the shore.
Yang Hao was one of them.
After going through several channels, he finally managed to find Su Lianxin.
"Junior Sister Su..."
Yang Hao swallowed nervously, undisguised yearning in his eyes.
But before he could say anything else, Su Lianxin interrupted him.
"Senior Brother Yang, you haven't come to ask me to plead with Master to let you return to Starfall Peak too, have you?"
With Su Lianxin laying his thoughts bare, Yang Hao flushed.
That was indeed what he had in mind. Having it exposed so bluntly was truly embarrassing.
But... he did not feel there was anything wrong with it.
Water flowed downhill, while people strove upward. His earlier departure had only been human nature. Besides, his talent was good; even Elder Huang had praised him repeatedly...
"If that's what you have in mind too, Senior Brother Yang, then save yourself the trouble."
Su Lianxin looked at Yang Hao coldly. Though he had yet to say anything, she saw through his thoughts at a glance, and her voice grew colder still.
Su Lianxin refused him cleanly and decisively, without the slightest dithering.
"Starfall Peak isn't somewhere you can come and go as you please. Since you chose to abandon Starfall Peak and turn your back on Master, our Starfall Peak won't welcome faithless, disloyal people like you."
"Take care, Senior Brother Yang. I won't see you out."
With that, Su Lianxin's cold expression made her feelings clear, leaving no room for reconsideration.
Yang Hao's expression turned ugly. The embarrassment and frustration of being rebuffed engulfed him, but he also understood that Starfall Peak was no longer what it had once been.
Even humiliated and angry... he could do nothing but turn and leave.
As she watched his retreating figure, Su Lianxin's voice drifted after him.
"Senior Brother Yang, didn't you once urge me to leave with you? You said I would regret it."
"Now, I'll return those words to you. I want to ask: now that things have come to this, do you regret it?"
Regret?
Yang Hao paused, but neither turned nor spoke. He left without a word.
Of course he regretted it.
If he had not regretted it, he would not have returned.
Unfortunately, there truly was no medicine for regret in this world.
After watching Yang Hao leave, Su Lianxin turned back to find Lin Xuan.
Facing her master in the hall, Su Lianxin bowed respectfully.
"Master, Wang Yan and I have stopped and turned away all the disciples who wanted to return. We didn't let them disturb your peace."
"Very good." Lin Xuan praised Su Lianxin, a faint, indifferent curve rising at the corner of his lips.
Since the sect tournament ended, he had thought things through.
Neither Starfall Peak nor he needed so many disciples.
He did not need many personal disciples either. What he wanted was for every single disciple, whether his own or Starfall Peak's, to become an absolute chosen of heaven!
Starfall Peak would accept none but prodigies.
All the disciples hoping to enter its gates again were stopped without disturbing Lin Xuan's peace, but his peace did not last long.
"Master, the Holy Maiden requests an audience." Wang Yan had stopped the other disciples, but brought word that the Holy Maiden and the Peak Master of Jade Moon Peak wished to see him.
Only after Lin Xuan agreed did he bring them inside.
Unlike last time, when they had merely sent an unimportant Peak Master to win him over, this time Li Fufeng and the First Peak Master came in person.
"Fufeng greets Peak Master Lin."
Li Fufeng was thoroughly respectful, observing every courtesy. Although her exalted status as Holy Maiden meant she had no need to bow to Lin Xuan, she still offered a formal greeting.
Raising her head, Li Fufeng explained her purpose. "I've come today to present a gift in celebration of your peak's three disciples achieving the excellent result of first place."
Her gentle smile was pleasing to behold. Dressed in a moon-white silk gown, she stood graceful and elegant, with the bearing of a prodigy.
With a turn of Li Fufeng's hand, a jade box appeared in her palm. Solemnly, she handed it to Su Lianxin beside her, who presented it to Lin Xuan.
Only once the jade box reached Lin Xuan's hands did Li Fufeng continue her explanation.
"This is a top-grade fifth-rank pill, a healing spirit pill. It's a treasure I acquired at an auction a few years ago."
"I'm giving it to you as a token of gratitude, Peak Master. Without Starfall Peak lending me a hand, I would surely have fallen into eternal ruin this time. For that, I'm endlessly grateful."
That was what she felt most fortunate about.
If she had made a single wrong move this time, letting Lu Tianxing gain the upper hand and the Third Peak Master join his side, she would have been in danger!
Thinking of the Third Peak Master, Li Fufeng could not help recalling how he had previously rejected her overtures, yet after the tournament ended, he had actually approached First Peak himself. His words were courteous and sincere, without any further inclination toward Lu Tianxing.
The change was so drastic that one might wonder whether he had become a different person.
When she had sought an audience with the Third Peak Master before, it had taken three visits to his thatched cottage before he would show himself. Now, he was the one trying every means to see her. Such were the turns of time and fate...
And all of this was because of Starfall Peak...
Rippling light flickered in Li Fufeng's eyes.
She was not a fool like Lu Tianxing, casually offending a seemingly unremarkable Peak Master. Had there been any shortage of dark horses suddenly emerging in the cultivation world over the years?
She had a feeling that these people from Starfall Peak would overturn everyone's understanding and leave them all astonished.
And she would ride that momentum upward...
The position of Young Sect Master would certainly not fall into Lu Tianxing's hands!
Li Fufeng left with ambition in her heart, but Starfall Peak was destined to have no peace today.
After she left, Sect Master Xuanyang arrived on her heels, somewhat belatedly.
The sect master, whom they had never seen in days past, now displayed extreme amiability, and his gaze toward Wang Yan was positively burning.
Still, he was the sect master, with both magnanimity and bearing. After a few more glances at Wang Yan, he turned the conversation to the purpose of his visit.
"I've come to deliver the sect tournament rewards to the winners." Smiling, Sect Master Xuanyang took out three Storage Bags.
With an excellent attitude, he gave the three Storage Bags to Starfall Peak's three disciples, without saying a single inappropriate word.
"The three fine disciples Peak Master Lin has trained have truly brought glory to our Azure Yang Sword Sect."
Lin Xuan was happy to exchange a few compliments with him. Thus far, he had suffered no malice from the sect while at the Azure Yang Sword Sect, apart from that arrogant Lu Tianxing. Clearly, Sect Master Xuanyang governed well.
After a little praise, Sect Master Xuanyang excused himself and left, as though he had come solely to deliver rewards, something anyone could have done.
Since he said no more, Lin Xuan did not pry.
"Master!"
After the sect master left, Su Lianxin took only one glance at the contents of her Storage Bag before eagerly presenting them to Lin Xuan.
She was utterly sincere, her liquid eyes filled with affection and respect.
"This disciple hasn't disgraced your teachings, Master. I won first place in the sect tournament, and I wish to offer the first-place reward to you. I hope you won't disdain it."
The pill Su Lianxin presented was the reward decided upon well before the sect tournament.
A sixth-rank pill, the Mysterious Dragon Pill!
This time, the sect had truly bled to provide such a precious pill as a reward for its disciples.
Lin Xuan did not refuse. After accepting the pill, he asked her a question.
"I'll accept the pill. Is there anything you want?"
Meanwhile, he also searched his Storage Bag, considering what he could reward Su Lianxin with, but she refused outright.
She shook her head gently, a look of shame appearing on her face. "This disciple doesn't need anything. They say that when a master has work to do, the disciple should undertake the labor. I've always made you worry over me. The Mysterious Dragon Pill is my offering to you. If I still asked for a reward, I'd be utterly shameless."
She bit her lip, moisture glimmering in her stubborn eyes, her attitude utterly firm.
Warmth stirred in Lin Xuan's heart.
Taking Su Lianxin as his disciple had truly suited his taste. She knew gratitude, and was worthy of his continually investing most of his returns in her.
But rewarding Su Lianxin was not simply about rewarding her. What mattered most was the return.
Su Lianxin had given him the Mysterious Dragon Pill, so giving it back to her would not trigger a reward. After a brief moment's thought, Lin Xuan took out the fifth-rank pill in the jade box.
Before Su Lianxin could refuse, Lin Xuan said directly, "This fifth-rank pill is no use to me. You'll have to go out to gain experience eventually, so keep it to protect yourself. This isn't a reward, but your master's concern for you."
The pill he had just received from Li Fufeng had barely warmed in his hands before he gave it away again, but Lin Xuan felt no heartache at all.
After Su Lianxin accepted it with gratitude, he immediately received a return.
"Ding! Invested Spirit Recovery Pill. Return: Source Reformation Spirit Pill (eight markings) ×1."
The Source Reformation Spirit Pill was a spirit pill from High Antiquity, a top-grade seventh-rank pill that could help someone reform their physical body!
A top-grade seventh-rank pill?
Though precious, it was useless to Lin Xuan, so he tossed it into his storage ring.
After having Su Lianxin summon Wang Yan, Lin Xuan took out the Mysterious Dragon Pill without hesitation.
A Mysterious Dragon Pill with one pill marking was an absolute treasure. Lin Xuan bestowed it directly upon Wang Yan, encouraging him to keep up his efforts.
Under Wang Yan's grateful gaze, Lin Xuan triggered the Mysterious Dragon Pill's return.
"Ding! Invested Mysterious Dragon Pill. Return: Nine Netherworlds Profound Netherflame Pill ×1."
The Nine Netherworlds Netherflame Pill was an extremely unusual spirit pill from High Antiquity. Swallowing it had no particular effect, but it could help the person who took it awaken a special physique called the nine netherworlds netherflame physique.
Though the nine netherworlds netherflame physique was only a gold third-grade destiny, across the entire Profound Domain, it already far surpassed Nangong Yaoyue.
This pill suited Wang Yan perfectly. It even had the same character for flame in its name as Wang Yan's, which counted as a connection with him.
The thought flashed through Lin Xuan's mind. He took out the Nine Netherworlds Netherflame Pill and gave it to Wang Yan.
"What... is this?"
Wang Yan looked down at the pill inside the porcelain bottle, only to find that he did not recognize it at all, and voiced his confusion.
"This is a Nine Netherworlds Netherflame Pill. Taking it can awaken a special spirit physique. It's my reward for your fine results in this sect tournament."
A special spirit physique!
Despite knowing that his master had always been generous with them, Wang Yan nearly forgot to breathe, his heart utterly shaken.
Everyone knew that a special spirit physique meant extraordinary talent. This, this... his master was simply giving it to him?
Master...
Wang Yan was so excited that he did not know what to do. His face flushed with excitement, and he hurriedly bowed to thank Lin Xuan.
"Thank you for nurturing me, Master! In the days to come, this disciple will walk through boiling water and fire for you without hesitation, to repay your grace in remaking me!"
Though he lacked Su Lianxin's natural grace and cleverness, Wang Yan made up for it with honesty, sincerity, and loyalty. He was indeed a dependable disciple.
Lin Xuan waved a hand, telling him to return and take the pill himself to transform his physique. Wang Yan was so moved that even his eyes reddened.
Now, not one of Lin Xuan's three disciples was useless. All their destinies were above orange grade, utterly beyond the reach of the entire Profound Domain.
Leaving aside Su Lianxin's gold ninth-grade ice wind true blood and the gold third-grade nine netherworlds netherflame physique Wang Yan was about to awaken, even Qu Youmeng's orange ninth-grade nether water profound physique was an exceptionally monstrous and rare spirit physique.
As a result, Qu Youmeng, who had originally possessed the greatest talent, had fallen to last place.
Who knew what she would think if she found out?
Qu Youmeng had no way of knowing about the change in Wang Yan's talent, but even so, she could not feel happy.
Ever since the tournament ended, Qu Youmeng had been unable to rally her spirits even after receiving her second-place reward, remaining listless throughout.
Anyone else would have been overjoyed to take second place, but she had aimed for first. Only first place would allow her to enter the Azure Sun Secret Realm.
How could she be happy about that?
Though the rewards for second place were generous, they meant nothing to her.
With her delicate brows furrowed, she sat by the table in silent dejection, feeling increasingly unreconciled.
This was the sight that greeted Heavenly Venerable Yunli when she awakened.
"My disciple."
The call brought the pondering Qu Youmeng back to reality. Joy first lit her face, but as she recalled something, her expression quickly turned bitter again.
"What is it? Why does my disciple look so unhappy? Is something troubling you?"
Accompanied by a woman's lilting voice, tinged with amusement, a graceful, pure-white figure drifted into view beside Qu Youmeng in soul form.
She was a woman who looked to be in her twenties, with a slender figure and a serene face. A closer look revealed that she was a few degrees more beautiful than Qu Youmeng. Qu Youmeng herself was already a rare beauty, yet this soul was even more breathtakingly beautiful, like a graceful fairy.
She was none other than the Heavenly Venerable Realm soul within Qu Youmeng.
She was also Qu Youmeng's master.
With the sect tournament over, she had finally...
Awakened.
The first thing Heavenly Venerable Yunli did upon awakening was make a brief calculation on her fingers, and a hint of bewilderment crossed her face.
"I actually slept for so long? My disciple, has the sect tournament ended?"
"Did you take first place?"