The Xingwu Emperor had once been dismissive of Lin Yun, never taking him seriously.
Yet this very youth, whom he had overlooked, had in the blink of an eye defeated all the contestants, proving with his strength that he was the most outstanding among the younger generation of the Xingwu Empire!
From now on, he could no longer underestimate Lin Yun!
“Wow, champion! This guy actually became the Wanhua Tournament champion! Father, your daughter told you long ago that he’s a prodigy, yet you said he’d never catch your eye, surely you can’t look down on him now?” Jin Yao’er jumped up excitedly.
Such an outcome was beyond even her expectations.
“Yao’er, you little rascal,” the Xingwu Emperor shook his head with a smile, tinged with a hint of bitterness.
“According to Wanhua Banquet tradition, the champion is invited to the palace front to share a drink with the Emperor and receive the Xingwu Emperor’s reward!” the Commander of the Imperial Guard proclaimed.
On the stage.
Hearing this, Lin Yun first surveyed the entire arena.
Seeing millions of guests all gazing at him, Lin Yun felt a mix of emotions, his heart swirling with complex feelings.
“Cham… champion…”
Lin Yun murmured softly, his hands trembling slightly, his eyes glistening with tears.
From his initial arrival on the cultivation continent to seizing the championship today, Lin Yun had no idea how much hardship he’d endured, how much inhuman torment he’d suffered!
He had never complained of bitterness or pain, for this was the price one must pay on the path to becoming a powerhouse, with no one to rely on in the cultivation continent, he had only himself to fight for!
Today’s victory proved that all of Lin Yun’s efforts, all the suffering he’d borne, had been worth it!
Then, Lin Yun raised his head, standing tall, and strode forward!
Before the grand hall.
Under the gaze of countless onlookers, amid endless envious stares, Lin Yun approached the Xingwu Emperor.
“Xingwu Emperor,” Lin Yun clasped his fists.
Lin Yun remained neither servile nor overbearing, he knew the Xingwu Emperor had once belittled him, but he had proven himself with his strength!
“Lin Yun, I rarely misjudge people, but this time, you’ve well and truly slapped me in the face,” the Xingwu Emperor said.
Prince Jin Yi, seated nearby, frowned at Lin Yun’s mere fist-clasping gesture, “Lin Yun, you’ve won the championship, yet you don’t kneel to thank my father, do you not understand etiquette?”
“I won the championship by my own efforts,” Lin Yun replied.
*Bang!*
“How dare you talk back!? To defy this prince, just how bold are you!”
Seeing Lin Yun’s response, Jin Yi slammed the table and stood up, a flash of anger crossing his face.
Lin Yun’s public retort clearly made him feel humiliated.
A refined Immortal nearby chuckled, “What this lad said isn’t wrong, he won by his own strength, the one he should thank for the victory is indeed himself, not the Xingwu Emperor.”
The scruffy Immortal, stroking his beard with a laugh, added, “I agree, besides, this lad’s got guts, unafraid of royal authority, I like him! A cultivator needs backbone, needs courage! A weak-willed cultivator will never amount to much!”
Seeing the Immortals defend Lin Yun, Prince Jin Yi found himself in an awkward spot, unsure whether to stand or sit, visibly embarrassed.
Jin Yao’er quickly chimed in, “Exactly, exactly, this guy’s got character, he’s no flatterer, that’s his greatest trait.”
Jin Yao’er ‘admired’ Lin Yun largely for this reason, she was used to seeing sycophants, even among talented figures, who only ever fawned over her, which she found repulsive, but Lin Yun was different.
“Yi’er, sit down for now,” the Xingwu Emperor waved his hand.
Hearing this, Prince Jin Yi sat back down, though his expression remained sour, this incident had clearly bruised his pride!
“Bring the wine,” the Xingwu Emperor gestured.
A maid swiftly stepped forward, offering Lin Yun a cup of divine brew.
Lin Yun took the fine wine, raised it, and drank deeply.
After finishing.
“I once said that the Wanhua Tournament champion would receive a mysterious grand gift, three days from now, at nine in the morning, come to the palace, a gift will be waiting for you,” the Xingwu Emperor said.
“Yes!” Lin Yun clasped his fists in salute.
“Very well, go back to your seat for now, wait for the letter,” the Xingwu Emperor waved him off.
Lin Yun didn’t know what the Xingwu Emperor meant by ‘wait for the letter’, but he didn’t press further, simply saluting once more before turning to leave.
Before departing, Lin Yun glanced at Jin Yao’er sitting nearby.
Jin Yao’er flashed a playful, charming smile, winking mischievously at him.
Lin Yun couldn’t help but give a wry smile, then quickly left, heading towards the Heavenly Sword Sect’s seating area.
Wherever Lin Yun passed, he remained the centre of attention!
“Lin Yun!”
As Lin Yun returned to the Heavenly Sword Sect’s seats, the sect leader stood up excitedly, welcoming his victorious return.
“Sect Leader, your disciple has not brought shame to our mission,” Lin Yun clasped his fists in respect.
“Lin Yun, this time, you’ve brought boundless glory to our Heavenly Sword Sect, once word reaches the sect, it’ll surely invigorate everyone!” the sect leader said, visibly thrilled.
Mo Qing, beaming, looked at Lin Yun, “Lin Yun, from now on, your path should be smoother, with far fewer hardships.”
“Let’s hope so,” Lin Yun grinned.
At that moment, Old Ghost Huo Chen, seated in the second row, instructed an attendant beside him to deliver a letter.
“It’s said that after the Wanhua Tournament ends, some powerhouses will send letters to contestants who’ve caught their eye, indicating their willingness to take them as disciples.”
“I wonder who Senior Huo Chen wants as a disciple? He’s said to have reached the Ninth Transition Tribulation Realm, with a chance to ascend to the Immortal Realm, becoming his disciple would be an incredible fortune.”
Under countless watchful eyes, Huo Chen’s attendant walked straight to the seat of the dark horse, Wang Luo.
Wang Luo, having taken a healing pill, was still recovering.
“Wang Luo, this is from my master.”
The attendant handed the letter directly to the dark horse, Wang Luo.
“Huo Chen wants to take Wang Luo as his disciple!”
“Though Wang Luo lost to Lin Yun, he still came second, it’s not surprising Huo Chen would choose him.”
…
A wave of murmurs rippled through the crowd.
The attendant held two letters in total, after giving one to Wang Luo, he continued onward, the contestants, especially those in the top hundred, watched with anticipation, even if they hadn’t achieved a higher rank, they still had a chance to be noticed!
In the end, the attendant handed the second letter to the ninth-ranked contestant before returning.
Soon after, more letters were sent out.
Those delivering letters were mostly Tribulation Realm experts.
One contestant, who had only reached the top fifty, received a letter from a Second-Tier Tribulation Realm powerhouse, leaving him overjoyed.
To be taken under the wing of such a Tribulation Realm expert meant personal guidance and access to their resources.
