Xingwu Empire.
Heavenly Sword Sect Square.
As Lin Yun’s flying vessel landed, the Great Elder, leading a group of elders, quickly came to greet him.
“Lin Yun’s really back!”
The elders were visibly thrilled and excited to see Lin Yun return.
Their joy stemmed from Lin Yun’s release, as they had believed he was doomed after being captured by Emperor Xingwu.
Since they hadn’t gone to Xingwu City, they were unaware that the Zhutian Alliance had been completely eradicated.
The Great Elder, beaming, grabbed Lin Yun’s hand and said, “Lin Yun, your return means the Heavenly Sword Sect’s hope is alive!”
“Senior Brother Lin Yun is back! Senior Brother Lin Yun is back!”
Disciples gathered in the square surged forward, cheering for Lin Yun’s return!
Lin Yun smiled and said, “Great Elder, there’s even better news. All the remaining remnants of the Zhutian Alliance, including Gu Family Head and others, have been completely wiped out. The Zhutian Alliance exists only in history now!”
“What? The Zhutian Alliance is completely gone?” The Great Elder couldn’t believe his ears.
“Lin Yun, you… you’re not joking, are you?” Elder Mei Gu and the other elders were equally incredulous.
The sect leader smiled, “Lin Yun’s not joking. The Zhutian Alliance’s remnants have indeed been eradicated! It’s absolutely true—our great grudge has been avenged!”
After a brief moment of stunned silence, the crowd erupted into ecstatic cheers.
“The Zhutian Alliance is gone? Haha, that’s fantastic!”
Even the usually composed elders couldn’t help but cheer in excitement.
The news quickly reached the surrounding disciples.
“What? The Zhutian Alliance is completely eradicated?”
“Haha, we’ve won! We’re victorious—the war is over!”
…
In an instant, the entire square was engulfed in jubilation, with everyone cheering and celebrating wildly!
“Great Elder, spread the news throughout the Heavenly Sword Sect immediately and prepare a grand banquet. We’ll celebrate as a sect!” the sect leader said, smiling.
“Yes, yes, yes!” The Great Elder nodded eagerly.
The disciples in the square, filled with excitement and joy, rushed to spread the news, and it quickly swept through the entire Heavenly Sword Sect.
The sect was immersed in euphoria.
This hard-won victory meant so much to everyone. The Heavenly Sword Sect had been suppressed and diminished for years, leaving everyone with pent-up grievances.
Now, with the Zhutian Alliance destroyed and their grudge settled, the Heavenly Sword Sect was poised for a new era of glory!
Of course, everyone knew this was all because of one person—Lin Yun!
The sect then held a grand banquet in the square, with the entire sect celebrating together!
The feast lasted a full day and night, with the joyous atmosphere continuing unabated.
During the banquet, the sect leader publicly announced his intention to pass the sect leader position to Lin Yun.
After all, Lin Yun had brought about the sect’s rebirth, and his strength far surpassed the sect leader’s. In terms of ability and merit, Lin Yun was more than qualified.
However, Lin Yun firmly declined, as he needed to continue his development in the Huoyun Empire and couldn’t stay to manage the Heavenly Sword Sect.
After Lin Yun’s persistent refusal, the sect leader compromised, appointing Lin Yun as the Heavenly Sword Sect’s Vice Sect Leader.
Thus, Lin Yun officially became the Vice Sect Leader.
…
While the Heavenly Sword Sect celebrated, the news of the Zhutian Alliance’s complete annihilation in Xingwu City spread rapidly throughout the Xingwu Empire!
The story of Lin Yun defying Emperor Xingwu’s decree, being released, and even using the imperial guard as a “tool” to eliminate the Zhutian Alliance in the city was quickly embellished into a legendary tale.
All factions realised that the Heavenly Sword Sect was on the cusp of a meteoric rise, unstoppable!
Many cultivators were eager to join the sect…
…
The next evening.
The banquet in the Heavenly Sword Sect’s square continued, but the sect leader and elders gathered in the main hall.
Since Lin Yun was returning to the Huoyun Empire tomorrow, they seized the opportunity to discuss the sect’s future development while he was still here.
The Wanderer and Du Yuanzi, not being sect members, didn’t attend the meeting and continued drinking outside.
In the main hall.
Lin Yun and the sect leader sat at the front.
“Lin Yun, after attacking the Gu Family’s stronghold and the eleven prominent sects, we’ve consolidated all the spoils. We have over 7 billion spiritual crystals, 1.05 million Tribulation Pills, and vast resources like weapons, artefacts, techniques, and treasures. The total value is incalculable—an astonishing haul!” the sect leader said, smiling.
“That much?” Lin Yun said, surprised.
The Great Elder added excitedly, “The resources plundered from the Gu Family alone surpass our sect’s entire reserve.”
Lin Yun nodded, understanding. A single Gu Family could yield tens of billions in spiritual crystals, plus holy spirit-grade weapons, artefacts, techniques, and more—not just one or two, but many. Lower-tier items like super-divine, divine, and pseudo-divine grades were even more plentiful.
As for Tribulation Pills, the Gu Family, including Gu Family Head and the elders, could easily yield over 200,000.
The other eleven prominent sects, like the Soul Refining Sect, were comparable to the Gu Family in resources. Even the lesser sects among them, while not as rich, still contributed significantly as prominent sects.
If the Gu Family alone provided 200,000–300,000 Tribulation Pills, combining the eleven sects—even if the lesser ones had fewer—resulted in a substantial total.
“With these resources, the Heavenly Sword Sect has the foundation to rise!” Lin Yun said, smiling.
Absorbing the resources of the Gu Family and eleven prominent sects to fuel the Heavenly Sword Sect’s growth made it nearly impossible for the sect *not* to soar.
“Absolutely!” The others nodded enthusiastically.
The sect leader stood up.
“Lin Yun, defeating the Zhutian Alliance and securing these resources is almost entirely your achievement. Take half the spiritual crystals and Tribulation Pills. The rest will suffice for the sect’s development,” he said.
Half the spiritual crystals amounted to 4 billion!
Half the Tribulation Pills were over 500,000—an immense fortune for an individual, though less staggering if divided among a faction.
“Sect Leader, I don’t lack spiritual crystals, and I have enough Tribulation Pills to reach the Ninth Turn Tribulation Realm. I don’t need them—leave them for the sect’s development,” Lin Yun said, smiling and declining.
Tribulation Pills were indeed rare and precious.
But after extorting 200,000 from Emperor Xingwu, Lin Yun had more than enough for his cultivation.
“Lin Yun, Tribulation Pills aren’t just for cultivation. They can also be used to purchase high-end resources, like Heavenly Dao-grade techniques, weapons, artefacts, and rare natural treasures. They’re still useful to you,” the sect leader said.
