Chapter Forty-Six: Gu Yuan’s Threat
After Gu Zheng finished bandaging Lin Jing’s wound, the group rested for an hour at Enlightenment Plaza.
Once Lu Xingchen restored his Dou Qi to its peak, the scene before him suddenly shifted dramatically.
In a flash of white light, everyone arrived at the entrance of the secret realm.
Lin Tian immediately led seven peak masters forward to greet them.
With solemnity, Lin Tian asked, “So? Any gains?”
Lu Xingchen nodded slightly. “The gains are quite good.”
Ning Feng hurriedly said, “Good doesn’t even begin to describe it! Sect Master, let me tell you, all the disciples from the Five Elements Sect who entered the secret realm this time were wiped out by Lu Xingchen. Not a single one survived!”
Hearing this, Lin Tian and the seven peak masters were visibly shocked.
The Five Elements Sect and the Lingxiao Sect had long been at odds, and in previous clashes, victories and defeats were roughly balanced.
But for someone like Lu Xingchen to completely annihilate the opposing side was unprecedented.
Not even Lin Xu could achieve that!
Lin Tian asked in a deep voice, “Lu Xingchen, is what Ning Feng said true?”
Lu Xingchen smiled lightly and nodded. “Just a stroke of luck.”
With this confirmation, Lin Tian’s heart stirred, and his gaze toward Lu Xingchen softened considerably.
The other seven peak masters also looked at Lu Xingchen in astonishment.
Lin Tian laughed heartily, “Hahaha! Well done! Lu Xingchen, you’ve truly given me a tremendous surprise! As for the gains from this secret realm expedition, keep them for yourselves. There’s no need to hand them over.”
“These items are the fruits of your hard fight and can only unleash their greatest value in your hands.”
Hearing this, the seven chief disciples were all delighted and responded in unison, “Thank you, Sect Master!”
Lu Xingchen smiled awkwardly. “Sect Master, there’s something I’d like to discuss with you.”
Lin Tian chuckled softly, “You are the greatest contributor in this battle. Whatever it is, just say it. As long as it’s not too much, I’ll satisfy your request.”
Lu Xingchen spoke quietly, “The Hunyuan Umbrella you lent me is extremely useful. Could you possibly give it to me?”
This matter had to be addressed.
That mysterious woman was still sealed inside the Hunyuan Umbrella; he couldn’t just hand her over along with it.
Lin Tian frowned upon hearing this.
The Hunyuan Umbrella was his personal spiritual weapon, ranked high among the profound tier, significantly boosting his combat power.
He was reluctant to give it away so easily.
Seeing Lin Tian’s expression, Lu Xingchen quickly added, “I’m not asking for it for free. I can exchange ten low-level profound tier spiritual weapons and ten scrolls of low-level profound tier martial arts for it.”
These were all items Lu Xingchen had obtained from defeated enemies, but he had no use for them. Rather than auctioning them off, trading them for the Hunyuan Umbrella to enhance his own strength made more sense.
Lin Tian was greatly surprised.
“Lu Xingchen, just how many benefits did you gain from the Chuyuan secret realm?”
Lu Xingchen chuckled softly. “That’s something I can’t say. But Sect Master, would you be willing to trade?”
Lin Tian’s voice grew serious. “The items you’re offering far exceed the value of the Hunyuan Umbrella. With these spiritual weapons and martial arts in hand, the overall strength of the Lingxiao Sect will greatly improve. How about this—I’ll only take half of them. What do you think?”
Lu Xingchen said quietly, “No need. Sect Master, take them all. The Lingxiao Sect has taught me and passed on knowledge to me; it’s only right that I give back.”
“Hahaha, Lu Xingchen, you truly are a man of character! In that case, I accept all of it.”
With a wave of his sleeve, ten spiritual weapons and ten martial arts scrolls appeared on the ground.
Hearing Lu Xingchen’s words was one thing; seeing so many spiritual weapons in person was another.
All the disciples and peak masters present were utterly stunned.
“Wow, the boss really brought out so many spiritual weapons! I thought he was joking.”
“This is what Lu Xingchen deserves. Our safe return this time was all thanks to him alone.”
“Lu Xingchen really hit the jackpot this time.”
“And he’s willing to give back to the sect. If it were me, I’d find it hard to part with them.”
Without inspecting them, Lin Tian immediately stored the items into his storage ring.
Since Lu Xingchen could say such things, Lin Tian trusted his character.
Just as Lin Tian was about to lead the group back to the sect, Gu Yuan, the Sect Master of the Five Elements Sect, suddenly arrived with the upper echelons of his sect.
More than a dozen powerful Grand Martial Masters quickly surrounded them.
Lin Tian asked sternly, “Gu Yuan, what is the meaning of this?”
Gu Yuan’s voice trembled with barely restrained fury.
“Lin Tian, none of the five disciples we sent into the Chuyuan secret realm returned. Can you explain why?”
Lin Tian felt a surge of satisfaction upon hearing this.
Gu Yuan, the old scoundrel, you finally have your day!
The elite disciples of the Five Elements Sect were wiped out, creating a direct gap in the younger generation. How could they still compete with the Lingxiao Sect in the future?
Lu Xingchen, well done!
But his expression remained serious as he said deeply, “The Chuyuan secret realm is fraught with dangers and casualties are normal. Your disciples died because of their own weaknesses; why come to us at Lingxiao Sect for answers?”
Gu Yuan’s face darkened, unable to hold back any longer.
“Nonsense! I’ve already received word that all the Five Elements Sect disciples were killed by your Lingxiao Sect! All by Lu Xingchen!”
When Lu Xingchen killed Qin Hao at Enlightenment Plaza, disciples from the other three sects witnessed it; the news spreading was unsurprising.
Lin Tian said firmly, “So what? Your Five Elements disciples were weak and got killed by Lu Xingchen—that’s only fair. If Lu Xingchen was weaker, he would have been the one to die.”
Gu Yuan’s expression was as gloomy as still water.
“Lin Tian, hand over Lu Xingchen, and there’s still a chance for peace between our sects. Otherwise, war between our sects begins immediately!”
Lin Tian sneered, “Since when have our sects ever been peaceful? Gu Yuan, you allowed your Five Elements Sect to gang up and kill Lin Xu, but you won’t allow Lingxiao Sect to kill your disciples?”
“Lu Xingchen is the sacred son of Lingxiao Sect—I will protect him no matter what. If you want war, then so be it!”
Lu Xingchen silently gave a thumbs-up.
His sect master truly had a commanding presence!
He was willing to risk igniting a war between two sects just to ensure his safety.
In that moment, Lu Xingchen’s admiration for him grew immensely.
“You—!”
Gu Yuan was speechless, clenching and unclenching his fists, torn by a fierce internal struggle.
The Five Elements Sect elders beside him all drew weapons, ready to fight at any moment.
The seven peak masters of Lingxiao Sect also stood on high alert.
Five minutes later, Gu Yuan finally brushed off his sleeve and turned away.
Before leaving, he didn’t forget to issue a grim warning.
“Lin Tian, Lu Xingchen, the Five Elements Sect has noted this debt. In the days to come, we will repay it double!”
As the Five Elements Sect departed, Lu Xingchen finally exhaled slowly and cupped his fists toward Lin Tian.
“Thank you, Sect Master, for saving my life! I will surely repay this kindness.”