Chapter 219: Chapter 188 Reward_1

This kid, he’s actually playing tricks on me!

The Leader of Tianhe Sect couldn’t hold back a twitch at the corner of his eye, but it didn’t seem right to continue pressuring Xu Mu.

“No matter the reason, a wrong is a wrong!” The Leader of Tianhe Sect’s voice was severe.

“Starting from today, Lu Baiyu will be locked in Tianfeng Valley until he genuinely repents. Lu Baiyu, do you accept your punishment?!”

“I accept the punishment!” Lu Baiyu answered respectfully.

“And you, being unable to impart discipline also requires punishment!”

The Leader of Tianhe Sect looked at the Leader of the Shenjian Peak.

“I will leave it all to the Sect Master’s judgement!”

“Your punishment will be to face the wall and think about your mistakes for ten years. If any disciple from Shenjian Peak makes a mistake again, you’ll be stripped of all your sect positions!”

“Thanks for your mercy, Sect Master!”

The leader of Shenjian Peak bowed in respect, then left along with Lu Baiyu.

“Is this even a punishment! Whether or not he sincerely regrets, doesn’t that just depend on the elders? And what’s with facing the wall for ten years, isn’t that just the duration of a Golden Core Stage retreat?! And about the reward…”

Li Heng couldn’t help muttering this next to Xu Mu.

“Senior brother, watch your words!”

Xu Mu warned him.

Since the Leader of Tianhe Sect had already spoken, it was impossible for him to go back on his word, especially in front of so many people. If Xu Mu insisted on arguing, it would only make him a laughingstock.

Now that things have ended up this way, it would only trouble to complain. Eventually, Li Heng could only express his dissatisfaction with a cold hum.

“If only the Master was still normal!” Luo Qingchen let out a sigh.

The reason the Leader of Tianhe Sect dared to impose such a punishment was not only to protect the genius Lu Baiyu, but also because Xu Mu didn’t have anyone to back him up.

Speaking of the Person on Gu Feng, a sparkle flicked through Qi Yue’s eyes. He moved closer to Xu Mu and whispered, “Senior brother, why don’t you consider joining our Luo Jian Peak? My master is magnanimous and will certainly not treat you poorly!”

Previously, other peaks didn’t want Xu Mu, thinking his shattered soul limited his talent. But looking at Xu Mu’s results in the big competition, apart from advancing to the Nascent Soul Stage due to his damaged soul, he has almost no other faults. If he manages to advance to the later stages of Golden Core in the future, then that would be a great success.

After all, apart from a small number of cultivators in the Nascent Soul Stage, those in the later stages of Golden Core are already considered top-tier figures. They hold significant influence in the Tianhe Sect and can serve as the pillars of various peaks.

“That’s right. As long as you join Luo Jian Peak, your sister will definitely take care of you every day. You know what they say about seizing the first chance, don’t you want that?” Qu Qingdream leaned in closer to Xu Mu and asked in a tempting voice.

The Lonely Sword Peak is different from the other thirty-five peaks. It’s a peak that sect officially allows to leave freely. Even if Xu Mu agreed to join Luo Jian Peak, the other sect members wouldn’t question it.

After all, the Lonely Sword Peak is already an empty shell, keeping a person of Xu Mu’s talent there would be a waste.

“Noway!”

Before Xu Mu could say anything, Li Heng and Luo Qingchen interjected, refusing simultaneously.

Xu Mu is the only hope of the Lonely Sword Peak. If he leaves, the only way for the Lonely Sword Peak to rise again is to wait until the Person on Gu Feng passes away.

“Let’s be real, elder brothers and sister, you’re all aware of the situation at Lonely Sword Peak. Why would you obstruct Junior Brother Xu’s future!” Qi Yue said.

II II

Luo Qingchen and the others seemed unpleasant, yet they were speechless.

“So, Junior Brother Xu, what do you say?”

“Thanks for your kindness, but no need!”

Xu Mu shook his head and laughed in refusal.

It wasn’t that he was nostalgic, he just didn’t see the need. With all the resources about to be gifted to him next, the rewards he had received, and the secret cultivation cavern, whether he moved to another peak or not didn’t make much of a difference to him. If so, why would he bring trouble to himself?

“Junior Brother Xu, are you sure you won’t reconsider!”

Qu Qingdream moved closer to Xu Mu, giving off a faint fragrance.

“If sister is willing to become my Dao companion, then perhaps I might reconsider!” Xu Mu joked.

“In your dreams! Humph!”

Qu Qingdream’s face changed and she immediately refused.

“Then there’s nothing I can do!” Xu Mu shrugged helplessly.

Qu Qingdream glared at him, then turned and left.

She realized Xu Mu was just teasing her and had no intention of joining her peak.

Luo Qingchen at the side looked as if she thought of something, a slight blush appeared on her face.

“Senior Brother, aren’t you afraid that Sister Qu will hold a grudge against you for teasing her?” Qi Yue curiously asked.

“Let her come. Am I supposed to be scared of a woman? In any case, I can always teach her a lesson!” Xu Mu said nonchalantly.

“Senior Brother, you’re really brave! Don’t you know that sometimes when a woman wants to trouble you, she doesn’t necessarily need to take action herself.” Qi Yue warned.

“Hmm, what do you mean?”

“Just be careful! I’m leaving now!”

Noticing the ominous gaze from Qu Qingdream, Qi Yue hastily made an excuse and left.

It was three days later when the final rankings of the competition were officially determined.

As the champion, Xu Mu received one premium Foundation Establishment Pill, a tier-five offensive Spiritual Artifact, a tier-four defensive Magic Artifact, ten high-grade Spirit Stones, the right to reside in a mysterious Xuan-level cave dwelling for a hundred years, and ten thousand Sect Contribution Points.

The rewards decreased in turn for those behind him.

Lu Baiyu didn’t show up, and the sect deliberately overlooked it to avoid the further spread of the previous incident.

Qu Qingdream, who came third, also acquired the right to stay in a mysterious cave dwelling, but unfortunately it was of a lower yellow grade and only lasted for fifty years.

Shen Zhong, who came fourth, got an even worse deal; he only had ten years.

The fifth-place winner only received Spirit Stones, Spiritual Artifacts, and a Foundation Establishment Pill as awards.

After everyone’s rewards were distributed, the grand and lively Sect Competition came to an end.

Having declined several banquet invitations from various powers, Xu Mu and Luo Qingchen decided to return to Lonely Sword Peak first.

Big Bull and Er Niu, who had received the news early, almost used up all the resources available at Lonely Sword Peak to prepare a lavish feast to celebrate Xu Mu’s triumph in the competition.

“You ran off so quickly, you didn’t even wait for me!”

Shang YaoYao boldly chased after them to Lonely Sword Peak.

As his status improved, Shang Lian’s attitude towards him also changed visibly. He no longer minded Shang YaoYao interacting with them.

However, Xu Mu was more willing to believe that Shang Lian had a backup plan and wasn’t worried about any possible outcomes with the two.

“I thought you wouldn’t come!” Xu Mu chuckled.

“I am, after all, a disciple of Lonely Sword Peak. You won the competition, how could I not come! Besides, you are my little brother!”

Shang YaoYao sat down with a carefree attitude and began to take out jug after jug of amber-colored Spiritual Wine from her storage bag.

“This is the Ganlin Brew I got from my father. It costs fifty lower-grade Spirit Stones per jug. No one leaves here sober today!”

“Fifty lower-grade Spirit Stones!! Isn’t that a bit expensive!” Li Heng exclaimed in shock.

Fifty lower-grade Spirit Stones was equivalent to his monthly expenditure.

“Your girl is in a good mood today! What’s a bit of Spirit Stone!” Shang YaoYao said spiritedly.

Xu Mu just smiled, hoping this girl would be as generous when she was to compensate him with Spirit Stones.

The two of them had made a bet. If he won, not only would their contract be terminated, but all the Spirit Stones won from the bet would be given to him.

On the other side, Luo Qingchen was glaring at the wine jugs, her eyes twinkling, wondering what was going on.

Shang YaoYao then took out several exquisite white jade cups from her storage bag, filled them up, and with her mana, pushed them in front of the others. Then, she raised her glass in a toast.

“Come on! Let’s drink to junior brother Xu!”

Shang YaoYao was the first to raise her cup and shouted loudly.

“Cheers!”

Big Bull and Er Niu, not understanding the reason, raised their glasses excitedly.

Xu Mu also raised his glass with a smile, while Li Heng and Luo Qingchen glanced at each other and followed suit.

Glug!

After the beverage went down their throats, Xu Mu felt like he was drinking fruit juice rather than pure alcohol. However, as the alcohol evaporated in his belly, a sense of drowsiness surged to his mind.

The power of this Spiritual Wine was beyond Xu Mu’s expectation.

Even though the Spiritual Wine of the Cultivation Realm was as potent as the liquor from his previous life, he, being at the Perfection stage of Qi Cultivation and vastly surpassing ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators in all aspects, shouldn’t feel tipsy so soon.

Xu Mu became alert, sensing that the girl must have come prepared.

“Let’s have another!”

Shang YaoYao, seemingly oblivious to the unusual potency of the wine, again suggested another round of toasting.

Xu Mu did not shy away either. He wanted to see what trick this girl was trying to pull. The other four were not very familiar with Spiritual Wine and didn’t realize that the wine was exceptionally strong. Coupled with the fact they were already feeling tipsy after the first round of drinks, they didn’t notice at all. When they saw Shang YaoYao raise her glass, they followed suit.

The night grew deeper, and the breeze brushed past the rice field, creating a rustling sound. Inside the house, under the soft light, the group went on drinking round after round.

“Damnit!”

The next day, Shang YaoYao woke up from her hangover, recalled last night’s events, and couldn’t help but curse.

She originally planned to get Xu Mu drunk and pry some information out of him, even going so far as to take a hangover cure pill in advance. However, no matter how much they drank, Xu Mu didn’t seem to get drunk. The last she remembered was herself passing out first.

She lifted her head, shook her groggy mind, and looked around. They were still in the same hall where they drank last night. Big Bull, Er Niu , and Li Heng were all still lying on the ground, snoring away. Only Xu Mu and Luo Qingchen were missing.

Shang YaoYao got a fright.

“Did these two possibly—”