Chapter 123: Award Ceremony
Who?! Who killed Xie Xingzhi !
The disciples from the three sects who were defeated by Xie Xingzhi and sent back to Lotus Seat Peak were shocked. Then they all burst into laughter, clapping and celebrating.
What goes around comes around!
If you don't believe it, look up! The heavens have answered! Who!
The elite disciples from the three sects who were just killed by Shan Gao breathed a sigh of relief.
Look, it's not that we disciples are incompetent, it's that the pig is insanely ruthless! Elder, if you don't believe me, look. Even Xie Xingzhi was killed by the pig. We can't be blamed... Wait! What's with the person who killed them and shouted in triumph?
The pig killed Xie Xingzhi ?
Lu Cixian killed the pig?
Who will tell them what just happened in the illusion?
Just when everyone was eagerly waiting for something exciting, the Souvenir Stone on the Lotus Seat Peak didn't even cast a shadow. But on the nearby Souvenir Stone, the words "Lu Cixian" that were previously quiet suddenly started moving rapidly upwards, like they were on a pill-induced frenzy.
The students of Buping College were shocked.
Happiness came too quickly, like a tornado.
Zheng Wenliang exclaimed, "Am I seeing things?"
Green waist stammered, "Have they gone crazy?!"
Li Pan smirked slightly.
On the Lotus Seat Peak, there was a constant buzz of discussion filled with astonishment.
"Is the Souvenir Stone broken?"
"Aren't Lu Cixian and Venerable One Miaofa close? Could it be that the Great Hall of Light betrayed them?"
"Shut up! Be careful what you say! Do you want to be endlessly illuminated by Venerable One?"
"Haven't you all seen? With only sixty points from before, can Lu Cixian really defeat the pig Xie Xingzhi ?"
In just a quarter of an hour, where did Lu Cixian suddenly appear from?
Inside the illusion, what exactly happened? On Lotus Seat Peak, everyone was filled with doubt and astonishment.
Not only did Lotus Seat Peak explode.
The illusion also exploded.
Their pig!
Fang Lingqing looked on with wide eyes, reaching out but unable to hold on, only able to watch as the pig, who had been given hope and love by everyone, disappeared in an instant.
All 800 points fell onto Qiao Wan alone. What were they all fighting so hard for? To offer themselves as a sacrifice for Lu Cixian?!
Though not openly shown, everyone present felt miserable, their faces looking gloomy.
"We agreed to push the pig together, didn't we?" someone complained in a low voice.
At first, it was just a small sound, followed by a chorus of complaints.
"Taoist Friend Lu was way too reckless."
The firepower immediately focused on Qiao Wan.
Qiao Wan, at the center of all the criticism, scratched her head silently.
She originally wanted to smash Xie Xingzhi ! She never expected that the pig would also be smashed to death!
Liu Xinwen heard this and looked at Qiao Wan .
Although he felt upset in his heart and almost vomited blood, he couldn't blame Lu Cixian for this matter.
He watched as the young man quickly became the target of everyone's criticism.
It was Qi Feidao who came out first, and the two brothers hugged Qiao Wan by the neck with a sly smile and said, "Well done, Taoist Friend Lu. You actually came up with such a way to smash Xie Xingzhi ?"
After speaking, he raised his lips and greeted Fang Lingqing , saying, "Little Fang, what do you think?"
Fang Lingqing was taken aback, his gaze swept over the different expressions of the people present, and he felt a bit subtle in his heart. His face darkened, and he furrowed his brows.
He wasn't speaking up for Lu Cixian who died protecting him.
But from the beginning, it was Lu Cixian who endured the harm, and in the end, it was Lu Cixian who dealt with Xie Xingzhi .
Anyway, he had already gained enough points. Compared to falling into the hands of Xie Xingzhi , he would rather fall into the hands of Lu Cixian.
Fang Lingqing couldn't help but glance at Qiao Wan.
But Qi Feidao blocked his view, so he didn't see Qiao Wan's expression.
Thinking about it, Fang Lingqing also walked over to Qiao Wan, but still kept a cautious distance of half a meter.
He wasn't feeling sorry for Lu Cixian for being a poor broken sleeve, he was just... he was just standing on the side of justice!
The atmosphere around them became awkward for a moment.
In the end, Liu Xinwen came forward to smooth things over.
"No matter what, the pig ended up in our own hands, didn't it?"
"If it weren't for Taoist Friend Lu covering us head-on," Liu Xinwen said in a deep voice, "we wouldn't have been able to get a hold of this pig from the very beginning."
The tension in the air made the others feel a bit embarrassed.
They weren't unaware that Lu Cixian had suffered, nor did they mean to blame Lu Cixian, they just... had mixed feelings.
Indeed, all 800 points fell onto her alone, and she also made some mistakes in this matter.
Qiao Wan thought about herself sincerely and felt a little embarrassed.
She exchanged a glance with Qi Feidao and Fang Lingqing, then walked over to Liu Xinwen. After looking at the expressions of the people around, she whispered, "We still have fifteen minutes left. I'll take you to eliminate the enemies!"
"Eliminate...eliminate the enemies?" someone asked hesitantly. "How do we do that?"
Qiao Wan turned her head to Qi Feidao and asked, "Taoist Friend Qi, how much time do we have left?"
Qi Feidao replied, "Fifteen minutes."
Qiao Wan said, "That's enough."
Shan Gao killed Xie Xingzhi, and in turn, Qiao Wan killed Shan Gao. This meant that the spiritual energy in Xie Xingzhi and Shan Gao's dantian transferred to Qiao Wan's dantian. Now, not only did she have incredible strength, but her cultivation was also abundant, and she felt energetic.
Liu Xinwen clearly understood this and showed a hint of gratitude. "Alright, let's go."
After a brief moment of confusion, the others suddenly realized what was happening.
Yeah! As long as Bai Shanhu and Meng Canglang don't get involved, hardly anyone can defeat Lu Cixian in this fantasy world! With Lu Cixian on their side, they have no worries about not getting kills!
In an instant, all complaints disappeared, and everyone eagerly picked up their weapons with joy.
Let's go! Let's get some kills!
Compared to killing people, what's the point of killing pigs?!
...
Deep in the dense forest, two young men walked side by side, one tall and one short.
Suddenly, the taller one stopped in his tracks.
The shorter boy looked puzzled, "What's wrong?"
Shaking his head, the taller one said, "I don't know why, but I have a feeling of impending doom."
As soon as he said that, the shorter boy also felt a chill running down his spine.
Having such a premonition in this fantasy world often means-
They exchanged a knowing glance and swiftly crouched down!
Enemy attack!!
Within moments, a flash of sword light appeared, and they saw a young boy wielding a sword rushing towards them.
What time is it? Why are you still doing this?! The tall person couldn't believe it, their eyes widened, and their heart sank. They made a determined decision angrily.
Since you're doing this, don't blame him for not being polite! He raised his hand and summoned a dragon-patterned banner, then turned to the short young person and said, "Charge!"
One tall, one short, they attacked in the blink of an eye, surrounding their enemy from both sides.
Qiao Wan showed no fear and bravely confronted them.
After a few clashes, the tall person sensed that something was wrong and his face changed.
It's over! They encountered a tough opponent!
But who is this young person in front of them?
The tall person hadn't heard of such a person in the secret realm before!
Realizing the danger, the two turned around to run, but to their surprise, as they took just a few steps, a burst of sword and knife lights came from the side.
One tall, one short, both fell to the ground.
Before dying, confusion filled their faces.
What happened?! Who is this young person?!
Not far ahead, a young cultivator exclaimed with joy, "Hey! I took this person's head!"
The Law Conference will end in half an hour.
The rankings on the Souvenir Stone next to it are basically set and won't change anymore, according to common sense.
But unexpectedly, the rankings on the Souvenir Stone suddenly changed again, and changed rapidly. Liu Xinwen, Fang Lingqing, Qi Feidao, and others' names started to rise quickly.
Everyone on Lotus Seat Peak felt anxious and frustrated.
There is only one more half hour left. What exactly happened in this illusion? They couldn't wait to find out!
Just then, it seemed like the Souvenir Stone finally heard the heartfelt calls from the crowd and reluctantly changed the scene.
On the smooth stone wall, several familiar faces appeared, including Lu Cixian, Fang Lingqing who had a tough fight with Lu Cixian before the event, Qi Feidao, the top disciple of Chongde Ancient Garden's Mathematics Department, Liu Xinwen from Shui Xing Valley, and several disciples from various sects.
Everyone's eyes were bright, filled with uncontrollable excitement.
Originally, it was so satisfying to kill people and collect their heads! Everyone was startled and felt a rush of pleasure from head to tailbone.
Led by Lu Cixian, this group of people began to move around and clear out the area. They would catch someone, kill them, catch another one, and kill them too. It was fast and intense, like a tornado sweeping through, causing chaos wherever they went.
For some reason, Sun Tao College seemed to be especially targeted by these people.
Especially Lu Cixian, as soon as he saw a disciple from Sun Tao College, he immediately drew his sword and attacked without hesitation. He was ruthless and merciless. The disciples of Sun Tao College were still confused when they were sent back to Lotus Seat Peak.
Lu Cixian!
Seeing this scene, Lu Dechang almost spat out blood in anger.
Chu Tongzheng, with tears in her eyes and a sniffle, widened her beautiful eyes: When did Lu Cixian become so strong?
Watching their own disciples falling one by one under the swords of these people, Lu Dechang impatiently glanced at the hourglass on the mountaintop.
"What time is it? Why isn't it over yet?"
Finally.
In the instant that Qiao Wan withdrew her sword, she felt her surroundings blur and stumbled.
The scenery in front of her started to change.
When she came back to her senses, she and Fang Lingqing and the others had already been transported back to Lotus Seat Peak.
The illusion closed.
"Is it over?"
Behind her, the others woke up as if from a dream, took a look at the iconic mountain peak in front of them, and reluctantly shifted their gazes away, pouting.
"Why is it ending so soon? They haven't had enough yet."
Qiao Wan regained her senses and slowly regained her consciousness while holding her sword.
At that moment, Liu Xinwen suddenly walked up to her, bowed with a smile on his face, and said, "Taoist Friend Lu, thank you! It's been a pleasure working together these past few days, and I hope we have the chance to cooperate again in the second round."
Qiao Wan blinked, but before she could respond, many other young and youthful cultivators approached her from behind Liu Xinwen , some shyly, some cheerfully, and patted her on the shoulder.
"Thank you, taoist friend!"
"Before, we were being narrow-minded, don't take it to heart."
In a blink of an eye, Qiao Wan was surrounded by a group of enthusiastic monks.
"Hey, Taoist Friend Lu, how did you do that move? If you don't mind, why not teach me too?"
Being surrounded warmly by the crowd, Qiao Wan blushed a little, her mind feeling a bit dizzy.
With the sky high and clouds light, Lotus Seat Peak was filled with blooming mountain flowers. Laughter filled the air, and people occasionally patted her chest or shoulder.
In the end, it was Qi Feidao who rescued Qiao Wan, smiling with his hands in his pockets, saying, "That's enough now."
...
The first round of the Three Teachings Law Meeting ended. According to the rules, the top-ranked disciples would receive a reward in the Great Hall of Light.
In this area alone, along with the other 5 areas combined, a total of ten outstanding disciples were chosen.
This included Qiao Wan as well.
Amidst the warm support of Liu Xinwen and others, Qiao Wan was shyly pushed onto the stage.
"Go away!"
The young boy walked up to the top of the peak.
There was more discussion on Lotus Seat Peak.
Out of the ten people, only Lu Cixian managed to catch up and narrowly trail behind Xie Xingzhi toward the end. Where did Lu Cixian suddenly appear from?! I've never heard of such a person before the Three Teachings Law Meeting!
According to their positions, Qiao Wan was supposed to stand next to Xie Xingzhi.
As for the one who would be rewarded, it would of course be Venerable One Miaofa from the Great Hall of Light, known as the most esteemed figure in the Great Hall of Light.
Just as Qiao Wan stepped onto the stairs, her eyes collided with Xie Xingzhi's, and she caught a glimpse of a majestic and noble figure approaching.
Uh-oh.
Joy turned into sorrow.
A frozen smile appeared on Qiao Wan's face.
The young boy bowed, his movements smooth and decisive, and then turned around to leave.
Qiao Wan: "Sorry for interrupting."
*
"Where are you running?" A scolding voice suddenly exploded in his head.
Qiao Wan turned around with sadness and saw the monk standing in front of her, staring coldly.
What must come will always find its way.
Carrying a brave sacrificial spirit, Qiao Wan walked sorrowfully towards Xie Xingzhi under Venerable One Miaofa's disapproving gaze.
As she approached the man, she immediately felt a chill in the air.
But Venerable One Miaofa no longer looked at her, walking straight to the high platform at the peak without even sparing a glance for Qiao Wan .
Qiao Wan tensed her back, feeling a bit uneasy.
The reward being given out this time was the Three Transitions Bodhi Pill, a prestigious offering from the conference of various sects, handed out one by one by Venerable One Miaofa to these outstanding disciples.
The Three Transitions Bodhi Pill was contained in a simple and plain white porcelain bottle. But as soon as the people on the stage saw this white bottle, their breath quickened. The contents of this small white bottle can enhance the connection between cultivators and the spiritual energy of the heavens and earth. It allows them to better utilize the spiritual energy and concentrate their spirit, aligning with their innate potential. In simpler terms, taking this pill can help them cultivate their abilities and increase their closeness to the spiritual energy of the heavens and earth.
Even the disciples of the prominent sects, who were accustomed to miraculous elixirs, recognized its potency.
The various sects that attended the conference spared no expense this time.
Just having the Three Transitions Bodhi Pill was enough to invigorate people's spirits, not to mention that Venerable One Miaofa would be presenting it. Ten outstanding disciples lined up obediently, eagerly anticipating Miaofa's award ceremony.
Qiao Wan sat upright, her eyes fixed forward, observing her breath and remaining focused.
A faint scent of lotus and sandalwood wafted to her nostrils.
Miaofa stood in front of Xie Xingzhi, a man.
Qiao Wan encountered the Venerable One, and Xie Xingzhi behaved very respectfully and politely. He lowered his gaze and said, "Thank you, Venerable One."
The lotus flower and sandalwood stopped in front of Qiao Wan.
Qiao Wan's heart skipped a beat, and her throat felt a bit dry.
A solemn and upright male voice came from above her head, saying, "Hand."
Nervously, Qiao Wan reached out her hand, too afraid to look up. She stared intently at the small white porcelain bottle in the hands of the monk.
Miaofa placed the small white porcelain bottle in her palm.
A slightly cool, green kasaya robe fell onto her wrist. In that instant when their fingertips touched, maybe it was the intense gaze that fell upon her, or perhaps it was the dazzling Buddha light, but Qiao Wan trembled all over. Her arm uncontrollably leaned to the side, narrowly missing brushing against the man's fingertip.
The small white porcelain bottle ended up empty.
Suddenly, the atmosphere in front of her seemed to freeze.
The monk quickly grabbed her hand with a bit of anger, holding it tightly. Qiao Wan felt a shiver throughout her body and her fingers slid back, brushing against Miaofa's palm but didn't pull back completely.
Qiao Wan's heart raced and she felt a burning sensation on her back, as if she was being lifted by a thin thread. Unable to resist, she glanced forward and met Miaofa's stern yet captivating face with deep blue eyes.
