Chapter 369: A Reward That's a Headache
Roar!
In the center of the dueling arena, an ear-splitting dragon's roar resounded through the heavens and earth.
"Dark Flame Black Dragon Wave!"
With a powerful shout from Lin Langtian, the black demonic flames filled the sky as the black dragon surged upward, wrapped in rolling waves of dark fire, and directly collided with the enormous energy lion above Yuan Cang's head.
Sizzle!
In that instant, instead of a deafening explosion, there was a strange silence. Upon contact, the dragon's demonic flames incinerated the lion's mighty energy almost instantly. The once-mighty energy lion disintegrated as easily as if it were made of paper.
For a moment, Yuan Cang's eyes showed shock, followed by anger and terror.
The dragon charged upward through the demonic flames, aiming for the heavens. Within mere seconds, Yuan Cang's thousand-foot lion, fueled by his most potent energies and Spirit Mark, was completely incinerated to nothing.
The immense power of the Chaos Demon Flame was on full display!
And even after dissolving the energy lion, the black dragon remained. Its cold, indifferent gaze locked onto Yuan Cang with an eerie intelligence, continuously drawing energy from Lin Langtian to sustain its presence. This was the formidable result of merging the demon seed's power with the Chaos Demon Flame.
As the dragon's tail flicked, it shattered the space around it, transforming into a black streak aimed directly at Yuan Cang.
Seeing the oncoming dragon, a chill flooded Yuan Cang's heart. He sensed that if the dragon reached him, it would be nearly impossible to defend against it. Without hesitation, he retreated.
However, as he backed away, he noticed a glint of mockery in the dragon's eyes.
The dragon opened its toothy maw, and a torrent of black demonic flames burst forth, consuming the space itself. The flames split into countless tiny fiery points, each moving so fast it was unavoidable.
Before he could even react, Yuan Cang felt a sudden, sharp pain radiating through his body.
At the same time, horrified gasps echoed from all around the arena.
Yuan Cang looked down slowly and saw blackened holes scattered across his body, puncturing vital points. Residual demonic flames clung to these wounds, voraciously devouring his flesh.
Staring at his mangled form, Yuan Cang felt his heart sink, realizing that his life force was ebbing away at an alarming rate.
"Damn it… Did I… actually lose?"
With his vision dimming, Yuan Cang's gaze landed on Lin Langtian, standing calm and collected.
"How… I am the Prince of Princes. How could I lose to a mere novice…"
"Damn you, Lin Langtian, I won't forgive you!"
Darkness overtook his sight, and under the gaze of shocked onlookers, Yuan Cang's body fell from the sky, crashing heavily onto the broken arena floor below.
Thud!
A deep, resonant sound echoed, and the entire mountain seemed to fall silent.
At the moment Yuan Cang's body hit the ground, all noise on the mountain stilled. Everyone's gaze, stunned and dazed, fixed on the scene before them.
No one, not even Lin Langtian's closest followers, had expected this outcome. Yuan Cang—a Profound Realm expert with a Spirit Mark—had been defeated by Lin Langtian, who had only recently achieved the Ninth Nirvana Realm!
Only a year ago, Lin Langtian had joined Yuan Sect as a mere novice, yet now he had overtaken the insurmountable gap between them and left Yuan Cang behind.
Such monstrous talent was unprecedented.
Supporters of both Lin Langtian and Yuan Cang were struck silent, lost in shock and awe.
"Senior Brother won!"
The silence shattered in an instant. Lin Langtian's followers erupted into thunderous cheers, their faces aglow with delight. Song Yun, Mo Tie, Liu Yuan, and many others wore expressions of pure joy.
On the other hand, the Three Princes' supporters were frozen in stunned disbelief.
The deafening cheers jarred Ling Zhen and Lei Qian from their shock, and they glanced at each other with expressions darkened by frustration.
Yuan Cang's defeat meant that they had lost control over the disciples' command in the Sect Tournament, leaving Lin Langtian poised to take command. Would they truly have to obey Lin Langtian now?
It was unimaginable.
In the entire history of Yuan Sect, the Three Princes had never been humiliated like this. Yielding to Lin Langtian was worse than death.
But now, with Lin Langtian's undisputed victory over Yuan Cang, he was in line for the command, a sure sign of his unstoppable rise. Even the Three Princes could not prevent it.
Ling Zhen and Lei Qian exchanged a look. With Lin Langtian's dominance now certain, they would need a more strategic approach to challenge him in the future.
Up on the high platform, the eight Division Heads snapped out of their brief shock. Even they could not suppress expressions of astonishment.
Yuan Cang, the foremost of the Three Princes, had been defeated!
And Lin Langtian's final attack—unsettlingly powerful—had left them all with an uneasy chill.
"An extraordinary young man," mused Head Fen Cang, his old eyes narrowing. Lin Langtian's talent was so formidable that Fen Cang, for the first time, felt the stirrings of unease. This youth's rapid rise felt nearly unstoppable.
Would the Fire Division soon be under new leadership?
Fen Cang's gaze shifted to Ren Yuanzi, who sat as calm as a still pond, yet, on closer inspection, even Ren Yuanzi's eyes held a trace of surprise.
"Announce the results," Ren Yuanzi said quietly, his voice resonating through the arena.
The headmaster Ren Yuanzi gazed thoughtfully at Lin Langtian, who stood enveloped in black demon flames. His expression was unreadable, revealing no hint of his thoughts. In a calm tone, he spoke.
Hearing Ren Yuanzi's words, the Head of Heaven Division snapped out of his own thoughts, nodded slightly, and then stood to survey the crowd. His deep voice rang out across the mountaintop: "The victor of this competition is Lin Langtian from Fire Division. As the champion, he will lead Yuan Sect disciples in the upcoming Sect Tournament."
The Head of Heaven Division's words resounded, falling upon every ear on the mountain. The moment he finished, the mountaintop exploded in a thunderous roar of cheers, countless gazes brimming with awe and respect.
With this victory, Lin Langtian's reputation among the young generation of Yuan Sect disciples reached an all-time high.
Lin Langtian exhaled slowly, sensing the intense cheers ringing through the mountain range. With a flick of his hand, he pulled back the swirling demonic flames. The sinister energy surrounding him withdrew with it, concealed once more within his inner demon seed. Now, he looked as ordinary as ever, with no one able to see through the hidden power within him.
He raised his head, looking toward the main platform with a smile. "Thank you, Headmaster, and all my respected teachers, for granting me this honor."
While leading Yuan Sect's disciples in the fierce battles of the Sect Tournament might seem like a thrilling responsibility, Lin Langtian knew it wouldn't be easy to gain command over all eight divisions—especially when it came to gaining the respect of figures like Yuan Cang and his allies. But at least, with this authority, he wouldn't have to worry about being exploited by the Three Princes.
The Heaven Division Head's brows furrowed slightly as he watched Lin Langtian accept the command role so readily. He didn't doubt Lin Langtian's abilities—after all, he had defeated Yuan Cang and proven himself as the strongest among Yuan Sect's disciples. However, the role of leader required more than just strength; it also demanded the respect and obedience of others. Lin Langtian had only been in Yuan Sect for a year, and aside from his loyal following in Fire Division, he held little sway in the other seven divisions.
From the Heaven Division Head's perspective, though Lin Langtian could claim the title of champion, Yuan Cang was better suited for the command role. But now, Lin Langtian had openly accepted the position, and the Headmaster had made no objection. As the Heaven Division Head, he had no grounds to strip Lin Langtian of his authority.
"Since you've accepted this responsibility," he said, "it is your duty to uphold Yuan Sect's honor during the Sect Tournament. Do not tarnish our name. Furthermore, as the champion, you are entitled to a reward. Take a day or two to recover, then report to the Headmaster to receive it."
"A reward?" Lin Langtian raised an eyebrow, a faint unease gnawing at him.
The last gift he had received from Ren Yuanzi was a segment of the ancient Celestial Yuan Tree, which had indeed proven useful in battle. Yet, Lin Langtian suspected that the gift had been given with hidden motives. Now, another reward awaited him, and he couldn't help but wonder if it might come with unforeseen complications.
Despite his unease, Lin Langtian maintained an expression of gratitude. "Thank you, Headmaster, for your generosity!"
As the Heaven Division Head completed the announcement, the competition finally came to an official end. Ren Yuanzi rose from his seat, and with a wave of his sleeve, a powerful gust of Yuan energy swept over Yuan Cang, who lay unconscious below. The demonic flames consuming Yuan Cang extinguished immediately, as if doused by a torrent of water. Yuan Cang's body was then lifted and transported alongside Ren Yuanzi as he departed.
Seeing his demonic flames so effortlessly neutralized by Ren Yuanzi, Lin Langtian felt a moment of tension. He understood that Ren Yuanzi, a master at the Reincarnation Realm, was far beyond his current ability to challenge. Ren Yuanzi's actions also showed that the Three Princes held an exceptional status in his eyes.
Once Ren Yuanzi had departed, the eight division heads and the other high-ranking members of Yuan Sect slowly began to leave, each wearing a complex expression.
After the prominent figures had exited, the disciples from all eight divisions looked at Lin Langtian with reverence and awe. The shock in their gazes was still palpable.
After exchanging brief farewells with Song Yun, Mo Tie, and the others, Lin Langtian made his way back to his quarters, weary from the intense battle. Though he had triumphed over Yuan Cang, the battle had taken its toll, leaving his energy reserves and physical strength drained.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the widely discussed final tournament of Yuan Sect finally came to an end. The disciples dispersed, still carrying the lingering excitement and shock from the events they had witnessed.
This year's competition had certainly been filled with surprises. At first, everyone had expected Yuan Cang to easily claim the top position, but Lin Langtian's unexpected intervention upended those predictions. With brutal precision, Lin Langtian seized victory from Yuan Cang, leaving the crowd stunned.
That intense battle between Lin Langtian and Yuan Cang would likely become one of the most memorable moments in the history of the sect tournaments.
Having won the match and claimed command authority, Lin Langtian's reputation soared. Some disciples began to speculate about whether he would manage to unite all eight divisions under his leadership. Although opinions varied, it was clear that Lin Langtian's standing had reached new heights, perhaps even overshadowing the Three Princes themselves.
Two days passed after the tournament.
During those days, excitement over the matches continued to echo through the halls of Yuan Sect as disciples recounted each thrilling fight. Meanwhile, Lin Langtian's injuries had almost fully healed. Though the battle had left him exhausted, his formidable body recovered quickly, and he felt fully restored.
In Fire Division, the atmosphere was electrified. Disciples strode with renewed pride, heads held high. They were part of Lin Langtian's faction, and their leader had won the championship and claimed command over the sect tournament. Their pride was well-earned.
Yet, while his followers basked in victory, Lin Langtian himself felt a headache growing.
Today, he was expected to collect his reward from the Headmaster...
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