Chapter 188
by post_apiChapter 188: Rewards and Edicts
Knowing that prolonging the battle held no chance of victory, Xue Qingluan decided to risk everything.
She waved her hands, attempting to detonate the Falling Moon to breach Shen Yue’s green mountain.
But at that moment, a sharp pain suddenly gripped her heart.
When she lowered her gaze, she spotted an expanding shadow pooling at her feet.
"What’s this?!"
Xue Qingluan jerked her head upward to see the enormous projection descending upon her.
The sight of a second green mountain looming above left her utterly shaken.
"He actually cultivated a second projection!"
Recognizing the peril, Xue Qingluan desperately recalled the Falling Moon, heaving it upward with both hands to block the attack.
Yet under the green mountain’s crushing weight, her Bright Moon Projection shattered like brittle tofu upon contact.
_Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh—_
As the green mountain threatened to crush Xue Qingluan, three guardian cultivators materialized beside her in flashes of light.
Blasts of tri-colored true essence struck the hovering mountain, dissipating the projection.
Xue Qingluan clenched her trembling hands and turned to Shen Yue, who remained as composed as ever.
"Friend Xue, your concession honors me. I hope to spar with the ‘Immortal Fairy of Bi Hua’ someday."
"Your victory was earned through superior skill. I’ll deliver your message to my senior sister."
She retreated to the cloud ship without another word.
Shen Yue’s triumph marked the total defeat of the Four Sects of the Northwest.
Across early, middle, late, and Perfect stage duels, they’d failed to claim a single victory against the Zhuhu Dynasty.
Seizing the moment while spectators still marveled at the battle, the Four Sects swiftly boarded their cloud ships and fled.
"Friends, why such haste?"
"Stay and share tea after your long journey!"
Figures from the high platform soared after the retreating vessels, their "hospitality" laced with mockery.
The Four Sects ignored the taunts, accelerating their cloud ships instead.
Beyond Daoyuanshan’s protective array, the sight of Ding Xiu’s thunderous expression sent elders scrambling onto the crossing-continental celestial ship. They cowered silently in their chambers.
As the last disciple boarded, Jia Huairen called out, "Such dangerous skies ahead—shall I escort you?"
Ding Xiu glared. "Unnecessary!"
With a gust, his form disintegrated into dust. The colossal celestial ship ascended, vanishing into distant clouds.
None could’ve foreseen such a farcical conclusion to the Four Sects’ grand confrontation.
They’d arrived with bluster, only to flee in disgrace without a single victory.
This incident would become a laughingstock tale that cultivators of the Tiger-Chasing Dynasty would relish recounting for decades to come.
After confirming Ding Xiu and his group had departed, Jia Huairen withdrew his spiritual thought and descended into Daoyuanshan.
Everyone rose and bowed respectfully upon seeing him.
“Salutations, Master!”
“Today marks Tiger-Chasing’s great victory. Dispense with formalities.”
Jia Huairen raised his hand, effortlessly lifting the entire assembly upright.
He flicked his fingers toward the air.
All young cultivators who had fought in the recent battles, except the severely injured Chu Hao, were pulled to his side.
Jia Huairen distributed rewards according to their battle merits.
Lv Fangxuan received an earth-attuned technique at the peak of Condensing Essence.
Yang Lingshu was granted a superior-quality robe for Perfected Gathering Qi.
Zi He exchanged his reward for Dynasty merit points.
Others obtained their due recognitions.
“Our gratitude for the treasures, Master!”
“Save your thanks. Tiger-Chasing rewards the deserving and punishes the failing. These are your rightful earnings.”
As Jia Huairen observed them through the mist veiling his face, his expression gradually brightened.
His spiritual thought pulsed with vigorous life energy from these youths!
This battle proved Tiger-Chasing’s new generation now surpassed the Four Sects of the Northwest in talent reserves.
Their advantage spanned the entire Gathering Qi stage, not merely among top prodigies.
These dynasty-nurtured youths had begun revealing their edges today.
They would form the bedrock of Tiger-Chasing’s strength for the next century!
“You’ve done well.”
Jia Huairen nodded approval before waving them back to their seats.
“My presence today serves two purposes,” he announced. “While reinforcing our position was primary, I bear crucial news.”
He raised his hand, unleashing a golden light before the crowd.
Recognizing its origin, every cultivator including Daoyuanshan’s three Spirit Communication experts descended and knelt.
“By Heaven’s Mandate and Imperial Decree, hear your Emperor’s words!”
Jia Huairen’s voice boomed before addressing Daoyuanshan’s depths: “Murei Friend need not emerge. The Emperor permits your continued seclusion.”
“This old cultivator thanks His Majesty.”
As the aged voice faded, Jia Huairen unfurled the decree:
“Two months past, to quell eastern conflicts and restore peace, We dispatched Princess Murong Yingxuan as envoy to negotiate ceasefire terms with the Eastern Wilderness Seventh Prince.
“Princess Yingxuan courageously shared frontline hardships with soldiers, winning their devotion.
“Yet Eastern Wilderness betrayed truce talks, luring Our princess into battle zones! There they slaughtered Our Condensing Essence guardian cultivator and murdered the princess herself!”
Gasps rippled through the crowd. Previous battles had never claimed Condensing Essence experts – only severe injuries. A royal princess’s death was unthinkable.
Shock swiftly gave way to burning rage.
Since Eastern Wilderness fractured, Tiger-Chasing had strictly defended borders, never invading. Our cultivator deployments aimed solely to protect civilians from bandit groups.
Ten years this eastern war has raged. Ten years of soldiers perishing, battlefields blood-soaked… Many present had lost kin to this conflict.
To end the bloodshed, Tiger-Chasing offered unprecedented goodwill – sending our princess as peacemaker.
Yet Eastern Wilderness curs! Savages! Beasts!
They butchered both guardian and envoy!
This insult cannot stand! Shall Tiger-Chasing be toothless?!”
Jia Huairen paused, then thundered: “Now His Majesty commands – let Tiger-Chasing’s heroes sharpen blades and march eastward!”