Chương 209: Chapter 98: Results Revealed, Intimidating the Multitude

"It is Ge Yucheng from the Beast Taming Sect!"

"I've heard that the cultivators of the Beast Taming Sect possess mysterious and unpredictable methods, capable of commanding and taming all kinds of formidable demon beasts to fight for them. Their strength is unfathomable!"

"Could it be that the ultimate winner of this journey into the Trial Realm is this very person? It makes sense—given the Beast Taming Sect's terrifying foundation, he certainly possesses the qualifications!"

"I wonder how many Mu Jade Swords he holds in his hands. If he possesses more than half of them, he will earn the right to cultivate alongside the Mu Family Ancestor for three full years. Such an enviable fortune truly makes one green with envy!" Upon hearing these hushed exclamations, the eyes of the gathered cultivators from various sects ignited with fiery anticipation. Their gazes locked onto the young man with intense scrutiny.

Even the proud, arrogant disciples of the Mu Family, who usually held their heads high above all others, displayed unusual caution. Their eyes hovered over Ge Yucheng. Some harbored wary apprehension in their eyes, while others merely sneered with disdain, as if completely disregarding his presence. Ge Yucheng seemed well aware of the atmosphere and expectations awaiting him. His expression remained composed and impassive before the crowd's burning glares.

Only when his eyes swept over Reyn did a flicker of complex emotion cross his gaze.

"Ge Yucheng of the Beast Taming Sect pays respects to Venerable Mu and all senior elders!" Ge Yucheng stepped forward and bowed reverently. A fleeting glint of surprise flashed across Mu Yunshen's eyes, though it vanished in an instant. He nodded with a warm smile, praising generously, "The Beast Taming Sect truly has a worthy successor.

For Young Friend Ge to achieve such accomplishments at such a young age, you truly deserve to be called the foremost among the younger generation across the eight provinces of our Zhao Kingdom. Your future prospects are immeasurable." Beside Mu Yunshen, the twelve elders of the Mu Family all smiled and nodded in agreement. As an ancient, prestigious sect within the Zhao Kingdom, the Beast Taming Sect's formidable power was by no means inferior to Huizhou's famous Three Thousand Dao Sect or the Supreme Demon Sect!

As a core disciple rumor-bound to inherit the position of next Sect Master, it was only natural for Ge Yucheng to possess such extraordinary strength. Hearing such praise, Ge Yucheng's face flushed slightly red. He knew in his heart that the Patriarch and elders of the Mu Family had misunderstood the situation completely. Offering another respectful bow, he spoke in a bitter, raspy voice, "I fear I must disappoint Venerable Mu and the senior elders.

Apart from gathering a few spirit herbs, I harvested no other treasures during this journey into the Trial Realm." As his words echoed across the courtyard, every cultivator standing before the Azure Jade Palace froze in utter shock. A moment later, reality dawned on them: Ge Yucheng had not obtained a single Mu Jade Sword! The astonishment in Mu Yunshen's eyes receded. A moment later, as if coming to a sudden realization, a look of understanding settled onto his face.

He spoke in a gentle, reassuring tone, "To emerge unharmed from the Teleportation Array is already a remarkable feat in itself. Young Friend Ge need not dwell on it. Please step aside and wait for a moment." Ge Yucheng bowed respectfully once more. Then, taking broad strides, he walked straight toward Reyn. When his gaze briefly met Reyn's, Ge Yucheng hastily lowered his head. Cupping his hands in a swift, silent greeting, he took his position and stood quietly just below Reyn. Buzzz!

The moment Ge Yucheng took his place, an uproar erupted across the previously quiet plaza. Whether they were proud disciples of the Mu Family or rogue cultivators from the eight provinces, their faces twisted in absolute disbelief! In the world of cultivation, strength reigned supreme. Though cultivators paid far less attention to tedious worldly etiquette than mortals did, no weaker cultivator would ever dare stand above or ahead of someone whose cultivation surpassed their own!

By voluntarily taking a position below Reyn, Ge Yucheng was openly acknowledging that his own strength and divine abilities were vastly inferior to Reyn's! This gesture hit the crowd like a thunderbolt, causing everyone to look at Reyn with newfound shock and suspicion. Before the commotion could settle, the Teleportation Array burst into bright light once again. From the glowing brilliance walked Xing Tianxie of the Pomie Sect, stepping out with long, confident strides.

"Senior Brother!" Seeing him, Ling You'er's delicate face flushed with excitement. An eager thought bloomed in her heart: Could Senior Brother be the ultimate victor of this Trial Realm excursion? Noticing that Ling You'er was safe and sound, relief softened Xing Tianxie's sharp gaze. Approaching the dignitaries, he bowed respectfully and declared, "Xing Tianxie of the Pomie Sect pays respects to all senior elders!" Mu Yunshen exchanged perplexed glances with the twelve elders behind him.

Though the Pomie Sect was formidable and Xing Tianxie's cultivation was indisputably top-tier, they refrained from drawing hasty conclusions this time. Mu Yunshen offered a genial smile and inquired, "Young Friend Xing, how was your harvest during this trial?" Hearing this, Xing Tianxie subtly glanced toward Reyn before clasping his hands together.

"During this journey in the Trial Realm, escaping with my life was already an ordeal in itself. As for the Mu Jade Swords, I failed to obtain a single one!" With that, he bowed to the elders and marched straight over to Reyn, clasping his hands warmly.

"Daoist Reyn, you truly hid your true depth well. Once today's affairs conclude, you and I must share a fine drink together." This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. Reyn smiled faintly, returning the gesture.

"I thank Daoist Xing for the offer. However, my injuries still require a few days of recuperation. There is no rush for drinks; we can enjoy them later." Xing Tianxie's expression remained calm and smiling as he bowed slightly and stepped over to stand beside Ge Yucheng. Internally, however, he let out a bitter sigh. If he had stepped forward to help when Wei Qubing and Yin Wuyu allied against Reyn earlier, he and Reyn would already be firm friends without needing extra words.

But under those dire circumstances, even though he had been tempted to intervene, he had been forced to consider his sect's interests and stand by as a bystander—an understandable choice, but a costly one nonetheless. Now, forming a bond with Reyn would require considerably more effort. Fortunately, they would both remain with the Mu Family for three years. There would be plenty of opportunities ahead, so despite his mild disappointment, he did not let it weigh heavily on his mind.

When he snapped back to his senses, he noticed the strange, eerie looks the surrounding cultivators were giving him. Reyn shook his head inwardly. Exchanging a brief glance with Ge Yucheng, both men flashed bitter, self-deprecating smiles. Yet neither broke the silence or uttered a word of explanation; they stood firm in their places, lowering their gaze to keep their thoughts hidden. Hum! Hum! Hum! Dense, rapid hums of spatial distortion reverberated across the plaza.

The dazzling light barrier over the ancient teleportation array flared with explosive, repeated bursts of luminescence. Figure after figure emerged swiftly from the blinding radiance. After offering respectful bows toward the Mu Family Patriarch and the assembled elders, their eyes swept over the crowded plaza to locate their respective sect contingents before taking their places.

Yet the moment their eyes passed over the prominent figure in simple azure robes standing at the absolute front of the crowd, every single one of them felt a sharp shiver, awe and deep-seated dread flashing in their eyes. As more and more cultivators from various sects were ejected from the Trial Realm, the doubt and astonishment in the eyes of the watching crowd grew thicker and thicker. An unthinkable, absurd suspicion began to form in everyone's minds—a possibility so outrageous that none dared to voice it.

They refused to believe it until the grand array released one final surge of brilliant light and slowly ground to a halt. Within that fading radiance, two lingering figures materialized. When the crowd finally discerned their identities, a spark of fiery excitement lit up the eyes of the Mu Family Patriarch, the elders, and the thousands of spectating cultivators.

Wei Qubing of the Three Thousand Dao Sect and Yin Wuyu of the Supreme Demon Sect were indisputably the supreme titans among the younger generation of the Zhao Kingdom's cultivation world. Naturally, the highest expectations of the entire realm rested on their shoulders.

"Let us go. Since we have failed, we are destined to become nothing more than stepping stones for another's brilliant glory," Yin Wuyu said, his expression dark and somber. Yet his voice remained impossibly steady, devoid of even a shred of despondency or defeat. Wei Qubing let out a cold, sharp laugh upon hearing those words. Though the murderous crimson tint in his eyes had entirely receded, his gaze remained as frigid as glacier ice, devoid of any warmth.

"A pity that such blinding brilliance is destined to be as fleeting as a night-blooming cereus—fading the moment it reaches its peak." The two exchanged a brief look, silently reading the lethal intent hidden within each other's eyes. Cold, sinister smirks played at the corners of their lips as they stepped forward in unison toward the central dais.

"Wei Qubing of the Three Thousand Dao Sect pays homage to the respected Venerables!"

"Yin Wuyu of the Supreme Demon Sect pays homage to the respected Venerables!" Both young prodigies bowed respectfully, their voices echoing across the silent square. A strange glint flickered in Mu Yunshen's eyes as his gaze swept over them. After a brief silence, he suddenly smiled and asked softly, "If my guess is correct, you two young friends must have returned from this excursion into the Trial Realm with rather meager gains, have you not?"

The moment his words fell, countless burning gazes locked onto the two figures. Though a terrifying suspicion had already taken root in everyone's minds, no one was willing to accept it until it was spoken aloud. Wei Qubing and Yin Wuyu exchanged a glance and nodded simultaneously.

"Through this trial, the two of us have finally realized what it means for there to always be a higher sky and a stronger master," they declared in unison.

"Fellow Daoist Reyn of the North Yue State—whether in cultivation base, divine abilities, or magic treasures—completely crushed every single cultivator from our eight provinces! The two of us yield to him with total conviction! Furthermore... I am afraid all eight Mu Jade Swords within the Trial Realm have already fallen into Fellow Daoist Reyn's hands!" Rumble! The moment those words left their mouths, a massive, deafening uproar exploded across the plaza!

Every pair of eyes snapped toward Reyn like drawn blades—filled with envy, jealousy, deep-seated reverence, and desperate attempts to curry favor! Yet, far from feeling any pride, Reyn felt his brow furrow tightly. Deep suspicion and alarm surged in his mind. These two men wanted nothing more than to tear him limb from limb and grind his bones to dust—so why were they deliberately elevating his prestige in front of the entire cultivation world? Something must have transpired behind his back without his knowledge.

Judging by their subtle expressions, whatever was unfolding boded no good for him. Especially when he recalled how Mu Daguang, the Mu Family's Nascent Soul Ancestor, had repeatedly indulged and tolerated his audacity earlier, the suppressed anxiety in Reyn's chest resurfaced, burning hotter and more intense than ever. However, the present situation allowed no time for deeper speculation. Reyn took a long, quiet breath, forcing his surging emotions back down to maintain a calm facade.

Just then, Mu Yunshen's booming voice resounded once more.

"Young Friend Reyn! If you have indeed obtained all eight Mu Jade Swords, then you are without a doubt the undisputed number one cultivator among the younger generation across all eight provinces of our Zhao Kingdom!"

"Furthermore, you shall receive the supreme grand prize prepared by my Mu Family! But before that, we ask that you present the eight Mu Jade Swords for verification." Hearing this, Reyn took a step forward. He bowed slightly with calm composure, uttering not a single superfluous word. Reaching down to his waist, his fingers tapped a storage bag several times in rapid succession! Swish! Swish! Swish!

Eight miniature swords, each roughly a foot long and dripping with vibrant, verdant light, instantly emerged and hovered in midair before him. With a subtle flick of Reyn's wrist, the eight Mu Jade Swords transformed into green streaks of light, gliding smoothly toward Mu Yunshen and the assembled elders. Mu Yunshen reached out his hand, drawing all eight Mu Jade Swords into his palm. Closing his eyes slightly, he released his spiritual perception to inspect each artifact.

After a brief moment, he opened his eyes, revealing a gaze filled with apparent admiration as he turned to Reyn. Waving his sleeve, he announced, "Respected Sword-Guarding Elders, you may verify them as well." With a wave of his hand, the eight Mu Jade Swords shot outward, each flying directly into the waiting hands of a Mu Family elder. The eight elders caught the floating swords.

After a brief inspection, they nodded to one another in silent consensus, their eyes wide with profound shock as they turned back to look at Reyn. To gather all eight Mu Jade Swords within the perilous expanses of the Trial Realm was a feat even they, as seasoned elders, could not guarantee with total certainty if they were to enter themselves! Just what terrifying realm had this young man's true strength reached?