Chapter 84: Dispensing Rewards

But in the later bouts on the platform, Lin Hu was not so fortunate. In the second match he ran into another senior brother at the thirteenth level of Qi Refinement. Before he had even fully formed his stance, he was blasted straight off the stage.

Perhaps it was those stacks of talismans he had just unleashed, astonishing everyone and giving the senior brothers a way to counter him. The moment Lin Hu stepped onto the platform, he was sent flying down again. In the end, he made his way to Lin Yang in a thoroughly sorry state.

“All right, you did well enough. Next time, if you get the chance, catch Lei Hong and beat that brat up again.” Lin Yang gave Lin Hu ample approval.

“Why? I don’t even have a grudge against him.” Lin Hu asked curiously.

Lin Yang casually set up a soundproof barrier. “Listen, back then that little bastard Lei Hong deliberately irritated me by boasting about how skilled his grandfather was. I still haven’t gotten my revenge. Remember this: whenever you get the chance, beat him once for me.”

Lin Yang grinned wickedly.

“And another thing: from now on, in the platform matches, you’re not allowed to use spiritual talismans except against Lei Hong. If you keep fighting like that, how is your combat ability ever going to improve?” Lin Yang directly forbade Lin Hu’s extravagant style. He was doing this for Lin Hu’s own good, after all. The talismans all came from Lin Yang. In the future, once Lin Hu had a family of his own, Lin Yang would no longer be responsible for his affairs. It would be impossible to keep supporting him with talismans forever.

“All right, Uncle. At worst, I just won’t use talismans next time.” Lin Hu still looked a little unconvinced, wearing a distinctly unhappy expression.

“What, you’re still dissatisfied? Come now, tell me exactly what you’re dissatisfied about.” Lin Yang said, his own temper rising as he looked at Lin Hu with his head tilted askew.

“I may not be able to draw talismans this advanced, but I believe I definitely will be able to in the future. Why can’t I use them in a contest?” Lin Hu said with a sullen face.

“Hah. And you still have the nerve to say that? You were knocked off the stage the instant you went up just now. If this had been a fight to the death, your head would already have been severed.”

“And you still dare argue with me here? From now on, every day you’re going to the martial arts grounds to spar with the other disciples. I’ll have the other elders arrange it.”

“Every day?” Lin Hu was startled by the arrangement.

“Of course. And when you can withstand three moves from me, I’ll consider you more or less ready, and then we’ll stop.” Lin Yang said unhurriedly. In Lin Hu’s eyes, however, Lin Yang had grown a pair of devil’s horns on his head.

“No, Uncle, I still need to go discuss the Dao with Lin Shijie!” Lin Hu immediately clung to Lin Yang’s leg, putting on a pitiful display and sniffing in feigned distress.

“All right, enough. Stop pretending to be pitiful here. In half a year, the Blood-Red Trial begins. If you want to be a burden, then go on slacking off and scheming for shortcuts. By then, your senior sister might even be dragged to her death because of you.” Lin Yang slowly guided Lin Hu into his line of thought, then kept coaxing him, trying to make him imagine the future as a useless burden.

Lin Hu thought for a moment, then finally gritted his teeth. “Fine. For the next half-year, I’ll go to the martial arts hall every day to take part in the matches. I’ll prove I’m not a burden. I can definitely help Senior Sister.”

He spoke with great resolve. After finishing, he left Lin Yang’s side and headed for the martial arts hall.

“Hold on.” Lin Yang called him back.

“Uncle, is there anything else?” Lin Hu turned and asked.

Lin Yang took a small jade bottle from his storage pouch. “These pills are for healing wounds and promoting circulation. Take one every day, and you’ll be able to make sure all your injuries heal by the next day.” After saying that, he tossed it over to Lin Hu.

Lin Hu caught it in a flurry of motion, nearly dropping it to the ground. “Thank you, Uncle. I won’t let you down.” Holding the small jade bottle tightly, he strode toward the martial arts hall with determination, like a soldier marching to the battlefield.

…

Very soon, the disciples’ contests came to an end, and the three strongest were decided. They were two men and one woman.

First place was a male cultivator surnamed Li, a person Lin Yang did not know at all. He was rather low-profile, a true devoted recluse in cultivation.

“All right, the top three disciples, come up on stage.” Lin Yang stepped onto the platform and announced the prizes directly. In no time, the three disciples came up, with the Li-surnamed recluse leading the way.

“Elder.” The three disciples bowed to Lin Yang in turn.

“Very well, the first disciple, come forward.” Lin Yang called the Li-surnamed disciple over and personally handed him a jade bottle.

“This is a Foundation Establishment Pill. It is a very suitable reward for you, but one pill may not be enough. You will need at least two. Only then will it be foolproof.” After handing over the jade bottle, Lin Yang reminded him.

“Many thanks to the elder. I will heed your instruction.” After bowing, the disciple withdrew. All the disciples looked on with great envy at first place. Judging from this disciple’s aptitude, this senior brother might become a Foundation Establishment master in just a year or two. That made everyone even more curious about the rewards that would follow. Though they likely would not surpass first place, they would surely not be far behind.

“Second-place disciple, come up on stage.” Lin Yang discovered that the second-place disciple was Lin Shiyu. That was only natural; after all, she had been stuck at this level for several years already. It was not surprising that she had taken second.

Lin Shiyu walked up onto the platform and looked at Lin Yang with great reverence. Lin Yang had become a Core Formation cultivator at the age of thirty, and on top of that, he had achieved remarkable success in alchemy. He was almost a model for all cultivators. “Elder.”

“Mm, you did very well. This talisman treasure is for you. It can unleash an attack at the late Foundation Establishment stage, and it will be of great help when you enter the Blood-Red Trial in the future.” As he spoke, he produced a jade token engraved with all manner of talismans. Within the token lay a vast reservoir of power; once unleashed, it could directly threaten a cultivator at the middle Foundation Establishment stage.

“Thank you, Elder. Such great kindness needs no thanks in words; this disciple will repay it in due time.” Lin Shiyu accepted the jade token solemnly and said with deep gratitude.

“All right, you may go down.” After distributing Lin Shiyu’s reward, Lin Yang let her step down. “Which disciple took third place? Come up and receive your prize.” As soon as he finished speaking, a disciple came forward, likewise at the thirteenth level of Qi Refinement, and also a man. It seemed that in terms of combat strength, men still held the advantage over women.

“Elder Lin.” The disciple was rather slight of build, but during the earlier matches, his spellcasting had been quite effective, and he could even combine various techniques. There was much he could learn from him as well. If not for his comparatively frail body, Lin Shiyu might not have been able to beat him.

“All right, I see your spellwork is quite good. This staff, which enhances five-element techniques, is yours. It is a high-grade first-tier magical artifact, and it suits you very well.” He then handed the disciple a staff that looked like the walking stick of an old earth god. The staff radiated a riot of colors, wondrous and beautiful.

“Many thanks, Elder. I am very fond of this prize.” With that, the disciple cheerfully stepped down from the platform.

After the rewards had all been handed out, Lin Yang also spoke a few words from the stage, much like a school principal rambling nonsense from a podium in ages past. Even so, he did not drag it out for too long; he finished his remarks in a quarter of an hour and then directly dismissed all the disciples.