291: Chapter 144_6 291: Chapter 144_6 Of the one hundred seats reserved for the Peak Masters, ninety-nine were now occupied, with only the one in the farthest corner, belonging to him, remaining empty.
Cao Zhen became increasingly curious as he walked towards his own seat.
He asked, “What’s going on?
Have all the Peak Masters really come together?
Has something big happened?”
Around him, everyone acted as if they hadn’t heard Cao Zhen’s question.
However, Deng Qixing stood up and said, “Peak Master Cao, we also don’t know what matter the Sect Leader True Person has summoned us for.”
“It’s because of yesterday’s swordsmanship duel,” Bai Fengzi’s voice followed closely after Deng Qixing’s words.
Upon hearing this, the crowd’s expression suddenly changed, especially the Peak Masters from Sword Peak who, feeling ashamed, hung their heads low.
The other Peaks of the Hundred Peaks Sect were not really affected; these were Peaks focused on swordsmanship, yet they could not retain the visitor even for a full day.
Bai Fengzi glanced around at everyone and began, “Now that everyone is here, I shall get straight to the point.
I have received news that Wu Jianzi went to the Tongjian Sect for a swordsmanship duel yesterday, and he left after half a day.”
“Half a day?”
The assembled Peak Masters were greatly shocked.
“Although the strength and foundation of the Tongjian Sect cannot compare with our Hundred Peaks Sect, they are still a sect specializing in swordsmanship.
How could they lose so quickly?”
“Has the Tongjian Sect fallen so much?”
“No, it’s not that the Tongjian Sect is too weak, but that Wu Jianzi is too strong,” Bai Fengzi replied with pride.
“I’ve been informed that when Wu Jianzi left the Tongjian Sect, he personally said that he had lost in a swordsmanship duel at our Hundred Peaks Sect and held immense respect for one of our Peak Masters.”
“What?”
“He won?”
“Didn’t we lose?”
“Who took action?”
“Flying Sword Peak Master?”
“Don’t look at me; I didn’t make a move,” the Flying Sword Peak Master hastily waved his hands to dismiss the suggestion.
“If it wasn’t the Flying Sword Peak Master, then which sword Peak’s Peak Master made a move?”
“No, don’t look at me either, I didn’t make a move,” another interjected.
For a moment, everyone looked around in confusion.
Who had made a move?
And who had the strength to be esteemed by Wu Jianzi?
Hearing Bai Fengzi’s words, the Purple Feather Peak Master couldn’t help but glance at Cao Zhen.
It couldn’t be Cao Zhen, could it?
After all, yesterday Cao Zhen had claimed he won.
But could Cao Zhen have that kind of strength?
Wu Jianzi was a person from the Sword Sect, with incredibly high standards.
Even if a Peak Master had taken action, and Wu Jianzi had lost, he would most likely feel that the Hundred Peaks Sect was bullying him by overpowering him due to greater numbers.
To earn his respect, one would need to completely crush him in the duel.
It wasn’t that he looked down on his own Hundred Peaks Sect, but he genuinely felt that even if the Flying Sword Peak’s Peak Master personally took action, he wouldn’t have the ability to earn Wu Jianzi’s respect.
As Bai Fengzi listened to the crowd’s discussions, his gaze fell on Cao Zhen, displaying a satisfied smile.
He spoke loudly, “Fellow Peak Masters, there is no need to wonder anymore.
The person whom Wu Jianzi respects is none other than Cao Zhen from Four Treasures Peak.”
“Cao Zhen?”
“Is it really him?
How is that possible!”
The crowd looked skeptically at Cao Zhen, having never heard that he was proficient in swordsmanship.
Even Cao Zhen’s disciples didn’t practice swordsmanship, so how could Cao Zhen have won against Wu Jianzi in the swordsmanship contest, let alone earned his high praise?
Where did Cao Zhen learn his swordsmanship from?
Couldn’t be, it’s that so-called legacy again, right?
And why doesn’t he teach it to his disciples then?
As Bai Fengzi listened to the crowd’s doubts, she spoke up again, “These words are directly from Wu Jianzi himself; there’s no falsehood in them!”
She had also not expected that Cao Zhen would actually make a move, especially since none of his disciples practiced swordsmanship.
She too believed that Cao Zhen was not skilled in swordsmanship.
After all, even a reincarnated being of great ability couldn’t possibly be proficient in everything.
But to her surprise, Cao Zhen did intervene, and what’s more, he won, and won most brilliantly.
Wu Jianzi’s high regard made it impossible for others to accuse the Hundred Peaks Sect of using its stature to bully Wu Jianzi into defeat.
As the noise from the crowd gradually subsided, Bai Fengzi continued, “I’ve said before, whoever can defeat Wu Jianzi will naturally be rewarded.
Now that Peak Master Cao has won, our Hundred Peaks Sect’s reputation has greatly increased, especially when compared to the Thousand Caves Door, we’ve completely overshadowed them.
As the sect leader, I must show my appreciation.
Peak Master Cao, I reward you with ten stalks of Liyuan Grass, ten stalks of Bodhisattva’s Wonder Lotus, and ten stalks of Dense Sea Spirit Leaf.
Are you satisfied?”
She knew that Cao Zhen was skilled in alchemy, so she rewarded him with spiritual medicines.
Everyone around, upon hearing this, had their eyes turn red with envy!
Dissatisfied?
What’s there to be dissatisfied with?
These three kinds of spiritual medicines, they are all of the fifth grade!
More importantly, these three kinds of spiritual medicines are exceedingly rare and not something money could buy.
Especially the Dense Sea Spirit Leaf which only grows in the dreadful Dense Sea.
Whenever one appears, it causes a frenzy among cultivators.
Ten stalks of Dense Sea Spirit Leaf could cause a bloodbath in the outside world!
The Sect Leader True Person is offering such generous rewards!
“Thank you, Sect Leader,” What else could Cao Zhen say?
Satisfied, of course, he was satisfied; he really needed these spiritual medicines for his alchemy.
After thanking Bai Fengzi, his gaze fell upon the people around him.
It circled once before coming to a certain peak master, with a smile he said, “Peak Master Yun Lang, if I recall correctly, you mentioned that your peak has a Fourth-Grade Spirit Field that you’d give to me.
You’re not going back on your word, are you?”
Peak Master Yun Lang was so angry he almost spit out blood.
He had casually mentioned it before; who knew that Cao Zhen would actually win.
“I, of course, acknowledge it!”
What choice did he have?
He had said in front of the Sect Leader True Person and all the peak masters that if Cao Zhen won, he’d give the Fourth-Grade Spirit Field to him.
Could a peak master like him renege on his word?
He could only regret that he had spoken too harshly at the time, having rashly promised the spirit field away.
“I knew it, Peak Master Yun Lang, you wouldn’t be one to go back on his word,” Cao Zhen was overjoyed inside and turned to another peak master, “Peak Master Liuming, if I remember correctly, you said you wanted to gift me some spiritual medicine.”
One by one, Cao Zhen confirmed with each peak master who had previously stated that if he won, they would give him treasures.
And each of those peak masters could only agree with gritted teeth, feeling like spitting blood inside.
They had been boastful at the time, mentioning treasures in front of everyone.
They definitely couldn’t present inferior items, and now, all of them ended up benefiting Cao Zhen.
After making his rounds, Cao Zhen quickly approached the peak master of Purple Feather Peak, ranked twenty-first, and with a smile said, “Purple Feather Peak Master, you previously mentioned that I could pick whatever I wanted from your Purple Feather Peak.
You wouldn’t go back on your word, would you?
You reaffirmed it just yesterday.”
“Acknowledged,” Purple Feather Peak Master gritted his teeth and spat out the word, feeling as if every spoken syllable bled.
Unlike the others who had promised one or two treasures, he had allowed Cao Zhen to freely take whatever he wanted from Purple Feather Peak!