Gong Xuanyan, the revered leader of the Buddha Benevolent Sect, stood before them. As Lian Chen and Lin Chuxuan drew closer to him, Lin Chuxuan took the lead, displaying her respect with a gracious bow. She addressed him, "Esteemed Elder Lin, I pay my deepest respects to the Sect Leader."
Observing this display, Lian Chen followed suit, mirroring Lin Chuxuan's gesture of reverence. With utmost sincerity, he spoke, "As an Inner Disciple, I humbly offer my respects to the Sect Leader."
Gong Xuanyan, accepted their gesture with a nod as he observed both of them before him.
"Lin Chuxuan, Lian Chen, you may rise." Gong Xuanyan spoke in a gentle yet authoritative tone.
As Lian Chen raised up his head, he made eye contact with Gong Xuanyan, and Gong Xuanyan was staring at him, his gaze looking as if he knew Lian Chen a long time ago.
"Excuse me, Sect Leader?" Lin Chuxuan interjected, sensing the prolonged silence and Gong Xuanyan's unwavering gaze fixed on Lian Chen.
Regaining his composure, Gong Xuanyan swiftly composed himself and expressed his apology. "Please accept my apologies for drifting off in thought," he said apologetically.
"Now, Lian Chen, I have called you here to bestow upon you a reward in recognition of your exceptional performance during the Inter-Sect Duel."
"Even though we have lost?" Lian Chen exclaimed, clearly shocked that he will be receiving a reward based on him defeating Liang Tao.
"Hahahaha. Winning or losing doesn't matter. What is the most important is that you have helped the Buddha Benevolent Sect to regain their pride, after that rat said so much taunting and hurtful stuff in the arena!" Gong Xuanyan replied, clearly having a hint of murderous tone as he remembered the words of what Liang Tao said during the duel.
"If I am to be rewarded, I hope that the other disciples who have fought their hardest during the Inter-Sect Duel will be rewarded too," Lian Chen pleaded, feeling unfair that he is the only one to be receiving reward.
Gong Xuanyan, pleasantly surprised by Lian Chen's consideration for others, responded with admiration. "You need not worry, for all the participants, including your brother Duan Wu Kun, have already received their rewards," he assured Lian Chen.
Gong Xuanyan appreciated Lian Chen's selflessness, recognizing that he had not solely focused on his own recognition but had genuinely cared about the well-being of his fellow disciples.
"Well, that's great to hear." Lian Chen was glad that the other participants had received a reward, including himself.
"Well… your brother Duan, had received a much bigger reward than the others." Gong Xuanyan disclosed, his tone conveying a mixture of admiration for Duan Wu Kun performance at the Inter-Sect Duel.
"You can ask your brother Duan what reward he received, after you have received yours." Gong Xuanyan said, turning his body towards the entrance of the armory.
"In this armory, lie many weapons that have been meticulously crafted and each weapon has been forged with great skill." Gong Xuanyan began, gesturing towards the vast collection of weapons they had in their armory.
"Now, as part of your reward, I will allow you to enter the armory to choose a weapon for yourself." Gong Xuanyan said, and gestured to Lian Chen to enter the armory.
Suddenly, the grand doors of the armory swung open him, revealing a spacious chamber that is filled with various weapons and artifacts.
"Now, you will enter the armory alone. Elder Lin and I will be waiting for you outside. A weapon will stay alongside you until your death. So, choose wisely." Gong Xuanyan instructed, urging Lian Chen to proceed, while Lin Chuxuan and Gong Xuanyan will be waiting patiently outside for him.
"Disciple Lian Chen, thank Sect Leader for this opportunity." Lian Chen clasped his fist, thanking Gong Xuanyan, before heading in.
"Sect Leader, why not ask Lian Chen to see if he accepts you as his master?" Lin Chuxuan questioned Gong Xuanyan after Lian Chen entered the armory, clearly not wanting Lian Chen to know of this question.
"Why? Because I am not deemed to be well-suited to be his master. Whatever he achieves in the future will definitely be higher than what I have done." Gong Xuanyan understood that Lian Chen will definitely surpass his cultivation in the future, and he did not want to hinder Lian Chen growth by being an inadequate master.