The crowd was silent.
They had anticipated this outcome.
It came as no surprise.
Lin Chen's rise was as dazzling as a star.
Importantly, it wasn't a sudden explosion, but the result of steady hard work.
Chu Hao smiled calmly.
His little brother had always been proud and arrogant, so this setback was not completely bad.
It showed him that there were greater beings in the world than him.
In the future, once he joined the Sky Flower Pavilion, he would have to curb his arrogance and focus on cultivation.
Soon, the crowd erupted into applause.
For most people, Lin Chen was a dark horse. To go from being underestimated to crushing his opponents was nothing short of a miracle.
Lin Chen smiled and stood on the stage.
His gaze landed on Liu Jiaojiao, who beamed at him.
Lin Chen was a little surprised and shy when their eyes met. She quickly looked away.
Liu Wei also laughed, visibly elated.
"The winner of the Chu family's invitational tournament is Lin Chen from the Lihuo Sect of the Five Kingdoms!"
Chu Hao walked onto the stage, his lips twitching. "The rewards for this competition are generous... Of course, they're a far cry from the 1,400 pieces of Tier 4 Spiritual Jade you won. Please don't be disappointed."
"Brother Chu, what are you talking about? I'm thrilled. How could I be disappointed?"
Lin Chen coughed awkwardly. More treasures were always welcome.
"These are two Tier 4 Spiritual Designs and a Tier 4 Spirit Pill. In addition, there are 100 Tier 4 Spiritual Jades."
Chu Hao smiled and teased, "Do you know why I didn't want your Spiritual Jades earlier? Because you deserve these 100 more!"
Lin Chen's eyes lit up. The rewards were indeed generous.
"Let's go to my place and have some drinks!"
Chu Hao grabbed Lin Chen. "You haven't visited me since you arrived in Lingyu City. Don't forget your big brother when you find a pretty girl!"
"Brother Chu, what are you talking about?"
Lin Chen glanced at Liu Jiaojiao. "Let me say goodbye first."
"Okay, go ahead."
Chu Hao waved his hand.
Lin Chen stepped off the stage, took out the 100 Tier 4 Spiritual Jades and Tier 4 Spiritual Designs, and handed them to Liu Jiaojiao.
He had initially intended to return them to Liu Wei, but he knew that Liu Wei would not accept them.
"Jiaojiao, I've troubled you a lot these days. I once bought a Spirit Tool from the Cheng family in Uncle Liu's name. This can be considered repayment. Please accept it."
Lin Chen forced the items into Liu Jiaojiao's hands.
"I..."
Liu Jiaojiao hesitated, but when she looked up and saw Lin Chen's calm eyes, she could not speak.
"Boy Lin Chen, what are you doing? Do you think your Uncle Liu is so poor that he couldn't afford a Spirit Tool?"
Liu Wei walked forward in displeasure, trying to return the Spiritual Jades to Lin Chen.
"Uncle Liu, please. I will bring my sister to visit the General's Mansion again. If you're so polite to me this time, how can I face you in the future?"
Lin Chen quickly said with a wry smile.
After much persuasion, Liu Wei finally accepted the items.
After bidding farewell to the Lius, Lin Chen followed Chu Hao to the Chu residence.
The Lingyu City Invitational Tournament had concluded, but the excitement had yet to die down.
...
...
Chu Residence
In a courtyard
"Come on, Lin Chen, let's drink!"
Chu Hao brought out a large jar of wine and poured it into cups with a bang.
Before them was a large bowl!
Drinking from... a large bowl?
Quite generous!
"Master used to love drinking this wine."
Chu Hao said with emotion, "Speaking of which, I haven't seen Master for a while."
Lin Chen picked up a bowl of wine and took a sip.
It was fragrant and mellow.
But soon, a burning sensation spread from his throat to his chest.
"Refreshing!"
Lin Chen wiped his mouth, feeling invigorated.
After that sip of wine, his taste buds had been tantalized.
The food on the table was also exquisite and well-prepared.
After a few rounds of drinks, Lin Chen put down his bowl and asked, "Brother Chu, I'm curious about what my grandfather taught you back then. For example, he taught my senior sister the art of Spiritual Design, which made her a Spiritual Design Master. What about you?"
Chu Hao smiled slightly. "Well, that's a long story."
He poured drinks for Lin Chen and himself, then exhaled and said, "As I told you before, Master had three apprentices—me, your eldest senior brother, and my junior sister..."
Lin Chen nodded and listened quietly.
"Master taught me the art of beast control."
"He taught your eldest senior brother unparalleled swordsmanship."
"And he taught our junior sister the art of Spiritual Design."
Chu Hao sighed. "Master was the most powerful person I've ever met. Not only was his cultivation unparalleled, but he was also proficient in swordsmanship, beast control, and Spiritual Design. He mastered everything!"
Lin Chen was stunned.
Grandpa was that strong?
But he had never taught Lin Chen anything except for some life lessons.
Lin Chen suddenly felt a little wronged.
Why was he so generous with his apprentices, but so stingy with his own grandson?
"Lin Chen, you have to work harder. Then we will join the Southwest Sword Pavilion together."
Chu Hao's eyes shone with anticipation. "Your eldest senior brother is the young master there, and his status is very high!"
"What kind of faction is the Southwest Sword Pavilion?"
Lin Chen raised an eyebrow. It sounded like it wasn't in the Eastern Yuan Region.
"The Southwest Sword Pavilion is a powerful force that far surpasses the Eastern Yuan Region. It's... a super sect!"
Chu Hao picked up another bowl of wine and drank it down.
Then, he smacked his lips and said, "The Eastern Sword Pavilion is a major power in the Eastern Yuan Region, but it's only a peak second-rate sect. Above the second-rate sects are first-rate sects, and above them are super sects!"
Lin Chen's pupils constricted in surprise.
He had thought that his grandfather was strong.
But he never would have guessed that he was so incredibly powerful!
The young master of a super sect!
And he was actually Grandpa's apprentice!
Just thinking about it was mind-boggling.
Super sects were worlds apart from him.
For now, there was no connection at all.
"Although your eldest senior brother has a cold personality, he's a good person. Lin Chen, we have to work hard!"
Chu Hao patted his shoulder. "In the future, I will find a way for you to join your eldest senior brother!"
Lin Chen: "..."
The future was still a long way off.