When the smoke cleared and visibility returned, everyone saw Jiang Yun standing there without a single injury, save for a few small wrinkles on his clothing. The Divine Lord and the highest elders were astonished that Jiang Yun had not been harmed at all. Zhang Xinye, Mu Chuyuan, and some of the stronger elders in the sacred land showed looks of shock and spoke with disbelief.
"Not injured at all? That was an attack from a saint! Isn't his cultivation at the first stage of the Spirit Foundation?"
Afterward, the ice domain slowly dissipated, and Gu Qingxue emerged with injuries but still able to stand. Meanwhile, Ye Chen, whose entire body was nearly turned to ice, was saved by Li Yutong and Guan Mengyao. Both women jumped into the arena with concern, and when they saw Ye Chen was safe, they shouted insults at Jiang Yun, filled with venomous words as if they were lifelong enemies.
"You ****!"
"You hypocrite! I hope you ****!"
However, this did not affect him in the slightest. Jiang Yun ignored them as if they were just a passing breeze and turned his gaze towards the person who had attacked him. It was an old woman who had accompanied Gu Qingxue. Suddenly, a system sound echoed in Jiang Yun's mind.
[Congratulations to the host for suppressing the Son of Destiny. Ye Chen lost 100,000 luck points, and the host has gained 1,000,000 villain points. Ye Chen's remaining luck is 2,900,000.]
[Ding! The system shop is now open.]
Even though the system sent a notification, Jiang Yun paid it no mind at this moment. He turned and coldly asked the Divine Lord and his master, Lin Qingyi.
"Interference from outsiders in this competition—is it against the rules, Divine Lord?"
The Divine Lord and the elders enforcing the laws exchanged glances for a moment before the Divine Lord nodded slowly and said, "Gu Qingxue, you must reflect on your actions at Misty Cave for one year, and you are not to leave without permission. As for the old woman, you must provide Jiang Yun with 100,000 high-grade spirit stones and healing pills. The winner of this duel is Jiang Yun."
Gu Qingxue accepted, but the old woman was filled with anxiety due to the significant number of spirit stones required, yet she had to bow her head and agree.
Jiang Yun's victory was announced amidst the crowd. In the ensuing silence, as everyone thought the matter was concluded, an immense pressure focused on Jiang Yun with a voice full of anger.
"Why didn't you follow my order?"
Jiang Yun turned to face his master, Lin Qingyi, with cold eyes and replied, "I did nothing wrong. The little pest did not concede at that moment. If I had stopped my attack, the one lying there could have been me."
Lin Qingyi remained silent for a moment before asking, "Do you have no mercy for your two junior disciples?"
Jiang Yun responded without hesitation, "Junior disciples who unleashed attacks that would have killed even a seventh-level Spirit Foundation cultivator without hesitation, or another who broke the sacred land's rules to cut off my arm without hesitation—I do not consider them my junior disciples."
Jiang Yun's answer left everyone, including Lin Qingyi, speechless. She was about to tell Jiang Yun to return to his peak when Jiang Yun smiled coldly and asked, "Where is my reward for winning?"
Lin Qingyi paused for a moment before responding, "Go to the resource vault and choose any spirit stones or weapons you desire."
Jiang Yun shook his head. "No, I mean the ring I bet on."
Upon hearing this, Ye Chen immediately spoke up, his voice trembling with pain.
"Please... Master, it's… it's an important gift my mother… left for me. I beg you, Master."
Before Lin Qingyi could respond, Li Yutong and Guan Mengyao were about to start cursing Jiang Yun, trying to force him not to take the ring. But at that moment, Jiang Yun looked at them and released a pressure that forced them to the ground, saying,
"If you dare utter another word, I will show you that death is better than life."
The two women, hearing this, were struck with fear as Jiang Yun had never threatened them before. When Lin Qingyi saw this, she felt something strange about Jiang Yun, but she ignored it and thought about how Ye Chen had willingly wagered the ring with Jiang Yun. However, seeing Gu Qingxue, Li Yutong, and Guan Mengyao looking at her with pleading eyes, she could not help but wonder what kind of drug her disciples had taken to protect Ye Chen so much. She sighed and turned to ask Jiang Yun,
"Could you ask for something else?"
Jiang Yun thought for a moment before replying with a smile,
"Something important your mother left for you, yet you wagered it without a second thought. If your mother is looking up from hell, she must be very proud of you, you fool."
Ye Chen spat out blood, his face flushing with humiliation.
Jiang Yun thought for a moment before replying, "If the master says so, then have him kneel and apologize to me three times; that will be enough."
The three female disciples were furious upon hearing this, but when they tried to speak, Mu Chuyuan stopped them.
Lin Qingyi felt that Jiang Yun's demand was excessive. It might cause Ye Chen to develop inner demons, but recalling the recent events, she thought this might be the best way to curb Ye Chen's arrogance, and she had a method to remove inner demons. She nodded and watched the scene quietly.
Ye Chen felt like everything was falling apart; no one came to help. His semi-emperor spirit was silent, waiting for his own decision. He dared not move since his spiritual power had just recovered to the fifth stage of the Dao Gathering realm.
In the end, Ye Chen decided to kneel and spoke in a trembling voice, "I apologize, Senior Brother. Please forgive me."
Jiang Yun smiled gently and said softly, "I didn't hear you. What did you say?"
Ye Chen spat out blood in pain and humiliation before shouting louder,
"I apologize, Senior Brother! Please forgive me!!!"
"I apologize, Senior Brother! Please forgive me!!!!!"
The echo of his apology resonated throughout the arena. When the other disciples and elders heard it, they did not despise Ye Chen; instead, they showed admiration on their faces. But in their hearts, they blamed Jiang Yun for escalating the matter too far.
The system sound rang again.
[Congratulations to the host for suppressing the Son of Destiny. Ye Chen lost 200,000 luck points, and the host gained 2,000,000 villain points. Ye Chen's remaining luck is 2,700,000. Hahaha.]
Jiang Yun paid no attention to the system notifications and turned them off immediately. He then approached Ye Chen with a gentle smile and a forgiving demeanor. Everyone watched intently, thinking their senior brother had returned to his former self.
Jiang Yun stood in front of Ye Chen and said softly, "I accept your apology, but..."