The elders and deacons seated on either side were also deeply moved, their gazes fixed on Hu Nan, their eyes filled with scrutiny and shock.
They had initially thought that, despite Hu Nan's considerable strength, he wouldn't be a match for Lin Hao, given that both were at the early Foundation Establishment stage. However, no one had expected Hu Nan to defeat Lin Hao so easily in a single move. This strength, this composure, was completely unlike what a newly promoted Foundation Establishment cultivator with mediocre spiritual roots and no powerful backing should possess.
Lin Hao's face was extremely grim.
He had originally thought that after reaching Foundation Establishment, he could easily defeat Hu Nan.
He could avenge the humiliation of years past.
But unexpectedly, he was still defeated by Hu Nan in one move.
And this time, the defeat was even more thorough.
Even more humiliating.
Hu Nan's gaze calmly fell on Lin Hao, who lay on the ground groaning in pain, and he said, "I told you, one move was enough to deal with you."
Qin Changsheng wasn't surprised at all by Lin Hao's victory.
After all, his fireball spell had been amplified by the golden attribute of fire magic.
Lin Hao was only severely injured because he possessed a defensive magical artifact.
If Lin Hao hadn't had such a treasure, he would probably be dead already.
These words clearly echoed throughout the hall. Without any deliberate boasting, they were more humiliating to Lin Hao than any mocking words.
Lin Hao lay on the ground, spitting blood, his eyes filled with venomous hatred as he stared at Hu Nan. The hatred and shame in his heart surged like a tidal wave, yet he was powerless, lacking even the strength to refute. He was left to the mercy of the onlookers, becoming the laughingstock of the entire Heavenly Sword Sect.
At the same time, Lin Hao completely couldn't understand why Hu Nan's fire magic was so powerful.
Just a few fireballs had severely injured him, rendering him unable to move.
And he was wearing a low-grade Xuan-level defensive inner armor.
Qingling Fairy slowly rose and said, "The contest is over; Hu Nan wins. This ten thousand spirit stones, the wager promised by Lin Hao, are yours today."
After a pause, Qingling Fairy added, "Your strength is impressive, your mind is calm, and your control of spiritual power is exquisite. To defeat a cultivator of the same level so easily with only early Foundation Establishment cultivation is truly remarkable. With dedicated cultivation, you will surely achieve great things."
These words were met with another murmur of agreement and exclamations of surprise in the hall.
The elders and deacons nodded, their gazes towards Hu Nan now filled with more doubt.
Qingling Fairy was known for her high standards and rarely praised sect disciples easily. Her evaluation of Hu Nan was a testament to his strength and potential, which were far more than they appeared.
Qin Changsheng controlled Hu Nan to receive the storage bag from Qingling Fairy.
With these ten thousand spirit stones, Qin Changsheng wouldn't have to worry about spirit stones for the next few years.
Lin Hao's face was now extremely pale, several times worse than when he was hit by the fireball and coughed up blood.
He stared intently at Hu Nan's actions as he collected the storage bag, the resentment in his eyes almost tangible.
Those ten thousand low-grade spirit stones were no small sum; they were a reward from his father, Lin Zhentian, for his Foundation Establishment.
Originally, he planned to buy some magical artifacts to enhance his combat power.
He never expected that not only would he fail to defeat Hu Nan, but he would be utterly crushed by Hu Nan in a single move, becoming the laughingstock of the entire Heavenly Sword Sect. Even his most prized ten thousand spirit stones fell into Hu Nan's hands.
The instant Hu Nan put away his storage bag, an incomparably terrifying spiritual pressure swept in from outside the main hall without warning, instantly enveloping the entire sect's main hall.
This pressure was heavy and violent, carrying the awe-inspiring aura unique to Golden Core cultivators. Like a towering mountain, it pressed down heavily on the hearts of everyone present, causing all the cultivators to turn pale instantly, their breathing to become rapid, and even standing became extremely difficult.
"A Golden Core cultivator!" someone exclaimed instinctively, their face filled with terror. They all bowed their heads, not daring to even think of looking up.
Golden Core cultivators were the pinnacle of the sect's power, holding a revered position and possessing formidable spiritual power. Their pressure was something that Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining cultivators could not withstand.
The elders and deacons also composed themselves, their expressions turning respectful as they gazed towards the main hall entrance, their eyes filled with apprehension and awe.
Far away in the courtyard, Qin Changsheng's expression also subtly changed.
He could clearly sense that the terrifying pressure was directed at his avatar, Hu Nan.
The next instant, Lin Zhentian's figure strode in from outside.
With each step Lin Zhentian took, the bluestone floor trembled slightly; the terrifying pressure emanated from him.
Lin Zhentian's gaze was as sharp as a hawk's. As soon as he entered the hall, he swept his eyes across the room. When he saw Lin Hao, sprawled on the ground, covered in wounds, his already grim face instantly darkened further.
"What an audacious junior!"
"How dare you injure someone within the sect's main hall!" Lin Zhentian coldly shouted, his tone vicious and piercing. His Golden Core aura erupted without reservation, pressing down directly on Hu Nan.
The terrifying pressure swept in like a tsunami. Hu Nan felt a tightness in his chest, as if a boulder had slammed into his heart. A sweet taste rose in his throat, and he couldn't help but groan. His legs involuntarily retreated.
One step, two steps, three steps… He retreated more than ten steps before barely managing to steady himself. A faint trace of blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, his face was ashen, and his spiritual energy was completely chaotic. His previously restrained Foundation Establishment aura had weakened considerably.
The surrounding cultivators, seeing Hu Nan's disheveled retreat and the blood trickling from his mouth, were filled with fear and pity.
They all knew that Hu Nan had offended Lin Zhentian.
Lin Zhentian was the sect's enforcement elder, and extremely protective of his own.
Just as Hu Nan was about to collapse, Fairy Qingling gently waved her hand, and a gentle yet powerful spiritual energy erupted, forming an invisible barrier that forcefully blocked the terrifying pressure released by Lin Zhentian, slowly dissipating it.
"Senior Brother Lin, stop!" Fairy Qingling said, "It's just a competition between disciples. A bet is a bet. Lin Hao's skill was inferior, and his crushing defeat is understandable. Senior Brother, there's no need to be so angry, much less to hold a grudge against a junior and break the sect's rules."
Feeling his pressure dissipate, Lin Zhentian's face grew even more menacing.
However, Lin Zhentian withdrew his oppressive aura, coldly snorted, and approached Lin Hao to help him regulate his breathing.
Lin Zhentian's easy release of Hu Nan wasn't out of fear of Qingling Fairy.
It was because he had already used considerable power to shatter Hu Nan's dantian when he released his oppressive aura.
He believed that within a few days, Hu Nan's spiritual energy would completely dissipate, his dantian shattered, rendering him a cripple incapable of cultivation.
At that point, without him lifting a finger, Hu Nan would suffer a fate worse than death, more satisfying than killing him outright, and a better way to wash away the Lin family's shame.
Far away in the courtyard, Qin Changsheng also noticed that Hu Nan's avatar's dantian was shattered.
He hadn't expected Lin Zhentian to be so ruthless.
He had actually shattered Hu Nan's dantian, rendering him a cripple.
However, all of Lin Zhentian's calculations had failed.
Because Hu Nan was merely an avatar.
Even in death, it only requires one hundred spirit stones to summon again.
After being summoned again, any negative status effects will disappear.
"Thank you, Fairy!" Hu Nan cupped his hands in thanks to Fairy Qingling.
Fairy Qingling merely nodded slightly before sitting down in a chair nearby.
Soon afterward, a spiritual pressure far more profound and majestic than Lin Zhentian's swept in from outside the main hall without warning, instantly enveloping the entire sect's main hall.
This pressure was gentle yet powerful, lacking Lin Zhentian's violent and bloodthirsty nature, yet possessing an aura of supreme dominance that caused all the cultivators present to involuntarily bow their heads.
The next instant, the figure of Sect Leader Xuan Yangzi appeared inside the main hall.
"Greetings, Sect Leader!"
Everyone bowed to Xuan Yangzi on the high platform.
Xuan Yangzi's gaze swept calmly across the hall, his expression serene and unwavering, as if he had already witnessed everything that had transpired within.
He slightly raised his hand, his voice gentle yet carrying an undeniable authority: "Everyone, please rise."
"Thank you, Sect Leader!" the crowd responded in unison, straightening up but still keeping their heads bowed, not daring to meet Xuan Yangzi's gaze.
Xuan Yangzi's gaze slowly swept over the elders and deacons on both sides of the hall, then over the onlookers, finally settling on Hu Nan, who remained bowed to one side of the hall.
Upon seeing Hu Nan's appearance, Xuan Yangzi's face stiffened slightly, a barely perceptible look of astonishment flashing in his eyes, and his steps instinctively halted.
Xuan Yangzi had a very deep impression of Hu Nan.
Three years ago, he had determined that Hu Nan's path to Foundation Establishment was as difficult as ascending to heaven; even if he were to break through to Foundation Establishment by chance, it would take at least twenty years, perhaps longer, ultimately preventing him from achieving great things.
But now, less than three years later, that mediocre disciple he had predicted might only reach Foundation Establishment in twenty years had actually succeeded, becoming a true Foundation Establishment cultivator and standing at the Foundation Establishment Ceremony.
This stark contrast left even the seasoned Xuan Yangzi astonished, finding it hard to believe his eyes.
Suppressing his astonishment, Xuan Yangzi slowly walked to the main seat at the front of the hall and sat down.
Qingling Fairy stepped forward slowly, bowed respectfully, and said, "Sect Leader, all the newly promoted Foundation Establishment cultivators have arrived, and all preparations are complete. We await your command, and the Foundation Establishment Ceremony can officially begin."
Xuan Yangzi nodded slightly, his gaze calmly sweeping over all the newly promoted Foundation Establishment cultivators in purple robes within the hall. His voice was gentle yet authoritative: "Today is the Foundation Establishment Ceremony of our Heavenly Sword Sect. We invite you, the newly promoted Foundation Establishment cultivators, to witness your entry into a new realm of cultivation and the beginning of a new path of cultivation."
"From this day forward, you will all be the backbone of our Heavenly Sword Sect. May you all dedicate yourselves to cultivation, cultivate your minds, slay demons and monsters, and protect the safety of our Heavenly Sword Sect!"
As his voice fell, Xuan Yangzi slightly raised his hand, and a wisp of gentle golden core spiritual energy surged forth, transforming into a dazzling pillar of light that shot straight to the dome of the hall, illuminating the entire sect hall.
At the same time, outside the main hall, the bell tolled, its solemn and resonant sound echoing throughout the entire Heavenly Sword Sect, announcing the commencement of the Foundation Establishment Ceremony.
"The Foundation Establishment Ceremony officially begins!" Xuan Yangzi's voice rang out again, carrying an undeniable authority.