Chapter 51: The Champion's Reward, Departing Down the Mountain

"Besides this, apart from the four of you dispatched by our Qingyun Sect, the Incense Valley and Tianyin Temple have also sent disciples ahead to make contact. You must not be impolite before fellow practitioners, but there is no need to be overly humble and diminish the spirit of the righteous path leader that our Qingyun Sect ought to possess."

"Furthermore, there is also Xiao Yicai from my Main Peak; your Senior Brother Xiao has already gone ahead to Kongsang Mountain to investigate this matter. If you encounter him, you may discuss all matters with him."

After the four looked at each other, they answered in unison.

After Daoxuan Zhenren looked around at the four with pride, he finally let his gaze fall upon Su Zhangqing, and with a smile on his face, he beckoned to him: "Zhangqing, you are the champion of this Seven Peaks Martial Arts Tournament. The sect has prepared a reward for you; come with me, and I will hand it to you personally."

After finishing, Daoxuan added a sentence for the other three: "Do not be anxious, you all have your own rewards as well."

Su Zhangqing walked forward slowly. After Daoxuan Zhenren looked him up and down, he said with great gratification: "Our first meeting was also in this great hall. At that time, you were still the appearance of a little child, yet in the span of a year, you have grown into a young lad."

"Never would I have thought that back then, when you were tested and found to have poor spiritual root aptitude, everyone thought you were a disciple not suited for cultivation. Fortunately, your Master Shuiyue took you in, which prevented our Qingyun Sect from losing a heaven-gifted child. Sure enough, one year later today, you have amazed us all."

Hearing Daoxuan speak this way, those peak masters all lowered their heads in unison, either annoyed or regretful, wondering why it was not them who had taken in Su Zhangqing at the time.

"Junior Sister Shuiyue, it is truly thanks to your discerning eye for talent!"

Master Shuiyue, whose face had been worried and calm regarding Su Zhangqing and Lu Xueqi from the start, only then revealed a gratified smile and laughed: "Sect Leader Senior Brother is too kind with his praise."

Daoxuan Zhenren took an object from his bosom and handed it into Su Zhangqing's hand.

"Come, this is your reward for being the champion of the Seven Peaks Martial Arts Tournament, accept it!"

Su Zhangqing took it and looked; it was actually a small bronze mirror with a strange shape, yet dragon and tiger patterns were carved on the edge of the bronze mirror, while the back had a Bagua pattern, with heavy Dharma patterns faintly flowing upon it.

Being something the Qingyun Sect could bring out as a reward, Su Zhangqing figured it must be a very precious Dharma Treasure, matching perfectly with the 'Six Harmonies Mirror' he had seen in books previously.

Su Zhangqing hurriedly wanted to kneel to thank him, but was held up by Daoxuan's invisible force: "It is a reward you rightfully deserve, no need for formalities."

Then Daoxuan signaled for everyone to withdraw, and told Su Zhangqing the incantation for operating the 'Six Harmonies Mirror' Dharma Treasure.

As Su Zhangqing finished learning the incantation, the system voice finally sounded in his mind.

【Congratulations to the host for completing the task of obtaining the Seven Peaks Martial Arts Tournament championship; you have obtained the 'Covering Heaven Method' technique.】

As the system voice faded, a strange secret technique arose in Su Zhangqing's mind; it was precisely that Covering Heaven Method which emphasizes cultivating oneself as the Dao.

After a rough observation, Su Zhangqing felt the infinite mysteries upon it.

But now that he was preparing to head to Kongsang Mountain, there was not much time for Su Zhangqing to practice in detail, so he could only embark on the journey and practice while gaining experience.

With the 'Boundless Profound Clarity Dao' and the 'Covering Heaven Method' two great Dao techniques to practice, and the 'Qingfeng' and 'Six Harmonies Mirror' two Dharma Treasures to rely on, Su Zhangqing was full of fighting spirit.

The four people preparing to head to Kongsang Mountain, under the gaze of the various peak masters, each operated their own Flying Sword Dharma Treasures and gradually moved away from the Qingyun Sect.

"Zhangqing, congratulations!"

Sitting on the 'Fire Poker', Zhang Xiaofan flew to Su Zhangqing's side and congratulated him.

"Xiaofan, congratulations to you too! To be able to become a dark horse and take a spot in the top four, your Master Tian must certainly favor you greatly."

Su Zhangqing smiled gently and replied to him, then changed the subject and asked Zhang Xiaofan: "Xiaofan, this is your first time going down the mountain for experience, are you afraid?"

"I don't know how to think about it; I suppose there is fear, but there is more joy. I only hope that this trip down the mountain will not fail the expectations of my Master and the sect."

In Zhang Xiaofan's dull eyes, there were countless expectations at this moment. "Junior Brother Xiaofan, no need to be afraid. In any case, you are also one of the top four of our Qingyun Sect's Seven Peaks Martial Arts Tournament. Furthermore, I have personally sparred with you and know your strength is far beyond this; those Demonic Cult scoundrels cannot do anything to us."

Qi Hao said confidently to encourage Zhang Xiaofan.

Hearing Qi Hao speak, Su Zhangqing looked over and was surprised to find that Qi Hao, who had been at the peak of the Foundation Establishment Ninth Realm that day, had now, like himself, formed a Golden Core and broken into the Golden Core Realm.

"Senior Brother Qi, you have already broken into the Golden Core Realm?"

Su Zhangqing asked Qi Hao in surprise.

"Thanks to you, after the competition that day, once I recovered, I reviewed our battle while practicing for a few hours, and then quietly broke into the Golden Core Realm."

Qi Hao said with great joy.

Although he did not take the championship position in this Seven Peaks Martial Arts Tournament, being able to successfully break into the Golden Core Realm was not a loss, but another gain.

"It is all Senior Brother's own hard work!"

Su Zhangqing said with a smile.

Looking around again, Lu Xueqi had also reached the Foundation Establishment Ninth Realm, while Zhang Xiaofan was slightly worse, only at the Foundation Establishment Fifth Realm.

Two in the Golden Core Realm, two in the Foundation Establishment Realm—this configuration was already enough to face ordinary Demonic Cult followers, not to mention that they were all monsters capable of easily challenging across realms.

Just as the few were talking and laughing, they saw another voice ring out from behind.

"Wait for me! Wait for me!"

Looking back, it was actually Ceng Shushu riding a Flying Sword following the four.

"Senior Brother Ceng, why have you come too?"

Zhang Xiaofan, who had a good relationship with Ceng Shushu, was stunned for a moment before asking Ceng Shushu.

"Didn't I tell you? If I want to go down the mountain, I can leave at any time. I have a premonition that this trip is full of danger and fun, so I snuck out."

Ceng Shushu did not care at all and told everyone the truth.

Hearing this, Su Zhangqing and the others covered their mouths and smiled, but didn't say anything; if Ceng Shushu was willing to go along, then let him be.

Afterwards, the four-person team became five.

Kongsang Mountain was a thousand miles away from the Qingyun Sect. The five flew on their Dharma Treasures for more than half a day. Helplessly, Zhang Xiaofan was truly not good at controlling his 'Fire Poker', so to look after him, they had not yet reached their destination.

Su Zhangqing had no objections; after all, he could take this time to practice the 'Covering Heaven Method' while flying on his sword.

Until the setting sun.

"Everyone, it is late today, it is not convenient to continue moving forward. Let us spend the night here tonight and continue our journey tomorrow."

After the five reached a consensus, they chose a city called Heyang City to stay.

(End of chapter)