117: Chapter 117 Foundation Establishment Ceremony Begins

The Elders and deacons seated on both sides were also moved, their gazes locked tightly onto Hu Nan, their eyes filled with curiosity and shock.

They had originally thought that since both were in the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment, even if Hu Nan's strength was impressive, he would not be a match for Lin Hao. However, no one expected that Hu Nan could so easily defeat Lin Hao in a single move. This level of strength and composure did not seem like something a newly promoted Foundation Establishment Cultivator with mediocre Spiritual Root and no backing could possess.

Lin Hao's expression was extremely ugly.

He had originally thought that after his Foundation Establishment, he would be able to easily defeat Hu Nan.

And wash away the shame of the past.

But he did not expect to be defeated by Hu Nan in a single move again.

And this time, the defeat was even more thorough.

And even more humiliating.

Hu Nan looked calmly at Lin Hao, who had fallen to the ground and was groaning in pain, and said, "I said before, to deal with you, one move is enough."

Qin Changsheng was not surprised by the victory over Lin Hao.

After all, his Fireball Technique had been amplified by the Golden Trait Fire Spells.

That Lin Hao was only heavily injured was entirely because he had a defensive Magical Artifact on his body.

If Lin Hao did not have such a treasure, he would likely have perished long ago.

This sentence clearly spread throughout the entire hall. Without a hint of intentional boasting, it was more humiliating to Lin Hao than any words of mockery.

Lin Hao lay on the ground, spitting blood, staring at Hu Nan with resentful eyes. The hatred and shame in his heart surged like a tide, but his body was weak, and he did not even have the strength to retort, left to be watched and discussed by the crowd, becoming the laughingstock of the entire Heavenly Sword Sect.

At the same time, Lin Hao could not understand why the power of Hu Nan's Fire Spells was so great.

Just a few Fireball Techniques had caused him heavy injuries, leaving him unable to move.

One must know that he was wearing a Profound Grade Low Grade defensive inner armor.

Fairy Qingling slowly stood up and said, "The outcome of the match has been decided; Hu Nan wins. These ten thousand Spirit Stones were the wager promised by Lin Hao, and today, they belong to you."

After a pause, Fairy Qingling added, "Your strength is good, your Heart-Nature is steady, and your control of Spiritual Qi is exquisite. To be able to so easily defeat a Cultivator of the same rank with an Early Stage Foundation Establishment cultivation base is truly rare. If you Cultivate diligently in the future, you will surely achieve Major Achievement."

As soon as these words were spoken, a burst of low murmurs and exclamations echoed in the hall.

The Elders and deacons nodded one after another, and there was more confusion in their gazes as they looked at Hu Nan.

Fairy Qingling had always had an extremely high standard and rarely praised Sect Disciples easily. Now that she had given such an evaluation of Hu Nan, it was enough to show that Hu Nan's strength and potential were by no means as simple as they appeared on the surface.

Qin Changsheng controlled Hu Nan to take the Storage Pouch from Fairy Qingling's hand.

With these ten thousand Spirit Stones, Qin Changsheng would not have to worry about Spirit Stones for the next few years.

At this moment, Lin Hao's expression was ugly to the extreme, several times worse than when he was hit by the fireball and spat blood earlier.

He stared fixedly at the action of Hu Nan putting away the Storage Pouch, the resentment in his eyes almost turning into substance.

Those ten thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones were not a small sum; they were a reward from his father, Lin Zhentian, for his Foundation Establishment.

He had originally planned to purchase some Magical Artifacts to increase his combat power.

But he never expected that not only would he fail to defeat Hu Nan, but he would instead be defeated by Hu Nan in a single move, becoming the laughingstock of the entire Heavenly Sword Sect, and even the ten thousand Spirit Stones he valued most had fallen into Hu Nan's hands.

At the very moment Hu Nan put away the Storage Pouch, a terrifying and peerless Pressure of Spiritual Qi swept in from outside the hall without warning, instantly enveloping the entire Sect hall.

This Pressure was heavy and violent, carrying the awe-inspiring Aura unique to Golden Core Cultivators. Like a ten-thousand-foot mountain, it pressed heavily on the hearts of everyone present, causing all Cultivators to instantly turn pale, their breathing becoming rapid, and even standing became extremely difficult.

"Golden Core Cultivator!" someone exclaimed subconsciously, their face full of terror, and they all bowed their heads, not daring to have the slightest thought of looking up.

Golden Core Cultivators were the top power of the Sect, with revered status and formidable Spiritual Qi; their Pressure was something that Foundation Establishment Cultivators and Qi Refining Cultivators could never withstand.

The Elders and deacons also restrained their expressions, looking respectfully toward the hall entrance, their eyes filled with apprehension and awe.

Qin Changsheng, far away in the small courtyard, also had his expression change slightly.

He could clearly sense that this terrifying Pressure was directed at his Incarnation, Hu Nan.

The next moment, the figure of Lin Zhentian walked in from outside.

With every step Lin Zhentian took, the bluestone floor trembled slightly, and that terrifying Pressure was emitted from his body.

Lin Zhentian's gaze was as sharp as a hawk's. As soon as he stepped into the hall, he scanned the interior. When he saw Lin Hao slumped on the ground, covered in injuries, his already gloomy face instantly became even uglier.

"What a bold and reckless junior!"

"How dare you injure someone in the Sect hall!" Lin Zhentian shouted coldly, his tone sinister and bone-chilling. The Golden Core Pressure around his body erupted without reservation, pressing fiercely and directly toward Hu Nan.

The terrifying Pressure swept in like a tsunami. Hu Nan only felt a tightness in his chest, as if a huge boulder had slammed heavily onto his heart. His throat felt sweet, and he couldn't help but let out a muffled groan, his legs moving backward uncontrollably.

One step, two steps, three steps... After retreating more than ten steps, he finally managed to steady his figure. A trace of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth, his face was as pale as paper, the Spiritual Qi around his body was completely chaotic, and the originally restrained Foundation Establishment Aura also became weak.

The surrounding Cultivators, seeing Hu Nan retreating in a sorry state with blood flowing from the corner of his mouth, had faces full of terror and sympathy.

They all knew that Hu Nan had offended Lin Zhentian.

Lin Zhentian was the Sect's Law Enforcement Elder, and he was extremely protective of his own.

Just as Hu Nan was about to be unable to hold on, Fairy Qingling gently waved her jade hand, and a gentle yet powerful Spiritual Qi instantly erupted, turning into an invisible barrier that forcibly blocked the terrifying Pressure released by Lin Zhentian, gradually neutralizing it.

"Senior Brother Lin, stop!" Fairy Qingling said, "It was just a match between Disciples. A bet is a bet, and Lin Hao was inferior in skill, so a miserable defeat is within reason. Senior Brother, there is no need to be so angry, and even less need to fuss with a junior, breaking the Sect's rules."

Feeling that his Pressure had been neutralized, the ferocity on Lin Zhentian's face became even greater.

However, Lin Zhentian still withdrew his Pressure, snorted coldly, and came to Lin Hao's side to regulate his breathing.

The reason Lin Zhentian let Hu Nan off so easily was not because he was afraid of Fairy Qingling.

It was because when he had just released his Pressure, he had already used great magical power to shatter Hu Nan's Dantian.

He believed that in a few days, the Spiritual Qi in Hu Nan's body would completely dissipate, his Dantian would be shattered, and he would become a cripple unable to Cultivate.

By then, without him having to do anything, Hu Nan would be living a life worse than death, which was more satisfying than killing him directly and could better wash away the Lin family's shame.

Qin Changsheng, far away in the small courtyard, also discovered that his Incarnation Hu Nan's Dantian had been shattered.

He also did not expect that Lin Zhentian would be so vicious.

He had actually directly shattered Hu Nan's Dantian, making Hu Nan a cripple.

However, all of Lin Zhentian's schemes had come to nothing.

Because Hu Nan was just an Incarnation.

Even if he died, it would only take one hundred Spirit Stones to summon him again.

After re-summoning, any negative status would disappear.

"Many thanks, Fairy!" Hu Nan cupped his hands toward Fairy Qingling.

Fairy Qingling just nodded slightly before sitting down on a chair to the side.

Not long after, a Spiritual Qi Pressure, far heavier and more majestic than Lin Zhentian's, swept in from outside the hall without warning, instantly enveloping the entire Sect hall.

This Pressure was gentle and vast, without the violence and bloodthirstiness of Lin Zhentian's, but it carried an awe-inspiring Aura that looked down upon the world, causing all the Cultivators present to involuntarily bow their heads.

The next moment, the figure of Sect Head Xuanyangzi appeared inside the hall.

"Greetings, Sect Head Immortal Master!"

Everyone bowed to Sect Head Xuanyangzi on the high platform.

Sect Head Xuanyangzi's gaze swept calmly across the hall, his expression indifferent and without a ripple, as if he had already understood everything that had happened in the hall earlier.

He raised his hand slightly, his voice gentle yet carrying unquestionable majesty: "Everyone, rise."

"Thank you, Sect Head!" everyone replied in unison, standing up one after another, but still keeping their heads lowered, not daring to look directly at Sect Head Xuanyangzi.

Sect Head Xuanyangzi's gaze slowly swept across the Elders and deacons on both sides of the hall, then passed over the watching Cultivators, and finally landed on Hu Nan, who was still standing bowed to the side of the hall.

Just as he saw Hu Nan's appearance, Sect Head Xuanyangzi's face stiffened slightly, a trace of imperceptible shock flashed in his eyes, and his footsteps also subconsciously paused.

Sect Head Xuanyangzi's impression of Hu Nan was very deep.

Three years ago, he had determined that it would be as difficult as ascending to heaven for Hu Nan to reach Foundation Establishment. Even if he later had an Opportunity and managed to break through to Foundation Establishment, it would take at least twenty years or more, and he would ultimately be difficult to achieve much.

But now, less than three years later, that mediocre Disciple whom he had judged "might be able to reach Foundation Establishment after twenty-plus years" had actually successfully reached Foundation Establishment, becoming a true Foundation Establishment Cultivator, and was standing at the scene of the Foundation Establishment Ceremony.

This huge contrast made even Sect Head Xuanyangzi, who had seen all kinds of great waves, feel shocked in his heart, unable to believe his own eyes.

Sect Head Xuanyangzi suppressed the shock in his heart, walked slowly to the main seat at the front of the hall, and sat down.

Fairy Qingling stepped forward slowly, bowed, and said respectfully, "Senior Brother Sect Head, all newly promoted Foundation Establishment Cultivators have arrived, and all preparations are ready. We are just waiting for your order, and the Foundation Establishment Ceremony can officially begin."

Sect Head Xuanyangzi nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping calmly across all the newly promoted Foundation Establishment Cultivators dressed in purple robes in the hall, his voice gentle yet majestic: "Today is the Foundation Establishment Ceremony of our Heavenly Sword Sect. We feast you newly promoted Foundation Establishment Cultivators to witness you stepping into a new realm of Immortal cultivation and starting a brand new path of Cultivation."

"From this day forward, you are the backbone of our Heavenly Sword Sect. May you Cultivate diligently in the future, restrain your Heart-Nature, slay demons and eliminate devils, and protect the safety of our Heavenly Sword Sect!"

As his voice fell, Sect Head Xuanyangzi raised his hand slightly, and a wisp of gentle Golden Core Spiritual Qi surged, turning into a brilliant beam of light that shot straight to the dome of the hall, illuminating the entire Sect hall.

At the same time, outside the hall, bells boomed, resounding throughout the entire Heavenly Sword Sect. The bell toll was solemn and heavy, conveying the message that the Foundation Establishment Ceremony had begun.

"The Foundation Establishment Ceremony officially begins!" Sect Head Xuanyangzi's voice rang out again, carrying unquestionable majesty.