"What a little Demon. The Infinite Demon Sect is truly blessed with good fortune, to always produce figures like this."

A flippant yet clear shout abruptly shattered the solemn, fading chill of the battlefield.

By now, the battle on Da Wu Mountain was decided. The Holy Sect had victory firmly in its grasp.

The surviving Zombie Alliance Cultivators were all injured, their True Qi depleted. They were already plotting their escape, with no will left to fight.

His ears twitched slightly. Qi Yun followed the sound with his gaze, his eyes reflecting the image of a man in green robes standing atop a towering tree, a Sword Box strapped to his back.

The man was strikingly handsome, with sharp brows and bright eyes. However, a long scar ran from the corner of his eye to the corner of his mouth, ruining his handsome face and adding an immense amount of ferocity and Evil Qi.

Sensing the Sword Intent practically radiating from the man, Qi Yun instinctively narrowed his eyes. Alarm bells rang softly in his mind.

’A madman from the Cyan Sect...’

’Why are they showing up now? What do they want?’

"Don’t look at me that way. This time, we’ve helped your Infinite Demon Sect out, you could say.

You’re pretty good, little Demon. Give it some time, and you’ll surely become an excellent whetstone.

What’s your name?"

Sensing the scrutiny in Qi Yun’s gaze, the man in green robes just chuckled. He didn’t seem to mind at all; in fact, he showed great interest in him.

’Are all Cyan Sect Cultivators this direct...?’

The hidden fervor in the man’s eyes made Qi Yun’s skin crawl. His own eyes flickered as he suppressed his doubts. Maintaining a calm and composed expression, he cupped his hands and said,

"My name is Yue Rong. I must thank you, Senior from the Cyan Sect, for upholding justice."

"Yue Rong?"

Hearing the name, the man in green robes smiled, his lips curling. The scar on his face twisted with the motion, making him look even more savage:

"Alright. I’ll remember that name.

No need for thanks. The Cyan Sect cannot stand to see injustice. It was a trivial matter.

The world of men is but a killing field, and the Cyan Sect are its executioners of sin.

I’m off!"

With a flick of his sleeve and a wave, the man in green robes turned and launched himself into the air. His body spun, rising like a green leaf. He controlled the wind with his physical body alone, and in a few erratic flickers, he disappeared over the horizon.

’Walking on the wind... Qi Cultivation Great Perfection?’

He looked on, momentarily stunned. He never thought this mysterious Cyan Sect Cultivator would actually be a master at the Qi Cultivation Great Perfection level.

That was a prodigy only a single step away from Foundation Establishment.

’No wonder those ten True Cultivator Disciples from the Zombie Alliance, plus ten Copper Armor Corpses, were beaten so badly they didn’t dare pop their heads out again.

They must have run into a ferocious god like him.’

Shaking his head and chuckling lightly at the Zombie Alliance’s terrible luck, Qi Yun turned and scanned their Disciples. Beneath his sleeves, his hands subconsciously formed a hand seal. The Hundred-refined Steel Sand seemed to sense his intent and trembled lightly, stirring restlessly.

But a moment later, he forcibly suppressed this murderous impulse.

’Forget it. If I keep pressing the attack, I’ll force them into a corner. They’ll get desperate, and I’ll be putting myself at risk.’

’With my current foundation and the merits I’m about to receive, there’s no need to take such a risk.’

’A slow and steady approach, consolidating my gains at every step, is the proper path.’

On the other side, the Zombie Alliance Disciples, who were already plotting their escape, saw that Demon look their way again. Their hearts leaped into their throats.

Especially when Qi Yun hesitated, the red glow flickering in his eyes was utterly terrifying.

Only when he gave up the idea of attacking and turned to walk toward the Holy Sect Disciples did the Zombie Alliance Disciples finally let out a collective sigh of relief. Not daring to delay another moment, they fled into the distance, terrified the God of Slaughter would change his mind.

Listening to the rustling sounds of them scrambling away behind him, Qi Yun sighed internally.

’They just left? Not even a little resistance? Where’s your integrity as Demonic Cultivators?’

’Sigh!’

’Cultivators these days are all too afraid of dying!’

Shaking his head, Qi Yun had just returned to the side of the Holy Sect Cultivators when a powerful gust of wind descended from the heavens.

The great wind swept through, kicking up clouds of dust. In its wake, a figure landed with a flourish.

The newcomer’s lips were graced with a natural smile as pleasant as a spring breeze. He strode forward with the confidence of a dragon and the gait of a tiger, his gaze sweeping over everyone present as he announced in a clear voice:

"You all did well this time, bringing great honor to our Holy Sect."

Getting a clear look at the newcomer, Qi Yun’s expression turned to one of surprise.

It was the very same young Daoist who, upon their first arrival at the Holy Sect, had used a Wind-Manipulation Skill to deliver their group to the gates.

"Senior Brother, we meet again." After his brief surprise, Qi Yun cupped his hands toward his young senior.

"Qi Yun, I never thought that the unremarkable person I saw that day would shine so brightly today. Excellent, truly excellent."

Recognizing Qi Yun as well, Pei Lin raised a hand and returned the greeting.

"The Inner Mansion dispatched me to oversee this battle. I have already made a faithful record of your performance.

Once we return to the Sect, I will report it in full to the Inner Mansion.

So allow me to congratulate you in advance on becoming the Double Champion Scholar."

Qi Yun’s performance in the Da Wu Mountain battle was, without a doubt, outstanding. He first led a group of Outer Mansion Disciples to break through the Zombie Alliance’s ambush, then exposed their scheme, destroyed their Mother-Child Array, and slayed Yuan Sea.

In the final battle, he alone slaughtered so many Zombie Alliance Cultivators that the survivors didn’t even dare to meet his gaze.

If a performance like that couldn’t earn him the title of Champion Scholar, then they might as well not pick one at all.

"It was just a stroke of luck. Thankfully, Yue Rong didn’t come this time. Otherwise, with his combat strength, he could have just slaughtered his way right through these Zombie Alliance Cultivators without any of this trouble," Qi Yun said softly.

Qi Yun spoke these words with humility and grace.

However, hearing this, the other Outer Mansion Disciples all shared a silent, collective eye-roll.

’Yue Rong didn’t come, yeah right...’ 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

’And you know damn well why he wasn’t here, don’t you?’

"Don’t be so modest."

Knowing full well that Qi Yun was just being modest, Pei Lin took half a step forward and said quietly, in a voice only the two of them could hear:

"The Zombie Alliance’s forceful seizure of Da Wu Mountain enraged the Sect. The original plan was to have a Holy Sect Master descend the mountain and settle the score with the Zombie Alliance directly.

But by leading our forces to crush the Zombie Alliance, you’ve allowed the Holy Sect to save face. The Sect is greatly pleased.

A grand reward will be waiting for you when you return to the Sect."

’A grand reward?’

A sharp glint flashed in his eyes. Qi Yun immediately asked:

"What grand reward? Could you elaborate, Senior Brother?"

"You’ll find that out when you return to the Sect." Without answering directly, Pei Lin took half a step back, raised his hand toward the crowd of Outer Mansion Disciples, and announced:

"Everyone! The Holy Sect is greatly pleased with the sacrifices you have made in this campaign against the Zombie Alliance.

Now that this matter is concluded, upon your return to the Sect, everyone—regardless of individual merit—will be rewarded with three hundred Holy Essence to mark your efforts!"

The moment Pei Lin finished speaking, the crowd erupted in a joyous uproar.

No one had expected this trial to come with such a wonderful surprise.

Three hundred Holy Essence!

That was a truly significant reward.

After all, within the Outer Mansion, aside from an outlier like Qi Yun who possessed his own ’self-developed means of production,’ most Disciples had extremely limited avenues for acquiring Holy Essence.

They could either sell their bodies, sell their souls, or sell both at once.

And this windfall was enough for them to feel like themselves again, even if only for a little while.

Qi Yun took in the ecstasy and gratitude practically spilling from the eyes of his fellow disciples all around. He then glanced at Pei Lin, who stood with his hands clasped behind his back, a faint smile on his lips. A flash of understanding dawned in Qi Yun’s mind.

’This is... buying people’s loyalty?’

...