Chapter 23: Ye Zhetian Defeated

"Mere beast, you dare to strike at me!"

Seeing Ye Zhetian charging toward him, Lin Qingxuan let out a scoff. His eyes suddenly swirled, transforming into a vortex. Before anyone could see what happened, the little black dog was sent flying as if struck by a massive force.

Ji Qingyou’s cold brows knitted together. She was about to intervene when she suddenly received a telepathic message from her master.

"Ye Zhetian is unharmed. Do not engage him; he is plagued by evil spirits, and interacting with him will taint your destiny."

Hearing this, Ji Qingyou frowned and looked closer. Sure enough, beside Lin Qingxuan, she saw faint, ghostly shadows. These specters were nearly imperceptible, yet each wore a savage expression, as if desperate to tear Lin Qingxuan limb from limb.

Upon seeing this, Ji Qingyou steadied her resolve, suppressing the urge to strike and turning instead to protect Ye Zhetian.

The onlookers could not see the spirits around Lin Qingxuan. They only saw Ye Zhetian, who had intended to challenge Lin Qingxuan for the position of Young Sect Master, get swiped away the moment Lin Qingxuan raised his hand. It was clear they were not even in the same realm.

"Young Sect Master!"
"Young Sect Master!"
"Young Sect Master!"

Witnessing such a display of invincibility, the crowd erupted in cheers, one person after another joining in. The women who had been fawning over him earlier now looked as if they longed to throw themselves into his arms.

"And you thought you could compete with me for the title of Young Sect Master?" Lin Qingxuan sneered with disdain at the pathetic little black dog.

Although he had never truly viewed the dog as a threat, Lin Jun’s words were laughable. Acting so recklessly in front of the Wanfa Peak had purged the frustration he had been harboring for some time, making him eager to confront Lin Jun and seize the peak for himself. But he knew better than to rush.

Though his sect leader master was wary of Lin Jun, those who practiced evil arts would eventually meet an ignominious end.

"You will regret this," Lin Qingxuan muttered, casting a cold glare at Ji Qingyou, who remained aloof and refused to fawn over him. In his mind, he had already devised ten thousand ways to deal with her.

"Lin Jun! Do not be smug for long! No one who walks the path of evil meets a good end! Since you were the one who brought me back, this Wanfa Peak will eventually belong to me!"

Lin Qingxuan’s arrogant and greedy voice echoed across the Wanfa Peak. He departed in high spirits, followed by a crowd chanting, "Young Sect Master!"

***

Deep within the Wanfa Peak, Lin Jun offered a faint smile. He had seen everything.

*Whom the gods wish to destroy, they first make mad.* Lin Qingxuan was precisely in that state; he might not even need to lift a finger himself.

Ji Qingyou approached with the little black dog. Although the dog had suffered no real injuries from the strike, it looked utterly defeated and dejected. Seeing this, Lin Jun chuckled.

"Little one, are you that eager for victory?" Lin Jun reached out a hand.

"Woof! Woof!" the little black dog barked immediately.

"Very well, I shall satisfy you. This position of Young Sect Master of the Great Dao Sect shall be yours and yours alone." Lin Jun smiled as the dog trotted over happily.

Days passed, and the day of the Young Sect Master competition drew near. Lin Qingxuan had been issuing challenge after challenge within the sect, shattering the confidence of many qualified candidates and growing ever more famous. It seemed the position was his for the taking.

On this day, representatives from the nearby two-star sect, the Cauldron Sect, and the Myriad Phenomena Pavilion arrived at the Great Hall, joining the four great clans from the mountain foot to curry favor with Lin Qingxuan.

"Young Sect Master, as the competition approaches, our Cauldron Sect presents the Earth-grade artifact 'Qianyuan Cauldron,' one hundred thousand high-grade spirit stones, and various other treasures. We wish you an early success in your ascension!"

"Our Myriad Phenomena Pavilion presents one hundred thousand spirit pearls and a Dragon-Phoenix Chariot to congratulate you on your impending victory!"

"The Wang family pledges to follow your lead from this day forth."

"The Zhang family will forever be your steadfast supporters!"

"With the Zhou family here, whatever you need done, just say the word. We will brave fire and water for you!"

"Haha, well said, well said."

Lin Qingxuan sat in the seat of honor, draped in white, his Golden Core aura roiling and his authority growing heavier by the moment. He waved his hand and declared to the four parties, "Once I succeed, there will be no shortage of rewards for all of you!"

...

Boom!

Another roar echoed from the Wanfa Peak.

High above the clouds, Ye Zhetian appeared like a god of thunder, its body wreathed in lightning, as if it truly commanded the power of heaven and earth!

Whoosh!

With a sudden intake of breath, it swallowed the entire sky of lightning. It reverted to the form of an ordinary little black dog, yet a trace of Nascent Soul aura swirled around it, and its eyes burned like two brilliant suns, filled with endless vitality.

It descended from the heavens and lay obediently beside Lin Jun. Lin Jun reached out to pet the dog’s head, then produced a small suit of armor. "Wear this common soul-armor for now; it will effectively defend you against some spiritual attacks."

As Lin Jun tossed the armor, it transformed into a stream of light and merged into the dog's body.

[Hundred-fold return successful. Congratulations to the host for obtaining the Heaven-grade artifact, "Mystic Heaven Soul Armor."]

The system's voice chimed. A golden suit of armor, radiating immense power, appeared in Lin Jun’s sleeve. He was unsurprised.

"Good disciple, that last one wasn't good enough. Change into this one instead."

He tossed it casually, and a brilliant golden light enveloped Ye Zhetian. When the radiance faded, the dog looked even more majestic. Ye Zhetian felt a thick sense of security wash over it. It rubbed its head against its master's hand, having long grown accustomed to the master's habit of changing his mind. In any case, the master would never harm it.

"Master, this is the Dragon-Tea fruit I just picked. It has a very special flavor; please, have a taste."

Ji Qingyou returned, dressed in white, carrying a plate of fruit that looked delicious. She stood gently by Lin Jun’s side. As she cultivated the Divine Demon Body these past few days, she no longer dared to guess her master's true level of cultivation. Meeting him was the greatest fortune of her life; she would simply do her best to serve him.

Lin Jun took a bite; the taste was indeed excellent. He narrowed his eyes in enjoyment for a long moment before opening them, looking at his two disciples with a smile. "Tomorrow is the day of the Young Sect Master competition."

He looked at Ji Qingyou. "Qingyou, do not participate in this competition."

Then he turned his gaze to the little black dog, encouraging it: "Little one, you must work hard. You are the one who must become the Young Sect Master."

"Woof! Woof!" The little black dog barked with excitement.

"Yes, Master."

Ji Qingyou had no objections.