238: Chapter 238 Victory! First!

The Referee Elder took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping across the entire venue, his voice booming like thunder over the Martial Arts Arena.

"Chixia Peak's Cao Yun, defeated!"

"Zixia Peak's Lin Tian, victory!"

He paused, his chest heaving, and then announced in an even louder voice: "Lin Tian, Seven Peaks Tournament, undefeated record, has won the overall championship of this competition!"

The entire venue went silent for an instant, and then erupted into chaos.

The Disciples of every Peak went wild.

Some screamed at the top of their lungs, some hugged those beside them while jumping and shouting, and others stood rooted to the spot like wooden chickens, their mouths opening and closing without making a sound.

The people of Zixia Peak were stunned. Not surprised, but stunned.

Several young Disciples stared at each other with wide eyes, their expressions conveying the same thought: We won? We actually won? That Lin Tian, whom they had considered just to make up the numbers, not only defeated Xu Ying and Senior Brother Wang Yidao, but in the end, even defeated Cao Yun? Undefeated? Champion?

"We won!" Someone shouted first, and then the entire Zixia Peak team completely erupted.

Some took off their outer robes and waved them wildly in the air, some hugged each other, crying and laughing, and a few Disciples were so excited that they jumped over the spectator railing and sprinted toward the Arena.

The Elders didn't care about their dignity anymore; they were all shedding tears, their beards trembling. How many years had it been? Zixia Peak had never taken first place in the Seven Peaks Tournament. This time, not only did they take it, but with an undefeated record—the value of this victory was shockingly high.

Peak Master Su Hanyan stood at the very front of the crowd, her usually calm and elegant face filled with shock. Her gaze crossed over the cheering crowd and landed on the young man on the Arena, and she remained silent for a long time.

In a contest of physique, he actually surpassed Cao Yun—that Cao Yun was someone with a Major Achievement Vajra Body and peerless defense, the person with the strongest defense in the entire younger generation of the Qixia Sect.

Lin Tian not only defeated him in palm techniques but also in physical defense. How many trump cards was this kid hiding?

The competition had completely ended. After the Referee Elders tallied and verified the points from each match, the final rankings were soon announced. Lin Tian ranked first, with an undefeated record and the highest points—a well-deserved champion.

Cao Yun ranked second, having lost only one match, the one against Lin Tian. Senior Brother Wang Yidao ranked third, having lost two matches, one to Lin Tian and one to Cao Yun.

Xu Ying ranked fourth; Shen Haoran and Qiao Yiyi also entered the top ten, ranking seventh and ninth respectively.

Once the rankings were out, the distribution plan for the martial kings treasure was settled. According to the rules previously set by the Sect Master, the Peak whose Disciples had the highest points ranking would receive the largest share.

Because of Lin Tian's championship performance, combined with Shen Haoran and Qiao Yiyi both entering the top ten, Zixia Peak's total score stood at the head of the seven Peaks, and they received the largest share of the Treasure Trove.

Chixia Peak ranked second, and Jinxia Peak third. The Peaks that received the least were unwilling, but with the rules in place, they could only grit their teeth and accept it.

Peak Master Su Hanyan of Zixia Peak stood on the high platform, and when she received the list of the Treasure Trove belonging to Zixia Peak from the Sect Master, the smile on her face could not be hidden.

She had smiled too many times today; her face was a bit sore, but she couldn't help it. To be honest, before the Seven Peaks Tournament began, her highest expectation was merely to compete for third place.

After all, Chixia Peak had Cao Yun, and Jinxia Peak had Senior Brother Wang Yidao; those two 5th Grade Peak Genius Disciples weighed on everyone's hearts like two immovable mountains.

She thought that if either Shen Haoran or Qiao Yiyi could break into the top three, it would be a blessing. But who could have imagined that in the end, not only did they break into the top three, but they charged straight to first place.

All of this was thanks to Lin Tian.

After returning to Zixia Peak, a grand banquet was held on the Peak to celebrate properly.

It had been so many years since Zixia Peak had felt so proud and elated; from Elders to Disciples, everyone had a smile on their face. At the banquet, wine cups clinked, and it was lively and extraordinary.

As the greatest contributor, Lin Tian was naturally arranged in the most prominent position, surrounded by Disciples and Elders who came to toast him.

Some patted his shoulder and called him a good brother, some held wine bowls and insisted on clinking cups with him, and several young female Disciples squeezed over with blushing faces, saying they wanted to toast Senior Brother Lin.

Shen Haoran and Qiao Yiyi were also at the banquet. They held their wine glasses and walked up to Lin Tian.

Shen Haoran's expression was somewhat complex, but it was mostly genuine admiration. He raised his wine glass and said solemnly: "Junior Brother Lin, it was my poor judgment before; I underestimated you. Today you have taken the championship, and I am convinced. This cup, I toast you." He finished it in one gulp.

Qiao Yiyi also raised her wine glass. She looked at Lin Tian, and there was no longer any of the previous disdain or contempt in her eyes; it was replaced by genuine admiration and a hint of complex emotion that was hard to describe. "Senior Brother Lin, I have offended you in the past, and I hope you can forgive me. Your strength is far beyond my imagination." She also tilted her head and drank the wine in her cup.

As for the Zhao family siblings, they hid in the corner of the banquet, dumbfounded the entire time.

The hand of that Zhao family brother holding the wine glass was shaking. Looking at Lin Tian, who was surrounded by the crowd in the center, the expression on his face was like he had swallowed a live fly.

Before, he had secretly been competing in his heart, thinking of finding a chance to compare himself with Lin Tian to see who was the most promising Disciple of Zixia Peak. But now? Lin Tian had even defeated Cao Yun, and he couldn't even take a single palm strike from Cao Yun. What was there to compare? They were people from completely different worlds.

After the banquet ended, Lin Tian did not go back to rest but went directly to find Peak Master Su Hanyan.

The Peak Master's main hall was brightly lit. Peak Master Su Hanyan was sitting behind the desk, looking through the list of the martial kings treasure, with a lingering smile still on her face.

Seeing Lin Tian enter, she put down the list in her hand and smiled: "What, was the banquet not fun? You came running to find me so quickly."

Lin Tian bowed and asked straight to the point: "Master, now that this Disciple has won the championship, how much benefit can I get?"

Peak Master Su Hanyan smiled, that smile full of gratification and doting: "Rest assured, you won't be shortchanged. You are the great contributor of our Zixia Peak; if I treated you unfairly, where would I, Peak Master Su Hanyan, put my face?"

Lin Tian nodded but showed no intention of leaving. He was silent for an instant, then looked up, his gaze earnest as he looked at Peak Master Su Hanyan, and asked: "Master, is there any chance for this Disciple to break through to the 6th Grade?"

Peak Master Su Hanyan's smile slightly stiffened.

6th Grade, the Baodan Realm. This Realm is different from all previous Realms.

Below the 5th Grade, one Cultivates Qi and blood, tempering the tendons, bones, skin, and flesh. But above the 6th Grade, that is another world.

Stepping into the Baodan Realm, one condenses a Martial Dao True Pill within the body, and with every gesture, one has the power of Heaven and Earth added to it; the power of every move far exceeds the imagination of a 5th Grade Martial Artist.

More importantly, 6th Grade Martial Artists are called Grandmasters and can be considered figures in the entire Martial Dao world. People like Peak Master Su Hanyan and the Peak Masters of the other Peaks are all existences of this Realm.

However, the vast majority of the Elders of each Peak are still stuck at the 5th Grade Peak, unable to cross that threshold in their entire lives. In the entire Qixia Sect, there are no more than ten people above the 6th Grade. These ten people are the true pillars of the Qixia Sect.

Peak Master Su Hanyan was silent for a moment and said slowly: "Wanting to become a 6th Grade is not easy." Her voice became solemn, as if she were admonishing him about something extremely important: "The reason why the 6th Grade is difficult to break through is that it is different from all previous Realms.

Before the 5th Grade, one Cultivates Qi and blood strength; as long as the talent is not bad and the resources are sufficient, one can always push up step by step. But the 6th Grade is different—besides Qi and blood strength, one also needs to Cultivate Mental Energy.

And this thing called Mental Energy is ethereal and the most difficult to Cultivate. Without sufficient Mental Energy, one cannot condense a Martial Dao True Pill in the Dantian. This is why many people get stuck at the 5th Grade Peak for a lifetime, yet are never able to cross that hurdle."

She paused, looked into Lin Tian's eyes, and continued: "I will help you look in the martial kings treasure to see if there are any treasures that can enhance Mental Energy. If there are, I will definitely bring them back for you. However, besides that, your own Qi and blood strength must also be raised first. You are currently only at the 5th Grade Late Stage, not even at the Peak yet; it is too early to talk about the 6th Grade. Build a solid foundation first, then consider that step."

Lin Tian nodded, keeping these words firmly in his heart.

For the next few days, Lin Tian stayed at Zixia Peak, patiently waiting for the results of the Treasure Trove distribution.

Not long after, the martial kings treasure was personally distributed by the Sect Master, and the Peak Masters of each Peak brought back the treasures belonging to their Peaks. Peak Master Su Hanyan carefully selected a portion from that dazzling array of treasures and personally delivered them to Lin Tian, while also opening Zixia Peak's cultivation resource library, giving Lin Tian the highest level of cultivation treatment.

Medicinal Pills, Spirit Stones, medicinal herbs—anything that helped improve Qi and blood was provided openly.

Lin Tian took these resources to Zixia Peak's Zixia Hall. That was the place with the most concentrated Spiritual Qi on the Peak, specifically for Core Disciples to Cultivate in seclusion.

Deep inside the hall was a sealed cultivation room, with Spirit Gathering Formations embedded in the four walls, and the air was filled with a faint spiritual mist.

He sat cross-legged on the cushion and laid out the cultivation resources Peak Master Su Hanyan gave him one by one in front of him. The Medicinal Pills were in jade bottles, emitting a refreshing medicinal fragrance. The Spirit Stones were neatly stacked, each one containing pure Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi. He picked up a Medicinal Pill and put it in his mouth, closed his eyes, and began to circulate the Purple Qi Technique. With the Purple Qi Technique at the Perfection Realm in operation, the speed of absorbing the medicinal power was far beyond that of ordinary Cultivation Techniques. In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the medicinal power of that pill was completely absorbed, and the Qi and blood in his body were strengthened a bit more.

Just like that, Lin Tian began his day-after-day arduous cultivation in Zixia Hall.

When hungry, he ate Medicinal Pills; when thirsty, he drank spiritual spring water; when sleepy, he meditated for a moment; all other time was used for cultivation.

With the support of the Perfection Realm Purple Qi Technique and the assistance of those Heaven And Earth Treasure from the martial kings treasure, his cultivation climbed step by step at a speed visible to the naked eye.

The Bottleneck of the 5th Grade Late Stage became looser and weaker under round after round of Qi and blood impact, and finally, on a certain day, it was completely broken through.

A surging force gushed out from his Dantian, rushing endlessly along his Meridians, and the Qi and blood throughout his whole body felt as if they had been ignited, burning and full.

5th Grade Peak.

When Peak Master Su Hanyan arrived upon hearing the news, Lin Tian had just finished his cultivation. She probed the situation inside Lin Tian's body and revealed unconcealable surprise on her face.

She had originally thought that even if Lin Tian had many resources, it would take at least two or three months to go from the 5th Grade Late Stage to the Peak, but how many days had it been?

This kid's cultivation speed was much faster than she had anticipated; the boost brought by the Perfection Realm Purple Qi Technique was far beyond her imagination.

She didn't say much, just took out an exquisite jade box from her bosom and handed it to Lin Tian.

Opening the jade box, a fist-sized fruit lay inside. The peel was pale gold, with faint light flowing on the surface, emitting a very unique fragrance.

The moment the fragrance entered his nose, Lin Tian felt something deep in his mind tremble slightly.

"This fruit is a treasure that can enhance Mental Energy, one of the few rare items in the martial kings treasure, and I saved one for you." Peak Master Su Hanyan's tone was solemn, with a bit of admonition, "Take it back and consume it, and refine it well. It can help you open the door to Mental Energy, but whether you can finally break through to the 6th Grade is hard to say. Remember my words: wanting to break through to the 6th Grade is not easy, and you must never be impatient. Cultivating Mental Energy is extremely dangerous; once you are too hasty, at best you will suffer Qi Deviation, and at worst, your soul will be damaged, and even the gods cannot save you. You must proceed steadily and act according to your ability."

Lin Tian took the jade box and nodded solemnly: "This Disciple understands." He carefully put away the jade box, thanked Peak Master Su Hanyan, and turned to leave the hall.

Returning to his residence, Lin Tian closed the door and placed the jade box on the table.

He sat cross-legged, not rushing to open the jade box, but first spent half an hour adjusting his breathing, bringing his Qi, blood, and spirit to the most stable state. Only then did he open the jade box and take out the pale golden fruit.