"I lost, fair and square. Here's the wager, take it."
Zhang Mingliang coughed up blood, speaking in a low voice.
He didn't dare meet Lin Xuan's gaze.
As for reneging, he hadn't even considered it.
Lin Xuan, at the Acupoint Opening stage, could already cross realms to defeat him, a Qi Gathering stage cultivator, and gravely wound him at that.
His talent was so formidable, it needed no elaboration.
A genius like this wasn't someone he, his cousin Zhang Tao, or even their families could afford to provoke.
Not only did he readily hand over the wager—which amounted to most of his savings over the past few years—but he also planned to have Zhang Tao apologize and offer compensation to Lin Xuan, to resolve this grudge.
"Hmm."
Lin Xuan collected the three low-grade spirit stones from the ground into his storage ring and turned to leave.
With these cultivation resources, he'd have enough to train for a considerable time.
Just then, a hurried voice rang out.
"Senior Brother Lin, please wait a moment?"
Lin Xuan looked over and saw Zhang Tao walking quickly toward him.
Lin Xuan's expression turned cold.
Was this guy still going to pester him?
He might need to get even harsher!
But Zhang Tao approached, bowed with clasped hands, and said:
"Senior Brother Lin, everything before was my fault. Please, be magnanimous and forgive me this once.
This is my apology gift. Please accept it?"
His attitude was sincere and respectful, as if addressing an elder.
Not like a fellow outer disciple who had joined the sect alongside him.
The surrounding disciples erupted in murmurs, stunned.
Zhang Tao, as a promising disciple, was one of the top talents among the new recruits, second only to Lin Xuan, and quite famous.
Especially for his usual arrogance, vanity, and obsession with face.
Over the past three days, some of Zhang Tao's actions had proven this.
But now, he was acting so humble and deferential?
Was this still the Zhang Tao they knew and had heard about?
The disciples couldn't help but find it unbelievable.
Soon, though, they understood why.
Because Zhang Tao was facing Lin Xuan.
A top-tier genius who, at the Acupoint Opening stage, could cross realms to defeat a Qi Gathering cultivator, with limitless potential.
As long as such a genius didn't fall, becoming a core disciple in the future wouldn't be too difficult.
Even rising to the sect's high ranks, or becoming a top expert in the entire Cangyuan Kingdom, was quite possible.
Someone like that was beyond what Zhang Tao, or even his backing forces, could afford to provoke.
So the once proud and arrogant Zhang Tao had no choice but to swallow his pride, lower his head, and admit fault to Lin Xuan.
Thinking this, the crowd began to understand.
But at the same time, they were even more shaken by Lin Xuan's terrifying talent.
"Oh?"
Lin Xuan raised an eyebrow, a look of surprise in his eyes.
He hadn't expected Zhang Tao to change his tune like this.
He hadn't anticipated this turn of events.
"Let me take a look."
He then took the storage ring and examined it.
"So much?"
Lin Xuan's heart skipped a beat.
Inside were a large number of pills and spiritual herbs, all cultivation resources for the Acupoint Opening stage.
Their total value likely far exceeded three low-grade spirit stones.
Lin Xuan even felt they might be enough for him to break through to the Qi Gathering stage.
These resources probably weren't just from the sect's allocation for promising disciples, but also included support from Zhang Tao's family, a major clan in the prefecture.
Yet, judging by Zhang Tao's intent, he was giving all these resources, along with the storage ring, to Lin Xuan as an apology.
This left Lin Xuan somewhat puzzled.
He looked at Zhang Tao and saw a respectful, awed demeanor, with none of the earlier arrogance.
Scanning the surroundings, the other disciples also wore expressions of reverence and admiration.
Lin Xuan pondered briefly, then a glimmer of realization crossed his eyes.
So it was his display of talent after crushing Zhang Mingliang that had scared Zhang Tao into this.
That's why things had turned out this way.
Lin Xuan had no good opinion of a spoiled brat like Zhang Tao.
But he could still accept a gift that came his way.
"Hmm. Since that's the case, let bygones be bygones.
We have no further ties."
Lin Xuan put away the storage ring and said calmly.
Zhang Tao's face lit up with joy, and he quickly bowed:
"Thank you, Senior Brother Lin. Thank you, Senior Brother Lin."
"But if you cross me again, I won't go easy on you!"
Lin Xuan's voice came again.
"Yes, yes. Senior Brother Lin, rest assured, I guarantee there won't be a next time!"
Zhang Tao replied respectfully.
He wouldn't dare provoke a top genius like Lin Xuan again.
How could he even think of opposing him?
"Hmm."
Lin Xuan nodded, finding it somewhat amusing to see Zhang Tao so deferential.
This guy was really scared out of his wits, wasn't he?
Then, no longer bothering with him, he turned and walked toward the small building.
Now that he had the cultivation resources, it was time to go back into seclusion and train to improve his realm and strength.
Besides, once news of today's battle spread, it would likely cause quite a stir in the outer sect.
By then, energy points would pour in as well.
It was a double win.
Lin Xuan was quite satisfied.
Under the gaze of the crowd, Lin Xuan's figure faded into the distance until he disappeared from sight, snapping everyone back to reality.
Looking at Zhang Tao, Zhang Mingliang, and his group of followers, they sighed with emotion and then dispersed.
This was big news, and they couldn't wait to go back and share it.
No denying it, gossip was human nature, no matter the world.
After everyone had left, the group of followers finally snapped out of it and rushed over to help their leader, Zhang Mingliang, to his feet.
Zhang Tao also walked over, took out a healing pill, and fed it to Zhang Mingliang, who finally improved and stopped coughing blood.
"Xiao Tao, what did you give to Senior Brother Lin?" Zhang Mingliang asked, looking at Zhang Tao.
"All my cultivation resources, including the support from the family to help me network and establish a foothold in the outer sect. I gave it all to Senior Brother Lin.
I guessed that with his talent, he might have used up all his resources in these three days to become so strong.
So I offered all my resources as an apology."
Zhang Mingliang was silent for a moment before saying:
"Xiao Tao, you did the right thing.
Senior Brother Lin accepting the apology means your guess was correct.
His talent is formidable, far beyond what we imagined. Turning this into a settled grudge with just these resources is a good outcome.
As for the resources you lost, you can earn them back.
Once my injuries heal a bit, I'll take you out to hunt demon beasts, and you can gain some experience too."
"Thank you, cousin!" Zhang Tao replied with a bow.
"No need, we're family." Zhang Mingliang waved his hand and continued, "But I need to warn you: this isn't the clan or the prefecture. This is the Flowing Cloud Sect, one of the top powers in Cangyuan Kingdom.
Here, any outer sect elder could easily wipe out our Zhang family.
Many people, like Senior Brother Lin, are beyond our reach.
I hope you rein in your temper.
Otherwise, next time, I won't be able to save you."
"Yes, cousin!" Zhang Tao replied solemnly.
...
At this point, neither of them dared to say Lin Xuan's name, only referring to him as Senior Brother Lin.