Celebration

The main peak square of Tianjian Pavilion resounded with the deafening sound of bells and drums.

Chen Baichuan, dressed in a brand-new crimson-gold elder's robe, stood in the very center of the high platform.

Below them stood tens of thousands of disciples, both inner and outer, all bowing and shouting in unison.

"Congratulations to Elder Chen for quelling the subterranean fire and saving the sect!"

Chen Baichuan, his face flushed, gestured with his hands to indicate that everyone should dispense with formalities.

He had never been so glorious in his life. All the pent-up frustration of the past few years was completely washed away at this moment.

The Fifth Elder stood to the side, stroking his beard with a smile.

"Old Chen, you really stole the show today. Even the sect leader brought out that century-old spirit wine he left behind before going into seclusion to celebrate your success."

Chen Baichuan waved his hand, grinning from ear to ear.

"Not at all, it's all for the sect, it's my duty."

Just then, a figure in purple robes, carrying a wine cup, slowly walked up the platform from the side.

The once bustling square instantly fell silent.

Tens of thousands of disciples below craned their necks, not daring to even breathe loudly.

The visitor was none other than the Third Elder, Liu Quan.

Everyone in the Heavenly Sword Pavilion knows that the Third Elder and Chen Baichuan have been mortal enemies for decades.

Back then, the two almost came to blows on the main peak because of the matter of forging flying swords, and they never spoke to each other again after that.

Now that Chen Baichuan has made a great contribution and overshadowed everyone else, Liu Quan came up with a wine glass, clearly looking for trouble.

The Fifth Elder's smile faded, and he took half a step forward, blocking Chen Baichuan's side.

Chen Baichuan also stopped smiling and stared coldly at Liu Quan who was walking over.

"Elder Liu, what can I do for you?" Chen Baichuan asked curtly.

Liu Quan stopped three steps away, ignoring Chen Baichuan's cold face, and instead raised his wine glass high above his head with both hands.

"Junior Brother Chen, this cup of wine is for you, Senior Brother."

These words caused an uproar in the room.

Even the Fifth Elder was stunned, staring at Liu Quan with a look of astonishment.

Liu Quan sighed, his voice carrying with it his true essence, echoing throughout the entire main peak plaza.

"The destruction of the flying sword back then was due to my narrow-mindedness and stubbornness. I shifted all the blame onto you. Over the years, I have been targeting the Weapon Hall at every turn. I am truly unworthy of my status as an elder of the sect."

As Liu Quan spoke, his eyes reddened slightly, and he adopted an extremely humble posture.

"If it weren't for Junior Brother Chen's heroic efforts in turning the tide and forging the Fire-Stabilizing Nail during this wildfire, our Heavenly Sword Pavilion's outer sect would probably have been destroyed. You saved the sect and also gave me a wake-up call."

Liu Quan took a step forward and handed the wine glass to Chen Baichuan.

"Let's put aside our past grievances. Consider this cup of wine my apology to you. From now on, I'll have to rely on you, Junior Brother Chen, to take care of the magical artifacts of my Earth Sword Peak, as well as my natal flying sword that I've never been able to reforge."

The square was completely silent.

Everyone was stunned by Liu Quan's words.

A powerful elder in the Nascent Soul stage bowed his head and admitted his mistake in front of tens of thousands of people in the entire sect, and even took the initiative to ask the other party for help in forging the sword.

This is giving too much face; it's practically peeling off one's own skin to make Chen Baichuan step on it.

Chen Baichuan stared at Liu Quan for a long time.

He had prepared a whole host of retorts, but now they were all stuck in his throat.

Seeing Liu Quan's extremely sincere appearance, Chen Baichuan's pent-up frustration suddenly dissipated.

"good!"

Chen Baichuan laughed loudly, took the wine glass, tilted his head back, and drank it all in one gulp.

"Since Senior Brother Liu has put it this way, let's consider the past as a thing of the past. From now on, my Weaponry Hall will take on all the orders for Earth Sword Peak!"

Liu Quan also burst into laughter, patting Chen Baichuan's shoulder repeatedly, creating a touching scene of brotherly affection.

Upon seeing this, the disciples below the stage erupted in thunderous cheers once again.

On the outermost edge of the main peak square, in a corner near the stone steps leading down the mountain, there are a few simple wooden tables.

These are the seats for the outer gatekeepers.

Zhou Lingxuan, wearing a faded gray robe, sat imposingly on a long bench.

He was holding a handful of roasted sunflower seeds, cracking them open with a crackling sound.

Sunflower seed shells were scattered all over the ground.

Lei Yang stood upright behind Zhou Lingxuan, holding the Wind and Thunder Sword wrapped in a black wooden scabbard.

"Steward, Elder Chen is truly impressive."

Lei Yang looked at Chen Baichuan, who was being respected on the high platform, and his tone revealed a hint of envy.

Zhou Lingxuan spat out the sunflower seed shells from his mouth and patted the crumbs off his hands.

"So what if it's impressive?"

Zhou Lingxuan picked up the coarse tea on the table and rinsed his mouth.

"This old bastard got sold out, and he's still sitting there counting his money."

Lei Yang scratched his head, looking completely puzzled.

"But the Third Elder publicly admitted his mistake and even asked Elder Chen for help in forging the sword. Isn't that admitting defeat?"

Zhou Lingxuan gave a cold laugh.

"Have you ever seen a venomous snake that bites pull out its fangs in front of its prey?"

Zhou Lingxuan leaned back in his chair, his gaze passing over the sea of ​​people and landing on Liu Quan on the high platform.

Just as Liu Quan offered a toast, the Heaven-Forging Hammer in Zhou Lingxuan's sea of ​​consciousness suddenly jolted.

That's an instinctive reaction when encountering extremely cold and vicious energy.

Liu Quan apologized verbally and acted more humble than anyone else, but the malice hidden in his bones could not escape the perception of the Heavenly Hammer.

"This is called 'killing with praise'."

Zhou Lingxuan lowered his voice and began to lecture Lei Yang.

"Lift him up high so everyone can see him. When he's feeling arrogant and thinks he's invincible, pull the ladder away from underneath. When he falls, not even a bone fragment will remain."

Lei Yang frowned as he listened.

"The Third Elder requested that a sword be forged..."

"These are the hands that pulled the ladder away."

Zhou Lingxuan interrupted Lei Yang.

"Is it so easy to forge a natal flying sword? The materials, the heat, the array patterns—if there's even the slightest mistake, it's a grave offense that destroys a person's foundation. Liu Quan entrusted this matter to Chen Baichuan in public, so Chen Baichuan had no choice but to accept it."

Zhou Lingxuan grabbed the teacup on the table and drank it all in one gulp.

"Once Chen Baichuan opens the furnace, Liu Quan has plenty of ways to tamper with it. When the flying sword is ruined, the higher Chen Baichuan stands today, the more miserable his death will be tomorrow."

Lei Yang gasped, his grip on the sword sheath tightening abruptly.

"Should we remind Elder Chen?"

"What reminder?"

Zhou Lingxuan stood up and patted the wrinkles on his gray robe.

"He's now a great contributor to the sect, a Grandmaster in the Nascent Soul stage, enjoying the spotlight. If you go up to him and tell him your mortal enemy is trying to harm you, do you think he'll believe you?"

Zhou Lingxuan shook his head.

"Good advice is useless to a damn fool. Let's go back to our abandoned hall; this place is too noisy, it gives me a headache."

The ceremony lasted until evening before it ended.

Chen Baichuan was surrounded by a group of inner sect deacons and elders from various peaks, and was welcomed back to the Weapon Hall like a star being surrounded by the moon.

Zhou Lingxuan then led Lei Yang along a secluded mountain path, slowly making their way back to the abandoned hall.

The setting sun cast long shadows of the two of them.