The moment Lin Ya's battle ended, it was as if the rest of the arenas woke from a daze and resumed their fights. But something had clearly shifted. In several arenas, the cultivators fought with distracted minds.
After all,
Everyone had assumed this would be a one-sided massacre.
And it was.
Only, the victor was not the one they had expected.
Lin Ya had won.
Not only that, he had crushed Luo Yi with an overwhelming display.
Shock rippled through the crowd. Some marveled at how deeply Lin Ya had hidden his true strength, while others felt their hearts stir with uncertainty. He had always been the sharpest sword cultivator among them. Even back then, he had rivaled Zhao Wuji in raw strength. Now, he had silently reached late Unity stage.
Zhao Wuji was also at Unity late-stage.
But if the two fought,
Most would now bet on Lin Ya to win.
Which meant,
If none of the Grand Elders appeared,
Then Lin Ya was the strongest in Tianxing Sect.
Even so,
Strength alone was not enough to change everything.
Zhao Wuji's talent was average at best. Without his powerful father, he wouldn't have reached the Unity stage at all. Every step of his path had been paved with rare and precious resources.
Where others had to beg or scrape, he received with a single word.
He wanted to be Sect Master. And, conveniently, Lin Ya was gravely injured just before the decision was made. In most sects, such an outcome might have met resistance. But here, in Tianxing Sect, a mid-tier sect, Zhao Wuji always got his way.
Lin Ya had spent years swallowing humiliation, enduring silently. That he had now broken through to late Unity shocked many. And Zhao Wuji? While his own cultivation had barely advanced, he had the influence to summon a Tribulation stage expert from Qingxiao Pavilion.
His father was rumored to be close to breaking through to the Mahayana stage.
That kind of backing,
Was not something personal strength could match.
Lin Ya may have won today. But everyone knew, with Zhao Wuji's pettiness, life would only get harder for him from now on.
Yet Lin Ya,
Had chosen this moment to reveal his strength. With how deep his mind ran, how could he not have prepared for this?
Now, some were even beginning to wonder: had Yun Jin's rapid rise really been just her own doing? Or had Lin Ya, her master, been guiding her from the shadows all along?
Could there be a mysterious force behind Lin Ya as well?
The crowd's imagination ran wild, their view of Lin Ya rising to mythical heights. Though on the surface Zhao Wuji still held the advantage, Lin Ya had begun to inspire something rare among the disciples:
Hope.
Perhaps, just perhaps, he had plans to counter that Tribulation stage powerhouse. At this moment, Lin Ya still wore that inscrutable, amused smile. He knew perfectly well that Zhao Wuji hadn't brought Li Heng here just to spectate.
Li Heng would strike.
But so what?
Had none of them heard the saying:
A master's worth is raised by their disciples!
If Li Heng really dared to act shamelessly,
He could just shout for help.
Wouldn't Brother Qing Yun come to his rescue?
That kind of backing,
Was something Zhao Wuji could only envy.
Choosing the right disciple truly took vision.
At this point, Lin Ya wasn't anxious at all. His mind wandered toward increasingly absurd and irrelevant thoughts.
Below the platform,
Of all Tianjian Peak's members, only Yun Jin still looked tense.
Her brows furrowed slightly.
She had long expected Zhao Wuji might call in outside help. Her countermeasure had been simple: she had asked Elder Ming to awaken the Grand Elders from seclusion.
She glanced at Elder Ming, who gave her the faintest of nods. If Li Heng really made a move, the Grand Elders would not remain idle.
Years ago, the three Grand Elders had all supported Lin Ya as the next Sect Master. In both merit and popularity, he had outshone Zhao Wuji.
But Lin Ya had suffered sudden, devastating injuries. Zhao Wuji's father then applied unbearable pressure. In the end, the title of Sect Master fell to Zhao Wuji.
The Grand Elders, helpless at the time, chose to withdraw and remain in seclusion for years. Their presence still acted as a hidden check on Zhao Wuji's actions. He dared not overstep in public. Now that Lin Ya had returned stronger than ever, they would surely be pleased.
Yun Jin had informed Elder Ming without revealing Lin Ya's restored cultivation. But the Grand Elders had always placed great hopes on him. With such a message, they would certainly be watching.
Compared to Zhao Wuji, who was born into the sect but never truly respected it, Lin Ya was Tianxing Sect's own. A disciple raised within its walls. If he had not been crippled, the choice would never have gone to Zhao Wuji. Now, seeing Lin Ya's full return—stronger than before—
Would the Grand Elders really sit and let Li Heng kill him?
Yun Jin went over all this in her head again. With the forces they had gathered, they should be able to withstand Li Heng.
Finally, she let herself feel the smallest trace of relief.
At the same time, she couldn't help but sigh.
Connections really did make all the difference.
Zhao Wuji had simply waved a hand and summoned a Tribulation stage cultivator from one of the Four Holy Lands. Meanwhile, she had to plan, negotiate, and rally everything they had just to stay afloat. The difference was enough to make one cough blood. As the Peak Master Challenge neared its end, Yun Jin quietly moved toward her fellow disciples.
"Senior brothers, senior sisters," she whispered, "I fear Li Heng may suddenly strike. Even if the Grand Elders act, we must remain vigilant. The real fight may be about to begin."
Her voice was calm but grave.
The others didn't know how to respond for a moment.
Only the little junior sister still didn't know.
That several of the major players were already scrambling behind the scenes—for her.
Compared to those giants,
Li Heng no longer seemed so fearsome.
"Junior sister, be at ease," Yue Zhao said softly. Now wasn't the time to explain.
Yun Jin nodded, though her expression remained serious.
Li Heng was the final hurdle.
If they could survive him,
Then Tianjian Peak would finally be safe, at least for now.
One battle after another concluded.
Then Zhao Wuji, expression unreadable, rose and announced, "The Peak Master Challenge has concluded."
He continued, "All ten Peak Masters have successfully held their positions. Especially Peak Master Lin Ya—his rapid improvement allowed him to defeat Luo Yi in one move. He has earned his place."
He was even praising Lin Ya now.
The crowd exchanged subtle looks.
"Congratulations, Peak Master Lin," Zhao Wuji said, his smile stiff and insincere.
Lin Ya opened his mouth to respond—
But another voice cut in.
"Hold it."
Li Heng slowly rose to his feet.
"This Lin Ya," he said, "has a problem."