C26 Punishment!

The Lin Family was abuzz with excitement for Lin Xuan.

Lin Hai, in particular, went from shock to outright fear.

Seeing this, the Head Elder and Lin Qiyu were both thrilled and stunned, letting out a soft sigh.

Lin Xuan's talent far exceeded their expectations.

He realized he should have taken Lin Hai to apologize to Lin Xuan right after the competition.

Pride was no longer a concern for him.

The potential repercussions of not doing so were too dire to contemplate.

The representatives of the other three powers sighed in disbelief at the revelation of Lin Xuan's superior talent. Despite the City Lord's Mansion employing underhanded tactics to temporarily boost Zhang Hee to the strength of the Late Enlightenment Stage, he was no match for Lin Xuan.

Lin Xuan was undeniably Green Jade City's premier prodigy.

No other disciple came close to his level of skill.

Next to Lin Xuan, the other so-called geniuses seemed quite ordinary.

A talent like Lin Xuan's was likely to skyrocket once he joined the Drifting Cloud Sect.

It was clear that challenging the Lin Family would be futile.

At least until there was word of Lin Xuan's demise, it would be wise for them to bow their heads and yield to the Lin Family.

This was the consensus among the leaders of the three great forces.

Atop the high platform, Zhao Quxin and Lin Qiyuan exchanged nods, their faces beaming with approval.

Lin Xuan had lived up to their expectations, showcasing the makings of a true genius within the Drifting Cloud Sect.

Zhang Wenyong and the elders of the other two forces, however, were visibly shaken and incredulous.

Even as Qi Transformation Stage masters, they had never witnessed such an extraordinary display of talent, and it was hard for them to believe their eyes.

Once they collected themselves, they were overwhelmed with complex emotions.

With a genius like Lin Xuan, the Lin Family's ascent to power seemed inevitable.

It appeared that the Lin Family was poised to dominate Green Jade City's future.

The commotion in the crowd finally subsided after several minutes.

On the stage, it was Zhang Ping who finally declared:

"Lin Xuan is victorious in this match!"

He spoke with a mix of emotions as he gazed at Lin Xuan.

The very outcome he had dreaded had come to pass.

Yet, he had no choice but to make the announcement.

From this moment forward, the Lin Family is poised to ascend to new heights, marking the beginning of the City Lord's Mansion's decline.

Lin Xuan, however, remained indifferent to the opinions of those around him.

He watched the energy points on his attribute panel surge at an accelerated pace and nodded with a hint of satisfaction.

His strategy had paid off.

He had just knocked out Zhang Hee, a formidable Late Enlightenment Stage opponent, with a single punch, earning more energy points than if he had defeated Zhang Hee before the latter could deploy his secret technique.

Yet, what caught him off guard was the potency of the Boiling Blood Technique.

It had significantly amplified Zhang Hee's power.

Despite propelling Zhang Hee through the air with one punch, Lin Xuan had exerted nearly all his strength.

But his efforts were not in vain; his objective was met.

With a smile, Lin Xuan leaped down from the arena and ascended the grandstand under the watchful gaze of the crowd.

Back in his seat and after basking in Lin Shiyun's congratulations, they struck up a conversation.

Lin Xuan couldn't help but notice Lin Shiyun's increased joyfulness, though he wondered if it was merely his imagination.

The tournament was drawing to a close.

The battles had all been fought.

Zhang Ping, too, descended from the arena and made his way to the high platform.

The responsibility now shifted from him to the City Lord, who would deliver the final remarks.

But as Zhang Wenyong rose to speak...

Zhao Quxin of the Drifting Cloud Sect stood up.

Zhang Wenyong was taken aback, as there was no such tradition. Given that Green Jade City fell under the Drifting Cloud Sect's domain and Zhao Quxin's cultivation level surpassed his own, Zhao Quxin's authority was, in fact, greater.

Zhang Wenyong was left with no choice but to yield the floor.

He, along with everyone else present, turned their attention to Zhao Quxin.

Surveying the crowd, Zhao Quxin's voice rang out clearly:

"The competition is now over, and the top ten have been determined.

However, I have an announcement to make today.

Within the territories governed by the Drifting Cloud Sect, fairness and justice have always been upheld."

I apply the same principles when selecting disciples. However, during the competition, someone resorted to cheating, undermining the fairness of the event. Although they were unsuccessful, we cannot tolerate such behavior. As a result, Zhang Hee will face consequences. He will be removed from the top ten and stripped of his opportunity to join the Drifting Cloud Sect. Furthermore, the Zhang Family will be punished for their complicity in the cheating. They will lose control over their properties in Green Jade City for three years, which will be transferred to the Lin Family as restitution.

Zhao Quxin's icy stare then fixed on Zhang Wenyong. Zhang Wenyong's heart quivered with fear. He knew defiance might lead to his death at Zhao Quxin's hands, for he was insignificant to the Drifting Cloud Sect's envoy. He quickly rose and responded with due respect, "The Zhang Family accepts the punishment."

He hadn't anticipated such a dire outcome from using the Boiling Blood Technique to cheat. His ignorance of the Drifting Cloud Sect's rules due to Green Jade City's isolation was his downfall. He hadn't even considered resistance; to Zhao Quxin, he was as insignificant as an ant, utterly powerless.

His admission sent shockwaves through the crowd, who hadn't foreseen such a turn of events. Yet, they had now seen the Drifting Cloud Sect's formidable influence firsthand; even the City Lord's Mansion didn't dare to resist. Meanwhile, everyone's admiration and reverence grew for the ten individuals who had earned the right to join the Sect.

At the news, the already grievously wounded Zhang Hee coughed up blood and lost consciousness. He was taken away by the City Lord's Mansion's people for medical attention. The mood among them was somber. Their gamble had backfired spectacularly, not only failing but also boosting the Lin Family's stature and incurring severe penalties. The City Lord's Mansion's prospects looked bleak indeed. The Chen and Wu Families watched on with grave expressions, recognizing the gravity of the situation.

Despite the decline of the City Lord's Mansion, the most dominant force in Green Jade City, there wasn't a trace of joy in their hearts.

They had, after all, been in a covert alliance with the Mansion, united in their opposition to the Lin Family.

With the Mansion's fall, the Lin Family had reaped substantial gains.

One could easily foresee the Lin Family growing even more powerful.

Before long, it was quite possible that they would have Green Rock City entirely under their thumb.

And it was Lin Xuan who had set all this in motion.

Without Lin Xuan's ascent, Lin Yun would have stood no chance against Zhang Hee.