C42 Compensation

"I've lost. Here's the wager; take it."

Zhang Mingliang, coughing up blood, spoke in a low voice.

He couldn't bring himself to meet Lin Xuan's gaze.

Reneging on the bet hadn't crossed his mind.

Lin Xuan, at the Enlightenment Stage, could already best a Qi Gathering Stage cultivator like him, despite the lower cultivation level.

His exceptional talent didn't need to be spelled out.

Such a prodigy was beyond what he, his cousin Zhang Tao, or even their backing family could provoke.

He readily handed over a bet that represented the majority of his savings accumulated over several years.

And he intended to have Zhang Tao apologize to Lin Xuan, hoping to dissolve their enmity.

"Alright."

Lin Xuan collected the three substandard spirit stones from the ground into his storage ring and was about to walk away.

These cultivation resources would sustain his practice for a considerable time.

Just then, an urgent voice called out.

"Senior Brother Lin, please wait a moment."

Lin Xuan looked back to see Zhang Tao hurrying towards him.

A chill crossed Lin Xuan's face.

Did Zhang Tao dare to trouble him further?

He would need to take a firmer stance.

Zhang Tao approached, bowing with hands clasped.

"Senior Brother Lin, my previous actions were wrong. I ask for your forgiveness."

"Here is my recompense; I hope you'll accept it."

His demeanor was earnest and respectful, more befitting of addressing an elder than a fellow Outer Sect beginner.

The onlookers were astounded by the scene.

Zhang Tao, known for his potential, was a renowned disciple, second only to Lin Xuan among the newcomers.

His penchant for ostentation and pride in his dignity were well-known.

The past three days had been a testament to his character.

Yet now, he was displaying such humility.

Could this really be the same Zhang Tao they knew?

The disciples were bewildered by the transformation.

But their confusion was short-lived as they realized the truth.

Zhang Tao was confronting Lin Xuan.

A top-tier genius, Lin Xuan had the potential to ascend from the Enlightenment Stage to defeating Qi Gathering Stage cultivators with ease.

For such a genius, rising to the rank of core disciple was not a distant dream, provided he survived the journey.

Indeed, should he rise to become one of the Sect Seniors, it was highly likely he'd be counted among the elite powerhouses of Cangyuan Country.

Such a figure was beyond the reach of Zhang Tao and his backing organization—they simply couldn't afford to provoke him.

Thus, even the typically haughty Zhang Tao was compelled to swallow his pride and proactively seek Lin Xuan's forgiveness.

This made sense to everyone.

Yet, they were simultaneously in awe of Lin Xuan's formidable talent.

"What?"

Lin Xuan's eyebrows lifted in a show of unexpected curiosity.

He hadn't anticipated such a drastic change in Zhang Tao.

Nor had he foreseen the situation unfolding as it had.

"Let's have a look."

He took the storage ring and began to examine its contents.

"All this?"

Lin Xuan was taken aback.

The ring was filled with an abundance of pills and spiritual herbs, all meant to aid cultivation at the Enlightenment Stage.

The combined worth of these items surely surpassed that of three substandard spirit stones.

Lin Xuan even believed that these resources could be enough for his breakthrough to the Qi Gathering Stage.

These weren't just standard issue from the sect for promising disciples; they also included support from the influential family behind Zhang Tao.

Yet, Zhang Tao intended to hand over this wealth of cultivation resources, along with the storage ring, as a peace offering.

Lin Xuan found this puzzling.

He turned to Zhang Tao, noting the latter's demeanor now carried respect and awe, devoid of his earlier arrogance.

The other disciples mirrored this sentiment, their faces etched with admiration.

After a brief contemplation, Lin Xuan's eyes brightened with understanding.

It was his overwhelming talent, revealed in his victory over Zhang Mingliang, that had intimidated Zhang Tao.

This was the catalyst for the current turn of events.

Lin Xuan held no esteem for a noble scion as ineffectual as Zhang Tao.

Still, he was willing to accept the gains that came without a struggle.

"If that's the case, our previous disputes are now resolved."

"We no longer have any ties to each other."

Lin Xuan pocketed the storage ring, his tone detached.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Tao's face lit up with relief, and he bowed deeply.

"Thank you, Senior Brother Lin."

"Remember, if I ever catch you causing trouble again, I won't go easy on you!"

Lin Xuan's voice rang out once more.

"Understood, Senior Brother Lin. Rest assured, there won't be a repeat of this," Zhang Tao assured him with utmost respect.

He knew better than to cross paths with a top-tier talent like Lin Xuan ever again.

How could he even think of facing Lin Xuan after this?

"Alright."

Lin Xuan nodded, a hint of amusement crossing his face at Zhang Tao's deferential demeanor.

'Looks like he's been scared straight,' Lin Xuan thought.

Deciding he had spent enough time on the matter, Lin Xuan turned and headed toward the small building.

With the cultivation resources now in his possession, it was time to retreat for more intensive training to enhance his cultivation level and strength.

Moreover, once word of today's duel spread, it was bound to cause quite a commotion within the Outer Sect.

His energy points were sure to see a significant increase as well.

It was indeed a bountiful gain.

Content with the outcome, Lin Xuan walked away, his figure gradually fading from view as the onlookers snapped out of their trance.

Zhang Tao, Zhang Mingliang, and their entourage lingered for a moment, exchanging awestruck murmurs before dispersing.

They were eager to spread the sensational news—after all, gossip was a universal human indulgence.

Once the crowd had cleared, the lackeys snapped to their senses and rushed to assist their leader, Zhang Mingliang, to his feet.

Zhang Tao approached, producing a healing pill and administering it to Zhang Mingliang, who soon felt relief and ceased coughing up blood.

"Tao, what exactly did you hand over to Senior Brother Lin?" Zhang Mingliang inquired, looking at Zhang Tao.

"I surrendered all my cultivation resources, including the ones my family provided, to Senior Brother Lin. They were intended to help me gain a foothold in the Outer Sect.

My guess is that with Senior Brother Lin's exceptional talent, he likely exhausted his resources within three days, which explains his formidable strength.

Therefore, I offered all my resources to Senior Brother Lin as a gesture of apology."

Upon hearing the words, Zhang Mingliang fell silent for a moment before responding:

"Tao, you've handled this well.

The fact that Senior Brother Lin accepted the compensation confirms your suspicions were correct.

His talent is exceptional, surpassing anything we could have imagined. Using these resources to settle his grievances was a wise move.

Don't worry about the cultivation resources you've lost; you'll have opportunities to earn them back.

Once my injuries have healed up a bit, I'll take you out to hunt demonic beasts. It'll be a good chance for you to gain some experience as well."

"Thank you, cousin!" Zhang Tao said, bowing in gratitude.

"There's no need for thanks—we're family," Zhang Mingliang dismissed with a wave of his hand, then added:

"But let me remind you, we're not within our clan's territory or the county here. We're in the Drifting Cloud Sect, one of Cangyuan Country's most formidable powers.

Here, any Outer Sect Elder has the power to obliterate our Zhang family with ease.

Many individuals, like Senior Brother Lin, are simply out of our league.

I want you to keep a lid on your temper.

If not, I might not be able to bail you out next time."

"Understood, cousin," Zhang Tao replied with a serious tone.

In that moment, neither dared to utter Lin Xuan's name, opting instead to respectfully refer to him as Senior Brother Lin.