"I-I"ve lost!"
Zi Wuji gulped as he said, immediately admitting defeat.
The aura emanated by the thousands upon thousands of runes in the skies was just too terrifying. If all of them rained down upon him at once, there was no way he could survive such an attack.
What was more, Chu Kuangren had mastered the power of a Runic Enigma.
That power was the one that made him the most fearful.
Following Zi Wuji conceding defeat, the onlooking crowd of sky-prides gasped. Their faces were filled with shock.
It was not a surprise that Chu Kuangren was able to defeat Zi Wuji. After all, a group of outlawed sky-pride was not even a match for him alone.
However, everyone was surprised by the fact that Chu Kuangren had won against Zi Wuji using only rune techniques.
The outlawed sky-pride from the Runic Lands was defeated by Chu Kuangren using only rune techniques. Could there be anything more preposterous than this?
Everyone was in disbelief.
Nevertheless, the facts laid before them were clear as water, and they had no choice but to believe it.
"This guy is a monster. Is there anything else that can defeat him?"
Xiao Jingchen murmured. He had known Chu Kuangren longer than the others, so he was the one who most understood how terrifying Chu Kuangren could be.
His opponent had basically defeated everyone in his path to Emperorhood with an invincible poise. His name would be remembered until the end of time!
Xiao Jingchen was almost starting to believe that even the Sovereigns of the Emperor Road would fall before Chu Kuangren if they fought.
After Zi Wuji conceded defeat, Chu Kuangren dispersed his mind power in the skies, where countless runes turned into bundles of light and disappeared.
"Alright, it"s time for you to uphold your end of our bet," Chu Kuangren said.
Zi Wuji unwillingly took out a thick book from his Yin and Yang ring. It was the printed copy of the Thousand Rune Compendium.
Chu Kuangren then grabbed and flipped through it. After taking a few looks and making sure that nothing was wrong with it, he kept it in his Yin and Yang ring. He intended to study it when he had the time in the future.
After that, Chu Kuangren looked towards the Wood Elemental Leyline Essence nearby.
Under everyone"s jealous gaze, he walked toward the bundle of Leyline Essence. The closer he got to it, the more he could feel the power within it.
This treasure was, without a doubt, on par with the likes of the White Spiritual Divine Fruit.
"With the White Spiritual Divine Fruit and this bundle of Wood Elemental Leyline Essence, my strength will definitely increase once I"ve refined both of them."
"When that time comes, I"m certain I"ll be able to defeat a Sovereign if they appear!"
At that thought, Chu Kuangren went to grab the Wood Elemental Leyline Essence and tossed it into his Yin and Yang ring.
"D*mn it!"
The remaining sky-prides cursed secretly.
As the matter stood, there was no way they could s.n.a.t.c.h that treasure from Chu Kuangren"s possession now.
As such, many of the sky-prides left the area in hopes of finding other treasures somewhere else.
Just when Chu Kuangren was going to take all of the treasures inside the leyline and leave, Leng Ningyu, the Maiden Sage of the Seven Emotions Sect walked towards him.
"Do you need anything?"
Chu Kuangren looked at Leng Ningyu and asked.
"My name is Leng Ningyu. Thank you for saving my life a few days ago."
"Oh, there"s no need to thank me, I merely did it on a whim."
Chu Kuangren replied, having no intention to continue talking to her.
At that time, he only wanted to obtain the Empyrean Frost Python horn. Saving Leng Ningyu was just something he did on impulse. Hence, he never expected any rewards or favors from her in return.
Besides, would someone who cultivated the Unruffled Emotions Dao understand what grat.i.tude means?
"Please hear me out, Brother Chu. When I was watching you fight just now, I noticed you used a technique that affected your opponent"s emotions, which bore many similarities with a few of Seven Emotions Sect"s cultivation techniques. I wish to ask you, are you by any chance related to the Seven Emotions Sect?"
Upon hearing this, Chu Kuangren started pondering.
What could he possibly have to do with the Seven Emotions Sect?
"Cultivation techniques related to affecting emotions…"
"Could it be…"
As if he had recalled something, Chu Kuangren asked, "Sister Leng, do you know any similar Emperor Techniques by chance?"
He used his Eye of Revelation to obtain information about her skills but realized that she did not know anything about the Emperor Techniques that affected emotions.
After all, her way of Dao was the Unruffled Emotions, so how could she possibly have a technique like that?
Sure enough, Leng Ningyu shook her head. "I don"t cultivate those Emperor Techniques. However, there are some people in my Seven Emotions Sect who do. Brother Chu, I think the Emperor Technique you used earlier might have something to do with my Seven Emotions Sect. I hope you"ll visit the Seven Emotions Sect after leaving this Enchanted Forest Realm."
With that, Leng Ningyu took out an insignia carved from white jade and handed it to Chu Kuangren.
The sky-prides who had not left the area could not help but feel surprised.
A Maiden Sage with unruffled emotions inviting a young man to visit her Seven Emotions Sect? This was their first time seeing such a thing.
"Tsk. Leng Ningyu did not even bother to bat an eye at Sword Daoist when he was pursuing her relentlessly in the past. Yet, this maiden sage with supposedly unruffled emotions has now invited Chu Kuangren to the Seven Emotions Sect even though it"s clear that he"s not interested in her. This is a first!"
"That poor little Sword Daoist. The G.o.ddess that he"s been pursuing for so long is now going to fall into someone else"s arms."
Everyone discussed.
However, Chu Kuangren did not pay heed to whatever they were talking about. Instead, he pondered while fiddling with the white jade insignia that Leng Ningyu had given him. It still had a lingering fragrance and warmth at that time.
"The Seven Emotions Sect, huh? Since Sister Leng is so kind to invite me, I"ll kindly oblige. When the Enchanted Forest Realm closes, I shall pay a visit to this sect one day."
"When the time comes, I shall welcome you with open arms."
Leng Ningyu nodded slightly before turning around and leaving.
Once she had left, the other sky-prides also left the area one by one.
As such, Chu Kuangren started gathering all of the treasures in the leyline.
Not long after, footsteps rang from behind him.
Jian Changfeng was walking towards him from behind. Then, he knelt on one foot and greeted. "Greetings Master, your humble servant, Jian Changfeng has arrived."
"Very well. You can stand up now."
Chu Kuangren then took out an Emperor-Grade Supreme Elixir from his Yin and Yang ring and said, "You have done well in helping me to obtain the White Spiritual Divine Fruit. Here"s an Emperor-Grade Supreme Elixir. Take it and refine it."
Instead of immediately accepting the item, Jian Changfeng replied. "It"s my duty to help you, Master, in doing anything that you wish. Hence, I dare not seek any rewards for doing something that"s expected from me."
Chu Kuangren glanced at him.
Jian Changfeng"s expression was incredibly serious. It was obvious that his words came from the bottom of his heart.
It seemed like the Soul-Vanquis.h.i.+ng Slave Seal had completely changed his personality.
"Since I"ve decided to give this to you, just accept it."
"If so, many thanks, great Master."
Jian Changfeng accepted the Supreme Elixir with delight. Although he was incredibly loyal to Chu Kuangren, he still coveted something as precious as the Emperor-Grade Supreme Elixir.
The Supreme Elixir was many times more precious than the one given by the Sword Daoist. It was enough to increase his strength by a huge margin.
"You can move about as you like in the Enchanted Forest Realm. After you leave the Forest Realm, I want you to return to the Sword Tribe and continue monitoring them, especially the Sword Daoist"s actions."
"Yes, Master."
Jian Changfeng got up and left.
A while later, Shang Qingxue and Murong Xuan were called over to the area by Chu Kuangren.
The two of them had been watching everything from a nearby mountain range, so they knew that Chu Kuangren had taken all the treasures within the entire Spiritual Qi Leyline.
"We"re going to be rich!"
Shang Qingxue was smiling happily. She was so excited that she almost went up and hugged Chu Kuangren.
Compared to her, Murong Xuan was not as excited. However, the happiness on his face was visible.
"With all these treasures, our trip to the Enchanted Forest Realm is a huge success. After exiting this place, we"ll need to find somewhere to properly sort through all these items."
Chu Kuangren mumbled.
- the author wrote Jian Changfeng instead of Sword Daoist, which doesn"t make sense. Hence, it is a.s.sumed to be a typo.