In the main hall of the Misty Serenity Sect, the leading elders and the sect master were utterly stunned, observing the end of the intense battle through their spiritual senses. The air was heavy with a mixture of shock and admiration as everyone processed what had just transpired.

“It seems... Bai Jian wasn’t weak after all. This boy is just ridiculously strong,” one elder remarked, his voice tinged with awe and disbelief.

The silence following his statement was quickly broken by another voice.

“Sister, how did you nurture such a monstrous talent?” an older elder turned toward Mei Lianhua, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.

“Yes, sister! Tell us, how can he be this powerful?” another elder added, clearly incredulous.

“Tsk, my personal disciple is wandering around after stealing my treasure. He’s nowhere near this level,” another elder grumbled, frustration evident in his tone.

“This boy didn’t even go through the normal process to become an elite disciple. He jumped straight to elder!” one of the younger elders exclaimed, his expression revealing both surprise and a hint of envy.

The hall was filled with animated chatter. Everyone marveled at Tian Ling’s overwhelming strength. It felt as though the hierarchy of the sect had been shaken by the unexpected rise of a young prodigy. Amid the excitement, however, the sect master remained silent, lost in his thoughts, quietly lamenting.

“How did I fail to recognize such talent back then?” he wondered, regret welling up inside him. His gaze landed on Mei Lianhua, and the envy in his eyes was unmistakable. If only he had taken the initiative to recruit Tian Ling, perhaps things would have turned out differently.

Mei Lianhua, too, was more shocked than the other elders. She had always known Tian Ling was strong, but the level of power he just displayed was beyond comprehension. “He’s still in the True Soul Realm... How is this even possible?” Her thoughts were a jumble, unable to reconcile his demonstrated strength with his cultivation level. Yet, despite her confusion, a deep sense of pride swelled in her chest. She had chosen well in taking Tian Ling as her disciple.

Meanwhile, Tian Ling calmly scanned the surroundings of the sect with his spiritual sense, checking for any remaining powerful enemies nearby. After confirming the area was clear, he let out a sigh of relief.

“I’ve used too much spiritual energy... I need to rest,” he thought, feeling the exhaustion finally catch up to him.

“Brother, let’s report to Elder Mei about what happened,” suggested Lian Ziyue, still visibly shaken. She had witnessed the battle up close, and though she couldn’t follow every movement due to the extreme speed, Tian Ling’s power had deeply impressed her. The respect she already had for him grew even more.

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“You’re right. Let’s inform her. There may still be demons hiding near the sect,” Tian Ling replied, his voice calm but tinged with concern.

The two cultivators quickly flew toward the main hall. The sect was still in a state of turmoil. Few disciples had seen the battle, and those who did could barely make out Tian Ling’s movements due to the sheer speed at which everything unfolded.

Upon arriving at the hall, the elders quickly surrounded Tian Ling, eager to praise him.

“Elder Tian, you were amazing! That final strike was devastating!” one of the older elders exclaimed, his eyes shining with enthusiasm.

“Yes, yes! We were all watching. It was truly impressive!” another elder chimed in, nodding vigorously.

“Tsk, these old foxes... They just stood there watching and didn’t even try to face the enemy. What were they doing, just spectating?” Tian Ling complained inwardly but kept his thoughts to himself. It made no sense to offend the elders without reason, especially now that he was beginning to stand out. Mutual respect was still necessary, even though he knew many of the elders were hypocrites.

With a slight bow, he stepped away from the crowd of elders and approached Mei Lianhua. When he reached her, he clasped his hands in respect and gave a small bow.

“Greetings, Master. The demon leader has been eliminated, but I used a lot of spiritual energy during the battle. I need to return and recover. However, we should remain vigilant, as many demons escaped,” he said, his voice calm and respectful, despite knowing that at this moment, he was the strongest person present.

Mei Lianhua looked at him with pride. She had always known Tian Ling had potential, but seeing him exceed expectations so spectacularly stirred a wave of emotions within her. Subconsciously, she was beginning to develop feelings for him—feelings she didn’t fully understand yet.

“Rest assured, Tian Ling. We will send disciples to guard the sect’s borders and ensure everything is safe. But are you really okay?” she asked, her voice carrying a rare hint of genuine concern.

Tian Ling nodded, a faint smile touching his lips.

“I’m fine, Master. I just need some rest. I’ll return shortly.”

The other elders, having witnessed the interaction between Tian Ling and Mei Lianhua, couldn’t hide their expressions of envy. It was clear to everyone that Mei Lianhua had chosen an extraordinary disciple. Even those who had previously questioned her choice were now silent, unable to argue against Tian Ling’s evident talent. Lian Ziyue, on the other hand, had a strange expression on her face, as if she was grappling with conflicting feelings.

“Brother, I’ll stay at the sect for now. I want to help however I can,” Lian Ziyue said, a trace of excitement in her voice. She was clearly impressed by Tian Ling’s strength, and the thought of staying close to him and learning more was tempting.

“Very well. I won’t close the portal to the Mythical Realm. If anything happens, you can reach me at any time,” Tian Ling replied, his voice firm and composed, exuding confidence.

Before leaving, however, he turned one last time toward the elders and his master, a serious expression on his face.

“One more thing, please. Keep my victory over the Green Demon a secret. If I attract too much attention, how will I be able to cultivate in peace?” he requested, his tone gentle yet firm. The last thing he wanted was to become the center of attention, which would inevitably bring unwanted trouble.

Mei Lianhua nodded in agreement, and the elders murmured among themselves, seemingly accepting his request.

With that, Tian Ling departed, vanishing toward the horizon as the Misty Serenity Sect’s main hall slowly returned to normal. However, the impact of his victory would be felt for a long time.