For any of the guests who had participated in previous instances of the [Sword and Herb] or the [Martial Path of the Hebs] event, the conclusion this time appeared rushed and lackluster. And indeed, it was so.
In defense of the [Brave Hairstreak], she hadn't originally intended to expedite proceedings. The associated events, rewards, and atmosphere shouldn't have been any less spectacular than usual – at most, slightly scaled down. This understanding was warranted, given not only the ongoing regional warfare but also the grand scale of the event.
Yet, she ended up overseeing the near-total dismantling of everything, scarcely announcing the winners. After barely forcing it through the reward ceremony, she vanished. Her replacement hurried through the ceremony and teleported everyone out, leaving only a fortunate few to explore the grounds of the [Palace].
Hudie Xiuying didn't explain anything, breaking yet another tradition of the [Delicate Forest Palace]. She adhered to an excuse that she hadn't even proclaimed. This excuse was as lackluster as the event's conclusion turned out to be: "An incident has occurred on the [Palace] grounds, compelling me to conclude the event now to prevent any harm from befalling you esteemed guests."
Truth be told? The [Brave Hairstreak] didn't bother concealing that she was ushering everyone out. Not that anyone dared express dissatisfaction – the mightiest cultivator among the guests was at least four levels below her, Hudie Xiuying, a peak Warrior Emperor. Nonetheless, while respect remained unquestionable, a few power leaders, particularly Guanghui Zhi, the head of [Pingheng Gong], permitted themselves to openly raise one matter for questioning. And many attendees, not just members of his sect, agreed with his query – the same query that seemed to underlie the rationale for the de-facto leader of the [Palace] to shed any pretense and expedite the event and the festival's conclusion.
"Respected [Brave Hairstreak], if I may...?" As the reward ceremony was commencing, Guanghui Zhi had no idea that his simple question, sanctioned by a nod from Hudie Xiuying, would yield the outcome it did. This inquiry was quite logical, especially now that they all had a clear view of the ranking table.
Sun Shui: 690 points; did not participate in the second half.
Lin Yi: 370 points; successful participation in the second half, doubling the score to 740.
Gao Xiulan: 420 points; succeeded in the survival challenge, totaling 880. Lo Dai: 820 points; successful second part, earning an additional 820 for a total of 1640 points.
Bai Qi: a total of... 2898 points.
*Clamor*
Several individuals voiced surprise at the revelation of the top-ranked points. After all, on the same ranking stele, an inscription read, "[Best Result: 2900 points; Huang Song]."
***
"Why isn't this cultivator, Bai Qi – whom I have no doubt is a prodigy – present?" In all truth, the leader of the [Palace of Balance] omitted numerous words and doubts he would typically share were it not for the fact that the person he was addressing could effortlessly erase his entire sect from existence.
"...because it was a collective decision by the [Palace] council." The [Brave Hairstreak] seldom wielded her presence, let alone her cultivation, to intimidate others. However, this time, she cared little, her aura pressuring not only the inquirer but nearly all the present cultivators. She promptly concluded both the event and the festival, "Perhaps some of you will find the abrupt ending unsatisfactory, but rest assured, the [Delicate Forest Palace] and our suzerain, the [Great Forest Sect], are appreciative of your participation in this edition of the [Sword and Herb] event."
"With this, we bring both the [Martial Path of the Herbs] and the [Sword and Herb] to a close. Those worthy of entering the [Palace]'s domain shall do so. As for those who, regretfully, didn't amass a sufficient score, you may now select herbs from your own harvest as compensation for your efforts." Having scarcely finished her speech, Hudie Xiuying employed a simple [Void Corridor], veiled by a shower of flower petals, to depart the stage.
Xun Guo, head of [Thorns], assumed the stage, seamlessly continuing as if nothing had transpired - summoning the four highest-ranked contenders on the leaderboard to ascend the stage and accompany her into the [Palace] genuine grounds.
"Is he unharmed?!" Hudie Xiuying, in the control room, cared little for decorum as she burst in, nearly shouting her question at the four present elders. Xun Guo had left to assume her own position.
"Barely, but he is." The [Wise Elfin], Huang Song, responded composedly, even formally, as if Hudie Xiuying's outbursts were nothing remarkable. Only after the latter winced and exhaled, calming herself, did the second-ranking elder of the [Palace] elaborate, "Bai Qi, or rather, he managed to conquer the [Man] door's challenges – surviving and emerging in a state considered adequate to finally attempt what we had deemed impossible for any cultivator."
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
----------------------------------------
Bai Qi's strength waned as he tumbled out of the swirling portal, his body hitting the ground with a resounding thud. The tests had been exhausting, leaving him drained and breathless. He lay there, panting, as the portal leading to this enormous room, decorated with engagements, carvings, and statues of flowers made from all the possible materials, closed behind him.
Even as the pink-hued healing light from before surrounded his battered body, Bai Qi had a hard time keeping his eyes open. He wasn't a stranger to tests and challenges. He had been both a participant and the examiner for thousands of them. And yet, the ones created by the [Fairy] to test the man from the visions were really something else - at least when considering the cultivation that both Bai Qi and the man had as they crossed them, just a mid-tier Warrior Lord one.
"I am sorry you had to go through the same that I did, but at the same time, allow me to congratulate you, as no one else but us two have been allowed even to try, not to say succeed." Zhen Jian - a veritable mountain of a man, even if looking as he had already crossed into the late years of his life, at least before dying, as how else would he become a spirit? The first man to be accepted by the [Fairy] spoke with a voice filled with sadness and admiration, the former coupled with a slight bit of regret.
"I will not say that I am sorry, as it was me who allowed you to enter the tests, but I will congratulate you as well." The second voice that entered Bai Qi's ears was a female one, beautiful and melodious. And while Bai Qi couldn't be sure if it was the allure inside it or that she reinforced the healing effect somewhat, it was it, the [Fairy] voice, the one to make him slowly rise while looking at both of the spirits that stood just a few feet from him.
A woman that looked no more human than the pillars of the room, such would be the first thought of any observer. Just some three feet tall but with perfect proportions, so perfect that it already denoted their owner as someone not human, with long and flowing hair of an uncommon green hue and brightly shining red eyes.
A man, one that would look normal to many observers, at least at first glance, and if ignoring the fact that his body was transparent, the heavily decorated columns and walls, with all their flower-like engravings and mosaics observable through his frame. Nearly seven feet tall and of muscular build, his nearly-intangible body still showed the strength the man had during his life. And indeed, when ignoring the grayish hair and the state of the latter's body - covered by a mix of age spots, scars, and wrinkles - the man, the first male to step into this land, was indeed impressive-looking.
"...Xie Ru..?" While Bai Qi was more moved by the offer of a legacy than by the safety of a person he himself wasn't sure of what to feel about, he still attempted to ask about Xie Ru, though he hardly managed to voice anything but her name.
"She's fine. Somewhat battered, but her life isn't in any danger." Tianwan Fei Xian knew what Bai Qi would ask first about, as she indeed was a good judge of character, and so, she immediately answered, not even waiting for him to voice the question.
"As soon as the [Man] test starts, the [Woman] one is frozen, and all the people inside, your friend and the three disciples sent with her to help her to breach through the challenges, are evicted from the [Temple], right after their wounds heal enough." Zhen Jian complemented Fei Xian's short answer - his remaining soul and consciousness even smiling as he noticed how Bai Qi relaxed.
"...I see, so I passed..?" Even if Bai Qi controlled his [Greed] and would first clear out the part about the people he cared about, even to a somewhat less degree when compared to others, he returned to his own interests as soon as he could.
"Indeed you did, and so, as soon as you recuperate a bit, it will be time to discuss your reward-" The [Little Fairy] somewhat smiled as she looked at the battered man that had managed to complete the same challenges as Zhen Jian. Challenges meant for a Warrior King, the actual peak of the [Sky Tear Plane] at that point, even if it was called the [God's Playing Ground] at that time, and that while Bai Qi had considered Zhen Jian a mere Warrior Lord, something that Fei Xian had actually tailored in the otherwise true memories of the land.
"-and it will be up to you to accept it. Or not." Zhen Jian, who was probably the first peak cultivator of the [God's Playing Ground] plane, as well as one of the singular cultivators who had traveled outside it and actually returned to face his end on his own plane, half-interrupted, half-completed Fei Xian's words before sending a wave of pressure that made Bai Qi fall into peaceful darkness.
***
Several hours later...
"I refuse. Even if it is an honor, I can not, and I will not accept such a reward..." Bai Qi's voice resounded in the lifeless hall, as both of his counterparts were not alive but remnant spirits.
"But..." Fei Xian tried to convince Bai Qi, who she saw as the only one capable of taking over the [Primordial Root], but she was interrupted by a wave of Zhen Jian's hand.
"...in that case, it will fall upon one of the only two that had actually reached the last test, Xie Ru, and your other companion, Ma Su." Zhen Jian declared, and before Bai Qi or even Fei Xian could react, both women appeared in the enormous underground cave.
"Chen Guang!" As soon as she saw Bai Qi, not even caring why and where she was, Xie Ru shouted Bai Qi's [Seven Islands Plane] name, which she was more familiar with.
While neither Zhen Jian nor Fei Xian mentioned it, Xie Ru had sensed who and how had saved her from the last challenge, the one that she couldn't manage to complete and the one that nearly killed both her and the two senior disciples that sent as something akin to both guards and sacrifices.
"Master!" As for Ma Su, once again, she ignored Bai Qi's request and called him her master, no matter their difference in cultivation and that he had freed her from any obligations but the ones that she took on by herself.
Though, one should mention that Ma Su didn't rush at Bai Qi as soon as she shouted out at him, but actually looked around the room, and only then, assuming that the two strong but somewhat strange presences weren't a danger to her master did she move closer. Although she never dropped her guard and even summoned her weapon, the row-like blade of jade, and called out the defensive skill of the [Jades of the Sky] manual, surrounding not herself but Bai Qi with rows of small jade stones that appeared unimpressive but still had the aura and strength of her actual, 4th level Warrior King, cultivation.
Something that no one but the two remanent spirits noted, even Zhen Jian hiding a smile, was that Ma Su's [Jades of the Sky] not only formed a barrier between them and Bai Qi but also blocked Xie Ru's pounce towards the man, or just young boy, that had just succeeded in something that should have been nearly impossible...