Soul Emperor Awakening

Lin Xuan’s escape with the treasures caused a tremendous uproar. No one had expected him to be the one to walk away with so many precious items. To have snatched them from right under the noses of two great families sent shockwaves through the entire Demon Cloud Sea. Who could have possibly predicted such an outcome?

Everyone had assumed the three great families would fight to the death. Who would have guessed that in such a dramatic turn of events, Lin Xuan would simply make off with all the treasures? This contest clearly ended in a perfect victory for the Tu Family. Since Lin Xuan was one of their Foreign Elders, the treasures naturally belonged to them.

Tuo Shengfeng and his men were ecstatic upon their return to Divine Martial Island. Their haul this time was truly remarkable. Not only had they acquired treasures, but they had also secured the best Martial God Inheritance Jade Pendant, which would allow the Tu Family’s strength to rise to another level.

This was the outcome they had most hoped for. For Tuo Shengfeng, even if they had returned with no other treasures, the Inheritance Jade Pendant alone would have been more than enough.

"Island Master," one of the Elders began after a moment of thought, "Elder Lin took the Five-Colored Lotus and the Coiling Dragon Ginseng. Should we send men to find him?"

’Those two items were incredibly valuable, and they had great need for them as well. If the items were recovered, they would surely get a share.’

"There is no need," Tuo Shengfeng said gravely. "If he intends to return, he will. There is no reason to send men to look for him. Even when he does come back, no one is to ask him about this matter. If he is willing to hand them over, fine. If not, no one is to force the issue!"

The Island Master’s aura flared, and the Elders exchanged bewildered glances. ’He’s just letting it go? Such a huge temptation?’ they thought. ’Forget the Five-Colored Lotus for a moment; the Coiling Dragon Ginseng is exceptionally precious! Consuming it can prolong one’s life and even boost their Cultivation.’

Yet, Tuo Shengfeng had refused outright. He had no intention of asking for the items back from Lin Xuan, not even a portion. ’Isn’t that a bit too generous?’

"You all think I’m being too generous, don’t you?" Tuo Shengfeng asked with a faint smile.

"Well... yes, Island Master," an Elder admitted frankly. "There’s a considerable amount of Coiling Dragon Ginseng, enough for many people. It seems a bit excessive for him to consume it all by himself."

"Truthfully, I would also like to take the Coiling Dragon Ginseng," Tuo Shengfeng began. "But the opportunity belongs to him, and soon, he will be able to clear the Eighth Layer of the Martial God Tower! When that time comes, he may very well become an unparalleled expert. Now, let me ask you: compared to the current stalemate where three powers are at odds, would you prefer our Tu Family to reign supreme, or for the three-way standoff to continue?"

"To reign supreme, of course..." an Elder replied. It was an obvious answer. If their family was the sole supreme power, all resources would fall into their hands. The difference would be monumental.

"Exactly. So it is far better to befriend him than to make an enemy of him. It is to our advantage to have him become our most powerful Foreign Elder. Elder Lin is a man who values loyalty and righteousness. As long as we don’t let him down, he will never let us down!" Tuo Shengfeng had already grasped Lin Xuan’s character completely. "In a while, make preparations. Dispatch two Core Formation Stage Protectors to Qingcheng Mansion in the Soaring Dragon Empire to provide them with aid! Once things have settled down here, I will personally make a trip to see exactly who in that Soaring Dragon Empire has offended him!"

Tuo Shengfeng making a personal trip was something Lin Xuan would never have anticipated. This was the kind of benefit that strength brought. Only by demonstrating sufficient strength could one earn a commensurate reward. If Lin Xuan had no strength to speak of, would Tuo Shengfeng have given him the time of day?

Loyalty and righteousness were not rare commodities. If the family had to help everyone who possessed such qualities, they would have collapsed long ago.

"Understood!" the Elders replied in unison, their voices heavy. They now understood the bigger picture.

If Lin Xuan became a supreme expert, it would be a huge boon for the Tu Family; he would be their pillar of support. If they stole his Coiling Dragon Ginseng for themselves, the most they could hope for was a small extension of their lives or a minor boost in their Cultivation. They were all aware of their own limitations; if they had the potential to soar to the heavens, they would have done so long ago.

To pin all their hopes on the Coiling Dragon Ginseng was nothing more than a fool’s dream. For them, it would only have a limited effect at best. The Coiling Dragon Ginseng was, however, extremely beneficial for cultivators at the Spirit Pill Stage, making breakthroughs much easier. This meant it was of extraordinary value to Lin Xuan in particular.

They had barely finished their discussion when someone burst in to report, "Island Master, Elder Lin has returned!"

Tuo Shengfeng’s eyes narrowed as he swiftly rose to his feet to welcome him. The other Elders looked at each other, a sense of shame dawning on them. ’It seems our own minds are not as broad as his,’ they thought. ’If we were in his shoes, we wouldn’t have dared to return so soon. We’d at least have waited until after we absorbed all the treasures.’

"Island Master, that was a close call back there," Lin Xuan said with a smile, taking out a Storage Ring. "I took a long detour before returning, just to make sure no one was tailing me. Here are the Five-Colored Lotus and the Coiling Dragon Ginseng. How should we distribute them?"

Hearing Lin Xuan’s words, the very Elders who had been questioning the situation just moments ago wished a hole would open up and swallow them. ’What incredible magnanimity,’ they thought, ’to offer them up just like that, without even touching a single bit!’

"That won’t be necessary," Tuo Shengfeng proposed. "The Coiling Dragon Ginseng is perfect for you. You don’t even need to refine it; you can absorb its power directly, which should be enough to raise your Cultivation significantly. Furthermore, if you consume it along with a petal from the Five-Colored Lotus, the process will be even smoother. The Elemental Power in the Coiling Dragon Ginseng is incredibly ferocious and can easily rupture one’s meridians. The Five-Colored Lotus will help stabilize that violent energy."

His gaze upon Lin Xuan was filled with admiration. He had never admired anyone as much as he did Lin Xuan. He certainly didn’t believe Lin Xuan was some fool who failed to grasp the importance of these treasures. To offer them up like this could only mean one thing: he was a man who valued loyalty.

’Of course, this is a matter of mutual benefit,’ Lin Xuan thought. ’It’s true that I was the one who opened the way, but without Tuo Shengfeng’s help, how could I have possibly escaped with the treasures? I probably would have been ambushed and killed along the way.’

’If no one had helped, if I had done everything on my own, then forget sharing—I wouldn’t have let them get so much as a sniff.’

’A win-win outcome is the true path to success. The price of excessive greed is finding yourself utterly alone and without support!’

"None at all?" Lin Xuan was startled. After a moment’s thought, he said, "How about this? I’ll keep a portion of the Coiling Dragon Ginseng, and you can decide what to do with the rest. You can give some to Tuo Yunhai to consume. Same for the Five-Colored Lotus—I’ll keep two petals for my own use, and the rest is yours."

With that, he passed the Storage Ring over, intending for Tuo Shengfeng to handle the distribution himself.

Tuo Shengfeng studied him with narrowed eyes, then took the Storage Ring. "Come with me," he said, his voice deep. "The Tu Family possesses an exceptional Cultivation Site. Under normal circumstances, entry is permitted only once every few years. I had originally intended this opportunity for Yunhai, but now I want to give it to you. Combined with the Coiling Dragon Ginseng, it will allow you to ascend to a whole new level!"

The other Elders exchanged glances but did not speak. That Cultivation Site was incredibly important. Only the most crucial disciples were allowed entry, and an outsider would normally have no chance at all.

This time, however, they gave their silent approval. Lin Xuan had earned the right to enter!