Martial Saint with Passives

When Jiang Che returned to the Yunhai Courtyard disciples, he was instantly surrounded by his excited peers.

"Senior Brother Jiang! You’re amazing!"

"Yeah! Even though you lost, you still brought great honor to our Yunhai Courtyard!"

Xu Qingshan also walked over, his face filled with a gratified smile. He clapped him hard on the shoulder. "Jiang Che, well done!"

Jiang Che smiled as well.

Although he hadn’t managed to defeat Gu Qingxuan.

He could feel that after this battle,

it would no longer be so easy for Xie Songnian to make a move against him!

’The strength I’ve shown should be enough to sway the upper echelons...’

But if even this wasn’t enough, then his only option would be to flee far away.

He glanced at Sect Leader Xu Zhouzi, who was up on the high platform.

He was surprised to see the man give him a small smile.

Jiang Che hurriedly bowed in his direction from afar.

His heart finally settled.

Before the finals, there was the match to decide third and fourth place.

Jiang Che’s opponent was none other than Wang Zhenhai, the Chief Disciple of Panyue Courtyard who had previously been defeated by Fang Muye.

This match was completely devoid of suspense.

Jiang Che won with ease, securing third place without even exerting much effort.

This further convinced everyone that Jiang Che’s strength was the real deal!

The final showdown unfolded between Gu Qingxuan and Fang Muye.

However, to everyone’s utter astonishment,

the climactic duel, which should have been a battle between titans, was not nearly as spectacular as anticipated!

Under Gu Qingxuan’s fierce assault, he failed to even push her into the state she had entered when fighting Jiang Che. He was defeated with a single sword strike, ending up in a more pathetic state than Jiang Che had.

This time, the usual composure and magnanimity were gone from Fang Muye’s face.

Just as expected, many in the audience below the stage began to whisper amongst themselves.

"It seems Fang Muye’s second-place title isn’t well-deserved!"

"Exactly! He just got lucky he wasn’t in the same bracket as Jiang Che. Otherwise, this year’s runner-up would have definitely been Jiang Che!"

Fang Muye listened to these discussions, his expression blank as he stepped down from the arena platform.

He shot a cold glare at those who were talking about him, and they immediately fell silent.

As the eldest young master of the Fang Family—the most powerful Noble Family in Cangzhou—and the Chief Disciple of Liufeng Courtyard,

Fang Muye usually presented himself as gentle and refined.

But everyone knew he was not someone just anyone could gossip about!

If he came to resent you, you were as good as dead!

Fang Muye then glanced at Jiang Che from a distance, engraving the name deep into his heart.

’Jiang Che, is it... Interesting...’

...

After all the matches concluded, it was time for the grand award ceremony.

Sect Leader Xu Zhouzi presided over it personally.

The top four contestants all received extremely generous rewards.

The prizes included top-grade Snow Crystal Milk, a number of free days in a Level A Cultivation Room, the most potent Elixir Pills below the True Master Realm known as the "Nine-Turn Golden Pill," a large sum of gold notes, and a chance to enter the Sect’s Treasure Pavilion and choose any one Treasure Artifact!

In addition to all that, there were also massive amounts of personal points and courtyard points!

The courtyard points, in particular, would determine the share of resources each courtyard received for the following year!

As the third-place winner, Jiang Che’s rewards weren’t as great as the top two, but he received all the same items, just in smaller quantities.

For him, this was already an unimaginably vast fortune! These resources were enough to sustain his cultivation for a full year!

He couldn’t help but marvel internally.

’So, this is what it’s like after becoming a genius disciple.’

’The amount of support the Sect gives is just outrageous!’

’At this rate, the gap between ordinary disciples and us will only grow wider and wider!’

’No wonder everyone fights so desperately to climb the ranks!’

After receiving his reward, Jiang Che was about to step down from the stage.

But Sect Leader Xu Zhouzi suddenly spoke up. "Jiang Che, Gu Qingxuan, Fang Muye, and Wang Zhenhai. The four of you, please stay a moment."

Everyone was taken aback, unsure what else the Sect Leader had in mind.

Xu Zhouzi slowly rose to his feet, his gaze sweeping across the four as he spoke in a solemn voice, "Some time ago, the Chief Disciple of our Yunhai Courtyard, Lin Bihe, unfortunately perished. I will not allow another such accident to befall the promising talents of my Cangyun Sect! Today, in my name as Sect Leader, I shall bestow upon the four of you the Sect Leader’s Talisman Seal!"

The moment he said this, the entire audience was stunned!

The Sect Leader’s Talisman Seal!

That was a Protective Talisman condensed from the Sect Leader’s own True Qi and Divine Thought!

Not only could it block at least three fatal attacks, but it also allowed the Sect Leader and the heads of each courtyard to instantly sense danger and arrive in a flash!

Having this seal was equivalent to gaining three extra lives and a top-tier team of bodyguards!

When Vice Sect Leader Xie Songnian heard this, his heart instantly plunged into an icy abyss, and he nearly coughed up a mouthful of old blood!

’That old bastard!’

He knew that with this seal, trying to make a move against Jiang Che would be as difficult as ascending to heaven!

Yet, he still had to force a gratified smile onto his face and join the others in encouraging this new generation’s "Four Great Celestial Pride" of the Cangyun Sect.

Jiang Che, meanwhile, finally let out a sigh of complete relief.

This outcome was far better than he had ever expected!

He calmly looked toward Xie Songnian, who was also looking back at him "kindly."

Although Jiang Che could sense a thick killing intent,

he knew that this old dog wouldn’t be able to touch him, at least for some time!

...

After the award ceremony, the banquet began.

Large, round tables were arranged neatly across the plaza.

All sorts of delicacies made from Treasure Fish and Treasure Shrimp, as well as Spirit Beast Delicacies, were served.

For a time, the air was filled with a rich, mouth-watering aroma.

Jiang Che went straight to the table designated for Yunhai Courtyard.

His master, Xu Qingshan; his Eldest Senior Brother, Xiao Mingqian; and his other martial brothers from the courtyard immediately gathered around him.

Everyone’s face was beaming with genuine joy and excitement.