CHAPTER 51: SEED OF HATRED! THE GRAND TOURNAMENT IN HALF A YEAR

"Alright, the match is over. You may return."

Jun Wudi released a wave of gentle force, pushing the four participants back toward their respective sects.

"You two have achieved what you came for. If you wish to leave, then go."

Jun Wudi began to usher them out. "Our objective has yet to be fulfilled, so we won't be joining you."

Yao Buting shot a displeased glance at Jun Wudi. "Hmph, then we won't overstay our welcome."

He cupped his fists in a half-hearted farewell and casually added, "We'll settle this at the grand tournament in half a year. Let's see then who truly stands as the number one sect in the southeast."

Seeing the situation slipping out of control, Zi Long quickly stepped in. "Divine Jun, we'll take our leave as well. In half a year, we'll see who comes out on top at the grand tournament."

With that, he signaled for his sect members to leave.

***

Even as they were leaving, Jun Laoye couldn't hide his frustration at the Herb King Manor's arrogance. He turned toward them and sneered, "Hmph, a bunch of petty fools. Get lost."

Yao Buting snorted coldly, then unleashed a stream of fire from his gourd, hurling it toward Jun Laoye. "Hmph. Arrogant brat, allow me to teach you a lesson on behalf of Divine Jun."

Blazing flames roared forward, carrying a heat so intense it seemed capable of reducing everything to ash.

Jun Laoye quickly channeled his spirit qi to defend himself, cursing as he held his ground. "Despicable! Using your thousands of years of cultivation to pick on someone who just started? Shame on you!"

Yao Buting wasn't about to let up. "Young man, this isn't bullying! This is what we call guidance!"

Jun Wudi cut in coldly, "Hmph! Save your guidance for yourself. I'll be the one to teach Little Jun properly."

A surge of power burst from his body as he raised his right hand toward the sky. "As for your people from the Herb King Manor... looks like they're still in need of a real lesson. You lot have no place among the respectable sects."

Two divine bolts of lightning struck down instantly.

The first bolt shattered the gourd in the air into pieces, while the second landed right in front of Yao Buting, narrowly grazing a strand of his hair before slamming into the ground.

A massive crater, several thousand feet deep, was blasted into the earth.

Yao Buting, feeling the singed hair on his head, broke into a cold sweat. His legs went weak, and he staggered back ten steps.

As an elder of the Herb King Manor, Yao Buting had long known Jun Wudi came from the heart of the continent and had assumed their cultivation levels were about the same.

What he didn't know was that he had completely underestimated Jun Wudi's strength.

Seeing that just a single strike from that divine lightning had nearly claimed his life, he quickly bent forward with a nervous smile. "Divine Jun, you are right. You are absolutely right."

Jun Wudi helped Jun Laoye up and said coldly, "Now leave."

Yao Buting quickly turned and led his sect members away. "Yes, yes, of course. We'll leave right away."

The moment he turned his back, a look of resentment flashed in his eyes.

Zi Long watched as the Herb King Manor's people departed with their heads low. He silently sighed in relief that he hadn't made a move earlier.

At the same time, a sense of fear toward Jun Wudi began to take root in his heart. He quickly offered a farewell and led his sect, the Violet Flame Fortress, out of the secret realm.

***

After the cultivators from the Herb King Manor and the Violet Flame Fortress left, Jun Wudi reached his limit. He coughed up a mouthful of blood and collapsed to the ground.

Jun Laoye rushed over and helped him up, his expression filled with guilt as he looked at Jun Wudi's injuries. "Second Uncle, I'm sorry. If I hadn't been so reckless, your condition wouldn't have worsened."

He picked up his weapon and dashed toward the cave, ready to snatch the Yuanyang Heaven-Union Herb. "Wait here, I'll get the herb for you right now."

Jun Wudi struggled to his feet and pulled Jun Laoye back. "Come back, Little Jun. You are no match for it."

Just then, a loud thunderous boom echoed in the sky. Jun Wudi looked up. "Let's leave the secret realm for now. The heavenly tribulation is coming."

"But Second Uncle, your illness is getting worse."

"It's fine. As long as I'm still alive, we still have a chance. It's just a shame... we were so close to getting the Yuanyang Heaven-Union Herb."

Jun Wudi glanced toward the cave, where the dying beast lay. A trace of regret surfaced in his eyes.

Just then, Nantian Yijian, who had been standing outside the cave watching the sky, suddenly said, "Uncle Jun, the tribulation clouds seem to have vanished."

Everyone from the Heavenly Mandate Hall looked up in surprise. "They vanished? How could that be..."

"Second Uncle, the clouds are really gone! We don't have to escape anymore. The beast inside is on the verge of death. With our current strength, we still have a chance to claim the Yuanyang Heaven-Union Herb."

Jun Wudi looked up at the sky, only to find that it was now calm and clear. "It seems heaven really wants me to live. Little Jun, take everyone and find a good spot to rest. Recover your strength and spirit qi. Tonight, we'll go again. This time, we must claim the herb."

"Yes, Second Uncle."

Jun Laoye quickly gathered the cultivators and arranged for them to rest and recover.

***

In a remote corner of the hidden valley.

The tribulation had vanished, but the people of the Herb King Manor were still in the secret realm.

At this moment, Yao Buting was kneeling before a man in a bamboo hat, flanked by a few of the Herb King Manor's most trusted subordinates. "Young Master Cang, please, you must help me take revenge. I've never suffered such humiliation in my life."

The man in the bamboo hat patted Yao Buting's head and sneered, "Heh... Yao Buting, just look at yourself. You really look like a dog. But that's fine. I like loyal dogs like you."

"Once I get the formula for the Union Pill, I won't forget your loyalty. By then, the Heavenly Rite Manor and their Heavenly Dao Command will be meaningless. The entire Azure Mountain Manor, no, the whole continent, will be ours."

"Yes, it'll all be ours," Yao Buting echoed fervently.

However, the man in the bamboo hat suddenly kicked him aside. "Hmph, how dare a dog like you dream of ruling the world?"

Yao Buting quickly corrected himself, "No, no, it will all belong to you, Lord Cang Xing."

"Hmph, at least you know your place. Hahaha, the world belongs to me! Cang Xing!"

As he spoke, Cang Xing glanced around, the laughter spilling from his mouth growing increasingly strange and twisted.

"Young Master Cang Xing, about that..."

Cang Xing's mood was interrupted, and his tone turned impatient, "What is it now?"

"Now that the heavenly tribulation is gone, should we keep exploring the secret realm?"

"I've already scanned this place with a secret treasure. There's nothing here I want. I'm heading elsewhere. I'll return in time for the Jianghai Region's grand tournament in six months."

With that, Cang Xing gathered his followers and prepared to fly toward the exit of the secret realm. Before he left, he added, "Also, the spirit herbs and medicinal plants here are rare in the outside world. Send someone to collect them and deliver them to my residence."

Yao Buting looked at Cang Xing with an increasingly sycophantic smile. "Yes, Young Master Cang Xing. I'll make sure everything is sent to your estate."

"That's better. If you're going to act like a dog, then at least do it right. Heh..."

With a final sneer, Cang Xing stepped onto the teleportation formation and vanished from the secret realm.

Yao Buting kowtowed in the direction where Cang Xing had left and said, "Yes, yes, I'm just a humble dog. Farewell, Young Master Cang Xing. May you have a safe journey. Once you rule the world, don't forget about me."

***

Cang Xing had left.

One of the burly men behind Yao Buting saw that he was still kowtowing and couldn't help but remind him, "Elder, he's already gone."

Yao Buting lifted his head and watched as the figure vanished from sight.

He stood up, kicked a servant beside him, and cursed, "Pah... how dare he still treat me like a dog? That clown was kicked out of his sect and now struts around like a tyrant in this backwater region. Who's the real dog here?"

Another trusted subordinate stepped forward and asked, "Elder, now that he's gone, what should we do with the herbs?"

"Just gather some useless scraps and send them over. As for the rest... they were all snatched up by the people from the Heavenly Rite Manor. Got it?"

The guard took the chance to flatter him, "Yes, Elder. That's a brilliant move. Since the Heavenly Rite Manor is also collecting herbs, we might as well pin the blame on them and let the two dogs fight each other."

Yao Buting clearly enjoyed the idea. "Hahaha, this isn't anything brilliant. It's just making use of human nature. You should learn more about how to take advantage of it."

"Yes, yes, Elder. I'll remember your teaching," The guard rubbed his hands, then looked at Yao Buting. "Then... Elder, could I possibly..."

"Hmph. Flatter me first, then ask for a reward. You actually understand human nature better than I do. Go ahead and take it. Just make sure our people are well-compensated."

After displaying such disgrace in front of all these cultivators today, Yao Buting clearly wouldn't let them leave alive.

He turned his back to the cultivators from the Herb King Manor, his gaze growing cold as he subtly gave the trusted guard a killing signal.

The burly man picked up on the signal right away. Clearly, this wasn't the first time something like this had happened.

The guard nodded slightly, then turned to face the cultivators. "The Elder has spoken. Do your best to collect all the herbs. Once we're out of the secret realm, anyone who hands in herbs will receive ten thousand spirit stones each."

The cultivators began murmuring among themselves at the mention of the reward.

"Ten thousand? That much? That's about ten years of savings for us, right?"

"Ten years? Heh, you're underestimating it. If you manage to save a few hundred over ten years, you're already doing well."

"I think ten thousand spirit stones are worth millions of drops of spirit liquid. That's enough to support an ordinary cultivator for nearly a hundred years."

"A hundred years?"

The moment they heard that, the cultivators grew excited and couldn't wait to get started.

Seeing their enthusiasm, the guard added, "But you must hand over every single herb! If anyone's caught hiding anything, the punishment is death. Understood?"

The cultivators, driven by greed, didn't even stop to question whether they'd actually receive the reward. They shouted in unison, "Understood. elder! We'll get started right away!"

The burly man announced with a sweeping wave of his arm. "Go. Everything in this secret realm is yours to collect."

The cultivators dispersed quickly, scattering across the valley in search of herbs.

Only a few trusted subordinates remained behind, still clustered around Yao Buting, eagerly fawning over him and showering him with flattery.