Soon after, Hu Nan entered the sect's main hall.
This was Hu Nan's second visit to the sect's main hall.
His first visit was after winning the grand competition, when Xuan Yangzi gifted him a
book on Foundation Establishment cultivation.
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Neatly arranged chairs lined the center of the hall, flanked by the sect's elders and deacons.
At this moment, many newly promoted Foundation Establishment cultivators had arrived, all dressed in purple robes, sitting together in hushed conversation, their expressions filled with joy and pride.
Qin Changsheng's divine sense quickly swept across the hall, instantly spotting Lin Hao.
Lin Hao, as always, was arrogant and domineering, completely out of place among the low-key and humble Foundation Establishment cultivators around him.
He wasn't wearing the purple robes reserved for Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Heavenly Sword Sect; instead, he wore a magnificent golden brocade robe, embroidered with intricate patterns.
He stood alone at the very front of the crowd, head held high, chest puffed out, his expression arrogant, his gaze sweeping contemptuously over the Foundation Establishment cultivators around him, as if none of them were worthy of his attention.
Several Foundation Establishment cultivators beside him tried to approach him to speak, but he coldly avoided them, his arrogance and swagger on full display.
Lin Hao seemed to notice Hu Nan's gaze, slowly turning his head. When he recognized Hu Nan, his arrogance instantly turned to surprise, then was filled with rage.
Lin Hao hated Hu Nan to the core.
If Hu Nan hadn't humiliated him in the Grand Competition, Lin Hao would never have become a laughingstock.
If it weren't for Hu Nan, Lin Hao would have successfully established his Foundation Establishment last year.
If it weren't for Hu Nan, he wouldn't be constantly scolded by Lin Zhentian.
Qin Changsheng also saw Jiang Lijuan and Wu Yong at the ceremony.
At this moment, Jiang Lijuan looked at Hu Nan, dressed in a purple robe, with some surprise.
Qin Changsheng ignored Lin Hao and Jiang Lijuan, wanting only to remain quietly, awaiting the Sect Leader Xuan Yangzi's reward of the Sword Flight Technique.
But the next instant, Lin Hao was standing not far from Hu Nan.
"Hu Nan, do you still remember me?" Lin Hao demanded loudly.
"A defeated opponent, I've long forgotten," Hu Nan replied calmly, as if discussing a trivial matter.
Upon hearing those four words, the smugness and arrogance on Lin Hao's face vanished instantly, replaced by extreme rage and ferocity.
The outer sect competition three years ago was a stain Lin Hao could never erase, his deepest sore spot!
That day, he was the most prominent disciple of the outer sect, with abundant resources.
In his mind, he was certain to win first place in the competition.
But then, Hu Nan appeared out of nowhere, blocking his path to the top sixteen of the competition.
He stole the glory of the outer sect competition, making him the laughingstock of the entire outer sect.
For the past three years, he had been consumed by resentment, cultivating relentlessly, determined to surpass Hu Nan and wash away the shame of that year.
"What are you saying?" Lin Hao's eyes were filled with rage.
"How can you forget that crushing defeat three years ago after only three years?" Hu Nan showed Lin Hao no mercy whatsoever.
"You!" Lin Hao trembled with rage, his violent spiritual energy almost bursting through his meridians. He took a step forward, ready to attack, but was quietly pulled back by a Foundation Establishment cultivator beside him.
"Senior Brother Lin, this is the sect's main hall!"
Hearing the Foundation Establishment cultivator's words, Lin Hao instantly calmed down.
This was the sect's main hall; if a conflict broke out here, even his father, Lin Zhentian, couldn't protect him.
Lin Hao took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the killing intent and rage within him, but his face remained extremely grim, and the ferocity in his eyes showed no sign of diminishing.
Looking at Hu Nan's calm and composed face, the hatred in his heart intensified.
He vowed that today he would teach Hu Nan a lesson, not only defeat him but also make him kneel and beg for mercy, washing away the shame of the past and letting him know what the consequences of offending him were!
"Fine, very well indeed!" Lin Hao's voice was hoarse, filled with malice. "Hu Nan, since you dare bring up what happened three years ago, do you dare to fight me? Today, I'll show you that my defeat back then was merely a moment of carelessness. Today, I will crush you under my feet and wash away all the shame!"
The surrounding cultivators fell silent, their gazes fixed on the two.
Qin Changsheng had no intention of paying any attention to Lin Hao; after all, he only wanted to quietly wait for the Foundation Establishment Ceremony to begin.
Besides, even if he won against Lin Hao, he wouldn't gain anything.
Seeing Hu Nan remain silent, a smug glint flashed in Lin Hao's eyes. He raised his hand and waved, and a storage bag quietly appeared in his palm.
"See that?" Lin Hao held up his storage bag, his tone arrogant, laced with boastfulness and temptation. "There are ten thousand spirit stones here."
"Today, we'll wager ten thousand spirit stones. Whoever can defeat me even by a single move in our contest, these ten thousand spirit stones are yours, and I will not go back on my word!"
These ten thousand spirit stones were a reward bestowed upon Lin Hao by Lin Zhentian after he achieved Foundation Establishment.
Lin Hao dared to make such a large bet with Hu Nan because he believed he had no chance of losing.
He could easily defeat Hu Nan.
Then he could wash away the humiliation of three years ago.
Hearing about the ten thousand spirit stones, many cultivators in the hall looked at Lin Hao with envious eyes.
Most of them were ordinary cultivators.
To earn ten thousand spirit stones would take at least several decades, even hundreds of years.
Seeing the envious glances from the crowd, Lin Hao's smugness intensified. His tone shifted, becoming sinister and cutting: "Of course, there are winners and losers. If you lose, you won't have to pay a heavy price. Just kneel before me, kowtow three times, admit your mistake, apologize, and acknowledge that you are inferior to me, and this matter will be settled."
These words instantly silenced the corner of the hall.
No one had expected Lin Hao to propose such a harsh wager—win and he would receive ten thousand spirit stones;
lose and he would have to kneel and kowtow, losing all face.
This was clearly a deliberate attempt to humiliate Hu Nan, to make him look foolish in public.
No one believed Hu Nan could defeat Lin Hao.
After all, Hu Nan had only been at the Foundation Establishment stage for a little over a month, while Lin Hao had been at it for several months.
Moreover, Lin Hao possessed the treasure given to him by Lin Zhentian.
In contrast, Hu Nan had no treasures on him.
Qin Changsheng initially didn't want to pay any attention to Lin Hao, but ten thousand spirit stones were simply too tempting.
For the past few years, Qin Changsheng had been diligently cultivating and hadn't earned many spirit stones.
His spirit stone reserves were now almost depleted.
If Qin Changsheng could obtain Lin Hao's ten thousand spirit stones, he wouldn't have to worry about spirit stones for at least two years.
Moreover, Lin Hao was so aggressive; if he backed down, he would not only be ridiculed by everyone but might also be further exploited by Lin Hao.
Seeing Hu Nan's gaze fall on the storage bag, Lin Hao's eyes flashed with certainty. He assumed Hu Nan was tempted by the secret manual but too proud to agree, so he provoked him again: "What? Hu Nan, are you scared? Are you really going to admit that you're inferior to me and don't even have the courage to fight me?"
Qin Changsheng controlled Hu Nan, standing up and saying, "Fine, I'll fight you."
The surrounding cultivators were all shocked, not expecting Hu Nan to actually accept Lin Hao's challenge.
Lin Hao, on the other hand, wore a smug smile. He thought victory was assured; he could both humiliate Hu Nan and recoup his bet—a double win.
Lin Hao glanced around, finally fixing his gaze on Fairy Qingling, who was seated in a chair.
"Greetings, Martial Aunt Qingling!" Lin Hao bowed, then handed his storage bag to Fairy Qingling.
"Please, Martial Aunt Qingling, bear witness for us!"
"If I lose, these ten thousand spirit stones will belong to Hu Nan, plus the previously promised wager; if he loses, he will kneel and kowtow as agreed, with no room for regret!"