Chapter Twenty-Two: A Gathering of Heroes

"Why? Aren't you going to announce the result?" Lin Feng curled his lips slightly, eyes locked onto the elder's face.

The gray-robed elder was shaken to his core, an involuntary fear seeping into him. His lips trembled as he recited, "Yes, p-passed!"

Thousands of disciples were stunned—this so-called waste actually qualified to enter the Treasure Pavilion? Judging by his contribution points, he must have surpassed two thousand.

Lin Feng gave a faint smile and moved to stand beside Helian Ruxue.

A sharp glint flashed across Nangong Ke's eyes; he regretted not having acted sooner at Phoenix Ridge, letting these three profit so easily.

The Hall Master of Law Enforcement subtly turned his head, wiping cold sweat from his brow with his sleeve. Only after a long moment did his expression return to normal.

Another half hour passed. The last two disciples completed their verification; no one else stepped forward. In total, thirty-nine people had reached the threshold.

"Well then, I shall summon the Flying Lotus Leaf Boat. Please, everyone, follow me to the Pavilion of Hidden Treasures!" Zhuoran, evidently pleased with the outcome, flicked his palm and tossed a bright fire pellet skyward. With a whistle and a boom, the firework exploded into colorful blossoms that lingered in the air.

"Look! The Lotus Leaf Boat!" As the fireworks spread across the sky, a verdant light burst forth from the depths of the cloud sea, slicing through layers of mist at breathtaking speed. Like a dazzling meteor, it traced a beautiful arc across the heavens, arriving in the blink of an eye to hover steadily at the edge of the cliff.

The boat was four or five yards long, vibrant green throughout. Its hull was woven from lotus roots and leaves, soft as silk and satin, shimmering with radiant light from the gemstones set along its sides. At the prow, a sleep lotus was sculpted from purple gold and jade, elegant and lifelike.

A treasure of the immortals—luxurious and noble beyond compare!

Most striking of all, a stunning maiden stood atop the boat. She wore robes as white as skin, her long hair sleek as black silk, adorned at the end with a golden feather. She stood tall and graceful.

"It's her!" A flicker of inexplicable delight crossed Lin Feng's face.

The maiden gave Zhuoran a gentle smile, instantly drawing all the boat's vibrant light to herself.

"Zhuoran greets you, elder," the sect leader said humbly. He knew well: whoever controlled this Flying Lotus Leaf Boat held a position of extraordinary status in the inner sect. The maiden before him was surely among those the sect cultivated with utmost care; ordinary disciples were never chosen as the ferry's guide.

The maiden nodded and said, "Come aboard, everyone. We've been waiting long enough."

Zhuoran stepped onto the Lotus Leaf Boat first. The others filed in one after another, each fearful of damaging the fragile leaves beneath their feet.

The maiden paid no heed to Lin Feng's gaze. Here, everyone looked upon her with a measure of awe or peculiarity; perhaps she was long accustomed to such attention.

The Flying Lotus Leaf Boat slowly pulled away from the cliff. Those aboard, filled with hope and pride, felt their spirits soar as the boat left the mountaintop—then, abruptly, it accelerated, plunging into the boundless sea of clouds.

In an instant, their vision was engulfed in white. The immortal boat entered the thick clouds, wind whistled at their ears, and their eyes could not open to the gale.

No one knew how long they traveled. The boat sped up again, breaking free from the clouds, soaring above the cloud sea.

Through layers of mist, the peaks of Qiyun Mountain unfolded below in all their glory.

Soon, the Lotus Leaf Boat descended rapidly, sweeping past the vast cloud sea toward a majestic mountain.

That peak resembled a dragon's head, piercing straight into the clouds, as if all the world's vapor spewed from its mouth. Amidst lush greenery, gilded-glass-roofed halls appeared and vanished, and the deep toll of bells echoed across the sky.

Excitement and tension mounting, everyone opened their eyes wide, gazing toward the mountain. Midway up, a broad platform awaited, figures moving amidst swirling treasure lights—a scene of extraordinary splendor.

As they drew nearer, they saw those figures clearly: each dignified and imposing, dressed in varied attire, standing or seated atop magical treasures, gathered in the vast plaza.

The Flying Lotus Leaf Boat docked smoothly at the plaza's edge, drawing a few friendly glances from those already present—gentle smiles as they assessed the outer sect disciples.

The round plaza was resplendent with jade railings, enveloped in mist. At each side stood enormous statues. In the center, a square cauldron rested, and a tall, six-sided tower leaned against the mountainside, exuding an aura both mysterious and grand.

Lin Feng glanced around: there was neither a path down the mountain nor a trail upward. To reach this midpoint, one must rely on flying swords or magical treasures.

The inner sect experts, who had arrived early, clustered in groups of three or five, conversing quietly. Their treasures took myriad forms, their glimmering lights stirring envy among the newly arrived outer sect disciples.

Zhuoran smiled faintly, whispered thanks to the white-robed maiden, and beckoned his disciples to follow him. Though questions abounded, they dared not ask, only looking around curiously as they accompanied the sect leader to a spacious area.

"No chatter, no loud voices—when the time comes, follow instructions." Zhuoran glanced around, lowered his tone, and cautioned, "Most of you are newcomers, here for the first time. Listen closely to the rules; don't act rashly or you'll regret it."

Everyone nodded in agreement. Those who had been renowned figures in the outer sect were nothing here; anyone present could easily dispose of them.

Lin Feng stole another glance at the white-robed maiden, watching as she flicked her finger. The golden feather in her hair grew dozens of times larger, gently floating beneath her feet to lift her aloft.

"Sister, was your journey smooth?" a handsome man, riding an orange flying sword, greeted her with a smile.

"Thank you for your concern, Brother Lu," she replied coolly, not turning her head.

Lu Jiayao's face stiffened. He hurriedly said, "Hey, why so formal? Just call me Jiayao."

"Brother, please mind your manners," the maiden's face chilled. With a swift flick of her sleeve, she joined a group of female disciples.

"Ah…" Lu Jiayao was dumbfounded, sighing deeply.

"Haha, Brother Lu, what troubles you?" A figure flashed past; Lin Feng recognized him as Qian Cai, who had given them the Enhancement Pills days before.

"It's nothing!" Lu Jiayao, seeing who it was, shook his head and stepped aside.

Qian Cai didn't press further, merely stroked his beard and smiled.

"Why is he here? Is he also entering the Pavilion of Hidden Treasures?" Lin Feng wondered, scanning the crowd for familiar faces.

There was Senior Brother Yiyuan, surrounded by admirers and riding a purple flying sword; Zhou Kuigang, the red-robed man standing alone in a corner atop a gold-and-silver Dragon Phoenix Mace; Fang Xiaotian, the plain-clad elder from Tianzhu Peak, chatting with friends; and the brocade-clad craftsman who made the Three Treasures Incense Powder, standing on a golden blade, surrounded by fellow disciples—each radiating authority.

These were the true talents of the Hundred Flowers Sect!

There were nearly a hundred more strangers in uniform—men in white robes and black boots, riding flying swords; women in varied colors, likewise on flying swords. Unlike the dozen or so experts, their magical swords were similar in form, quite ordinary.

"These must be the inner sect disciples—the foundation of the sect," Lin Feng mused.

Zhou Kuigang seemed to sense Lin Feng's gaze, casting him a cold, disdainful look.

Lin Feng quickly turned his face aside.

Just then, a melodious, ancient bell rang from the cloud-shrouded mountaintop, penetrating layers of peaks and echoing in everyone's hearts.

"Cre-eak…" As everyone was entranced by the bell, the treasure vault doors of the Pavilion of Hidden Treasures, sealed for three years, slowly opened. In full view, a figure as grand as a mountain stood proudly at the entrance, blocking all attempts to peer within.

The elder stood hands behind his back, beard long and knotted, his face commanding respect without anger. He wore coarse linen robes, yet his presence seemed even more majestic than the towering pavilion—indeed, as though the world held none but him.

"Is everyone assembled?" the elder intoned.

"Reporting, Grand-Uncle! Inner and outer sects, and all four peaks, are present. Please instruct us!" Senior Brother Yiyuan clasped his fists and spoke loudly. Even such a prodigy was unusually deferential before the patriarch of the Hundred Flowers Sect.

"Hmm! Yiyuan, how many disciples from the four peaks?"

"Twenty-one in total."

"And the inner sect?"

"Eighty-seven."

"Zhuoran, how many outer sect disciples?"

"Reporting, Grandmaster, thirty-nine in all," Zhuoran replied, bowing deeply and not daring to raise his head.

"Good. This year’s numbers far exceed previous years. The prosperity of our sect depends on your inheritance and advancement. As for rules, I'll say only one: what you see in the Pavilion today must never be mentioned outside of Longxiang Peak. Anyone who breaks this rule—death!"

With that single word—death—even the experts present felt a chill deep within, their bodies turning cold.

Lin Feng and the others were thrown into chaos, their blood surging uncontrollably.

"Yiyuan, you four-peak disciples may enter the fifth and sixth floors. Inner sect disciples, divided by contribution points into four groups, enter the third and fourth floors. Each may stay no longer than one hour—no more rules need repeating. Outer sect disciples will be led by Zhuoran," the linen-robed elder said calmly.

"Yes!" The inner sect disciples bowed in unison.

The elder said nothing more, his figure gradually fading until he vanished before their eyes. Soon, two more elders emerged from the pavilion, plainly dressed and stern-faced, calling out together, "Enter!"

The experts quickly stowed their treasures, passing before the two elders and displaying their jade tokens. Inner sect disciples formed four lines according to their contribution points, waiting quietly.

"What about us? Why aren’t we allowed in?" someone among the outer sect disciples cried out.

"Don’t be impatient; once they’re inside, it’ll be your turn. Now, listen to the rules!" Zhuoran's face turned serious.

"The first floor of the Pavilion is mostly martial arts manuals and mid-tier pills, with a few talismans and top-grade mystical weapons. From the second floor onward, you’ll find many magical treasures, cultivation arts, high-tier pills, and divine weapons. Each item clearly lists the contribution points needed for exchange. For example, on the first floor, you need at least one thousand points to redeem anything…" At this, Zhuoran paused deliberately, allowing murmurs and questions to ripple through the disciples.

"Sect Leader, how many points to enter the second floor?" Nangong Ke asked first.

"Two thousand! But remember, every entrance or exit beyond the first floor triggers a formation. Each passage automatically deducts fifty contribution points. So, calculate carefully—don’t let yourself be trapped after picking something, or you’ll be laughed at and punished. Don’t say I didn’t warn you."

Everyone’s face turned green at this—fifty points per entry or exit? How ruthless!

"Furthermore, cultivators must respect fate. You can't browse at will as if this were a marketplace! Once you fancy an item, you must use your green jade token to break its seal to inspect it. But the moment you do, your contribution points are deducted—no backing out!"

What? Forced transactions? The crowd was incensed; after saving up contribution points for years, they couldn’t even use them freely. The Pavilion of Hidden Treasures was truly unfair!