Bestowing Treasures

Bestowing Treasures . . .

The echoes of Qin Wentian's resounding question reverberated through the atmosphere, filling every corner of the arena. His towering, 100-meter presence loomed large, casting a shadow over the immortals gathered below. The immortal kings, esteemed and venerable, found themselves gripped by a silence born of sheer astonishment.

In that very moment, Dongsheng Ting's position appeared precarious. Could he possibly muster any remaining excuses to deny Qin Wentian his rightful place among the top three contenders?

Before this, Dongsheng Ting had asserted that Jun Mengchen deserved a spot in the top three due to his dazzling performance, while Qin Wentian's showing lacked the same resplendence. Yet, in the final bout, Qin Wentian had shattered this perception. He had emerged as a radiant force, overwhelming in his dominance, commanding the attention and awe of the entire immortal banquet.

Gusu Tianqi, hailing as the pinnacle figure of the Eastern Prefecture, bore the weight of a lineage extending through nine generations, each producing an immortal king. However, in the face of Qin Wentian's indomitable strength, he appeared as nothing more than a fleeting shadow. Even when pitted against five formidable adversaries, they crumbled before the might of a single strike.

What further proof was required? Qin Wentian alone stood as a titan, casting his disdain upon half of the banquet's participants, their power and prowess left wanting in his presence. Should Dongsheng Ting persist in denying him a spot among the top three, he would be guilty of self-inflicted humiliation. His bias and deliberate targeting would be unveiled, forever tarnishing the reputation of the Eastern Sage Immortal Sect's once-in-a-century grand event.

"Qin Wentian and Jun Mengchen, these two disciples shine brilliantly through the annals of generations," murmured the onlookers, their hearts swelling with admiration. Even the Idlecloud Immortal King, renowned for his calm demeanor, found himself taken aback. His gaze fixed upon Qin Wentian, his expression shifting through a spectrum of emotions. Two of the top three positions now belonged to prodigies from his Cloud Prefecture?

The major powers of the Cloud Prefecture experienced a collective tightening of their expressions, an indescribable sentiment coursing through their hearts. They had once belittled Qin Wentian, mocking his anticipated low rank among the participants. Yet, now, what was the Cloud Prefecture but a radiant beacon of talent? Qin Wentian's luminous radiance promised to illuminate not only the thirteen prefectures but the very heavens themselves.

Gu Zhantian? In comparison to Qin Wentian's brilliance, he was but a fading star.

At this moment, Gu Zhantian and Zuyu remained silent, their earlier provocations rendered meaningless. They hadn't even earned the right to occupy the top ten ranks, let alone challenge Qin Wentian. The chasm between them and Qin Wentian had become an unbridgeable chasm.

In retrospect, it became clear that Qin Wentian had never unveiled his true strength in the preceding battles. It was only now, in this climactic moment, that he had harnessed his full might, reaching a state of unparalleled perfection, where his power surged to its zenith.

Princess Glaze couldn't tear her gaze away from the captivating spectacle unfolding before her. The talents of Qin Wentian and Jun Mengchen were nothing short of extraordinary, casting a luminous glow even in the context of the thirteen prefectures. She pondered, their brilliance might not be confined to this realm alone; they could easily soar to the pinnacle of the immortal realms. And perhaps, their destinies were entwined with the prophecy her royal father, the White Emperor, had foretold.

Yet, a question loomed in her mind. Which of the two was the chosen one?

Her eyes then shifted to Dongsheng Ting. She had been keenly aware of his deliberate targeting of Qin Wentian, despite his explanations. Now, she awaited his decision with bated breath.

A myriad of thoughts swirled within Dongsheng Ting's heart. Refusing to include Qin Wentian among the top three now would be a direct contradiction of his prior statements, exposing his biased treatment of Qin Wentian to all. But if he granted Qin Wentian a spot among the top three, what if Qin Wentian engaged in reckless actions that tarnished the Eastern Sage Immortal Sect's prestige?

Dongsheng Ting pondered the situation. He contemplated Qin Wentian's pursuit of Qing'er and the need for an exceptional identity. Becoming a Sage Child presented a golden opportunity. If Qin Wentian had to rely solely on his own efforts, how long would it take for him to venture beyond the thirteen prefectures? How much time would he require to establish connections with the upper echelons once he reached the Evergreen Immortal Empire? If Qin Wentian possessed even a modicum of intelligence, he would recognize the wisest choice.

A subtle smile danced in the depths of Dongsheng Ting's eyes. Why not grant Qin Wentian this temporary chance? After all, he held the reins of Qin Wentian's future once he entered the Eastern Sage Immortal Sect.

With this decision crystallizing in his mind, Dongsheng Ting rose from his seat, addressing the assembly with graciousness. "Bearing witness to the extraordinary talents of our participants is a profound blessing for our Eastern Sage Immortal Sect. Qin Wentian, I pledged not to target you deliberately. Now, having showcased your remarkable combat prowess, I can do naught but extend my congratulations."

"In addition, reflecting on the past two rounds, despite your initial ranking in the bottom tier, you have surged to third place. Your performance holds its own against your junior brother's. Consequently, I find myself facing a pleasant conundrum—I am at a loss as to whether you or Jun Mengchen merits the higher rank."

Dongsheng Ting's demeanor exuded an air of ease, as if the tension that once gripped the room had evaporated in an instant. It was as though his previous targeting of Qin Wentian had never occurred.

Furthermore, by his words, he essentially confirmed Qin Wentian's place among the top three. Dongsheng Ting had earlier declared Jun Mengchen as the top-ranked participant after defeating Gusu Tianqi. Now, his statement about the difficulty of deciding between Jun Mengchen and Qin Wentian for the higher rank clearly indicated that both were among the top two contenders for these positions.

"Hahaha!" The Idlecloud King couldn't contain his laughter, an eruption of joy at the revelation that the top two ranks hailed from his Cloud Prefecture.

Conversely, the Deepflame Immortal King's countenance darkened. His disciple, Blackpeak, had fallen to Qin Wentian's blade, and now, against all expectations, Qin Wentian had secured a place among the top three. Even if Dongsheng Ting had once harbored intentions of obstructing Qin Wentian, that course of action was no longer viable.

The Deepflame Immortal King's eyes glittered with a cold, cynical gleam as he silently sneered. He understood Dongsheng Ting's character all too well. If Qin Wentian had managed to secure a spot in the top three, it was undoubtedly because Dongsheng Ting had ulterior motives. The notion of Qin Wentian enjoying a meteoric rise after becoming a Sage Child and the personal disciple of the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor was nothing more than a naive daydream, in the Deepflame Immortal King's eyes.

"Now, let me officially conclude this immortal banquet and announce the rankings of the top ten participants," Dongsheng Ting declared. The azure dragon suspended in the sky roared, and the assembled troops pointed their spears skyward, their synchronized shout shaking the heavens with a formidable presence.

Every guest at the banquet rose to their feet, recognizing the gravity of the moment.

"Taking the tenth place, Ye Qianchen," Dongsheng Ting announced. Ye Qianchen's demeanor remained composed, though there was a lack of satisfaction in his gaze.

"In the ninth place, Qin Ta," Dongsheng Ting continued. Qin Ta maintained his calm demeanor.

"Claiming the eighth place, Ruthless."

"Securing the seventh spot, Mo Wen."

"At number six, we have Zi Qingxuan."

"Ranked fifth is Feather King."

The audience couldn't help but sigh as they heard these rankings. Although Zi Qingxuan had defeated Feather King in their battle, her overall ranking was lower. This discrepancy arose from the calculations of the first two rounds. With Dongsheng Ting's decision to include Qin Wentian and Jun Mengchen in the top three, Zi Qingxuan's position became irrelevant. She herself harbored no concerns about rankings since she couldn't secure a spot among the top three.

"Fourth place goes to Hua Taixu," Dongsheng Ting announced, sending ripples of astonishment through the spectators. Qin Wentian was undoubtedly among the top three, but Dongsheng Ting had chosen to place Hua Taixu in fourth, effectively excluding him from the coveted trio and granting Gusu Tianqi that honor.

The implication was clear. Although both Hua Taixu and Gusu Tianqi had nearly identical results, only one of them could be included in the top three. Moreover, Hua Taixu had shown no inclination to accept the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor as his mentor. Hence, Dongsheng Ting had made his decision based on these factors.

This ranking had been a subject of lively discussion among the onlookers. Hua Taixu and Gusu Tianqi had matched each other closely in the first two rounds, but in the third round, Hua Taixu had opted to face a single opponent, eschewing a direct confrontation with Gusu Tianqi due to their differing strengths. As a result, comparing their performances was no easy task. However, Dongsheng Ting's decision had been made, and the others had little room to dispute it. Hua Taixu himself didn't seem particularly concerned about his ranking.

"In third place, we have Gusu Tianqi," Dongsheng Ting finally declared. With this announcement, the ranking order had been solidified. It was now clear that Qin Wentian and Jun Mengchen occupied the top two positions.

"Securing the second place is Jun Mengchen," Dongsheng Ting continued, directing the collective gaze of the audience towards Qin Wentian.

In a surprising turn of events, Dongsheng Ting announced Qin Wentian as the top-ranked participant in the immortal banquet.

"Qin Wentian shall be ranked #1 for this immortal banquet," Dongsheng Ting declared, his smile radiant as applause from the immortal kings filled the air, celebrating the achievement of the top three contestants.

"Congratulations!" the well-wishers chimed in, their digital exclamations ringing with enthusiasm.

"His Majesty will soon have the privilege of taking on three exceptional disciples!"

"Seniors, please be seated. The ten of you may return to your places," Dongsheng Ting graciously gestured for them to take their seats, radiating an unmatched grace.

In the Cloud Prefecture's section, Idlecloud Immortal King himself rose to welcome Qin Wentian, Jun Mengchen, and Zi Qingxuan as they made their way back. Ghost Saber Mu Yan raised his wine cup in a toast to honor their achievement. Who would have anticipated that Qin Wentian, despite already shining brightly during the Driftsnow City battle, would continue to dazzle among the top talents from all thirteen prefectures?

With smiles on their faces, Qin Wentian and his fellow sect members exchanged glances. Qin Wentian patted Zi Qingxuan on the shoulder to offer his congratulations.

"Come on, everyone, let's raise our glasses to celebrate the conclusion of this immortal banquet!" Dongsheng Ting exuded excitement, seemingly undisturbed by his decision to place Qin Wentian first.

"Your Highness, what about the rewards?" Jun Mengchen, in his typically straightforward manner, expressed concern that he might not receive his rewards after rejecting the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor's offer so boldly.

"Oh, I nearly forgot. The rewards for the top ten and top three have yet to be presented. Distribute the treasures!" Dongsheng Ting commanded, waving his hand as ten graceful women emerged, each bearing a different treasure as they approached the participants.

Naturally, the most coveted treasures were reserved for the top three.

Gusu Tianqi was presented with a flying-type immortal treasure. The serving woman shook an interspatial ring, conjuring an incredibly resplendent flying boat capable of adjusting its size right before everyone's eyes.

"This is known as the Immortal-King Boat," Dongsheng Ting announced with a chuckle. Gusu Tianqi stood up to accept the treasure, a look of delight on his face.

Two of the elegant serving women made their way toward the Cloud Prefecture section, coming to a halt before Qin Wentian and Jun Mengchen.

One of the treasures was a dazzling mountain rampart etched with the insights of a supreme immortal king, drawing envious glances from many.

The other was a Rune Bone from a Paragon Sky Roc. Mysterious runic inscriptions adorned it, and a faint shadow of a sky roc seemed to project itself from the bone. It pulsated with essence energy, as if the rune bone itself were a majestic sky sovereign roc poised to ascend to the heavens.

"Many thanks to Your Highness!" Jun Mengchen's face broke into a wide grin as he accepted the mountain rampart.

"Thank you, Your Highness," Qin Wentian said with a smile that concealed subtle intentions as he accepted his reward.