"Boy, what have you done? Why has my token suddenly gained so many points?" The old man stared at the numbers on his token, utterly dumbfounded. He had never expected an increase of over five hundred thousand points.
Though Lin Tian had now claimed the top spot of the Medicine Peak, making the extra three hundred thousand points somewhat understandable, the remaining two hundred thousand points were completely inexplicable.
"Perhaps the Medicine God Tower considered my prescriptions more effective than its standard solutions," Lin Tian said, winking casually.
"What did you say? You mean the Tower actually recognized your prescriptions?" The old man's eyes nearly bulged from his head. He had always known his disciple was exceptional, but this level of brilliance far exceeded his expectations.
"By the way, Master, you must never reveal that I am Wu Xuan," the old man said sternly, his expression suddenly grave. The name Wu Xuan had dominated all three peaks. If anyone discovered Lin Tian was Wu Xuan, it would undoubtedly bring him countless unnecessary troubles.
"Don't worry, Master. I will handle it with discretion," Lin Tian replied, patting his chest in assurance. Even without the warning, he would never disclose his identity.
"Since you've now claimed the top position of the Medicine Peak, that means you've completed the task I assigned, correct?" Lin Tian asked, glancing at the old man.
"Indeed, you have. If you wish to pursue artifact forging, you may proceed at once," the old man replied after a pause. Lin Tian's achievements already demonstrated his extraordinary talent; spending time refining artifacts would cause no harm.
"Master, do you still have any surplus Thousand-Threaded Spirit Roots?" Just as Lin Tian was about to depart, he turned suddenly to the old man with a question.
The old man froze, clearly unprepared for such a request. Yet seeing his disciple's exceptional accomplishments, he could not be stingy. Though the Thousand-Threaded Spirit Roots were precious, they held little practical use for him.
After a moment, he handed over more than ten carefully wrapped roots to Lin Tian. With them secured, Lin Tian made his way to the Artifact Peak.
"Lin Tian, you've finally returned!" Not long after Lin Tian reached his quarters, Zhao Xufeng came rushing in, breathless.
"Senior Brother, what's the matter?" Lin Tian asked, perplexed by Zhao Xufeng's frantic demeanor, unaware of the reason for his panic.
"Don't you know? That scoundrel Gao Zhenhao has issued a bounty challenge against you."
"A bounty challenge? What's that?" Lin Tian was completely taken aback. He had never even heard of such a thing.
"The so-called bounty challenge arose because the sect forbids inner conflicts among disciples. While sect rules prohibit infighting, they allow disputes to be settled through a formal challenge using a bounty token if the conflict is irreconcilable."
"The challenger must stake their entire wealth. The opponent must match this with an equivalent value of assets, or use their disciple token as collateral. Losing a bounty challenge means forfeiting one's status as a disciple of the Xuanwu Sect, resulting in expulsion."
"So if I win, I take all of Gao Zhenhao's assets?" Lin Tian's eyes sparkled, almost completely ignoring Zhao Xufeng's explanation, his mind fixed on the prospect of acquiring Gao Zhenhao's wealth.
"In theory, yes. But Gao Zhenhao has prepared meticulously, and he even has an elder backing him. This challenge is no casual affair. His total assets exceed one hundred thousand points. If you cannot provide assets of equal value, your disciple token will serve as collateral."
"One hundred thousand points?" Lin Tian's eyes narrowed in mild disdain. He had expected Gao Zhenhao's wealth to be substantial, yet it amounted to only a hundred thousand points.
"That's right. Among outer disciples, few possess more than fifty thousand points. Gao Zhenhao's wealth is exceptional—truly one in ten thousand. He is determined to expel you from the sect."
"Expel me?" Lin Tian scoffed. Merely one hundred thousand points and he aims to expel me? How laughable.
Yet with the offer placed before him, Lin Tian had no reason to refuse. "Senior Brother, do you know when the bounty match begins?"
"By tradition, it starts at the beginning of each month. You have only three days remaining," Zhao Xufeng explained.
"Only three days? I wonder if that's enough," Lin Tian mused, then entered the artifact refinement room without hesitation.
During his time in the Medicine Peak library, Lin Tian had gained a rough understanding of the medicinal properties recorded for the first two floors. Now, he could sense that refining the spiritual essence from the Thousand-Threaded Spirit Roots would significantly enhance his success rate.
What remained uncertain was whether three days would suffice to successfully imbue the artifact. If successful, it would provide a substantial advantage in the upcoming bounty match.
Focusing the Pillfire in his palm, Lin Tian carefully selected a Thousand-Threaded Spirit Root. As he grasped it, he distinctly felt a faint pulse of spiritual energy.
Bringing the Pillfire close, the root swayed gently, responding to the heat. Upon contact, it seemed to vibrate more actively, even absorbing the fire's warmth on its own.
Lin Tian's eyes widened in astonishment and curiosity. He had never witnessed such a phenomenon before.